Changing
Ths admission of Oklahoma Into the
t7nloQ has necessitated tbe rearrange
mnt of the stars on the flag to admit
th symbol of the new State; and It
has been a big task to rearrange the
tars on all the military flags of the
country.
Various Ideas have been advanced for
the simplification of the field of stars
on Old Glory. The difficulty In adding
new stars is that the rows are neces
sarily made up of uneven numbers, and
AFTER LONG YEARS.
Dssr, wbora I would not know
If I passed you on tbe street.
Bo long and long and long ago
Are the days when we ud to m,
Ton may be glad to h?ar
That somewhere out of tbe blue
Come vague sweet dreams that bring you
near,
That I often think of you;
That now and then I thrill
At a rustle in the dark ;
That I start as the wind sweeps over the
hill.
As I see the fire-fly's spark.
Romf body stepped on my grave?
Or somebody slipped out of yours T
I cannot ttfl I There are ghosts that
crave
A bit of the love that endures.
Harper's Magazine.
AUNT HANNAH'S PARTY
"Dear me, Ezra!" said good Aunt
Hannah, "I do wish something would
happen ! Laud o' liberty I I get so aw
ful tired of this monotonous life not a
Ingle neighbor less than a mile away
an' not a chick or child at home. I
ought to be ashamed to complain, and I
am! But I do wish something would
happen right here In front of our house !
Something to look at!"
Aunt Hannah, good soul, little
dreamed that before three hours had
passed something would happen.
The one great event In her monoto
nous life was the dally passing of
the overland passenger tralus, which
brought their eager tourists to Califor
nia or carried home returning wander
ers back toward the rising sun.
Iu Aunt Hannah's dally life this sim
ple passing of the trains grew to be an
event of importance. She could catch
tantalizing glimpses of women's fair
faces and the laughing eyes of little
children as the Overland flashed by,
not three rods from her own front door.
Sometimes she waved a snowy dish
towel at them as they rushed past, and
looked wistfully after them till the
long cut hid the curving train.
But on this particular day Aunt
Hannah's heart almost stood still In
her ample bosom. For the Overland
came into sight, running more and more
lowly, and finally coming to a labor
ing, clanking stop almost at her very
door.
Such a thing had never happened be
fore, and Aunt Hannah was filled with
wordless excitement Something had
happened at last ! Uncle Ezra was stir
ring around near the house, keeping a
watchful eye upon old Dobbin, the
white horse, which was patiently walk
ing never-ending miles In the treadmill
which pumped water for the bouse and
garden and the neighboring orchard of
young orange trees.
Aunt Hannah speedily Informed him
of the great event, and Uncle Ezra, as
wonder-filled as she, walked down to
the railroad track to see what might
be wrong.
Aunt Hannah, from the porch, heard
him say hospitably to the conductor:
"Why, yes, we've got a telephone. Come
right in an' use it."
And In a few moments that won
derful creature the blue-uniformed,
brass-buttoned conductor of the Over
land was standing on Aunt nannah's
bright rag carpet and tniklug in crisp,
curt, masterly tones to some unseen de
linquent at the city ten miles behind.
It appeared that some one had blun
dered. Tbe passengers swarmed out of the
cars aud wandered aimlessly along tho
track. Then the women and children
began to stray into Aunt Hannah's
front yard, looking with genuine tour
ist curiosity at every little common
place thing that met their eager gaze.
For this was a tralnload of brand-new
tenderfeet from the far East, most of
whom were stepping upon California
soil for the first time In their lives.
Aunt Hannah was radiant and over
flowing with hospitality. Before ten
aaluutes had passed sbe had discovered
au old lady Imu her own town In
Iowa, and a young lady from Boston
who bad known a second cousin of
Ezra's first wife's nephew or some such
near relative. Aunt Hannah was In her
element Every rocking chair ahe pos
12
BOTTOMS
Si$ks 'Ql Glory"
this makes It Impossible to Arrange a
field of stars t!mt is perfectly balanced.
In order to obviate this dil?lci:lty It has
been suggested that the stars be placed
in a circle, so that no matter how many
new States and stars are destined 1
apply for a place In th future they
could all be provided for by the simple
expedient of adding constellations to
the end on the circular line. This Is
a radical departure that has found
some favor with the government olli-
sessed and every straight-backed one
as well, she brought out Into the front
yard under the great drooping pepper
tree, and her unexpected guests sat
around and asked highly Intelligent
questions of every official they could
waylay. Noon came, and the long
train stixvl powerless to move. Un
accustomed rivulets of perforation
trickled down the portly conductor's
face as he walked up and down In Ill
concealed impatience.
Aunt Hannah's hospitable soul ex
panded. "I'll fry every egg on the
place," she said, "and steep that five
pounds of coffee I've Just got, and cut
up the six lonves of brend I baked yes
terday, and open every glass of Jelly
I've got, but these women and children
sha'n't go hungry !"
So she bustlf-d Indoors and tied on
her second-best white apron, made a
fire and set things going in her usual
capable way. "Iitiid!" she said. "It's
a long time since I had such a run
of company ! Of course, they could get
their dinner on the train, but mebhy
good home cookln' '11 taste good to 'em !
Anyway, It wouldn't look right for me
an' Ezra to set down and eat an' not
ask 'em!"
The young lady from Boston tied on
Aunt Hannah's very best white nprqrt.
beautifully Ironed and smelling of old
fashioned lavender, and carried plates
and cups and forks and spoons out to
the waiting travelers under the great
pepper tree. '
And when Aunt Hannah's famous
coffee began to send forth Its enticing
fragrance, one by one the men en mo.
'SV- i" II 1LI '
"I DO WISH 60METIIIK0 WOULD HAPTEN.'
too, standing around looking sheepish
ly expectant.
They sat on the porch steps and
waited patiently for empty cups. Then
the big pan of dougtnuts went around,
and generous slices of Aunt Hannah's
fresh bread and golden butter and de
licious dabs of Aunt Hannah's finest
Jellies and preserves.
The two dozen eggs did not last long,
but Aunt Hanr.sh. helped out with crisp
slices of home-cured bacon, which, as
the blue-uniformed couductor said, went
right to the spot
The white-capped waiters sn-ved a
few select souls In the dining car of
the Overland, but Aunt Hannah's was
by far tho more popular lunch. She
bustled about, flushed and happy. It
was like a great beautiful party a
surprise party! Something had hap
pened at last
Out of the abundance of her gener
ous heart Aunt Hannah had fed the
multitude, but the multitude was not
content to have it bo. The brass-buttoned
conductor himself (who had set
a very bad eiample by eating of Aunt
Hannah's cooking Instead of the col
ored chef's) passed his official cap and
gathered In a shining shower of sil
ver, which ho presented with a neat
little speech to Aunt Hannah.
Then tha ever-present tourist cameras
came into action, and Aunt Hannah
was taken with hef big white apron
on by at least a dozen amateurs. Then
there were other snapshots, too Un
cle Ezra In his overalls, the great pep
per tree, the disabled engine, the per
spiring conductor, and even old Dob
bin himself.
The old lady from Iowa and the
young lady from Boston Insisted upon
helping with the dishes, and there en
sued a merry clatter from the kitchen.
Some of the young folks gathered
around Aunt Hannah's parlor organ
and sang old Gospel hymns, or looked
over Aunt Hannah's plush-covered pho
tograph album on the marble-topped
center table.
At last the conductor wiped his
streaming brow and shouted "All
aboard!" and Aunt Hannah's beauti
ful party was over. There were hur
ried handshakes, and one or two im
pulsive hugs and kisses for Aunt Han
nah, many cheery words of thauka aud
elals Intrusted with the work of re
arranging the l!ag, but It has not been
thought expedient to adopt the Idea
without apHal to Congress and through
Congress to the nation, for It Is felt
that such an Important matter ns the re
designing of Old t J lory Is a matter of
full national consideration.
Far-seeing cltleiis have pointed out
that In time (he addition of new States
and tin unavoidable division of single
States Into double or treble common
wealths will so crowd the field of stars
as at present arranged, that It will look
Inartistic mid unsatisfactory. Tho
greater the uumttcr of stars tho smaller
will be the symbols, for the compara
tlve sl.e of the field cannot be changed
without spoiling the flag and destroy
ing the appearand of the finest bnnnet
on earth or sea. This problem Is bcl'
ii. . - -i! by patriotic persons who taM
"i i:. h' In national matters, and a
i i designs are on file at tin
v. a . ;m,.iv that aim to provide an ar
fistic and striking arrangement of star!
That, like that suggested by the circulai
array, will pcrmi'of the addition of a
great number of constellations without
making the Hag look at a little distance
like a strijx'd banner with a Jack ol
pure white, as would be the case wera
tho blue Held crowded with stars.-
Willlamsport (Pa.) Grit.
appreciation, and then they all ran to
ward the cars and scrambled aboard.
Aunt Hannah, looking and feeling
twenty years younger, stood on the
porch and watched the long train as It
got Into motion and slowly pulled out,
waring her white apron In response to
a score of waving handkerchiefs, and
could scarcely see them for the tears
which dimmed her kind eyes.
And thus she stood as the long train
entered the cut and slowly disappeared
from view.
She and Ezra began to carry the
chairs into tha house. Aunt Hannah
wjis n little tremulous from excitement
"Ezra," she said, "w hen I wished this
mornln that something would happen
I didn't really want the Overland
should break dowu, but I'm awful glad
It did!"
"My! My! I don't know when I ever
did have such a good time! And, Ezra,
here's that conductor took up In
his cap. What. In mercy's name, can
I do with so much money? Oh, I
know! I know! I'll pay Ella's fare
oucjiero Ella's and the baby's! Seems
like I ought to use it some way like
that, seeing iny opposition restaurant
took a lot of customers away from the
dining car on the Overland !"4-New Or
leans Times-Democrat.
llcr Maa-le Word.
"I .want "some black silk galloon,"
said the shopper in the big department
Store to her companion. "WheVe do
you suppose I can find It?"
"Ask the floorwalker," said tbe West
Side woman.
"Oh. he's too haughty. He'll simply
wave his hand vaguely and tell us
something about the number of rooms
over, anil we'll have to hunt for It our
selves anyway."
"I'll ask hlni."
Iu a moment she returned, aecoinpan
leil by tin floorwalker, all smiles and
attention. ll! gallantly escorted them
to the right counter, called a saleswom
an, and instructed her to give the ladles
careful attention, and then bowed him
self away with magnificent salaams.
"How did you do it?" gasped the
shopper.
"! said, to him: 'Von are the floor
manager, aren't you? He became my
slave at once. I never say 'floorwalk
er.' In the first place, I don't like the
term myself, and I should think It
would be rather offensive to any man.
So why should I Inflict It on him?
'.Manager' sounds much better, Is fully
as accurate, and you see It certainly
makes a much more effective appeal."
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Art in Spanish Dank Note.
To baffle the counterfeiters who are
both numerous and cunning In Madrid,
the Bank of Spain has pursued the
policy of changing Its notes with great
frequency and retiring each Issue as
fast as jKjsslblo, nays the New York
Sun.
Tho bank has now determined on a
new plan. It has placed an order
for a series of notes with an English
concern and It will rely for safety
upon n special color process. In ad
dition the notes 'are to present picture
of well known buildings In Spain, ex
ecuted with a perfection that will defj
counterfeiting.
"The pictures are to be so beautiful
that amateurs will be tempted to frame
them," says one Spanish newspaper
"Hardly," rejoins nnother, "the cost of
tho set will be 1,075 pesetas, you see.'
To the Spanish mind $.13S.r0 is a great
deal of money.
Filled tha nui.
It is better sometimes to know wba:
not to do than to be possessed of al
tho positive Information- of the unl
verse. Thus was the boy of the Phila
delphla Press story wise beyond lib
years.
"Are you after the Job as office boy?'
asked the merchant.
"Sure!" replied the youngster,
"Any previous experience?"
"No, sir, nothing previous about me
an' I don't whistle."
"Hang up your hat !'
Then tha Unarrrl Ceased.
They were having the usual family
quurrel. As was also usual, she couli
not convince him that she knew where
uf she argued.
"Didn't I go to school, stupid?" ah
scrcumed.
"Yes, dear, you did," he replied calm
ly. "And you came back stupid,"
The Itoht'inlau,
SUBSTITUTES FOR TOBACCO.
tlmmr mt 'I arm Have a Drlrt'arlaaa
Kffert I pun Health of Smoker.
How would you enjoy a pipeful of
wood shavings saturated with a strong
solution of pepper as au after-dinner
moke? Strange as this may seem for
a substitute for tobacco, it Is, neverthe
less used as such by Indians along the
Alaskan const, says Health. Their
mouths are often made raw by the
practice, and the eyesight of many la
affected by the strong fumes.
It Is no uncommon pt-iicth-e among
farmers to smoke tbe leaves of the to
mato and potato plants. While these
plants both contain a narcotic poison,
the smoking of leaves In moderation Is
harmless. Exsesslve use, though, pro
duces a heavy stuiair from which the
imoker awakes with a territle head
iche and a feeling of utter exhaustion.
Insanity aud suicide have often been
?aused by the immodci-ate use of these
two weeds.
Ithubarb, beet and even garden sage
leaves are all smoked by farmers, but
re perhaps the least harmful of sub
it Itutes for tobacco.
In Jamaica "ganjnh," a variety of
Indian hemp. Is smoked by all classes
with terrible results. It Is stated that
It was this wood that was used by the
leaders of the Indian mutiny to drive
the sepoys Into the passions of raging
mania which they exhibited during the
campaign.
"Coltsfoot tobacco" Is smoked by the
rustics In small country places In En
gland and is called by them "the finest
remedy on earth for catarrh." It Is
simply a powdered form of the leaves
of the common coltsfoot, n plant found
growing wild In chalky soil, although
some say that !t Is Injurious to the
eyes, and It certainly does relieve diffi
cult breathing.
In Sweden a weed found growing In
the hills, known ns mountain tobacco.
Is smoked Iu great quantities. Like
"coltsfoot tobacco." It is powdered be
fore using and causes the smoker to
become a mental aud physical wreck.
Dried holly leaves, the bark of the wil
low tree and leaves of the stag's horn
sumach are all smoked by the Ameri
can Indians and are the least harmful
of the substitutes for tobacco.
"Indian tobacco" or the leaf of a kind
of lobelia is smoked extensively and Is
extremely poisonous. "Touibeki," an
other species of the lobelia largely
used In Asia, Is smoked lu a water pipo
and produces a decidedly unpleasant
odor. Those who smoke It regularly
become Intensely nervous and are sub
ject to curious hallucinations.
V AN APPARITION. ',
lu the old days, when Boston,
through her "plalu living and high
thinking," was earning the laudatory
titles that have clung to her ever since,
a certain woman of advanced intellect
and character, who may be called Miss
Elizabeth Amory Pelham, came Into
town from one of the suburbs to hear
a lecture on an abstruse topic. ' Her
friend and schoolmate, Mrs. Wellman,
who was a brusque, lovable body, neith
er intellectual uor ambitious of being
thought so, also went to the lecture,
chiefly because everybody else was go
ing. About 0 o'clock there tame up a
storm so violent that the lecturer and
his audience hud to go home in a del
uge. Miss Pelham stood In the vesti
bule of the ball, talking to Mrs. Well
man, and lamenting that she must
drive home that night, especially ns
she had to be In Boston early the next
day to give a talk on physical culture.
"Why do you grf?" asked Mrs. Well
man. "Como round and stay with me."
"But you're crowded," objected Miss
Pelham. "You've Just been saying your
house is full."
"Oh, so It Is, lu a way; but I'll put
you in Lavinia's bed. She's only u, you
know, aud not very big, and she's been
sound asleep now for hours. She won't
know you're there till morning."
, Her friend accepted gratefully, and
In due time crept Into bed with La
vlnla. The next morning, while Mrs. Well
man, who was destitute of "help,"
stood coaxing her kitchen fire, a little
white figure flew Into the room and
launched Itself upon her. It was La
vlnla, no longer asleep.
"O mother," she gasped, "there's
something dreadful In lev room! It's
tall and big and It's got great long
arms, and It keeps waving them and
waving them over Its head, just like a
windmill, and it's awful!"
Mrs. Wellman pushed her nway, and
shot a sulky damper Into place.
"Go right along back and get dress
ed!" she commanded. "That's nothing
but Elizabeth Amory Pelham taking
her physical exercises."
A QuurreUoine Family.
Mrs. Edgerton Blunt But why did
you leave your last place?
Applicant I couldn't stand the way
the mistress and master used to quar
rel, mum. ,
Mrs. K. B. (shocked) Dear me! Did
they quarrel very much, then?
Applicant Yes, muni ; when It wasn't
me uu' 'lin, It was me and 'or.
Coldly C onsidered.
"I, sir," remarked the self-Important
statesman, "was never approached with
a prox)sltlon of graft In my life."
"That fact," answered Senator Sor
ghum, "may be a recognition of your
honesty, and then again It may be a
reflection on your Influence." Wash
ington Star.
.Mot Kllitlble.
"Didn't that new nurse come that 1
engaged for little Mortimer?" asked
Mr. De Style.
"Yes," replied Mrs. De Style, "but
he wouldn't do. She had nothing but
blue dresses to wear, and blue, yon
know. U only for girl babies pink la
for boys." Philadelphia Press.
IJi Uoarrrl.
"You call yourself a ixs't and writs
'liymes about the virtues of Peekaboe
oapV"
"And you call yourself an arthur
"WellV"
"And mnko comic valentines."
Cleveluud Plalu Dealer.
ABOLISH THE GRAND
ITI.ENS of Wisconsin are reported as lelng
well pleased with the operation of the law
abolishing the grind Jury system. Under
the new law Information can be laid be
fore the prosecuting attorney, who gives
the accused a chance to Is heard, and If
C
MI
, the facts sm to warrant further pro
ceedings, n preliminary hearing Is held before a compe
tent court.
The meritorious feature of Uie system Is that It dia
away with the ex parto methods which nre characteristic
of grand jury Investigation. To brand u man as a
suspected criminal by means of an indictment, without
permitting htm to make a defense. Is unjust and harmful.
It may be contended that tho Wisconsin law lodges
too much power In one man, the prosecutor, who. If he
be a venal man, might defeat Justice and permit rogues
to escape punishment. But this criticism Is not sound.
For even under our grand Jury system the prosecutor
possesses extraordinary Influence 11 conducts the ex
amination of witnesses, and Itr most case the jury acts
on his recommendations. If he were unfaithful to his
trust or In league with evil-doers, ho could make a farce
!f the hearing, or, falling In that, could draw defective
indictments or afterward lie so Indifferent In bis prose
cution of the aivused as to Insure an acquittal.
But nearly every community can cite examples where
grave Injustice has been worked through ex parte hear-'
Ings before grand Juries, and tho marvel Is that the peo
ple have so long endured tbe Institution. Sentiment
against It has grown rapidly during the last few years,
and the experience of Wisconsin should hasten the day
when the grand jury will be discarded by every State In
tho Union Toledo Blade.
ILLITERACY IN THE UNITED
MEIUCANS are accustomed to reeard their
rk I country as one of universal education,
I where Illiteracy, nt least among natives, la
virtually unknown.
In view of that fact, some figures col
lated by the American Journal of Educa
tion are Instructive. They show that tbe
United States Is one of the most Illiterate civilized na
tions in the world.
According to the census of 1000, 107 persons in every
1,000 In this country were illiterate that is to say, they
were persons ten years old or older who were unable to
write In any language. Thua ono person in every nine
of ten years and older Is Illiterate. But see how this
comparea with England, Scotland or Holland, where only
one person in forty la illiterate. ,In Switzerland one per
son la 1G0 caunot write, in Pwimark one In COO, la
Sweden and Norway one In 1,250, and in Germany Il
literacy Is virtually unknown. The ratio in 1003 among
all the army recruits was one In 2,500, and illiteracy is
probably less among the German people generally than
among these recruits.
These facts, as the Journal of Education says, are not
uch as to give Americans reason for pride. Nor can
JTVVVI'TTT'f 'fTTVTT'l 'I 'i TTTTT i
BOAT-RACE IN THE EAST. V.
Tbe American and tbe British uni
versity crews are not the only crack
oarsmen who send their racing craft
shooting through the water to the
cheers of a watching, excited throng.
The Burmese boat races on tbe Irra
waddy are no less worth watching than
those of the Thames or Hudson. Sir
James Scott gives a description of one
of these events In his book on Burma.
At four o'clock in the afternoon the
sun still beats fiercely on tbe mlle-and-a-balf
stretch of river above and below
My-an-oung. The whole population of
the town is out, aud excited family
parties from scores of villages about
are gathered on the banks of the Irra
waddy. Girls wearing the brightest of
silk handkerchiefs, young men scrupu
lous as to the set of their turbans, and
Staid old men and women all crowd to
gether In bustle, excitement and an
ticipation. October has come, and with it the
time for boat-racing. My-an-oung has
challenged Tbokn-kna, the hitherto un
conquered champions of the low coun
try. Tbe goal of a Burmeso boat-race Is a
curious affair. At the point of finish
a boat Is anchored In tbe stream. A
long bamboo stretches across its bows,
and through this Is run a rattan which
projects a few Inches from its mouth.
Each of the boats bos Its own side on
which to pass, and as It rushes by, the
bow oarsman drops his oar, rises,
snatches at tbe rattan, and pulls out
the long cane. Sometimes both get It
at the same time; then tbe boats up
set, but the bowsman who has presence
of mind to stick to the rattan wins.
In this particular race one boat,
that of My-an-oung, Is decorated with
tbe figure of a peacock; Its rival bears
tbe sign of three fair flowers. The
crew of the former is young, a fine,
strong lot. Tbe other chew Is older,
with muscles of steel. JTbe boats are
fifty feet long, but draw only a few
Inches of water.
The boats take tbelr places and a
hush falls on the crowd. It Is neces
sary to propitiate the guardian spirits
of the river with votive offerings. In
the stern of each boat crouches a man,
holding a bunch of plantains, cooked
rice, flowers and betel for the water
gods. This ia a precaution which must
not be omitted, or there Is no know
ing what disaster may befall.
Now the boats start and the bustle
and Jin begin once moru. Everybody
Is talking and shouting. The Peacock
gains. The trainer of the Three fair
flowers lets out a yell, aud that boat
spurts ahead of Its rival. The people
of My-an-oung are In despair. Old
women tear their scanty hair, girls rush
to the water's edge, and the young men
end boys rush Into tbe river up to tbelr
necks.
Oo-ohn, the old trainer of the Pea
cock, shaking as If lu palsy, shrieks,
"Yonk-kya!" The crew quicken their
Stroke and the ttoat shoots toward the
goal. Both bnws throw down' tbelr
paddles at the sume time and catch at
tha rattan. The Peacock's man cornea
op triumphant, bearing the long cnue,
lud My-an-oung Is happy. Tbe great
Doat race 1 over uud the Peacock baa
Von.
Opinions of Greet Papers on Important Subjects.
JURY.
VICKY
Bj I up to
JsV I then
STATES.
NEW STYLE OF DLNNEH CARD.
Flowrr Hark loon Which nepoaea
a Card with Nam of (he Gueat.
For even an Informal luncheon or
dinner guest cards at each plate do
much to facilitate the seating of the
different members of the party, says
the New York Times. Even tbe most
clever hostess will frequently forget at
the last moment Just where she has de
cided that each guest would find tbe
most congenial neighbor, and a mis
take of this sort might have really se
rious consequence were there any rea
boii why any two persons should be
separated, whllo It would be a pity for
two persons who had beeu carefully
chosen out for each other beforehand
to be placed by mistake at opposite
ends of the table. When she la 'con
stantly entertaining, however, albeit In
an Informal manner, elaborate dinner
cards will como to quite an Item In the
course of the whiter, yet it must be
ackowledged that there is nothing es
pecially pretty about tbe plain gilt
edged card, and certainly It does noth
ing to make the table more attractive.
A new style 6f dinner card Intely
brought over from Paris is certainly
Ingenious, for not only does tt, answer
nil requirements from an economical
standpoint, but it also adds much to the
effect of the table.
This little novelty, consisting of a
tiny wire rack on the order of a tripod
or miniature artist's easel, with one leg
In the back and two In front, and a
tiny rack to hold the cards. Tied or
wired to this small rack ia a tiny clus
ter of artificial flowers made with the
perfection only attained by French
workmen, which completely cover the
wire stand, .while on the rack reposes
an ordinary pasteboard card with the
name of the guest Inscribed upon It
The flowers may bo changed according
to the decoration of the table roses,
marguerites, ferns, carnations, etc.
and If desired fresh flowers may be
tied to tbe rack with bright-colored
ribbon, and for a large luncheon or
dinner this little ornamentation wlH do
much to help out tbe picture given by
the flowers, crystal, gold and sliver.
Tlx-se little racks could be quite eas
ily made with soft copper wire, and
the few clusters of artificial flowers
would cost little or nothing and would
be delightfully easy to make up. The
dinner cards are but a small item and
altogether make qulto a charming ad
dition to the table; but the hostess had
better tie watchful lest these card racks
be taken away as souvenirs, as Is said
to have happened once in the case of
Individual silver salt cellars wheu they
were first Introduced.
One Short.
She asked him If he was tho photog
rapher. He Vald he was.
. She asked him If he took children's
pictures. He said lie did.
She asked him how much he charged.
He said, "Four dollars a dozen."
"Then I'll have to go somewhere
else," she replied; "I only have eleven."
Success Magazine,
Itevenice.
"It took you an awfully long time to
pull that fc'. low's tooth," aald the os
slstant. "Yes," answered the dentist grimly.
"He married the girl I loved!"
Shake the hand of some men, and
you shake a seen" out of 'ior
1
we excuse ourselves on the ground thst we receive great
numbers of Immigrants from th less Intelligent peoples
of Euro for in many States Illiterates of native parent
age outnutnlKr those whose parents were born In for
eign lands. In tho State of New York in 1900 there
were 1H.00O illiterates of foreign birth, but 20,fX)0 who
were isirn lu this country. Moreover, In the large cities,
where our foreign population Is most largely congre
gated, tho ierceiitage of Illiteracy is lower than In cities
of 'Jft.noo or less, and In the large cities It is no greater
than In the country districts. ,
Iowa and Nebraska lead all the State In education,
having only twenty-three Illiterates per thousand. Kan
sas Is next, with Washington, Utah. Oregon, Ohio, Wy
oming, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, Indiana,
Idaho mid Wisconsin following In the order named. Illi
nois has forty-two per thousand. The other extreme Is
represented by Louisiana, which has 385 per thousand.
Chicago Journal.
UNIFYING THE LAWS.
growing Institution, from family
a nation, finds It necessary now and
to undertake a process of rearrange-
of unnecessary articles or customs which
were useful ouw, but have become useless,
or even obstructive. A growing country
takes on new duties to the public, establishes new bu
reaus, aud Is placed under new laws as the occasion 4
arises for such laws. By aud by, aa these things are
done one by one, and not always with due regard for
what baa been done previously, there are Inconsistencies ,
and even conflicts between the haphazard additions.
Then the legislature undertakes the work of amplifying
and codifying tbe laws.
Congress engages in this task from time to time, tak
ing one general class of laws on each occasion. At on
time it goes carefully through all tbe laws relating to
the army and Its government, and brings Into harmony
alt the statutes passed In more than a century. At an
other time It takes up the coinage lawa and unifies them.
During the last few weeks it has been codifying tho
criminal laws. .
Many Inconsistencies and not a few conflicting pro
visions had crept Into the statutes. A committee of both
houses of Congress sat during the recess and presented a
single bill which covers the entire criminal law of th
general government. In all similar cases it employs
similar phrases which the courts have Interpreted, sim
plifies tbe language used and makes It more concise,
drops provisions that have become obsolete, and In gen
eral makes the law what it should have been If all tbe
several parts of It had been passed at one time.
The national criminal law uot only has force In the
territories, and In forts, navy yards aud other places
under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States,
but it extends to offenses against national banks, tbe
post office, aud uny department of tbe government and
any company chartered by act of Congress. Youth's
Companion.
HABITS OF INDIAN TRIBES.
Alwara lloarat, According- t I. ro
ta rrr Who Lived Aaaanc Them.
At tbe regular meeting of the Social
center of No. 14 school held recently.
Col. Samuel P. Moultbrop gave nn ad
dress on "The American Indian', says
the Hochcater Democrat and Chronicle.
Mr. ''Moultbrop took with him some In
dian relics and presented a series of
lantern slides, many of which he bsd
prepared himself.
Mr. Monlthrop explained In detail the
condition of the American Iadians be
fore the colonization of white rueu In
this country. They should not be
called American Indians, said the
speaker, but, simply Americans, for the
name was given them by the first ex
plorers and they were the only true
Americans in point of fact. If the dis
covery of America had been delayed
1.000 years tbe Indians would have
boon as far advanced In civilization as
the people of the old world, said tho
speaker. He said that many of the In
dian trllies who lived In the western
part of New York State had been thor
oughly organized for many centuries
the confederation of the five nations
claiming to be over 1,000 years, while
the tribe known as the Iroquois was
300 years old.
Mr. Moultbrop told of a visit ho hal
paid one of the elections of the In
dian tribes and said what he noticed
particularly was that the women rote.
This has always been the custom among
the Indians, be said, and the vote of
one woman against a, man proposed for
the office qf chief la sufficient to throw
that man out of tbe running.
One of the best characteristics of the
Indian was his honesty, he continued,
and this was true in spite of th many
assertions to the contrary. He gars
several Instances he bad known person
ally to Illustrate thlB fact The speak
er then called attention to the relics
on the table beside him; many of
which were works of art coming from
the tribes In the great Southwest
Banale'a Bad Bramhc
Mr. Bungle always takes a deep and
sympathetic Interest In the welfare of
his fellow man. While out for a atroll
one day he met a friend, who seemed
In a great hurry.
"Hold on, Jones," said Bungle, grab
bing his frleud's, arm. "Why this
rush?"
"Bungle," said Jones, removing his
hat and wiping bis brow, "I'm hotfoot
ing It to a specialist I believe my
brain Is affected."
Mr. Bungle, to allay the feara of bis
friend and show the customary com
miseration, said, Jovially:
"Pshaw, Jones, you shouldn't worry
about such a little thing as that"
"Wb-hat?"
"I mean you shouldn't let such a lit
tle thing as your brain that is, Mr.
Jones, you shouldn't get so excited over ,
nothing of course ah, good day, Mr.
Jonea 1" Bohemian.
At tha H aura as.
"See that toad? It waa burled for
more than a thousand years In solid
rock. What do you suppose It would
say If it could tpeak?"
"If It overheard vo, it probably
would say that yon a " 'i:ir." Phil
adelphia ,cdser.
Charity always
of sinners.
tnultitudsj