IRA Li BAKE.EditobakdPbopkietob TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1897. SUBSCRIPTION BATES. One Tear, cash in advance, $1.25. Six Months, cash in advance 75 Cents Entered attheKorthPlBtte(Nebraska)postofflceaa eecond-classmatter. The commercial agencies report a continued gain in the general con dition of business, notwithstanding the floods and bad roads. The new tariff bill has not had the effect that characterized the passage of . the Wilson bill in 1893, which had a most depressing influence upon trade, and commerce, manufactures and farming industries. The Ding ley tariff measure is inspiring rather than deterrent. The failures for the first three months of 1897 show a decrease of 11 per cent as compared with the first thee months of 1896. The number of persons employed in industrial pursuits has increased and there is reason to be lieve the opportunities for employ ment will continue to improve. The exports of wheat have increased 50 per cent and corn has more than doubled as compared with a year ago. The improvement is a healthy one and thus far has no relapse; i: affords a greater reason of hopeful ness for the future. The farmers of the United States are likely to have an increased mar ket for their production at an early date. The reciprocity features of the Dinsrlev bill are expected to open a jrood many markets which are now closed to our agricultur products. In addition to this, it is expected to give to the United States such special advantages over other countries in certain markets as to give our farmers practically monopoly of the trade in those parts of the world. The average expor tation of farm products during the past five years has been 631 mil lions per annum, of which amount 343 million, or nearly 57 percent, has gone to Great Britain, all other parts of the world taking- but 43 per cent oi our exports, rnis shows the possibilities open to the farmers in the matter of making for themselves as srood a market in other parts of the world as they al ready have in Great Britain. The demand of Japan and Austria for g-old is makinjr such inroads upon the British supply as to ground tor expecting a call upon this country. But this prospect, according to the New York Tribune, need cause no alarm, since the na tional treasury is in a position to part with $20,000,000 or $30,003,000 and still have a reserve consider ably in excess of $100,000,000, while the New York banks are well sup plied with the yellow metal. Of course it is impossible to say how extensive the demand for gold oe. but it is hardly possible the two countries which are most actively calling for gold will that now will require a sufficient amount to cause a serious drain from the chief source of supply, the United States. This country has not been in better con dition for a number of years for meeting any probable demand for gold from abroad. The present store of that metal must be con siderably over$600,000,000. An ex port movement, therefore, need cause no apprehension and would probably create not the slightest concern or disturbance in financial circles. Bee. DISAPPOINTMENT. Mr. Bryan acknowledges that republican success has been a disappointment." But he ha? doubtless failed to realize what a bitter disappointment it is going to be to him and his crowd when re publican success has had a little more 'time to demonstrate what it means to the country. Even in Ne braska the quickening influence of republican success begins to be perceptibly felt. The market value of land all over the state has been rising like magic during the past few weeks. The Journal is informed by an agent of one of loan companies that did business before the panic on a large scale in this state and Kansas, and thought itself excedingly unluck3 in having a large number of its mortgages turned into absolute purchases of the land, that the state is full of land buyers and that the company is now realizing on its sales from 25 to 50 per cent, cash down, more than the lands were not long ago appraised at. He re cently forwarded to the company a draft for $2,900 for a piece of land sold which had been appraised at $1,200. It begins to look as though the pop measure for the abolition of deficiency judgements came too late to do any good and that there isn't going to be much, if any de ficiencies hereafter. Lincoln Journal. WHEN THE COOK LEFT MRS. NOOLIWEDDE HAD A HEART BREAKING EXPERIENCE. tike a Good Housewife, Sho Prepared Luncheon, but It Put a Bad Taste In George's JIoHth "While He Was Gone to the Drug Store Old Friends Called. She was in tears, and her dearest friend sought to comfort her. " Whatis it?" she asked. "Has some body given a reception and slighted you just when you have a new gown? Or have you the invitation and not the gown?" "IT-neither. Ob, it is something per fectly awfull" "H'm! I suppose, then, your husband has been treating you badly. Well, as long as he has you might relieve your mind by telling me all about it." "He hasn't either I'd just like to see him try it! No; the the c-cook is gone!" "Pshaw! Is that all? Well, don't cry. I'll stay and help you. Let me see, I used to make a lovely omelet at school. It was cooked in a dustpan. Oh, do let us give a dinner party! Hasn't George some nice friends whom he might ask?" Ye-es, he he has. I wish I had never seen any of them I I wish I had put off the wedding a yearl I wish I had let George's old maid aunt come to live with us!" The visitor looked alarmed. "You haven't any fever, have you, dear? And does your head feel quite right?" No, it doesn't Get me another hand-handkerchief, and I'll tell you all about it Just look at me, will you, and tell me what I look like." "I'd rather not, dear. You might -not like it I I suppose you have been try ing to clean the soot out of the kitchen chimney, haven't you?" "No, but I've been trying to cook luncheon. George said ho didn't feel quite well after it was over, and he went over to the the drug store to get something to take a queer taste out of his mouth. I don't see why he need act that way when I had the loveliest roses on the table and other things tool" "Well, don't be low spirited. We'll manage dinner, and there are lots of in telligence offices in town. We can buy things ready cooked too." "I I don't care. I just don't care for anything. I can never hold up my head again as long as I live." "You don't mean to say that George took too much of something to take the queer taste out of his mouth?" "Of course I don't mean anything of the kind, and you are not a true friend or you'd never suggest snch a thing. I cried a little after he went out, and I must have got some soot on my face and rubbed it in. Just then the doorbell rang, and, thinking tho cook had per haps relented and returned, I ran to an- swer it It was not the cook, and, oh, ! Laura, who do you think it was?" "I don't know. Your mother-in-law perhaps." "I wish it had been my mother-in-law. Sho can cook. No; it was that hor rid girl Georgo used to be engaged to before he ever knew me. I never met her, but I recognized her from her photo graphs." ' 'If you never met her, how do yon know she i3 horrid?" "Humph! Any girl who could not get along with Georgo must bo horrid. Besides he has no taste at all lean never see a trace of beauty in tho wom an he calls pretty." "But tell me about opening the door. " "Oh, when I camo face to face with her I thought I should die! Her husband was with her. Neither of them of course knew me, and" "I should think not, if you looked as 70u do now. How did you manage to tear your gown so?" "Caught it on a naiL They both smiled when they saw me and asked if Mrs. Nooliwedde was at home. I saw they thought I was the maid, and, as suming a brogue you know I was al ways good at amateur theatricals I said: 'Faith, and that sho is not. Who shall I say was afther askin for her?' " "Oh, you clever girl! Why, I should never have thought of such a thing-not i fi oo,wi b I in a thousand years. Yes, wasn't it clover? But whilo she was taking out cards and expressing regrets I heard George como in the back way. In my agony lest he come out and betray me, I ran back to the dining room door, but before I could stop him he cried out, 'What is it, darling? " You don't say so! Did they hear hiin and. what'' "I caught a look of frozen horror on their faces as they turned and fled down the steps. Oh, I thought I should just die, and I I -wish I had. " But perhaps, after all, thev really thought you were the housemaid. " George says he he hopes not, for in that case what would they think of him for c-calling me 'darling?' " And there was a sound of weeping in the room. Elisa Armstrong in New York JournaL Mary Seymour Howell. Mrs. Mary Seymour Howell, who is far from well, made an eloquent speech at the recent county convention of suf frage clubs held at Dansville, N. Y. The Dansville Advertiser rth: "Mrs. Howell's address could not have been more earnest, more eloquent, more pen etrating and convincing had it been her farewell talk on earth, and it seemed to have something of that impressive Qual ity. Her hearers can never forget it, nor cease to bo influenced by it for her whole strength, body and soul, seemed to plead for justice to women." Taste. "Who is that young woman near the other end of the table who has been talking about correct taste in art?" "Which young woman? There are several." "The one with the wooden toothpick in her mouth." Chicago Tribune. A Slight Contrast. "What a stylish dress!" 'Yes; it cost me $30. I had it made to wear to the last charity card party. " "What does it cost to goto one of the parties?" "Twenty-five cents. " Cleveland Plain Dealer. It is asserted by typographical au thorities that the first Bible printed in America was "John Eliot's Indian Bi ble," in 1663. The language into which this Bible was translated is extinct, and it is said only one or two persons are able to read it. CLEAN PARIS KITCHENS. No Ashes or Garbage There, Says lecturer Clarence Cook. What becomes of the ashes and gar bage in Paris was a question raised and partially answered by Clarence Cook in an address delivered at the regular meet ing of tho League For Political Educa tion on ' 'Little Housekeeping In Paris. " The Paris which Mr. Cook talked about was that of some 25 years ago, when tho differences in domestic life in that city and this were much greater than at present. Since then New York has adopted the flat system in all its de tails, but there wero still differences, chief among which was the handling of garbage and ashes. In the apartments which Mr. Cook occupied in Paris, and which ho described as being delightful ly situated, though "on the wrong side of the Seine," according to the ideas of a fashionable friend of his in tho Amer ican colony, there were no ashes that he could see. The stove consisted of an iron top, with sis circular holes in it. When ever anything was to be cooked an iron basket of charcoal was put into ono of these holes, and tho food placed over it J When the charcoal was burned, what was left fell through the basket and dis appeared. In tho way of food everything came to tho apartment fully prepared for cooking. In a mutton chop there was nothing but meat and bone, and when the meat had been eaten the bone was deposited on tho charcoal fire. Potatoes were bought already peeled, carrots without their green tops and all green ! vegetables without any of the superflu- ous outer leaves or husks or skins which would go to make up garbage. All of this cleaning and peeling was done at tho markets, and the resulting material was saved in a clean condition. Even coffee grounds., Mr. Cook said, were used after leaving the flat No one in Paris ever bought enough of anything to be left over, and no ono was ashamed to ask the dealer for a sin gle mutton chop or a small portion of any article of food. If there wero any garbage or ashes in Paris, Mr. Cook said, no one ever saw either of them, which was certainly different from tho experience of a New York woman ho told of, who after a year's residence in the city wrote to a friend that life in the metropolis meant tho taking care of an ash barrel. New York Times. ATTAR OF ROSES. How This Delicious and Expensive Per- fume Is Made. The word "attar" is from the Arab "itr, " and means perfume. So attar of roses is simply perfume of roses. It is brought from Turkey and the East In dies in small vials and is very costly. Even on the spot where it is manufac tured it is extremely dear, because it requires 100,000 well grown roses to yield but 380 grains of attar. Its high price causes it to bo often adulterated With some essential or fixed oil or with spermaceti. However, the adulteration may be detected by testing it in a watch glass with a drop of sul phuric acid. If the attar be pure it will remain colorless, for pure attar of roses is colorless, but if it be adulterated it will become darkened. In rosefields, where the roses are grown for the purpose of making the attar, the bushes are planted in rows. In the early morning they are laden with beautiful roses, but ere noon comes they are all gathered and their petals distilled in clay stills, with twice their weight of water. The water that "comes over" is put into perfectly clean vessels and is then carefully covered with damp muslin cloths to keep out dust and insects. It is afterward exposed to the night air or to artificial cold. By morning a film of oil has collected on the top of the water, just as cream rises on milk. This film is swept off with a feather and very carefully transferred to a small vial. Night after night this process is repeated until all of the precious oil is separated from the water. Philadelphia Times. The largest Poultry Farm. Farni Poultry says that Isaac Wilbur of Little Comptou, B. L, has the largest V nnn " ,7 bUi from 180,000 to loO.OOO dozen of eggs f f 11 TT- a year, tie keeps his fowls on the col ony plan, housing about 40 in a honse 8 by 10 or 8 by 12 feet in size, these houses being about 150 feet apart, set ont in long rows over tho gently sloping fields. He has 100 of these houses, scat tered over three or four fields. The food is loaded into a low wagon, which is driven about to each house in turn, the attendant feeding as he goes. At the afternoon feeding the eggs are collected. Tho fowls are fed twice a day. Tho morning food is a mash of cooked vege tables and mixed meals. This mash is made up the afternoon of the day before. The afternoon feed is whole corn the year round. New York Chess Women. The Women's Chess club of New York is regarded with much interest, as it is the first incorporated chess club started for women in this country. The incor porators are Miss Eliza Campbell Foot, Miss Jean L. Nesbit, Miss Emily Som ers Haines, Mrs. Winthrop Parker and Miss Sophie Downer. The chess season begins the first Tuesday in November and ends the last Tuesday in April, 26 meetings being held during the season. Altogether the idea of a woman's chess club has proved most successful. The membership is not large, as compara tively few women play the game, but the club is growing. New York Sun. In the library of Lambeth palace there is the shell of . a tortoise which was brought there in 1623, and which lived until 1730. Another, in Fulham palace, procured by Bishop Laud in 1628, died in 1753, and one at Ptiterbdrougb. lived 220 years. In proportion to its size Britain has eight times as many miles of railway as the United States. Bucklen.'s .Arnica Salve The best salvejn the world for cuts bruises, sores, aiders,- salt rheum fever sores, teter, chapped hands, chilblains cornB, and all skin eruptions, and posi tively cures piles, or no pay required. It is guaranteed to give perfect satisfac tion or money refunded. Price 25. cents per box. " For sale by A::F. St'reitz Maccaline will cure any case of itching piles. It has never failed. It affords instant relief, and a cure in due time. Price 25 and 50 cents. Mde by Foste Manufacturing Co. and sold by A. F. Streitz. EAISEfG GOLDMSH. THE TWO LARGEST FARMS IN WORLD ARE IN INDIANA. THE Correcting: Some Popular Errors About These Finny Beauties The Raiser Has Great Difficulty In Fighting Off the Peat World Goldfish With Many Tales. Goldfish are so extremely common nowadays that few people ever stop to wonder where they come from or how they are raised. Comparatively little is generally known about the little cold blooded vertebrates that swim about in the aquariums in so many homes. The pets require a careful and systematic raising that is scarcely appreciated by those who expect to get them for small prices of dealers in the city. The largest goldfish farm in the world, if it may bo called such, is located in Shelby connfy, Ind., about SO miles from Indianapolis. Here tho original goldfish men of the country have their propagating institution. There are two farms, several miles apart, which are devoted to the differ ent branches of the industry. In the north part of the county is ono farm of eight or ten acres. The other is a few miles farther south and is about half again as large as the first one. Today there aro in tho various ponds of Spring Lake fishery over 200,000 fish, from which specimens are constantly being sent, to every state and territory of the Union. It is even said that some of the finest fish in the royal aquariums of Europe were raised by Mr. Shoup and his partner at this farm. On each of the farms spoken of are a large number of small ponds, Eomo of them not much larger than ten feet square. These ponds are all connected with each other by little channels, so that the water and fish can be let from one to tho other without tho least diffi culty. The breeding ponds, which are, of course, tho most important, aro protect ed from tho wind and cold by high em bankments around tho edges. This is all tho protection that is necessary for the fish, even in tho winter time, so it is seen that, although the fish are un doubtedly delicate, they are much more hardy than is generally supposed. Several times a year tho fish are sorted in the different ponds and classified so that the largest and finest ones will be together, and those which will not bring such good prices will be by themselves. Many people suppose that when tho goldfish is first hatched from tho egg it has the peculiar pretty markings on its scales which make it so beautiful and valuable. This is not tho case. In its youth in reality the fish is just tho same as any ordinary and everyday fish, and looks like it for all tho world. Even an expert could scarcely tell it from tho little minnows which are found in any stream. They aro of a whitish, silvery color, and have not the least evidence of the beautiful hues which they will later as sume. Sometimes, however, the goldfish grower is sadly disappointed in finding that his fish fail to acquire the golden tint for which ho has so long been look ing in vain. There have been many in stances time and again in which tho fish never did change to the reddish color, but grew to be several years old, retain ing their white, silvery, youthful com plexion. Ordinarily, however, the fish develop the golden shade in less than a year. First, they begin getting dark, some times becoming almost black. From the dark complexion they begin turning to the reddish shade, and finally come out in all their glory, full fledged goldfish. The food has not, as many people suppose, the least thing to do with col oring the fish. All the fish are fed ex actly the same thing, toasted bread two or three times a week, and nothing else is given them for their subsistence. The sun seems to be "the necessary agent and the only ono to complete the scheme of nature, and even this sometimes does not work successfully. The greatest difficulty with which the goldfish raiser has to contend is the pest world. Snakes, cats, coons, frogs and insects innumerable are all fell destroy ers of the goldfish, and the crawfish is by no means a second in the destruction which he can work when he gets in the neighborhood of the finny tribe. Some one must bo kept constantly on watch at the season of the year when these in sects and little animals abound to see that they do not get into the water of the pond where tho fish are. The sting of some insects will kill a fish in almost overy instance. Snake feeders and some other well known in sects fly close to the surface of the wa ter in tho summer time and with the greatest ease touch tho tiny little fish swimming near the surface of the pool. An egg is laid on the fish or a stinger inserted, and either will invariably prove fatal. The freaks and unusual developments in the fish are the varieties which will always bring the best prices in the mar ket Odd and rare colors and spots upon the scales are the marks which are pre ferred by fanciers. Unusual shapes in the fishes are equally popular with oddi ties in colors and will cause a fish to bring as good a price as if it had orange or purple scales. In physical developments the great varieties are in respect to the tail. One never finds two headed fish, but those with more than one tail are plentiful. Two, three, four and five tails are quite often found on the fish and sometimes even six, but the latter is very rare. Of course a fish with six tails would bring a handsome price in any market Goldfish are often killed by over at tention, but sometimes by lack of atten- j tion. The two things winch above all should be avoided are overfeeding them and failure to keep fresh water in the aquarium. An eve moderate tempera ture should bo maintained, and they should be kept in the dark at night. Chicago Tribune. Knew How. Friend (making a call) You are not looking very robust. Do yon enjoy good health? Mrs. Stayatt-Holmo (with a sigh) Indeed I do! But I hardly ever have a chance to. Chicago Tribune. The origin of soap is a mystery, but we have many evidences of its antiquity. It is mentioned at least twice in the Bible, nnder the name of "bouth, " at a period corresponding to several centuries before Christ A BEAR STORY. The Most Wonderful Escape of a Hunter Who Was Up a Tree.' They were spinning yarns of the chase, and this was the contribution of the congressman: "After a pretty hard campaign I went, with a hunting party, to the upper peninsula. I'm not a Leather Stocking or a Daniel Boone with a rifle, but I'm far from having to go inside and close the doors in order to hit a barn. I'd brought down a deer and bagged any amount of small game, but wanted a bear. One morning I had tramped an unusual distance from camp and suddenly came upon three half grown cubs rolling and tumbling over each other in play. I shot one, and the other two beat a clumsy retreat. Set ting my gun against a tree, I reached my cub while hej was still kicking. "Hearing a noise, I whirled around to find the mother comincr at me, her month wide open and her eyes glaring. There was no chanco to reach the rifle. I'm no sprinter and took the only alter native by shinning up a tall pine tree. She stopped a minute to examine the victim of my shot and was more en raged than ever as she came climbing after me. Once $n the tufted top of that pine, I did some faster thinking, gen tiemen, than I ever did on any question of state. The bear was coming and los ing no time. I was without a weapon of any kind. It looked as though bruin had the drop. ' 'But a man in my predicament over looks no chances. In my vest pocket I had a well filled match safe. In my hip pocket was a pint of brandy, minus ono moderate nip. In my hunting jacket was a bunch of tow. I saturated that with brandy, and, as the bear approach ed, I anointed hir with the remainder. Dividing tho tow so as to have two shots, I lit the first half and dropped it on the bear. I didn't need the other half. There was a flash of light, as though a pan of powder had been ig nited. The air was filled with the odor of burning hair. The bear let go and fell down because it was quicker. Then she left a fiery streak toward the hori zon and made more noise than any ordi nary thunderstorm." Detroit Free Press. KNEW HUMAN NATURE. How Two Black Rascals Turned Their Knowledge to Good Account. Near one of the gates at tho Union station as the long train from Chicago rolled in stood an old colored man. Ho was bent under, time's burden, and it was easy to imagine that he was one of those relics of the south, one of those picturesque chaarcters of old plantation life, that now live only in tho memory. The great engine was panting after its long run, and amid the bustle and confusion of the station the old man seemed-bewildered. Then as the passen gers came through the gate they saw a little act of kindness that touched a tender chord of sympathy in moro than one heart Another colored man, who looked as if he might be a porter, stepped up and slipped a quarter in the old man's hand. Then he quickly made his way off again, looking half ashamed at his action. The old man stood looking at the quarter, with a smile on ins wrinkled old face, and the next man placed an other silver piece in his hand. Tho other" passengers followed suit, and the old hat had to come off to hold the shower of coin. Just then the policeman on duty at the station saw the old fellow and start ed toward him, but with more agility than one would have given him credit for the old man ran in among the crowd and was lost. Fivo minutes later two men were sit ting in a saloon in Seventeenth street They were counting over a pile of small coins. "Foah seventy-five, he, he! Golly, gran'dad, didn't I tell yer it'd fetch em? 'Pears lak all yer had ter do wuz ter kinder mek der white folks 'shamed lak, and dey jes' scramel ovah demselves ter gev a pore ole man monev. He he! No moan work fer us, net if dey comes lak dat" St. Louis Globe-Democrat Phosphorescent Diamonds. The French investigator M. Mascart arranged a dark room, in which a col lection of 150 diamonds was placed. On one side was an attenuating current arc lamp. The lens was covered with violet covered glass, so that onlv ultra violet rays were thrown on the diamonds, among which were several old Indian, Brazilian and Cape stones, and some from the South Africa diggings. Of the entire collection only three diamonds were phosphorescent. A Brazilian stono of 1 carats and another of 3 carats showed this property in a marked degree. They wero perfectly white, with a bluish tint Tiie phosphorescence lasted for 15 minutes after exposure, gradually lessening in intensity. Pure white light was used, resulting in a less beautiful experiment, although phosphorescence' was apparent. This test demonstrated that some diamonds, but not all, possess the power of absorbing light and emitting it in the dark. Smoking In Germany. Smoking in Germany is not a pastime; it is an art and an art that has grouped about it a respectable number of indus tries. Every smoker carries a cigar case, a cigar clipper, a matchbox and usually a little leather box for the cigar tips. The tips are collected by a society or ganized for the purpose in each province and are sold to the manufacturer for the benefit of charitable institutions. In prison Bocthius composed his work on the consolations of philosophy and Grotius wrote his commentary on St. Matthew, with other works. The detail of his allotment of time to different studies during his confinement is very instructive. The sum raised by the government of Mexico from the manufacture of te quilla, one of the native intoxicants, is about 500,000 annually. The bridal wreath js usually formed in Germany of myrtle branches; jn France and England, of orange blossoms; in Italy and French Switzerland, of white roses; in Spain, of red roses and pinks; in the islands of Greece, of vine leaves; in Bohemia, of rosemary; in German Switzerland, of a crown of artificial flowers. Couduetors of -'orchestras find that the flute in far more often played out of tune than the violin, the reason being that many of its natural notes are not strictly in tune with the rest of the band. THE RAINBOW IN THE SPRAY. Tho tide Is foul that sweeps about the town A yellow, turbid, disenchanting flood Of city refuse mixed, and oil and mud. Bat when a ferryboat, big, ugly, brown. Against the galo of March comes lumbering down, . Tho wave3 sho flings to cither side oro bright With spray as dazzling in the sun's keen Ugh. . r Ab white, as fair, as pure as snow o- dawn. And in the spindrift from each chopping crest The colors of tho rainbow meet and play. So In each life, however dull and gray. There comes somebreezoof fortune at its best, Cheering the heart with love or hope or rest And shining like the rainbow in tho spray. J. L. Heaton in "Tho Quilting Bee." HE HAS MOVED. Gradually Acquiring Information Concerning- Methods of Collecting a Bill. ""When wo moved into tho country," said Mr. Changoofair, "I almost won dered at the absolute confidence of tho boss of the moving party. It was a long haul, two or three vans, and tho bill a 50. hnr. thpr moved everything' out of the vans into the house clean before the boss driver presented the bill. I wondered what they would do if somebody should say then that he would call at tho office and settle or something of that sort But, then, I knew I was going to pay; that it had been perfectly safo to get the stuff in and collect the bill afterward of me, and I mado up my mind that they were keen men, who know people when they met them, whom they could trust and whom not "Well, after somo years wo moved hack. Same concern moved ns in, but they didn't know us at tho office any moro than if they had never heard of ns. Arrived in the city, tho men with the vans it was a different crew from that that took us out began lugging in tho things just as the men that moved us out had dono in the country. Nobody said anything aboutpay, and I wondered again what would happen if they got tho stuff all in and then the owner didn't pay. But they kept on hustling the things in just as if they felt perfectly easy and securo about that. "After awhile the stuff was pretty much all in practically all hut tho piano and I wondered why they hadn't brought that 111 before, because I had seen it loaded, and I knew it was one of the last things loaded on at tho very rear end of one of the vans. So I went out to see, and there was the piano, right where I had seen it when it was put aboard, at tho extreme rear end of tho van, while all tho stuff in front had been taken out, carried around the end of the piano and on into the house. In front of it tho van was empty. Passing throngh the hall, I met the head driver, the hoss of the party, and he, just casually meeting mo in that way in the hall, handed over the hill for tho moving, and I paid it on tho spot Then, everything elso having been moved in, the whole gang tallied on to tho piano and walked it right into the house. "Of course it may have only just hap pened that the piano wasn't moved in until I had paid the bill, but this didn't give me quite such a flattering opinion of myself as the other way had, but it more than confirmed my original opin ion of tho shrewdness and ability of the van folks. They made few mistakes and took even fewer risks." New York Sun. The Ntighborliness of Neighbors. Talking about neighbors people gen erally do, you know quite a good story turned up the other day. Whether or not it is true must ho left to tho reader, but certainly it not inaptly illustrates a rather too common weakness of these I frequently too distant near ones. An old lady who had recently moved into a fashionable locality with her two daughters was somewhat aggrieved at her distinguished neighbors not calling. In truth, only seven of them did so ono to inquiro as to the character of a former servant and the other six to se cure subscriptions for various charitable institutions. Under such circumstances the de lights of social life were somowhat cur tailed. Whether or not this went to the old lady's heart cannot be said, but cer tain it is that in a few short weeks she was dead. The neighbors flocked to the funeral. The rooms were crowded. All was pity, love and sympathy. In the middle of it all the old lady sat up and said it did her good to see so many kind faces about, whilo the two daughters handed around coffee and ices, the guests finally departing in the funeral car riages. Brooklyn Life. A Story of Keaconsfleld. Lord Beaconsfieltl was in theory a female suffragist But his flirtation was of a very platonio character, for, al though he had often the power to give practical effect to his pious opinion, he tookcaro never to do so. Once the oppo sition leaders were very anxious to find out what course he intended to pursue in regard to a certain matter. They turned loose upon him a well known political beauty. She talked and talked, he gazed and gazed. At length sho asked him. He pressed her hand, looked unutterable admiration and observed, "Pretty dar ling!" I remember how my admiration for Lord Beaconsfleld rose when I first hoard this tale. London Truth. The Oak. The Druids considered the oak as the emblem, or rather the peculiar resi dence, of the Almighty, and according ly chapleta of it were worn both by the Druids and people- in their religious ceremonies. Tho fruit of it, the mistle toe, was thought to contain a diviiio" virtue and to be tho peculiar gift of heaven. In tho nnearthed city of Pompeii, the preservation of which has been the means of revealing many antique cus toms, there is to be seen a soap manu factory, with all the kettles and other paraphernalia pertaining to tho business. Franco has more money in circulation in proportion to its population than any other country. MECCA CATAftKH REMEDY. For colds in the head and treatment of catarrhal troubles this preparation has afforded prompt relief; with its con tinued ubo the most stubborn . cases of catarrh have yielded to' its healing power. It is made from concenstrated Mecca Compound and possesses all of itsr- buuLuiug uuu ueuimg properties -ana oy absorbtion reaches all the inflauied' parts effected by that disease. Erice 50 cts . Prepared by TfaVFortar life C3 Council J3iuns, lows. or salo by A. F. Streitz. THE SNOW MIRACLE. 'Tho-ago of niracles," they say, "Is PM: Christ walks no more upon the yielding Nor does tho Spirit breathe, to bless or sartf On mortal man." And then the winter blast Comes Bhrieklng from beyond the sunset glow; The dancing waves grow solid as a floor To bear the burden of one woao.Gr more God breathes upon tho mist, and It is snow. -J. L. Heaton In "The Quilting Bee." A YOUTH'S ADVENTURES. Which, Whether Truth or Fiction, Are De cldedly Interesting. , "When riding in tho tram car through the wildest parts of Peckham Eye, writes a contributor to tho London News, with a friend wo wero bound on a journalistic errand a bronzed young man of marine appearanco jump ed into tho car and at once recognised my companion. Before wo had gono very far I was deep in ono of tho oddest family histories. This new arrival, it seems, wucn a uoy ui j., u sessed by tho fear of consumption, that fell disease navmgeameu uu. and threatening his father and mother. Accordingly he read every book that ho could lay his hands on dealing with tho subject, and, as tho result of his read ing, ran away to Bournemouth to bo near the pines. Having no funds, he engaged himself to a local fishmonger, carrying his master's fish to the various customers. When the day's work was done, he shouldered a hammock which ho had brought with him and camped among some of those pines for which that southern health resort is famous. Ono night a gentleman, sauntering along, smoking a cigar, noticed him, and, being amazed at this "al fresco" bed, cntcicd into conversation with him. "Why, I know who you arc," ex claimed the consumptive youth at last. "You're Mr. Louis Stevenson, the man who wrote 'Treasure Island.'" "How do you knew?" said the gentleman. "Because I deliver you fish. You livo at Skerry vure." "So I do," replied Stevenson, for he it was suro enongn. "But you don't talk liko a fishmonger's hoy. " "No more I do, ' ' replied the boy, and he then poured his strange secret into the novelist's ear, which was sym pathetic enough, yon may be sure. The result of this odd meeting was an invitation to breakfast. "Oh, and I did eat," said tho young man. He told the story so londly that tho whole train laughed. "And tho servants couldn't, make it out at all to see the disliu;. guished author entertaining poor me. Then ho went to Paris, and I never saw him again for a long while." Tho pines not proving strong enough, tho strange yonth was seized with a yearn ing for the scent of tho eucalyptns and persuaded his friends to send him to sea. When ho reached Sydney, he sold his outfit and ran away into tho bush and lived in tho open with eucalyptus galore. Thence, after many adventures, he sailed for the south seas and abode by reef and palm for many a long year. Ono day when cruising as supercargo among tho Gilbert islands, I think, a European swell in beautiful white duck, a .great red sash and a spreading panama hat, with a peacock's feather in it, came aboard the schooner. "Good morning, Mr. Stevenson," said the" su percargo. Mr. Stevenson looked and wondered who knew him in these faroff seas. "I don't know you." he said, shaking his head. ' 'But I know you. Don't you remember the fishmonger's boy who ato such a big hrcakfast at Skerryvore?" "Soldo. Well, the world is small- indeed. " And no doubt tho two had pegs and tiffin or whatever they call such thing3 in the islands to gether. What a strange, small world it is indeed! Well, ono succumbed to tho dread disease; the other is as hearty a fellow as ever I saw. It was a quaint, grim fancy to go dodging phthisis all over the world ! Loudon News. In Doubt. A certain minister, who is hot always so careful as he ought to be in making his teaching and his practice correspond, was lately telling some friends a story of adventure. It was a pretty "tall" story, and the minister's 10-year-old lit tle girl was observed to be'listening to it very intently. When ho finished, she fastened her wide open eyes upon her father's face and said very gravelv, "Is that trne, or aro you preaching now, papa?" Household Words. Cirnlthology. Tommy A bat's a bird, ain't it, ma? Ma Yes, Tommy. lominy An it's a great deal bigger'n a eagle, ain't it, ma? Ma What makes yon think so. mv boy? 3 Tommy 'Canse I heard pa say he an Mr. Jinkins was on one last night. Biehniond Dispatch. The demon3 of despair follow the foot steps of the man whose ignorance or care lessness has loaded him with a burden of weakness and disease. There is no royal road to health. No one can trespass the laws of nature and escape the consequences. True, some may do what others may not Each one has his limitations. The puzzle is to understand it all. Before any one thoroughly understands his system, many mistakes are made. This is ruinous to health, disastrous to pocket What must it i not he fqr a family of three, or four, or a half-dozen-? In the average amily, tljfl mother is the manager, the nurse, the gen eral superintendent. Her wisdom directs the household. She is responsible for man ners, morals, health. How necessary then that she have able assistants. Most espec ially in the matter of health. Dr. Pierce's Common Sense Medical Adviser was written for her especial benefit It is what its name indicates a home physician a common sense medical adviser. In its 1008 pages of plain language, with its 300 illustrations, she wjll find ample descriptions of sytnp foms of fajijng health, with simple inexpen sive prescriptions for the arrest oTdiseose. It contains more information about the hii .man body in health and disease than any fcthet- book ever published. It has had a larger sale (680,000 copies at $1.50 each) than any medical book in the English language. This great book may be had absolutely free, in paper covers, bysending twenty -one pne - cent stamps, to pay cost of mailing only, to World's Dispensary Medical As sociation, 663 Main Street, Buffalo, N. Y. If tprefer fine French cloth binding, send tea cents extra (thirty-one cents in all). Dr. Pierce's Pellets cure Constipation, 1