SHRINKING OF TIMBER.
Precautions Which trill Kimble Wood
Workers to Turn Out Good Work.
Tho various kinds of oak, and somo
other kinds of timber will shrink mora
cr less ovory tlmo tho surfaco is
dressed off, oven a small fraction of nn
inch. Wheelwrights accustomed to
tho work aro well awaro of this fact,
and a correct appreciation of it en
ables them to turn out work of a su
perior character, even of ordinary ma
terials, by first blocking up tho plocos
roughly, then allowing tho tlmbor to
season, and afterward working tho va
rious parts by degrcos, as tho season
ing process becomes moro nnd
moro complete. Whltc-oak spoke tim
ber, for instance, may bo allowed to re
main in rough stato for half a scoro of
yoars under sholtor without becoming
ecasonod so thoroughly without that
tho tlmbor will not shrink after the
spokes havo been dressed out Car
riage wheels havo often been made of
tho choicest quality of oak tlmbor
after every spoko baa been sea
soned for sovoral years, and, to tho
great surprise of tho wheelwright,
ovory spoko would work In tho joints
boforo tho vohiclo had boon run thrco
months. Tho dofect In such Instances
could not bo attributed to Inferior
timber, nor to perfunctory workman
ship; but simply to this ono circum
stance that tho parts of tho wheel
woro put together boforo tho tlmbor
linl ceased to shrink. To provo thnt
tho host quality of oak will shrink
after a spoko has boon dressed out, lot
a tenon bo mado on ono end and bo
driven immediately into a mortlBo;
after a fow days' exposure In a warm
workshop tho spokes may bo with
drawn with littlo difficulty. Tho same
fact will hold good In the manufacture
of wood work of any kind whoro oak
ds employed for tonons. In order to
mako joints that will novor start, the
iploco on which tho tonons aro mado
should bo drosscd several times, until
tho Shrinking has ccasod. Then lot
tho tonons bo mado. After thoso have
shrunk, whllo exposed In tho drying
intluoncos of a warm workshop, the
spokes or othor parts may bo driven
in their rospectlvo plncos, with the
assuranco, especially If thoyaro dlppod
in oil paint previous to driving, that
tho tlmbor will shrink no moro.
Woodworker.
MISCELLANEO
It is said that a fir Is standing in tho
IMAGINARY ILLS.
HABITS OF FLIES.
Jntercitlnc Fact About Two I.onthmima
. Member of tlm Family.
) Tho horso-fiy Is tho most cruol and
bloodthirsty of tho entire family. Ho
is armed with a most formidable weap
on, which consists of four luncots, so
sharp and strong that thoy will pono
trato leathor. When not in uso thoy
aro nicely folded away in a sucker.
Ho makos his uppearanco In Juno, and
may often bo seen in tho vicinity of
small streams of water. He is said to
subsist in part upon an airy dlot, and
to puss his llfo harmlessly. Not so the
female, for sho is armed with six lan
cets, with which sho bloods both cattle
and horses, and ovon human beings.
Sho lays hor eggs In moist places, and
aftor thoy aro hatohod Into footless
maggots, thoy mako all necossary jour
neys by stretching and closing tho sog
montH of their bodies, tholr heads bo
ing supplied by two hooks by which
thoy got tholr food. In proeoss of tlmo
this maggot goes down into moist
oarth, whoro it roposos for somo weeks,
aftor which it bursts tho pupa case,
and comes forth a largo black 11 v.
armed and equipped like its predeces
sors. Tho sower and cosspool fly rosointyu
caoh othor In tholr habits, with a sin
gle oxcoptlon tho former lives In
oloanor water and has a loss compli
cated apparatus. Tho fumulo lays hor
eggs whoro thoy may bo reached by
tho filthy lluhl. Tho young aro booh
hatched, and may bo seen Hunting on
tho water and taking in all Its bad
qualities; thoy dlo If placed In clean
water. Thoy dart swiftly about and
go down for tho space of a mlnuto, but
nro obliged to rlso to breathe. In tho
course of tlmo thoy sook a dry place,
and aftor tholr wings havo grown,
cmorgo regular lllos llko their parents,
ready to repeat their lllthy but useful
work. Wo can form only a vnguo Idea
bow greatly wo aro Indobtod to thoso
loathsome insects as scavengers. Cor.
Country Gentleman.
Knnlch Valley, Nevada, which mens
ures fifty-eight feet In ctroumferenco
Bovon foot from tho ground
A (South Carolina man attempted
to pawn a horse, and was surprised
when "his undo" told him that ho
didn't llko sccurltlos that could walk
away.
A Michigan man, in digging a well,
struck a vin of water which ho
thought contained mineral properties,
and was disgusted to find that ho had
tapped a sowor.
Tho five great continental powers
of Europe now havo 12,000,000 men un
dor arms, not to mention tho naval
armaments, almost doublo In size tho
whole Boa fighting force of tho world
twenty years ago.
I ho citizens of Dijon boast that
havo tho oldest poplar In Franco, but
just how old it Is no ono knows. It Is
122 foot high, forty-five foot In clrcum
foronco at tho base, and twenty-three
feet In circumference fifteen foot from
the base.
At tho great steel works in Clove-
land, O., a largo electro-magnet Is
used, suspended from a crano, to pick
up Iron or steel bars and billets. It
will tako up 800 pounds, and as soon as
tho electric current Is turnod off afto
moving tho load, will drop It In the
proper place, thus doing tho work of a
gang of men.
Kentucky Is as famous for its wide
spread and critical knowledge of tho
lllbl as for its sonsativo appreciation
of rod-oyo. Tho nowspapers down
.1. - . .
wicro are many oi tnom uaiiy com
mentaries. Horo is a samplo para
graph from the Scottsvlllo Sentinel,
"Milk makos most people bilious, and
honoy gives most people tho collo,
Ihoroforo a hind flowing with milk
and honey Is not as doslrablo as ono
dripping with tree molasses and flour
batter-cakos."
Tho flrstattompt to record a public
speech by means of tho phonograph
was mndo at a political rally In Now
York rccontly. A funnel seven foot
long was placed In front of tho plat
form, connecting with tho transmitter
of tho phonograph. Aftor tho moot
ing tho Instrument was tostod, and tho
oxperimont found to havo been ontlroly
successful, tho speaker's volco bolng
hoard as distinctly as In tho original
address, together with sounds of tho
applause and music
Tho following anccdoto Is rolated
of President Lincoln: Ono evening
Mrs. Lincoln swopt, magnlllcontly
dressed, Into tho library whoro tho
1'rosldont was waiting to escort hor
into tho brilliant rocoptlon-parlor.
Hor dress had a vory long train, and
was cut low at tho nock. Lincoln was
standing with his back to tho llro whon
his wlfo ontorod. "Whowl" said old
Abo, "What a long tall our cat has to
night!" Mrs. Lincoln mado no answer,
and tho President continued: "Say,
mother, don't you think It would bo
hotter If Homo of our cat's tall was
around hor neekP"
Dl-
The Treatment of llrnorlinntlrlaci
cuel by a rhynlclan.
So many peoplo are hypochrondrlaca
thnt a physician oxpects to find one
third of his patients laboring under
Imaginary Ills. It is easy for pooplo
to oxaggcrato symptoms, and by giving
thomsolves Into tho hands of quacks,
becomo confirmed victims of supposed
111 health. Whnt is not at all unusual
Is to find physicians who havo become
thoroughly hypood. Many of thorn
with great reputation aiJU a largo
practice and capable of diagnosing any
caso bocomo cranks concerning tholr
own iieuim. Ihoy oxaggcrato
slightest symptoms Into dnngorous
cases and bollovo thoy havo chronic
troubles when thoy would know that,
In a patient, It would bo but a slight
indisposition. Most physicians aro
not competent to treat thomsolves, and
many of them aro confirmed hypochon
driacs. Medical students begin early
to Imaglno themselves afillctod with
tho various diseases which they aro
studying. I remember when at collcgo
I had a room-mato who beeamo thor
oughly hypoed after entering tho
course. Ono day he caught a cold and
that night suddonly informod mo ho
believed ho was point: to die, as he
was certain ho was allllctcd with a
most malignant fever which ho had
boon studying thnt day. I went Imme
diately for ono of tho professors, and ho
not bolng in I had another com'. Tho
second understood the case utonco and
gave my fric yomo simplo romcdy,
and, la tor, tuo first came, and he.
wishing to givo tho young man a les
son, had me administer n liberal dose
of Ipecac. This mado hltn vory sick,
but cured him of tho malignant fovor.
. i , , , i. J.
a long-discuss-su question among ino
medical fraternity Is whothor a physi
cian should humor a hypochondriac
and ostensibly treat him as If ho wero ,
sick, or, on the othor hand, to try to
dlsabuso his mind of his folly. Ono of
tho professors of a collcgo put it to tho
class In thl way: "If whon you aro
called In to a patient you find him suf
fering imaginary ills, and you toll him
so instead of humoring nnd apparently
curing hlin. .you lose a client who
whon ho may bo sick will not call you
In becauso ho has no confidence in
your ability. You thus lose practice
and a chance to do good whon tho roal
necessity arises; besides by humoring
tho man you do no harm, for ho will
call In somo othor physician, who will
do exactly what you could havo dono
yourself." This argument has doubt-
loss canned many physicians to treat
hypochondriacs according to tholr
fancy. Tho professor who followed
tho other ono In tho class heard of his
predecessor's advlco and was vory in
dignant, saying that a physician should
bo trim to his profession and treat
ovory patient as ho finds him, not in
creasing tho number of hypochon
driacs In tho world by encouraging tho
natural human tendency in that direc
tion. )r. I. B. Bruce, in St. Louis
Q lobe' Democrat.
it
TWO MEN AT DINNER.
TIMBER CULTURE.
Punishing Chlnoso Gods.
A curious caso of punishing tho gods
ia reported by tho last mall from Foo
chow. Tho Idols of a certain tomplo
in that city woro thoso uppoalcd to by
persons who desired to bo rovonged on
tholr enemies. Thoy woro supposed
to causu death to thoso against whom
prayers to thorn woro directed. Ro
contly tho Tartar military commander
ulod suddenly, uiuUho Idea got abroad
among tho pooplo that ho had boon
elnlu by tho Idols In question. Tho
VIcoroy of tho province hearing this
at onco gavo orders that thoy woro to
bo arrested and punished. Tho pro
loot was Instructed to seo tho decroo
carried out, and, armed with tho Vico
roy'B warrant, ho wont to tho tomplo
and had fifteen Idols arrostod. Thoso
woro of wood and about flvo foot high.
Uoforo being brought for judgment be
fore tho prefect tholr eyes woro all put
out ao that thoy should not see who
was tholr judge and bo ablo to troublo
lilm either horo or hereafter. Aftor
A full Investigation a report was sunt
to tho VIcoroy, who gavo orders that
tho idol shoukl bo beheaded, tholr
bodies oast into a pond and their tern
plos eon led up fo rover to prevent thorn
from toting tho poaco of tho town
lu futmo. London (Hole.
m
A woman's "shoo" Is generally
dm efficient in Bearing lions out of
tfurdnu thou a man's boot, Time.
DUTerenco Hot ween nn Kiiellnliniiui mid a
k Frenchman ut it Tallin d'Hotc.;
"The Knglshman Is big, squaro. rod,
hairy. Ho has breakfasted at nine
o clock and walked all day with a fo
minutes' rest for lunch. Ho calls for
champagno sec. Ho guzzles tho soup
no noes not tasto It. Ho drenches th
fish In Homo black English sauce, an
HonilB it niter tho Boup. In regular
order follow roast and vogotablo and
gamo. Hut whothor tough or tender
cooked to a turn or burned to a crisp,
your Englishman knows littlo and cares
loss. Ho continues to soak ovorythlng
with tho dark sauce, augmohted by
musmru aim black popper. Tho dos
sort finds him slightly congostcd, but-
full. Ho Is now going to stuff his short,
brlarwood pipe with black tobacco, and
enjoy It between sips of tho moro than
questionable coffee, and ho will round
off with a B. & S. And when ho mon
lions tuo hotel to-morrow, or tho day
alter to-morrow, to tho traveling
women oi nis countrv. as ho moots
them all along tho routo, ho will bol
low forth: "Vory nlco table, indeed
at that plaeol" (For this is always
vnoir sunjeot or conversation).
"Hut tho poor Frenchman! Ho is
sallow; ho will soon bo bald; his white
tooth aro miracles of tho dentist's skill
uno discerns his flabby muscles be
neath tho lino oloth of his fashlonablo
coat. Ho has placed his monocle lu
tho corner of his eye to road tho carto
which ho holds gingerly in ono fustldl
ous hand a hand which Is skilled
enough with tho Bword or tho ulstol.
but which hus novor In his llfo struck a
blow from tho shonldor. Through tho
clay no has probably driven In a car
riage to Bonio view of interest ho has
Binoked countless clgarottos ho Is not
hungry. Ho finds tho menulmposslblo
from tho flint glance. Ho foresees tho
watery soup In which will bo floating
squares of vnguo paste. Tho flsh may
bo fresh, tho sauco served with It will
bo nauseating! Tho beof will bo dono
to death, tho capon a skeleton and
burnt into tho bargain. Tho waiter has
a tiresome and disgusting habit of In
troducing his abomlnablo thumb Into
tho dishes ho places on tho table! Tho
peoplo opposite make a frightful nolso
iiH thoy oat! Tho knives and forks nro
black! Your Frenchman nibbles a bit
of cheoso and moistens it with a red
poison labeled Saint Jullen. Ho loavos
tho table thinking with a sigh of the
Cafo Anglais. Ho lights another cigar
ette Ho wonders, whon ho will begin
to HiilTor from that oplgustrlo burning
to which his physician has given tho
coquettish unmo of pyrosis, 'Zuui!
Blank!' ho says, 'what a moss!'
"Now will you alllrm that thoso two
www havo oaton the same dinner? Hut
tho niunu wu tho bumo!" Airw LttUr.
What I.11111U oil the Farm to Devote to
the IMantliiK of Tree.
Whllo tho great mass of our farmers
admit tho necessity of tlmbor culti
vated in a general and systematic way,
but fow on this side of tho treeloss
plains aro ready to glvo up to this
work their best cultivated Holds.
Tlmbor planting Is an Investment from
which wo can not hopo to realizo any
thing for a considerable length of
tlmo. Comparatively fow farmers aro
ablo to give up tho rogular annual in
comes that thoy roallzo from common
farm crops, no mattor how profltablo
tho tlmbor crop promisos to bo.
Vortunatoly it is not necessary for
them to mako such sacrifices, as a rulo.
Tlioro are fow farms oast of tho uroat
plains tlm do not contain moro or less
waato land. Such lands often provo
admirably adapted to troo growing.
Many of tho marshos and lowlands
lying along our rivers that aro periodi
cally overflowed will yield lino growths
of uoh vuriotlos of tlmborns aro natur
ally adapted to such lands. Tho swalos
on many farms, smnll swamus. roach.
rooky, hilly, uneven lands, that aro al
most worthloss for crops, the vast,
sandy stretches along our seaboards
nil such lands judiciously planted will
grow good crops of tlmbor and ought to
bo re-tlmbored. Tho farm or who has
aunli lauds within his boundary linos
may start a forest without great ox
ponso. A ploco of ground nuut bo
rooky Indeed that trees can not bo
grown upon. Nor doos a plantation
roqulro vory rich soil. Of courso light.
sandy oarth will not throw up n rank,
rapid tlmbor growth, but such liftidscan
00 made to pay, nevertheless.
Somo of tho flnost natural growth
timber is found along tho stoop sides
and tops of ledges and among hugo
bowlders that nearly cover tho ground.
Such lands aro plantod in England by
digging holes horo and there where
over tho chance Is afforded among tho
ooks, and carefully planting such
trees as are doslrod. Wo havo many
lessons to learn in this lino, and as our
country becomes more thickly settled
t will bo necessary for us to economize
in space and utilize all such rough bits
of surface just as thoy havo long been
obliged to do In the countries across
tho sea.
On tho treeless plains of tho West a
fow acres of tho best land Is not bo-
rudged tho forest plantation. It bo-
comes then more a question of outlay
of labor and of capital for seed and
trees. Tho question of location is not
with regard to tho ocouotny or value
of land as much as it Is for tho proteo-
on that tho timber will afford tho
ardti, stables and dwellings, 11". J).
Boyntoit, in t'unn and Uomt.
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.
Chausslor dried a man in a kiln
nnd there resulted only twelve pounds
of solid matter.
An oxperimont recently mndo In
Scotland proves that tho tortolso can
walk a milo in four hours.
Telephones aro great convenience,
nnd yet peoplo nro all tho tlmo talking
against them. Yonkers Statesman.
A traveling man remarks that any
fellow who makes lovo to a widow Is
literally courting danger. Merchant
Traveler.
"I wish I could sell all I write."
tho ' romftrkC(i a certain author to a lady.
-xnoro are moso, ' rcpllod his com
panion, sweetly, "who say you can't
writo all you sell." Life.
"Mrs. Bnrkloy, are you familiar
with 'Songs without Words?' " "O, yes,
quite. Mr. Barkloy frequently sings
them whon ho comes homo in tho
morning." Terre Haute Express.
A Brooklyn man Intonds to start a
goat farm, which ho thinks will bring
him 10.80 per day. He will stock
with sovonty-fivo goats, and as tho or
dinary goat will glvo threo pints of
milk a day, he calculates upon ninety
quarts per day at twelve to fifteen cents
a quart
I One of tho leading American col
leges has resolved to dispense with a
"class yell" next year. An Institution
of loarn'mg that will thus aim a deadly
Li i. . 1.1 1 . . .
oiow iii mo nignor education of our
youth doesn't desorvo the patronage of
tho American pooplo. Football may
go noxt. iomstown Herald.
"iou should havo counted on tho
exponso of married llfo boforo you
entered upon it," said tho young bus
band's friend; "It was only a quostlon
of common senso nnd reason that you
should havo exorcised. "Common
senso and reason?" echoed the youth
ful bonodict; "why, I was In lovo!"
Chicago Globe.
Railroad Superintendent Any of
tho passenger cars nood repairing?"
Head Examiner "Yes, sir; No. 305 is
In very bad shapo; ought to m to tho
shop at onco." "What's tho mattor?"
"Two of tho windows nro so loose that
any ordinary mnn can ralso them, sir."
Time.
Two vagrants called on aklndlndy
In tho suburbs of Now York. "To
which of you two shall I givo this
nlckol?" Bho asked. First tramp
"Give it to him, madam. Ho has pur
chased tho routo from mo, and I am
just taking him nround to introduco
him to tho'customors. "Texas Si flings.
Not Used to Traveling. Strangor
(at hotel hnr) "Best whisky, please."
Bartender (sovoroly) "This is a pro
hibition town, sir." Stranger "Ah,
excuse me." (moving away.) Bar
tender (excitedly) "Great Scott,
strangor, haven't you senso enough to
get siok?"-ZrflNfce Magazine.
Editor Society Journnl (to repor
ter) "ilr. .Jinks, tho directors havo
oruoroa mo 10 raise your salary, iou
bring in moro society scandal than all
tho othor roportors put togothor."
Jinks "Thank you. Tho advance will
bo handed ovor to my wlfo. It Is hors
by right." Editor "How so?" Jinks
"Sho Is the secretary of tho ladles
nnti-gossip club." Cartoon.
A gentleman who has recently
nkon up Fronch, and who losos no op
portunity of airing tho littlo knowledgo
ho has thus far acquired of that lan
guago oy translating and pronouncing
such wordi! and phrases as his friends
might encounter in his presenco, was
thus nddrossod by an acquaintance
"If you only know as much English as
you do French, what a success you
would bo! "--lexas Stjtmgs.
DOING UP LACE-CURTAINS.
CLUMSY
DIRECTNESS.
The Moat. Common Way of nivlne OITeiiHO
In ati UiiroiMoloti Way.
Somo people aro porpotually giving
ollonso In the most unconscious way
1N0w, uo lot mo propose you as a
niombor," says Smith. "But suppose
thoy blackball mo?" roplios Brown
'Pooh! Absurd! Why, my dear fel
low, there's not a man In tho club that
knows you ovon!" A lady vory do
slrous of concoallng tho awful fact that
sho Is tho aamo ago as her husband
observed to a visitor: "My husband is
forty; there nro just flvo yonrs between
us." "Is Itpossiblo?" was tho unguard
ed reply of her friend. "I glvo you my
word, you look as young as ho does
As unexpected must havo been the re
ply of the husband whoso wlfo said
"iou havo novor tnkon mo to tho
cemetery." "No, dear," ho answered;
that is a pleasuro I havo yet In nntlci
pation." It Is rolated of a portrait
painter that, having recontly painted
tho portrait of a lady, a critic who had
just dropped in to boo what was going
on in tho studio, exclaimed: "It Is
very nicely palntod; but why do vou
tako such an ugly model?" "it Is my
mother," calmly replied tho artist. "O,
pardon, a thousand times!" from tho
crltlo In groat confusion. "I ought to
havo perceived It. Sho resembles you
completely." On a similar occasion, a
facotlous friond, Inspecting a portrait,
said to tho artist: "And this is Tom
omiin, is 11.- jenr, uoarj And l re
member him, such a handsome, jolly
looking ohap a month ago. Dear, dear!
From tho following, it would seem that
tho ceremonious Orientals aro not
above marring tholr polltonoss by an
occasional speech apropos of tho sub
ject lu hand. Somo European ladles,
passing through Constantinople, paid a
visit to a certain high Turkish function
ary. Tho host offered them refreshments
including a variety of sweetmeats, al
ways taking care to glvo ono of tho
ladles doublo tho quantity ho gavo to
tho others. Flattered by this marked
attention, she put tho question, through
tho Interpreter: "Why do you servo
mo more liberally than tho rest?"
"BtKMu.o you have a larger mouth,1
was tho straightforward reply, Chris,
tian at II ork.
Valuable SurtstpUIoim on a Moit Import
Jlotucholil Topic.
Once thoroughly understood this
work is as easily accomplished as any
simplo washing. After taking the cur
tains down shake out tho dust careful
ly, so as to avoid tearing tho material;
then spread them out on two lines near
together, and brush them gently with
a soft feather duster; this will removo
all tho dust that can bo got off. Now
havo ready a tub half full of tepid
water, to which two tablcspoonfuls of
liquid ammonia has been ndded (this
comes put up in bottles ready for use,
and Is called, I think, household am
monla). Placo tho curtains in thi
water and allow them to remain some
fifteen or twenty minutes, turning them
ovor carefully every mlnuto or two
and squeezing with tho hands. This
process will loosen all tho dirt, after
which squeeze out us dry as possiblo,
but bo very, vory caroful lest tho
meshes of tho lace be broken. Havo
ready another tub containing water
prepared as before, and placo tho cur
tains Immediately in it, one at a time,
allowinir them to soak until all aro
washed. It will need threo waters If
tho curtains are much soiled, but the
water will decide this; should It be very
much discolored, uso different waters
until the last from which they wero
taken looks clear. Ammonia In tho
first two waters will be sufficient un
less tho curtains aro very gray and
smoky. Next, placo them In a coarso
pillow-caso nnd scald in clean soap
suds (not very strong), for a few min
utes. Use pure white soap, nnd let
tho water bb only blood warm whon
thoy nro first put in; allow them to
como to a boiling heat, and then rinse
thoroughly in two clear waters, tho
last of which should bo blued, and
then starch in thin boiled starch which
must bo mado very blue, as lace whon
liting up against the light does not ap
pear blue.
I ho blood-warm water and starch
should bo strained, that no particle of
bluing may sottlo on tho curtains.
ftor scalding, take tho curtains from
tho boiler and rinse thoroughly, but
with a gentle hand, until all suds aro
out. I hon wrlnsr or squeeze 'out and
put through the bluing water; wring
out from that and prepare to stretch
and pin out smoothly, to tho original
length and width. This must bo dono
while tho curtains nro wot, as tho laco
can not bo strotehed whon dry. The
whole process of washing, rinsing,
scalding and drying should bo dono as
quickly and thoroughly as possible, as
no othor cotton material shrinks so
oasily.
Although many pin a clean sheet on
to a carpet and pin tho curtain on to
tho sheet whllo drying. I consider it a
much better and easior way to keep 011
hand four strips ot thin boards about
threo inches wido, mado similar to
quilting frames, with holes at suitablo
distances to increase or diminish the
length and breadth to suit tho size of
tho curtains. Havo stronc wooden
pins put through tho holes to fasten the
frames strongly together; tack wido
tapo or selvago edges of cloth tho
wholo longth of tho frame, then placo
them on chairs, so that thoy will stand
firm and steady, out of doors on a still,
bright, sunny day, and pin or basto tho
curtains to tho tape, pulling out and
fastening every point in tho luce.
Before wetting tho curtains measure
the length and breadth and mark it on
the iramo on which thoy aro to b
dried. Aftor washing, fasten at both
ends first and then strotch to match
tho measure. Curtains thus strotehed
dry vory quickly in tho sun, and if well
rinsod and free from soap sovoral can
00 dried at tho samo time. Instead of
tacking on tho strips of cloth or tape
If small-sized galvanized hooks woro
used tho work could bo greatly facili
tated, and tho curtains bo caught on to
thoso hooks whilo drying. Curtains
washod In tho manner described look
much hotter than whon dono nt the
laundry, and last a groat deal lomrer.
which is quito an object to bo consid
ered. Portland Transcript.
PEOPLE
The Awful
BURIBD
Story of a Bit
Woman FaUW
In Russia nconlo aro oftoner than
elsewhere condemned unintentionally,
of courso to that most gruosomo of
all deaths, of which E. A. Poo had
such unfeigned horror burial alive.
But tho circumstances accompanying
this frightful tortuo are seldom so
characteristic or so horrible as In the
caso of tho wlfo of a peasant In tho
government of Volhynla, on tho borders
of Austria, who, according to tho local
journal, Volhynia, was lately buried In
a comatoso state. Sho was expecting
soon to become a mother nt tho tlmo of
her supposed death. After tho "corpse"
had been kept tho usual timo, tho par
ish priest, Konstantinoff, recited tho
prayers of tho burial service in tho
church-yard; tho widower cast threo
handfuls of earth on tho coffin, and all
departed except tho grave-diggers. In
filling up tho grave tho latter shoveled
In an unusually largo sod of hard earth,
which struck tho coffin with a loud
noise, and woke up tho unfortunato
woman from her sleep. Tho horror of
her position at once dawned upon her.
Sho cried out in most piteous tones to
the grave-diggers to rescue her from a
horriblo death. Sho solemnly prom
ised them all hor property If they
would take her from tho gravo and
coffin. The moro she cried and en
treated, tho moro strenuous woro their
endeavors to fill tho crrave; and on
leaving tho church-yard, whon their
work was done, thoy still heard her
erics and moans.
Tho grave-diggers then hurried off
to her husband who was surrounded
with guests, drinking to the memory
of tho deceased. Having related what
had taken place, tho matter was dis
cussed by tho guests and tho neighbors,
who soon came rushing in, and it was
finally resolved ncm. con. that an ovil
spirit had taken possession of tho de
ceased, and that, in order to provent
hor walking at night and disturbing
tho people, it was absolutely necessary
to disinter her and drive an aspen
stake through her body. Tho husband
sent a deputation to the priest, asking
permission to disinter tho body and
perform this superstitious rite deemed
necessary in all such cases. Tho priest,
horrified, hurried off to tho church
yard, and had the body disinterred in
tho hopo of saving a lifo, but super
stition had already got its victim tho
woman was dead, but unmistakable
signs showed sho had struggled hard
to escape from the most horriblo death
tho human mind can conceive. Pall
Mall Gazette.
ALIVE.
Ian Feasant
AN ANCIENT REPUBLIC.
All
An Artificial Silk-Worm.
"it is by no moans Impossible," said
a liitorson sun manufacturer, "that
artificial silk may somotimo roplnco
mo prouuet of the silk-worms' labor.
That, of course, is only a possibility,
lwl m, . .....1.. .1. !,!.- , ....
t.uii uui 11 uruuuuiiiiv. 1)111. It la v-,.
J 1- . . . "
jiruuuuiu mat ariiueial mothods will
roplnco the tedious and expensive
means now employed to utlllzo tho
worms. Jt has for some tlmo h
icnown that worn-out silken fabrics can
bo utilized by puttintr thorn in 11 oliom.
ical bath which soparates foreign sub
stances from the silk itself, and saves
tho latter in a solution. This solution
can bo respun or used to plate othor
thread. Now, as I learn from Franco,
Dr. Chardonno, of that country, hns
succeeded in making a puroly artificial
silk. Ho makes a solution of nitro
cellulose alcohol, other, ferrous chlo
rldo and tannic acld.ln nlcolv-cnli-nlnt.
od proportions, nnd runs it from a res
ervoir through an exceedingly minute
hole into a bath of water. iulliii,.t,?
with ono-half of ono nor onnt. nt
mono-hydrated nitric acid. Tho fluid
hardens In tho water, and is dried in
hot air. I Is said that tho thread can
be readily dried, but I do not know
whnt othor valuable oualitio It "
-V. r. Mail and Ari)r.'
Not Very Complimentary.
Politician Why is It. TTnnl., vn
that whenever I nnncnr on tlm tnt
you dodge around the cornor?
uncio .Moso Hekaso do eood book-
says tor shun dor 'poarnuco ob ebil.
SOUS dlJlliH)3,l
Facts About Amlorre, tho Smallest of
Commonwealths.
This, perhaps, tho smallest of all na
tionalities, is romarkablo for Its long
lease of life. Its greatest length is un
der thirty miles, Its greatest breadth is
under twenty; and when "Ilistoria do
la Hopublica d'Andorro" was pub
lished, in 1815, tho population was
under 8,000. It is marvelous "while
nearly all the charters, prior to tho
middlo ago of the German and Italian re
publics, havo disappeared, tho original
charters of this republic havo remained
almost unsuspected in its Pyronean
archives for moro than a thousand
years." Tho first credited tradition of
Andorra dates from 778, and tho first
written charter, which is still known
to exist, from 801. The war of Andor
rian independence lasted for 400 years,
and their Bill of Rights was obtained
at its eloso in 1278. To givo somewhat
of an idea of tho primitive character of
this nevertheless sturdy nation, tho
Talker finds tho following, descriptive
of thoir judicial tribunal: "Fivo timos
a year, on tho occurrence of somo great
fostival of the Church, tho four-and-twenty
represontatlvo oligarchs assem
ble at tho village which courtesy desig
nates tho capital, to deliberate on pub
lic affairs. Each of tho twonty-four
councillors arrives on horseback, and
a national stablo with twonty-four
stalls is propared. Each legislator,
with his own patrician hands, puts up
his respective horse, attends divine
sorvico in a chapel attached to tho
chamber of deliberation, exchanges his
peasant's dres3 for tho stateliest cos
tume, shoots partridges and pheasants
in summer, hunts bears and wolves in
autumn and winter, feasts by night
with a kind ofCyclopic sumptuousncss,
passes fow laws, and effectuates no re
forms." Tho Andorrian rolitrion is a
curious ndmixturo of worship and
pleasuro, but in theso regards Is not
widely different from tho nraeticos of
other countries. On somo saint's day,
sacred in their calendar, tho peoplo
congregate at a lonoly spot, whero a
chapol opens for a brief mass on each
anniversary of its patron. Tho remain
der of tho day Is given up to dancing, a
ecreation of which tho Audorlans nro
fonder ovon than thoir noighbors, and
which it is no hard thing for them to
got up, ovon without a saint s dny. A
green sward, a clear moonlight, a
balmy air. and the falling fragrance of
mid-summor night s dew, nro sulll-
lont ineidonts. Tho chlof tlnnco of
tho peoplo, termed tho "vul d'An
dorro," Is awkward enough, but pecu
liar to tho commonwealth, and reputed
havo been in voiruo In tho days of
Charlemagne. Christian at Work.
m
A Husband's Generosity.
"To-morrow, Marin, will bo your
birthday, and I want to give you somo
upproprlato presont. What shall it
bo?"
"Whatovor your kind heart may
suggest, John."
(Next day. ) "Maria, you know how
your poor back has suffered from pull
ing off my boots In the evening. It
will not suffor any moro, my lovo.
Seo! I havo brought you a nlco now
bootjaok whloh I will hereafter in
stead." Chiougo Tribune,