A Regular Hell. An Irishman In hardest luck Had tramiwd through many states. And everywhere was badly stuck— Against him were the Kates. His tattered clothes were quite a sight. His thin, starved body too. For nowhere could he get a bite Or auy work to da He reached a city though one day And tried to beg a meal, But every person turned away 1 heir anger to conceal. He asked for work, he was refused. For bread, refused again. Until he felt himself abused By ail the city rueu. While passing by a junk shop which A sheeny pedlar owns. He saw the fellow had got rich On buying rags and bones. Fat thought, a while, and then went In To interview the Jew, And try an honest meal to win As beggers oft will do. "Good morning sir," said Pat inside , ‘‘Bo you buy rags and bones?" "Vv yes, of course" the Jew replied "Dots vy dls store I owns!" "Well then," said Pat, “my luck prevails For once in many a day, Be jabers! put me on the scales And see bow much I weigh!" II. L. Beamish. Jim Meadows’ Hobby. . A CHARACTER SKETCH. !NB did I know Jim Meadows? Well, 1 rather guess I did. The Lord only made a few like him, and L reckon the model’s broken long ago.” Cal. Swauley heaved ■ IB Mi u_l I uccp JVIIUVIVV.U the ashes from the bowl of his corncob pipe and laid it on the table near him. His two companions, fellow occupants of the “bar parlor” in the Palacel Intel, looked at Cal. interrogatively, which plainly meant that they expected him to impart further information. It could be seen, however, that Cal. was intent upon telling m story whether they wished it or not, so his audience of two settled themselves in their cosy chairs and prepared to lis ten. “Seems to me I can see Jim Mead ows right now,” continued Cal., after a pause, “though he has been dead and gone nigh on five years. He wasn't what you might call a hand some man, though lie was quite passa ble in looks, but the expression on his face used to attract everybody almost at sight. It was just plain good na ture, benevolence, generosity, or whatever you call it, and it was written right across his face clear as daylight. J im was a poor man once— poor as Lazarus, but even then he used to have a reputation for doing uncommon kind acts. They say that when one of his chums, who had a large family to keep, fell sick of the fever, Jim worked overtime for two weeks and did that fellow's work so that the wife and children would not be in want. Children used to run af ter him and climb upon his shoulders everywhere he went, and many a lot of fruit and candy did he buy for ju venile crowds that followed him. Among llie youngsters in the town he was popularly known as Santa Claus, doubtless on account of his goodness of heart. “Well, one day came the news that Jim Meadows had grown suddenly rich. A distant relative of his had died in Australia, leaving to Jim as next of kin a vast property, said to be worth $100,000. To those who knew the man it was a foregone conclusion what would become of most of the money. Not that Jim was any kind of a fool in spending. He was not a drinking man at all, and of course had no luxurious habits. But his great desire in life as a poor man was to relieve the wants of hu manity, to succor the needy, care for the sick and cheer the unfortunate. As a rich man, therefore, it was but natural that he should put his pet schemes into practice, yet he had his own peculiar way about doing it. Knowing his disposition, the direc tors of local charities were not slow in approaching him with appeals for aid to help swell their funds for the poor, but, to the surprise of all, .T im met their overtures with quiet but firm refusals. iiowmucu win l suoscrioe. gen temen? Not a red cent,’ he would say emphatically. ‘Four ways of feeding the poor and mine differ. No deserving person who needs assistance need wait ten days for it if he or she comes to me. You listen to the plead ings of a starving widow and her chil dren and tell them, in a matter of fact, business kind of way, ‘We will have your case investigated as early as pos sible and then determine what assis tance we can give you.’ And in the meantime she and her children may starve to death—she may be in her coffin when you have concluded your ‘investigation.’ I don't believe in theoretical charity. It must be quick, spontaneous, hearty, practical, or it don’t amount to a hill of beans.’ “And he wasn't going to squander any money on building or endowing churches, "either. Schools he would help, but it was the real, hard work ing, deserving poor that Jim loved to aid. and he claimed that they wanted their stomachs filled, and their bodies clothed, in a bigger kind of a hurry than they yearned to sit in pews and fall asleep over dull sermons. “Ilut from the day the lawyers de posited Jim’s money in the bank for him, and gave him the pretty little check book to draw whatever sums he wanted, Meadows made it a practice to go around the poorer districts of the town and inquire into the wants and condition of the people. He was like an angel wherever he went, spreading sunshine and happiness in places where he found gloom and sorrow. “Did Jim hear of a case of sickness where the family was too poor to af ford a doctor? He had one there pret ty quick, and the physician was commissioned to let no expense bar the way to good diet for the invalid. “Did he hear of a death in any house where funeral expenses could not be raised, or would be ill afforded? He assumed the responsibility himself and paid all the undertaker's bills. “Did he hear of an honest bread-win ner out of work and with a family looking to him for bread? He took care they had bread,aye,and buttertoo. for both butcher and grocer received orders to supply the family with such necessaries as were required. “Did a good and respectable work man need tools before he could start a job? Jim bought them for him. And he never was known to meet a boy or girl upon the street whose shoes or clothing indicated distressful poverty, but their wants in the way of garments were promptly attend ed to. “Love him! Bless your hearts, there wasn't a man in all the State more loved than Jim Meadows, and if the prayers of the widow, the orphan, the sick and unemployed have any weight in heaven, there's enough of’em up there to offset any sins the poor fellow was ever guilty of. “He used to take the keenest sort of delight in doing good on the quiet, and in unexpected ways. Ever hear of the way he paid off his old score against Tom Moody, the foreman down at Gaspers’? Well, it was this way. Jim and Tom were courting the same girl —the one that is Mrs. Moody now. Tom was of a jealous disposition and began to be very bitter against Jim when he found he was after his girl. So he used his mean influence down at the factory and Jim was thrown out of work without any rea son. Soon after that he had his for tune left him, and just about that time Gaspers got in difficulties and they had to shut down the factory the very week after Tom had married. Moody hadn’t saved any money for a rainy day, and as a consequence he and his new bride were face to face with poverty and starvation. Yes, and how d’ye think Jim Meadows got in his revenge on Tom for the mean trick he had played on him? He just rented a cosy little house, put §'>00 worth of furniture in it, and pre sented it with a year’s rent receipt, to Mr. and Mrs. Moody as “a gift from an old friend.” That's the sort of man Jim Meadows was. ‘Tie never dressed stylishly or even expensively himself. The plainest kitid of clothes were good enough for him. If he was ever told that his coat looked shabby he would quietly say, “Well, I can’t afford a new one this month,” but he would very likely buy a new suit that very day for some poor devil or another who needed clothing badly. He was frugal in his eating, but nothing was too good for any invalid in whom he took an inter est. ■Mini usea 10 go to tne ponce court nearly every morning, nob out of a morbid curiosity, but just to see what good lie could do the poor wretches who often find their way there. Many a fine he has paid out of his own pocket to seta prisoner free, but he never showed any sympathy for a real criminal unless there seemed to be ev idence of a desire to reform. He had a kindly word for all. but his was not mere verbal sympathy, his practical charity went hand in hand with his cheering disposition. “One night he saved a young girl from suicide. She was one of the class that so-called honest folks turn up their noses at, but nobody was too low for Jim to lift up if he could doit. That girl was tired of her life of shame and wanted to end it in the river, and she would have succeeded if Jim had not happened by at the time and rescued her. She was brought up at the police court after leaving the hospital, but Jim secured her dis charge and placed her in charge of a laundry which he had started for just such poor creatures as she. She has led a good life ever since and owns that laundry now herself, but she has never worn anything except black since J im Meadows died, and she says she never will. “Once he was told of a poor but proud family, who were living in a somewhat fashionable locality. They had suffered severe reverses and, al though brought up in a luxurious way, were now living on almost bread alone. The head of the house was dead; the eldest son had been the sole support of his mother and three sis ters since their loss of property, but for the past six weeks he also had been incapacitated for work by illness. Though desperately poor and on the verge of starvation, these people, it was known, were too dignilied and proud to accept charity, so wliat does Jim do but take a few directories to the house and beg the three young la dies to copy the names and addresses for him at $10 a week each. He claimed that' he was in a hurry for the work, but he kept them at it nearly six weeks, and it is said that when their labors were completed Jim just piled the manuscripts away in an old, tool chest, where they were found years afterwards all mildewed and useless. That's the sort of man Jim Meadows was. i itt . _1 • 1 l. _ J' O T*T - VI J UiU at UiV, . MUl HUH, in UV)CO seem a shame that a fellow like Jim I ever should die, but the fact is his big fortune dwindled away by reason of his prodigal generosity, and in eight years every cent was gone. Jim was no business man. He had been so much occupied in providing for others that he had forgotten to provide for himself. He never looked after his financial affairs, but just kept draw ing money out as he needed it and giv ing it away right and left. So in the end of course the crash came, and Jim was as poor as ever. He went to work at his old trade, but the thought that lie could no longer benefit his fellow man as he used to, preyed upon his mind. He could not bear to look up on suffering and be unable to relieve it. and so, in the course of a very few months, the worry broke down his health, and after a brief spell he died, and Ills last act was to will all his lit tle personal effects to the poor cobbler who had attended on him in his final days. “A funeral! Gosh, sucliaone as that was! There were more real mourners followed Jim to the grave, more tear stained faces and sorrowing hearts in that sad procession than ever attend ed any funeral of king, statesman or philosopher. There wasn't a spark of selfishness in Jim's whole nature. All he thought about was helping others, and the grief-stricken crowds that stood around in that cemetery and sobbed aloud in their anguish when that coffin was lowered into the grave, had experienced his generosity themselves. The city put » monu ment over his head, but bah! what's a piece of cold marble amount to? His name is engraved indelibly in the hearts of thousands, and they will hardly ever tire of telling their chil dren and grandchildren in coming years the sort of man Jim Meadows was.” J. S. G. Quite True. “Don't you think that liberated convict, is like a period?” “In what way?” “He's at the end of a sentence.” Anecdotes of Actors. W RI TER says that no vocation in life is so susceptible to the influence of wit and humor as that of the actor. The stage is practically tiie distributor of amusement, so it is but natural that its votaries should excel in tiie production of entertaining stories and anecdotes. Many volumes have been published which were de voted to tiie bright sayings and witty repartee of famous actors, but a few hitherto unpublished anecdotes of living Thespians may prove both new and interesting. In Nat Goodwin’s early days in the profession lie had the misfortune to work under a manager who was much addicted to drink, arid who, in such cases, became very irritable and quar relsome. When laboring under the influence, it was not unusual for him to discharge the whole statf, from star down to property man, but of course the company took little notice of these spasmodic ebullitions of temper, as they were pretty well used to him. One night this manager, while mo rosely nursing one of his periodical “jags” came across Goodwill in the green room. “See here, Goodwin,” said lie, try ing to steady himself, and closing one eye so as to get the right focus on the comedian. “I’ve a d-d good notion to discharge you on the spot!” “No doubt,” replied Nat calmly, “and perhaps you would if you were sober enough to find the spot!” Roland Read boasts of a nasal organ which is certainly not obscure. He has been frequently twitted about his prominent feature, but never more rudely than one winter’s day when an acquaintance accosted him on Broad way with, “Hallo, Reed, I met your nose on tiie other block and it looked awfully cold. ” tjan i> I hi p u, iny [joy, replied the comedian without stopping, “I scratched it as far as I could reach!” Walter Q. Seabrooke was formerly a bank clerk in Mt. Vernon, N. Y. The first position he secured on the stage was at a very lenient salary and he sometimes found it difficult to make ends meet. A Wall Street broker owed him a little money, and one day Seabrooke went to see him with the intention of collecting. While pa tiently waiting in an ante-room foran interview, another gentleman, evi dently a stranger, came in in some what of a hurry and asked, “Excuse me, are you the broker?” “No,” re plied Seabrooke doggedly, “but I’m the fellow that is broke!” When Henry E. Iiixey was playing at the Gaiety Theatre in London he gave a very successful and artistic im personation of Henry Irving, the pop ular English tragedian. A certain section of the Cockney play-goers re sented Dixey's burlesque, clever as it was. To make fun of Henry Irving seemed almost sacrilegious. Said one bitter critic to Iiixey, sarcastically, “But of course you are bound to intro duce that part, as your caricature of Irving is the only ‘meat’ you have in the play.” “Yes, that’s so,” replied Adonis sadly, “and I’m bound to make game of him, you see!” He Wolf Hopper, of “Wang” and “Panjandum” fame, as those who have seen him will remember, pos sesses a pair of wonderfully long legs, which he uses to good purpose in his grotesque and amusing dances. On one occasion the comedian had to travel from the depot to his hotel in the regular stage, which was nearly crowded. The man opposite to Hop per complained loudly about the lat ter's knees and rather rudely ex claimed, “Your darned legs fill the whole car. ” “That’s nothing,” re plied Hopper cheerfully, “they fre quently fill the whole house!” JOHN KINGSTON. Reciprocity. We were friends of long years standing, Jimmy Jones and I. perforce, With a friendship still expanding By continued intercourse. Till we met a lovely creature Like an angel from above. Beautiful in every feature— With her we both fell in love. Jimmy won her—won her fairly. Though I strove to gain her hand With such loving words as rarely I w;is able to command. Jimmy married her, and placed her In a mansion neat and trim, When her bridal costume graced her— Heavens how I envied Jim! Years have passed, and I’m still single, Fancy free, enjoying life. With my friends I daily mingle Ail unmoved by worldly strife. Jimmy’s grown quite thin and weary. Quite a saddened man to see— Married life to him is dreary— Mercy, how he envies me! Frank Perrett. Some Notes on Etiquette. Don't walk in a stooping posture in public places. It shows lad form. Never pass bad money in a street car. It is not fare to the conductor. Don't pick your teeth before com pany. Go pick them by yourself and pick the best you can get for the money. It is bad taste to eat peas with a knife, but the peas will taste just as good. Do not try to kiss strange ladies on the street or you might get a return smack. Don’t write letters to any girl but your own. Courting is all right, but not breach-of-promise courting. Do not speak insolently to a bigger man than yourself or the result may be striking. Never eat or drink more than you can carry. You are liable to give yourself a-weigh. Do not sit opposite a lady in a pub lic conveyance. She is likely to look 'cross at you. It is not correct to swear before la dies. If they want to swear first, let them do it. Don't try to have the last word, es pecially with your wife. That is her prerogative. Never strike a man when he is down. When he gets up again he might knock the stuffing out of you. Don’t say "No. thank you.” when a fellow offers you a 25-cent cigar. It is rude, besides being untruthful. C. S. Bulh Alike. Jersey.—What became of the ras cal who bit a piece out of Chumley’s arm? Meadows.—He was bound over to keep the peace. And what did they do to Chumley’s arm? That was bound over to keep the piece too! Not Good Enough. "Keep your own counsel;*' the words urea warning To all who are apt to be free with the tongue, Do not such wise admonition l>o scorning— Ponder it deeply, life’s duties among. "Keep your own counsel;" the motto Is chiefly Meant for the people who chatter too loud, A bit of advice that is given ouite briefly To speak not too much of yourself in a crowd. "Koep your own counsel;’* *tis wiser and better Not to talk much of your private affairs, Gossip is certain to be the begetter Of doubts and misgivings, of troubles and cares. "Keep your own counsel;"—'that is, if you're able. Mine charges very extravagant fees, And I doubt, if he’d sat isfled feel at my table. Or whether my bank-book his wants could appease. John H. True. What She Says When Kissed. Boston girl—Mr. Bunkerhill, your conduct shocks me beyond utterance. New York girl—Thanks awfully, don’t you know. Providence girl—Oh. mamma! Philadelphia girl—Are you sure no body saw us? Baltimore girl—Dear George! Washington Girl—Well, I suppose I'll have to pardon you. Pittsburg girl—Oh Harry! Cincinnati girl—What bad form! Indianapolis girl—Ah. there! Chicago girl—More! More! Detroit girl—Well, I declare! Louisville girl—Yum. yum! St. Louis girl—How shocking! Nashville girl—On! Ool Atlanta girl—Golly! New Orleans girl—Oh. my! Kan. City girl—Breakaway, there! Denver girl—Gosh! San Francisco girl—Rats! Texas girl—Wlioop la! Every girl—Oh, don't! Bad Thing to Walk On. Joe.—Talk about fasting! Why Jilkins walked 27 miles the other day on an empty stomach! Jim.—Why didn't lie use his feet instead of his stomach? Sized Her Up. “Do you think I am a nice girl?” asked Edith of her lover, as she leaned her 160 pounds on him while they sat i n the armchair. “Nice? Bless you, dear, I think you are immense!” replied the youth fer vently. Smiling Room Needed. The fellow who laughs in his sleeve Should have, we must presume, If we the statement would believe, A lot of “elbowroom.” It is Given Him. The judge may be in greatest haste,. The jury be quite hurried, The counsel have no time to waste And the witnesses be flurried, The ushers and spectators, too, May think delay a crime, But the convict one thing has to do And that is, “take, his time.” A Pressing Engagement. Maud—Just look at Arthur kissing and hugging his cousin Julia! Mamie—Yes, I knew they were un friendly. “Unfriendly? What do you mean?” “Case of ‘stminal relations’^ isn’t it?” A Cniqne Firm. Jackson—I am dealing exclusively! at Neverblow’s now. It is the most reliable house in the country to-day. Thompson—IIow do you make t hat appear? “They don’t claim to have got a prize medal at the World's Fair.” In tlie Green Room. Leading Gent—The stage manag er has cast that new fellow for Ham let. Low Comedian—What on earth for? “He said he was hungry for bread, so they gave him a heavy role.” HAVE YOU USED Blush ...OF... Roses? TRY A BOTTLE and YOU WILL BE DELIGHTED .with the Result. Beautiful Women % AM over the world say that Miss Flora B. Junes’ Famous “BLUSH OF ROSES” is the finest toilet article made for removing Pim ples, Black-heads, Freckles and Tan. For whitening the skin, it takes the place of powder, and once used the powder box will be banished forever. It is positively free from all poisonous in gredients, and will not harm the most deli cate skin. As a complexion beautifier it is without a rival. The finest toilet article in the world. Price 75 cts. For Sale by all Druggists. Q SEND FOR CIRCULAR TO | »•••*• «■»»«»« /v•» iriti9, | \Bicydes J NO AGENTS. ^ We sell from catalogue <11 wuuicsdic puces, cnip ior examination before sale. Ours at $41.71 same as agents sell for $75; ours at $5.*i.35 same as agents sell at $100; ours at $77.60, Wood Rims.25lbs. same as any $125 wheel. 12 styles, $15.52 to $77.60. Cat alogue free. ACME CYCLE CO., Elkhart, Ind. iwritk! S for Dr. Miles' Bunk on Nervi sis ami Heart J Diseases entitled “Xetc and Start line/ S < Facta.” Everyone should hare and read it {j ! Address the I'resUlent of the »| DR. niLES nEDICAL CO., Elkhart, Ind. j Facts About the Heart Surprising as it may seem, diseases of two of tiie most vital portions of the human body have received but little attention from medical writers and investigators. They are those of the heart and nervous system. The former is the hardest worked organ of tiie body, whose duty it is to keep every part of the human frame con stantly supplied witli the vital tluid called the blood, and the moment this important organ ceases to heat deat li ensues, while in tiie nervous system reside not only the mind hut the seat of life, and upon its condition depend tiie health and activity of the whole or a part of the body. So delicate is the nervous system and so intimately is it connected witli the heart, that the prick of a needle, in the upper portion of tiie spinal cord, where ilio roots of tin: nerve which controls the action of tiie heart are located, will cause instant death. Weaknesses and diseases of this or gan are therefore exceedingly impor tant, as well as common. High au thorities state that one person in four lias a defective heart, while those of a whole family are often imperfect, and what is more surprising is that two thirds of the persons thus affected are not aware of the fact, but in their ig norance, attribute 1 lie symptoms of a diseased heart, such as shortness of breath, palpitation, pain in the chest, etc., to other causes. And what is more strange still, physicians com monly make the same mistake. In the first stages of heart disease they almost universally fall into this fatal error, because too little is taught con cerning this all important organ in our medical colleges. The symptoms of heart disease are given below, and should be carefully read by everyone. (scarcely a uauy paper cun ue iounri that does not contain a notice of the sudden death, from heart disease, of some prominent person who was stricken down without warning while apparently in the best of health and bodily vigor. But this condition was only apparent; premonitory symptoms had long existed but were not recog nized, or were attributed to some other affection, as were those of Gen eral Sheridan in his lirst attack, when physicians treated him for derange ment of the stomach, but which sub sequently proved to be organic disease of the heart. Few physicians are aware of the fact that heart disease is a frequent cause of functional and or ganic disorders of the stomach, lungs and kidneys. Few persons die of chronic disease af the heart whose stomachs, if examined, would not be found to be affected. The frequent and fatal error is in mistaking the ef fect for the cause. The heart is a hollow muscle situ ated between the lungs, a little to the left of the centre of the chest. Jri the adult it is about five inches long, three and a half wide and two and a half thick. The average weight in man is three-fourths of a pound, while in wo man it is two-thirds. It is divided in to halves, the right and the left. Each side is sub-divided into two cav ities. The right side of the heart receives the dark blood from the veins of the body, and forces it into the lungs to become purified by coming in contact with the air. While in the lungs the blood throws off carbonic acid gas and absorbs oxygen. This process changes the dark red blood to a bright red. It then returns to the heart,entering the left side; from thence it is forced through t he arteries to all parts of the body. The heart contains four sets of valves. Two of these separate t he up per and lower cavities of each side. These, like the valve, or sucker in a pump, perform an important duty. From this necessarily brief descrip tlon It will be seen that this impor tant, organ is quite a coniplhalted ma chine, and like all other complicated apparat us may readily get out of or der, which, experience shows, it often does. Yes, a great deal oftener than people usually imagine. A little In vestigation will convince anyone that there is ample reason why it should, when it is remembered that the heart is but a hollow muscle, and by far the most wonderful and hn|M>rtant in t he Imdy, and that it works incessantly from the beginning to the end of life. Day and night it labors without rest, performing such an ntoniioux uounoit of work as to be almost beyond belief. Physiologists inform usthat with each pulsation, or coni ruction, of the heart, it, exerts 50 pounds of force, which amount s to 3,, Top Buggy. $43.00 ^, Msisi Have *oid to consumer* lor *1 years, saving them the dealer’s profit. We are the Oldest and Largest manufactnrers in Amer ica selling Vehicles and Harness this way—ship with privilege to examine before any money Is paid. We pay freight both ways If not satisfac tory. Warrant for 2 years. Why pay an agent ?10 to 150 to order for you? Write your own order. Boxing free. We take all risk of damage in shipping. WHOLESALE PRICES. Spring Wagons, S3I to S50. Guaranteed same as sell fortSOtot&a. Surreys. S65toSIOO Bame as sell for 1100 to ti.'A Top Buggies. S37.50, as fine as sold for 165. Phaatons,S66 to SlOO. Farm Wagons, Wagonettes, Milk Wagons, Delivery Wagons and Road Carts. BICYCLES FOB MEN, WOMEN * CHILDREN. __ Our Harness are bold at Manufac turer's Prices. Single. $6 to *‘40 Double Iiuggv, *1M~*85 Farm. *1 6 to I2S.&0. $75 sikTi No. 7S1, Surrey. _ A26 No. 727, Eoad Wagon. No. 3, Farm Wagon. no. i, riirm ^ HIDING PADDLE* and FLY NETS. 8 percent, off for oa«h with order. Pend 4c. in atampM to pay postage on 112-page catalogue. Address W. B. PRATT, Sec’y, - Liar - ■ 1 ■ Elkhart Bicycle, 28ln.wheels, pneumatic tires, weldlesa steel tubing, drop filings. ELKHART, IND. All illustrations and signed articles in this cover are Copyrighted. 189.}.