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2
A STUDY IN SCARLET
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
1
i
f ART II Chapter IV Continued. ,
One fine morning John Ferrier wu
bout to set out tor his wheat fields,
when he heard the click of the latch,
and, looking through the window, saw
. '. a -j stout, sandy-haired, middle-aged
man coming up the pathway.
His heart leaped to his mouth, tor
this was none other than the great
Brlgham Voung himself. Full of trep
J: tdation for he knew that such a vis
It boded him little good Ferrier ran
- to the door to greet the Mormon
chief. This latter, however, received
his salutation coldly, and followed
him with a stern face Into the sitting
room. "-
"Brother Ferrier," he said, taking a
seat, and eyeing the farmer keenly
from under his light-colored eyelash
s ee, "the true believers have been good
friends to you. We picked you up
...... nen jrou were starving In the desert,
we shared our food with you, led yoa
,-vW , sate to the chosen valley, gave you a
goodly share of land, and allowed you
to wax rich under our protection. Is
' not thla so?"
' j "It is so," answered John Ferrier.
"In return for all this, we asked
1 nut one condition; that was. that you
- - should embrace the true faith, and
conform In every way to Its usages.
.-. This yon promised to do; and this. If
common report says truly, you have
- aegioctcd." v .
?r "And how have I neglected It?"
asked Ferrier, throwing out his hands
In expostulation. "Have I not given
to the common fund? Have I not at
tended at the -temple? Have I not "
' "Where are your wives V asked
. Young, looking round him. "Call
them In, that I may greet them."
."It is , true that I have not mar
ried." Ferrier answered. "But women
were few. and there were many who
had better claims than I, I was not a
lonely man; -I had my daughter to
attend my wants."
"It is of that daughter that I would
speak to you," said the leader of the
' Mormons. "She has grown to be the
. flower of Utah, and has found favor
In the eyes of many who are high in
.be land." ,. ... ,, .
John Ferrier groaned Internally.
m , 'There are stories of her which I
v ' would fain disbelieve stories that
she U sealed to some gentile. This
must be the gossip of idle tongues.
What Is the thirteenth role In the
code of the sainted John Smith? Let
every maiden of the true faith marry
. one of the elect, for If she wed a gen
tile she commits a grievous sin.' This
v being so. it is impossible that you.
who profess the holy creed, should
suffer your daughter to violate it"
'" John Ferrier made no answer, but
he played nervously with his riding
whip.
."Upon this one point your whole
faith should be tested so It has been
decided in the Sacred Council of
. Four. The girl is young and we would
not have her wed gray hairs, neither
. , would we deprive her of all choice.
We elders have many wives, but our
children must also be provided.
Stangerson has a son and Drebber
has son, and either of them would
j gladly welcome your daughter to their
house. Let her choose between them.
Tney are young and rich and of the
,. true faith. What say you to that?"
Ferrier remained silent for some lit
tie time with his brows knitted.
"Ton will give us time," he said at
last "My daughter ! very young
she is scarcely of an ase to marry."
"She shall have month to choose."
said Toung, rising from his seat "At
, ., the end of that time she shall give
her answer."
, .He was passing through the door
when he turned with flushed face and
' flashing eyes.
"It were better for you, John Fer-
' rler," he thundered, "that you and she
' were now lying blanched skeletons up
. on the Sierra Blanco than that you
should put your weak wills against
. ' the orders of the Holy Four!"
With a threatening gesture of his
-1 ; band, he turned from the door, and
Ferrier heard his heavy step scrunch
ing along the shingly path.
... ... .. . He WM 8tin gitting with his elbows
upon his knees, considering how he
should broach the matter to bis
1 1 daughter, when a soft hand was laid
w , T upon his, and, looking up, saw her
" ' " "" standing beside him.
One glance at her pale, frightened
face showed him that sue had heard
, . what had passed.
"I could not help It." she said In
..... . answer to hi look. "His voice rang
. - through the house. Oh, father-
father! What shall we do?"
"Don't you scare yourself," he an
J) ewered, drawing her to him and pass
ing his broad, rough hand caresslng-
ly over her chestnut hair. "We'll
III It up somehow or another. You
- don't And your fancy kind o' lessening
..., (or this chap, do your'
A sob and a squeeze of his hand
-w -wWM nef ony answer.
"No, of course not I shouldn't
care to hear you say you did. He's
a likely lad, and he's a Christian,
, - .which is more than these folk here,
In spite o' all their praying and
preaching. There's a party starting
for Nevada tomorrow, and I'll manage
t '..;,; to send him a message letting htm
' - ' know the hole we are In. If I know
" ' ' anything o' that young man he'll be
back here with a speed that would
'- whip electro-telegraphs."
vvs,. - Lucy laughed through her tears at
her fathers description.
"When he comes he will advise us
for the best But It Is for you that I
am frightened, dear. : One hears
one hears such dreadful stories about
those who oppose the prophet; some-
. . thing terrible always . happens to
them."
. "But we havn't opposed him yet'
her father answered. "It will be time
to look out for squalls when we do.
,wv.y We have a clear month before us; at
the end of that, I gueas we had best
h In out of Utah."
U 'Leave Utah?" ;
, , "That's about the size of It"
I , "But the farm?"
"We Till raise as much as we can
In money, and let the rest go. To tell
".- " the truth, Lucy, it Isn't the first time
; I hare thought of doing It I don't
. i . ; care about knocking under to any
V, man, as these folk do to their darned
' prophet I'm a free-born American,
' " and it's all new to me. Guess I'm too
old to learn. If be comes browsing
about bis farm, he might chance
to run UP against a charge of buck-
not traveling In the opposite direc
tion." '
"But they won't let us leave," his
daughter objected.
"Walt till Jefferson comes, and we'll
' soon manage that in toe meantime,
' ' dtnn't ran fret yourself, my dearie,
!an4 itnn't aret vour ayea swelled np,
tlM ha'U bt walking Into me when he
sA tA aTaTaaeAxASaAeA sAaAtAeAaA aAeAaAeA
Si
sees you. There's nothing to be
a feared about, and there's no danger
at all."
John Ferrier uttered these consol
ing remarks In a very confident ton.
but she could not help observing that
he paid unusual care to the fastening
of the doors that night, and that he
carefully cleaned and loaded the
rusty old shotgun which hung upon
the wall of his bedroom.
CHAPTER IV.
On the morning which followed his
Interview with the Mormon prophet
John Ferrier went In to Salt Lake
City, and, having found his acquant
ance who was bound for the Nevada
Mountains, he Intrusted him with his
message to Jefferson Hope.
In It he told the young man of the
Imminent danger which threatened
them, and how necessary It was that
he should return.
Having done this, he felt easier In
his mind, and returned home with a
lighter heart
As he approached his farm he was
surprised to see a horse hitched to
each of the posts of the gate. Still
more surprised wag he on entering
to find two young men in possession
of his sitting room.
Both of them nodded to Ferrier as
he entered, and the one In the rocking
chair commenced the conversation.
"Maybe you don't know us," he
said. "This here Is the son of Elder
Drebber, and I'm Joseph Stangerson,
who traveled with you In the desert
when the Lord stretched out His
hand and gathered you into the true
fold."
"As He will all the nations. In His
own good time." said the other, in a
nasal voice; "He grindeth slowly but
exceedingly small."
"We have come," continued Stan
gerson. "at the advice of our fathers,
to solicit the hand of your daughter
for which ever of us may seem good
to you and to her. As I have but
four wives and Brother Drebber here
has seven. It appears to me that my
claim U the stronger one."
"Nay, nay. Brother Stangerson,"
cried the other; "the question It not
how many wives we have, but how
many we can keep. My father has
now given over his mills to me, and
I am the richer man."
"But my prospects are better," said
the other, warmly. "When the Lord
removes my father I shall have his
tanning yard and his leather factory.
Then I am your elder, and am higher
In the church."
"It will be for the maiden to de
cide, rejoined young Drebber, smirk'
lng at his own reflection in the
glass. "We will leave it all to her
decision."
During this dialogue John Ferrier
had stood fuming in the doorway,
hardly able to keep his riding whip
from the backs of his two visitors.
"Look here," he said, at last, strid
lng up to them, "when my daughter
summons you, you can come; but un
til then, I don't want to see your
faces again.
The two young Mormons stared at
him in amazement In their eyes
this competition between them for
the maiden's hand was the highest
of honors both to her and her father.
"There are two ways out of the
room," cried Ferrier; "there Is the
door, and there Is the window,
Which do yon care to use"
His brown face looked so savage,
and his gaunt hands so threatening,
that his visitors sprang to their feet
and beat a hurried retreat
The old farmer followed them to
the door.
"Let me know when you have set
tled which it is to be," he said, sar
donically. "You shall smart for this!" Stan
gerson cried, white with rage. "You
have defied the prophet and the
Council of Four. You shall rue it to
the end of your days."
"The hand of the Lord shall be
heavy upon you," cried young Dreb
ber. "He will arise and smite you."
"Then I'll start the smiting," ex
claimed Ferrier, furiously, and he-
would have rushed upstairs for his
gun had not Lucy seized him by the
arm and restrained him.
"The young, canting rascals!" he
exclaimed, wiping the perspiration
from his forehead; "I would sooner
see you in your grave, my girl, than
the wife of either of them."
"And so should I, father," she an
swered, with spirit, "but Jefferson
will soon be here."
"Yes. It will not be long before he
comes. The sooner the better, for
we do not know what their next
move may be."
It was indeed high time that some
one capable of giving advice and help
should come to the aid of the sturdy
old fanner and his-adopted daughter.
In the whole history of the settle
ment there bad never been such a
case of rank disobedience to the au
thority of the elder. If minor errors
were punished so sternly, what would
be the fate of this arch-rebel?
Ferrier knew that his wealth and
position wouid be of no avail to him
Others as well known and as rich as
himself had been spirited away be
fore now, and their goods given over
to the church.
He was a brave man,' but he
trembled at the vague, shadowy ter
rors which hung over him. Any
Known aanger he could lace with a
firm lip, but this suspense was un
nerving.
He concealed his fears from his
daughter, however, 1 and affected to
make light of ' the whole matter,
though she, with the keen eye of
love, saw plainly that he was ill at
ease.
Upon rising next morning he found
to his surprise a small square of paper
pinned on to the coverlet of his bed,
just over his chest On it was print
ed, in bold, straggling letters:
"Twenty-nine days are given you
tor amendment and then '
The dash was more fear-Inspiring
than any threat could have been,
How this warning came into bis room
puzzled John Ferrier sorely, for his
servants slept in an out-bouse, and
the doors and windows had all been
secured. - ;
He crumpled the paper up and said
nothing to his daughter, but the Inci
dent struck a chill to his heart
The twenty-nine days were evident
ly the balance of the month which
Young had promised.
What strength or courage could
avail against an enemy armed with
such mysterious powers?
The hand which fastened that pin
might have struck him to the heart.
and he could never have known who
had slain him.
Still more shaken was he next
morning. They had sat down to
breakfast when l.ucy, with a cry of
surprise, pointed upward.
in the renter of the celling was
scrawled, with, a burnt stick, appar
ently, the Dumber Sit. To his daugh
ter it was unintelligible, ami he did
euliRhteu her. . :
That nlsht he sat up with his gun
and kopt watch aud ward. He saw
and heard nothing, and yet In the
morning a great 27 had been painted
upon the outside of his door.
Thus day followed day and as
sure as morning came he found that ,
his unseen enemies had kept their
register, and had marked up in some
conspicuous position how many days
were still left to him out of the
month of grace. Sometimes the fa
tal number appeared upon the walls, I
sometimes upon the floors; occasion-'
ally they were on small placards
stuck upon the garden gate or the
railings.
With all his vigilance John Ferrier
could not discover whence these dally
warnings proceeded. j
A horror, which was almost super
stitious, came upon him at alght of
them. He became haggard and rest
less, and his eyes had the troubled
look of some hunted creature.
He had but on hope In life now,
and that was for the arrival of the
young hunter from Nevada.
Twenty had changed to fifteen, and
fifteen to ten, but there was no news
of the absentee. One by one the
number dwindled down, and still
there came no sign of him, t
Whenever a horseman clattered
down the road or a driver shouted at
his team, the old farmer hurried to
the gate, thinking that help had ar
rived at last I
At last when he saw five give way '
to four and that again to three, he
lost heart and abandoned all hope of
escape. Single-handed, and with his
limited knowledge of the mountains
which surrounded the settlement, he
knew that he was powerless.
The more frequented roads were
strictly watched and guarded, and
none could pass along them without
an order from the council. Turn
which way he would, there appeared
to be no avoiding tire blow which
hung over him.
Yet the old man never wavered In
his resolution to part with lite Itself
before he consented to what he re
garded as his daughter dishonor.
He was sitting alone one evening
pondering deeply over his troubles,
and searching vainly for some way
out of them.
That morning had shown the fig
ure two upon the wail of his house,
and the next day would be the last
of the allotted time. What was to
happen then?
All manner of vague and terrible
fancies filled bis Imagination.
And his daughter what was to
become of her after he was gone?
Was there no escape from the Invis
ible network which waa drawn all
around them?
He sunk his head upon the table
and sobbed at the thought of his own
Impotence.
What was that? In the silence he
heard a gentle scratchlngg sound
low, but very distinct In the quiet of
the-night It came from the door of
the house.
(To be Continued.)
Anuulng Errors of Speech,
Bridget, who came to this coutrrj
last year, has a limited vocabulary,
and while she is learning fart, some
of the words and expressions she has
acquired do not always fit, ber ear not
having been accurate In getting the
rignt term. Thus the other day she
said to her mistress:
"Shall I fix that Kansas back duck
for dinner?"
Again, Bridget was telling a tale et
a missing friend in this city, when sh
exclaimed:
"Do yon know, I believe when Katie
turns np she'll be found in the Potash
field!"
While at work on Friday a tremen
dous blast near by in the subway
rattled the ditr.es in the kitchen and
the girl cried ont :
"There goes that rapid transom
again!"
Courtroom Repartee.
An expert does not always re!ih
being tackled by an oversbarp lawyer.
Yet in such verbal duels the forme
frequently scores. A mining expert
was giving evidence in connection
with an important mining case, and
he was being exposed to a galling fire
of cross-examination. ' The questions
related to the form that the ore wai
found in, generally described as "kid
my lumps."
"Now," said the sharp lawyer, "how
large are there lumps are they as
long as my head?"
"Yes," a the ready reply," "as
long, bat not nesrly so thick."
The court roared, and a beautiful
smile ehono upon the face of the ex
pert. Bear More of an Attraction.
Parson (who bas just arrived (or the
first time at bis new country living) I
tay, porter, my arrival seems to have
caused a great deal of excitement in
the village. -
Porter Yes, sir; but it's nowt to
when the dancing bear was here yester
day. Lomlon Tit-Bits.
Logical.
Bridgot 01 can't stay, ma'am, on
less you give me more wages. .
Mrs. Hiram Often What! Why,
you don't know how to cook or do house
work at all.
Bridget That's jist It, ma'am, an
not knowin' how, sure the work is el,1
the harder for me, ma'am.
The Selfishness of Men. '
He Darling, what do you suppose I
have done today?
Bhe I couldn't guess in a hundrer
years. " ' "
He I have bad my life insured.
She That's just like you, John
Mann. All you seem to think of ii
yourself. Boston Transcript.
..
Analysis.
Bhe After all, wbat is the difference
between illusion and delusion.
He Illusions are the lovely fancies
we have about ourselves, and delusions
are the foolish fancieeothei people have
about themselves. Life.
- The Old Story. ' !
Harold And so their marriage
turned out unhappily?
Mildred Yes; she was a hard Ice
eream soda drinker, and he married
her to reform her.
PAGAN RITES IN SCOTIA.
(ay PcottUh noi that Origi
nated la Haiwntltlni,
Nearly all traveler In centrat Africa
have referred to the curious cuntotua
prevalent among all ikkii native tribe
of driving quantities of nails Into Mi
tred trees aud other olijects that have
bveu adjudged worthy of veneration,
aud thU not In malice, hut as a religion
rite, the uall In question Mug Intend
ed as votlv ufferlttir. Kxactly tlw same
thing may h wltnewed to-day at the
set-red well of St. Maehruha, In Loch
Marve, Hosaahlre, where la an aucleut
oak tree studded with counties nail
of all sixes, the offering of Invalid pil
grims who came to worship and be
cured, says a writer lu Stray Htorle.
Peunle aud half -pennies also are to
be seeu tn euermou quant Ittc driven
edgewise In the tough bark, and a
friend of the writer's who visited the
spot some little time back discovered
In a cleft high up lu the trunk what he
took to b a shilling. On being extract
ed, however. It proved to be counter
feit rrobably the donor, finding that
be could get no value for his coin In
the natural world, concluded he might
as well try, as a last reaort, what effect
It might have on the spiritual.
Of course, the poor cottar and oth
ers who flock to St Maebruha with
their nails and their peuce do not for a
moment admit that they are assisting
at a pagau ceremony. But they moat
undoubtedly are. Well worship ha al
ways occupied an Important place In
paganism, and the sacred oak, before
which each pilgrim must thrice kneel
ore humbly presenting his offering
what Is It but an obvious survival of
the sacred grove of Druldlcal times?
THE UN Of CAMPING OUT,
More and more popular Is camp lift
becoming each year, says Country Life
In America. With those who go Into
the deep wood In quest of big gain
ami fish the camp life la, after all, th
real attraction, and not the mere de
sire to kill. But where on can make
these trips there are thouannds who
cannot For these there are peaceful
rivers, wood-girt Uikee and poud and
beautiful spot on tb (bore of Old
Neptune available for quite as charm
ing a two-weeks' outing beneath can
vas. In making up a camping party,
choose you such congenial spirit as
shall be foresworn to philosophical
optimism.
And let there be a wag among them,
who, catching the humor of every sit
uation, puts to Sight all thought of
discomfort A level site near a spring
with plenty of shade, a pleasant slice
f water with good fishing, pine bough
for a bed and driftwood for a fire,
and who would trade his life tor a
king's patrimony? How delicious th
flsb flavored with the pungent smoke .
vi luv urvt uuw rarvi niiai yiun ui
simple bill of fare, and how few, after
all, are the needs of this life! Tours
Is the joy and happy freedom of th
gypsy and vagabond. You have be
come a species of civilised barbarian,
and It Is good. Sunshine or shower,
wbat matters t? You take what
come and give thanks, and If you are
of the right sort some of the beauty
of esch Is absorbed Into your very
nature. Long days, lasy days, but hap
py days, are the days In camp. Hap
and mishap will don the Jester's cap
and bells and parade through memory
many a time during the after mouth.
BANKRUPTS IN LIVERY.
Cnrloa Law One Knfocd la Kb
it la ad and Scotland.
At one time England and Scotland
bankrupts were compellled to war
distinctive dress. This was rr result
of enactments passed at various times
lu Scotland from the year 10OU to HWIL
The Edinburgh Court of Sessions speci
fied th dress to be of partl-color, one
half yellow and the other brown, some
thing after the style of the. dress now
worn In English prisons by the worst
class of prisoners, those who have at
tempted to escape or been guilty of
murderous assaults on ofHcer. The
enactment also provided that the bank
rupt should be exhibited publicly In the
market place of his town for a period
of two hours and then sent away, con
demned to wear the dress until such
time as he had paid bis debts or some
one else had done it for blm.
Although this was a period of laws
which can only be described as fero
cious, this law was such an outrage
on public sentiment that In 1088 It waa
so far repealed that the wearing of the
dress was only compulsory In cases
in which fraud bad been proved, or,
curiously enough, If the bankrupt had
been convicted of smuggling. The
same practice was legal, but not gen
erally In force In England down to the
year 1830. The Idea was, of course, to
warn persons who might have given
credit that the bankrupt was not able
to pay, but popular sentiment soon rec
ognised that It was wholly unfair to
Impose excessive penalties on a man
who might have become bankrupt
through no fault of his own, and, as
Usual, when the law became contrary
to public feeling It ceased to be op
erative. Original View ot an Old Tar.
Few persons who take out life Insur
ance postpone that action so long as did
an old English sailor who recently ap
plied for a policy. When be presented
himself at the Insurance office he was
naturally asked his age. Ills reply wa
04. "Why, my good man, w cannot In
sure you," said the agent of the com
pany. "Why not?" demanded the appll
vant, "Why, you say you ore 04 years
of age." "What of that?" the old mnn
cried. "Look at the statistics and they
will tell you that fewer men dl at 04
than at any other age."
Equally Divided.
A good story is told of twin brothers,
one of whom was a clergyman and the
oilier A doctor, A short-sighted womnn
congratulated the latter on his admira
ble sermon, "Excuse me, mndam,"
was hi reply, "over there Is my broth
er, who preaches; I only practice."
Evening Wisconsin.
Some folks who don't believe In faith
cures have unlimited fulth in their pliy
- OLD-
I FAVORITES
LITTLE BREECHES.
1 don't gvi much ou religion,
1 never alu't had no how;
But Vi got niKlilllu' tlvlit grip, sir,
(u th handful o' thing I kuow,
1 don't pan out ou th prophet.
And free-will, ami that sort of tlilng
ltut I b'llvv lu Uod and th angel
Ker sine on night lant apriug.
I com tut town with otu turnip,
And my Uttl Ul cam aloug
No four-year-old In th county
Could heat Mm for pretty and (troitf,
Peart, and chippy, and
Alway ready to wer aud flfht
Aud I'd Unit lilm to i-haw terbacker
Jest to keep hi milk-teeth white.
The snow ram dowu Ilk a blanket
A I paused by Taggnrt' atorw;
1 weut In tor Jug ot uioUe
Aud left the team at th door.
They scared it something aud started
1 heard one little iqtiall.
And hell-to-apllt over th prairl
Weut team, Litll llreeche, and all
llell-to-npllt over th prairie!
1 wa hmt froi with kert
But w roiuted up m torch.
And avarched for 'em tar and near.
At lairt ulruck hone and wagnn,
Suowed inuler a soft, whit mouud,
Vpnet, dead beat but of Uttl tlab
No hid nor hair wa found.
And here all hop soured on m
Of my fellow-crltter' aid
1 Jent dopiwd dowu on my marrow hone,
Crotch deep III the mow aud prayed.
By thla, the torch wa played out,
Aud me and Itrut Parr
Weut off for otn wood to a ihecpfuld
That h ald wa somvwbar thar,
W found It at lant, and a Uttl hd
Wher they shut up th laruh at uig.it.
V looked In and el them huddled thar,
So warm, and sleepy, and whit.
And thar ot Utile llreeche and chirped.
A pert as er you e,
"I want a chaw of trbokr,
And that' what th matter of m.
Mow did h git thar? Angel.
II could never hav walked lu that
itorm.
They Jvt looped down and toted him
To whar It wa safe snd wirtn.
Aud 1 think that saving s Uttl child,
Aud fotchlug him to his own,
Is a durnvd sight better buslne
Than lorug around th Thrwn.
John II ay.
FOR A HUDSON BAY RAILWAY.
lire a at of Canadian Now Ltksljr to
lUcont a Kaallty.
Th statement a fw days ago that
the Canadian government has ulpped
a party which will beglu at once th
exploration of the vat wllderneas ly
ing north of th Great Lakes seems to
Indicate that the project for a Hud
on Bay railway, which has been a
dream for many years, may become a
reality In the near future. Uttl Is
known of the character of the coun
try between the lakes and Jam'
bay, but wbat has been beard from
hunters and Indian guide leads to the
belief that th section Is wealthy, with
deposits of coal and ore, with great
forests, and with land sultaM for agri
culture. The. task of surveying thee exten
sive tracts will be a stupendous one,
and the Canadian government doe not
expect that tb labors of the survey
lng party will be completed Within
two years.
Although Canadians realised the
wealth of the Hudson Bay country, and
talked about a railroad for It for more
than twenty yar, they finally were
forced to stand aside sud watch Amer
ican capital do th business. Th first
step was taken something over a year
ago, when a road was built north from
Bault St. Marie into the forests tn
the Moose River country, chiefly to
carry pulp to the mill at th "8oo."
While It Is by no means certain that
this road will ever get as far north a
James' Bay, It Is headed that way.
From the "Boo" to Moos Factory,
the southernmost point of James' Bay,
I a distance of about 600 miles. Th
Moose river, from Its headwaters at
Brunswick Post, seventy miles north
of the Canadian Pacific line, Is 425
miles long, and the road would follow
Its course for the moat part, not much
allowance being made for deviations.
The upper stretches of the river run
for considerable distances through
muskeg, or swampy land, and for a
long stretch the surrounding country,
though heavily timbered, Is compara
tively level
It would not offer any more dif
ficult problems of engineering In rail
road building than have been solved
satisfactorily In the pineries and
swamp lands In northern Minnesota
and Wisconsin, '
It is not certain that the stories of
the vast mineral wealth of the Moose
river country are Justified, for little
prospecting bas been done. But aside
from the timber, a rich farming coun
try undoubtedly could be opened along
the valley of that river by a railroad.
Men who have traveled through from
the American line to James' Bay re
port abundant evidence of the rich fer
tility of the soil.
With a railroad, that section, now a
desolate waste, would become one of
the richest agricultural sections of Can
ada. The argument made against Its
agricultural development Is that short
seasons would make diversified agricul
ture Impossible and that grain would
not thrive.
Those familiar with the country,
however, report that the season alana;
the Moose river Is not so much shorter
than that of Manitoba, one of th
greotest wheat belts of th world. Fif
ty miles south of James' Bay the cli
mate Is not affected by the change of
the sea. Every Hudson Bay post has
Its garden patch, where all kinds of
vegetables are raised.
The development of theso rich farm
ing lands would, It Is thought, be a big
Investment for any rond. The Moose
river drop 1,000 feet In 426 miles, and,
being a constant succession of rapids,
offers wonderful opportunities for man
ufaclurlug through the development bf
Its water power.
FUNERALS IN OLD MEXICO
Hreet Cr for lleare, and Collin
rrililleJ I rota Door Id Hour.
"lld you ever a 'street car funer
al?" " The queHtloiier w a drummer
fcr a large Kiixtciti tmtiae, ami bad Junt
rvtorncd from an extensive , trip
throughout Mexico.
"A street car funeral?" the reporter
repealed.
"Yea, air! One meet with odd alglil
the moment he enwae III Mexleau bor
der, but he rvaclic th climax In Ihe
City of Mexico Itaelf, aud from w hat I
can learn It la the only town lu the world
where 'street car fiineniU" are an every
day occurrence. Funeral, Ilk all other
thing Mexican, r divided Into two
clause. Those who call afford luxilrte
procure th hearse drawn by four bluet
horse, with a coachman and a foot
man, and ornniiiotited with gold aud sil
ver trapping of every description. Hut
the poorer element limit b content
with Jut a plain, ordinary street car,
with the aeata removed, a few piece of
cheap black cloth tacked her and there
to leiiv a somlier effect, and drawn by
a pair ot sunburned but energetic
mule.
"When a Mexican die th street car
company I tiiiiiieillntvly uotlfied to
have a hear ami the required number
of coache at a certain point on their
track aa uenr ak possible to th late res
idence of the doocaaed. The eorllii
then pliiced upon th shoulder of four
frleiiil and carried from the house to
th street car pageant In waiting. Tim
remain are carefully deposited on tb
platform of the first car, th gaudily
attired mourner climb In the remaining
coache, and the funeral proceed, In
more or lcmt state, to the cemetery
Cigarette are very much In evidence,
and a canual observer might well sup
pose from the ascending amok that the
renin In were being cremated en route.
"If the mourner are extremely sor
rowful they may pull down the blliuU
and cloa th doors, thus eiijojtug com
plete privacy. The great objection, how
ever, to th street car funeral la the de
gree of speed that must t maintained
lu order to keep the (racks cleared for
regular traffic, lu fact, on on occa
Ion Just before I left the capital I aaw
th Uttl mule attached to the second
claa hears coming down the street at
a full gallop, affording us an astonish
lng combination of 'th quick and tb
dead.'
"And pen king of funeral remind
tn of a llltlu Incident which occurred
up In Queretaro, a town um tulle
north of th city. I wa sitting out In
front of th sdobe hotel on rveiilng
wbn I noticed an old man going from
door to door with a plain pin coiDn on
his back. II wa what I termed a
'coftl n peddler,' and waa trying to lu
dure the resident to lay tu supply of
cufflne for the approaching winter. Th
principal argument uaed In disposing of
bis grewsom ware was that all are
bound to dl sooner or later, and one
might as well be supplied with sit th
necessary requisite to a funeral"
Washington Post.
Iltrth of Irfimlnn Ill-trig.
On Ang. 1, lKt, William IY. ami
Queen Adelaide formally opened with
much ceremony the famou UnnVm
bridge, so that the structure now Is
a little over seventy-one year old.
Their majiirtlea went In grand proces
sion from Buckingham pulac to Bout
erect bouse, and thence by barge to
the bridge. The awta'iig of the royal
barge were removed, tlmt a full view
of tb royal pair could be lutd along
the whole line. At IxiniKm hrldg a
grand pavilion bad been let np close
to th site of Old Fishmongers' llnll.
It was constructed of stniutnrd cap
tured In a hundred fights, canopied In
crimson and decorated with iiiamMv
shields. When tho King stepped ashore
he said to two member of tlie touihin
bridge committee: "Mr. Jones ami Mr,
Routli, I am very glud to see you on
lomlon bridge. It I certainly a most
beautiful edifice and the spectacle I
tlie grandest and the most delightful
In every respect that I eve? had tlie
pleasure to wltneaa." This, of course,
says the London News, wa before
any one thought ot building an annex
to Westminster Abbey.
Reported Him Literally,
Fault was found with the way In
which the shorthand writers reported
th perches In a leglilatlv body. They
retaliated by giving the speech of one
of the members exactly as be mnda It,
with the following result:
"The reporters-ought not to tho re
porters ought not to lie the ones to
Judge what Is Important not to y
what should b left out but the
member can only Judge of what la Im
portant. As I-a my speeches as thu
reports aa what I say Is reported some,
times, no one nobody can undoraland
from the reports what It Iswhat I
mean. So It strikes mo It ha struck
me certain matters things that appear
of Importance-are somotlmes left oal
omitted. The reporters the papers
points are reported I mean to make
a brief statement what the paper
thinks of Interest Is reported." Clove
land Leader.
All Sirloin.
Uolinan F. Day's "Pine Tree Bal
lads" tells lu vorse a nnmber of stories
that actually happened "down In
Maine," and are remembered thero to
day by old narrators. One relates to
Barney McUauldrlc, a landlord of that
8tate, at whose house famous men lik
ed to stay, that they might enjoy a
merry Joke,'
Barney was always loyal to his
friends. At on time a new meat deal
er came to town, and tried to secure
the landlord's trade.
"I have always bought meat of Jod
Haskell," said Barney, "and I guess
I won't change."
"But," said the other, "old Haskell
doesn't know hi business. He doeiu't
even know bow to cut meat"
"Well" drawled Barnoy, "I've al
ways found that he knows enough
about It to cut sirloin stenk clear to the
born, and that's good enough for me."
Bound Bleep,
Ws sleep the soundest between three
and five o'clock In the morning. An
hour or two after going to bed you
sleep very soundly; then your slumber
grows gradually lighter, and It Is easy
enough to waken you at ono or two
o'clock. But when four o'clock comes
you ar In such a stato of somuoluneu
that It would take a great deal to wak
en eu.
"So (iaylmy has recovered?" "Yr.
Th lucky fellow wa too poor to b
operated un,M Kx.
Vole (from tipsinlr. lo suitor In par-
lorK (leorge, when yon tcav will you
pleas throw lu th morning paper? -
Judge.
Incompetent: "She doesn't know how
to manage-, dor she?" "No. For year
he ha lived beyond her alimony."
Judge,
ll--"IIrr rich unci gav Hiem a
magnificent wedding preaeiit." hh
"What wa 111" 1I-"A ton of coal."
-Helrolt Free Pre,
"Th re knot an hour Isn't ciicli bad
tlm for a clergyman," smilingly said
th minister to himself, Just after h
had united th third couple. - Til ltlia.
Nell -"! atopped In at bargain sal
today." llll-"IHtl you tee anything
that looked real cheap?" Nell -"Ye;
several men waiting for tlilr wive."
- Philadelphia Ledger.
"tteally, I-oitlse, tills bill la omrago
ou. You mustn't try to dres like thes
millionaire" wive!" "My dear Ned,
control yourself. I'm only trying to ap
pear aa well dressed a Ihe shop girls."
-Ufa,
Wide: "Papa, what I the difference
between the Kmart Set and the Pour
Hundred?" "Why. my son, tlie Four
Hundred I limited to two tliotisiind six
hundred, but everybody I In the Kmart
Set."- Ex. ,
On way for th young man lo get
rich 1 to savt money. Another way
I lo marry a girl whoa Anther lis
saved money. Somervlll Journal.
lit Wtf"IWU cau they prov that
you lis been dishonest?" "No, they
can't; but I shall hav lo pay a lawyer
all I hav stolen to con vine tueui that
they cau't"-Llf,
"Yea, I'm encouraging my daughter
to keep company with, that Arctic x
plorer." "What's the reason?" "He'll
b able to stand It lu th parlor with
out any Or this winter,"-Clevelaua
Plain Healer,
Tb Old Man-"Young man, when
you tak my daughter, I trust you with
th dearest Ireatur of my llf. No, (
couldn't lend you my auto for a Uttl
pin. I vain It loo highly to risk It lu
strange hamla."-Harper's Ha tar.
"Are you going to marry blinf" asked
the girl la whit. "I don't know," an
swered th girl In pink. "It would h
dreadful If I married blm ami then
found out that that deteatabl .Mlutil
Wllklns nvr really wanted hliu."
Chlcago I'osL
Miss Ann Teek (bluahlng)-"Mr.
Strung offered to put hi arm under
in and teach in lo float In th sort
to-day, but of cours I wouldn't hear
of It" Vita Souiergal ''Nonsense! tin
is nvr loo old to learn." Philadel
phia Catholic Standard.
In IHsgulse: Mr. Btuliti-Till Is
strange, John. 1 thought th people on
till block wer Immensely wealthy,
and now 1 find litem sitting around In
patched clothing. Mr. Stubb-Tlint'
nothing, Maria; they are expecting the
tax assessor. -Chicago Dally News.
Thoroughbred Sport: Hllxser- 1 Just
heard that Wlgcwater Jumped out ot
hla yacht yesterday and was drowned
Iluinor-Shocking! IHd be do It with
uteldal Intent? . Illlior-Oh, uo; h
wa racing and did It to lighten hi
boat, aud thereby win the rare.- Chi
cago Slnte Journal.
It wa a Mayavlllo negro preacher
who, needing the money, said: "Breth
ren, we will now Ktabt do box, an' fo'
(le glory ob heaven, which rhocr ob
you tule Mr. Jones' turkey will please
not put anything In hit." Ami ovory
man lu tho congregation contributed.
Kansas City Siar.
Ilarry-"To tell the truth, 1 don't be
lieve Alice ever cared for me," liar-rlett-"Nonsetise!
What put that Idea
Into your head?" Harry "I know whut
I'm talking about. How otherwise do
you account for It that she remembers
everywhere we went on our honey
moon?" Boston Transcript
"You must nbsndun'all business enree
for the future," says the physician.
"But I fear that 1 have not yet accumu
lated lultk'Wut uiuuey," protest the
multi millionaire. "Why, my dear sir,
you hav got enough money to pay
phydclaus' fees for the rest ot your
ltfe."-Bttltlinor American.
"That Mrs. Wadlinms to whom you
Introduced me the olhor evoulng re
minds me very much of a portrnlt by
ltembrandt" "Is that so? Which
oner "Oh, any old one. They all look,
when you gat close to them, as If the
paint bad been thrown on by tho hand
ful. "-Chicago Tlmes-Uorald.
Sandy Plkes-"Lody, cud yer please
give me four cent. I wants to write
a letter to me poor old tuudder." Lady
J -"What do you want with four cents?
j Two ceuts will send a letter anywhere
I In the country." Bandy. Plkes-"Yes,
lady, but 1 wants to semi me muddcr a
j check, an' I wants de extra two cents
fer a rovenu stamp."-Culcngo News.
Professor-What Is the dose of cro-
ton oil? Student (tn a hurry)-Oiio
tonspoonful. The professor makes no
comment, but the student feels ho line
not answered correctly. Student (fit-
, toen minutes later) I want to change
, my answer to tlmt question. Profes
sor (looking at his wotch)-It Is too
Into, Your patient has been dead four-
teen minutes.-Now York Times.
American Hallway.
Bnllway uilleago lu the United Slates
has passed the iMO.OOO murk, which Is
considerably more than two-fifths of
the entire railway mllcngo of the world.
Acted Like a Professional,
She-Did you ever kiss a girl bo
fore? He-Am I doing this like a beginner?
Detroit Free Press.
It will make the women nind to suy
ii, uui we lacis nre mat mighty fuw 0f
, luwu uiune goou ureaa before they are
'forty.
1
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