Observation on Current Topics.
The Sacramento lieeord-Union thinks
the falling off In the number of children
shown hy the school census In San Fran
cisco Is due to the fact that "marriage Is
much discouraged by the present system
of having women enter all kinds of busi
ness," and thinks that the enoouraglng
of women to enter business walks unsexos
them and discourages child-bearing. The
oapltal city paper, however, falls to point
out the remedy. The reason women do
not marry, but seek means of Inuepeua
ently supporting themselves is that men
who would make good husbands and
provide good homes do not ask thera.
The majority of young men In San
Francisco are growing up In immorality,
with no thought of building up quiet,
cosy homes. They spend in dlv s and
disreputable resorts the money that
would make homes, and these dives and
other resorts employ the girls that should
be the queens of homes. It Is a gay but
short danoe of death. The remedy lies
In the abolition of the dives.
If women are crowding into bualnetts
pursuits they are no less universally
coming forward and doing the church
work. Take out the women's Influence
and three-fourths of the churches would
close their doors wlthlu three mouths.
They are the plllur and mulustay of
every Christian denomination o-day.
They rulae money for the pastor's salary,
pay church debts, build new cuuicues
and 1111 the pews. In most of the denom
inations they do not vote, but they do
the work. Of course tula Is not Uie
character of business the Itecord-Univn
referred to, and It doe not uusex wouieu
to do It, but It was thought luou years ago
that It would, and possloly the ltccordr
Union and the majority are as fossilized
now as the majority were then.
Women are rising In lullueiiee as
rupldly as their sphere of work Is wide
euuig. in Santa Cruz they organized au
Improve :out society which lias secured
the beautifying of many streets, the
planting of sliade trees, Uie trimming up
ol grounds, etc. in ban iJiego tliey nave
a similar orguuuullun wnicn tliey can
the " ladles' annex" to the board ol trade
and many are tne public worn accom
plished through tiieir lullueuce.
Harassed from Home.
The Itural does hot meau to lutliuato
that no restraint should be exertuJ, but
It solemnly warns fattier and mother to
rei tembt r thut there is one place where
that boy will never hear "don't do that"
and "now you stop tnat" and "If you
don't stop I'll put you to bud." It Is the
saloon, the gayly lighted, beautifully
mirrored, elegantly furnished saloon.
We have seen nonius that the saloon wax
gutting the best of Just as steadily ab
the moments went by, and father auu
mother were helping to do It. The boy
could scarcely stir wluiout being for
bidden to stir; if he wished to run,
mother said, "now stop tnat;" If he
wanted to Jump, mother foroade it; 11
he wanted an extra room lighted up,
mother said, no; If he brought some ol
his playtiilugs into the sitliug-room,
mother told him to lake them out. it
was "don't," "blop," "quit thut," "keep
still," until the little fellow felt that au
mother had to do was to oppose his
wishes, it bad become u llxed habit
wim the mother to antagonize the chl d.
We have somutuni a niunliloruii to see 11.
By-aud-by wneu luo boy gets bigger
mother will not be troubled witu hn
uolou. It will not be his presence thai
will annoy her, but his absence, auu
perliaps Uie nine will come wheu sue
would gladly permit him to tear tiiu
wuoiu liouse uowu, II he would only
siHiiid his Hours with mother. Oh, parents,
while tue warm welcome of tue saloon
oouwa pouring from so many doors, dou'l
turu Uie boy's lace toward It; dou'l
eharpeu his ems to hear; dou'l create lu
bis soul a iuugiiig lor some pluce, toi
any place except home, iiear with liu
noise; let him liuvo liis liberty as long
as u does neither him nor anyone else
injury, if lie snakes the nervous syslem
a nine ll is only lor a time, ile w ill uol
be a boy lung, anyhow. Those soli
weel chocks will soon lose their boyutu
fioniuiose, but while they harden with
age, let moinor and father do uolhlug lu
tue uuecliou of wuukhug them wilh vice.
Make home pleasant for Uie child, auu
pel ml t him to have his fun. It will make
him a littler uiuu, and Uie Influences ol
euuii home will follow him all through
life aud be ft softeuii.g, inspiring lu
llueuce, H'tatam Aurul.
Muriate of potash and nitrate of soda
re rvuuiumeimeu us a muaus of keeping
slugs out ul lue guidon.
A Mexican shepherd made ft bet with
Ills employer Uiai ins dog would slay
alone uu Uie rauuu lor live days, taking
Uie slieep lo ptwluie lu Uie morulug auu
penning luem at nlglil. the Uog lull.li
luuy uiacuaigeu lus duties aud the but
Mas wuu.
A dull eye Is apt to spoil the prettiest
fucu. it in iuu uiieu muicuve ol bad
houuh, alluuugu some eyea luck Horn
bubyuood UiauUut.ii audbiUdaucy thai 1,
ttiuioui uouol, ineir cuiel cuunu. jiauv
bems use ivmou juice, this, il la uiu,
wucu ruowu uuum me vyvm every day
win auvp uiem bright aud sp.dailug.
Steamed Sweet roUtooe. Take large
sweet potatoes and put tunw un lo boil
or sUiaiu. lake out and pvel. Slice
leugiuwute half au Inch llilck. l'ut lu a
baaing pun, sprinkle white sugar over
them, auu spread each silos wuu bulter.
l our oer uail ft cup ul creuiu. tx-l in
Uie oveu lew miuules to gel hul0
turougu.
liere is ft good rtH'Ipc for koimI egg
food: leu pjunds U-st ground owl
Suiaps, lue pouiiua hue ground bone, two
puiiuua grauulaU'd ciiaicoaiur powdelMl
cuuicoai, one pound ru puur, two uuucts
eayeuuu ix'tiixii', lour ounce. Mill. Uu.'
quail ul in ia uiuiuie lo every loo fowls
.. tiituii ui aull luud will produce uiottl ex
, ueileul iveults. ilita nvipe Has uowr bw
loia own publlsheu, auu could nut have
Uwu buugut irutu tne auuiur. il Is (ar
uiierlur to many of tne uianulavluiv uf
egg food on tue market tnat sell tor a
Ingu pnoe. ll is me iwipe ued by
Jauie iiauiklii, oue of Uie iuobI Ui.ve
(ui, if uol me most suocwUul, of puuliry
grw,aii ui um iiuvhm wow.
We art of courtship.
How t HiiiilM) a fllrl'n Negri fje Intd ail
Altllilidllve AhiikHit.
Bo ye iit her, dl3 ye. Cyrus? Aa' the answered
with ft "So" , ,
An' ye think the world a sandy desert wilder
ness of WOf V ,
An' the whirl Is full uv g-roauln an and the air
Is full u" plzen. .
An' thure ain't uo lilwtd slur uv liopB peeps
over yer boiliou'r
An' the pnrty rmvlllu'a row look like tossllB
on ft lienrs",
An' the Joys uv this probation you are flmlln
vnrv HkmM'.
An' the hlrdsslMir funeral dirges to the ears
uv C nis U,iki:r.
An' the mil versa, la Jylo' ready for the under
taker. Cyrus linker, yer a flat, sir. uu' you couldn't
well he flatter;
The way to net Uie girl ye love Is Jen' by keep
In at her,
All the putty dear are cur'us; this is Jest the
w ay I view It :
That the train would like to love yer, hut jou've
tot to make 'etu do it.
Don't hninrronn' a-lookin' louesonie as an
lelclc In June,
An' po-u-Jaiiirlln' through the worl , a fiddle
"out uv tune,
Jes' eall an' fee her now an' then, but don t
tret sentimental ;
Jes' drop In nee or twice a mouth, as If 'twas
accidental.
But don't do realar courtln', an' don't hang
roiuj' an' iiiiunt her,
Au' don't say any words uv luv, however
much yer want tor;
An' ton to one she'll sweeten up, for Nancy
can't stay soured.
An' nex' time she'll say "Yes" so quick that
you'll he overpowered.
An' then the unlvcrse'll be brim full uv song
Mil' 11,'lllHH.
Tho sky will he a flower patch stuck full uv
slur houqueiH,
The lud'll lie a tiddler playlo' tunes upon
the JI11HS,
An' he'll play his Jolllest music w'en you an
JSaucy pass. .
PprlnirflxM (Mum.) Union,
A PERFECT PLOT.
You are rather late, Stephen," said"
Mrs. Mostyn, as her hiisbund came into
the (lining-room one day, just as she
had linished breakfast, "and I can not
stay w ith von as I have to iro out.'"
"Go out! Why. vou snitl last night
you were going to finish that china
painting this morning, though I really
don't know w hy von hIioiiIu work so
hard. We are not in absolute penury."
No; but it is pleasant making money
in a way one likes. Besides, there will
be some to give away wheu we find we
have too much ourselves. And how i
jour trade going ouP"
"To tell the truth, not brilliantly. Id
fact, I um rather hung up for want of 8
plot."
"A plot?''
"Yes, it is ridiculous. I have a short
story to write this week, and, though I
luivo rather a neat set of characters and
sni:tll incidents ready, if you uuder
Kland, a iniiin idea iVwanting."
"Dear nut that is unfortunate! Wh?
don't yon go out for a walk, or for hall
au hour in the underground, or to the
cily on a 'bus, mid find one?"
"My dear Milliceut, what nonsense
you talk. As If I were the least likelv
to lind my Ideal plot that wayl No; 1
must try and worry it out nivself some
how." "Well, I must be off. Good-bye,
Stephen; take my advice go and look
for your ideal in the real of life. 1 am
sure you can Hud it there."
After his wile had gone Stephen
Mostyn ate his breakfast and then sat
musinir a little, after which, springing
out of his chair, he said:
"I never felt less inclined to write in
my life! Really, I have a good miud
to follow Millicent's advice aud go out.
In a few minutes lie was standing on
tho doorstep, deciding upon Ills next
move.
"What ft beastly fog! 1 certainly
shan't lose much under ground, so
here goes for the Metropolitan Rail
way. "Where for?" said the clerk sharply,
as Stephen stood vaguely iu front oJ
the ticket ollice.
"Oh, Whitcchapel. I should thin
that leaves room for discovery," he
thought to himself.
-What class?"
"Third belter do it thoroughly,
now, men. lor a mai trip thirteen Ken
sington and the Mile End Koud, to test
Millicent's theory."
A smalt boy with a large, heavy
parcel got into the carriage with him,
and spent some moments in vainly try
ing to nee lire his burden more tit inly,
by means of a kuottv bit of string that
crossed it here mid there iu purpose
less festoons. Air, Mostyn lending his
help, between them they made rulhura
ueat thing of it.
"Adventure the tirst; ended I fear."
said Stephen to himself. "I really
can't ask him how old he is and where
he lives, and if he thinks it healthy."
"Temple!"
Out tumbled the parcel and the boy,
um! iu walked an elderly young woman
with a fringe aud an American bund
ling. She sat down opposite to
Stephen, put her hands to her head as
if to make certain tiiat it was still iu
i s place, opened her bag and realized
thai she had not lost her ticket, looked
at the witidow and sighed.
"Sot exuctlv ideal, but scarcely
real," thought Stephen. "Do you feel
the draught from that window ?" he
asked.
"No, I don't, thank von." with a
well-arninged look of spiteful timidity,
and changing her seat to oue at the
other end of the carriage.
"Is this a beginning?" thought
U'ihen. "Now, I should like to ask
ht if she thinks my life for thirty-live
I'urs has been working up to l
j.imax ot meeting her, veiled iu golden
log, in a third class Metropolitan rail
way carriage? 1 wonder if it's any
good going ou with this incident?
Madame ?"
"Sir, 1 think this is Uliickfriars' Sta
tion," she said whisking her head
iiiiiiH as she spoke, the end of her uoe
lepriv ing the glass of a very tine sum:
it tite same time.
It i not my business to tell her thai
e is now still more attractive than
en sue got In," thought Stephen.
ne woud probu.ilv give me i 1 1 1
siodv il 1 did -11 iieklriars? Yes, it
Do vou get out here?"
"Yes,1' plunging at the door n slie
siikt
"Ah," ho nld, turning the bundle foi
her, "i don t,"
There eutered, before lie shut tl
door, ft small woman, holdiug lu on
arm tluv bundle ot liabv. aud push
ing before, her ft little boy. Sue sal
dirwn lm baby keeping Its position iu
tho sling formed by its mother's arm,
the boy holding close to her, pulling at
her shawl, nnd continually asking her
in an unintelligible mutter for some
thin.,' that eho had not got or didn't
mean to part with. Her bonnet was
slipping off her dull, untidy hair; her
face was white, with tired, lusterlesf
eyed, pink, pinched little nose and dis
contented mouth. The poor little
apology for a baby might have hung
round her neck by a ribbon, and the
other child was small and sickly. A
shrunken, depressing little group.
Just as Stephen was beginning to
weave around In his mind a pathetic,
tender fancy, the small boy becoming
more than usually importunate, hi."
mother said, with no flicker of change
in the expression of her face, but with
a voice whose rough grating easily
overpowered the noise of the train:
"Jest you stop a worritin', Tommy,
else I'll tell yer blojmin' dad when we
git 'ome see if I don't."
Stephen shut his eyes, and only
opened them as the little family bundled
out two stations further on.
"The Monument!" "Mark Lane!"
No further passengers invaded bis car
riage. "I can't stand this any longer, aud
the condensed fog chokes one. I shall
get out at the next station and go
Lack."
"Aldgate!"
Out he jumped and crossed to th re
turn platform, literally feeling his way.
The underground station at Aldgate is
often quite dark in the middle of Sum
mer, and on this day the fog was dense.
He found his way to a seat, and (so
thick was the darkness) did not dis
cover, till he had taken his place at the
end of it, that there were two other
people near him. One of them, a man.
was speaking in a disagreeable queru
lous voice.
"I'm sure it's not my fault if I get
nothing to do. I am always trying to
find something."
"Yes; In other people's pockets," an
swered a woman's voice. "You want
the wage not the work."
"Good heavens! that is Millicent's
voice exactly," thought Stephen; "what
an extraordinary resemblance!"
"What becomes of money in your
hand I can't conceive," she went on.
"It is Millicent's volcei What in
God's name is Bhe doing?" and Stephen
tiled to catch a glimpse of the figure
that was screened from him by the
man between them, and still more bo
by the darkness.
"What have you done with the
money I sent you last?"
"Done with it? Spent it, of course.
A family can not live on nothing. It
was not much for you to give you,
who live in luxury; vou, whose "hus
band is rich; you "
"My husband is very far from rich,
and if he were so it would benellt you
in no way. Every farthing I have
given you for your wife was my own,
made by own work. I, a woman,
worked to help a woman, as I would a
man. but not such as you."
"Whatever you may have given you
owed to my wife."
"I owed'her?"
"Yes; for taking from her what was
hers by right."
"Shall Flet this brute go on speak
ing to her?" said Stephen to himself,
holding the edge of the seat tightly in
each hand.
"And now that she is ill and in
want you In your prosperity grudge a
little help to her and her hungry child
ren." "I have lowered myself by listening
to vou thus far," said Milliccnt, "in
order to see if you would not iu time
say what I exueotod of you what I
waited for. Now that you have done
so, I will answer you fully this onoe
and never speak with you again. 1
feel that you can not have lived your
life without some one's having oalled
vou a liar aud coward, or without your
knowing that many had a right to do
so; therefore I wi 1 not pause to add
my testimony to theirs. When your
tirst letter came last year, addressed to
my husband, -to wait au answer,' he
was happily, away from home. To
save time, I, contrary to my inclination,
opened your 'appeal.' It contained a
manly reference to your wife, aud my
huibaud's regard for her iu past years,
and a cringing demand for, money for
her and your childreu, if not for you,
and it ended with a suggestion as to
the possible unpleasant consequences
to his domestic happiness if the subject
of your letter became known to me.
every detail of the story, as fur as it
concerned himself, my husband had
long since told me, and no mud thrown
by you could shake my trust.
' "Vou lie wheu you say that I took
from your wife what was hers by right.
My husband loved her with all his
heart ami soul, and she made him
stiller bitterly. But ho had loved her
1 say, and for hi - sake I consented (it
the miserable story should ever reach
his ears to give him no further pain) to
help the woman who had repaid his
love with betrayal, his conlideuce with
treachery, but who had been dear to
him be l'u re he gave to me what 1 took
from no one else. You lie again when
you speak of her present sutlcring aud
the wants of her children sileuee!" as
the man attempted to speak. ' Do you
think that lu deallug with oue like you
I should take no steps to verify your
statements? Of the two children that
lived wilh you aud that you called hers,
one only was your wile's, aud has been
dead six months, you cur! And your
vviviciicd wile flung from her my hus
band's love ami trust, not for the love
of another man, but for life wilh von.
who dragged her to the mire lu winch
she died nearly a mouth ago! Nearly
a week since 1 had proof of all 1 am
saving, and my ouly reason for con
senting to see vou agai.i, us you askc I,
Was to tell vou of this and siso to
warn you that tt yon ever communicate
with, or molest me or my husband in
viy way, I have menus to make that
vo'ur last public performance for ft con
siderable lime."
As she said the last w tirils. Milllcent
ruse, walking straight up to aud get
ting into the train that had Just run in
to tho station. The man she had been
iH'aklug sat still while she moved away,
but as she 0ued the carriage door, he
started up with an oath, us it to follow
her. Stephen Mostyu's umbrella on
coming uuforluuatoly mingled with tho
wearer's legs- ha was "preeioitnteHl
painfully on W the jilutform, si the
train left the station, and Stephen
bounded tin tho steps to the surface of
the earth.
Mrs. Mostyn hud dressed for dinner
that evening, and was sitting by the hie
when her husband came in.
"Well, Steuben, when vim do follow
my advice vou follow it generously, I
must sav. Have vou been out "ever
since 1 saw you last?"
" ery nearly. '
"And walking, ot in the under
ground, or on the top of a 'bus?"
"A little of all three, and the club to
linish with."
"Well, and have vou found votir
plot?"
"Yes, but t can't write it now. so am
not much better off than before."
"Good gracious! why?'
"Because." said Steuben, beiiilmr
and kissing her eyes, "the story is so
pretty that i have no words iu which lo
tell ll: no character that 1 Iolvh hit hurt n
conceived is good enough to play a part
iu it; no memem unit i navo Known or
imagine um seems pour and tedious
beside it."
"Then it is very good?"
"Perfect!"
"And is it real or ideal?"
"Both."
"Won't you tell it to uie?"
"Some day." London World.
COT A SEAT BESIDE HIS CIRU
One Touch of Nftture That Made a Car
Load of FuSMiugers Klu.
A young man and his best girl got
into a Th rd aveuue "L" car recently
at the Fifty-third street station aud
looked around for a seat, says the N. Y.
litrald. It was just about the timt
that the people were going to the
theater and the car was crowded.
There were two seats dovvu by the
door, however, at which the young
couple had entered. Oue was uu either
side of a musician in uniform. The
young man put his svveetheurt in the
ueaivr seat at once and then stopped
and asked the miisiciau to take the one
lieyoiid him. He attracted the atten
tion of the persons iu tnat eud of the
cur, and their looks and whispers
roused the rest of the passengers.
All eyes were directed at the young
man standing iu front of his girl unO
holding ou by a strap aud the musician
silting sullenly in his seat wilh his
luslruiiicut iu his lap. 1 lie gill was
smiling aud blushing, uud gazing ul
the young maa out of a pair ol beauti
ful blue eyes in a man nor that might
compensate him for any amount ol
hurdship encountered iu tier behalf.
She was a very pretty girl with
teeth as white as snow, uud there were
many meu lu the car who would be
glad to have a chance to hold ou by a
strap for her sake. Her little handy
were folded modestly in bur lap and a
pair of patent-leather tipped-toe gaiters
peeped from beueath lief draperies,
ile was a lucky young man, though
he wasn't quite comfortable, as he saw
he was occupying the attention of the
whole car. ile looked back unutter
able love, of course, on the fair maiden
as he hung on by the strap, uud
presently, us if shocked by the same
impulse, three meu went over to the
iusirumenlulist.
"Get up!" they said between their
teeth, as if wilh one voice, and the
musician rose enough to get free uf the
division uud dropped heavily into the
next seat. The nearest man of the
three motioned the young man lo the
empty seat, lie thauked them and
took it. The giii bowed, and a barely
audible "Thuuk you!" escaped her
ruby lips. The three men took oil'
their hais to her and returned to their
places, greeted by the plaudits of the
Oar.
A Story of Stonewall Jackson.
An old soldier at tho cnpitol recent
ly told this story of Stonewall Jack
son: It was during his valley campaign,
and a battle was expected within a day
or two, though Jackson's plans were so
carefully guarded that not even his
Adjutant could guess them intell gent
ly. Tills self-reliance was character
istic of Jackson, uud bis aversion to
telling his plans was well known
among his otliccrs uud men. In fact,
it was his policy to surprise his own
men no less than to surprise the
enemy.
Gen. Jackson was one of a group of
officers, ami another of the group was
n Georgia Colonel who is still liv ing.
Conversation was drugging. Jackson
was thoughtful uud had little to say,
uud the effect was dampening, Final
ly, just to revive the conversation, the
Georgia Colonel asked abruptly:
"General, will we have a light to
morrow ?''
Everybody knew in an instant that
the blunder was irreparable, and no
lxidy realized this more than the Colo
nel." Jackson turned quickly aud stared
full iu the speaker's face. Then he
slowly sttrveved the Colonel from head
to foot, and buck again.
The silence was painful.
"Colonel," said the General slowly,
but not in an unkind tone, "can you
keen a secret?"
"Yes. General," was the warm, if
Kiiibari ased, asurance, "I know 1
can. General. Yes, sir "
"Ale you itiiie certain. Colonel?'1
"1 am quite certain. General."
"Well, Colonel," iu the same quiet,
even lone, "mi can I. sir."
The Colonel's face Hushed crimson.
and there was a deathly silence for a
half minute or more.
"Now. Colonel," said Jackson, w ith
feeling, "that rudeness of mine hurt
me as iimeli as it did von. but 1 trust
that it has taught vou u valuable les
son. It we do have a light I i-morrow,
Colonel, your regiment li ill iiaie a
caauci," .b i"io L'oifiilitiiuii.
What II CI
i .. , v as a , ,., . .a i i .1,. .it ii. ie i
. e .Hues tne i r iin v. Uu uud e.i
,i,l Oi'oor at Uie o.ce to be caned at 7
o cioeK in order to get a train. The
next moruiiij at 7:.'!" the mi ier rapped
loudly ou his dour and said: "Mr. B.
w ake oop. wake oop! Are you awake?"
Finally' a sleepy resjiotiMt i-ued from
behind tho door, "lo-e!" i iieii quoth
ue portf i : 'Weil, go slilapc agin. stir.
. canetl vou to let vo l know that your
.ra.ii liaA vj'ue, sor!" iiwf.Ai rrUi.
A Ucogiti tiliical Delusion.
It has been known for some time,
says the N. Y. Hun, that Capt. Binger
in his remarkable journey across the
uuexplored Mandiugo county in west
Africa was unable to hud the great
Kong mountains, which for many
years have been the most conspicuous
feature in the maps of that region.
They were represented as extending for
hundreds of miles east and west, paral
lel wilh the northern shores uf the
Gulf of Guinea, and were supposed to
be the dividing line between the rivers
that empty into the gulf and those
which flow north to the Niger. It was
not until Dinger's return to Europe,
however, that his conclusive proofs o'
the mythical character of those famous
mountains were submitted to the
geographers. The Kong mountains
now remain only as a conspicuous in
stance of agreat geographical delusion,
innocently introduced upon the maps
by au illustrious explorer and per
petuated for generations.
Long before Binger, on his south
ward journey from the Niger, arrived
at the city of Kong, which he was the
first European to visit, he was con
vinced that the mighty Kong range
was a myth. He hud reached the
head waters of the Baule, the largest
southern affluent of the Niger, and
near them he found a stream flow
ing south, which proved to be the Lahn
river, emptying into the Gulf of
Guinea. Then lie found the head
stream of the Akba and other south
flowing rivers. He then passed from
the Niger basin, and had found that
the water-parting between it nnd the
many streams that flow to the Gold and
Ivory coasts is almost imperceptible.
The traditional Kong mountains would
have to be sponged from the map, for
in his long journey Biuger saw ouly
isolated summits here aud there and
not an extended mountain chain such
as the Kong mountains have been sup
posed to be.
Mungo Park is chiefly responsible
for the important place the Kong
mountains have occupied on the maps.
From two points on the Upper Niger
he saw, far to the south, the hazy out
lines of some mountains which the na
tives told him formed part of a great
range. This information was com
bined later with that collected by Bovv
dich further east; aud thus geogra
phers evolved the hypothesis that a
mighty mountain wall separated the
hydrographie basins of the Niger and
the coast rivers.
A few years ago the explorer Bon
rat, by his journey far inland on the
Volta river, shattered so much of this
theory as depended upon reports sent
home by Bovvdich.aud now Binger has
leveled "the western part of the great
Kong range. Tho last editions of some
of the best African maps show the
Kong mountains in all their wonted
blackness, but with the nddition of a
skeptical interrogation point. The
next editions will see them wiped from
the maps entirely'.
When Was Christ Born?
The bible does not tell us the year,
says the N. Y. Christian Advocate. The
books of our day say that he was born
four vears before the Christian era.
But the Christian era is supposed to
begin with the birth of Christ. We
should take time enough to make the
matter clear to the scholars, so that
they may not have any lingering doubt
as to the truthfulness of the record.
For the first 600 years Christians fol
lowed the oustoms of the countries
where they lived and marked time by
olympiads of empefors, by the cou
sulor, the Diocletian, the Macedonian,
the Byzantine, or by any of theseras in
vogue. But about the "middle of the
sixth century (S40 A. D.) a learned
monk by the name of Diouysius (called
Exiguus the Little either out of hiiinil
ty or because he was small) urged the
idea that the birth of Jesus was tho
central poiut of history and that it
should be the beginning of our modern
chronology. His plan was approved
and the Church of Rome was iu posi
tion to have it earned out, and the
European nations soon accepted what
is kuown as the Diouysian or vulgar
rera. The idea was a" good oue, but
he did not have the data to settle the
important question of the year of our
Lord's birth. He unfortunately locat
ed it in the year 754 A. U. C. We now
have means of settling such questions
that they knew nothing about.
This error has beeu known for a
long time, but U has not been possible
to change our present reckoning.
Furthermore, there has not been a sub
stautiul agreement among the authori
ties as to the exact year of Christ's
birth, as there are defenders for every
year from 74S to 753 A. U. C. But
among our best American and English
writers there is manifest disposition to
accept the ' conclusions of Andrews,
who had studied the question with
great care. He says that Jesus wa
born probably not later than January,
and surety not later thun April. 750 A.
U. C, which would make tho year
im.
Tbe Killer of Nelson.
The man who shot Nelson has been
discovered, through his own memoirs,
to have been Sergt. Robert Guillemard.
He was stationed iu the rigging of the
Redoubtable and busied himself in pick
ing off men on the Victory. He wntes:
"lu the stern of the Victory stood an
officer covered with decorations, who
had only one arm. From what I had
heard of Nelson I had no doubt that it
was he. As I had received no com
mand to come down out ol the rigging
and found myself forgotten in thelop,
I deemed it my duty to Hie into the
steru of the English ship, which I saw
unprotected aud quite uear. I might
have aimed at particular Individuals,
but 1 preferred to tin Into the separate
groups which surrounded the ditfereut
officers. Ail at once I perceived a
gre t eoniiiioiion on board the Victory.
1'iie people crowded around the officer
m w hom 1 OelleveU 1 DaU recogulzeu
Lord Nelson. Uo had falleu to tbe
deck, aud they carried him awav at
. - r .!.,. - n...
ouce. cuvereu wuu a mauiie. Aiie
excitement among the Victory's crew
confirmed me in the belief that I bad
not been deceived, and that it was in
deed thr English admiral. A ruoweut
fatVr the- Victory CVasVd tiring."
The Pacllia Bank
Hhs Issued Its quarter Centeniiini uiu,i,,,.i
whU'h Is lndeeii un luteiestlng etreuhir and
proves lu Kgures that the imut yuiir haa tieen the
the uiosi iirobparoutt one ihu brink linn ever had
Ills a matter upon which all Callrorniaim mi. i
congratulated, that the Bank still has the ams
huiw uiiu cnuaeieimous rresiueui, nr. it. a. Mo
no uruu.
If a ehi wants to be tmelv swell now
adays she mut have shining h-ir; but
the shine must be, like thut on the skin
of a well-kept racer, the result of per
fect groomiiiR, not of the use of oils or
pomades. Perfect cleanliness, softening
but oilless lotions, careful, but not vigor
ous nor long-continued brushing, and
gental smoothing by soft hands after
the hail has beeu drawn up to the orown
of the head and fastened there these,
are the attentions that produce thesleek
lustrous coinures wnicn oistinguisli well,
bred a-d well-groomed girls in the New
York Four Hundred. The hand smooth
ing gives to the hair, as It gives to the
finger-nails after manicure has given
them every other care, the last, the Hniwt
and the most inimitable polish.
A LOST ADDRESS.
A Trinidad Lady Wrltea to San FrancUo
for It.
Mrs. Harriet MeNamara of 819 Stute Street,
Trinidad, Colorado, while visiting in 1st Louis
last summer, did uol suffer with her usual sick
headaches and indigestion. But upon her re
turn to Trinidad her old troubles came upon
her. It was not the St Louis climate that did
so much for her sick headaches. The secret Is
told In the following letter, received by Thomas
I'rice & Son, the well-known assayers ol VM Sao
rameuto Street, San Francisco. Mrs. McNamara
writes:
"Three months since I was visiting In BL
Louis aud obtained two bottles ol Jut's Vegeta
ble Sarfavariila. It vms ol nieiit relief to me lu
my headaches and ludiKeNtion. Since my re
turn Ui my home In Trinidad 1 feel the need of
It, and as I have lost the nddrens I write to you
to auk If you will not kludlv forward this letter
to the proper number In fan Francisco, and
hare me sent a few more bottles cf this valuable
vegetable compound.1'
ioy's Vegetable Sarsaparllla, Is an almost cer
tain en re for sick headaches and constipation.
People who have used It once will Mod b Ha
treds ol miles to get It, as la the above liuUaoft.
Da. JORDAN C0'8
Muttcnm of Ann t om
751 MAKHKT STKKKT.
Open forLsdlesand Gentlemen
from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. AdnilhHion
2ftets. Go and learn how toi vol
disease and Inw wonderfully y:i
are made. Ooutmltation and treat
ment personally or by letter o
weaknesses ami all diseases
men. t'onsultatiou free.
Private Office, ill Uearv m.
INSTRUMENTS
iitory building 73 MtRl r ST. San Franchise
NOW,
WHAT'S THE MATTER
DON'T
COMPLAIN
ABOUT
E0LLTIUES
Loolc about you ; reduce vour expenses, live cheaper,
pay cash at you co, learn how others do it. Smith
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418 FRONT ET7.ECT1 BAN FRANCISCO.
PACIFIC STATES
Printers' Complete
SUPPLYJIOUSE.
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409 'Washington St, San Francisco.
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required In NewsjiaiK-r nn-l Jib r. Inline, &nl
many gjiecloltlea nui keiit by oilier li iunea.
Memo coast ao:. h roa
Connor's tT H. 'Ijt Teundrv Vm-lt,
Biuuiiiir-'s tirf al Western 1 y : l.jumiiy. Cbii agn
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a