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RED CLOUD CHIEF
A. C. HOSMER, Proprietor.
RED CLOUD.
- NEBRASKA.
A NEGLECTED GRAVE.
Keglected grave: how soon forgot!
A blackened stone, rank grass, dead leaves,
A narrow mound that ne'er receives
A fond attention, mark tbc spot
Where one whose nams no carving shows
t Lies wrapped in mortal's last repose.
Up yonder hill, years gono apace,
A funeral cartry crept tears fell
From kindred eyes; a mournful knell
Announced an end to life's swift race.
And now. all those who sorrowed then
In endless peace are here again.
What care the dead if selfish aims
Afford no time for long respect?
If stately shaft or cold neglect
Extol or slight their empty names
Alas! their usefulness is o'er.
The busy world needs them no more.
But do not we. whose beings thrill
With buoyant life and sturdy powers.
Keep bright the hope in solemn hours
That, when our throbbing hearts are still.
Some faithful friend shall ever keep
A loving vigil o'er our sleep?
Howard 31. Hoke in Lttllf Weekly.
A CLEVER WOMAN.
Her Shrewd and Successful Finan
cial Operation.
It was newly twelve o'clock on a bright
spring morning. Yet Colonel Punter was
still busily employed in his bachelor rooms
In Piccadilly. The Colonel was a fresh
complexioaed, somewhat portly man, of
about fifty years of age, with grizzled hair
and mustache and a vigor of eye and form,
which, although he had retired, gave ample
evidence that he was blessed with plenty of
strength and energy, and would be quite
ready for hard service should his country
require it of him. On this morning he was
correcting the proofs of a pamphlet that
was shortly to appear, entitled "The Proper
Formations in Savage Warfare." This
pamphlet was looked forward to in militarv
circles with a good deal of interest, for
Colonel Punter was a very well-known man,
and was highly thought of as a scientific
soldier. Uc had been at work on these
proofs for two hours, and had just made up
his mind that it was time to walk down to
his club, when his servant entered the room,
and, presenting a card, said that the lady
would bo very much obliged if Colonel
Punter would grant her an interview.
Certainly," said the Colonel; then glanc
ing at the card he muttered to himself:
"Mrs. Verncr I can't remember ever to
have heard the name before. I wonder what
she wants." Then being a kindly and cour
teous man, he rose from his writing desk,
pushed the proofs away, and took up the
newspaper, so that he might not apjear to
have been interrupted at work. Scarcely
had he completed his little maneuver when
the door opened and a lady, well but quietly
dressed, was shown into the room. She was
tall aud graceful, and wore a heavy veil,
which, however, on the servant's retiring,
she threw back, and, holding out her hands,
advanced with a smile, saying:
"I am afraid, Colonel Punter, you will
have forgotten me."
The Colonel was quite equal to the occa
sion, and returned her greeting cordially,
racking his brains in the meantime to thiiik
where he could have seen that beautiful,
sad face before. It was the face of a woman
about thirty-five years of age, or perhaps a
little more, with dark hair and eyes, and an
indefinable expression of mirth beneath its
Badness, indicating, as'it seemed, a lightness
of heart which the troubles of the world
might have dimmed but could not obliterate.
Observing, apparently, the Colonel's some
what puzzled expression, she continued,
gayly:
"I see that, as I expected, I shall have to
help your memory. Don't you remember
Miss Maud Mervyn, when you were quar
tered at Dover more than twenty years ago!
Why, Colonel Punter, you had just got your
company then, and we used to dance to
. gether at the Dover balls."
"Give me a moment, Mrs. Vomer," he re
plied; 'twenty years is a long time for an
old man's memory to go back in a flash."
"Now, don't deny it," continued she,
laughing. "I see you don't remember me,
but I am not at all offended, for, indeed,
how should you? I was a slip of a girl then,
and you were, if you will allow me to say so,
a man of somewhere about thirty. I, no
doubt, was an infinitely insignificant person
to you then, as, on the other hand, you were
a very important person to me. But, you see,
lam obliged to plead our old acquaintance,
Colonel Punter, as it is my only excuse for
the liberty I have taken in calling on you."
"Excuse of any kind is quite unneces
sary," said the Colonel, with a slight bow
nd smile.
"It is very land of you to say so," she re
plied; "and when you have heard my sad
story I think you will give me the advice
which I have come to ask of you."
"If it is a subject on which I am at all
qualified to speak," said he, "I shall be most
nappy."
"I think it is decidedly your subject.
Colonel Pnntcr," she replied, "for it is about
my son, who is in the army, that I wish to
usk your advice."
"Your son in the army!" exclaimed the
Colonel, with an inflexion of voice that was
decidedly complimentary to the youthfui
ncss of her appearance. May I ask his rei
sientt" The Sixtieth Lancers."
"The Sixtieth Lancers!" repeated the
Colonel. "Why, Mrs. Vcrner, I know your
on. His commanding officer is an old
friend of mine, aadl have a slight acquaint
ance with the whole regiment."
"This is very singular and very lucky,"
said she. "As you know my poor boy's
regiment, I think you will be better able to
understand and advise on the troubles and
difficulties I am in regarding him. Will you
let me tell you my sad story from the begin
ning, or shall I be boring you P
"O, pray, don't think so for a moment,
Mrs. Vcrner," said the Colonel; and ho
would have liked to add: "Nothing you
could say would bore me," but felt it would
be unsuitable to the occasion.
"Well," she continued with a sigh, "my
auurricd life was a short and not a happy
one. My husband's health was always bad,
and for this reason we had to reside abroad.
When wo had been married two years my
husband died and left me alone in the world
with an infant boy.' She paus-d and
seemed lost for a moment in sad memories,
while the Colonel glanced sympathetically at
.- i. ker, but thought well to say nothing.
"a "Well," she continued, "during the last
-twenty years I have lived almost entirely
abroad, but I sent my son to be educated at
Eton, and about two years ago he obtained
a commission in the Sixtieth Lancers. Words
caaaot tell what a comfort and joy my sou
has "been to me during my lonely widow
hood I have been so proud of all his school
triumphs, I have always been his confidante
when he got into trouble. You sec, Colonel
Punter, I am sadly constrained to use the
lost tease, for I am grieved to say that since
he entered the army his mauner to me has
gradually changed, until now, when I do sec
him. which is not often, he who used to be
all fruukness and love is all coldness and
reserve and if this goes on it will break my
heart." Here she fairly gave way and cov
ered her f:ice with her hands. Colonel
Punter's soft heart was always much jwr
turbed at the sight of a woman's tears. So
he kept murmuring in his most soothing ac
cents: "Pray, madam, pray, calm yourself. I am
sure I will do all I can to help you."
In a few minutes she recovered herself
and said:
"You must excuse my breaking down. I
know it always vexes a man to see a woman's
tears. But I will promise not to do so again,
and I dare say you are wondering what you
can do to help me in this matter. Well, the
fact is, I want to know the worst. I have
heard rumors about my son which make me
shudder whenever I think of them. I hear
that he has given himself out in the regi
ment as the son of rich people who live
abroad, and that he is living in most extrava
gant style, whereas it is, in truth, with con
siderable difficulty that his moderate allow
ance is regularly paid."
"Young scoundrel!" ejaculated the
Colonel. Then remembering that a son
must never be abused to his mother, added:
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Vcrner, but for the
moment my indignation got the better of
me. Besides, these reports are, perhaps, not
true. I do not know the affairs of the junior
members of the corps sufficiently well to be
able to give an opinion on the subject."
"O, I quite understand that; but do tell
me what course I had better take," she said,
glancing appealingly at him. "How am I, a
helpless woman, to find out whether these
dreadful reports arc true or notl Aud yet I
feel that I must know the truth or go mad."
After a pause, during which the Colonel
was evidently lost in thought, he replied:
"Mrs. Vcrner, I promised to do the best I
could for you, and I will. I am going down
to Aldcrshot in a few days, and I shall there
see Colonel Thompson; from him I will
ascertain what reputation for wealth your
son has in the regiment. I admit I don't
much like the detective part of the business,
but I feel that it is a sacred duty to protect
a lady in your sad itosition."
"O, how kind of you. Colonel Punter!"
she exclaimed. "This is more than I had
any right to expect that you would do for
me. But, O, let me beg of you not to expose
ui.rsuuii invsu rumors siiuuiu uc true, aim
let me implore you not to seek an interview
with him on the subject. If you learn from
the Colonel, as you kindly say you will,
whether what I have heard is true or not,
and would, on your return to town, grant
mc a few words of advice as to what course
I had better take, I should be very grateful."
"I shall be most happy, Mrs. Verner," said
he, briskly; "but I feci sure that you will
find that there is nothing in it after alL
Your son. as far sis I know him. is a charm
ing young fellow, and quite incapable of the
fniuds which these accusations impute to
him. So pray keep up your spirits, and. if
it is convenient to you, let us arrange to
meet here at this time on this day week.'
The time was quite convenient to Mrs.
Vcrner, aud, with many aologie3 for the
liberty she had taken in calling to ask his
advice, she departed.
On his journey down to Aldcrshot the
next morning Colonel Plunter thought a
good deal about his fair visitor of the day
before and her troubles. He heajxxl, more
over, many hard words on the head of young
Verner (for, of course, he supposed him, at
any rate, jwrtially guilty). "Sellish young
rascals, allthe lot of them!' said he to him
self; "they don't mind a straw how much
trouble they bring on their relations, if only
they can iudulge themselves, and such "a
charming woman, too !"' And then ho went
off into a reverie, in the midst of which he
found himself speculating as to whether a
man of his ago was absolutely and irrevoca
bly too old to marry without making him
self look like a fool: and as the train arrived
at Aldcrsnot he had just come to the con
clusion that there was a good deal to be said
on both sides.
That very evening he saw Colonel Thomp
son, and in the course of conversation man
aged to ask his questions about young Ver
ner. and found out that, according to
Colonel Thompson, Verner was the son of a
rich merchant in Singapore, and that his
people had not been in England for many
years.
"Yes, thank you," said Colonel Punter.
"I thought I heard of his people in England,
but I supimsc I must be mistaken," and trfen
he changed the subject. He happened, how
ever, just before mess (he was a guest of
the regiment that night), to meet Verner by
himself, and he suddenly resolved, in spite
of the widow's request, to say a few words
to him. So stepping forward and address
ing the young man in a somewhat con
strained voice, he said: "Would you mind
taking a turn with mc, as there are a few
things I should like to speak to you about!"
"I shall be most happy, Colonel Punter,"
said the young man, wondering what on
earth the old boy had to say to him.
No sooner were they well out of earshot
than the Colonel turned short on his com
panion, and said sternly: "I saw your
mother in town yesterday," and then paused
to watch the crushing effect of his words.
But no crushing effect was visible; on the
contrary, Verner answered in accents of
mild surprise:
"You must bo thinking of some one else,
sir; my mother is at Singapore."
"No. I am not thinking of anybody else."
said the Colonel, still more sternly: and
then added . "So you are going to brazen it
out. are yon 2"
"Brazen what out!' said tho young man,
apparently thoioughly puzzled.
"You know very well," said the Colonel;
"and if you don't, you soon will." Then ho
turned on his heel and walkod off.
Young Verner stood for a moment look
ing after him; then walked away, laughing
heartily.
At mess that night ho was heard to say
toa brother officer: "You know old Pun
ter, who's here to-night!"
"Yes, replied the other. "I know him
pretty well. What about him !'
"He was in India a good deal, wasn't he!"
"Yes. Well!"
"Did he ever get a touch of tho sun!'
"Dare say he did; most people do out
there."
"Well, if he did, it has affected his brain
poor old boy!"
"What on earth do you mean!"
"Why, I mean that the gallant Colonel
may have his lucid intervals, but when ho
met mc. just before mess, ho was as mad as
a hatter."
"How mad!"'
"Well he told me that ho had mot my
mother yesterday in London."
"She's at Singapore, isn't she!"
"Yes, and has been for the last twenty
years, and so I told him."
"What did ho say to that!"
"Ho said he saw I was going to brazen it
out. I said, 'Brazen out what!' and he re
torted, with a scowl, that would have fright
ened an elephant, that I knew very welL
Then he turned and walked off. I could not
holp laughing at tho jwor old fellow ut the
time, he was so desperately serious about it
all. However, the sun may do tho same for
, ,.,, .... , . t
mc some uay, anu 1 reauy pity mm, lor no 3
a very good chap when he's all right."
"O, a capital feliow,". replied the other,
"and can tell a very good storv. It's really
very sad. I suppose it must have been a
tonch of tho sun, though I never heard of
his being odd before."
"He seems all right now, any way." said
Veruer, looking up the table where Colonel
Punter was sitting.
"O, yes, he's all right now. I'll tell you
what, Verner: I have an explanation. The
old boy came down from town by a midday
train, and I dare say missed his lunch, and
what you took for a mailman was only a
fellow very much iu want of his dinner."'
And the two young men laughingly changed
the subject.
A few days after this tho Colonel was
back in town, and found himself dreading!
considerably the coming interview with the
widow. He would have to confirm her
worst fears, he was afraid; also, that there
would be a scene, and he did not like the
idea of it at all. He felt, moreover, that he
must appear in the light of a bearer of bad
news a melancholy character which he did
not by any means wish to assume, in Mrs.
Verncr'scyes. "However," thought he, "1
shall at any rate have an opportunity after
ward of playing the part of comforter and
adviser." And this reflection seemed to
cause him a good deal of satisfaction. It will
be seen, therefore, that the Colonel had been
somewhat taken (to use the word which he
employed in confessing it to himself), or
smitten with Mrs. Verner on the one oc
casion on which he had seen her, and during
the few days that intervened between his
return to town and the day on which they
had appointed to have their second meeting
he found himself constantly regarding that
future date with the mixed feelings which
have been described above.
The appointed day and hour found Colonei
Punter seated in his room trying to read the
paper, but in reality waiting a little nerv
ously for Mrs. Verner. She did not keep
him long. On entering the room she looked
keenly at the Colonel, and, advancing quick
ly, said in rapid, anxious accents:
"O, Colonel Punter, don't keep mo in sus
pense; is it true!" Then seeing his blank
look, she cried out: "It is, aud he is dis
honored." Then she sank into a chair and
burst into tears. This the Colonel had pre
pared himself for: so in his most winning
accents he implored her to compose herself.
This in a few minutes she partially suc
ceeded in doing, and immediately proceeded
to cross-examine him as to what he had
found out and done at Aldcrshot ; how there
was no doubt in the regiment as to young
Vemer's being the son of rich teople at
Singapore; how the Colonel himself had
told him so, and how he (Colonel Punter)
had in a fit of indignation spoken to the
young man himself. For this she mildly
upbraided him, reminding him of her re
quest, and the Colonel deprecated her wrath
and pleaded sudden impulse. When the
story was finished she rose, and, smiling
sadly through her tears, said:
"I don't know how I can sufficiently thank
you for your kindness to me, Colonel Punter.
You have indeed been a true friend, and I
should like above all things, if you will
allow me. to ask your advice as to what I
had better do in this sad matter; but. indeed,
I feel quite incapable of doing so on this
occasion. Hearing that these terrible re
lorts are true has as you have seen, upset
me very much, and I thiuk I had better go
home now: but if you will allow me to fix a
future interview by note, when I feel less
unequal to the effort, you will add one more
to your many kindnesses."
The Colonel very readily consented, and
in another monieut she was gone, and with
her, so it seemed to our gallant friend, all
light aud beauty departed from the room.
From that moment, too, though he would
hardly have confessed it to himself, he be
gan looking forward to the day when he
should see tluit note upon his table.
A fortnight had elapsed since the inter
view above detailed, but Colonel Punter
had not yet received the expected note. He
had not given up hoie, but still fcc was un
doubtedly depressed, and. whether it was an
effort to throw off this dejection which had
induced him to accompany n is friend Cap
tain Jones to the Variety Theater, or
whether impelled by fate, or for whatever
reason, we will not stop to inquire, but at
any rate in that theater, and comfortably
ensconced in two stalls, sat Colonel Punter
and Captain Jones on this evening, some of
the events of which arc about to be related.
The curtain had just fallen on the first act.
and tho house, till at that moment wrapped
in gloom, sprang suddenly into light. Then,
as if by common consent, every man, wom
an and child in that great audience, with a
want of manners that would be permissible
novrhcre clse,but which is quite conventional
between the acts of a play, commenced, with
or without opera glasses, to scrutinize his
or her neighbor. For a few seconds the
Colonel had a discussion with his friend as
to whether there ws time for a cigarette
between the acts. This was promptly de
cided in the negative, and both officers,
grasping their glasses, proceeded to join in
the 'general inspection."
With a calmness bom of long habit,
Colonel Punter was sweepingthe house, when
suddenly his arm dropped and his gaze be
came intently fixed on the occupants of a
box on the right of the stage ; these consisted
of two gentlemen and a lady, and the lady
was Mrs. Verner. On this point he had no
doubt whatever, though he looked at her
with ever-increasing surprise, for she was
iu very full evening dress, and was exten
sively bcjowcled. She was, moreover, at
this momcrt talking and laughing loudly,
not to say lioistemusly, with her compau
ions, both of whom the Colonel mentally and
unhesitatingly pronounced to be cads. At
this juncture Mrs. Verncr, turning her head
suddenly, caught sight of Colonel Punter
staring at her from the stalls; the moment
theireyes met he bowed, and she also bowed
slightly and smiled; then, turning to her
companions, she seemed, from their uproar
ious laughter, to be telling them a more than
usually good story. Captain Joues had ob
served the mutual recognition pass between
his friend and the lady in the box, and was
greatly astonished.
"Why, Colonel." he said, "do you know
her! You don't mean to say that you have
had to go to the Hebrews, like younger
men !"
"Yes, I know her. But what on earth do
you mean by asking whether I've been going
to the Hebrews J"
-"Well. I think it was a very natural ques
tion, under the circumstances."
"I don't know what you are talking about.
Who do you think that lady is, then:'"
"I don't think at all, ColoneL I know that
she's Mrs. Hart Moss, the female representa
tl"c of one of the biggest money-lending
firms in town ; -and they tell me she's a very
good hand at the business."
Colonel Punter made no reply, but became
plunged in a deep and apparently distressing
reverie, for he clenched his fist and almost
ground his teeth, until he attracted the
attention of Captain Jones, who had, in the
meantime; been nodding recognitions to
some people of his acquaintance.
Why, Colonel," said he. "what's the
matter! The sight of that Mrs. Moss Seems
to have disagreed with you awfully. Whom
did you mistake her for!"
"It has disagreed with me," said the
Colonel, grimly, "but I see it all now. What
you say, Jones, is quite true; she is a very
good hand at her business." Then sud-
:, t 1 'i ;t.,.. 1 .. ........
denly his countenance brightened some
what, and he added:
' Come and have something at tho club
after the play, and. if you will swear
secrecy, I will tell you the whole itory."
And ho did tell Captain Jones every da
tail, finishing the narrative with these
words: "So you see she made a regular
catspaw of me, in order to find out if Verner
was worth Kwder and shot- I suppose, as
his people live abroad, she found difficulties
in the ordinary methods of procedure."
"I expect that you're alout right, Colonel.
By Jove ! she's a clever woman !"
I wonder she had the audacity, though."
said our gallant friend, his anger boiling up
acain for a moment. "Why, I might make
the whole matter public."
"She knew you wouldn't, though."
"And she's quite right," said the Colonel,
"for I won't. VoruhUl Jf,ijnzine.
SIDE-TRACKED IN LIFE.
Why Younj; lnpl shonlil Study Theii
Own Aptitude.
A Boston paper lately published a
number of interviews with men who
had become side-tracked" in life.
By this is meant men. though willing
to work, yet were unable to find any
thing congenial to do.
They were men who had somehow
got out of the current of the great forces
in which the world is moving, and were
stranded, as it were, like helpless hulks
along the sands of time. There are
more such men and women in every
community than most people imagine.
Perhaps the most numerous class of
men who get .side-tracked are those
who start iu life in an occupation for
which they have no natural aptitude.
There are thousands of farmer bjys
who never should remain on the farm
the loud protestations of tiie agricul
tural press to the contrary notwith
standing. There are. doubtless, mon
who make a life business of stirring the
soil when they ought to be stirring the
Senate; and, on the contrary, perhaps,
there are men who are trying to stir
the Senate who ought to be stilling the
soil. God business men are frequently
spoilt to make poor preachers; and there
are many large and heavy lawyers who
would make ideal blacksmiths; and
there are some slender and unsuccess
ful blacksmiths with the keen logical
brain and the shrewd masterful mind
of the lawyer. Such men are side
tracked for life, unless there is some
great event crosses their track, such as
crossed the track of ('rant tin teamster,
or Cromwell the country squire. But
no doubt there are many Grants who
always team, and many Crom wells who
never leave the farm. There are many
men who start out iu life, like hunters,
on the wrong trail. They never bring
down their gam- beeausa their game
has gone in another direction. They
are like fishermen, who bob for cod iu
a trout brook, or start a-whaling on an
inland pond.
There are some men who are side
tracked for life at their very birth.
Thev are born into a mesh of circum
stances from which there is no extrica
tion. Of course it is easy enough to
sav that a man, like water, will alwavs
find his level; but it is hard for water
to rise plumb with its fountain-head
when confined in an underground uipe.
It would have been ditlicult for Shakes
peare to assert his claim to immortality
u he had been born in Patagonia, and
we would never have heard of Plato if
he had first seen the light iu Scvthia.
To say nothing of the hereditary in
fluences that mold the unborn man.
the environment of the voting human's
infancy usually shapes and directs his
destiny, so irrevocably that only men
of the strongest will and the toughest
mental and physical fiber can ever
counteract the impetus that is given
them in childhood. To be sure there
are a few who
Burst their birth's invidious bar.
Ami grasp the skirts of happy chano9.
And breast the blows of circumstance,
And grapple with their evil star.
but men of such heroic breed arc al
ways so few that they are perpetually
a source of special wonder.
The lesson that young people should
gain from all this is the importance of
studying their own aptitudes. In
choosing a profession do not consult
your egotism, but your personal fitness;
and if the surroundings of your birth
are unfavorable to your fullest devel
opement, overcome them as much as
possible by the indomitable stubborn
ness of your own will. To do this, learn
fo think for3'ourself at as early an age
as possible, and 3011 will soon learn
that a man well intrenched within him
self is able to rise above the repressions
and contracting force of circumstances.
Above all things do not get side-tracked
at the start. Yankee Blade.
Farming as a Business.
There arc some among our readers
who, we fear, think farming an ex
ceedingly profitable business, ami that
any one can make money at it. This is
a great mistake, as many have found to
their sorrow. We do not wish to mis
lead any one by giving results of crops
obtained under peculiarly favorable cir
cumstances. Farming, like every other
calling, has its advantages and its dis
advantages. When properly conducted,
it will yield a good living, and possibly
something more. No one should ex
pect to get rich suddenly iu this busi
ness. It- is a healthful, and iu many
respects independent and pleasant em
ployment, aud one worthy the atten
tion of men of brains. It is not now
true, if it ever w;is, that every dunce
can get a bctterliving by farming than
by any other occupation. We do not
wish to discourage those who arc think
ing of farming for a life-work, nor, on
the other hand, are we willing ft
glorify it so as to mislead. It is out
desire to impress upon all our farmer
friends the importance of so condncting
their business as to secure the very best
results. Conqregationahst.
Fried Parsnips: Wash and scrape
the parsnips and boil them until very
tender, cut them lengthwise, sprinkle a
little pepper, salt and sugar over them,
dredge with flour on both sides and fry
a light brown.
CHARITY IN CHINA.
IIow Food U D piiil tn the Foor aad
?.-"ly of l'eking.
On tho first day of tiie tenth moon
(loth of November) the winter chari
ties are opened in Feking for the dis
pensing of food. When the cold season
is further advanced the distribution of
clothing is made and the almshouses
become filled. Two of our reporters
recently made a tour cf inspection
among the charities in the south city of
Peking: All the institutions visited
were supported by imperial bounty.
The first one reached was a porridge
kitchen, a little east of the great cen
tral city gate Clfien Men. The
"granary rice'" was already cooked
and waiting hot in the great wooden
tubs usually found in such places: but
although it was nine o'clock none o!
tiie poor people had arrived. The ex
planation of this unusual lateness li
that at a place half a mile away they
were drawing tno rations 01 goou
millet porridge first. The granarv rice
is of bad quality, and the people mueu
prefer the millet. The second place
visited was one where sound millet por
ridge was served, and there men.
women and children to the number of
1,200 were waiting in great rooms 01
barracoons the distribution of the food.
It soon began. Two files marched out
simultaneously, men on one side, wo
men aud children on the other, each
person carrying a vessel of some kind
into which with great expedition a di
per of hot millet porridge was ladled.
Most of the recipients returned to theii
homes to eat, but many homeless one
found quiet place; in wood-yards and
sunny corners of the streets to finish up
the millet while hot. and then go to the
place where the rice already mentioned
was waiting for them. At the third
place visited the dispensing was already
over, only five hundred applicants hav
ing presented themselves to-day. most
of them, as usual, being women am!
children.
This was one of Ihe department-01
branches of a large aud expansive char
ity under the title "Hundred Good
nesses." The functionary iu chargi
informed us that several t!io:ia.n!
sometimes wcie fed. A few .t.pr
further on wore the free schools o!
this same charity, end still furtin-i
to the west at a short dis
tance the winter's lodging kuwi
as "The Warm Quarters." This m im
propriated for women and children, fifty
or sixty of whom had already arrived.
They receive porridge of millet an.
granary rice twice a day, on whirl
they subsist during the winter. Tin
"warm quarters" number eight in the
south city, aud were opened about tet
years ago iu addition to the rcgulai
ollicial almshouses. The administra
tion of the charity leaves little to lie de
sired, many thousands of poor people
being housed, fed and clothed during
the winter in a perfectly eilicie.it man
ner. Cftincse Time.
CHEAP FUEL GAS.
A Valuable Invention Perfected uy : rtu
Imrgh Srnilicatr.
For eighteen months and over sir.
George Westinghoi'Se, Jr.. after :i-mv
cia'ing with himself the mot skillet
gas and engineering experts, has beer
endeavonng to solve the problem o.
manufacturing fuel gas. Associate!,
with him, among others, were S. T.
Wellman and T. Goctz. These gentle
men now announce the entire succo.
of their labors, and recently gave a
public exhioition of the fuel gas they
are making at the Fuel Gas and Electric
Engineering Company's works. Thr
problem these gentlemen had to unravel
was by no means an euy one. It was,
briefly summed up, to discover how t
manufacture a maximum amount o!
fuel gas having a high heating power.
from a single ton of anv class of coal.
with a minimum loss during prove
i
manufacture, of the total heat limits
originally contained in coal.
The obstacles which had rendered all
former inventions for this purpose use
less were many. They each required a
special character of coal: too great a
proportion of the coal was consumed in
gassilication, and too little converted
into gas: the manufactured gas was
odorless, and consequently dangerous,
the amount of incombustible gas eon
t.iined was so great as to render pipe
line transportation expensive.
The process of manufacture cm ploved
by the new company is quite simple.
The coal or illuminating gas is l:rt
driven out of the gas. the coke, which
is an essential part of ihe process, be
ing then used either alono or with raw
coal to produce generator gas. but of a
much higher efficiency than othcrga-es.
Ordinary water gas is made from the
coke not ucd. These gaseous products
are then mixed and form the ultimate
product of the process in its entirety.
The mechanical appliances employed,
although new aud elaborate in design,
are so simple in operation that a plant
capable of manufacturing 1.000.000
c hie feet of gas every twenty-four
urs can be operated by three men
aud a boy, with alternate shifts of
twelve hours eacli. The low cost at
which this gas can lie manufactured
renders it a substantial rival to natural
gas. and will prove of immense ad
vantage to Pittsburgh. Should the
natural supply run out. fuel gas could
be manufactured at prices to enable
local manufacturers to maintain their
supremacy. Pittsburgh Dispatch.
"Lady Clare Vere De Vere." said
Queen Victoria to one of the ladies of
the royal household the other day.
"hand me the morning paper. It con
tains my speech in Parliament voter
day, and I have not 3et read.it. 1 have
a "woman's curiosity to know what I
-.aid on that occasion." Xorrisloivn
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.
Why are women extravagant ire
clothes?" Because when they buy a new
dress they wear it out on tho first day.
The man who wants the earth, my
son. is the very man the earth doesn't
want. liizriktti'.
The girl who thinks she ought to
marry no one lower than a Baron, gen
erally compromises upon a Count 11.
llopper.
lie was fond of singing revival
hymns, ami his wife named the baby
Fort, so that he would want to hold it.
Our Dumb Anuti'tk.
A comely figure, in a woman has
its charms. But it is the iucomely
figure that influences the average wife
huutcr. l'fii!tuielihiit Call.
Goliath of Gath was a big man.but
that didn't kill him; it was his big non-
seat that brot him face to face with,
dcth. Toronto Grip.
Women know about as much about
politics as men do about making a
chain stitch tidy. The difference is
that men keep still almut the tiIy.
"I live for thow who love me."
says a Philadelphia poet. If he is like
most amateur poets, then, he hasn't
much to live for. Somervillc Journal.
It is all bosh about women being
afraid to tell their age. The trouble is
that people are afraid to ask 'em. and
perhaps it is safer not to. DamviUr:
Breeze.
"Look here. Jones. I understand
you called me a blooming jackass last
night." That is incorrect. Smithers. 1
didn't use the word blooming." "Ah.
that's all right, then. Shake, old fel
low." Philadelphia Times.
"I'll teach you to play pitch-and-toss!"
shouted an enraged father. "111
flog yon for an hour. I will." "Father."
instantlv replied the incorrigible, as he
balanced a penny on his thumb and
linger, "I'll toss j-ou to make it two
hours or nothing !" Boston Globe.
Omaaa dame "Didn't 3-011 know
before your marriage that the man you
loved had contracted the liquor habit3"
Neglected wife "Yes. I knew he hail
contracted the habit, and if it had oniv
staid contracted I should not have com
plained, but after marriage the habit
expanded." Omah't World.
A Western school-ma'am has be
come famous 1- getting all her pupil-
out of the school-house while a blizzard
was iu progress. Some d.i she may
succeed in keeping them all iu school
while a circus procession is pa-sing,
aud then her name will go down iu his
tory. It is stated that over five thousand
pianos are ruined every year iu this
country by sudden changes of tempera
ture. When this fact becomes general
lv known, the American people will be
checrfulh reconciled to sudden changes
of temperature and ioniis will regret
that the sudden changes are not more
sudden and frequent- Xorristutm Her
ald. An old man was on the witness
stand and was being cross-examined by
a lawyer. "You sa" -ou are a doctor,
sir." "Yes. sir: -es. sir." "What
kind of a doctor?" "I makes 'intinent.
sir. I makes 'intinent, sir. I make
'intment." "What's your ointment
good for?" "It's good to rub on the
head to strengthen the mind." "What
effect would it have if -ou were to rub
some of it on my head?" "None at all.
sir, none at all. We have to have some
thing to start with." Concord (A'. .)
Monitor.
m
A JAPANESE GENESIS.
lb Oriental Story or th Oration or the
Mnniiaae p)iere.
In the beginning ail things were in
chaos. Heaven and earth were not
separated. The world floated in the
cosmic mass like a fish iu the water, or
the j-elk in an v. The ethereal mat
ter sublimed and formed the heavens,
while the residuum formed the present
earth, from the mold of which a germ
sprouted and became a self-animate
being, from which sprang all the gods.
On the floating bridge of heaven
appeared a man and woman of celestial
origin. The male plunged his jeweled
spear into the unstable waters beneath
them, and withdrawing it, the trickling
drops formed an island upon which
they descended.
The creative pair, divine man and
woman, designing to make this island
the pillar for a continent, separated,
the male to the left, the female to the
right, to make a journey around the
island. When they met the woman
spoke first, saying: "IIow joyful to
meet a lovelv man!"
The man, offended that the first n-e
of the tongue had been by a, woman,
demanded that the journey be repeated,
after which he cried out exultingly:
How joyful to meet a lovely woman."
Thus ensued the proper subjection;
and this, according to the ancient idea
of Japan, was the origin of the human
race and the art of love. Ocerland
Monthly.
Virginia's Old Powder Horn.
The old "Powder Horn," an histori
cal building at Williamsburg, Va., is
in danger of falling in from neglect
and decay. It was built by Sir Alex
ander Spotswood, Governor of the col
ony, in the first quarter of the
eighteenth century, to store supplies in.
But its greatest interest arises from the
fact that it was tho building in which
the colonial ammunition was stored i:i
1775. Lord Dun more seized the am
munition aud moved it on board a man-of-war,
the result being "the first
J gathering of an armed force in the col
ony in opposition to royal authority.'
In later years the building was used as
a market, church and stable. It was.
bought of the city authorities in i.9Gb
and its present owner should not aliow
so interesting a relic of the times thai
tried men's souls to be dcitiiyed. .
Pprinyfieid Itepullican.
I
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