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About The Independence west side. (Independence, Or.) 18??-1891 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1900)
MEN IN THE TOWEItS. RAILWAY CROSSING WATCHERS . HAVE THEIR TROUBLES. thriUUf Kxpvrluc Wktn ttj UtM War Japardta4 Story of BUly 0l tkat Jump Aboard Le-NMlln-rUt Work of ComUc Moo, ' "Say, driva that goat off .tha track tbV ytlltd tht uu In tht signal tower at tbt aid of tht railroad track aa at loaned out of bit UtUa window and waved on arm at two boya bait a block a way and another at a tall, lauk bill? goat with twitted bona tbat wa ataadlug tquarely between tht iwo rail, lb (ot bad waudered from no out knew where down tba track of ou of th rallroada running aoutb from th bart of tba city. II wat nowhere near a crossing, ao tbera wat no ga tenia u wbo could be appealed to. Tba tower man aaw the animal about fifty yard down tba track, ataudlng and looking with great nonchalance at a paaaenger train flying toward him from the north. The man couldn't leave hit ttgnal sta tion, and, with vlaloni of a wrecked train before him, he called upon the two boyt for help. "Hustle up, there, boyt, and drive that billy out of the way," thouted the algnat man. "Aw, dat goat'e all right," auiwervd the boyt. not budging an Inch. RAILROAD TOW EH MEN "But there' a train coming from town full tilt and there might be trou ble." "Go on; don't le dut worry ye. lat goat'U take care of blaaelf all right." "Who glvea a for that mangy, old, moth-eaten goat. Get It off that track or a train load of people may be killed." "Waft de matter wld ye, anway? Dat goat never killed anybody lu hit life. He won't hurt yer train. We've knowed him for a long time, and he never did nuthln' but butt over a few folk." The man In the tower twore at the boyt In hit most expressive railroad dialect, but the boyt declined to make a hostile move toward the goat. Then the train tore by with a rush. The tower man waa glad to note that the train didn't Jump the track and smash Itself luto kindling wood at the side of the rails. Then be began Inspecting the track closely for pieces of little hoofs, twisted boms, slices of goat meat and patches of hair Intermixed with blood. Itut there was neither hide nor balr of the goat He bad vanished aa com pletely and as suddenly as If he bad been thrown Into the clouds. The rail road man scratched hit head and rub bed his eyes and looked at the track again, but It teemed tbat not even the i characteristic odor of the patron snlut of the livery stable remained. Then the twitch turner nodded bit head In an "Oh, yes" manner, which was as much at to say that he had fathomed the mystery. He bad decided that the train bad bit the goat so hard that It had been tossed up to the top of the pilot dead and tbus been carried away. The signal tower man needed one more guess, however. The boyt, who bad stood far enough down the track to see what bad happened, could have enlightened him If they bad been so Inclined, but they didn't feel under the obligation. When the train approached the gout had simply made a spring for the pilot, where he landed safely, noth ing the worse for the Jump, with the exception of a terrific knock on his forehead just below his horns. His forehead, however, is built for receiv ing hard Jolts, and only a slight shake of the head betokened the fuct that this blow was just a little bit "strong." The goat rode to Homewood, where It Jumped off and, It It said, went to a stable which was Its old home before It ventured toward the heart of the city. It Is supposed that the goat sim ply decided to take the train as being the quickest means of reaching the old homestead, to which It wished to re turn. The tower man declines, how ever, to vouch for the latter part of the story of the goat's adventure. "I tell you, I thought once I was go ing to be the witness of the most hor rible explosion that ever blew out lives and mangled human bodies," said an other old tower man. "It was during the hottest days of the old American Hallway Union strike and all kinds of bad rumors were floating through the air. Once in a while some of us fel lows who were doing night work Id the switch towers would get a little bit nervous over the prospect of being blown up, of having our tower-houses fired or of being assaulted, bound and gagged while criminal hands grasped the switch levers and threw trains and passengers to destruction and death. So I suppose sometimes we were In a pretty feverish state. One night I had my bead poked out of the window look lug for a train that was due to puss my tower at about 2 o'clock In the morning. It was heavy freight, and sometimes came past a minute or two late. It was not quite time yet for the headlight to be In sight, and as I was peering Into the darkness for It pictures of strikers overturning cars, tearing up tracks and so on danced through my mind. The headlight of the freight finally split open the darkness and af fordesd me a little relief. The engine passed, and but for the tiny caboose lights away at the end of the long train all wat darkness outside again. I tried to penetrate the blackness aud tee more 1UMU :. t 'early the big black rare at they rolled kloug pat mebcluw the tower window, "The tialu wat rumbling aloug i t'.ioiouotioly enough when tuddculy t .101 o wat a Utile flush of light from below. 1 luvoluutartly ahut my eye, expectlug to b blown forty feet Into the air the uext aecoud. Hut for tome ivatoa the exploalon failed to come oiT, and I opened my eyet Jut at the caboose with Itt Utile green light wat pnsslug the tower. That dash of light worried me more than I cared to own even to mytelf, aud I dldu't rcet uuttl the train and Ita crew got back to Chi in go agalu. I hattened to make guard ed Inquiries of the conductor and the brakeman' at to all the happening that transpired near Chicago that per tit ular night. I found out tbat when the train reached Rnglewood the train men had caught a tramp comfortably lowed away between two care siuok lug a pipe, Tbat tattled my tea re, much to my dlaguat. The tramp bad struck a match 1o light hit pipe Jutt at he waa patting my tower window." At the Interlocking twitch tower Jut out of the Northwestern ttatlon the switchmen and tlgual men tay they are too busy to ace anything but trains, twltchea, target and semaphore. There are but two track lu front of tlil tower, one for Ingoing ami one for outgoing train, and over thee two track mutt pnat every one of the '.'.Ml tralnt which go In aud out of the Northwestern nation every day, mak ing an average of one train lu let than ;very tlx mluutet for the entire day. AND THEIR DUTIES. 1 1 Of course at night time there are com - paratlvely few tralua. In the busy hours of morning and ulght when the suburban tralu are coiulug aud going thick aud fast there are timet when several tralua patt the tower and are piloted to the right track every few minutes. It It tupposcd that these two tracks are the busiest In Chicago, If nut In the entire world. Wheu a thick fog fill the atmosphere so that the twitch men cannot tee where they have teut trains a unique device la brought luto use. In a small glass case are eleven tluy red semaphores to correspond to the eleven tracks of the Nortbwestern't thirteen on which are sent must of the trains destined for no further a run than the Wells street ttatlon. By a me chanical device th anus of tire toy semaphores are thrown up when the track It occupied, aud when they are empty the arms fall. By original signals the trainmen make known to the switchmen In the tower the track upon which they are to be thrown. Two of the tracks are let tered A and B and the others ure num bered from one to nine. Timing the hands above the head In V ihapc means track A. Tutting oue hand on top of the head means track B. Tracks one, two aud three are signified by placing the lunula quickly together aud then quick ly removing tb.em, one, two or three times. Four Is signaled by placing the hand In the air and holdlug the thumb with the other hand. Five Is slgnltled by simply throwing one baud with the five fingers spread out Into the air. The rest of the signals are made by combin ing these properly. C'hlcn go Chronicle. First View of a Live Cow. Tht passengers on a Coney Island trolley car were entertained the other day by a small boy who on this trip, which he was making with bis mother, saw bis first live cow; this animal, which Iniercsted hlmgr. atly.be ngtetb ercd In a vacant lot and quietly graz Ing. "What's that, mother?" he asked, suddenly, as from the flying trolley car his eye fell on the cow. "Why, that's a cow," was the answer. "A real cow?" suld the youngster. "Certainly." "Looks Just like the pictures, doesn't It?" "Yes." "Give milk?" "Yes." "Look something like a horse." "Yes, something." "But lt't got longer hair," and so on, with the whole car trying not to laugh loud enough to disturb the Inquisitive small boy's mother. New York Sun. To Start Conversation. "The preliminary stages of conversa tion offer the principal difficulty 'the dread of silence makes us mute,'" writes Mrt. Burton Klngsland, In the Ladles' Home Journal. "The weather seems to have perennial Interest. Why may not-one treasure a few bits of stories apropos of that much-worn TAKES NO "Yet, tlr, I don't take any chancet with them pigs. Sunlight Is hard on their eyet. Why, they tell me there' Iota of blind onet la Chlcago."-Chlcago New. topic, to be brought out npon ocratlun) for lustuucv, tome oue tpeakt of tht variability of the Weather, w beicup.n one might tell of the lady, who phy klHU tdvlsed for her change of ell mate 'Why, Doctor, you forget that I am a New York woman. I never ban anything eltel wat her rejoluder. Al leatt, It It better than mere aequle ceuce, and when people have laughed together the Ice It broken It It poallil to hare at oue't tongue't end tome trl lllng thing of Internet oo vaiiou aub Jectt-but the tupply need frequent re ucwal. There are inomentt wheu tin eintmrraaimt'iit of alienee It relieved by the knowledge that nothing but tin veriest commonplace are expected When a bottles hat paired her gueati before a dluuer and each man eeeki the lady algued to hliu, lie usually .v, "1 believe that I am to have tht pleasure of taking you lu to dinner,' and ahe lint but to bow and tmllc w title accepting hit arm, and may any lu ( olee of perfunctory pollteneaa. i am very glad.' It I ttHunlly the man whs take the Initiative aud the woman who heart the burden of the conversa tion." Home Keeling. At Swis love their mountain, ao tht Eskimo of Alaska love their bleak, desolate country, Tht tupply of food ta limited, aud the unlive are at timet In danger of starving, At they uutubet about Ave thousand, and could bt ttowed lu half a doxeii euilgraut ship. It hnt been proposed to teud them to a land lu which It I fit for human being to live. The proposal overlook the fact tbat the Esklmoa think they are living In themovt beautiful country lu the world, and therefore would not go to another. Or. Field, In hi narrative of travel through "Our Western Archlpelgo,M ( tell a pathetic story Illustrative of their love of their native laud. Now and then oue or two Eskimo are brought to the United Statea. but how downcast and miserable they look! Our climate I Intolerable to them. They pant In the heat like polar bear, and lung to get back to their more "temperate" tone. One who came her tome yeart tlnce wa stricken with consumption aud et out to return, and every morning hi first quest lou wan, I "Have you seeu Ice?" If he could ouly , get a glimpse of an Icelwrg, he could die In peace. , A people who have inch a home fwl Ing are entitled to respect. Young Storekeeper. A 0-year old boy who hud been left by hi father, a village merchant, to keep an eye ou the tor while the fath er went to the pontutttce to mall a let ter, was standing with much dignity ou a box behind the counter when an other un.ii I u of about hi own age eu teriHl. "I'm keepln' store," he said, loftily. "That ain't uothlu' hard to do," re torted the visitor, resenting the Implied superiority. "lt't more than you ever done."' "1 dou't have to do It; but I could." "Huh! What do you know about the ttore buslne, anyhow Y' "You talk as If a feller had to know a whole lot." "He ha gut to know lot more'n you do. Kay, do you know what 'B. 8.' mean?" "No." "I do. It meant six rents. Io you know what '0. J." means?" "No." "I do, It means eighteen cent. Do you know what M Hut here the senior proprietor of the establishment returned, just In time to prevent his ambitious young man of business from giving away the entire cost-mark. Kindly Arranged. Patrick I a big policeman whose good humor and promptness In emer gencies have endeared hliu to the peo ple In the suburban ward over which be Is guardian angel. One day he noticed that a street workman was leaving an uuslghtly pile of dirt and gravel at the side of the roud. "Come, now, you can't have that heap there!" said Patrick, sternly. "Well, I've uo place to put It," tald the workman. "You cau't leave It there!" peralsted Patrick, "What'll I do with It, then?" asked the workman, sullenly. Do with It!" echoed Patrick. "Dig a hole lu the rood, to be sure, man, and bury It!" Fish Kkk Hatched by ilcn. The hens of China lead busy lives. Wheu not engaged In batching out a blood of their own kind they are put to the additional and novel task of hatching dsn eggs. Chinese, cheap labor collects the spawn of flsb from the water's edge, put It In an empty egg shell, which It then hermetically sealed with wax and placed under the unsus pecting aud conscientious ben. In a few days the eggshell Is removed aud the spawn, which hat been warmed Into life, It emptied luto a shallow pool. Here the fish that soon develop are nursed until strong enough to be turned Into a Inke or stream. Then the hen that hatched them may catch them ir the can. The leisure Class. Lord Sayvan-De I,lvruiAb! but your leisure class In thlt country have no titles. Mist Sharpe Nonsense! What' the matter with 'hobo,' 'Weary Willie.' Dusty Ithoads,' and so on?" Phlladel- phla Tress. Kicuaing Ilallroad Conductors. The Supreme Court of Michigan re cently held thot a conductor la not bound tb give women and children as sistance In alighting from the cart. Every one should accumulate to much money that when he retires from ac tive life he may hope to bo hoard of lu connection with raising tome new kind of mushroom or orchid. Sheet music children crying In bod. CHANCES CYCLISTS TO OUARO ENGLAND. Oen. Maurle Kvolvta a Plan for II ol V tuvl lu Wmr, , All aorta of suggestion liny beet) made from time to time at to the us of th bicycle lu war, but up to tht pi eieut time the wheel bat not gone bt- yuud the experlmeutal tlaga In tht army. There It a tendency among tht omelet lu the war department of tht different cutititrlet to ridicule the Intro duction of th bicycle Into military ta" tic. But now oue of England' noted geuerala, a man old and experienced 10 the art of war, come forward with I tcheme for the repelling of an Invading force from England' shore, and one of Sill FSIiPKRK'S H4UII T' 'k bt the moat Important factors I the bicycle. The officer wbo eaa-w ed the aehem of thu Utilising N wheel In war I Uen. Frederick M.icv Ice, cumiimiidHtit or tluflaulllury th senal aud trnlulng ground. Kir Frederick Maurlce't position a id hi remarkable war record, wiiU-ti I gait with Ashautl, continued tlnoiii'U the Zulu ware, and ended, a nilve M-r-vice, with particular lustre In the Mou dau and lu Egypt, would be siifttiieut to center exert at well a public atten tion In any military plan uggetrd by hliu. The Idea of an uuottUial defen sive force of armed cyclist cam to hliu through noticing how those of hi men who are cyclist overcame what It oue of the greatest difficulties of mili tary training In England, the distance VwZ-v' CYCLIST SCOUTS CROSSING letwccu the army headquarter aud thu rillc in lines. These men, he observed, kl.ing ;he!r rifles over their shouldiis, pun over to lllsley, or even to Brigh ton from Wtolwkb, had their practice aud rcNjrted buck agulu lu what teem ed hi in Incredible time, and the matter ct l.lii' n thinking. The ld 1 reach -d a further Huge A lien the geuernl discov ered that many cyclist club about Woolwich were In the habit of compet ing among themselves In rifle shooting as well, tuk'ng out arms of their own, traveling to some safe place on the seacoast, aud shooting at targets. lilt plan, as It stands at present, Is to dem onstrate his Idea to the public at Brighton, usng, however, only the mil itary cyclists, then to try to persuade the various cycle clubs of England to take up rifle sh.mtlng, and so eventually branch out until every cyclist In Kn- glaud who will consent it mustorcH -r , - .. i . . ... i.. . i . .. the service, Ho best to tu!u U.i4 will, of course, come afterward, The general Is to give a practical demonstration of ls plans at Brigbtnu within a short timer llff'wTFendoavor to show the spcclul facilities presented by England for the use of a large body of lillo cyclists for defensive purposes. A force if Infantry, supposed to be thnt af an Invader newly landed at Brighton, will start ou the march toward London, aud tho duty of the cycllHt force then will be to net as scouts and pass de tailed reports of the enemy's move ments to a mythical force supposed to be gathering lu the Interior, to show how obstacles could be placed In his path and natural supplies, such as cat tle, etc., could be removed from It; test ing to what extent his force could be surprised and ambushed by well train ed corps of rifle cyclists; demonstrating not only how much an Invader could be delayed until an adequate force could be marshaled to meet him, but how swiftly the cyclist army could cope with the ordinarily difllcult mut ters of support, relief and fresh sup plies of ammunition. CARRIED A CANE. It Kept III in from Leaving and Lostns Uia Umbrella. "You wonder why I always carry a caue except when I am carrying an umbrella," remarked a well-known Phllad'-'Iphlan the other afternoon. "Well, I dou't mind telling you. lt't all on account or umbrellas." "Can't tee the connection," rejoined the friend to whom he was talking. U'ont suppose you could. But you I H i -p 1 VtSL --s,. " BIlITItll CVCI.a CORPS FHSJfL. will when I have explained. Too lot so umbrella every oue In a while, don't you? Tut It down aotnewher and walk utl aud leave It?" "Yet, I have bad that happen to m frequcutly," "Well, 1 uted to, but out tlnce t took to carrying cau. An acquaintance out In Chicago put me eu to th echemt. 'Get a ran of tome kind,' be tald to me oue day, 'aud carry It every day aud every ulght tbat It doetu't rain. By that meant you bcouitoaecutoin ed to baring tomethlug Inyour hand you are lost without It. Then, when a rainy day or eveulng come and you are com pelled to carry au umbrella about with you the benefit come In. Hay you have gone luto a restaurant and wheu you come out the rain hat flopped. You walk out luto th street without your umbrella. Presto; after you have taken perhaps a doxen ttept you mis some thing. Your caue-carrylug hand It tiiinu the burden It usually heart. Back go your thought to your umbrella and hack go your ttept to get It. Hlmple? Of course It la, but tht simple thlngt ofteutluict prove the most vtlutble." yith thl tage remark the well known Philadelphia!) walked off down tlm'itreet twinging bit bamboo stick wild a welt-iatltnVd air.-Philadelphia inqalrer. S CIGAR STUBS OF CRIMINALS. Tti Have Uenerle (similarity of Vain to th ltrtlv. According to Professor Hani Grost of IMrlln vl jjrtbjo of c valunbl clews toward tba de- limlmil may be obtained lifiMb aa esaailuatlon of olfar tip. ff reui'sa this appllet to those wbo itioi,t cigar, the tlpa of which they tuielitisly throw away In the afreet or eje .s kere. "If you pick up any tip," bt eayt, 'and rxamln It closely the chancel r ilt you will be able to team some thing a to the personality ami social position or th umii who threw It away. In th ess or criminal the Ort point to be considered I tht manner In which It wa cut off from tht cigar. If a knife or any other Instrument wit used for this purpoae, then thlt Instrument will doubtles be found on the crim inal, ir, on the other band, It waa bit ten off with the teeth, a thorough ex amluatlon of the tip will show what A DUIFT IN SOUTH AFRICA kind of teeth were used for thlt pur pose, "A man with a row of even teeth will bite off the end of hit cigar squarely aud evenly, whereat one with jagged, uucven leeth will bite It clumsily and In such a manner a to leave clearly visible the mnrks of hi Incisor. By comparing the marks on cigar tlpt with tho teeth of suspected criminals prose cuting officers aud detective will be nble to obtain much Information which they could not possibly obtain any other way." Charm of tho Crimea. In the lute Oniric A. Dana's "East ern Journeys," there Is a tine word pic ture expressive of the charm of the Crimea, aud the delight It has In ttore for travelers, who are not too much lu a hurry; "Starting In tho morning from So- bastopol, and driving with one or two changes of horses, we traversed the southern projection of the peninsula, 1 and at about 2 oclock lu the afternoon, passed through the Gates or Haldar, as the passage through the lallu Moun tain It culled, and looked down upon one of tho noblest spectacles lu the world. Immediately before us lay the bouudless sea,- the shore rocky and . br'kcu, with villages, churches, cat-1 Hji, aud llttlo seaports, all made ao p'rssinie ry tno great roaa cut into the ! m,uiluln Kill, i horn nml I here anil than built out upon walls over tome abyss or valley below, alone enough to make the Dame ofPrluce Michael Worout iolf' Yore"v'ermemorttble In all south eastern Russia. The vegetation of the mountain slopes toward the sea la wonderfully varied aud Interesting. The prevailing treea are oaks and beeches, with pinion pines, cypresses, myrtles, mulberry trees, and occasion ally tig trees mingled among them. "Jericho, All Out!" This Is tht cry, according to a tour ist's letter from the east lu the Klclue Kelt ting, which Is now resounding ou the sacred bunks of the Jordan. Ou the river where St. John tho Baptist once baptised his penitent hearers, a steamboat Is now plying with religious pilgrims aiul guy pleasure-seekers for Its passengers. The present passenger steamer Is really the second of its kind. About two years ago the Intel ligent Abbot Puchomlus, the head of the niouustery of St. Johu, near Jeri cho, made nu attempt to navigate the Biblical stream with a little steamer or bit own. The experiment proved so successful that a new passenger stenm er, of modest tls?o aud power, was idaced upon the river last year. It starts regularly from the bridge near Jericho, and steams to the southern end or the Dead Sea. Glasgow Her ald. ' The manner In which Borne women, who are apparently friends, abuse each other scares the men. Honesty never contributes anything to tba wk'te man't burden. Science gjivention The a-reateit height ever reached In a balloon waa iM.lOU feet Two of the three aeronaut! wbo made tbli atcent were luff oca ted. Th giraffe bai tuch powert' of uilmlclty tbat, although Itt tlse might be tuppoaed to Uiaka It a cousplcuous object to lta auemlet, tba most prac ticed ayt bat been deceived by tht aul mal't reteniblauc to oue of tht dead and blaated tre truukt which abound In Hi hauutt. In Florence the ninth volume or "L Opera dl Galileo Galilei" wat recently publlihed, aud show that be had an txcelleut appreciation for Italian liter atur. Tbt all volume Include an ad drett which bt mad ou tht topography tnd configuration of "Inferno." Thl wit delivered befort tht Florentine Academy of Bcleucet. Du Bounler, a French physician, re eently described befort th Parlt Acad euiy of Medlciue a new method of tett log for deafnei, namely, by applying a tuning fork to tht knet or some other part of th bony structure. He said tint a sound ear could not hear tht note of tht fork, but an ear lu which disease bad already made Inroad could per celvt It dlttlnctly, A corporation hat applied to Congre for permission to lay underground pipes In tbt itreett of Washington, D. C., for tht purpoM of distributing cool air through tb bullae building and real dence of th city. Th tcheme pro vide for tht erection or a refrigerating plant at tome central point, from which cold air will be pumped for dlstrlbu tlon through tht system of plpea. The flow of cold air wilt be regulated In a manner somewhat ilmllar to the mea uremeut of gat, and can lit turned on tht lame at hot air It turned on from a furnace. An Intereatlug discovery, showing an other lluk between the living form of the Old and the New World In former age, waa announced at a recent meet Ing of the Cordllleran Section or the Geological Society or America. Some bone discovered at Glen Eyrie at the root or Plke't Peak proved to be th re malut or a goat-antelope, unlike any animal or the kind now Inhabiting America, Itut closely resembllug the antelope of th Himalayan region In Asia. 0ther boim found In the same plat belonged to a slender-limbed spe del of horae now extinct. A popular color for canary birds In England at present I a reddish yellow. or deep orange. Thlt color, It Is said, can be produced artificially by dieting tht birds on number of different tub stance, tha chief of which I cayenne pepper mixed with molasses. Dealer ir able to produce particularly delr bit ihadea by varying the quantity of pepper and by adding occasionally little turmeric or madder. Each dealer hat hi own formula, which he keep secret. The plumage of the bird thu treated It apt to fade, aud they art kept at much at possible out of the light. Near Ayuthla, formerly the capital of Slam, It a curlout labyrinth In which tlephantt are captured alive. The la by rlnth li formed by a double row of lui mouse tree-trunkt tet flrmly In the ground, the space between them gradu tlly narrowing. Where It begin, at the edge of the forest, the opening of the labyrinth Is more than a mile broad but ii It approaches Ayuthla It becomes to narrow that the elephant cannot turn around. Tame elephants are em ployed to lure wild one Into the trap, Havlug reached the Inner end or the labyrinth, the tame elephant! are al lowed to pan through a gate, while men lying In wait slip shackle over the feet or the captives. The sport It a dangerout one, a the enraged ele phant sometime crush their would be raptor under their rect BABY RAN A LOCOMOTIVE Wt Frank Kvan I'lara HlarlUnn Prank on an Kngin. "I cm run an engine like papa," tald little 8 year-old Fred Evans at be was lifted down from the locomotive of the Bt Johns motor Hue at Alblna. Ho bad mounted the engine at St Johns, pulled open the throttle and remained on the lent alone on a mad ride of seven ml let. The young engineer Is the ton or W. li Evans, or St. Johns, an englueer on the motor line. He had often beeu ou the engine, and his rather had explained to him how the lever Is pulled aud the wheels ttarted moving. The englue lies over au hour at St Johns, just by the water tauk, and during thlt time, while Mr. Evaus wai at home at lunch, little Fred walked down to the englue, mounted the seat and opened the throttle wide, says the Portland Oregonlnn, The machine was full of coal and water, and waa ready for the road. Several people saw the boy start, but uo oue was near enough to catch the engine. The news wat at once told to Mr. Evans, and be reached the track Just In time to see the loco motive, with his boy on board, disap pear around a curve. The father wat wild with grief and fear, aud the boy'i mother waa almost prostrated. The newi spread like wildfire, and the whole town turned out. Excite ment was Intense, women and children cried, and men offered suggestions, Master Mechanic Michael F. Brady was at that end of the Hue, and at once be gan to telephone to stations along the line. Portsmouth aud Peninsular were notified, aud men at these points tried to board the engine as It dashed by, but Its speed was toq great. Mr. Brady also notified the ottlco at Alblna, and a party of men ran out the line north ward to meet the wild engine. In com ing up the long grade toward Alblna the steam hud died down a little, but the register still showed eighty pounds. John Woods, a motornian on the City and Suburbau Railway, was the first man to meet the cuglue. He caught the handrail and swung up, but lu dolug to he was dragged sixty or seventy-five feet. He at once turned off the steam, and the engine slowed down and stopped. It was then young Fred made the remark concerning his ability as an engine driver. The boy was not scared at all, but teemed rather proud of his feat. When the englue first dashed out of St. Johns he was frightened, and ns he went through Portsmouth like a shot out of a gun he was yelling lustily for "mam ma." After going several miles, how ever, he again became brave and held his position on the scat with com posure, with his hand on the lever like a veteran. THE CHINESE DRAGON. It Enter Into Every Phase of a Man darln'a Life. Not only doea the dragon symbolize to the Chinese all that It imposing and powerful, but the mast of the people flrmly ballava la Ha actual txltUnot and Ita powtr to do harm. Tbtrtfort a good deal of their time aod money li watted la paying It propitiatory ttten tlona. A Uve dragon would ctrtalnly bt an alarming animal to meet on a lonely road, for blnet writer describe It i having carnal'! bead, a deer's born, rabblt'i tyta, cow'i tart, a nak'i neck, (4 frog'a itomich, carp't tcalet, and aa eagle'i wing aud claw. About tba mouth grow whisker and a beard. In tba middle of tht latter baogt a large pearl It can change Itt breatb at will from fire to water, and Its volet touudi Ilka tbt Jingling of metal. If a Chinaman wlshe for hipplnesi and peace lu thlt world tnd the next he fee I obliged to consult tht dragon at to where hit bout shall be built and bit grave bt made. Through tht Firth, so say tht Chinese, flow two currents, tht Dragon and tht Tiger. Now, for man to have good fortune In life, hit house must be put In a certain position In reference to the current. If he li to rest quietly In bit grave, thstilso must b properly placed. So-called "wise men" make a business of cboot Ing favorable site for - home and graves, professing by means of a wand and Incantation, and other kinds of tomfoolery, to be able to detect the pretence of the dragon and the tiger, and to tell In what direction they flow. All mandarin of blgh rank bavt a dragon embroidered In gold thread or colored tllk on tht front and back of their coatt, distinguished, however, from the Imperial dragon by having but four clawt. Tbt dragon also often appears on expensive porcelain; but poor people do not venture to use bowl and cupt decorated !y hi likeness. For kites tht tamt detlgn of a dragon I a favorite. The kite art flown by people of all aget, and are managed with extraordinary iklll. These contests are popular with the higher class or the people and with the lower. The strings sometimes bavt powdered glut glued on them, and tht object sought In aerial contest! li to cut the enemy'! ttrlng. FAIR SOLDIERS IN UNIFORM. Royal LadlM of Korop Mavt Com mand of livsiaaat. Many royal women In Europe art of flcera of famojt regiment, and tome of them take more than a mere formal Interest In their command. When they appear at the head of their troop these women wear the regulation uul forin. and aeem to take delight In rldlug ist.lde at the head of the col umn on dress parade or durlug tba camp maneuver. It I only upon a near view tbat the sex or these com-' maudera ran be distinguished, and the fair onet appear to take pleaturt In be ing aa "tuaulsb" at any aoldler on the Odd. The Empress or Germany la natural ly the foremost of the women soldier of Eurote, and her bntband It proud of her military attainment! and toldlerly bearing. She la chief or the faiuou First Regiment or Imperial Cuiras siers, and may frequently be seen rid ing at the head of thlt crack military organisation When the regiment It on review befort the Emperor It ap proachet hit ttatlon with band playing and colore flying, tba Empress riding proudly at Its bead She It one or the most striking figures In tbt army, being tall aud superbly formed. Her regl mental uniform Is very showy red fac ings on a pure white material, sur mounted by a three-cornered hat with large, drooping heron's plumes. She salutes the Emperor and then takes a place by bli tide while the regiment files past The Crown Princess Maria of Rou- mania, la anotber royal female col onel, who consider! herself bound to her regiment In more than name. She Is the chief of the Fourth Regi ment of Koumnulnn Hussurs. She looks very Imposing at the head of her troops, and It a very skillful horsewoman. This petticoat colouel Is a woman of versatile talents; she hai written voluminously In the sphere of fiction aud histrionics. As an ama teur actress, both In the German and Roumanian languages, she bos dis played wonderful talents, aud It It aid of her that the la the power be hind the throne In Roumnula. Holland'! Queen, young Wllhelmlnn, commander of a number of Dutch and German regiments. She Is always handsome, never more bo than In (lu uniform ott general or the Royal Horse Guards, dark blue, with gold racings, epaulettes and the numerous Insignia or rank. Sometimes she appears at the head of ber troops rldlug on her favorite pony, Baby, wearing a white a ma son riding habit,, with the regula tion tall black bat AU of the younger women belonging to European royal ramllles are expert horsewomen, and take their chief rec reation In racing or coursing. A London Crush. An excellent description of a London evening party lu the season was sent by Ruskln to his mother In 1850. What Is more surprising than the scorn of punctuation which the letter revenls la Its style, which Is that of Alfred Jingle the last In the world, one would say, for the scholarly Ruskln to full luto. Horrible party last night stiff large dull fidgety strange, run against everybody know-nobody sort or party. Naval people. Young lady claims ac quaintance with me know as much of her as of Queen Tomare Talk: get away as soon as I can ask who she Is Lady ( ); as wise as I was before. Introduced to black man with chin In collar. Black man converses I nlm.se different things to black man; chiefly House of Lords. - Black man says he lives' in It-asks where I live don't want to tell him obllged-go away and nnd ask who he It ( ); as wlso as I wat before. Introduced to a young lady young lady asks If I like drawing go away and ask wbo the Is- Lady ( ). Keep away, with back to wall and look at watch. , Got away at last ; Very sulky thli morning. What tho Whitehead Torpedo Cost. ? mm nnvarnmAnl nnM C7K ifU fn flm I secret and right of manufacture of the Whitehead torpedo. OKKMAN Harness ix ukifohm. On tbt voyagt to Paris: First pat-tender-Did yoq have breakfast air? Second passenger Yes, for a while, Brooklyn Life. "Papa, It au authoress always a mar ried woman?" "That depends, my ton, on whether she can raru enough to sup port two."-Llfe. "1 couldu't sleep last night. I Just had to get up and walk around." "In tomnln, cb?" "Yes. The baby had It" -Philadelphia Pres. "Vo'j seem dreadfully ' worried' "Yes; J on see, I Joined a Don't Worry Club, s.kI It worries me to keep from worrylng."-Chlcago Post Muriel Your brother proposed to me during the service In church last Sun day. Stoe You intiMtui mind him. He often talks In his slcep.-Hmart Set "Heuvens blesi him! He showed con fldeuce In me when the clouds were dnrk and threatening," "In what way?" "He leut me an uiubrel!a."-Tlt Bits. Reasonable: Husband 1 dou't tee why you have accounts In so many dry goods stores. Wlfe-Becausc, my dear, It makes the bills to much smaller. Bazar. Wboopcr Rupp-Do you take a vaca tion this year, Merry? Merry Margin (tiadly)-Nope; I've got to spend a month at Bar Harbor with my wife. "Pa, what's an optimist?" "A man who sometimes hear of people doing things just at he would have done them If he had been there." Chicago Time Herald. "Isn't your son't college education ex pensive?" "Oh, very. You sec, be baa to have silver aionogiaius on every base-bull bat he owu."-lodlaonp-dla Journal. "My wife," boasted the happy young Benedick, "Is an open book to me." "Mine, too," declared the old married man; "I cau't shut her up.'-Pblladel-phla Press. She (on a transatlantic steamer) I . read that hook going over lust year, but 1 remember almost nothing about It He Well, one retains so little ou steam ers. Bazar. "We're engaged, 'but I fear we shall never be able to marry." "Why not?" "1 spend nearly nil 1 make talking to her over the long-distance telephoue." Chicago Record. The Author-I wish I had tlme euough to write a good book. Ill Friend-Why not take It? The Author Can't afford to; I am too busy writing tucccssf ul oucs.-Life. Stubb-It was mean In that winning cyclist to drop bottles along the track for the purpose of tauutlng his rival Pcnu-What was lu the bottles? Stubb Catchup! Chicago News. Musician (Ironically) I am afraid my music was disturbing the people wbo were talking over there. Hostess Dear me! 1 never thought of that Don't piny so loudly uext time. King. He I dou't kuow whether to make a fool of myself playing golf or sit on the hotel plaua aud make lore to some girl all th j afternoon. Shu What's tho difference? Detroit. Free Press. Fuddy Mrs. Biowniigg always speaks or her phystvlnn. Dr. Stlckker, as an "old war horse." bn't It odd? Duddy Oh. 1 dou't know; they say he Is a terrible chnrgcr. Boston Tran script. Smlthcrs May I pat jour darling lit tle puggy. Miss Marianne, aud caress It? Miss Marianne I have no objec tions, Mr. Smlthcrs If you are sure yon have no fleas. Corn wall (X. Y.) School master. Hodge-I've got a suit of clothes for every day lu the week. Podge (suspi ciously)! never see you wear auy but the one you have on now. Hodge (cheerfully) That's the suit. Town Topics. Clergyman (examining a Sunday school class) Now, cau any of you tell me what are slus of omission? Small Scholar Please, sir, they're sins yon ought to have committed, and haven't. -Tlt-Blts. 'ihr Groom (homely but wealthy) New, tell me. darling, how did you man age to full In love with a homely chap like me? The Bride I didn't. Mamma managed the affair from' start to finish. Chicago News. Imaginary Wealth. "This man," said the keeper softly, "Imagines he has millions." "Isu't that nice?" answered the visitor. "Whenever he needs money all be has to do Is to druw on his Imag ination." Kansas City Times. Couldu't Fool ller: Mr. Hiram Offen Bridget, did you string the beans as 1 told you? New Servaut-No, nja'nui, I dldu't. An' let me tell ye, ma'am, ye cnu't string me; ye kin ate thlm loose or not at all.-Phlladclphla Press. A Rural Philosopher: "Si," yelled 'the neighbor from the road, "your wife has jist ruu off with Bill Johnson." "She hcz, hez she?" answered the farmer la the field; "wall, Bill allays wuz a-bor-rcrln' trouble. Git up there!" Indian apolis Press. "Dou't you long for the dear days of long ago?" asked the sentimental young:, woman, "Indeed I do," auswered the man with close-cut hair. "The dear days of long ago are when I borrowed all the money 1 am now supposed to be paying." Washington Star. "How much will your opinion In this cuse be worth?" nsked the prospective client. "1 cau't tell you how much It'll be worth," answered the lawyer who Is accustomed to make flue distinctions, "but 1 can tell you how much I am go lug to charge you for lt."-Washlugto Star. . Not His Legs, A Russian peasant haying gone to the town to buy himself n pair of now boots fell asleep by the roadside on his way home, aud was stripped of his cherish ed boots by a light-lingered tramp; but his sleep remained unbroken till a passing wagoner, seeing him lying hnlf across the track, shouted to him to "take his legs out of the way." , "My legs?" echoed the linlf-aroiised sleeper, rubbing his eyes; "those legs nln't mine mine had boots on!" Street Thronxh an lOugllsh Church. One of the best-known Instances of churches with streets through them Is that of St. Johu tho Baptist's Church In Bristol, England. The church Is sit uated right over the ancient gateway into the city of Avon, and the towering spire sta idlng high above the neighbor ing houses and streets Is a remarkable sight, as oue surveys It from the roadi way below. Parisian Superstition. Superstition is so common In Paris that cards tastefully embellished ant containing a list of ,"hours to be avoid-, ed" are extensively sold. Suspect not a friend's words, buf rather bis meaning. .2 1