Walkerton Independent, Volume 29, Number 39, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 9 April 1904 — Page 6

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CHAPTER VII -((’ontinned.l '‘You must think me very babyish,” ®he faltered to Darcy, "but Fido and 1 are old friends, and 1 haven’t ipnch to love besides my pets. 1 am so much obliged to you. What should 1 have done if you had not been here?” Then, startled into remembrance that the cause of his visit was still unexplained, she moved towards the bell, saying, with some embarrassment, "I have -detained you unwarrantably. Do you wish to see Miss Hill?” “I am here to beg a few minutes’ conversation with Madame Lestelle. My ■name is Lesmere,” he explained; and the beautiful face glowed and paled, the eyes be never wearied of admiring glanced at bim shyly, and the rosy mouth expand: ed into a sweet smile, in which there was evident recognition. "Mr. Lesmere—the nephew of Gen. Glenaughton—the gentleman who traveled so much, and wrote such interesting ffetters to the newspapers? Ah, sir, we Ihave heard of you often —very often!” “It flatters me £o find myself of so. much consequence,” Darcy replied, gallantly. “May I beg your good offices with Madame Lestelle, to obtain for me the interview 1 seek? The servant by whom I sent a message does not rerturn.” “Perhaps he knows that he has in•curred his mistress' anger by admitting you, sir,” was the grave reply. “An actress, if she would avoid calumny, must deny herself the pleasure of receiving any but her most intimate friends.” “My errand is purely a business one. us you will kindly assure Madame of ■this, I shall esteem it a favor.” Still the young lady demurred. “Lestelle might ask if this is not one -of the many pretexts made to gain ad■jnittance to her presence.” Darcy shrugged his shoulders impa'tiently. “I will speedily undeceive her. I have ■not the smallest ambition to be ranked amongst this lady’s admirers.” The flush that rose even to the brows of his fair companion warned him that be had said too much. “Pardon me if 1 have seemed rude,” he added, gently. “I merely meant to imply that you are laboring under a great mistake if yon attach any other motive to my visit than I have already given you tfor it.” ’"'Suf a letter!” she murmured; “would not a letter answer all purposes? After what you said just now, Lestelle would surely be justified—pardon me, sir, if I wpeak too plainly—justified in refusing ito see you.” “M hat have I said that has led you to ■'this conclusion?” Darcy demanded. “Enough to tell me that you are not amongst those who wish her well,” was the reply, spoken with such sorrowful earnestness. that he hastened to offer .eome explanation. The bitter disdain with which he was forced to regard the woman who had infatuated Percy need mot extend to the pretty friend or relative who so generously defended her. “Madame Lestell and I are strangers to each other. I am here solely to communicate with her on an affair of some rurgency. If you will kindly use your inr fluence in my behalf, I shall feel obliged.” “But if I have no influence with LeBtelle?” the young lady asked, demurely, a little repressed fun sparkling in her ■ eyes. “If she has so often'found me her worst counsellor, that she refuses to >.listen to my promptings?” Darcy looked perplexed, and, drawing • up her little figure with a stately gesture, > she added, “I will not attempt to mystify ; you any longer, Mr. Lesmere; I am the LLestelle you seek.” 13$ wag so unfeignedly surprised, that n Tow, soft laugh broke from her lips. She had too keen a sense of humor not to enjoy his perplexity. "I cannot help feeling curious to know what sort of a creature Mr. Lesmere expected to behold,” she archly observed.” Darcy found it difficult to conquer his astonishment. Rallying himself, however, he replied that his long absence if rem England must plead his excuse for mot being better acquainted with the fea•tures of a lady who was such an acknowledged favorite with the public. Lestelle shrugged her pretty shoulders, and pettishly exclaimed, “Oh, sir, pray spare me any more complimentary speeches, I am so sick of them. They ■were acceptable at first, when I really -required encouragement, but now I think I like a sharp critiqup better than the ■indiscriminate praise I receive for my performances.” “Os course I can neither pretend to praise nor blame the acting I have never seen, but of Madame Lestelle’s personal charms there can be but one opinion,” ■the gentleman courteously responded. Instead of smiling or blushing when ■she heard this. Lestelle sighed, and raised her eyes to Darcy’s with a very grave, sad look in them. “Yoh mean that I am beautiful; that, ■as yet, late hours and rouge have neither destroyed my complexion nor robbed me -of my youth: but I have heard these Ahings said till the repetition disgusts me. No one seems to comprehent that I attach but little value to the good 16oks v-which win me nothing but empty adula 'kion.” Darcy looked steadfastly at the face 'into which the excitement of speaking had brought such deep tints and varying expression. He was beginning to debate within himself whether the frank, impetuous tones were those of truth, or only adopted for his especial delectation. “I find it difficult to conceive how a .-young lady can have learned so quickly ■to be indifferent to the homage she re•ceives.” “Do you, really? And yet to me it is Inexpressibly saddening to be obliged to know that I am valued simply for the •amusement I afford my audience. I have not the gift of tragic power. I cannot rouse and sway at will the best feelings of my audience. I am only a singer, whose voice they will applaud while it retains its freshness. A severe illness—--a violent cold —and I lose the ability to please. Then what becomes of the homage you spoke of?” Darcy grew thoughtful as he listened. “Aren’t you taking rather a morbid -view of the matter?” he asked. “If you possess the gift of song, there must surely be some satisfaction to yourself in exercising it.” “There is—there is!” she answered en--thusiastically. "Sometimes I sing for myself more than for m.v audience. Mr. Lesmere,” she went on, blushing, and faltering, and clasping her hands as if -entreating some great favor, “I should : very much like to sing to you.” He was unmistakably gratified, for, independent of a natural desire to hear the renowned songstress, he inherited from his mother a delicate sense of harmony qrhich made him an appreciating hearer. shall be delighted," he said, follow- |

| Ing her to the piano, at which she hastened to seat herself, and began the all ways beautiful air known as '‘Grama- > chree Molly.” ‘ Report had not done more than justice to the voice of Lestelle. it possessed that .sympathetic charm and purity which distinguished the singing of Jenny Lind; and Darcy listened entranced. Percy, , and tiie errand that had brought him to the house were awhile forgotten; yet the only witchery she exercised over him lurked in the mellow tones warbling so charmingly the songs she loved best. One succeeded another, till an hour had passed away, and still Lestelle sang on; and Darcy Lesmere leaned on the piano, shading his eyes with his hand, his thoughts carried back to earlier days by the Scotch and Irish ballads. Lestelle never glanced towards him. Had she done so, the spell would have been brok on. His silence told her that he was a rapt hearer, and she was content. How much longer he would have lingered and listened, it is impossible to say. for the footman came in to announce Mr. Paulton; and Lestelle, the happylight fading out of her eyes, hastily rose from the instrument. "It is the manager of the theater at which 1 am engaged,” she said, in a rapid whisper. “He comes to arrange with me about my part in a new opera, and I canot deny myself to him, for he is here by appointment. Darcy reddened, and bit his lip. What madness had possessed him to loiter here until the opportunity for speaking with her alone had passed away? How humiliating to find himself so ductile in the hands of the siren whom he had contemned Percy for loving. And last, and most annoying consideration of all, what should he tell Gen. Glenaughton? By this time Mr, Paulton was in the room. The manager was a tall, portly man, with enormous, well-dyed whiskers and mustache, and quick, fiery eyes that struck Darcy as strangely familiar. But his further scrutiny of this man was prevented by Lestelle, who said, in low tones, "You came here to speak to me on some business of importance. To-mor-row I shall be disengaged at this hour.” The hint relieved Darcy from his embarrassment; he bowed over the hand she extended. "To-morrow, then, madam, I will call upon you again. Till then, adieu.” ' As he was leaving the room, his gaze trevaled towards the face of the manager. Again the conviction that this man was no stranger came over him, and he made an involuntary pause, asking himself where and when he had known him. The pause was seen, and understood. After a moment’s hesitation, Mr. Paulton smoothed his brow, and came forward, bowing low to the perplexed gentleman. “It seems unreasonable to expect Mr. Darcy Lesmere to remember such a humble personage as myself. My own memory, however, vividly recalls the time when I had the honor of being useful to him.” "The voice, the eyes, are Wyett’s!” muttered Darcy; and the manager's lips parted in another smile. “Time has been kind to me.” he said, carressing his whiskers and gazing complacently at his portly form; "and, the bequest of a generous relative has given me the means of embarking in dramatic speculations. I hope my honored patron, Gen. Glenaughton, is well. Kindly make my respectful compliments to him. Ido not forget that I once had the honor of brushing his clothes.” There was an undertone of mockery lurking in Mr. Paulton’s smoothly spoken sentences; and the piercing hazel eyes “This fellow dislikes me,” Darcy instantly concluded. But, with a brief though courteous reply, he went away, for he was too much troubled about his approaching meeting with his uncle to feel interested in the quondam valet, or care to know in what way he had evoked his hatred. CHAPTER VIII. When the door had closed on Darcy, Mr. Paulton walked towards the window, and ensconced himself in a rocking chair that stood there. Lestelle had not moved, but with head drooping and hands lightly clasped, seemed to have fallen into a reverie. Her face had lost the soft glow of pleasurable emotion it had worn while she sang, and had grown cold and hard, as if her thoughts were troubled ones. “You owe me an explanation,” said Mr. Paulton harshly. "I thought 1 warned you that no visitors were to be received here whose calls I had not sanctioned?” “That was when you were my master.” she answered quietly. “Then I had bound myself to obey you. Now the contract has expired, and I am free.” “Not so. I, who made you what you are, am equally able to undo my work. And more —I have constituted myself your guardian by virtue of an authority you cannot rebel against—the request of your dead parents.” Lestelle raised her head, and shot one swift glance at him as she replied, "You have told me this frequently, and I have always answered as I do now; that when your pretended authority merges upon tyranny, I refuse to recognize it.” "You are contumacious this morning! But we cannot afford to quarrel till the season is over. Tell me plainly what brought Darcy Lesmere here? Your bright eyes?” Lestelle crimsoned with resentment. “Did you come here solely to ask me this? This house is mine, and I admit to my presence what guests I please.” Mr. Paulton’s look when she said this was an evil one; but he answered pleasantly enough, “You are justified in reproaching me for neglecting business. However, there is no hurry; I have changed my mind about the opera I intended to put into rehearsal. I have decided to revive ’The Queen’s Page,’ with you as Raoul. “I will not play the part of the page!” Mr. Paulton raised himself in his chair, and answered imperatively, “Chut! you must —you shall! I will not have the opera spoiled by your caprices. A few successes have turned your head. You have the airs in yonder folio. Practice them.” “I will not play the part of Raoul!” Lestelle said again, her bright, dark orbs flashing with angry deetrmination. Mr. Paulton sat for a few moments humming an air, and looking at her as he rocked himself to and fro. “Are you wise to defy me? What : are your objections to this piece? You j have donned the page's jerkin before this, and brought down the house by the way you wore it.” “But I hated myself all the while!” she answered. “It was unfeminine; I felt it so then; and now —and now ” | Sbo panted, her bosom heaving con-

vulsively, and Mr. Paunon mockingly repeated her words. “And now you will assume it once | more, ami achieve fresh triumphs. The | first rehearsal shall be on Thursday next. Take care that you are well up in your part!” Lestelle came a step nearer, ami steadily met his gaze. “Mr. Paulton, you said ) ut now that we could not afford to quarrel just at present.” Ho nodded. “Then you must withdraw your opera, or find another Raoul. 1 do not intend to play the character. Hitherto I have yielded my will to years, because I felt that I owed you something, even while my heart told me that your motives for what you have done will not bear the light. But I will not sacrifu e m.v sense of what is due to myself simply to serve your interests!" “Girl, you have always been unfathomable; but yon play with edged tools when you pit your puny wits against mine! What ails you? Are you meditating some scheme based on nothing more tangible than your own foolish fancies; or are you wavering between the love-sick boy, Percy, and his more intellectual cousin? In cither case, you must submit to my better judgment, and believe me w ion I tell you that marriage with eithe of them is an impossibility.” Lestelle’s color came and went. “Tell me why!" she exclaimed. “I am no longer an ignorant child, to whom the knowledge might be dangerous. I know something of what I ask: more, indeed, than you surmise. Tell me the rest." Paulton started, and looked a little disturbed whi); she was speaking: but he had recovered his equanimity when she paused, waiting eagerly for his reply. "Your question must be asked in a different tone, and under different circumstances, before I answer it," he said, significantly. "But content yourself; your interests are as dear to me as my own.” Lestelle made a gesture of impatience. “If you would but speak plainly, so that I might both comprehend and believe you! Is it that you set a price—an exorbitant price—upon your revelations?” "Money will not buy my secrets,” he answered, mysteriously, and with a provoking degree of self-satisfaction in his accept. “Then under what circumstances will you be induced to restore the paper ot which you robbed—yes, look as angry as you will, the term is rightly applied—robbed the defenseless girl who trusted in you?” "Where are the proofs of my guilt? ■ I stole into your room at night, and you saw me! Bah! You were dreaming; that is all.” She was beginning a passionate protest, but ho stopped her. “It grieves me to leave you. but I | must. I had almost forgotten to say that I I have heard it rumored that another of those bills of Percy's is in circulation. Shall I buy it in?” "The rumor is a false one,” Lestelle promptly replied. Mr. Paulton coughed dubiously. “But if it is not false?” She turned from him without reply, and sitting down at the piano, began to rattle off a noisy Tarantella. When she ■ came to the last note, and looked round I he was gone. (To be continued.) — - ==a=.. -T-। EARLY WORK IN METALLURGY. Many Had Attained Great Skill in the Bible Times. “On the subject of metallurgy the Old Testament is our best authority, and the accounts we there find lead us I to believe that considerable skill had been attained by the very earliest nations,” said a writer in the New Orleans Times-Denioerat. “Tubal Cain was, we are told, a great worker in i metal. Among the earliest allusions to i works in metal in the books of Moses is the mention made of tin* presents offered to Rebecca: Abraham's servant gave her, ‘And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring, of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,’ and spoke to her of his master’s riches, particularly mentioning silver. ‘And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and He hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants and camels, and asses'. (Gen. 24: 22-35.) "The accounts of the ornaments and । utensils in the history of Jacob, and of Joseph, and in various other passages of the books of the Old Testament' prove in like manner the extensive employment of metals at that time; and their being applied to purposes of luxury indicates that, considerable progress had been made in the art; long use naturally preceding any attempt at refinement. The earliest recorded names of sculptors (and they are metal workers! are in the Old Testament. One was Bezaleeb of the tripe of Judah, who was filled with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning work, to work in gold, and in silver and in brass, and in cutting of stones to set them, and in carving of timber; with him is associated Aholiab of the tribe of Dan. They were the artists appointed to execute the work of the tabernacle.” (Exodus 31.) "Among the Egyptians si'so TH? employment of metal was known in times prior to any historical record; and it is probable that the metallurgical knowledge possessed by other countries was derived directly or indirectly from this source; indeed, in proof of this, the casting of the golden calf by the Israelites may be cited. The Assyrians and Babylonians attained very great proficiency in the arts connected with metallurgy, for works in gold and bronze decorated the gardens of Semiramis, representing a variety of subjects, rhe artificer employed by Solomon in the decoration of the temple was Hiram, a native of Tyre. He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali; for he ca-st two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits apiece. (I. Kings, 7.) The Phoenicians art has been immortalized by Homer with the distinguished title of 'The Sidonians the Skillful Workers.’ India furnishes some curious examples, such as idols and utensils. The Greeks displayed exquisite taste in their specimens of statuaries and were highly celebrated for the superiority of workmanship.” Must Hit It. Jaggies—Despite all the fun made of him, the weather man is fairly accufste. Waggles—-I do not see how he could be otherwise when we have so many different kinds of weather every day.— Judge-

,^ T 1 r|rant|l i(TnMM| ■ J -J,

What the Women of Japan Are Doing. The women of Japan do not go out and light to-day as they have done on rare occasions in the past. We had an Empress once who led an army into Korea and fought at the head of her soldiers. And even in the last century, when the Shogun made his last stand against the Mikado, nearly a thousand women and girls belonging to families attached to the Shogun fought behind and upon the castle walls, and many were killed. It is different now. Only the men go out. But there is much left for the women to do, and there Is not a woman in Japan who will shirk her duty. Not only must she take care of the family while the men are away, but she must work for the soldiers. Our Empress herself is the patron of the Japanese Red Cross society, whose president V always a prince of the royal bouse. fWith her own hands the Empress pr&pares bandages and clothing for the jiuen in the field; and so great J, was her personal interest in the ’field; and so great was her personal interest in the men who fought in the war with China that at tile close of the war she gave an artificial limb to every man who had lost one on the battlefield. The women who act as nurses must lay aside their kimonos and wear the regular dress of a hospital nurse. Both before and since the war with China the women of Japan have attended the hospital training schools, where instruction is given by American and European nurses, and there are now no better nurses in the world than those of Japan.—Mrs. Sadazuchi Uchida, in Harper’s Weekly. A Case of Conveniences. Oral L There are ingenious contrivances without end for the smart woman s convenience. A novel affair has the appearance of a plain card case suspended from a chain. On its side is a monogram, either in ribbon letters or in brilliants. But to carry cards is only half its mission. When it opens, there is found on one side a fair-sized mirror. Half of the other side lifts up, disclosing a tiny puff for powder or rouge. The lower half contains a memorandum le-ok. When the entire side is lifted up there is a place for cards. The center contains a little gold pencil whir ’a Jeweled top. What could l>e more e< deplete than this little ease? Eor shop;.ting or calling it is invaluable. Flowers Places. You can grou| flowers anywhere, if you only know the proper kind for each location, says Country Life in America. There is no portion of 'he earth's surface that cannot be covered by some kind of plant growth, nor a situation so desperate that it could not be redeemed with the life and cheer and color that flowers give. Yon have only to select tin* right variety of seed and you will find that tlierc is no clay too tough, no sand too hot and dry, no rocks too devoid of soil, no winter too severe. If you have a swamp and are afraid of it. you can transform it into a water-lily pond or a bog garden. If you own a bit <C woods you can fill it with wild flow ers. In the heart of the biggest city a ten-inch holo can bo made in the pavement, as they do in 80-ton. to cover the wall ot the house with vit.-s. The slums have their window boxes, and house leeks grow upon the sltin gles of a roof. Even the dump heap that you pass daily need not be an eyesore. Put a package of sunflower, poppy or morning glory seed in your pocket, and scatter the seed over the offending spot. And of all the people who enjoy the transformation, you wili enjoy it most. Plain Shirt Waists. / r The shirt waist at the left shows one of the new spring styles. The waist is of white dotted pique, with fine stitching. The sleeve with the box plait extending its length is becoming to a stout person. The waist fastens under a box plait at one side. The waist at the right is of red nen stitched with white. Under the eekband of red linen and stitchers is set a collar of white embroidered linen. Japanese Wives. Just now, when our attention is directed to the war, it is interesting to know and hear about the customs of the countries engaged in the struggle. This is just a little about the wives and mothers of Japan. "The position of the Japanese wife is not that of equality with her husband. He is the liege lord, to b? obeyed by her in the most servile manner. He exacts from her the little attentions that an American woman ixpects, and usually gets, from her husband. Without so much as a murmur of complaint from his spouse, who must always receive him with bows and smiles and ever have her mind and eyes on his comfort, h? goes and comes when he pleases. When he fares forrh socially, he does not take her with him; when he receives gentlemen In his own house —a rare thing by the

way—madam seldom presents herself, unless in some menial capacity. And while such a thing as conjugal love must exist in Japan, it usually escapes the notice ot the foreign sojourner, the people considering it vulgar to ex Libit emotion of any kind in public. '1 he wife as a social unit being completely submerged, it follows that others of her sex must take her place socially, and in this office the geisha girls play an important role."—Minue apolis Tribune. Plants for Table Decoration. Th(‘ most satisfactory plants for table dtHoration. all things considered, are a lew species and \ ariet.es of terns, of which the small and dainty pteris are the most useful, writes I.dwin C. Powell, in Good Housekeeping. A plant for this purpose must be small and low-growing, of a good green color and capable of living without sunshine and with little attention. Some plants, like the maidenhair fern, absolutely refuse to live more than a few weeks in a house. Others because of the color of their foliage or strong odor of their flowers are not adapted for this purpose. The best course for the housekeeper, oftentimes, is to have her fern dish potted by the florist. He will ]>ut in the right kind of soil and fill it with jdants best adapted to the purpose. Such a dish will last for several months without renewing. The best ferns for this purpose are pteris adiatitoides, r. cretiea albolincata, P. creiica magnitica, P. serrulata, P. serrulata cristata, P. tremula, crytomium faleatum, commonly known as the holly fern; davallia strieta, Lastrea opaca, Onyehium Japonicum and Polystichum coriaceum. Along with the ferns, other plants are commonly employed, and with good effect. A cocos or other small palm is often appropriate in the center surrounded by fern- or other small plants. Sometimes a small draeena or a pandanus may be used. In place of ferns the asparagus pulmosus is very delicate. graceful and satisfactory. Or a pot of maranta may be employed This has a broad green leaf spotted with a brown and is now used to quite an extent for table decoration. Any Wife and Any Husband Men are pr tty pliable ereatt res. A good many of them owe their downfall to illconsidered marriages: but as many more owe their success in large part to their wives. Wlnm a woman marries, she has just one duty before her to be a helpmat l * to her husband She may neither be satisfied to sit at home and be taken care of. nor to go her own way and be inter sled in her societies, her clubs er her own exclusive matt ru She an 1 her husband are one. His interests :re her<. If tho.v expect to get anything out of life, they must get it together. Work, pleasure, pain, must be met with a common front: then there will be common progress. H i- right and proper that a woman should be ambitious for her husband. Something is wrong if she is not. So when we find one who i< she pr sent- an example worth pointing to. It is a wis matt who chouse's a wif»> meet for him: it I- a wi-e woman who sets out to h‘dp iier husband, and a very foolish one who allow?; herself to Im* a drawback, or merely a piece of luggage t<> I e carried aio g.—Wo.nan’* Home Uonqianion. --g.- --v-U.’- - • S' ; v i t ft»■ - .TS rx — . ■ ' W ’ z The toys used by tjucen Victoria when a child will be on exhibition at the world’s fair at St. Louis. In Dutch Guiana the-women carry upon tiieir persons all their family savings in the shape of heavy bracelets. anklets, necklaces and even crowns of gold and silver. At a recent fashionable wedding in London the hats of the bridesmaids were trimmed with natural flowers and it is predicted that the style will be popular next summ r. The Japanese woman does not blacken her teeth under any mistaken idea that it makes her attractive. She does it to make herself unattractive. Her husband is supposed to know her value. Recently an old woman at Clinchy, Trance, was told that she had won .$20,0b0 in a Spanish lottery. Later she found she had been hoaxed and the shock of the disappointment Killed her instantly. The oldest love letter in the wcrld Is in the British museum. It is a proposal of marriage for the hand of an Egyptian princess and it was made 3,500 years ago. It is in the form of an inscribed brick. Hint for Sleepless Folk. It is not uncommon to hear people say. “I was too tired to sleep"—but it is not generally known how great a help it is at such time; net to try to sleep, but to go to work del.berately to get rested in preparation for it. Iu nine cases out of ten it is the Unwillingness to lie awake that ke ps us awake. We wonder why we do not sleep. We toss and turn and wish we could sleep. Wo fret and fume and worry because we do not sleep. We think of ali that we have to do on the following day. and are o; pressed with the thought that we cannot do it if w * do not sleep. First, we t:y one experiment to see if it will not make us sleep and when it fails we try another. and perhaps another. In each experiment we are watching to see if it will work. There are many things to do, any one of which might help us to sleep, but the watch.ng to see if they will work keeps v.s awake. —Les lie’s Monthly.

WHERE LIFE IS ENJOYABLE. Delightful Habits and CiiHt< ms of Cer tain Places and Peo >le. Denmark claims that there is not a single person in her domain who cannot read and write*, on the northeast coast of New Guinea, the island of Kutaba, surrounded Dy a wall of coral 300 leet high on one side and from fifty to 100 feet bn the other, maintains thirteen villages ol natives, to whom war, crime and povert.v have been unknown since the beginning of their tradition-. The most peaceful and comfortable •ommunity in Europe is the commune of the Canton \ and, in Switzerland. Nearly everyone is well off a-ud there are no paupers. 1* inland is a realm whose in’./abitants are remarkable for their inviolate integrity. There are no btinks and no safe deposits, lor no such security is essential. You may leave your luggage anywhere lor any length of time and be (inite sure of finding it untouched on your return, and your purse full of money would be just as secure under similar circumstances. The Finns place their money and valuables in holes in the ground and cover them wit li a big leaf. Such treasure is sacredly respected by all who pass it. but, in the rare event of a man wishing to borrow of his neighbor during Ids absence, he will take only the smallest sum lie requires and place a message in the holt* telling of his urgent need, promising to repay the amount on a specified date. And Im* will invariably keep his word, for the Finn is invincible in his independence. Agneta Park, near Delft, in Holland, is another Utopian example. A tract of ten acres has upon it 150 houses, each with its little garden and with certain common buildings and common grounds. The houses are occupied by the employes of a great company, who form a corporation which owns the park. Each member owns shares in the corporation and pays rent for his house. The surplus, after all expenses have been paid, comes back to him as dividend. If he wishes to go away or if he dies his shares are bought up by the corporation and sold to the man who takes his place. THOUGHT HAM HAUNTED. Why a Southern Negro Would Not Move the Meat. “It is often curious to observe the play of superstition in the nature of the black man.” said a writer in the New Orleans Timcs-i lemocrat; "and it is really astounding at times to note the total ignorance of the law of cause and effect which is to be found among members of the black race. Recently I had occasion to observe a rather striking instance of the point I have in mind. It was during hog killing time out in my country home. Fart of a hog had been left out on a platform and the thing I have in mind happened along late in the evening, just as the day was merging into darkness. “Now, it is a well known fact that the negro, in common with other peoples who believe in ghosts, associate :hese uncanny members with darkness. One ot’ the negroes of the place was engaged in taking the meat from the platform into the smokehouse, where it was being salted down. Now note what happened. It is dusk. The shadowy part of the day had set in. It was bordering on ghost time. When the negro was on his way to the platform to get the last piece of meat which had been left he noticed that it was moving restlessly on the platform. Did he get it? Not much. He u.d not get close enough to touch it. He not only remained religiously away from the piece of haunted meat, but he refused positively to leave his wuite friends, and wiien they pressed him for an explanation of his couduet he told them just -what ill * matter was. ‘Boss.’ he said, seriously, ‘dat ham suttenly is ha'nted.' (-f course, the trouble was soon straightened out. There was a eat under the platform, and the feline member was pulling away at the meat with vij>r. The white men explained to tin* negro that there was no ghost, that it was nothing but a cat that had been hanging around all day. But note the darky’s skepticism: ‘Mebbe so. boss,’ he said, ’but I hasn't seed de cat.’” Keep a Scrap-Book. You may make for yourself an interesting book by constructing a scrap-book devoted to one subject. One young girl with a strong interest in the life of Mary Queen of Scots has collected from magazines and other sources articles, illustratied or not. as it happens, verses, pictures of buildings and localities, and portraits relating to this ht*roine. and has put them into a single scrap-book, making a volume in which she takes much pride. When she cannot obtain a printed copy of an extract she wishes to add. she does not hesitate to copy it out neatly upon the pages of her hook—which is merely a large "composition book.’’ The educational value of such work is by no means slight, since to know one thing well done must needs learn much of many others. Indeed, it has been said more than once that to know one thing completely we should have to know ail things. There is a good suggestion here. You will be surprised, if you begin to gather material upon some topic, to see how much is printed about your favorite subject. One word of caution. Do not choose too wide a subject. Make your limits narrow enough to be within your scope. Your scrapbook need not be upon history or literature. but it should be concerned with something worth the time you mean to spend upon it.—St. Nicholas. Consistent. "1 was cleaning our silver on Sunday when Mrs. Straitlace called on her way from church. Fortunately, though, she didn’t find it out." "She’s very strict about the Sabbath, isn’t she?” "Yes. Sin* apologized for calling upsn me on that day, but sho thought she ought to toll me that seandalcus story about Mrs. Gidday.”—Philadelphia Press. It is eheaper to buy furniture now than it is to carry on a prolonged courtship. Any man can easily make a fool of himself; all he has to do is to act kit-U-nish.

| SUNDAY SCHOOL * LESGON FOR ATOU. 10. A J’.ter Coufes-es the Christ. Mark S: Golden Text.—Thon an- ll;o Christ, the Son of 'Ji > living God. -Matt. Hen* we have a nairaii;<' teaching many spiritual lesson.-. \\ o learn something about revelation, about the blessedness of those who receive it. about the maimer ot its coming, and about its effect upon those to whom it cones. We learn how sin may come in spite of received revelations, and how tin* sinner nay still 1,.e blessed. Wo learn, too. the way ol the Cross (via crucis) and of tin* salvation that is to ]><> found in it. as veil as of the death that is found outside of it. Caesarea Philippi.—Away up in tho north of what was tho land of Israel and near the headwaters of tlie Jordan you will find this city. The "villages’ of ( aesarea Philippi" were outlying clusters of homos -suburbs we might call them, perhaps. Jesus’ Question. —Why should Jesus ask His disciples who people thought Him Io be? Evidently it was not mere curiosity to discover what was being said of Him. For apart from what may lie described a S n; s miraenlous knowledge lie could hardly help knowing what t!.e ponpD thought of Him. Thev showed in their acts and words (as did the Samaritan woman with whom He had talked) that they regarded Him as a prophet. The reason Jesus put the question was to lead up to the further question. “But who say ye that I am?” and to impress upon His disciples the fact that He regarded them as in a quite different category from the general public, and expected from them a fuller knowledge. The People’s Belief.—ln verse 28 we have a striking proof of the people’s belief that Jesus was some one extraordinary. Elijah, they knew from the latest Oi their jirophots, was to come to the world again “before the coining of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” As lor John the Baptist, lie iiad been killed by Herod some months before. Sonic of the people even believed Jesus io bo Jeremiah or one of the other prophets returned to life. Ali. apparently. believed that He was one of their great men resurrected. And if so, then ol course it was God who had brought this prophet to life again in order to loach them His will. Note in this connection also that the people seem to have found it easy enough to believe in a return from the grave to the life on earth. Even Herod was ready to believe that John tiie Baptist had come to life again. But many found it more difficult lo believe in the resurrection of Jesus from death to life eternal. The Disciples’ Belief.—lt was Peter, the impulsive, as usual, who spoke up in answer to Christ’s question. Perhaps to him had come as the very result of the putting of the question so pointedly a new and clearer revelation of Christ. In that very moment lie may have seen that Jesus wished for some further recognition of Himself by those who had lived closest to Him. And if Jesus wished that, of course there must be more in tiie personality of Jesus than the people had been able to comprehend. It may have come as a lightning flash across Peter’s mind that Jesus was “the Christ (the Messiah) and the Son of the living God.” That seems likely also from the way in which Jesus took Peter’s answer. Jesus seemed to treat it as something that at least had not been long in Peter’s mind, as something to comment upon and commend upon the spot. And what of the other disciples? What had “doubting Thomas” to say? or what said “Jolin the beloved”? Nothing, apparently. They doubtless had smne higher conception of the mission of Jesus than had the generality of the people. But it was not in definite enough term to enable them to give it words. They had not had the same clear rexelation. probably, that Peter had received. Christ’s answer to Peter, as we seo it in Matthew’s Gospel, seems to imply that also, for He singled out Peter for a most marked commendation. A erse 30.—Again we have this singular charge to keep their knowledge to themselves that occurs several times through the Gospels. Did Jesus not wish to be known as the Messiah or the Christ? and if not. why? Did He not Himself declare upon numerous occasions that He was Christ the Sou of God? Why. then, did Ho restrain Uis disciples and those whom He healed from proclaiming His true character? Though Jesus taught that He was the Son of God. it was not a teaching that He insisted upon on all occasions even to His disciples. He wished this great truth to come to people as a self evident fact rather than as a statement to be questioned. People who learned that He was the Christ by first learning to appreciate the greatness of His character and mission, and to love Him personally would get a much stronger hold upon the truth. This truth eoul 1 In fact be learned by revelation from God. Those who had prepared tl emselves cculd receive the revelation. Verse 31.—Jesus was to be rejected by all who were counted worthy and respectable in the community. The disciples must realize beforehand that they could expect no confirmation of tiieir faith from such quarters, else they tniefit lose confidence when the critical time came. Verse 32.—“ Openly” means, perhaps, unreservedly, making no secret of it. as He had with regard to His being the Messiah. His poverty all should know now. that they might he able to appreciate somewhat the riches of His gloty which they should know later. Peter rebuked Jesus, whom he had just declared to be the Son of God. In view of that acknowledgment his rebuke was preposterous. It only shows howlittle even Peter understood the meaning of his own declaration. Peter wished no doubt to convince Jesus that He must not think of suffering. He must think rather of ruling. Peter thought Jesus might walk into unnecessary self-sacri-fice. He also identified his own lot too closely with that of Jesus to be willing that Jesus should follow a road of such complete self-sacrifice as He had indicated. Verse 34. —It was through lack of heart obedience to the command here given that Peter fell into grievous sin before the crucifixion. He v.as afraid tn follow Christ into danger, as indeed were the other apostles. Life —Soul.—In verses 25. 37. read either “life” or "soul”; but not one id one verse and the other in the cthi! verse, because the Greek void is tlm same. Tins is a very necessary change made in the revision. Questions. What was Herod’s belief concerning Jesus? What is the Greek word for "a rack"’ Petra. (See margin of R. V., Matthew* 16:18.)