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About Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1900)
> k > k > ! < > ii > 1 < > k , > k > } < > k > i < x > isii > i < jl * > 1 < > Ji > k > k > 1 < > U > ii * k > kt4. A STORY OF THE \ BOER CAMPAIGN OIN THE , . , , IE By H. B. Mackenzie > i * CHAPTER I. : ' It was evening a glorious evening , such as only tropical countries know. The hot wind ( hat had blown all day had now died down , anil there was a great stillness ; but a pleasant cool ness In the air made it delightful after the sweltering heat. There had been no rain for a long time , and the ground \Vas parched and dry. Outside the pretty homestead the red sand of the ' oldt lay thlqk and flno In the dry grass which covered the wagon track. But Insldo thq fi.niBH looked green enough. Perhaps ilt had received an artificial show6r. All round the grassy lawn were ( lower beds , mostly of tropical flowers , among which the succulent blue Illy raised Its long , trumpet-Bhaliqd flowers ; but there wore a few English flowers , too stately hollyhocks , sweet-scented roses , queenly dahlias. Beyond the lawn an avenue of blue- gum and black nettle led to the veldt > without. Behind the house , which wa ? built of stone , and looked quaint and pr.etty with a veranda running'round" it , rose some of the highest peaks .of the Drakensberg. A little to the loft ran tnc river Klip. On this evening the siin , too near its setting to bo hot now , was shining right into the alcopy brown eyes of a girl who lay full length in the shade of a gum-tree , a book on the grass be side her. Her head was supported by a plump little brown hand , and sh6 was smiling a very happy , contented smile , as if some happy thought passed through her mind. It was a pretty face , too , with Its warmth and healthiness of coloring , its softly-rounded , girlish contour ' , , Jts smiling , half-open , rod lips , its-'clear , > open , childishly snibbijlf'fo'rQ.fle/Id/ovbr which little curls of the- brown hair shot with ruddy gold caino straying. The half-shut , smiling eyes woio very soft and happy Just now ; but' v/ho could say whether they might not some day bo flUcd with burning pas sion , with blinding tears , or with the cold , set pxnrnnslnn nf iloKnnlr ? "Bluebell , Bluebell ! wiVcro' fire , ' child ? " The voice came across the little lawn , clear and distinct on the evening air ; and the girl , rising up from her comfortable position , shook herself , very much as a wet spaniel might do after coming out of the water , nnd started at a quick rurifor , the house. A tall , angular , spinster lady stood upon the doorstep. "What a head , child ! " was the salu tation. "Have you forgotten wo are to have company tonight ? " "Well , I do bollovo I had , " retorted the girl. "Don't bo angry with mo , will you. auntie ? Really I couldn't help it. I'll never , never do It again. Now dad'a going to bring some one from Marltzburg , Is ho ? Who-Is it , auntie ? Not anyone very great , I hope Mr. Rhodes , for Instance ? " "Don't talk nonsense , child ! " re turned Miss Elizabeth Leslie. "No , no ! it's no one so great as that , only some very rich man , I bcllevo , who has made his money at Klmbcrley or somewhere. But run away and drees yourself , child. I have a good sup per ready , so 1 hope your father won't keep us waiting. Ilo wished us to have dinner ; but why should I ? Wo don't call It dinner when wo arc alone , and why should we change our customs for grangers ? " "Quito right , auntie dear. " Bluebell patted lion aunt's bony shoulder with a gentle hand. "Besides , likely enough he's some coarse , horrid man ! They are always the kind that become mil lionaires. Oh , auntie , I hope father won't make a great friend of him If hp Is ! } ' "AVo shall soon see him , dearlo , so there's no use thinking beforehand what his ways arc , " said Miss Eliza beth she was always called Miss Elizabeth soothingly. Bluebell ran upstairs to her own room. It was a pretty little room , not containing much furniture , but as dainty as feminine lingers could make it. Bluebell did not spend all her tlmo lying dreamily under the gum-treo. She had Just donned her pretty white muslin frock , drawn lnat , the wnlst by a blue- band it was rather strange that Bluebell should smile and blush a little to herself as she fastened the blue band when the sound of horses hoofs galloping up the avenue drew her attention. She ran to the window hiding behind the window curtains. Presently two riders emerged from the avenue , and rode up the gravelee path to the house. Bluebell could face them distinctly. The first was her father. Bluebell know him well enough not to require to tnko a second look at him ; yet she did take a second look. Adam Leslie , Esq. , of Tlnlavcratock Scotland , who had emigrated to South Africa 10 years ago , was a man of mld- dlo ago , heavily built , stout , and red- faced , with a heavy chin , a stubborn mouth , and a pair of rnthor cold gray eyes. But Just now his face was redder - dor than usual and there was a slight wont of certainty in his , gait as ho sprang from his horso' that Bluebol cojored to sec , His companion , the "millionaire,1 was not at all what Bluebell had plc- turetMinir'VkHo"was an old man ; he looked straight-backed and alert , and sat on his horse with an air of negli gence that showed him a true horso- man. Tor the rest , Bluebell could sco that ho was somewhat dark In com- ilexlon , wearing a short little peaked joard ; but she could not sec his face distinctly. She went downstairs presently. Her sitting room was a pleasant apartment , vlth skins of springbok and other wild animals covering the floor. A lamp itirned on the table , on which a sump- UOIIH supper was spread. The two men teed by the fireplace talking. As Bluebell entered her father .timed. "Well , my girl , I'm back again , you ce. Come and kiss mo , Bluebell. " The girl approached , and the other nan on the hearthrug stared at the lalnty white llguro as Adam Leslie gave her a sounding kisa on the check. "You sco I've brought a friend with mo , Bluebell. Mr. Moore my daugh- cr , Bluebell. " Mr. Moore bowed low , Bluebell did he same. She did not offer her hand , as her frank custom would naturally mvo led her to do ; she hardly know why. "You will remember your native country every tlmo you address Miss Leslie , " suld the millionaire , turning .0 his host. Adam Leslie laughed uproariously. Bluebell felt now quite sure that ho had been drinking. Ho was usually a icservod , even taciturn man , stern enough towards his household ; but alcohol unloosed his tongue nnd gave him a certain coarse frankness. " "Quito right , quite right , Mr. Mcoro ! It was her mother gave her the name a romantic freak ; but It serves its purpose bore , nnd makes us remember the poor old 'mlthor' country. " Miss Elizabeth came In presently , and they all sat down to the abundant supper. During the meal the two men talked , Mr. Moore quietly and gravely , In a somewhat rich , aonorous voice ; Mr. Leslie with loud hilarity. Miss Elizabeth nnd Bluebell said very little , and the latter had n strange , uncom fortable consciousness during the meal t lin f f Itn ( In tl. alr v-tfi/ tflrirr t na rtf * \\n millionaire turned again and again to her face. She know not why the look made her shiver suddenly every tlmo she met It all through her warm , joy ous heart and body. The two mon talked politics , discuss ing the likelihood of Krugor's yielding to Britain's demands. "Olvo In ? Not ho ! " cried Leslie Iqmrty. "Well , the 'British ' know what to do next , that's one good thing. We'll sweep the whole race of them from the earth before we've done with them , or I'm mistaken , and it's what they deserve ! " "If It comes to war , of course there can bo no doubt as to which side will win , " said Mr. Moore , more quietly. "I suppose you have no friends among the Boors or Afrlkanders.'JdrV Leslie ? ' "Friends among such people ? " crjed Mr. Leslie. "Not very likely ! I wouh not admit one of thorn Into my house ! ' Blucboll spoke almost for the first tlmo. Her voice was-juat a little Un steady , as If emotion of some kind was stirring It. , . "You don't always speak like- that father. I am sure wo have never re ceived anything but kindness from an > of the Dutch with whom we came in contact. And , besides , there's a goot deal to bo said for their desire to rule their own republic in their own wrty How would wo llko over in the 'ok efauntry if foreigners' came' and settled down among us Frenchmen or Ger mans and compelled us to conform to their customs ? They arc only llko their bravo forefathers In the tlmo of William the Silent. " Her father interrupted her with n loud laugh. "Doctor Hollies luif provided yoi with quite n number of arguments Bluebell. But politics nro quite out- sfde a wo'man's sphere , my girl , so "I advise you not to take them up. Eh Mr. Moore , Isn't that so ? " "I thlrtIt Miss Leslie would even make a convert of me , " said the mil lionaire , bowing gallantly. Agali Bluebell caught his eye , and the look gave her another , shiver. "May I ask ho went on quietly , discussing Miss Elizabeth's ulo. "who Doctor Rothes 1.R7" * ' . " ' , < "A young Englishman over at Lady- smith , " replied Mr. Ixssllo carelessly "We have him hero sometimes. A verj clever young follow quite exceptlo - ally clever ; but just a little quixotic you know , as young fellows arc apt to bo. " "Just sb ; I understand , " said Mr Moore quietly. Ho glanced at Blue bell without appearing to do so , and saw that the healthy rose In her cheeks had deepened almost Imper ceptibly In tint , and that her long lashes drooped over and demurely hid her eyes. The millionaire was to stay at Now Kolso thus Mr. Leslie had named his farm In memory of the Scottish towjn near which ho had lived all night Bluebell did not feel nearly as hpspi - uble as usual. Now KeUo was a lonely enough place , being about twelve miles fron Lallysmlth , ' they nearest village , am the womenfolk sometimes saw no outsider for the space of maijy months ; they were , therefore , nil the more disused' to malUriWiritfstf o any stray one who did appear. But Blubcll did not fcol that Gernh Moore was going to be any acquisition She had n vague , groundless dread of ilm , as if his presence denoted danger. " ' " said to hcr- "I don't llko him , she olf. "And yet why should I not ? HeIRS IRS done nothing to make me dislike or distrust him. " Down-stairs the two men were sit ing together at the table , a decanter of Scotch Whisky and two glasses bo- ween them. They had been speaking In low ones ; but now , as the whisky began o tnko effect , Leslie raised his. "You nro a generous man , Moore ! " ic cried. "And you arc In earnest . hen you tell mo that this is the solo eturn you ask for your extraordinary enoroslty ? " "Tho solo return , " Moore replied. He alscd his hands to his lips , and kept t theto for a moment ; then , dropping t to his glass , which had stood full be- Ido him all the time , though Leslie md replenished his several times , he added slowly : "But I must have that cturn , Mr. Leslie that and no other. have set iny mind upon It. " CHAPTER II. It was a week later. Bluebell had gone to Ladysmlth , Idlng across the dry , open veldt by the wagon-path on her sure-footed llt- lo horse Rover. She was a capital lorse-woman , nnd nothing daunted her when In the saddle. It was a very hot day , and there were signs of coming rain , which made Bluebell hurry. Her path lay across the dry veldt. Coarse , parched grass and withered shrubs made It look like a desert. The road was a bad and nar row one. It swelled and undulated like an ocean , now dipping down Into a hollow , now rising to the height of a little green-covered kopje. Some times she rode close to the river , which seemed almost dry now , so long had been the drought ; and always she kept In sight of the great frowning peaks of Drakensberg , above which eagles and vultures circled In their sky-piercing flight. Bluebell had messages at Lady- smith , but It was not of her mes sages she was thinking as she neared her destination. She was close to it at last. She saw the little town nest ling , as it seemed in the distance , al most at the bottom of Bulwaan , though in truth separated from it by wide stretches of meadow lands , with the Klip winding its course through them. Now the passed numerous kopjes of rod earth , Interspersed with shrubs , between which crow abundance of flowers , white Jasmine and climbing convolvulus , and the rich glory of red and yellow bloom clustered thickly on the low , dwarf shrubs which covcicd the kopjes. Bluebell had acquaintances In Lady- smith. The Leslies were pretty well known In the country. She was Just turning into the town when some one emerging from behind a sudden curve came towards her. Bluebell started a little and stooped over Rover , a richer color than cxer- clbe hud brought there coming Into her cheeks. In a few seconds the now comer was close to her , and lifting his big gray hat from his head , paused by her horso. He was a young man , perhaps Hearing thirty , nttlred In gray khaki , and with a sunburnt face which show ed that ho was exposed to all weather. For the rest , ho had been originally a falr-comploxioned man , with good features and an open , frank cxpicsslon. His dark gray eyes wore clear and steady , but could look wonderlngly soft nnd tender. They did so now , though his expression was one of much anxiety as he held out his hand , into which Bluebell put hers without a word. ( To bo continued. ) Iluriimirn Ainbor In Burmah amber Is found In a re gion difficult of access and jealously guarded by those who have every In terest In keeping their secret. It Is situated In the Hukong valley , sur rounded on three sides by almost Im passable ranges of mountains , so that it is accessible only from thu south across low hills forming the watorshat between the Chlndwln and the Irra- waddy. In one of these low hll ranges are the famous and mysterious mines of golden resin. It Is obtained In a very primitive way. After the harvest the diggers go to the hills and selecting a place where there arc no pits dug by previous prospectors shape with their swords a smal pointed hoe , a wooden shovel , and a basket of split bamboo. With these they make a hole In the blue clap , re moving the refuse by means of the basket , and gradually deepening the shaft. Three men work In company one below ( the shaft not bolng largo enough for more than ono at a time ) while the others hand up the basket The amber is found In "pockets,1 which are generally Indicated by strings of coaly matter appearing in the clay. Stray Stories. Flr t Clnin In Optic * . "In looking out of doors , do you nc- tico how bright Is the green of the grass and the leaves ? " asked an cl derly gentleman of a little girl , whoso homo ho was visiting. "Yes , sir. ' "Why does It appear so migh brighter at this time ? " ho next asked , looking down upon the bright , sweet face witl tender Interest. "Because ma has cleaned the window , and you can see out better , " she said. Stray Stories. Tommy' * Only Wish. . "What would you llko best tomor row , Tommy , on your birthday ? " "I't llko to see the school burnt down , " re piled the lad. ' " 1 THE ' CURSES THAT MAY COME HOME ' 'I 'TO ROOST. . . > i i Bontlnioulft Not Lticely to lloStmrod , by * Hhoop Kalnom Who tlavo 1'rnllted Knormoiuly Throush ( ho Koitorutloti of 1'rotcctlvo Duties on Wool. "D n the tariff and nil its fools ! " Such is the message of the Field nnd Farhi , an agricultural journal pub- tsho'd In Denver , Col. , In response tea a request by the American Protective Tariff league for Information conccrn- ng"tho Industry of sheep raising. The nqulry sent out by the tariff league was as follows : "Dear Sir : Wo arc anxious to show by Sellable reports the actual effect of the Dlngloy tariff upon the Industry of sheep raising. Wool was upon the free list under the Wilson free-trade tariff and Is now adequately protected by the provisions of the Dlngley tariff. ' Kindly fill out the blank spaces on the reverse side of this card and re turn the same to us at your earliest convenience. "Tho information asked for will be held sjrlctly confidential , and In no case" will the figures furnished bo used otherSvlso than making up the totals upon ; which general percentages arc to iljq-computed. Yours very truly , "THE AMERICAN PROTECTIVE TARIFF LEAGUE. ' ' * ' "Summarized returns of this Investi gation will be printed In the American Economist , nnd a copy mailed free to persons furnishing reports. " Ac'co'mpanylng ' this'inquiry was a lcafletTshowlng the effects of protec tion1 and free trade on wool growing nnd sheep raising. For example , from 1878 to 1882 , Inclusive , under the Mor- rlll tariff the number of sheep throughout the country Increased by ovcjr 11,000,000. Under the tariff of 1883 , in which the duties on wool products were materially reduced , the number of sheep decreased by about G.OpO.OOO. With restored protection to wool through the McKlnley tariff of 1890 { ho number of shefcp increased by nearly 4,000,000. The Jllson tariff with free trade in WOOT practically went rlnto effect when Mr. Cleveland was elected , "and Immediately the flock's throughout the country began to , dqcrcase , and from ' 93 to ' 9C de creased by about 'J.OOO.OOO. The Ding- ley " .tariff relmposcd ' the scientific schedules of the McKlnley tariff , and with the promise of protection through the election of McKlnley and a Repub- licaii Congress the sheep Industry Im mediately began to advance. From 1890 to and Including 1898 the number of sheep advanced by about thirteen hundred thousand. ' The effect of protection and free trade in regard to the number of sheep owned throughout the country is not more impressive than the effect as to values. Under the Morrlll tariff the lowest price per head was $2.09 , and the highest 52.55. Under the tarltt of 1893 the lowest price per head was 51.91 , and the highest price was § 2.27. Under the McKlnley tariff the lowest price was ? 2.49 and the highest price ? 2.CG. Under free trade the lowest price was ? 1.5S and the highest price ? 1.92. Under the Dlngley tariff the highest price in the history of the na tion Is recorded namely , ? 2 < 73. These facts of vital interest to the sheep raisers of Colorado and adjoin ing states seem to have an inflamma tory effect upon the editor of Field and Farm : Himco his objurgatory re sponse , "D n the tariff nnd all its fools ! " Why ? We do not know. We could not possibly have supposed that the citation of acts like those gleaned from olllclal statistics and quoted above would operate on the mind of the editor of Field and Farm as a red rag operates on the sensibilities of a bull , and cause him ( the editor ) to lose his temper and fall to cursing like a drab. We hardly think the sheep raisers of his section will , join this Bryanlto In "d nlng the tariff. " Over the bor der In Utah they will not be likely to echo his profuno sentiment. A sheep raiser In Utah county , for example , will not "d n the tariff , " for he re ports that whereas in 189G ( Wilson free wool tariff ) he owned 8,000 sheep of an average value of ? 2 per head , ho owned In March , 1900 ( Dlngloy pro tective tariff ) , 11,000 , of an average value of ? 4.25 per head. Sheep raisers In Chotaeu county , Montana , do not "d n the tariff. " One of them reports that his flock has Increased from 4,000 In 189G to 6,500 In 1900 , and that the value per head has Increased from $2.25 in 189G to ? 5 in 1900. From Blngham county In Idaho comes the statement from a farmer who owned 2,900 sheep in 1S9G and now owns 6,000 ; market value in 1S9G , $2.50 per head ; market value In 1900 55 per head. Reports from Colorado are oven more Impressive. A Trinidad man now has 8,000 sheep , against 6,000 four years ago , and their present value is $1.50 per head against a value'of 52.00 per head in 1896. Another Trlpldad man has increased his flock from 3,500 to 0,009 , ran.d quotes value at . $4 , per head instead of 51.25 per head. In' 1890. A TrtneliGfa flock owner has 4,200 sheep , or 2,700 more than ho had in 1896 , and the value at ? 4 per head , or Just double the 'vajuo of 1S9G. These are fair samples ( pf the Jafgo number of reports received from the localities , from which ( .presumably ) the major portion 6f the reading pat ronage of the Field and Farm of Den ver Is forthcoming. Do thcfip prosper ous fqrn\orsA w.ho are , In thq aggvesnt ° . many millions of dollars richer be cause of the change from frco wool to protection , "d n the tarlftT" We . \ -Vk lift . " * " " * , v * Jk . . ' -A. J should think not. It la much more reasonable to , suppose that their pro- fan6 expletives , If they use any such , will be nppllcd to an editor who , while publishing a paper for farmers , has so llltld sense as to shower curscs'ilpon nn economic policy through Whoso operations , directly nnd indlrccctly , the farmers of the United States have In the past three years been able to recoup in great measure thu frightful losses estimated at upward of five billion dollars which they suffered during the four years of Cleveland free trade. "D n the editor" the fdrmera might , and with just cause , but not the tariff. Hour the Nnw llroom Suocpi. * One week's record of new railroad equipment shov/d a total of 7,800 cars' ' of different kinds distributed among eight different roads. In addition four- yhcr roads have put in orders for a total of twenty-three engines. It la this sort of thing which has been re ported almost every week , In the news of the railroads , for many months back. There seem to be no algns of a let-up , but , on the contrary , the de mand for more equipment by the rail roads , which demand is only a by product of the increasing demand for all kinds of American products , con tinues to bo steady. The Dlngley law , like the proverbial new broom , swept clean ; and In a very brief space of time freed us from the want and idle ness and poverty which free trade had brought upon us , and , unlike the new broom , it grows more effective as It grows older. As it and the protection which It gives to American industries grow in length of days , our national prpsperlty grows in volume. The American people will sec to it that the law continues In force for many a long day yet. Who Said Slop ? "I shall not stop talking about the money question until 70,000,000 people secure the right to attend to their own business without asking the aid or consent c-f any one to attend it for them. " Wm. J. Bryan. Well , now , who said stop ? Nobody , so far as wo know , has ever expected William Jonah , Bryan to stop talking , unless his tongue becomes paralyzed ! or his jaws drops out of place from in cessant wagging ! It seems.that the people were attend ing strictly to their own business on the 6th of November , 189G , when they chose between the policies of Wm. Mc Klnley nnd W. J. Bryan. Ellzabeth- (111. ( ) Home News. A POSSIBLE PRESIDENT ? NO ! ISCOVERER. OF 'ERPttOAL MOTION JlTM THE Kvlilently Dangerously III. "Alas , poor Bryan ! " said the thoughtful man , as he laid aside his paper. "What's the matter with him ? " asked the Populist in alarm. "Sick , " replied the 'thoughtful man , regretfully ; "dangerously 111 , beyond question. " "Nonsense ! " exclaimed the other , reaching for the paper. "How do you know ? What proof have you ? " "Only yesteiday , " answered the thoughtful man , pointing to the para graph he had Just been reading , "he asked to be excused when called upon for n speech. " Chicago Post. Good lliuliiesf 1'ollcj- . Under the wise policies of Republic anism , as exemplified by President McKinley - Kinley , the country has become more prosperous than ever. Work and good wages are the rule. Merchants and manufacturers nro making money. The credit of the nation Is better than e-er before , and the demand for our prod ucts Is greater than the supply. This Is something which the people will not overlook , nnd that party which has proven Itself the most competent In its management of national affairs will again bo selected. Good business pol icy and the people demand it. Grand Rapids ( Mich. ) Herald. Juit tUo lUvorse. Under the Cleveland regime a deficit used to turn up nt 'the end of each month. 'Matters are just the reverse now. Each month shows an increase in the surplus of the United * > States treasury , and , besides that , the public debt Is being steadily reduced. St. Louis Star. On the ( lrlnk. And now It appears that New Y.ork cabled to London on'oiie daynn'oVfer to take the whole of the 5150,000,000 war loan which Eiigland Is floating. Pretty good for a Jiation that is on the brink of moral , political and financial ruin. Sioux Falls ( S. D. ) Argus- Leader. . Tito Tact Koninltin. It Is no longei necessary to put a for eign label UpBn hdmc-mndeybods In order to 'haSten tfielr sa'lel Phlla'del- phla Record. Why fa jt no longer necessary ? How has the'silk industry of tho' United States , to which the above remark IE applied by the Record , attalnpd 19 the envlabfe position of tboiug nble to market Its products as home-mado goods and to supply 85 per cent of all the silk fabrics worn and used In' ' this country ? Because of the sound ' 'com mon sense of Insuring to that Industry a fair living chance to sell Its products In the homo market through the opera tion of protective duties. In the nb- sence of such defense against the rivalry of silks made In countries where labor Is cheaper the silk makers of the United States could not possi bly-have succeeded as they have done. They would have failed In splto of all their energy , skill , enterprise and busi ness ability , juat as many other flour ishing Industries would have failed , and for the same reason. The Phila delphia Record pointswith pride to the tremendous development of silk manufacture in the United States , notably - ably In Pennsylvania , which heads the list In the total number of silk mills within Its boundaries ; but the Record carefully refrains from pointing with pride to the true reason for this tre mendous development. The fact re mains , however. Things TImt Hmo Como Truo. Who could have predicted , in Octo ber , 1890 , when paralysis extended to every industry , that in the brief period that has elapsed since that date the representative of a Democratic paper like the Cleveland Plain-Dealer would say that "our labor is fully employed and our people contented ? " Four years ago , when the wail of calamity came from Kansas that its farmers were hopelessly burdened with mort gages , who would have dreamed that four years later the editor of a Silver paper would be able to declare , in' New York , that "business conditions 'were ' never so excellent in Kansas as to day , " and that "its farmers have prac iHI tically all paid of the mortgages on their farms and most of them have money to lend ? " There has * never been so marvelous a change in the his- tory'of this or any other country as has taken place during the four years. It may be added that If Bryan politi cians fa ! } to take into account the ef fect of these conditions upon the elec tions next November they are reserv ing a painful surprise for themselves. General prosperity is a vastly more potential factor in the pending cam paign than any question affecting the status of the Philippines. Indianapolis - lis Journal. , Calamity . Prosperity. "Calamity awaits Colorado this year unless the Republican party is success ful. Even the ores of Cripple Creek will undergo a change and refuse to yield the yellow metal. Georgetown Courier. Brother Randall should have added to his sarcastic remarks quoted above a few more words as follows : Even the Cripple Creek ores with their wealth of yellow metal cannot offset the blight that a continued Bryanism In Colorado would bring. The success of the Republican party this fall In Colorado Is absolutely necessary to save this grand state from the effect of the embalming fluid of Democracy that now flows in her' business veins , in place of the red rich blood of Mc Klnley prosperity. Golden 'Globe. First Gtt the Fncts Strnlcht. It is a question how much of the popular feeling on this subject has been worked up secretly by certain commercial interests , which had prepared - pared for a handsome speculation by accumulating a stock of Puerto Rlcan products , whose American price would be increased by the abolition of duties on imports for that island. The only people really Interested are those who bought up sugar and tobacco , and who arc holding them for the rise that would follow such a hiw ; and the o stagnation of trade is that caused by this selfish interest. It is Just as well to got the facts straight before rush ing off into a sentimental outcry against the president in this matter. Toledo Blade. Wonld Simplify Matters. If Bryan is to dictate the state and national platforms 'of his party , why not abandon the attempt to hold a con vention ? Much time , trouble and ex pense would be saved If the Nebraskan were authorized to go to Kansas City , nominate himself for the presidency and name his own platform. Cleve land Leader. Sana Ratio. The public debt Is decreasing at a rairid rate , notwithstanding extraordi nary expenses for the Philippine trouble. During the last Democratic administration the public debt in creased , In time of peace , in Just about the same ratio that it now decreases. -Dlxon (111. ( ) Star. , Severe To t for Watches. At Kew , at the meteorological obser vatory , a watch is esto'd'in every po sition and its rafo measured and re corded by * the hour. It is hung upside ' down.'liung from each side , placed dial down , and back down nnd at any num ber of angles , and to finish It is baked ! In an oven and frozen in n pail of ice.W. " When it is considered that 19,000 vi brations an hour occur in a watch nnd it must not vary a second in a week It is easy to see why no watch has ever been perfect ,