QftflD wnnenai A Tale of tho Early Settlors of Louisiana, Y AU8TIN C. DURDICK OHAPTKtt XlX.tlCunlliiui'J.) The old thief look I he youth' band, nnil having gazed Into lila Vnt'v n few mo menta, liu aiildi "Whllii llnnd, jnn mice gave mi' mi nntli, Imt fhim nil oiillis )uu linrn cur Klvi'ii iiio I n.iw nlmolro j mi, !n 11 ii Mil has told mi' nil. Him till tnlil tile liinv triii- you aro In heart, nml how yet you long fur tln liiiiiin of )uiir rlill'llioo'l. I ilu not llilnlc jour fnlliiT hna fallen l tlili kiiutii I inaaaiirrr, fur Ilia place la strong, nml tliu red nii'ii nwo lilm no grudge. Yet liv may Imvu fallen with tin' rent. If lie has, you tun suiiietlinu llml opportunity to reach your unlive Intnl. Hut ) mi urn iimlvr no until now. Of what lint now happened I will ii"t apeak, only to a.iy Hint )oil caliliiit io nor iiuflcratand nil that has led in to tin fearful work. Tlie atory of lliv wlillo null's rulo la everywhere the same. Whu re u Irllie, or people, lime nnidii peace nml accepted the friendship of llui I'jinili, tliey hnve lieroma weilk nml imiiy. Wlille llnml, I Imvu 11 alriiiiite Imo for thee, Imt I lulu thy people. Ami that thy rather utmost hales Ihelii I"" has ilrnwn my heitrt towards lilm. Hut He coiil, I not ace our people helm: grad ually awcpt away, ami our homea lorn from lla, without atrlklng Ihla Mow. Yet Hlilllif Herieiit hna fnllen. The hullrt of tho white man haa found lili life. Hut lie dies content. Tho whllv limn hna fall en, too." Tho old chieftain aank lurk i'h.iuate.l a hit traaed apeaklug, nml for aoiuit nu ueiita liu reiiinllied with hla eyra rimed, When he opened them again, Wlillo Hand apokp. ".My father," lie anlil, "ere the hnii'l of ilrath hna ilono Ita work upon thee, wilt thou not tell mo why I wna tiikeii from my fathrr'a liouau7 Surely )ou ciiuiut olijert to tell me all nun 7" "No, my child, I have no objection, for I never promised not to tell. Ami when I lent ar line now, 1 meant to tell thee nil. Do )oii remember when jour father met tuo In the wood near hi. dwelling?" "Vra," returned Whllv Hand, brndliu oirr with ratter Intcreal. "Well, I hail then been to are Hluion I,obila. Ily some menu he lenrued that I wna duwn thv rlrcr, and ho tent for me. He had heard that I wax n savage chieftain, and a Infer of icold. I met lilm Jn the wood, and ho propoacd to me that t ahould seize Hi. Jullcn' aun ami adsy him, mid for Ihl lut offered to pay ma a hundred pleiea of Kohl. Hut I apurued the offer and left him. 1 ciiino liome, ami told my brother what l,obol liad aatd to me, and he pondered upon the aiibject in a new light. Von know the Natchez often aend tneaaelijera to (he (treat Hplrlt, and Ihe (treat Him had wlahrd to aelid a whllv iiicsacnijer to thv white liian'a (tod, elcn ut we told you when you flrat came here. At length I fell In with hla views, and I knew of no one whoav aplrlt would bo aurer of ad mlailon to your (tod than the aplrlt of l.outa St. Jullrii, for I knew lilm to be a good youth. Ho I returned to jour filth cr'a Iioiiiv and aaw l.obula aitnlu, mid lie lold mo ho had hired n party of Clilcka awa to kill you, but that )oii and your j-oiiipaulou hud killed thi'in all alx of thrui. I then offered to do what he wlidi rd. Hut thl time hla wanla hml rceclv rd an addition. Ilu not only wauled tho miii killed, but tie wanted the daughter captured mid carried off townrda New Oilcan. 1 agreed In thl; hut I lujdv lilm give ino a written promise to pay me thv money when the work ahould bo lone. He hodtntcd nt drat, but nt length ho wrote thv plcdgv mid algued It; mil then It wua arranged that l.uulae ahould be left upon the bank of I,nkv Pnutrlmr train, nt thv cud of thv middle trull, mid I pledged myaclf to talc you with me mid kill you, fur you know thl had been my purpuau In aeeklng you." "Hut tho paper the pledge you had if UiboN wherv I It?" uttered Whllv Jlnud. "It I aufe. Coqunlla, go to my cloaet, nml you will And it In tho onken caaket." Thv princess went, nud In the box aim round thv paper, which aim handed to her father, liv took It, nml having open ed It, he handed it to Whllv I bind, say Ins, aa ho did ao: "Hero It la youra. And now nil I ask I pnrdoii." "For nil that you hare done to tne," murmured th youth, "I piirdou ou from thv bottom of my aoul; for you may Iinvu been mi Inatriiineiit In tho hand of heaven for aavlng my llfv. Had you not taken mo, nnol)ier would, mid 1 ahnuld not liavo lived. Ho I almll, nfter nil, ro-jni-nilier Htung Herpent with mnro of Xrntltudv than of couiplnlnt or anger." "I)o you mean that?" "I do." iStmig Herpent ruined himself upon hi elbow, and caught tfio youth by the lininl. "Coitualln," ho whispered, "whero art thou 7" "Here, my father." "I haw been kind to thee. It IMajs In thy power, help Wlillo II rind to hi peoplo. In It Coqunllii I aee?" "Yes. Arc you fiilntJ" "Knlut? Stung Herpent faint? Not Up, warrior of tho Natchez, nud ntrlkd for your homea! Who ahull four thv dus turda now? My brnvca, remember tho troplilea you hnvo won under Stung Her pent'a lead. Btrlkv Blrlke, now, for your honor, your home, mid for the tomb of your nncestoral Hluk your libidos to thv polo, nml Icnvo not n miin of tlicin nil to tell their king thv tulcl Now I On to tho deathl" Ono long, loud wnrcry followed this paroxyam, mid ns It ended In a low, gurg Jlng Bound, thv chieftain sank back. Co .qualla moved to hi nldv and knelt over Jilm, nud lu n moment uioro tho loud files if tho women rent tho nlr, for Slung Her pent was dead I OHAPTHU XX. There wa cuiiatciiinllnii for u wlillo 111 thv vlllagv of thv White Apple when It vn known that Htuiig Herpent wna ilenil, for ho hint been un Important tuiiti among tho Natihez. At tho end of four ibiya, tho body wiib tmido ready for thv grave, ami nine peranu, with rope nhout their nock, reiiinliieil fiutlng by it, "And nro nil thoso poo'plo to dlu?" ns'c rd White lininl, after ho nud CoMiinllu hud retired to their own dwelling. "Yc. And but for tho Intercessions of my father himself, many uioro would linvo died." "It I a cruel practice," said tho youth, sadly, "Cruel?" repented tho prlnco-is, In sur prlo. "Why ila you any bo?" "Ilecnuso ono dentil la enough. Why ahould ao ninny bumbled?" "Ah," nnawored Coqunllii, liigeiilious. ly, "you do not undeiatiiinl. Vour- peo plo hnvo not Biieli love for Um deu.irled pa wo have. It I u long, dark roud which my rather hi now to Ir&vel, mri surely It ll lining ho ahould have lOiiiiinny." "And due thl always happen whiil one uf your peuphi die?" "Certainly; though aomu hnvo not ao many companion; but all hnte one. When the lint (Ircnl Hun dleil. theio Were olio hundred who went to keep 1 1 1 til company over tho dark road." "Ho many?" "Yea mid of coiirao they were hnppy. for with lil in I hey wem at oiicv adiililteil to tho happy homo where tho (treat Hplrlt la." "Hill," iiuerled Wlillo lininl, "Hlung Herpent hit been dead now four dii), nud lhei ieuilo will not dlu iiulll to ll, ght. How, tlieii,ahall they go togeth er V" "Ah," returned Coiinlln, with a fnlat amlle, which aieiued to llidlcntv a pity for her loiiipnuloli a Igiinriiuee, "my fath er' aplrlt will lint atnrt nluno. It le miilii nenr tho old body until the other nplrll Join ll, nml theii'lliey nil go olf together. Ho you not uinleratauil?" "Yea." "Ami I It not right ami proper?" "It I, If jo I think ao; but I ahould hardly ilarv give my voice In favor of It, Why, look. CiHjualla, and tell mo If thl lery thing ha nut already reduced your nnlloii from a onto powerful people to a incro handful." ".My father apote of that i re he dlnl," nniwered the prince, thoughtfully. "He till, I ho wl.lu-d only III few liiimedlale riiinpnlilon to go wllh him beyond thv grave, ami even they mint bv old peo ple." "And he waa right, Coiimlla. I have hoard that 'thv Nntrhen were ome a mighty moo a gieut tuition, numhcrlnt their warrior by tho many thouaaiila, and now they haw only n very few hun dred. In a large community, under or dinary clrciiiuataiicr. the blrlha will lint much oierriiu the dentin by nature. Hut are heri--not only do your people dlu off a do other, but fur every ono who dha naturally from one to a hundred mnro liiilat be killed to keep Ihem company." "I I. now," aild L'iMiiialla. thoughtfully -"I know. Hut atlll It wero cruel to aend. my falher'a aplrlt awoy over llii dark, long trull alone. Your people do not think of Ihla. They do not think of the love.) aplrlt wall Icrlng awuy lu thv dark uluiio." "Yea they do. Coiialln." "They do?" "Ye." "And yet they acini them no company." "Ah, their company coniea from thv other way," apoko While Hand, aoftly ami sweetly, "When a human aoul de parts, we, or I, I'olli'To that thv loved oui'B who how gone before iniiiv down to lead tho new-born aplrlt nway to heav en. I have n mother there, ('oiiialln, an I I think he will coino down to earth when my aplrlt depart, and wehomo liu- to thv home of the bleat one. Hiiro jy they know the way through the dark valley liottor than wv could, or better than apy othora of earth." (Iraduully tho Indian girl's hnnds were brought together over her Ixmolli, nml her head wu bowed. When ho looked lip there wa a atrallge light III her ejea and n aoft, hopeful opreaalvn dwell upon her dinky feature. "White Hand," she whltpercd, "tell me that again." "Is not thv theino more pleasing than thv strangling uf helplea victims Oler tho gratea of thv dead?" thv youth ask ed, kindly. "Y'ea-yr. Hut tell mo more." An I White linn I went on and whla pereil Into Ida companlon'a ear the wholo of hla own pure faith In (tod and thv ris en Hnrlour; mid when ha had done thv prince murmured: "It I sweet, and it le better than tho fnllh I haw been, taught." Khv bowed her head again, and this time she remalued a long whllv thought ful; mid when she next looked up, a change had come over her couiitvnnurv. "Whllv Hand," sho said, "I promised my fnihi-r that I would help you caenpv from here. If J oil wished. What have I to remain here for? .My father Is dead; I haw no brother or slater, nml tho waj of my people are nut pleasaut to inc. .Mny I not go with you?" The youth threw hla arms about tho fair speaker'a neck and drew her upon his bosom. "Coiualln, speak but tho word, and I'll die lu thy avrvlie. If necvsiary, to lead you to my falher'a home. O, wv will not bv separated.' ' The burial wna-over. Htung Serpent repuaed III hi grave, and by his side lay tho bodlea of those who hud. In obedl enccto tho cruel fnllh mid cuatom, given up their live that they might keep their loved chief company In his dark Journey. And onco more tho Natches commenced their mad orglea orer their victory, for they wero not yet a.itlntcd. I.nto at night, while tho warriors wero dancing an I howling In the n,unrc. l'rlck ed Arm camo to White llund's lodge mil cnlleil lilm out. Thv youth could not kio her fnev lu thv gloom, but from the man tier of her breathing, ho could tell tlut ahc wna deeply moved by Bonictblfig. "Whlto Ilnnil," sho said, "our plot ha worked exceeding well. Not a blow has been struck saw hero at Natchez; so tho great muss of tho French are saved. Hut thou tirt In danger hero. Tbu moment thv Nntches find that their plan has fail ed they will suspect thev, for It liaa been whispered that you visited thv tem ple, nml thv (treat Sun, when liu looked toward the, west for the moon last night nml si! w It not, wns perplexed. This night they suw thv new moon for the llrnt time, mid 'they remembered, for tho flrat time, too. Hint tho moon ought to hnvo been n week old. Amid their Hind Joy they haw not thought of till before. Hut they think of it now, mid fear has nl leady seized upon some of them, though thov few keep It to themselves. Now you can Judk how much risk you run." "And will they Biispet mo?" the jouth uttered, tremulously. "They will bo likely to; for you aro of tho lulled people, nud your powerful friend I dend. Dark, nngry eyes liu been bent upon juu, because you have shown your loathing of tho cruelties you hnvo witnessed. And. attain, tho r'reu h will soon be on thv Natiliez trull. Tho future Is dark for us nil, but you may escape, Ouii yuu not remember tho trail by which you camo?" "I fear not," . "Hut you enn follow It part way from hero?" "Yea, for It Is bronil towards tho vil lage." "Thero you can tnUo tho river, Ynil know tho southern trail. You went It onco hunting wlthjitiing Scrpoiit."" "Yes 1 remember that.", "Then nil Is'safo. l'o'.low that trail to tho right, mid It will bring you out upon tho river fifteen miles bvlow here. Among n clump of brakes thero you will llml a canoe. It is mine. Tnku It nud Hunt duwn the river. Still lelnln your pres cut garb, nnd let tho walnut stain bo up on jo'ir face. In Hint wny you tuny es cape tho Natcho, should any of them meet you, nnd by your speech yo,i could quickly convlnco tho French. I enn ilu no more for jou. I would Imvu saved all tho I'Vcmli If I coiild, for 1 loved them; yet I must follow tho foi tunes of my own peoplo." Whltu 1 1 n ml thanked the old princess for her kindness, and with n thoughtful step he returned to hi lodge. Ooiiialla nskvd hint what Tricked Arm had wuut- d, anil h itt rlowtl h,i InM her till. "And will you go?" the prlliie nkcn "Yea, I must. Hut, Cviiualla, have you ihongfil your mini?" "Only to bo morti sttongly bound t Dice. And yet," alio added, pulling tier nrms nhout her husband's neck, ' speak Imt onv word -simply whliper to nut that thou wojihlst rnlher go frev fio.it care or thought of me, and " "I I lull, Ooqiiallal Yuu wrong me now. 0, I should never sleep in pome ng.ilu, did I think Ihou nui Jlucdtl hero wln-u thy wish wa with inn. Hut wo must Hi to-night," "I inn nil ready, dearest." "Hut wv need piorlslon." "I haw audi all prepared as wc enn carry." "Then you have thought of this?" "Yea. Hut O, apoiik the trulls, my l"ve. If within thy Inmost aoul thrio dw. II a thought " "It I nil of love for thee. Coiialla." Interrupted tho youth. Boeing at once her drift. "Ho let me hear no inoiv of It. Now let us prepare." "Hlca thee," murmured the fair girl, Milling upon her companion' boaom. "O, slniu we llrat spoke of this, my heart has sunk deep down In lis darkest mood when the thought of staying hero hss dwell with me. Those sweet word you whlaprrcd to mo have bu n wllh me ever since, and they haw wrought a wonder rill change III my feelings. When we get to our new homo wo will talk tnoiu about It, nnd you shall teach mo to read tbu great book wherein theao precloua truths are written." "I will," promised While Maud. "Hut Ihe night comes on: lh morning will le spiedily approaching. Come w will talk on Ihe way." Juat na the first gray streaks of dawn appeared lu the east, the fugitives readi ed thv great rlvrr, and without mii.u trouble they found the brake and thv canoe. They easily pulled the light craft from Its nel and dragged It to the river. It wa a smooth, beautifully finished boat, faahloned from a lingo log of yellow pine, ami seasoned without crack or check. Into thl the adventurer put their Utile store, and then, with hopeful hearts, they entered mid puhed out Into thv broad stieam. (To be continued. I MAZAl LAN, PRETTY MEXICAN CITY, WHEI.E BUBONIC PLAGUE HAS BROKEN OUT PIANO OF MUSICALGTONES. After Ye ri or fcurc'i M. Halt Ire Cot lectel the Flint.. It was n work of years, s.iys Illus tration, for M. Hamlrv to tuiikc the col lection or Hints which conatltuU- Ills gitiloglcul plutio. Tho alouea do not belong; to the class of resonant rock known ns "pliouolyle," siicli ns nro found In Aurercne, not far from llont Dort. but am Illnta cullcciwl by ll. Hniidre with Inllnlle loll nml acnrcli, each giving when struck a true musical note. Hy ncddi-nt. while taking n country wnlk one day bp picked up n Hint nnd, chancing to strike It. brnnl n faint nolo respond to iliu blow. The Idea took hold of lil in to gill her. If possible, enough (lints to form a complete chro matic sciilc. Illllletiltles In the renrcli for these bIoiiob unly lncie.isi.il his ar dor. Tor more than thirty years ho pursued Ihe quest, making It the prin cipal aim of bis life to form out of a collection of Hints the Tnstritmcnt ho cnlleil the "geological p'nno." I'roui the neighborhood of the Iltllo village of the department of I.'lndre. where he llietl nnd tlmt met with tho singing Mint, he extended his search fur and wide. Only once In a wJiIle would he bit on the I don I Hint which uttered n true note with generous vibration. That wna finding the precious stuno which repaid lilm for h's thousand and one disappointments, his tollaome wan derings, bis diligent tenrch in atony places. After many years he hail nt leuglli got together the full scale In Hint notes, nnd numerous examples of each, with the exception of onv. He had been so far unsuccessful In putting his band on the first "do." Perhaps It did not exist In nature. He gave up hope that ho could meet wit ti II In Prance. Ho would try Canada. Hut the new world showed no trace of the initial note of the octave, nnd M. Haudrc returned to hi native lnnd resigned to the notion Hint the chnsc) must be abandoned In his old age. Fortune once ngnln stnlled, nud tho stone of which ho despaired suddenly nppenred, ns lie was walking In Horry. Advanced In years, he now passes Ills leisure In playing, ns he does with skill, on tills curious piano. AH tint spot mi the western lieinlsphoro whore I lie dreaded tiulioulc plagtio hna gained foothold, Mimillnii, the softly pronounced iininu of n plcttireiUo faraway nnd practically unknown little city on the west const of Mexico, hna suddenly become known In the United Hlntea through the press dispatches," said a Wnshlngtoulati whu bat (raveled In tho tropics, according to tho Washington Htnr. "Muznllnn, in tho Mexican stnto of Hlnnlon. bns heretofore, been din tlm-llvi) ns being the llrat slopping place of Importance In the Pacific south of Hnu Diego for Um Pacific Mull steamers, 1,330 miles wiutli of Hmi Pran cIsco. When I visited Mnzutlali n few ynns ago I little thought It would become n plaguo spot, and I can fully understand how tho Inhabitants tied precipitately lo tbu Interior. S.MSJ, it being stated, having left the place. If this dispatch be nccurtitu the U-st part of Ihw entire population must have di-caiupvd. "Tint danger of the spread of the plague overland may be said to be ipillo remote, If strict quarantine regulations should be enforced against Mexico, if it comes lo that unfortunate pass, ns Mszallan Is unconnected, or wua when 1 visited It. by railroad, Durnngo, tun capital of the state of that name, waa, it Is my recollection, the nearest railroad city, nnd Dur sngo la several Hundreds of miles to the east on this side of the high range of mountains called the Hlerrn do Noyarlt. whoso sharp penkii cut off much of tho west const couutry of Mexico from -the Interior. Acapulco. thv next principal landing placo on tho west coast touched by the Pacific Mall steam era, and perhaps 1,000 mllea or thcrcAhouts south of Mazatlan, Is also cut off from tho Interior by a high range of mountains. It Is well to bear this fact In mind should n report reach us that the plngno liaa tirotycn out In Ihat ancient Mexican city. Traffic with the Interior from both cities wns maintained by mules over the narrow passes of the mountains. "Mnxatlan Ilea on a gentle slop on a land-locked bay, with the garrison poat on a bill surmounting the city. I recall the hot day I trudged through the narrow streets of the town nnd up the hill nnd wondered hdVr the little Mexican soldier In full uniform stood his clothes and carried his rifle without succumbing to the heal as he paced up and down doing guard duty. The principal wealth of the town comes from the rich mine In tho Interior, their product of crushed ore being shipped on the steamera for reduction else where. A large tradn Is done In coffee and the American traveler will al ways remember Mazatlan as the first place where, under the awnings on tho steamer's deck In the hot aun of the tropics, swarthy-skinned Mexicans temptingly offered him native dgara at such prices for quality that made htm Invest heavily lo the weed, a good cigar being obtainable for three centa nnd a fine one for fire and alx cents. "Muzntlan and Acapulco rely almost exclusively upon the steamers and coastwlso vessels for communication north and south and with the outside world nud the greatest danger of tho plague entering the United StnteaJ irom any wrsi const .nrjticitu city muiu iic iu ,i nuunuuu u tier rather tluin overland. Mazatlan has a largo cathedral, custom house, several goodslzed hotels, many commercial houses and ono portion of the city overlooking the sea where the wealthier classes live Is built up with lino houses of Mexican style of architecture. Taken altogether the city, with Ita picturesque tropical surroundings, would be about the last place one would associate with a plague." GREAT SUMS PAID HEADS OF SOME NATIONS FOR OFFICIAL DUTIES ACTUALLY PERFORMED ', 1 H wvTrvwi4nHMmmMvmfmwMvHv THE SCHOOL WAGON Ail Interesting Experiment Which Is Soon to Be f Tried in Illinois. An Australian I'lsli Htory. Writing from Hunhury. West Aus tralia, to ii brother lu l-oiulon, Keglnnld Hhnw rolntes the following nmiizlng In cident, which, he atntes, happened to one of Ills party when Hshltig from tho Jetty: Hla friend bud bailed Ills book with n largo wlilllug. hoping to cntch n king Halt, when n ahniU ntioiTt soven feet long HWiillowed It! The nngler geutly brought the shark to the Bttrfuce of tho wuter, while n tiinn working on tho Jetty enmu to his UMsUtnncv with n big Iron book nud nfter several Ineffectual attempt to Jab tho hook Into tho ahnrk's mouth the latter got nway On pulling up Ida line the fisherman found Hint he bud lost tho whiting tin It, but bud hooked two large ribs of beef front the xtomuch of the flunk. Then, to tint nimiHciiiriit of the crowd, one of whom ri'tnnrked, "Well, exchange Is no robbery," ho lauded tho beef safely on the Jetty. IxjikIoii Mull. li lyutn Vermis a Cow. An Irish farmer went Inlo nn Iron motiger'a uhop to buy o arytlie. After serving lilm tho Hliopiimn naked lilm If ho would buy n bicycle. , "What la that?" queried the Irish tun n. "It's n muchluu to ride about tho town on." "And, abure, wlmt might tbo prlco of It bo?" "l'Mfteen pounds." "I'd rather see fifteen pounds lu n cow." "Hut v lint h fool you would look rid ing nt'ound tho town on the buck of n cowl" "Hliure, uow," replied the Irishman, "not hnlf such n fool ns I'd look try lug to mlllt n Idcyclol" Tit-Hits. 1lrenme Work. Mn.y---.Mr. Huggnrd failed on you Inst evening, didn't hu? Kny Yea. and he made tne very tired. Mny 1 suppose ho tried to kiss you. Pity Yes, mid every time ho kissed tne I had lo abtp lilm, -I'hlliulelphhi Press, Idleness la the btirlul of n llvlutf man. - Jeremy Taylor. ONK often reads of the extravagant allowances granted the heads of nations by their respective governments and of tbe almost fabulous sums paid out annually by some' of the European power for the tnalutalnance of royal families, but not until recently baa any adequate Idoa of what they are paid for actual work performed been obtained. Ily work actually performed Is meant that part of the dally routine of the head of tbe government devoted to his strictly official duties, not to state levees, receptions, reviews and functions at which he must be present. The actual work of the head of a nntlon Is the review of all parliamen tary documents, state papers, treaties, coses against the crown, pardons and cotnniutments of sentences, death warrants, the correspondence of tbe throne, preparation of papers to be read at certain meetings of tbe ministry or before parliament and perhaps a score or more of other duties at his desk, and the figures which follow show the approximate amount earned by the respective heads of tbe government named. Itussla leads In the salary paid Ita ruler. The.cxar drawing for every minute of actual work approximately $81. Austria comes second with Fran cis Joseph drawing $35 per minute; Italy third, with $21 as her king's sal ary, and (Jcrmany following with 118 per minute for her kaiser. Oreat HrltaJn gives Edward VII. 13 per minute: Spain allows Alfonso fli, and Havarta and Sweden each gives to Its monarch $8 per minute for his ser vices. Helglum and Denmark allow their raiera respectively 14 per minute, wlille the United States pays Its president the smallest salary of any nation In Europe, bis pay being forty cents per minute for actual work performed. These figures are reckoned on the annual salary, and placing the dally working hours at six. It will be seen that the salaries of the heads of the governments are not In proportion to the size, population and wealth of the countries named, and that while the United States Is the wealthiest government, the salary of her chief magistrate Is Insignificantly small compared with that allowed the king of even such a small monarchy as Denmark. THE 80UTH BEFORE THE WAR. A Larue Proportion of Ita Teopte Un called In Manj furanlta. There were In the South (y the cen sus of 1850), In round numbers. 174,600 persons owning from oue to five slnves. If these whites represented a family of Ave persona each on an average and many Southern families were large we have no less than 872,6iX) persons dependent upon five slaves or less to tbe family for support, wheu only two In tbo five were capable of profitable work, their own support to come, at the same time, out of the profits of their own lalmr. Was n pop ulation of 1.743.000 souls ever .clothed and fed by the labor of only one-fifth of their number? However much Southern men may have been accused of Idleness and In dolence, very many of them slave holders nud non-slaveholders alike were compelled to rely upon their own energy and industry for, a livelihood. To rely upon tho lnlior of tbo few slaves they owned slgulfledlncreaslng poverty nud embarrassment. Aud how were the thousands of fam ilies that owned no slaves, and yet composed two-thirds of the white pop ulation of the South, to be supported? Here again the United States census for 1850 gives us many Interesting and slgulflcant facts, The number of white persous engaged In laborious occupa tions In the South In this year was larger In proportion to population than lu tho North. The census gives us the number of whlto persons over IB years of ago engaged In any occupation In each State of the Union. Tbe figures are decldooly to tho credit of the Bouth. I,eF us compare a few Northern with a fow Southern States. In Massachu setts the percentage of persons ovet IB years of age engaged In work was 45.80; Iti Hhode Island, 40.71; In New Hampshire, 45.03; lu Connecticut, 40.40; In New York, 47.01; In New Jer sey, 47.83. Now lot us glance at an equal number of Slates In tbe South. In Maryland the percentajre of white persons ovsr IB years of age engaged In work was 61.80; In Virginia, 40.31; In Georgia. 47.18; lu Florida, 53.04; In Mississippi. 31.23; In Texas. 64.03. The average for all the States In the North was 47.02; for those In the South 40.14. Only one Southern State Missouri fell to an average so low as Massachu setts. Two In the North Pennsylva. nit and Iowa rose to nn average aa high as Maryland or Mississippi, not one of them equaling Florida, Arkan sas or Texas. These facts aro decisive of the ques tion of Industrial conditions In the South, says the Rev. J. M.-Hawloy, In Things nnd Thoughts. Whatever may have been the Influeuco of the African shadow upon the peoplo south of the Mason and Dixon line. It did not pro duce men who despised labor and lived In Idleness and luxury. Go to any Mate of the South and tbe fact re mains that the average of the white population living upon tbe interest of Invested money aud having no occupa tion was considerably smaller than In the north. HIS MOTHER'S 8MILE. Influence of Little Acte May Kndnre for Years. den. Wager Swagne, who died, re cently, bad a mother of exceptional character, of which her son was ten derly appreciative. One of his pleasant recollections of her was connected with a young clerk In a bjokstore at Colum bus, Ohio. Tbe youth wsb poor, ambi tious nnd of a retiring disposition. His reticence did not tend to make him popular among his mates, but Mrs. Swayue, whenever she visited the store, never focgot to greet blm a smile and a frloudly wcrd. Yours after, when Gen. Swayne, as commissioner of the Freedmeu's Uur ecu. waB puzzling orer the management of half a million former stoves In Ala bama, he found Secretary of War Kd win M. Stanton a staunch supporter. The secretary was tho sternest of all heads of departments, yet to the general he was always kind. He was, snld report, "unapproachable;" yet Gen. Swayue could always npprench him. One drly Secretary Stantou drove to thv- War Department In baste, on his way to on Important meeting with the President. He sent a messenger luto the building, to inquire If any oui wero watting fo see him. "Geu. Swayno Is welting, sir," was the messenger's report. The secretary left his carriage and harried Into tbe building. Tn to men had a little business tulk, and then Gen. Swayne at last gave way to Irrepress ible curiosity "Mr. Secretary," said bo, "I don't understand your great kindness to me. I have never understood It. You hnvo shown um such unusual favor that I want to ask why you bavo done It." "Geu. Swayne," said the secretary, "when I was a poor, struggling, lonely clerk In Columbus, studying law at night and working by day, your mother's kindly umllo and her encour aging words put heart and hope luto mo. I kuew about her work among the colored people of Columbus, nnd I was aware of her Interest In the ex-slaves. Now do you understand? I remomber your mother's smile," It Is the complaint of every old fash ioned woman that when a girl gets on her best dress, she "slops In It" arbund tbe bouse. It costs more to keep a chafing dish than U does to keep a horse and buggy. ' THE 8CHOOL WAOON. FUOF. ALFRED HAYLISS, State Superintendent of Ptibrlc Instruc tion In Illinois, Is a strong advocate of school district consolidation. Suppose the taxable wealth of a rural township In Illinois should be assessed for tbe purpose of raising tbe funds necessary to maintain and equip ono central school bouse. There Is hardly a rural towsshlp In tbe Stato In which a central school' mantalned and equipped In such a way would not be one well worthy of tho name. To begin with, tho building would bo commodious and comfortable. In ventilation, lighting, warming and every sanitary arrangement It would be a century abend of the little district school houses to be found at nearly every turn of the rotJd In Illinois, but hundreds of which are. In late years, attended by a half dozen children or less, and not a few of which are closed for want of attendance, Supt Hayllss says tho real reason for this change Is tho movement to the cities and towns. He tells a story In this connection. "I met a friend on the train tbe other day," be says, "who was returning, with his wife, from a visit to old Lancaster County, where they came from. He had had a good time, and was going borne to think It over and talk It over. He Is a rich farmer; has hundreds of broad acres, a great barn. Into which you could haul the district school bouse, a fine home, etc. 'Will,' I said, 'I suppose the boys have been running the farm.' 'No.' he inld. they are not at home.' 'How's that? 'Well, John, he's practlcln' law over In Iowa, and doln' pretty well. too. Henry, he's a dentist Hung out bis shingle up In Wisconsin last April, nnd wrote me that he cleared nearly a hundred dollars the first month. Jim. he's at the school af pharmacy In Chicago.' 'And who's on the farm?' I asked. 'Oh, us tW) and the hired help.' "Yon all know that man, don't you?" tbe professor aiks. "His name Is legion." Then he goes on to tell about tho man be had In mind. "This man has a railroad station, a school house and a graveyard on bis farm, and they used to bo very proud of the fine large schoc-1." When asked how the school was flourishing now, he answered: "Oh. 1 hardly know. We had six scholars last winter, but the Jones family moved not long ago. I don't think of any more to come In." An outgrowth of the system of township consolidate of schools will be the school wagon, to collect tbe children from the more dlstont parts of a township and bring them to the school. Tbe calculators think this could bo done without Increasing taxes or even reaching the limits of taxa tion for school purposes In a township, nfter the area of assessment for -the support of a central school Is made so much larger than that of the dis trict In course of time, no doubt, after this system Is developed, and Its logical outcome and results are seen, the wagons will run. no mntter what the condition of the weather or the roads. All roads In a rural Illinois township will lead, then, to the school" bouse In the crnter. or in that spot In the township which can be reached the most eastlj and speedily. That Is what the system Is sure to come to, and probably If a few years. That building consolidation Is one of the purposes of tbe proposed reform, however, Mr. Bayllss leaves no room to doutit "Here In Illinois." he says, "we must have out In the country pleasant roomy, convenient and sanitary school houses, ns well adapted for their purjiose In all respects and even as attractive architecturally as they arc fast coming to be In tbo cities. Architecturally, tbe school house should exhibit the taste and to some extent the aspiration of the neighborhood. I! should bo better than tbe best dwelling bouse, but In many n country district- there are those who wouldn't exchange their best barn for the tcbool house. It should ba lighted from the right direction; have the teacher's desk In the right place; have ample air and floor space; have cloakrooms for boys and girls, entered from tbe schoolroom, and be furnished with lavatories opening Into prop erly constructed closets, accessible In no other way. It should be properly ventilated, and when possible have a-dry, clean and warm cellar. It should have abundant book cases and cabinets and reading tables. A portion of tbe ground should be properly ornamented, and altogether the bouse and ground should be the Just pride of the community." Prof. Bayllss admits that, at first view, tho taxpayers might fear that they could not stand the expense. Hut he evidently doubts whether their expenses would lfc greatly Increased. They could not stand It. be admits, "under the grotesque system of school maintenance now prevailing. The Idea Is to centralize nnd Improve systems and force results by cutting off a great many useless expenses and putting tbe money which Is now paid Into Incompetent hnnds Into the bands of others who can give value re ceived. "Tbe reduction of the number of districts In each township." hs said, "would In many. If not most, cases lead to tho consolidation of all tbo schools, the organization of a graded school, and the establishment of a high school department In every township. If, because of bad roads or other causes less real, a township does not choose to consolidate all of tho schools In ono building, then at least the older children could be brought together In a central school, and given tbe advantage of companionship and association with others of their own age." Tho township high school Is one of tho prime results aimed at by ths proposed change. There Is provision for township high schools In ths Illinois school laws, but as long as tbe district system prevails there la little prospect of the opportunity being utilized. The new system. It Is bcllovcd, would bring the township high school Into existence all over- ths State. "Thero ought to be," says Supt. Hayllss, "within reach of every fanner's child In Illinois, a country school that should be as worthy a place on tho accredited list of the State university as tho city schools that now make up that list It ought to give as good quality of Instruction la mathematics and science and language and literature as the city high school." As to the effect of centralizing tho common schools of the town ship, he says: "Our present system has served Its purpose. It no longer meets tho requirements." , From all of which It would appear that President Eliot of Harvard If not so far wrong when be Bays tbat the educational system of this country Is capable of vast Improvement. Supt. Bayllss attributes tho decay of ths country school to tho great and growing movement toward the towns and cities, and he has some pronounced views as to this movement as a causa of which tbcro are likely to come many serious effects. "Society Is mov ing " be says. The city school, for reasons I need not stop to recapitulate, Is keeping up with tbe procession. Tbe country Is re-enforcing and regener ating the city with Its best blood. The movement Is not new, but It Is continuous and accelerated. The elements which destroy the population of cities will operate In the futuro as In the past. We are proud of tho fact tbat tho majority of the great men this country Has produced come from tbe farms, and It will bo a most serious mlstal.o to even seem to encour age tho Idea tbat bucccss In llfo Is posstblo only to those who leave them." Millions In a Dattleahlp. c..o ..-iiiitnn dollars will be tbe cost of the British battleship Edward VII.. which Is now lu process of construc tion at tbe Devonport dock yards- more money than baa ever t eiore ueeu ..ni,wi In n encluo of war. The keol of the mammoth craft was laid by the king In Marcn. nu-'. anu at- ., i,. .ii t trlrtnnllv comnlete. over 4,000 tous dead weight of steel plating and armor uaviug oeeu uu..i Into her. So quickly has this superb warship been brought forward that, although tbe orlglual specifications did not al low for her being ready for tbe pen nant before March, 1005, It h now ottlclally stated that she will be com pleted many months earlier than this. The original estimates were for 1,500.000, nnd although thoy have been cut down, It Is nuthorltntlvcly stated by prominent o .clnls nt Devon port yard that tho total expenditure will amount to well vcr 400,000. This outlnv on a fabric which a well- dlrfted torpedo would annihilate makes one realize hoe- costly the game of modern naval war would prove. Two more battleships of the same class have been laid down tbe Domin ion and tbe Commonwealth, Ilesult of Kxpcrlonoe. "I went to tho church fair last ulght, and I think I see a now meaning H that old adage now." "What's that?" "It's my Idea that none but tho bravo have any business there." Philadelphia Press. No Danger of t'lro. Guest Any danger of fire In this hotel? Bell boy( with his teeth chattering) N-not unless yor pay extra for It Judge. When a man Is buried he gets In on the ground floor, which Is true at no previous time In hi career. Not ono lu fifty has sense enough to begin repenting, a elu before he Is found out-