m$m iMMM 1TE3E MfcmtsMlk? ? J0 Mp T t ' -" '' ''';V, ").?yft Si -v - w - im TOO MUCn TIIOUGIITLESS LEGISLATION. By Ex-Gov. Herrkk ot Ohio. It Is high time that we cease to lit- fry ";f jp rf.V.L 1 ter our law books with measures F V s I that restrict Indnstrv unit dvo It J jt?5 Sf'SO I f"rnl RO r's'(' ns to ue lllls,1',0ll to i ii inr i f iivf mi u imi'ii I 1 1 w it I ii hit i -, ...... n growth and hnmcrlng Individual In itiative, ami ronilue our attention to the rtiuovul of excrescent growths, mul the passage of Mich legislation ns will keej) pace with tin? quicken ed evolution of tlie times, permitting and aiding tho country to progress tx.-cov. imaitcK. freely along the lines that have been so prolific of good in tlie past. Just at present tlie outcry Is loudest against the cor porations doing nn interstate business particularly tlie railroads. Abuses in railroad management there have been, and doubtless many still obtain. Generally speak ing, rebates, private car lines, discrimination against cer tain localities, and the issue of securities for Improper purpose are evils of magnitude and should be prohibited by stringent legislation. Discrimination In railroad rates lias not always been an unmixed evil. The marvelous growth and prosperity of the West are clue, in no small degree, to the fact th::t wheat has been transported nt a relatively low rate. Many flourishing centers of trade and Industry have been developed by the judicious discrimination of railroads. Unfortunately, otir lawmakers are being driven by thoughtless agitation Into the enactment of much hasty and Ill-advised legisla tion inimical to the free development of railroads. THE MOORS AND WHO THEY ARE By Ada C. Sweet. A touch of romance Is given by the dis patches relative to the war with the Moors. Christendom was so many centuries fighting the Moors Turks, Snraecns, they are all cf one mingled torrent mixed of Arab and North African blood, Numldiau, Phoenician, etc., with sprinkling of European. Mohamme dans! these were known as Moors during nil the long years of warring, and the story and song of Euroiie are full of the sounding name. Even here In comparatively new America tradition has lent us a tale or two connected wth the romantic Moors; as .,1a the story of Captain John Smith, whose captivity among the Moors Is one of the episodes the school chil dren -wonder over. But to most of us the Moors mean that people which overran southern Spain, and held the land for centuries, only to be driven out finally by cruel and merciless war. These, and Othello, "The Moor of Venice." make up the picture, to most minds, when the newspaper holds forth In big type, aliout a new battle with the Moors. They are picturesque, but I am glad they are so far uway, those same Moorish brethren! 1 prefer reading "Into Morocco," by the brilliant Pierre Lot I. to taking a Jour ney along tho southern, const of the Mediterranean and Into. the lands lying southward. A good map, after all, tells best, to the downright, practical mind, who and what the Moors really are. MYSTERY CF THE ANCIENT DOCTOR By Sir Frederick Treves, Surgeon to King Edward I am certain It Is safe to prophesy th.it the time will come when hospitals for Infectious diseases will be empty and not wanted. I also look forward to the time when It will be as anomalous for persons to die of scarlet fever, typhoid, cholera, and diphtheria us It will be for a man to die of a wolf's bite In England. Very little, however, can be done by the leg islature, but everything hv the progress t.f medical science and in a much larger degree by the in telligence of the people. We must recognize that the saying that every cno must eat a peck of dirt before be tiles Is erroneous, and see that dirt Is undesirable. Preventive medicine is founded u;oii bard fads, pru dence, and common sense. The mystery of tlie ancient doctor, his use of long names, and his extraordinary pre scriptions are passing nway. Multitudes of shelves full of bottles which surround doctors are also passing nway, and being replaced by simple living, suitable diet, plenty of sun, and plenty of fresh air. Tlie tight of the present day is against millions of mi crobes, and the weapons are sanitary regulations, munici pal government, the sanitary Inspector, and the medical olllcer of health. EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS OF THE SOUTH By Prof. S. C. Mitchell, Richmond College. The South Is advancing educationally along three different lines In education of the neg lected white children. In the democratizing of the Ideals of the higher institutions ot learn ing, and In the training of the negroes. The school Is within the reach of every negro child. Upon these schools the South has expended since the war perhaps as much as $ 1.10.000,000. While tho negroes should be encouraged to enter every avenue of life for which their talents lit them, It Is, nevertheless, true that the great masses of this race will find their surest opportunities upon the farm. They need to be moralized. This threefold advance on the part of tho South consti tutes one of the finest experiments In education which mankind has seen, and should enlist the sympathetic co operation of the whole nation. THE ANGELS IN THE HOUSE. ttliree pairs o dimpled arms, as white as I snow, i - Held ine In soft embrace; phree little checks, like velvet peaches soir, Were placed against my face. Three pairs of tiny eyes, so clear, so deep. Looked up in mine this even ; Three pairs of lips kissed me a sweet '"Good night." ; Three little forms from heaven. Ah, It is well that "little ones' should love us ; It lights our f.iita wnen dim. ,To know tlint once our lessed Savior bade them i Bring "little ones" to him. I LAnd said he not, "Of such Is heaven"? and blessed them, And held them to his breast? Ja It not sweet to know that when they leave us, 'Tis then they go to rest? And yet, ye tiny angels of my house, . ' Three hearts encased in mine, How 'twould be shattered if the Lord should say, ii "Those angels are not thine!" IIIDB i Madam Cleo, prima donna soprano pt the Bush Opera Company, sat before the long table In her dressing room flunking, up" for the evening perform ance. I A dash of rouge, a dab of powder, myriad beads of blue cosmetic along the j6lender edge of her blond eye lashes, and she was transformed from a plain, tMldd!e-aged woman Into a radiant vis ion of youthful' beauty. Suddenly a shriek, sounding from the etage, startled her. Scream after scream went up from jthe chorus of fairies gathered for the lopenliig tableau. Madam's first thought was of fire; catching up her chamois tag of Jewels, she made a dash for safe ty, but tho scene which her open door disclosed reussured her. ' It was do tire. It was only an acci dent to one of the chorus girls. Indif ferently she would have turned back to !hcr preparations but she spied tho manager, Lynn Bush, striding through jthe excited crowd. , "What Is It V" she called to him. i "Rigging broke; -one of the girls killed, I suppose," be answered, shortly. "Her own fault, probably," she flung back. "Tlie 'firefly girls' are too care less. Don't let It annoy you ; come In '& moment, Lynn." ! Ho paid n attention to the honeyed invitation; lie had long ago sounded the depths of Madam Cleo's honeyed phrases. Pushing Ills way through the liorriticd chorus of tlluislly dressed ladles he saw a heap of red and blue, and Uauie-liUe gauze lying prone on tho etage where she had been dr ipped by a defective ringing. i "Bring u dui'tor." he Raid to one of the stage hands. "A d ict r, quick." Alarmed, be knelt on the stag floor feeling for a pulsation of life, bending Lis cur to catch a sound of breathing. fl'o all appearances tho girl was life less; tl bad been a crn-l fa;j from tlia flies. "Here," lie called t '.:;e of the men, "help uie to carry her Into Cleo's room." They lifted her gently and bore her rto Madam's door. Thu star dressing room was on the stage, only a few feet away, but Madam was In no mood to play the role of nurse to a mere chorus girl. She raised her voice In loud ob jections, until Rush, disgusted, bade the men bring n carriage at once. "Does anyone know who this young woman Is?" he asked. Several of the girls told him. "Amy Ames; she lives at No. 19 Wei ton Court, with her blind mother." And some one added: "She is her mother's only support What a pity If she is killed." Lynn Bush, man of the world, the atrical manager and as selfish ns such a life is inclined to mnke one, felt something like pity stir his heart. She was a pretty little creature lying there, white and helpless, against his breast. Tlie carriage had come ; without reason ing why, he stepped In with his uncon scious burden, gave the address to the driver and slammed the door. "What a pity if she is killed," he repeated. "Poor little flotsam upon life's ocean." And he caressed the hand that lay limply against his knee. Suddenly It occurred to him that he carried a flask of brandy In his hip pocket. Quick as thought he poured a dram between her Hps. She choked. Eureka! She lived. More brandy, more choking, and then the lids flew back and he looked Into a pair of startled eyes. "Bravo!" A weight of anxiety was lifted from his mind. She struggled to sit up and he helped her; In the darkness of tho carriage he could see her extreme pallor, the weak ness which assailed her, but she made a brave effort, smiling faintly as she iii wj kSo'" ,117 " "SO yOU ABE TO III: UV r.NII.I!STCIY?" told him that she was better, asking where she was, where they were going. Mo told her. "Oh, but I must not go home!" she exclaimed In distress. "My mother It would frighten her; aid I cannot lose a night's salary! Please take me back." "You are n it fit to work. Besides," he addi'd, kindly, "you shall not ii.se a night's salary." "Are you Mr. Rush? I thought I knew your voice." So, she bad known his voire mid he, self-centered cad, had U t known of licr existence. It was a long drive to Wilton Court, but Lynn Rush I'd'' that It was too short, lie ought to be In the "front of t.ie house" at that iinment. still it was v. Ith Ireluctaice that i.e left her l( u,L. care of her blind old mother, after be ing assured that no fractures had been sustained. Never again was Vuy permitted to be drawn up Into wll.tir us a "tlreflyr" Lynn Rush looked after her so closely that Madam Cleo became alarmed fear ing the waning of her own Influence. A month passed ; Amy had been given a small part and sang It so well It was suggested by Rush that she take the understudy for the prima donna. When Cleo heard of this she sent for Miss Ames, nil tlie arrogance of her na ture flashing from her eyes. "Ah, my dear," tho tone was sweet ness as of distilled nectar. "So you are to be niy understudy? I congratu late you ; but, really, do you realize the danger to your reputation if you con tinue to permit our manager to show you such marked favors? Vou are sure ly not so stupid as to Imagine you are capable of singing my part. Be care ful, my dear, be careful. You are a young girl and pretty; Mr. Rush Is known to be a 'gay Lothario;' what will lie care for you when he has tired of you?" "Oh," Amy felt a great tug at her heart. "You are mistaken, I am sure." "I mistaken?" Madam Cleo's voice had a ring of mockery. "Listen, let me make a confidant of you, for your own sake, deluded girl. This whole season he has deluged me with bouquets, Jew els, attentions, lie. loves me, In a thou sand ways he has shown It " "But you have a husband!' cried Amy, aghast. "Ila, hal" laughed Cleo. "Hear the little Innocent! That Is what you will never have If you continue to accept Lynn Rush's favors." A step on the threshold. "I beg your pardon,' Interposed Mr. Rush, entering. "Your prediction Is fated not to come true, Malam. I otter Miss Amcg a husband here and now. She not only possesses my ad miration, but my respect and love." lie drew Amy nway, Jeavlng Madam undecided whether to resort to hys terics or to taint. In Amy's dressing room tho manager of the company slipped an arm around her. . "You have not said If you will ac cept the husband I olTer, sweetheart." A blare of Instruments, tile call boy's cry of "overture," drowned her whls Kred reply, but love understands though lips remain mute. Waverley Magazine. A Simple llcclpe. Everybody in I'edarby owned that Mrs. Hanson was the queen of cooks, but they were likely to add that when It came to explaining the processes by which s'.ie arrived at her excellent re sults, she left u gocd deal to be do sired. "Your scalloped oysters are the best we ever have at our church supper or . .ny where, and you kmm it," said it neighbor, endeavoring to win special favor from thU culinary goddes.i. "Most folks get 'em cilher too wet or to i dry. I tell 'cm I don't Uirnv bow you in:n::ig' It s yours are always j:st I'K'ht. 1 t!"U't suppose 'oli could tell exactly yo;:r.self." "Why. yes, I could." Mid Mrs. Han son siiilicd Indulgently lit the eager, hopeful face of her i:elhhor. "Ail I do Is butter the di- h. put in a loyer of luiiieii' l crumbs, then a laver of milk, ard back to oysters a:;.iiii. Easy as pic, 'tis." "A 'layer' of nii'IUV faltered the neighbor. "Why, yo!," KId M-s. Hanson, cheer fully. "That's what makes 'cm about right I:vcr if oyrters, layer of crumbs, t'lid layer of n;li;. I.cast.vnys that's what I h, and you Kay you like tm." Every time ; nan Is cuny, lf redouble their vidian:. Dot (meeting Johnny) I have found you out. Johnny What am I? I Kit Nobody. Johnny Goodness gracious, I am discovered ! Pa Why dlil you go out In the rain today without an umbrella. John? Johnny I tite salt mackerel Ibis morn ing for breakfast, and that keeps me dry. Johnny Say, dad, If I ate a chop and you ordered one and ate it, what would jour phone number be? Pa Give it up, son. Johnny It would be 8 11'. Little Edna What Is "leisure," mamma? Mamma It's the spare time i woman has in which she cm do some other kind of work, my dear. Chicago Daily News. lie (sententlously ) I always speak niy mind. She (tartly) 1 suppose (hat Is why you have the reputation of being a man of so lew words. Balti more American. Mot'.ier Whatever are you doing to poor dolly, child? Child I'm just go Ing to put her to bed, mummy. I've taken oil' livr hair, but 1 can't get her teeth out. Sourirc. Old Lady (Improving the occasion) You know, boys. It's only the body wblcii lies here. Now, what is it goes to Heaven? Small Boy (tentatively) 'Is 'cad, mum. Pkk-Me-l'p. Nell Yes she said her husband mar ried her for her beauty. Wi:ni do you think of that? Belle Well, I think her husband must fed like a vliJower now. Catholic Standard and Ti:cs. Mistress Bridget, have you cement ed the handle on to the vater-Jug which you dropped yesterday? Bridget I started to, Mum, but most unfor tunately I dropped the utmient bottle. Punch. "The body of the late Major Jinks was cremated." "What they goin' to do with It?" "Ills widow has him corked up In a fruit Jar. Says It's the last of the family Jars." Atlanta Con stitution. The Wife, during a quarrel I'm t:o Ing right home to mother; so there! The Husband That's right, dear, of two evils always choose the less. Please don't bring your mother here. You kers .Statesman. Pa You naughty boy, you've been fighting again! Johnny No, pa, I was only trying to keep 4 bad boy from hurting a little boy. Pa That was a noble act, my sou; who, was tho little boy? Johnny Me. Department Store Manager Tho clerk In the butter department says lie's not going to He about our butter any more. The Boss What salary does he get? Manager Eight dollars a week. The Boss Give him nine. Sweet Singer Ie Hammer says he has a high place In tlie next show ho goes out with. Comedian Well, I should say it Is high. He sits In tho flies and tears up paper for the snow storm scene. Chicago News. Dot I heard your soldier brother wrote you a birthday letter. Was there any war news In it? Johnny I don't know. You see It was printed on the envelope "Return In five days." So I kept It that long and then sent it back. Walter Girl (In restaurant) We've got frogs' legs, chicken livers, calves brains and Johnny (turning to uls pa) I say, dad, they must be queer people who live In this place. Dou't you think they ought to call lu a doc tor? "Is Mrs. Wise at home?" inquired Mrs. Chatters, standing In the shadow of the doorway. "I don't know, ma'am," replied the servant. "I can't tell till I git a bettor look at ye. If ye've a wart on tho side o' yer nose, ma'am, shu ain't." Philadelphia Press. "Thar, my son, you sc what larnln' done fer yer daddy, don't you?" "What, maw?" "Why, Jest as soon as the gov er'niint knowed that he could do ftggers in his head they p'lnted him postmaster nt $K) n year, an' purty soon he'll be sclllu' stamps what goes ou letters!" Atlanta Constitution. "But." asked the proprietor of tlie Bongtong apartments, 'do you think this mau is tlie best one you can get for Janitor?" "Tlie best ever!" replied the manager. "lie has been at various times an Iceman and a street-car con ductor, lie's as sassy and Independent as ho cau.be." Philadelphia Press. "What I would like," said the eager young actress, "Is a part with a death scene In It. I never fall to make a big hit when I die." "I don't doubt It," replied the heartless manager, "and I may say that you would make the big gest hit or your life If you would go away somewhere and die right now." Chicago Record-Herald. Johnny (sitting up in his bed at 12:"U p- m.) Dad, I'm m thirst. Pa Lie quieljy and go to sleep. Johnny (after n pause) But, dad, I must have a drink of water. I'm mi thirsty. Pa If you don't go to sleep this minute I'll have to thrash you. A long silence, then Johnny replied All right, dad. It you're getting up to thrash ine, you might bring mo a glass of water at the same time. llmv in CnJoy WhUI. "II iw can one Irani to enjoy tho game of whp't V" A-pir. ni. Get joursdf n ped Into a game as partner to some one who helped Hoy le write his ImoU. The other two players must also be experts. Start In pleas antly to enliven the game with a fe wcllclioseii anecdotes, now and then making tin wrong play. After your partner has slapped ycnir oars and sworn at you and put the black curse ou you and nil your ancestry iiiid culled you tl fool A few times you will awake to the real Joy of the gentle and Intel lectual game. We have tried this sct eral times, but not at frequent Inter vals, and we can guarantee lis ellicaey, Chicago News. Often u mint luilHises ou uliubdlf j when ha taxes his uicuior;'. Y Opinions of Great Papers on Important Subjects. re? i ii if'itifK'SS MONARCHIES OrPCSE E3II0SATI0N. T Is not surprising that Senator Dillln6h.ini, jwho Is In Europe Investigating conditions of Immigration, reports that European govern- I mollis are much concerned nttcut Ihe exodus of their young men to the ("nlted States. In this the rulers of Europe see the reason for tills republic's present and future grit- ens. To maintain our supremacy among the nat'ons we might build fleet after fleet of S'.'O.faiO.MO battlodilps, In crease our standing nrtny until It equals that of any two European powers combined and spend fortunes on coast defenses; but of far greater value to us Is the steady In flow of sturdy, adventurous Europeans who como to this country to make their fortunes and establish their homes. Through a peace conference tlie powers of Euroic might possibly Induce us to restrict our army and navy, but they have no means of cutting off the Immigration which Is a real source of our greatness as a nation. There Is no mystery about the reason for emigration from Europe. Taxation to maintain great standing armies, compulsory service In such armies and hard-set class lines and governments setting up the absurd claim of divine right persuade men to try life In a better coun try. Once they are here their success and their letters home draw others. Every good cltl7.cn gained by the 1'iilted States Is a severe loss to his former government. No one under stands this better than the rulers, who must confess themselves powerless to check the movement that, more surely than any military supremacy, could possibly do, Is making the I'lilted Statis the strongest ns well as the groastest of world powers. Chicago American. MINING SPECULATION. PERIOD of cenernl nrosperlty Is almost sure y to bo also a period of unusual speculative I activity. Tlie present time Is no exception to Hie ruiv l tie ciii.c 10 juvi-ni in lummy; shares has taken such a hold and become so widespread that conservative men In several cities have felt It to be their duty to sound n. warning. Speculation Itself may lie said to be a trnlt of human nature. It takes various forms. The "South Sea bubble" and John Law's Mlsdsslppl Company were famous speculations of the early years of the eighteenth century. The railroad craze In England and many wild speculations In land and in banks In this country distin guished the nineteenth century. Mining schemes possess elements of chance to a mark ed degree, and have attracted Ignorant and reckless in vestors over and over again. It Is so at tlie present time. Mines gold, silver, copper, y.lnc, or anything else tint can be made to look solid on paper or, more accurately, the promoters of mining companies, are besieged by men and women ottering their hard-earned savings for a gam bling chance. The fact that great fortunes have boon made In legiti mate mining Investments has boon seized upon by shrewd promoters and used as n bait. Their advertisements are wrltteu In a plausible, seductive and ostentatiously con fidential style. They profess to be conferring a benefit when they offer their shares for sale, and they put the price of shares so low that even the members of tho In fant class might break open their tin banks and buy a few of them. It would lie unjust to condemn ns worthlessall schemes advertised In tho confident lnl manner and all companies which divide their capital Into a large number of low priced shares; but for one who Is tempted to embark la any enterprise which promises to make one rich In a few weeks by an Investment In some widely advertised mining stock, the best advice Is don't. If the temptation is too strong to permit yon to follow that advice, go to any reputable but disinterested broker or banker who knows the Ins and outs ot the speculative game, and ask his opinion. The Information which ho will give you will be worth more than the stock would have been. Youth's Companion. A LIFE INSURANCE FREAK. IIH Cleveland man who canceled his policy nf Ufa InRiirmifVk nn n-litr-h lia Kiwi nnM mniiv I premiums, because he had a premonition of aeain nnu was conscienco-stricKon ai we 1 prospect of defrauding tho company, evi dently needs a guardian. But what can be ; thought of tho Insurance company that would thus deliberately take advantage of Its client's ig- norance? Llf Insurance rates are based on expectancy. The average' ago nt which a thousand persons die establishes a rate for all. Some die earlier, while others live long lioyond tho average. The man who dies first reaps the j greatest direct benefit from his Insurance, while the man , who lives longest receives his compensation In that fact, i That the company may be protected from loss, the level j premium rato li loaded to meet the expenses Incident to tho business to provide a reserve fund against emergen cies and to pay Interest on the capital Invested. The company, therefore, would not he the loser If the man should die the day before his premium fell duo. If the policy was canceled unconditionally and the policy holder did not accept Its surrender value lu cash' or paid up Insurance, then ho defrauded himself or his beneficiary and should be entitled to recover. At any ' rate, ho has an entirely wrong conception of life Insur- ' ance principles. But, really, what a snap It would be for ; tho companies If all policy holders were to entertain' slmllnr views, and bo as strong on conscience as la thla man from Cleveland! Toledo Blade. PARCELS POST A BAB THXNQ. ERC1IANTS In small cities. In vllaees. and T it I at country cross roads are likely to over- I whelm congress wth protests against the ' auoption or rosruinwer ucnerai Meyers) plan for a parcels post, as recently outlined. If the government should compete with ex press companies at a low rate, big mail order houses would soon have a monopoly In the country. Small merchants could not compete with them and wide- ' spread ruin would result. There are hundreds of thou sands of such merchants, and they, their clerks, their families, their relatives, and their friends will all be opposed to the parcels post scheme. These merchants and the auxiliaries they can bring to bear are powerful in congress, and It Is hardly possible that any parcels post bill can get through that body. Congressmen ore not going to pass legislation that would bring poverty to a large class of the population. The country merchant Is a useful citizen and at one stroke to deprive thousands upon thousands of their livelihood would lie, to say the least, decidedly unpopular. Chicago Journal. MONTE CARLO PLAGUE SPOT. Cwpnlr Snlelilen n Dny Inapt ru I'nti Ho Kciillmeiit to Hevolt. Monte Carlo, the most Immoral sKt on the face of the globe, with Its un paralleled list of ruined lives, suicides and murders. Is to be wiped out. If the agitation against tills plague sjiot of Christendom now raging iu England Is successful, says a London correspond ent Civilized sentiment against the noto rious gambling den at Monte Carlo has been Intensltied bv the murder of Mme. what It means. Murder? The taking of life In the freti.y of gambling Is by no means uncommon. A quarrel at cards a shot, a break for liberty and the game goes on, with new players substituted. A murderer at Monte Carlo Is usually afforded every oppor tunity to escape. Murder trials are costly ; besides, the notoriety Is too great. Can those horrors bo suppressed? That Is the question which Is now be ing widely agitated and discussed in England. It has been suggested that pany has forty more years to run, but tills fact does not disturb the anti-gam-' biers, who declare Europe should not recognize any legal rights of the com pany to continue the operation of plague spot o l.'n"' mmm mm lis ' - f. ! 7 t . ... GAMBLING CASINO AT MONTE CAU1X) AND PUINCE OF MONACO. Emma Levin by "Sir" Vero Gould, t rot her of an English baronet, and his wife, who dismembered her body, plac ed It In a trunk and carried it with them to Prance. They were arrested at Marseille. The Gooldn had bor rowed a large amount of nionev from Mine. Ievln ami hail lost It on the gam ing tables at Monte Carlo. She pressed them for payment and they killed her. On tlie same day on which this ghast ly crime wns committed a young Eng lishman and tlie American girl whom he had mar 'led ended tlielr lives at f'astellaumre. They were on thdr honeymoon and had lost every cent they had at Monte Carlo. When the gambling season Is at Its height there are sometimes twenty sui cides a day at Monte Carlo. Nobody even takes time to look out of a window mhea a shot Is fired. Everybody knows President Roosevelt take the Initiative In this righteous crusade, since Aiuerl can plutocrats are as prominent at the gaming tables as the aristocracy of Europe. To compel the Prince of Mii liai'o to (dose the M jnto Carlo casino would require unanimous action ou the part of tlie great overs, and English men who arc s acting the present move incut are hopeful of being uble to se cure this. Thu Prim of Monaco receives from thu company operating the Monte Carlo tables $I(ihmio a year, with occasional bonuses declared periodically oil the extra earnings of the casino. The next bonus to him will be made lu l'.ti:S. and If the present rate of profit making Is maintained ho will receive $,!,( Ml,U()(). The annual profits of tho gambling den are $u, )to,ooo. Ths concession to the present coia- SHIP HIT WITH A GIANT MERO.? FLh Welvhed 1,200 Pounds mad Fed,' wl Whole Vlllaa-e. Down In southern waters, where many strange things happen, tho steam ship Zulla of the Bed D Line encoun tered a huge mero, a southern food flan which attains a large size, says the New York Times. While the Incident was not entered In the ship's log by CapL. Bennett, her commander, the story ot the encounter was duly chronicled by, W. A. Hasan, a passenger, and here It Is as ho wrote It down: "On June 15 the steamship Zulla, loaded with coffee and boxwood, wasj crossing the bar at Toblazo. It was necessary to exercise great caution audi to keep the hand lead going all the time, as the channel is very narrow and1 so shallow that at times there are but a few IiK-hes of water under the bot-; torn. She had passed half waythrough when she struck something and careen ed to starboard. Capt Bennett stop ped the vessel, soundings were made and the Venezuelan pilot acquired a more complete knowledgo of the Eng lish language lu a short time than bo had had a chance to obtain in some time. ! "The soundings were found to b right and lu a few minutes the vessel! steamed ahead and the spot was mark ed for future Investigation. We ar rived at Ban Carlos. "A Venezuelan sloop was going through tho channel when her skipper, Raymoud Jesus Gracla, suddenly ex olu Lined: 'Saint Marie! Likewise Holy Saint Joseph! What sea monster 1 this which rises from tho water and bars our progress?' Then he tacked ship and viewed it from a distance and found that It was u gigantic mero. whose head had been crusned by thui Zulla. He took the monster lu tow and soou arrived at San Carlos. The mero measured l!tl feet in length, 14 feet la circumference and weighed ubout 1,200 pounds. "On bis arrival a -temporary market was established, and' the tlsh sold at I'D cents, Venezuelan money, a slice. Capt. Kayuiond Jesus Gr.iciu made $40. Some Idea i f the size of the tlsh can he otalned when It Is said that the whole IMptilatioii of Sim Carlos, ('.()( all told, dined sumptuously on mero that day. which caused Capt. Uaymoud Jesuit Gracla to remark: 'The saints be prais ed and may the Gringos, whom It la the will of heaven should all bu fools, kill nsuitlicr. According tu Dim-tor Spencer of the aqu:;rlum tho mero Is a fuud fish Rilled, to the tilack grouper and called by tho . Spaniards lucro de lo tilta. It attains a weight of ollO poundi and Is found lu siutheru waters, souictiir.es off the coast of Florida. After nil, people keep a pretty stiff upper lip.