Walkerton Independent, Volume 24, Number 47, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 10 June 1899 — Page 2

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I ft X' y / B^weirapM&l CHAPTER VII. “Amid the earthiness of life. Vexation, vanity and strifeSabbath, how sweet thy holy calm Comes o’er the soul, like healing balm; Comes, like the dew to fainting flowers. Renewing their enfeebled powers.’’ —Thomas Grinfield. The following Sabbath morning the entire Leland family, with the exception of Aunt Rachel, attended divine service, according to their custom. It was a perfect June morning. Dew still sparkled on the fresh, green grass as they drove along to the meeting house, the same meeting house whose windows, bleak and bare, had looked at Paul Revere with a spectral glare on the never-tc-be-forgotten night of his immortal ride. The clear, delightful air was sweet with the fragrance of field flowers and all sorts of blossoming things. Birds sang merrily on fence-top and tree. Over all pourcd the radiant sunshine and the exquisite ■ stillness of a Sabbath day. Except for the serious, anxious faces of , the people who met in silence at the door of the meeting house and greeted each other with friendly nods but unsmiling ] lips, no one would have dreamed of the , tragedy recently enacted within sight of ( that spot or of the terrible days yet to come. i

Scarcely a heart in the little assembly that did not feel its burden of sorrow and foreboding pressing heavier than ever that fair morning. For word had come of assaults soon to be made: many of the militia had been allowed to spend this day with their families and all realized the gravity of the situation. Timothy Leland ever since Desire’s announcement of her promise given to her country's enemy had felt a strange depression of soul. His heart was heavy within him. He made his preparations for accompanying his sons to Cambridge with little of the patriotic zeal which had hitherto inspired him. Who knew but that a bullet from his gun might not cut off the life so dear to his beloved child? His head was bowed in anguish of perplexity and sorrow. He sat in his accustomed place at the head of his great, square pew. and his prayers rose up in one mightypleading: "O Lord, my God. graciously bestow Thy spirit in full measure upon thy servant and direct him in all his ways.” His comely, capable wife, the Mistress Esther, sat by his side, and her thoughts were all of him and the two stalwart sons upon her other hand. They, fresh from scenes so strongly in contrast to the quiet farm life they had hitherto known, eager for the coming opportunity to avenge the cruel wrongs of their fellow townsmen, paid slight heed to the good parson's sermon. Sylvia and Dolly were opposite them. Doily, conscientious little worshiper, gave heed to every word, but Sylvia's eyes strayed continually to the singers' seats, where her sisters sat. David Townsend I and Roger Stedman were also there. Roger had been one of the first to join '‘the grand American army." This was his first visit home. As Sylvia looked at these four, she felt a renewed rush of anger against Delight and sorrow for Dave, and a mixture of emotions towards Desire. What would Roger say. she wondered, when he learned all that had been happening during his absence? Softly the opening words of the majestic anthem fell upon her ears. '‘The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Then Roger’s sweet tenor and Dave's deep bass rang out in duet: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place?” And Desire's flute-like soprano blended with her sister's alto in the answer: "He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully." In unison the four voices joined: "He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek Him. that seek Thy face, O God of Jacob. Lift up your heads. O ye gates, and be ye lifted up. ye everlasting doors, And the King of glory shall come in—the King of glory shall come in.'” Again the tenor and bass, in duet, askefl: "Who is this K::v if glory? Who is »b\s KinK of utory’i” And the glad respond ; n <h --s « nnartet, choir, double bass viol v .■ L and flute fill' d the fid church with swelling flood of w. Av: "The Lord—th- Lord. mighty'. The Lord. :he Lord, ti 1 mighty in battle. I.if: up your heads, O ye gates! Ev. । ing doors. And the King of glory shall ^■ome in! The King of glory shall corm in!” Once more the query sounded out: •'Who is this King of glory? Who is this King of glory?" bringing the jubilant answer: “The Lord of Hosts, the Lord of Hosts He is the King of glory. He is the King ol glory. He is the King, the King of glory!

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As the last ringing notes died away the congregation sat in an awed hush. It seemed as though the everlasting dm * had been lifted up in very truth, giving them a glimpse of the mighty King of glory, the Lord of Hosts, who was about to come and lead His little band of devout. earnest followers on to certain victory over their foes and His. A strange light shone on all their faces and each heart felt itself exalted to higher duty and strengthened for greater sacrifices. Between the morning and the afternoon services, those who came from any disanee gathered in the churchyard, and ate the luncheon they had brought with them. It was at this time that Roger came over to greet the Lelands. H'> shook hnnd< with ‘hem all. and very soon led Desire a short distance away for , a private talk. They sat down on the grass quite near his b: c'ner's gravestone. She could plainly read me inscription cut in its d-ab surface. Roger was the first to apeaa.

; "I had meant to wait until to-night. Desire. It is a more fitting time to say what । is in my heart, but matters are in so uncertain a state at present I know not if I may not be called away at any moment. You have heard that hostilities may begin without notice. We can no longer doubt that open warfare will soon be made, and God alone knows where it will end. All true men are offering their services and their lives freely as water. It might appear unsuitable to even so much as think of gentler things—but the first thought of my life has been for you so long that It cannot be otherwise now. Oh. Desire, where shall I find words to show you my love? Surely each day ams hour these years back have done it already. Twice i before now 1 have begged you to listen to I my confession, have longed for the chance j to pour my love at your feet and to win I your consent to become my loving and be--1 loved wife. Twice you have pressed back the avowal, bidding me think no more of such a thing. As well might you bid the shining sun to stay his course. And now. Desire, now on the very cv? of ail this uncertain future which stares us in the face, may I not beg you to accept my devotion, my protection, all that a man can do for the safety and happiness of the woman dearer to him than all others are or ever can be?” He paused, warned by her upraised hand. "No. Roger.” she said in the gentlest way, "I cannot hear you, for I have no love to give you in return. It has been bestowed on one whom you consider your enemy." His fine, dark face seemed to stiffen in his efforts at self-controi. Like a beautiful statue he sat until he felt sure of himself. It was characteristic of the man that his whole first thought was of her rather than of his own disappointment and i loss.

"God help you. Desire!" be murmured. | "Do you realize what this may cost you?" “Yes. Roger. I have suffered much already." After another long silence, during which his face was hidden in bis hands, he said: "Tell me of —of —him, if you will, Desire.” She hesitated. By her own heartache she knew something of what he was enduring. "Do not be afraid, dear.” he went on, reading her thought. "Do not think of me. You are not to blame that I have loved you all your life. I wish much to know something of—of him. 1 may be able to serve him—for your sweet sake.” Tears blinded her and overflowed. Who was she to receive such loyal, self-forget-ful love as this? "Oh. Roger.” she cried brokenly, laying her hand on his arm. He steeled himself and set his teeth bard. "Tell me quickly, dear. It is nearly time for us to go into church again." In a few hurried words the little story was told, and it would be hard to suy which was the sorer heart, the one that spoke or the one that listened. As he walked beside her back to the singers' seats he vowed a solemn vow that Gilbert Merridale should escape injury so far as he could prevent it. let what might happen to him in consequence. Desire stood in her place and held her book before her. but the words swam in a mist and her voice refused to do her bidding. She never once thought of excusing herself. Puritan maidens were trained to evade no duty, and they learned early in life to exert the stern self-command so noticeable in their race. But nature was stronger on this Sabbath afternoon than any power of will. Other hearts besides hers were aching bitterly, and such a swelling tide of silent sympathy at sight of her emotion rose in the cheerless old meeting house as rendered criticism or rebuke impossible. But one verse of the closing hymn was even attempted. After the benediction, the company separated as if Death himself had been visibly present among them. The stillness of the grave lay over Lexington for the remainder of that Sabbath day. Even the children spoke in whispers, un onsciously respecting the grief they saw so plainly written on the faces around them. Each household drew together, then sat speaking little except by tender looks and acts of tender thoughtfulness. As twilight came on words of prayer formed the natural outlet for the burdens of all souls rising at every family altar, and often accompanied by hymns of praise and supplication. Just before dark Delight Leland slipped noiselessly from her place in the circle grouped around her father's chair. Wrapped in a dark cloak she glided stealthily through the garden to the very farthest edge of the orchard where a clump of alders bordered a rapid brook. She had found that morning a sign cut in a designated tree. She expected to meet Archie by the brookside and she was not disap- ■ intod. Gilbert Merridale was with him.

Th it interview was brief. “VU bid h. r . "ine C .vn here now Gib : bert, but I doubt if she will q o it I fear i you do n..t know my sister. Desire, right- ’• M onld mh. :v< u 1 were half as t rm* , - -h. -aid Delight in leaving them. > Gilbert lifted his cap. . | "She is the sweetest lady in the laud j i and that I swear,” he answered. "And if p I she will not come here. I will seek her tin I world over till I find her.” Delight laughed and hurried away. Tht s j iwo young men concealed themselves t i again among the alders. Desire came out of the house at her sis ijter's call, entirely unsuspicious of tin f I startling message she was to receive. Foi » an instant she stood motionless after hear

ing it. then swiftly retraced her steps tc the kitchen. •■Father." she said, with distinctness “Gilbert Merridale is without. He wouk speak with me. Have 1 your permission? “Gilbert Merridale?" repeated her lath er in bewilderment. Yes, lather. He is the one I told vot of.” J he simple u ords and the unconscious entreaty of her tones touched every heart AH ey> s were fixed on the two. "Who shall relieve me from this griev ous strait?" the man broke on- at length groaning. “Oh, Desire, my daughter, ym ask of me more than I have strength t< do!" She knelt by his side and clasped he soft fingers around his hard brown palm He saw that her eyes were full of tears. "You know I will do jour bidding, lath er.” she murmured. For many minutes nothing was heart but the slow ticking of the tali woodei clock in the chimney corner.

“God forgive me. if I err. Let him come in. my child." he said then. Desire kissed his rugged cheek before she went out to give her message to Delight. "Tell Gilbert that 1 will see him here,” she whispered. The (dder sister stared at her in undisguised wonder. "Here!" she said over after her blankly. "Here! Why. Desire, are you gone daft? It is risking his very life to be seen!” “My father has bidden me ask him. Is that not surety enough ?" she asked proudly. “rather!" again exclaimed Delight, incredulous. She looked with curious intentuess at Desire's lovely face. Ad envious pang shot through her guilty breast. Once more came the swift longing that she, too, wore as fearless and as true to u hat she knew to be right. A deep sob hurst from her lips as she vanished into to? growing darkness. Like a fleeting shadow she passed down among the trees to the brookside.

\ on will have a chance to make your bold saying good, my rash friend,” she announced to the wondering young officer when they had emerged from their covert to meet her. “My sister Desire sends you word to join her at tier home, in the presence of her family.” "By my faith." cried Archie MePheadris, placing his hand with quick involuntary motion to his hip, “stir not a step, Gilbert, on your peril. Forgive me, love,” be added, on the instant mindful of Delight s iiMligmmt glance: "I remembered only that we are in the midst of enemies. Tis a perplexing message. I confess it is not plain to me.” “It is the simple truth. Archie.” Delight said, and for one fleeting space she saw that for this very reason it might be unintelligible to his wily self. But ere the thought had fairly crossed her mind. he. alarmed at his indiscretion, had drawn her to his arms and was murmuring endearments which made her forget all else in hearing them. Gilbert Merridale, meanwhile, had been thinking rapidly. He drew his fine figure up with a pride equaling Desire's. “I will go," he decided. “Wait for me here, Archie. I know the way.”

(To be continued.) Copyright. A FORTUNE IN A BUSTLE. Tht startling Adventures of a Hi, toric SSOO Bill. The United States sub-treasury in this city, says the Chicago Post, has just forwarded to the Treasury Department at Washington a SSOO bill which was in the possession of ex Mayor Cregier for more than thirty years, and which has a strange and Interesting story. This venerable and aristocratic member of I'ucle Sam's currency family "as issued March 3. ISO 3. and so has seen thirty-six years of service. Rut for the greater part of its |jf c it has been dootmsl to solitary confinement in the drawer of a safe deposit vault. Previous to its long term of imprisonment, however, its experiences were exciting, and. to a degree, historical. "The history of this bill." said D. C. Cregier. Jr., custodian of the poli Jepartment of the city, “is thoroughly fa miliar to me, being one of the eherishi'd traditions in our family. In the earlier years of my fathers business experience he managed to get ahead,’ and saved a neat little sum above his living expenses. I'm- be deposj.-d in a certain bank. But one morning he awoke to find that his savings were gone in the collapse of the institution holding bis dep .sits. He did i.u " bully lose confidence in banks, and was soon depositing again. Then came another crash, and once more he saw the savings of years swept away. "This second experience settled his course so tar as the keeping of his earnings was concerned. He determined to become his own banker, and this was his custom when he became engineer of the city water department. A few’ days before the historic tire he had a leave of .absence to go to our country home in St. Charles. As on the occasion of his previous home visits, he left bis money in tin* inner chest or drawer of the pumping station safe. This amounted to SIO,OOO. and was all the cash he had in the world, aside from a very small sum which he took with him for family and personal expenses. When th. news eame that Chicago was burning he naturally was greatly excited. Uis experience in getting back into the city and reaching the water works was an exciting one. and he had to walk much of the wav.

"Ihe third day after the lire he was able to haul rhe safe our of the smoking ruins, and in it he found his bills sate and sound, save tor a dark singe at one end of each package. ’Packing the currency about his clothes, he made his way back to St. Charles, and held a serious discussion with mother as to the best manner of disposing of the bills. Mother declared that she would keep the money where it would be safe. Father had full confidence in her. ami assented to this proposition. Mother went to the family shoemaker and had him secretly make a long purse or wallet of red Russia leather. It had only one poeket and a flap. To each corner of this purse she sewed a strong tape long enough to reach around her waist. For fully six months following the tire she carried this burden of SIO,OOO in greenbacks tied about her. under her clothing. Os । ur-e. m> other person than father and i > rselt knew she hail this money about i . and it was not until she laid it I aside that sho laughingly told us she : a mloubtediy the only woman who had worn a Slo.ooo bustle.” A Terrible Threat. George, said Mrs Younglove, "do you know that you have kissed me only once during the past three hours?”

"Yes,” he replied, “ami if you eat any more green onions ! may make it three hours and a half next time.” Nlm could only tremble ami wonder if it were to turn out that her love had been misplaced, after all. "bat AHected Appreciation. Husband What was that you were playing, my dear? M ife I >id you like it? “It was lovely!—the melody divine, the harmony exquisite!” "It is the very thing 1 played last | evening, and you said it was horrid.” "Well, the steak was burned last i evening/’ I tie Real Points. Ihe nine points of law are thus coneisely, if somewhat cynically, given: Hi A good deal of money; (2» A good . deal of patience: (3) A good case; A good lawyer; (5) a good counsel; (Q) i Good witnesses. (7) A good jury; (8) A I good judge; tU) Good luck.

THE TONGA ISLANDS. HOW THEY CAME INTO ENGLISH possession. Case Os Nuti onal ^hurp Practice and “Getting There Fit st” - Germany Was About to eeize tDe Group, but Wa» ‘Nitwitted by th® Native King.

The detail of the ” f tho Tonga groups of islands under the British flag have only ret>e» lI N been imide puldie in this country. 1,1,1 tl)ere 11 vein of humor running through tin- affair that gi Ves it a n ,on ' ,hau usual amount of interest The T° n « a «roup forms a portion of ’ he I’Tiendly ,s >- ands, and is located • 1i,,1e uorlU of 11,0 tropic of Capricorn, between it and the F ‘ji archipelago w>» thw * st us Sa ’ moa. While the h™ ”f »o Kreut commercial value, ’ he - v lor “ 1 a hereditary monarchy, getetued by a king and a legislative assembly, composed of thirty-one noble* uud thirty-one r< p resentutlves elected i ’- v thv people. This Htle kingdom eiuhraees three groups of islands— the Tonga. Haapai and Vavan covering au area ol ' ,74 ^loot'e miles, with a population of 17.500. the capital belli fainted at longatabu. The islands \ave several ot the best Larbors 11 Baeitic. For vcihE' finally has been scheming to get j®Rc*»slou of Tonga. Last winter the ^Kfian vice consul at Sa moa. Mr. gAj, arrived at Tonga amL presented amounting to $100;000, as beinß’je from the Tongans to German traß \ and demanded tb’ir immediate payment, but as some of these clainM’were more than twenty years old die king repudiated them. When Mr. Grune found he could not secure the money for bis claims he departed with the official notification that within a few mouths a German war vessel would arrive at You You and enforce immediate payment, or. In ease of further refusal, seize the Islands. Ihe consul had no soner departed than the king communicated with the British authorities at Sydney and the cruiser Tauranga was at once dis patched for Tonga, arriving early in December. The officer in command had a conference with the king, and after some three hours of debate the sovereignty of the entire group was transferred to Great Britnin. the Tongan government remaining a dependency of the British crown. The captain of the Tauranga turned over to the king $125.- • «*'. and the next day 'he British flag was raised with all necessary formal! ties and great rejoicings on the part of the people. Great Britain guarantees pence and order to tin' Islands, secures flexlty of Land tenures and additional rights to foreign settlers on the group. -Chicago News. ob'd vatio^ at the Blue Hill Observatory showed that for several days before the great cold wave of February last, the high cirrus clouds, which at tain an elevation of almut nine miles, moved with unusual velocity. On one <lay these clouds were flying at the rate of miles per hour. It is thought that measures of cloud motions "ill play an important part in weather pre diet ions hereafter. Dr. D. G. Brinton calls attention to the rapid extinction of th ■ Polynesian tribes inhabiting the Pacific archipelagoes. A hundred years auo the Hawai lan Islands were said to contain im.ooo native inhabitants; to-day they have ■scarcely 30.0. 0. The same rapid dimin lition has occurred throughout Polynesia, and is attributed mainly to leprosy, tuberculosis and evil ways of living.

The best way to prevent fog is the wusumption of smoke and the removal Jf dust. Hot bodies repel dust by molecular bombardment; cold bodies attract it. For this reason furniture in 1 room with an open lire is less dusty than when the heating is-done by a furnace. A disclunge of electricity also lispels dust. A thunderstorm clears the air. not only by the tall of heavy Irops of rain, but by the electrical dis:urbauee. The particles of dust are thrown down, and the germs tailing into milk and other foods prtxluce fermentation. It is for this reason that when there is thunder in the air, it is had keeping weather.

According to the newspapers of San Francisco, that city is sinking into the sea. Surveys made by the city authoi ities are said to have shown that the average rate of subsidence is two inches a year. The engineers explain the phenomenon by the condition of the ground on which the city is built—sand mixed with decayed vegetable nmttei extending to :1 depth ot h jj-i sjxd feet- and believe that the « ompression or escape of soil, this under the heavy load of bulldogs which have been placed on it. is sufficient to account for the subsidence. Whether the spongy soil settles by compression or escapes into the sea remains to lie determined.

The director of the geological survey of India says there is abundant, evid. .lee that the tenacity with which epidemics of the plague cling to particular localities, such as Bombay, is intlueneed by the geological formation of the underlying s °d and rock. Ateas where trap and crystalline rocks exist seem to be especially adapted to the spread of the disease. The agency ot rats in disseminating the plague is also regarded as provi d. After the granaries at Bombav have been emptied, m the grain export season, the plague immediately spreads, because then the rats are compelled to scatter through the town in search of food.

Recent descriptions ot ihe great lane of liquid asphaltum, or bitumen, in the island of Trinidad, show that notwithstanding the enormous quantitj ot the substance removed every jear. the sup ply is nndiminished. I he lake covers about lop acres, and is higher in the middle than at the edges. Near the center the black pitch is semi liquid, but toward the sides a crust, intersected with fissures, covers the surface, and on this crust a man can walk, although when he stands for a time the

crust gradually sinks around him. forming a kind of basin some yards across. Between 80,000 and 110,000 tons of asphaltum is removed from the lake annually. LAW AS INTERPRETED. A iln osophh al corporation is held, in New England Theosophical corporation vs. Boston (Mass.), 42 L. R. A. 2SI, to bi* neither a scientific, Iwnevolent, nor charitable Inst .-tut ion, within the meaning ot a statute respecting taxation. A municipal corporation enforcing a valid ordinance for vaccination is held, in VYyatt vs. Rome (Ga.) 42 L. R. A. ISO, to be exercising a governmental function and therefore not liable for any damages caused by impute vaccine matter. Au injunction against adding names to a political committee, or striking names therefrom, is refused in Kearns vs. Hom ley (Pa.). 42 L. R. A. 235, on the ground that the committee has no property rights. The fact that the law recognizes political parties and committees chosen at primary elections is not deemed sufficient to give the court any (ontrol over the acts of tin* committee. A curfew ordinance passed without express legislate authority, prohibiting all persons under the age of 21 years from being on the streets or alleys of a city after u oleloek at night, unless-aceomp.inied l>y [latent or guardian. or in search of a physician, is held, iti ex parte Mi-Carver (Texasi. 42 1,. R. A. 587. to be void for unreasonableness and aa-an invasion of the personal liberty of citizens. Good faith in the valuation put upon property for which stock of a corporation is issued is all that is demanded in Kelly vs. Fourth of July Mining Company i Mont.i. 42 L. R. A. (>23. under a law which provides that stock may be issued for property to the amount of the value thereof. And this good faith is held to be such belief as a prudent and sensible business man would hold In the ordinary conduct of his business. The attempt of an executive committee to forestall the action of a party convention which it calls is held, in Hutchinson vs. Brown (Cali., 42 L. R. A. 232. to be ineffectual, and the violation of their pledges or the sacrifice of party interests by members of the convention in making a nomination or adopting a plan of fusion Is-held insufficient ground for refusing to file a certificate of nomination.

A boulevard 150 feet wide, of which sixty fret is grmbd. while the remainder is occupied by grass plats and sidewalks, and which is under the control of park and boulevard commissioners. who constitute a city agency, is held, in Burridge vs. Detroit (Mich.), 42 L. R. A. i’>B4. to be a stretU. for the defective condition of a sidewalk on which tin* municipality is liable as if the boulevard was under the direc' । ontrol of the Common Council.

POLITENESS Os Women to Women hm to-Seats in t rcet < u rw. If anything riles a woman, it is to have some younger woman get up and offer her a seat in a street ear. This misplaced civility infers that tin- elder, woman is to be considered on account <>i her age. when. In fai t, there is little difference in years between the two. 1 witnessed a droll bit of comedy the other day in a Brookline electric that makes me smile every time 1 think of it. The car was full, with several passengers standing, when in bounced a stout. well-preserved person, with white hair beautifully pompadoured. She was dressed in deep mourning, but a bunch of violet in the front of the coat gave a touch of "mitigation” no her grief, which was quite borne out by the merriment lurking in her mouth and eyes. The lady grasped a strap and look d out of the window. Then suddenly a young person sitting near, observing, perhaps, that no man in the car intended to offer his seat, rose and leaning forward touched the other on. the arm, saying: "Won’t you have my seat?” "Are you going to get out?” asked the standee. "No, ma'am," replied this tactless creature, "but you are older than I, and " But the sentence was never finished. If a glance could slay, that young person would have fallen on the floor dead. "Thank you. When lam too old to stand up. 1 shall not enter a public conveyance.” That was all. The junior woman slunk back into the seat, and some of the passengers tittered.—Cincinnati Enquirer. Quaint Prayers. A small farmer, an Eglishman, old and devout, had a dozen cattle, two or three of which he lost by the eattledisease then prevailing. A clergyman expressed his sympathy, ami the aged man replied. “The Bible tells us that the cattle on a thousand hills are His. so when He wants any, He knows where to find 'em." Evidently the good farmer took pride in his small herd, and felt complimented by the death of two or three of them. The Rev. Newman Hall, from whose "Autobiagraphy" we have taken this quaint bit of piety, reports as quaint a prayer, uttered by an old, decrepit workman, whom he visited in an almshouse.

“We prayed together, and at my request. leaning back in his easy chair, lie prayed for me in terms 1 have never forgotten: ‘God bless him! Make him like the candlestick beaten gold! Help him to say as the sailor when he rounds a dangerous point. “All is well!” if Thou make him useful Thou wilt give him trials: but it s grand cross-bearin’ when it’s tied on wi’ love!’ ” During our civil war there was a great dearth ot cotton in the English manufacturing towns, and a quantity of inferior short fiber was imported from Surat in India. A mill-hand, praying at a prayer meeting. said. “O Lord, send us cotton! send us cotton! but no Surat. Lord!” Paris Barber Regulations. Parisian barbers are legaly compelled to wash their hands after attending a customer ami before waiting on another. They must also use only nickel-plated combs. Learn to avoid detail. It will help you when on the witness stand, and will often save embarrassment when you are telling an innocent little story.

GAME PRESERVE IN CANADA. Plans to Secure 3D^)(X> Square Mites of Kimting'and Fishing Grounds. About the most ambitious tlsh and ' game club yet projected on this eonti- 1 nent is the proposed Lake St. John Limited Privilege Club, with a projiosed membership running into the thousands and the rights to the fishing ami hunting contained in 30,000 square miles of territory. A few prominent Canadians and Englishmen are interested in the movement, but the great, bulk of the members will be Americans. The promoters of the club have already secured control of nearly all the trout ami ouananiehe waters of Lake St. John and its tributary Lakes and riyets. All the rivers flowing in from the north and west, some of which are 200 ot 300 miles long, and all the waters connected with them, are already secured. Small portions of some of the great lakes' southern f<*eders are fished by existing clubs that will probably be absorbed in the new organization. Expenditures to the amount of $400,000, already made in acquiring these rights, in (‘reeling hotels at Roberval and the (■rand Discharge of Lake St. John, in providing steamers on these waters, and for canoes, camp equipment, etc., will be assumed by the club. Hatcheries are to be established for both trout and ouananiehe to keep up the supply of these fish in all the club watcis, ami most important undertaking of all the Atlantle salmon is to be planted in all the large vapid rivers flowing into Lake St. John.

Arrangements are now being made with the Government of the province of Quebec for securing two’ immense tracts of territory for game parks for the new club. Each of them is to be about I'.uoo square miles in extent. One of them will run back from Roberval, on the west shore of Lake St. John, toward the St. Maurice district, and the other will be southeast of the lake, and take in the Lae de la Belle Riviere district, already noted for the <iuantity of large game found therein. These parksare to be abundantly stocked and to be Inclosed by heavy wire fencing. The fences alone will cost $150,000. In addition to moose, elk. caribou and red: deer, it is projiosed to stock these parks with the best species of foreign game birds from localities enjoying similar climatic conditions to those of Canada. MET HENRY CLAY. Aii Anecdote Related by Miss Crosby,, the Blind Hymn Writer. One of tiie anecdotes related by Fanny Jane Crosby, the blind hymn writer, concerns her meeting with, Henry (Tay. Clay had been invited to visit (lie institution for the blind, at Thirty-fourth street and Ninth avenue. "I was but a girl at the time, not yet out of my teens,” she said at her Brooklyn home, "but 1 had had considerable experience, and while not reasonably known to Mr. (Tay I had written little things and sent them to him. One in particular which 1 had sent to him about that time was upon the death of his son. which was fresh in his mind, for he referred to it when he began sjieaking to us. "At 3.o’clock Clay, with a number of friends, drove up to the entrance of the institution in a> carriage and alighted. All the girls were marshaled in the grounds in our best bib and tucker, witli the board of managers, just inside the entrance gate. It was a nice day in May, I. remember, and the girls who had prepared their pieces cajne forward and recited them to Mr. day. He appeared greatly moved at the demonstration, as indicated by the tones of liis voice in his reply, for, of course, L did not see him.

"Mr. Clay, who was, I believe, one of the kindest of men, alluded to his several communications with me, and my deep sympathy in his sorrow over the death of his son, and spoke of his sympathy at what he described as nr* misfortune in not being able to view smiling nature in its happiest mood as Lt was on that May day. He had something to say to the other girl speakers, and went up to the institution itself ami seemed to feel a deep interest in everything. “Mr. Clay sat town to a luncheon prepared by the girls, and asked particularly as to who had prepared each one of the good things. Then he said that at his Kentucky home he had simple food, and so they could understand how great was his delight to get such nice food when away from it. All of the girls voted Mr. Clay as the greatest and best of men. He went away greatly pleased with his visit.” —New York Sun.

Discovery of Acetylene Gas. The facts relating to the discovery of acetylene gas are interesting. It appears that some years ago Thomas L. Willson of St. Catharines, Ont., was smelting for metallurgical purposes. From time to time he used a good deal of rock salt in his furnace stock, and also limestone as a flux. Whenever these two materials were fused together the slag produced bj- the Intense electrical heat included a dirty grayish substance wholly unlike anything else he had ever seen. For weeks he noticed this substance without giving more than passing attention to it, (lumping it into the stream upon the bank of which he had built his furnace. One day a curious thing occurred and nt a time when the pile of slag had become so large that its top rose above the surface of the water. A minute or two after dumping the slag as usual into the stream, some of it going under and part remaining above the water in a red-hot state, the sizzling ami steaming was followed by a bright burst of flame. The next time Mr. Willson used rock salt and limestone the blaze again appeared over the slag after it had been east into the river, and, it being at night, he was much struck by the brilliant white light produced. The next time that he had a batch of the queer grayish residue to dispose of he did not waste it. but saved it and poured over it some water for experiment. He held a lighted match over the pile, when instantly there was a white, glowing tlame.— Western Electrician. Absolutely False. Citizen—ls there any truth in the Morning Screecher’s statement that since you assumed the reins of government the city's treasury has been irregularly plundered by politcians? Tile boss-Well. I should say not. Why. the thing has been done as regular as clock work.—Philadelphia Record.

DIFFICULT CHINESE LANGUAGE. Lack of A1 phabet and Number of Characters Distingiiishini; Features. The oldest spoken language now existent upon the earth is the Chinese. It has an enormous list of words —the estimate of the number of characters ranges from 25,(.00 to 2(10.000. The language lias no alphabet. Each character lepiesents a complete idea, and corresponds, practically, to the English "ord. It is written in columns from top to bottom of the page, and from right to loft. A Chinese book ends uheiean English book begins. Writing is done with a fine camel's-hair b»-ush and india ink. The lack of an alphabet and the wumber of characters make the labor of learning to read Chinese burdensome. Each character must be learned by itself. \\ hen the student has mastered 5,000 characters the succeeding thousands must lie learned in the same way. Those which he lias mastered furnish no assistance to learning the others, save as practice may have giv^ him a ceitain quickness in perceiving the [>eeuliar form which distinguishes each character from its fellows. 1 he giammar of the language is so simple as to be almost non-existent. The same word serves indifferently as •i noun, verb, adverb or adjective. Moods, tenses, persons, gender and number are lacking; there are neither conjugations, nor declensions, nor auxiliary verbs. The few Chinese who to.™ ttempted to the English - n-Kant its grammatical construction as clumsy and full of pittails. The Chinese characters give no clew to the pronunciation, and no amount of book study will enable a foreigner to speak the language. That ability must be acquired from the lips of a living teacher, assisted by months of drill, a quick ear, and great flexibility of the vocal organs. Even the most faithful effort tails to. enable many foreigners to>spends Chiinese correctly. The Animated Stamp.

Reforms are wrought in many and curious ways, but seldom in a stranger manner than that in which, says the Kansas City Star, a certain drunkard was sobered. This man had wandered at midnight into a low saloon. He gave his order, and then leaned against the bar for support. A man standing near by took from one pocket an addressed envelope, and from another a stamp, which he moistened with his tongue. Instead of adhering to the envelope, as the man intended, the stamp slipped from his Angers and fluttered to the floor. The tippler saw it fall, and staggered forward to pick it up. Just as he was about to grasp it, the stamp darted in a zigzag course toward the side wall, like a scared thing. Filled with astonishment, the drinker drew back and intently watched the bit of paper, which, upon reaching the wall, began to ascend. As it ascended, the tippler’s face grew more intent, his body more rigid. He saw nothing but the mysterious, moving thing. His mind was soggy from years of ceaseless drinking. He thought that the animated stamp was a warning. At the top of the wainscoting the stamp stopped, squatted as if for a momont’s rest before ascending higher, and’ then made a dart toward the tippler's haggard face. The trembling set saw it stop, saw it hesitate, and leap. He was unquestionably doomed if be cont inued lo>nger to drink to excess; the stamp had been given life to warn him. So it seemed to him. With a pitiful yell of fear and determination he rushed from the saloon. From that eventful night until he died, in prosperous circumstances, recently, the man never swallowed a drop of liquor. The moistened stamp had fallen upon a cockroach’s back, and stuck there. Oldest Bank. Note Extant.

Among the many products of civilization which were familiar to the Chinese many centuries before they came into use in Europe may be reckoned bank notes. There is at this moment in the possession of “The Old Lady in Threadneedle Street” a specimen supposed to be one of the oldest extant, dating from the fourteenth century of our era. It is now proved, however, that paper money was issued in China as early as 807 A. D. These securities closely resembled the famous French assignats in being based upon the estates of the kingdom. The Bank of Stockholm claims to have been the first western institution to adopt a paper currency, but the Bank of England must have followed very close with its £2O notes, which were issued in IG9G.—London Chronicle. Took His Bridal Trip Alone. The cook of a family living in a suburb of London came upstairs one afternoon, and. twisting the corners of her apron, with considerable embarrassment said to her mistress: “You see, mum, I thought it ’ud be best to tell you that I—that I got married last week.” "Ah. indeed! And what is your name now. Hannah?" “Mrs. Williams, mum. My husband he’s a sheft in a hotel.” “A chef, eh? That's very nice. And do you expect to leave us directly. Hannah?” “Not directly, mum. I’ll stay with you for the present. You see, my husband's gone to Jersey on his honeymoon, and it'll be nigh on a fortnight before he comes back.”—London Telegraph. The Rubber Tree.

The rubber tree is usually tapped four times during the first year of its maturity. and the intervals of rest are gradually diminished until it can be tapped monthly. The rubber tree is the milch cow of the vegetable kingdom; its yield continues to increase with frequent and skillful milking until it reaches its maximum. Properly cared for. a tree will yield steadily up to its fortieth year; in some instances, as Leng as fifty or sixty years.' The yield of gum. as well as the market price, is variable; but a healthy tree should yield a revenue of sls to S2O per annum. Hoist with His Own Petard. Greedy grocer to farmer’s wife, who is supplying him with butter: “This pun' o’ butter is ower Licht, gudewife.” Gudewife: "Blame yersel’, then; I weighed it wi' tne pun’ o’ sugar I gat frae ye yestreen.”—Tit-Bits. A woman whose hair is the color of pulled tatty can’t go into a drug sto r e without starting a, story that she uses hair dye.