t * . !
AIM
AV
Mt IMV MY POOR WIFE.
; g
8 " "
BY J. P. SMITH. i
* *
* I „
* > -r v
I §
V
Kl
CHAPTER X. ( Continued. )
"I don't lilce your story , Paul,1
flolen observed , rising abruptly with :
shiver. "Let us go home ; ' it is get
ting quite cold. "
"Yes , it's an unpleasant traged :
nough , " I assented , rather eagerly-
"let us turn our thoughts to lightei
subjects. By-the-byc , Helen , what I ;
this I hear about a garden party at th <
Grange next week ? Have we receivec
an invite ?
"Yes , it came this morning. Doa'1
you remember mo showing it to you'
Lady Ilernshaw expects her son on
Saturday for the races and the ball at
Ringwall !
; "Garden parties , races , balls ! 13j
Jove , the county is waking up at last !
( I hope you have your frocks in order ,
Nell. You have ? That's right. "
* "I say , my dear , " I continued , rather
awkwardly , after a few minutes' si
lence , "d'ye know I've been thinking
It's rather hard on Edith Stopford ,
after cheerfully bearing the stagnation
of the spring and winter , being carried
off to Buxton with the old gentleman ,
Just when the fun is coming on. Very
hard , indeed , now , isn't it ? "
"Very. "
"Helen , don't you think it would be a
neighborly thing if we asked her to
stop on a week or ten days with us
here and join the general after the
races ? "
, "It would. "
j "Shall we ask her eh ? " "If you
wish it , Paul. "
' "I I don't wish it particularly , if
you don't , my dear , " I answered rather
jlamely , for her curt uninterested re-
iplies put me out , though I scarcely
( knew why. "I only thought it would
be a neighborly act , and very little
trouble to us , as , of course , we must
attend all these festivities. "
"Then let us ask her. "
"You are the person to do that ; she
would not come on my invitation. 1
: think , if you asked the general flrst
toe's such a suspicious , crotchety old j
fellow it would be better. "
"I'll ask him tomorrow. Now , let
us go in , please ; the air is quite chil
ly. "
' . She kept her word , and the general
.giving his consent , Edith came to us
' on the following Thursday , and to all
jappearance my wife and she got on
jmost cordially together , so much so
[ that on the third or fourth day I ven
tured to question Edith's emphatic as-
; 6ertion in the cedar walk , but she only
shook her head.
1 "No , no , I am right ; she does netlike
like me , and she never will. It's of
Ino use my trying to make her. Hush ,
hush , here she comes ! Don't let her
see you speaking to me , Paul , " and
( With a flurried , nervous movement that
jl saw naturally attracted my wife's at-
Itention and even brought a faint color
( to her cheek , Edith turned from me
iand affected to be deeply interested in
'a ' book.
In the beginning of the following
week I was unexpectedly called away
from home on business connected with
Edith's trouble. Helen drove me to
tthe station , and suddenly , when the
train was on the point of starting , im-
5 > ored me to take her with me not Co
leave her behind impressing on me
t was the first time we had been part
ed since we were married , and if I
loved her the least bit , to take her
with me now "now. "
t CHAPTER XI.
Rather impatiently disengaging the
I
5 hand she had seised , I reminded her
of her duties to her guest , whose ex
istence she seemed to have forgotten ,
at which she recovered her senses ,
begged me not to mind her foolishness ,
and with a cheerful smile nodded fare
well.
I was detained in town longer than
I expected , and , when , on the fourth
day , the express bore me northwards
again , I sighted the beech woods of
Colworth with a feeling of pleasure
and satisfaction I had not experienced
even atfer the absence of years. Yet
no one but the groom met me at tKe
station , though I had wired my arrival.
A hasty Inquiry relieved my fears ; all
had gone well In my absence , I was S (
Informed , and at the lodge gate Edith sd
awaited me , and , with an excited ges sa
ture , begged me to descend. a :
"Here you are at last , dear boy ! " she Viol
whispered , glad welcome sparkling In olp
her lovely eyes. "I we thought you p ;
were never coming. Helen Is busy tiw
with the housekeeper ; I don't think she w
knows the train is due yet , so you'll tiV
have time to take a turn in the wood V (
with me and tell me all all. Oh , w
Paul , such a time I've spent since ; but ei
for your dear cheery letters I couldn't riPi
have borne it ! " Pi
Pivt
Half an hour later I entered the vt
house , briskly calling my wife's name , erm
but no answer came. She was not in m
any of the sitting rooms , so I hurried to
up to her own room and found her
standing motionless by the window. of
' "
She did not move or seem aware of my \
entrance until I touched her reproach ba
fully ; then she turned with a slight pr
shiver , and hid her face against my he
shoulder. po
"Why did you go away oh , why did tw
you go away , Paul ? " was all she said.
"Helen , what a greeting ! What's CO
the matter with you , child ? Am I not fa <
back to you now , whole In mind and roi
body ? " * Hy
"Oh , yes ; you are ! " she answered , tie
half drowsily : "I hope you had a Ed
pleasant time in tov/n. Was it uot
very hot ? "
I looked at her uneasily , and was
startled by the great change In her ap
pearance so startled that I did not
speak for a minute.
"My absence does not seem to have
agreed with you , Nell , " I said , with a
forced sprightllucss , and pinching her
wan cheek. "I must not let you try
a spell of widowhood for some time
again. "
"Oh , there's nothing particular the
matter with me , " she returned gently ,
withdrav/Ing from my touch. "There
goes the luncheon bell. Be quick and
get ready , Paul ; we must not keep our
guest waiting , you know. "
She scarcely spoke or ate anything
during the meal , but sat with downcast
eyes , listlessly playing with her knife
and fork. The oftener I glanced at
her the more painfully I was struck
by the change In hsr looks , Intensified
by contrast with Edith's rose-tinted
cheeks , sparkling eyes , and gay , sweet
laugh. Her skin had completely lost
its clear , healthy hue , and was gray
and opaque , her eyes were sunken and
dull , and there was a hard , harsh line
about her mouth that robbed her face
of Its youthful appearance.
"Helen , " I said anxiously , following .
her from the room when she v/as leavt
Ing to dress for the garden party at 5
the Grange , "I do not think you are i
well enough to go to ths party. You t
had much better remain quietly at theme t
home , and I'll get Dr. Flnlay to pre
scribe you a tonic that will bring back
your color and appetite. "
"There is nothing the matter with
me , I tell you. Why do you worry
so , Paul , and try to prevent Nme from
going to the party I have been so look
ing forward to ? I won't stay at home !
there ! "
I drew back , almost dumbfounded by
the violent querulousness of her tone ,
and said nothing more.
Arrived at the Grange/I was stopped tl
by an old Indian friend , and lost sight n
of my party for some time. I was tryI1
ing to find them at least , my wife , o ;
who I knew still felt shy and ill at ease b
among the notabilities of the county ,
and give her the support of my coun t
tenance , when I v/as detained by my tU !
hostess , who exclaimed animatedly : Si
"Ah , here you are at last , Mr. Den- Sim .
nys ! I have been looking for you ri
everywhere to make up a set of ten ce
nis. "
"Thank you , " I said hastily. "I am bl
looking for iny wife. She was so poor th ,
ly this afternoon that I wanted her to thm
go to bed Instead of coming to your St
charming party. " he
"Poorly your wife ! " exclaimed La OE
dy Hernshaw , gazing at me In genuine
astonishment. "Mr. Dennys , why ev
eryone is commenting on her appear sa
ance ! I never saw her look so well ; sawi
[ scarcely recognized her at first ! Why ,
she is the attraction of tne afternoon ; cage
the men are flocking round her lika go
bees round a honey-pot , and I am per
fectly distracted trying to find partners ]
'or those yards of unfortunate girls
ining the tennis ground. Do help me let
nake up a few sets , or" with a mean- ler
ng glance in the direction my eyes shi
lad also taken "send your invalid bu
vife home to bed at once. "
I looked stupidly at my "invalid we :
vife. " She was reclining on a couch
) f cushions "under a spreading chest- yoi
lut tree , " surrounded by a crowd ot it :
roung men , her host , a very handsome , c
lisslpated looking man of 22 , kneeling
it her feet holding a plate of straw- Yo
lerries and cream , while others were nol
reasuring her parasol and her fan , all
phich overpowering attention she was
eceiving with the haughty ease and HI
areless aplomb of a professional beau-
y of five years standing my Helen , Dai
fho , but a month before , would have
urned away with a scared blush from T
he careless glance of a stranger. liai
"Yes , " I responded slowly , turning to see
ly hostess , "you are right , Lady Hern- the i
haw ; my poignant anxiety is relieved wh
Dr the moment. Pray command my me
ervices in the tennis ground. " alsi
fro
CHAPTER XII. an
I played I do not know how many "Si
2ts with varying success. Still the ten
roup under the chestnut tree did not ins
isperse , but rather increased as the Ian
Cternoon wore on. Of course I was for
cry pleased my wife should be the cou
bject of such flattering and uncom- teri
remising attention , as I had resented "br
10 lukewarm , careless manner in sell
hich she had at first been received by tak
le county families , and the scarcely nel !
siled contempt and pity in which I her
as held for allowing myself to be key
itrapped into such a wretched mar- huri
age ; but , after a couple of hours or ject
iblic reparation , I felt my wounded plie
mity as a husband satisfied , and rath- few
unceremoniously dispersing her anl- the
ated court , informed her of my wish the
return home. thai
"Home ! " she repeated , with a flash but
her eyes that was almost insolent. spe :
Vhat nonsense , Paul ! Why , it is lear
Tely 6 o'clock ! Besides , I have just poir
omised to play a game of tennis. Go gua
imo if you are tired , and send the ord (
ny trap back for me in an hour or "blc
o. ly I
[ moved away , feeling as if a glass ot Con
Id water had been thrown into my indc
: e , and the court of admirers closed poli
und her again. As I walked mood- teen .
across the tennis ground a .soft lit-
gloved hand grasped my arm , and DC
ilth whispered entreatingly : ing
"Oh , Paul , dear , do help mo to get
rid of this stupid man ! I'm tired to
death of him , and he won't leave mo.
You look tired yourself , and as If you
had quite enough of the festivity. "
"I was thinking cf going home. Are ,
you ready to come , Edle ? "
"Quite. LeLusstart'at once ; I'm so
glad I met you , Paul. "
Bidding her cavalier an unceremon
ious adieu , she put her hand within my
arm and we walked home across the
fields , leaving the pony trap for Helen
to order whenever she liked.
The hours went by. Edle and I din
ed tete-a-tete , made jnuslc together ,
took a moonlight stroll to the river ,
still Helen did not return. At last ,
some time after midnight , wo heard
the sound of approaching wheels , and
presently she entered , with glowing
cheeks and glittering eyes , escorted by
Sir William Kernshaw , who she in
formed us had persuaded her to remain
to dinner at the Grange , where they
had had such a delightful dance after
wards ; then , with a careless nod to me
and Edith , and a whispered good night
to her escort , she went straight to b T.
I stood rooted to the spot staring after
her , until Edith's soft palm was passed
pityingly over my hand , her lips , closa
to my ear , murmured soothingly :
"I am so sorry so sorry , dear boy ;
but you must make excuses for her ;
she Is young , you know , and from her
bringing up does not understand the
usages of society. If you like I'll give
her a hint tomorrow that English gen
tlewomen do not do those things. She
means no harm , I'm sure. "
I could have no explanation with
Helen that night , for , when I went up
to her room , she was sleeping heavily.1
and the next morning she rose at day
break , and did not appear at breakfast.
When I returned from the club at
Shorten , I found Edith established at
he tea table with her dainty work
strewn round her , waiting to pour out
ny tea , just as I had pictured her , with
; imid rapture , a hundred times during
; he months I had courted her so rev-
: rently ; and my wife sitting under a
ree on the lawn facing a window , Jim
uddled up iu her arms , and Sir Wil-
iam Hernshaw's bold dark eyes look-
nk into hers with undisguised admlra-
ion.
I started from my seat with a sudden
esire to kick him then and there out
f my grounds , when Edith , divining
ay movement , interposed.
"Paul , Paul , for heaven's sake re
train yourself ! Think of the shame ,
tie scandal that would follow ; and she
leans no harm , I'm sure. Oh , indeed , {
m sure of that. I've not had the
r
pportunity yet of speaking to her , r
ut "
"Do not seek the opportunity , " I In-
irrupted fiercely ; "It would be of no
se. I will speak to her ; but I think
le must be losing her head. I can't
.ake out what possesses her. I mar-
ed , as I thought , a harmless , inno- g
snt child married her through " '
"Pity , generosity , through the lio-
est spirit of self-sacrifice. Oh , I guess
e story of your courtship and your ,
arriage , my poor Paul ! I have ,
tessed it some time , and it has not .
ilped to make my lot lighter , to rec-
icile me to what I lost in losing the
the love of one of the truest , noblest
' r
ah , what am I saying what am 1
ying ? " she cried , covering her face
th her hands and shrinking from me. *
hen I see you treated like this , I I '
n't help it , my heart speaks out. Oh ,
away go away ! Do not look at me ,
2ase. 4.1
[ was about to leave the room when
servant entered and handed me a
ter. After reading it , I laid It si-
EC
itly before my companion. When th
e had read she turned to me with
tr
rning face and sobbed faintly :
V
'I wish I were dead oh , I wish 1
COte
re dead ! "
to
'Hush , hush , " I whispered ; "you dli
u must not say that ! TqaightEdie ! ici
must be. "
5he shivered. ,
Ta
'You you will be with me , Paul ? Tamj
u will be with me , Paul ? You will ly
L leave me ? " betel
( To be Continued. ) tel
as
S "BRUTAL AND BLOODY. "
lis
aid O'Connell's Remark About the
" sh
"Speech of the Throne. "
he first member of the reformed par- .
rnent reproved by the chair for unJ *
mly language was Daniel O'Connell , '
great Irish agitator. The incident , I
ich occurred in the first week of the ,
eting of the house of commons , is ,
o remarkable for having evoked
m the speaker a definite ruling on
interesting constitutional point. The
) eech from the Throne" called at- .
tion , among other things , to the
ecurity of life and property Jn Ire-
f
d , and asked for coercive measures
the repression of crime. In the
rse of the debate O'Connell charac is ,
the
ized the speech from the throne as .
utal and blocdy. " Lord John Rus-
at once moved that the words be J"
en down. "Oh ! " exclaimed O'Con-
s c
i , "when we speak of Ireland and
wrongs it must be 'In bondsman's
, with bated breath and whispering , ,
ableness. ' " Lord John Russell ob-
ed to the word "bloody" being ap-
d to a speech which had , only a
days previously , been delivered by
5
king William IV. in person in h
house of lords. O'Connell Insisted
Iey (
t it was not the speech of the king , . .
the speech of the ministers. The
iy
iker agreed with the honorable and
1
nod member on the constitutional
' t
it , but informed him that his Ian-
exc
go was not calculated to preserve the
3r and decency of debate. The ,
Ken
lody and brutal whigs" subsequent- The
) ecanie a popular phrase with 0'- Ing
nell in his speeches in Ireland , and , the
ied , is not unknown today in Irish Ing
tical controversies. The Nine * |
con
.th Century. eve
den
m't attempt to gain time by steal- rail
It from sleep. ton :
bes :
SIGNIFICANT PACTS.
CAUSE AND EFFECT IN THE
RECENT ELECTION.
Republican Control of the IToaio of
Ropresentntlrcs Was SATO a by Oainn
In States Whore Protection Was Em
phasized us a 1'romliient Issue.
A vote for Democratic congressmen
will be a vote to overturn the Dlngley
tariff law , which has been the primal
factor of our present prosperity ; which
has increased the wages paid to Amer
ican worklngmen one billion dollars In
the past eighteen months ; which made
a balance of trade in our favor of over
six hundred million dollars last year ,
and is building new factories and set
ting more men at work in our mills ,
factories , logging camps and mines. It
will be a vote to indorse the free-trade
Wilson law , which closed our mills and
factories , and enforced idleness and
poverty upon American workingniec.
Tacoma Ledger.
It is a fact of history that in the
states of the far West the campaign
ending Nov. 8 was chiefly fought on
the issue of protection. The extract
just quoted from the Tacoma Ledger is
a fair sample of the arguments and ap
peals relied upon by the leading Re
publican newspapers of the Pacific
coast to reach the intelligence of vet
ers. Day after day , week after week ,
the journals supporting President Mc-
Kinley's administration and its policies
spread before their readers the facts
and figures of revived prosperity under
protection as contrasted with the facts
and figures of depression and ruin un
der four years of free trade and tariff
tinkering. Every Republican speaker
followed the same line.
A different policy was pursued In the
Middle and Eastern states , more par
ticularly the Atlantic coast states. In
these states the tariff was almost en
tirely Ignored alike by newspapers and
campaign speakers on the Republican
side. Naturally it was ignored on the
Democratic side. Republican writers
ind orators had little or nothing to say
ibout the leading feature in the policy
) f the Republican national administrar
Ion. The needs and demands of the
American merchant marine , albeit of
'ital consequence to the people of the .
Atlantic coast states , received scarcely .
i word of recognition. So far as the *
oters of these localities were informed
„
he issue of marine protection and the
estoration cf American shipping was
tot involved in the campaign. , a ,
Mark the result ! The Republican ma- | c' '
orily in the national house of repre-
entatives was wiped out by losses In sifc
be Western Middle fc
, and Eastern states
nd the control of the house by a ma- ic
ority now estimated at thirteen was
ived to the Republican party by the
alns of congressmen in the states tl
rest of the Missouri river. Leaving ir
tit the gains in these states , where the
octrine of protection was made the cc
sading issue of the campaign , the si
> wer house of the Fifty-sixth con- Ul
ress would be In the control of a EC
jalltion of Democrats , Populists and in
ee sllverltes. er
There Is possibly a lesson in these ei ,
icts that campaign managers would m
j well to keep in mind hereafter. di :
Ei
FOREIGN BALANCES. Ai
norlcnn Devotees of Allen
Industry Arc na
Hard to Please , su
Today and every day there
are as- na
Ttions that the Republican policy
us far has produced nothing but a th :
easury deficit and an extravagant ad- th. .
ince of prices to the disadvantage of
nsumera. These are assertions hard
answer within the limit of profitable
scussion. The treasury shows a deft -
t only because the war makes a
[ Terence , and there has been no ad-
th
<
nce in prices of protected or other
mufactured goods , as men common- th ;
assert. To put the thing plainly , cot
th statements are made by men who am
1 untruths or take great pains not to we
: ertain the truth. tomi
[ "he daily mi
treasury reports are pub-
hed with regularity , and while they the
ow smaller receipts for customs In
tober than usual , for reasons not las
rd to find , it Is easy to understand oceI
it the undecided condition of trade I
I of the industries has curtailed re- In
pts without reference to the present am
iff. The assertion as to the effect get
the existing tariff upon prices has ouj
thing whatever to support it. The to
el of prices reached after the col- out
se of the Leiter speculation has been car
er because of the exceptional and Am
appointing influence on the market by
wheat , and also of all grain. The of
ige for all other than farm products ofwhi
on the whole , lower since last May , stal
season considered , than it has been
any previous year ,
iometimes one is discouraged in the
P
3tnpt to submit facts in response to
and :
h bald untruths. Any statement of
of
ces in general or in detail Is com-
; ably ignored by the people whose
Gre
Dries It does not fit , and their false-
bim
ds go on all the same. But it Is the
t that the general average of all mat
ifarm prices is lower than It was at fore
other time since any economist one
supposed that prices were at a fair The :
3l , and lower than at any time when stre
industries of the country were fair- tauj
prosperous. ter
he depression In the cotton Indus- free
due to a production materially in natv
ess of demand , has made it beyond com
power of anybody to discuss intelli- to j
tly the situation in that branch. due *
iron industry is not only produc- indi
raore than at any previous time in ing ,
history of the country , but accord- Unil
to the latest returns is actually ecor
suming in manufacture more than necc
r before , and there are also export Nevi
rands , including 40,000 tons of steel
5 for northern Europe and 100,000 Tl
5 of steel plates for foreign ports. the
Idea many orders for all sorts of alon
?
finished products , Including 4,500 tons
of billets from Pittsburg.
What are the objectors principally
troubled about ? If they know anything
they know that this country Is sending
nearly 100,000 tons of its products
abroad In the Iron and steel Industry
alone , In spite of all foreign competi
tion. The country does not do so well
In Its exports of products of some other
Industries , and yet has gained so great
ly In manufactured products compared
with Great Britain , our chief competi
tor in the foreign markets , that Its
latest statement indicates a condition
of things In the last degree discourag
ing to British manufacturers. One has
only to read the statements of the leadIng -
Ing men at the last meeting of manu
facturers In that country ta realize
how distressing the American compe
tition has become. What is to be done
to satisfy the incurable devotees of
foreign Industry here ? Are we to let
everything foreign come into this
country without regard for American
production ? No one of them dares to
ask this openly , and yet what can we
do better than to pils up an indebted
ness of $50,000,000month against for
eign countries , In excess of merchan
dise exports over imports , upon which
we can draw at pleasure ? New York
Tribune.
THE CRUCIAL POINT.
IIow to Find Profitable Employment for
American Ships.
The main question Is no longer with
us one of navigation laws. We can eas
ily compete in building the best ships
in the world. That is the crucial point.
The expansion of our commerce and
the greatness of our ocean carrying
trade are now sure to go hand In hand.
Norwalk ( Ohio ) Daily Reflector.
The "crucial point" is successful
competition , not in building ships , but
in sailing them after they are built
The country is full of cheerful op
timists who think that to be able to
Juild ships as cheaply as they can be
milt in the European shipyards is to
settle the whole question of restoring
American marine prestige. Far from
t.
The American ship must employ
American seamen , pay the American
ate of wages , supply Its crew with the
American standard of subsistence , and
ubmit to the extortion which foreign
nsurance companies practice upon
imerican hulls and cargoes. The in-
reased expense of operating the ship
O
nder these conditions necessitates a
igher freight schedule than that ex-
cted by foreign ships. With its
u
fieaper pay roll , cheaper subsistence
d ;
nd lower rates of insurance a foreign
tc
lip can carry merchandise at a profit
tl
) r a price that would drive the Amer-
st
an shipowner into bankruptcy.
fa
Therefore it is plain to see that the
: rucial point" is not the building of ti
le ship at all. This , to be sure , is an 01m
nportant consideration , as far as It m
2es , but it is by no means the chief d <
msideration. If the American-built
trot
tip is to carry American commerce
ider the American flag it must be in ot
fie
ime way compensated for the exist-
g disadvantages of larger cost of op-
ation as compared with ships of for-
gn register , just as the American
anufacturer is compensated for the
fference between the pauper labor of
irope and the well-paid labor of
nerica.
Here Is the real "crucial point. " The
.tional Republican platform of 1S96
ggests a solution of the difficulty
mely , the imposition of discriminat-
g duties on merchandise carried to
is country in foreign vessels. If
sre is any better solution nobody has
t discovered it.
How to Get 3oro Golt ! .
The American people , like Oliver
rist , want "more" "more , " when
5 thing in question is gold. It is true
at gold has been pouring into the
intry as a result of the heavy bal-
ce of trade in our favor , and that is
11 , but it is not enough. According P &
W. W. Bates , ex-United States com-
ssioner of navigation , the people of
! United States have paid out , on an
jrage , $150,000,000 annually for the
t thirty years , to foreign ships for Am
an transportation ,
lowever much gold we may take in
payment for our surplus exports can
1 we intend to take in all we can
it will never be enough , and it
jht never to be enough until we add
it the milions we are now paying aga
; to foreign vessels for our ocean
rying. That amount , added to the
icrican side cf the balance sheet ,
being paid to the American owners the
American vessels , would look well wh :
en we came to make up our j-early an
tement of receipts and expenditures. Unc
lys :
Trusts In n Froo-Trarto Country. out
ersons who have Insisted , in season COU1
out , that protection is the father indi
trusts will be bothered to explain bull
r trusts continue to flourish in wor
at Britain. Another of these com- tive
itions of capital is in process of for- tradH
ion among the dyers in the Brad- H
l district , and at last accounts only virt
large dyeing firm was standing out. duti
fact is that trusts are born of verj
nuous competition , and if , as Is the
; ht by economists of the Manches- hun
school , competition is whetted by the
trade , Great Britain should be the of t
iral home for trusts. Certainly no ury ,
iitions should be more favorable turn
growth of trusts than those pro- chat
2d In Great Britain by the intense gin
istrial rivalry that country is meet- steel
both at home and abroad , from the marl
: ed States and Germany. Greater was
lomy in production is an industrial ship ;
; ssity for the United Kingdom. and
r York Commercial Advertiser. woul
rest
le men who have made a noise In adel ]
world have not used their mouths "und
way.
A GROWING INDUSTRY
America Deatlncd to Supply the TTkoIe
World TTlth TTlne.
Ten years ago Joaquln Miller , "tho
Poet of the Sierras , " registered the
prediction that before the middle of the
twentieth century America Will have
become the leading wine producing
country of the world. At present we
are a long way off from the realization
of that prophecy , but In view of the
rapid progress made In the past few
years In the development of this im
portant Industry there Is reason to be
lieve that within the time specified this
country will not only produce the great
bulk of the wines consumed at Borne ,
but will be a heavy exporter of wines.
In 1S97 the American production or i
wlfes aggregated 30,303,740 gallons , an.1
increase of about 12,000,000 gallons
over the total for 180G. For the year
1897 the wine product cf France , the-
leading country of the world In this
Industry , was 854,713,420 gallons , a de 1
crease of 325,098,100 gallons as com
pared with the yield of 1896. This
i.
would indicate a larger consumption
and a more general acceptance of our .
domestic wines , as well as a material
advance In the gross output.
A large production of this increase In
home production Isjlue to the fact that
American wines are" slowly but surely - ' 4
making their way to popular favor by
virtue of their high quality. It used to
be thought that France was tae only
country In the world capable of turnIng -
Ing out champagnes of such , standard
excellence as to meet the exacting re
quirements of the American palate.
This Is no longer the case. American
champagne makers are now producing
wines that are In every way equal to
the choicest vintages of France , and
the time is not far distant , according
to reliable authorities , when the su
perb sparkling wines of our own land
will largely displace imported cham
pagnes , and when the millions of dbl-1
lars which we now send abroad every
rear for this class of wines will be in.
jreat part kept at home and distrib-
ited among American grape growers ,
vine makers and wage earners. Joa-
luin Miller's prediction Is in a fair
' ay to be realized.
A Senator Off the Track.
The prejudice of our people against
ubsidies alone prevents the building
p of the merchant marine , of which
re all could feel as proud as we do of
ur navy. Senator Hanna.
The senator is woefully off the track
ere , and must be set aright , else he
lay do incalculable mischief. Subsl-
ies never have sufficed In this country
) build up our merchant marine , and
ley never can. They are far too re-
; ricted In their application , and they
ivor one while closing the door to ac-
ve competition among other of our
tvn steamship lines. Subsidies to
ail carriers and auxiliary cruisers are
; sirable and right , and they cannot
5 made either too genarous or too at-
active ; but , as the sole remedy for
ir merchant marine , they are not suf-
: ient As a part of a great policy or
stem , subsidies are all right , but as
e only part , hope will continue to be
ferred until the heart not only sick-
s but dies. New York Commercial.
Odds of Twelve to One.
Incle Sam I say , mate , Is that an
lerican ship out there ?
Lmerican Sailor No , sir ; nit.
r. S. Why so positive ? You surely
't make out the flag
at that dls-
ce.
. . S. True enough , but I'll bet you
to 1 I'm right. That's the odds
inst us on the sea.
"Dnrter Proper . , „ „ , , .
faval expansion is inevitable under
unanswerable logic of destiny. But
it the country most needs no'w is
expansion of its maritime fleets ,
ler proper laws that would prorapt-
et In , and while taking no millions
of the treasury it would turn un
ited millions into the channels of
ustry and make America as busy a
Ider of merchantmen for the outer
Id as she has long been of locomo-
s. Philadelphia Record ( free
e ) .
ere is a definition of the peculiar
ues of the policy of discriminating
es that is hard to beat. Under this
proper law , precisely similar to
law enacted for the same purpose a
dred years ago by the founders or
republic , there would be no taking
Qillions out of
the national treas-
but there would be a wonderful
ing of uncounted millions into the
mels of Industry. " We should be-
by building a vast fleet of Iron and
ships for the American merchant
Ine , and by the time this demant
supplied our splendidly eqaim
yards with their cheaper mate
superior mechanical
id be ready to build ship
of the world. All this , as/
phia Record very truty <
ler proper laws , " buti' in
V