DOINGS OF OUR NATIONAL
Frieav, February 23.
Washington, Feb. 23. Preceded by
a debate which indicated no hesitancy,
but rather a relish, in taking action
against alleged railroad combinations,
the house agreed without opposition
today to the Tillman-Gillespie resolu
tion, directing the Interstate Commerce
'commission to make an immediate in
quiry and report regarding alleged re
straints of trade on the part of certain
railroads in the handling of coal and
oil. The resolution was not in the
form in which it passed the senate, and
will go back to that body for its second
action.
Proceeding under call of committee,
boills were passed to require $75 worth
of work annually on mining claims and
$5 worth of work on roads and trails
for each mining claim in Alaska; allow
ing foreign ships to clear from American
ports without examination certificates
when the countries to which they belong
recognize American certificates of in
spection ; to prevent foreign built
dredges from operating in the United
States, except the dredges now at work
in the United States under contract.
Washington, Feb. 23. By a vote of
3 to 5 the senate committee on inter
state commene today agreed to report
the Hepburn railroad rate bill without
amendment, but the resolution re
served to the members of the commit
tee freedom of action concerning
amendments offered in the senate. By
a vote of 5 to 3, Republicans prevail
ing, Tillman, a Democrat, was given
the honor of reporting the bill. This
establishes a precedent, in that a Re
publican senate committee has given
to a Democrat control of an important
measure passed by a Republican houee
and endorsed by a Republican presi
dent. Thursday, February 22.
Washington, Feb. 22. Knox's much
discussed and lon expected railroad
bill was introduced in the senate today,
and because of the exceptional interest
on the subject was accorded the unus
ual privilege of a reading for the in
formation of tlio senators on the day of
introduction.
At the request of Hale, chairman of
the committee on naval affairs, the bill
providing for the punishment of hazing
at the naval academy at Annapolis was
taken up and discussed at length. Dick
advocated extreme measures, saying
that ncthing less would accomplish the
desired result. He paid that he had
investigated the hazing practice, and
was prepared to pronounce it "an edu
cator in bru'ality." He considered it
a crime out of harmony with the office
held by the midshipmen. The bill was
passed.
Washington, Feb. 22. The house to
day refused to adjourn in celebration
of Washington's birthday, and its
members participated in a general field
day of debate on the army appropria
tion bill. Tlio speeches took a wide
range.
hip subsidy was discussed for an
hour by Gilbert, who took the position
that ships could be built as cheaply
in this countty as abroad. He asserted
that the United States possessed the
finest Merchant marine fleet of any
nation .
Tomorrow the joint resolution direct
ing the Interstate Commerce commis
sion to investigate the railroad, soft
and an'hracite coal and oil trusts will
bo considered and most likely adopted.
A bi.l was passed reserving from dis
posal by the government Battle Moun
tain, S. D. The mountain is made a
part of the Battle Mountain Sanitarium
reserve. The mountain takes its name
from being the ancient battleground
between the Crow and the Sioux In
dians. The conference report upon the ur
gent deficiency hill was agreed to.
A joint resolution was agree 1 to al
lowing Alaska teachers and employes
of the bureau of education to assign
their salaries.
Wednesday, February 21.
Washington, Feb. 21. Secretary
Shaw submitted a report to the house
today concerning permanent appropria
tions made from the general treasury,
in compliance with a resolution of Rep
resentative Tawney of Minnesota,
chairman of the houee committee on
appropriations, who has been leading
the fight against permanent appropria
tion and has a bill pending which pro
vides for abolishing such appropriations
except for sinking fund, international
payments and a few other fixed obliga
tions. Will Report Bill.
Washington, Feb. .20. The Philip
pine tariff bill, which has been held up
in the sncate committee ever eince it
passed the house, is scon to be reported.
The Democrats of the committee, who
were pnpposed to be eolidly arrayed
against the bill, fieldaconferer.ee tod.'.y
and two out of the five declared their
intention to vote to report the bill
Carmack of Tennessee and MeCreary
of Kentucky. Three Republicans, how
ever Hale of Minnesota, Burrows of
Michigan and Brandegee of Connecticut
are oppoee 1 to the bill.
May Try Behring Sea Claims.
Washington, Feb. 20. The house
committee on judiciary today returned
a favorable report on a bi 11 to confer
jurisdiction upon the Circuit court of
the United States for the Ninth circuit
(Pacific coast states) to determine in
equity the rights of American citizens
under the award of the Rearing pea
arbitration of Paris and to render judg
ment. The house committee also or
dered favorable report for United States
courts at Victoria, Tex.,and Miami, Fla.
BODY OF LAWMAKERS
It is the desire of Mr. Tawney that
appropriations shall be made available
for two years for the payment of ex
penditures properly incurred within
that time, and at the end-of that period
all unexpended balances shall be trans
ferred to the surplus fund, thus avoid
ing making the appropriations perma
nent.
The report of Mr. Shaw shows that
there were about 250 permanent appro
priations in 1904 and 1905. In 1904
they aggregated $02,000,000 and in
1905 $40,000,000. He states that he
favors the Tawney bill in the main,
but suggests a few additional amend
ments. Washington, Feb. 21. After 15
years of more or less serious considera
tion of the subjects, the senate today
passed the Heyburn pure food bill by
the decisive vote of 63 to 4. The vote
was taken after a day devoted almost
exclusively to desultory dbate on the
bill. , Several efforts were made to
amend the bill, and the committee ac
cepted a number of suggestions, but
only those thus accepted were incor
porated in the" bill as passed.
Tuesday, February 20.
Washington, Feb. 20. The senate
listened three or. four hours today to a
discussion of the details of the pure
food bill. A number of minor amend
ments were suggested, but under the
agreement to vote on all amendments
tomorrow none cf them could be acted
on today. Raynor presented by request
a reply from the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad company to the charge of dis
crimination against it by the Ked Rock
Fuel company, of West Virginia, deny
ing unfair treatment. The senate ad
journed a few minutes after 4 o'clock
out of respect to the memory of the
late Reprsentative Castor, of Pennsyl
vania. Gallinger presented four petitions
from residents of Oklahoma praying
for prohibits n in the proposed state of
Oklahoma. The mot voluminous con
tained the names of 8,000 voieis, and
Gallinger said that it was 264 feet
long. One of the others contained the
names of 6,000 women, and another
those of 6,000 children. The fourth
was signed by Indians only.
The pure food bill was then taken
up. A long discussion of amendments
offerad by various eenators ensued and
was participated in by Lodge, Piles,
Ilemenway", Gallinger, Spooner, Hey
burn, McCumber and others, Ilemen
way and Files appearing for the first
time in debate in the senate.
Washington, Feb. 20. The house of
representatives today took an immediate
adjournment out of reppect to the
memory of Representative George A.
Castor, of Pennvlvania. after the pas
sage of appropriate resolutions and the
appointment of a funeral committee.
Representative Castor died yesterday
in Philadelphia.
Monday, February 19.
Washington, Feb. 19. Three bills
were passed under suspension of the
rules requiring a two-thirds vote in
the house today.
The first makes gambling unlawful
in the territories of the United States,
including Arizona, New Mexico, Okla
homa, Indian Territory and Alaska.
The bill is directed particularly against
Arizona and New Mexico, where it was
stated gambling was licensed.
The eecond prov'des additional work
for the Census bureau by requiring sta
tistics to he taken on insurance, fish
eries, electrical industries, savings
banks and crimes.
The third appropriates $50,000 for
the purchase of 300 acres of coal land
on the island of Datan, one of the
Philippine archipelago. On the last
named bill a debate of two hours was
h.nl. The others were debated 40
minutes each.
Washington, Feb. 19. Discussion of
the pure food bill occupied practically
all cf the day in the senate. The
speakers were Heyburn, who has charge
of the bill; Foraker, hi presented a
number of amendments desired by
liquor interests; Money, in favor of his
sustitute; and Mi-Cumber. An order
was made to devote time tomorrow to
considering amendments under the ten
minute rule, and begin voting at 5
o'clock Wednesday.
The president transmitted to congress
a special message agreeing with the
minority report of the consulting en
gineers on the Panama canal in favor
of a lot k canal.
No Religious Test.
Washington, Feb. 20. In presenting
petitions againt Senator Reed Smoot,
signed by thousands of women of Cali
fornia and Colorado, Perkins an 1 Pat
terson took occasion today to define
their position on the protests ngaint
the Utah senator. The former said
that religious views ehou'd not be con
sidered in passing u,n the qualifica
tions of a senator, and that his honesty
and attributes that command confidence
and resp.n t should be above all else.
Patterson thought there were great con
stitutional questions to b considered.
To Hear Wickersham's Side.
Washington, Feb. 20. The senate
committee on judiciary w ill tomorrow
grant a hearing to Judge James Wick
ersham, of Alaska whose nomination
is hel 1 np on account of varons
charge. The cormnitt e, whi'e willing
to give Judge W.ckershani an opportu
nity tu refute the charges, will not con
front him with his accusers, or even
furnish him with their names. Judge
Wickerslmm w;ll leave for A'aska soon
after the bearing is concluded.
SEALERS MAY SUE UNCLE SAM.
Bill Allowing Courts to Adjust Claims
for Compensation.
Washington, Feb. 23. A favorable
report was made today on Senator Ful
ton's bill which permits owners of
sealing vessels seized for pelagic sealing
in Behring sea to go into the Circuit
court for the Ninth circuit to recover
from the government an amount equal
to the loss thev sustained through the
seizure of their vessels.
. Years ago, when Behring sea was
held to be a closed sea, . the United
States claimed jurisdiction over the
east half and Russia over the remain
der, and sealing was prohibited. Many
sealing vessels were captured by the
two governments. The Supreme court
subsequently held Behring sea to be an
open sea and denied the juriadiction of
this government beyond the three ma
rine leagues limit.
Following this. British sealers whose
vessels were taken by American reve
nue cutters sued and recovered from
the United States, and owners of Amer
ican ships taken by Russians recovered
from that government. But this gov
ernment has never paid the claims of
American sealers whose vessels were
illegally Beizod by the American gov
ernment. It is to pay these claimB
that the bill is pressed. In the aggre
gate it is not believed the claims will
exceed $1,000,000.
TWIXT HOPE AND FEAR.
Morocco Delegates Doubtful of Suc
cess of Conference.
AlgeciraB, Feb. 23. Although the
Franco-German deadlock remains un
broken, the opinion of the delegates to
the Moroccan conference fluctuates as
to tie results, the view today being
rather more .hopeful that Bome eolution
is possible. This is due largely to the
German attitude that an adjustment
eventually will be reached. The
American delegates also continue con
fident, despite the French and British
pessimism . Some of the delegates ex
press the view that some conciliatory
movement will be made directly from
Berlin.
At the afternoon session the con
ference pettled a few minor points on
the bank question, including the adop
tion of a gold basis.
The Italian delegates are discucsing
the possibility of the appointment of
a number of the conferees as arbitra
tors for the settlement of the contro
versial points of the French aud Ger
man projects, should agreement rela
tive to the majority of the details be
attained.
Ambassador White persists in his
optimistic view c f the ultimate result
of the conference.
RUSSIA WILL BRAND COWARDS.
Officers Who Surrendered Without
Cause To Be Disgraced.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 23. Unprece
dented regulations to purge the army of
officers accused of cowardice and sur
rendering during the war for no reason
able cause were announced today by
the military organ, the Russky Invalid.
Captive officers returning from Japan
will, unless they were wounded when
captured, be tried before courts of
honor, and unless reinstated by the
unanimous decision of their fellow
officers, will be dismissed in disgrace.
"Contusions," a frequent excuse for
surrender, will not be accepted.
The higher officers who were respon
sible for the surrender of their organ
izations must secure a vindication from
a court of honor and the minister of
war. Such cases will be submitted to
the emperor individually.
The troopB which composed the gar
rison at Port Arthur are exempt from
these provipionF, the responsibility for
the surrender of that fortress falling
upon General Stoessel.
Men Won't Let Women Talk.
Washington, Feb. 23. Discord in the
congresB for uniform divorce laws be
came so great this afternoon that Miss
Fannie Leake Cummir.gs, the sole rep
resentative of Washington state, with
drew and left for her home. Her reas
on was "the men won't let the women
talk." Of these offenders, she said,
ministers were the worst. It was earl
ier in the day. while she was making a
...- i-. -1 r:
speecn on tne iteai causes oi iMvun
es." that C. Larue Munson, of Phila
delphia, ahked her to cease, because he
considered her remarks "nauseating."
Drydock Dewey Adrift.
New York, Feb. 2:. According to a
dispatch to the Herald from Las Pal
mas, Canary islands, the drydock
Dewey lroke adrift three times and
was picked up with difficulty by the
fleet which is towing it. This is re
ported, the dispatch says, by the tug
Potomac, which recently reached Las
Palmas. The fleet and drydock are
now 4S0 miles wtst of the Canaries, the
dispatch says, and everything is goirg
well.
Condemns Export Tax on Coal.
London, Feb. 23. The British ex
port tax on coal apparently is slate! for
removal in the forthcoming budget of
Chancellor of the Exchequer Asquith.
Mr. Asqn:th informed a deputation
today that, while he declined to make
any declaration in regard to the taxa
tion nrtil he presented the budget, he
considers the coal tax vicious and un
necessarily injurious to an important
industry ILi said that the members
of the deputation would find him anx
ious to remove it.
WILL FALL BACK
ON VETO POWER
If Seiate Committee Draws Teeth
of Rate Bill.
President Announces His Position
VWII Leave Committee Free to
FVake Amendments, But Issues a
Warning Court Review (Vay Be
Irserted.
Washington, Feb. 22. When the
senate committee on interstate com
merce meets on Friday to vote on a
rate bill, the announcement will be
made authoratively that President
Roosevelt will not attempt to prevent
amendment of the Hepburn bill; that
he will leave the committee free to ex
ercise its best judgment, and if possible
compromise its differences; that, if a
reported which does not meet his ap
proval and in that form is pafsed by
congress, he will content himself to ex
ercise his veto power. This announce
ment will be made as the result of a
conference here today between the most
active persons supporting the house bill
without amendment, but will be deliv
ered to the committee by a senator who
has supported an amendment providing
for judicial review of orders of the In
terstate Commerce commission.
Conservative members of the com
mittee assert that they have the neces
sary votes to amend the Hepburn bill,
if they are left free to exercise their in
dividual judgment, so that they will
not be put in the position of opposing
the president's policy. Under these
conditions, it is said that Senators El-
kins, Foraker, Crane, Kean, Aldrich,
Carmack, Foster and McLaurin will
vote for an amendment providing for
judicial review. Seven votes is a ma
jority of the committee. Messrs. Cul
loru and Carmack will not be present
when the committee meets on Friday,
but as Mr. Cullom is opposed to
amendment, this will not affect the
result. An informal meeting of the
committee will be held today.
PURE FOOD BILL.
Provisions of the Measure as Passed
by the Senate.
Washington, Feb. 22. The pure
food bill as passed by the senate makes
it a misdemeanor to manufacture or
sell adulterated or misbranded foods,
drugs, med'e'nes or liquors in the Dis
trict of Columbia, the territories and
the insular possessions of the United
States and prohibits the shipment of
such goods from one Btate to another or
to a foreign country. It also prohibits
the receipt of such goods. Punishment
by fine of $500 or by imprisonment for
one year or both is prescribed. In the
case of corporations, officials in charge
are made responsible. The Treasury
department and the departments of
Agriculture and of Commerce and La
bor are required to agree upon regula
tions for collection and examination of
the articles covered by the bill, but no
specific provision is made for investiga
tion except by thetlepartment of Agri
culture. The investigations by that
department are placed in the hands of
the chief of the bureau of chemistry
and, if he finds that the law has been
violated, the secretary of agriculture is
required to report the facts to the
United States district attorney, who in
turn is required to institute proceed
ings in the Federal courts. The bill
alsa defines foods, drugs, medicines
and liquors and also defines the stand
ards for them. There is an exemption
for dealers who furnish guarantees
against adulterating and misbranding.
Jarvis Has First Claim.
Washington, Feb. 22. The Alaska
governorship is still in the air. D. H.
Jarvis, of Seattle, who was offered the
position, has not yet made known his
wishes, but it is believed he will accept
if he can get out of certain business
contracts which are now binding him.
In case Captain Jarvis declines, it is a
free field. Senator Flint, of Califor
nia, to lay presented to the president
John P. Clutn, recently appointed
postmaster at Fairbanks, and urged his
appointment. As postoffice inspector
Mr. Clum has been all over Alaska.
Ask Roosevelt to Settle.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 22. An official
news agency dispatch from Paris,
which bears strong marks of inspira
tion, suggests the possibility of inter
vention by President R msevelt, as in
the case of Russia and Japan, to recon
cile tlio diametrically opposite v'ews of
France and Germany, "in the general
hope that an entente may be reached."
In diplomatic circles confidence is felt
that failure of the conference will not
lead to war.
Discovery of Ancient Frescoes.
Venice, Feb. 22. While workmen
were engaged in renovating the church
of Santa Maria Gloriosa ce Frari. some
nnntant troa.viaa n-om it ifliOopeJ behind
the monnment of Doge Nicolo Tron.
One of the frescoes represented a pano- j
ply with the coat of arms ot Doge Tron,
and another consisted of decorative ;
bands with figures of the evangelists.
Will Preserve Cliff Dwellings.
Washington, Feb. 22. The senate
committee on public lands today au
thorized favoraole reports on three runs
concerning National parks. Among
these is the bill creating Mesa Verde
National park, in Colorado, to preserve
the ruins and relics of the prehistoric
cliff dwellers. 1
PRACTICED WIS PHILOSOPHY.
lie Could See Misfortunes tn Their
llamoruai Aspect.
"Thank goodness for a clothes-line!"
exclaimed Eric Gordon, fervently, as he
and his wife were putting the finishing
touches on a week of packing, prepara
tory to moving out of their house.
"That's what the Thurstons would say.
Did you know they call that room they
live in their 'one-room flat?' When all
the chair and tables are full, they stack
things in a corner and say, Thank
goodness for a floor !' "
"Mercy !" said the tfred-Iooking young
woman who was resting for a minute
on a packing-box. "How do people live
so?"
"Adaptability to circumstances and
the knack of turning the humorous
light on things. They have a mighty
good time all owing to their philoso
phy. Now Isn't It better to rejoice over
your thoughtfulness In forgetting to
pack this clothes-line than it would be
to lament because we've lost that trunk
strap?" He tipped up a trunk, and pro
ceeded to rore ft stoutly as he went on :
"If we can acquire the habit of being
amused by things which nag most peo
ple; If we can learu to enjoy lying
uwake when we can't go to sleep; if
we can look on the noise which dis
turbs us ns a kind of music "
"So easy to preach!" murmured his
wife. "Eric, do you know that it's go
ing on midnight? Mother will repent
having asked us to sleep there If we
don't come soon. O Eric, do you know
you've left out that vase on the trunk
behind you?"
"Yes ; I couldn't find a place where
I dared pack It I'm going to carry It
In my hands."
"The idea! You think more of that
vase than of everything else we own !"
"Maybe. It's our choicest possession,
I guess." He glanced admiringly over
his shoulder nt the rare piece of glass.
Then he asked, abruptly, "How am I
g;'ing to cut this rope? I want to put
the rest of it round that box, mid John
Blake has walked off with my knife."
"And everything in the house that
might cut Is packed, and everybody in
the neighborhood Is asleep!"
"Don't you suppose there's any sharp
edged thing lying around?"
'Tin afraid not," she answered, du
biously, and together they made a fruit
less tour of the rooms.
"I might gnaw it," hazarded Gordon,
humorously, ' picking up the roie and
trying to break It. As he did so his
foot slipped and one arm flew out,
striking the cherished vate behind him.
With a lunge he reached for It, only
to give It a blow that sent It crashing
into fragments on the hard, tiling of
the hearth.
"O Eric!" gasped Mrs. Gordon, and
waited for him to say the rest
There was a half-mlnute of silence.
Then, with a grim twinkle, he picked
up a Jagged bit of the beautiful rain-
how-hued class.
"Thank goodness for something to
cut this rope with," ho said, quietly, be
ginning to saw the clothes-line apart
"There'3 nothing more to pack now,
Dolly, and we can get right over to
your mother's and have a good night's
sleep." Youth's Companion.
THE ISLAND OF PATMOS.
Where St. John, the IJeloved, Wrote
Ills Kevelntloits.
The Isles of Greece, "where burning
Sappho loved and sung," are forever
reappearing in lilstory. Just the other
day It was the undent Leslos, called
in modern times by the name of Its
old-time capital, Mi ty lone, at which
the allied fleets of Christendom
planned to make a demonstration
against the Turk. Factional fights le
tweon the sympathizers of the Sultan
and the Greek patriots In Crete every
few months threaten to make the
haunt of the Minotaur the scene of
International complications. Samoa
has been In the limelight several times
luce the Greek war for Independence
and the Investigations of European
find American nrohoologlsts In Delos,
Acglnn and Euhoea have kept these
Islands in the public eye. 'ery few,
in fact of the members of the Grecian
archipelago, barren and untenanted
though they nre. have entirely drifted
out of notice.
Even the least known of them nil
in antiquity, hardly mentioned by the
prehistoric writer, but made famous by
the visions of the best loved of the
apostles, I'atmos, Is frequently famil
iarly spoken of, though seldom visited.
For throughout the length and breadth
of the Christian world many ediffivs
stand In commemoration of St. John.
LJreat and small, humble anil grand,
?athodrnls, churches and cIihik'Is. they
cover a period of history extending
from the day when the conversion of
L'onst.mtlne made Christianity the offi
cial religion of civilization down to the
present time. At one end stands the
little chapel built by the piety of the
simple- fishermen of Pat'nos above the
cave where St John passed the long
d.iys of his banishment from the main- I
land of Asia Minor. At the other are j
the central arch and the columns of j
the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, j
now being erected at the cost of a j
king's ransom and years of thought ;
and put lent toll. The contrast between !
the capital of the new world and the j
barren Island In the Grecian nn-hijvl- j
ng tietweon the wealth of the twontl- 1
eth century and the provincial village j
of the Roman empire, ts typified by the j
unltkenoss of the two structures.
High up on the stoop hillside of the
little Island of Patmoe Is still to le !
seen to-day the natural cave In which !
St John lived for many years and .
wrote his Revelations. The cave. rougV '
ly divided Into two compartments, Is j
cut deep Into the solid rook, the walls j
an damp with the natural m.'isture j
of the earth, and the only light comes
from a single candle burning before an
ancient shrine.
There Is still pointed out In the solid
rock a smooth, rouna hole, which
was used by St John for a pillow, and
directly above this, seen when the light
Is raised, is a long fissure running
diagonally across the ceiling. Through
this fissure the spirit descended and
Inspired the Revelation.
"BEAUTY AND THE BEAST."
How m Pretty Old Story la Misread
and Misinterpreted.
When a lovely woman weds a rich,
coarse, cruel man, the cynical modern
observer exclaims, "Beauty and the
Best !" The characterization Is a wick
ed misreading of one of the loveliest of
myths, a story as fruitful of wisdom
to-day as when It sprang out of the
early life of the world.
Beauty was a good daughter and a
brave woman. Her father lost his for
tune, and she set herself to serve him.
When prosperity promised to return to
him, she begged a gift of roses rather
than of Jewels or laces. When be
again fell into trial, was captured by
the Beast and forced to promise one
of bis daughters as a raasom, Beauty
at once offered herself as the sacri
fice. In the palace of the Beast, surround
ed by every luxury, but not knowing
what fate awaited her, she never for
got her old father, dreamed of him
nightly, and at last begged leave to go
to see him and return. Although she
was persuaded to stay a week beyond
her leave, she came back loyally to the
palace of the Beast The poor crea
ture was half-dead of grief for what
he believed to be her loss, and the
sight of his pain and his delight gave
her courage to avow her recognition of
his noble qualities, her love for him,
and her resolve to be his wife in spite
of his hideous exterior.
Instantly the Beast was transformed
Into a handsome young price, freed
from an evil charm by the devotion of
the brave woman, and Beauty and the
prince came Into their Just inheritance
of Joy and peace.
The symbolism of the myth has a
profound truth. The Beauty who would
work a charm upon the Beast in man
to-day must also possess the simplicity
which prefers the rose to the dia
mond, the Industry which does not fear
poverty, the filial loyalty which will
not flinch from dangerous duty, the in
tuition which sees the great heart with
the ugly form, and the courage which
dares all for love.
When the woman of to-day and to
morrow has all these powers at her
call, we shall see, not the hideous mod
ern parody of Beauty and the Beast,
but the perennial repetition of the love
ly old story in which, led through trials
by n brave and virtuous woman, "they
all" live happy ever after. Youth'9
Companion.
A Historic Leif.
There resides in Washington an old
man who saw service In the Civil
War ns a colonel, although In after
years he came to call himself general,
hose only wound in action was a slight
scratch on his leg. Nevertheless, this
wound has always been a matter of
great glory and pride to him, aud he
has nursed It ever since, and has
grown lamer every year that the mem
ory of his bravery might ever be with
hi in.
One afternoon, when he sat at his
club, nursing the Injured leg, a fel
low clubman of recent acquaintance
sympathetically asked:
"Lame, general?"
"Yes, sir," was the reply, after an
Inexpressibly solemn pause, "I am
lame."
"Been riding, sir?1'
"No," this time with rebuking
sternness, "I have not been riding."
"Ah, I trust it was not due to a fall
on the Ice, general?"
"No" came In tones of ferocity.
"Perhaps, then, you have sprained
your ankle?"
With painful slowness the old fel
low lifted his pet leg In both hands,
set It carefully on the floor, rose de-
liberatelv from his chair, and looking
down upon the unfortunate questioner
with mingled pity and wrath, burst
forth in almost sublime rage:
"Go, sir. and read the history of
vour country, sir!"
An Md Itnoe.
An exciting form of winter sport In
which Canadian boys excel. Is barrel
racing, and It Is great fun I can tell
you.
Those races are on Ice.
Ordinary barrels, with their heads
removed, are placed In regular Inter
vals along the race course, for about
a quarter of a mile.
Then, at a given signal, nil the hoys
skate for the first barrel. Many reach
it together, and. ns each skater must
pass through u'.l the barrels In order
to win. there Is quite a scramble for
lirst turn.
Sometimes a barrel wheels complete
ly around while a Ny is working his
way through It. and when he comes
out. bo Is so confused that he skates olt
In the wrong direction. Usually tha
laugh of the sivtators makes him
realize his blunder, and he quickly
turns alnut and trios to make up for
lst time. It is quite an exciting sport
and an amusing one nl for the spec
tator, as the lys and barrels Imb
uNuit in the most ludicrous fashion.
The men will g on till the end of
time giving their girls n vels and "Lu
cille" during their engagements, ami
tlien wonder after marriuce why they
".on't own a cook book.
When a girl Cirts with a man she
mnkfs a fool of herself and trie to
make a fool of him.