I-
5
UMTEP
WAELNIM(G T EHJILOIPE.
Germany and Great Britain Will Not Be Allowed to
Go Too Far in Their Efforts to Coerce
Venezuela.
SITUATION LIKELY
Notice has been served by the Unit
ed States on Great Britain and Ger
many that it "must not be understood
its giving its consent to any extension
of the international right of a peace
ful blockade."
This, in effect. Is a notice that tho
United States will not permit the two
European nations to take any action
looking to war on Venezuela. In fact,
it may Ie a precursor of interference
by the United States to prevent actual
hostilities.
The right of all nations to collect
their debt is recognized by all gov
SCENE OF
rnments. but the United States does
not assent to the proposition that so
far as this continent Is concerned Eu
ropean nations ran proceed to actual
hostilities without notici.
Must Not Punish Venezuela.
In other words, this government will
not stand by and see Germany and
Great Britain punish Venezuela for
the nonpayment of its debts, especial
ly when assurances were repeatedly
given that the only means resorted to
would be a "peaceful blockade." This
government will not consent to those
two nations going beyond the limits of
a peaceful blockade in collecting its
laim.
It is now openly acknowledged by
officials of the government that the
Venezuelan situation has assumed pro
portions beyond what the United
States had expected or been led to
expect by England and Germany. It
is even admitted that the situation is
extremely serious from the view point
of this government's concern in the
affair. What was considered to be a
mere trivial incident In the affairs of
the world is now regarded with feel
ings of apprehension in Washington.
The bombardment of the Venezue
lan town of Puerto Cabello by the al
lied British and German fleets began
Dec. 14. The British cruiser Charybdis
opened fire on the town at 4:30 In the
afternoon. The customs bouse was
demolished, and the forts badly bat
tered. The Venezuelan troops In the forts
replied to the British fire all after
noon, and the Charybdis has several
large holes through her hull. The forts
kept up a steady fire on the British
ressels In the harbor. The Charybdis
was especially exposed, and the Vene
zuelan gunners tried hard to sink her.
The shelling was the outcome of a
protest filed with British Commodore
Montgomerle by the captain of the
little merchantman Topaze. which was
seized by the Venezuelan authorities.
The raptain of the Topaze. which was
at anchor in the harbor, sent a note
to Commodore Montgomerie demand
ing reparation for the treatment be
had received at the bands of the Vene
zuelans. Commodore Montgomerie immed
iately sent a note to the Venezuelan
authorities, demanding prompt repar
ation. He added that, unless immedi
ate satisfaction was given he would
oegin to bombard the town. He gave
the Venezuelan authorities but a short
time for reply.
No answer was received to this
note, and after a short hesitation Com-
Ex-Cabinet Members in Senate.
There are now three ex-secretaries
of war in the United States Senate
Mr. Prcctor of Vermont, who served
from March. 1899. fo November. 1891:
Mr. Elkins cf v-t Virginia, who suc
ceeded Mr. T ' and served till
the cloe of .Tison administra
tion, and Mr. ... of Michigan. Gen.
Alger Is modest In his movements
about the Senate. Most of the time
he keeps at his desk. He dresses In
dark clothes and looks as trig and
neat as a new boy in school. He
seems to find it more pleasant listen
ing to the proceedings than In joining
the cloakroom groups in front of the
glowing grates.
Habits of Blue Foxes.
The blue foxes of the Prlbyloff
islands are monogamous. An at
tempt has been made to teach them
polygamy by killing only the males
and sparing the females, but it has
failed. .
vv Elaetric Railroad In Italy.
yicity is the motive force cm-nofleT-.
mile of rail in ttaly.
C U L F OF VC , XFlSr
r- - h-J
HonoyjAC A RIDBEAN SEA ; JW
STATES
TO LEAD TO INTERFERENCE BY THE
modore Montgomerle ordered the Brit
ish gunners to begin firing. The first
shell wa3 directed at the customs
bouse, and very nearly wrecked the
building. A few more well-directed
shots and the customs house was a
iuats of ruins. Then the Charybdis
directed her attention to the forts
above the harbor.
By this time, however, the Vene
zuelan gunners had succeeded in get
ting the range, and poured in a hot
fire on the Charybdis. hulling her sev
eral times. The British reply was so
severe that the Venezuelans were
OPERATIONS IN VENEZUELAN WATERS.
compelled to cease firing. They re
turned to their guns almost immedi
ately, however.
A number were killed and wounded
on both sides but the real extent of
the casualties are not known.
The inhabitants at Puerto Cabello
were in a state of abject terror. Great
numbers had fled before the bombard
ment began, and hundreds of others
left as soon as the first shot was fired.
Most of them camped in the hills back
of the town.
- The Venezuelans at La Guayra made
every preparation to defend the town.
President Castro regarded this point
as one of the most important in the
republic and ordered that it be defend
ed desperately. Castro's troops and
the citizens worked hard on the for
tifications. A large body of troops under Gen.
Ferrer was sent to the heights back
of the town to defend the roads to
Caracas. Defensive arrangements
were made in the strategic points in
the mountains.
AMERICAN FLEET IS SENT.
Battleships, Cruisers and Torpedo
Boats Ordered to the Scene.
A fleet of American warships has
been ordered to Venezuelan waters. It
The map shows the north coast of
Venezuela, with the seaport of La
Guayra, and the Gu!f of Paria. St.
Thomas, where the warships of Ger
many assembled, and St. Lucia, the
rendezvous of the British vessels. The
distances in nautical miles are given
Enough Barbecue for Him.
An official of the House has re
turned to Washington from a trip in
the West, and meeting Congressman
Bull of Rhode Island, began telling
him of his experiences. Among other
things the returned traveler told of a
barbecue which be attended in Col
orado, where they roasted the finest
ox he ever saw. The Rhode Island
man. who was badly beaten by his
Democratic opponent in November, In
terrupted: "Don't want to hear about
your roast ox. You should have been
In my district last election day and
seen how they roasted Bjll to a turn,
but not to a return."
Plana Made by Reed.
A few months before Thomas Brack
ett Reed was attacked by the illness
which precipitated his death he con
cluded that he had made enough mon
ey for his family out of his law prac
tice In New York and had about made
up his mind to quit active work. It
Is believed. In view of this fact, that
had he lived he might have gone into
politics again. 'but not in New York,
for he never liked life in a large city.
g& rL. f n aft jggg
WES
will be composed of the battleships
Kearsarge, Iowa, Massachusetts and
Alabama, the cruisers Chicago and
Newark and the torpedo boats Scor
pion and Kagle. Rear Admiral Hig
ginson will command the squadron of
battleships, while Rear Admiral Sum
ner will have charge of the cruisers
and torpedo boats.
The fleet will anchor off the island
of Trinidad, and be held in readiness
for any emergency which may arise.
Trinidad is within easy distance of
Venezuela, so that the American ves
sels can reach any point along the
coast within a few hours' notice. The
movements of the British and German
squadrons will be carefully watched.
Admiral Dewey and Rear Admirals
Higginson and Sumner are anxiously
watching the developments of the Ven
ezuelan trouble. They refuse to make
any statement regarding the situation.
CASTRO DEFIES THE KAISER.
Contemptuously Rejects the
Ulti-
matum Issued by Germany.
President Castro's reply to the ulti
matum of Germany was an expression
of complete deflnance of the kaiser's
government. He rejected the demands
made in the German ultimatum and
declared that they were absolutely un
justifiable and that he was prepared
to defend the position of Venezuela,
even if it involved hostilities.
A new complication has arisen. The
Italian minister has sent a note to the
Venezuelan government demanding
the immediate payment of $63,000,
which represents the indemnity due
to Italian subjects. The Italian cruis
er, which arrived at La Guayra recent
ly, will enforce the demands.
The situation is becoming more crit
ical hourly. President Castro has
backed up his defiance of the kaiser
by ordering all the Venezuelan consuls
THEATER OF INTEREST IN THE CARIBBEAN.
between Colon and New Orleans,
Colon and New York, San Juan and
Key West and San Juan and New
York.
The American fleets, now assembled
for the winter maneuvers, lie off Cu
lebra to the north, where Dewey and
No Myrtle for Blemished Brides.
The wearing of myrtle by German
brides "with a past" has an energetic
opponent In the rector of Eberswald,
Dr. Idler.
At a recent wedding Dr. Idler stern
ly refused to perform the marriage
ceremony until the bride removed the
few sprigs of that symbol of purity
and innocence which she had attached
to her wedding dress.
Moreover, when it was found that
the myrtle could not be removed with
out a knife or a pair of scissors, the
reverend gentleman stalked into the
vestry and returned to the altar again
with an open pocketknife in his hand.
After the bride had been shorn of the
myrtle the service proceeded.
Charities of Lady Rothschild.
Lady Rothschild, whose husband is
head of the famous family, does an
immense amount of charitable work,
but never of a public character. In
the vicinity of Tring park, her country
home in Buckinghamshire, England,
she is known all over the countryside
on account of the benefactions con
ferred at her instigation.
UNITED STATES.
In German and British possessions to
leave their posts. The consul at Port
of Spain, Trinidad, a British posses
sion, has already been withdrawn.
This amounts to the severing of dip
lomatic relations between Venezuela
and the powers. The belief is general
in Caracas that it has also made It al
most impossible to avert actual dec
laration of war. It proves conclusive
ly at least that President Castro in
tends to support the position he has
assumed and is willing to so to ex
treme measures to do so.
Castro Calls in His Consuls.
One more step toward the complete
severance of relations between Ven
ezuela and the allies who are seeking
tti punish her was taken in the with
drawal of the Venezuelan consul gen
eral from Port of Spain, Trinidad, by
orders of his government. Notice of
the fact came to the state department
at Washington from United States
Consul Smith at Port of Spain. It is
presumed that Venezuela has sent out
similar orders to all of her other con
suls in British and German possessions
to withdraw from their posts.
These withdrawals would not be par
ticularly serious but for the fact that
they indicate a purpose on the part of
President Castro to proceed to ex
tremes in his quarrel with the allies.
The state department has not been
advised of the rejection of President
Castro's proposal to arbitrate the dis
pute, as transmitted through Minister
Bowen.
Italy Joins Allies.
Signor Reva, the Italian minister to
Venezuela, has forwarded to the min
ister of foreign affairs through the
Italian vice consul, Signor Zedazzurelli,
a note analagous to those presented
by the ministers of Great Britain and
Germany. The Italian note- demands
from Venezuela immediate payment
of $63,000 in settlement of claims
which have been recognized as valid
by the Italian legation at Caracas.
The note declares that this demand
is without prejudice to whatever ac
tion may be -taken in regard to other
claims which have not yet been ex
amined or accepted by the Italian lega
tion. May Go to the Hague.
The New York Tribune prints a dis
patch from Washington intimating
that the Venezuelan affair will yet find
its way to the international tribunal at
The Hague. The dispatch says:
"Without disclosing the extent of
the understanding which has been
firmly established between this gov
ernment and the European nations di
rectly concerned, or the precise nature
of the final settlement of the contro
versy beyond the distinct intimation
that there will be an eventual resort
to The Hague court, the state depart
ment has satisfied members of the for
eign affairs committee of both houses
of congress that reliance may be im
plicitly placed in the president's thor
ough safeguarding of American prin
ciples." Higginson command thirty vessels,,
and off Trinidad, in the Gulf of Paria,
to the south, where are Summer and
Crowninshield. with seven vessels.
The English fleet numbers 1,280 fight
ing men, the German 1,032, and the
American 9,768.
King Edward Demands Privacy.
The King of England is taking
means to guard bis home life. He is
endeavoring to stop the publication ot
interviews with chance visitors at
Sandringham or Windsor. He has in
timated to his friends that he is of
the opinion that the privacy of his
home life should be as sacred as that
of the meanest of his subjects. At a
recent dinner the King, declared that
he disliked all interviews and person
alities in the newspapers. The guests
are supposed to take the hint and act
accordingly.
Satire From Thackeray.
Some inquiries as to the meaning of
the term "half and hair' as applied to
a drink recalls an anecdote of Thack
eray. On hearing of the death of a
bibulous friend the satirist observed:
"He was a man; take him for half
and half, I shall not look upon his like
again."
Varying Coat of Soldiers.
The average cost of a British sol
dier is 320 a year. The Swiss sol
Oer costs about 170 a year.
Commoner
THOMAS B. REED IS IEAD.
The sudden death of Thcmas B. Reed
removes from the arena -f politics one
of the most prominent figures in the
republican party. No republican of
the present generation has surpassed
him In brilliancy, or in the impression
he made upon contemporaneous his
tory. As a leader of men he was not
the equal of Blaine or McKinley, but
as a complete master of those imme
diately associated wrh him he was
their superior. In sn extended and
logical discussion there were many
republicans more able and more im
pressive. But in stort. sharp, epigra
matical and incisive statement he could
fcot be surpassed.
"Reed's Rules," as they were com
monly called, changed the house from
a deliberative body into a machine for
the execution of the will of a few party
leaders, tnd it is tio soon yet to fully
estimate the influence of this change
upon the house of representatives and
the country. The first effect has been
to increase the relative importance of
the senate by making' it the scene of
legislative debate on important ques
tions, and until the senate is elected
entirely by the people the change is
likely to militate against popular gov
ernment. The purpose of counting a
quorum was not to enable a majority
to rule, because a majority could al
ways rule without counting a quorum;
but it was to enable a minority to
pas laws in spite of a still smaller
minority. Whenever a majority of the
total membership of congress voted for
a bill the bill could be passed in spite
of the s'lencc of the Dinorlty, but by
counting a quorum less than a majori
ty, with the aid of a few silent mem
ber?, could, according to Reed's rules,
legislate on all questions.
In 1896 Mr. Reed was a candidate for
the presidency, but was defeated by the
joint influence of Mr. McKlnley's pop
ularity and Mark Ilanna's manage
ment. When the question of imperialism
came up for discussion. Mr. Reed dif
fered from his party, anil rather than
lead a fight agairst the administration,
retired from public life. Some thought
that the sudden abandonment of his
long cherished ambition to be presi
dent embittered him. but he bore his
disappointment much more gracefully
than soir.e of the great party leaders
in. the past have done. Since his re
tirement from office his law practice,
and literary woik hae occupied his
time and are supposed to have yielded
a considerable income.
Of tho grc?.t rc-publ5cans who have
opposed their party's policy on impe
rialism he is the third to die Sherman
and Harrison having preceded him.
He was an ultra-protectionist, and
was a defender, rather than a prose
cutor of the trusts. His recent article
in the North American Review was
a skillful and ingenious argument
against radical action lor the extermi
nation of private monopoly, and was at
the same time a plea for the mainten
ance of a high tariff.
THE COUNTRY PRESS.
During the campaigns of 1896 and
1900, and the lesser campaigns since
the former date, the democratic party
has found its chief newspaper support
among the loyal democratic newspa
pers so often designated as "'the
country press." With a few notable
exceptions the metropolitan newspa
pers classed as democratic deserted the
democratic standard and lent their aid
to the republican party. But the de
sertions from the ranks of "the coun
try press" were so few that they were
not noticeable. With a loyalty that
could not be swerved and an ability
that challenged the admiration of the
opposition, "the country press" rallied
to the democratic standard and per
formed prodigies of valor. 4,The coun
try press" has ever been loyal, and
because of this every democratic news
paper that is embraced in this designa
tion deserves and should have the
hearty support of democrats in its com
munity. A well edited local newspaper
exercises an important influence, not
always visible to the casual observer,
but always apparent when the test
comes. Hundreds of such democratic
weeklies and small dailies reach The
Commoner's exchange table regularly,
and they are a constant source of in
spiration. Let democrats show by
their actions that they appreciate the
unswerving loyalty and tireless energy
of the democratic newspapers that
have stood up for the party and its
principles in the face of influences
that have corrupted so many metro
politant dailies. The local democratic
newspapers deserve a great deal more
than they usually get. Now let demo
crats see that their local organs get
all they deserve.
BETTING ON FOOTBALL.
A press dispatch from Boston reports
that Harvard men lost about $50,000
on the football game recently won by
Yale. It is a well-known fact that
thousands of dollars change hands on
the results of each important game and
the demoralization resulting must be
considered in measuring the influence
of football as a college game. It is
time that the friends of athletics were
entering a protest against the sporting
features of college contests; time that
the college officials were attempting to
cultivate a public opinion that will
discourage wagers and bets on the
players. The gambling spirit is de
structive of sound morality a morality
based upon equivalent exchanges. To
cultivate the habit of getting some
thin gfor nothing unfits a man for the
real and serious work of life and puts
him in training for the bucket shop
and the stock market. Football will be
the better for the elmination of bet
ting. It is a pity that the president be
longs to the number of those who
think that the glories of a hundred
years of history as a republic are to
be dimmed by the pomp and show of
an empire.
When Mr. Henderson read the mes
sage he must have felt much like kick
ing himself for taking the wrong view
of the future.
Mr. Hanna declares emphatically
that he will not resign anything. We
understand from this that Mr. Hanna
is perfectly resigned. .
The president thinks that the re
publican party was largely instrumen
tal in bringing prosperity, but we have
some cause for rejoicing in the fact
that he does not go to the length
that some of the republican leaders do.
If the "business interests" are not
satisfied now, there appears to be no
way of inducing' them to put up for the
next g. o. p. campaign. -
The dispatches have failed to record
any fatalities among the trusts super
induced by heart failure after reading
the message.
Comment.
THE HILL BILL.
Strange to say. thi gold papers In
discussing the reent fall In silver do
not seerr. to consider the effect of the
Hill bill In depressing the bullion value
of the wnite metal. That bill has al
ready passed the house, and will prob
ably pass the senate at this session. It
authorizes the secretary of the treasury
to recoln silver dollars into subsidiary
coin at his descretlon. The effect of
this bill will be two-fold: First, it
will take the United States out of the
market as a purchaser of sliver bul
lion, for we have enough silver dollars
on hand to furnish subsidiary coinage
for a century to come. The effect of
this will, of course, be felt on the price
of silver bullion. Every European na
tion buys more or less sllvpr bullion
for subsidiary coinage, but when the
Hill bill becomes a law this nation, the
greatest producer of silver, will cease
to be a purchaser.
The second effect of the bill will be
to permit tho secretary of the treasury
to recoin all the legal tender silver
dollars into subsidiary coin, which is
only a limited legal tender. This en
ables the financiers, acting through
their agent in the treasury department,
to reduce the volume of real money and
thus more easily control the money
market.
Circumstances will determine just
how fast the financiers will push their
money schemes, but it Is certain that
they vlll go as far and as fast as they
think the country will permit. The
manned in which they pass a law or
secure an admististrative order and
then pause until the indication dies
out. reminds one of the story told of
a physician. lie was called to visit
a child. At last the child's life was de
spaired of, and the physician told the
mother that It was not worth while to
punish It with more medic ine; that she
might give it a little water if it be
came restless, but that it could not
live long. She watched it anxiously
through the night, and in the morning
thought she saw signs of improvement;
she watched it through the clay, and
still though It was better; she watched
it through another night, and when the
doctor came the second morning to in
quire why he had not been notified of
the child's death, the mother Informed
him that she believed the child was
gaining. He examined it; felt its pulse,
look at its tongue, and left her with
the assurance that if the child con
tinued to improve for thirty-six hours
more as it had during the past thirty
six hours it would be strong enough to
take some more medicine.
Just as soon as the patient public
is strong enough to take another finan
cial dose it will receive it. for the gold
standard will not be complete until
gold is the only legal tended and bank
notes the only credit money, and these
notes will be issued on assets rather
than on bonds, and the banking system
will be in the hands of a central bank
and Its branches.
These things are all parts of a well
prepared plan, and the public will be
notified of each step either after the
step has been taken or so shortly be
fore that no protest will be possible.
Then only way to prevent the carrying
out of these schemes is to defeat the
republican party, for it is today the
tool of the financiers.
Those Indiana coal miners who
struck to enforce their demands that
the mine mules be given humane treat
ment are entitled to praise. If the
miners were as helpless as the mine
mules they would receive about the
same kind of consideration at the
hands of some of the operators.
One of the noticeable things about
Mr. Cleveland's prescription for the
democracy is that all the republican
organs insist upon democracy using it.
This solicitude for the welfare of de
mocracy would be touching if it were
not something else.
In his message the president admits
that there is a tariff on anthracite coal.
But he fails to admit that it was
"smugglied in." probably because he
feared it would bring on an investiga
tion that would result in further dis
coveries. The president suggests tnat there
may be "weal or woe" in the events
of the last few years, but he is quite
sure that we ought not to go out of
the game so long as the other players
have any money left.
Of course those administration
dailies that have so loudly demanded
the removal of the tariff on wood pulp
and print paper will now admit their
mistake and snuggle up to the admin
istration once more.
Those who saw the bloodless imita
tion of a bull fight given at Kansas
City recently will be prepared to wit
ness without a shudder the exhibition
contest between the president and the
trusts.
It must be admitted that the presi
dent came quite as near hitting the
trust3 as he did shooting a Mississippi
bear.
Since reading the message the manu
facturers of shackles have not made
any haste to increase their working
forces.
After reading the message the "cap
tains of industry" did not hustle out
and give the command. "Repel board
ers." The voice was the voice of Jacob,
but the handwriting appears to be the
handwriting of the trusts.
The president believes that the banks
should furnish all the money needed
They 'i" do it-about thc same U
that mi"s furnish all the flour needed
without regard to the profits required.
The proposition to make Uncle Sam
reSnsPible for Vene.uela-. debu will
have to wait until th tAUr
through robbing rum. prl?AD?. Ln,V
Sam will he looking for help himself.
Congressman Hepburn wants to tax
the wagter in the stock. But the tr ouble
is that they can water it fas.er than
we can tax it.
The Indianapolis Sentinel's animad
versions on Noah renews the nope that
TheSentinel wi.l at some future time
aevoTe itself to the study of all ques
tions of public interest.
It appears that President Roosevelt's
idea of reciprocity is to give some
body something they do not want Jn
return for something ed and
must have at the expense of another.
Those who believed that the repub
lican party would remove tariff abuses
are mournfully looking at " the brass
tonngs from their gold bricks.
LEARNED HIS LESSON
HOW YOUNQ NEW YORKER WAS
BROUGHT TO TIME.
'Introduced" to His Mother and Sister,
He Decides That Their Acquaint
ance Is Worth Cultivating Father's
Clever Ruse a Success.
"The old gentleman played a queer
trick on me the other night," said the
young man, as he lit a cigar after din
ner. "It was rather awkward for me.
but I guess It was a good thing after
all.
"You know I used to feel that I had
done myself an injustice if I did not go
to the theater about five or six nights
a week. Maybe It wasn't always thu
t'aeater, but If it wasn't that it was a
stag party or a poker game. I needn't
explain; you've been with me fre
quently. "Well, you also know bow I am fixed
in the line of IuhIik-hh. I work for
lather, and I have to be at tho ofllco at
8:30 In the morning, just as the rest (if
the family are sitting down to break
fast. In consequence I get my break
fast and leave the house before they
ar; up. Hut I can't complain of that.
I'm doing exactly what the man who
had my place before me did, and, be
tween you and me, I think I'm draw
Ing more salary than he did.
"But that's neither here nor there
It's the evenings. I used to flninh work
about (, get dinner down town and gi
to the theater or somewhere else.
Keen doing It for about hIx months,
and I swear that when I figure back
about the only tlnx s that I have seen
my mother and sister have been at
Sunday dinner. Nothlug uniibual In
that, of courso; the same is true of
hundreds of young men In New York.
"Hut they haven't fathers like mine.
He came to me one afternoon last
week and asked 1110 if 1 had an en
gagement for that nikht.
"'Yes.' I said; 'I premised to go to
the theater with Hilly Brown.'
'"How about to-morrow night?' ho
asked.
"Haven't figured that far ahead,' I
replied.
"'Well. I'd like you to go somewhere
with me.'
" 'All right.' I said. 'Where'll I meet
you?' 1
"You see, he leaves the office about
an hour before I get through.
"He suggested a hotel at 7:30, and I
was there, prepared for the theater
and a quiet lecture on late hours. H
had combined the two on several pre
vious occasions. But when he appeared
ne said he wanted me to call on a lady
with him.
"'One I knew quite well when I was
a young man,' he explained.
"We went out and started straight
for home.
'"She is stopping at the house,' he
said, when I spoke of It.
"I thought It strange-that he should
have made the apiointment for the
fiotel under those circumstances, but I
-raid nothing.
"Well, wo went In, and I was Intro
duced with all due formality to my
mother and my sister.
"The situation struck me as ludi
crous, and I started to laugh, but the
laugh died away. None of the three
ven smiled. My mother and rojr stater
shook bands with me, and my mother
said she remembered me as a boy. but
hadn't seen much of me lately. Then
she invited me to be seated.
"It wasn't a bit funny then, although
( can laugh over it now. I sat down,
and she told rne one or two anecdotes
it my boyhood, at which we all
laughed a little. Then we four played
whist for a while. When ! finally re
tired I was courteously Invited to call
again. I went upstairs feeling pretty
small and doing a good deal of think
ing. "And then?" asked his companion.
"Then I made up my mind that my
mother was a most entertaining lady
and my sister a good and brilliant
girl."
"And now?"
"Now I'm going to call again, as I
aave been doing quite regularly for
the last week. I enjoy their company
and propose to cultivate their ao
juaintance." New York Times.
Occupations and Color of the Hair.
Dr. Beddoe has said that there is a
iistlnct relation between man's pur
suits and the eolo of his hair. An
jnusual proportion of men with dark
itraight hair enter the ministry; red
whiskered men are apt to be given to
sporting and horseflesh; while the
tall, vigorous blonde man, lineal de
scendant of the Vikings, still contri
butes a large contingent to travelers
and emigrants.
Insurance Against Being Out of Work.
Insurance against non-employment
Is an accomplished fact in Germany.
Working men who have resided two
years in the city of Cologne and are
jver eighteen years of age can join
the society. The subscription is six
nents a week. If no employment can
e procured for a member during the
lull season sixty cents per day is
paid to him if married, thlrty-nin
:ents if single.
Another Method.
A well-known doctor tells of a visit
to an old colored man, who was con
valescing from a severe Illness. After
expressing his satisfaction at the
progress of bis patient, and assuring
the old fellow and his wife that bis
complete recovery depended only on
the exercise of a little caution in the
matter of diet, he added, with an eye
to their small store, that It would be
1 good thing if she would buy a chick
en and prepare the broth.
The old darky's face lit up with the
memory of happier days, as he eagerly
turned and whispered, "It ain't abs
lutely necessary to buy dat cbickun."
Philadelphia Ledger.
Feeble-Minded Children.
One in every hundred of the school
children of England Is classed as
feeble-minded, and according to a pub
lic statement by Canon Hicks in Man
chester recently this gives a total of
70,000 such children. There is an
Dbvious moral .to be drawn from the
further statement of Dr. 1L D. Don
kin, a prison commissioner, that 3
per cent of all male convicts belong
to the same unhappy clau.
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