HE 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
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