1 kirKVjmuMu..rjt.'ti!i,uwi!-jAW!MM.w A SENTRY'S LOVE. Siii! the prer.hier.t cf the military -court tj Troiim Stoyan, "You have been found guilty of the crime of aid ing the es:-:'.pe of prisoner No. 279 J"ro'.a tL mine of Gorkaya-Balka. Be fore -e:;tcnce is passed the coart de sires to hear from yon your version of the circumstances of the prisoner's es cape, and the motives which induced you to he false to the trust imposed on you. We understand that you dispute the correctness of some cf the wit nesses statements. We warn you to speak the strict truth. Stand at at tention." As the president finished, a slim young fellow, standing between two j-'littf ricg bayonets, drew himself up to attention." glanced at the spectators -and faced the court. "Go on." said the president. Your Excellency," began the sol dier, "I don't want mercy, and I don't expect it; but you have asked me to tell the truth, and I will tell It. It was on a Saturday night, snowing hard and bitterly cold. Sergeant Fetroff march ed me up to the entrance of Gorkaya Balka mine and I relieved the sentry on duty there. I was to remain until midnight, and I received the usual orders to stop anyone who tried to enter or leave the gallery, and to shoot them if they persisted. I was shiver ing with cold, and kept tramping about Jn front of the entrance to keep warm. After the barrack clock had struck 10, I noticed some one crouching In the shadow of the old tool-house a woman, I thought. It seemed darker there than out in the open. The snow was driv ing in my face. I felt queer and timid that night. Turning sharply round at the end of my beat farthest from the house, I saw approaching me the figure of a woman in black. I got opposite the entry into the gallery, and stood silent. I don't know why 1 felt scared. There was no one else about or nearer than the overseer's house. She came swiftly over the snow, and her face was covered with a veil. I couldn't speak; it was as if my tongue was frozen. She put her hands on my shoulders, and looked up into my face." "What was she like?" demanded the president. "Your excellency, I cannot describe her. I only saw her eyes, then, and they were oa fire and went right straight through me. She told me much that I can not recall, for I was looking, not listening. But at last I understood her to be talking of her brother in the mine. She said she had had come all the way from Russia to see him. and that he was dying. She said that if I would let her into the mine for a few minutes she would rlways pray for me, and devote her whole life to make me happy. "Her great black eyes bewitched me, and I believed her. I said nothing, but pointed to the mine, and in a mo ment she had fled into the dark open ing to the gallery. I never thought of what I was doing. I was dazed and stood stoek still, and the snow kept failing all the time, and the night was pro wing darker. I had my eyes fixed on the entrance, and saw the figure emerge :ind run toward me. ' Syluicr,' she said, 'you have made mo happy for life. Make yourself happy and fly with us. Let iny bro ther pass. I will lead you and him to-i place where we will be happy to gether. F.e good to me, soldier, -and I will give you all you ask from me. I will be yours; I will live for you and die for you. "Don't smile, Excellency. I was in toxicated with her words. I believed her. Her arms were around my neck, and her faey was lovely as the Madon na's. I seized my rifle and flung it with alLiry strength out into the snow. She put a lile into my hands and I followed her to the gallery. There . the darkness was thicker still, but we A groped our way to where a man stood -chained to a thick wooden stanchion. I knew what I had to do. The man said nothing, but the woman kissed me kissed idp, Excellency. So I work ed like a madman. He was soon free. We reached the entrance as tlie bar rtieks clock was striking 11. There was a w hole hour yet In-fore the guard would be changed. We ran through the little wood and crossed the frozen river, and away beyond a wide, open .space, where the snow was very deep, we entered the pine woods. "The woman knew where she was leading us. for we came to a hut where -we found clothes and food. I buried my uniform in the snow. All that night we moved rapidly through the woods, hardly speaking to one another at first. But the man and worn in went on in front, walking arm in arm, and often they kissed one another, laughing and crying in turns. When I was close to them they sometimes spoke French. As soon as it was light I never let my eyes leave her face. Her eyes were large and dark, but her hair -was like gold, and hung down her back ivet en her black cloak." "Stand-at attention,' sir'." said the president, sharply. The prisoner stood erect again and resumed his story. "The morning was clear and frosty. The man had fallen several times dur ing the night. His strength was gon. I saw he was pale as death, and blood oozed from his mouth. The woman grew frantic with fear that he wo aid be caught. The man. however, could yo no further. He lay down on the snow just as we were leaving the woods and coming 'out on the steppe. I thought he would have died. I teok him in my arms and car.ied him verst after verst until my strength was gone, and I ff.lt fever coming over me. i;ut the woman never noticed me, nn I once or twice, when I turned to look at her from under my burden. I s-.y that her eyes wore fixed on the face of the mau I carri d. I could hold out no longer. I fell on the snow and fainted. How long 1 hi- there I cannot say. Wheth er or not I dreamed I am uuahle to tell the eurrt. I don't think it could Iiave been a dream. I thought I saw a troika come nois 1 -ssiy over the snow Xind heard the breathing of horses." E- yvj mean to tell the court this -w."! i ''.ream? ('an you give no further vwimt'u'arj about the troika or its . ";drivMV: interr.ip'ed the president. Xr; ynr Excellency; the horses were black. I thooght. and I know their -eye s ' phob e brightly; the sledges ulso seemd to be black. It came silently. It went aay with gently ringing bells, likv silver bells. When I came to my senses it was snowing hard. The wet flakrs awoke me. 1 think. I gazed .around me on all sides. I was alone. I thougir of my dream. There was no hoof-marK. no trace of sledge-runners, nothing but the level, trackless snow. Perhaps the dow had filled up the track, perhaps perhaps there was some other reason. Your Excellency, I felt myself forsaken. I eould not un dera5and It. I was mad and cried -aloud. Suddenly I noticed pinned to my coat, a scrap of paper with pencil writing on it. It was taken from me .when I gave myself up. but I'll never 1 org-i the words 'We can not take you with us further. Save yourself as best you can. My husband and I will al ways pray for you.' Oh. Excellency. I saw it all thou, and sat down in the snow and went and cursed. I loved that woman. Yes, I was a fool." 'And a traitor," interpolated tlie president, scowling. "And a trairor. if Your Excellency says so, but 1 did not think of that then. I thought only of my love, of how I had been betrayed, of my hurt pride. Your Excellency knows the rest." "The sentence of .the court is that Private Trotim Stoyau take the place of the escaped prisoner In the mine at Gorkaya-Balka. He will remain there during tlie pleasure of His Im perial Majesty." That evening the young soldier was chained to the stanchion. Three years later a man and a wom an on Ellis Island suddenly encounter each other. She starts and gasps; "The soldier:" While he exclaims: "The woman!" There is no time for more. She has passed the specters and hurried to the little steamer that is to convey her to New Y'ork. He is pushed back, for the inspectors may not reach his case for a day or two. But he lands at last. Where shall he find her? He finds employment, and then for six months spends all his lei sure in the quest. At last he meets her. She is coming out of a theater. He touches her sleeve. No word is spoken then, but, as if by mutual in stinct, they enter the nearest cafe. Five minutes later he has said: "I have always loved you. You be long to me. Since you say your hus band is dead, you are mine." "B-it you have no money," glancing at his shabby clothes. "I can earn It." he pleads. "A man who loves as I do can fail in nothing." The next day they were married by a priest of the Greek Church. Was it love or gratitude that prompted the woman, upon her third brief meeting, to grant so much? The priest, gazing after them as they departed, murmured: "I have united a goddess and a hero.' New York Journal. COT A BIG BITE. And the Fish Took (lie Ilad Boy ana All to the Bottom. Fishing is an Interesting pastime at present for a large number of small fry. Even gray-haired old fellows arm ed with rods and lines, are to be seen on fair days at points of vantage along the docks. Tom cod and sea eels are caught in great numbers, while once in a while a horrible-appearing rat fish is hauled In. These rttfish look like a cross betwe"n a Chinaman and the devil, and are aruiod with two swordlike fins, which protrude from the sides of the head like a French dude's mustache. The swords are from j two to five inches in length, according to the size of the fish, and are very strong, having a point as sharp as a needle. "Woe to the unlucky fisherman who is struck by a ratlish, for the wound smarts and pains dreadfully. Yesterday a gang of tough-looking street Arabs were fishing off ths em bankment in the Northern Pacific switching yard, and an old geutleman with a benevolent countenance and long gray whiskers was much interest ed in the sport. Not seeing any fish landed, tlie old man asked one of the urchins. Gus Sampson: "What are j-ou fishing for. my boy?" "Bite," answered the kid, with a fiendish grin. At the same instant, as if by Divine Providence, the old man was avenged, for there was such a gigantic bite on that boy's line that boy, pol, line and all were yanked oil the dock and pulled out of sight into the water. In a few moments Gus rose to the surface with his mouth, ears, eyes and nose full of mud. He struck out for slure. while the pole, which still floated on the sur face, dirted off at a lively speed In an opposite direction. Two Indians happened along In a canoe and they gave chase to the pole. They f nally overtook it. and after half an hour's tedious work succeeded in landing an Immense rock cod, which had in some mysterious manner been hooked in the tail. The cod weighed twelve pounds and three ounces, and was bought by the benevolent old gen tleman with the long gray whiskers. Tacoma Leader. ONE OF PILATE'S SOLDIERS. The Man Who Thrust Ilia Lance Int. Clirint's Side. The name of the soldier who pierced Christ's side with the spear while he was hai-ging on the cross has been preserved in the legendary lore of the church a. I.cnginus. This man was one of the soldiers appointed to keep guard at the cross, and it is said that he was converted by the miracles which at tended the crucifixion. The legend ocn goes further, declaring that he vas one of the company of tvatch'ors set to guard the sepuleh T. and thf.t he was the only one who refused to be bribed to say that the body of our Savior had been stolen by the disciples. For his fidelity to this great truth Pilate resolved ujion .lis destruction. On this account Longinus left the army to devote his entire time to spreading the gospel. But he did this without first gettiug permission from the gov ernment of .Tu.lea or from Home. lie. and two fellow soldiers whom he had converted, retired to Cnppadocia. where they begun to preach the word of God. At the instigation of sotn of the lead ing Jews, however. Pilate sent out a detachment of soldiers, who surprised the deserters at a place where they were holding a Christian meeting, and where thry had three crosses set up as an illustration of the great tragedy which had occurred but a sli irt v. liil before at Jerusalem. Ail theo were killed and beheaded, and iheir heads nailed upon the crosses ami carried lo triumph back to Jerusalem. I'myni pathetic. The knight of rest slipped Into Ihe back yard as if he had beeu guilty of some offense, and putting an empty tomato can out of sight under his tat tered coat, he approached the port cullli of the kitchen and tapped on it with his halidom. In response a wiry haired girl, with a towel tied around her head, made her appearance. "Well?' she said Interrogatively, as she took his measure with her eagle eye. "I Jast thought I'd strike you for breakfast," he answered, apologetically- ; . . .. . ' we don't believe in strikes in tms nei am hborhood," she said, emphatically. Vtimmfd the uoor with a bang that kn 'tea me uust oui oi uid ioga. j-e-'Frc Press. tro JVo JTorc Gamhllnc That a man should look after money lost la gambling with penitent eyes ar.'I vow never again to be tempted to like sinful foolishness seems not so strange. But Gen. Maury, in his llec ollections of a Virginian." tolls how he was led to a similar decision by an opposito experience. The occurrence took place while he was an instructor at West Point. We had a very jovial and humorous set of young officers at the academy for several j-ears after tlie Mexican war, and great kindness of feeling pre vailed. We played whist, dime points, faro and bnvjj at the same moderate rate. It was noted that at faro we almost invariably broke the bank. One winter 1 was laid up for many weeks by an injury to my leg. received while riding, and my room, during all that time, was the gathering place after dinner. The card table was drawn tip to my lied, and I played my hand till tired and sleepy. One night we were playing brag, tnd as 1 became drowsy, little Frank Clarke said he would play my hand for mo while I slept. Wheu 1 awoke, the next morning. 1 found under my pillow the greatest amount I had ever won at cards. 1 reflected that it was a demoralizing amusement; that avarice, the basest of human passions, was its moving impulse; that often, at the card table, I observed some show of feeling that left an unpleasant remembrance against a comrade, and that none of us could afford to win or lose even a few dollars; so I eeased all play for money, and have been glad of it ever since. Thlng;i Yon Can Boy for a, Cent. "The penny store appeals to me now with a fresh interest," said a young father, and 'Give me a penny,' has a new significance. My youthful daugh ter has found the penny store, and she has discovered me as a source of supplies. It Is wonderful the variety of things that can be bought for a pen ny, and it Is astonishing the variety of things that she buys. Candies she buys of many kinds that are new to me, and which must have been invented since the not very remote period when I was a child myself. There are now more kinds to choose from, and they are sold In a greater variety of forms, at two for a cent, or three or four, and some of the stick candies sold now are a foot or so long, though they are more attenuated than their shorter brothers. And she buys articles of fur niture, pianos and chairs and things like that for a cent apiece, and pin wheel papers a lot of them for a cent, and all different colors, and those lit tle mbber bags that you blow up and that make a funny squeaking noise when you expel the air from them; paper dolls, little blank books and a great lot of things fascinating to the youthful mind. When, we walk abroad, she runs nhad as Ave approach the penny store, so that she may have the more time to gaze at the treasures in the window. Of all the shop windows that is the only one that interests her, and as I see her looking intently In and think of the many tliousands of other children just like her. It is easy to see where the profit on penny goods comes In." New York Sun. A ChcrUhrd Document. Tlie simple people of Alsace, who retain in their hearts a strong love for France at the same time that they are desirous not to offend their Ger man rulers too much, hare a hard time of it when they are brought to the ballot-box to vote for representatives in the German parliament. In one elec tion in a certain Alsatian district the two candidates were Kable, an Alsa tian of French sympathies, who had protested against the annexation after the war of 1S70, and a German. On election day a peasant came to the polling place, which was presided over by a German official. The peasant had in one hand a ticket on which was printed the name of Kable, and in the other a ticket bearing the name of the German candidate. "Mein Herr," he said to the German election officer, "will you tell me which of these two tickets is the better one?" The officer looked at them. "Why, this is much preferable," said he, indicating the German's ticket. "Ah. I thank you!" answered the peasant. "I will keep it next my heart." He folded it carefully and put it in Ids inside coat pocket. "As for this other, then." said he, with an air of putting it away from him as an unworthy thing, "I will leave it here!" And he put the Kable ticket in the ballot-box. Ileal Keanty. A reply which was at once wise and witty is said to have been made by a gentleman to whose decision in regard to a curtain matter two pretty young girls appealed. They were discussing the question as to what constitutes beauty In a hand, and differed greatly In opinion. At last they referred the matter to the old man, of whom they were both very fond. "My dears," said the old gentleman, with a kindly smile, "the question is too hard a one for me to decide. But ask the poor, and they will tell you that the most beautiful hand in the world is the hand that gives the most freely." Soaked I'p. Monsieur Calino Is fond of Instruct ing his young son in natural history, and never fails to give a prompt an swer to any question that he may ask. One day Calino Junior asked Calino Senior where the water which was in the brooks went to. "Into the livers," said monsieur. "And where does the water ia the rivers go to?" "Into the sea." "And where does the water In the sea go to?" "It is absorbed by the sponges at th. bottom," answered Monsieur Calino. It has been found that the recent caisson explosion in Chicago was caused by defective shells, which are so dan gerously numerous among the shells now furnished the artillery that no more orders for the missiles will be tent to the manufacturer who hes beeu guilty of carelessness. With such shells t-oldiers would be in more danger from their own ammunition thau from the ammunition of the enemy. Let no man, boy or do chase ows these days, if you ever allow it. Uso particular care in this regard In the case of cows soon to come In. Quiet rest in the shaded nook should be theirs rather than dogged exposure to sun, WELL KNOWN PEOPLE. s::oriT sivirmjus c,v- vor.u v. iui: c;l:l::i;hitii:s. Men nnil Vnra; Who Ilnve Attain ed niMtfnet !c 1" Various YViiyn, Ilotli la This Country and Abroad. It is an interesting fact, not generally known, that American influence in Corea overshadows that of all other countries, even of China and Japan, and that American citizens hold some of the most important government of fices. The most prominent and inter esting ligure among these Americans is Gen. Charles W. Lo G cadre, win during the civil war com manded a Now York regiment. Just after the war he was sent to Amoy, ns consul general, and there distin guished himself ns .11.. I . . t . T 1ZW7' " 1W7 ne went to c w. lbgbndrb. Japan, where he ar rived Just at the beginning of the great civil war. In which he took part, und It is believed his influence had much to do with the advancement of Japan. Four or five years ago the general began to take great fnt?rcst in the complicated Corean question, and he left Japau to go to Seoul as vice minister of the home affairs of Corea. Ever since then ho has been struggling to keep Corea free from China, Japan and Hussla, and must be taking a most active part in the events now taking place. Coantcaa Wachtmelitrr. Constance, the countess of Wacht melster, now In this country, is one of the best known representatives of the osophy, ranking in importance with W. Q. Judge, Annie Be sant and II. S. Ol cott. She has en joyed the Intimate friendship of Mine. Blavatsky, the high priestess of the faith. She was bom in Florence, Italy, in 1S;. the daugh ter of the Marquis de Bourbel. The De Bourbels were of the ancieut French, and settled in Nor mandy in l3i. The COCXTESS WACHT MEISTKU. countess was married in 1SG3 to her cousin. Count WachtmMster. who died In 1S71. She was attracted to theos ophy in lSl and since that time has been unflagging in her zeal for the ad vancement of the society. She has been a vegetarian for 14 years, and is described as being of medium height, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a sin gularly winning manner. T. Sniso. Owing to the fact that the most Im IKirtant events thus far of tlie struggle between China and Japan have been naval engagements, T. Saigo, minister of Japanese navy, is a person in whom there is manifested a great deal of in- oi-ii r Tin (.2 o mi ti iCC? in the prime of life, Is very intelligent. and his experience in naval affairs ren ders hi:n well fitted to fill his responsi ble position at this critical time. In nearly all the naval engagements Japan a- n T. SAIGO. ' has been victorious. It is stated that a Chinese ship carrying I.Hkj soldiers was sunk by Japanese batteries a few days ago. If Japan comes out victor ious in this struggle, the result will be the triumph of Japanese policy of commerce and progress, but should it be China, the victory would probably be followed by the policy of exclusion and stagnation. Blariit de Felice Glnffrlda. Maria de Felice, the daughter of the Italian ex-Deputy de Felice, Is but four teen years of age and a political exile. She was boru in Cata ili.and in lSlrj delivered her first speech before the labor federations. Her father was re cently sentenced to eighteen years Im prisonment at Pal ermo for leading a revolt against the government. The daughter at once took up her father's doctrines and has jiaeia rB felice. become a socialistic orator. Premier Crisp! has exiled her to Mores, a little town of 2,400 inhabitants In the Island of Sardinia, to keep her quiet. John T. Ulch. John T. Kich. recently renominated by the Republicans of Michigan as their candidate for governor, is a farmer. His parents were Vermonters. who re moved to Crawford county. Pa., where the governor was born in 1S41. Seven years later the fam ily removed to Michigan. Govern or ICich was elected to the state legisla ture in 1372, where he served six years, lieing twice elected speaker. In 1SS0 he was a prominent candidate before the JOHN T. BICB. convention for governor. In the same year he was elected to the state sen ate, resigning the position upon his election to congress, where he served but one term. Ileturuing to private life, he has been active in agricultural circles. In 1SSG and again in 1SSS he was appointed state railroad com missioner. IJr. Daniel G. Brlnton. Dr. Daniel G. Brinton is president of the American Association for the Ad vancement of Science, which Is to be gin its annual session of nine days duration, at Brook lyn. Aug. 15. Presi dent Brlnton. the eminent ethnologist was born 'n Penn sylvania In ISo". He was graduated at Yale in 18"S and at the Jeffersr.n medical college In 1SG1. During the war he nerved as a surgeon in the Fed eral army, and at its close settled in DSU D. K. BB ISTOS. Philadelphia and became the editor of a mofllcal and surgical publication. For msny years Dr. Brlntoi has been prominent as a s'Mdent and writer on American ethnology, and the subject has fascinated him ever sine he was a student at college. He has establish ed a library and publishing house of aboriginal Anfcrleaa literature that scholars niriyfcf ? authentic mxterials for the study ofNlie languages and cul ture cf the Iudlams of America. . . I XT. I. ; 3 Jtimcn. I.. McCtJHlcer. James L. McCusker is the champion American swimmer, who has gone to England to swim against Joey Nuttall, who Is the world's champion. The men will probably meet In Septe nber for a mile swim for tho . international cham pionship find a stake of $5,000. Mc Cusker -s a power fully male youu-.j man, 2i years old. a feet S) inches In height, and at pres ent weighs ISO pounds. He was Down. Ireland, but .TVS. t, tt'fravrri. born In County came to this country when four years of age. His powers of endurance are wonderful, and the contest with Nutt all promises to be the greatest swim ming match that has ever taken place, llnrry C. Tyler. Harry C. Tyler is a young bicyclist of Springfield, Mass., who recently low ered the world's one mile record at Waltham by a full second. He lowered the record of 1:54 3-5, held by J. P. Bliss of Cnicago, to 1:53 3-5. Tyler's brilliant work two years ago, winding up with breaking all the ihort dis tance records from a standing start, has made him fam ous from one end of the country to the other. Igist field, Tyler rode BAUKTG. TTUB. year at Spring a mile from a standing start in 2.-013-5, breaking the world's record of 2:05 2-5. held by Willie Wlndle. Tyler Is quite young, fine-looking and Intelligent, and has long been the bosom friend of W. C. Sanger, the noted cyclist. Traveling Rcvcala Character. zMany o would be romance has been nipped in the bud owing to the revela tions of chaaracter a summer Journey has brought to the surface. Trips planned In good faith and full of joy ous anticipations have frequently re sulted In disaster before the vicissitudes of travel by train or steamer have proved too much for the temper of one or more of the memberrs of the party, and the man on the lookout for a wife or the girl who Is all but engaged have spoiled their chances forever with those who thus get an inside view of a temperament which in its unruffled state, when all things went right, ap jieared to le the very embodiment of amiability Itself, but proved to be of quite different material when out on leave of absence. If selfishness forms any certain ele ment In one's makeup It Is bound to crop out during even a very short trip. Whatever best there is is usurped by the one who shows all too conclusively that sacrifice is not at all in his or her line. The jHwish one is fretted by de lay, by heat and by dust. The tardy Individual is never able to appear on time, thus putting to inconvenience the others of the company who are oblig ed to wait the opinion of one who does not know the meaning of the word tiromptness. If you can safely say that a man or woman is a pleasing traveling compan ion you have given a condensed state ment of many good traits. Cheerful ness, psvuenee, unselfishness and promptness are all requisites that go to make up the congenial compagnon du voyage, and at a glance it may be seen that these factors go largely to make up a desirable life companion as well. Therefore the proclamation goes forth that as a sign board of one's real nature the protracted journey may be depended upon, and If you can travel to Europe or across the continent in company with one whom you admire, if he or she stands the test of that or deal, you can safely enter Into that other and more trying journey hand in hand through life. Philadelphia Times. Hon to Wave the Hair. The fashion of waved hair brings about a new method In the use of the old-fashioned curling iron. The hair must no longer be crimped, but must be laid over the head in large, itural looking waves. The entire secret lies in the fact that the Iron is no longer applied to the tip of the tress of hair, and the hair wound over it, but the tress of hair itself is wound around the Iron, beginning as near the scalp as is comfortable to hold the heated iron. The illustration shows better than words exactly how this Is done. The parting of the hair, which proved so unpopular when it was first introduc ed, has been accepted chiefly by those persons of a Madonna type of face, for they can bear this severe style of hair dressing. The delicate fringe of curls which so many maidens still continue to wear is too becoming to the majority of American girls to be driven out of fashion. Xanstbty Maud and the Sparrows. A Boston society woman of true cul ture met her husband (a professional man) at the door the other night as he returned from business, and with ser ious face proceeded to hold private con sultation with him upon the all-Important and absorbing topic, their only child, a midget of a few summers. It was decided that after dinner papa should Interview the little one and cor rect some faults of speech which she had fallen into. He heard that she had taken to use strong words, but he didn't believe that After supper he led his little daughter to the library, and, standing her in front of him, ser iotisly said, looking her In the eyes: "Maudie, I am sorry to say It. but they tell me you use swear words. Is that so?" Maudie with her hands clasped be hind her and her round eyes fixed ou her father, said defiantly : "No, 'taint." "But," persisted her father, 'they say you certainly do." "Who says so?" "O, a little bird told me," said her father, knowingly. "Well." with very emphatic empha sis. "It must have been one of those sparrows then." Not Seeded. Tid a claso ts handv to hold the pants Jown wn u mcks-Sh-tnis is my wife s wh J I TWO BITS OF WOOD. AXD A STICIC OP (illAPHITK IX TIIC r.:iuLi:. How Lend lVnrlUi are Made InRen lnua Anlomalic Miiclilncn leil In the Manufacture of that lacful Ar ticle. Just two little pieces of wood and a stick of graphite and you have that which Is found in the hands of every one from the bootblack, who keeps a 'tally on his shines," to the man who has no more fatiguing lalior to perform than clipping coupons off government bonds. It may be because of this universal use or because it is such a simple, inn--cent-looking article as to fail to excite investigation, but it Is. nevertheless, a fact that not one in a hundred of those who find a constant use for it knows how a lead pencil is made, says the Chicago Tribune. There is a popular impression that lead Is one of the component parts, but StralKhtcnlne the Lcada. this lead proves to be graphite, dug from the earth separated from Impuri ties and graded and mixed according to the degree of perfection desired and the uses to which it Is to be put. But a small per cent of that mined can be used for pencils, the rest is converted Into crucibles, paint, lubricants and the bane of the housemaid's existence stove polish. The first graphite mine worked to any extent was tlie one discovered at Bor rowdale. Cumberland. England, in 15;4. It was not what would be considered a rich find in this day, but as the open ing of a new industry it was so highly prized and was so closely maintained as a monopoly that In pursuance to an act of parliament the mouth of the mine was constantly guarded by an armed force. I-ater this precaution was supplemented by limiting the period of work to six weeks per year, and flood ing the entrance with water to prevent Invasion while standing idle. Preparing Cirnphlte. The process of preparing graphite for pencils at this time was the simple one of sawing it into strips and placing it in the wood. No previous mixing or grading was done. The impurities it contained took the place of the clay with which it is now mixed, and there was no doubt enough gritty substance in it to make if hard without baking. It was not until other mines were dis covered, thus furnishing competition, that any improvement was made in this method. Then repeated experi ments gradually led to the manufacture of pencils of uniform hardness and tolerable reliability. The only graphite mine of any conse quence In America. Is located at Ticon deroga. N. Y., and owned by the Dixon Crucible Company. It resembles in a rreat manv particulars an anthracite coal mine, though the workings are much deeper, some of them being ooO feet below the surface. The graphite runs in nearly vertical veins, inclosed in rock, and when raised to the surface. It contains 50 to SO per cent of the silica, sulphur, and other Impurities. The first process through which .it is put Is to free It from this foreign matter. This is done by pul verizing it under water, the particles being carried by the current through a series of tanks. That Intended for pen cils has by this process been reduced to impalpable lusterless powder, finer than flour, whleh can be taken in the hand much the same as water and retained as easily. After the graphite reaches this stage the real pencllmaklng begins, and this same powder, which Is so fine that a pinch of It cannot be held between the finger and thumb. Is treated to a sec ond process, which further reduces it. Sufficient water Is added to cause it to ran very freely and then it Is turned into a hopper, from which It flows through a series of four tubes. Tlie coarsest and heaviest particles settle in the bottom of the first tub, the next coarsest in the second, and so on to the last, by which time the powder has all settled and the liquid runs off clear. Tills process of "floating" has separ ated and graded the particles much more perfectly than could possibly be performed by any direct handling while in the dry state, and It Is now only necessary to drain the tanks and re move the deposit through the gates at the bottom. For the finest pencils that taken from the last ,.u used. The Ballroau. And for the ordinary and cheap grades that from the two preceding tubs will answer. Mixing; the Materials. A peculiar kind of clay, which is only obtained In Germany, and which has also been treated to the floating process, is now combined with the graphite In proportions varying accord ing to degrees of hardness desired or the medium grades about seven parts of clay to ten of graphite. Water is added until the combination Is about the consistency of cream, and the mix ture put through the grinding mill in much Vu same manner as paint, for the finest pencils as many as twenty -.mJ tnsui-iniT the most perfect Treugth, uniformity, and f r jeness from rgiit in the leaas. V .iPmm the irrindlnir mills It is put in slout canvas bags and the water forced out by hydraulic pressure untd th mass becomes as thick as dough, ani In this condition it goes to the forming press. This machine is simply a small vertical iron cylinder, having a piston driven by a screw. A plate is inserted in the bottom having an opening the size and shape of the lead desir-d, through which tlie dough-like combina tion is foro-d, curling round and round like a coil of rope and falling under a wooden tray. At intervals this tray Is reaioved and the lead straightened out and cut into lengths sufficient for three pencils. The handling must be done expeditiously, as the lead dris qui'.kly, and where it could formerly be tied into loose knots if taken fresh, when exposal to the air for a little time it crumbles almost with a touch. After the leads are cut into lengths they are put Into crucibles and baked In a kiln, from which they emerge ready for the wood case. For the cheapest pencils pine is used, for the common grades an ordinary quality of red cedar, and for all stand ard grades the Florida Keys cedar. This latter wood is both soft and close grained, and is considered so superior for the purpose that even the European manufacturers are obliged to ship it from Florida. In the mills at Tampa the wood is shaped into pieces seven inches long, three and a half Inches wide and thre sixteenths of an inch thick. Each strip is wide enough to mak? the halves of six pencils, and in this shape, trimmed of all superfluous wood to avoid freight charges, they arc sent to the main fac tory, where they are fed into a machine which cuts six grooves for the leads and at the same time smooths the face of the wood. Filling the leads, as it is called, Is done by girls sitting at brass-covered tables. The first takes a grooved slip with the left hand and a bunch of leads with the right, and spreading them out in her fingers like the sticks of a fan, lays them in the grooves and passes the filled slips to the girl at the left, who puts over it another slip, which has just received a coat of glue from a brush wielded by a third. In an incredibly short time a stock of filled slips have been glued together and are ready for the press, where they remain until thoroughly dry. On re moving from the press the rough ends and projecting leads are ground smooth by placing them against a wheel covered with sandpaper, an. I they are then ready for the most Inter esting and characteristic process of all that of separating and shaping. The foreign makers formerly persist ed in making each pencil separate, anil at one time did all tho shaping by hand, after which the work was smoothed by sandpaper. This may have lieen a quick enough process in early days, but some thing more rapid had to be devised to provide the Americans with tlie enor mous quantities of pencils used every day. The slips, which are six pencils in one piece are fed one by one under a re volving cutter, which shapes them on one side by cutting away the super fluous wood. As they come out they are automatically turned over and passed under a second cutter. The lit tle revolving knives make a succession of little gouges in the wood, but fol lowing one another so closely that they leave the surface not only true, but so smooth that the finest saudpa- The Counting; Ho.trd. per would deface It, and as they fall Into the basket six abreast they are finished pencils In point of utility, and are ready to be sharpened. Joseph Dixon, the father of the graphite Industry In America, made Ids first pencils in 1S30 in the ancient town of Salem. They were finished by hand, and one of his first dozen is still preserved by his successors. They are gritty in the lead, unevenly shaped and the letter "a" in the word Salem has been omitted through a typograph ical error. He tried to dispose of them In Bos ton, but tlie dealers refused to handle anything in that line which did not bear a foreign label, and tills so en raged him that he gave up the idea and confined himself exclusively to crucibles. In 1S72 the company made a more successful attempt, and the represent ative plant of this industry in Amer ica now employs over j(X people, turns out 2,000 gross of finished pen cils per day, and makes upward of 500 varieties. vs Dreams and Sound Sleep. When a student asked the great Prcf. Marne if dreams were "a sign of any thing" he replied: "Yes, a slgu that the dreamer was only about half asleep when some vague ideas flitted through his brain." An opinion exactly contra ry to the above was once expressed by Dr. Tanner, the faster. When asked if he had not dreamed of feasts during his long fast he replied: "The fact is, I did not dream at all, simply because I had no sound sleep during the or deal. I was sorry for that, because I had hoped to make a psycol Jgical study of myself. . . . My sleep was so disturbed and broken by those con stantly around me that I had no op portunity for dreams." Whose theory respecting the dream condition is cor rect, Marne's or Tanner's? Seedless Fears. Dinah Ebony Aunty, de papers say mebby de blaek plague will come to dU country. Aunt Ebony Don't you worry 'bout dat. honey. It won't show ou iw. New York Weekly. The officials of the Chicago fire de partment insist upon ascribing an in cendiary origin to the recent destruct ive fires in that city. Thus far there has been no evidence to sustain such a theory. The conditions were all fa- , vorabl; to a fire. The lumber piles ' whtre It origii ated were as dry as tin der, and, the wind being high, the fires once started soon got beyond control. The absence of a new motive additional argument against the the ory. Firemen always incline to tha idea of incendiarism, even though tiife facta fall to suggest or bear it out. fl I i V I -A IX.