A DANGEROUS GAME.
"Carl. I deal believe yoa truly love
Mildred Reynolds looked at her lav
« li* 1 archly. as ff she deled him to
say he did mac love her. half-pleading
ly as If she knsed for him to coat re
did him warmly.
Cx:l UaagkM* icddemed under her
f*s* What roasense. Mildred; of
•naive 1 lee* yon. Why else would I
emm a hundred miles to spend an
even ng with ywaT* he replied, a tnfie
lmpawmt|f.
J ien why " Mildred began bravely,
bo* she is turn Wared and looked em
karfsasd Swety Carl knew that she
Joaged 0 ask h.m way he had twice
' '0 r marriage. aad on this
v -jii wbea she had expected him to
ass ter to wst the day for the cere
mony. he had not done ao True, he
had wrought her a beautiful bracelet
ia4 Ea4 seemed affectionate aad lov
leg. yet somehow Mildred felt that
there sat something lacking la his ca
ress-*. aad that the fa** that he did
OM broach the subject which she had
hoped he would settle on this visit
vaguely alarmed her. For she loved
Carl deeply and was unhappy ia th«
home of a relative upoa she was part
ly dependent aad kmged to have a
home of her own.
Carl had said, the last time he had
visited her. that they would arrange
their plana fbr the future when hi
mat came, hut when Mildred had
made the remark that she did not be
!-eve he really lored her he was on thi
verge of departure, aad still had not
asked her to name the day wbicS
wo.id make them husband and wife
He mast have known what the que*
turn was she wished to ask. yet be dti
no* help her out. and so the question
died unasked upoa her lips, lasted
he turned suddenly to the clock. T*
have Jast time to make my train.’* b*
said, hurriedly, "so goodby. my sweet
heart. Give me a kiss, and take goo
r*r* of > oneself, for my sake,** so ten
drrty that for a time all doubts as t<
his fidelity were dismissed from Mil
dred's heart. Galy for a time, bow
ever, for while his farewell kiss wu;
Still warm cm her tips the question re
turned to her mind :
'Why dor* not Cart.if he really loves
bk sod wants me to be his wife, claim
me for his own? Perhaps be is grow
ls to k»ve some one else. 1 believe
1 am strong enough to bear it if it is
trae—better to know now than when
H is too late—and uncertainty is hard
to bear. 1 mast find out. and If it is
true that he no longer loves me as he
did 1 will release him. But it I have
wronged him by my doubts. 1 will
atone by giving h.m added love and
affection *
Cart's mother had often sent her kind
message*, and had also sent by Carl
some very beautiful table linen for
Mildred to embroider for use after her
maniac*. She knew that Mrs. l<aog
lois was her friend, although they had
t< »*r met. and determined to go to t- •
her and discover whether Carl bad con
fided in her any change in his desire
to marry Mildred. She shrank from
the trial, yet felt It must be made for
the sake of her future happiness Ac
cordingly a few days after Carl’s visit
she took a trip to his home, arriving
there as she had planned, when Carl
was absent at his business. When she
introduced hers* If to Mrs. Langlois she
was warmly gre-ted. hot when she told
the object of her visit her host was
visibly surprised and disconcerted
-My dear child." she exclaimed,
-there must be a mistake somewhere
Carl assured me only yesterday that
you kept putting him off whenever he
mentioned your marriage. 1 cannot
understand It"
“1 can. Mrs. 1-anglois.” said Mildred,
proudly. “Your won has grown tired of
me and Is seeking in some way to free
himself But. thank heaven, his fet
ter* are not yet riveted and are easily
broken. I will release him from an
engagement which Is no longer a pleas
ure to him "
“My denr. denr Mildred." begged his
mother, “do not speak so bitterly. 1
am sure there is worn* mlaunderstaai
itog"
Mildnad had turned very pale, and aa
ocerwheimiag torkrtka that Carl was
fh\m~ to her mine upon her with crusb
1LC force, hnt she ramwod up cour
age to face the truth.
We mrrnm And out* 'she aaid. very
g.*atly, far the mother'* distress was
a so very grant. - whether he la atten
tive to sonrr one else Have you ever
noticed hta taking pleasure in the ao
c.ctj of any glii here""
“Oh. no." Mrs I-anglols replied has
tily; hut suddenly her face changed
-Surely " she aaid. as If to herself, “he
c3uaot care for Marion Reed? And
yet. bow that my mind Is drawn is it.
1 hate noticed him often with her
Bat Marlon is such a gay little flirt .and
then she knew of Carl's engage
BUMit **
“Ah!" Mildred said gnlrkly, “that la
not enough to keep some girls from
trying to win away a man's love. It
may he that she has drawn him away
hm aw. But we must make sura, my
dear friend—tor I feel that you are my
frteod—and If it is true I will willing
fcr give him ap to her If It la for his
They arranged It that Mildred s pres
ence In the house should he kept a se
cret from Carl and that his mother at
mealtime should question him in a way
SM to arouse hit suspicious; so. aa the
1
wro sat alone at dinner, Mrs. Langlols
carelessly said:
‘•What a charming girl Marion Reed
la. Carl!”
"Isn't she, mother?" Ire cried enthu
siastically. "Do you know she quite
fascinates me?”
"Carl.” his mother said gravely,
"that Is not the way for a man soon
to be married to another Woman-”
"Pshaw, mother!” Carl exclaimed,
impatiently, "you know t told you Mil
dred would never set the day, and we
may never be married at all.”
"Ychi are right, Mr. Langlols,” said
Mildred, who had been unable to re
sist the temptation of listening un
seen; “you are right. We never will
be married. You are quite welcome to
ask the fascinating Miss Reed to be
your wife. Tor I am henceforth a stran
ger to you."
Before Carl could recover from his
astonishment she was gone, and as her
train wa* Just ready to depart she was
out of bis reach, and the passionate
protests of affection which he was pre
pared to make, the promises of future
fidelity, were never uttered.
Now that he had lost her. Mildred
appeared to Carl as a precious treasure
which he would give anything to pos
sess. The attractions of Marion Reed
paled into insignificance and he took
the next train in pursuit of Mildred,
hoping that be could win her back.
But once assured of the flaws of her
.dol Mildred had cast him out of her
heart, and though it was sore it was
not broken, because she realized his
unworthiness. She refused to see Carl
and returned his letters unread. With
in a week, mortified at his rejection,
he had offered himself to Marion Reed.
"Why. you're going to marry some
girl in Lawrence." she replied, opening
her blue eyes wide.
"No, I am not.” he said, shortly. “I
am going to marry you if you will
have me.”
' Well, I won't.” replied the pretty
flirt, decidedly. “I was only amusing
mjself with you. my dear boy. 1 hope
your heart is not broken," she added,
mockingly, for rumors of the true state
of affairs had reached her ears.
"Flirting is sometimes a dangerous
came, my friend, especially if there is
a jealous sweetheart at the other end
of the line.” she announced laughing
: ly. And with her mocking laughter
ringing in his ears Carl Langlois walk
! ed away to repent of his folly, by which
he had lost that greatest of gifts—a
women's love.—The Columbian.
F. E. CHURCH'S WORK.
Holed r*ioiln(i bjr I.ameuted American
Artist.
The death of Frederick Edwin
Church, the veteran landscape painter,
removed a well-known figure in art
life of this country, better remembered
perhaps by a past generation than by
the younger set. He was born in Hart
ford. Conn., May 4. 1826. His talent
for art was prominent and in early
life he determined to adopt art as a
profession and placed himself under
the instruction of Thomas Cole, and
resided with him in the Catskills. He
soon became well known as a land
scape painter, and critics awarded him
praise for his accuracy of drawing
and vivid appreciation of nature. He
spent a short time in Switzerland, and
in 1833 visited South America to study
the picturesque scenery. “The Heart
of tbi Andes,” which created a great
-‘•nsatton. was first exhibited in 1839,
and was bought by the late William
T. Blodgett. Other well-known works
painted about the same period are
"The Andes of Ecuador,” “Cotapaxi,”
now at the I,enox library. “Chinbor
azo.” His "View of Niagara Falls,”
now in the Corcoran art gallery,
Washington. D. C.f is recognized as
the first satisfactory production by art
of this wonderful piece of nature; it
won a prize at the French exhibition
in 1*67. Another painting of “Magra"
was painted for A. T. Stewart in 1866,
the price paid for it by Mr. Stewart
•eing $12,000. In 1878 he was again
represented at the French capital with
two pictures. “Morning in the Tropics”
and “The Parthenon." He traveled
extensively in this country and abroad,
studying nature end giving to the
world numerous productions of a high
character. A number of his works are
owned in England, one of his principal
works being “Icebergs,” which was
purchased by Sir Edward Watson, M.
P.. London. His wife died about a
year ago. * wo sons and a daughter
survive him.
Ill* Fm Not If la Fortune.
On one of the northern lines there
was an old gentleman who had trav
eled between the same stations for
years, and was consequently known
by all the porters at the stations. As
he used a "season.” he very seldom
carried his ticket. One day an in
spector who wa*s new to the district,
was examining all tickets. Going up
to the old gentleman, he said: “Tick
et. sir, please?* “My face is my tick
et." was the reply. "Well,” said the
Inspector, baring a brawny arm. “my
orders are to punch all tickets.”—
London Answers.
Bottera HU Chtnrr.
"Why do you i&eist on your son’s be
J coming a lawyer” asked a friend.
“I’v«. tnade a will leaving him all my
money." was the answer. "It seems to
me that if be is a lawyer himself he
•rill stand a better chance of getting
some of it/’—Washington Star.
Hack la Fame.
Citizen—Off*sherl can you (hie) tell
me where I ibic) live? I’m (hie)
Senator Bigboddy. you know. Officer—
What’s yer cook's name? Citizen—
; Mary Ann (hie) O'Brady. Officer—
Four blocks down and two doors to
j yer right—Judge.
A Woman** (Jartlion.
"I see.” he remarked, as he looked
up from his paper, "that the British
have recovered their battery of guns.”
j "What was it covered with the drst
time.dear?” she sweetly asked.—Cleve
land Plain Dealer.
('Scoring Answer.
Lieutenant—I am going to the front,
after all. She—0. I am so glad. It’s
so much more Interesting reading the
lists of killed and wounded when you
know soma one at the front—Judy. ’
THE BOER SOLDIERJ
A HIGH TRIBUTE TO THEIR
HUMANITY,
tngllah Correspondent'* Graceful Ap
preciation of Their 'Klndae**—Taken
Prisoner and Treated In a Chrletlaa
Manner While la Their Banda,
H. Hales,a correspondent of the Lon
don Daily News, who was wounded
and taken prisoner by the Boers, pays
a high tribute to the humanity and
kindness of the latter. Hnles and an
Australian named Lambic were en
deavoring to escape from a Boer pa
trol when they were fired upon anl
bot h were hit In describing the affair
Hales said:
“Suddenly something touched me on
the right temple; it was not like a
blow; it was not a shock; for half a
second I was conscious. I knew I was
hit; knew that the reins had fallen
from my nerveless hands; knew that
I was lying down upon the horse’s
back and my head hanging below his
throat. Then all the world went out
in one mad whirl. Earth and heaven
seemed to meet as if by magic. My
horse seemed to rise with me, not to
fall and then—chaos.
“When next I knew I was Still on
this planet I found myself in the saddle
again, riding between two Boers, who
were supporting me In the saddle as I
swayed from side to side. There w-a* a
halt; a man with a kindly face took my
head in the hollow of his arm while
another poured water down my throat.
Then they carried me to a shady spot
beneath some shrubbery and laid me
gently down. One man bent over nu
and washed the blood that had diied
on my face and then carefully bound
up my wounded temple. I began to see
things more plainly—a blue sky above
me; a group of rough, hardy men, all
armed with rifles, around me. I saw
that I was a prisoner, and when I
tried to move I soon knew I was dam
aged.
1 he same good looking young iei
low with the curly beard bent over me
again. ‘Feel any better now’, old fel
low?* I stared hard at the speaker.for
he spoke like an Englishman and a
well-educated fellow. ‘Yes, I'm better.
I am a prisoner, ain’t I?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Are
you an Englishman?’ I asked. lie
laughed. ‘Not I,’ he said. ‘I'm a Boer
born and bred, and I am the man who
bowled you over. What on earth made
you do such a fool's trick as to try
and ride from our rifles at that dis
tance?’ ‘Didn’t think I was welcome
in these parts.’ 'Don’t make a jest cf
it. man,’ the Boer said, gravely; ‘rather
thank God you are a living man this
moment. It was His hand that saved
you; nothing else could have done so.’
He spoke reverently; there was no
cant in the sentiment he uttered—his
face was too open, too manly, too fear
less. for hypocrisy. ‘How long is it
since I was knocked over?’ ‘About
three hours.’ ‘Is my comrade dead?*
‘Quite dead,’ the Boer replied: ‘death
came instantly to him; he was shot
through the brain.’ ‘Poor beggar,’ 1
muttered: ‘and he’ll have to rot on
the open veldt, I suppose?’
“Th* Boer leader's face flushed an
grily. ’«o you take us for savages?’
he ask»^ ‘Rest easy; your friend will
get decxfct burial. What was his
rank?’ ‘War correspondent.’ ‘And
your own?’ ’War correspondent, also.
My papers are in my pocket, some
where.’ ‘Sir,’ said the Boer leader, ‘you
dress pxactly like twro British officers;
you ride out with a fighting party; you
try to ride off at a gallop under the
very muzzles of our rifles when w’e
tell you to surrender. You can blame
no one but yourselves for this day's
work.’ ‘I blame no man; I played the
game and am paying the penalty.’ ”
Mr. Hales adds: “I have made it my
business to get about among the pri
vate soldiers to question them con
cerning the treatment they have re
ceived since the moment the Mauser
rifles tumbled them over, and I say
emphatically that in every instance
our countrymen declare they have been
grandly treated. Not by the hospital
nurses only; not by the officials alone,
but by the very men whom they were
fighting.”
Beat* the Yerkes Telescope.
Up to the present time Chicago has
been able to boast the largest tele
scope in the world—that at the Yerkes
observatory at Lake Geneva. But
the monster telescope at the Paris ex
position. which will bring the moon
within thirty-six miles, is three times
the length qf the Yerkes telescope. It
is 197 feet long, 5 feet in diameter and
weighs twenty-one tons. The lenses,
the largest ;in existence, measure over
forty-nine inches in diameter and
weigh 1,320 pounds. It is because of
the difficulty in the way of making
these monster lenses that the world
has waited until the close of the nine
teenth century ior such an instrument.
The process of making big lenses has
for nearly two centuries been a most
jealously guarded monopoly of Paris.
There is <anJy one manufacturer of
them In tire world. M. Mantois, the di
rect successor of Guinaux, who, it is
claimed, invented the process at the
beginning of the present century,
*hr«wd Strategy of an Eagle.
A strange story comes from Susque
hanna county, Pa. According to a
veracious correspondent three wildcats
at Fiddle Lake attacked a big eagle,
which is wintering among the trees in
a hemlock grove near the lake. Al
though attacked from thi*ee points, the
bird gallantly held its own and slew
two of the wildcats. This is the way
he did it: Singling out one of the cats
the eagle grasped It tightly by the
neck, burying his talons deep in the
flesh; then, rising almost perpendicu
larly for about 100 feet, allowed his
prisoner to drop on a ledge of rocks.
Two falls killed the first victim, but
three were required to get away with
the second. The survivor, seeing the
fate of his companions, flew down the
mountain side.—Pittsburg Dispatch..
A Definition.
Willie—Pa, what's the difference be
tween "insurance” and "assurance”?
Pa—Well, the latter is what the
agent has, and the former is what he
tries to sell you.—Philadelphia Press.
THE WORM TURNED.
Story of m Mam Who Cultivated a Nice
DtapoMltloo.
"Do you see that woman going ontT’
said the man In the dry goods house
whose business it Is to make things
"all right” with dissatisfied customers.
"She’s only one of ’em. I have a score
or more every day. She's kicking about
a dress. We've altered it twice, and
she still thinks It doesn’t quite fit her
in the back. It's a hard job to look
pleasant and be perennially agreeable,
and I never knew but one man who
could do it He was the ‘complaint
man’ in a big store—a friend of mine
—and he held the place for twenty
[ years. He never failed to say the right
thing and was the most perfect ‘jolly’
that ever was. He knew how to com
pliment a woman as to form and com
plexion in a way that never was equal
ed. His smile was the envy of all the
salesmen in the place. It had a win
ning sweetness about it that was sim
ply irresistible and never failed to van
quish the most desperate kicker. One
day an uncle of my friend died and
left him $40,000. A few moments after
the news reached my friend an old pa
tron of the store came in—a woman
who for years had been noted as a
kicker, but whom it had been my
friend’s duty and pleasure to make sat
isfied with her purchases. She had
a bonnet in her hand and was kicking
about the shape, the trimmings and
everything in a way that was calcu
lated to carry terror to the stoutest
heart. ‘So,’ said my friend, ‘you don't
like this bonnet. You don't like any
thing about it. Well, I don’t blame
you. It don’t suit you in any way. and
it can’t be made to suit you. Of course
it can’t. And there’s no bonnet on
earth that can be made to suit such a
pig-faced, disagreeable woman as you
are, anyway.’ He had repressed his
natural feeling for twenty years, but
the worm that had been trodden upon
through two decades turned at last. He
then put on his hat, and the place that
had known him so long knew him no
more forever.”—Ex.
| PICTURESQUE CORFU.
Quaint Legends In the Pretty Ionian
Isle.
Corfu is one of the most charming
of the Ionian isles. Notwithstanding
its surroundings the inhabitants are
neither good sailors nor fishermen, but
given to athletic sports and target
shooting, says the New York Tribune,
j Superstitions and legends abound and
a long rock is always shown to strang
ers with the explanation that it is the
ship of Ulysses turned to stone by Nep
tune as it was returning from Ithaca.
With a climate equal to that of Sicily
and much like that of Malta, the town
of Corfu is popular as a winter resort.
; Careless as the natives are about gath
ering the olives, these still yield a
goodly quantity of oil, which, beside
salt, is their only export. A traveler
marvels to find the most primitive ap
pliances still in use. The ovens are
mere domes of brick or clay and on
their doors, which are only rough
stones, a red cross is painted. This
same sign is found on many of the
doors of the houses. Oil lamps of brass
and silver, or of bronze with open res
ervoir and in the most fantastic and
' graceful shapes, are still in common
use. Bread is baked and clothes are
washed in the fashion of a hundred
years ago, vet the former is palatable
! and the latter are redolent with lemon
peel and laurel leaves. A pretty sight
is a Corfu fete beneath the pale green
olive trees. Men and women in pic
turesque costumes, with graceful move
ments, wind in and out of the mazes
of their national dances, to the music
of violins, tambourines and guitars. A
Greek funeral is a grewsome sight. The
body is carried to the grave in an open
coffin, the face being visible to every
passer-by. At the house waiters, some
of them gifted at improvising, recite
in prose or verse the virtues of the
dead and the sorrow of the friends.
TrlaU of Realism.
“Sc—prl—zwm—xlkyqg—hbdhbjmrk
qzzxmx—pst-” The author sat at
his desk with the perspiration pour
ing from his brow like the far-famed
falls of Lodore. His matted hair
slapped round his head at each move
ment like a hastily wrung dishcloth.
He was wilting a realistic novel. The
day was warm. It was a dreadful and
exhaustive job, but being realistic it
had to be done to the life. He started
again. “Ggggc—vvwg@c)tNJ !px|vgb
—unfortunate wretch that I am!” The
author could be distinctly seen melt
ing away under the hot fire of the
terrific undertaking. He made an
other supreme effort. “Kt—kt—kt—
klk—klk—tk—tk—tk-H” “It*ll have
to do,” he soliloquized under his
breath, “ft’s the best I can do unless
I compromise with ‘Get iupT—but no,
never!” He was endeavoring to write
on paper the Bound made to a horse to
accelerate Us speed. Such—such are
the trials of realism!—Stray Stories.
BmllMt K»»r Mad#.
Stephen M. Van Allen of Jamaica,an
expert shot with rifle or revolver, has
received as a gift the smallest revolver
ever made. It is only an inch long and
is perfect In every detail. It is self
acting and the chambers hold six cart
ridges. The bullets are about the size
of the head of a large pin. The cart
ridges possess sufficient power to send
the bullets through a half-inch pine
board. Mr. Van Allen has tested the
little weapon and found it accurate. It
was given to him by a friend who ob
tained it abroad.—New York Sun.
_*_
Texas Street Car Deo UI on.
An ordinance requiring any person
“riding or driving” on a street “to
check up. or even halt, if necessary,”
on approaching a crossing, so as not to
obstruct, hinder or endanger pedestri
ans, is held, in Citizens’ R. Co. vs. Ford
(Tex.), 46 L. R. A. 457, to have no ap
plication to a street car operated by
electricity.
Perhaps He Saw Doable.
He—Yes, I know' two men I thor
oughly admire. She—Indeed! Who’s
the other one?—Stray Stories.
The only way to meet the influence
of Satan is by prayer to God.—Rev.
D. A. Blose, Congregationalist, Akron,
Ohio.
HUNTING OSTRICHES.
EXCITING SFORT ON THE PAM
PAS.
The Chase Is at Timas Dangerous to
Life and Limb, Bat Fall of Fas
cination — Great Agility of the
Birds,
In South America as in Africa, the
ostrich is common and yearly great
quantities of feathers are exported to
the United States. The “rhea,” or
South African ostrich, however, differs
from the African bird in having its
head and neck completely featered, in
being tailless, and having three toes
instead of two. It may be found in
large numbers in the Argentine and
Uruguay republics, and in the country
extending from Bolivia, Paraguay and
Brazil as far south as the Straits of
Magellan. Its home is on the “pam
pas,” or plains, sometimes on open
ground, and more often near cover of
grass and stunted undergrowth. Since
the birds are wild and wary and their
feathers are in demand, methods have
been adopted to catch them, and these
methods are at the same time a busi
ness and the most exciting sort of
sport.
A powerful horse in condition to
stand hard riding and long abstinence
from water is the first consideration in
ostrich hunting. The course is both an
noying and dangerous, for, though the
chase is on level ground, with no
fences to fear, the rhea takes at once
to the “pajas,” or high grass. This is
not only a hindrance in itself, but con
ceals innumerable holes, made by
ground hogs and moles, that are a con
stant menace to life and limb. Yet,
on a clear day, in the bracing South
American climate, with plenty of
game speeding before over a country
with an undulation like the ocean, no
more exhilarating sport than the chase
of the South American ostrich could
be asked for. The most effective hunt
is that followed by the Indians or
Gauchos. They use the “bolas,” or
balls, three pieces of stone, lead or
heavy hardwood, made round and cov
ered with rawhide. These balls are at
tached to thongs of the same material
which are joined together in the cen
ter. When all is ready the Indians
mount their horses and approach the
game in a large semi-circle, riding
against the wind, for the ostrich is
keen of scent, and once he suspects
the presence of a man is off like Light
ning.
When birds are sighted the riders
swing the bolas around their heads
with great rapidity, their horses all
the while going at full gallop, and
when within range hurl them at the
game, entangling their legs, wings or
neck, and tripping it, or stunning it if
hit on the head or any sensitive spot.
It is wonderful to see the natives rise
in their saddles when at full speed,
swing the balls and hit the mark,
sometimes at a distance of eighty
yards. If one bird is brought down
the rest seem to become panic stricken
and, instead of escaping, remain near
their fallen companion. In this way a
score of them may be killed on one
spot.
To the man who loves hunting, for
sake of the chase alone, horses and
greyhounds appeal more. It is a
sportsmanlike race, where the game
has a chance for its life. It is very
like fox hunting, except that the os
trich is swifter, if anything, and em
ployes even more dodges than a fox.
For instance, where the hunters are
pressing close on the game, ard it
would seem that the dogs were about
to capture it, the bird takes advan
tage of the last breath of air, raises
one wing slightly, uses it as a sail, and
running slantwise against the breeze,
vanishes from sight like a leaf in a
whirlwind. If by any chance the
breeze dies out and the hunters again
feel sure of their ostrich, the latter
doubles like a fox, and so quickly and
so suddenly that the dogs pass beyond,
making the hunt long drawn out, dif
ficult and exciting.
Though game laws have been passed
prohibiting the killing of ostriches
during the breeding season, little, if
any attention is paid to them. It is
estimated that from 300,000 to 500,000
birds are slaughtered annually, a num
ber which has not only thinned out
the species to a great extent, but
promises in time to -extinguish it al
together. The only remedy for this in
a country where law is ineffective
would be to establish ostrich farms,
similar to those in Africa and Califor
nia.
Nor is the ostrich hunted for Its
feathers alone. Its flesh is agreeable,
somewhat resembling mutton, and
omelet made of the eggs, or rather sev
eral omelets made of one egg. possess
a delicious flavor. Consequently egg
hunting is almost as much of a sport
as ostrich hunting. Several hens lay
in one nest, which sometimes holds
from tweleve to twenty-five eggs. The
cock often hatches the eggs, and if
disturbed during the operation be
comes very dangerous, not hesitating
to attack with his legs a man on horse
back.
Who’i Whof
At last the hotel clerk permitted the
guest on the far side of the counter to
speak to him. "May I inquire,” said
the guest diflidently, "who that mod
est gentleman was you were talking
to a moment ago?” "Cert,” replied
the clerk; "that was the old man.”
“And who is the old man, pray?” “The
owner of the house, of course.” “Is
that so?” was the astonished remark.
“Well, I never w'ould have thought he
was.” “Why not?” “Because I was so
dead sure in my mind that you owned
the whole shebang.”—Detroit Free
Press.
Much Like Demosthenes.
"Woman,” he said, "really ought to
be a better orator than man.” “Why
so?” she asked. “Because,” he replied,
"to a certain extent she at least fol
lows the methods of that far-famed
orator, Demosthenes.” "In what way?”
she inquired,still busy with the finish
ing touches of hei toilet. “You re
member,” he answered, “that Demos
thenes used to practice talking with
his mouth full of pebbles.” She hastily
took the pins from out her mouth and
informed him that he was a mean old
thing, anyway.—Chicago Post.
QUEER SPOT IN NEW YORK.
Bunch of Wooded Shanties Called “Sun*
ken Villa**.'*
There are some queer spots in this
city, unusual places that one would
not dream existed in the metropolis
of tho western hemisphere. One of
them is “Sunken Village,” which is
bounded by Sixty-second and Sixty
first streets and Central Park West. It
consists of eight shanties situated on a
track of land about 15 feet below the
level of the surrounding streets. A
high board fence incloses the “village”
on all sides, and behind it the villagers
eat and sleep, work and play, live and
die, undisturbed by the gaze of the
curious. The shanties were construct
ed of boards, but they have been
patched and thatched till but little of
the original material of which they
were built remains. Just how long the
shanties have been there no one seems
to know. In the days of the old
Bloomingdale road the “village” was
proportionately as far from the city
as Mount Vernon is now. In those
days the settlement contained inns and
resorts of various kinds, and driving
parties gathered there to pass a merry
evening undisturbed. The city grew
apace, and in taking a mighty leap
passed over “Sunken Village” and for
got that it had been left behind. The
surrounding country was filled and
graded, but “Sunken Village” remained
at its original level. Many years ago
Messrs. I. and S. Wormer purchased
the tract of land on which the “vil
tage” stands and have been holding
it till they could sell at the price at
which they value it. The price has
never yet been offered, and so “Sunken
Village” still stands, an alien to the
times, an alien to its surroundings.”
—New York Times.
COUNTERFEITING PICTURES.
The Paris Exposition Is Expected to
Bring Plenty of Victims.
There is no doubt that the counter
feiters of paintings by well known ar
tists are hard at work in anticipation
of the rush of half-informed picture
buyers to the Paris exposition, says
the Art Amateur. One well-known pic
ture dealer informs us that Brussels
and Amsterdam are full of spurious
old masters, and he instances the case
of a picture sold by him about a year
ago which has turned up in the former
city bearing a name more famous than
that of its author and priced at ten
times the amount for which he had
sold it From another source we
learn that two of the most famous fals
ifiers of pictures in Europe. Gatti and
Vogli. are rushed with orders for their
specialties, among which they now in
clude pictures which are expected to
pass for the work of the late Alfred
Sisley. The London picture factories
are turning out old English paintings
by the dozen, and the unscrupulous
buyer may obtain Sir Joshuas, Gains
boroughs and Romneys for £10 to £20
apiece. An expert appraiser for the
New York custom house tells us that
he saw there lately three dozen false
Monticellis and other pictures on the
same day. Everything that will bring
a good price is being counterfeited. A
certain American artist, of somewhat
inflated reputation, is proudly going
about announcing that he is among
the victims. This is, of course, a meth
od of self-advertising, like the periodi
cal robberies of actresses’ jewels, but
we have every reason to believe that
the painter's claim is true.—Chicago
News.
A Little Hero.
The other day Herman Cruts, a 16
year-old boy employed at $1.08 a day to
repair frogs and tracks on the Lacka
wanna railroad tracks at Paterson. N.
J., was struck by a switch engine and
hurled to the earth unconscious, with a
crushed right arm. His earnings had
been the chief support of a widowed
mother and four brothers and sisters,
of whom the eldest is 15. the youngest
3. “We’ll have to amputate your arm,”
said the surgeons when Herman got
his senses. '“For heaven’s sake, try to
save it.” he begged. “What will moth
er and the children do if I cannot work
for them?” Here was heroism that re
quires no roll of drum or blare of bu
gle to stimulate. In the midst of the
awful agony of physical pain the agony
of the mind predominated. His solici
tude was not for himself—the loved
ones at home were first in his
thoughts. Here is true bravery, the
nobility of heroism, if ever it existed.
Wire* of Koer Fighters.
The wives of the Boers are playing
as important a part in the war in
South Africa as did the famous female
defenders of Aix-la-Chapelle in the
Middle Ages. They die in the trenches
bestde their husbands, rifle in hand, or
fight on when the men have fallen. In
the storm and stress of battle, the men
have dominated it, almost to the ex
clusion of a thought of,the women, ex
cept collectively, which is not the way
to think of women, while the individ
ual men of the Boer army have, by the
very force of circumstances, stood con
spicuously out. Yet the womanhood
of all nations, vibrating emotivnally in
sympathy, can attune itself in sympa
thetic thought with those sturdy Dutch
dames who are making such a struggle
for their country.
Fumigation In Honolulu.
The authorities of Honolulu have
adopted the most heroic methods to
suppress the epidemic, it now being the
rule that whenever a case occurs in
a frame building (which it is impos
sibl to thoroughly disinfect) it is con
demned with all its contents and burn
ed to the ground. The consequence of
this is that fires occur two or three
times a week.
Cincinnati a Sporting City.
It may be said of Cincinnati that it is
not only the Queen city, but literally
the queen of clubs, having within the
corporate limits more than 100 organi
zations devoted to shooting, fishing
and outdobr recreations.
Something Saved.
“Are you putting anything by for a
rainy day?" “Yes; every bright day
I postpone lots ol work."—Chicago
Record.
WEDDED WITHOUT A PREACHER
Unique Marriage of a Quaker Couple at
Pasadena. Cal.
Pasadena (Cal.) special correspond
ence Chicago Chronicle: William F.
Michener and Mrs. Mary V. Miller,
both of this city, last week married
themselves without the aid of any
preacher and without even having pre
viously secured a certificate. Their
marriage must be recognized by the
law, too. It was the first marriage of
the kind which was ever solemnized
in the state of California, according
to the claim made by the parties. It
was under the law of the Quaker
church, originated by George Fox, the
founder of the Quaker church in Eng
land 250 years ago. Several other
states of the union, after a strong ef
fort had been made, recognized this
form of ceremony, and in 1897, through
the efforts of Senator C. M. Simpson,
California legalized it. The groom
did not have to procure a license. On
Saturday, Feb. 17, the bride and groom
informed the Quaker church that they
contemplated marriage. A committee
was appointed to see that there were
no obstacles. Thirty days later the
committee reported that there was
none. The couple then informed the
church that they were still in the
same mind and another committee was
appointed by the congregation to see
that the ceremony was properly per
formed. Half-past 10 in the morning
was the time set. At the close of a
prayer service the bride and groom
stepped before the congregation, fac
ing the groom's brother,Dr. J. C. Mieb
ener, a prominent physician, who was
the first waiter or groomsman. Prof,
and Mrs. I. N. Vail, the nearest rela
tives of the bride, were her attendants.
The couple joined their right hands
and the groom said: “Friends, in the
presence of the Lord and before this
assembly, I take Mary V. Miller to be
my wife, promising with divine assist
ance to be unto her a loving am.
faithful husband until death shall sep
arate us.” The bride repeated this for
mula and they inscribed their names
upon a certificate reading: “William F.
Michener and Mary V. Miller of the
county of Ix>s Angeles, state of Cali
fornia, having made known their in
tentions of marriage with each other
in a public meeting of Friends held in
Pasadena this 21st day of March, in
the year of our Lord 1900, declared that
in the presence of our Lord they took
each other for husband and wife. And
as a further confirmation thereof they
did then and there in this presence
subscribe their names, she, according
to the custom and marriage, accepting
the name of her husband.” The wit
nesses signed the certificate. There
; was no ring and no music.
1 _
FOWLS ATTACK A LIGHT.
Keepers of Hog Island Light Hoase Kilt
Many Geese and Ducks.
One of the keepers of the Hog island
light on the Virginia coast relates
a remarkable experience with wild
fowls at that light one night recently.
Between 7 and 8:30 p. m., the watch
on duty was aroused by the “honking”
o^ wild geese and brant, accompanied
by the crash of breaking glass. He
hastily summoned the other keepers,
who responded with shotguns. They
opened fire on the bewildered birds
with every gun. The battle lasted for
an hour and a half. The guns got so
hot that it was dangerous to use them
and the shoulders of the men became
sore from the recoil. The supply of
ammunition gave out and the fight
ended. In the morning there were
sixty-three dead brant, geese, and
ducks at the foot of the tower. On the
following Saturday morning the tower
was again attacked by the birds. There
being no stock of cartridges on the
island, the guns were useless, but the
keepers fought with sticks and cap
tured 150 fowls, when a flock, appar
ently containing thousands, rushed
upon them. They were compelled to
seek shelter within the tower. So
powerful was the flight of the fright
ened geese that the wire screens were
penetrated, the light in the watch
room extinguished, and the panes in
three windows destroyed. These fowl
had taken wing because of the severe
weather prevailing upon their feeding
grounds and were blinded by the in
tense glare of the powerful light in
the top of the tower. Hog island light
marks one of the most dangerous
shoals on the Virginia coast. It is an
iron tower and stands 180 feet above
mean high water. It is a first class
light aad can be seen from the bridge
of a steamer a distance of twenty-five
miles.
Make Way far the Ladle*.
“Whenever I meet a wagon or a car
riage on the road driven by a woman,"
said a horse owner to a Washington
Star man, “I give an extra grip to the
reins, brace nay feet, hold my breath
and watch her like a hawk. Why?
Because there is not in a woman’s na-»
ture that element that goes to make
up a driver, and they are just as likely
to pull the right rein as the left. The
fair sex have discovered that by pull
ing at a horse’s mouth he can be made
to move more rapidly. This is because
the short, quick jerks that a woman
gives, accompanied usually by a sharp
•Get up!’ hurt the animal’s mouth, and
he moves for relief. But most all of
them drive that way and always will.
The oniy exceptions are those who
have been taught by professional driv
ers in a riding school or on the road."
Mist Uonld'a Letter*.
, Miss Helen Gould, in a single week,
recently received requests for financial
assistance which aggregated $1,548,000.
The requests for loans amounted to
$166,000; requests to raise mortgages,
$77,500; to aid churches to the amount
of $56,900; a plan to equip a colony In
Cuba would need $1,000,000; girls de
sired money towards their trousseaux,
and one asked for a house, then she
could marry at once. One poor woman
offered to exchange a valuable ring
for $1,200 in cash, and another offered
a brooch for $600; thirty-two requested
to have interviews, another wanted
air pillows ftjr an entire regiment of
soldiers, and eighteen of the letters
were evidently from cranks.
The world's births amount to 36.
792,000 every year, 100,800 every day,
4,500 every hour. 70 every minute, or
one and a fraction every second.