HOUX: CO! JOURNAL By OBO. D. CANON. MAMMON. NBHAKA NEBRASKA NEWS. The farmer of Niobrara are rejolc tag over the fane rain. The crops ar looking floe. W1U Fraaer of Niobrara had four fin (era of his right hand mashed In th fob press at the Star office. Dr. Smar dressed the band. Burglars broke Into the hardwar tor of S. Dewey at Hay Spring am itole goods amounting to S2M. Then Is no clew to the rchbers. Great preparations are being mad for the Fourth of July celebration a Madison. Hon. W. W. Toung of Stan ton will deliver the address. A chorut of sttty voices under the direction Rev. Fowler will sing. rhe rush still continues at the Unite Kates land office at O'Neill for reservoil dlings.. So far 1,466 filings have beer made. William F. Allen of Omaha hai made about 250. Western Nebraska will soon be covered with water. Petitions are being circulated for Big natures throughout Knov county ask ing the county board to relocate thi county seat. The originators of the move are interested In a rural site lo- rated in the center of the county about fifteen miles from the railroad. Enougr lignatures. It is thought, will be se tured to the petition to call the election A serious accident befell Lee Berry f Oxford at Orleans. With other youns men he was bathing in the Republican river, and in diving from ,a tree hl oead struck a stone. Upon recovering which is considered doubtful, it is fear. "Id his mind will be permanently im paired. While painting his residence in Ox ford Captain J .M. Lee fell from a lad ler at a height of about fifteen feet, sadly fracturing his right arm. Not withstanding his advanced age, it is thought the captain will recover with to more serious results than a perma nently stiff arm. The wheat crop in the vicinity of Far tain is Int very unsatisfactory condi tion." The late, cold spring delayed the frowth of the fall wheat and the put 3ng In of the crop of spring wheat and lie continued low temperature hindered the germinating of the seed, conse guently It did not come up, and since hen the cold weather has hindered its growth and it is reported that some lelds are heading out at six Inches. The reeds are troublesome and will reduce (he product greatly at harvest time. Jorn is doing well and promises well, bough the weather Is not regarded as ery propitious for a big crop. It is lulte dry, notwithstanding the fre luent showers, which have been light runners are very busy with the. corn arop and business is dull. Weary of suffering from epileptic at acks, Phoebe Kearns of Omaha, aged 1 years, attempted to end her life. She .HtainMi a bottle of laudanum and ok It to her home, 1543 Sherman ave rue, when she returned in the evening torn work. Her mother discovered the aottle, and, having her suspicions iroused, concealed It. Miss Kearns ,woke in the light, searched for the pc lon, and found it where it had been ridden. She drank the contents of the Kittle and again retired. When her nother discovered her In the morning be was still conscious, but her pulse tas extremely weak. A physician was aimmoned to her aid, and after a few lours' work she was In much bettet tradition. She Is still very weak, but t is believed she will recover. GENERAL NEWS. London. Some war insurance was ef ected at Lloyd's at 16 per cent for three nonths and at 2 per cent for Insurant or buildings at Johannes berg. Pretoria. Both chambers of the volk aad have adjourned to allow their nembers to consult their constituents the franchise proposals of President Cruger. Peoria, 111. The American Spirits Manufacturing company has decided to nanufacture Bourbon whisky on an oormous scale, and for this purpose tas commenced building In this city a tarehouse with a capacity of 14,000 lerrels. Mlddlesboro. Ky. While acting as peacemaker between John Moore and Arte draft at Rockhouse, Letcher ounty, William Haggard was shot dead tjr Craft, who fled to the mountains tl tfe an infuriated posse In pursuit. Stockholm The International Hydro. traphlc and Geological congress to dls- susa arrangements for periodical re warcbes in the North Atlantic and the forth Sea opened hen. Sir John Mar ay. Dr. Nansen and other explorers pert among those apTlngfleld, in. A Lincoln special to aba ftate Register says that State Vet artaartan Scott and assistants have femnd la Ua herd ef US cattle at the te teetltutJoB for FeaMe Minded Cfe2fa there twenty-fire head which symptoms of tuberculosis. CMeas IS. The National 1 f Wood Pa- ear today wit reataaaatattrea fa at toadi treat aS ast at tJae Catted Ct- tat Z ft taXSat ha U tzz tor aa UkP la rrtan af LAVTON REIKFOME. MAKING PREPAEATIONS POR ON SLAUOHT UPON PILIP1NOS. Ovr a Thousand Insurgent Fall b th Battle of Cavlte Naat Blow at Imua. ' Manila. (Special.) The Fourth regu lar Infantry and the Wyoming regimen have been added to General Lawton'i command, and today they were towe across the bay in cascoes to Las Pinal preparatory to moving to Imus, flvi miles inland, where the rebels are re ported to have an arsenal and a largi quantity of arms and supplies. REPORTS FROM GENERAL OTIS. Washington, D. C (Special.) Gener al Otis cabled today as follows: Manila Adlutant General. Washing ton: Success of Lawton's troops in Ca vKe province greater than reporte yesterday. Enemy numbering ovei 4.000; lost in killed, wounded and cap tured, more than one-third; remainder much scattered, have retreated soutl to Imus, their arsenal. Of five piece! of artillery, three were captured. Nav; aided greatly on the shore of the bay landing forces occasionally. Inhabit ants in that country rejoice at deliv erance and welcome with enthusiasm demonstrations arrival of our troops. OTIS. The war department bulletins th following: Manila. Adjutant General. Washing, ton: Prominent Filipino, frendly ti Americans, assassinated at Cebu. In habitants of that locality urgently re quested American protection In strongei force. Have sent, oaiianuu ic-nno.., and two guns from Hollo, which insurel peace. Hughes now In charge or iniun In that section. OTIS. Captain Cable of General Whaeton'l staff, with three companies oi mt Twenty-first regiment, reconnoltereC in the direction of Imus. The rebels, who were apparently expecting an at- .ack, retired, leaving behind them twen ty Spanish prisoners, who Joined the Americans. The rebels have prooaDij gone to the mountains along the lake. According to native stories, the rebels arried 100 dead and 300 wounded thro' r oft.r ihp recent battle. The- I fiv.' t u-.v.. natives are now flooding Into Bacoot and it Is probably there are many sol- tiers In plain clothes among them. The whole section is practically with ut food and Major General Otis has trdered the distribution of rice and beef lo the Inhabitants. DOUBTS ABOUT LUNA'S DEATH Many people "till refuse to credit the itories of the assassination of General Luna, by the guard at Agulnaldo a aeadquarters. Though the reports t to that effect are most circumstantial and !rom good sources, rumors of assassina tions and disasters from the rebel camp ire so frequently printed In the local Kvpers that they have come to be re rarded wKh Indifference. The latest is (hat the governor of Cebu has been silled by natives because of his friend-, ihip to Americans. A prominent commercial man with ixceptlonal means of learning of the niiplnos' movements claims to know Seneral Luna is still alive, adding tc She statement that if he is dead, and t his death occurred a month ago, peo ple would have expected a collapse of ibe revolution to follow. The failure of the Filipinos to follow ip the peace negotiations strengthen (he impression that their overturei eere merely to gain time and In ordei jo lure the Americans to show theli lands. The Indepencia, a revolutionary or- ran, of May 20, a copy of which has lust been obtained, prints an interview s-ith General Luna, showing the argu ments he used to keep up the spirits of tls followers. He represents the Fllipi to cause as prospering, "because the imericans have gained only a hun Iredth part of Luson by hard fighting," ind says the women and children tilling he fields within the American line give lie proceeds of their work In support ft the Filipino army. e is smu i tave further remarked: "More Amer- cans will be killed by ambuscades, sur prises and disease than in battles. 1 detest war, but we cannot accept aeace at any price but Independence, fhe Americans suffered for their own dependence and In their hearts they appreciate why we resist them. ftXASKAN BOUNDARY DISPUTE. Mo Definite settlement nu Bean Made. Washington, D. C (Special.) No offl- tlal confirmation of the reaching of an arrangement In London providing foi the temporary dellmlnatlon of the Ala tan boundary has been received at the state department. It is gathered tna a responsive answer has not yet beet received from Canada by the Brttlsi mvemment to the American defialtl proposition. At any rate the Britlsl government has not made a concluelTl answer on Its part. Lest a misleading Impression be car rid bv the statement from London ti the effect that the arrangement said U hu m would carry the Blfc r--- - hmmdarv issue over until the high com mission meets In August, It may b stated that the arrangement ratified bj this rovernment Is not likely to be 11m itMl in such fashion. Moreorer, as th record published of the last proceeding) of the high commission shows that tin Canadian side refused to discuss anl other questions until the boandar. queetion was adlasted. It Is to be pre earned that they win adhere to tha teetaton and that Oae beaadary uea uaa aaast be removed front the teb w anodas Thread! as I er tas avaetlag ef ue SCHOOL LAND AT YOUR OW PRICE. As soon after the first of July ai practicable I wfll hold public auction! for leasing about 695,000 acres of schod land, under the provisions of the nes law, in the following counties: Ante lope. Banner, Blaine, Box Butte Brown, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Cus ter, Dawes, Deuel, Dundy, Oarneia Grant, Hayes. Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox. Lin eoln, Logan. Loup, McPherson, Pierre Perkins, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan Sioux, Thomas and Wheeler. Under th new law, if these lands will not lease at the public auction at 6 per cent upor the appraised value, they may be leased to the person offering 6 per cent upos che highest valuation. These lands art In the best stock-growing portions ol the state, where cattle, sheep and horses can be produced at less expense and, therefore, at greater profit that anywhere I know of, and yet surround, ed with as good and Intelligent a clast of citizens as anywhere to be found The harvest truly is great and lasta almost the year round, and no more Inviting field for the intelligent stock aian and farmer can be found; and now that there Is an opportunity to secure twenty-flve-year-lease contracts there n at what the lands are worth, the essee himself being the Judge, trie eon idently expected that all or nearly all if these lands will be leased during the present year at the public auctions, ai above mentioned. Anyone desiring to attend any of these leasing auction! will be notified of the time and place f holding the same as soon as it haa Keen arranged, If they will write me al ince, giving the names of the coun ties in which they are Interested, and s-ill also be furnished a list of the landi be leased, so that they may visit the jountles In advance of the leasing auc don and examine the lands which will ae offered. Notice of the auction will be July given in the local papers. Send itamp for copy of the new school land aw under which the lands will be of fered. Any further information will be heerfully furnished. Lincoln, Neb., May 18. 1899. J. V. WOLFE. rommlssioner Public Lands and Build ings. OUT OF THE ODD. One sailor In 266 is lost at see- There are forty-seven Chinese tem- iles in the United States. Whistling Is regarded as a violation if the divine law by Icelanders. The Tartar alphabet contains 202 let- itrs, being the longest in the world. For $300 a year a man can, In Japan, ay for a house, food and two servants. Explosive bullets were first used In !ndla for hunting tigers and elephants. The Free Methodist church of Amer. eiL has about twenty-five thousand nembers. Lots of people marry money, but the Icense is always made out under arv- rtber name. jj The individual who djves to if om of pleasure brings up more graie Jian pearls. It occasionally happens that a mat lislocates his common sense when h 'alia In lnv Women, according to a prominem , i ihyslclan, have, as a rule, much coarsel lair than men. The retail dealer doesn't stand wel vith the manufacturer when the lattei las to carry him, The grave of an unmarried woman It fiirUcv is often indicated by a rose larved In stone. The taste of strychnine can be de- ected when one grain is diluted with M OW parts of water The first electric railway In the world ran built In Ireland, from Bushmills D Giants' Causeway. France has kept 200,000 tons of coal .tored at Toulon since 1S93 to be ready n case war should break out. A fool may Insult and abuse others, tut a wise man gives people credit for hat they are actually worth ti,. re now over 5.000 vocations men to women, one is mamage ithers are of minor Importance The shipyards of Great Britain, all a-orking together, could turn out a big rfeamshin every day of the year. Every other Austrian household ana rvery third Italian family contributes me member to the national army There is a rosary In the British mu leum made of the vertebrae of a snake. another Is composed of rats' teeth. Oysters are such nervous creatures Jiat a sudden snocs, sucn b "- jiunderclap, will kill a whole boat toad. L moralistic failure is a man who rives you ad. Ice about getting on In :he world, then winds up by striking eou for a loan. The largest steel shaft In the world has Just been finished. It is 27 feet 10 aches long and Its diameter In the mia- le is 37 inches. When a dog barks at night In Japan (he owner is arrested and sentenced to srnrk for a year for the neighbors whose slumbers may nave oeen dis turbed. - DEVIOUS DEFINITIONS. Essay A paragraph padded with words. Centurion A cyclist who makes century ft"1- Heirloom The trousers that are banded down from father to son. Quiet About the hardest thing foi a woman to keep In this work. Adversity The only scale that gli the correct weight of our friends. Ultimatum Something a woman M eontlaaaUy working oft on her hue- Brave The man who will stand wtta aa twenty feat of anything a at.: , . ... HOW YE CAN TELL 'it. When you hear a person tellin' how the world has gone awry. An' relalln' all the- tiuubie we'll en counter by and by. When you hear hiui prorhesyln' notu ln' else but doubt an' gloom How the sun will soon get the ague an' the flow'rs forget to bloom. If you've any mind fur guessln', you kin alius hit it right. His luck has gone agin him. He's the man that lost the tight. ' when you meet another, steppln' high an' lookln" proud. A-shakin' hands so cheery an' a-smllln on the crowd. An' tellln' folks to brace up; that the troubles they go through Is all imagination; things that vanish like the dew: Who says this earth's all right, no mat ter what Is said or done. Tou kin recognise him easy. He s the lucky chap that won. CALEB'S WILL. "You mean that you can't put your self out to give your mother's brother night's lodging!" said Caleb Cbeverel. bitterly. The March wind, bearing dust and grit and bits of flying paper on its restless wings, came whistling around the corner, lifting the old man's faded comforter's ends and turning his blue nose a shade bluer still, while Mrs. Larklns, his eldest niece, stood in her doorway, filling up the aperture with her ample person in such a way as to suggest the familiar legend, "No ad mittance!" Mrs. Larkins was stout and bloom ing and cherry-cheeke dressed In sub stantial alpaca, with gay gold brooch and eardrops, which bespoke anything but abject poverty. Uncle Caleb was thin and meager and shabbily dressed, with glossy seams In his overcoat and finger-ends protruding from his worn gloves like ancient rosebuds coming out of their calyx. "I'm very sorry," said Mrs. Larklns, stiffly; "but we have but one spare room, and that is at present occupied. Of course I should be glad to do all I could for you, but" I understand, I understand," said Uncle Cheverel, turning coldly away. "I'll go to my niece Jenny. I wish you very good evening." Mrs. Larkins closed the door with a sigh of very evident relief. I dare say Jenny will take care or him," she said philosophically. "Jenny has a smaller family than I have. But I don't see why he came up to London Instead of staying peaceably down in Tortoise Hollow, where he belongs. Mrs. Jennie Eidertop, Mt. Cheverel s youngest niece, had a smaller lamuy than her sister Rebecca, but then she bad a smaller Income as well. She had Just finished a vigorous day's cleaning when Uncle Caleb was announced. Oh. drat that man!" said Mrs. Elder- top. wringing her parboiled fingers out of a basin of steaming soapsuds. "What sends him here, JuBt now of all times In the.worid?" And she went down stairs ungra ciously enough to the street door, where her husband was welcoming the old stranger. "Come in. Uncle Cheverel! come In!" Bald honest Will Eidertop. "We're all upside down here we mostly are, now that the spring cleaning is going on. But there's room for you If you don't mind the children and their noise and a little smell of whitewash in the spare room." Mrs. Eldertop's welcome was by no nasn. cordial. She looked, to use a common expression, "vinegar and darning needles" at the visitor, while In her inmost soul she calculated the probability of the cold boiled ham and hnidina- out for once more at supper. "Come, Jenny, don't scowl so," said Mr. Eidertop, when Uncle Caleb had gone upstairs to wash his hands and "Ain' h vnur uncle?" "A good for nothing old vagabond, said Mrs. Eidertop, acidly, "without a half -penny laid up ahead. "For all that he's your guest," said her husband, "and you're bound to be civil to blm. And here's his overcoat now. with a xlg-xag rent In It Just mend it while you are waiting for the kettle to boll." "I won't!" said Mrs. Eidertop, "All right," retorted her lord and master. "Then I II take it next door to Alexia Allen to mend. . .. kA Now, Miss Alien, tne tanore-., wu lived In the adjoining house, was pretty and buxom to look upon, and Mrs. El- oenop nu Uu.- - - . .. m .-.frtfth v CI I - ousy of her for the last four years. "You'll do no such thing," said Jenny, tartly. "Hand It here." And she threaded a needle with a black silk and thrust her finger Into a thimble, very much as a determinea crusader of old might have donned sword and shield for some encounter with the Moslem. "What's that?" said Mr. Eidertop; for a folded paper fell from the pocket of the garment as his wife turned It up side down. annul tomfoolery or other,' ar- .wered Mrs. Jenny, brusquely. "I fancy you're mistaken," said Mr. Eidertop. "It's the rough draft of a will." "But he's got nothing to leave." shrieked Mrs. Eidertop. Tm not so certain of that," retorted win "Just look here, Jenny I 'I give m heaueath to my two beloved nieces, In equally divided parts, the sum of ClO.MO, at present Invested In consols, nl " "Oo onf said Mrs. Eidertop, breath laaaly. "Read the rest." There is no rest," said her husband. -That', the eno or tne paper. v-.y a reath draft. I tell you. And now, what's your opinion ot Uncle Cbeverel's - "He's been a miser all along," sail Mrs. Eidertop, her face grawtng radi ant. "Making up poor mourns ans traveling around the country with al this money in the funds. A regular oil character Just like those one readi about in novels. Put it back. Will put it back. We've no business to be prying into Uncle Caleb's secrets; bul what a blessing It Is he came here In stead of stopping down at Rebecca Lar kins!" And when Uncle Cheverel came dowr stairs he was surprised at the sweel smiles with which his niece Jenny wel comed him. "Been mending my coat, eh?" said Uncle Cheverel. "Thank'ee kindly Jenny. I caught it on a nail yesterday and I was calculating to sew It up my self when I could borrer a needle ani thread." "I'm glad to be of use. Uncle Caleb,' beamed Mrs. Eidertop. "Johnny, pul on your cap and run to the grocer's foi a smoked mackerel for your uncle'i breakfast. I hope you found your room comfortable, Uncle Caleb?" Before she slept that night Mrs. Ei dertop put on her bonnet and shawl an ran round to the Larklns" mansion t Impart her wonderful tidings to Sistel Rebecca. "Tou don't say so!" cried out the as tonished matron. "Gonpel truth!" said Mrs. Eidertop, ;l saw It with my own eyes." "He must come here," said Mrs. Lar kins, resolutely. "Not If I know It," said Mrs. Elder top. "He's my guest and my guest h shall remain!" "But if I'm to share equally with you," said Mrs. Larklns, "I ought U show him some attention, the dear generous-hearted old man." "Lest he should alter his will," shrewdly remarked Sister Jenny. "You always were a worldly creature Becky!" "No more than yourself!" said Mrs. Larklns, bristling up. "But It's mj family I am thinking of, Jenn. I'll tel you what I'll come around and see him tomorrow." "But don't you breathe a syllabW about the will." said Mrs. Eidertop, it a mysterious whisper. "Oh, not for worlds," said Mrs. aLr kins, fervently. During the next week Uncle Chevere was overwhelmed with civilities. Ot Thursday a new suit of clothes arrived with Mrs. Larklns' love and compll ments. On Friday Mrs. LarRlns cami with an open barouche to take deal Uncle Caleb for a drive In the park And on Saturday Mrs, Eidertop burs! Into tears and declared she should ner. er be happy again If her mother's only brother didn't pledge himself then and there to make his future home with herself and Will. Uncle Caleb looked a little puzzled. Well," said he, "if you really make a point of It but 1 was intending to meet Cousin John at Gravesend. Dear uncle, promise me to stay here always,' cried Mrs. EldqrtqD, hyster ically. "Just as you say. Niece Jenny, as sented the old man, complacently. Mrs. Eidertop felt that she had car ried her point But when Mr. and Mrs. Larklns came on Sunday afternoon to press a similar petition. Uncle Caleb opened his eyes. "My Importance seems to have gone ud' In the market," he observed quaint iv "I never was In such demand among my relatives before. But can't be In two places at once, that's plain." And he decided to remain with Mrs, Eidertop, greatly to the Indignation of the Larklns family, who did not hesi tate to hint boldly at unfair advantage and undue Impartiality. But Just as Mrs. Larklns was rising to depart, wKh her handkerchief to her eyes, little Johnny Eidertop came clamoring for a piece of paper to cut a kite tail from. Go along," said Mrs. Eidertop, im nntl.ntlv We have no paper nere. m Amelia." ...... Hold on. little chap noia on: saw Uncle Caleb, fumbling In his overcoat pocket he had Just been aoout starling ff.r walk when the Larklns party ar rived "here's a bit as is of no use to iwilioriv And he produced tne "rougn aran onri hMinwrd It on Johnny rn. m'i written on.' said ne, ana t'other ain't. It was lying on tne noor in Mr. Watkln's law office, wnen In tn see if Joseph Hall w employed there as porter still. An old .hm mlno llftll Wll I i In Tortoise Hoi -t gee ,ven a blt of pappr waBtedf go i axed the clerk If it waa f any use. He said no It was will , I nnlv - draft OI LfT. r B4CUII will. r.iMi mmle a new will every si months, he said, so I Just picked It up rait it In mv pocket. Everything comes In use once in seven years, they say. and this Is Just right for little I Johnny's kite tall." Mrs. Larklns looked ai n. mum up, Mr. Eldetop stared Into the spectacled eyes of Mr. Larklns. Uncle Caleb chuckled benevolently as little Johnny skipped away with the piece of paper which had been freight ed with such wealth of anticipation. The Larklnses took leave wnnoui jr unnecessary formula oi suieux Mrs Eidertop took occasion to tell Uncle Caleb that perhaps he had better prosecute his original design of the Oravesend visit. "Because we re expecunn cuuiif tomorrow." said she, "and our best room will be wanted for a while. And, she added within herself, "I will take good care that It shan't oe empty just at present.' So Uncle tjaieo wein vvi.o..--where Cousin John was as poor and h..rirt as himself, and be waa never Invited to return to London again Five years later uncie L-wieo acirv ed this life and left behind him i 20,. 000 In consols willed to John Clark To his "dear nieces," Jane Eidertop and Rebecca Larklns, he left tt to eachU pay for the trouble he put them to whes i.n a them. To say that there was w . . . -, . - 1. IV. Joy In the nieces- nousenwuw will was read would be to say what to false, for. If the old man could ha 't unklnd things thai " "LL, .rdta aba. I 1 4oubt l( j WOald have tall taan tvea laeeaca. i CONTEMPLATED UICIDsL Herr Harden, Prince Bismarck's In timate friend and companion, has caus ed a sensation In Berlin by the publl cation of some curious facts about the great German. The most sensational revelation was that, when his political career closed. Bismarck the monumental man ot the last half of the century, the most successful of mortals. If success do measured by achievements actually contemplated suicide. He says: Bismarck undoubtedly conteropuwea suicide as a rellet irom nw sufferings, the full extent of which was only known to those about hlm;.but be s restrained by pride. His own words to roe were: 'Peo ple wish me long life. It Is very kind of them. If they could take away my pains I would also consent to their wishes. But. as It Is, my duties now consist of washing, shaving and cut ting the nails of my hands and toes ana such matters. I have become a useless member of human society. Since I can no lon ger go out my pleasures have been re duced to the modest dimensions of a good glass of wine, which is too often forbidden to me now, and, again, a pinch of snuff. Should one wish to live longer thus? My good wife Is no onger with me. I am completely contented to die and long for Euthanasia, it is longer considered respeciaoie B..u moral for a man to put an end to a used-up life. It was different In class ical days. We have all read Cornelius Nepos and what he says about suicide. We have become more sentimental. If one were to end his life now the motive would be twisted, the wild est reports circulated. No one can blame me for not being able to do more. have had to give up political busi ness; the sight of the development of affairs furnishes no pleasure for me: have too long looked on agriculture . 1 It rillA as a minor empioynieuv my life know.' Then, after a pause, Bismarck said: People do not know what it Is to feel one's self slowly dying, and there are, In addition, the pains with their In numerable shades.' " A Novel Lunch. One of Philadelphia's wealthy young bachelors, who has most artistic rooms about a mile from the Philadelphia club, was surprised one afternoon by a call from a mother and daughter, twin especial friends on whom he waa anx ious to make a favorable Impression. yt course, he was glad to see them, but ihey had taken him unawares, and he reflected with a growing horror that ihere was not so much as a cracker to jffer. Being a man of wonderful mental . . i ,i , resources, a ongnt Kit a. u, rtruck him. Why not use dog biscuit? Ue had plenty of these, and they were lot aif unpalsftable, while If broken jp into tiny Judicial bits there waa very chance of their not being recog nized. They might even be mistaken :or the latest thing In biscuits. Deter mined to try It anyhow, the bachelor presently offered his guests some sherry with bits of dog biscuit, served upon a lalnty Sevresolate. It worked like a :harm, as the guefrts were visibly Im pressed with the new viand. They nib oled at It diligently. If with difficulty. ind aeked where It might be obtained. Upon this point the young man waa jnable to give any satisfaction. The olacuHs were, he said, a special Im portation of a friend of his, very costly and very rare, who had presented them to the bachelor, the latter, of course, inly serving them to his most honored ruests. The mother even asked If she could aot take a sample home with her; they were going abroad very soon, she said, and would so much love to match it n London or Paris. But this aspira tion the startled youth nipped In the jud by begging to be allowed to ob tain a boxful of the dainty article for :hem from his friend. A Youthful Gamblers Bribe. Little Francis Is only five years old as yet, but already he has a pretty clear jonceptlon of some of the ways of the world and Its methods of accomplish ng desired ends. Visiting at his grand father's house not long ago, one of his jncles taught him to match pennies, with the result that he wanted to keep an with this amusement day and night, Sunday and weekday alike. "Grandpa says we can't match pen- ales today," he weeplngly told one of the aforementioned uncles on a Sunday. "Oh, go and coax him a little, was the laughing rejoinder, "and I guess he'll give In and let us." And this was the Interpretation that Francis gave to the word "coax," to the horror of his strongly religious grand father: Grandpa," he said, gazing up Into his ancestor's face with beseeching ear nestness, "If you will let us match pen nies this afternoon I II give you half of all I win." A Snake Story. Charles Casey, Albert Baldwin, Oliver J. Default, Merl Nutting and Louis Fenlon, farmers living in the vicinity of Meadow Pond, Mass., organised a snake hunting party and went looking for the reptiles. The first place they struck was In an old well. The stone covering of the well was removed and a large number of snakes were teen crawling around. The killing was quickly begun and when finished seventeen Mack snakes, measuring about eighty feat altogether, were stretched on the sod. These men claim the championship fat fctlna. It Woroegiar oatuatf. ' t it iSWI""