Opinions of Great Papers on Important Subjects.
*
Nervous Prosperity Is a Disease.
ER.ELY being prosperous makes many persons
nervous. Women , having duties which , if nol
fewer , are less compulsory , than those of men ,
are peculiarly subject to this complaint Theii
physical strength is less , their nervous systems
ire more complicated. Secretary Root regrets
the decrease of country life on the ground thai
cities make a nervous race , different from the cool old
stock which has been the basis of our civilization. Mr
Root thinks that nearness to the soil is a necessary con
dition of strong nerves. The American climalo , in UK
Northern States , is exciting. Many who cannot sleep in
the United Suites are less troubled with insomnia abroad
When cable cars , with gongs and crowds , railways over
head , packed streets , automobiles , telephones , telegrams ,
messenger boys , and the general machinery of haste arc
added , nervous tension becomes extreme. Sometimes il
takes the form of a passion for late hours , and might be
called Somuophobia. The Fomnophobhic is so keyed up
that he shrinks from the relaxation of sleep , or any othej
quietness. The love of excitement is often as disinte
grating as the love of drink. "Be not hurried away b >
excitement , " says Epictetus , "but say , 'Semblance , wait foi
me a little. Let me see what you are and what you repre
sent. ' " Many of our occupations would hardly stand the
test of Epictetus. Emerson made the same point as Mr.
Root , when he said that Nature's comment is , "Why so
hot , little man ? " As women are more responsible , just
now , than men , for increasing nervosiry , one of our prob
leins is to make natural activities attractive to them no !
work enough to exhaust them , but enough to keep them
from being as restless as a fly under an exhausted re
ceiver. Pleasures , diversions , are never sufficient to form a
life. Responsibility is necessary to freedom. Thackeray ,
laughing ab the strivings of Werther , had , his heroine , at
the end of the poem , go on cutting bread and butter.
Candide , after examining all possible worlds , decided that
the real tiling was to cultivate a garden. Collier's Weeklv.
Physical Training in the Schools.
BOUT the best thing that has yet been hit upon
in connection with the public schools is the care
that is being bestowed on the physical condition
of the children. In the larger cities of the
United Slates and to some extent in Canada
children are being examined for physical de
fects , and appropriate measures are being taken
to remedy these as far as possible. If nothing more was
done than to promote the habit of deep breathing that
would be a hygienic reform of the first importance. We
doubt if anything could be done by public authority that
would contribute more to the health and happiness of the
community. Until human beings are placed in full posses
sion of their physical faculties and in full enjoyment of
their natural functions , they do not know how good a
place the world is. With more of genuine good health in
the world , more of something approaching physical per
fection , there would 'be ' less craving for artificial enjoy
ments and probably less craving for wealth. If the schools
will , in addition to making the children practice deep
breathing , cultivate , their speaking voices and teach them
to walk well , the effect in a few years will be marvelous.
Montreal Star.
The Law of Life.
AGK of work does turn men into tramps , but
it does not keep them tramps. The man and
the job cannot always keep apart unless the
umn so wishes. The proof is the fact that thou
sands of men have -been tramps and are no
longer. And these men did not owe their es
cape from tramphood to anything that anybody
did for them. They owed it entirely to themselves.
Taking his life through , the average tramp is such be
cause he wishes to be because he falls into the delusion
that it is easier to beg and steal than to work. One of
those economic lulls known as hard times" may have set
him to tramping. But , when this lull was over he did not
remain a tramp unless he wished to.
The individual human life , like the electric current ,
seeks the line of least resistance. All men are prone ti
take the line in life on which they can travel with leas
effort Man , like other animals , is naturally averse t <
exertion not compelled by immediate necessity. In othe :
words , man is naturally lazy unless his foresight teachei
him and his will impels him to be industrious.
The habitual tramp is such because he lacks the will t <
be otherwise. Sentimental philanthropists may be chal
lenged to produce a single tramp who , if his story wen
truly known , could not be proved to have thrown away
because it required of him harder work than he was williii :
to do , opportunity after opportunity to escape from his
condition.
Civilization does not produce the habitual tramp oj
sturdy beggar. He exists in civilization because it is toe
falsely humane to compel him to work or starve , as sav
: igery does. And it is a perversion of philanthropy to hole
that the tramp , or any other human being , is entitled tc
any place in civilization other tuau what his will to wort
can achieve. AVork is the law of life. Chicago Inter Ocean
Evolution of Industrial Methods.
E believe that industry among human beings
is destined to pass through three phases the
phases of competition , of organization , of emu
lation.
Civilization has spent thousands of years in
the competitive system. Out of a hundred busi.
ness men ninety-nine have failed one hundred
business enterprises have landed ninety-nine men with
broken hearts , broken hopes , and one man with money in
his pocket and a broken digestion.
Competition encouraged the merchant to sell adulterated
goods , bogus goods , worthless goods. It encouraged him
to pay his employes as little as he could in order to com.
pete with others who hired employes , and to charge his CUR
totners as much as he could.
The competitive system is now dying a slow death.
Already the system of organization has arrived , and th
trusts represent this system.
It is crude and selfish , it takes for a few big organize * ]
pirates the enormous sums that used to be distributed
among a great many little competitive pirates.
But organization , even under trust management , is q
step in the right direction.
The trust that Is combining the nation's industries into
a few companies paves the way certainly and surely foi
national ownership.
When one man , or half a dozen men. shall own all the
railroads , there will be an interference by t"ie people soonei
or later. When one man , or a few men , shall own all the
steel mills , all the coal mines and all the oil wells , all the
street car lines there will be interference by the peopl ?
sooner or later.
When it is clearly proved that one man , or a few men ,
can run the business of the nation , that the much vaunted
competition is not the life of trade but an indication o ;
savagery , then the people will say to the one man , or thq
few men , "We , the people. Avill own the business of the
people , and not you , an individual. " New York Journal.
Anglo-American Arbitration.
SOME of the United States newspapers sug
gest the desirability of an arbitration treaty
| between Britain and that country , similar to
that recently made between Britain and France.
| Everything that looks in the direction of lessen-
j ing the danger of war , and establishing the
pacific plan of settling international disputes bj
fair argumentation before a competent and impartial tri
bunal , Instead of by "the stern arbitrament of the sword , "
should have the support of all right-thinking men. The
tendency shown amoug the nations to discuss such peace
ful methods , and in some cases to adopt them , is a sign ot
the times for which we ought to be thankful. It is an evl.
dence of the development of the Christian consciousness
which , when it reaches its full development , will toleratQ
war no more. It may seem a far cry yet to the day when
"the kindly earth shall slumber , lapt in universal law. " but
it is coming. By all means the two great English-speaking
nations should show a good lead in this direction.
Christian Guardian.
A HANDY CORKSCREW FORK.
Tne accompanying illustration looks as much like a corkscrew as it
does a fork , but the combination makes a very excellent arrangement for
kitchen service. It is particularly designed for turning and lifting large
pieces of meat during the process of cooking. The fork consists of the
usual handle , with a tube or sleeve fitted therein , the tines mounted on
the outer end of the tube , and a rod passing through the tube and handle
and carrying at one end the spiral screw , and the other end secured by a
nut to cause the screw to revolve with the handle.
In operation the tines are driven into the meat to the proper distance ,
and the handle is then turned to cause th spiral screw to engage or twist
Into the meat , giving a firm and reliable connection between the fork and the
meat. To remove the fork , release the screw by turning the handle in the
reverse direction.
The advantages of the fork are apparent , for with it a piece of meat
or a fowl of any size can be bandied with great ease without fear of tearing
the meat or of dropping the same.
FISHES THAT FLY FOR LIFE.
Interesting Scenes While Voyaging in
the Gulf of Mexico.
"Watching the flying fish in the Gulf
of Mexico Is one of the favorite pas
times of persons who make the voyage
across the Gulf for the first time , " said
an observant man , "and the habit is
not an uninteresting one , for there Is
much to be learned , much that is new
and attractive to the stranger. There
is something particularly fascinating
about the flying fish in the Gulf of
Mexico.
"During the trip recently -we ran
Into great schools of them between
here and Vera Cruz and it was diffi
cult not to believe at times that they
were simply making sport of the big
vessel thrft was plowing through the
& ft blue waters of the Gulf. They would
dart across the bow of the ship , scam
per this way and that , and seemed to
le in a p'ayful mood all the while.
They looked like animated sprays ,
lucre flashes and splashes of water ;
now taking this form , now that , now
shooting along with the course of the
ship ; now bounding out from the ves
sel's side , and all the while apparently
conscious of the fact that men and
women were watching them. They
seemed to take somewhat of pleasure
from the enjoyment of the human be
ings. But , of course , they were busy
with other problems. It was not a
pleasant business either. It was a
matter of life and death with them.
They were being pursued by their ene
mies. The only way they could escape
was by leaving the water for a while.
The enemy has not learned this little
trick of flying , and consequently could
not follow when the flying fish spread
their wings and soared in the air for a
while.
"It is remarkable what distances
these delicate members can go on their
poorly trained wings. I have seen them
fly as far as two city blocks. They are
interesting little fellows , and they al
ways draw the attention of the tourist
and the stranger in Gulfi waters. "
ONE OF DOWIE'S STORIES.
An Old Scotchman Who Went Throne
Bankruptcy.
John Alexander Dowie is opposed to
the bankruptcy laws , which he regards
as dishonest. Mr. Dowie holds that if
a man owes a debt he owes it till it is
paid , and no law on earth can absolve
him from it. In his hotel one after
noon , during his New York campaign ,
Mr. Dowie told a reporter a bankrupt
cy story.
"In Scotland , where I come from , "
he said , "there used to live an old man
named Fergus MacGregor. Fergus car
ried the bankruptcy law to its logical
conclusion , and proved , unconsciously ,
its fallacy. '
"The old man was a chandler. He
got into difficulties , failed , went
through the bankruptcy court , and wag
let off at the rate of 5 shillings to the
pound. Permission was given him ,
that is to say , to liquidate each just
debt of 1 by the payment of only 5
shillings.
"Well , Fergus was a happy man
when the order of the court was an
nounced to him. He paid all he owed
at once. He said he saw his way clear
to growing rich. And next morning
he started out to do a little shopping
for his wife.
"He went to the grocer's and bought
potatoes , tea , oatmeal , sugar , eggs , and
so forth , to the extent of 2. At the
end , taking up his parcels , he laid
down 10 shillings in payment
" 'Fergus , man , this is not right , '
said the grocer. "Your bill is 2 , no
10 shillings. '
" 'Oh , yes , that's all right , ' said Fer
gus. 'I have permission from the judge
to pay 5 shillings in the pound. '
"Fergus , you see , thought that the.
judge's order was to hold good for the
rest of his natural life , and it was a
hard business to convince him to the
contrary. What I say is , why shouldn't
the order have held good ? Why Isn't
it as right to pay future debts at the
rate of 5 shillings to the pound as to
pay past ones ? " -
TO ST. VALENTINE.
Valentlbe ! Saint Valentine !
A pilgrim to thy holy shrine ,
Behold I come !
Footsore , and very henvy-ladeu
Hecause of love for one small maiden.
My lips are dumb.
O Valentine ! Sulut Valentine !
Thou kuow'st this little maid of mine.
This dainty sweet ,
So pure and fair thut when she passed
Our gray old world grows green wit
grassesBeneath
Beneath her feet ;
That everywhere her dear face shows
The west wind takes it for a rose
Just newly born.
0 grant , sweet Saint , that to her knov
Ing
But fragrance soft and bloom be showlni
Give me the thorn !
Oh. Phyllis fair ! Oh , Phyllis youngl
I would mine were a poet's tougue
That I might sue ;
That I might sing iu goldeu numbers
To wake your heart from out its slumbers-
My love for you.
Yet no. dear heart ! The years will brln
A sweeter song than I could sing ;
So slumber on.
You will awaken to discover
When he shall come that happy lover ,
And 1 Jim gone.
New York Independent.
Aunt Madeline's Valentine.
the girl clings to this silly nc
tion ? It's preposterous ! If yo
don't make her give up that pee
fellow and accept Rufus Clark , I'll hav
no more to do with any of you. I gi
to-ni ht unless the girl gives iu. She'
your daughter ; make her obey ! " An <
Aunt Madeline walked out of the room
leaving her niece gentle , helpless MM
Price in despair , for well she knew tha
her persuasions were powerless with loy
ul Kitty Trice.
Kitty , the eldest of the widow's fou :
children , had been Aunt Madeline's pro
tege for years. Ever since her father' ;
death the child had been clothed and edu
eatc'd by this aunt of Mr. Price's , a child
less widow , who , to be near her dnrlinj
Kitty , had for the last three years board
ed with Mrs. Price , her liberal payinenl
and well-chosen gifts helping out tlu
widow's straitened income in a way al
of them appreciated. That Aunt Made
line "should go" meant that Jack musl
lo.ivo school ! uul go to business , that the
little ones could have no new suits thai
\\intcr. that only bare necessities could
be bought , perhaps not even these. Yel
Mr * . Price felt afraid to interfere fur
ther with Kitty's choice of a husband.
It was true that the rich Rufus Clark
set-mod to others fully as good n man ,
kind , steady and devoted , as Herbert
Iluntley , who had a small salary and no
britrht prospects. But Kitty unfortu
nately loved Herbert before Rufus ap
peared on the field , and she did not be
lieve her aunt Madeline , who assured her
that Herbert would "take to drink , " or
let her support herself and her family
after a few years.
Aunt Madeline had made n love match
herself , and it had not turned out well.
Hie. too , had been loved by n rich man ,
and Jiy one who , if not poor , was not
lle se < l with much of this world's goods.
hc persisted in marrying her choice , re
verses had come , and he , n weak charac
ter , could not bear trials , resorted to
stimulants to cheer him up , nnd at last
was for years dependent upon his wife
for his home and support. The rich lov-
: r never married , and just when Mrs.
Joyce ( Aunt Madeline ) was preparing to
.TO to work to earn her own support , he
lieil. leaving his one love his large for-
' .uno. .Judging by her own experience
rVunt Madeline had some excuse for nd-
rocating marrying for money instead offer
for love : but "all lovers don't turn out
so , " Kitty argued , anil was sure that
nanly Herbert , who had supported his
sister for years and was thoroughly tried
iy repeated disappointments and re-
rerses , was very different from weak ,
racillating Henry Joyce.
"I won't give him up. I ought not to.
! can't , " the girl was just repeating ,
vhen her gentle mother knocked at her
loor. Mrs. Price was one of those wom-
u who never entered a child's room with-
mt knocking. She respected each one's
mvacy , and perhaps it was for that rea-
on that her children confided so fully in
ier , taking her as their one confidant.
"Come in , Motherdy. I can see Aunt
datleliue has been tormenting you again.
iVhy doesn't she come to me instead of
vorrying you ? I think it mean , and I've
L good mind to tell her so. "
"You won't have a chance , my dear ;
our aunt is going to leave to-night. "
"Leave ! for good ? O mother ! and I
uive done this when you need the help
lie gives so much ! I wish " and Kit-
y's voice sounded so hesitatingly that
Irs. Price ventured one last appeal.
"Kitty , dear , it is a sacrifice , and one I
annot ask of you. but if you make it of
our own free will you are doing a great
r.d unselfish thing. Rufus Clark would
ake Jim into his employ , your aunt
rould see Jack through college , Minnie
vould have a luxurious home with you ,
noving in the best society , if anything
nppens to me and Rufus is as good as
lerbert I cannot but think your liking
rould soon grow as warm for him as for
our early love. "
The girl's face was white and fixed ,
ihe loved her brothers and little sister
evotedly , and then , too , had not her dy-
ag father begged her to be a true elder
ister to them ? He might have fore-
een some trial like this , for only a day
r two before he died he said to Kitty ,
rheii she sat alone with him.
"My girl , you have a hard lot before
ou the eldest daughter of a poor
, 'idow you may have to sacrifice a
right future for the sake of your orphan
rothers and sister ; but do it cheerfully ,
ravely , and unselfishly and God will
lake such sacrifice work out for yon a
ar more exceeding and eternal weight
f glory. "
These words seemed ringing ha the
oor girl's ears. She must not drive
amt Madeline from her mother. She
mst not deprive her brothers of Rufus'
id , or Minnie of the safe refuge she
ould command for her if she gave up
lerbert With pale lips , the girl said :
Wait a moment , mother ; I'll speak to
Liint Madeline ; only let me sit alone a
rhile. "
The mother , frightened at the giri's
> oks , yet knowing how good and true a
urn Rufus Clark was , left the room ,
: iough longing to uphold her girl in her
rst decision , and Kitty sat alone , not
avering now , only waiting until it
liould grow dusk that her face might not
etray her.
"Government of the People , by the People , and For
the People Shall Not Perish from the Earth. ' *
f
I HI'I
Born in Hardin County , Kentucky , February 12 , I80D.
Died at Washington , D. C. , April 15 , 1865.
Meanwhile Mrs. Joyce was packin
her trunks and boxes , for she was a di
termined woman , and meant to keep he
word. A friend had repeatedly urged Iu
to come and keep "old maids' hall" wit
her. and sometimes when the boys wei
particularly quarrelsome nnd noisy Am :
Madeline had felt inclined to accept , an
had hinted as much to Miss Mills , wh
often said she would expect her "at an
time. " So now she telegraphed to Bo ;
ton that she was to come by the nigli
train , and went to work at her packin
to keep down the feelings of regret an
compunction that threatened to ovei
whelm her. She decided she would nc
pack all , but send or come for the resi
and thought with relief that she nee
not sort over her old mementoes of foi
iner clays ; but there was one paper sh
must get at and take with her. As sh
turned over a box full of papers sh
came across n pink envelope , worn an
faded , but one that in its day was evi
dently chosen for its beauty to hold som
dainty message.
"Harry's valentine ! poor fellow , pee
fellow ! My own loving Harry ! " and sh
opened the faded envelope with fast
falling tears. It was not Henry Joyce
the drunkard , of whom she thought ; i
was her bonnie lover of those long year
back. She seemed to be standing again
n loving , trusting girl of eighteen , and ti
see his blue eyes so full of love , so beau
tiful and true to her , beaming upon her
as he said :
"I wrote it myself , Pet , and I wan
you to keep it always from your Val
entine. "
"Always forever ! " she had answered
with a bluslu Ah , there is always on <
that gives , nnd one that takes , in lov <
affairs. If she had been the giver , pour
ing out her very life in devotion anc
sacrifice for him , had she not found t
wonderful secret happiness , e en in hei
pain ? Would she even now have he ]
past life different ? She pressed the fad
ed valentine to her lips.
"Aunt Madeline , I have come to saj
rou need not pack your things. I'll giv
up I'll marry Rufus Clark. Herbert
will understand , poor fellow. Do stay.
Aunt Madeline ! "
"Stay ! who talked of going ? What
nonsense ! ' Just because I choose to loot
over my things on a. rainy afternoon" ( il
was perfectly dry outside , but the old
lady was hard put to it ) , "to take it foi
granted I am going ! And as for Rufus
Clark , let him go , my child , let him go !
[ suppose you want Herbert , for better ,
for worse , and if it's for worse , dear , "
ind the old lady's voice grew tender and
solemn , "God will help you. as he has
lelped many another. The happiest
marriages are not always the truest
some one must bear with and sustain
; he feeble ones. Keep your Herbert as
rou love him , and God bless you. "
The girl longed to say , "But Herbert
is not feeble , and tiiere won't be any
worse , ' but nil 'better , ' in our marriage. "
jut she was wise , and let the old lady
lave the floor.
"There , this old valentine conquered
ne mere doggerel , I suppose , the lines
seem to you ; " and Aunt Madeline read
; he verses to Kitty , which were doggerel ,
ind probably only slightly altered from
some old book , to suit the lover's pur-
> ose. "Mere doggerel ; but keep your
ralentines , dear , when they come from
rour true love ; they may keep you from
> eing a heartless , meddlesome old
vretch , and separating two true hearts ,
is I came near doing. "
Kitty's mother went down to the tea-
able with bread. It would be almost as
> ad to learn that Aunt Madeline was to
itay and dear Kitty sacrificed , as to bid
jood-by to their one well-to-do relation.
Do her surprise , Kitty and Aunty entered
he dining room together , the young girl
learning and blushing , the old lady with
i tender light in her eyes , and a delicate
lush on her withered cheek.
"It's all right , Motherdy , " said Kitty ,
oyoosly. "Aunty isn't going away , and
: needn't marry Rufus. He'll have to
vait for Minnie ! "
"But I " began Mrs. Price , wonder-
ngly.
"Mother , St Valentine shall be my
> atron saint hereafter ! "
At which speech Aunty's flush deepen-
d , though she tried to come down grace-
ully from her former attitude.
"I still think Kitty is foolish , but time
pill teach her her folly ! " and no one
irgued to the contrary.
The wedding came off on StValen -
ine's day. Kitty declaring that the saint
would bring them luck. Minnie wore her
first "long dress , " and Mr. Clark seemed
so much struck with her wonderful re
semblance to the bride that Aunty may
still have one of her nieces "married
well. " Herbert in spite of Aunt Made
line's fears , seems altogether "for bet
ter" and not "for worse. " He may nev
er be rich , but he is loving and honora
ble , and on each wedding anniversary
he gives his wife a valentine , which is
carefully treasured. But Kitty begs in
vain for the faded pink envelope and Ita
enclosure. "I'll leave it to you , dear , "
said Aunty , on the third anniversary of
Kitty's marriage , "but as long as I liva
I'll keep my one valentine. May yours
have only sweet memories enshrined In
them ! Mine , though precious , tells a
mixed tale of sorrow , hope , almost de
spair. But , through it all , hope tri
umphs. "
And Kitty , remembering the dying
bed. where the poor weak man had re
pented of his wasted life , felt that even.
Aunt Madeline's choice had not been so
utterly a mistake as some would insist.
The Housewife.
LINCOLN'S LAW PARTNER.
Hiram W. Beckwith , from 1850 t *
1SG1 a partner of Abraham Lincoln , died
recently at St. Luke's hospital in GUI-
rago. aged 72. Mr.
Beckwith's father
wns one of the
pioneers of Illinois ,
having helped t
found the town Of
Danville in 1818.
Young Beckwith
studied law under
Ward II. Lamon ,
who was marshal of
the District of Co-
during
H. W. RFCKTwrrH .
administal.
tion. He was a close friend of Lincoln
and later became his resident partner at
Danville , while Lincoln was a circuit
lawyer.
From 1807 to 1902 Mr. Beckwith wa
president of the State Historical Society ,
lie was compelled to resign in the latter
year on account of illness. He left a
widow and two sons.
Lincoln and the Dyinjj Soldier Bojv
One day in May , 18(53 ( , while the great
war was raging between the North and
the South. President Lincoln paid a visit
to one of the military hospitals , says an
exchange. He had spoken many cheer
ing words of sympathy to the wounded
as he proceeded through the various
wards , and now he was at the bedside
of a Vermont boy about sixteen years of
age , who lay there mortally wounded.
Taking the dying boy's thin , white
hands in his own , the President said , in
a tender tone , "Well , my poor boy , what
can I do for you ? "
The young man looked up into the
President's kindly face and asked :
"Won't you write to my mother for me ? "
"That I will , " answered Mr. Lincoln ;
and calling for a pen , ink and paper , he
seated himself by the side of the bed
and wrote from the boy's dictation. It
was a long letter , but the President be
trayed no signs of weariness. When it
was finished , he rose , saying : "I will
post tliis as soon as I get back to my
office. Now Is there
anything : else I can
do for you ? "
The boy looked up appealingly to the
President
"Won't you stay with me ? " he asked.
"I do want to hold on to your hand. "
Mr. Lincoln at once perceived the'lad's
meaning. The appeal was too strong for
him to resist ; so he sat down by his side
and took hold of his hand. per twe
hours the President sat there patiently
as though he had been the boy's father'
When the end came he bent over and
folded the boy's thin hands over his
breast As he did so , he burst into tears ;
and when , soon afterward , he left the
hospital , they were still streaming down
his cheeks.
Unnoticed.
"You say you saw my sister at &
recent wedding ? "
"Yes. It '
wasn't very long ago * "
"But I don't remember that she
mentioned seeing you. "
"Very likely. I waa only
groom. " Cleveland. Plain