ea
sp
Nowhere in the narratives of the
wild, uncouth, adventuresome life of
ihe Western gold fields will one find
an instance so lacking the romance of
temperament and yet. in its plain,
solitary facts, so peculiarly glamoured
with romance, as the exploit these
girls gre experiencing.
The young women themselves—Miss
Madge Pickier, daughter of ex-Con
gressman J. A. Pickier, of Faulkton, S.
D., *and Miss Grace Kepford, of the
same town—smile over any polite in
quisitiveness as to their abandonment
of society, saying quite recently that,
though the sheer fascination of min
ing overcame them at first, they now
look upon their undertaking as a cold,
hard business proposition. But they
assert with emphasis that cannot be
paistaken that they intend to keep on
digging, digging, till they make a
‘‘strike,” and they firmly believe they
will “pan’\a pile of money.
A little more that\ a year ago these
girls were about to leave St. Louis,
after a round winter of social affairs.
Where should they go for the spring
and summer? They got down maps
and talked over tours and visits and
itineraries, and finally decided to
spend a month or so, anyway, “doing”
Colorado.
Presently they were sightseeing in
the Cripple Creek region, making jour
neys from their quarters at Colorado
Springs. In one of these little trips
they came upon St. Peter’s Dome,
about thirty miles from the Cripple
Creek gold fields.
Everybody out there was talking
•old! Gold! Gold! Why, thought
Miss Pickier, would it not be a good
idea to stake a claim on St. Feter’s?
There couldn’t possibly be any harm
hi that. And, then, suppose the claim
should turn out to be a “find.”
Miss Kepford agreed enthusiastic
ally.
Straightway, with the kindly assist
ance of old John Cameron, a veteran
prospector, the girls took two claims
high up on the mountain side. Miss
Pickier named hers “Kinnickinnick,”
and Miss Kepford’s was called the
“Grace.” Then they complied with
the requirements of the law and went
home and told their parents and
friends about it.
Mr. Pickier smiled upon his daugh
ter amusedly. He thought it was a
pretty good joke, but he assured her
that if she were serious about her
claim he would see her through with
it.
Month*. passed. The claim lay. un
worked, unguarded—except by old
John Cameron—“Uncle” John, the
girls call him now. Jumpers came
several times and sought to tako pos
session, but were driven away.
Then, a month or so ago. when the
girls heard that their property was
drawing attention, they put their
heads together secretly and made up
their minds to—“To do what?” Mr.
Pickier asked his daughter, wondering
what was coming next.
“Why,” she , replied, decisively,
“Grace and I are going to pack up and
camp out on St. Peter's Dome. We're
going to get some tents and things to
to cook with, and settle down and dig
for gold.”
Mr. Pickier held his breath a while
in astonishment. Was his daughter
going out of her head? What did all
this business mean?”
She qaplained her. plans. She knew
what she was likely to face in a some
what rural district, but she would
have her chum, Grace Kepford, and
she would have, too, a good, robust
looking Winchester, which Mr. Pickier
knew she was able to use, without
fear or trembling, in emergency.
So the girls put away all their fine
clothes, collected a big camp outfit—
two tents, stove, full equipment of
axes and picks and1 shovels and—
pitched camp on the side of St. Pe
ter’s, on the Kinnickinnick claim.
To-day a visitor arriving at Cam
eron’s Camp would find a shafthouse
and two tents nearby. At the head of
the shaft would'probably be a girl in
sombrero, blouse of coarse material
and a leather skirt reaching to the
tops of leather leggins—and under the
sombrero a tanned face and clear,
penetrating eyes.
She is Mlss’Pickler. Down the drift,
or shaft, as it h* called in the gold
fields, the stranger could see Grace
Kepford, Miss Pickler’s “pardner,”
busy with a pick and shovel, and be
side her two “hands”—two men the
girls took on in their zeal to “strike it
rich quik.”
The other day, when a stranger
called at the shaft, Miss Pickier was
examining the lock of her Winches
ter. She looked up and smiled when
the stranger suggested that the cir
cumstances were certainly odd for two
girls accustomed to dainty gowns and
the drawing room and tete-a-tete teas
and all of that.
‘‘Of course,” said she, with a little
sigh, “it isn’t anything like pouring
tea or dancing at the Casino, or even
going shopping; but it beats all those
things, and, then, you see, we feel
quite independent. Why, I shouldn’t
be surprised if we were worth mil
lions in a few months; in fact, I
rather expect to strike it -very rich
when we do strike it. We’re not min
ing for our health.
“And"—Miss Pickier lowered her
voice to a whisper—"we’ve got a town
site scheme working and a summer
resort proposition under our hats.
“Why, do you know, I thought I
never should get used to this sort of
lift when we first began it. And
Grace— now I'm going to tell it—
rried for three days and two nightk
because, she didn't hear from home,
and on the third evening she got a
letter. Say! It was pretty hard to
stling on two lonely girls—but that
letter told how Fanny Kirk had been
having the gayest time of her life go
ing out—it was her first season—and
here we were, up under the Dome,
with not so much as a ball gown with
evening is fair, the little company sits
outside the storage tent—the "dining
room”—round a rough board table,
covered with a strip of oil cloth—out
in the open, under great pine trees,
and no more convivial party could be
imagined.
After supper, as the shadows creep
round the camp and the embers of
the fire sputter and glow, and then
grow dimmer and dimmer, and the
moon comes out of the blackness of
the night, the girls take up mando
lins and pick them tinklingly, the
while softly humming some bits of
opera or a lullaby they used to sing
to their own true friends at home.
So much for the “gold mine,” and
the singularly strange and plucky ca
reer these girls have chosen. But
with all the romance of the environ
ment and their lonely vigil and labors,
they have set themselves against a
lainy day In a businesslike manner.
Of course, they know' that a line tc
their parents at any moment would
bring a check, but they wish to "make
good” with their venture. So they
have taken over a lot of granite prop
erty, and it is said to be a "find.”
'•Uncle” John Cameron gave the girls
the “tip.”
“We’re forming a company,” said
Miss Pickier, “and expect to get cap
ital from our friends. Soon we wiU
OtocA? sJb/7/r Gsmevarr W7&
rtgt/Lj o/Sf Gte//Tr*/t'S7y0tS/?J
in miles of us, and feeling like two
chickens without any protecting wing.
“Bnt we have stuck to it, although
I thought I should have to give up
when my shirt waists all got soiled
end I had nothing to wear. Then we
tt ok to leather skirts, leggins and, at
timers, even to boots.
‘‘I don't mind saying,” Miss Pickier
went on. ‘‘that one of the reasons we
nave kept working hard here is to
live down a mean joke. Someone,
perhaps not intending that the thing
should go too far, spread a report that
we had struck gold running 55,000 a
ton. lrfdeed. some of our samples
sent to the assay office were loaded
with pure gold by the joker. The as
say was all right, but, sad to say, our
mine was not. Running $5,000 a ton!
Think of it! And we're not running
anything yet.
“But we will strike it if it’s here.
We are dow'n 200 feet now and are
hustling with the help of the two
hired men. And we will keep at it,
regardless of appearances or gossip.”
Just then Miss Kepford, in leather
skirt and boots, came up out of the
shaft and joined in the chat. She
vouched for the determination of Miss
Rckler and herself to “see the thing
through,” and “not to cry” if the claim
should prove worthless.
Every evening, when sunset tints
St. Peter’s Dome, the girls quit the
shaft together and go over to their
camp. After setting the kettle to boil
they shift clothes and get ready for
supper—bacon and eggs, coffee, jam,
perhaps some biscuit, ofttimes baked
by themselves.
Now and then a neighbor or visit
ing prospector chances to “blow into
c«mp,” and is introduced. He’s made
vrelcome right away, even asked to
share luncheon or supper. If the
Caught the Crowd."
George A. Knight’s speech at the
Republican convention brought out
some good stories about his vehement
manner and enormous voice. Years
ago. at the outset of his career, when
he was candidate for the office of dis
trict attorney in Humboldt county, he
went to Eureka, his native place, to
make a speech. A local banker, deep
ly interested in his success, met him
on the way and drove him to the spot
where the meeting was to be held.
The citizens on hand were a hardy lot
of customers and did not care much
for rhetoric. Knight was introduced
by the banker, and stepped forward
with the air of a Nubian lion emerg
ing from his den. Raising his mighty
voice to its full stress, he roarded
magnificently: “1 don’t give a -
whether you vote for me or not,” He
subdued the crowd and was elected.
Phonographs In Court Work.
The Vienna chief police authorities
contemplate introducing the phono
graph in recording verbal evidence,
instead of having it written down.
Brother Artists.
On his last visit to America, Pade
rewski, the eminent pianist and com
poser, was introduced, somewhat
against his will, to a man of little ap- ,
parent culture, who professed great
interest in music and much intimacy*
with its finer phases.
“We artists, you know, Mr. Pade
rewski,” he remarked, “have our
moods and tastes in common, which
the ordinary man is incapable of un
derstanding or sympathizing with.
You, Mr. Paderewski, have your in
strument to which your life is a de
votion, and I have mine. I rejoice in
you as a brother artist.”
“And what,” inquired the great vir
tuoso, with desperate politeness, “is
your instrument, Mr.-?”
“The mandolin, sir,” was the proud
response.—Kansas City Journal.
Controls Cameras in Balloons.
It is claimed by Herr Cloud, a Har
burg (Germany) engineer, that he has
invented means by which photograph
ic balloons can be controlled and fo
cused from terra firms.
be shipping, and if the thing goes—
why. well, who knows but what we’ll
find another Cripple Creek up here on
St. Peter’s Dome.”
No Room for Fence Posts in Japan.
In Japan, when a farmer permits
a telegraph cr telephone pole to be
erected on his land he has made a
great concession to modern reform,
says Harold Boice in tjje Booklovers’
t Magazine. Only the exceedingly rich
have fences around their farms in Ja
pan, not because of the cost of the
tence, but because of the value of
the square inches the posts and pick
ets would consume. If a border is de
sired around a field it is customary to
plant mulberry trees. The total area
of ground in Japan thus devoted to
the silkworm tree, which otherwise
would be taken up with fences,
amoifnts to about 190,000 acres. This
has no reference to the mulberry
farms and groves, the area for which
is over three times as much. The
fact that a Japanese farmer is forced
to figure on the amount of ground a
fence post would occupy and the in
teresting fact that the government, in
its statistical enumeraions, has had
the areas covered by individual mul
berry trees on farm boundaries care
fully computed, demonstrates the
great value of arable land.
Big Coal Depot.
An enormous floating coal depot,
said to be the largest in the world,
arrived at Portsmouth, England, the
other day from the Tyne. The depot
will hold 12,000 tons, and is to * be
moored in Portsmouth harbor. It will
be fitted with machinery that will en
able the biggest warships to fill their
bunkers alongside it. Being over 400
feet long, the depot will accommodate
the largest cruisers afloat.
Wanted to Know.
“We have some queer chaps on the
telephone,” says Acting Superintend
ent Rickard of Bellevue. “I had a call
the other night from a man who want
ed information about his sister, who
had been brought in two days before
suffering from a nervous complaint.
“ ‘She's convalescent,’ I replied.
“ ‘None of yer nonsense,’ retorted
the man. ‘I’m not in a trifling mood,
Tell me this minute whether my sis
ter is dead or alive.’ ”—New YorK
Times.
In Memoriam.
“Rather handsome young widow,
isn’t he?”
“She’s more than ‘rather handsome.'
I think she is one of the handsomest
women in town.”
“Too bad she has such poor taste.’
“I can’t agree with you if you
think she has poor taste.”
“Every one of her diamonds if
nothing more than paste.”
“O. that may be so. She probably
wears them in memory of her hue.
band. He was a bill poster.”—St,
Paul News.
THE WORLD’S WHEAT CROP.
Estimates Show a Reduction In Al
most All Countries.
Estimates of the wheat crop put the
total yield of this country at 533,000,
000 bushels. This wwild indicate a
reduction from the yield of last year
of about 100,000,000 bushels, while the
figures are more than 200,000,000 be
low those of 1901 and more than 130,
000,000 below those of 1902. It should
be noted, however, that they come
pretty close to those of 1900 and 1899,
being slightly in excess of the one
and slightly below the other, and that
only twice before 1899 did the crop
amount to as much as 000,000,000
bushels.
But again, while this is true, it is
to be noted also that there is not a
falling off merely, but a very serious
loss owing to unfavorable weather
conditions. Earlier expectations have
been disappointed and, furthermore,
WARS COST 14,000,000 LIVES.
Prof. Charles Richet Recounts Marital
Tragedies of Nineteenth Century.
Prof. Charles Richet, the noted ;
French apostle of peace, is quoted as
saying that during the nineteenth cen
tury 14,000.000 human beings died in
consequence of war.
“Napoleon.” he said, "is usually
credited with having caused the death
of 2.000.000 men. As a matter of fact,
8,000,000 men died for his glory. The i
war of the Crimea cost 300.000 lives, i
the American civil war 500,000. Prus- j
sia doomed 800,000 men to death be
tween 1800 and 1871, the Russo-Turk- |
ish war 400,000.
“The wars in the South American
republics are generally laughed at,” j
continued the professor, “but as a mat- j
ter of fact they' are far from riaicu- i
lous. In the nineteenth century they
cost, all told, 500,000 lives, and the
South American republics are not
?
QUAY GAVE UP STAKES.
“Joe” Cannon’s Singing Voice Toe
Much For Pennsylvania Senator.
The late Senator Quay circulated a
story wherein Speaker Cannon is
represented as a singer. The occa
sion was k political banquet wher.+ a
discussion arose over the song, he
Old Oaken Bucket.” Senator Quay re
marked: *1 never heard it sung
through in my life.” “I will bet you a
dollar that I can sing it through, as
serted Mr. Cinnon. “Take you,” said
the senator. “And the toastmaster
will hold the stakes and be referee.’
Mr. Cannon cleared his throat and at
tacked the famous old melody with
grim earnestness. At the end of the
first stanza Senator Quay got upon his
feet and interrupted the song. “1
wish t0 say, if I may be pardoned,” he
commenced, “that I dislike to lose a
dollar, but I am willing to concede the
stakes to my adversary and take his
DESTRUCTIVE WORK OF THE STORM AT MINNEAPOLIS.
St. Paul City and High Bridge, which Was Wrecked.
reports indicate that there is a short
crop in many countries. Canada has
been hit like the United States, the
estimates in Manitoba being reduced
by one-half. We learn also from a
general review in the London Econo
mist that the English crop will be
much below the average, and that of
the entire United Kingdom a meager
one. In France there will be a relOc
tion of about 33 p(?r cent from the
yield of last year. Austria-Hungary.
Spain. Italy, Roumania and Russia are
all sufferers. Damage by drought has
seriously affected the prospects in the
Argentine, and India seems to fur
nish the only marked exception to the
generally discouraging returns. Her
crop of last spring was 352.0^0,000
bushels, the largest in her history,
and The Economist says: “If wanted
in Europe, India, accordingly, has an
enormous surplus, which would be at
tracted by a moderate advance in the
price.’’
Til’s surplus, however, is not large
enough to make up the deficit in other
countries, and it is certain that the
world’s crop will be the smallest pro
duced in recent years. At the same
time this country is fortunate in the
the prospect of a large yield of Indian
corn. The estimate is 2,400,000,600
bushels, which would give a crop far
above the average and second only to
that of 1902.
Bribery in Russia.
Carl Joubert. author of "Russia as
It Really Is," describes the method of
introducing forbidden documents into
the czar’s country. The purveyor of
undesirable literature having arrived
on the frontier, at a point some dis
tance from the railway, approaches
the rittmaister and arranges matters
with him. The rittmaister sees him
and his cartload of books safely across
the border and directs him to some
small town near the frontier. Then
the rittmaister raises the alarm and
calls his men to horse and they start
off in pursuit of an imaginary smug
gler in another direction, firing into
the air to show their zeal in the dis
charge of their duties. "A ruble on
either eye and ruble across the
mouth.” says Mr. Joubert, ‘‘will effect
ually prevent the Russian official
from seeing or speaking.”
Life’s Most Important Acts.
A magazine editor, seeking an in
crease of circulation, sent to each of
his 3,500 subscribers this query:
“What was the most important act of
your life? Fifty dollars for the best
true answer.” He received more than
1,000 replies, all but one relating some
particular deed of which the writer
was proud. The exception—and prize
winner—was brief and to the point—
“Being born.” Encouraged by the suc
cess of his scheme of advertising, the
editor sent out a second query, offer
ing another $50 for the best answer.
“Last month you stated what was the
most important act of your life, now
tell us what is the most import ant
act of your life.” The variety of re
plies would have made several pages
of rare humor, but the winner solemn
ly wrote, “Breathing.”
First Chinese-American to Vote.
The first Chinese-American citizen
to vote in New York city will exercise
his franchise there this fall. His
name is Chew Ngon Wing, born in
San Francisco thirty years ago, and
he is taking advantage of the consti
tutional provision wb5ch guarantees
the franchise to all American-born
males over 21 years old. Chew visited
China and returned four years ago.
He was stopped by the immigration
authorities of San Francisco under the
exclusion act, but a relative brought
habeas corpus proceedings and won
the case.
Joked to the End.
Wilson Barret, the English actor,
who died recently as the result of a
surgical operation for intestinal trou
ble, was quite a joker. Just before he
was about to be chloroformed ho said
to the doctors: “Here’s a fine state
of things. I was to open my season in
a few weeks and here you fellows are
about to open me.” Thirty-six faoura
later he was a dead man, heart failure
through fatty degeneration having
carried him off.
overburdened with citizens, are they?
“I am sorry to say that the twen
tieth century bids fair to rival the
nineteenth century in the killing line.”
Senator Knew His People.
Just before his first election to the
United States senate the late Senator
Vest went to a caucus of Missourians
with votes. Following a competitor
who had talked three mortal hours,
Vest spoke for three minute^, con
cluding with these words: “As for
myself, I have to say, with the full
knowledge that the pledge I now
make will influence your votes to-mor
row, that if I am elected to tne United
States senate during my entire term I
shall draw my pay regularly like a
gentleman and spend it like a thor
oughbred.” He was elected and
served the state for twenty-four
years."
Oldest West Point Graduate.
Gen. Herman Haupt, now in his
! word for the accuracy of his knowl
‘ edge if he will stop singing right
i where he is.”
, -
Baron Rothschild Changes Politics.
! Nathan Meyer Rothschild, first
! Baron Rothschild in the peerage ot
j Great Britain and head of the Mnglish
; branch of the celebrated family oi
bankers, has incurred the displeasure
of the present ministry by transferring
his political allegiance to the liberal
party. While the great financier has
not much influence over votes bj
I means of his territorial possessions,
which are small when compared with
1 r. number of his fellow members of the
house of lords, he commands a large
' amount of political influence not only
in the city of London, but throughout
; the United Kingdom.
Japan's Low Death Rate.
Clarence Ludlow Brownell, in his
recently published book on Japan, says
that the death rate for children is
Norwegian Lutheran Church Damaged to the Extent of $5,000.
eighty-eighth year, is the oldest living
graduate of West Point, having been
appointed at the age of 13 by Andrew
Jackson. He had entire charge of all
the military railroads of the federal
government in the civil war. and in
twelve hours was promoted by Stan
ton from plain Mr. Haupt to Brigadier
General Haupt, beating all cecords.
He has thirty-five grandchildren and
his family connection number sixty
one.
Capital to Have Shepherd Statue.
U. S. J. Dunbar, a Washington
sculptor, has the contract for a heroic
statue of Alexander R. Shepherd, who
rescued Washington from the mud
and to whose energy and determina
tion the present beauty of the city
is credited. The statue will stand be
fore the new municipal building for
the District of Columbia at Pennsyl
vania avenue and Fourteenth street.
Famous British Physician.
Sir Samuel Wilks, who has just cel
ebrated his eightieth birthday and his
golden wedding, is one of the most fa
mous of British physicians. His great
est work, perhaps, has been in connec
tion with Guy's hospital, whose history
he has written and of whose Reports
he was for many years editoi.
German Emperor a '.inguist.
The German empercx speaks sev
eral languages fluently and fce is dis
pleased because so little attention is
paid to modern languages in German
high schools. He thinks Gist Russian
and even Chinese and Japanese should
be taught in the upper clashes.
lower in Japan than it is in Europe
and America. This is as it should be
in a country where the houses are off
the ground a foot or two and have no
cellars and the air inside is as fresh
as it is out; where, too, in such places
at least as Tokio, every one bathes
and has a good scrubbing every day.
From 800,000 to 1,000,000 persons go
to the public baths cf the capital daily
and there are tens of thousands of pri
vate baths besides.
Important Diplomatic Positions.
It is said that persistent pressure is
being brought to bear with the view
of inducing President Roosevelt to
“shake up” two of the foreign posts
ot this nation—those at St. Petersburg
and Constantinople. It is held that
this country needs its ablest diplomat
at the court of the czar, and Mr. Adee
of the state department is believed
to be the man for the place. He is
the most valuable man in the depart
ment after Secretary Hay, and has
no equal in this country on questions
of international law. Almost equally
important just now is the embassy in
Constantinople, but no name for that
place is mentioned prominently so far.
“Uncle Sam’s" Double.
It Is said that when Congressman
Livingston of Georgia made a trip to
Venezuela some years ago in order to
learn the true inwardness of the
trouble that republic was having with
Great Britain the natives who had
seen “Uncle Sam” pictures in cartoons
thought he was the original, and ac
cordingly they paid great deference to
him.
An Appeal to Maud.
Comp into the garden. Maud.
Am»Ls^e llow the weedfe have grown.
7 hey re getting so thi, k.
t 80 quick.
s,, c'y\} P’1'1 'em all alone.
An,?1"? into the garden. M ud,
ATh,f ■* mo, helping han.l
In the d* Jot nf witchgrass
in the lettuce, alas!
And it’s growing to beat the band!
' nme into the garden Maud
eA'ih'.n.ftiw.r.*
so.PUt on your bloom, rs Mud
And tackle the pesky v
Without any fuss
For woe Is ns.
If ever they scatter their *......
*
l Come into the garden. Maud
I bla,,,k bat- nigh,. ;,a
There s plenty of work
So don't try to shirk '
flown.
And leave it “to me alone
lust quicken your motions m \
And banish that haughty -
And kneel down in the d-w
For it’s right up to you
To help get this garden eb-ar'
--Somerville j,
aL
A Novel Team.
The owner of a large ostrich f,.
! ‘n southern California has tra :
pair of these huge birds to di;v
he would drive horses, hitchin _ r
to a light buggy or trotting 04
which has in its design a third wh.
This is to prevent the vehicle fro:.,
turning over. It is by no means ar
I easy task to drive such a wierd tear,
as you can not pull up your "b.,r- -
: by reins. If you did it would proba: >
result in serious injury to the va’ i
able birds. The only way to g ;
the conveyance is to hit the off ie
bird on the opposite side to th it
which you want him to go. Another
; objection to this kind of “horse” is
j that if he should catch sight of a bit
i of banana peel, or something equally
i attractive, he does not hesitat* to
make a dive sideways for it As os
triches go like the wind, and can
make a sudden dead stop, the Jerk
the rider receives is not a pleasan*
ont, if a piece of orange peel should
happen accidentally to meet the eye
of his strange “horses."
A Chemical Detective.
Truly the way of the transgressor
Is hard and his ingenuity is kept busy
eluding the constantly increa- 114
methods of detecting him. The latent
device is extremely subtile, and it will
* be a clever thief who can see his w ay
clear out of the trap which a sc:- n
tific mind has prepared for him.
It was invented by a chi mi-' of
Budapest, and is a chemical por r
of a yellow color, which ha- th
curious property of dyeing tin
of the person touching it a dee] hi :
The color is not removable by a:,y
I known means, and washing it only
makes the color deeper. How r,
after about a fortnight it bi- a- tc
wear off, and at the end of a .t A
; three months all traces of the colora *
j tion will vanish.
Sword 276 Years Old.
Dr. J. W. Peck of Amoret. Mo., is
j Kansas City yesterday, has an h<nr
loom in the form of a sword 27i> year*
cld. Dr. Peck declares it is the oldest
sword in the United States. It was
brought to this country by his great
grandfather more than 100 year- ae >
and has been handed down In hi: far.:
ily through the succeeding genera
I tions.
The sword bears the date 1629 dur
ing the time when Christian, king oi
Denmark, was carrying on hi- thirty
years’ war with Sweden. It bears a
| picture of the warrior monarch. On
one side is an inscription in German
as follows: “I am a good blade if yot
use me well." Another insert; • o?
ihe reverse side says: “He wh< l air
po love for the beautiful hath no h* art
in his body.”—Kansas City Time-.
A Queer Pet.
Many people have wondered why
the Empress Eugenie always carri s
about with her, wherever she goe- a
little wicker basket, and many specti
lations have been made as to its con
tents. The basket is lined with cot
ton wool, and in that soft substanct
nestles a hedgehog! It is the em
press's only pet, and she would n >t
dream of allowing it to be attended
by any one but herself She ba
rather a superstitious attachment t
the curious creature, and believes tiiat
it has a talismanic power of insuring
her safety and general well-being.
Clock Is Perverse.
About twelve years ago a clock,
more ornamental than useful, was
given Miss S. A. Bailey of Peacham.
Vt. For a year, perhaps, by much
coaxing, it told the time more or less
correctly, then stopped. No amount
of shaking could persuade it to start,
and after a time it was removed to
a beam in the shed. There it was for
gotten, and for the last five years
probably stood utterly silent, until a
few days ago it began to tick and the
hand to move, and it continues to do
so.
Bulls Fatal to Family.
It is a remarkable coincidence that
on the same day that John Stewart
of Westford, Vt., was killed by a bull
on his farm his .brother, W. D. Stew
art of Bakersfield had a narrow escape
from death by an enraged bull on his
own farm. W. D. Stewart saved him
self from the attacks of the infuriated
animal by dodging around a hay crib
built for sheej) to feed from.
Well Paid English Lawyer.
•Sir Edward Clarke, KC., is said to
be the best-paid professional man in
England. He distinguished himself in
the baccarat case, the Bartlett case
and the Jameson case, is a member o!
parliament, and was for six years
solicitor general. His earnings at law
are about $217 an hour. If he works
ten hours a day. 300 days in a year,
his income is $651,000 a year.
Benevolent and Useful.
Deacon Ariand Eaton has caused to
be placed by the roadside, near his
farm buildings, in Hancock, N. H., a
stone watering trough to furnish a
public water supply from a never
failing spring. It is inscribed, “Eaton,
1797-1:^04,” and is intended to com
memorate the settlement of fcts tarn*
ily in town.