The Great
Tontine
HAWLEY SMART
AtlUtar "BroWn Bonds." "Bound to Win."
Eu.
CHAPTER IX.
Mr. Carbuckle occupied a set of cham
bers in the Temple. On the evening after
his visit to Miss Caterham. Mr. Ring
wood was seated in company with his
host.
"I have no doubt whatever but you are
right in your conjecture," said Mr. Car
buckle. "Pegraru is either a shareholder
or the agent of a shareholder, but that
Is a thing you can easily ascertain. You
have nothing to do but to get a line from
me, and would tell him so; arid of course,
with Che object he had in view, he would
take very good care not to contradict
her."
"My own idea is that if they can find
Terence Finnigan they intend to perpe-
tiate a fraud. t or instance, granting
they find him, I should think a few hun
dred pounds would easily keep him out of
the way till his death, whic'i probably
cannot be far off. or till the death of
Fi'gra m's nominee. Recollect the stake
is so big. It is a great temptation."
"Yes," said Mr. Carbuckle, "it might
be so : I never thought of that. Now it
would Ih a great point if we could dis
cover Pegram. First of all. we should
be able to get at what sort of a man he
is, and to some extent judge whether he
Is likely to attempt a fraud of this na
ture : and in the second place, keeping a
M iss Caterham, accrediting you as her
agent, and go down to the board room
and look at .the list of the subscribers.
It is some time since I saw it. and then
there were between forty and fifty names
Till left on. But I recollect, when I last
talked to Miss Oaterham about it, she
told me then were only five or sis left,
and the probability is that one or two
of those have been put out of it since.
Then comes the question what is Peg
ram's motive? I should imagine feverish
curiosity to know whether the life of
Miss Caterhara's nominee has lapsed."
"It strikes me," replied Ringwood,
"that the first thing to ascertain is, how
did this Pegram discover that I was to
call on Miss Caterhani on your behalf?"
"From Miss Caterham herself, no
doubt," replied Carbuckle. "As I, in my
hurry, had omitted to give your name,
she would naturally think he came from
very sharp eye on Mr. Pegram. it is quite
possible we should find the missing Finni
gan." "I know it is rather presumptuous to
differ with one of your experience, but I
think this probably is (he principal, and
I will tell you why. If my Iheory is
right, the discovery of Terence Finnigan
is merely the prelude to the perpetration
pf a great fraud. It must be obvious
to the man who contemplates it that the
fewer accomplices he has the better. If
he can do without any, better still. Now,
again, I think it very likely that he would J
use his own name in this preliminary in
quiry at Miss Caterham's. In the event
of discovery he could easily pass it off
as feverish curiosity, and if he appeared
under an assumed name, he would certain
ly lay himself open to the grave suspicion
of contemplating foul play of some de
scription." f "Yes, there is a good deal in what
you say,'' returned Mr. Carbuckle; "but
visit to the board room will settle the
question in two minutes. By the way,
when you are there see if Viscount Ijik
ington is still left in the 'Tontine.' He
was the last time I saw the list, and I
can't help taking an interest in his share.
It is curious enough, if it had not been
for myself and Gerald Fitzpa trick he
would never have gone into it at all." And
here the barrister related the story of
that famous pool that was played the
night of the Ascot Cup, at the little
villa at Bracknell.
Armed with Mr. Carbuckle's missive,
Ringwood lost no time in one more pre
senting himself at the cottage. The la
dies, once convinced that he really was
Mr. Carbuckle's friend, welcomed him
warmly, and expressed their gratitude for
the trouble he was about to take for them.
Miss Caterham was able now to regard
him without fear or prejudice, and was
fain to acknowledge the truth that Ron
ald Ringwood was a very pleasant, gentle
manly young man, with high spirits, and
considerably more than average ability ;
but the poor lady was still unspeakably
nervous on the subject of Mr. Pegram,
and was continually conjuring up to her
self fantasies of crime more or less deeply
tinted. Ringwood made no secret of how
be intended to open the campaign, telling
Them rliat. in the opinion of himself and
Mr. Carbuckle, it was desirable, in the
first place, to discover Mr. Pegram. as
it might very probably lead them without
further trouble to the end of their goal
In finding Terence Finnigan.
Ringwood duly attended at the board
day, and" ascertained that Mr. Pegram
was a solicitor living in the town of
Rydland. in North Wales.
"My theory right to start with," be
muttered. "What a bit of luck ! I am
off by Che Irish mail to-night to see what
I can make of Pegram. An intended
fraud for a ducat."
He had no difficulty In ascertaining
that Mr. Pegram was a well-to-do so
licitor, who had lived in Rydland all his
life; that he was not particularly popu
lar amongst his brother townsmen; that
his money was more derived from suc
cessful speculation in the near watering
place of Llambarlym than his business
a solicitor; that he was now a widow
er, his wife having died some five or six
years ago. and that alout tha time he
liad taken into partnership bis eldest son,
and the firm was now known as Pegram
& Son. Id reply to inquiries as to what
age Mr. Pegram might be, he was in
formed sixty or upwards, and that the
on won 1 1 probably number about half
bis father's years.
There was nothing further to be done
In Rydland at present, mo he resolved to
return to town by the night mail, and
(Nrtjaent his meager budget of facu to Mr.
Oarhncltle. In pursuance of this resolve
he ordered an early dinner, and cat down
to that meal in all tho dignity conferred
by finding himself sole tenant of tho
somewhat dingy coffee room. The door
was suddenly opened, and a stoutish,
florid man bustled In, bringing with him
such a breeze of life and irrepressible
activity tiiat the whole phw-e seemed at
once peopled.
"Here you are, waiter; let some of
them take these rugs and traps to my
room. Now, what have you got to eat
in the house? Ion't be all day thinking
about it, but pull yourself together at
once, man. Hurry up, I tell you. Off to
town to-night, sir?" asked the stranger
Interrogatively.
Ringwood nodded assent.
"There," said the stranger, pointing
to the bill of fare which the waiter had
just placed in his hand, "I know of course
that you are out of everything good to
eat, which, freely translated, means you
never had it in your lives. (Jet me' some
of that, and that. Been here long, sir?"
Ringwood could not help smiling at his
companion's curiosity as he replied, "I
came down here the day before yester
day."
"Rum place to take into your head to
pay a visit to," returned the stranger,
"This is about the most one-horse old
town I ever came across. It hasn't mov
ed a bit since I first knew it twenty
years ago. If it wasn't that I had to
see old Lawyer Pegram occasionally on
a bit of business I would never set foot
in the old ramshackle place again. The
old man did me a turn ; he let me stand
in with himself in the little 'ring' of
the early developers of Llanbarlyin a
watering place close by. I made a good
bit of money out of it at the time, and
have got some house property now there
that is worth having. However, I did
the old fox a bigger turn than he did
me, little as it looked like it at the time.
I persuaded him to take a share in a lot
tery that was a great craze in those days;
not likely you ever heard of it. It was
a thing that happened before you were
breeched ; but leople went pretty mad
about the 'Great Tontine' at that time, I
can tell you.''
Ringwood here intimated that he knew
all about the "Great Tontine," and al
wuys felt intense curiosity concerning it.
"Well, sir, the 'Great Tontine' is just
about winding up. There are only two
left in it. and Pegram is one. I believe,
by the way. there is an old lady who
can't find her nominee; that's probably
because he is dead. As I said the other
day, it's lucky for the nominees that
their names are kept dark, or else I
should think they would have a sickly
summer. Oh. I can tell you," said the
stianger. laughing, "there's a fine melo
drama here. Can't you fancy the two
Inst nominators each trying to do away
with his opionent's man in five acts?"
"Ah, well," said Ringwood, "I don't
suppose Mr. Pegram would dream of
resorting to such extreme measures."
"Well, murder is a strong order, no
doubt ; but I don't think old Pegram
would be over scrupulous about smoothing
his way to a hundred and sixty thousand
pounds. So you have spent two days at
Rydland, have you? Excuse me, but
why did you do it
"Oh, like you." replied Ringwood,
laughing, "perhaps I also am assisting in
the development of Llanbarlyin."
"Guess you are rather late in the field
then," replied the stranger. "It really
m curious what you could have found to
do for two days in Rydland. Why, I
could do the whole business of the place
for the week in an hour."
"It is time I was off," said Ringwood,
rising. "I have a novel here which killed
my time for me last night. If you will
accept it perhaps it will do the same for
you this evening."
"Thank you." replied the stranger. "It's
a good place to do it in," he continued,
with assumed gravity. "But you are
the first man I ever heard of who with
drew to this solitude to read his book.
Good-by ; my name is Hemmingby, and
I 'boss' a show in town. I dare say you
have heard of my name as manager of
the 'Vivacity' Theater; and I'll have
tliat 'Great Tontine' dramatized as sure
as you are alive ; mind you come and
see 'it."
CHAPTER X.
Hemmingby strolled leisurely up to the
office of Pegram & Son. It was evidently
only just open, but one of the clerks, to
whom Mr. Hemmingby was well known,
informed him that Mr. Pegram would
be sure to be there in ten minutes.
"Oh. I suppose I am a little early,"
said the manager. "By the way, I don't
see Mr. Krabbe; I hope there is nothing
wrong with the old gentleman. He must
be a great age now."
"Turned eighty, sir. lie is quite broke
down, and don't come to the office any
more. Mr. Pegram was very kind to him
took him off to the seaside somewhere
for a change of air. He is living in a
little cottage Mr. Pegram took for him
on the outside of the town, and a nurse
they got from Ixtudon takes care of him.
I have seen him occasionally. He is just
rotting away from old age."
"Glad to s-e you, Hemmingby, glad to
see you," exclaimed Pegram as he shook
bonds with the manager. "Come along
into my own room beyond here. Anything
we can do for you? Your house property
at Llanbarlym will turn money if you
want to realize."
"The Llanbarlym property is a paying
investment that I mean to stick to. By
the way, I am sohrry to hear such a sad
account of old Krabbe."
"Ah, yes; a terrible breakdown. I don't
suppose the jioor old fellow has many
months' life left in him."
"Do you think it would please him if
I went to see him?" said Hemmingby.
"The old chap and I were always friend
ly" 'Very kind indeed of you to think of
it," rerplied the lawyer, "but I am afraid
it would be quite useless; he does not al
ways seem to know me. and as for Bob,
he takes no notice of him whatever."
"Pegram." exclaimed the manager, "it
would be rather awkward for you if he
had happened to be your nominee In the
'Great Tontine'"; and as he spoke Hem
mingby shot a keen glance at his com
panion. The lawyer smiled as he replied dryly,
"Yea, he would not be a good life to
depend upon Just now."
"Yon begin to look uncommonly like
taking the whole pool. I wonder It doesn't
occur to you lucky people who are still
left in to compromise eight thousand a
year will stand a little cutting up."
"I hare been thinking of that Join
ed the lawyer eagerly. "You you know
this Lord Lnkington ; tell me what sort
of a man is lie?"
"Ah, you think, then, a compromise
would be' judicious?" said Henimingby.
"I think it might suit me if I eould
only see my way. I shall do myself the
honor of submitting terms to Lord lnk
ington. It would be no good, jou know,
to put them before you ; you ore not em
powered to treat," said Pegram.
"No: vou are right there," replied
Hemmingby ; "but don't you fall Into the
mistake of thinking that because iaKing
ton did not know the value of money in
his early days that he does not know it
now. If your compromise means that you
are to have fifteen shillings out of the
sovereign, I don't think, my friend, that
It will come off."
The lawyer sat for some time after
Mr. Hemmingby left him immersed in
thought. His meditations were Interrupt
ed by the abrupt entrance of Mr. Robert
Pegram, with indications of a night pass
ed In traveling.
"What! back again, Bob? Well, do
vou brine any news?"
"Yes; I have just arrived from Ire
land," said Robert Pegram. "I am sorry
to say I have made nothing of the Irish
quest. I met lots of people who recol
lected the old fellow, yet no one had
seen anything of him for the last few
years. This fellow -Finnigan will take a
lot of finding."
"But find him we must," replied his
father quickly, "if i is only to be quite
eeitain of keeping him out of the way
for the remainder of his life.
"We must do our best," replied Rob
ert Pegram ; "and now, have you thought
out how we are to play our cards?
Things are risky as they stand, you know.
Surely we ought to come to a compromise
with Lord Lakington."
"Yes, my lad," replied old Fegram
"and Hemmingby was here only an hour
ago to sound me on that very subject
on the Viscount's behalf. Sit down. I
have thought it all out; such a scheme!
What do you say to a compromise,. Bob,
by which you get half and a charming
wife to begin with, and the whole to wind
up with?"
"What on earth do you mean, father?"
"I mean this: I have sent Lord Lak
ington word that I am good to compro
mise if he will agree to my terms. Now,
Lord Lakington has got a grown-up
daughter; I have no doubt she is pretty,
although I don't know anything for cer
tain on that point. I intend you to mar
ry her."
"Under which circumstances,' interpos
ed Robert Pegram, "I should have pre
ferred your obtaining more precise infor
mation about her appearance." ,
"Don't talk nonsense,-' said the old gen
tleman testily ; "she has rank, station,
everything you want.
"Has it occurred to you that Miss
Fhillimore would decline to have anything
to say to me?"
"No, it. hasn't," exclaimed the old man
eagerly, "because that is Lord Laking-
ton's business ; and when Iord Lakington
sees how very much it is for his advan
tage this match will be, I fancy he will
use all his Influence in favor of it ; and
I think, from all I hear, Bob. that the
young lady is likely to do as her father
tells her."
"Still, I tell you," replied Robert Peg
ram, 1 don t want mis marriage. i
have a feeling harm will come of it."
"Well," continued Pegram, senior, "I
shall be off the day after to-morrow to
settle things with Lord Lakington ; and
when I come back, Bob, my boy," he
concluded with a grin, "it will be, mark
you. with orders to get your trousseau
readv. In the meantime, I trust to you
to spare neither time nor money to find
Finnigan. Do what your old father asks
you, and say this marriage shall be, as
far as it lies with you.
"I can't refuse you. father," he said at
length, "although I shall have to contend
with a difficulty of which you have no
idea; but, as you wish it, so shall it be.
I will marry Miss Puillimore if you can
arrange so."
"Thank you. Bib, thank you ; and, Bob,
my lad, if money will tide over this little
difficulty you have got to contend with,
recollect I can find any moderate sura. I
have seen gold overcome a good many."
"Thanks; should I want any I will
come to you," replied the son senten
tiously. (To be continued.)
Thinks Mllllor.ilre t nhnppy.
John Burroughs, the naturalist, be
lieves that few millionaires are really
happy. He la quoted in an interview
as follows :
"I do not believe in the doctrine at
tributed to John I). Rockefeller, that
if you want to make your wife happy
all you have to do Is tQ give her plenty
of money. I do not believe that pos
session of money and happiness are
synonymous. If Mr. Rockefeller has
been quoted correctly, he is making a
declaration that I believe American
women and women all over the world
will resent. They want love first of
all, if they are provided with the right
Instincts.
"I sat ltehlnd Jay Gould in school
and once he wrote a coiuimsltion on a
slate for me when I needed ideas. That
day he needed "0 cents and I gave the
sum to him for two old school books.
I saw him later In life, when he was
worth $70,000,000. hut I do not think
he was happy. The money Are was
blazing in his eyes, and I nin sure It
reached his brain and consumed his
life, sending him to an untimely grave.
"I know millionaires, and know few
happy ones. True, Mr. Carnegie seems
to be an exception, because he Is dif
ferent from many other rich men. He
Is trying to get rid of his money and
he takes a keen delight in doing good
with it."
Tact.
Hostess Miss Robinson has no part
ner for this waltz. Would you mind
dancing with her Instead of me?
Hawkward On the contrary, I shall
be only too delighted. Answers.
The Mohammedans use the lunar
year, which Is ten days and twenty-one
noun and a few seconds shorter than
ours.
Para to Hare an Incubator,
Six years ago we purchased a 100
rgg incubator and every season it has
been set Ave or six times and have
never had one failure nor one bad
hatch. The hatches are always In the
nineties with the exception of once
when we only got seventy-eight chicks.
Our hatches are about the same each
time each season through. We nearly
always have from ninety-two to ninety
six chicks, seldom lower thau ninety
three, more often higher than that, and
always such strong, lively chicks, al
most never a cripple among them
seldom one in 500. Our incubator lias
not had the advantage of being kept
in a cave or cellar, but we have done
so well with it that we have purchased
another of 120 and one of 240-egg ca
pacity, as we are going Into the busi
ness more extensively.
We can truthfully say that the In
cubator is a great time and labor saver
and a money maker. It Is one of the
best investments any farmer or any
one who raises poultry can make. Who
would care to go back to the slow way
of raising chicks with the sitting hen
when it can be done with the Incuba
tor so easily and so well? With the
hen the season of hatching is soon
over with, while with the incubatvr
the early fries for market can be sold
when the market prices are best; and
the early pullets hatched that will be
wanted for fall and winter layers. We
do not have to wait on the sitting hen
to hatch out a few chickens when we
have the incubator to hatch them by
the dozens.
A good Incubator will pay for it
self over and over the first season of
its use. It is Indispensable in the poul
try business. To all those who con
template purchasing I would say, don't,
get one that Is too cheap. Get a good
one, even if you do have to pay more.
IXCUBAT0B AND BBOODER.
The good ones are the cheapest in the
long run. There are some incubators
that have to be watched closely to give
results, but these are the thin-walled
kind that will not hold even tempera
ture. Our incubator does not get any
watching after it is once set going.
We leave for an all-day visit any time
even at hatching time and It takes
care of itself.
For the amount invested an incuba
tor will make more money than any
machine I know of. Mrs. L. E. Brack.
Handling Manure,
It is pertinent also to here refer to
the trials conducted by the Cornell
Agricultural Station to demonstrate
the losses to stable manure when ex
posed to leaching and weathering. A
pile of manure that contained elements
worth $5.48, after being exposed for
five months was worth only $2.03. Leav
ing manure In piles in the field is an
antiquated method that should never
be practiced, for the reason that it
results in fertilizing the spots where
the heaps lie too heavily, giving them
fully three times as much of the fer
tilizing elements as they need, while
threo times as much ground receives
less than it needs, or not enough to
make a showing. Where manure is
allowed to lie in heaps on a field for
a few weeks or a month, it is an im
possibility to spread It so as to get
an even distribution of organic mat
ter and of the elen ts of fertility. It
Is preferable to spread the manure di
rect from the wagon with a fork, al
though this ts by no means an up-to-
date way of handling it. For the most
economical results, manure should he
hauled direct from the barn as soon
as it Is made and scattered over the
lields by means of a spreader. In this
way, and in this way only, can the full
value of manure be saved, provided, of
course, enough bedding is used In the
barn to nicely absorb all the liquid ex
crement, the plant food of which
amounts to nearly one-half of the total
in the manure and liquid excrement.
When to riant Cherries.
hnut the best time to plaut cherry
trees is in early fall or very early in
spring. It Is better to piant in Octo
ber, even before the leaves rail, strlp
nlnr the leaves off, than it Is late, Just
before winter sets in. In fact, many
trees would do better than they do,
were they set early, stripping their
leaves, not waiting for the leaves to
fall.
Alcohol from ft.
Alcohol Is obtained from peat by
treating the fiber with sulphuric acid
and fermenting with a special yeast. A
ton of dry peat yields forty-three gal
lons of pure spirit at one-fourth of tht
coat of potato alcohol.
.
ttxerclaln n Dull.
The accompanying cut furnishes an
excellent plan for exercising a bull. A
large, strong post is sunk into the
ground and securely set. On top of
this post Is placed an Iron plate some
what similar to that used on tho bol
ster of a sleigh or wagon through
which the king bolt passes. A long
sweep, evenly balanced, Is placed upon
the top of this post and pfnned by
means of a long rod, or, as we might
say, king bolt. The sweep is necessarily
large at one end and small at the
other, which makes It possible to bal
ance with one end comparatively short
and the other long. The bull is tied
to tho rope attached to the further
end of the long nrm, and In that way
can hnve a large circle to move In.
The supporting post should be above
the ground high enough to carry the
FOlt KXEKCISINO THE BULL,
sweep above the bull. For a time the
bull may attempt to free himself, but
if the post and sweep are made prop
erly and securely there will be no dan
ger ami he will soon settle down to
exercising In a much lietter manner.
The Value of Tile Draining.
Tile properly placed makes soil
dryer in wet weather and more moist
in dry weather. This is difficult lo
understand until we consider the na
ture of the soil.
Soli In proper condition is porous,
something after the manner of a
HKinge. It will hold water up to a
certain point without leaking. Until it
becomes thoroughly saturated, it con
tains air as well as water. Air Is
warm and air is needed by plants in
the process of growth.
Tile leads the water away quickly
in the spring so the air can penetrate
the soil and warm it so seeds will
germinate and grow quickly. Un
drnined land, if low, fills with water
In the spring to the saturation point
aud the excess of moisture passes off in
vapor through the process of evapora
tion. It requires a great deal of heat
to warm the water sufficiently to cause
it to pass off in this way. That heat is
lost.
After evaporation has dissipated the
moisture and the soil becomes dry
enough to work It breaks up in clods,
because it has baked down and packed
together like mortar. It is almost im
possible to prepare a good seed bed in
such ground. Agricultural Kpltomist.
Country' Ilalnfull.
The total rainfall of this country,
including snow and that on water
areas, was given as 215,(Hi0.000,0K),0OO
cubic feet a year. Half or more is
evaporated. About one-third flows Into
the sea. The remaining one-sixth is
either consumed or absorbed. Of the
'O.nflO.OOO.OOO.txiO cubic feet flowing an
nually Into the sea. less than 5 per
cent Is used for power. It is estimated
that 85 to !5 per cent of the volume
is wasted In freshets or destructive
floods. There are In the United States
proper 232 streams navigated -for an
aggregate of 2(1,115 miles, and as much
more Is navigable by improvement.
A Breed Worth Paring For.
The calf which an English farmer
had taken the summer resident to see
surveyed his owner aud the stranger
with a weary eye. "What breed Is your
calf?" asked the visitor.
The farmer removed a wisp of straw
from his mouth and said:
"The critter's father gored a Justice
o' the peace, knocked a book canvasser
end over end and lifted a tramp over
a fence; and, ns for his mother, she
chased a brass band out o' town last
New Year's day. If that ain't breed
enough to pay 25 shillings for, you can
leave him be. I'm not pressing him on
anybody."
A Very Cheap Gate.
A light, useful and durable gate can
be made of sassafras poles and barbed
wire as shown In the cut. Set a strong
I'OT.E AND W1UK OATE.
post 4 feet in the ground in the middle
of the gateway and balance the gate
on it. The lower rail is made of two
forked sassafras poles securely nailed
together so as to work around the post
W. II. Thompson, In Farm and Home.
Separable Metal Barrel.
An economical retainer In which to
ship products such as cement, lime and
plaster is described in Popular Me
chanics. Its halves are separable and
can be nested in a compact form for
the return Journey. The cost of the
barrel is about $1, which is n little
more than twice that of n wooden bar
rel, but they are claimed to be good
for at least fifteen round trips, and
the room they occupy when empty cut
down the shipping bill one-half.
Hint for the Farmer.
Lime sweetens the soil as generous
deeds sweeten the soul.
Use the hatcbei on the old rusty
cans. At least don't use them for milk
or cream.
Sow some peas and oats to help out
when hot weather comes. Then put in
some fodder corn planted thickly in tht
row,
IF w
SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY
Building blocks of glass nre In com
mon use in Silesia.
i'lgnients of inoro than 400 different
colors tire secured from coal.
Tho population of Russia is increas
ing at tho rate of 2,500,000 a year.
Cinchona planters are in a bad way
In Java. Bark has fallen heavily in
value.
Thero nre less than 500 miles of rail
way in Colombia, and nearly all trav
eling must be done on horse or mule
back. In Texas there are fifty-five counties,
35,000,000 acres, without a foot of rail
way. Most of Texas is over ten miles
firom a railway, and there are places
100 miles away.
Unter den Linden Is the center of
Berlin and the hub of the German em
pire. This magnificent boulevard is 1SW
feet in width, and under the shade of
Its lime trees the Berllners have a
meeting place which Is equal in archi
tectural beauty to any in Europe. It
Is lined on either side with nmgnltlcent
hotels, restaurants and palaces.
Seated opposite the late James Mc
Neill Whistler at dinner one evening
was a patronizing young lord. During
a lull In the conversation he adjusted
his monocle and leaned forward toward
the artist. "Aw, y know, Mr. Whis
tler," ho drawled, "I pahssed your
house this mawnlng." "Thank you,"
said Whistler, quietly. "Thank you
very much."
Once, when taking breakfast at a
hotel in Richmond, John Randolph com
plained that the eggs were not fresh.
"If you want fresh eggs, waiter, always
buy them in Chesterfield" (a county
Just across the James). "How come
Chesterfield eggs better'n Henrico eggs,
sah?" "Because you rascal, the Ches
terfield people nre too poor to keep
theirs long."
Many eclipses are noticed In the rec
ords of all ages. Astronomers can de
termine accurately when eclipses must
have occurred and the eclipse records
are proving valuable to historical stu
dents as a means of determining the
dates of Important events. From these
studies P. H. Cowell has found evi
dence that our year has decreased with
in historical times.
An economical retainer in which to
ship products such as cement, lime and
plaster is described In Popular Me
chanics. Its halves are separable and
can be nested in a compact form for
the return Journey. The cost of the
barrel Is alout $1, which Is a little
more than twice that of a wooden bar
rel, but they are said to be good for
at lenst fifteen round trips, and the
room they occupy when eniply cuts
down the shipping bill one-half.
There were more paupers In England
than ever at the end of January, des
pite old age pensions, the proportion in
Ixmdon being the highest since 1881,
according to the government return
Just published. The total number of
paupers In England and Wales was
8.r0,4W, of whom 288,8.11 were Indoor.
The proportion a thousand of popula
tion was 24.1, an increase of .5 from
last year and of .3 in indoor paupers.
The total In Indon was 133,226". a pro
portion of 27.8.
A great deal of attention has recently
been given to the cultivation of rubber,
on account of the continually increas
ing demand for it Prof. Francis E.
Lloyd points out that "the inevitable
struggle of man with nature" has al
ready manifested Itself In this new
field. Already a considerable number
of parasitic enemies have been discov
ered, "whose energies appear to be
largely concentrated mon cultivated
rubber trees." It Is another problem
for science to deal with.
In response to a demand that they
get together the two leading charitable
organizations of Chicago, the Bureau
of Charities and the Chicago Relief and
Aid Society, have effected an amalga
mation of forces and will be known
hereafter as the United Charities of
Chicago. The main reason for the
amalgamation Is the raising of more
funds. At present the Bureau of Char
ities disburses about $80,000 a year and
the Relief and Aid Society about $08.
000. It is hoped to raise between $300.
000 and $400,000 for the combined or
ganizations. French children nre often on their
way to school a little after 7 o'clock
In the morning. If they have concluded
their lessons by 9 o'clock In the even
ing It Is only by dint of great appli
cation. Young men studying for the
higher professions have anointments
with their tutors at 5 o'clock in the
morning in summer time; otherwise
they cannot accomplish the mountain
of work that lies before them. In all
branches of art the labor of the tyro
is immense. At the Conservatoire the
strenuous life Is carried to a Nint
which provokes the astonishment even
of laborious German students. Pall
Mall Gezette.
The growing Industry of extracting
aluminum has stimulated the search
for water-power In the British Isles,
leonue the extraction of aluminum Is
so expensive that only low-cost power
can be economically employed. In thl
respect Scotland, with Its mountains. Is
coming to the front The water power
power plant at the falls of Foyers, In
Scotland, has hitherto been the largest
in Great Britain, but now a still
larger plant, at Klnlochleven. utilizing,
tho rainfall over a tract of flfty-flT
square miles, la about to be put into
operation for the production of alumi
num. Its nine hydraulic turbines, each
of 8,200 brake horsepower, are the larf
rst water wheels In Um British. laloa,