VANDERBILT, HERMIT
MEMBER OF FAMOUS FAMILY
ON MOUNTAIN PEAK.
Lite In u I-onely Cotlaco nnd Has for
It In Friend Spiders nnd Creeping
Thlnes Ho I a Happy ns Cnu llo
In Ills Lonely Home.
Once a year old John Vanderbllt ot
Hcxnnkopf, Cal., cornea barefooted
down the mountains to Lower Sancon,
nnd buyn a mess of coarse cornnwal.
This he packs up the steep slope to
his hut, to form his main food supply
for a twelvemonth. Cooked with
water In hoc-cakes flavored with sas
safras root, It forms strange enough
fare for a wealthy member of the rich
est family In America.
Old John Vanderbllt went to tho
Hcxankopf, or Witch's Head moun
tain, many years ago nnd bought a
JOHN VANDERBILT.
:umbledown brick dwelling of consid
erable size, which, because of Us con
dltlon, was sold to him with several
acres of almost worthless mountain
land for ?450. It stands on the top
of the mountain, screened by dense
foliage from observation though, no
observer ever passes that way Bavo
out of curiosity, and tho nearest neigh
bor, Mr. William Raudabach, lives a
mile away. Mr. John Vanderbllt bears
well IiIb more than CO year?. Ho Is
erect and vigorous, nearly 6lx feet
high, and bears a striking resemblance
to tho old Commodore Vanderbllt, of
whom ho Is a relative. He Is not a
recluse; ho goes often to tho post
ofllccs of Iron Hill, Wassergras ,nnd
Lower Sancon, receiving mall at tho
former ofllce and sending It from tho
latter. He buys supplies and pays
cash. He has mortgages on houses In
South Bethlehem and receives rentals
from property In New Brunswick and
Bound Brook, N. J. Tho former town
is the source of tho powerful Vander
bllt family, the early home of tho old
commodore.
In his way John Vanderbllt Is a
kindly man. A great spider has spun
its web across his doorway; he stoops
on entering that Us home may not
bo destroyed. A few children are his
only friends, chief among these being
Elmer Kunsman, son of a farmer llv
Ing on the only road that approaches
the place. Elmer keeps a careful look
out down tho road, and when Btrnng
ers approach the boy scampers
through tho woods to warn Mr. Van
derbllt.
Knicleiit l'ostal Service.
The annual report of tho third as
sistant postmaster general contains
strong testimony in favor of tho hon-
esty and efficiency of the poBtal service,
writes William E. Curtis in the Chi
cago Record. During the past fiscal
year tho postmasters of tho United
States and their assistants handled
fl9G;C53,544, of which $95,021,384 was
receipts from tho sale of stamps, boxes,
money orders, etc., and tho balance
was disbursed for various expenses,
Of this enormous sura the entire" loss
to tho government by burglary, flro,
bad debtB, embezzlement and all oth
er forms of carelessness and dishon
esty was only 119,358. I doubt If any
prlvato firm, bank or corporation, or
any Institution In tho world that re-
celves and disburses money, can show
bo good a record, and yet wo keep
talking about tho inefficiency nnd cor
ruption of tho public servlco and other
evils of partisan appointments. It may
bo said, too, that tho customs eollec-
tlons and tho business of tho lnternnl
revenue office will show similar evi
dence ot honesty and efficiency In our
public service.
Dictates the I'rlce of Wheat.
Samuel Greeley, a commission mer
chant ot Chicago, testified before the
National Industrial Commission in
session In that city, that a combina
tion of flvo wealthy grain men, of
which Philip D. Armour is tho direct
ing genius, control tho price of farm-
era' products. It Is Armour who has
concocted the foremost competition de
stroying combination In tho West. He
can dictate his rate of freight on any
railroad in or out of Chicago. This
combination between railroads and ele
vator operators has practically killed
competition in the grain market In tho
West, and has left Us promoters witn
a monopoly of tho market By hoard
ing immense quantities of grain In the
market center it has given rise to tho
professional bear speculator, whoso
business it is to hammer down tho
market, and has brought Into exist
ence and made safe tho bucket shop,
Thus tho railroads, who own many of
,tho elevators Indirectly, get in league
with a class oi operators wno ougm
to bo In tho penitentiary.
AN INCUBATOR OSTRICH.
Account of tho l'lrat Successful llesnlt
or That Kxpertment.
Out ot the ostrich farm there Is an
other cur 3.lty and this time It Is tho
first Incubator hatched baby ostrich In
ho United States, says the Florida
Times-Union and Citizen. For several
years attempts havo been mado at Om
aha nnd Lor Angeles to hatch the eggs
of the ostrich, but so far all attempts
havo been unsuccessful. The question
of applying molsturo has been tho ono
problem that has troubled all breed
ers and tho uncertainty of tho bird's
setting has made It necessary to use
the Incubator, If It should bo piovcd
possible. Some time ago Mr. Camp
bell had half a dozen eggs placed In
an incubator, nnd has been experiment
ing ever since. When tho eggs wero
21 days in the incubator ho broke two
of them and found perfectly formed
chicks, with feathers on tholr backs
and rudimentary tall feathers sprout
ing. The birds wero alive and aro now
preserved In alcohol nt tho showroom
of the farm. Encouraged by this ap
parent success, he has watched tho In
cubator, which, In turn, has nursed tho
eggs, and Just 41 days from tho tlmo of
tho first experiment, one of tho eggs
showed signs uf muscular life, and Mr.
Campbell broke tho shell. Immedi
ately a claw was stuck though tho In
ner skin of the shell, then another, and
finally a whole foot appeared. Mr.
Campbell waited until the afternoon,
when tho bird was about half-way out
of tho shell. Finally tho head began
to force Its way out of tho shell's Inner
lining, nnd then tho Incubator baby
ostrich winked an eye, and ho was
put back In the Incubator to finish tho
process of making his entry Into the
world alone. That part of tho bird
which was vlslblo was perfectly formod
and was covered with feathers. Tho
foot had a claw about a quarter of an
Inch long. Tho young bird Is n kicker
and was making valiant struggles to
get Into business on Its own account
Mr. Campbell's success In raising this
bird In tho Incubator is In tho nnturo
of h valuable discovery. Many hun
drcd dollars' worth ot eggs havo been
wasted In experiments and If Mr
Campbell shall succeed In hatching out
tho eggs which are now In the lncu
bator tho discovery will bo worth thou
sands of dollars. It has taken 42 days
careful watching. Tho thermomotor
has been kept at 110 degrees and tho
molsturo has been applied at Intervals
as Mr. Campbell thought best. Tho
proprietors of tho Los Angoles farm
havo long ago given up experimenting
with incubators, having had no sue
cess whatever, but Messrs. Pearson &
Taylor of the Jacksonville farm, on
hearing about tho 21 day result men
tioned above, Immediately cabled to a
London, England, concern, for an in
cubator of tho same stylo and pattern
as the concern Is manufacturing for tho
farms In Capo Colony and large enough
to hatch seventeen eggs at a time.
THE HOSPITAL SHIP MAINE.
In Which American Women Will lo to
South Africa as Nurses.
The hospital ship Maine, now being
fitted out in London for service in the
South Africnn war, is owned by the
Atlatiilc Transport Line, of which B.
N. Baker, of Baltimore, is president.
Mr. Baker has given the ship to the
British government free of cost and
ho will personally pay tho oxpenses of
operating tho vessel, which amount
to $5,000 per month. A number of
American women have already sailed
for England to Join tho Maine and to
work in Its servlco as nurses. Tho
company will bo under tho direction
of MIbb M. E. Hlbbard. Among Its
members aro Misses Virginia Ludo
kons, Jennie A. Manly, Sarah O. Mc-
Vean. nnd Margaret J. McPlicrson;
Tho last named Is a nntlvo of Mary-
MISS M. E. HIBBARD AND THE
MAINE.
land and was In tho United States
army service at Fort Hamilton from
September, 1898, to February, 1899.
The surgeons who nccompanled theno
ladles were Drs. Georgo E. Dodge and
Harry H. Rodman, of Now York, and
Dr. Charles H. Weber, of Philadelphia.
The fitting out ot tho ship Is under
the direction of Lady Randolph
Churchill.
Speaker Henderson's Gavel.
Speaker David B, Henderson's gavel
is mado from rosewood brought from
Manila by Capt. Charles V. Mount,
captain of tho Shenandoah company
In tho Fifty-first regiment. Ho se
cured the wood from tho Spanish bat
tleship Relna Christina, Admiral Mon-
tcjo's flagship. Tho gavel, which Is
now ready, is Inlaid with gold, and
each end of the mallet is solid gold.
Speaker Henderson's monogram and
the state and national coats-of-arms,
aro inlaid In gold, and in tho handlo
are 45 gold stars. Its cost Is $200.
Pleasuro Is very seldom found where
It Is sought Our brightest blazes of
giaaness uro cummuuiy muuieu uy un
I expected spams. jonnson.
TPTIW T?A1,T, OT? inPTiTNO- scn' "oceanography." it Is called, b
llli!; rAJUUUr IVIXJJJIIVJ Bnn with tho laying of ocean cables.
FURIOUS CRITICISM OF ROBERT
BUCHANAN.
The I'ninous Novcllit Says
That Nearly
ICi-ltcporter
a Low Moral
KvcrythliiK Tlint tint
Writes Is Tainted with
Tone.
Itobcrt Uuchanun, whoso llcrco at
tack on Hudynrd Kipling In tho Con
temporary Review Is tho literary sen
sation of tho day, has always been
noted for plain words whenever ho
comes out ns a critic. Kipling, ho as
serts, has seldom uttered "anything
that does not suggest moral base
ness." Tho uncrowned lnurcntc, Bays
Mr. Buchanan, takes his Inspiration
from tho street tough and sings "tho
coarse and bouIIcbs patriotism of tho
hour." Tho object of truo Imperialism
Is "to frco man, not to enslave him.
Mr. Buchanan some years ago turned
literary London lnsldo out by a fero
cious criticism of Rosettl and Swln-
ROBERT BUCHANAN
burnc, mnklng llfo enemies of theso
two poets. Kipling's robust derogator
has written poetry himself, but ho is
better known for his drnmns nnd his
novels. His criticisms nro forcoful nnd
earnest and aro characterized by a
directness calculated to Impress tho
reader deeply, If not projudlco him.
An incidental effect of his acumen
seems to bo dlscomllturo for tho iui
thor criticised, and very often tho
suppression of tho literature com
mcntcd upon.
Wonders of ho Ocean lied.
Tho mysteries of tho deep seas aro
coming to light. Scientists have mean
urcd tho mountains of tho ocean bed
nnd their lend lines have penetrated
Into valleys bo deep that tho sun's
rays aro lost miles above their hot-
torn. Some of theso aro moro than
30,000 feet below tho surface. If tho
highest mountain In tho world wero
set at tho bottom Ub summit would bo
nearly half a mile under water. In
theso valleys thero nro no plnnts,
weeds or vegetation of any kind, be
cause such forma of lifo need light,
and nt theso depths thero is totnl
darkness. But anlmnl llfo nourishes
and somo of tho nnimalB aro of gl-
irn ntlc size. Tho geography of the
THE DUKE DE
Due Gnelnn Caracclola do Castag
ncta is considered thu most desirable
matrimonial catch of tho year in
Washington. Tho duko has Just cel
ebrated his twenty-flrst birthday. Ho
Is as handsome ns a picture, charming,
nmlablo, nnd rich beyond tho dreams
of avarice. What moro could tho most
designing of match-making mothers
demand? Indeed, it ono may Judge
Tho Pacific ocean, llko tho Pacific
slope, Is tho great mountainous region
of tho water world; thoro aro 24 vast
vnlloys concealed beneath it. It Is
estimated that 92 per cent of tho sea
floor has a temperature lower than
40 degrees Fahrenheit. Tho tempera
turo of the flour of tho Indian ocean
Is under 35 degrees. A similar tem
perature occurs over n largo part of
tho South Atlantic nnd certain parts
of tho Paclllc, but at the bottom of
tho North Atlantic basin, and over a
largo portion of tho Paclllc, tho tem
perature Is higher than 35 degrees.
A FACTORY QIRL.
llerninn the Wlfo of n Noted Ocnernl
nnd Governor ot Massachusetts.
From a work-girl In a factory to tho
wlfo of the governor of Massachusetts
Is rather a long Journey to travel, a
Journey thai. Is rarely undertaken, but
such Is tho llfo story of n remarkable
woman of Walthnm, Mass., a woman
who recently celebrated her 80th birth
day. Sho Is Mrs. Banks, widow of tho
Into Cen. N. P. Banks, former governor
of Massachusetts. Gen. Banks began
life as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory
nnd roso from that humblo position
to bo chief executive of tho common
wealth, a major general of United
States volunteers nnd Bpcnkor of tho
national houso of representatives. His
beautiful wlfo left school nt 12 yonra
of ago nnd beenmo a factory girl. But
her grace, her beauty, her Intelligence,
fitted her to becomo tho first lady In
Massachusetts, tho honored guest of
Emperor Napoleon 111. nnd tho bin-
press Eugenie nnd tho envied partner
of tho Prince of Wales when ho oponcii
tho grand bnll given In his honor on
tho occasion of his visit to Boston in
1861. Mrs. Banks Is still beautiful In
snlto of nor 80 years. Her onco raven
black hair has changed to silver, but
her eyes nro still bright nnd her Bklu
rctnlns Its Ivory whiteness. Hor flno
voice Is firm nnd smooth nnd her henrt
la ns young na ever. After tho war
Gen. Banks wns returned to congress,
and Mrs. Banks becamo a gracious
flguro In Washington society. Hot
noblo prcsenco and brilliant conversa
tional powers mado hor n contor of ad-
mlratlon wherever sho appeared. Sub
Bcquently sho spent sovoral years in
Enropo perfecting tho education of hor
children. Among tho mnny noted
peonlo sho met while thoro b1iq recalls
ninHt nlnnnnntlv her visit to tho bm-
press Eugenie, who was about her own
age. nnd nt thnt tlmo In the zonlth of
hr power and beauty. Both tho cm-
ncror nnd empress woro exceedingly
gracious to her, and tho omporor talkod
long and earnestly with Gen. Banks in
regard to American affairs. Mrs.
Banks hns thrco children living, ono
of whom is Maud Banks, tho actress.
Few Patents Arc ltemunornllvc,
Probably not moro than 1 per cent
of tho patcntB taken out over pay, says
I , 1 11 I.- 11... ..ntnnin
n pntcnt nttornoy. It Is tho patents
unnn nlmnln nrtlcles In which tho
largest amounts of money nro made.
Ono reason Is that It docs not cost
much to get them out, and another Is
thnt they do not attract attontlon until
tho Inventor has covered "the field and
thus prevented somo fellow slipping in
nnd stcnling the fruits of his discov
ery. Probnbly not moro thnn 1 per
nntit. of thn natentB tnken out ever
umouut to anything.
CASTAQNETA.
by tho number of Invitations thnt
como to him, they appear quito satis-
fled. Castngnetn, tho family residence
ot the Caracciolos near Rome, la one
of tho finest places In tho neighbor
hood of tho Eternal City. It was here
that the young duko passed his child
hood, becoming expert in nil sortB of
outdoor sports, Ho is n flno horse
man and U particularly fond of horse
back exercise.
REV. J)R. R. S. STORRS
THE
NOTABLE DIVINE QUITS
THE PULPIT.
llotweon lllmtoU nnd lilt I'Klhor They
Served One Hundred and Fifteen Yenrs
ns I'nstors In tho Ministry Contem
porary with Henry Ward llcecher.
Rov. Dr. Richard Salter Storrs, pas
tor of tho Church ot tho Pilgrims,
Brooklyn, litis resigned after 53 years
jpent In Ub service. Tho church was
organized only n short tlmo before Dr.
3torrs was mndo pastor nnd ho never
had nu nsslstnnt. When ho took a vn-
cation, which wns seldom, his pulpit
wns supplied by neighborly rectors.
The church Is n Inrgo nnd fnshlonnblo
ono nnd Dr. Storrs wns n fine pulpit
npenkcr. His father, nlso Rtchnrd
Snltcr Storrs, wns pastor of tho Con-
grcgnllonnl Church In Bralntrce,
Mubh., C2 yours, so that tho combined
pastorate of father nnd son wns 116
yenrs.
Dr. Storrs Is 78 yenrs old nnd wns
REV. DR. It. S. STORRS.
aorn in Brnlntrcc. Ho grndunted from
Amherst collcgo In 1830, tnught for n
tlmo In Morris nradomy and began to
study law with Rufim Chonte. Ho
finally gavo this up to enter tho mln-
Istry. Ho took tho course nt Andover
Thcoloclcnl fiemlnary and wns or
dnlnod In 184G. Tho next year ho bo
Ban hB long pastorate in Brooklyn.
Fulling health led to his resignation
For thirty years ho divided with
Henry Wnrd Bccchor tho honors of
theologicnl eloquence In Brooklyn.
Harvnrd university, Princeton jinlvcr-
slty nnd Union collcgo havo conferred
an him tho title of doctor of laws, and
Columbia university that of doctor of
philosophy.
Tigers Aluriurd At Sight of Man,
A cheerful placo 1b Sornponjco In In
dia. Tho rainfall thero often Is as
great In ono nftornoon In the rainy
season nB It Is In Now York stnto In n
wholo year, nnd tlgorB nnd leopards
aro as plentiful us dogs nro on New
York's east side. On account of tho
tremendous dnmpness tho cattle havo
to bo driven to tho top of tho hills, so
that thoy Bhall not get their feet too
wet, nnd the tigers nnd leopards climb
to theso high altitudes nlso, becauso
thoy aro Imbued with tho kindly do-
slro to snvo thoso cattle from pnoumo
nln and other Ills by eating them care
fully and with duo enjoyment. Ab
thero nro no forests on the hills, tho
tlgcra prowl about all night In tho
open, lying concealed during tho day
In tho limestone caves, tho coal pits
and between the crevices ot tho rocks.
Tho residents come upon them In all
manner of odd nooks and comers so
unexpectedly that the beasts are ns
much alarmed ns themselves, nnd
usually scamper off In ono direction,
their disturbers flying In tho opposite
one. No ono stirs out ttt night tlmo
without a powerful lantern or torch,
for, bb a rule, wild bensts will not
como near n light, though this rule
Joes not hold good in all cnBcs.
Country Inns Will llo I'npular.
A girl who Is making n venture In
the right direction Is ono who pro
poses opening an old-fashioned coun
try Inn In a popular mountain district.
"I am sure," alio says, "that tho auto
mobile will create a demand for such
places. People will begin to travel aa
they used to do In tho days of tho
itngo coach, and, of course, thoy will
need places at which to atop for tho
night. They will not enro about going
io rcgulnr hotels, evon If such places
woro to bo found In tho country. So
( am going to mnko my placo an much
is possible llko the Inns wo read about
m old novels and run across once In
i grent whllo when traveling In Eng
land, I am going to have old-fash-
oned high bedsteads, with dimity vul-
mccii, etc., hut 1 m going to be sure
.hat they nro comfortable, even If I
aave to put In wire Bprings; nnd my
floors will be sanded and rush cov
ered, and tho chimneys will havo great
open fireplaces In which there will bo
Mg, roaring Hres. Mary my word for
it, the automobile will open a new field
for women real, womunly women,
ivho know how to raise poultry, keep a
rood table and an Immaculate house."
They Ilelonr to Col. Hay.
A gushing Englishwoman, who
prldcB herself upon her literary tastes,
laid to Bret Hurto at nn aristocratic
iountry house nt which both wero
iJBtB; "My dear Mr. Hart,o, I uni so
lellghtcd to meet you! I have read
jverythlng you ever wrote, but of all
four dialect verse thero is none thnt
jompareB with your Llttlo Breeches."
'I qulto agree with you, madam," Bald
Mr. Harto, "hut you have put tho llttlo
I treccbes on the wrong mnn."
AN ALASKAN HOME.
Tho Same Spirit Holes Thorn as In (ho
Costly Mansion.
An Alaskan hut Is not tho worst
placo in tho world far from It. Its
Interior consists of a square floor of
enrth flanked on nil sides by two wldo
ledges rising ono above tho other llko
n torrnco. On tho lower one rests tho
cooking, weaving mid fishing utensils,
tho knivos nnd needles, pots nnd pans.
On tho upper ledge, with much dtaplny
ot wonderfully woven blankets, nro tho
beds, In tho ccntor of tho room glows
tho Arc, tho nmoko groping Its way out
of a liolo In tho roof. After tho day's
work is dona nnd tho stomnchB ot both
pcoplo nnd dogs nro full tho fnnlliy
gnthcrs around tho Are. Facing tho
door alts tho father, noxt to him tho
mother; on ono hnnd tho sons, nnd on
tho other tho dnughtcrs; oven to tho
third nnd fourth generation, It may be.
Beyond theso nro tho servants or
slnvcs. Each has his placo, nnd takes
It as n matter of course. Without, In
tho darkness, tho dogs clutter about
tho door nnd howl. Tho mysterious
nnd implncublo sen keeps up its thun
der. Tho nnow-clnd mountains, with
their Illimitable glaciers, llo Just bo-
yond. Tho shafts ot tho northern lights
dnrt through tho sky.llko tho harpoons
of n Titan, with Incrcdtblo celerity. Its
It strange thnt, amid scenes so wild
nnd fearful, superstitions, nlso wild
nnd fearful, spring Into cxlstonco? Or
can ono bo surprised thnt In an unlet
tered country tho story-tollers nro of
mighty power, and toll tales that
affright tho children till thoy scramble
to tho snfo Hholter nt tho mother's
nrins? When tho family Blnga in
strange, broken, yet rhythmical meas
ures, tho dogs howl louder than be
fore, and tho women Bway tholr Bqunt
bodies back and forth unceasingly,
keoplng tholr hands occupied moan-
whllo nt tholr tasks of weaving or
braiding. Tho men enrvo their spoonu
or cut curious figures from tho blnck
slate. Tho suitor for tho hand of ono
of tho daughters onterB ulyly and takes
a seat with tho eons. No protest lo
made. Tho father nnd mother go on
with tholr llttlo tnsks. tho young girls
giggle after the fashion of girls tho
world over. Tho oldest among them
chnnts somo old folk song, nnd tho
father rises. It Is tho slgnnl for good-
nights. Tho nBhos nro sprend over tho
flro, nnd by tho light of a fow flahos'
tnlls, dried for the lighting, tho fam
ily goes to bed, forgetful of crashing
bergs, of tho mysterious nurorn, of tho
mountnliiB whoro tho snow lies for
ever nnd nlwny. So 1b homo mado
nnywhero. whoro tho spirit of homo
exists.
A BRAVE SOLDIER.
Word hns como from tho Philippines
of tho denth by drowning of a brayo
soldier In tho parson of Cnpt. Maxi
milian Luna, who porlshod with threo
othor soldiers In crossing a rlvor.
Capt. Luna was ono of that gallant
band of Rough Rldorn who stormed
San Junn hill nnd was ono of tho
right-hnnd men ot Col. Roosevelt in
tho Snntlngo cnmpnlgn. Ho wnB of
Spanish descent, his fnther bolng a
full-blooded Spaniard, but that did not
deter him from taking sides with this
country in tho war with Spain. Capt.
Luna enlisted In tho Now Moxlco Na
tional Guard when llttlo moro than a
youth. Never n brnyer officer drow
a sword or led n troop. Ho wan In all
tho engagements of tho Rough Riders,
and although alwayB In tho fore front
of battlo escaped without a scratch.
Ho wiib mustered out of tho pcrvlco nt
Montnuk Point nnd returned to his
homo In Now Moxlco. His soldierly
spirit nBBortcd ltsolf when thoro wns
need of bravo men In tho Philippines
CAPT. MAXIMILIAN LUNA.
nnd ho secured a commission as lieu
tenant In tho now Thirty-fourth in
fantry, n regiment recruited in tho
southwest umong tho plainsmen ami
cowboys.
Has an Aversion to Yellow Finn ers.
Each mistress of -tho white houso
haB had her favorite flower, except
Mrs. McKlnlcy, who expresses llttlo
preference, except an aversion to yel
low Howern and a great lovo for blue
ones, In which tho president JdinB hor.
A largo bunch of flowers la cut from
tho conservatory every morning and
sent to adorn tho president's tablo,
whllo others go to Mrs. McKinley'tt
apartments. Tho plants that ndorn
tho domestic part of tho white houso
aro frequently changed, to glvo her
tho bcnollt of tho rare and beautiful
variety that fills tho great conserva
tories. All of the HneBt plants shnro
hor ndmlrntlon, each for as long a
tlmo ns It can stand to bo kept frpm
rent hothouso atmosphere
Over flvo tons of documents pro
duced by Englund In tho Venezuelan
arbitration caso havo boon romcvod
from Paris. They required two largt
railway vans to tuke them away.