tm fir jmu. il ! HUMOR OF THE WEEK II A N DLESS BUT 1 IA N D Y STORIES TOLO BY FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. THE OTHER MAN. He i. E stood on the brink of the preel' ee and looked over. Three nun died feet below him the tea broke on the somber rock. The man's muscles tentloned and ht drew a deep breath. What an easy way to end It all! Just one little step those rocks below were no bunglers; they would make no mistake over their work, and the tea would tell no tales and then then he would be away from It all, aud would never have to bear the agony of hearing that she was married to Kverett. Married to Everett married to Ever ett! The words clanged In hla ears. He groaned aloud aud bent hastily over the edge. A mist came before his eyes and his breath rose In a choking heave to his throat; the (round rocked sickeningly beneath him, and for one diy second he thought be was falling-falling down that ititerm':iabie space. ' Then the ml,: passed, the ground stopped rocklusr and he easped with relief to find himself still standing safe and sound on firm earth. He turned away with a scornful laugh at his own weakness. Home again, he flung himself Into an easy-chair and lit his pipe, resolved to give way no longer to' morbid imag inings. He picked np a magazine, but his thoughts flew off at a tangent to the dance which was to take place that very evening, to which be had been Invited. He had vowed not to see her again till he could settle once for all the dem on of unrest within hlui. and a crowded ballroom was the last place for impas sioned avowals. He thought how cool and beautiful abe would look In her white muslin, with her fluffy golden hair framing ber weet little flower-like face. Perhaps he would go, after alL Then a second flgure rose op to spoil the picture handsome, happy-go-lucky Everett, With a merry word for everyone, dancing untiring attendance on the fas cinating hostess and never leaving her aide for a moment. How dared he take possession of her In that way! And how could she put up with It, unless His pipe mankind's universal baby bottle for once failed utterly in its mission of soothing. He tossed It an grily across the table and buried his face In bis hands, lost In a whirl of mis erable conjectures. His thoughts flew back to that dance one week ago one week so crowded with hopes and fears that It seemed a lifetime. He remembered those two dances, the music, the scent of flowers In the conservatory, and, more distinctly than all, the laughing face of Dolly. Then those few overheard words rushed through his brain. He clinched his Ssts and bis face flushed at the rec ollection. He bad drifted from the ball room to the conservatory. Would she consent? That was the ques.lon that throbbed In hla brain. Should he aay the words that would decide his future life and hers? He had puffed at a ci garette, and stared at the thin wisps of blue smoke. Would his hopes fade Into nothingness as that fragrant smoke faded and vanished Into air? And then he beard people talking. He recognized the voice of Everett, and then Dolly's. They were seated on the opposite aide of the conservatory, and had not seen him as he sat almost mn cealcd behind a tangle of palin leaves. "Doily," Everett waa saying, "you must say 'Yes.' My whole life depends npon it W e have been chums so ion? Bay you will and make me the happiest man in England not to apeak of Scot land, Ireland and Wales. Bar 'Yes!' know what you want to say that we ought to fie getting back again. And there are all those loathsome people who want dances. Confound 'em. Yon will? I knew you would- " Fraser bad sat there, almost unable to move. He did not know how inn The music from the ballroom floated out Into the conservatory, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the guests. All hope, al! Interest in life was gone snatched from him by those lew overheard words. People were asking for him. What did it matter; nothing mattered now. A voice aroused him. He looked up, and saw Everett before hira Everett, who was his friend; who was now his rival his eeninyl "Hallo, Fraser, old man, you seem to oe teu ta thorns deep In the blue dumps! What's the matter now? Come and have a smoke with me. I've been look ing for you half the evening." And that all happened a week ago! A week-the most miserable In bis life. And now he was trying to forget her. What a fool he was I " II. The thought of that steep drop down to the sea kept recurring to his mind again and again with a fatal fascina tion put it away from his as he would. Through all bis broodings its somber Invitation stood out clear and distinct. He could see even now the Jagged rocks lurking below, dripping with pray, looking for their prey. At last he got np. It was no good staying in. Inaction was torture to him In bis present frame of mind. He would try and walk It off. He started off rapidly, without any definite aim or intention, but uncon sciously his steps turned toward the Coast, and presently be fqund himself oce mors ascending the ateep little ftth Its bad traversed that morning. As he neared the summit he per ceived that there was a man s flgure before him, stooping perilously over the dangerous edge, evidently gathering some plant from the cliff below. It was a foolhardy thing to do, and evidently bespoke a stroug brain. A little nearer, and he stotmed short abruptly. The stooping figure was Everett. All his love and hate sinned un with in hliu. Everett, the man who had stolen his love from htm the man who nad made his life a blank and barren waste. A thousand devils seemed let loose within him. How very near that stoopiug figure was to death-so near that one touch Just one little motion of the foot and he would lose his bal ance and go speeding, speeding down those smiling cliffs and be hurled to pieces on those cruel rocks beneath! His breath came quickly. Suppose It had happened accidental ly? Even as he thought he knew he was a coward. Even then he was thinking of his own skin. S utmost a sudden noise made the man start? Al most unconsciously he opened his Una. and a harsh "Hallo!" hmtu rmm htm Everett's nerves were steel. He turned bis sunny face and smiled over his shoulder. "Hallo, old man bly. Fraser came and stood dumblv hes'ile htm, holding his bands tbrhtlv together behind him to hide their shaking; ' He bad forgotten Everett was a sailor. He watched him furtively leanins down further and further, till It seemed Impossible be could retain his balance; and the waves below reached uo him. gry white arms to catch him, and fell oaca again with a murmurlm thunder of anger at their failure. A little further. Fraser caueht his breath. -' 'You'U be over In a minute!" he said gruffly. Everett laughed easily. "Not I!" be said conttdentlv. "But i say, old chap, yon might just bang on to my legs for a minute, will you? I want to reach that jtreat bit lust there and It's Just beyond me." The waving piuk bloom nodded lm- pudently up at them Just out of reach. Fraser stood motionless, mofstenin his dry lips. Everett looked around. "D'you mind, old tuanT he said. And mechanically the other stretched . out ms nana and obeyed. Now now! one movement of his An- gers just the opening of his hand ( He fought the thought back, gasping i or oreatn. Everett leaned still farther, glanced back. "They're for Dolly, you know," he said, "to wear this evening." The fingers opened as If by some sud denly pressed spring. There was a sud den cry, and then thea something went rolling, rolling, striking and bounding slckeningly down that steep side. For an Instant the white face waa up turned. "All right, old chap 1 know-.!. dent!" floated up brokenly, and then there was a last hideous thud, and the waves clutched greedily at their unrec ognizable prey and drew It under. And the swooping seagulls shrieked wildly ana circled upward. Fraser stood as If turned to stone, gazing with distended eyeballs at the gurgling eddies where that that thing had disappeared. Murderer! Murderer! Murderer! The waves lashed it at tim, the sea gulls shrieked It, the whole living and inanimate world flung the awful word at him. He stood paralyzed. Had be done It -be? What had he done? He held his hands vaguely and plteously out before him, asking them mutely. Murderer! Murderer! Murderer! Yes. it was trne true! His hands told him his hnd that he had opened.' God! Thev were blood-red stained with blood! The grass was red the sky the very sea was blood! He flung up his bands with an awful cry and sprang blindly over that fatal edge. . . I say, old fellow, do wake up and stop having the horrors! Yon dnn't know bow beastly awful you look!" rraser opened bis eves sinwiv an.t stared In blank terror at the handsome tanned face looking down at him. He wondered vaguely whether he vm dreaming now or bad Just awoke from rea nightmare. The voice went on: "I only looked In to say ta-ta. I've' bad a telegram calllnsr me back to ir. land immediately. Old Chris Murdoch has relented and consented to our he- Ing publicly engaged. And all through Dolly, too bless her little heart! She's Meg's dearest friend, you know, and she's been moving heaven and earth to soften the old chap's heart." He waived an airy good-by. "Ta-ta!" he said merrily Odd, Certoaa sad Laatfhabl rkim at Meaiaa Nature Uraitaiially for trayttt by kaataeat Word Artlata if r aa Day-A Budget of ran. Mr. Cr'pps Can you luduoe the cook to have one of her friends come and take dinner with her to-night? Mrs. Crtpps-Tbe Idea! What for? Mr, Crlpps-I expert to brlug Jones and Smith bom- with me, and I'd like to have a nice dinuer for theui.-Philu- delphla Itecord. ! Theatric rarla-u-e. Amateur What thes It mean lu theatric circles when they say the "ghost walks?" Veteran Actor It means that the rest or us don't have to.-Detroit Free Press. For Stnnone. 'Here's a girl" remarked the Ouerv Editor, "w ho writes to know 'what Is ' ton."' aKMLWS PlOPLl HAVl ACWM' "Evidently," replied the Snake EdJ. PUSHED DIFFICULT FEATS. ' tor, "she a never had any beaux." . "Why?" Because If she had she'd know that the most popular oue la the parlor sofa."-Phlladelphla Free. II MM w InKl.l.nl.l. She Is the wrlttug of poetry very lu crative? He-Well, It would be If one dldu't have to lay out 00 eeut or so every week on paper and stamps! Puck. V tmirr. Husband (angrily) IWt forget. madam, that you are my wife. Wife Oh. never fear. There are some things oue cau't forget. Detroit tree t'res. Inherent Talent. Ji (Tie tact II r ei MUM. He i am afraid you don't like tuv daucluir. She-Ou the contrary, I think It Is very amusing. VitMilHtttatt. "What line Mildred mean when she says that she Is wrttln her letter of acceptance to Theodore," Deuver New. Bugglna i hear Siultklua la learning golf. Does be eujoy It? Mucirlua Save It'a irreat. He has al ready put three raddles la the bospt-tul.-Phlladelpbla Kecord. Deacon Shanghal-Dat boy certainly la run oo music, Mrs. Jackson. Mrs. Jackson-Yes, Deacon; hit comes naeheJ toe dat chile; bis pap war run ovan uy one ' dem street plau ueTB. Taking- the 8tln Vit of It, Hare I mt a hri.h r... .... he responded amla- lously Inquired the sweet youug gradu ate, woo was chock-full of ambltlou. ",JVeIL u 8U"1 Mght as It might be, answered the antique clairvoyant. wa taking a long look luto It; "but." she added with a girlish titter. pernapa Ibe gas is turned dowu. Puck. ItuilWldaale MUu I'pixr Math Have become Femoua ArtieU, Ltrou Peaatea, l.sp.rt Multaas aad Ar tteaaa. That success lu art la not the tuouop oly of such as are dowered with the normal number or limbs is couclustve ly proved by tu iklll of Mile. Haplu, a Swiss artist, who, though without anus, has made a name for bersUf with her portraits aud bas reliefs, aud of the lMk'tuu painter, rwenilv deceas ed, w hom many of us uav doultlve seeu at work lu the Autwerp picture gallery copying th woks of the old musters there ou view. Other armless artists, too. have ac. quired fame, amoug whom may bo uieuuoueu tu celebrated Miss Uiffeu, who earned a living a a miniature paluter. Orlglually ou exhlbltiou at Uartholotuew fair, she was seen by the Earl of Mortou, who took her under his patronage and paid for her artistic ed ucation. She was a favorite of George IV. and William IV., the latter of whom allowed her a small pension. TuVuittg to earlier armlet celebrities, meutlou must be made of Jobu Vale rius, boru lu tlermaiiy lu WOT,, who was capable of performlug many sur prising feats. lie eon 1,1 aliav hlumelf. play ou the drum, fouce with much skill, and, lu abort, use his toes with as much adroitness as most men au their bands, lie tnssHHfd. however. a modern rival In the persou of Herr I'uthan, whom manv will ituietiii.r exhibiting himself a few years ago In 1.011011, wiiere he surprised large audi ences with bis marvelous feats. Matthew Httcklmrer. who on u.m at Nuremberg seven years utter than Valerius, was but a tii.n fnmW i sesslng neither arms uor legs. Despite ' tils litttunil ilUn.tvi, i. ............. .... I iu,,iT,rr, hit ' Proved Mia Point. ..rft . wpiKjnuuny comes once to every man. "That's right; and any man la bound to become famous If he only lives loug enougn. "Oh; I don't quite believe that.' iou don't? Suppose a man Uvea to be 150 years old; wouldn't that make mm raniousr Philadelphia Record. Trjrtnt to Follow the Injunction. ado now,- continued his angry spouse, thoroughly aroused. "I am go ing to give you another piece of my mtna wnat are yon doing?" I am turning the other ear," patient ly responded Mr. Meeker.-Cblcago inoune. Terrible. Sceue: A railway car. First Artist Children dou't seem to ute to sell now as they used. Second Artist (In a hoarse whtaoer) Well, I was at Stodste'a yesterday: he had Just kuocked off three little girls' heads, horrid raw things, when a deal er came in. sir; he bouttht 'em directly. took 'em away, wet as they were, on a stretcher, and wanted Stodge to let him have some more next week. Old Lady (putting her head out of w!tll1ltV n ...I athetlitL- lt.tY .tti. tit, ... uitu n ta Ilia mil lt-lktUl VVIIUUl. IV't , 1 . r-- t stop the tralu aud let me out. or I'll be al'' ,0 ,mVe lH'a ' excellent pei- murdered! former on the flute, bagiile and trum pet, wuile his sketehet--laik!(ienie. tin- Intervals In riclttataiO. urea aiul eruita nf ......... ... 1.1.1. .... . . . - v ai hip n wen werw Ma when I get big I m golu' 'way executed with a pen, were equal to the most anisneU engravings. Hi. (. sraphy, of whleh example are still ex tant, would have done credit to the most expert writing mast., and. in deed, he was able to make no tmon. slderable Income by the ssle of the eeimens of hla skill. He figured likewise In the not verv Invidious role of wife beater, for on one occasion when one of bis wives be was married four tttiies-lnsultwl him, he sprang unon her. ant her d,,n snd buffeted her so severely with hla DEVIL DANCERS Of CEYLON. riynioitth the government retains from a aemiineutal motive a nee, or it.. . m K - ..!..(. 11,..., ..I. .ld..irl..n l..tii avi limit . ', lie .,,.-., . . j wiiii irnHi me rtuk, warfare oo the water Impossible. The real Singhalese devil dancers t0 'IVrbaps the most striking feature Ceylon are most ferocious and isvaka of modern clvilUnflon la that there are fellows, Thetr dances sTt retulu. t Bo ugly women, The Improved comli atta horrible. Hut fhelr pn.fe.siun hi tlous of life, the place which legitimate ; popular and affords a royal llvlug fuf enjoyment has In the modern scheme of Uf uu wuo u,a , exlsten.'e. the extirpation of many Ttl.r u , iuler.tltlou among Vm forms of disease, and the rational aitl-; Singhalese that when a man falls skk tude of mind of the average woman nt gU1,llol,eil ,0 u .ou wllb have worked wonders. No modern;. ,.,. , orJ,,r ((J r(J bJJ gf play writer would tbluk of elalM.ratlng ut,v, ttallecr. M . tu nmi-o umruru imp nm riv 0 pftH ( ( f fllif tU tilt ill seuted as having a dark side, for the woman of today Is a Joy In her owu house, and not only In the hone of oilier, as there Is reason to Mleve was the eae a hundred years ago. Ev erywhere we aee peace, prosperity, progreaa. aud It Is therefore with find ings of the utmoat gratitude that we watch the departing hours of the twen tieth century." lr, Stubbs, the Itlabop of Oxford, was off to be a pirate. "Are you. Bobby r 'Yes, but don't you lie scared: I come home at night to sleep." Chicago Itecord. Plain Kvtlence of Art. ?)! The Mjetery of MotWr. "Why," asked the young wife, naive ly, "do you always whistle when you get my millinery bills?" "To raise the wind!" replied the man. uetroit Journal. - -vwV N. IV it, once Importuned by a woman who. kuowlng hla expert e of Ihe Holy Laud, kept ou unking him what places she ought to visit, aa she was sunliu ou a trip to l'n lent 1 ue. After snmer lug topographical qiicatlou, wiihoui Miimlier, he was aguln anked, ' Hut. really, what place would you advlne ute to go tor "lo Jericho, madaiii. the blxhop, sweetly. A London newsluty, who Is accus tomed to shout "Extras" every even lug. recently had a very had cold and became hoarse. Feeling himself at a disadvantage, he carried a large card til front of hi in. uu which he had roughly written: "Hush! Noise is a nuisance! I can't shout my extras, but I have them all the same!" It Idld not take the boy long to sell out bis stock of pa pers to the grateful passers by, In her book ou "Home I'layera," Amy IslW says that Edwin Booth a dele.ta tlon of "lllchard 111." was frank and lueurnhle. Oue night, when lu the most magiiltlcent distant of Hlcbard, a super fell lu a wrltblug, squirming at tack, which set the eotiutrv audience laughing. Booth said, quietly, arter the fall of the curtalu, amid shouts of mis guided laughs, "What waa the matter, capialu?" The trembling captaiu owned reluctantly that oue of hla twen-ty-ave-ceut men had been seised in a lit. "I'lease pay thirty cents next time. ami employ one whose Ills may not In .m,,,.,, ,hat . , ,', " employ oue wtio rurthW chastlcme 7 ZS? tmemlment In the future-.' rom Z ' T "" ' WH,,m" . , 01 ruieo uia. He half In 'Upntabl-. Mamma un, tthel. you never saw me behave like that. Ethel (aged -ij-Well, I haven't know- ed you so very long.-TIt-Blts. ComDUlaore I'm , ! n . "Tou're not half so stout as yon were uuiy." Jo; we ve moved Into a flat, and I Just had to get thin." Indianapolis journal. SheI came to study art Artist I knew you could nalnt the moment 1 looked Into your faee. Thev All Came Rack. "Half a dozen of us fellows." said the struggling young author, "held a com petition in abort story wrltlnir. Mv story won the prize." 'Conceded to be the best, eh?" "Well, we sent them all to the sann magazine, and the editor kenl mln. longer than any of the others." I'iiila ueiphia rresa. She Waa Willlna to Help, 1 Beggar-Flase. yer honor, do hin a poor old body. Irritable Old Chap-Don't bother me, woman. Can't you see that I couldn't possibly get a hand into my pockets? Beggar-Ah. but Derhana I m..M honor. Hie Oraavlns Diepotitlon. "They say," remarked the mother thoughtfully, referring to the young man who bad called the previous even ing, "that be Is of a grasping disposi tion." . ' ' "Well, I should say be was!" ex claimed the small boy. "Willie!" cautioned his sister, but It was too late. "You Just ought to have seen the way be grasped Ixu when she said she'd marry bim," persisted the youngster. Chlcago Evening Post. Moat I nf.ith.un ,M. "My gracious!" suddenly exclaimed iime Jiaiei mugore, who bad been day-dreaming, "I suppose there's no help for It." "What are you thinking of, dear?" asued ber mamma. "Why, I was Just thinking when we cue wen have to wear ready-made neavenly robes for a few days till we can oe ntted. "-Philadelphia Tress. The Only I .!MHt. He-Nothing could ever come between us, could It. dear? 8he-I can't think of a single thing, unless I should happen to become en. gaged to some other man. Harper's uazar. that she faithfully kent hqually marvelous were the feata f William Kingston, who at the com mencement of the present century re sided at Dltcheat, near Bristol, where he cultivated a small farm. He could without other aid than that of hla toea laauie ana nrhlle his horse, milk hla own cows, cut his own hay, bind It up in tmiKHes. and carry It bout the field for his rattle. He was an excellent carpenter, too, and had acquired no time renown aa a hammer thrower. being able with his feet to cast a heavy sieage nanutier as far aa most men could with their hands. Very expert, too. Is Caleb Orton. an American, though In hU rase hla aklll has brought him within the clutch of the law, for though without bands he contrived to forge a postal monev order. For that nefarious niirnose ha employed his mouth, and although the authorities were at first Incredulous and doubted the truth of his confea. ilon, he soon nut the matter beyond doubt by ocular demonstration. Gripping the pen between hla teeth. ne. ty means or a ser es of ran d mova. menta of his bend, executed one of those elaborate designs of birds, beasts and scroll work In which wrltlnir ex perts delight, and proved to the satis faction of everybody present his un doubted culpability. AT THE END OF 2OO0 A. D. What One Writer I'rellcta iVIII Hap nen a Centnrr Heniv. The twentieth centurv la to be the century of change; science, which la going at the trot, will then go at the ganop, says a writer in i-omion Truth, we ttiinK we Know much; those who will live 100 years hence will wouder we knew so little The folowlng Is prematurely quoted Crowded Out "Have yon called on Penelope since she got back?" , "i'es, but I'll have to go again." "Why?" ; "film ovif ort.J A .,. i a ... Fraser eased sneechlea.w m ..."l..6" 'cu . " B . .. ' Buwojcr ei;eriuuces ana 1 dldn t irpt a ars still Ktnnil no- th Mf n hi. .in. , . . . uu 1 8 liaed to It Mr. Lurker Ex CUse Uie. Miaa Hnnn p?r, but I have long sought this oppor tunlty - Miss Snnpper-Never mind the tire amble, Mr. Lurker. Kun alona- In and ask pa He a bc-n exiting this would from the Duy Cinematograph of Dec come for th lt two nnn ti m... I 0 K - - -' .v-wiiB. 31 asm: 'On the eve of the twenty-flrst cen tury It will tw In the minds of manv to contrast the present with the past. All are aware that gigantic strides have been made recently In the direction of progress, but few realize that only a nunurea years ago men traveled In trains over the laud and In shlna over the water; that they communicated with each other by telegraph: that their streets and houses were lit with gna or with an early adaptation of electricity; A Courteous I iff.. Couldn't I be squeezed In there anme. bow?" asked the pretty girl, as she vainly sought entrance to the crowded car. "If you can get In. I hav one arm free," exclaimed a younir man In th center of the car. Baltimore American. " No Birita. "I am told that Miss Frocks Is a tarlan," said Mrs. Fosdlck. "She is," replied Mrs. Keedlck. "even .!,., .t--,.. La , , .... , ' 1 niai iwhi nun unu ill milium every In her 111 11 ner." I . ... tears still standing thick on bis white race. Everett turned back, half-laughing. "I wish you wouldn't look at me aa though I were a ghost!" he protested "So long!" Archbishop'e Apt Retort. The archbishop of Dublin performed a marriage In the family of a wealthy Irish distiller. After the new pupil, .... UV J LTt I i arcnoisnop effusively for bis share of the proceedings and said to him as h 100a uis leave, "The Lord be with you." "And with thr spirit." is rennet. ed to bare been the rejoinder. word in edgewise about what I'd been doing all summer. "-Chicago Itecord. lloura'nir. "You are the first girl I ever loved," said Mr. Simper to Miss Kittlsb. "In that case you may cease loving me. I do not care to be practiced on." 'Johnny," queried the teacher of the uo you know your alpha- "Yes'm," answered Johnny, "Well, then," continued the teacher "what letter comes after A?" ' "All the rest of them!" was the tri umphant reply. Pepper In Olden Tlmea. Dr. Adolph Miller, of Philadelphia. President of the Pennsylvania Mv. cological Club, In a dissertation on the pepper plant, says that during the Middle Ages In Europe pepper was the most esteemed and most Important of ail the spices. Genoa. Venice and oth er commercial cities of central Europe of ,. exquisitely desired world I were indebted to their traffic In nenner i.nt . ...i..L.. for a large part of their wealth.. Its ...petition still bound our predeces importance as a means of nromotlnir i,.,. ,. ..... . commercial activity and civilization , ... a. . . :. ,1,...l wi.i.,i. . . - ------- iwum uviu on. xa we Willi in 1110 Uu,.,I(s luc ,u Ag, can naraiy tie ailent streets and look upon the smoke. vJ... XIIIMII.V H IUV1IMI in L.a. ubn ttrltnnn Ihnn.nn.l. ,, household; that hundred of millions were spent in tuking Instead of In an v. Ing life; that the soldier was more fiouorea man tne surgeon; that well dressed women wore furs in th dn while the sun was shining and half stripped themselves In the evening and that It was not generally acknowledged that one of the most Important of du ties Is to enjoy the legitimate pleasures pepper, and donations were trmdn in this spice, which was frequently also useu as a medium of exchange In place of money. When the Imperial city of uome was. besieged by Alarlc, the King of the Goths, in 408 A. D., the ransom demanded included B.onn pounds of gold, 30,000 pouuda of silver and 3,000 pounds of pepper, Illustrating the Importance of this spied at that time. Fifty miles from the tow where a man dies, the papers, If they mention his death at all, tell the truth about him. ' carts, cabs and carriages hurry hither and thlthet, we wouder how man can have lived without flying. Even yet we are surrounded by a decaying past. Underground London Is said to be honeycombed with tunnels In which trains ran up to fifty years ago! In many parts of the country telegraph and telephone poles still stand with dangling wires, though wireless tele phony has long since superseded those older methods of communication. Builders occasionally come upon leaden piping through which gas was conduct ed when gas was an lllutnlnant' At Two or more of them co lr u'u-bt t the sick man's house, lu front of which small, square Iticliwure, shout alt feet high, has been made of grae and palm leaves. This answers the 'purpose of the green room at a the. ter. The men appear at first wlihout masks ami with long yellow grass tremers hanging from their bends ml waists. The only light cast uu the scene Is by torches made of sticks, ( srouud which pieces of cloth sre wrap ped, dipped In oil. To the uiulc of torn torn, kept up on one uotw, the I dancers sing peculiar, wild, funeral ! dirge, lu which the spectators often Join. The dancers begin by slowly moving about, stretching the right foot and bringing the left up lo It. and appear : as If they were searching for some- thing, during which the singing sounds like crying. They are li eu asking the devil to appear. There are twenty-four different soils of devils. Rod after the first part, the dancers are eonstiiuily ..changing their clothes lo represent the entire species; some wear masks, mine loll Jaws and terrible teeth reai-hbor said !1" "1" """ t Jsws open ami close ; In s very realistic maimer. A dsuee lasts over two nights, as IheV whole twenty four devils have all to twf personated licfore the particular de mon who Is ailllcting the sick man Is pitched ou, When he gives signs of his presence the dancers go Into a sort 5f frensy, which Increases as he takes poeuu of them; the torn tout beat faster am) faster, the chanting grows Into yells, the men whirl and stamp, the bells fastened by bracelets on lo their ankles jingle aud clash. At this stage the dancers appear to be looking for some object to give the devil In sacrifice, ami Into which he may pass. A chicken Is usually offered by the friend of the sick man, and this unfortunate bird Is seised upon, twist- ed ami tormented and bliteit hcUcn the false teeth, until the dancers, worn out. move slower and slower, and the chicken sinks into a sort of trance, which Is a slgu that the devil has ac cepted the sacrifice, aud is willing to pass from Ihe man Into the bird. Now and then the bird Is revived by some, charmed water Mas" thrown on Its head, and then the torture of It brgjiia Ugaln. After this the men dn sheep skin petticoats and capes, ami In the torchlight look more and more diabol ical and frensled In their thanks to the devil for co use tit I it g to leave Ihe The desire of the Inhabitants of Sing Slug to change the name of tl0 towu recalls a somewhat almllar desire m the part of the Inhnbttanta of the i..u i. ! . dent of i 4w Vork SaT"' I Wb" Mrt U ' isjffii tariff iehVr r ? v? r- ra " m torlous by an atrocious , IZ, and ft " blrd,U,,,", "mmn l.'puail of the Inhabitants wait" d . "! "T TM "? " the h .me secretary with a petition for T . ' 9f'"r ',y' !,,. ... i, f. .. .. " . " lng. AUitit an hour of this sort of ... ....... Maine, i ne II1IU- 1,1.1..-, . ........ ... ... '""'I i Mime wimiiHu; II IS reBIIjr nop. Ister hesitated, and asked what name they proposed to substitute, They re plied that they had not decided. "What do you say," said ho. "to taking my name?" They expressed their umitiall tied delight, ami obtained the home sec retary's consent to thi method of oh llteratlng the memory of the oIlftovt.iilH Palmer. The home svcreiary In ques tion was lird Palinerston. The tow u Is still known aa liugcley. When George Sand, the famous French novelist, waa llvlug at Nahaiit, near the close of ber life, she w r,.i. iu caught on her own grounds by a do- lermineu HntisB Journalist, of her own sex, who opened a formidable n,.t... book and demanded: "At what hour do you work, madame?" "I uever work," replied George Hand, gavly Ho! But your Imoks? When .1,. ..... make them?" "They make tlietuaelves, morning, evening, and night." This was ballilng, but the British l,n it- .1. though deficient In araco. t 1,1 til, I tM,.b grit, and snld: "What la your own fa vorite, may I ask, amonir your noviv "Olympta,"' returned George Hand with a beaming smile. " OlymnlaV t do not know that one." IVrhnps-l have not yet written It!" and the vie tlmhcd author beat a hasty retreat, much amused as she looked hneb saw that her nonsense was being duly Jotted down In the formidable nolo. book, rlble and revolting, and one Is thank ful when the men leave off to go to drink the toddy prepared for them, and make night of it -New York Journal. 4 Itr. Johnson's lU-garil for Truth It was said of Dr. Johnson tlmt 1,.. always talked as thouuh he wen, il lug an oath. He detested the Imblt of iying or prevaricating m the sllghieHt degree, and would not allow his vunts to say he was not at homo If ho was. "A servant's strict regard for the truth," said he, "must b weakem.,1 oy sucn a practice. 1 accustomed my servnut to ten a Ho for m i..va I not reason to apprehend thm h ..,m tell them for himself?" A strict !it.- ence to the truth the doctor considered as a sacred obligation, and In relating the smallest anecdote be wnni.t n... .1 low himself the tnluutest addition to embellish his story, Mistaken Identity. Attorney You sav von hni nuit.i see Miss Billings and was at the house at the time the burglary was commit- Witness Yes, sir, "Then how did It barmen tlmt ,,i, the prisoner dashed Into the room and assaulted you you leaped through tbo window and went homo, mn I; 1 1 , IT ,,,, attempt to defend the lady or give the ninrra 1 "I thought It was her fiitlo.r n.., -- .... -,,,111- ford Times. Bootblacks In Ilnrlln, Bootblacks are seldom seen ,., streets of Berlin, owing to Ihe fact tnat it is one of tbo duties or iini-,.. servant girls to shine shoes in .1.., household, and of porters to attend to It In hotels. There are bootblacks at the principal railway depots, hm n... find more patrons among women thiiu among men. What a failure tQOtit Of 111 rnnlr a a ure. Ul "April's Sowing" Is Mlsa Gertrude Hall's first long story. The title Is lakeo from Browning's "Ilppa Passes." Two weeks after Its nuldiestion. su. 000 copies of "Alice lu Old Inceiiues" were sold. It Is life by Maurice Thouipsoit. Win. Iean Howells. the foremost n.,. ore In American letters today. Is to tie oue of the literary advisers to the reorganised house of Harper & Bros. Annie Dussell MarbU book with a suirtrcailvn mi "11,1,. That Nourish Us," published by T, J. iroweu & u. It Is certain that year ly come from the press Imoks that w us neither teni)orary nor lasting nmir- isument, ami the necessity arises for a wise choice. Here Is a story told In "Notes ami Queries": A lady asked the novelist what her duly was lu certain difficult circumstances, and received a clear re ply. "But," she objected, "If I aid flint I should die." "Surely that has noth ing to do with yott doing -0nr duty," answered George Eliot. "Tbo Biography of a Hnhv" is n, title of an unusual volume by Miss niiiucent vv. Hhinn. Mh. Shinn Is a wiiirorninn and sill re th..r hi.. tuts always been nterested in hni,i... and hns tiinde a cnrefnl mmiy 0f them both as teacher and friend. i'oi.ii-i.,..i by the Century Company. Apropos of prefaces- -Homelhtnr, 111 .1 few care to praise Mr. Kipling gives the following good advice, given when be was iiKkfii to wrtta Home rather Inlerestliiu have Iniight me that the leUt ... making a man bnte me for llf u to meddle In any way with hla work. If the book Is enml It and If not. nothing will make It stir! All the men who want to stick a knife Into mo would stick it intn you ns soon as they saw my name pro- iiiciiigynnr hook. Hitter experience lias Innghl that that kind of thlntr doesn't pay. If a book stands bv Itself. It will stand by Itself; but If von iiuo nn. other chap's mi mo to help It to a stmt, you will get all the whacks that the other chap would have got If he had written the book, In addition to whacks ou your own merits." '1 fow It Is folly to attempt to plmiso every body. It matters not In which direc tion a man faces he must of necessity turn his back on half the world. Women either love or hate; there Is no happy medium In their affections,