m u i i m n 51 I 3 3 i v Good Roads in Prussia There is in Prussia and in the other States a corps of educated highly trained State employes who have tanade roads their profession and ihey iinoiv their business Constant repair f2s one main reason for the condition of the German roads Comprehensive and minute regulations are strictly en forced In some provinces the village mayor is held strictly responsible for the good condition of all the roads in ids district except the state roads The work of repair is constant and the la bor is constantly supervised Another main reason why the bulla Ing of roads is carried out honestly is the virtual absence of temptation to do otherwise The laws are very slrict and violations are severely punished by fine and imprisonment There are three kinds of highways the provincial the Kries and the Ge memde Wege The former two are those whose building and maintenance rests on the shoulders of the provincial or district representative bodies All the rest are communal or private roads and the same strict regulations apply to them as to the provincial roads In Prussia alone 11000000 per an num is paid out of the public funds for the maintenance of roads and this fioes not include the moneys expended Ly individual communes and by pri vate companies and individuals On the highest grade of public roads it is forbidden to use them for vehicles with protruding wheel nails screws spokes or otherwise objectionable gear The horseshoes must be of a particular kind Heavy loads may not pass over the roads without special permission Thv1 tolls exacted on the German joads though at one time generally Imposed are now small and infrequent As the- maintenance of the roads is fix ed by specific laws and regulations so too are the conditions of constructing sew roads Ivosul Grnn mentation More attention is being paid recently ib the question of road ornamentation The fact is that our streets should present the aspects of public parks ex tending everywhere about the country Instead of throwing our brush and rub lilsh there we should plant our best shrubs and flowers In many cases na ture provides for this aspect of affairs with brooks and wild flowers These hould be preserved in their natural ibeaury We know a few towns where the custom is well established of ex tending lawns down to the driveway This custom adds not only to the pleas are of the traveler but to the culture 5tnd civilization of the common team sters Some of the European countries Lave carried this custom much farther than Americans If a man wishes to make his place attractive for any pur pose even for sale he should make the front of it charming to the eye Farm and Fireside a Had Uoa Js Retard Progress There is simple common sense for the ood roads question Get good men and make the money reach the roads As things are at present organized or disorganized In Maryland not one dollar in four or five appropriated for roads reaches the work on the roads This fact is known It is admitted It is one of the chief scandals of the State Now the time has come for the mone3 to be honestly used There should be new laws new regulations new men and new methods The lack of good roads is keeping down the price of every farm in the State costing every farmer more to get his products to market keeping back that progress which would come if we had better highways Baltimore American Reasons for Koad Improvement The three most important reasons for road improvement are first the desir ability of reducing the cost of hauling second the importance of making most of our roads fit for pleasure driving thereby attracting to the rural districts in summer thousands of people who reate a local market for various farm products third the economic principle of preventing the great waste of labor which now is fruitlessly expended in making bad roads Professor F J H Merrill Pen Names For various reasons an author may sot wish to sign his name to his first literary attempts He may feel a little shy about coming before the public in propria persona he may prefer to re main unknown he may think that it is easier to win notoriety for an allitera tive or catchy sobriquet or he may feel that in assuming a new name it is easier for him to assume the character m which he wishes to appear before the public Thackeray used several names because he wrote for different publica tions in different styles He signed Limself sometimes John Corks some times The Proser or a Traveler in IiOndon For a certain set of papers he chose the name of James Yellow plush for another that of Michael Angelo Titmarsh The last was sug gested by the nickname given him by a friend in allusion to the fact that he Eke the great artist had a broken nose Mark Twain was originally the pen namc of Capt Isaiah Sellers who used to write river news over it When he died Mr Clemens appropriated it to his own use with what success we Snow Miss Alice French chose the very attractive name Octwe Thancjy by chance M Paul Blout combined the first name of -his French grand father lz1 the Izzt szwc of his Irish T- fSKTT5iWy 3rrnW5fff P ilseSM6XtiWOliiilt3Ai w 1 nwn Wl 1 grandmother Into the haDpy coir oina tion Max ORell Cincinnati H Miller when hg began tr write poetry wisely concluded that it would eeui more like real poetry if he signal his first name Joaquin RECENT INVENTIONS To close fire shutters and doors auto matically they are mounted on sy in clined track to slide shut as sooi as a fusible cord over the door is bucned the cord allowing a Aveight to drop on the latch and release the door Oil cans are being made of circular shape to be mounted on a central pivot and attached to the wall of a building a ilange on the can turning a friction wheel on a vertical shaft with a chim ney cleaner at the top In a handy patch for pneumatic tires a flexible band is provided with a curved plate at one end and a link at the other end which hooks on the plate after it is wound around the tire the plate being sprung downward against the rim to lock the patch in position Fires can be kindled automatically by a new apparatus which consists of a lamp to be placed under the fire box and carrying a wick tube which holds a wiek and match the latter being ig nited by a spring striker released by the clock mechanism Sudden jerks and starts of a horse are prevented from yanking riders in a carriage by the use of a spring back rest which is hinged to the seat at the bottom the top being supported by coiled springs mounted on rods in cyl inders at the ends of the seat Stair carpet can be securely fastened without breaking the fabric by using a newly designed bracket which is formed of a metal bar having a hinged piece adjustably attached to its center with the upper end of the latter to be inserted under the edge of the stair above to lock the bar in a vertical po sitiou against the stair riser JLirnth ol Thousrhr How long does it take a man to thlslc Prof Richet at the recent meeting ol1 the British association gave the results of his investigations into this subject He found that by mentally running up the notes of the musical scale for one or more es and then u v iding the total time by the number of notes thought of the time taken for cell note was one eleventh of a second There are various ways of arriving at conclu slons as to the amount of time neces sary for realizing any physical sensa tion or mental impression if the skin be touched repeatedly wit light blows from a small hammer one inay acord ing to Prof Richet distinguish the fact that the blows are separate and not continuous pressure when they follow one another as frequently as 1000 a second The smallest intervals of sound can be much better distinguished vith one ear than with both Thus the sep- arateness of the clicks of a revoLviug toothed wheel was noted by one ob server when they did not exceed sfcxty to the second but using both ears he could not distinguish them when they occurred oftener than fifteen times a second The sharp sound of an elec tric spark of an induction coil was dis tinguished with one ear when the rate was as high as 500 to the second Sight is much less keen than hearing in dis tinguishing differences If a disc half white and half black be revolved it will appear gray when its revolutions exceed twenty four per second It has been found that we can hear far more rapidly than we can count so that if a clock clicking movement runs faster than ten to the second we can count four clicks while with twenty to the second we can count two of them Mining and Scientific Press A Hunters Tries John Hook a veteran huntsman ot Hampshire County West Virginia has a novel case that is puzzling a justice of the peace While hunting Hook could not resist the temptation to kill a deer that crossed his path He then went to the nearest magistrate and Informed on himself who imposed a fine of 20 for violating the game law which implicit ly implies that no deer shall be killed in that State until Oct 15 1901 Hooks object in informing on himself was to save half the fine which the justice re fused to allow He is now suing the squire The deer weighed 204 pounds and Hook thought it would be cheap meat If he could get half the fine as the law states that half the fine shall go to the informer New York Journal AHunJy Tally Register The visitor to any public place may easily be counted without aitoaobing attention by -mea-ns of a tally register a little contrivance about the size of a big watch which can be carried in Wiq palm of -the hand out of sight and da operated by pressing upon a little at tachment projecting at the side Every pressure counts one on the dials of fcho instrument which records up to 1000 Then the tally man scores one and re sets the machine and begins anew or starts with another machine already set The tally register is not new It has long been used also In keeping tally in the shipment or receipt of merchan dise To Clean a Mackintosh If you wish to clean a mackintosh cloak lay it flat on a board or table take brush used for scrubbing clothes some lukewarm water in a basin and some plain yellow soap Thoroughly brush the cloak both right and wrong sides until all dirty marks disappear then rinse thoroughly In different sorts of cold water and hang up to dry but not near a fire Nearly all the men have quit drink ing Only a few foolish boys have the drink habit of late years We can tell whether a man Is lazy by tne way ue leans on a couiuti ui wiie cue SOLDIERS USEI PLJEFtS Before TJiem the Spaniardar JBarbec Wires Fem es Lost Their Terrors American ingenuity co operated with American bravery in providing a unique weapon by the use of which the much feared barbed wire fence which surrounded Santiago lost the greater part of its terrors This effective weapon is known to the mechanical world as pliers Five thou sand of these wire cutters were provid ed the American army before the bat tle of Santiago and when the time came to attack the Spanish stronghold the advance guard wielded 10 inch nipper m tAA i IIOW IT WAS DOVE in addition to its other arms TheTt ers were provided with three sets- i z knives any one of which was capaiia of severing several strands of wire at a time The five thousand of them were supplied Uncle Sam on rush ordersby five big New York firms Strange to say the barbed wire with which the Spaniards constructed sup posedly invincible barriers around their Cuban strongholds was originally pro vided by United States manufacturers and United States manufacturers provided instruments with which to destroy that same barbed v ire SITTING A HORSE CORRECTLY Hovthe Uicler Is Directed to Acquire Graceful Kase in the Saddle The rider must sit in the middle of the saddle seat as fiat as possible weight of body evenly distributed between the two points of the pelvis or sitting bones as the Germans call them Head and body erect and square to the front chest out and back straight The legs should be stretched by their weight alone and allowed to fall Mm mi wi mm IP III 8 a KK1 - jW n -1 cr if 1 1 - Llfl T jw7 v STTTIXO A HORSE CORnEGTrr Inner surface of the thighs and knees ts tightly pressed against the horse with an equal pressure and lies as flat as possible The thigh should be turned in the hip joint to widen the crotch The legs from the knees down fall natu rally the upper portion being close to the horse but not clinging to him the grip is taken from the hip to the knee SPANISH SOLDIERS FUN Den Is Said to Be Witty and Full ot Animal Spirits The Spanish soldier is not as mercuri al as the French but he is witty and full of animal spirits He needs both as well as the dash of fatalism which fliwWJM Ml OX BOATCD TIIE JOT A c onies with his Moorish blood for many leave Spain but few return The Illustration reproduced from the Lon don Graphic shows a typical scene on board the Jota a ship carrying to Manila Old Timo Weather Indications The earliest weather vanes In New England were cocks trumpeters sim ple plates disks and arrows and not to be overlooked the sacred codfish In Boston cocks or broad arrows were on all the old churches On the Prov ince house where Gen Gage had his headquarters there was a statue of an Indian with drawn bow and arrow ready to shoot Prints of the city oi New Amsterdam as it was in the good old Dutch days show the churches and many of the houses surmonuted by the1 Gilded cock or the plain arrow Every man carries a penknife but not one man in twenty carries a good 2mm juiiiiLHTmmu ai nfufw V SaSCJ CHILDRENS COLUMH DEPARTMENT FOB LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS Bowething that Will ftereat thejrr venile Members of Every Household- Quaint Actions and Bright Sayinga of Many Cute and Cunning Children Hold on Boys Hold on to virtue it is above all price to you at all times and places Hold on to your good character for It is and ever will be your best wealth Hold on to truth for it Avill serve you well and do you good throughout eter nity Hold en to1 your tongue when you are just ready to swear lie or speak harshly Hold on to your temper when you arc angry excited or imposed upon or oth ers are angry with you Hold on to your good name at all times for it is of mere value than gold high places or fashionable attire Hold on to your hand when you are on the point of punching scratching jstealing or doing aary improper act Hold on to your hert when evil as sociates seek your company and invite you to join in their- mirth games and levelry Hold on to your foot when you are on the point of kicking running off from studj or pursuing the path of er ror shame or crime1 Tlie Queen BnnibTc Bee The length of life of a queen bumble bee is probably little more than a year at most Here is one ueason for this belief She hatches among the late broods of summer and soon after leaves the nest leadings vagabond ex istence night and day among the au tumn flowers The winter sihe passes in an earth burrow dug by hierself and unaided establishes a colony in the spring These combined pei Is of fall and spring require the daily use of her f Kill wings in the field at least four months Now we know that the wings of the worker honey bee wear out in less than half that time also that the old fmeens who take to the field after the nest breaks up in August frequent ly have tattered wings and soon disap pear Nature does not supply insects with new wing cells as- it supplies birds with new wing feathorsv So the loss- f the power of flight a6 this sea son f the year to the queem bumble bee uiuui the loss of life Sti Nicholas The Uoomcrans Orro of the most remarkable1 weapons usvd by savage races in war oar in hunt ing is the boomerang of the- aborigines of Australia It is of hardwood bent in a curve and is from two feet to two fee Jr nine inches long by from two to threw inches broad It has one side convex the other flat wiili a sharp edge along the convexity of the curve The curve varies greatly in different instruments When to be thrown it is taken in the hand by the handle which has cross cuts on it ami Iisld up at arms length over the sboacMer With the convex edge forward and the flat JLyy VX lyrics 7ouvixn side down it is tliii thrown directly onward with j strong quick lling as if to hit some one ferry yards in advance The hand is drawn back at the same time with a movement like that in the screw backf stroke at billiards The missile slowly ascends in the air whirl ing round and round and describing a curved line of progress till it teaches a considerable height when it begins to retrograde and finally if thrown with sufficient force falls eighiu or ten yards behind the thrower oy it may fall near him This surprising motion is produced by the bulged side of the missile The air impLngiug thereon lifts the instrument in the air exactly as by hitting the obliqi bars in a windmill it forces it to go round It should be added that tbe path of the boomerang can be varied by the will of the thrower and that the sweep of no two boomerangs exactly agrees The force with which it flies is great the Rev J G Wood has seen a dog killed on the spot and nearly cut in two by the stroke Family Herald Pass It On Once when I was a schoolboy going home for the holidays I had a long way to go to reach the far away little town in which I dwelt I arrived at Bristol and got on board the steamer with just enough money to pay my fare and that being settled I thought in my innocence I had paid for every thing in the way of meals I had what I wanted as long as we were In smooth water Then came the rough Atlantic and the need of nothing more I had been lying in my berth for hours wretchedly ill and past caring for any thing when there came the steward and stood beside me Your bill sir said he holding out a piece of paper I have no money said I in my wretchedness Then I shall keep your luggage What is jour name and address I told him Instantly he took off the cap he wore with the gilt band about it and held out his hand I should like to shake hands with you he said I gave him my hand and shook his as well as I could Then came the ex planationhow that some years before some little kindness had been shown mS - rtawyWiBus jfcffaggij gSji f his mother by my father 5sjihG eorsovr of her widowhood I never thought the chance wosltf come for me to repay it said he pleas- j antly but I am glad it has So am I said I As soon as I got ashore I told my father what had happened Ah said he see how a bit of kindness lives Now he has passed it on to you Re member if you meet anybody that needs a friendly hand 3011 must pass it on to them Years had gone by I had grown up quite- forgotten it all until one day T had gone to the station of one of our main lines I was just going to take my ticket when I saw a little lad cry ing a thorough gentlemen he was try ing to keep back the troublesome tears as- he pleaded with the booking clerk What is- the matter my lad I askccL If you please sirr I havent money enough to pay my fare I have all but a few pence and I teil the clerk if he will trust me- I will be sure to pay him Instantly it flashed upon me tlie for gotten s tory of long ago Here then was my chance to- pass it on I gave him the sum needed and then got into the carriage with him Then I told the litble fellow the story of long ago and of the stewards kindness to me Now to day B saad I pass- it on to you and- remember if you meet with any one who needs m kindly hand you must pass it on to- them I will sin I will cried the lad as he took my hand and his- eyes flashed with earnestness I am sure you will I answered I reached my destination and left my little friend The last sign I had of him was the handkerchief fluttering from the window- of the carriage as if to say It is all right sir I will pass i1 on Home -and School Visitor JLioyal to tho Union Labor unions are perhaps- a little strict about their rules but the inno cent reader is- under no obligation to accept as- literal truth the following story printed by the Cleveland ILeader The best newspapers- w ilL sometimes exaggerate There was--trouble att the Maginnisei night before last Mrs Maginnis had just made a line batch of kets hup which she left in tho -kitchen When Mr got horae he went into the kitchen foe a drink of water and presently several dull thuds were heard in the back yard Loud talking between Mr and Mrs Maginnis followed and at one time the sounds- indicated that something like a fight was in progress When Mr Maginnis fared forth next morning one of his- neighbors- asked him if heandliis iwifehacLbeen having an engagement with burglaxs Not ai bit av it said Mr Magin nis I trowed Mrs Maginnis ketchup out o the house- so Ii did Wlryxdidyou do that lie was ask ed Why did Ldaitr Siry 2m a isnion mon Wellwhatrhas tho union to do with your- ketchup1 If 13 had a left than ketchup- In me house L would have- been expelled said Mi Maginnis How so Why thero itr was 10 oclock and the ketchup wcldn over time- The union don t aliuw that Not a bit av it C set ess BinUswns ai good hearted fellow but a hopeless- inebriate When not in his cups- he wau most exemplary citizen hut at intervals of a few wet ks he was wont to indulge trt a prolonged spree during which he would squander his money neel about the streets and con duct liiniself in a disgraceful manner generally Then he would sober up suller torture ctT remorse promise better be havior for the future be a pattern of industry and sobriety for another pe riod and in some unguarded moment fall again from his high estate and mato a beast of himself in the old way On one occasion when he was un dergoing the sobering process and was pouring his sorrows into the sympa thetic ear of a friend the latter inter rupted him Binks he said why dont you end all this The next time you feel that intolerable craving coming on old fel low go and jump off the pier It wouldnt do any good tearfully answered Binks I I can swim Youths Companion Bow Edison Proposed The idea of the great electrician Edi son marrying was first suggested by an intimate friend of whom Edison timidly inquired who he should marry The friend somewhat testily replied Any one But Edison was not with out sentiment when the time came One day as he stood behind the chair of a Miss Stillwell a telegraph opera tor in his employ he was not a little surprised when she suddenly turned round and said Mr Edison I can always tell when you are behind or near me -Edison fronted the young lady and looking at her fixedly said Ive been thinking considerably about you of late and if you are will ing to marry me I would like to marry you The young lady said she would talk the mattes over with her mother The result was their marriage and a very happy one it proved to be Devotional Oxen In many parts of Germany it is be lieved that oxen fall on their knees In the stalls at the moment of Christs nativity Its surprising how much a woman can say about herself without telling anything 3kLk K imp nnm rvi LA UUULL 1 h Doolcy in Donlit I Know what Id do if I was Mack said Mr Hennessy Id hist a lag over th Piilippeens sm Id take in th whole lot ir thibi An yet said Mr Dooley not more tliirt two months since ye hirnod whether they were islauds or canned goods- Yoor Iback yard is so small that yeer cow canit turn r round without bin1 tin th woodshed off th promises an ye wuddentgo out to th stock yards with out takinoitJ iv policy on yeer life Sup--pose at th corner iv State- sthreet anATchey r road wud ye know what car tOthke to get to th PhHppeens If yeer sort Paelcy was to ask ye where th is- end ye give him sinny good idea whether they was in Koodiia or jus Avist iv th thraeifcs Mebhe rc fdubntr said Mr Hennessy haughtily but- Fin fr takin thim in sin ny how So said Mr Dooley if I cud ony getTme mind on it Wan iv the worst things- about this here wssr is th way its makiir puzzler lrr our poor tired heads Whin Iwint into it I though- sill Id have to do ran to1 set up here with a good tin cint see gair in me teeth an toss dinnymite bombs intotlirliated city iv Ha vana But look sit me wnv Th war is still goin on sm ivery night Im askin mesill will I annecc or lave it to th Cuhians Will T Porter Ricky or put it by An wlisit slnrd I do with th Phlippeens Oh what shud I do with thim I cant annosthim because I dont know where they ar re I cant let go i thim because some wan elsl take thim it I do They sire eight thonsan iv thim islands with a popyVtion sv wan hun dhred millyon naked savages an me bed rooms crowded now with use sm th bed How can I take thim in siuf how on earth am I goin to coverth nafedness iv thim savages with me wan soot 17 clothes An yit twoud break me heainr to think iv givin people I niver see or Lcfrd tell iv back to other people I dont know It aint that IliLsifrciid iv not doin th r right thing in th end Hranissy Some moniin Ill wake up an Isneiw jus what to do an that Ill do Bt tis th an noyance iv th manetime Ive ben re readin about th counthry Tis over be yant yeer left shoulder wMn yeer facin east Justhrow yeer titexmb back an ye have it as acrate as anny man in town Tis farther thin Boohlsrsirysi an not so far as Blewchoochoo Its near Chiny an its not so near an if1 a msia wsis to bor a well through frm GohIiuib Indianny he might sthrike it an thin sixain he mijrht not Its a poverty sthricken countnry full iv goold an precious stones where th people can pick dinnoir off th threes an ar re starvin because- they have no step ladders Th inhabitants is mostly naggurs an Chinnymen peaceful indus thrus an law abidin Dirt ssivage an bloodthirsty in their metfincLi They wear no clothes except what they have on an each woman has five husbands an each man has five wives Th women ar re hurried an incomplete- m their diress I see i pitcher iv wan tlr olher iay with nawthin on her but ai basket iv cocoanuts an a hoop skirt no prudes We import juke hemp cigar wrappers sugar an fairy tales th Phlippeens an export six inch shell- sm th like 1 1arned all this- form tW psi apers sin I know tis sthniighL An yet Ilinnissy I dinnow what to dbsiboat th Ihlippoens An Im all alone h th wurruld else has made- up his mind Hang on tQjthim sssid Mr Hennessy stoutly Whac wrvt got we must hold Well said Mr Dooley if I Mack Id lvo it fc George Id say George Id iiy ff yeer f r hangin on hang on itis If ye- say lavc go I dhrov thim Twas George won thim with thi shells an thiustions up to him doii cago Journal Cheutinif u Bull A Connecticut sportsman relates ini Forest and Stream an adventure whiall must have- been exciting enoujdii to save his day from monotony Ii was hauling my boat across Eleys meadftw to the creek a hard pull with decoys gun and ammunition I wsis about half wsiy across and had sat down to rest when I noticed that one of at large herdl of cattle was coming my way I looked again It was a big bull and evidently meant business I knew he would overtake- me if I ran so I turned over my boat and erawied under it The bull seemed sur prised thsit I had disappears and sif ter sniffing around a whiie went off I waited until he was nearly up with the- cattle ami then started again But the old fellow was no fcl he had hiss eye on me and I had hartSIy started be fore he came back on tfie run To do ray best I couldnt make the creek so under the boat I went again This time the bull was mad He bel lowed and pawed and tore up the sod around the boat with his horns but I held the boat down Finally when I was getting tirca be got tired himself and went so far away that this time I made the creek and launched my boat Natural Mistake Defective vision a mannish cos tume and an ambiguous name these were the elements of a recent bit of social comedy Mr Brownsonby said the host at fn evening reception presenting to the principal guest a mther strong minded ouug woman who wore a collar neck lie and shirt front of decidedly msiscu Iine appearance let me introduce -Miss Terhune Mr Brownsonby who was somewhat cear sighted turned to acknowledge the introduction Ah Mr Hune he said extending -is luind cordially Glad to see youT Bir Youths Companion V There is G00G00Cu0 more invested in British rnilrnnYlc ftmn fi 1 wu us uawuum wgoi iuouiirs ZO - v -v A T V K Mi m Ut K H t 1 i 1 Di m 1 Hi l i fl A I 1 M W 3