Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 27, 1900)
r BARM SWALLOWS. HI BESJAMItl r. LEdOETr. In tho old brown barn by tbo ehadjil wall, With inoss-grown plilucloa, nnu cululcs that stnro At tbo bluo ot sky, or tbo stars o'or nil, In tbo solomu bush ot tbo ovonlng nlr. Tboro tbo swallows build whero tbo oaves slope low. Anil cling ami flutter nml twlttor and cnll l roin tnoir mud-mint turns in a pinstoroa row. Or proon and croou on tbo rktgo-polo tall, In llio flnsli'ot morn Is n flnsli ot wines O'er tho still, gray pool, wbcro tboslma ows lltf, Till tbo downy bronsts sond tbo crystal rings In widening curves o'or tbo mirrored sky. In through tbo squares of tbo wlndowloss lott. And out ot tho gloom to tho light thoy go, With u whir of wings nnd n murmur soft, Whilo wo droniu on tho fragrant hay bo low. Ho w ovor nnd under llio oavos nud Ibroua b. Tlio stcel-bluo wings of tbo wanuorora n .lo. With mulodlos swuot ns tbo vnar. nnd now. And happy nud f roo ns tbo world Is wide. O woct barn-swallows. I boar vour call Your twlttrr of song nnd notes of choer, An. 1 1 no ngiuu wuuro t no Muiue.ims inn Through tho motod loft, In n vnulahod year. O30030D00000030O00003QOOaO V o I Under Arrest, o o o o o o HE was an uncom monly prolty girl, nud it was uot mcro benuty of feature and color nig, thoro was something moro in tho face. Per haps it was tbo expression of tho bluo eyes tbut changed in cym patky with ono's raooil, or porhnpn it was au iu,dcacribablo something about tho Binall mouth, which was Biniliug ono moment and serious tho next At nuy rate, I wont to Mrs." Parker's ilnuco quito fancy froo, nnd camo away that night minus my honrc. Hor naino was llolon Evcrtson. "Wo had danced together thrco or four times, had catou our suppor in n dimly lighted oovnor of tho grcnt, cnuaro hall, nnd nt parting 1 had holnod hor on with her long, fur trimmed cloak, and held her hand in miuo for a momunt. Thou sho had vauiahed into tho carringo that vvn3 waiting nt tho door and that was nil. I Btrollod homo, dotormiucd thnt very ohortly I would uak Mi-3. Parl:or, who was an old friend of my mothor's, to tako mo lo call upon lira. Lvort con. Somo two weeks later wo moved from ..tho homo whero my boyhood had boon spent, my father having bought a houso farther up town. Our now residenco was ono of a row of houso.? that extended over half a block, caoh ono being the exact 001111' tornart of all tho others. This mado it rather confusing at first, partiou lnrly ns tho nuinbors wore on the lowor pauels of tho doors, and, in cousequonco, quito usoloss after dark. Tho first fow ovonuigs, whon roturu iug houio from business, I counted tho housen to avoid any possibility of mistake, after which I eaino to kuow our owu door instinctively and coasod to givo llio mat tor any thought. Tho Christmas Holidays had como aud gono nud I had still no opportnn ity of following up my acquaiutauco with Miss Evcrt8on. I cnllod sovoral times at Mrs. Parker's, but had always Jiecu so unfortuuatons to find her out. At last I wroto her a note, to which sho rophod, Haying that sho was just going to Washington for a fow weeks, but would bo glad to tako mo to call ut tho Evortsous' ou hor roturu. I left tho ollico 0110 attornoou 111 a bliudiug snowstorm, nud alighting from tho car nt tho corner of our street, hurried along through tho gathering gloom, fooling thankful when I found myself at tho door of jut liomo. I turned tho koy iu tho look, aud ontcriug tho houso closed tho door after mo, giving, us I did so, a sigh of Batisfaotiou and rohuf. Tlio houso was all in darkuoss, but not knowing whoro to put my baud on n match, nnd taking it for grantod that tho maid would light tho ball gas presently, I did not trouble myself about it, but made my way up to my own room, which was in tbo thud etory. I bad just renchod the uppor hall when tho front door opened nnd thou closed, after which camo tho sound of u unfamiliar footstep ou tbo stair. It was lighter than father s and quicker thnu mothor's, and could not possibly belong to oitbor of tho servants, who woro both middle-aged nnd moved slowly. Along tho second story hall nnd up tho next night of stairs camo tho strango stop, whilo I grow moro nud moro curious, I had to hunt sonio timo to find tho matches, which were uot in their nccustoinod placa on tho mnntlopiece. I discovered them nt last, nnd as I struck alight I hoard a stiflod exclamation from tho bend of tho stairs. Iltistily lighting tho gas I turned around nnd nt the snmo mo meut tho door of my room was closed with whnt seemed to mo most uiincc cssnry violoncc, aud tho sound of tho koy being turned iu tho loci loll upon my astonished ear. Down tho stairs flow tho feot whioh n few moments boforo I had hoard coming up, and onoo moro tho front door was opond nud thou closed, "Wondering very much nt thoso sin gular proceedings I rattlod tho knob nud cnllod all to uo purpose Thero was no bell iu my room aud it was evident that fathor and mother wero out. It was useless to try to uinko myself heard by tho servants, At last, deciding that this must bo a joke on tho part of ono my young cousins, who occasionally visited us, ud who had probably arrived that C day uuring my nusonco uowu town, 1 took off my ovcrcont nnd sat down bo foro tho grnto nro that 1 bad lighted. It was very sootuing anil comfort able to feel tho warmth stealing over my well-nigh benumbed limbs, nud, lost in day dronuis, I soon forgot that I was a prisonor. I do not know how long I had sat thoro half dozing, whon I was aroused by tho sound of voices in tho brill. "Ho i3 in there, ' camo in nn nud- iblo whispor. Ob, do bo careful, I havo uo doubt ho is armodl" Tho next momont the door opened, nud n tall, muscular Hibernian, wear ing a policomnu's uniform, outcrod tho room. Ho looked considerably nstonisbed nt scoiug mo sitting quietly boforo tho uro. but quickly rocovenug himself, ho laid bold of my arm, saying as ho did so: Will yor como nlong wid mo quiol, or will I havo to mako yor? It's under arrest yo nro. What docs a decent lookin' man liko ycrsolf wnnt to bo sunk thnviu' for nn' scarin young ladies out of their wits?" I stared nt tho man in amnzemout. Looking about I assured myself thnt I was surrouudod by my own familiar possessions, whilo my uninvited visit or's viso-liko crip on my arm con vinced mo that I was nwako. "Ofilcor," I finally managed lo ut tor, "thero is somo mistake." Ho gnvo a scarcastio laugh ns ho answered: "That's whatthoy always say, ovory toimo. Como nlong wld mo now. "But thiu is my fnthor's houso, nud this is my own roonil" I exclaimed. "I don't know tbo youug lady to whom you refer may bo, but I should say sho bad como n considornulo dintauco out of hor way to got frightonod." "Ho is quito right I am tho ronl intruder," enid n gentle, feminine voico. A very much mortified looking youug girl was standing iu tho doorway. 'Miss Evcrtsoul" 'Mr. Clark. I do not kuow what can say now J caa explain this mis taue, sho stammered, "wo live in ono of thoso houses, nnd my room tho ouo corresponding to this. When I camo homo a littlo whilo ago I lot mysolf in with my koy nnd camo di rootly upstairs. Sooing you in what I supposed to bo my room I thought of courso thnt you wero a oucnk thiof, I did not havo timo to recognizo you and th) hallo wero dark, and tho possibility ot having gotten into tho wrong houso novor occurred to me Whon I camo back with this officer wno guided by my owu recont foot prints in tho snow, which accounts for my nocond mistake I cannot toll you bow sorry and aBliamod I feel." The good-naturod Inshmau in dulgcd iu a hearty laugh in which '. joined, nnd Miss Evortson, too, not witbstnuding her ombnrrnssmont could not holp seeiug tho ridiculous sido of tho situation. Wo proceoded down stairs, whore wo mot my fathor nnd raothor. who had just como iu, nud to whom it wnB necessary to explain tho prosonoo in their house of an ofiioorof tho law and a strnugo youug lady. Thoy enjoyed tho joke, and seeing Miss Erortson's ombarrassmont, endeavored to puthor at bor case. Aud then, with no thought of cold or snow, 1 put on my bat nnd oont nud oscortod our fair neighbor to her door. Ouo Sunday aftornoon in tho spring l was calliug at Mrs. lnrlior's, aud as I wns about to tako my departure my nostoss nam: "Tho weather is lovely, now. Wo must go and cnll upon tho Evertson very soon." I felt conscious of coloring up liko a girl as I answered: "You nro very kind, Mrs. Pnrkor but I havo boon without waiting for you. In fact, I go thoro almost ovory ovomug, and llolon nud I nro to bo mnrriod iu Juuo." What to Eat. "Ditch Klilcr1! of tlio IrrlfratliiR Slated Ono of tho newest of occupations is that of "ditch rider" iu tbo Wester States whioh have' largo irrigating ca nals. Tho "ditch ridor" patrols tho ditch throughout tho season of actual operatijn to boo that tho works aro in good repair and to flupormtond ih proper distribution of wntor to tho various stockholders or irrigators from tho system, whoro n ditoh is not longer tbau twolvo or fifteen miles ono ditch lider is expected to patrol its entire Iongtb, but upon moro ex tensive systoms several may bo re quired. In tho latter caso tho canal is divided into divisions, each of which in patrol nd by a separata ridor, and tbo longth of a division dopouds upon tho charaotor of tho duties, varying with tho amount of repairs, tbo dan gor of broaks nud lonks, nnd tho uunv nor of rognlntiug gntos to look nftor Tho nvorngo lougth of n division is from twolvo to flftcou miles, nnd th nverngo compensation for tbo wor rnngos from 350 to $7o a month, out of which he must pay his own bonrd and furnish aud maintain his own horso and cart. Importuned of Tonchlnc flood MAimnrt Thero is no inoro important work douo iu our schools than in teaching "morals and manners." Tbo lossons should como, uot onco a week, but daily, aud tho tcnohor who cannot find "matter" sufiloieut for n daily lcssou is lacking in ossontinls. Truo manners nro tho passports of tho gon tloman, Too oftou our boys think thnt good manners nro for cultivation by others, not for thorn. "Tho boy is fathor to tho mnn," and tho ill- mnniiorcd boy is tho futuro fault finding mau. By lacking manuors, you 'look frionde. To smilo, to bow, to lift tho hat, to bog pardon, to say "thank you," cost nothing. No ono will ovor know tho vast good that .theso words aud sim ilar ones havo accomplished. Hi. John's Church Quarterly. KANSAS "CLIFF DWELLERS." Fnrmors Who Mako Uto of the Cmcc In tho Smoky Mill IlluR. Tho Kanopolis (Kan.) correspondent I of tho Kansas Oily Star snyn: Four ! miles from horo is tho bondquartorn of tho "cliff dwollorfl," ns thoy aro called. Along tho Smoky Hill llivcr in this cction of tho Slnto aro high rocks of unibrella-shapo hills thnt scam to hnvo been loft whon tho vnlloyB wero washed out in n night, nud horo aid thero along tho river lingo clilTn that oav their tops far above tbo sur- rounding country. At tho bnso of 0110 of thoso clilffl aro found tho "cliff dwellers." Tho cliff rises nhcor sixty foot, and is surrouudod by groat trees, somo of whioh grow into tho vory top of tho hill aud scud tboir roots down into tho rccessos uudor IK ith. rho cliff is on tho farm of W. fi. laris, and ho oujoys somo privilogos uuusual to tho Kansas farmer. Tho cliff is of sandstone nud lima- ntono formation, and tho olomouts, aidod by tho hand of mau, havo ex cavated nenr tho baso n number of rooms. Out of tho foot of tho cliff, and covered by a stono arohwoy, is a vory lino spring of water that bubbles forth clear and swoot tho year round. This cavo tho Fnris family has trans formed into a spring bouse, and tho milk-pans nro sot in tho steady run ning water, tho coolest cud best place imnginablo for tho porfoct protection of tho milk. This room is 8x12 feet, nud is cut iuto tho very heart of tho rocks. Not moro than tou dogroos 1I003 tho tompornturo vary winter or nummor, nud this onvo io tho family refrigerator. To ouo sido is tbo largest cavo in tbo baso ot tho clili, aud 111 this room fourtcon feot squaro, is kept tho dis trict school. A teacher desk is in ono cornor, .and tho (leaks of tho pupils aro near tho door, through wliioli oomo3 nil tuo light tho room gots. Tho pupils nro not afraid of tornadoon when m thoir underground school-rooiu,nud tho high waters dou't reach tho cavo. Charts aro nailed against tho Avails, aud tho heat is sup phud hy a bugo unolc Urcplnco, that niakos tho room vory choory. Adjoiu- ing tho school-room is another room, 112x10 foet, nnu, 111:0 tho school-room, niuo foct high. This is dividod from tho school-room by a throo foot wall Au nreh is out in tbo ceutro, nnd tho pupils uso this room for play on stormy days. Thoso room3 aro dry nud cool iu summer, nud ono cnu get n refresh ing sleep on tbo hottest afternoon. Solid as aro tho rocky walls of tho roofs of tho rooms, tho trco roots may bo soou coming through tuo elm and making their way iuto tbo light and warmth bolow. On tho fnco of tho cliff outsido, cut doep in tho rook as with somo sharp instrument of great strength, nroJiugo Indian signs that wero tboro wbou the first whito man camo to thia part of tho Stato. No ono of tho arohco- logists who havo visitod this pan of tho Stato has boon aula to docipher tho sigUH. It is thought that this cliff was tho gathering placo for tho claus that roamed this part of tho prairies iu tho early days. . Tbo "cliff dwellers "havo bocomo so accustomed to tho cavos aud tho novel school-room that thoy pay littlo nttou tiou to their quaint situation. Their ohiof prido is iu tho wondorful spring thnt flown eternally back in tho rooks, regardless of whothor tho rains fall ou Woslorn Kansas or not. Until nnd tho l'lnirtio In Ilonoluln. Honolulu is rousing itsolf to tho dnugor it runs from rats, nuimals which, by common consent of scion- tillo mon, aro tho mo3t certain agonts for tho dissomiuatiou of tho bubonio plaguo. Hats tako tho plaguo easily and carry it for a oonsidcrablo timo boforo thoy die. After being strickou thoy retiro t their holos, whero thoy hido for days until pain nnd terror drivo thorn out to court tho sooioty of human beings. Thoy ontor kitchens whoro cooking is going ou; thoy sook occupied bods nt night; thoy get un der foot in ono's drawing room; thoy outor tuo nurseries whoro children play. In this stago of tho disoaoo iu footiou goes with thorn liko an ntmos phoro. When dead and not dostroyod by human beings, thoy aro likoly to bo caton by roving mombers of their own specios, thus increasing rat raor tahty, or thoy may bo caton by tho family pet oat. So long as rats aro in a city whor tho bubonio plaguo has takou lodgo inont ovory ono will bo in dnugor. Pacillo Comraoroial Advertiser. Aitlllclnl Whr.touonc. Aruuoini wuaiouoncj, rhicu ar said to bo suporior 111 somo ways to tuo gpnuino, nro now mndo by tbo in veution of n Hollnuder from tondous Tho strong tondous of tho hind log of nnimnls aro especially desirablo Theso hnvo horetoforo' boon sont to tho gluo factory, but for tho purposo 01 artiuoiai wuaiouono thoir valuo i greatly increasod, Tho process is as follows: After removing from tho fresh or saltod tondous (driod onos cnunot bo usod) nil adhering ilosh or skin, thoy aro thrown into a wator solution of salt or chromo of about ton to tweuty per cent, of thoir weight Chromato of aluminum nnd ouo-balf of ono part of chlorido of sodium is preferable. This tnuning losts from four to ten days, according to tho thiokuoss of tho tendons nud tho strength of tho solution. Tho tnnuod matter is thou pressed botwoeu warm plates, aud is afterwards cut iuto strips for uso. Million ofl'orei In the Skin. From microscopic observations it has boon computed that tho skin is perforated with a thousand holos in squaro inoh, If tho wholo surfaoo of tho human body bo estimated at six teen squaro loot, it must contain no fovror than 2,1101,000 pores. Tho purser on n Southorn ferryboat ran in connection with n railway lino fijeoted a passongor from tho first- tlass cabin becnuso ho woro a "loud" shirt. This goeo to prdvo thai though corporation may havo no souls,-.thoy aro not without somo idoas ou tho sub ject of csthctlo nmouitlos of life, A family in Philadelphia consontod lo lot a daughter mnrry n man bo- cniiso sho dcclarod sho would hill her self if sho couldn't. Sho married tho mau. aud siuco then ho has mado a dosporato attempt to commit suicide. Somo fominino natures yearn toward tragedy liko a tondor violot for tho ehndo. Tho Wiggolums, WngluuiB, Woggo- lums, Wagloms, Wiglotus nnd Wog- ums have mot in family couforouco and decidod to epoll it "Woglnm." Old Jan Van Wogglelum was orig inntty responsible, but it appears ho was not cousultod. This shows ono of tho advantages of boiug dead. Tho matters of desoout don't bothor you. Tho nunual roport of tho Commis sionor of Fntontn for 1899 shows that tho number of pntonts issuod, includ ing designs nud roiasuos, wero 25,527, munbor but onoo oxcoodod. Tho number of patonts expiring during tho year was 18,135. Iu proportion to population moro pntouts wero issuod to citizens of Connecticut thnu to thoso of any other Stato. Iu tho laundry of au iu&auo asylum at Pontine, Mich., electric irons, in stead of gns irons, havo proved to ho peculiarly adaptod for insauo asylum sorvico, whore mo3t of tho work is dono by tho patiouts. chnnco qt thoir sotting firo with tho irons, nud inoro io uo anything on ns they nro kept nt an ovon tcmpornluro thoy do not rcquiro tho oxoroiao of judgment iu changing thorn. Ohnraotor nud life that is tho truo order of expression. It is truo that tho lifo that a mau livos tho scries of his aots from day to day, gonoratcs habitual charaotor, but it is also truo that character when formed is a kind of capital with whioh to work, and that from it, as a root of growth or spring of intluoiice, results' what wo torm tho life-work of tho man, public career, tho impression, good or ovil, whioh ho makes his for on society, reflects tho Now I'ork Ob sorver. Tho Philadelphia Press shows tho necossity of national forer.t parks, nud remarks: "It is encouraging tokuow that tho Minnesota Federation of Womon's Clubs ha3 dooulod to tako oharga of the project to establish national foro3t park in that Stato and will sond representatives to Washing ton to call tho attention of Congross to tho subjoot. Tho Minnesota pari: schomo is projeotod on au extcusivo scnlo. Tho rest of tho country will watch this ofiort to ostaulisu a na tional forest park iu tho Northwost, aud if carried out similar schemos will spring np olsewhoro." Tho woman who works for her livo lihood is a now fnotor in civilization obsorvos tho Atlanta Journal. Ono huudrod years ago sho was an uu known quautity. Fifty years ngo sho was n rara avis, Twouty-fivo years ago sho not uncommonly found her self a teacher or writor novor by any chanco anything olso, To-dny sho is n wholo army. Hundreds of thou sands strong iu America alouo, sho now earns hor own bread as tcaohor journalist, stenographer, bookkoopor, artist, musician, librarian, tologrnph or, oleotrician, saleswoman, farmer physio'an, lnwyor and in auy other avenuo that opons to hor foot. Tho iutontiou of tho Navy Depart mont lo employ tho Topoka, tho Dixlo and tho Buffalo iu tho trniuing sor vico nud to commission n flotilla of torpedo craft for summer mancouvros is indicativo of n wiso chaugo in tho theories hitherto governing this im portaut duty. It is truo, of course that tho throo ships selected arc not of tho typo imperatively domandod for tho education of ofilcors and mon but thoy nro distinct improvomout upon tho four old wooden stcamor and tho 0110 sailing ship now commis sioued for tho work. Too muoh stress cannot bo laid upon tho vital ncccs oity of training enlisted mon in mod eru vessols, and of developing early tho capacity for command nud th suuso of responsibility iu oflloors, by assigning thorn to duty ou board tor podo dostroyors and torpodo boats It is moro wastnd offoct to cducato tho sailor ot this ago iu au autiquatod school or to load him with obsoloto ammunition, Wo do not nood tho lurgest navy in tho world, but wo may hopo to possess tho strongest, for that doponds upon brain and brawn upon intelligence, training and adnp tability. GOOD ROADS NOTES, Tlio Nnllonnl lllll. H7 HE wheelmen, farmers and I tically endorsod tho bill pro r. Bcntcd by tho Lcnguo of American Whcolmon, calliug for nn appropriation of $5,000,000 for high way improvements, thero cnu nor bo uo doubt that tbo good roads move ment wns ripo for national promotion. Tbo difforout division -of tbo Lcnguo, as won ns wheelmen goncrnlly, nro unanimous in thoir support of n moasuro which in coucododly a slop fnr in ndvauco of auything horetoforo attempted in tho sauio line. Tho farmers' organizations, which have had timo to consider it, hail it as tho probablo solution ot thoir griovous highway improvement quantion. Tho newspapers, almost without oxcop tiou, rcalizo that in it nro tho possi bilities of a futuro nntioual political issue. With such ondorsomcnt tho bill has tho brlghtost chancos of success, and tho L. A. W. ofllcints should not only fool encouraged but Haltered in the roooption of their Miggcstlvo action. rrosidont Ivociinu, of tbo h. A. W., has received congratulations from all parts of tho country ou the introduc tion of tho bill, nnd tho promises of honrty support nro innny. Managing Dirootor M. O. Eldridgc, of tho Oflloo of Road Inquiry, Depart ment of Agrioulturo, 111 a letter to President Kconnu, says: "I noto with plcasuro that Mr. Graham, of Pennsylvania, has intro duced your bill appropriating 3,000, 000 for tho purposo of building public highways. This Ih n long stop in tho right direction, nud I cungrntulnto you most heartily. Whilo tuo do uired appropriation may not bo mndo nt tho proaont time, thin notion will hnvo tho good c fleet ot stimulating road legislation nnd road reforms throughout tho couutry. "Tho timo for nntional aid porbnps will not como until a majority ot tho richor nnd moro progressive States shall havo adopted tho State-aid sys tem in ono form or another. That national aid will come, howovor, in an certain as tho prlnclplo is truo that our Oovornmont is 'of tho pooplo, for tho pcoplo nnd by tho people' Tho old idea that Bit oh improvements should bo left entirely to Stnto nud local governments is fast dying out, and in its stead aomos the idea thnt whnt tho Government docn for, tho pcoplo nro doing for themselves. Tho scarocrow Tatornaiistu,' wnicu in usod by thoso who nro oppo3od to tho Government's entering into nuuh inter nal improvomonts, io losing its terror for tho masses ns tho practical useful ness of tho general movoment taken moro and moro variod form. Tho sontimoul is growiug thnt 'tho Gen eral Government is as inuuh tho Bor- vnnt of tho wholo pooplo ns tho Stato aud local governments aro of thoir portiouo, and that tho wholo pcoplo cau as safoly uso thoir General Gov orumont for thogonornl benefit ns nuy section enn its local government for looal benefit." How to Out l'roo Dollvnry. Asido from tho obvious couvouionoo of having mail dolivcrcd almost at ouo's door, cortniu accompauimoutsof tho froo dolivory systom hnvo tonded grently to commoud it. As n prerequi site to tho establishment of n route, tho Poatofilco Dopnrtmont is disposed to insist thnt tho country ronilB bo kopt iu propor condition; nnd tho impotua thus given to tho movement in favor of good roads has bcou in many 111 stnuccs vory innrkod. In Boouo Couuty, Indiana, tho fnrmors ot n cortniu district obtained from tho county supervisors au appropriation of $2080 for improving a bad pioco of dirt road, 111 ordor to insuro a con tinuanco of tho sorvico. Value of Good ltonili, Rlnln Hiorhwnv Oommiflsionur Me Donald has mado n computation in whioh, to show tho importnnco ol high way improvement, ho fixes tho nnnual loss by roads in Connecticut ct 82,- 282,500. Ho estimates tho annual do nvnmntinn nn linrsns 111 Stlin.nnn. ox. oossivo horso-powcr ronuircd at 31. u-y,uuu, cost 01 support 01 iiorsos whiln roads nrn I'mnnBsnhtn nt Klfif).. 000, useless ropnir ot roads ut $333, 000, aud loss by Saw-suits caused by bad roads at 812,500. Tho estimntu is bnsod on 15,000 milos ot highways f.- .1. ril i .1 in nnr 1 in mo duuo ami u,uuu uorsos. Unit Illchwnyx Kxpcnilvo. Tho Sau Frouoisco Call's remarks on good roads aro applicnblo overy whoro: "It is gratifying to porcoivo this revival ot popular iniorost in tho good roads movement. Tho subjec is ono of tho most important with which our rural communities hnvo to doal. Had roads aro about tho most exponsivo forms of folly in which communities can indulge Thoy nro not ouly irritating and froquontly clangorous, but they cost about four times us much ns good roadtf." Tlio SlnrlliiK of tlio Movement. what is now unowu an the good roads movomout origlnutod with the furmors of Essex County, Now Jo rsoy thirty yoars ago. MctlowliixMuiihiiieloii! In Soiilhorn Italy In Southern Italy muskmolonu nro nt best much iuforior to tho Amorioau fruit, lnckiug the nwoctuonsaud flavor of ouv fruit. Slrnngo to cay, now over, this inferior melon, when saved for winter consumption, becomes au oxceiieut tiavor. Tho melons nro pulled from tho vines whilo groou aud hung in tbo opon air until winter whon they aro caton. Tho melon troatod thus booomes not only far superior to tho ripo fruit of summer but equal to tho American meloti iu sweotnoss and llnvor. LICHT GULPS FOn BURGLARS; Their Lively Topping When They r.nnU Ik A cry Uflccllrc. 'Of all tho outlandish weapons ever' omployod fb a fight," said n bitsindsa' man of tho South Side, "I think I- brought tho most fautastio on record uto piny ono night last week. "My family nro away on i visit "at prcsout, nud I am keeping bachelor bailout at tho houso. On tho night.. lo which Irofor I wasarottned at about. 0 n. in. by n noiso soniowhoro in llio' ogion of tho dining room, nud think- tig 1 bad shut up tbo dog thoro I , juuipod up verjf foolishly nud camo downstairs iu my nlghtololhes, with out so much ns a pockctknifo. Whon I oponcd tho dining room door I was - tnrtlod to sec a big. rouch-Iookiui? mnu bonding over tho sideboard at tho far end of tho room, and after wd had tood thero ou tableau for a moment. tho fellow mado a rush nt. inc. . C.i- enped back into tho hall nud glanced around for u weapon. Ou n tablo neni by woro a dozen incnmlcscont light ' bulbs, which I had brought homo to eplneo somo that had burned out. aud purely by instinct I grabbed ouo of them nud threw it nt tlio burglar. It hit tho door casing closo to his head nnd, to my mnazomont, exploded with a noiso liko a young lyddito shell. I suppoio it was still greater surprise to tho other fellow, for ho lot out n yell aud broko for tho rear, followod by a apid-flro bombardment of idxtccu cnndlo powor incnudosoonts, which I continued to ohuok at him n long as ' li.t 1'ninnttinil til lnnrn Tlinv nmn'iliail fifriilnst llio fn vnil n rii vfil'i n nnrlnn nt rashes that nlnrmcd tho wholo neigh borhood, nud I hnvo boon gathering up fragments of broken glass over since. The burglar tnust havo thought I wan chasing him with hand greuades. It wns tho first timo I over know in- caudesconls mado tntoh n row. when . thoy broko. An cloctrlolnn tolls mo , t is cuusod b tho nir rushing into IK ............ II V..-. rii: ' Democrat. IMIUbiii.i'K Nnturnl Oim Snjiply. ' "' A. V. Sterling, of Pittsburg, snM n day or so ag6, nt tho Hotol Mauhat tau: "Tho day of untur&l gan with tin is practical ovor, nnd our city in dirllur than ovor. I wout to Pittsburg to livo in 1880, nud ntnyed at first with n friend of initio nt Itoup, one of the suburbs. At thnt timo natural gas was ovorvwhoro in uso. and thoro worn opon firca in ovory room. I wna ueort to ordinnry gas uros, nuu so wiuui i hadronson to uso my fire, nnd the gas lilmv tlm first mntoli on t Yithnilt, It'liit- ing, I leisuroly scratched nnothor uud " touched bor off. Xbc uoxt lustanc; found mo stretched out on tho other sido of tho room iu a atuuned condi- tiou, amid tho wreck of tho wnsliBtand, ngninst tvhioh I hnd been hurlcdi' Luokily I caenpod with n low urutocE, , but I over nfterward trentod natural gas with profound rosp.cot. "Thoro aro a lot of people m my iown who would liko to know what , takes tho plnoo of tho ga3 iu tho bowels of tho earth when wo extract it. Tho wnv it. rnshos out when onco t mined shows that it is punt up in boiuo placo at enormous pressure, wniou grown gradually less, aud finally ends nlto gcthor. Now what takes Its plaeo ia what I want to kuow, aud why thero isn't dancror that, this support havlUB) been withdrawn, cavo ius may occur?, Billious aud trillions of oubio fect of ' natural gas havo boon takou from tho earth sinoo us first discovery, nud, - fni- nnn u-nnld liko to know what Mothor Nature has put in its place." Mow ioric xiiuuuo. Live I.ont ThroiiRh Tonr. "Presouco of miud whon confrouteil by dangor," said N. P. Berry, of Now Orlcaus, tbo oilier any, nt tuo uiincy Houso, "1ms saved mnuy livos, whilo tho nccount has boon moro than bal anced by the loss of llfo through loss" of norvo iu critical emergencies. Auy mcmbor of a firo department or other " person familiar with suoh thiuga can givo yon numorous nisiauoes 01 uvea lost sololy on this account, aud thiu rulo holds truo in othor caaos as well. I romcinbor onco walkiug with a girl nud thoughtlessly speaking of a harm less groou sunko 1 saw iu tho grasa bohind her. Sho bocomo paralyod with fear, and. bdforo I could prevent her, baokod diiootly on tho Gnako. A? frioud of mine, who was iu n Uro, told mo that his wife bocnino so frightened, that eho insisted on going iulo n. closet, from whioh, scroaraing ami struggling, he hnd to rosono her by main otiougth. On tho other hnud I once know n womnu who, drivon with" her sister nnd two children to tnko rofngo on the fourth floor of bor burn ing home, first throw her children, then compollod hor sister to jump, iuto tho wailing not, nud then calmly nud uninjured mndo tho dososnt her self, only to go iulo hystorics whon it was nil ovor. Presonoo of mind cnu to n groat oxtont bo oullivatod, but it is Inrgely inboritod. My brother who is ns bravo n mau as I over know, has nn unaltcrab'o and unconquornblo fear of a thuudorstorm, whioh, try uu ho will, ho has never bcou nblo to overcome." Now York Tribuuo. Clerical I'hllotopliy. Dr. Wostcott, onco ravoling from Peterborough to Londou, sat in a car riage with a eomfortnblo Yorksbiro clorgymau, with a long upper lip and n Holf-flatiBtlodoxprcssion, who bought n pottlo of slrnwbcrrios aud ato thorn with groat onjoymont and comfort. Theu ho wiped his fiuyers aud throw tho basket out of tho window with great deliberation. A passougor from tho cornor said: "A daugorouu thing, sir, that ia." After u momont'a gou ial roflectloii tho clergyman, lookiug round, said with a sweet Bmilo: "Wo livo, sir, iu u world of risks 1"Ar gonaut. Tho six oldest inhabitants of Grin del wald, Switzerland, havo lived 534 years.