BANDON RECORDER.
||| P olly L arkin . 11
WHEN THE SPAVIN CAME,
t E*«e« the Brllllaa« Career •< th*
Park Pallee Horse.
The fail from greatness of a police
iorae that bad taken the blue ribbon at
the national horse show la told by
Kewell Ford tn "Horses Nine” as fol
lows:
• For a whole year Skipper waa the
pride of the force. He was shown to
visitors at the stables; he was patted
on the nose by the mayor. The chief,
who was a bigger man than the may-
ar, came up especially to look at him.
In the park Skipper did bls tricks ev
ery day for ladies In fine dress, who
exclaimed. "How perfectly wonderful!"
as well as for pretty nursemaids who
giggled and said, “Now, did you ever
see the likes o' that, Norah?"
And then came the spavin. Ah, but
that was the beginning of the end!
Were you ever spavined? If so, you
know all about it. If you haven’t been,
there's no use trying to tell you. Rheu
matlsm? Well, that may be bad, but
a spavin Is worse.
For three weeks R«-ddy rubbed the
lump on the bock with stuff from a
brown bottle and bld it from the In
spector. Then one black morning the
lump was discovered. That day Skip
per did not go out on (>oat. Rcildy came
Into the stall, put bls arm around his
neck and said “Goodby!" in a voice
that Skipper bad never beard him use
before. Something bad made It thick
and husky. Very sadly Skipper saw
him saddle one of the newcomers and
go out for duty.
Carlin* and Harllnat.
Did you ever slop to think that we
are the builders of our owu characters?
We may not follow out the plans of
the Architect, and if we do not and
our lives are failures or disappoint
ment* in oue thing or auolber, the
blame rests with us. Few lives areas
perfect as the Great Architect intended
they should be. lu fact everyone have
their little faults and eccentric ways
that are uot just in keeping with the
ideas of the character builder. Nearly
everyone kuows where they fail. We
know where thia disagreeable little
habit creeps iu that is anuoyiug to
ourselves and irritating to our friends.
We kuow that the harsh woids spoken
leave an echo in the heart long after
we have forgotten them. We did not
intend to utter them, did uot even
mean them, but iu an ungarded mo
ment the ugly, venomous words came
thick and fast. We say we are sorry,
or we regret that it should have hap
pened. it is the old story—they have
beard that before. Sometimes the
thought enters your heart and you
whisper to yourself, “Blot out my
transgressions,’’ and you resolve to
bury the past and begin anew with
your character building. But you for
get your brave resolve and there are
days in your life when you go back to
these unintentional mistakes and the
storm of regret sweeps over your soul,
and here the building of character
stope until you cau come out of the
gloom and prepare to take up the work
again. These days of despondency and
regret do not do any good, in fact they
retaid your progress. If you have uot
that little star of hope glimmering in
your breast that inspires you with the
belief that there is a brighter, better
time coming, then you might as well
dwell in the “slough of despond,’’ for
your charaeter-building will not make
much headway and you will And you
have built on a very insecure and un
steady foundation. It will be un
stable wheu the waves of adversity
sweep over it. You will need all your
courage, faith, confidence aud deter
mination, all these good, sterling quali
ties lighted with the torch of hope, to
bring you through.
that was enough to shake the crockery
from the shelves.
‘Tire next one 1 tried, Polly, the
landlady said, ‘Heems to me a child
like you had better be home with your
father aud mother thau ruuuiug rouud
the country by yourself.’ ‘I’m not so
young as I look,’ replied the little wid
ow. ‘That’s what you say. How long
have you been iu Han Francisco?’ *1
dou't think that the length of my resi
dence m the city is of any moment to
you, but I'm a stenographer, have been
with oue well-known firm for two
years, aud I have been a widow for
three years.’ *Wbat, you don’t tueau
to say you’re a widow? Then that set
tles it. 1 wouldn’t rent my rooms to a
widow if she paid me double. I know
what these pretty widows are,’ and
sLe quickly ended the interview.
“I was getting discouraged, Polly,
but I glanced over my list aud discov
ered I bad a reply to my advertisement
aud that it was in the same neighbor
hood. It was iu a desirable part of the
city, and I concluded to try my luck
with tlieold adage, ’three is the charm.'
It was in a new aud up-to-date flat,
aud I thought if I was fortunate enough
to get a room it would amply repay me
for my disappointment in not getting
the others as well ae soothe my indig
nant feelings. A Japanese boy bowed
me in aud then bowed himself almost
to the floor as he took my message. I
wish you could bave seen that room. I
coveted it from the moment I stepped
in the door. It was blue aud white, ar
ranged as a little sitting-room, with a
pretty bird’s-eye maple folding-bed,
little dresser of the same pretty wood,
a gas grate and everything to make it
the dearest little nook in the world for
a lonely little body like myself. I
thought the price would bar me from
taking it, but was no higher than the
other two I bail Just looked at. Just
then the doorbell rang aud tbe Japan
ese boy handed in a note, which stated
that a lady who had looked at the room
In tbe morning had made up her mind
to take it, aud as she was a friend of tbe
family she was giveu the preference, of
course. I could hardly keep the tears
back, I was so disappointed.
Curling, the game that was for a
long time furtively indulged in here by
a few braw laddies, baa been placed on
a substantial footing, with numerous
well organized teams and well contest
ed tournaments. Handball has been
wrested from the monopoly of a few
professionals, and today a handball
court la a popular feature of every well
equipped athletic club. Discus throw
ing, that the Grecian youths excelled in
at the Olympian games, has recently
become a regularly scheduled feature
of all big athletic meetings. More re
cently the royal and ancient game of
golf has been transplanted from the
bills of Scotland.
But burling is far more ancient than
any of these. The Scotchman, proud
of the antiquity of golf, points to the
"Another place I called at the lady
time stained documents carefully pre
of
the bouse said, ‘It seems to me you
served In Edinburgh showing that as
are very youug to be hunting rooms In
early as 1457 the game was distracting
Hau Francisco by yourself.’ ‘I am
the attention of the Scottish youth from
older than 1 look. I have been taking
more serious things, and to this day
The hopeful, cheerful, bright, suuujs care of myself for three years, acting as
hurling baa continued through all the
centuries the popular game of the Irish natures who the best char; cte'-build a stenographer in one of tbe best kuown
ers. They do not borrow trouble, but firms In the city.’ ‘That’s what they
people.—Brooklyn Eagle.
make the most of everything that all say,' she responded tartly. ’At any
comes into their lives. They inspire rate, it don’t look respectable to me to
Stas', Celebrated Monkfish.
One of the nightmares of John Ash those around them with courage and see young girls hunting for rooms iu
ton’s “Curious Creatures of Zoology” leave happy memories instead of cast
the city aloue.’ ‘I have been a widow
Is the monkflsli, or sea monk, he Iteing ing shadows that savor of discord in
Indebted to both Aldrovandus and Stow stead of a harmony of sweet sounds. for three years.’ ‘I suppose that’s what
you tell every place you go.’ ‘My em
for bls account. If the old writers are
Everybody can cultivates cheerful dis ployers can vouch for my respectability,
reliable, these monsttys were quite
position; they can avoid speaking ill of and now If I am to have tlie room—’
common In the North sea, the British
channel and along the Irish coast up aujone; refuse to listen to the tale of ‘Ob, I guess you cau have it,' she said
to the year 1414, when they are said to slander and uphold the absent one hastily. ‘Well, In that case there is oue
have become extinct through the rav whom Dame Gossip is whispering her thing I would wish to have changed.
ages of a plague similar to that which little hearsays about—mlud you, they The room is so Bmall I would like to
was affecting men at about the same are always hearsays—the gossiper never
time. The superstitious of those days claims the credit for the little poisoned have a folding-bed or a folding-couch.’
believed that they were priests or tipped arrow that speeds oil its way to ‘That settles it. You can’t bave tbe
room,’ and she hastily showed me the
monks who had been cursed for some
rankle In somebody's heart. Someone door." The widow, who iB as pretty as
crime and condemned by God to an
told
them.
Gossiping
is
a
very
poor
endless life beneath the waves.
a picture aud a petite little body, look
Btow’s account of one cnught In 1187 as well as dangerous material to use in ing more like a girl in her teens who
la as follows: “He had the shape of a your character building. Kind words never had auy sorrow or trouble, after
man In all poynts and was kept In the and deeds, sympathy and work and days of unsuccessful room-huntiug took
castle at Oxford by the keeper thereof. study to improve the gifts that have
something she did not want. There
All manner of raw meats he did gladly been given us iu cultivating mind aud
are scores of just such occurrences every
eate, but more greedllie of rawe fislio,
heart. If vou have oue talent make day. Tbe safest plan for a young girl
after that he bad crushed out all mois
the most of it. Idleness is one of the wanting a room is to take her mother
ture. Often be was brought to the
great
undermining elements in charac or some relative flong with her aud
church, but shdwed no signs of rever
ence, and at length, when not well ter-building. You might as well build then there will be no questions asked.
looked to, be stole awuy to the sea and ou quicksand. It breeds selfishness
was never seen again after.”
and discontent, and the more noble
A little lady is payiug her first visit
qualities sink into insignificance. Our to tbe Pacific Coast who is beloved by
environments have something to do
The First Flask Attack.
old and young who bave read her writ
We have a record In the book of with <gir success in life. Yet iu any ings and clever beart-to-beart talks un
Joshua of “the stratagem whereby Al light we may look at the subject the til they feel as if they bad known her
was taken.” This tells us how 5,000 answer will always be the same—we
for a lifetime. In fact, her name is
men were set in ambush behind the are our owu character-builders and are
almost a household word. It Is Ella
city, so that when the king of Ai and responsible for the same.
Wheeler Wilcox, and she is being re
his hosts were drawn forward to the
ceived with open arms aud tbe genu
fight a flank attack was made with
I heard a party say the other dsy
overwhelming success by the warriors
ine hospitality for which California is
that “San Francisco was a sort of free,
of Israel.
noted.
happy-go-lucky
kind
of
place;
that
Not less disastrous was the fate of
Leonidas and his brave little band of anybody could do just as they pleased
BRIEF REVIEW.
heroes when the Persians at Ther and no questions were asked. No need
mopylae. led by a traitor, took them in of a chaperone; no need to be alarmed
New Use for Frogs.
the rear. 480 B. C.
for fear your motives would lie mis
In
tbe
Philadelphia
Terminal Market
It was by a masterly maneuver near construed and* |>eop!e might talk. Girls
ly SOO years later that Hannibal dealt oould get a room an v place they wanted, recently a dealer in all kinds of game
•ne of his heaviest blows against the
said that tbe skins of frogs, if carefully
at private houses, too, and no refer
hosts of Rome. Having concealed bls
removed and cured, have some slight
brother Mago, with 2,000 horse and ences would be required ’’ Polly does value. They are used, it seems, in
not
know
what
the
experience
of
the
foot soldiers, among the reeds, he en
bookbinding; not in general bookbind
ticed the Roman forces across the river party alstve named has lieen, but I am
ing, but in the fantastic “precious”
Treble. The legions fought bravely sure it is not such an easy matter for
and held their own until Mago, rising some young girls to obtain rooms iu sort—used, in a word, as chicken skin
from ambush, attacked them in the private homes without reference and was used in fan-making in the lime of
Carlo Van Leo. Frogs’ skin makes a
rear and routed them.
no questions asked. I know of the ex-
very fine and soft leather, and in dye
|>erience >f a little widow, who is a
ing it will take the most delicate colors.
The Meant** of Historic.
stenographer. She advertised for a
One of my artistic friends was upon
Hence it is inlaid, iu circles and stars
a business visit to a picturesque dis room and answered a number of adver for centerpieces into tbe calf oi crushed
trict of Perthshire the other day. A tisements as well, and wholly disheart Levant of sumptuous book covers, and
little leisure was afforded him by the ened, after a week's effort took an un
it makes a very striking and beautiful
wait between trains, and he asked a desirable room iu an apartment house
native If there were any historic places until she could do better. Home of her decoration. A noted English binder
tn the neighborhood, so that he might experiences were very amusing. The has achieved some of bis best effects by
spoil a film or two, with which be had first place "he went she traa shown into tbe Judicious employment of frog’s skin
loaded bis camera. “No, there's no'
as adeeofstive agent.
the parlor to wait the coming of the
onythlng historic a boot the plnce. The
Black castle up by there used to be lady of the house who had Just run into
Signor Marconi, the inventor of win -
historic, but It's no’ sae historic noo!” a neighbor's for a few minutes. Pres
Wbst that bucolic Individual Imagined ently she appeared, a sharp-featured lees telegraphy, is said to bave invented
the word "historic” to mean is not very woman with piercing, restless black a metbod by which oxygen may be ex
apparent by the reply.—Glasgow Times eyes. Hhe scanned the little widow tracted from air at a slight expense.
from head to foot. "I believe you want
Engineers of tbe French army are
a room. I have two for rent and I’ll
The M**e**> Method.
using successfully, between Martinique
Museum Agent— Wbat’s wrong with show them to you,’’ she said, leading
and Guadeloupa, a wireless telegraph
our new midget? Ho doesn't seem to the way.
“Are you a widow? I see system of their own Invention.
draw.
you are In black.’’ "Yea,” replied the
Manager—Of course not. See what a home-seeker. The first room was sun
Indianapolis is to have a $250,000 co
mesa you’ve made of the advertise ny and bright, large and comfortably
liseum,
to be paid for by private sub
ments. You've put bls height at three
furnished. Hhe agreed to take it then scription.
feet Make It tbirty-slx inches, and the
people will coma with a rush. —New and there, and opened her puree to pay
Professor Tlxzonl of Rome believes he
the deposit. “I can’t let you have it
York Weekly.
after all,’’ said the woman sharply. has discovered a serum for curing pneu
Tbair Blaae Caavereatlaa.
“Why?” asked the astonished widow. mon la.
“The thing to do” said his social ad “Because I have changed my mind.”
The only beast of prey found in Aus
vlser, “to to be blase.”
“Then show me theother room, maybe
“I know. I know.” was the reply,
tralia Is the dingo, or wild dog.
it will suit as well.” “No, I can’t let
“but it’s such dreadfully bard work to
you have either room. I’m sorry to
be blase."—Chicago Post
Russian Jews to tbe number of 24,000
disappoint you, but you are entirely came to New York In 1802.
Anger ventilated often hurries to too pretty. My John falls in love with
ward forgiveness. Anger concealed every pretty face be sees. Good-by,"
The East Indians call reck crystal
often hardens Into revenge * Bulwer.
she said, closing the door with a slain an unripe diamond.
THE SPIDER TREE.
A Curias* ProSsra at the Cape M»«r*
< •«■try •< Afrte*.
LIZARDS IN SAMOA
rhe War They Skeg Their Tall* ••«
Feel the Kill»**.
A writer of Samoa writes In an Inter
esting way of the lizards, little fellows
about two Inches long, prettily colored
In a light and dark shade of brown.
They can run up a window pane quite
as easily aa can the flies on which they
tj-ed.
"When alarmed, the lizard* are off
like a flash of light and will take the
nioet reckless leaps. I bave seen them
land safe at tbe end of a twenty foot
Jump. Yet when cornered they bave
no hesitation In snapping off tbe most
of their tails.
“That waa a maddening puzzle to my
small cat The eight of a mo'o any
where waa an immediate challenge to
the kitten.
She would Immediately
start on tbe hunt, for tbe most part a
fruitless chase, for tbe little lizard
could skulk off faster than two cats
could pursue. Yet when the kitten did
succeed in landing on tbe lizard there
followed a acene of bewilderment.
Tbe mo’o invariably snapped off Its
tall, which was left wriggling In one
part of tbe veranda, while the lizard
ran off a short distance and awaited de
velop menta.
“The kitten never knew whether to
catch the lizard or the tail. If the mo'o
moved, tbe kitten went for It, but she
always stopped short to keep an eye on
tbe wriggles of the tall. As soon as
she turned back to take care of the
tail tbe mo'o got in motion and bad to
be looked after. Hundreds of times 1
have watched the dilemma, and tbe
ending was always the same—the liz
ard got away and the kitten had to be
content with the bony tall. But there
were lots of lizards about my bouse
Reseae« the Fla*.
At Fredericksburg, on tbe day when sprouting new tails.” — Youth's Com
half tbe brigades of Meagher and Cald panion.
well lay on tbe bloody slope leading
Instinct of Animal*.
up to the Confederate intrencbmenta,
An English periodical says: The in
among the assaulting regiments was
tbe Fifth New Hampshire, and it loot stinct whereby wild creatures detect
180 out of tbe 300 men who made tbe those of the human species who are
charge. Tie survivors fell behind a likely to be hostile to them and those
fence within reach of the Confederate who may be regarded as harmless Is
rifle pits. Just before reaching It tbe of so subtle a quality that it almost
last one of the color guard was shot, appears to partake of the nature of
metaphysics. In the nesting season
and the flag fell In tbe open.
A captain I’erry, Instantly ran out plovers will actually buffet the angler
to rescue it and as be reached it was who Is Ashing too close to their broods,
shot through tbe heart. Another cap but by the date of the shooting season
tain, Murray, made the same attempt they would not allow him to get with
and was als« killed, and so was a third, in two Helds of them. The wood pi
Moore. Several private soldiers met a geon seems to know exactly the range
like fate. They were all killed close to of the modern fowling piece and will
the flag, aud their dead bodies fell flash boldly past at an Interval of 100
yurds and upward, but Is careful quick
across one another.
Taking aivantage of thia breastwork, ly to put a tree between himself and a
Lieutenant Nettleton crawled from be- sportsman If disturbed at any range
lilnd the fence to the colors, seized within gunshot. Tbe fox knows that
them and bore back the blood won be is sacred from guns and will auda
ciously seize a fallen pheasant and de
trophy.
camp with t witbin tweuty paces of a
Velocity of Ll*ht.
retriever. He la quite aware that the
We are familiar with the rush of the latter is no foxhound.
express train ns it flashes past us at
the rate of sixty miles an hour, but
Tbe Habit of Acqnlsitlo*.
light actually travels 11,170,500 times
“It beats me,” said tbe philosopher,
as fast. The initial velocity of the shot “that people will keep piling up money
from the twelve |>ound bronze service long after they bave several times as
gun Is only 1.709 feet a second, or 1-556,- much as they'll ever be able to use.”
134 only that of light, and yet so stu-
Then be went out for a walk. Pass
iwndous is tbe scale on which tbe vis ing a bookstore, be saw half a dozen
ible universe is framed that this ve very cheap books, which, however, be
hicle of our sole knowledge of our knew be hadn't time to read and doubt
neighbors In space, which would travel ed very much if he ever would have
around the earth in .1336 of a second time to read. But they were cheap,
of time, does uot reucb us from Nep and be bought them and sent them
tune under a period of more than four home to be added to his library, which
hours, while from tbe nenrest flxed already contained several times as
star (Alpliu Centauri) it occupies three many books as be would ever bave
and a half years, and from a little star time to read.
callgd Mu in Cassiopeia its journey oc
Nevertheless he continued to wonder
cupies 110.7 years.
at tbe senseless accumulation of mon
These, tie It noted, are slurs whose
ey.—New York Times.
"parallax" has been measured and
whose distance Is known. In tbe case
Too M*eh For Patrick.
of the more distant ones thousands of
The other day a little red faced Irish
years may elapse ere their light mes
sage reaches us, and did our optical man approached a postofllce which had
means enable us to see what Is going three letter boxes outside. One was
on on their surface we should gaze labeled “City,” another "Domestic”
upon the events of their ancient his and tbe third “Foreign.” He looked at
tory and be eyewitnesses of what hap the three in turn and then, as a puzzled
expression crossed his face, scratched
pened thousands of years ago.
his head.
"Faith," be was beard to mutter, “I
Origin of the Bean Feast.
Why Is a feast without beaus called don't know tn which wan to put th’
a bean feast? An old resident at Wood letter! Sure, Katie’s a domestick, an'
ford explained ft to me, writes a corre she Ilves In th’ city, ail right, an’ she’s
spondent to the London Leader. Years a furriner, too; but, begobs. I dunno
ago a workman lost his way lu a part bow th’ thing can go In both of th’
of Epping forest. After wandering three holes at wance!”—Columbus Jest
aliout for some considerable time he at er.
length heard the sound of a wood
Tke Real Conditio*.
man's ax and, directing bis footsteps
The teacher of grammar and rhetoric
toward the noise, came across a wood
wrote a sentence on tbe blackboard
cutter in the act of delivering tbe final
and then called upon William.
blow to a tree. “Fair lop,” ejaculated
“John can ride tbe horse if he wants
the woodman as the tree fell, then,
turning to the workman, asked what to.” read the teacher. “Rewrite tbe
he required. Tbe man told him that be sentence In another form.”
William surveyed It dubiously for a
had lost his way In the forest and waa
hungry and tired. "Sit down, friend," moment; then a flash of inspiration
said the woodman, “and share my showed him bis path.
“John can ride the horse if tbe horse
meal.” at the same time bringing out
some beaus aud bacon. Not long after wants him to,” be wrote.
Travelers who visited or passed tbe
Cape Negro country of Africa often
beurd from tbe natives of a plant that
was part spider and that, growing,
threw its legs about in continual strug
gles to escape. It was tbe good fortune
of Dr. Welwltscb to discover the origin
of tbe legend. Strolling along through
a wind swept tableland country, he
cauie upon a plant that rested low
upon tbe grouud. but bad two enormous
leaves that blew aud twisted about In
tbe wind like serpents—In fact, it look
ed. as tbe natives bad said, like a gi
gantic spider.
Its stem was four feet across and
but a foot high. It bad but two leaves
In reality, that were six or eight feet
long aud split up by the wind so that
they resembled ribbons. This la prob
ably tbe moat extraordinary tree
kuown. It grows for nearly, If not
quite, a century, but never upward be
yond about a foot, simply expanding
until It reaches tbe diameter given,
looking In its adult state like a singu
lar stool on the plain from ten to eight
een Inches In circumference.
Wheu the wind came rushing In from
tbe sea, lifting tbe curious ribbon-llke
leaves and tossing them about. It al
most seemed to tbe discoverer that the
strange plant had suddenly become Im
bued with life and was struggling to
escape. When a description and pic
ture of the plant were sent to England
It was, like many other discoveries, dis
credited, but soon the plant Itself was
received, and now Welwltschla mlra-
bills Is known to botanists.
the workman was fortunate enough to
become a master blockmaker, aud to
commemorate the charity of tbe wood
man be used to take bls workmen once
u year to the fair lop tree and give
them a feast of beans aud bacon. The
beaus have been dropped, but the
feasts still remain.
The Value of Xewapapers.
As a general thing the people under
estimate tbe value of the dally and
weekly newspapers. It Is frequently
the case that those who abuse the
newspapers of their community never
contribute a penny toward maklug
them useful. We bave known business
me.*: to-withhold their advertmementa
and subscriptions from a worthy paper
and then And fault If they are not giv
en complimentary uotlo s in nearly ev
ery issue. There are preachers, too.
Who sometimes tor the time being for
get all about tbe gospel and score tbe
editors when tbelr only sin has been In
saying that the preacher delivered a
strong, able, forceful sermon.
The newspapers of the country are
worthy Institutions. If one would
pause for a moment and ponder on
what this world would be like without
honest newspapers, he or she would
soon come to the conclusion that tbe
country could not get along without
them.—Danville Register.
Lookin* Ahead.
:
.
1
'
After Henry W. Oliver of Pittsburg
sad combined tbe various ore proper-
ties tn the Lake Superior country
Judge Moore and tbe Republic Iron
and Steel company wanted him to
make a twenty-five year coutract, with
privilege of renewal at tbe end of that
time, that be would sell them so many
tons a year at a flxed price.
“I would not do it.” said Mr. Oliver
the other day. “I’m sixty years old
now. In twenty-five years I will tie
eighty five, an old man, in falliug
health and hard of hearing. If I gave
that contract, some line day a grand
son would come Into tbe room where I
was dreaming before the fire.
“ ‘Hey, grandfather.’ he would say.
“'What's the matter, boy?’ I'd an
swer.
“ ‘Old Judge Moore and old Mr. Gates
are downstairs!’ be would yell.
“ 'What do they want?’
“ They want to know If you are
ready to renew that fool ore contract
you made with them twenty-five years
ago.’
"No, sir,” continued Mr. Oliver, “I
won’t run any grandson of mine up
against a proposition like that.”
lie Coaid Act French.*
Dudley Wooten of Dallas. Tex., mem
ber of the Fifty-seventh congress, has
a fund of Sam Houston stories with
which he frequently regaled members
in the house cafe last winter. In one
of these stories he calls attention to
the fact that France was the first na
tion to recognize the Texan republic.
A minister was sent to the capital,
which was then Houston. The minis
ter kuew no English, nnd President
Houston could speak nothing but Cher
okee and English. An Interpreter war
H! MADB THZ MOST PHOFOUND HOWS,
sent for. When be arrived, tbe min
ister had bls first qudleuce witb Pres
ident Houston.
The minister came in, bowing low
and sweeping tbe floor witb his cha
peau. He made a dozen of these flour
ishes. President Houston watched
him closely, and when it was time for
him to respond he made ten or twelve
of the most profound bows, each time
sweeping tbe floor witb Ills cocked hat.
Then, turning to tbe interpreter. Hous
ton said:
,
‘Tell tbe Frenchman that if 1 can’t
speak French I can act French.”
A “Gold Brick” Market.
They Hide * *d Hew
■•*"*<* I* Get Foo«.
They
Owls are much commoner in wlntet
than one is led to believe by th* occa
sional s|>e<-lmen* which are seen abroad
In tbe daytime
If we searched th*
hollow tree* systematically any morn
lug. we should probably discover sever
al screech owls aud perhaps some of
the larger specie*. We might be sur
prised to tlnd some of tbe screech owls
red aud others gray. and. like the ear
ly ornithologists, we might conclude
that the difference In color was due to
difference in age or sex. It la now
known that there are two distinct color
phases of this specie* not dependent ou
either age or sex. though Just what
they are dei>eodent on Is not yet known.
When taken from their retreats in
winter, these bird* frequently feign
death, shutting tbelr eyes and lying
l>erfectly still In the band. By and by,
wheu they And that their little ruse
does not succeed, they will snap their
bills and bite and scratch In a solemn
but very effective manner. How they
manage to get enough to eat on tbe
dark, cold nights Is a mystery to those
unacquainted with tbe woods; but, aa
a matter of fact, there Is more prey
abroad ou winter nights thau Is gener
ally supposed. Wild mice are very nu
merous, a fact which is attested by
their footprints on the uewly fallen
snow, and owls are most expert mouse
catchers. Tbelr bearing is so acute
that not a squeak escapes them, and
they themselves are so soft on tbe wing
that they do uot alarm the game.—Wo
man's Home Companion.
He Wo* Hi* Bet.
The infant had been put to bed
against bis will, and, having got there,
showed no inclination to go to sleep.
He called hie mother In to kiss her
good night once more, to give him a
glass of water, to put another cover on
the bed, to tell her something very lm-
l>ortant, to ask her bow to spell North
Carolina and to explain why be hap-
(>ened to be her little boy Instead of
Aunt Bertha's. Finally she rebelled.
'You simply must go to sleep,” she
commanded sternly. "I shall not come
Into this room again tonight.” She re
tired to tbe next room, and before long
he called her.
“No, I’m not coming. Nothing will
induce me to come to you again.”
"I’ll bet I can make you come,”
boasted tbe youngster.
“1’11 bet you can't,” replied the exas
perated parent.
There was a pause, and then tlie
small voice, raised to its utmost, ex
claimed. "Tbe devil aud all his works!”
He won his bet.—New York Post.
Weather Prophet*.
A common leech makes a good ba
rometer. Fill a tumbler half full of wa
ter, put tbe leech into It aud tie a piece
of muslin over the top to keep tbe leech
from getting out. All you have to do
to And out what sort of weather we
are going to have Is to watch the little
creature. For example, when tbe day
Is to be fine the leech will remalu at
the bottom of tbe glass, colled up In
spiral shape and quite motionless. If
rain may be expected, It will creep to
the top of tbe glass and stay there un
til it clears off. If the leech twists It
self and is very restless, there Is going
to be a windstorm. If It keeps out of
tbe water for several days, look out for
a thunderstorm. The Indications for
frosty weather are the same as for flue
and for snow the same as for rain.—
Toledo Blade.
The Newspaper.
Your great man shines before tbe
populace In vain—without the newspa
per. He spread eagles the constitution
In vain—without tbe newspaper. His
clarion voice wakes up the universe In
vain—without the newspaper. His
most astounding financial enterprises
serve him in vain—without the newspa
per. His scientific researches and
achievements are In vain—without tbe
newspaper. His success in every walk
of life is In vain—without the newspa-
I>er. The newspaper is tbe famemaker
of the age. Of course, some of the
fame Is cheap, but It satisfies tbe living
wearer of the cloak even though pos
terity change It.—New Y'ork Press.
Broken on the Wheel.
The most general punishment for
criminals condemned to death In tbe
eighteenth century was the wheel. Tbe
victim was laid out and bound to a
large wheel, the executioner breaking
tbe bones of bls arms, legs and thighs
with a heavy Iron bar. his dexterous
manipulation of which was always ap
plauded by the crowd. In recompense
for his unthankful task l>e received a
fee of 25 livres.—Paul Lacroix.
Dam«*' Su**e*tloa.
A melancholy author went to Dumas
and moaned that If he did not raise 300
francs be was afraid he would bave to
charcoal smoke himself and bis two
children. Dumas rummaged bls cof
fers at once, but could only And 200
francs. "But I must have 300 or I and
the little ones are lost.” "Suppose you
only suffocate yourself and one of
them then," said Dumas.
Th* Rhymester and the Poet.
Ascum—Well, then, what Is tbe dif
ference between a rhymester and a
poet?
NtwPf -Usually e poet Is out who —
calls himself a rhymester, and a rhyme
ster Is one who calls himself a pu*L—
Philadelphia Press.
S*ki*S hare.
Softlelgb—Are you quite sure Miss
Banks Is not In?
Tbe Maid—Of course I am. She gave
me oue of your photographs In order
to make me doubly sure. — Chicago
News.
To be good and disagreeable Is high
treason against tbe royalty of virtue.—
Moore.
HI* Social Repetition*.
A Fair Esehan*e.
FoBowin* a Prescription.
Larry—How did Murphy break hl*
arm?
Denny-Following the doctor's pre
scrip tioa.
Larry—Pbwat?
Denny—Yls; It blew out av th' win
dow, and Murphy wint after It—Phila
delphia Record.
Th* first American newspaper was
American hickory Is tbe best wood in
Blobbe— Wigwag boasts that be has Public Occurrences. It appeared in
never made an enemy.
Boston in 1600 and wan promptly sup th* world for fuel. If its value is reck
Slobba — Perhaps enemies are born, pressed by tbe government of the col- oned at 100, oak la worth 84, beech 66
and white pin* only 30.
sny.
not made Philadelphia Record.
•■•mie».
OWLS IN WINTER.
Where
Leeehe*
The experts of the redemption di
vision of the treusury recently eased
the feelings of S Chicago womau con
siderably by redeeming two $10 notes
which she told tbe department had
been accidentally destroyed by her
husband. The money belonged to a
church society of which the womau
was treasurer and was to bave been
used for missionary work. After the
money bad been paid to her in small
sums she bad it changed into two new
$10 bills, which she thought would be
safe in the stove, so she placed tbe
money beneath the grate. Several days
later her husband burned some old
newspapers, also tlie money.
When
the time came for turning over the
money to the missionary, the treasurer
went to tbe stove and found instead
of two crisp notes only a few charred
fragments. These she gathered upend
Mol Forgone*.
sent to the treasury department. Tbe
Dr. Man Baltera—And so you still re case made a great deal of merriment
member that lecture 1 delivered in your in the department "If I were out of
town fifteen years ago. Well. I’m very a job.” remarked one of tbe assistant
glad indeed to meet you.
secretaries, “I should get a load of gold
Hl Tlteflst—Yep. I paid a dollar for bricks and start for Chicago.”
two tickets to that show and didn’t git
to use ’em. I didn't know but as bow
America* Citlsen*.
you mout take 'em off my bands. Here
Representative Fitzgerald of New
they be.—Kansas City Journal.
York tells the story of tbe Irishman
who went to get naturalized aud In
A Rnr*ala Coenter Hnabnnd.
“I don't think it's a nice thing to any answer to the question, "Have you
of Mrs. Odsent that she got her hus read the constitution of the United
States?” replied, "No. yer honor. I
band at a bargain counter.
“Oh, but It's true. He was tbe youug have not, but me friend. Mike lama
man that saved her life in a crush at a han, read It to me, and mighty well
glove sale at 8potcash's one day."— pleased I wuz with it.”
"Which reminds me,” said Repre
Chicago Tribune.
sentative Ryan of Buffalo when he
heard Fitzgerald's story, "of tbe *qn->
IsnaFinatl**,
“Don’t you And literary work a great Jim Naples, a prosperous Italian in
Buffalo, announced himself as n can
tax on your Imagination?”
“Yes." answered tbe author. "I keep didate for the assembly. A reportet
on Imagining that every book 1 write went down to interview him.
“ ‘What do you think of tbe consti
Is going to be a hit and make a for
tution of tbe United States, Mr. Na
tune.”—Washington Star.
ples?* the reporter asked. Jim thought
It is tbe opinion of tbe cynical bach bard for a minute or two and then
elor that the original bone of conten aaid, with great dignity:
“ ‘I think it are very nice.' ”
tion was a rib.—Pittsburg Dispatch.
Pessimist—What makes you an opti
mist?
Optimist—Looking nt dismal chaps
“Did Ayreksstll take In a partner
when be started his newest get rich like you. What makes you a penal
mist?
scheme T'
Pessimist-Looking at cheerful chaps
“No; only tbe people who bought the
like you.- Detroit Free Press.
stock.”—Cincinnati Tribune.
Th* Victim*.
<EW SHORT STORIES
"You say bls wife bad him arrested
for repeating? I didn't know she took
any Interest in political elections?"
“In political elections?"
“Yes, didn't you say she accused him
of repeating?"
"Yea. Bigamy.”—Catholic Standard
and Time*._______________ _
The maa without a purpose la like a
ship without a rudder—a waif, a noth
ing. a no man. Have a purpose In life,
and. having IL throw such strength of
mind and muscle Into your work aa
God has giveu you.-Carly le.