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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1905)
THE PANIC. By Feodor Vasilvitch Placsin. The czar's army was advancing. The burning «un made the dust laden Mr feel like Are. The grass on the ground was trampled down by thou sands of feet, and the only protection and cover were the corn fields, whose tall withered stalks concealed friend and enemy alike. A company of Russian Infantry came rushing back, and threw themselves ! down among the cornstalks, which trembled In the air for a few seconds, then all was quiet. In disorder, without leaders, they had fled like a herd of scared sheep. In spired only by the Instinct of self pres ervation, the desire to live. And now they were lying there In groups, silent and downcast, hardly able to breathe, listening and trembling at every sound. Insane from fright, panic stricken. From the direction from which they had come, and, as It seemed, directly from the yellowish green wall of corn stalks which stood between them and the enemy, came the sound of rifle shots, with a noise as of peas thrown by the handful on a drum. Some times stronger, sometimes weaker, sometimes In volleys came the sound, accompanied on and oft by the roar of the field artillery. Hardly had they thrown themselves down when the bullets began to strike the ground nil around them, but they remained motionless, every man clutch ing his rifle In his hands, careful not to look at his neighbor, every man ashamed of his own cowardice. Thus passed a whole minute—an eternity of death and destruction It seemed. A man In the uniform of a captain tamo running toward the cornfield which had swallowed up the company. He had lost his sword and his uni form was torn and dusty. He was fur ious. his face distorted with rage. He had been In command of these people, lived with them, loved them as chtt clrcn. He knew everyone of them, his life, his character, he had led them Into death, the death which threatened them from behind those hastily con structed trenches which were visible In the horizon, and they had betrayed his faith in them in this moment. He rushed Into the corn field breath less, unable to raise his voice to call them back, broken down with despair. They were all there—he knew It,- he felt It, only a few steps from him, stricken with fear of death, und he did not have the strength to call them back to Inspire them with new courage. The old scarred veteran officer, stern und grim though he looked, suddenly begun to sob, and sank exhausted to the ground, never once thinking of the bullets which struck everywhere around him, almost wishing that one of them would kill him. Wnat wus his life worth after this dis grace? Where were they, the miserable cowards? The corn stalks parted slowly, and among them appeared the grimy face of the old sergeant. gulck as llgntnlngthe captain Jumped to ms feet. "Thou also—thou also Stephen An tanoviteh!” he shouted and rushed toward the old sergeant, who stood there pale and trembling, afraid to meet the eye of Ills superior officer. "Oh, captain, captain," he groaned. "I do not understand how it hap pened." "Thou dost not know?” The sergeant stood at attention, his hanu raised In respectful salute. The list of the officer struck the pale face of the old sergeant, but he never stirred, though the tears ran down his cheeks. He was broken hear ted at the thought of Ills disgrace. Bullets whistled through the air all around them; It was like a hailstorm, but they stood there, heedless of the danger of the death which tilled the wnoie atmosphere. "We might cull the roll, captain." "Call the roll of cowards, contempt ible scoundrels! What good would that uo f" "Call them by name, captain. They will respond." And with a voice as If he had been standing on the parade ground the cap lain began calling the names of his men. "Bead! Wounded! Missing!" replied the sergeant. But one at a time the men came for ward and took their accustomed places lu the ranks, suluting their captain with downcast eyes, crushed by the leellng of their shame. Time and again, a peculiar sound was heard and a man tell to the ground dead or wounded, groaning with pain, but no one noticed or cared. The ranks closed, tne holes filled. And he stood before them, as If he never noticed tne wounded, stern and forbidding. He was no longer their beloved captain but a merciless judge. "Vfhat have you done?" Tts pale faces turned still paler, but no answer came, the groaning of the wounded was the only sound which broke tne awful silence. "What have you done? You have forgotten your oath, disgraced your Uniform. You cowards, you miserable, contemptible cowards!" Bullets sang ana whistled around them but this handful of men stood there motionless, at attention. "We have forgotten the czar, for gotten our oaths!"—It came with a moan from the ranks. “We ure guilty; thou must pronounce our sentence, captain!” The captain heard it and his heart filled with Joy. He did not notice the I "thou." His eyes shone, his chest la bored heavily. "Children," he said, "also I am guilty that 1 let this happen. Let us march into death!" He put on his old dusty cap, pierced by bullets, made the sign of the cross and said; "Forgive your old captain, brethren!” "Forgive us, captain!" "The Little Father forgive us all!" 'Forward mui;eh!” came the cora n . 'id. The Russian column had been b,a‘. n and were in full retreat before th" enemy, who came rushing on. Then out of a cornfield came a hand ful of soldiers. Silently they marched on In close formation, keeping perfect time as if on parade, though their faces were stern and set. An old captain in a uniform torn with bullets marched in front and not a man fell back, oven the wounded rising again when they had fallen. The trumpets sounded the re treat but the company did not hear. They had sentenced themselves to diath and they came on advancing When they came near the Japanese lines they charged bayonets and cheered, a weak cheer It is true, which was soon drowned by the "Banzai" of the enemy. But a mighty response came: the Russian reserves came to the aid of their heroic comrades, who were being mowed down by the enemv a hundred to one. Toward evening, when the sun went down behind the Yental mines and the blood bespattered fields, the Japanese had been driven back and Kurokl's flunking movement had failed. And in the morning, when the order of the day Was read, a company was mentioned, which had marched alone against the attacking enemy, and though It had been almost wiped out had made It possible to take those lu lls furrows which In military lan guage are called trenches and breast nud had changed the whole out 2ome of the battl*. Not Entirely Lo»t. Johnny—"Was that a good banana?” Bill—"The Inside of It wasn't good, but is had a bully skin on It. Three fellers have already slipped up on It, and I'm on the watch for more of 'em.”—Boston Transcript. Six duels have already been fought as the result of the assault on General Andre by M. Syveton, In the French chamber of deputies. No harm was done, as the affairs were practically bloodless The duelist who was the worst hurt was able to ride away from the field of honor on his bicycle. Two Lauahs in This Story. From the London Chronicle. The American In the corner of the pon-smoktng first-class carriage Insist ed on lighting his cigar. The Indignant Britisher in the other corner protested, and protested In vain. At the next sta tion he hailed the guard, with hostile Intent; but the placid American was too quick for him. "Guard," he drawled, "I think you'll find that this gentleman Is traveling with a third-class ticket on him.” Investigation proved him to he right, and the Indignant Britisher was ejected. A spectator of the little scene asked the triumphant American how he knew about that ticket. "Wall,” explained the Imperturbable stranger, "It was sticking out of his pocket and I saw It was the same color as mine." The Reason Why. Drummond, WIs., Aug. 21.—(Spe cial.)—Whole families in Bayfield coun ty are singing the praises of Dodd's Kidney Pills and the reason why is given In experiences such as that of Mr. T. T. Wold, a well-known citizen here. "I had such pains in my back that I did not know what to do,” says Mr, Wold, “and as I came across an adver tisement of Dodd’s Kidney Pills, 1 sent for a box. That one box relieved me of all my pains. My wife also used | them and found them just what she j needed. I recommend Dodd's Kidney I Pills as a sure cure for Backache aud other Kidney Troubles.” Backache is one of the earliest symp toms of Kidney Disease. Dodd's Kid ney Pills cure it promptly and perma nently and prevent it developing into Rheumatism, Dropsy, Diabetes or Bright’s Disease. His Idee. Willie—Say, mom, what la a Mormon? •His Mamma—A man with about ten or fifteen wives. Willie—Gee! I’m glad pop ain’t a Mormon. Just think of having ten or fifteen mothers to lick you. Do Your Feet Ache and Burn? Shake Into your shoes Allen's Foot-Ease, i powder for the feet. It makes tight or new shoos f.-cl easy. Cures Corns, Bun ons, Swollen, Hot and Sweating Feet. At til Druggists and Shoe Stores, 25c. Sample tent FREE. Address Allen S. Olmsted, Le itoy, IS. Y. Joke on Secretary Wilson. A joke on Secretary Wilson was sprung at a cabinet meeting at the White House the other day. Mr. Wil son’s department has issued a couple bf bulletins on Angora goats, one of which resulted in the following letter being addressed to the president: "Mr. President—I regret to call your attention to the Angora goat depart ment of the bureau of agriculture. It has spread broadcast a document com mending Angoras to the farmers of the country. Tills contains three spacious landscapes: ‘Before Goatiiig,' shows a dense jungle, suggesting an average New Hampshire pasture; ‘One Year Af ter Goatlng’ shows the same land pro ducing a valuable crop of bean poles. Two Years After Goating' shows a awn suitable for golf links. The om ilverous appetite of Angoras is de scribed in a way that led me to hope :heymlght even efTect a saving in blast ing powder, the chief source of ex pense in farming hereabouts. "I procured a flock at considerable host. The result of the first interview with my dog and the buck caused me to name the latter Togo. His views on the subject of race suicide, I th|nk, would receive your approval. The does, on the other hand, neglect thetr kids so shamelessly that I fear they belong to a female goat club. "I enclosed the flock with a fence highly recommended to me by the American Steel and Wire company. I now suspect that this company may be a. trust and should be investigated. The goats began by thrusting their heads through the upper part of the fence, where they hung by their horns. When tired of this they went through, under and over the fence. "I make no complaint that they ate a valuable rose garden belonging to a neighbor: but their conduct in my own vegetable garden entitled me to relief. When pursued, their rapidity of move ment might suggest Ideas to the Penn sylvania railroad company in connec tion with its Chicago-New York service. “I leave the matter, Mr. President, to your sense of justice. A consulate near good fishing grounds would be appre ciated.” WKUNu SOKT. Perhaps Plain Old Meat, Potatoes and Bread May Be Against You for a Time. A change to the right kind of food can lift one from a sick bed. A lady in Welden, 111., says: • uast spring I became bed-fast with severe stomach trouble, accompanied by sick headache. I got worse and worse until I became so low I could scarcely retain any food at all, al though I tried every kind. I had be come completely discouraged, hud giv en up all hope and thought I was doomed to starve to death, till one day my husband trying to find something I could retaiu brought home some Grape Nuts. “To my surprise the food agreed with me, digested perfectly and with out distress. I began to gain strength at once, my flesh (which had been flabby) grew firmer, my health improv ed iu every way and every day, and Iu a very few weeks l gained 20 pounds in weight. I liked Grape-Nuts so well that for four months I ate no other food, and always felt as well satisfied after eating as if I had sat down to a flue banquet. “I had uo return of the miserable sick stomach nor of the headaches, that l used to have when 1 ate ottier food. I am now a well woman, doing all my own work again, and feel that life is worth living. “Grape-Nuts food has been a god send to my family; it surely saved my I life and my two little boys have | thriven on It wonderfully.” Name giv I en by Posturn Co., Battle Creek, Mich. There's a reason. Get the little book. “The Road to I Wellville,” Iu each pkg. BA8KET8 FOR SELECT FRUIT. Several times space has been given in this department to the advantages of using the small package in marketing se lected fruit and especially where the mar ket is a large city where space for stor age is limited on the part of tjie consumer. There are several designs of baskets that are very popular. Most of them hold one fifth of a bushel and are made after the plun of the w<W known grape basket. Lately a new panern has been Introduced which is becoming popular with shippers. It Is not unlike the ten-pound grape bas ket in form except that the cover is so ar ranged that at each corner there is an open space sufficient for ventilation, but III; h ^ WV'W not largo enough so that the fruit can he abstracted from the basket. This Is a de cided advantage for ventilation will solve the problem of shipping well ripened frulc considerable distances This ventilated top does not in any way prevent the stack ng of the baskets with due regard to sconomy of space, nor can the ventilation :>e shut off in any way by any method of itacklng the baskets. The Illustration gives i good idea of this basket and as there are ieveral on the market with the same ven tilating device differently applied they are pvorth investigating. CUTTING CORN FOR SILAGE. The frequent mistake is made of cutting corn for silage when the ears are too jreen or, in the milk stage, as they are generally known when in this condition. [f one will stop to think they will remem >er that the greatest feeding value of the corn Is when It is mature although not lard and dry. Perhaps as good a rule to >e guided by as any is to cut the corn for diage Just before the leaves begin to show i decided yellow cast. Of course there mist be some nice calculation In this, but t Is easily worked out if one will be care rul and watch the crop. The old idea that diage must be a mass of fermented corn s being lost sight of and intelligent feed 'rs recognize the fact that it has its great- I 'st value when the silage is sweet and as learly green as possible. In this condition t has a greater value than we realize and t Is certainly sufficiently great to pay well '.or all the time and thought necessary to ?tow corn properly as well as to cut It and store it when in the best condition. ONCE MORE ALFALFA. During the next month Is the ideal time 'or sowing alfalfa according to those who lave made a study of the plant and the icginncr with this valuable forage plant vill do well to bear in mind the main es lentials. First, the sweet soil which can inly be obtained by liming for one or two tears before sowing the seed. Then the icccssity for furnishing alfalfa bacteria :o the soli on which the plant has never frown either In the form of Inoculated soil or by cultures which are now obtain tble from a number of reliable dealers, rhen, too, the seed must be well prepared ind It should be as well prepared as for wheat. It must be remembered that sow ng at this time pre-supposes that the soil .s well supplied with moisture and partic ularly near the surface In order that a sood growth may be had during the period lhat remains for growth of plant before winter sets In. Do not use a nurse crop, Cut sow the seed alone and sow thickly, tslng at least twenty pounds of seed to the acre; It Is a good plan to sow half the seed lengthwise of the field and the sther half across the field. If sowed broad cast from eight to ten pounds of seed should be used and It should be lightly covered with a harrow and then rolled, rry a small plot If this Is your first ex periment with the plant. EDUCATING THE CONSUMER. Few workers of the soil can afford to take to themselves the task of educating the public epecially when large organiza tions will do so little towards It. At the St. Louis fair In awarding prizes for fruit quality was counted only as 15 points out qf a possible 100, while color was also counted at 15 and size at 15, so that one had only to exhibit a well known specimen of any variety with a high color and gain 50 points in the competition over 15 award ed for quality. This Is manifestly wrong for It gives the consumer a wrong im pression of the fruit and. In many cases, prevents increased consumption which is a detriment to the producer for it tempts him to growing highly colored varieties regardless of quality and so the consumer suffers. Years ago when the writer first became acquainted with the Schaffer’s raspberry, a variety dirty purple in color, but of exquisite flavor, he determined that when he had anything of superior quality he would find a market for it regardless of Its appearance. This has been accom plished In a small way, but with great ef fort. It was not profitable, of course, but when my town customers see me with a basket of odd shaped fruits or vegetables they cry, "Here’s Pierce with more mon strosities,” but they are always eager to sample them and to clean out my product If the quality Is good. If you have any thing on the place that is of extra good quality and a good "looker” offer It to your customers who have confidence in you and you’ll be able to sell It at a good price. THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL TURE'S NITRO-CULTURE. Some time since, In this department, mention was made of cultures which were being sent out by the department of agriculture at Washington and our read ers were advised to send for some. Later, It was advised, after a statement from Washington, that the department was sending the cultures to only a few special ists and in the same artlclo wo warned our readers against the probability of unre liable people offering these cultures. Lat er we made public the fact they were be ing offered by unscrupulous people and suggested that In the event of being in doubt as to who were the honest dealers, the state experiment station be communi cated with. The readers of newspapers are familiar with the recent exposures of various k.nds In the agricultural depart ment's work and the charge that one man sus connected financially with a concern oanufaclurlug nitro-culture. One of th» investigators now says that the assistant secretary of agriculture authorizes the statement that he is making an investiga tion Into the matter of the value of nitro cultures and advising the public to await the results of this investigation before de pending too much on nltro-culture from commercial firms. This is probably good advice, although it will work harm to the men who are supplying the honest article, j If the department of agriculture will give the results of Its investigation wide pub licity and specify by name and address those who are supplying the spurious ar ticle and those the reliable then the ex pose will not have beeh in vain and farm ers will be placed in possession, at a small cost, of something of great benefit to tnem In growing certain crops. THE VALUE OF TRAP NESTS. While there are many things used on the farm in the way of conveniences which may be made by any handy man after a description we do not consider the trap nest one of them. It is not within the province of this department to call atten tion to any commodity by name which is made by only one or two concerns for the advertising department of the paper is open to such people. Trap nests are man ufactured by many concerns, can be found on sale by dealers in agricultural and poultry supplies and plans for home man ufacture may also be bought, hence the subject may be fairly discussed here. By use of the trap nest one is able to ascer tain beyond a doubt which fowls art lay ing with profit to their owner and which not. It requires some time to look after these nests to be sure, but it is time well spent and after having them one season one will be surprised to find how many of his fowls belong in the carcass market rather than at home in the egg factory. It may be fairly said that the trap nest Is quite as valuable to the poultryman as is the weighing machine and the Babcock test to the dairyman. PLANTING LOW HEADED TREES There is always more or less controversy going on over the vaflue of the low headed tree over that which is headed high, but when one narrows the thing down to a logical conclusion it may be readily seen that there can be no possible advantage in the growth of trunk to the tree or to the fruit while there are many advantages in the tree headed low.- Probably nursery men are responsible for the tall tree by reason of the fact that they must grow the tree planters demand which are those usually three and four years old. Natur ally, at the prices trees are sold, they cannot afford to head back the trees in the nursery row, -hence when they are ready to put on the market they have grown to a considerable height. The rem edy is to plant year old trees so that the heading back process can be introduced at the time the tree is set and continued until the head is formed and to the height desired. All the trunk needed is that which shall bo sufficient to sustain the top. The low headed tree is a joy to the fruit picker and orchardtsts are more and more lean ing fn this direction so that after a time the only trees over a year old which will be sold will be those planted on town lots. Orchardlsts will save money by the year tree and can raise the tree as they please. INCREASING FARM VALUES. As the editor of this department is aware the writer is a little bit cranky on thp subject of improving the farm home grounds and the country streets by the use of trees along the road and trees, shrubs, and plants on the home grounds. It has always seemed strange that farmers could not fully realize the importance of this line of improvement along monetary lines if he cannot see the sentimental part if it. Just witness the settling of a town anywhere in this country. First the roads are laid out and almost invariably trees are set along the road side. Then the <n dividual lot owners start in at grading, then seeding, and then the planting of shrubs, trees and flowering plants. In five years one sees a beautiful lot of trees and plants where was only a mass of fields. Less than fifteen years ago the writer was offered a strip of ground on which corn was growing for $800 an acre. True, this was within four miles of a thriving summer resort but the price seemed very high and the offer was de clined. Soon a town was started, streets laid out, trees planted and all the other things done which go to make a town and today lots 60x150 sell readily at $2,500. Roughly figured this is at the rate of $12,000 an acre. Don’t I wish I'd bought that three-acre plat at $800 an acre. This qjample is an exception but there Is not a farming community in the country where the valuation cannot be greatly in creased by the simple making of good roads and the setting of shade trees and caring for them and such valuation still greater enhanced if individual farm own ers will beautify their own home grounds. The plan is worth the careful considera tion of any community. THE SWITCHING TAIL. One of the troubles of the milker is the frequency with which the cow switches her tail into one’s face or knock one’s hat off. There are a number of simple devices to overcome this and one of the best of them is made by arranging a length of wire about three feet back of the animal stretching it from one post to another. Before fastening the one end take a lath and after boring a hole In it run the wire through it. On the other end of the lath ni w fasten an eight-inch piece of barrel hoop, fastening the lower end to the lath with nails and holding the upper end In place with the string. Before milking take the cow's tail and draw the hairy bunch through the loop. She will he unable to move h. and'after, a few trials will give It up and stand still. The Illustration plainly shows how this device is con structed and applied. A Uncle Joe’s Story. New York World: "Some of these re publicans are pretty fierce for tariff re vision," said Representative Jacob Beidler of Ohio to Speaker Cannon to day. "Reminds me of a lady out In my town who met a little boy on the street one day,” said the speaker. "The boy was leading an ornery looking pup. The lady stopped and looked at the pup. “ ‘Is he fierce?’ she asked. “ ’He’s the blankety-blankest fiercest pup you ever seen,' said the boy. “ ‘O,’ said the lady, ’I didn’t want a fierce dog.’ “ ’Well,’ replied the boy, ‘he ain’t so blankety - blanked blank-blank-blank fierce.' ” LOST 72 POUNDa Was Fast Drifting Into the Fatal Stages of Kidney Sickness. Dr. Melvin M. Page, Page Optica) Co., Erie, Pa., writes: “Taking too many iced drinks In New York In 1893 sent me Home witfl a terrible atack ol kidney trouble. 1 had acute conger , tion, sharp pain ir ' the back, beadachei and attacks of dla ziness. My eyes gave out, and with the languor and sleeplessness of the m uiscase upun uie a Wasted from 194 to 122 pounds. At the time I started using Doan’s Kid ney Pills an abscess was forming on my right kidney. The trouble was quickly checked, however, and the treatment cured me, so that I have been well since 1896 and weigh 188 pounds.” Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. For sale by all druggists. Price 50 cents per box. Flattering. Chicago Tribune: Maud—Got a new young man, have you? I'd like to know how he looks. Mabel—You would? Weil, here's his photograph. Maud—Oh, that's his photograph, is It? (Inspects it.) Still, I’d like to know how he looks. HERE'S A WAY TO SAVE DOCTOR BILLS. Physicians Give Free Advice by Which Parents May Profit. It’s a matter of general interest just how how one’s physical condition can be got into shape to best receive the benefits of the summer season. Especially is this true of the children. They have become run down by a winter of unnatural man ner of living because of ill-considered food and mucti time spent indoors. Spring comes with its sunshine, its fresh vegetables and all else invigorating, but the children are in no condition to re ceive nature’s remedies. Many parents call in the family physi cian. Many other parents take advan tage of what the physician told them when he was first called in consultation, All good family physicians say: “Give the children Castoria.” Healthy parents know this remedy of old, for they took it themselves as children. It was more than thirty years ago that Castoria made a place for itself in the household. It bore the signature of Charles H. Fletch er then, as it does to-day. The signa ture is its guarantee, which is accepted in thousands of homes where there are children. Much is printed nowadays about big families. Dr. William I. McCann of Omaha, Neb., is the father of one of these much-read-about families. Here is what he says: “As the father of thirteen children I certainly know something about your great medicine, and aside from my own family experience I have, in my years of practice, found Castoria a popular and efficient remedy In almost every home.” Charles H. Fletcher has received hun dreds of letters from prominent physi cians who have the same esteem for Cas toria that Dr. McCann has. Not only do these physicians say they use Castoria iu their own families, but they prescriba it for their clients. First of all it is a vegetable preparation which assimilates the food and regulates the stomach and bowels. After eating comes sleeping, and Castoria looks out for that, too. It al lavs feverishness and prevents loss of sleep, and this absolutely without the use of opium, morphine or other baneful nar cotic. Medical journals are reluctant to dis cuss proprietary medicines. Hall’s Jour nal of Health, however, says: Our duty is to expose danger and record the means for advancing health. The day for poisoning innocent children through greed or ignorance ought to end. To our knowledge Castoria is a remedy which produces composure and health by regu lating the system, not by stupefying it, and our readers are entitled to the in formation.”_ Destroying Roaches. Phosphorus paste, spread upon soft bread, and put near their haunts, is a most satisfactory thing for destroying roaches. Mix the phosphorus with lard or drippings, spread, and put the bread around the last thing at night, removing the remainder the first thing in the morn ing, as the phosphorus is a dangerous poi son. Another “cure” is chocolate and borax, half and half, mixed together in a mortar so that every particle of choco late has borax adhering to it. The roaches are very fond of chocolate, and borax is a poison to them. This material should be sifted dry into the crevices where the roaches congregate. A short campaign, combined with thorough cleanliness, open plumbing, and a frequent routing out of dark closets, should completely eradicate these loathly creatures from a country home in this latitude. In a city house there is always the danger of immigrant Insects from less cleanly neighbors. bunt l-IAnuo, ownc Itching, Burning Palms and Painful Finger Ende-Complete Cure by Cuti cura. One Night Treatment: Soak the hands or feet on retiring, in a strong, hot, creamy lather of Cuticura Soap. ■Dry, and anoint freely with Cuticura Ointment, the great skin cure and pur est of emollients. Wear, during the night, old, loose kid gloves, or band age lightly in old, soft cotton or linen. For red, rough and chapped hands, dry, fissured, itching, feverish palms, with brittle, shapeless nails and pain ful finger ends, this treatment is sim ply wonderful, a single treatment af fording the most grateful relief, and pointing to a speedy, permanent and economical cure. In no other ailment have Cuticura Soap and Cuticura Oint ment been more effective. The increase of population in the United States within the last fifty years exceeds by 14,000,000 that of the present population of France. IN THE FOG. By Franz Von Couring. (Copyright. 1.<J6, by W. R. Hearst.) It was on one of my first trips from New York to Naples on board one of the great North German Lloyd liners, and before we had been many day# out, I had met a few sympathetic people, with whom I ■pent most of my time while going across Two of these were American ladies, of whom especially one before long told me everything about herself, though I had never tried to win her confidence. She felt In need of a friend on board the big steamer traveling alone, and so she told me that she had been engaged for five years to a countryman whom she was now on her way to meet and marry at Naples. Her intended husband was a scientist and had formerly been too poor to think of marriage, but now he had received a posi tion In the famous aquarium which en abled him to support a family, If not In • luxury, at least comfortably. For five long years she had not seen him—had only wL heard from him through letters which came with unerring punctuality every week—and now she was so happy that she could harly realize that the whole thing was not a dream. She was far from beautiful, pale and thin, with an expression which told ot many sufferings; but when she spoke of “him” her face became so radiantly happy that one could not help considering her pretty; and In my thoughts I often con gratulated the man who was to be the husband of such an affectionate and lov ing wife. The other American girl was very much different. Serious, intelligent, well read and evidently unusually energetic. She was a socialist and had devoted much of her time to the improving of the condi tions of the poor of Chicago. She was the author of several books on the social ques tion which had brought her not a little fame, and was a delightfully conversation alist. These two American ladtes, one of the ship’s surgeons, a Frenchman who was re turning to France after having made his fortune In the States and myself eooc formed a little exclusive clique which waj watched with jealousy by the other pas sengers. Our seats were close together a I the table; on deck we moved our easy chairs together in a little nook at the end of the promenade deck, and the evenings we generally spent la the salon playing cards or chatting. One evening, when we were ploughing our way through a heavy fog and the roar of the whistle made the whole ship trem ble every minute, the Frenchman, who had until then been very silent, began to speak of ghosts, spiritism and clairvoy ance. The suurgeon felt in duty bound to declare that he only believed in science and denied the existence of spirits of any kind. Much to my surprise, ho was hotly contradicted by the socialist lady, while the other lady and myself did not take any part in the discussion. “I am willing to let you decide for your self,” the socialist lady said. “Maybe you will believe me when I tell you all about your own thoughts, your plans and your past.” ‘■And what about your future?” "The future neither I nor any other hu man being can say anything about.” "Ob, then, I do not seo much in it,” laughed the Frenchman. "I know my own past; It Is only tho future which Interests me.” “But I can tell you not only your past, but also what any of your relatives are doing at this moment.” "No, thank you; I do not care a conti nental for my relatives.” Miss May Somers, the bride, looked up and eagerly said: “If you do not mind, Mitfs Burton, I should like to know what my fiance at Naple has been doing today, or Is doing now. Then I will ask him if it is correct when we arrive?” “With pleasure,” replied Miss Burton, and seized her right hand, whose lines she began to scan carefully. Suddenly she turned very pale and became greatly agi tated, though Miss Somers, who was bash fully looking down, did not notice it. We ’-w looked at one another in surprise, but soon the color came back to her face, and in a most natural and unconstrained tone she told the bride-to-be a few commonplace things, which she evidently invented on the spot. Miss Somers was rather disappolpted, but said nothing, and soon after retired. When she had left us we sat for a few moments in deep silence, which was broken only by the hoarse roars of the whistle. All of us felt a suspicion, a fore warning of something, but nobody dared ask Miss Burton what she had read in Miss Somers’ palm. Finally I took courage and asked: “Please tell me. Miss Burton, what dark secret you kept away from Miss Somers?” “Oh, something terrible — something which filled my heart with the greatest sorrow and pity.” “Is he dead?” asked the Frenchman. “No I Much worse than that!" "What, then?” "At 5 o’clock this afternoon he wrote a letter to her, in which he breaks the en gagement because ho loves another—an Italian girl—and immediately after he de posited the money for her return ticket with the American consul at Naples. She will get the letter the moment we arrive.” The earnest way in which she said these words made a strong Impression upon us, but with an effort the surgeon tried to make light of it, and said with a smile: "You are not as smart as I thought, Miss Burton. We shall easily be able to find out whether you are right.” “You doubt? Well, we shall see when we get to Naples. Good night,” and with out another word she left us. Four days later, when the pilot came on board, the first officer distributed the mail among the passengers. Miss Somers was standing leaning over the side of the ship so as to be sure to catch sight of her lover as soon as he came near the dock. “Now we shall see whether you were right, Miss Burton,” whispered the sur geon. “Yes, we shall see,” she replied, almost lnaudibly. Suddenly we heard the officer call out: “Miss Somers! Miss Somers! A letter for Miss Somers!” The young lady ran toward him, while we eagerly watched her every movement She looked at the envelope with a smile and tore it open. We began to breathe freer. A piercing cry, and we saw her faint and drop as if dead. Everything which.Miss Burton had fore told came true. Miss Somers never returned to America. She is still In an insane asylum at Naples. / erudite rroressor. _ Washington Star; "Professor Skiggs ^ has a wonderful mind.” "Yes,” answered Miss Cayenne, “when you think how hard one of his lectures is to listen to, you shudder tc. think of the cerebral strain It must have taken t« evolve It.” Looking Ahead. First Banker—I don’t see why you keep that cashier? Second Banker—What’s the matter with him? First Banker—He’s extremely careless: Second Banker—That’s one reason why I keep him. He’s liable to overlook a lot of stuff in case he skips out. In Germany a great deal of damage has been reported lately from the large moths which infest dairies and live on butter and milk. Sliding seats were first used in rowln* races In 1873.