)t Chatljam- Hccor54 H. A. LONDON, Editor and Proprietor, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, $1.50 Per Year. SlrlQth'in Advance. ilje Chatham Hccotfc RATES OF ADVERTISING t One square, one insertion One square, two insertions . r.50 One square, on month For Larger Advertise ments Liberal Con-v tracts will be made. VOL. XXKIII. PITTSBQRQ, CHATHAM COUNTY, N. :C, THURSDAY, AUGUS llMiV NO 3. LUKE HAMMOND, THE MISER.. jlll.WI By Prof. Wm. Henry Peck, Author of the "TR Stone-Cutter of Lisbon, Etc. CHAPTER XVII. i Continued. j What is the matter, Fan?" "There! there! on the floqr! In let ters of blood red blood! you see a name' cried Fan, trembling and shrinking. "I see nothing, save a coin. I sup pose I dropped it," said Hammond, stooping and picking it up. -And you, Mrs. Harker!" said Fan, fearfullj agitated. "You see a name in blood? a name " "I see nothing, Fan," said Nancy. -Then it is meant for me! for me!" shrieked Fan, tossing up her arms. "A name a phantom name! a "warn ing another "warning from the grave Nicholas Dunn! He "was my husband!" And falling upon her face she swooned with terror. Luke and Nancy stared at each other in mutual consternation, ' The truth was out, plain and firm! Old Fan was Ellen Elizabeth Dunn, and they were her children. "If she would but die now," said Luke, pale and remorseless. " 'Twere well if she did," said Nancy. But neither of them raised the miser able old creature, whose ghastly and wrinkled face rested so still upon the name of their father! Hammond gazed upon her. in stern silence for a moment, and then turned to speak to Henry Elgin. Henry Elgin was as before, but Kate Elgin was gone! Hammond stared thunderstruck. , "Tremble dog!" shouted Elgin. "Her delirium was feigned! God grant she may escape!" and springing from his bed with sudden strength he shut the door of the ante-chamber near the hall and locked it with the key then in the lock. .uuke, springing to a bell-cord and jerking it violently, cried: "We are out witted again by that girl!" Then into the speaking tube he roared: "Daniel rouse the dogs! Both prisoners are loose!" Then rushing at the locked door, he Iegan to spring against it furiously, wni.o he filled the roorj with cries of rag ; - -! CHAPTER XVIII. VILLAINY TRIUMPHS AGAIN. - Daniel was prowling about the little library, with writing materials in his hand, when the ringing of the bell over the desk attracted his ear to the speak lug-tube. " The words that were bellowed frcu the white and gold chamber "Daniel! Rouse the dogs! Both the prisoners are loose!" caused him to dash down ink, pen and paper, and dart 'into the eastern wing like mad. oinething in while llitted by him and he grasped at it, gaining a hand ful of muslin, and a sharp blow in the face for his activity. The blow Kate for it was she Cc livered at random, blinded him for an instant, and in the next second the was lost in the darkness. fehe will make for the front," said Daniel, "but I know how to get there before her." H? sped along the hall, down a flight of steps, taking them from top to bot torn at a leap, then rushed through an other hall and into a room," damp and dark, but familiar to him. Then he lifted a trap and hurried down a steep ladder into a cellar. He knew every inch of the way; blindfolded he would have known it. Counting his steps as he sped on he reached nnnthpr lnrlrlpv and his foot was on the first round "When a strange noise startled his ear. I "What's that?" he said pausing. ! A smothered pounding, far down it seemed in the earth beloAv him! His hair rose on end, the eweat started in icy drops from every pore. "It is the evil one working his way up after Luke Hammond or me! or me!" he shouted, and bounded up the ladder till his round bullet head butted Painfully against a trap above. He raised the trap and leaped into the main house. Then rushing through a basement apartment he ascended from the kitchen to the dining room. On, "with fearful leaps, he sped and jerked open a window. "Tiger! Leo! catch him! Ha! St boy! Catch 'em, dogs!" he shouted. In a second the fierce baying and sav age growls of two monstrous dogs told him that he was heard. He gazed forth for a moment, seeing the dim forms of the ferocious beasts darting here and there amid the darkness and then hurried to the rear of the house. "Paid! Rush! At them, my boys!" he shouted, as he opened another win dow and thrust his head forth. " Again fierce baying and growls and dim shadows leaping about. "Try their teeth, my dainty girl," said Daniel, closing the window and rushing to a cupboard, where he lighted a lantern. "Now to run down the hare," said he, prowling about the house, grasping a bludgeon as if expecting to meet, not a hai-Q, a timid, trembling hare, but a wolf or a panther." And Kate! Poor girl, after her so far successful ruse to escape from her prison she had fled she knew not hither till seized, by Daniel in the Copyright 1896, by Robust Bonnee's Son. iAU right reserved.) hall. Escaping his brutal clutch on she sped, trying every window as her outstretched arms swept along the walls. She stumbled over something, stooped and picked it up. It was the same hatchet her father had lately held cast aside the night before by Hammond. Its possession nerved her arm to strike, and finding a window she dashed out the glass, shattered the sash, and was cutting through the shutters when she heard the wrathful shout of Daniel and the clamor of the savage dogs. "Oh, cruel fate; What shall I do?" she cried in woeful despair, but hack ing away for dear life at the stubborn wood. - ; Daniel, returning to the eastern wing heard the sound of crashing shut ters, and bounded toward the spot, with lantern advanced in one hand and his bludgeon in the other.- "Ruffian! would you strike a wom an?" cried Kate. "Aye!" he roared, leaping forward and sweeping around his club. But his foot slipped as he sprung and he fell headlong at Kate's feet. Grasping club and lantern he was about to rise, and a bitter curse was on his lips when Kate cried out: "May God forgive me!" and struck him full upon his bare head with the blunt of the hatchet, letting fall the weapon as she struck, He groaned, fell forward upon his face and lay fearfully still. Kate stared at him for a moment as if appalled at her act, and then snatch ing up the lantern fled along the hall, hoping to find some entrance into the main house, and thence to effect an es cape or alarm. But all the doors were barred and nailed up. Again she tra versed the deserted halls and found herself in Hammond's library. Here the door leading into the main house was locked and the key gone. While she searched for something with which to shatter the bolt she heard a crash and yell in the eastern wing. Luke had broken his way out of the ante-room by furious springs against the door! Kate's despairing eye fell upon the strong, heavy steel poker near the grate. She seized it and showered rapid blows upon the lock, It bent, it yielded, the door flew open wide, and Kate darted away just as Luke sprang through the closet pas sage into the library. "Stop!" he jelled. But Kate fled on, and was descending the main staircase when her foot tripped on a loose stair rod and she fell headlong to the bot tom, sorely bruised and half stunned. As cue struggled to rise toe sinewy arms of Luke encircled her shrinkin limbs' "Caught again!" he laughed, as he tore off his cravat and bound her wrists. Kate rose to her feet, half dead with fear and exhaustion, but made no fur ther effort to escape. "Ha! What device will you next at tempt?" said Hammond, as he picked up the lantern lying near her and led her to his library. "Whatever God shall give me wit and strength to do, monster," was her un daunted reply. , "You are cunning very cunning," said Luke, retaining his grasp upon her with one hand and searching in a drawer with the other. "I am sorry to do it, Catharine El gin," said he, as he produced a pair of handcuffs, "but my safety demands that you shall wear a pair of iron bracelets for a few hours." Kate made no struggle as he slipped the handcuffs over her tender wrists and snapped them fast with a tiny key. As this degradation was completed Daniel made his appearance witn a bloody crown and an inflamed visage. "Good,'said he, as he saw the hand cuffs "That should have been done yesterday. She is tra tricky as a colt Luck was with me, for .if it had been the edge, and not the blunt, of the hatchet that struck me I'm blowed if there hadn't been a murder." "It is not murder to kill brutes who assail us," said Kate. "Sinall difference to me what name you'd a-given it, Miss," said Daniel, grinning. "I wouldn't have struck ye I only meant to scare ye, Miss." "No matter," said Hammond. "Dan iel, go place Elgin on his bed, and roll it back into the crimson chamber. When I crashed my way out I found him lying senseless in the hall. He had fainted." Daniel hurried on his errand, and Hammond led poor Kate back to her prison, where she found Daniel rolling 'array the bed. "My poor, dear father!" said Kate, sobbing for the first time. Henry Elgin opened his eyes at the sound of her voice and as he saw her he said: "Take heart, my child. God is just and the right will prevail." "Away with him!" said Hammond, and then led Kate to her chair. Nancy had in the meantime erased the name she had written on the floor. pulling old Fan aside to do it, and when Fan came to her senses, though her first glance was toward the spot no trace of the name remained. "It Is gone!" said Fan, "but I know I saw it!" and at that instant Ham moM led Kate Elgin to her chajr, "Yes, Fan," began Kate, for she had overheard every word that had passed between Hammond, and Nancy while she feigned delirium. But as Kate began to speak the watchful Hammond sprang upon Fan, and seizing her by the shoulders swung her headlong forth into the hall. ' "Awayi to you bed, old hag!" said he. "But for you this troble had not happened."' Fan gathered herself slowly and tot tered away, while Luke returned td Kate. Monster!" said Kate. "She is your , mother!" "I deny it! All my life I will deny it," said Luke. Miserable liar!' replied Kate, With i a scorn that made him quail. "I heard . every word you and your sister there . spoke. Your father's name was Nicho j las DUhh, and I thank the great God of heaven that you are not my uncle!' You know too much for your own good, Catharine Elgin," said he stern ly. "I am not your uncle know it, since you believe it. But tremble to ' think that, as I am riot your uncle, I may become your husband!" With this terrible threat more errU ble to Kate Elgin than all he had ever said or done he strode away. Mercy on me! what can that man mean!" exclaimed Kate. ''I'll tell you what he means, Miss," said Nancy, with a triumphant leer of fiendish malice. "Luke Hammond .has a son, hut that son may refuse to marry you, and then Luke will marry you himself." May I die ten thousand deaths rath er!" exclaimed Kate. Bah! you may wish and want," sheered Nancy, "but Luke always has his way in the end. Your pride will be all shame if you resist much longer." "Such villainy is dreadful to imagine terrible to know," said Kate, aston ished at the calmness of the evil wom an near her. "Yes, you were proud, Catharine El gin, said JNancy, and your -eyes flashed your lips curled when I used to speak to you. But, let me tell you my blood is as rich as yours." "Blood!" said Kate, scornfully. "In this country blood is as rich and red in the poor man's veins as in the million aire's! I know now you are not of us by blood or birth. Nor was it pride that made me despise you, Nancy Har-; ker, but hate of the evil I saw encom- cur within forty-six hours of a change passing you as a garment. You are j in the moon, even if there were no cas well worthy to be Luke Hammond's j al connection whatever. Now, it re sister Luke Hammond, indeed! He ' Quires only a very slight predisposition has no right to the name! He is an n favor of a belief in the effectiveness imposter! And be sure that" time will j of the moon's changes to make one for discover his villainy and yours, ' Set a'few of the changes that occur too wretched woman!" I far from the proper time. Coincidence "Don't taunt me,. Catharine Elgin! enough can easily be found to justify You may revile Luke, but you shan't revile Nancy Harker! I'll tear your proud eyes out of your head for you, you minx!" screamed Nancy, opening and shutting her long, lean fingers and distorting her evil face with rage. "I verily believe you would, Nancy Harker," said Kate, quietly, and not shrinking a hair's breadth, "being his sister what better could you be than a she wolf!" Nancy swelled with venom, and would have rejoiced to dig her sharp 1 nails in that beautiful and scornful face, but the bell near the door tinkled r tivin ' and she hurried to the speaking tube. "It is near morning; you had better try to sleep," were the words that came to her ear. ' Nancy replied: ' "I will tell Daniel to bring a bed into the ante-room and I will sleep there." "How is the prisoner?" asked Luke, in his den above. "Stiff-necked as ever," said Nancy. "Be wary; she is plotting," said the tube, and Nancy left the room to se?k i Daniel, but did not fail to lock the door after her. When she returned Kate was asleep in the chair, for fatigue and excitement had overpowered her. "You are handsome-handsome as a May morning," thought Nancy, gazing - upon the unfortunate, brave-hearted girl. "I was once as handsome as you and you II fade na: tade hetore fade ha! fade before Luke tames yon." 1 111.: 11 BlliXXLIUp lit: L UBL til IUC Oil.(.lUg girl she locked the door and lay down upon the bed Daniel had brought, into the anteroom. .,' . In the crimson chamber Heni'y Elgin once more slept." In the hall Daniel paced to and fro. In her den near the kitchen old Fan shivered and moaned, dreaming of the dead. . Far down among the foundations of the house James Greene labored and hoped. And in the little library slept Luke Hammond in his chair, with his cocked pistols on the table before him. CHAPTER XIX. - HAMMOND ABOVE, GREENE BELOW. At 10 o'clock on the night following the events of the last chapter Ham mond was seated in his library, won dering where the lost will could be, and thinking that he would in the end be forced to fire the house to destroy, it, when Nancy entered from the east ern wing. - "Well, Nancy," said Luke, '-how gees all in our jails?" He laughed as he spoke, for he thought it a droll conceit, and rubbed his hands briskly as if ia excellent spirits. "Much better with the prisoners than with the turnkeys," said Nancy, sitting down wearily. "Daniel is nearly worn out, for he says he cannot sleep for fear one of the prisoners may escape, and so make" him a gollow's bird. And as for me I wish this thing were j over, Luke..- Catharine Elgin shows no sign of yielding.' "She'll yield in time, never fear. And how Is Fan?" - "She sits in the kitchen. riDan;;); nnl mutteying." To T?e '.onUauea. THE PROBLEM OF SEASONAL FORECASTS. FACTS WHICH DISCREDIT ASTROLOGERS AND PROPHETS WHO PRETEND TO FORETELL THE WEATHER, it 4f :- f ? t it -i lQJ4m. HE infinite desirability Of v foreknowing the Seasons S . 'men is at once the oppor T5" tunity of charlatans and the justification of national weather services. It avails little to decry the methods of impostors or to brand -them as fakirs; the Court Of final resort roust always be a comparison o results, and such comparison every onecan now make for himself. Weather- maps showing the actual conditions on every day are now published by practically every civilized nation, and are accessi ble to all, and ail that is needed to cure the most implicit belief - in almanac predictions is an honest Comparison of these predictions for a single Season with the actual occurrences as shown by these maps. Conspicuous instances of failure, such as those Of the artifi cial rain makers, who a decade ago were given the fullest opportunity to test and exp'oit their theories, or the colorless results of the extensive cam paign of bombardment as a protection against hail, which has been conducted for several years in Southern Europe, do not convince the credulous. They do serve, however, to illustrate the "confusion of tongues" among the pro phets of these latter days, who bom bard the skies to precipitate storms and bombard the clouds to dissipate tuem. Government meteorologists are not alone in the denunciation of the fallacies, absurdities and pernicious ef forts of so-called long-range forecasts. Professor Young, probably the fore most American astronomer, speaking of lunar influences, points out that the frequency of the moon's changes is so great that it is always easy to find in stances by which to verify a belief that changes of the moon control conditions on the earth. A change of the moon necessarily occurs about once a week. All changes of the weather must, there fore, occur within three and three fourths days of a change of the moon, and one-half of all changes ought to oc- pre-existent oeiier. Unquestionably there is a general de- sire for an extension of the range of forecasts to cover the near future, and, if possible, the coming season. If some explorer in meteorology and astronomy should discover some fundamental law, nitherto unknown, whereby he could accurately calculate the time of arri val, the force and pathway of storms for weeks and months in advance, and could warn the people of future floods or droughts in defined localities, he vvould at once take rank as the great- est scientist of the world. And then if he would reveal the secret of his dis covery for the benefit of future gener ations, he would be honored as the greatest of philanthropists as well as the wisest of mankind. But, alas, up to date this man has not arrived. Some of the ablest scientists of this country .and Europe have devoted much time and labor to the study of this problem. They have consulted weather records of all countries, tak- . ing notes of the dates of heavy storms and making comparison with the posi- tion of the moon and planets, to deter I mine if there is any discoverable con nection between the movement or mose boaies aM the sweep of ctnm e(1(11ia h Atmosnhere. . The consensus of opinion has been that i th , foundation cf fact or phi- ; losopny for tnat system of long-range ( forecasts. So thus far there has been , ntlre faimre to establish a scien- tific and practical basis for any kind of trustworthy predictions as to the oc currence of storms, floods or droughts in snecified localities and at certain dates in future months or ssssons, Though, such foreknowledge is very desirable, yet at the present stage of human progress it is beyond the possi bility of realization. In this field of scientific research the wisest students have beeu most deeply sensible of the limitations of human knowledge, but charlatans and pretenders claim to hold a kpv to mysteries in earth and the heavens that are hidden to the balance cf mankind. Quackery in meteorology, -s well as in medicine, is indicated by the extravagant pretentions of its prac titioners. Modern astrologers, following closely the lines of their ancient prototypes, give the sun a minor or passive role, while the moon and planets -form an all-star aggregation in the ever-shift ing scenes of the earth s drama. To each planet is assigned some specialty act on the stage, each producing a du ferent type of weather, and when the three -act in conjunction the complex results are startling. , Really, it is difficult to treat such Iu dicrous matter with becoming dignity and seriousness. A certain almanac's description of "Each planet's peculiar phenomena" is absolutely irresistible as a mirth provoker to any reader who possesses a sense of the ridiculous and some elementary knowledge of meteor ology and astronomy. One is impressed by the evident earnestness or tne au thor, and yet it seems that he must be too diligent to believe in his absurdly fantastic theories. They are no more believable than the myths and legends of the ancients. It is inconceivable that a learned astronomer and meteor plogist actually tielieyes that the sun 1 i It it it it it is passive except When it is "per turbed" by some planet's equinox; that mists and 'Vapors are injected and in fused into the sun by Mercury's per turbation, and then thrown Out by so lar energy td form mists and sleet on the earth, find that during the so-called "Jupiter period" the carrying capacity of the earth's atmosphere becomes dis ordered and Weakened, so that it cau not transport and diffuse humidity. thereby causing consuming droughts in places and destructive cloudbursts in other localities. One who actually be lieves that kind of absurdity is really beyond, the reach of influence by evi dence arid argument. The bare state ment of such propositions is a sufficient refutation. Students in the primary class In me teorology learn that the ever-changing phenomena of the weather are all ref erable to the action of the sun. upon the earth and ite atmosphere, vapors and gases; that the constantly radiated energy of the sun supports heat, light and electric force in the solar system. The planets possess no form of inde pendent energy whereby they may "perturb" the sun and increase its po tency. The libraries of the United States WTeather Bureau contain the substance and much of the detail of all that is known of weather wisdom, ancient and modem, and the scientists of this bu reau certainly are familiar with the es sence of this knowledge. Those who are in a position to know are well aware that every possible effort is be ing made to extend our knowledge of the laws that control weather condi tions, and meanwhile to give to those who are vitally concerned the most trustworthy information obtainable. It is a matter of common experience that the notable success of some commer cial article of merit is sure to flood the market with, spurious goods of the same class, which unscrupulous vend? ors spread before the indiscriminating public. The rapid strides of the Uni ted States WTeather Bureau in recent years toward popular favor through the widespread dissemination of the forecasts a service made possible larger by the phenoiAenal spread -of the telephone and the development of the rural delivery service has appar ently given a new impetus to unsci entific, not to say unscrupulous, fore casts, based upon some theory of cy cles or of planetary control. And the Chief of the Weather Bureau is be lieved to be not only justified, but morally enjoined to counteract as far as possible the mischievous effects of the work of astrologer wrho pretend to foretell tfee character of coming seasons or the progress of storms and ordinary weather conditions for a month, or a year in advance, and whose unfounded and unreliable forecasts are too often given undue circulation by the less careful publishers. The problem of seasonal forecasts is receiving at tne nanas or tne aoiest and most painstaking students of both continents a comprehensive considera tion that is certain to be fruitful and far-reaching in its ultimate results. So important and so pressing is the work and so promising is the field that the Chief of the Weather Bureau , is building and equipping a large observa tory, wherein the best talent available will soon be employed to study the in tricate and profound problems of the atmosphere, whose solution promises improvement over - present methods and results in forecasting and may lead in time to seasonal predictions on a truly scientific basis. Why Women Work. " There is always a good deal of talk as to why some women prefer to earn their own living rather than marry. The wherefore might be discussed till all of the disputants reached the chlor oform age and not get all the right answers; but one reason of it is thaj some married women have a habit of talking. And in these little monologues about their husbands they sometimes turn the limelight on a few hard facts. One of them is that there are some men very often good men,, too who provide their wives with enough to eat and wear, but never allow them the handling of a single cent of money. One man, for Instance, gives his wife ?3 for shoes, but insists upon going with her to she that she spends all of it for that and doesn't buy a pair at a bargain and save a little for a matinee that she couldn't see if she didn't scheme for the nrice of the ticket. De troit Free Press. Tvrere Better So. Stewart Edward White, the author. lost some money recently through the failure of a trust company. In Santa Barbara one day he was in troduced to an interesting young man from New York. ' "Wrhat does that young man do?" Mr. White asked on the-stranger's de parture. "He is attached to the Commercial Bank," was the reply.,' "Ah," said Mr. White, "so they at tach them now. do they? Its not a bad idea." Cincinnati Inquirer. A Worthy Cliarity. A certain English actor, whose debts had made him an object of interest to various bailiffs, met a friend one day who astd him if he could spare ten shillings toward a fund with which to bury a bailiff who had just died. "By all means," replied the actor: "here's twenty shillings bury two."r Harper's Weekly, REPLY; , IIow Peace Was Restored hy a filer Jest. Judge Emory Speer, who preside over the United States Circuit and Dis trict Courts for the Southern District of Georgia, and whose decisions in peonage cases have recently attracted Wide attention throughout the country, is the possessor of a nimble and facile wit. In earlier days, before he had at tained the ermine, Judge Speer was' a politician and a power on the stump. Shortly after reconstruction he ran against Allen D. Chandler for Con gress. Speer was a Republican, and his politics sufficed to bring him un popularity among a large majority of the white population. It was his wit, his good humor and his unfailing cour age that carried him through the cam paign without a serious difference, and finally brought him to victory. On one occasion, when the young can didate was addressing a very democra tic and hostile audience, a brawny countryman was observed fighting his way through the crowd to the speak er's rostrum. It was evident that he had spent the preceding night ".with John Barleycorn, for his clothes were rumpled, his hair dishevelled and his face of a fiery red that rivalled the noonday- sun in brilliancy. Shaking a belligerent fist under the nose of the orator he exclaimed: "Sir, you are a demagogue!" The crowd howled, but Speer was not disturbed. He waited for the noise to subside and then, with a smile and in a tone of entire good humor, re joined: "And you, sir, if j-ou would, wrap a few wisps of straw about you, would be a demijohn." The, delighted audience roared with appreciative laughter, and the discom fited patriot slunk away. It is said that in no voting precinct of-the dis trict was Speers' majority larger than that in which ' this happy i-etort was made. Saturday Evening Post. WORP3 OF WISDOM. No man is a failure who has over come himself. Manhood is always marred by being ever on the make. There are none so hard on the poor as the poor themselves. . Good ideas, like good pictures, are all the better aptly framed. That happiness is the best which we have done our best to deserve. The man who serves his conscience well is always sure of his reward. Man may not evade the laws of Na ture, and if he is wise he will not break them. We always like those who admire us, but we do not always ime tuose whom we admire. Rochefoncauld. Don't let the madness of fault-finding enter into you. It is the most de structive thing on earth. Toledo Blade. Inequality of opportunities breeds Inequality among men. Democracy can not live where special privileges exist." Cultivate Cheerl ulaef. There is nothing which so complete ly swreetens existence, or so effectively eases the jolts on the road of life, as the sunny, hopeful, optimistic disposi tion. ' Cheerfulness lubricates the mind; it is the oil of gladness which eases fric tion, mitigates worries and anxieties. The life machinery of a cheerful man does not grind away so rapidly as he whose moods and temper rust and wear the frame away. When your mind is self-poised and serene, every faculty and every function of your body fall into line and work normally. There is equilibrium and health every where in the body. The work done by . a man with a calm, balanced mind has a vigor and naturalness about it, which are not found In that turned out by the one sided, morose man with a mind out of balance. Cheerfulness does half your work for you, simply because it makes you look on the smoothest side of things, and because it urges you to do your best. v Serenity does not live with the guil ty, but dwells only with a clear con science; you never find it apart from honesty and square dealing, or with tne idle or vicious. A sunny man at tracts business success, everybody likes to deal with agreeable, cheerful people. r We instinctively shrink from a crabbed, cross, contemptible character, no matter how able he may be. We would rather do a little less busi ness, or pay a little more for our goods, and deal with an amiable and cheerful man. One Way to Avoid Wrinkles. - Four-year-old Alice had been to visit a very aged lady, whose face was bad ly wrinkled. On returning home she climbed into her aunt's lap, and, look ing at her intently, queried: '"What makes Grandma Barker's face all wrinkled?" . "Because she is very old, dearie," was the reply. "Will your nice smoove face be like her'g when you get to be old, auntie?" asked the child, soberly. "Yes, darling," said the aunt, sigh ing in anticipation of her lost charms. "Oh, well, auntie, don't feel bad!" exclaimed the child. "Maybe you'll die pitty quick!" New York Press. A True Hero. The superintendent was giving the children a little talk on "True Hero ism." "Boys," he said, "what would you call a young man who did his duty well and bravely, without flinching, ex pecting no great credit for it, and con tent to let others win the applause of the multitude?" "A baseball catcher!" shouted all the boys, - Cleveland. Leader, THE JUDGE'S Ot Interest to Manufacturers. , . ERHAPS no class of people, the farmer not excepted, has a greater interest .in highway improvement than' those engaged in industrial m P ft enterprise. If the common roaas 01 the country were brought to a condition that would enable farmers to market their products at all seasons of the year, the cost of living in town and city would be greatly lessened, and discontent among laboring people and operatives in industrial concerns would largely decrease if it did not entirely disappear. Why and how? Present road conditions compel farmers to rush ' their products to market as soon as harvested, when the roads are at their best, as by waiting a convenient time they may not get there at all. If one farmer must 'do this, his neighbors must do likewise. This naturally con gests the market, forcing low prices to the great detriment of the producer and without benefit to the consumer, be cause the average family in town or city buys only in small quantity at one time, say a day's or a week's sup ply. What is the result? Th? specu lator, finding prices low and knowing that in a little while the bad roads sea son will be on when competing prod ucts will Le kept away from trade centres, buys up the surplus and stores it away for the day which he knows is surely coming when he can demand and receive his own price tor his hold ings the stuff for which men toil; which they are compelled to have. And when the citizen in town, the mechanic and operative of the shops and factor ies, is forced in winter and spring to pay exorbitant prices for those articles cf household necessity which went begging for buyers at low prices the preceding fall, he figures the increased cost of living in comparison and grows restless and discontented and is easily led into strikes and other labor disturb ances. Wo all know what usually follows. This, of course, is not all that enters into strike causes, but it con tributes a full share. It ought to be perfectly plain to American manufac turers that the continuous, orderly op eration of industrial business depends on measurably contented operatives; that men are never contented when the cost of living is above their earning capacity; and that prices cf food stuffs from the farm would be always at a decent living level to all concerned if we had systematically improved high-waj-s over which farmers could travel to market any day in the year. These farmers would-realize better prices for their products than they do and still be able to sell to all classes of consum ers at lower prices than Is forced by speculators in the bad-roads season. If this position Is sound, then the duty of manufacturers seems to be to lend their every influence to the support of the Brownlow-L,atimer bills which seek to bring about systematic and scientific highway con?tructi"n end improvement in co-operation with the States. It is no less in their own interest than, that of the farmers', who are their best patrons after all. And it is no less the interest of all consumers of farm prod ucts in every town and city In the United States, and of every railroad and other corporation employing labor of airy kind, and of every railroad and building contractor and others having men in their employ. We are advised that Hon. W. P. r.rownlow,. moraber of Congress from Teunoese?, is deslroua of hearing from .manufacturers on this question, and will appreciate any expression of views thereon that may be sent to him. at Washinslon. , - Cost of Bail Roads. Cel. .7. Killebrew, in the Southern Farm Magazine of Baltimore, says: No portion of the South can afford to pay such' extortionate rates as are now paid to get produce to market. This cannot be less than 25 cents per ton mile, noMo mention the wear and tear of wagons and teams and the loss of time on the roads. One two-horse wagon on a good macadam l'oad should be able to convey in one load ten bales of cotton to market or two hogs heads of tobacco. A good load with snc-h a conveyance over the miserable roat's of tlie South is two bales of cot ton and one very light hogshead of to bacco, attended, then, with frequent miring of both wagon and team. Pub lic spirit needs to be aroused to this pitiable condition of the great majority of . tha highways of the South. No money can be expended for public Im provements which will bring more comfort and happiness to a greater jiii.mber of people. . No money expend ed in building good highways ever causes regret after the roads are com pleted. The Improved roads become a source of pride to all taxpayers and to Gil public-spirited citizens. , ' TVeatlier ISurrau Saving.' Some time ago a skeptical insurance company determined to investigate the amount of property saved in one year by the warnings of the Weather Bu reau. It wag a company of conserva tive men whose estimate would be un der rather than above the truth, but it found that on an average the people of the United States saved every year ?no,000,000 because of their weather service. As the people contribute $1, 500,000 every year to its support, this means that they get annually a divi dend of 2000 per cent, on the invest ment. An investment in which the original capital is paid back twenty times over in twelve months is extraor dinarily profitable and well worth Jn .vestigation. .Century,

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