Since 1840 tie -world' production of
meat has increased fifty-seven per
.cent. ; that of grain 120 per cent.
In his latest census report Dr. Car
Toll states that there are over ten
thousand members of the denomina
tion which calls itself the Old Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit
Predestinarian Bap
lists. The opium traffic in India is defen
ded by a justice of the peace in Bom
bay, who is being widely quoted, his
most effective point being that "the
euppression of the opium traffic would
lead to the introduction of alcohol in
its worst forms."
Statistics of deposits in European
savings banks are as follows : In
Anstria there is $613,000,000; in
France, $550,000,000 ; in Great Brit
ain, $536,000,000; in Prussia, $720,
000,000; in Italy, $346,000,000; m
Sweden , and Norway. $220,000,000;
in Switzerland, $118,000,000.
Electric railways' promise to afford
& convenient means for travel through
thickly populated districts. They will
result in giving farmers along their
lines better opportunities for reaching
markets with fresh or perishable pro
ducts. Farms along such lines will
gain new value for such purposes as
fruit growing and gardening.
The demand for nuts continues to in
crease so steadily that there is no dif
ficulty states the New York World, in
dinposing of a crop. Thp result is
that many are going into the business,
and it is hard to predict to what pro
portions nut farming will grow. Many
sections of the country are admirably
adapted to the growing of English
walnuts, pecan nuts and almonds, va
rieties of nut which are very popular
and the consumption of which may be
largely increased by a slight drop ir
The City Council of New Orleans
lias voted that the statue of Henry
Clay, which for thirty-three years has
Stood at the junction of St. Charles
and Royal streets, one of the most cen
tral spots in the city, be removed to
another and more retired place. The
fctatue has, in its time, been famous
not only because of its subject, but be
cause of its connection with almost
every great public meeting in New Or
leans for a generation. The removal
lias been ordered without opposition
being raised, because the middle of
the street is wanted for the use of
the street cars.
It is generally thought that the pos
sibilities of steam in the propulsion of
ocean steamers are iretty well ex
hausted, and there is much talk of
electricity as the coming motive power
for that purpose. A significant proof
of this is afforded, thinks the Chicago
Record, in the report, which is said to
1)0 well authenticated, that , Harland
"Wolff, who are known the world over
as the builders of some of the finest
ocean ships that cross the Atlantic, do
not look for much more progress with
pteam power, but regard electricity as
likely to achieve great things in the
direction of increasing the speed of
ocean steamers, and that, too, before
many years have passed.
The influence of the telephone hae
generally been regarded as salutary,
but the. Sultan of Turkey evidently
takes a different view of it. He de
clines to have it in his dominions at
any' price. Not only has he forbidden
telephone lines to be laid down in Con
stantinople, but he objects to them
even in the other large towns, such as
Smyrna and Salonica. He says his
subjects are far too ready, as it is, to
plot and conspire and make his life a
burden, and he does not propose to
introduce a, means whereby they can
do this twice as easily as they could
before. This feeling of the Sultan is
so well known that for a considerable
time those interested in telephone mat
ters have.ceased to apply for conces
sions in the land of the Turk.
Valuable Fiber Products.
The United States Department of
Agriculture lias issued a report on the
leaf fibers of the United States. This
report embraces only those which
grow in the most southern tier of
States. The varieties investigatad em
brace the sisal hemp, which is the pro
duct of an agave or American aloa
(agave sisalana), the false sisal (agavs
decipiens), the ixtle, w hich is the pro
duct of the maguey (agave heterocan
tha), the fiber of the pine apple (anas
sasa 6ativa), the wild pine apple (bro
melia sylvestris), bowstring hemp (san
eevieria), New Zealand flax (phormi-
nm), and lastly the Yucca or Spanish
dagger.1
Most of these plants grow wild in
this region and all would abundantly
respond to cultivation. The only
trouble is that they are all fur
nished by the tropical countries of
America, where labor is cheaper than
in the United States. Whenever ma
chinery shall be able to take the bur
den of preparing these fibers with suf
ficient cheapness they will become ob
jects of home industry. Fibers of
this class are yearly imported into the
United States to the amount of fronv
$7,000,000 to $10,000,000. New Or
leans Picayune.
The Song of Luddy-Dud
A sunbeam comes a-creeping
Into my dear one's nest, .
And sings to our babe a-sleeplng
The song that I love the best :
Tis little Luddy-Dud in the morning,
Tis little Luddy-Dud at night :
. And all day long . .
Tis the 8am e sweet song
Of that waddling, toddling, coddling little
mite,
Luddy-Dud
Xhe bird to the tossing clover,
. The bee to the swaying bud,
Eoep singing that sweet song over
Of wee little Luddy-Dud.
Tis little Luddy-Dud in the morning
Tis little Luddy-Dud at night ;
And all day long
Tis the same dear song
Of that growing, crowing, knowing littlesprite.
Luddy-Dud.
Luddy-Dud's cradle Is swinging
;, Where softly the night winds blow.
And Luddy-Dud's mother is singing
- A song that Is sweet and low : : j
Tis little Luddy-Dud In the morning-- -
Tis little Luddy-Dud at night ;
And all day long
Tis the same sweet song-
Of my nearest and my dearest heart's delight,
Luddy-Dud!
Eugene Field in Chicago Record.
Faint
Heart Never
Fortune.
Won
At an early period of the Consulate,
a certain Abbe Bossu examined the
young men who were to be admitted
as students in the Polytechnic School.
Though not the only examiner, his ve
to was all powerful.
One day, when the First Consul was
about to start on a hunting excursion,
the aid-de-camp, on duty,' as he cros
sed the court at Malmaison, perceived
a handsome, gentlemanly young man,
leaning against one of the sentry-boxes
at the gate, and looking anxiously at
the chateau, - 1
The aid-de-camp, M. de Lacuee,
approached him, and politely asked if.
he wanted any one. , The young man
without looking 'at the person who ad
dressed him, replied :
"Ah ! sir, I have a wish, which every
one I have consulted tells me it is im
possible forme to gratify; and 'yet I
shall die if it be not accomplished. I
want to speak to. the First Consul. I
tried to obtain admittance into the
Court, but was refused at the gate. I
was asked if I had an appointment !
An appointment ! I, an appoint
ment!" t& without casting even a passing
glance at M. de Lacuee, the young
man again fixed his earnest gaze upon
the chateau. M. de Lacuee delighted
in an adventure : and this youth, with
his animated countenance, and voice
trembling with emotion, inspireQ him
at once with interest. . Again ap
proaching him : '
"Well, sir," said he, "and what do
you want with the First Consul? I
can convey to him your request,
if it be reasonable. I am the aide-decamp
on duty."
"You, sir," cried the young man,
seizing M. de Lacuee's hand which he.
squeezed with transport; "areyou the
First Consul's aide-de-camp? Oh, if
you knew the service you could render
me! Pray, sir, takeme to him.".
"What do you want of him?"
"I must speak to him!" and he
added, in a lower tone of voice: "It
is a secret."
Lacuee contemplated the youthful
petitioner, who stood before him with
a look ol intense eagerness, squeezing
the hand he held as if it were in a
vice, his bosom palpitating and his
respiration oppressed; but his look
evinced a mind of the noblest stamp.
"This youth is not dangerous,"
thought Lacuee ; and, taking his arm,
he led him into the interior court.
As they passed the gate, Duroc, ac
companied by Junot, arrived from
Paris, whither they had gone in the
morning. Both were on horseback.
They stopped and alighted to speak
to Lacuee, who related what had just,
happened between him and the young
stranger. "
Junot then approached the youth
and observed that although the First
Consul was not difficult of access, yet
it was necessary he should know why
an interview with -him was required,
and moreover, the name of the party
who made such a request.
The young man blushed. "True,
general," said he, bowing respectfully,
but with the ease of a gentleman, and
stating his name. "My father resides
in the country. I have received from
him an education adapted to the end
which both he and I had in view
namely, my admission to the Polytech
nic school. Judge, then, general, of
his disappointment and of mine, when,
on appearing before the Abbe Bossu,
whose duty it is to decide whether or
not I am qualified, this gentleman re
fused to examine me, because I had
been taught by my father only. What
matters that (said I) provided I possess.
the requisite knowledge? But he was
inflexible and nothing could induce
him to ask me a single question.'
"But," said Duroc, in his usual
mild and polite manner, "what can
the First Consul do in such a case?
If that be the rule, it must be observed
by every candidate ; and what can you,
therefore, require of him?"
"That he examine me himself," re
plied the young man, with a most ex
pressive naivete.
The three friends smiled at each
ther
Duroc and Junot thought with
Lacuee that the presence of this young
man would be pleasing to " the First
Consul ; and Dnroc went to him and
stated the circumstance. Napoleon,
with the luminous and sweet smile so
peculiar to him when he was pleased,
said:
"So he wants me to examine him,
doeshe? "What could have suggested
such an idea to him?. It is a strange
one !" And he rubbed his chin.
"How old is he?" resumed the First
Consul, after walking about some time
in gracious silence.
"I do not know, General, but he
appears about seventeen or eighteen."
t "Let him come in."
Duroc introduced the youth, the
expression of whose face was admir
able. The fulness of his iov was viv-
idly and beautifully portrayed in it.
His look darted upon the First Con
sul his whole existence seemed to
hang upon the first word Napoleon
should utter.
"Well, my young man," said he, ad
vancing with a gracious smile towards
the young enthusiast; "you wish to
be examined by me?"
The poor ladt was so overcome with
joy that he could not answer. Napo
leon liked neither insolence nor pusil
lanimous timidity; but he perceived
that the youth before him was silent
only because the spirit spoke too loud
within him.
"Take time to recover yourself, my
child ; you are not calm enough to
answer me at this moment. I will at
tend for a while to some other busi-
ness, and then we will return to
yours.
"Dost thou see that young man?"
said, the First Consul to Junot, taking
him into a recess of a window. "If
we had a thousand like him the con
quest of the world, would be but a
promenade" jr
And he turned his head to look at
the young man, who, absorbed in
meditation, was probably preparing
his answers to the questions which he
supposed would be asked of him.
In about au hour Napoleon began
the examination, with the result of
which he was completely satisfied.
The youth at once gained admit
tance to the Polytechnic School, there
to prepare for his commission in the
Grande Armee.
Time flies, and flying brings with it
remarkable and unexpected changes in
the world.
Years after, a beaten army was re
treating from Moscow not beaten,
indeed, by hostile forces, but by still
more hostile and unconquerable foes,
the elements.
The snow lies thick on the ground ;
the air is dark, heavy, and laden with
it. The once great force consists but
of a few thousand men.
Hundreds of miles between this and
Moscow lie the remnants of the great
invading army. Their path of retreat
is cumbered with dead horses and fallen
men ; with cannon, muskets, ammuni
tion, swords, bayonets, and all the
paraphernalia of war,
The latter are all useless now. Food
and warmth are what the feeble rem
nant of the great army , need. These
thev cannot obtain. They are still
hundreds of miles from relief or sue
cor.
Around the retreating, but still
brave and gallant remnant, the Cos
sack Lancers hover in the distance,
like birds of prey, waiting for the mo
ment to swoop down upon them. So
they have been hovering over all the
weary line of retreat from Moscow, as
thousands of slain men whose corpses
are now underneath the snow, could
testify if they could tell the tale.
A droschka drives swiftly past. A
form within it is muffled too in furs
and almost invisible. Not invisible
however, to the quick eyes of the
soldiers of the Imperial Guard, who,
with unquenchable fidelity, cry "Vive
l'Empereur!" ,
Hunger, defeat, the impending
presence of death itself cannot abate
their unconquerable and chivalrous
devotion.
Swiftly it passes onward to reach
the division under Ney some miles be
fore, the form within taking but lit
tle note of the cheers of the retreating
but unbeaten soldiers.
But the quick eye of the colonel in
charge of the regiment follows it with
admiration and regret and love until
it disappears, and, following it, noti
ces a curious movement in the hover
ing crowds of Cossacks in the distance,
who are putting themselvef in rapid
motion.
He divines the object.
The Emperor is in danger. Sol
diers! follow me."
At the words the drooping and dis
pirited horsemen brighten up. The
old rush of courage is in their hearts.
The Emperor in danger ! and French
soldiers near and French sword-
blades lying in their sheathes !
The wearied horses are quickly in
motion. Something of the returning
spirit of their riders seems to have
communicated itself to them, for they
trot swiftly over the frozen snow.
The exercise puts fresh life into
them. ' They are the men and horses
that rode down the Russian Imperial
Guard on the terrible day of Borodino !
They go rapidly.
Faster faster men! Follow me
follow me swiftly !" cries the colonel,
as his eager eyes see the Cossacks con
verging on a point in the distance
through the now thickly-falling snow.
Falling thickly indeed is the snow
so thick that you cannot see your
horse's head before you.
Swifter they go, however straight
as a bird's flight over the noiseless
snow !
The exercise has warmed, them;
the sense of danger to the Emperor
and the prospect of conflict have
brought the old elan of battle and
victory into their hearts, and alaost
before they knew it, they were creasing
sabres with the foe.
It was hot and fierce work while it
lasted. There was neither quarter
asked, given, nor taken. . Around the
droschka in twenty minutes a hundred
Russian Lancers and many French
men lay dead, while riderless horses
galloped across the plain.
But when it was over victory had
alighted once more on the French
arms.
The Emperor was standing beside
the snow carriage. All his escort had
been slain in the first rush of the Rus
sians, nd he whs about to be swept
away himself as a prisoner.
"That was well done. Your name,
sir.' said the Emperor, addressing the
colonel.
"Dunoi3, sire."
"What, he of the "
"The same, sire."
"Where did you get these?" point
ing to the epaulets.
"On the field of Borodino, sire."
"Well, General Dunois," said the
Emperor, "I see I am not a bad ex
aminer. "You shall attend me for
ward. Ney is some distance beyond,
is he not?"
"Some miles, sire."
"Very welL You have not got the
Cross yet?"
"No, sire."
"Very well, General," said Napo
leon, with marked emphnsis on the
title, "you shall have mine."
He took from his breast the gold
cross oi tne Legion of Monor tne
diamonds thereon sparkled in the
gloom of the snowstorm and pinned
it to tha colonel's' breast.
"It can never lie over a braver
heart or one readier in the hour of
danger," said the great conqueror as
he stepped once more into the droschka.
Forward goes the Emperor once
more; fourscore French . officers and
soldiers dead behind him ; forward af
ter him go the French regiment, all
thoughts of hunger and hardship and
cold and suffering forgotten, until
finally they come up with. Ney 's dij,
S I
vision.
Dunois was at Leipsic and at Water
loo, and with his guards performed
prodigies of valor, yet escaped unhurt ;
and to this day his grandchildren hold
prominent positions in the French
army and the name stands highest in
the roll of honor.
The Inventor of the Bicycle.
"The popular belief is that the" bicy
cle is a modern invention, when in fact
it really dates back to the seventeenth
century," said Dr. C. T. Minor. "I
learned this one day when I was mak
ing some translations from the Jour
nal de Medicine de Paris, Ozaram, m
1694, in his 'Mathematical and Physi
cal Recreations, ' tells of a carriage, as
he calls it, in which one can ride
without the aid of horses. '
"And then he goes on to tell how a
lackey sits at the back, makes it run
'by walking alternately with his two
feet by means of two small wheels con
cealed in a case just between the
wheels behind and attached to the ax-
e of the carriage.' This was the prin
ciple of the velocipede, so much im
proved since then. But the priority
of the discovery of the bicycle I be-
ieve to be established without further
argument or dispute.
"It was by a physician, Eli Rich
arda young physician of Kochelle,
France, who made the first machine
after which our modern bicycle is pat
terned. He was a medical student in
Paris in 1666 and became one of the
great physicians of France. He died
at the age of sixty-one, at Kochelle,
in 1706, and there is a 'street in Ko
chelle named for him, and there is now
a movement on foot to erect a bronze
statue, not to Michaud, who it is
claimed was the discoverer of the bi
cycle, but to the true discoverer,
Dr. Eli Bichard." Cincinnati Times
Star. As It Was in 53.
"So you enjoyed your Europeam
trip, did you?" inquired the simple
old gentleman. "I haven't been over
since 53, but my recollections are
still vivid. I remember once standing
upon Mont Blanc, watching the sun
sink to rest behind the blue waters of
the Mediterranean, while to my right
the noble Rhine rushed onward to the
Black Sea, and the Pyrenees, still
holding the snows of winter, were on
my left. I remember while standing
there"
"But, Mr. Gray," feebly interrupted
his listener, "I was on Mont Blanc
myself, and really youU excuse me
but you really must be mistaken in
your geography."
"I?" returned the old man, lightly.
"Not a bit of it but I forget it's
different now. You know, my dear
boy, that since my day the entire map
of Europe has been changed by these
awmi wars, ana so, ox course, you
can't appreciate what it was in '53."
From Harper's Magazine.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Interesting Pacts About the
Building.
Old
It
Has Cost Much Money
Furniture and Repairs.
for
One of the employes of the White
House, Mr. Pendell, who has been
there for many years, tells some
things of interest about the historic
building. He says to the Washing
ton correspondent of the St. Louis Re
public : -
'The term White House, by which
it is now known throughout the country
was not applied to it until after the
sandstone walls, blackened by smoke
and flames when the British set fire to
it, were painted a gleaming white in
1817.
"Before the first occupant, John
Adams, had established himself in the
mansion, Congress appropriated for
furniture what was then considered
the munificent sum of; $15,000, and
the money was made to hold out dur
ing the four years of his administra
tion. When his successor, Jefferson,
took up his residence there, $14,000
was, set aside 'for the accommodation
of the household of the President, to
be laid out at his discretion, and un
der his direction, together with the
proceeds from the sale of such part of
the furniture and equippage belonging
j to the President's household, as, may
be decayed and outof repair.' Most
oi inis money was uevoieu wj re
furnishing the house, and it was all
spent in three years.
"Four years later a like sum was
placed at the disposal of Madison and
the same amount was appropriated at
the beginning of his second term.
The burning of the mansion while he
resided there, however, necessitated
its reconstruction, for which $20,000
was appropriated in 1817, together
with the proceeds of the sale of the
old furniture. The year following
James Monroe came into the historic
old mansion and $30,000 more was
spent in finishing and refurnishing it.
"The regulation sum $14,000
was again allowed when John Quincy
Adams took possession, and in 1826
and 1827 $6,000 additional was appro
priated for finishing and furnishing
the East Boom. The front portico of
Ionic pillars was added in Jackson's
first term at a cost of $19,000, and in
his second term $26,000 was spent for
m i 1 4 -1 1L.' i-J
furniture and repairs. Ail this time
most of the furniture was brought
from London or Paris, and nearly all
of it was of mahogany. When Wil
iam H. Harrison became President
the appropriation was cut down to
$6,000, with the 'stipulation that the
furniture bought should be of Ameri
can manufacture.
"Polk and Taylor were each allowed
$14,000 for the customary alterations,
but when Pierce took up his residence
there the generous sum of $25,000 was
appropriated for furniture and $11,
250 for repairs and 'white washing' the
interior.
"Buchanan spent $20,000, and in
his first term Lincoln used $29,000 on
the house. A thorough overhauling
took place when Johnson was inaugu
rated, at a cost of $76,000, and in 1865
$59,000 was added to complete the
work. A like amount was expended
by Grant during his first term and
$110,000 the second, exclusive of fuel,
which averaged $5,000 a year.
"During Hayes' administration
$9,000 was spent for furniture and re
pairs, during the Garfield-Arthur re
gime the mansion was re'fitted and the
jewelled glass screen substituted for the was f ound to be contaminated by leak
old wooden partition, the whole age an(j filtration from a cess-pooL
amount expended being $10,000. The eeneral rules for prevention of the
"President Cleveland spent $71,000
during his first term, and Harrison
$96,000.
"The average annual puflay is now
$25,000 for furniture and repairs and
$3,000 for fuel. The carpets on the
floors of the reception rooms have to
be renewed every year, owing to the
immense amount of wear they are sub
ject to under the feet of the public."
Hunted Out of Existence.
A very striking type of Mexican
zoology, the tapir (tapirus terrestris
or tapirus Americanus), is found in
goodly numbers in the densely wooded
river bottoms of southern or tropical
Mexico. This is a hoofed mammal,
allied to the swine, yet of a sub
order, more nearly representing the
rhinoceros. The tapir is about four
feet long, of a blackish color when
grown, with a grotesque head, very
high polled and extremely flexible
snout, four small anterior and three
posterior hoofs. Its flesh is very
savory and according to -the Great
Divide its hide makes most serviceable
leather, so that it is largely hunted.
It does not attack humans save when
driven to bay, when it becomes fierce
and stubborn and inflicts severe
wounds with its teeth. On dogs
especially it takes savage vengeance
when at bay. The jaguar is a deadly
foe of this animal. When felix ones
hungers for tapir pork and jumps on
the back of some hapless specimen the
only defense that victim makes is to
dash through the jungle in an effort to
brush the jaguar off against the under
growth, or else plunge into a stream
or pool, for the feline is no diver,
I while the tapir is a great water lover
and almost amphibious. The tapir is
of nocturnal habits and a great trav
eller. It feeds on young branches and
twigs, fruits, gourds, melons, water
cabbage,-etc Its voice, which seldom
is heard, is a curious shrill whistling.
Its gentle nature makes it easily tam
able, in fact, too tamable, for its affec
tion takes the form of antics and
gambols whose familiarity is discom
posing, as from a clumsy, lumbering
creature as big as a donkey. Although
still plentiful, tapirs are far less numer
ous now than they were a few years since,
owing to tne eagerness with wnicn
they are hunted. Not only are the
numbers diminished, but they have
grown shy and wary, retreating before
man's approach into the more inacces
sible districts and nooks.
BjarnI, the Discoverer of America,
All impartial historians give to the
Norsemen the honor of being the dis
coverers of America. However, but !
few of them ever give the name of the
real discoverer. According to the
most authentic records monks from
Ireland discovered Iceland about the
year 725 A. D. About 135 years later
the Norsemen (knowing nothing of
the discovery made by the Irish
monks) also ran afoul of the little bo
real island. In the year 864 these en
terprising sons of the Vikings had
planted a colony on the island, which '
soon became a flourishing settlement.
In the year 893 Eric the Red discov
ered the east coast of Greenland and
skirted along it for many miles. In
995 one Bjarni, who was making a
trip in his vessel from Norway to Ice
land, was driven from his course and
finally found himself, vessel and crew
in a harbor on the coast of what is
now Nova Scotia. These facts,
being indisputable, should accord to
Bjarni the individual honor of being
the discoverer of the Western Conti
nent. But the Scandinavian historians,
when pressing their claims of being
the true discoverers of America, sel
dom mention Bjarni, seeming to pre
fer conferring the honor upon one Lief,
a son of Eric the Bed, otherwise
known as Lief Ericson. This man
Lief seems to have deliberately left
Iceland with the avowed intention of
planting a colony in the New South
westthis some five years after the
fateful voyage of Bjarni. who was ;the
real xmthfinder to the New World.
Ericson's colony was landed at what
is now Bhode Island (known in Norse
history as "Vinland"), and was main
tained for many years according to
some writers, until finally wiped out
by. the plague.'
How to Keep Cholera Down.
The New Review has a sensible and
readable article by Dr. Robson Roose
on the propagation and prevention of
cholera. Numerous cases are cited in
illustration of the intimate relations
between the water supply and cholera
outbreaks, and hence the supreme im
portance of the purity of water used
for drinking.
The author does well in pointing
out that dirty filters are worse . than
none at all ; unless it is from time to
time cleansed or renewed, fairly good
water may actually take up impurities
from the filter. If charcoal be the
agent, it should be boiled occasionally,
say once a month and then .dried in
the sun or an oven. Spongy iron filt
ers are recommended for general ' use
as being cheap and easily renewed.
The -fact that water is cool and
sparkling does not imply purity. An
outbreak in Golden Square in 1854
was traced to a well, the water from
which was much liked for having these
characteristics, but on examination
epidemic are those of ordinary hy
giene, cleanliness in all things, mod
eration and care in diet and exercise.
The -fact that more than five-and-twenty
years have passed since cholera
gained a footing in this country,
though it has from time to time
reached our ports, may fairly be at
tributed to the improved sanitary con
ditions which now obtain in all our
large towns. Natural Science. '
Atmospheric Envelope of the Earth.
The results of the experiments made
in the exploration of the higher at
mosphere have been given to the Paris
Academy of Science. The balloon
wnicn camea tne registering instru
ments was constructed of triple gold
beater's skin varnished, its volume be
ing 350 cubic feet. The lowest pres
sure reristered was less than one-
seventh of an atmosphere which cor
responds to a height of about 50,000
feet. The lowest temperatuae record
ed was fifty-one degrees C. at 40,000
feet, after which the curves of temper
ature and pressure were interrupted by.
the freezing of the recording ink. Sub
sequently, however, the intense solar
radiation seems to have thawed the ink,
so that the barometric record was taken
up again at 50,000 feet, and the ther
mometric curve at 21 degrees C; The
balloon could be followed with the
naked eye . for three-quarters of an
hour, within which it attained its high
ttt altitude. : It was white, and bright
ly iUmninated by the sun. Philadel
phia Record.
Aumone, a little French hamlet, has
but forty inhabitants, twenty-four of
whom are over eighty years of age.
Parental Adflce.
Feelln streakld, ain't ye, Johnny?
Wall, this Is the way I view It,
That the gals would like to love ye,
But you're got to make 'em do It.
Don't go browsm at a distance
In some pastur way off yonder,
Don't believe what Idiots tell ye
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Step up to Vm Johnny, smarter
Sorry Kate give you the mitten ;
She'd said "Yes," as sure as gospel
If you hadn't been such a kitten.
You will learn to view this matter ,
BImeby jes the way I view it.
That the gals would like to love ye
But you've got to make 'em, do tt.
Everybody's bound to have 'em
All, at any rate, but few are ;
An w'eh I was young an lively
I was taken jest as you are.
An' I went an popped it to her -
Steered completely out of natur,
TrembUn like a frightened rabbit,
Bloshin like a red termater,
After she had tol me 'So. sir,"
I was Jest about an you be, v
Coin' round limp an kinder d am pish, c
Feelin like a blasted booby.
But I fln'ly spanked up courago
Like a man to go an' win her
An' she's been a blessin' to me
I can't say a word agin her t ,
"Did I get her?' Kow you're crazy,
Do you a'pose I'd get another
Wen I loved the gal like I did 5
Go an ask her &he's yer mother.
Since that time I tell the youngsters
Jest the way I alius view it, s
That the gal would like to love em
But they've got to mafce a do it.
-Sam W. Foss in Yankee Blade.
HUMOROUS.
Non-committal BaiL
Generally in the van The man who
drives the furniture wagon.
Tom "Your best girl's father is a
bank cashier, isn't he?" Dick "Yes. .
Her small brother is a teller."
"These trousers are awfully Bhort.".
Well you told my collector the other
day that you were awfully short your
self." Mrs. Neighbob "Why do you call
Jack 'The Fisherman?' " Jess "Be
cause he never goes away without a
smack."
Mrs. Naggs "Words cannot ex
press my contempt for you. Jaggs ..
"I'm glad to hear it. Now I will
have a little peace."
"Look here, now, when are you
going to pay me the five dollars I lent
you six weeks ago ? " ' 'How can I tell ?
Do you take me for a prophet?"
Mrs. Waughntit "Oh, I'd just give
the world for a cottage at Newport."
Mr. Waughntit-"Well, my dear,
that's pretty near what they cost."
"How did the rumor that Billfare,
the restaurant keeper, was financially
embarrassed get started?" "Someone
saw him eating ia bis own restaurant4rM
I believe."
Fred "The very first thing she said
to me when I called on her last night
gave me hope." Arthur ," What was
it?" Fred "She said her little
brother was asleep."
Daughter "Yes, I know 3Ir. Stay
late comes very often, but it isn't my
fault. I do everything I can to drive
him away." Old Gentleman "Fudge I
I haven't heard you sing to him once I "
Friend "One of your clerks tells "
me you raised his salary and told him
to get married under penalty of dis
charge!" Business Man "Yes; I do
that w ith all my clerks when they get
old enough to marry. I don't want
any of your independent, conceited
men around my place."
A Register for the Tremor.
The " tronometre " is a device ot
Dr. Quintard, a Frenchman, for gaug
ing the trembling of nervous people.
It consists of a metal plate pierced
with twenty holes of different sizes in
a graduated scale and a needle which
the patient endeavors to put into the
holes. When he has succeeded in
placing the needle in a hole he com-
pletes an electric contact and rings a
bell. . The immoderate use of coffJ
and stimulants, as well as lead or me.
curial poisoning, . produce trembling!
which can be tested 'with this simpld
appliance. It may also be useful toj-,
marksmen
Globe.
and others. London
"Fall" In Rlrer.
Generally speaking, the slope of,
rivers flowing into the Mississippi from
the east is, on an average, about three
inches per mile ; fhose entering it from
the west have an average descent of
about six inches per , mile. The aver
age descent per mile of the Missouri
after it leaves the mountains is reckon
ed at about a foot; the Des Moines,
from its source to its conjunction with
the Mississippi, about 7.3 inches. The
entire length of the Ohio shows a fall
of five inches. The Mississippi, from
the mouth of the Ohio to the Gulf, has
a fall of about 2 inches. St. Louis
Bepublic . " -
Monotonous Sjmpathy,
A sympathetic lady on one occasion
stepped up to the bedside of a soldier
lying in a hospital during the war, and
inquired : "Well, my poor man, is
there anything you want?" "No,
Miss, bleeve not." "You're sure there J
is nothing I can do for you?" Nothin
I can think of." "Oh, I do want to
do something for you can't I wash
your ands and face?" "Wall, if yd
want to do that, I recin yo kin, but
yoTl be the f o'teenth lady who done
that same thing this mo'ning." Chi
cazo News. , -