THE TRIBUTE DAY OF LIBERTY AND ENLIGHTENMENT.
1 ri
W7DOW DARBY'S t
VALENTINE. $
IMMMMItJItMimiMiVM
ill 1'. widow Dsrby,
"fair, plump sod look
ing far younger than
her 45 years, bad rid
den into town with
I Jared Kent because
I iher horse bad lamed
i . . . . i
inimscir mat morning.
(and Jsred "happened
'to be going in," and
bad ssked the widow
to ride with bim.
Jared wa what some
of the people of the
neighborhood called a
"racalar born old bach." He bad flouted
4 scorned womankind moat of the fifty
yesrs of hla life, and had openly aet forth
bis conviction that men were "better off
withent 'eta than with 'em." particularly
when it corae to "niarrying of 'em." Ha
had held to this convletioo ao long and
had priM-tainied it ao boldly and ao con
stantly that all of the watch-makers in
the raral neighborhood ia which he lived
had givea him np a hopeless case beyond
the sale of their scheme for making a
ban edict of him.
Jared was not, like most avowed women
haters, a crabbed, cross-grained, eneering
ry cynical man, which made hia celibacy
ail the more unpardonable is the eyes of
the aaatrh-makera.
"He'd make a real good huaband if he'd
toy," they aaid. "Then he haa the nicest
farm la the neighborhood, with one of
the seat houses on it and money out at in
terest, although he'a not a bit mean and
stissry. He'll do hia full abare alwaya for
a neighbor in distress. It ian't because
he's too stiagy to support her that Jared
iina 't get him a wife."
It was a clear, crisp morning in Febru
ary srhen Jared rode to the village with
the widow Darby aeeted beside him in
his nest little cutter. The aleighing waa
fane sad the air keen and exhilarating. It
gave the widow's plump cheeka a beauti
fsl crimson glow and made her black eyes
sparkle. She waa in high spirit and her
laagfc rang out frequently aa merry and
rissriing as the laugh of s child.
Bait thee the widow Darby waa prover
bially cheery. She had Buffered keenly
the loss af her huaband and both of her
children, but time had softened her grief,
ad she waa too wiae to apend her life
la gtoora and grief over the loss of those
who were beyond all rare and sorrow.
Ska had a comfortable little home and a
few acrea of land adjoiuiug Jared Kent's.
She had known Jared all of her life, but
not once bad she thouifht of him as a
possible successor to Joel Darby.
"Jared will never marry any one," aha
had aaid. "He isn't of a marrying depo
sition. Some men are that way. It's all
they lack to make 'em what God intended
they ahonld be. My husband and I used
to talk Jared over a good deal, aud we did
Mr fall ahare to get bim nettled for life
with a good wife. We used to invite Iota
f alee girls, young and elderly both, to
oar house and then have Jared come over
to tea and to play croquet with him. lie d
be nice and pleasant ond all that, but he
Barer came any way near falling into
any of the traps we net for him. We
thought once that he did lake a kind of
a shine to a nice, sweet, real good looking
girl of about 30 named Janet Deane from
over Shelby way, who w visiting us.
She'd of made him an awful K"hI wife,
and I aung her praise all the time, but
nothing came of it."
"It's an elegant morning, Isn't it?" aaid
Jared, as he and the widow flew along
ver the hills and through long lanes in
which the mow was drifted almost to tbe
top raila of the fences.
"Oh, it's lovely!" replied the widow. "1
like snow."
"So do I. You got much lodoln town?"
"No; 111 be through with all of my er
rands In an hour. I can let aotuetbing go
If you don't want to atay in town that
long."
"Ob, that'll I none too long for me.
Where shall I meet you?"
"I'll be at Smith sV llaoscoms dry goods
store, any time you ssy."
"We'll call it 11 o'clock, then."
It was three minutes sfter It when
Jared drove np to the appointed place of
meeting. The widow bad stepped into
the sleigh and he waa tucking the robe In
arosind her when she "aid:
"There, Jared, I'm Juaf like other wom
an; I've forgotten something."
"What Is It?"
"I forgot to go around to the postoffice.
I kaow that there's nothing there for me,
because one of the Stone boys brought my
aiall out laat night, and there's no mail
traina In until own: but poor old Jane
("arr came over Just before I left and
Wanted me fo be sure snd see If there wss
a letter for her. Her daughter is very
ick out West, snd she hasn'1 had a letter
fur a week, aud she's half wild. I couldn't
bear lo tell her I'd forgotten to go to the
ace."
"Ill drive 'round tbst way." said Jared.
."II won't ha Ihree blocks out of the way."
Two or three boy a stood idling in front
ml
frv-j-w-i
1 Itanm A mm.
of the postoflce and Jared aaid to one of
them he chanced to know:
"Say, Jimmie, ran into the office and see
If there's any letter for Mrs. Jans Carr.
You needn't aak for me, for I've been
around and got my mall."
"You might took In bog 184," aaid Mra.
Darby. "Mebbs there'a a drop letter for
ma.
The boy cam oat a moment later with
a very large square whits envelope in one
hand and a amall blue envelope in the
other. He grinned aa he banded them to
Mra. Darby. She glanced at tbe blue en
velope and aaid joyfully:
"O here's a letter for Jane, and it'a from
her daughter, I know by the postmark.
How glad Jans will be! And here well,
I declare!"
She buret Into a merry laugh aa she
looked at the big white, embossed envel
ope. The boy hsd told the truth when he
hsd gone berk to his comrades and said
with a titter:
"She'a gat a valeatine!"
"Who la the land ever sent me that
thing?" aaid Mra. Darby, holding the en
velope out at arm 'a length. "I didn't even
know it waa Valentine's day. If It ian't
the greatest idea that I ahould get a val
entine!" "I don't know why yss shouldn't," said
Jared.
"Oh, because I bst I goes some child
sent it."
"Maybe not."
"No one else could have bad so little
gumption!" said the widow with another
laugh. "Maybe there's on of these comic
valentines inside of it some ridiculous
thing about a widow likely."
"Why don't yos open it and see?"
"I will."
She burst into another laugh as she
drew forth s dslnty creation of lace psper,
tinsel and bright colored embossed pic
tures. "How perfectly ridiculous!" she said.
"The idea of any one being ninny enough
to send an old woman like me a thing like
that!"
"You're not an oid woman."
"I'm forty-live!"
"Well, I'm older than that, and I don't
call myself an old man. Many a woman
around here woold be glad to get a val
entine like that if the sender really meant
It."
'Yea. and if you were the sender."
"I'm not vain enough to think that and
not foolish enough to ssy it if I did think
it."
"No, I don't think tbst you are, Jared.
But I wonder who could have aent me
this. The writing oa the envelope Is evl-
-hsiaV
AT JANS CABR'a OATH.
dently disguised, and O here is some
thing Inside! I.et's see wbst it says.
() wilt thou be my valentine
Forever aud foreer sjre,
And wilt thou take I till heart of mine,
Aud give mo tulne to-day V "
There was another verse, but before Hhe
had read it, the widow Darby cried out:
"Jared Kent, that's your handwriting and
you need not try to deny It!"
"I'm not tryiug to deny It. You'll find
my name signed lu full to the neit verse
on the other psge." This wss the next
verse:
"If 'yes' my answer la to he.
My besrt with Joy will nil,
If do,' I yet shall lie your frieud
And I shall love you still."
They bsd reached the outskirts of the
towu now. Jared brought tbe horse to a
stsndstill and ssid:
"Is It yes or no, Lucy?"
Hhe looked at bim with shining eye and
laughing fare for a moment. Then ahe
laid one of her niiltened hands on the
sleeve of the great fur cost he wore and
as id:
"I think it Is yss, Jared."
He turned his horse's head toward the
town.
"Where are yon gologf she asked.
"Hack to tbe miuieter's. It'a Valentine's
day, you know, and if you are to be my
valentine, I want you to-day."
An hour later they stopped at Jane
Carr's gate. She came skurrying out for
her letter with her apron over her head.
"1 brought you a letter, Jane, and 1 got
a valentine," aaid Lucy, holding up tha
big white envelope.
"I got one also," said Jared, aa ha pat
an arm around hla wife and klased her.
Detroit Free Press.
Don't judge a man by tba character
given him by hla next-door neighbor.
WANTED HIS HALF OF THE BERTH
A Oood Storx Ooo. H. Pnllsssa Lovsd
to Toll of Lincoln.
There wss one story of hia career that
tbe late George M. Pullman of aleeplng
car fame need to tell with manifest da
light. It was as followa:
"One night going out of Chicago, a long,
lean, ugly man, with a wart on hia cheek,
came into the depot. He paid George M.
Pullman 60 cents, and a half berth was
assigned him. Then he took off his coat
and veal and hung tbem np, and tbey fit
ted the peg about aa well a they fitted
him. Then be kicked off hia boots, which
were of surprising length, turned into the
berth, snd, hsving an easy conscience,
wss sleeping like a healthy baby before
the car left the depot. Along came an
other passenger and paid hia 60 cents, la
two minutes he wss back at George Pull
man. "There'a a man in that berth of mine,"
aaid he, hotly, "aud he's about ten feet
high. How am I going to sleep there,
I'd like to know? Go and look at him."
In wrnt Pullman mad, too. The tall,
lank man'a knees were under his chin, bis
arms were stretched scross the bed and
his feet were stored comfortably for bim.
Pullmsn shook bim until he awoke, and
then told him if he wanted the whole
berth he would bavs to pay $1.
"My dear air," ssid the Ull man, "a
eontract ia a contract. 1 have paid yon
50 cents for half this berth, and as you
see, I'm occupying it. There's tbe other
half," pointing to a strip shout six inches
wide. "Sell that and don't diaturb me
again." And, so ssying, the mao with a
wart on his face went to aleep again. Ha
waa Abraham Lincoln.
James Parson's Prediction.
In 1802, James Parton, the celebrated
biographical writer, made the following
prediction In regard to Abraham Lincoln:
History will ssy of Mr. Lincoln that ao
man of a more genial temperament, a
more kindly nature, ever tenanted the
White House; that he gave all hia time,
hia thoughts, hia energies, to the dis
charge of duties of unprecedented magni
tude and urgency; that, hating no man,
he steadfastly endeavored to win the con
fidence and love of all the loyal and pat
riotic, and that, ia spite of four chequered
years of such responsibility snd anxiety
as has seldom fallen to the lot of man,
he bore away from the Capitol the annny
temper and blithe frsnkness of bis hoy
hood, returning to mingle with bis old
neighbors ss one with them in heart and
in manner, in retirement as in power a
happy specimen of the men whom Liberty
and Democracy train in the log cabin and
by the rudest hearth to guide the counsels
of the Republic snd influence tbe destinies
of the people.
Lincoln W hen a Boy.
An exhibition of Lincoln's practical hu
manity occurred while a boy. One even
ing, while returning from a "raising" with
a number of companion, he discovered a
straying" borne, with aaddie and bridle
upon him. The horse waa recognized u
belonging to a well-known drunkard, and
it waa suspected that the owner was not
far off. The fellow wa found in a per
fectly helpless condition upon the cold
ground. Lincoln's companions intended
to leave him to his fate, but young Lin
coln would not hear of it. At bia demand,
the miserable man was lifted to hia shoul
der, and he actually carried him eighty
rodx to the nearest house. He then sent
word to his father that he would not be
back that night. He nursed the man un
til morning, and believed that he had sav
ed his life.
Tear It Hp.
Secretary Stanton wan once greatly
vexed because sn nrmy officer had refused
to understand an order, or at all events,
had not obeyed. "I believe I'll ait down,"
said Stanton, "and give that man a piece
of my mind." "Do so," snid Lincoln,
"write It now while you have It on your
mind. Make it sharp: cut him all up."
Stnnton did not need a second invitation.
It was a bone-crusher that he read to the
President. "That'a right," aaid Abe,
"that's a good one." "Whom can I get
to send It by?" mused the Secretary.
"Send it!" replied Lincoln, "send It! Why,
don't send it at all. Tear it np. Yon have
freed your mind on the subject, and that
is all that is necessary. Tear It up. You
tierer want to send such letters; I never
do." Standard.
Lincoln's First Hpench.
Judge Kelt of Mount t'armcl, 111., has
a copy of Abraham Lincoln's first speech
as a candidute. It waa made near Spring
field, and run aa follows:
"Gentlemen and Fellow Cititens: I pre
sume you all know w ho I am. I am hum
ble Abraham Uncoln. I have been so
licited by many friends to become a can
didate for the Legislature. My politic
are short snd sweet, like ao old woman's
dance. I am in favor of a national bank;
I am In favor of the international improve
ment ayateni aud a high protective tariff.
These are my sentiments and political
Srloclples. If elected I shall be thankful:
! not it will be all tha same."
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECITALS OF CAMP AND BAT
TLE INCIDENTS.
larvlvers of the Rebellion Relate
Mssy Aasnslng and Startling Inci
dents of Marches, Caanp Life, Forsg-
lsug Eiperleacea aid Battle Besses.
f . .g SAW a regiment
InftriCirfYl Sheridan's cav
1 II airy halted once
dj an oiu Vir
ginian, who had
no anna to bia
hands, and who
didn't speak a
word," said Ju
lius A. Crosby, the
giant sergeant of
the Second Dis
trict police fore. "It was during the
retreat from Petersburg, In April, 156,
the day before Gen. Lee surrendered.
I bad been stationed here as a military
telegraph operator, but Just before
Richmond was evacutUed I was or
dered to skedaddle and join the army.
I was supposed to be close to Gen.
Lee's headquarters on the retreat, but
I considered myself mighty lucky to get
any place where I could keep a whole
akin and get out of reach of Sheridan's
cavalry, that didn't give ub any peace
for an hour at a time. It seems to me I
waa generally with the wagon train,
and there the trouble was tbe hottest,
for hhe bluecoats would dash In, de
stroy a portion of our wagons, and then
have to get oat to escape the fire our
cavalry and Infantry would poor Into
tbem.
"We were getting pretty well up the
country, marching and fighting all the
way, when one day about noon I was
going H alone through a piece of wood
land, and came on a beautiful spring
Just at the edge of a field. I bad not
had a mouthful to eat, except corn
sometimes parched and sometimes raw
for about four days, so I followed
the path out into the open, thinking It
would lend to a house. I wasn't mis
taken, for when I got to the edge of
the woods I saw a comfortable look
ing farm house not far off. I went up
to tbe front gate and into the yard.
There was an old gentleman on the
porch, but before I could speak his
wife ran out crying the Yankees were
coining.
"I told tbem I wasn't a Yankee, but
a Ooo federate soldier without a meal
for four days, and wanted something
to eat. 1 wan at once Invited in, but
before I had a chance to alt down
hardly, the old man came In off the
porch, exclaiming tbe Yankees were
coming along the road and up the
winding carr lag rvjad to the house.
" 'You are my son,' said the old man,
and I caught on In a minute. I wasn't
anything more than a boy, so I thought
I could work something of a baby
racket. I rata out and bid under the
woodpile my telegraph Instrument,
which I carried slung over ray shoul
der, and then came back arid sat down
near tbe old man on tbe front porch.
The old man started to give me some
directions about bow 1 was to conduct
I " 1 - 1 1 whiin )A MAW tlvA ASl4,tlA,M ,W1 9
tng down the fence along tbe road and
turning then- horses Into bis wheat
field. The wheat was eight or ten
Inches high, and, of course, several
hundred homes with good appetites
would ruin the whole patch in a mighty
tittle while.
"'My God! I can't stand that,' tbe
old fellow said, and he Jumped up and
started down the steps. He trotted
down to the gate and climbed up and
sat on top of one of tbe posts. He
didn't speak a word, birt be did some-
1)na urnrth mtre tn him t hi.n than all
the speeches ever miidc. He didn't
have anything to shoot with, but he
had something else that bent a cannon
all hollow. I didn't know then what
'be did, but I know now that he made
the distress slgnail of a Master Mason.
You could have knocked me down with
it feather when I saw those men be-
; 1 1 climbing Into their saddle and
them ride out itilo the road aaid
I tlx 1 1 a the old miin'y fence.
I "Then several nflh-crs rnuie galloie
lug tip the drive and stopped at the
j gate. The old man clninlicrcd dow n
from his perch on the post ami then
, there waa a most fraternal handshake
all around.
"The old fellow Invited all of them
. Into the house, mid I tell you I felt.
mighty sitieamlli when they en me up
on the porch where 1 wast. One of
tbem said something about my tx'in'
hn ky enough not to have liecn horn In
time to have a share In all the trouble,
land then ihey all went Into the house
I and had a drink of old apple brandy.
When they came out the colonel told
' his entertainer that a guard would le
pl&c-ed at the gate down at the road
and that bis property should not be
disturbed. They galloped away and
I wenl In and packet) uwny under my
licit ns much cornbrend and fat meat
as I could hold. I (hell Hi fuel; out
and caught tip with our army. The
; next day we surrendered at Appo-
j innttox.
"The reully remarkable fact about
th l. It seems to uie now, Is that when
I took the Mason's degree in Masonry
and learned what It waa thai the old
man did to bold Sheridan's troop In
check, he himself helped to confer the
degree." Richmond Dispatch.
The Man V I'nrilnncd.
Gen. Horace Porter relates nn a'n'is
lug Incident of the visit of Hon. lv It.
Washburne to the camp of Gen. Grant
before Richmond, whither be hail gone
for the purpose of presenting the Gen
eral with the medal which Congress
had caused to be struck In his honor.
Mr. Washburne was assigned quarter
next to those of Gen. Grant. Rising
early In the morning with Intent to
bava, be found himself unprovided
anasnsBB. AT
with a looking glass, and remembering
that one bung in tbe anteroom of
Grunt's dwelling, he strolled across tbe
grounds In his shirt-sleeves, razor In
hand, to complete his toilet there.
"Just as he had taken hold of bis
nose with his left thumb and forefin
ger, which he bad converted Into a sort
of clothes-pin for tbe occasion," says
Gen. Porter, "and bad scraped a wide
swath down his right cheek with the
razor, the front door of the hut was
suddenly burst open, and a young wom
an rushed In, fell on her knees at his
feet, and cried: 'Save him! Oh, save
bim! He's my husband.'
'The dlatlngulshed member of Con
gress was so startled by the sadden
apparition that It wag with difficulty
that he avoided disfiguring hla face
with a large gash. He turned to the
intruder, and said:
"'What's all this about your hus
band? Come, get up, get up! I don't
understand yon.'
" 'Oh, General, for God's sake, do
save my husband!' continued tbe
woman.
" Why, my good woman, I'm not
Gen. Grant,' tbe Congressman Insisted.
" 'Yes, you are; they told me this waa
your room. Ob, save bim, general;
they're to shoot him this very day for
desertion If you don't stop them!' "
By this time Mr. Washburne bad
divined tbe nature of the situation, and
tried to extract from her a coherent
account of her troubles.
Her young husband, it appeared, In a
moment of uncontrollable homesick
ness, had deserted from his post to go
home and see her; He had been cap
tured, court-martialed, sentenced to be
shot, and the sentence was to be exe
cuted that very day; she had heard of
It only Just In time to reach camp and
beg his life of Gen. Grant.
Meanwhile, the commotion had awak
ened the General, who slept In the next
room, and he now arrived upon the
scene from within, Just as Gen. Porter,
who bad also heard the sound of ex
cited voices, arrived from without.
"The spectacle partook decidedly of
the seiio-comlc. The dignified member i
of Congress was standing In bis shirt-'
sleeves In front of the pleading woman,
bis face covered with lather, except the
swath which had been made down his
right cheek; the razor was uplifted In
his hand, and the tears were starting
out of hla eyes as his sympathies began
to be worked upon. The woman was
screaming and gesticulating frantical
ly, and was almost hysterical with
grief. I appeared at tbe front door
about the same time that the General
entered from the rear, and It was bard
to tell whether one ought to laugh or
cry at the sight presented."
Tbe poor wife soon had cause to
cease crying, for her husband was re
prieved and afterward pardoned; but
Gen. Grant frequently recurred to tbe
scene In conversation, and teased hla
visitor good-humoredly about tbe ex
traordinary figure which he bad cut In
tbe presence of a lady.
Hla Evidence Was Larking.
I went down to Chattanooga recently,
says a veteran of the civil war, and
took my two girls along to point out
the historic places. But I was disap
pointed, the aspect of the surroundings
is so clumped. Of course I wanted the
girls to see the spot where I lay In the
briMsh snd 116 bullets came within six
Inches of me. I had sneaked up on the
Confederate line to nvake a good shot,
and I made It. I dropped behind a
rotten log snd tried another shot. That
was tbe greatest mistake of my life.
Tbe Johnnies got my range, and tbey
Itegan to pepper me in a way to make
my hair stand on end.
The log that served me aa breast
work was big enough to shield me, but
the bullets cut through the rotten up
per half, and I bad to claw out a sort
of hog wallow on my side of the log
and flatten my body close to the
ground. I sTatched away at a great
rate, throwing the leaves and dirt In
any direction that came handy. All the
time the bullets came Hke the alter of
hall, and I realised that the Johnnies,
seeing the dirt and leaves fly, hod di
vined what I was driving at and were
doiiiK their beat to put inc. lu a hole. I
counted over a hundred bullets before
there was any let up in the firing.
Every bullet brought a chip or chunk
of that old log over on me, and I was
afraid the Warned fools would whittle
It down to my level and put a hole
through iuy Iwdy every time they fired.
But I he racket they made attracted tbe
attention of a battery, and a few spite
ful shots slopped the rifle lire of the
enemy and I scrambled back to our
Hues in a great panic. That was worse
than any battle I was ever In, and after
I recovered from my scare I waa rather
proud of the oue-sided engagement
lint I couldn't find the place, and as 1
couldn't produce tbe log the girls were
In doubt as to the story.
Pyramid liullt bv a Itlind Man.
A great curiosity and something of
great Interest to veterans is the histor
ical pyramid owned aud built by W. H.
Sallada, of Los Angeles, who lost both
eyes In the late war. The pyramid Is
about seven feet high mid two feet
wide at the base. Each side of tbe ex
terior Is completely covered with relics
of all kinds, such as swords, pistols,
cannon balls, pieces of famous war ves
sels, flags, and each relic has a history
of lis own, which Is willingly told to
yon by Mr. Salhidii, who, though un
able to see, knows Instantly by touch
which article you desire Information
alKiut. Tbe Interior Is coniajand of six
revolving shelves containing miniature
ships, forls and soldiers.
Civil War Unities.
The total number of battles fought
during tbe American civil war reached
the astounding figure of 3.125. Tbe
figures are taken from the official
records.
True blessedness conilateth in a good
life and a happy death. Solon.
THE FOODS WE EAT.
Various Kinds and What The At
Severally Good For,
Nature supplies us with two com
plete foods, milk and eggs, which con
tain In tbe proper proportions all the
necessary elements for the sustenance
of our bodies. As these are the only
complete foods, It is necessary In tbe
absence to have mixed foods, and It Is
In the mixing that mistakes occur, be
cause the fat forming, muscle forming,
and other parts are taken in wrong
proportions, some In excess and others
the reverse. Left to his own taste
primitive man Invariably selects the
best food. This instinct, however, is
defective at the present day. For chil
dren, food rich in bone forming sub
stances Is necessary. Among caacle
forming foods the following are the
best and most common: Oatmeal por
ridge, with rich milk and wholemeal
broad buttered; meat Is a highly con
densed food of this class. To men of
sedentary occupation a free use of
meat is injurious. For men engaged
at bard manual labor a generous neat
diet Is admirable.
Vegetables contain but little nourish
ment, but are useful as blood purifiers,
and also supply bulk to the food which
4s necessary to give tbe consumer sat
isfaction. Milk should never be taken
with meat, because they are both rich
In one substance. Tea should not be
taken with meat, either, because It
renders the meat tough and indigesti
ble. Beef ranks first as a muscle form
er, and mutton next. Pork makes a
very digestible dish, and fowl and ba
con are a very useful and palatable
dish. Cereals enter largely into our
diet, and are of much value, because
they supply food or starch as well as
muscle food. Potatoes provide little
nutriment, but with plenty of milk,
which supplies the precise ingredients
they lack, a good diet is formed.
Sugar Is well worthy of notice, and
the child's love of K Is a perfectly
healthy instinct, and should always be
gratified In reason. Fruits are good
blood purifiers, and should be consid
ered as essentials rather than luxuries.
Beef tea contains scarcely any nutri
ment whatever, and Is almost purely a
stimulant. A dog fed on beef tea
starved to death, while another fed on
refuse meat throve. Tea, Injurious if
taken In excess, provides, if taken in
moderation, a most refreshing drink.
Many scientists recommend Its use
about two hours before our principal
meal, and without food. Ooffee Is a
stimulant, unlike all others, in fact that
It Is followed by no reaction. It stimu
lates tbe brain, and ia called an Intel
lectual drink. Cocoa deserves to be
classed as a food. Pittsburg Dispatch.
BABY POTENTATES,
Great Britain Ia Reaaarkable for the
Mnanber of Tonthfnl Bovcraigss,
Spain Is always the land of tbe In
fante. To-day it Is tbe kingdom of as
Infant, Just as It was sixty-five years
ago, whein tbe King's grandmother, Isa
bella II., ascended tbe throne at the ag
of 3, assuming the actual government
when she was 13. If our own Prlnet
Alfred, says an English paper, bad not
declined the crown of Greece In favor
of the Dane, he would have been a king
at ID, and carried on the traditions of
tbe many ehild-monarchs of Great
Britain, including his mother, tlx
Queen, who was only 18 when she waa
wakened on that historic night In June
at Kensington palace to hear that bet
uncle, William IV., was dead, and that
she reigned In his stead. Henry III.
had become King of England at tbe ago
of 10; Edward HI. at tbe age of 15;
Richard II. at tbe age of 11; Henry VI.
at the age of 8; Edward IV. when u
was 20, while hla son, Edward ., be
came king at the age of 13, which again
proved an unlucky number, for he was
murdered in the tower with his only
brother, the Duke of York, after he had
reigned less than twelve weeks. Henry
VIII. was only 18 when he came to be
king; his son, Edward VI., was just 10,
and was dead before be wan 15, while
hia would-be successor, the hapless
Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen
before she was 18, and lost her pretty
head before she was 19.
8hc Was Astonished.
A Boston girl, who recently witness
ed an Indian sham battle In the West,
thought she would try to talk to a
young Indian brave sitting next to ber.
"Heap much fight," she said.
He smiled a stoical smile, drew his
blanket closer alwut him and said:
"Yes; this Is, Indeed, a great exposi
tion, and we flatter ourselves that our
portion of the entertainment Is by no
means the least attraction here. May I
ask who It Is that I have the honor of
addressing?"
The dear girl from Boston was thun
derstruck. She blushed a rosy red
even Boston girls can blush. She was
not aware that she had been address
ing an Indian who bad been graduated
from tbe Carlisle Indian school.
Rftrthqnakrs.
When an earthquake occurs the en
tire crust or surface of the earth expe
riences some effects of the disturbance.
An earthquake In Calcutta which wits
accurately records gave a basis for
determining tbe speed of transmission
of the wave of disturbance due to the
shock. The disturbance was registered
at the Edinburgh Observatory, thou
sands of miles distant, and gave a speed
of transmission of six and two-tenths
miles per second for the heavier shocks
and less than two miles per second for
tbe lighter ones.
One-Shell Oysters.
A veracious Western contemporary
ays that some oysters recently discov
ered In Puget Hound have only one
gbelL They lie close to the bottom of
jthe sound, with their one shell turned
np.
A drop of Ink will make even a dndo
think If he finds It oa bis trousers.
