Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 35, Number 46, Jasper, Dubois County, 28 July 1893 — Page 3

WEEKLY COURIER.

C. DOANIC 3?ubllHher. JASPKR. INDIANA. SPITFIRE. ftaftamon'B Perilous Advonturo with an Angry Panther. John darling trapped that panther iaek in the north swunip. This stroke of good luck us it was regarded then befell the old hunter early iu December. The news spread rapidly, and a few days later Mel Drewitt and 1 paid hitn a visit. His cabin was iu a lonely bit of forest half a dozen miles from the river, The panther was confined in a stout, oaken cage, built for the purpose. It was then nearly full-grown, and was unusually plump and fat; its Meek, red-dihh-yellow fur was beautifully shaded, and its thick powerful limbs gave evidence of great strength. It was almost as large as u Newfoundland dog. Hut a more vicious and ill-tempered beast Mel and I hud never seen. It was continually pacing up and down its narrow limits, und whenever we ventured near the slats it snarled with rage,. (iarling had the reputation of being taciturn and a little crusty, but on this occasion he was and gave ns a lively quite talkative, account of tho beast's capture. "The crittur ain't very good-lem-peri'd," he concluded, "but I reckon I'll tame him arter while." "Oo you intend to make a pet of him?" asked Mel. The old trapper eyed us for an instant with a half-smile lighting up his grizzled features. Yes." he replied, dryly, "I'll teach him tor toiler i.ib round like a dog. He'll be good company iu the long winter evenings, and venison is so plenty that it won't cost much for his keep." With this jesting remark, (Jarling warded oft our inquisitive questioning, though he intimated vaguely that we "might know more 'long about spring." You ought to name your pet," I suggested, as we were about starting homeward. '".Spitllns would just suit." "So it would, lad," laughed the trapper. "Much obliged for the idee. I'll call the varmint Spitfire.'" Well, the winter months went rapid ly by, and .spring began to loom up in the near future. Mel and I were kept t.x busv to visit the lonely cabin, but we heard from time to time that Spit fire was thriving in his close quarters aud was growing more ill-tempered every day. About the middle of March arrived the spring rains and thaws, and down from the hills poured the torrents of melted snow. The ice broke on the river and was whirled away. The West branch became a raging, yellow flood, and forest trees, far up on the banks, were lapped by the swirling eddies. When tho flood had subsided a little, tint, scene of activity was transferred from the lumber camp to the river The first raft was quickly built into sections and bound together with hick ory withes. It was of medium size and contained selected pine planks. Its destination was Columbia, a town on the lower Susquehanna, within forty or tiftv miles of Chesapeako bay. 11ns was as promising a trip as Mel or could ,have desired, for the distance was all two hundred and fifty miles. .. lAc raft was fitted with two sweeps," as the gigantic steering-oars arc called. Near the stern was a small cabin, containing bunks and a cook stove. It had a sort of an annex atone side, in which were stored potatoes and slabs of maple-sugar. These belonged to the raftsmen, and were to be sold or traded off at stopping places along the wav. Three of Mr. Drewitt's most tried and trusty men comprised the crew. Hack ett and Fosdyke were gaunt, sinewy fellows, a little gruff outwardly, but sterling at heart. They were about fifty years old. Grubb was a stout, small-sized man, with a pleasant, good humored face. He had plenty of strength in his plump arms, but his chief qualification was cooking. He was ten vears voumrer than his coraraaes. One sunny morning, early in April Mel and I stood aboard the raft, wait ing for the mooring lines to be cast off. Cirubb and Fosdyke were ashore, talk inn- in a. little knot of lumbermen who had temporarily stopped work on a sec ond raft. Mr. Drewitt stood near by giving Hackett his final instructions. "I wish they would hurry r ex claimed Mel. impatiently. "Hullo Look therel" he added. A queer-looking vehicle, drawn by two mules, had just emerged from the forest and was moving down the ruirircd road to the river. "With the utmost surprise, we recognized Spit lire's caire mounted on four wheels. John Hurling was perched on top, drlv ing. We hurried over tho plan It to shore, and a moment later the team pulled up at the water's edge. "Say, Drewitt!" cried tho trapper, as he jumped to the ground. "I want you to r.o me a favor. I never knowed till the other day that your raft was ready to start Will you let your men take this varmint down to Columbia, and Hup it from there to New York by till 1111111 UUVtU HJ vuiumuiai freight? The railroad aln?t handy here, you know, an', besides, the journey would be too long. It won't he so lmrd on the crittur if ho starts from Columbia. I've made nrrangenents by letter fur disposin' of him. The cage is ready marked." He pointed to a card tacked on the lde, which bore in scrawling characters the following address: CAM, VANDrfKIHSCK, Dealer In WIM Vurn-lHiH, l'AMK How, NtCW YtHK Orr. hist then Spitfire tittt-cd a bloodftmlfing yowl, and Mr. Drtwitt backed histlly away from the cage. "The varmlat '11 make nicit company fin ininuni if-..u. " 'Specially if a get loose," rap pit

"In that there event we'll kill andeat Him," Raid (irubb, jocularly, as ho peered through the slats. "He looks mighty plump." "And so would you if you'd been fed on venison an' b'ar's meat all winter," declared thirling. "Hut there ain't no danger of the crittur gettin' loose. The cage is as strong as nails an' stout timber can make it. The door is padlocked, an' there's a tran-door in the ton iust

I'ig enough to shove meat and drink through." Observing the still doubtful expression on Mr. Drewitt's face, the trapper turned to Mel und me. "if you lads Ml take cure of the beast," he said, "I'll give you five dollars apiece when you come buck." Tliis was a tempting offer, and Mel at once began to coax his father for permission. Mr. Drewitt at first shook his head, hut after examining the cage with a critical eye lie changed his mind. "The beast seems safe enough," ho said. "I can't well refuse, Oarling, becaasc you ve sent me more than one haunch of vraison. The boys can take harge of the panther as far as Colum bia, if they wish. I don't want them to have the key in their possession, though." 1 lie trapper was profuse in his grati tude. As fur the key," ho added, "I'll send that to New York in a letter, and the cage can't be opened till it gits there." Well, this settled the question, great ly to our delight. Eight men carried Spitfire's cag-a aboard the raft and stood it up against the end of the cabin. lhe trapper handed me four silver dollars. "Huy fresh meat with two of 'em when you tie up at nights," he said. You kin use the rest fur the freight. If the express company '11 ship the beast better, let 'em do it." During the first two days Spitfire was sulky and a little cowed. He seemed to realize the oddity of his position. His appetite was good, however, and Mel and I took a keen delight in watchng him devour the chunks of raw meat (Jrubb was constantly in a good humor, but lluckctt und Fosdyke seemed to resent, tho presence of the beast, and were inclined to vent their ill-feelinjrs on us. I suspect that our promised reward had something to do with it. But by the time wc reached Lock laven their surliness had worn off, and they began to treat us in a spirit of good-comradeship. Mel and I found life on board the raft almost as pleasant as we had pictured it. By day there was always something to be seen, and occasionally wc were allowed to take a turn at the sweeps. In the evening, we sat nround the cabin stove, listening to tales of adventure narrated by our companions. Wc were always hungry for Grubb's palatable and well-cooked meals. Owing to the windings of the river. the current was none too swift, and forty miles was a fair day's run. Earij on the morning o the third day we passed Williamsport, and that evening wo tied up a few nines below lewisburg. Spitfire had been snarling and yowling all day. and he screeched with fury when we dropped his supper through the trap-door; and his eyes shone like huge yellow diamonds. In the morning he was even worse tempered, and wc were almost afraid to go near the cage. About nine o'clock the raft passed the mou tli of the North Branch at Northumberland, and we were on the main river. A little later wc ran the shute of the big dam below Sunbury. The river had fallen somewhat, and to navigate safely required constant care and watch fulness. We made better speed than usual that day. By eight o'clock in the evening we were at Clark's Ferry, forty miles below Sunbury. The raft was moored not far above tho big dam. Mel and 1 hurried into the village. We found a butcher shop open and purchased half dozen pounds of raw meat. Spitfire welcomed our return with a blood-curling screech, and yowled like an angry cat all the time he waseating. The outcry brought a crowd of village boys to the raft, and they became so annoying that Hackett was compelled to drive them off. They shouted insult ing names at us from shore, and threw a few stones. When Hackett started after them with a club they fled into the darkness. Occurrences of this kind were common, and wc thought no more of it About ten o'clock wc hauled in the plank, and went to bed. Nothing less than a gunshot had power to rouse the men when once they were sound asloen. Durinir the nizht I was wak ened by a walling cry from Spitfire; but the sound ecased. and I dozed off again. I had forgotten the incident by morn inir. but it was recalled to me when we po.m to feed Spitfire. The balance of the meat was missing. It had been placed under a wooden bucket near the rear end of the rait It was impossible to buy more until evening, lor ine ran was mreauy . . . . i through the shute of the dam and gl id inir rapidly down mid-channel. "Them young rascals must 'a' waded on beard last night!" exclaimed Hack ett "I reckon they fed meat to the varmint I wish I'd got awake 'stead o' vou, lad. It can't be helped now, though. The crittur must bido without . . i .(I I "n ev?" , As thc raft drifted on through tue perilous channel that extends for some miles below Clark's Ferry dam, Spit fire hecran to realize his neglect He yowled in sullen rage from time to time, and paced restlessly up aud down his eatre. Presently Daur.hin loomed into view on the left t.-liore, and a quarter of mile ahead were seen the ruined piers of thc old railroad bridge. Hackett ran forward to scan the channel, and shouted back instructions to his companions. "How's that for steering, lads?', cried tiritbb, exultantly, The sound seemed to anger Spitfire, 'or rasping screech came fro thn cge "Shut tip, yoa rMr MMntti Fos- - , vk; tK c X?

There Was another screech followed by a dull thump, and before our horrified eyes the hinges parted easily from their hold on the side of the cage The next instant the great, tawny brute was crouching before tho open door screaming with fury. He launched his long, lithe body straight at Orubb, but plumped down on the bare boards. The raftsman escaped by the very skin

of his teeth. Urged to desperation by his peril, he made a tremendous leap for the passing pier. He fell short of the mark, but a few strokes brought him to the eddy at the side, and he soon had hold of the masonry. As Spitfire turned, with a screech of hauled rage, to seek another victim, Fosdyke ran out on one of the sweeps and, dropping into the water, clasped his arras about the blade. There ho clung, his frightened face bobbing up and down with the yellow tide. Spitfire hesitated to follow, and Mel and I took advantage of our chance to bolt for the cabin. Hackett joined us at the door, and we scrambled inside to gether. Mel quickly drew the Boor shut and turned the little button. e peeped anxiously through the crevices in the rear end. Urubb nart ciimoeu out on the front of the pier and was looking blankly after the receding raft Fosdyke was still clinging to the oarblade, in mortal dread that Spitfire would crawl after him. There was some likelihood of this, for the bruto crouched on the extreme edire of the raft, thumping the planks with, his long tail. "Wa-al, this is a purty fix!" snarled Hackett "Here we are, cooped up inthe shanty, an' just at the worst bit of the channel, too. If we swing broadside we're sure to go to pieces on the rocks. How in thunder did the brute git out?" ' We gave an account of the affair, and it only increased the big fellow's wrath. "It's them tarnation boys," ho growled. "I'll bet anything they loosened the screws in the hinges. I wish I had 'em here now. I'd tan their hides well." At this point Spitfire trotted toward tho cabin and made a circuSt of it three or four times, snuffing at the chinks and screaming shrilly. We almost held our breath. The bruto was evidently ravenous with hunger. Presently he crept to the forward end of the raft, but returned too quickly to allow Fosdyke a chance to gain tho cabin. The luckless fellow had no alternative but to remain where he was. Ho kept shouting at the top of his voice to attract the attention of people ou shore. Meanwhile, th raft, already turned sllirhtlv ziirzair. was speeding ou through the Dauphin river; on oacli side could be seen the pitches of swirltog water that marked the location of submerged rocks. The current ran with almost the speed of a mill-race. "We'll be on the rocks in a minute or two, if some one don't get to them sweeps!" exclaimed Hackett "This is a rally ble lot of timber, an' I ain't the wn to stand by an' see it lost I'm agoing to smash that ugly brute's head!" He picked up the, ax and started for tb'c door. Mel and I tried to stop him, bftt to no avail. He opened the door ard dashed out with a lusty shout Taken by surprise, Spitfire retreated half a dozen yards. Then he turned and crouched for a spring. His hun gry, glaring eyes emitted a greenish light I'he intrepid raftsman waited with ipliftcd ax,. For a few seconds Mel ind I stood breathless. Orash! We were almost knocked off our feet as the forward end of rhe raft ground on a hidden rock. The current m-tauly whirled the stern end arounu, an the dizzy motion confused the panther. He forgot to spring, and glred at Hackett, who still suoa on guard with the ax. Crash! again. This time the stern end had fastened on the rocks, and the great raft lay broadside across the channel, swaying and trembling in tho fierce current ares broke over tnc cdfc, sending little streams of water in evfry direction. The strain lasted only a few seconds. With a sharp crack the raft parted in the middle, and Spitfire, who chanced to be right on tho section-nae, was plunged suddenly into the gap. Our end held fast but the other half swung loose, and went swmiy down stream. We forgot our peril in watching Spitfire. He battled hard fcr life as the current whirled him away, but the loose part of the raft overtook him, and his tawny body vanished in me twimcHng of an eye. He did not reappear, tho'urh we watched for a moment or two Fosdyke had craw lea on tno swesp by this time, and he and Hackett exchanged malicious grins over the panther's untimely end. We could sec three boats speeding out from the Dauphin shore to rescue Orubb, and when this wasaccompHshed they came down to thc raft a he other portion had meanwhile lodged on the rocks not far below. With the kindly help of the Dauphin people, both sections were dislodged and joined together in the quiet water along shore. But the whole raft was in such a strained and shattered condition that Hackett considered it advisable to tic up at Harrisburg, where we arrived shortly after noon. Several lunilwr dealers came down to look at the timber, and a satisfactory bid was promptly accepted. Spitfire's cage went with the bargain, as it was hardly worth the cost of sending it home. An examination showed that the screws had been entirely removed from one side of each hinge no doubt by thc malicious boys at Clark's ferry. We started home by rail that night an.l arrived late the following evening. John darling accepted the loss of his panther in a philosophical spirit Knowing that wc were not to blame. He offered us thc promised ten dollars, but we refused to take it We were better able to lose that amount than the old trapper was to pay it But I don't think we coald have beem laduced to take a stallar mtrac fmla.-wmiaa U GrayastN Im M. I.

WINES AND SPIRITS.

AUmU ThrjrWTaiMl br tne JipecWc er A4 Valoren Myiti?-Mr. AuUcrou lea. eltuloB. If there is any one class of articles on which it b difficult to collect ad valorem duties and on which specific duties might be levied with a nearer approach to justice, it is wines, spirits and liquors. No other class of importers have objected so strongly, and with so much logic, to the ad valorem sys- j tern in the Reform club's proposed tariff j hill as have the wine and spirit merchants. They say thut no matter how well the system might work, when applied to other imports it would fail ia their case, because there is no criterion by which to estimate the value of a wine. It can only le ascertained by taste and smell, and the estimate of one man might differ greatly from that of another man with different likes and dislikes. There being no way of appraising accurately the value of wines, etc., dishonest importers would get in their goods at very low prices. The system in fact would put a premium upon dishonesty and the honest importer would vanish. The importers make a strong case. But they make one oversight and one that is fatal to their claims. They see only their own side of the ease and not the side of the millions of consumers, whose welfare is of far greater importance. Specific duties would wrong the consumer, for they would compel the user of fl wine to pay the same duty as would be paid by the user of 10 wine. The arguments pro and con have just been published in American Industries and in the Wine and Spirit Circu lar. Mr. Henry E. Gourd, an importer. presents the case against and Hon. h. Ellerv Anderson, chairman of the tariff reform committee of the Reform club, presents the case for ad valorem diUies. Weqnotethe summing up by Mr. Anderson: "After having examined with great care many letters and communications which have attempted to point the advantages of the specific as against the ad valorem rate, in its application to such articles as wines, spirits, tohneco. smrar and lumber. I am led to the conclusion that there is but one great subject to be considered and studied in relation to this question, and that is the subject of fraudulent undervaluations. This is the only matter which furnishes a substantial argument in favor of specific rates. If it be true that we cannot substitute a reliable and honest tribunal of appraisement; if it be true that corrupt ami fraudulent bargains will le made between unscrupulous importers and the ofilcial appraisers, so that the honest merchant will find himself unable to compete with his unscrupulous neighbor; and. finally, if it be true that all these difficulties can be avoided by the adoption of specific rates, I am cpiite ready to concede that a strong case IS made out in their favor. But 1 am noat all prepared to admit that our appraising boards are inefficient and corrupt or that our merchant are habitu ally dishonest or, finally, that the adoption of the specific method would materially decrease the temptation to fraudulent undervaluation. "A specific rate based simply upon weight, cubical contents or yard meas urement is an impossibility and never has been attempted. The inequality : of charging expensive goods at the same specific rate as applied to goods ! of lower cost is so glaring that the advocates of the specific system immediately differentiate the rates in propori tion to the value of the roods. This compels the establishment of divisional lines at which lines the specific rate is advanced. The result is an enormous temptation to bring the goods belong ing to a higher field of value just within the limitations which entitles them to pay the lower specific rate. The j amount thus saved to the importer is verv much oreater than could be the result of mere undervaluation, especial ly when the ad valorem rates are as , low as those proposed in our bill "On the other hand, when the govern ment official resists the application of the importer to have his goods so classed as to pay the lower rate, an excess of official zeal has frequently led to an erroneous classification which has cost the government many millions i of doliars and caused an almost endless amount of litiratlon. The hat-trim- , Jn, casc 5s a fauliHar illustration. Thc reccntdecision of the United States circuit court of appeals in the leaf tobacco case is another. These cases grew out of thc tariff act of March 3, lbS.1, which provided "that leaf tobaccto. of which 35 per cent is of the requisite size, and of the neces&ary fineness of texture to be suitable for wrappers, and of which more than loo leaves are required to weigh a pound, if not stemmed, are dutiable at 75 cents; if stemmed, at $1 a pound. All other to bacco, in leaf, unmanufactured and not stemmed, dutiable at i55 ttints." "To carry out the provisions of this act it was necessary to open and pull to pieces each hale of leaf tobacco. which destroyed its value for wrappers. Collector llobertson adopted a rule by which the greater part cf thc tobacco was charge I with duty at thc rate o 75 cents a pound. The Importers claimed that their tobacco was only liable at the rate of .15 cents a pound. After Ion'' contest, the Issac was de cided against the I'nited States, and overjraid duties amounting to one million and n-half to two million dollars had to be refunded. The attempt to discriminate betwee the specific rate applicable U leaf tobacco containing a certain percentage of leaves suitable for wrapp4ra sad other toWco In leaf, caused th whole difil cultv; and yet it would lM aanifstly unjust to apply thc same speeific rate to both grades of leaf tobacco. "Surely the above, considerations are sufficient to satisfy vou that the Advantages of the KTcific orcr the ad valorem system are Offset by many sabtaBttal objectkiBS, nnd that oar adveeacy mt the ad valorem syttesi caa In understood and apprciatl witlMwt MiggesUag, as yott de Im yome litter, that we are 'willing to f es tar the W

FOREIGNERS FAVORED. Our Tariff Vmwm OUcrtmtaat b "" Australia Haje M Affmhwt MW rf imf rtii The Iron Age of June! says: "Statistics of imports into New South Wales fo 1891 show that in agricultural implements the United States shipped to that colony f:i,47 worth. ijx;0 also mipplied hardware to the extent of t5(W,747. Other Americas goods tar

nished in quantities were gas fittings, furniture, wearing 'apparel, canned goods, kerosine and oils, and lamps, of which Ute large bulk or tue imports ib that line were furnished by the United States. Most of the light buggies used in New South Wale are also of Ameri can manufacture." Such being the case; why are our manufacturers of these articles protected from competition at home by high tariff duties? There is but one answerto enable them to charge higher prices to home consumers. And this is exactly what we see done. In some cases this is just what nur laws expect The manu facturers are compelled to pay a duty on their raw matcriaLs, with the understanding that the duty will be refunded if the materials are exported in the form of finished products. This is done to allow our manufacturers to compete abroad, and is an admission that pro tective duties enhance prices and tax the consumer. The government, how ever, beiug inclined to favor foreign rather than our own consumers, passes a "drawback" law which exempts for i-imers from all burdens due to our protection laws. Certainly the for eigner ought not to swear at this gen erous treatment! But there are other cases, and they are far more numerous, and comprise practically all of the articles exported to New South Wales, where the raw materials are not imported and where manufacturers who sell abroad at lower nriees than at home as they often do in the cases of agricultural implements. hardware, etc need a duty, and use it, as the New York Tribune says only as an "instrument of extortion." To do this they must combine into unlawful monopolies, which prevent that natural competition that would give our consumers the benefits of low prices. The tariff system is tlic sup porter of trusts and of high prices at home. Alwlish protection and home made goods will be sold as cheaply to us as to foreigners. And would this be asking too much of our manufacturers? The people have answered "no" and now expect congress to pa a larm bill which shall not put Americans at a disadvantage in their own markets. B. W. H. WELL ANSWERED. A -Too I'reTloa" Iowa Lawyer Saarpiy Itrhukrd. The following letter which was print ed la he American Economist of May M, aw which has been going the rounds of the country papers, deserves atten tion, not so much because of its fine irony and western neglige grammar, as because of its genuine McKinley logic The American Lconomist has been sending out inquiries to manufacturers and others as to what would Iks the effect upon the country if the tariff bill of the New York Reform club should be enacted into law. Congressman TJpdegraff. of the Fourth Iowa district. thus replies: McGhec.ok. Ia.. April IS. 18 A rose Blacce at the Reform clab proposed tariff ( makes tae happy- It m'sat be ruinous to lae prosperity of the United States, hat what of thai? The United States has wonderful recoperitlvo rower. The effect upon "my ladua, try," taato: a lawyer, would be Brano. ii u Jast hat bs lawyers seed. Now. ereryboöy can, and nearly all do, pay their aeots. i ni is one misfortune. laflvo years afur the enact ment of that tariff one-half or nearly so of all the property la the countrv would be adminis tered on bv "bt Industry" and a larse portion would stick to our hands. Its eect might be to diminish the purchasing power of the people as a whole, but it would greatly auf meat that , i .1.. imnnrtrr r clipper and 'such like, classes which have been too long neglected. Don t sar anything against that bill. Let us hate a little harvest. Thomas UrnroRArr. Let as ask this ex-congressman law yer a few questions: 1. Will "us" lawyers be benefited by a tariff law which, by reducing duties and simplifying the collection of revenue, shall throw out of employment half of thc customs attorneys ia the country? 2. Will "us' lawyers be benefited by a law which shall untax farmers and laborers and enable thf m to pay off their mortgage aad other indebtedness incurred under high protection? a. Will "us" lawyers be benefited by a law which shall make it unnecessary and useless for protected manufactur ers to employ lobbies in congress? i. Will "as lawyers be benefited by a law wincii shouiu Kiir nan ot our trusts and pull thc fangs out of the other half of these lawyer-employing vipers? 5. Will "ns" lawyers be benefited by a law which will do away with "special privileges" that always produce litigation and make demand for lawyers? These are some of the few reforms that the tariff bill proposed by the Reform club would bring about Does Mr. Updcgraff think his harvest would be a big one under such a bill? IL W. II. A Jonah en tho !. Ex-Commissioner Peck has gone to Europe. He sailed last Saturday. As the court of appeals gave decision ia his case three days prior to that it is probable he knew aboat it He woald rather forfeit his bail anyway thaa lose thc advantages, the trainiBg and the polish a forciga trip affords. It was only last fall before the elec tion that every republican paper ia the land was ca ling Peck's labor report thc work of an honest, straightforward man. Peck was one X those democrats who were disgruntled by Cleve land's nomination, and he formulated his report out of spite, to defeat thc democratic ticket and when aa attempt was made to inquire into it he baraed thc public records Lc had re ceived, Thc court has decided that he Is Nable, hence his trip to Europe. Mvrely our republican friends ought aot te threw taw subservient toot ever lä Ute

Imersr Juni

pii

PERSONAL AND IMPEWOWAL A m was seea loaÄar aboat a

wildlag that was beiag painted at Bel fast, Maine, recently, lies asicea u he wanted a job he said that he was only waiting for the men to be paid o. as he wanted to borrow a dollar. Philadelphia Ledger. William D. McCoy, Ualted btatea Minister to Liberia, who died atMoarovia May 14, was a native of Cambridge City, Ind., and about 49 years ox ageHe had been a teacher for many years, prior to his appointment, and was oae of the most progressive colored awea in the country. Every sprinff the emperor of Chi .... . ,, i goes to "lae emperor ueiu. portion-ef it, sows It witn several Kiaua of seeds and superintends the cereraoay while the princes aad Bine courtler perform the same act i honor of the god of agriculture. The empress at the same time gives her ladies a lessoa ia silk culture. Mrs. Martha Raymond, colored, who lives aear Woodbury, K. J., claim to be 115 years old. She says she waa born ia Virginia ia 1778, and some of the oldest residents of Wood ban,-admit that she seemed to be a pretty old woman when they were young people. She has been living ia that town for about sLxty years. The duke of Newcastle's specialty in amateur photography is to secure Portrait of rare wild animals in their native surroundings. He travels ia quest of these with Gambier Fentoa, a member of the Royal Geographical societ3'and well known as one of the most expert amateur photographers of animals in the world. Judge McKinley, of Daluth, is in a singular position. He is judge of the circuit court in which his own wife, recently admitted to the bar, wiU practice. And yet he is probably the only man in the world to-day who can prevent his wife from having the last word or fine her for contempt if she does not stop talking when he tells her to. It is related of Edwin Booth that he was at one time able to save thc life of Robert Lincoln. Both men were ia a railway station, and Mr. Lincoln had inadvertently stepped on a track ia front of an approaching engine. Absorbed in thought he had not noticed the vicinity of the train, and would have been struck down had sot Mr. Booth snrunir forward, caught hia ia

his arms, and lifted him almost bodily to a place of safety. The engine was so near that it actually grazed Mr. Lincoln's heels. Ex-Sccrctary of the Navy Tracy ! quoted as saying, apropos of the disaster to the Victoria, that a line-of-battle ship like her Is always exposed to thc danger of capsizing, being top heavy. "The Victoria carried a notstraus gun, weighing 110 toss. The largest gun we have weighs only sixtyfive tons. This tremendous weight placed the ship at the mercy of the waves as soon as the water begaa te pour in. This accident only re-eaforeea what I have repeatedly said in my aanual repoiWthatvhowever, it may be m for England, it is folly for as to keep a large battleship cruising ia time of. peace.'' Self-interest is not aa Inevitable quantity in human nature. There is a bluff and hearty old Irishman whe keeps a small book store ia a New York suburban town, who expresses opinions about the wares that he sells. When a boy inquires for "Daredevil Dick, the Dead Shot" he says: "Whatt Haven't you any better way to spend your time than in reading trash like that? Here it is. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Now, don't vom read it until you've shown it to your parents." A man who had ordered, tbroueh him, a number of works oa

spiritualism and magic was greeted, .u ,i..i;rn,- of ihm volumes, witki , . . "Man. Mian! Time must be heavy o I your hands to want to be studying ruW bish like that' "A LITTLE NONSENSE.' He (passionately) "I love yow above all others on earth." She L never thought you woald go back esc yourself like that" The Club. 'Ethel's young man came to see her last night and she was considerably tickled." "Was she? I did a't know a had a mustache." N. Y. Press. "Poor fellowl Did he lose his eyea in the war?" "Oa, bo. He tried te pass a wpssea oa the street whea eke) had her UBsbrella up." Detroit Trihaae. Anne "Do yoa know, Mabel, I had two offers of marriage last week?" Mabel "My darling Aaae! I am so de lighted! Thea it is really true that your uncle left you all his money?"

Judy. "Did thc ffightoaes give yoa a pleasant receptkm whea yoa visited them?" "Well, I should say set The thermometer stood sincty ia the shade and the whole family was aa frigid aa as iceberg." Inter Ocean. Mrs. Caroline (to crossing-sweeper) "I have no coppers. I'm sorry." Mr. Birch "Don't mention it ' My fault m, for not knovia as yoa waa a-cosa-in' this way and aot gettin change for a fi'-p'tiB' note ready." Fun. "Now, you wouldn't say that that man across the street ta worth tea thousand dollars, weald yoa?" "O, I don't kaow. It might be tree." "That is the reasoa I thought yoa wouldn't say it7' Indianapolis Journal. Superstitions. A cynic watt asked the other day if he objected to beiaf ose of thirteen at dinner. "I de under certain drcaatstaBccs," he replied, emphatically." "Aad those are?" "Whea there is oaly dinner enough for twelve." Youth's Coaapaakm. Old Professor "My young- friend, let mo give yoa a word of advice. Be kind to the dall boys." YouBg Teacher "Certainly, bat if they won't leAra" their lessons " "Be kind to them, pet them, make them your warmest. friends." "Hat "No bats about it Wla their love if yoa caa. Soata

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