When tho whtto Jov6 cooes to his drowsy
mate,
And birds In the trees rejolco,
Old Urahma stands on the barn-yard gato
,Antl shouts In a lusty voice:
I feel better thla mnr.ri.lnr
F?..h.0Jln?wcr', back ln a tenor tone:
"Wlthout-n doubt you do-o."
Tho house dog lies with his head on his
paws,
And blinks at the morning call:
Tho cat with a neld-mouso In hor Jaws
Comes runnlnsr home on tho wall;
nllo tho Urahma heralds tho morn
ngnln,
... nn.tnu Hnntnm tnkes the cue:
1 feel better this mor-rnlng."
"Without a doubt you do-o."
The birds with a glorious burst of song
Make glad tho orchard boughs;
And the farmer, swinging his palls along.
The work of the day begins again,
And tho roosters call anew!
"I feel better this mor-rnlng,"
"Without a doubt you do-o."
m i i " i
The Problem of Life.
BY ETHEL M. COLSON.
(Copyright, 1901, by Pally Story Pub. CoJ
If thero waa ono particular charnc-
terlstlc or quality for which tho Ilov.
Charles Billlnga was especially distin
guished it was that of truthfulness.
Ho was truthful, moreover, for rea-
f.on8 qulto apart and sldo from his
calling. Ab a Bllm and pallid youth
at boarding school ho had been famous
and popular becauso of his exceed
ing candour. Later, ns tho devoted
and conscientious rector of tho An
gelican Catholic Church of tho Atono-
ment, ho was popular and beloved ln
spite of It. And if over tho meek and
lowly-minded clergyman knew a sus
picion of spiritual prido it was becauso
of tho absolutely spotless and un
stained condition of his llfo-rccord ln
tho matter of truth-telling.
To have oxpectcd tho Kov. Chnrles
Billings, thcreforo, to havo deliberate
ly albeit unwillingly yielded to tho
temptation to glvo uttcranco to on un
equivocal lio would havo been mani
festly outrageous. And yet
Tho door of tho church study opened,
ono evening, to admit a woman a
woman tall, slender, of good flguro,
and exprcsslvo face, mirroring Just
then numerous unpleasant emotions.
Tho Rev. Charles Billings know her
for ono of hla parlshonors, tho wifo of
solid John Brewster, merchant of tho
old-tlmo Chicago, and a man who was
popularly Buspectcd of being a better
business man than husband. Certain
It is, tho lino eyes of his wifo had long
slnco acquired a look of weary and
patient resignation.
Straight up to tho tablo at which
tho priest sat hurried tho woman. In
her eagerness and agitation sho nover
saw tho surprised but soothing gesturo
which beckoned her to a chair. But
as sho sank into it mechanically it be
came evident that sho had been cry
ing. "Oh Father Billings!" sho exclaimed,
wildly tho gentle little priest being
so designated by his High Church con
gregation "Oh Fathor Billings do help
me! If you do not" but it was somo
minutes beforo sho could go on.
"I mot an an old friend this after
noon," sho" explained, .subsequently,
"and we wo had an ico together, Just
to talk of of old times. Thero wasn't
a shadow of harm in It, although wo
used wo used to lovo each other. Per
haps," with a sudden accession of reck
lessness, "I lovo him still. At all
events, someone my htiBband," her
voice and faco nil concentrated bit
terness, "plotted and camo between us.
Then I married Mr. Brewster. I 1
felt so helpless; I didn't know what
else to do. And I'vo tried to be a good
wife to him, a far better wife than, he
has been a husband. I'vo novor seen
tho other man slnco I was married,
until today.
"We camo upon each other qulto by
iccldent, and wo only wo only talked
3. Httlo of of that other tlmo. But as
we left tho confectioner's by ono door
"Oh, Father Billings!"
my husband came ln at another. If ho
saw mo and I'm nlmost sUro ho did
ho'll bcllovo tho worst ln a moment.
Ho Judges everybody by hlmsolf. And
tho fact that ho had another woman
with him won't mako a bit of di&r
oaco to him. If he saw me and I
know, 1 feel that ho did ho's at homo
now, questioning my maid. Ho always
does so it he finds mo out of tho house,
no matter whero I am, nor how short
a time I'vo been absent. And If ho
discovers that I haven't been making
charity calls this afternoon, as I told
my maid I Intended doing, ho'll ho'll
throw mo nsldo liko an old glove, or
nn answered letter. Oh, I know him,"
no tbo priest looked incredulous, "and
I know what ho'll do. And I I don't
know ah yes, God help mo! I do
know what will become of mo. And
I haven't a rolativo, scarcoly a frlond
ln tho world, with tho exception of
yourself, Fathor Billings. If you don't
help me, I'm I'm afraid I'm lost for
over!"
"What do you want mo to do, my
child 7" asked tho priest, quietly.
For answer, sho snnk on her knees
besldo him, catching ut his hand with
smnll, beseeching lingers that burned
liko fire.
"Tell him that I havo been making
charity callB," slid said, hoarsW. "Ho
won't bcllovo me, but ho'll bcllovo you,
If you tell him. Everybody knows,
without n suspicion of grim humor,
"how Invariably truthful you. nrc."
"But, my child," said tho priest,
gravely, "that would bo a Ho, n sin
"I know It would bo a He," sho made
answer, "but would It bo a Bin if you
did It to savo another? And there
aro worso alns than lying, Father, and
somo of them aro hard to avoid.
don't know how to tell you, but I'vo
no money, Father, I've no friends or
relatives, nnd If my husband throws
mo aside there's only ono person to
whom I can turn for assistance nnd
and I do not waat to go to him."
Tho faco of tho priest was palo and
puzzled. As a clergyman ho knew ly
ing to be sinful. As a man and a
"No, sir," ho heard himself saying,
gentleman ho hated lying on general
principles. Ho was firmly convinced
of tho wipkedness of doing evil that
good may come. And yet
It was all so clear beforo him. If
this woman did not still lovo tho
tho other man sho would not so fear
and dread being thrown asldo by her
unloving, unloved husband. And, If so
thrown nsldo, to whom clso could sho
turn? That sho was speaking the
truth ln regard to her husband's
harshness and her own penniless con
dition tho clergyman know well. Ho
know moro about solid John Browstcr
than most people, and for a hard man
nnd exceeding close with his money
all men knew him. Thnt ho, would re
fuse to bellovo tho meeting between his
wifo nnd tho lover from whom ho had
parted her, by unfair means, solitary
and as Innocent as accidental was also
tolerably certain.
Then, certainly, tho problem lay be
tween this woman's soul and his own
tho priestly soul which had novor yet
boon stained by lying.
Heavy steps sounded along tho pass
ageway leading from tho street. Tho
woman, springing to a chair on tho
other side of tho tablo, looked at tho
priest beseechingly and bent hurriedly
over somo papers. A moment later
and solid John Brewster himself strode
into tho room.
At sight of his wifo tho hard faco
changed, tho expression faltered. Tho
priest, rising to confront him, saw ln
his eyes both doubt and hesitation.
"I see my wife is with you," tho
man said, sullenly. "May I Inquire
If sho has been with you all day?"
For a moment tho priest struggled
against a most human impulso, tho
mad, natural, all but uncontrollablo
inclination to knock down this In
tlmldator of a woman and tramplo
upon him. Then ho remembered that
ho was a priest, and that thoro seemed
but ono way of helping tho lntlmlda
tor'B victim. Ho turned h.s eyes to
ward her down-beiu head, momenta
rily, and again tho Problem of tho Llo
lifted its double-headed torment and
regarded him. Ho saw, as If ln vision.
tho Recording Angel who was so real
a personage to him tako down, with
sorrowful sternness, tho white scroll of
his unstnined veracity nnd degrado It,
degrudo It to tho dust. His eyes tilled
with tears, suddenly, ns though ho had
witnessed another's downfall. But,
over nnd against this vision, was sot
tho soul of this woman and her peril.
For him, repentanco and remorse ln
plenty. Nay, was ho not already re
penting tho very thought of tho sin
In contemplation. For her in caso
her fears woro realized no plnco of
repentanco, though sho sought it caro-
fully, with tears.
And, right or wrong, tho unsolllsh
Impulso triumphed.
"No, sir," ho heard hlmsolf saying,
distinctly, after so brief an interval
that oven tho angry husband noticed
no hesitation, "sho has not. I did not
seo her until nfter .uncheon, But this
afternoon sho accompanied mo on a
round of charity calls, and, slnco our
return, sho has been busily engaged in
making out her report to tho Charity
Calls Committee of tho Woman's Aux
iliary. Sho will bo ready to accom
pany you homo so soon as this Is flu
ished." For this llo Father Charles Billings
presently and .ong repented, and ho
will never cease to bo anxious con
cerning Its moral effect upon Mrs.
Brewster now slowly acquiring tho
habit of a negative happiness by utter
self-forgetting. Also, tho rccurrenl
torture of his wretched Inability tc
eolvo tho problem of whetner or not
ho did right ln lolling tho llo will nl
ways servo tho purpose of an cxquls.
ltely painful hair-shirt to tho man whe
told it. But thero aro raro moments
now nnd then, when tho problem and
tho rcpontanco allko ccoso to troublt
him when ho Is glad ln tho conviction
that tho llo saved not only a woman'i
body from perdition, but also thp wom
an's soul.
GAS KILLS FLUSHING TREES.
I.clt Out of tho Mnln nnd Affects
tho Tree Hoots.
Tho people of Flushing, which has
becomo famous for the beautiful shade
trees which lino lta streets, havo no
ticed recently that many big, sturdy
trees havo withered nnd becomo life
less without apparent causo or Injury.
Thcso trccB woro not confined to any
ono variety nor was nny slnglo lo
callty alono affected. Horticultural
experts examined tho dead trees to bco
If they had becomo affected by insects
or rust, but nothing of tho kind wns
found. Then Samuel B. Pnrsons, a vet
eran nurseryman, was asked to mnko
nn Investigation. He reported: "Tho
condition of tho trees Indicates that
they havo been killed by Illuminating
gas which has escaped through tho
mains in tho streets nnd has found Its
wny to tho roots. In several cases
where tho dirt hos been dug up around
tho roots of the dead trees thero has
been a strong odor of gat,-. If a similar
test was mado with all tho dead trees
tho snmo odor would bo discovered. I
do not know of nnythlng elso that
would kill tho ttoes." Most of tho trees
wero planted moro than fifty yeara
ago. At tho present rate, however,
Mr. Parsons says ho fears- that all of
them will bo killed within five or six
years. Tho snmo causo ho snys has
killed many of tho trees planted ln
Manhattan. Another nurseryman Bald
that thero is no doubt about tho gas
killing tho trees ln Flushing. "Last
spring," snld he, "wo planted six trees
ln front of n residence hero. All tho
trees budded, but Just da thoy wero
about to put forth leaves ono of them
died. Wo replaced it, hut when vo
dug tho dead trco up thero was a
strong smell of gnB. Tho second treo
planted also died. Then wo mado a
complaint to tho gas company and
found that not fifty feet away thero
was a leak in tho gas mnln."
Tho mnnagors of tho Flushing gns
plant declare that thoy aro not to
blamo for tho destruction of tho trees.
Thoy say that thero aro dead trees
on streets where thoro aro no gas
mains. Tho Flushing Association has
promised to employ ono of tho best
experts in tho country to examine tho
irccs.--New xorK sun.
DEFECTS IN THE OAPITOL.
Whlteneus of Main llody Ketslnocl by
I'requent Painting.
Frederic Harrison's admiration for
tho capltol as an architectural work
and tho central object of tho Washing
ton landscapo is shared by bo many
that one can nlways send n thrill of
pained surprlso through D. nart. nf nv.
ory group of visitors by a reminder
that only its two wings are built of
maiDjo, and that for tho whiteness of
its main body wo must thank conlmm
and oft-renewed applications of white
paint. But qulto nB much astonish
ment Is likely to bo folt bv most nnr.
sons at tho discovery that tho great
domo, which has been tho delight of
nil beholders, is not precisely in tho
nxls of tho central portico, but about
six foot out of place. Yet such Is tho
case, it has been necessary to resort
to somo trickery to deceive tho ovn in
taking ln tho whole effect of the edi
fice, but tho cheat ha8 been accom
plished so cleverly that It mav bo for
given. Another fact little known to
tho public is that tho exquislto propor
tions of tho como aro tho result of ac
cident, not design. The nresnnr linen
do not follow tho architectural draw
ings, because when tho baso of tho
domo proper was measured nrennrntnrv
to lowering it into tho collar, which
wns already in plnco for It, it was
found to bo too lnrge. Tho collar could
not bo changed to fit, so tho orlglnnl
uaso waB cut off at tho point whero tho
diminishing diameter would slin into
tho collar. Tho result was most grati
fying, ir, ns many experts assert, tho
present domo is perfect, It follows thnt
tho domo as first designed would h nvp
been Imperfect, nnd if it had been used,
ono tor tho most satisfactory public edl-
nces m tho world would havo Inekpii n
large part of Its present charm. Bos
ton Transcript.
A Ileninrkiihlo Anntralliin.
Sir Georgo Dlbbs. who has lust
scntcd King Edward with a walking
stick of his own mako, Is ono of tho
rcmarkablo men of Australia. Ho is
probably tho only mnn in tho omni
who has pnsscd through tho two cx
trcmo experiences of a prime minister
and n prisoner in Jail. Sir Georgo has
twice been premier of Now Rnnii
Wales, anil hns held many othor posts
or tho highest importanco in the
colony, nnd It wns whlln lm wnt, n
prominent public mnn thnt ho had the
courago to reruso to pay what he
thought an extortlonnto bill of costs
Ho was committed to Darllnghurst
Jail, Sydney, for a yenr, and served
tho sentence through to tho end.
HI Henry's mlnlstrel comnnnv .....
performance nt tho Alhamin-a Hnt.
day night and Sunday afternoon and
evoning, and gave good satlcfactlon tc
tho audiences which gathored ln Man
ager Miller's theater for a nrellmi
bit of onjoyment beforo tho regular
season or tb lit nnd nvcnuo house
opens next Sunday nfternoon with
Hunting for Hawkins,"
JMM t ... .UikK .i ism
At last it is settled that tho Pan
American confcrcnco In tho City of
Mexico Is to bo held according to tho
programme, which sets tho dnto of tho
Qrst session for Oct. 22. Chile hnB
waived h"r objections for tho tlmo nnd
appointed delegates, nnd that remove
tho last obstacle.
Even If nothing deflnito bo accom
plished by this confcrcnco It will do
grcnt good. Every such gathering
helps to bring tho nations together and
familiarize them with tho idea of co
operation. Tho first Pnn-Amcrlcnn
conference wna held twelve years ago.
Tho next one may bo hold in half n
dozen years or less. Aftor that sim
ilar gntheringB may meet ovory year
or two, and when that happens tho
federation of tho Wcstorn Hcmlsphcro
will bo half accomplished.
A congress of tho American repub
lics meeting nnnunlly or biennially
would nssumo In tlmo tho character
istics of a common government. It
tvould resemblotho congress of tho con
federation that preceded tho formation
of our own Constitution.
That congress was composed of tho
delegates of Independent states. It
was a diplomatic body, liko tho ono
President Lincoln's T
Secretary and Historian
John O. Nlcholay, tho author of ten
volumo biography of Abraham Lin
coln and of other works pn the great
emancipator, died tho other day ln
Washington, aged CD. Ho had lived ln
tho national capital over slnco 18C0.
With tho death of John G. Nlcolay
thero remains but ono survivor of tho
great war president's' official house
hold John Hay, tho present secrotary
of state. All tho members of Lincoln's
cabinets and nearly all tho men who
supported him In tho sonato and house
aro dend. Mr. Nlcolay and Mr. Hny
both were young mon when thoy went
to Washington as Lincoln's prlvnto
secretaries in 18G1. Both wero men of
THE LATE JOHN
moro than ordinary power, and ln tho
item school of those crucial t linos
they developed unusual diplomatic
and executive abilities. To how great
degree Mr. Nlcolay s faithful services
pontrlbuted to President Lincoln's
success cannot bo estimated, but it is
pertain that his work at tho Whlto
IIouEo was- tho most Important of his
llfo. He also performed a valuablo
public sei-rlco when ho chose John
Hay as his assistant, thus turning tho
talents' of tho young Illinois lawyer
Into tho channel of national politics.
The work for which Mr, Nlcolay will
If o longest rememborod, however, Is
, m-Mpm I , ft
thnt la to meet nt Moxtco. It had fow
powers of Its own. All it could do on
most subjects was to glvo ndvlco to
tho stntes, yet It paved tho wny for u
strong national government.
In their progress toward federation
tho American continents nro far nhend
of Europe, European International
conferences aro hold only for certain
specified purposes, nnd generally rep
resent only a limited number of pow
ers. But hero wo hnvn till tho coun
tries of tho hemisphere sending their
delegates for n general discussion of
matters of common Interest. Such
Joint discussions cannot fnll to drnw
thorn closer together.
Thoro nro many mnttors that nro
within tho field of practical action al
ready. An international coin, for In
stnnco, which wns ono of tho objects
discussed by tho first Pnn-Acrknn con
fcrcnco, Is still n thing to bo desired.
And why should wo not havo It?
Tho dolegntion from tho United
States is composed of tho following
members: Henry G. Davis of West
Vlrglnln; W. I. Buchanan, of Iowa;
Chnrles M. Peppor, of tho District of
Columbia; John Barrott, of Oregon;
Volney W. Foster, of Illinois; Joso I.
Rodriguez, secretary.
thnt of the tcn-volumo "Llfo of Abra
ham Lincoln," on which ho and Mr.
Hay coljnbornted for twolvo years.
Tho woik is- tho standard authority on
all phuscs of Lincoln's public enrear.
It tells tho story of tho historic epoch
of which Lincoln was tho central flg
uro with nn accuracy nnd fullness thnt
render It of permanent value and in
terest. It should bo accounted ono of
tho fortunato circumstances of Amori
can history that two such able wrltors
and political studonts ns Nlcolay and
Hay wero ln such closo relations with
Lincoln and hnd begun collecting ma
terial for a history of tho man and
his times' almost from tho beginning of
G. NICOLAY.
hlu ndmlnlstration. It Is gratifying
that Mr. Nlcolay, in splto of poor
health, lived to reap u liberal reward
of reputation and monoy for his sor
vIccb as biographer and hlstorlun.
Ghe Human "Race Problem.
Tho assusslnntlon of President Mc
Kinley has brought our country faco
to faco with a condition of nffnii-a
mhlch requires radical and wlso moth-
oub or treatment to guard against n
repetition of similar crimes, writes
Prof. G. W. Cunningham In tho Chi
cago Tribune it is generally conceded
that our public officials are not lack
In tho common parlnnco of tho
Aniorlcnu pcoplo tho present confcr
cnco Is tho "Blnlno Idea," nurtured,
dovelopod and brought down to tho
prcsont moment. Tho first Important
Pnn-Amerlenn Congress wns held ln
Washington, I). C, ln 18S9, nntl was
tho direct result of Mr. Blnlno's fore
sight nnd daring leadership. Its main
object was to formulnto "nn ngreomont
upon, and recommendation for tho
adoption to their respective govern
ments of, n doflnlto plan of arbitral
tlon of nil questions, disputes and dif
ferences that may now or hereafter
exist between them, to tho end thnt
nil dlfllcultlcB nnd disputes between
such nntionn may ho peacefully Bot
tled nnd wnrs provontcd."
Now, ns thou, tho question of arbi
tration is tho most important nnd dif
ficult problem which will bo consid
ered; but sometimes tho nltruiHtlo
dream of ono deendo Is tho oporatlvo
diplomacy of tho next, and it is cer
tain thnt great advances havo been
mado slnco ha Initial confcrcnco wan
hold and tho principles of reciprocity,
nnd International arbitration wero first
promulgated nnd discussed nt a fam
ily gathering of tho American Republics.
ing in courago or bravery. If tho oc
casion demanded It nobody would
question for a moment tho supposition
that President RoobovoU would havo
tho courago to hold n publlo reception,
unguarded oven at tho spot whoro
President McKInloy fell. But wo nB a
nation would not bo wtso to permit
such a proceeding it postlole to pro
vont it.
Stringent laws will probably -Do en
acted with tho view of crushing out
tho spirit of anarchy, yot no offeo
tlvo laws can bo created which whl
provont a dogonorato from being born.
So long as suoh things can bo only ono
law will provo offoctlvo, and that is
ono which will koop our officials
whoro tho degonorato will bo perman
ently denied tho opportunity to per
form what ho may lmagli is his
earthly mission. Furthcrnmro, whllo
such a law Is being rigidly enforced It
will bo well to begin to properly edu
cate tho masses, especially as to tho
great responsibility of thos- who In
tend to bocomo parents. The stock
breeder selects with the greatest pos
sible enro tho ancestors of his herd.
At tho samo tlmo human beings aro
thrown Into exlBtonco without proper
effort being mado either by tho par
ents or the government to improvo tho
stnndnrd of their perfection, Surely
humanity should havo an equal chance
with tho animals.
This is a matter for serious consid
eration ln every homo, as well as in
tho legislative halls of our govern
ment. Thinking will play Its Impor
tant part, but It will requlro action
to bring nbout good results. Proper
training 1b tho first requisite.' Latin,
Greek, etc., nro all good in their places,
yot thero nro othor matters of far
greater Importanco to tho present as
well as futur'o generations. Tho tlmo
la rlpo for proper and wlso action to'
bo tnkon. '
English Vietus on Anarchists.
Tho London Spectator and tho Lon
don Saturday Rovlow both havo
leading cdltorinl articles on tho
nssaBslnatlon of President McKInloy,
In which thoy sot forth views on tho
problom of dcullng with Anarchists,
Tho Spectator believes that men of
this dangerous character aro increas
ing, but it thinks nothing Is to bo
gained through sharpor laws against
AnnrchlstB and Anarchist literature.
Such laws, it Bays, only bind tho des
peradoes more firmly together. It
adds that thoro would bo no injuotlco
In punishing nny porson who in typo
recommends murder or suggests ways
of nnmplrMng it, but tho editor
dontets 'Wtrethor kings or presidents
would bp much safer if nil such liter
ature disappeared. Tho troublo la that
general denunciations of society,
which can hardly bo punished, seem
to have tho worst effects in arousing
tho homicidal instinct. Tho Spectator
comes to tho conclusion that little or
nothing can bo dono to provont as
sassination that has not boon done aJ-i
ready. .