A MARRIAOC SONa
rs has two chorda, ta htrmegr tbey
solver;
Oh tuned to earth with Nature mune
wells,
Jsislag with bird nd Bower and tree and
riTer' . U 1
gone of the mountalna, oonf of shady
delta.
Piped on the lute of shepherd lad in hol
low. What time tbe world with mirth and Joy
did ring;
Hymn ever new for Nature atill we fol
low; Mother of all thou taughtest na to
ring.
Lot baa two chords. In harmony they
quiver:
One tuned to heaven breathea melody
divine.
Strains sweet and low, and joyoos to de
liver Heart from sad carea as flames the
gold refine.
Bong by the choir of seraphs in the
chorus.
Ringing eternally through heaven's high
halls.
Echoed by mortals; God's greatest love
shed o'er us
Wakens the song that listening ears en
thralls. Sunday Academy.
PURELY PLATONIC,
OF COURSE.
"It does seem so absurd to me that
a friendship cannot exist between a
man and a woman without considera
tions of love, matrimony and all that
nonsense being Introduced."
The speaker was a tall, handsome
girl, with the physical Ix-auty and grace
of figure which athletic exercise has ie
atowed upon the typical eud-of-the-cen-tury
maiden, and dough Florence Mas
tern could be soft, and even sympa
thetic upon occasion, It was only with
in her own family circle that she in
dulged In as she termed tbem tlitue
weaknesses.
Her companions were two men lu
boating flannels, both good looking, bat
in totally different ways; for while
('apt. Charles Courtney was dark, with
bis olive skin bronzed by service In In
dia, Edwin Norton was fair, of the pure
Anglo-Saxon type.
"If you are alluding to platonlc
friendships. Miss Masters," answered
Ca.pL Courtney, "I am sorry to say that
J cannot agree with you."
"But why should friendship, and
friendship alone, be more Impossible
between a man and a woman than be
tween two men or two women?" Inquir
ed Florence Impatiently.
"I think you are quite right. Miss
Masters," observed Norton. "Presum
ing that their disposition are similar,
that they have the same tastes and ln
rllnntlnnn I don't see why a man and
a girl should not be is good chums as
two fellows."
"Simply because it Is Impossible," re
plied Courtney. "It Is contrary to na
ture, and can never endure."
"But I assure you I bare known
eases of the purest platonlc friendship
between girls and men," persisted
.Florence.
"No doubt," answered Courtney. "Bo
have I, but bow long did they last?"
"Why should they not last aa long si
friendships between men?"
"Because one of three things is bound
to happen," answered Courtney. "Eith
er tb man falls In love with the girl, or
tbe girl falls In lore with tbe man. or
els she becomes offended because Ve
does not pay her that tribute of admira
tion which eYery properly constituted
woman naturally expects from a man
who seeks her society In preference to
that of other people."
"Oh, that's all nonsense, Capt. Court
ney P' exclaimed Florence, Impetuously.
"Take Mr. Norton and myself, for In
stance. Do you mean to say that we
could not go out every day together
rowing or bicycling, or hare a set at
tennis or a game of golf without one of
us 'falling In love,' as you call It?"
"If yon are meeting every day. Miss
Masters." replied Courtney, "I should
consider it a very dangerous experi
ment. In fact, I should call It playing
with Are."
"Upon my word, Charlie," exclaimed
Norton, "I am surprised at a man of
your experience talking so ridiculously!
Purely you must bare known many in
stances of such friendships, both iu
India and on the voyage out and borne."
"Yes, I have," replied Courtney, sig
nificantly. "And I also know bow
they have invariably ended."
"Look here, Mr. NortonP' exclaimed
Florence. "Let you and I form a pla
tonlc alliance and show this stubborn
skeptic that we can practice what we
preach."
"With all the pleasure In life," cried
Norton.
But Courtney gave a somewhat cyni
cal smile aa he noticed that his friend
was not quite as enthusiastic in his re
ply as he might have been.
'That Is a bargain, then," said Flor
ence; "and now la It not time that
returned to our boat?"
The above conversation took place In
the early summer, and for the next two
or three months Florence and Nortou
were Inseparable. The latter waa an
eligible parti, both socially and finan
cially, so that MY. Masters made Bo ob
jection to tbe young man calling at bis
beose every day and attending bit
4a ugh ter oa her various boating and
cycling expeditions. Tbe aatasta was
well advanced, when one day Coe riser
and Norton happened to meet as) ta
town, when the letter said:
"Oa, f gUd I aaw yon! Florence
told ate ta aak you to come dowa ta a
iMuaur arraBgenaent which abe fa set
ttag fee next weak."
"Oft, hss It get as far as CbrlerJu
nmmV ului Ooartaar, raista. big
ttart fteslaf Oeltrvltetlen.
wj net I anus nm imjfi
Charlie why should I not call her Flor
ence 7"
"No reason in tbe world, so far as I
am concerned, old boy," answered
Courtney. "But take my advice, and
remember the fable of the moth and tbe
candle."
"You're so fond of measuring other
people's corn by your own buBheL" re
joined Norton, a trifle Irritably. "Any
how, if I do burn my wings It won't be
Flor Miss Master's faulL"
"Time will show, dear youth; time
will show," answered Courtney, with
his satirical smile. "But I'll tell you
honestly. I shall expect to be best man."
'Something upset you in town yes
terday, Ned," remarked Florence as
Norton helped her mount her cycle the
next morning. "What was it?"
"Only that cynelal wretch, Court
ney." was the reply. "He is a regular
Diogenes, and ought to 1 shut up In
a tub for the remainder of his natural
existence."
"Oh, do you think so?" replied Flor
ence. "I like Capt. Courtney Immense
ly. There Is no frlvolty or nonsense
about him; be always says what be
means."
"Yes, and too plainly sometimes."
observed Nortou, a little bitterly. "As
a matter of fart, 1 don't think he Is a
good companion for any young girl, and
I wish you wouldn't encourage him
quite ho much."
"Kneourage him?" repeated Flor
ence, with tbe slightest possible touch
of hauteur In her voice. "What on
earth do you mean?"
"Why, at tbe Pawsons' ball the other
evening you danced twice running with
him, and then let him take you down to
supper."
"And why? Because you were so
busily engaged with Laura Lifertou
that you forgot to come out and fetch
me as we had arranged."
"My dear Florence," remonstrated
Norton, "that was a misunderstand
ing, I can assure you. As I explained
to you before, I have no recollection
of having made any arrangement with
you as to supper "
"Oh, well, don't let us quarrel about
It," Interrupted Florence. Let us
change the conversation. What did
Capt. Courtney say to upset you to
day?" "Oh, he was chafing me about our
friendship."
"Yes?" Inquired Florence, eagerly.
"And what did you say?"
"Oh, I told him that if I burnt ray
wings It wouldn't be your fault," re
plied Norton, almost savagely.
Florence gave him a quick side
glance, and then, after a moment's hes
itation, observed: 'That was a some
what silly remark to make, wasn't It?
It might lead him to think that our al
liance was not such a success as It un
doubtedly Is."
"I don't think so," answered Norton.
"I gave him to understand that we bad
not altered our opinions In tbe least.'
"Oh, that's all right, then! By-tbe-by,
I hope you did not forget to Invite him
down for the bazaar?"
"Oh, no, I didn't forget! And that
reminds me did you think of asklug
Laura to help?"
"Whom do you mean? The Llfferton
girl? I have not asked her yet, for, to
tell you the truth, I don't much care
for her. She lacks stability; and - well,
to put It mildly, she's somewhat too
flighty for my Uste."
"Oh, I hope you'll have ber," plead-d
Norton. "She's a Jolly little girl, and
always full of "
"If you want her to come so particu
larly," interrupted Florence, "I'll wrlto
to her directly we get back. And---er
I think we had better be turning
now; It looks aa though It wr" going
to rain."
The bazaar In question was ou. of
those Innocent conspiracies between
the parson and tbe ladles whereby cer
tain masculine creatures, whose lal
ness on Sunday mornings prevents
them from offering their alms and obla
tions, are wheedled, persuaded and ca
joled Into assisting In the restoration
of the spire, or some other equally nec
essary and laudable object.
On the eventful day the school room
where tbe stalls bad been fitted up was
a perfect picture; what with pretiy
girls, charming dresses and lovely flow
ers, the effect upon the more youthful
bachelors was bewildering, aud th sale
of fancy articles, at still more fancy
prb-es, went on apace,
Capt. Courtney was standing near
the door, watching Florence an I Nor
ton, and there la a great deal of truth in
the old adage that "Lookers-on see most
of the game," especially when the g-vne
Is love.
"Tbey are so charmingly innocent,"
bethought. "I've a good mind to muke
tbem happy. But why should I : rouble
myself? They won't thank me for ray
pains. Shall I? Willi? I will T
Strolling toward Norton, Courtney
said. "Ned, can I have two minutes'
conversation with you quietly V
"Tee, dear boy, certainly," replied
Norton. "Come this way. Now, what
Is itr
"Excuse me for putting the question
plainly to you," commenced Courtney.
"But when two people's happiness de
pends upon tbe answer, one may be
pardoned for a little blunt nees. I want
to know what your position Is wltb re
gard to Mies Masters."
"My position?" repeated Norton,
first flushing up to bis eyebrows ind
then turning deathly pale; "I I I don't
quite understand what yoa mesa."
"Why, Is that platonlc arrangement
that yon mads la the summer still In
existence, or arc yen something nearer
a ad dearetbna toere friends? For
give km for eatecMetng yoa In tbls way,
bet fee know ass wed saengb to be
aware test I aannH never take sack a
tfbstty t of assre enrleetly. I am ears
I need nay ateee; ye win anew
uusi bm and awrMlate aty motive
when I Inquire
gaged to Miss blasters or If your feel
ing Is still purely platonlc."
Norton gasped two or three times like
a flab out of water and then he man
aged to ejaculate:
"Purely platonlc."
Courtney seized his limp hand and
shook it effusively, and then with a
happy smile on bis countenance be
made his way toward Florence, and l.
never left her all day.
For the best part of an hour Norton
watched them from the further end of
the room, eating out his heart in the sol
itude of a crowd. Then, a though mov
ed by a sudden resolution, he walked
over to where I-aura I.ifferton was
holding a little court of ber own, under
the pretense of selling buttonholes, an J
soon became one of the gayest of the
gay-
"How happy Norton seems to IwP'
observed Courtney presently.
"Indeed! I thought Just now that be
appeared rather dull." replied Florence-:
and then, as she looked over iu the di
rection Indicated, she observed him
worshiping at the shrine of the fail
Ijiunt, and apparently as happy as the
day was long.
"Do you think it's a match?" con
tinued Courtney.
"I have not heard of anything of tin
kind," answered Florence, coldly.
"They would make an excellent pa.
wouldn't they?"
"Do you think so?" rescinded Flor
ence, evidently speaking with an effort.
"I shouldn't consider them at all suit
ed."
"Oh! wouldn't you?" sa'.d Courtney.
"At any rate, they seem to understand
one another." Aud then. "with a signifi
cant smile, he added: "There Is evi
dently no platonlc arrangement exist
lug twtween them."
For a few seconds Florence turned
nearly gray, and Courtney was afraid
that she was about to faint; but, mak
lng a strong effort, she recovered her
self, and in a little while no stranger
could have told that she was not as
cheerful and light-hearted as any girl
In the room.
During the afternoon Mr. Masters.
Florence's father, came up to the sisil
at which tbe young lady was officiating
and, after greeting Courtney; added:
"Of course you dine with us to-night?
By-the-by, Florence, I'm going to run
away with the carriage. I'll send it
bark for you In time If I can, but If
not you will 1 able to find someone
who will put you down at the bulge."
"My dog cart is here, Mr. Masters,"
said Courtney, "and If Miss Masters
will allow me I shall be delighted to
drive her home." j
Po It was settled, and the afternoon
dragged Its weary length along for
two people there, at all events -as
though every minute was an hour. At
last the end arrived, most of the smil
keepers bad gone aud the porch was lu
semi-darkness.
Courtney's dog cart was Just outside,
and he waa about to help Florence up
Into It when Norton suddenly appeared
upon the scene. Pushing past Court
ney, he said: "You will ride home with
me, Florence V
"Fapa haa arranged that I ahould go
with Capt. Courtney," answered Flor
ence, making a move toward the dog
cart as she spoke.
"Courtney won't mind, I am sure,"
replied Norton. "Will you, old fellow T
"Well, that depends," answered
Courtney slowly. "If It Is to be a pure
ly platonlc expedition, wby Miss Mas
ters may Just aa well come with me. but
If "
"Oh. hang Plato." Interrupted Nor
ton hastily. "Florence, dear Florence,
come with me!"
A struggle was evidently taking place
within the young lady's boson a strug
gle between love aud pride but love
won, and, with a deprecatory smile at
Courtney, she allowed Norton to help
her Into bis cart and a few moments
later they disappeared Into the dusk.
It Is Impossible to say with any cer
tainty what passed between those
young people during that eventful
drive, for they both declare that they
do not remember. Anyhow, they must
have gone the longest wsy round, for
wben they arrived at the lodge, flushed
and happy, Courtney bad been waiting
for some little time for tbem, and a
Norton passed him be whispered: "You
shall be the best man, old boy."-In-don
World.
The Terrible Cockstrlc-e.
The explanation of the origin of that
remarkable organism, the cockatrice,
leaves nothing to be desired aa regards
accuracy of detail. We are told that
"when the cock la pest 7 years old an
egg grows within him, whereat he
greatly wonders." We can well Imag
ine the dismay ef any well-conducted
masculine bird of that age on fludlug
himself in such a compromising pre
dicament; but how did be communicate
bla feelings to tbe histories? Tbst the
embryonic cockatrice bad some mys
terious power of self advertisement Is
evident, for we bear further that "a
toad privily watches him and examinee
the nest every day to see If tbe egg be
yet laid. Wben tbe toad finds the egg
he rejoices much, and at length batches
It, bringing forth an animal Wta tu
bead, neck and breast of a cock, and
from thence downward tbe body of a
serpent." Westminster Review.
16,000 Hogsheads of Meed.
Tbe officials Intrusted wltb tbe ar
rangement of tbe details of tbe czar's
coronation In Moscow next spring have
ordered 15,000 hogsheads of mead,
which Is to tie made of pare beney.
It Is sn old Russian custom to regale
tbe people wltb mead for three daya
during tbe festivities at tbe ancient
capital.
Sella Blest so Maeto.
Aa enterprising batswer ea Third svs-
aoe, Heir Tar, kaa piano In tbe
ef kef anep apt wMefc a seiered
stars nepslar taaea every events.
BABYLONIAN JIWtLaV
keaserkekle Oesse Describee by
Fearteeath Caatarr Writer.
A very curious description of Baby
lon found In a manuscript of the four
teenth century was published In 1782.
"A city," says ths author, "rich In
the gifts of the ages, safe from disease
and distress, where all faces are Joy
ous, and where tbe three holy rivers
flow over costly stones, some of which
dispense a leautlful light, and others
give health and strength. There Is the
emerald, brighter than a mirror; tbe
Jasper, which preserves from poison '
the garnet, which casta out demons
and destroys serpents; the diamond,
which can only le affected by tbe
blood of kids; tbe topaz, which jrlvee
Its own color to all It approaches: the
coral, which wards off the thunder
bolt; the hyacinth, of the color of the
day, that cures all diseases; the mar
garlta. formed of dews; lu a word, ev
ery precious stone that jiosscssei ini
rarulouH virtue." How these exquisite
specimens of nature's handiwork came
Into existence is a question difficult
to answer. We know of what tbey ar
composed, but, If we except the pearl,
we know nothing of the process by
whlcb thry arrived at perf'-ctloii; Mils
la a problem which must lie left to fu
ture generations to solve.
It hits Is-en proved that the materials
of which precious stones are made are
of the commonest aud most pleutiful.
"aud yet," says en old writer, "we
think the very heavens concurred wit It
the earth to their 'commlxlon,' and so
the sun left part of bla light shlnlu
In them." The diamond, which Is so
dazzllngly blight and so pure. Is In real
ity nothing more or less than pure car
Ism; the ruby and the sapphire are
composed almost entirely of clay; too
emerald of sand or silica, while the
penrl la formed of carbonate of lime.
This would strike us as most wonder
ful If we did not remem)er that out of
the dust of the ground Cod made man.
whose beauty and value are far above
the diamond and ruby. A French writ
er says: "It would seem as though the
mighty creative ar.ti organizing power
had chosen to manifest Its oninlotpuce
by producing Its most valuable sub
stance from the most ordinary ele
ments." Think of the combination of
circumstances required lu the forma
tion of these beautiful crystals to give
them the necessary transpareury, bril
llaucy, luster and exact amount of col
oring matter for the deal red tint, to say
nothing of their freedom from flaws
and defects. Another circumstance of
great interest alsut precious stones Is
that they have doubles so like them
selves that It In difficult for the un
trained eye to detect the difference, and
yet tbe fne s of great value, while the
other has little or none in comparison.
A rgosy.
Hboe Heels of Wood.
One of the latest features of wood
pulp Industry Is the manufacture, In
Haverhill, Mass., of shoe heels from
that material, white pine and other
kinds being used for the purpose. In
carrying out this art the plan, as de
scribed, consists In reducing the wood
in tbe usual way In digesters, after
which the pulp is put Into a tank and
mixed wltb the substances necessary
for Imparting to beel atock the neces
sary requirements, such as alcohol,
litharge, tar, degras and fish glue, a
thorough mixing of these with pulp be
ing followed by soaking the same a
day or two, so thst the fiber may he
penetrated, when another application
of materials oivurs. The object at
tbls stage Is to harden the pulp some
what, so that it can le rolled Into thick
sheets and handled, shellac and !orsx
accomplishing this, tbe pulp thus hav
ing tbe consistency of cement. At tbla
l)lnt Blackened lime Is put In, and, as
this hardens when dry, the pulp must
be rolled Into sheets and cut Into heels
before tbe hardeuiug takes place. With
needed rapidity the pulp Is now drawn
from the tank In sheets, it being Just
thick enough, and there being specially
arranged rollers and adjustments at
tbe bottom of the tank for effecting
this. A series of pressures through
press roller reduces the sheet to the
light thickness, and the sheet Is next
placed quickly upon the bed of a cut
ter; tbe wheels are now started, and In
a moment the platen falls, forcing a
hundred or more cutters umii tbe sheet,
shaping out a beel each. New York
Xuu.
Supreme Musical In a launch.
That a launch 1 a matter of mat he
matics, as well ss of great skill and la
bor, Is shown by the fact that the man
of science who lata tbe mailer In charge
always makes a set of caliiculatlnns
showing the strain on the ship and Its
precise condition at practically every
foot of tbe Journey dowa tbe ways. If
a boat should get In the way. or If tt
ahould take an unusual length of time
to knock out the keel-blocks, or If any
one of half a dozen thing ahonld cause
serious delay, the scientific man knows
just how long he can wait, and Jtwt how
far tbe limit of safety extends.
There Is always one supreme moment
(u a launch, and It Is at a time that
escapes the average spectator. It Is
when tbe vessel gels fairly well into
the water. This is when an Important
factor known as the "moment f buoy
ancy" comes Into play. If you can
Imagine a vessel sliding down sn In
cline without any water Into which to
drop, you can see that the vessel wonld
tip down suddenly at the end which has
left tbe way, and would rise at the
end still on tbe Incline. Bnt really. In
successful launches, the stern of the
vessel Is gradaslly lifted ap by rte
water, and tbls throws tbe weight for
ward en that fart ef tbe sblp still rest
lag oa tbe ways. The force of the water
Is caBed Km "moment of buoyancy,"
aad tbe natural tendency of tbe skip
to drop to be bottom ef tbe stream hi
sailed tke "mem eat sf weight" New
the Moment ef buoyancy mast alwaya
be greater than tbe mom sett of weight;
bat It must not be very mack greater,
for If It were It would throw too much
weight forward on the pert of tbe sblp
still on ths ways, and might break tbem
down, or Injurs the plates or keel of
the sblp. When the great English bat
tleship Remlnies was launched, this
did really happen; and so greet was the
strain near the bow that parts of tbe
cradle were actually pushed right into
rbe bottom of the veeseL It la this
danger of disaster that causes the sci
entific launcher to make the most care
ful calculations at every foot of her
Journey into the water. L Nicholas.
A Coll Weather Liar.
"Ppeakln" about cold weather," said
the man with jailer whlakera. as be
caressed them in a loving way, "but un
less some of you have been up to Hud
son's Hay In January you don't begin
to know what cold la."
"How cold did you ever see It up
there?" Inquired the Buffalo drummer
In an ahtcnt way.
"How cold? Well, the coldest day
they ever had or ever will have tip
there was the Hth of January, JST4.
At 8 o'clock that, morning the thermom
eter stissl at SO degrees below Kero.
That, was simply the beginning of a
cold day. The village In which I was
stopping numbered alnut "(Ml people.
Over lify had frozen to death by H
o'clock. Cows, horsi-s. hogs and dogs
tumbled over as If shot. Trees four feet
thick were riven as if struck by light
ning." "And It got colder yet, did It?" asked
the man whose eyebrows were slng"d
off In the Bimtou fir and never grew
out again.
"It did. At high noon it wae 120 de
grees below zero. The thermometers
all froze tip at that, but no one doubted
that It went to 1,'iO below. Between
morning and night over tl) people per
ished, ami not a bird or beast leaped
death. The cold of that day froze Ice
forty -sit feet thick on the bay. The
outside air was like a bullet."
"But you eecaped. of course?" que
ried the drummer, bj his face took on
a tired look.
"I escaped, of course," replied the
yaller-whlakered man, "and I was the
only human being who got off scot free.
It wa a great stroke of luck. I bad
gone up there to sell a shipment of 100
coal stove and open a coal yard. I
bad forty of the stoves set up lu n hall
to show them off, and I built a fire In
every onoof them. By standing in tho
midst of the forty stoves I ecaied the
cold, though I had goose-piinpU's for a
week afterward, firacloim, but didn't
I burn a lot of coal that day!"
"Ye, a hundred tons, probably P'
sneered the eyebrow man.
"You are Just half a ton over the
mark, and that coal was worth 18 Jer
ton. Yes, and I melted thirteen stoves
worth $32 apiece and used up 71W
worth of coal, and then bed to stay up
there ninety days to help bury fhe dead.
Cold weather! Well, you don't know
what you are talking about P' Free
Press.
Java's Island of Fire.
The greatest natural wonder In Java,
if not in the entire world. Is the Justly
celebrated "Oheko Kamdka Oumko,"
or "Home of the Hot Devlla," known to
the world as "The Island of Fire."
This geological singularity la really
lake of boiling mud, situated at about
the center of the plains of (Jrobogana,
and I called an island because the
great emerald sea of vegetation which
surrounds It glvee It that appearance.
The "island" ia about two miles In cir
cumference, and Is situated at a dis
tance of almost exactly fifty miles from
Kolo. Near the center of tbls geological
freak Immense columns of soft, hot
mud may be seen continually rising
and falling like great timbers thrust
through the boiling substratum by
giant hands and then again quickly
withdrawn. Besides tbe phenomenon
of the boiling mud columns, there are
scores of gigantic bubbles of hot slime
that fill up like huge balloons, and keep
up a series of constant explosions, the
Intensity of the detonation varying
with the size of the bubble. In time
past, so the Javanese authorities aay.
there wa a tall, splrellke column of
baked mud on the west edge of tbe lake,
which constantly belched a pure stream
of cold water, hut this has long been
obliterated, and everything Is now
a seething mess of bubbling mild and
lime.
No Wahlag Needed.
In "Keslms of the Hepahurgs," Mr.
Sidney Whitman relates that In a little
Austrian town the custom of walk
ing up the citizens still prevails. At
Ave o'clock the watchman goes about
calling out: "Tbe clock has struck five.
Beloved Christians, rise up and praise
the I.ord."
It happens that In tbla town there are
many Jews, who are respected citizens.
One day one of them went to the mayor
and said:
"In my street more Jews tban Chris
tian live. Why cannot your watch
man abw call ont 'Beloved Jews,' wben
he goes through tbe street 7"
"No, Moses," answered the mayor,
"you Jew are always wide-awake; but
If I were not to wake the Christian,
some of them would sleep all dayP'
nmetlmes Transgressed.
The laie Dean Klaiiley used to relate
that a gentleman once called to tell
him that he had been Into (be abbey,
and had knelt dowa to pray, when tbe
verger bad come up to him and told
hlin he must not kneel there. On ask
ing why not, tbe verger had said:
"Why, sir. If I was once te allow It, wt
should have tbem praying all over the
place." Tbla recalls lbs gentleman
visiting a church, and asking Ike sex
ton whether people ever used It for
private prayer, lo which be replied: "I
ketch'd two ef 'em st It snce."
Uf Wire.
It 1 reported tast a Mllaa telegraph
er, nig. Atata, baa Invented a method
of mnateal as la Mae by wire.
a. Heater's ttrssft Bistrtest ta
Una.
"I was standing near a "b artless.'
You probably don't know what aa
Arkansas hurricane is. Well. I will
tell you. In the Sunken Lands the
is composed mostly of decayed veget-
Hon and It Is very loose, fnder It la
sand. The trees and shrubbery grow
very thick, but the roots only extend as
deep a the soli. Tht n they branch oat.
Occasionally a hurricane or heavy
windstorm sweeps through thst coun
try, and when it doe the trees are all
upset They are not deeply rooted and
they blow over easily. These roots ars
long and when a tree turn over tbe
root extend about as high as tbe tree
did. Tbese patches are what tbe hunt
er call hurricanes. Well, one day, as
I said. I was standing Just at tbe edge
of a hurricane, hoping that a deer
might come along. As I was looking
around my attention was attracted to
a large tree trunk that had lieen tipped
over by the wind. I saw a huge animal
crawl upon the log. It looked Just like
a Newfoundland dog. It puzzled me.
I could not understand how a New
foundland dog could lw wandering
around the desolate woods. Flnnlly I
realized that It whs not a dog. but a
Is'ar. I pulled up and tired a load of
buckshot Into It. The ls-ar rolled off
the log and Immediately another one
appeared. I let a couple of loads of
buckshot slide at It and that one tum
bled off. In a moment another one ap
peared. I turned a couple of loads Into
It, and It rolled off. I loaded up again
and stood for a few moments expect
ing another. I did not know whether
they traveled singly. In triplets or In
droves, so I thought I would Je pre
pared. After waiting for several min
utes for another one I decided thst
there were no more there, so I got
around In another direction and fired
three more shots into the bunch. It
was a sort of pot shot. The animals
siill kept crawling around and I reach
ed for more shells. I found that I bad
no more. I made a bee lino for camp
for more ammunition, for I was not
used to bunting bear, and did not know
what to expect. I got some of the boy
aud we went to the scene of the shoot
ing. I told them that I had three bears
laid out When we got there we only
found one. It was a 2-year-old cub, so
those who know anything abont beats
say. The large one and the other cub
had gotten away. They were both
badly hurt, but oh account of the de
cay ed vegetation on the ground we
could not track them by blood, and bad -to
let them go."
Christening a Vessel.
Tbe christening party Is standing en
a platform under the bow, and Joet
about where the water-line beglna. Tbe
word to ssw sway the sole-piece has
been given. A at) lines comes npon ths
throng, snd the sip, sip, alp of tbe Mg
eaws on each side of the ship la beard
distinctly more than fifty yards away.
The young women who is to name tbe
vessel ha placed one hand against ths
bow to feel the first tremor of life, aad
In the other she holds tbe decorated
bottle of champagne, enmeshed In a
silk web, ready to strike tbe beetle
against tbe bow.
Tbe vessel shakes along ber entire
length; there comes s crash; she breaks
sway before the eaws bare eat ber
loose; a terrific din arises; tbe christen
ing words are spoken, but not beard;
and tbe stately ship begins to fkMs
down the ways spparently witnewt ef
fort, snd wltb tbe ease of a ship earn
ing up a bay under .half .spaed. lbs
strikes ths water, kicks op a Mg wave
that goes rolling serosa ths stream, and
then drops at he bow Into ths water.
The tide catches ber In Its anas, aad
tries to run sway with ber, bnt tbe
men on board drop the anchors Into tbe
water, and the tugs that have been ly
ing near by catch hoM of ber, snd In a
few minutes she la led captive to her
dock, ever after that to obey the 1
ter mind that shell guide her ever
seas. ft Nicholas.
Dainty Photograph Frames,
Tretty silk or brocade photograph
frames may be made a gifts for
friends, or brothers, sinters or eoestii
who are at college, utilising the college
colors when selecting tbe covering: yel
low and white for Bryn Mawr, rose and
grsy for Vassar, blue snd while for
Barnard, blue for Wellesley, orange
and black for Princeton, crimson for
Harvard, dark-blue for Tale, earnsllaa
and white for Cornell, blue snd whits
for Colambla, purple snd whits for
Amherst, red and bine for Pennsyl
vania, brown and white for Brews,
and black and blue for Johns Hen
kin. led lee' Home Journal.
Kept Their Identity.
A good story is told of an Keg sea
family living In Norfolk Connty who
possessed the euphonious name ef
"Bug." As that term In Knglnad Is
never mentioned In polite society, and
signifies a nilnnte Insect noted far It
power of Jumping, the family ef that
name did not appreciate Its unJaae
nees. I'pon coming Into poseesetea ef
some money, tbey st once petitioned
to have It changed to "Howard.'' Their
request was granted, but. ana for
them, tbe bugs or that portion ef the
country were henceforth known by the
more refined title of tbe "Norfolk Hew
arda."
Big Tnrbeas la Tarhey.
Tbe largest Turkish turbans ars
foot In diameter, and eae aad "t half
high, weighing, ea accosat ef llghlaaej
of material, ant more then fear er f re
a aces.
After a womaa baa beta aiarrtsd to
men tig months, abe begins to feel a
romantic Interest ia tbe aiaa abe Mta't
marry.
A man la very esJfeM fc
12. Lw"! e?E
v- sx am Bat as a
