The Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, June 25, 1897, Image 4

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The Corvallis gazette., June 25, 1897, Image 4

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Newspaper Page TextHE is a young doctor and a sur geon on board one of the small gunboats placed on a great Af rican lake. Fresh-colored still, though lightly tanned by exposure to the lake winds, -with merry, Irish eyes of blue gray, a square-cut jaw and obstinate chin, a long upper lip, a little whisker at the temples and short wiry black brown hair. Like many men of his class, he is a potential Darwin, and, having no means to travel and study natural history, has entered the navy as a surgeon. He has landed on the shores of the lake for a day's shooting, hoping to get an elephant at least, but meantime content to study sunblrds. Let us in imagination enter his mind, Bee through his eyes what he saw and lay bare his thoughts. Grass! a forest of grass, with stout, knotted stems six or eight feet high, and abundant leaves starting from ev ery joint Each stem ends In a droop ing plume of ripened seed. As the doctor forces his way through the tan gled herbage and cane-like stalks the seeds shower down upon him, each one Bteadied in its descent by Its long feath ery stipule. ' The seeds are sharp point ed and barbed at the ends, so they pierce their way through his khaki clothing easily and scratch the per spiring flesh beneath. This raises to exasperation the discomfort already felt to be well-nigh unbearable, for the doctor's face is now the color of raw beef from the stifling heat and the frightful exertion of forcing his way through such a thicket of grass, and Ms hands are scratched and cut by contact with the' razor-edged leaves. His Terai hat is constantly being dragged off his head and it is all he can do to carry his gun and elbow his way through the obstructing herbage, pro tecting his face as well as possible with the left hand. So he is in an ill tem per and cannot stop to notice the weav er birds of flame color and black, the extraordinary stick Insects (exactly simulating stalks of grass) and the green, leaf -like manUses which throng the dense brake on either side. He is after bigger game. The most expe rienced of his boys pioneers him through the stifling grass jungle, anoth er boy with a second rifle follows be hind. The idea Is "elephants," ele phants having been reported hereabout the previous day, when suddenly (they have reached a space where the grass is a little drier, a little less dense) the pioneer "boy" comes doubling back on his master with every gesture express ive of "HushP The doctor stops, mops his boiling face (thankful for the mo- "SOME GREAT YELLOW OBJECT LX THE AIR ABOVE HIM. mentary halt) and asks inquiringly: "Elephants?" "No," says the negro in a panting whisper, "Lion! There, there; no, not there. You see that ant hill? Well, climb on to its side and you will tee the lion lying in a clear apace just beyond. A male lion, truly; Its body 19 nearly white and its mane Is black." With Express rifle at full cock, the doctor advances gingerly through the Interlaced grass, bent nearly double, keeping the muzzle of the gun directed straight before him and shields Its sen sitive trigger from the Intrusive grass stems. The ant hill is reached; he clam bers to its sloping side. "Good God, the boy's right What a beauty! And asleep, too!" But something in the doc tor's coming has aroused the lion, not ten yards away; aroused him partially, for there Is a sudden movement He raised the great head set in a collar of yellow, brown, black mane; slowly the dim nictitating membrane passes over the yellow eyes, but as they are focus ing to meet his own gaze the doctor fires, fires precipitately (his position on the sloping ant hill is Insecure), wounds the lion somewhere, somehow,. but does not kill him. The beast gives a sharp explosive roar, seems to jump into the air with all four feet and then In three bounds has crashed off into the grass jungle. Silence. "Well, I'm a muff!" thinks the doctor. "He wasn't ten yards away and I didn't kill him dead! I don't know quite where I hit him; In the chest, I think. .But he can't be far away and I must finish him off." He descends from the ant hill into the clear trampled space where the lion had been lying. At the spot where the Wast had made ,-Vts first bound into the dense grass hedge there Is a great squirt of blood over the tangled green erythe dark crimson liquid still drips from leaf blade to leaf blade. "Ah! thought so; he must be pretty badly hit" Two black faces, with starting eyes and anxious grins, now cautiously peer around the ant hill. The doctor, rais ing his head, recognizes his boys and beckons them down. The three con verse In whispers. The situation Is ex plainedhow tne lion was wounded, the direction in which he bounded away. The boys urge caution. "Lion plenty fierce. Mkango mkall nditu. Master must take care; better climb itree and look all around not go into grass." But there is no tree anywhere near. A boy hoists himself to the slen t'der summit of the ant hill and reports that he sees the grass moving" in the ('direction whither the lion had with drawn moving as though a sta tionary animal were shaking It with convulsive throes (all of which Is ex plained more by gestures than by .words). The doctor, clambering up be side the boy, thinks he can descry (as ithe grass stems bow and droop before pome writhing object) the lion's wav ing tail and a yellow-gray haunch He, fires, descends from the ant bill to re load. A rush comes through the grass, a deafening roar, some great yellow object in the air above him momentarily dark against the sky yellow eyes (insensibility). " 'Click clock, click clock, click dock' wonder what that funny sound Is am I in a train? No, it Is the engines of the steamer or Is it the pulse beating In my temples? They have been asleep, and in broad day light, with the blue sky above me and In the broiling sun! How foolish! But no it must be something more. I know there has something happened let me think the lion, of course a lion jumped at me. Then I must be wounded? Let's see" (raises himself painfully on his right arm) "My God! a pool of my own blood my left arm has no feel ing chewed by the lion, hand almost detached, rest of arm a mass of blood, muscle, bone and khaki Oh, God! Tm going to die can't live he has torn open my stom ach that must be the pan creas. I'm like a butcher's shop." (Whimpers. A blubbering sound at tracts his attention.) "Hullo! you here, Juma? Plucky chap; thought you'd have cut and run. Where's Saldl? Eh? Speak louder. I'm deaf . Oh, gone to gunboat; quite right What? the lion?" (turns his head slight ly) "there, still living; looks pretty sick too." (The lion is lying four yards away, partly on his side, one crippled forepaw turned back, the other out stretched and the great head resting on it, eying the men with solemn yellow eyes no longer fierce, the pupil shrunk to a pin-point With each convulsive shudder of the lion's body the blood pool round him widens slightly.) "By heavens, if I've got to die, I'll die like a man, and he shall go first. Who can tell? He might recover and hurt the boy. See here, Juma" (to Juma, who Is supporting his back), "be very gentle, take a cartridge out of my belt, put It in the rifle so; now mind my arm now, give me the rifle in my right hand and come between my legs so stoop very low down, like that. Now I'm going to rest the rifle on your shoul der and take aim. Keep very still. I won't hurt you keep still I'll aim just below the brute's eyes." (A minute pause. Bang! Doctor falls back fainting. Lion stretches out his head three times with spasmodic upward movement, the tail and the limbs all but the crippled one stiffen, the claws stand out from their sheaths and beast dies.) "Juma, is that you? Water, how delicious! more and on my forehead so what a brick you are! Upon my word, I'd like to leave you something, Juma. You must tell them that I said so, you know, for sticking by me. God bless you! Is the lion dead?" (The sobbing boy nods "Yes.") "Well, then, I must die too. I'm enough of a doctor to know that. Don't cry. Tell them I bore It like a man. But It's beastly hard! Who'd have thought my day's shooting would have ended like this?" (Whimpers.) "Beastly hard. I'm so young, and I've done so well up to now anj there's mother. Who will break It to her? She'll never get over it and Lily - and, damn It all, I can't even send them messages! How can one tell such things to a black boy? S'pose I'm dying primarily from the shock know I'm dying some howcan't raise my head to look Mother! Mother!- What rot to go on like that, as if it could do any good! Now, lis ten. Ine ndlrini amal, ndi mlongo, Iwe Oh, God! How can I tell him? It's all slipping away from me. For the blood is the life. Where have I heard that? " That blood is the life slipping away slip ping away I must be in a boat it is so soothing; up and down, up and down; so restful." (Sighs gently. Dies.) Sir H. H. Johnston, In the Sat urday Review. Out It Flew. Lady Ellenborough, a renowned beauty, on one occasion, accompanied the Judge on circuit on the distinct un derstanding that she should not en cumber the carriage with bandboxes his abhorrence. During the first day's journey Lord Ellenborough, stretching his legs, chaneed to strike his foot against something under the seat It was a bandbox. Down went the win dow, and out it flew. The coachman, thinking the box had fallen out at once drew up; but his master furiously roar ed out the order to "drive on." On reaching the next assize town, Lord Ellenborough proceeded to equip himself for the bench. "Now," said he, "where is my wig?" "My lord," replied the attendant, "it was thrown out of the carriage win dow." Mrs. Hobson I wish I had something to read. Did you get only one Sunday paper? Mr. Hobson Yes, my dear, but it is In two parts. -WelL let me have one while you read the other" "Certainly, my love. Which half would you prefer, the political half or tie bi cycle half?" New York -Weekly. Every man Is our neighbor who needs our compassion and help. OSTRICH FARMS. After Twelve Year of Costly Experi ments They Now Pay Dividends. It la estimated that seven ostrich farms in Southern California have sold over $190,000 worth of feathers during the last year, and that now, after more than twelve years of costly and dis couraging experiments, a majority of the ostrich farms in this region pay dividends. Several of the enterprises are pronounced successes, and have paid good interest on the capital In them for several years. The greater part of the money invested in the pro duction of ostrich feathers and in the big birds in California has come from England and New York. The industry is a popular one for young Englishmen fresh from college or the . academies and possessed of ample means and a spirit for novelty of business pursuits. There are over fifty bright young men from England now engaged in manag ing ostrich farms in this part of Call fornia, and there are others recently from London who are in search of suit able localities among the valleys and foothills In this region for new ostrich farms. It takes a capital of $15,000 tc establish any sort of an ostrich farm, and $25,000 to $30,000 Is required for a first-class, well-stocked and scientifical ly arranged farm. The men who have been in the os trich plume industry in Southern Cali fornia since 1884 say that there hat never been such a demand for ostrict plumes as this season. Dame Fashion has made their business suddenly be come most profitable, and every man engaged in ostrich farming is hoping that the present fashion for wearing ostrich plumes In profusion will con tinue for several years. Last month the heaviest consignment of ostrich plumes ever made from Southern Cali fornia went to Paris from Los Angelas. . Ostrich farming was first ninde aii experiment as Los Angeles and Fall brook in 1883 by a company of French men. The profits from the several os trich farms in this section have grown each year, as the habits of the birds have been learned and the ostriches have become acclimated. There are now successful ostrich farms at South Pasadena, Anaheim, Fallbrook, Santa Monica, Coronada, and Pomona. There are about 400 ostriches In Southern California, and they have be come so common that none but the tourists who come to spend the winter seasons here take any curious interest in the birds. The capital Invested In ostrich farming in this region Is rough ly estimated at $200,000, and there will probably be $50,000 to $70,000 more in vested In the industry before the year Is over. St. Louis Globe-Democrat Detection by Finger Pruts. By a combination of the Bertillon method of measurement with the fingei print system any prisoner can be iden tified with almost absolute certainty and in a very short space of time. It has been calculated that the chance of two finger prints being Identical is less than one In sixty-four billion, and when we consider the relatively small num bers of the criminal population, and that other personal evidence would be available in any doubtful case, mis taken identity ought now to be a thing of the past The method of obtaining the prints Is to press the thumb or fin ger upon a plate of copper which has previously been coated with a very thin film of printer's Ink. The inked fingers are then pressed or rolled upon the card which is kept as a record. Although finger prints have been used as a sign manual from the earliest times, yet it is only recently that they have been studied from a scientific point of view, and the evidence accumulated Is as yet insufficient to enable us to realize theli value to the anthropologist Now that a good system of classification has been worked out it is to be hoped that ob servers will multiply rapidly, and that the bulk of the material at our disposal will soon be considerable. In Silver Paper. I wonder If the men who pop the mo mentous question only to receive a negative, feel particularly awkward when they meet the woman who de clined the honor. The proper observa tion, I understand, for the lady to make after the painful and delicate duty has been performed is, "But I trust we shall remain friends." The man may shake his head and mutter, '.'Friends be hanged!" but'there is no help for it As they move in the same set they can not avoid meeting each other, and of course In a friendly way. It is only in a very much lower rank In society that the rejected one swears that no other man shall have his beloved object and buys a second-hand revolver to pre vent it Just at first it must be very embarrassing, and there is probably al ways a certain queer feeling between them as of a semi-attached couple who might have been one for life but for that monosyllable and scarcely articu late "No." As a matter of fact she never does say "No," but wraps up the negative, as It were. In silver paper, "I respect and honor you, Mr. Jones" (who hoped to be called "Edwin") "be yond everything, but what you ask can never be." . .. - ' A Bisc Oregon Salmon. - What is believed to be the largest sal mon ever captured in the Columbia River was delivered at S. Elmore's packing house In Astoria, Ore., recent ly. . The. monster was one of the truest and most perfect specimens of royal Chinook salmon ever seen in Astoria. His actual measurement from tip to tip was 4 feet-5 inches, and his largest circumference 3 feet, the girth close to the tall being fully 1 foot The spread of the tail was 1 foot 4 inches, and the exact weight 81 pounds. The head, when severed from the body, weighed 8 pounds. On being cooked and pack ed the fish filled 54 dozen one-pound cans. Morning Oregon lan. Profit in Drunks. French army pensioners living In the Hotel des Invalldes, who have all re ceived medals for bravery on the field, occasionally drink more than Is good for them. To prevent such veterans making exhibitions of themselves in public a reward of 15 cents is paid to any one who returns an Inebriated in valide to the barrarcks. Recently In toxication among the pensioners hav ing Increased greatly, it was discov ered that a trade in rescuing had arisen, a knockout drink costing five cents and warranted to act at once having been devised, which left a clean profit of 10 cents per drink. . 1 A Wronz Snppos'tlon. "The people moved out of that hous this morning and that is the landlord just going In." . "He appears to have a great manj prospective tenants." "Prospective tenants, Indeed! The,, are only neighbors going to see In what condition the people left the houses London Fun. - The Men of France. France is the only European country which has to-day : fewer able-bodied men than It had thirty years ago. - Men do not learn half as much by ex. perlence as they, should. to be divided among the- missing word.' , . FINDERS is the answer. Schilling's Best tea is not only pure but it is because it is fresh-roasted. J:. What is the missing word ? Get Schilling's Best tea at your grocer's; take out the Yellow Ticket (there is one in every package); send it with your guess to address below before August 31st One word allowed for every yellow ticket If your ticket (or tickets) reaches us before July 1st, you are entitled to two words for each ticket If oniy one person finds the word, he gets one thousand dollars. If several find it, the money will be divided equally among them. Every one sending a yellow ticket will get a set of cardboard creeping babies at the end of the contest. Those sending three or more in one envelope will receive a charming 1898 calendar, no advertisement on it ' Besides this thousand dollars, we will pay $150 each to the two persons who send in the largest number of yellow tickets in one envelope between June 15 and the end of the contest August 31st. Cut this out. You won't see it again for two weeks. Address: SCHILLING'S BEST TEA SAN FRANCISCO. ' A New Projectile. If Colonel William N. Bell's new projectile performs what its inventor claims, namely that it can be dis charged from a smooth-bore gun with as great a velocity as any projectile now discharged from rifled cannon, it will revolutionize gunnery. Colonel Bell not only claims this for it, but claims also that it will neither wabble nor tumble in the course of its flight This projectile, says the New York Herald, seems to be the cheapest, surest and most accurate by far of all yet invented, and is fired more easily and more accu rately and with far greater economy of power ana cost from the old-faahioned $3,000 smoothbore of the sixties than from the magnificently expensive rifled wonder of today. . What this will mean in case the government tests soon to be undertaken prove the accuracy of the original tests may be gathered from the fact that $3,000,000 worth of the old smoothbores of Rebellion time is lying loose around the United States so much old iron and nothing more. It will be a wonderful saving if these can yet be utilized. About 2,000 species of insects, on an average, have been discovered dur ing each year of the present century. Gladness Comes With a better understanding of the transient nature of the many phys ical ills, which vanish before proper ef forts gentle efforts pleasant efforts rightly directed. There is comfort in the knowledge, that so many forms of sickness are not due to any actual dis ease, but simply to a constipated condi tion of the system, which the pleasant family laxative, Syrup of Figs, prompt ly removes. That is why it is the only remedy with millions of families, and is everywhere esteemed so highly by all who value good health. Its beneficial effects are due to tbe fact, that it is the one remedy which promotes internal cleanliness without debilitating the organs on which it acts. It is therefore all important, in order to get its bene ficial effects, to note when you pur chase, that you have the genuine arti cle, which is manufactured by the Cali fornia Fig Syrup Co. only and sold by all reputable druggists. If in the enjoyment of good health, and the system Is regular, laxatives or other remedies are then not needed. If afflicted with any actual disease, one may be commended to the most skillful physicians, but if in need of a laxative,, one should have the best, and with the well-informed everywhere, Syrup of Figs stands highest and is most largely .teed and gives most general satisfaction. A New Flying Machine. A new flying machine, similar in principle to that of Lilienthal, has been devised by Herr Arthur Stenzel of Al tona, Germany, says the Popular Soi ence Monthly. It has parabolic wings in .imitation of bird's wings, is driven by the power of compressed carbonic acid, and has been made to "go" when attached for safety to- a guiding cable. With a force of one horse-power it has advanced three meters at each beat ing of the wings, of which there are one and three-tenths per second. With a horse-power and a half the machine may be made to fly free from the cable. The wings are remarkably elastic, and the inventor thinks that -this is one of the factors of his success. They are made of unsoldered steel tubes and bamboo, and are covered with a spe cially prepared india-rubber cloth. The apparatus is directed by a rudder which is not-unlike a bird's tail. As yet no passengers have been carried on the ma chine. r Since pneumatic tires have come into use on cabs in Paris, it has been found that owing to the reduced shock to ve hicles, the cost of repair has been les sened fifty per cent The- dry volcanic ore along the Colo rado river, above and below Yuma das been found to be rich in gold. It is necessary to roast the rock in order to make it yield up its treasure. Paris policemen' are now supplied with electric dark lanterns with which they can see at a distance of 150 feet f Vbs. Win slow 'a sooTHnra srocr tiliuuJd always be J w lined for children teethinir. It anntlM. the frhild.aoft-1 ) en tne grans, alT all pain, eores wind folk', and is 4 bottte.jituthbetof all. J WHEAT Make money by suc cessful speculation in Chicago. We buy and sell wheat there on mar- rins. Fortunes bave been made on a small beginning by trading in futures. Write for faQ particulars. Best of reference given. Sev eral years' experience on the Chicago Board of Trade, and a thorough knowledge of the bus! Aess. Downing, Hopkins Co., Chicago Board ot Trade Brokers. Offices in Portland, Oregon, Spokane and Seattle, Wash. - RfjPTVRK and P1XK8 cured; no pay un til cured; send for book. Das. Mansfiud obtbbiuxb, sW Market St., San Francisco. N.P.N.U. No. 707 S.F.N.TJ. No. 784 -of the Geological Congress. The seventh triennial meeting of this body will be held in St Petersburg this year. The previous session have been: Philadelphia (inaugural), 1876; Paris (first congress), 1878; Boulogne, 1881; Berlin, 1885; London, 1888; Washing ton, 1891; Geneva, 1894: In each country special - endeavors have been made to make the reunion as interest ing and as agreeable as possible, extend ing to visiting members every facility for studying the prominent physical and geological features of the country they were visiting. The actual congress is to take place at the Imperial Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, from August 29th to September 4th August 17th to 23d, O. S. The questions to be - discussed have not yet been decided upon, but whatever they may be, a room will be set aside for an exhibition of geological maps, profiles, books, collections, in stuments, etc., and arrangements have been made so that all objects intended for this exhibition and - addressed "Russia, St Petersburg, Exposition du Congress Geologique International," will be delivered at St. Petersburg without being submitted to any cus toms inspection, and will be unpacked in the presence of a delegate of the or ganizing committee. Furthermore, such instructions have been given tc the Russian "representatives in foreign countries, that on presentation of the card of membership the vise of pass ports will be facilitated, and moreover, the same card shown at a Russian port or frontier will render the customs in spection as easy as possible. Then, again, all geologists who have paid theiz snbcription will obtain a non-transfer able ticket, giving them the right to travel first-class on the Russian and Finland railway free of cost. The ex cursion arranged, both to precede and Bucceed the meeting, include a visit to the Ourals, or to Esthonia, or to Finland, before the meeting, and to the Caucasus and Crimea after the meeting. 1 Effect of the Kay on Air. At a recent meeting of the Royal So ciety of Edinburgh, Lord Kelvin read a communication on "The Electrification of Air by Roentgen Rays,'' the out come, he said, of some experiments which had occupied his attention for some months. The primary object of these investigations, of theoretical value only, was to ascertain the action of Roentgen rays upon electrified air; that is, to see whether the rays had any electrifying effect on the air. In every case the experiments showed that air which had not been p-eviously electri fied was negatively electrified, and ah that was positively electrified having been submitted to the action of X-raya was found to be either not elcetrified at all or slightly negatively electrified. Thus it will be seen that X-rays have a decided electrifying action, positively electrified air losing its positive charge, and sometimes acquiring instead a neg ative charge. The number of unmarried women in England and Wales exceeds the num ber of unmarried men by nearly 200, 000. According to the deductions of a well- known astronomer, we receive as much light from the sun as could be emitted by 680,000 full moons. The expense of the Vatican at Rome would be covered if every Catholic in the world contributed three-quarters oi a cent a year. - Vaccination has just been introduced into Afghanistan by the advice of Miss Hamilton, an English physician, who is in attendance upon the ameer. In the tropical forests so large a pro portion ot the plants are of the sensi tive variety that sometimes the path of the traveler may be traced by the wilted foliage. Only One! Not more than five men or women in a thousand are free from some form of Kidney, Liver or Bladder trouble, which is certain to run into serious disease unless checked. , Stop and Think ! that there is but one known remedy for these troubles i Ask any druggist, physician or friend what It Is, and he will tell you, This great remedy stands ABSOLUTELY "at the top," and Is so acknowledged by the most advanced thinkers of the world. This sugges tion is all you require 1. I fBSS?hW?SHa J tn t)m. Bold trr drPCTlata. ) -r -4 ; NOT WHAT SHE SEEMED. 4 Stranger' Kxperlence with a 'Mountain" Girt in Noth Carolina. One afternoon last September 1 was riding a steep mountain road In West era North Carolia, says a civil en gineer. It was the most beautiful sea son of the year. The foliage of the trees had taken on r its gayest autumnal tints, and over valley and gorge was cast the beautiful melancholy haze that summer draws upon her In those regions when nearing her end. The road was narrow and rocky and was bordered on one side by an almost primeval forest, on the other by pre cipitous cliffs. As I rounded a jutting mass of rocks and trees, which forced a sudden bend in the road, I saw a long brown barrel Of a gun pointing at me from the bushes, and heard the sharp click of the trigger. - I halted In alarm and dodged down upon my horse. "Stop, stranger!" said a woman's voice, in a drawlingsing-song tone. In another moment the woman crawled over a log and came into the road. She was slender and young and wore a loose calico dress. She was barefoot ed and chewed continually a long, sweetgum toothbrush. The gun she carried was the longest rifle I ever saw. "You 'uns ain't seen Bill Davis, I reckon?" she asked, looking at me sus piciously. "I have seen no one since I have been on the mountain," I said. "I come mighty near shootln' ye for Bill Davis. I ' guess Bill must have took the Bear Creek road. Bill was to my house last night, and says, sezee: 'Polly' (that's me), could you love a man what's got 300 acres of land, the seven finest coon dogs on the mount ing, and 40 acres of the best cawn in the United States a-growin'?' "Sez I, 'I guess so, Bill;' and wuz kinder fixln' to lay my head on the bosom ov Bill's hick'ry shirt, when Bill he says, sezee: " 'All right, Pollyr If I meets up with any sech a man I'll let ye know;' and then he takes a chaw of - terbaccei quick and lights out fer tall timber. Bill has got to explain them words of his'n or them seven possum dogs la goin' to be orphints. Stranger, mount you be a preacher?" "I am not" , . "I kinder hoped ye wuz. If Bill ex plained he wuz the man be wuz re ferrin' to before I had time to shoot ye uiout come in handy fur to tie us up, an', if he wuz a little slow, an' my gun went oft fust, ye see, Bill might need ye hisself." "How far Is it to the next town" "Eight mile. Ye can't get there to night Ye'll have to come down t dad's house and take potluck. I ain'1 a goin' to wait no longer fer Bill There's dad's." She waved her hand toward a roof that showed among the trees lower down on the mountain and set off at a free, swinging gait that taxed the walking powers-of my horse to keep up with. . I found the young woman's family to be surprisingly above the average ignorant mountaineers of the country. Her parents seemed very hospitable and intelligent, and her younger broth er and sister were refined and of agreeable appearance. After I had been presented to them by the young woman as "a strange young feller" she had "found follerin' his nose up the mountain," she turned to me and said: "Stranger, what mout your business be?' . - . I told her I was a "civil -engineer, en gaged upon a new railroad that was to cross the mountain. "Yer aia't writin' fer no paper?" "No." "Yer ain't no drummer?" ' "No." .. J" " " "Nor no revenue?" V "Nothing of the kind." The young woman hung her rifle on some hooks in the wall and left the room. Half an hour later I was ushered in to supper. The room was tastefully furnished. The supper was simple but elegant, and served in the finest china upon the whitest of cloths. Presently the young woman came In and I have not re covered yet from the surprise I re ceived. She was a divine pastoral poem, In white muslin, with fresh-cut roses In her hair, and would have graced the dinner table of a metropol itan function. She took her seat behind a massive sliver tea urn, looked at me, smiled and said: "Will you uns have long or short sweetenin' in yer tea, stranger?" Seeing I was unable to speak a word, she laughed a hearty peal of silvery, rippling laughter. , - Her father undertook to explain. "My daughter," he said, "Is a gradu ate of Peace Institute, at Raleigh. She has a talent for acting, and the big summer hotel on the mountain pays her $100 a month to do the 'original native' act when tourists come up the road. It advertises the hotel, espe cially when Northern chaps write up accounts of meeting her for the papers. She is writing a book herself about the queer talk and ways of the different visitors we have during the summer." Decline of tb Ft 1 ling Be 1. The folding bed, once an immensely popular institution, is losing its grip. Not one is called for now where two or three years ago a dozen were ordered. Two big factories we know of which a very few years ago had difficulty . in keeping up with orders for folding beds even by working night and day are now making other lines of furniture, and the folding bed production in all factories if steadily declining. The accidents which frequently oc curred with the folding bed doubtless had some bad Influence on its popular ity, but this was not the only disadvan tage the multum in parvo furniture had to contend against. The beds were heavy, clumsy affairs, even under the most favorable conditions. Many are hard to handle without a derrick or a yoke of oxen, and they are also hard to keep clean. Then also there is an increased call for beds of brass and Iron. Such beds are practically the only kind sold in England, and they have steadily increased in popularity in this country during the Jast five years. - . An Audience of One. First thespian At our last stand the theater took fire in the middle of the third act. . Second thespian Was there a panic in the audience? First thespian Oh, no. The usher woke him up and told him it was time to go home. Yale Record. . There Is so much said about the dawning of love that people never learn save through experience that it has a dark and troubled twilight. We would rather be a fat man than a fat woman. lasr Haas from Oraaa. Among the material which - have been substituted for rags la the making of paper is esparto grass, which was formerly obtained for this purpose from Spain, bat is now largely Import ed by English manufacturers from the north of Africa. It Is a very hardy plant, flourishing in deserts where oth er vegetable life is unable to exist; and the suggestion has recently been made that, by cultivating esparto grass In the Sahara, that great region of deserts might be partially reclaimed and turned into a source of profit for mankind. Power for Electric Cars. The directors of the Hanover (Ger many) tramway system have published an important report, in which they nar rate their experiences with accumulat ors as the source of the power for their cars. In Hanover both overhead wires and accumulators have been used for a considerable time, so that the managers are in a position to institute a, reliable comparison. Taking everything into account, they pronounce in favor of the storage cell. The cost of maintenance they say has been determined with the utmost exactitude possible for the year 1896, and the managers reach the con clusion that the additional cost of ac cumulators does not ' exceed one gros chen, or .2 of a cent per mile. Conse quently, it has been decided that the entire system shall, as soon as the re quisite arrangements can be made, be driven by secondary batteries. A STOUT BACKBONE.' Is as essential to physical health as to political consistency. For weakness of the back, rheu matism, and disorders of the kidneys, the tonic and dietetic action of Hostetter's Stomach Bit ters is the one thing needful. The stomach is the mainstay of every other organ, and by in vigorating tne digestion with this preparation, the spinal column, and all its dependencies, are sympathetically strengthened. The dys peptic and bilious will find it a pure vegetable stimulant and tonic. Scientists say that the atmosphere surrounding the globe is gradually di minishing, and that in the course of a few thousand, or perhaps a few bun dreds of thousands of years, the supply will be exhausted. AN OPEN LETTER TO MOTHERS. We are asserting in the courts our right to the exclusive use of the word " CASTORIA," and ' PITCHER'S CASTORIA," as our Trade Mark I, Dr. Samuel Pitcher, of Hyannis, Massachusetts, was the originator of " PITCHER'S CASTORIA," the same that has borne and does now bear the fac simile signature of CHAS. H. FLETCHER on every wrapper. This is the original " PITCHER'S CASTORIA " which has been used in the homes of the mothers of America for over thirty years Look Carefully at the wrapper and see that it if the kind you have always bought, and has the signature of CHAS. H. FLETCHER on the wrapper. No one has authority from me to use my name except The Centaur Company of which. Chas. H. Fletcher is President. ' fnrh ft iRn-r SAMTIP.T. PITTHRR TJt Ta. - The most valuable fur is that of the sea otter. One thousand dollars has been paid for a single skin of this ani mal not more than two yards long by three-quarters of a yard wide. DRUNKARDS CAN BE SAVED The craving tor drink is a disease, a marvelous cure for which has been discovered called "Anti Jag," which makes the inebriate lose all taste for strong drink without knowing why. as it can be given secretly In tea, coffee, soup and the like. If "Anti-Jag" is not kept by your druggist send one dollar to the Kenova Chemical Co., SS Broad way. New York, and it will be sent postpaid, in plain wrapper, with full directions how to give secretly. Information mailed free. The railway metals between London and Edinburgh, a distance of 400 miles, are 210 yards longer in summer than they are in winter, owing to the expan sion caused by the extra heat. HOITT'S SCHOOL At Burlingame continues to maintain its high rank as one of the best schools for boys in Cal ifornia. San Francisco Chronicle. ! Representative Sayers, of Texas, ' wants the government to offer a prize of $50,000 for an engineering scheme capable of controlling the Mississippi. Beware of Ointme nts for Catarrh That Contain Mercury, As mercury will surely destroy the sense of smell and completely derange the whole sys tem wien entering it through the mucous sur faces. Such articles should never be used ex cept on prescriptions from reputable tihvsi cians, as the damage they will do is tenfold to the good you can possibly derive from them. Half's Catarrh Cure, manufactured by F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo., O., conte!ns no mer cury and is taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the sys tem. In buying Hall's Catarrh Cure be sure you get the genuine. It is taken internally, and made in Toledo, O., by F. J. Cheney & Co. Testimonials free. Sold by Druggists, price 75c per bottle. Hall's Family Pills are the best. The Canadian government has ar ranged a system of cold storage on rail ways, at ports and on steamers, for the preservation of perishable goods. I know that mv life was saved bv Piso's Cure for Consumption. John A. Miller, ' ah eaDie, jmcmgau, April zi, iyo. Mr. Gladstone is the freshest, live liest, most thoroughly up-to-date "back number" existing,in the world today. the body, and, after it is worn six hours efery nerve is saturated with Electric energy. It squeezes the forces of vitality and makes every part of the body strong. Now, drugs tear down one port to build up another, while Dr. Sanden's Electric Belt makes all parts strong. It furnishes Its own power, while drugs simply drain the power that is in the body. Call and see Dr. Sanden today. Consultation and Test of tbe Famous Belt Free. The book is also free. By mail, it is sent, closely sealed, free. SANDEN ELECTRIC BELT CO., " g" Washington St., Portland. Or. When writing to Advertlter please mention thit paper. CHEAPEST POWER... IN GUARANTEED ORDER. State Your Wants and Write i-i II. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline. 1-2 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline. 1-2 H. P. Regan, Gas or Gasoline. 1-3 H. P. Oriental, Gas or Gasoline. 1-4 H. P. Otto, Gas or. Gasoline.' 1-4 H. P. Pacific, Gas or Gasoline. i-6 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline. , mo H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline. 405'7 Sansome Street San Francisco, Cal... Gas, Gasoline and Oil :f meed' Cense. -''.'; -. ; . Darwin and other naturalists have f believed that the bright colors of flown ers serve to attract insects. - rroi. Pla teau of Ghent disagrees with this opin ion, and thinks that the sense of smell Is the one chiefly concerned in causing insects to frequent certain flowers. He . finds that the removal of the brilliant petals of flowers to which Insects are accustomed to resort does not decrease1 . the frequency of their visits, and on the' other hand, that when honey is placed on flowers which are naturally scent less, insects Immediately begin to flock to them. A LETTEE TO WOMElt. A few words from Mrs. Smith, "of Philadelphia, will certainly corroborate the clam that Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound is woman's ever reliable friend. "I cannot praise Lydia E. Pink barn's Vegetable Compound too highly. Tor nine weeks I was in bed suffer ing with in flammation and conges tion of the ovaries. I bad a dis charge all the time. When lying down all the time, I v felt quite comfort able; but as soon as I would put m feet on - the floor, the pains would come back. " Every one thought it was impossi ble for me to get well. I was paying SI per day for doctor's visits and 75 cents a day for medicine. I made up my mind to try Mrs. Pinkham's Vegetable Com pound. It has effected a complete cure for me, and I have all the faith in the world in it. What a blessing to wo man it is!" Mrs. JtHirn L. Smith, No. 824 Kanffman St., Philadelphia, Pa.- Beware Of Mercury! Mr. Henry Roth, of 1848 South 9th Street, St. Louis, was given the usual aaercurial treatment for contagious blood poison. He was twice pronounc ed cured, but the disease returned each time, he was seized with rheumatic pains, and red lumps and sores cov ered his body. "I was in a hor rible fix" he says, "and the more treat ment I receiv ed, the worse I seemed to get. A New York specialist said he could cure me, but his treatment did me no go od. stiff and full of was useless so whatever. I was pains, my left arm that I was unable to do even the lightest work. This was my condition when I began to take S. S. S., and a few bottles convinced me that I was being benefitted. I continued the medicine, and one dozen bottles cured me sound and well. My system was under the effects of mercury, and I would soon have been a complete wreck but for S. S. S." S. S. S., (guaranteed purely vegetable) Is the only cure for real blood dis eases. The mer curial treatment of the doctors al ways does more barm than good. Beware of mercury 1 Books on the disease and its treat ment mailed free to any address by Swift Specific Co., Atlanta, Ga. "Complete ccpnabehadTree sealed. In plain envel ope, on application. ERIE MEDICAL CO., 68 Niagara SL, BUFFALO, N. Y. BASE BILL Special Rates TO CLUBS. We carry the most complete line of Gymnasium and Athletic Goods on the Coast. SUITS AND UNIFORMS MADE TO ORDER. Send for Our Athletic Catalogue. WILL & FINCK CO., 818-820 Market St.. San Francisco, Cal. STRONG, YET WEAK It seems almost out of place to say that a man may be a giant in physical develop ment and yet that a stripling could outdo him in a simple test of nerve. But it's very often true. Look at the great, big, husky fellow; he could knock down an ox with his fist. But his big heart is sott, and he lacks "grit." His sympathies are as strong as his arm, but his nerve fails often and he is ashamed of himself. He does not under stand it, and it does seem strange. Dr. Sanden explains the reason in his book, "Three Classes of Men." DR. SANDEN'S ELECTRIC BELT. This famous Belt corrects the trouble. It is worn during sleep mostly, and as nerve force or vital power is nothing but electrio ity, it gives the back the grit. It works al together on the nerves and vital Darts of Rebuilt Gas and .Gasoline Engines FOR SALE CHEAP tor Prices... C TF it sT. v!T "TIP Hercules Gas ....Engine Works Engines, 1 to 200 H.F.