Semi-weekly Independent, Volume 2, Number 28, Plymouth, Marshall County, 15 February 1896 — Page 3

.ADE OF THC NEW WOMAN. q!.c now woman now to sing t-ii hid iae. Prime, whose jangled lyre, Im st' wrinkled umso, of weary wing, ' H;is !os; her early nituht :i lire. Miro readily your fond desire AVi;;!tI I omcede ii Ii-1 chant fur you If the fur heing yon admire. If the !i'v -vornan were hut ne-.v. Sie- 's, :i!.is! no novel thing; Fr history herself nullit tire. Might faint and fall, in following Wh'-;-e tic old woman did aspin. What stellar space, what mortal mire. ll:ts riot the f:iir sex ventured through? IiiiJee.i. we men foik might admire If tLe new woman were lut new. Sie- ces n.v with ouestioning. Mi:st taste, experience, inquire, I'or i uriosity's the spring That sends her soaring higher and higher. . That hade her with the snake conspire. And to the nake alone he true Who hromrht on us that heavenly ire. If tLe new woman were hut new! FN VOL Prii.ee, old as Adam is. our sire. As old as live, whom Adam knew; V might not labor and perspire It" the new woman were but new. Aii.Jtvw I .an:;. JiEI'SlKS A AliKNTlNK. " I S 1 1 to be alone to-niuht with ouiy the blaze for company." Ilepsie Seymour sighed and sat down -'linear the window of iiier apartment to 5 watch the sunset , ,'Tredden the western , snow-clad lulls beii "V ' iru, ' lino OSfcVtln crisp February night. .lane turned away from the hearth afic. : cicii:"lllll. nie nie, aim n'n.v. ..... of me room and down the softly carpeted :airs. cogitating: "i wonder what her sorrow may be," fdi- murmured, running her hand thoughtfully along the heavy walnut balustrade. nmsf he a love trouble, for every time Sr. Valentine's Day comes around she grow paler and keeps her room, wanting to k alori'V' Ar.d tie observing Jane was correct her (Hi' i'ision. Truly fie blaze was all the company 3Ilsx Seymour cared for to-night of all T'-hts. for out of the gleaming west seemd to conn a tenderly uttered "Cood-bye, If jie; I -riii never forget." And tonight, as the dusk of Valentine Kve deepened around her, Ilepsie Seyino.ir sobbed up against the windowja:.e: "1 tiiink he still remembers. I have remembered until my heart is cankered through with the bitterness all its own." The stars were coming out now, one by tue-, and zrat shadows trailed through the shnöbery and crept around "The Oaks." A paind face seemed to rise out of tie ni.':t ntel search her soul with its dark, yet kindly eyes, as once, on a Valentine I've, six years ago. She turned to the hearth with a sigh once more. ""How I ... . t. . ....... i ...t.: . .....l r-.. 1 1 ' it. - ... 1 ! . 1 1 ..lit mulct. -Ml.- ;il",lliri, liii'Muj; ii unu iiu, with the ila.e for company. S. the time which brings loving avowals and s v. et remembrances for the world of )::ipp !. carted youth, and warmer pula': us the hearts of the elderly lovers, only brought an agony of regret to the heiress of t :ik Hill. This .:ss why, then, li nt in her elejr?nrly appointed rooms, with arms folded mer her bosom, slie rocked wearily to and fi". :ei iiting the brilliant and saddest I'p frun tin valley came a chime of !K ry. rm M. al notes. Slie paused. "Wedl:ng bell.s," he murmured, impatiently, t,' .i.g b.i.-ic to the window and throwing .i n til sah t listen. ""Six years ago to-night." slie continued. ''I sent my heart's truest and best away Wcusv Ii.- w as poor! K that I could re-i-:::. th" p isi and welcome Horace back oit -e tiioie; but I cannot; woe is ine!M Ti.e !!!-; ceased ringing: bat Ilepsie, heedless of the cold, wintry air, stord nü ::tl iaping her hands, and gazing far down the shadowy vale of St. Cathni. Mfi.l t lino i..o.(li..K iI" I l J I UUP I ' ' 1 I I n 1 , " Yes." he said, presently. "I have writt'i.. and. Though he may spurn my c.nfessirii!, .omiug s late as it does, I am gl.id I .nr the letter. lie has made no i';gn; erhaps even iiuv he hales me for ; wrel'-hed past. "Xo matter. I have borne a great deal. I can bear more. "I cm bear to be ignored by the man v: hose '.ove means life to me, because I b -serve it. but od pity me!" She closed the sash and went back to the fire, kindled "for company," and sat down. The gl-c.v of the cheery llame H'u kered over tl- soft, satin gown and touched the N'arslaine-I face dreamily. ' O, hat he still loved me!" She clasp1 her lei tids passionately ami continued: '"All the wealth of the Uks might go at ne s.vecp of fortune's wave did the re- I turning tide Mar Horace Winter's love to tue. IJiit. alas! 1 cannot undo. "I.d only knew; and with Him 'all things were possible. It might be yet iind to-night was the anijversary what is it, .I din V The polite servant stool at the open door, with cap in hand. "There's an old man nt the gate ts want i cold l.iie. ma'am, ami cravin' a tsie-!ter from the hitter night. "An old man? Well, bring him into the titling room helow ami I will see about it." Ilejisu sighed again, this time almost oritentedly if she could not comfort herFcif she would comfort another and, following John downstairs, she waited. "A tramp, possibly," slid said, wearily; "but tramps have souls." An old, gray-haired man followed John Info the pleasant comfort of cheery w arritf h. "You are hungry V Miss Seymour said the v ords with a mist of sympathy in her dark eyes. I 'e fore her sat a shivering man. with the snow Hakes sprinkling his whitened locks and poor attire. Despite Iiis rough exterior, she felt instinctively that !o was a man of culture and had seen better times. "Yes, ma'am, and very cold. The world hasn't .i gTeat deal it fan spare to the unfortunate. He put his han J to his head nd 1 oked thoughtfully into the grate. Ilepsie ordered something '. tat and made no reply. Somehow the words op--ul wound she had fondlj hoped was

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Lealed. Drawing asidV the- hoary .Timsoi curtain she looked out once more into tin night. "Ami to-morrow is Valentine's Day!" She said this involuntarily in an under tone to herself: but the old man by tin? hearth was listening. H covered his lace with his hands and sat very still. "t.od be merciful!" She let go the curtain with this petition and turned toward the occupant of the hearth. He had als j heard the prayer, but he made no betrayal of his knowledge; .he only raised his head, looked steadily into the grate and said, slowly: "It must b such a great blessing to be wealthy: so satisfying." "I disagree with you," answered Ilepsie. almost impatiently. The old man gave a little start, and without taking his gaze from the lire, he asked in tones of astonished inquiry: "(.'an it be possible that you are not happy iu this beautiful home?" Ilepsie looked at hin pityingly. "It can be and is possible;" then, with quivering lips she quoted: "The heart kuoweth its own bitterness.' "Forgive me," said the old man. hastily; "my selfishness, I fear, led me to wrong views." Miss Seymour made no reply, and. Jane coming in at that moment with a bountifully loaded tray, the conversation wa.i dropped. "Would you please carry tins bir cf paper to your mistress ';" timidly asked the wayfarer of John, as lie showed It tin his room for the night. John took the paper without a word. Fvidently this was a crazy old wanderer, but he would humor him. Then, a fter bidding him good-night, he left the old fellow sitting on the dgo of the bed with a strange look on his face. Miss Seymour took the scrap of paper with curious misgivings. Why should an utter stranger write her a note? Had she, iu her resolve to be kind, but let a terrible character into her house? No; he waa only a destitute old man, that was all. Sin opened the crumpled note and staggered back, reel ins into a seat with a short, little cry. The alarmed servant rushed forward. "(Ireat Heaven, ma'am, are you dying?" "Xo; only so glad, John this bit of paper is my valentine. You may go now." The niystitied servant withdrew to his own quarters, wondering at it all, especially the bright, beautiful expression on the face of his mistress; he hadn't seen such a happiness for years. "Incognito." whispered Ilepsie when alone. Then she ran her glad eyes over the paper again. "Once I said, 'good-bye, Ilepsie; I can never forget.' Now I have come at your bidding, having never forgotten. Hut forgive me, darling, for dawning a little early and incognito, for 1 am your faithful valentine. Horace." This was what she read; then she went to the stairway and called, "Horace!" in a clear, joyous tone.

"Yes. Ilepsie; I am promptly in answer. coining," came Miss Seymour waited at the stairs with out-stretched anus; an angel of peace she seemed in the soft light of the hall lamp. "You dear old Valentine!" she exclaimed, putting her arms around the neck of the handsome, well-dressed young man who descended. "You shall never leave me again.'. "No," said he, reverently; "but, Ilepsie darling. I am poor yet. Not quite so destitute as the aged beggar whom you fed. who consists now only in a long, ragged coat and wig of gray; but poor, Ilepsie, poor!" "1 am glad."she whispered on his breast; "I am so glad of it. Had you possessed j wealth there might have come doubts, you know, Horace." ' j And when the silvery toned bells rang out St. Valentine's morn from the valley Hepsie Seymour whispered in the gray dawning: "There comes a sound of mar- ' nage bell An Ohl Teamster's Maxims. As driving a horse is something- that ! almost every one has to do. even in this day of electricity and steam and bicycles, the proper way to drive is a, matter of universal interest, and the following maxims, which are the work i of an old driver, will bo found good for men as well as for the animals: The more whip, the less horsemanship. llad-tempereil driver batl-teiupered team. Axle-grease modifies the grain hill. There are more balk 3- drivers than balky horses. The golden rule applies to horses as much as it does to men. Whips, like emetics, are to bo used very seldom. Noisy drivers are like noisj wagons both empty. lUinders are worth more on thfe driver than on the horse. A horse's power is proportionate to his food. Five cents invested in stig-ar is better than a dollar invested iu whips. He who cannot govern himself cannot govern horses. Ilasc Metal in Colorado. The production of base metals is no small feature of Leadville's output of wealth, and one base metal ore that of late Is assuming an importance of no small dimensions is manga niferotis iron, which is being mined for shipment to the steel works, where it is converted Into speigeleisen for utility in the manufacture of liessoiner steel. There are huge bodies of nianganiferous iron in I-eadville mines, and it is estimated that there are several millions of tons of ore in sight. These deposits were exposed while the lodes were being exploded for the veins of silver-bearing ore, and in the past, when exposed, the deposits of nianganiferous iron, unless carrying paying tjuantities of silver, were deemed of no value. Kxperlmcntal shipments were made, however, resulting in the discover that certa'. of the Leadville manganic iron ores contained sullicient manganese to produce a not inferior article of feriomangaue.se. Leadville Herald. liven with II Im'. Old Meanfusser Me give you anything? No. I won't; you're a fraud. You're not blind at all. Indignant One If I wasu't blind d'yer think I'd ask such a miserable, mean-lookin' cove as you are fer any-tldng?--OakIand Times. Hope builds a nest in man's heart where disappointment hatches itq brood.

SHEPHERDESS OF SHEEP.

She walks the lady of my delight A shepherdess of sheep; Her Hocks are thoughts; she keeps thetu white: She guards them from the steep. he leads them on the fragrant height, And folds them in for sleep. She roams maternal hills and brightDark valleys safe and deep: tier dreams are innocent, at night; The chastest stars may peep. She walks the lady of my delight A shepher less of sheep. She holds her little thourhts iu sight, Though gay they run atel leap; Sin is so circumspect and right She has her soul to keep: She walks the lady of my delight A shepherdess of sheep. -Pall Mall (Jazette. A SERIOUS AFFAIR. It U nlways an inscrutable mystery to everybody why other people quarrel. For our own little argument ihere is always, of course, good, sound and sullicient reason; for the disputes of other folk, the excuse appears ever alsurdly inadequate. Why, for inan : e, young !reig and Miss Klsie Norman, both returning from India on the ii-.-n-gal. should break off with amazing suddenness their engagement, just as the Ilengal was Hearing the Hay of llisca.v it was not easy to see. lut they did. "And I suppose." said young O.ivig, with a face that looked less Ikmm.hI than usual, "that nothing 1 caa say will alter your decision? Your mind is quite made up?" "It always is," declared Miss Norman. She held tightly to the brass rail and looked away at the spot in the distance which represented Spain. It is best when quarreling with anyone you have cared for not to look at their eyes. "I particularly wish that, for the time thatwe shall have to travel together, we shall see as little of each other as possible. We can easily say 'good by' at riyinouth." "It will not be easy for me." said Henry (Jreig. "I am not used to saying good -I) to anone that I that I have" "You should be glad of a new experience, Mr. Orcig. It's a precious thing nowadays." "You're not 3-ourself this morning, Klsie." "I wish I were not!" she exclaimed with a sudden change of manner. "If I were some one else I shouldn't be so unhappy. Here is Mrs. Kenton. She mustn't see m.v eyes. This is the last time we shall speak to each other, tii od by!" "liur, I say, isn't there some means " Klsie Norman held out her hand. Oreig pressed it and she turned and went below. Mrs. Itenton sank into her deck chair carefully, as stout ladies do, and seemed gratified when the deck chair only creaked complainingly ami did not give way. "Mr. Oreig. pray come here at once. Miss Norman monopolizes your time to fcuch an extent that we poor women see nothing of you. Sit here at once and tell me all about yourself." "It's an uninteresting subject." said (Jreig. pulling another deck chair to the side of Mrs. Kenton. "Tell me a secret, then. I'm exceedingly fond of secrets. When are you going to many Miss Norman?" "Never." "Never? Of course, 3011' re both young; but that seems a long time to wait, doesn't it? Mr. Van Straaten said " "Van Straaten is an old fool of the kind the3' make in (Jcruiaiiy. I shall have to ask Van Straaten not to interfere with my affairs." "His servant Hans is a queer 3-outh. He looks after the diamond samples, I suppose.' "I haven't seen Hans, but Van Straaten is the sort of old nuisance that ought to be labeled, like some of the luggage, 'Not wanted on voyage.' " "He alwa3-s speaks very highly of Miss Norman," remarked Mrs. Kenton, thoughtful'. Why shouldn't he?" "l'recisel.v. She's very charming, no doubt. I5ut 3ou should remember that Bhe is only a girl after all." "That fact has not escaped notice, Mrs. Kenton." Mrs. Kenton looked complacently down the undulating scene that her plump figure furnished and lifted first one small foot and then the other from under the hem of her skirt. The number appeared to be correct, for Mrs. Kenton, having nicutalhy audited them, sighed with satisfaction. "There is stiel a thing," said the widow, conlidentiall3', "as common sense." "I know. Cheap eau-de-Cologne and " "No. 110. Sense, S e n s e." "I wonder where, Mrs. Kenton?" 'It U not for me to tell you where," nnswerel Mrs. Kenton, modest I3', "all that I can say is that you don't find It with 3'oung girls. At the age of, sa3. Ö0 something, now, 3-ou often find a girl -or. perhaps, I should say a woman adinirabl3 fitted to be a companion to a sensible man." "The popular 'prejudice," renin rk'-d Creig, "is. nevertheless, oddly enough, li favor of girls 10 something." He looked up. "What in the world's the matter with Van Straaten?" The old Herman, with his pince-nez nwr3 pinching the end of his nose, was coming excitedly up the gangway. "Vere is the captain?" he screamed. "I insist. Fling me all at once the captain." The captain of the Kengal hurried Up. In a few words of mangled Knglish Mr. Van Straaten explained. A group of interested passengers stood around. . "I talk to Miss Norman for lcddle time." cried Mr. Van Straaten. "I go

then to my r;ah!n; I find there my breciotia diamonds vanished." "They can't have gone far, sir," said the captain. "TI103- have no need to po at all. Fight tousand bounds' vorth all gone. I must know now" quick who has stolen them alretty." "Any suspicion?" asked the eaptaiu. "I am not so sure. I am not so sure." '"Anybody on board seen them?" "Von person only. Mr. Oreig. if you please come here. I show 3"ou 1113 brocious diamonds, ain't it, two days after we leave Calcutta?" '"That is so," said l Jreig cheerfully. "And very magnificent diamonds they were. I remember telling you that I wished one or two were mine then, so that I might give them to " He stopped. "I suppose we shall have to search the cabins." said the captain of the Kengal. "It's a fearful nuisance, ladies and gentlemen, but it can't be helped. May wo begin with yours, Mr. (Jreig?" "I really don't know." protested Creig. "why I should have my cabin upset and turned out just because" "I desire that Mr. tJreig's cabin should be searched," said Mr. Van Straaten insistently. 'That settles it, then." said Ilenry Jreig. carelessl.v. "Fire away. ill come down with you." The crowd went below and stood in the corridor, while the examination was progressing. Klsie Norman, hearing the noise, left her aunt and. rather red at eyes, came forward. The captain. Mr. Van Straaten, the chief steward and Henr.v (Jreig reappeared at the door of the cabin. The old (Jerinan bore a leather case very carefully in his arms. "The diamonds have been found." answered the captain of the Kengal. seriously. "We shall not have to trouble you, ladies and gentlemen." They wen only ordinary folk, rather bored by the tediousness of the jour1103 from Calcutta and they could not help showing a certain relish over the diversion. "Most painful, really." "Case found under the pillow in the berth." "Seemed such an honest fellow, too." "My dear." said Mrs. Kenton, bitterl.v, "it doesn't do to trust anyone nowadays. You never knew who's who." "Kut you'd think really on a 1. &, O. steamship " "I'm sori'3 for that poor Miss Norman. She was engaged to him, you know." "Oh. that's broken off quite definito-

I3-. I heard her telling the old (Jernian J so. The old fellow asked her what was the matter and she told him. He was a partner of her father's, you know, and he seemed much concerned about it. You see. dear, I wasn't exactly listening, but " "Kut you heard, dear that's tho main point. Come into my cabin and see 1113 new serge dress." They went aft, leaving Creig at the door of his cabin. He was holding the sides to prevent himself from falling. Other passengers went past his cabin, keeping carefully to the other side of the narrow corridor. Not one of them spoke to him, but they all spoke to each other. "What does this mean?" cried Henry (Jreig. "Do tlnvy all suspect me of " "Harry!" A soft, while hand was laid on his arm with a kindl.v pressure. lie turned and seized it gladly. "Klsie! Aren't you, too, going to follow them?" Tell me first what it all moans." It did not take long to put the girl into possession of the facts. Her face llamed red with indignation. "And tney dare to think that 3-0 u would do a thing like that?" "Well." said Creig, uneasil.v, "they found the things there, you see. It's circumstantial evidence of rather an awkward kind. Hut I needn't tell 3011, Miss Norman " "My name is still Klsie." ".My dear girl! I needn't tell 3011 I should not dream of taking poor old Van Straaten's diamonds, or anybod3 else's." "I am quite sure of that. Harr.v. I must see him about it." She repinned her straw hat with a decided air. "We two must stand together now, whatever happens." "Klsie. hadn't .von better let me fight it out alone? The truth is nearly sure to come out sooner or later, and " "In the meantime, dear, you will have to forget our stupid quarrel of this this morning. I was quite wrong." "So was I," said (Jreig, promptly. A loan has no business to kiss a girl as she is ascending the gangway of a V. & O. steamship. It has loen done, no doubt, on more than one occasion, but it is nearly always an act to be condemned 13' right thinking people who have not had the chance of committing the crime. Nevertheless, if it is at a 113 time to be pardoned it was in the instance at present in question. "Kut," said the astonished Mrs. Kentoil to her companion, "I thought you said, my dear, that their engagement was all off." "She certainly said so. Why she should Im so affectionate with him now, after this scandalous affair, goodness only knoH's." "Ah, 1113 dear! Cirls are queer creatures." There were a few hours of mixed findings for Mr. Creig of the Kastern Kank. It was terrible to feel this suspicion hanging over him; to watch the looks cast at him by the passengers, to observe Mr. Van Straaten's almost comic appearance of injuiy; on the other hand, it was delightful to feel that close to him in this time of stress, as he sat on the deck or strolled up and down, was a cheerful young person in her very best spirits. The ha 3 meanwhile sympathetically behaved in a manner quite exemplary. "I am astonished, my dear," said Mr. Van Straaten, severely, "that you should be frieudly with Grieg after

what has habbened alretty. I strongly advise you gif him up. You dold me 3'ou had decided " "I've changed 1113- mind," she said delinitclj'. "Women folks are not good at a lot of things, but we do know how to change our minds." Mr. Van Straaten lifted his'hat and turned awa.v. The old gentleman when he was a few paces off seened agitated so much so that he had to pat his eyes gontl with his scarlet handkerchief. He called to one of the sailors: "Hell 1113 man Hans to come up instantly." Much commotion soon after the appearance of the stolid-faced Hans. A rush toward that part of the ship by all the passengers on deck. Swift talking in (Jerinan. Considerable temper 011 the part of Mr. Van Straaten; penitent words from Hans. "Mr. Creig." cried the old Cerman. "come here di-rectly. Ami Miss Norman. Listen to This horrooblo man of mine. I haf lost also my hatbox; I ask him where it is, and be replies that he think he place it b.v mistake in Mr. Creig' s gabin. Is it not so. Hans?" Sorrowful acknowledgment from tlx profusely penitent Hans. Mr. Van Straaten raised Iiis voice "Then I say to him, "Is it possible that you garcless schoundrel you blace also b mistake the diamond-box ia Mr. Creig's gabin?' And he said 'Yes." (Mute a noisy cheering from the assembled passengers. A pressing forward to congratulate (Jreig. He. tielighted beyond expression, turned to Klsie Norman. "You don't repent being counsel for m.v defense. 3-oung Portia?" "You are just the client 1 like." "Ami respecting this morning," said (Jreig. "Sir! I do not respect this morning. Let's look forward." They walked forward. "Dot was a good drick of mine." said Mr. Van Straaten. as he watched them. He wiped his glasses carefull3. 'I knew it would answer. I was once, a long time ago, in love mineself." St. James Kudget.

TO MEASURE AN ACRE. With a Ifope and Kitijis IJven One Perho n Can Do It Quickly. Few farmers know the size of their fields or how many acres thy contain, says the Kaltimore American. It is desirable in fact, indispensable for good work that a farmer should know this, otherwise he cannot apportion seed or manure for it; nor can he tell how much time it should take to plow, harrow or cultivate it. A good cotton cord the size of a plow line should be kept for this purpose. To make one. buy sixt3-sevcn feet of cotton rope, one inch round; fasten a ring at each end and make these rings precise- sixtysix foot apart. This is four rods. Tie a piece of red rag in the center. One acre of ground will be a piece four of these cords long and two and one-half wide, equal to sixteen b.v ten rods, making b'.o square rods to an acre. The advantage of the rings is that one person can measure also by driving a slake in the ground to hold the rope while in stretches it out. The rope should be soaked in tar ami then dried. This will prevent its shrinking. Last 3-ear a neighbor of the w riter had a heavy sod plowed b.v contract at S".."0 per acre. Three persons stepped it off. One said it was four acres, another made it a little over five and the contractor said it was three and a half acres. The contractor sent over and got this rope, and all live men measured it and it was found to be just three and a half acres. He had paid to have the grass cut off it for three years. SI per acre, or .o each season, counting it to be live acres in extent, thus losing S 1 ..( through ignorance. Cet a measuring line, and when cot iu tise put it awa.v. so that the hands cannot get at it, or they will be vor.v apt to cut a piece olf it to tie up harness, thus making it worthless for measuring purposes. A Vexed (Question. The great problem is how to train ami keep the physical system at the top of its capacity for work and enjoyment all the time. Those who do not get an abundant of outdoor exercise in their icgular avocations must secure its equivalent in some other wa3, or xifier the consequences. Tin? more exacting the work of the brain, the more needful is it to keep the whole system toned to the highest degree of endurance ami vitalit.v. I low to'do this each must settle for himself as best he can, with such professional advice as he can command; but to do it in some way is loth an interest and a dut3'. There is a religion of the IMMI3as well as of the spirit; indeed, true religion includes both bod 3 and mind. It is not a crusade on calisthenics ami the other methods of physical training that is want m1. but a wiser and more general use of thehi. We have mastered the art of making a perfect tree, and persuading a rose to bloom in any color we may choose; we know exactly how to rear just such a horse or dog as we desire; but who shall tell us how to develop and train the human body to perfection? When we go back and study the old Creek and Uonian models, our pride oozes out, and we are inclined to question whether we have not lost in one way quite as much as we have gained in another by this intangible something we call civilization. They Were Not Miracles. M. Littre. of Paris, who recently investigated a number of alleged miraculous cures, says that they can be accounted for without supposing a miracle. He explains that in many of such cures there is a muscular action of the affected part. The muscle contracts energetically; it breaks down the pathological adhesions, if they exist, and restores the bones violently to their place. The man who married his Ideal for his first wife Is looking about for a woman for his second.

SKINS OF FOXES AND OTTERS.

Most Valuable of the Fur Found in the Pacific Coast Icjioiis. The most precious of all Pacific coast furs, is the sea otter. There was a time) when this animal was ver.v plentiful off the California coast. 7' ho Ilussians aro iargel.v responsible for their destruction at the time they founded a settlement at Fort Koss, at the mouth of Russian 1 liver, in Sonoma Count 3. Somo sea otters are still captured off the California coast, and then are a few small vessels speciall.v engaged off the California coast sea otter hunting; but Alaskan waters are the chief source of supph- of this c;ass of fur-bearing animals. Sea otters are alwa.vs found atloat. and the hunter can capture them in no other way than 13 shooting. Tho deeper and colder the water they aro found in the better the fur and tho higher the price the hunter secures fop the pelt. A first-class sea otter skin in the raw is worth .SoDO to the hunter. The best sea otter pelts taken off the California coast will yield S'jro (ach to the hunter. There may be elements, however, in the pelt which may reduce the value of the Alaskan pelt to 8l'o and that of th California coast to s.. Tin coast of dapan has been a good hunting ground for sea otter, and during the past t wenty-live 3-ears several small craft hav sailed from San Francisco and San Diego to .la pan, outfitted for otter hunting. Almost all sea otter skins aro marketed in Russia, where the fur U in demand. Next in value to the sea otter is tho fox among the fur bearing animals of the Pacific coast. Six kinds are hunted for their pelts, which range from -0 cents to J?' each in the raw. These are the silver, cross, red, blue, gray and white. Something very ram among foxes is a black-coated animal, and tho fur of such a fox commands a fancy price, often running as high as $150. To supply the demand for blade fox furs, furriers prepare an imitation 13' dyeing the fur of the red fox. which is the cheapest pelt of the fox family, tho best "red" not being worth to tho trapper more than S'iI.'Jö per skin. If we extvpt the natural black fox. tho highest priced fox pelts are the "silver" and the "blue." A trapper gets for a perfect silver fox pelt as he strips it from the carcass about .?!, and for the best blue fox pelt about An effort is being made on the Aleutian Islands to farm the blue fox. Somo of the small islands in the group suitable for the purposes of farming havo been leased b some of the old trappers of the Hudson Pa.v and Alaska Commercial companies for a nominal rent, and these have been stocked with foxes. The animals are stockaded and regularly fed by the farmer, who is usualh- a "squaw" man; that Ls. onf living with a native woman, who is settled with his family on the island. Ia time the animals become domesticated and are then easil.v managed. Furriers are watching the experiment with considerable Interest. San Francisco) Chronicle. Courteous and Patriotic. Sir Walter Scott speaks repeatedly in his journal of the appearance of Fnglish youths as superior to those of Scotland. He theorized that Fnglish manners ripened earlier and more thoroughly in a sunnier climate. We do not usually think of Fugland as a hothouse: but there may be truth in the idea, as the grace and ease of oven tho most ignorant peasant in southern countries is generally acknowledged. The Now York Times gives this instance of a patriotic and graceful answer: An American lady attending somo recent convention in Oenoa, wore pinned to the lapel of her coat a tiny badge, whi'-h bore the Italian Hag. While 011 a water excursion she iir lioed a vessel which lloated the Stars and Stripes. A thrill of hoimweh shook her voice as she said, impulsively, to her boatman. "Did you ever see anything moro beautiful than that banner';" With a courteous bow, he answered: "Never, madam, except that which you honor by wearing over your heart." He Aimed High. President Lincoln once had a singular interview with a persevering stranger. This was a man who had been noticed hanging about the White House in Washington. Asked his business, ho said he wanted to sec Mr. Lincoln, and was not going away until he had seen him. Fltimately the President granted the visitor an interview. "Say, Mr. Lincoln." he began, "do you want a Secretary of War? For if you do, I'm your man." The President informed hint that at that moment he was not in need of such an article. With that the stranger withdrew, but as ho was leaving the room he turned and said: "Say. Mr. Lincoln, have you such a thiug as a pair of old trousers';' After a hearty laugh. Lincoln told hi visitor he almost deserved the secretaryship, "because," he added, "you aim high." Coing; Around a Curve. The driving wheels further from the renter of the curve have to cover a greater distance than the inner wheels, but must do so in the same length of time. The inner wheels turn, but h not advance, thus slitting on the track. The sliding is not perceptible to thovyo, but it has to be considered in plotting the curve. If the wheels slid too much or too little, the engine would not keep the track, but would jump it. Too Frank. She ttr bootmaker) You will mend my shoes direcll.v, will you not? llootmakevr Don't, be uneasy, madame it would be impossible to overlook such shoes. Fliegende Illaetter. An 1-J vi tie-nee of (inotl Tnste. "Cannibals have a redeeming trait, after all." "What's that';" "They're very fond of children."yown Topics. , 1