THE FISH INDUSTRY.
Statistics of Columbia IMver Salmon
Pack as (Jlven In Annual Ileport of
Commissioner Read, of Oregon.
Fish Commissioner F. C. Keed. of
Oregon, has filed hii annual report in
the office of the governor. The report
covers the year ending October 81,
18119. If is a voluminous document
and covers the year's work in detail.
On the subject of hatcheries the re'
port reviews the progress in locating
and contracting the buildings anil the
work accomplished in the state during
the pant year.
The number of chinook salmon eggs
taken from the different hatcheries in
Oregon tributary to the Columbia river
for the year 1800, is as follows:
T'pper Clackamas hatchery 1,200,000
Balmon river hatchery ftnt.mifl
Clackamas hatchery 1,000,000
Total for Oregon !,800.0U0
Chinook. salmon eggs taken on the
Washington side of the Columbia:
Chinook hatchery tsm.ooo
K .llama hatchery 4
Wind river hatchery J.Sno.OOO
Mttle White Halmon hatchery. ...10.OOO.0u0
Chewaukum hatchery 1.000.1WU
Total for Washington 19,300,000
Total for Columbia river 23.100,000
From the salmon that were marked
by Mr. Hubbard, hatched from eggs
taken in 1806, there were caught our
ing the season of 1898, 875 fish weigh'
ing from 10 to 50 pounds each. Dur
ing the season of 1899 the packers and
dealers have neglected to watch for the
marked fish as well as they should,
says the report, but between 40 and 60
have been reported, the average weight
being nearly 10 pounds greater than
those taken in 1808.
The report shows a falling off In the
number of cases of salmon canned dar
ing the past season on the Columbia as
compared with 1898. This is in part
accounted for by the increased number
of pounds of salmon handled by the
cold-storage concerns.
The following statistics of the sal
mon pack are given:
Spring pack, Oicgon side
Variety. Cases. Value.
Chinook 191. liW $1,061,014 00
Wuehaoks 22.1T.5 121 7f.2 m
Bteelheaus U.963 19,797 CO
Total 2113,218 11,202,043 50
I Spring pack, Washington side
Variety. Casea. Value
Chinook 60.BH0 t 277,750 W
Itluebacks 7.060 40.975 00
BteelhelicU 3,340 15.030 00
: Total 61,490 I 333,755 0G
' Spring pack, both sides
Total...'. 294,708 11,598,398 50
Fall pack, Oregon side-
Variety. . Casea. Value.
Chinook 12.902 I 88. 059 OC
RIlverHlileS 21,443 M,4:l 50
Steelheuda 222 919 00
Total 34,507 t 155,551 50
Fall pack, Washington side
Variety. Casea. Value
Chinook 2.4f.O f 11.025 00
BllviTHiiles 7.7:10 34.875 00
Bteellieads 650 2,925 00
Total 10,850
Fall pack, both sides
Total 45.417
Total on Columbia... 340. 125
Total on coast rivers. 74,932
f 48,825 00
t 104:376 50
1.MU.775 00
271,53a 00
Total 415,057 12,072.307 60
Amount and value of each species of
fish consumed locally and shipped East
for the year 1899:
Pounds. Value.
Fresh salmon 2,199,2:19 I175.IM9
Suit aalmon 1,380.860 108 s8
Htuigeon f'9,910 3.591
Smelt 280.500 14,025
Bhad 275.380 11.015
Crawfish 138.248 13.824
C,itHh 62,380 2.095
Tom cod 9.000 260
Halibut 81S.400 22,472
Cod 11,500 920
Herring 11,175 335
Flounders 6.800 232
1'erch 4,625 787
Oysters 590.SUO 14.770
Clams 110,900 2,218
Total 6,448,617 1370,848
Northwest Notes.
Republic is soon to vote on the ques
tion of incorporation.
A Portland man has bought 25,000
pounds of wool at Ashland at 15 to 18
cents.
Washington has a stringent law for
the protection of hotelmen from board
bill jumpers.
TheTairhaven coal mines, At Coke
dale, have been sold to the Great
Northern railroad.
Demand has outstripped the supply
of lockboxes at the Spokane postaoffice,
where 702 are now in use.
A gravity water supply, to be piped
nine miles, is under consideration of
llaker City's common council.
Baker City is talking of a "modern
pavement" for its leading business
street, to relieve the present "disgrace
ful unpaved condition."
Approximately a sum of $200,000 in
delinquent taxes was paid into the
county treasury this year on Whatcom
city property. Of this sum, about
$50,000 was the interest penalty of 6
per cent. Treasurer Boeder has placed
this to the credit of the county, and
the city of Whatcom has entered a de
mand for it. The matter will be taken
into the courts.
Arthur Iluey, who went from his
home, near Walla Walla, to work in
Umatilla county harvest fields, early
in the fall, and who was sought by his
parents for weeks after it had come time
for him to return home, has turned np
alive and well. lie went to Redland,
Cal., and a newspaper paragraph tell
ing of his parents' search induced him
to write home, and soon follow his
letter.
An electric light plant and water
works system are two improvements
that are almost a necessity in Burns,
and the News thinks steps will be
taken early in the spring to inaugurate
the two systems.
A Gilliam county man recently sold
52 head of beef cattle to the Union
Meat Company, of Portland. The prioe
was $3.50 per 100 for steers and $3.10
for fat cows. Twelve head of the cat
tle averaged 1,300 pounds, and one
steer brought $46.67.
Through the failure of some of the
shingle mills of Whatcom county to
close, under the agreement recenty
reached to limit production in the in
terest of better prices, a break-up was
imminent in the Whatcom county asso
ciation. But a meeting was held and
the recalcitrant concerns promised to
quit work, there was a new election of
officers. and harmony and strength were
restored.
The Lakeview Examiner reports a
sale of 77 head of beef cows at 6 cents
per pound, and that the seller "has a
special lot of beef Christmas oows that
he is holding at 6' cents."
TRADE QUIETING DOWN.
Undisturbed, However, by an Cnfavnr-
abla Money Situation.
Bradstreet's Rays: General trade in
wholesale and manufacturing lines is
quieting down, but it is worth noting.
It is undisturbed by the money situs
tion, the influence of which has been
confined to speculative circles, lloli
day trade, on the other hand, has been
given a decided impetus, and com pari
sons With the same period of preceding
years are 'uniformly favorable, little
doubt remaining that although retail
trade in seasonable lines has been af
feoted in some localities by unfavor
abltt weather, holiday specialties have
enjoyed exceptional activity. As re
gards prices, it is a notable fact that
as many staples have advanced this
week as there have declined, while by
far the larger number of quotations
have remained steady or firm. The
strength of textiles is still a most not a
ble feature of the general situation.
Cotton goods are hesvily sold ahead
by agents, and a very large spring hnsl
nets has already been booked. Raw
cotton is firm and unchanged en the
week, partly owing to the light re
oelpts and to reaffirTnation of a short
orop estimated by the department oi
agriculture. Manufactured goods,
where not advanced, are firmly held.
Wheat, lnoluding flour, shipments
for the week aggregate 8,250,649 bush
els, against 5,133,831 bushels last
week, 6,243,659 bushels in the corre
sponding week last year, 4,464,899
bushel In 1897, 8,634,620 bushels in
1896 and 2,050,043 bushels in 1805.
Sinoe July 1 this season, the exports of
wheat aggregate 97,550,926 bushels
against 109,720,853 bushels last year
and 118,809,197 bushels in 1898-09.
Business failures in the United States
for the week were only 210 as com
pared with 220 last week, 234 in this
week a year ago, 283 in 1897, and 859
in 1896.
PACIFIC COAST TRADE.
Baattla Markets.
Onions, new, $1.00 1.25 per sack
Potatoes, new, $16 20.
Beets, per sack, 75 85c.
Turnips, per sack, 60c.
Carrots, per sack, 60c.
Parsnips, per sack, 75 85c.
Cauliflower, 75c $1 per dozen.
Cabbage, native and California, 75
90c per 100 pounds.
Peaches, 6580o.
Apples, $1.251.50 per box.
Pears, $1.00 1.25 per box.
Prunes, 60o per box.
Watermelons, $1.50.
Nutmegs, 5075o.
Butter Creamery, 82o per pound;
dairy, 17 22c; ranch, 22o per pound.
Eggs Firm, 80 81c.
Cheese Native, 16c.
Poultry 9 10c; dressed, ll18o.
Hay Paget Sound timothy, $12.00;
choice Eastern Washington timothy,
$17.0018.00
Corn Whole, $28.00; cracked, $23;
feed meal, $33.
Barley Rolled or ground, per ton,
$31; whole, $22.
Flour Patent, per barrel, $3.85;
blended straights, $3.10; California,
$3.25; buckwheat flour, $6.00; gra
ham, per barrel, $3.80; whole wheat
flour, $3.10; rye flour, $3.804.00.
Millstuffs Bran, per ton, $16.00;
shorts, per ton, $17.00.
Feed Chopped feed, $20.60 per ton;
middlings, per ton, $22; oil cake meal,
per ton, $82.00.
Portland Market.
Wheat Walla Walla, 6152o;
Valley, 52c; Bluestem, 63o per bushel.
Flour Best grades, $3.00; graham,
$2.50; superfine, $2.15 per barrel.
Oats Choice white, 84 35c; choice
gray, 85o per bushel.
Barley Feed barley, $ 1 6 1 6 . 50 ;
brewing, $18.00 19.00 per ton.
Millstuffs Bran, $17 per ton; mid
dlings, $22; shorts, $18; chop, $16 per
ton.
Hay Timothy, $9 11; clover, $7
8; Oregon wild hay, $6 7 per ton.
Butter Fancy creamery, 60 55c;
seconds, 4245o; dairy, 87)-g40c;
store, 25 85c.
Eggs 1820o per dozen.
Cheese Oregon full cream, 13c;
Young America, 14c; new. cheese 10c
per pound.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, $3.00
8.50 per dozen; hens, $4.50; springs,
$2.003.50; geese, $7.008.60 forold;
$4.606.50 for young; ducks, $4.50
per dozen; turkeys, live, 14 15c
per pound.
Potatoes 50 60c per sack; sweets,
22Jio per pound.
Vegetables Beets, $1; turnips, 90c;
per sack; garlic, 7c per pound; cauli
flower, 76o per dozen; parsnips, $1;
beans, 5 6c per pound; celery, 70
75o per dozen; cucumbers, 50c per
box; peas, 84c per pound; tomatoes,
75c per box; green corn, 12
15c per dozen.
Hops 8llc; 1898 crop, 66o.
Wool Valley, 1218o per pound;
Eastern Oregon, 814c; mohair, 27
80o per pound.
Mutton Gross, best sheep, wethers
and ewes, 8)tc; dressed mutton, 6
7o per pound; lambs, 7)io per poand. J
Hogg Gross, choice heavy, $5.00;
light and feeders, $4.60; dressed,
$5. 60 6.00 per 100 pounds.
Beef Gross, top steers, $3.604.00;
oows, $3(38.50; dressed beef, 6i
7o per pound.
Veal Large, 67c; small, 80
&Ho per pound.
Ban Fraueisoo Market.
Wool Spring Nevada, 1215oper
pound; Eastern Oregon, 12 16c; Val
ley, 2022c; Northern, 10 12c.
Hops 1899 crop, ll12o per
pound.
Onions Yellow, 7585o per sack.
Butter Fancy creamery 24 25c;
do seconds, 22 24c; fancy dairy, 21
22c; do seconds, 19 20o per pound.
Eggs Store, 25 27c; fancy ranch,
86c.
Millstuffs Middlings, $17.00
20.00; bran, $14 15.00.
Hay Wheat $7.00 10; wheat and
oat $7.509.00; best barley $5.00
7.60; alfalfa, $5.00 7.50 per ton;
straw, 85 45c per bale.
Potatoes Early Rose, $1-00; Ore
gon Burbanks, 60o1.10; river Bur
banks, 4575o; Salinas Burbanks,
$1.00 1.J5 per sack.
Cirrus Fruit Oranges, Valencia,
$2.75(38.23; Mexican limes, $4.00
5.00; California lemons 75c$1.60;
do ohoice $1.75 2.00 per box.
Tropical Fruits Bananas, $1.60
2.50 per bunch; pineapples, nom
inal; Persian dates, 66,Hio per
pound.
THE GOOD NEW TIMES.
TnoUCH the "old folks" Ulk of the
good old Hum s,
When laud was plenty sod cares
were so few;
let the "young folks" listen with doubtful
smiles.
Convinced they were not as food as the
Those were ry sleigh rides, grandpspa, I
know;
While inmla ne'er danced Uth ss dear
"grmutma'r;"
But some things could b said 'bout a mod
ern lies u,
And a cosy Jaunt In s palaca car.
Those were wonderful loaves dear "grand
mn'r" msile.
And she brolilered yonr socks with a won
drous darn;
Tet she wondered sometimes, I'm sure, If It
nnld,
(Would hurt left had she dared for a prom
enade And enjoyed to have spun a little street
yaru).
No doubt her pupa, great granpa, you know,
Itenlly frowned when she purchased ber
wedding dress,
And sliched as be wished for the "good old
times,"
When bonnets were cheaper and dresses
took less.
While his great-grandpa, I've heard It ssld.
Wouldn't spar the wool fc: bis daughter
to weave;
But sighed for the fashions of Taradlse,
And longed for the Ug leaves of Mother
Eve.
Boon forgotten Is pnlo, when pleasures are
o'er,
"Dints nee enchants ns," the poet was
right;
Who wnnders his memory hack to deplore.
The collar too high or the boots all too
tight I
The maiden who lingers o'er past hours of
bliss.
Forgets as she day-dreams of heroes snd
flues.
Flow her lulr wouldn't crimp and ber (loves
wouldn't fit;
For "deeply depraved are Inanimate
things.
There are bountiful times In these good new
days;
There ore lives as beautiful, pure and true,
As any who moved tn the simpler ways;
And It umy be a trifle better, too;
Blnre find with Infinite, loving denim,
Is raising the nations nearer to Ulm;
And the steady sweep of the centuries,
Ever chants a progressive, happier hymn,
Then a glad New Tear, this my earnest
wisn,
I send In honeful. jubilant tone:
That the coming year, rkb freighted with
ove.
May prove the best that you ever have
known.
Exchange.
I Hla'o Yftii Prpcpnta
C ILL A SrRAGUE seemed to blow
j In at the door with a gust of wind
I ) and a drift of mow. Then, having
kicked a pair of snow encrusted over
shoes into a corner of the ball, Miss
Lilla ran upstairs tn a hurry.
"See here, mother," said Lilla, "it's a'J
over now.
'What, dear?" Mrs. Sprague asked,
looking up absently from a letter she was
writing.
"It's all over I tay, It's all over be
tween Randolph oh, what a foo foo
fool I've been!" And the flung herself,
sobbing, on a big horsehair sofa.
"But why, Lilla?"
"Don't ask me like that, mother. Don't!
I've told you before. And this this is
the sec sec second time. OhI" More
tobs.
I don't understand you, daughter,"
said her mother, leaving her batch of
Christmas correspondence and going to
carry comfort to the tragic figure on the
horsehair sofa.
"lie's run away again!" Lilla roared.
"Done what, dear?"
"The same as he did before."
"Wrhat did he do before?"
"Mother, I told you, day before yes
terday ran away from me. lie thought
I didn't aee him."
"Mr. AVatts ran away from you?"
"Yes, mother, and I'll never speak to
him again. Day before yesterday he at
least hail the politeness to bow. This
time he Just turned and went down a
side street. He was with that frump of
a cousin. I Just hate her, and him, and
the whole lot.
"Don't be foollfih, child. Mr. Watts
will be here to explain it all. You'll see."
In answer to this Lilla only rose from
the sofa, grimly took off her wraps and
hat, muttering: "Yes, I'll see," and dis
appeared through a door that led to her
own room.
Mrs. Sprague did not follow her daugh
ter with any further attempts at conso
lation, neither did she guess what Lilla
was going to do, and that was to write a
note:
Dear Sir In ease you may wish to make any
explanation of your very strauge conduct on
two occasions this week. I wish you would
spare yourself the trouble of doing sny bucIi
thing, either personally or In writing. Your
ring ball be returned by mall, registered.
"LILLA SPUAOLE."
That little projectile which Lilla fired
at her fiance very nearly ended the life
of Randolph Watts; at least, so Watts
said. He could not think, or he might
have seen an easy way out of the horri
ble maxe into which he had got himself.
His transgression stored him in the face.
He had run away from Lilla twice and
had even congratulated himself oa his
escape from her and chuckled over It se
cretly. How was he to convince her that
his evasion was not an evidence of dis
loyalty to her?
It was only three days before Christ
nas and Watts had promised himself
that, whatever future Christmas might
hare Id store for him, that Christmas
shonld.be the huppicst be had known so
far at least.
That night he lay awoke until he was
exhausted. Nest morning he got up and
went to his business mechanically.
The first ray of comfort came with his
cousin, Mra. Sucher the same whom
Lilla had spoken of as a "frump."
"Why, Randolph," said Mrs. Sucher,
I I ft II. t 7 I M..
V i i 758,
"it is all over now," said lilla.
as she entered the office, "what is the
matter with you? Have -you been 111?"
"She saw me," was ail Randolph could
say.
"Yes. I came t&r.i to you again
about It I forgot
"Oh, it's no use now, Cousin Mattlc.
She will not 'receive me or my letters'
never."
"Pooh! Did Rhe tell you so?"
"She wrote to nic I mustn't go there."
"Look here, Randolph," said the com
mon sense matron, "this Is all nonsense.
If Lilla Sprngue won't receive me, she
must be a ninny "
Mwn
.HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
mC - rtril -IssSNiSS
"Don't tay that!"
"I wilt say that But anyhow, her
mother will see me. I am going now to
call on Mrs. Sprague. And now, look
here, about this bracelet."
"Shall we go on with that?" said
Watts, with a faint smile.
"Of course we thalL, stupid. Illgglns
says he has tried to set the watch with
the face In, as you wanted it, and he
can't make any better job of It than
Moore could. Now I think I'd better go
and take it back to Moore's and tell them
to set it with the face out, don't you?"
"Very well," said Watts, with almost
childish resignation.
"And then the miniature can go Inside
with the original crystal over it, eh?"
"Very well."
"And then I'm going straight to Mrs.
Sprague's."
"Are you?"
First to Illgglns' Mrs. Sucher went,
where she took possession of a remark
ably pretty and uncommon gold bracelet,
a tiny old-fashioned watch and the min
iature. Then to Moore's, where the left
the bracelet, the watch and the minia
ture. Then to Mrs. Sprague's.
As Mrs. Sucher entered Mrs. Sprague's
private and individual sitting room she
heard a whisk and rustle of skirts and a
door closed behind a rapidly retreating
figure.
"Lilla not well?" said Mrs. Sucher,
with an Incredulous laugh. "Too bad.
These Christmas preparations are umle-
Tit- . r
on, it's no tjse mow, cotrsi.v mattib
niubly fatiguing. I have spent three
weeks, my dear Mrs. Sprague, running
about town in search ot the right present
for the right people."
"You must have laid yourself out to
be generous," said Mrs. Sprague.
"I am generous. I give my time and
labor to help other people give presents.
That brings me to the object of this Tisit.
Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Sprague, "snd I nm
burning with curiosity. So make haste
and tell me."
"Oh, then you know?"
"You were with Randolph Watts when
he ran away from Lilla yesterday. How
was it?"
"You promise not to tell her? to keep
It for three days? Very well. Yon see,
he wants to give her a bracelet he had
made for her, with a very pretty motto
on it In enamel. Then he wants to give
her a beautiful little watch that beloajred
to his poor mother, and he has had a lit
tle miniature of his mother made to fit
in behind the watch. First at took the
watch to Moore's. That was the day h
ran up against Lilla, when he had the
whole package in bis baud, snd ws
afraid she would ask him, and ran. ?
terday, just as be was taking nie to hold
a consultation on that wonderful brace
let, we saw Lilla coming along. 1 said
to him: 'Randolph, If she meets ux she'll
want to walk along with us, and thoj
the whole plot is ruined. Let's turn down
here before she sees us.' But it teems
she taw ut after all."
On Christmas morning, In suite of
many earnest assurances from her moth
cr that that morning would bring a clear
inir-up if all her trouble, Lilla was as ter
ribly cross and out ot tune with the
chimes as she had been for four days
past. Moreover, she swoke with s head
arhe.
She found a stocking tied to the head
of her bed, as she had eivn-cted, and
took the stocking down and opened It
mechanically. Then the found the brace
let with a frap of paper in which, In her
mother's writing, were the words, "Press
the spring and look Inside, behind the
watch." And when she looked s lovely,
loving fnce looked back at her a face
that was very llk Randolph Watts own,
And at the bottom of the stocking
away at the very toe was another pa
per which said, "The bracelet nuijht to
tell you why I ran away. R. W."
Then she laid her bead and bracelet
on her pillow, and wet both bracelet snd
pillow with tears until her headache was
all gone.
A Happy New Year.
Delight and pathos are Inextricably
mingled with the thought of New Year's
day, says the Boston Watchman. , It Is
only a conventional point of time; any
other would do as well. Every day closes
an old year and begins a new one. but for
all that we cannot help feeling that this
day, which Is agreed upon throughout
Christendom for the beginning of a new
year, is somewhat unique. The pathos
comes from the review of the past, and
from the sense that another notch has
been cut for us on the stick of time. The
delight arises from the anticipation of
the now and better experiences of the
year to come. What interest any rational
person could have in having his fortune
told is a mystery. The zest and charm of
life consist largely in the fact that each
day is like a new page In the story. If
you wish to enjoy your book you do not.
whon it Is half read, turn to the closing
chapter to discover how it turns out. You
do not thank anyone for telling you the
plot. It Is io with life. There Is in
finite satisfaction In each day's contribU'
tion to the record. You do not want to
anticipate it. It would be a curse if anr
one could tell you just what the year
would bring. It is just at reasonable to
suppose that the year will be happy as
sad. Who oaa tell? Who can control
that? Are we not In the hands of God?
That Is the reason for a happy New
i ear s day.
CHRISTMAS AND THE CHILDREN
HE little folks are talkln'-they talk
hub uuyiuiug
'Bout Santy Claus a-comln', an' what
he's goln' to bring;
An' the mother never scolda 'em or tells 'em
'bout the noise;
They're Just the sweetest little girls the
uesi uk uiue ooysi
Because they know that Bsnty Claus knowi
An' while he's loading up hit sleigh he'
watcnin or em. tool
An' them that minds their mothers, they
gets the most of toys
They're Just the sweetest little girls the
Hod, llttlA hr. wot
They've Just been wrltln' letters to Banty
inuB earn liny
An' tellln' hlra Just what they want an
showln' him the war
To where the house Is. so he'll know Just
where to leave the toys,
Fer Just the sweetest little girls the best
oi nine uoys;
They're glttin mighty anxious fer the days
An' all of 'em are nappy an' they make
their mothers sot
She never has to scold 'em or tell 'em 'bout
tne noise,
'Cause they're Just the sweetest little girls
me uesi oi nine uuys.
Atlanta Constitution.
Beat of All Gifts.
The best of all gifts at the present time
is yourself. Make yourself In some way
more pleasant and helpful to others. You
may have been neglectful of them; be
mindful henceforth. You may be quick
in temper and have spoken hastily; pat
on restraint and spr-ak kindly now. Re
strain all evil habits and make yourself
a joy and a help to others. They will
bless you.
If I wuz Santa, and Btnta wus
me.
D'you know what I would do?
I'd load with presents the Christ
mas tree
And have 'em all marked "For
Willie B.,
With p'raps for Charlie a
few.
I S.-1'm WIllirB.
First of AIL
If Santa Clans would ask the hone.
Who has to pull the loads.
The gift he'd like for Christmas
He would shout, "'Uood Koads!"
It is better to give a Christmas bog
than to receive one from a pugilist.
m
MCIIKST IN AMERICA
THE CLAIM MADE FOR A MEXI
CAN GYPSY.
It la Bald that the Number and Value
of Hla Poaaewlona Is Far Beyond the
Wealth of VanderbilU, Aatora, Rocke
fcllera or Goulds.
If you believe one of the Romauys of
Milwaukee then the richest man In
North America Is uot oue of the Vandcr
bllts, Astors or Rockefellers, but a
Simon puro gypsy, whose uauie Is aim
plo John Smith. He Uvea In Mexico, la
SO years old and the owner of countless
acres, of myriads of cattle and sheep, of
gold, silver and ouyx in lues, of railway
aud bunk stock and of plantations with
out number In the heart of Mexico's
richest states.
Smith's wealth has never been figured
up. He cannot tell himself. His sole
ambition Is to become the richest man
In the world. And It Is this hope that
keeps him vigorous aud drives dull care
away.
John Smith has no settled borne. He
has a hundred homes on his different
estates, and be move from one to
another. In each be sees what Is going
on, and gives bis orders. Then he
moves on again. The Milwaukee gypsy,
a solid business man, wbo comes borne
now with the story of John Smith's
amazing wealth, saw blm at Orizaba.
They became great friends.
"God alone knows bow rich I am, "
snld Smith, simply, "but I think I am
the richest man on the continent"
Smith was plainly dressed In a suit of
English tweed, with bobnall Bhoes, But
his home was a revelation. Outside It
was a vefltablo fortress, with stout
wallsof masonry, looplioled for defense,
If necessary. A two-story wall Inclosed
It In a space as big aa two blocks, and
a great moat surrounded that There
were the regulation drawbtldgea and
portcullises.
Two massive Inner doors barred the
last entrance. Once open It was a
wonderful place, with a courtyard In
the center, where played perfumed
fountains and where a beautiful garden
grew. The entire lnelosure was paved
with brilliantly polished ouyx the
ransom of a king iu cost taken from
one of his mines. Even the stables
where Smith's herd of pet Jerseys were
housed had the same costly flooring of
onyx.
Servants lounged about, but one of
the old man's eccentricities was to have
his own children wait upon blm at
table. It was an Incongruous picture
to see him clattering around on the
splendid flooring In his coarse suit and
hobnails, while a soft light fell on the
strange scene shed by great candelabra
of solid gold from hla mines.
Smith Is an English gypsy. He went
to Mexico before there were any rail
ways there, and was the first man to
haul machinery from the coast to the
gold mines which now yield him an In
calculable Income. He got in on the
ground floor on everything that has
made Mexico so rich to-dny.
But his life has been a series of ad
ventures. Twice he has been shot down
by Mexican thieves who attacked his
gold trains. He was left for dead each
time. All the gypsies In Mexico are
wonderfully proud of him and call him
"Our John." Milwaukee Cor. St. Louis
Post-Dispatch.
IMMENSE SPIDERS
Insects In Ceylon that Are Beyond All
Comparison.
Far up In the mountains of Ceylon
there Is a spider that splits a web like
bright yellowish silk, the center net
which Is five feet in diameter, while
the supporting lines or guys, ns they
are culled, measure sometimes ten or
twelve feet, says the Cleveland Leader,
and, rldlngqulckly In the early morning.
you may dash right Into the stout
threads, twining round your face like
a lace veil, while, as the creature who
has woven It takes up bis position In
the middle, he generally catches you
right In the nose and, though he seldom
bites or stings, the contact of his large
body and long legs Is anything but
pleasant. If you forgot yourself and
try to catch him, bite be will, and,
though uot venomous, bis jaws are as
powerful ns a bird's beak, and you are
not likely to forget the encounter.
The bodies of these spiders are very
handsomely decorated, being bright
gold or scarlet underneath, while the
upper part is covered with the most
delicate s'ate-cclored fur. So strong are
the webs thnt birds Ihe size of larks are
frequently caught therein, and even the
small but powerful scaly lizard falls a
victim. The writer has often sat and
watched the yellow raouster measur
ing, when waiting for bis prey, with
his legs stretched out, fully six Inches
striding across the middle of the net
and noting the rapid manner In which
he winds his stout threads around the
unfortunate captive.
JEFFERSON'S DEBUT.
How lie Flint Played Rip Van Winkle
Hla Audience.
"My approaching appearance was the
Important dramatic event of my life.
I had been five years from America and
was on my way bnme, and I felt sat
isfied that If this new version of 'Rip
Van Winkle' succeeded In London my
way was quite clear when I returned
to the United States.
"On Sunday evening, being alone In
my lodgings, I got out for my own
admiration my new wig and beard, the
pride of my heart and which I was to
use In the last act I could not resist
trying them on for the twentieth time,
So I got In front of the glass and ad
justed them to my perfect satisfaction.
I soon became enthused, and began act-
ng and posing in front of the mirror.
Iu about twenty minutes there came a
knock at the door.
" 'Who's there?' said I.
" 'It's me, If you please,' said the
gentle but agitated voice of the
chambermaid. 'May I come In?"
'Certainly not ' I replied, for I had
no desire to be seen In my present
makeup.
'Is there anything wrong in the
room, sir? said she.
" 'Nothing at alL Go away, ' I replied.
" 'Well, sir, ' she continued, 'there's a
policeman at the door, and be says as
ow there's a crazy old man In your
room, a fllnglu' of his arms about and
a-g oIb' oa hawf uL and there' a crowd
of people across the street a-Mocktn op
the way.'
"I turned toward the window, and to
my horror I found that I had forgotton
to put down the curtain, and, as II
seemed to be, the entire population of
London was taking In my first night
I bad been unconsciously acting, with
the lights full up, to an astonished au
dience who bad not paid for their ad
mission. As I tore off my wlf and
beard a shout went up. Quickly pi.tllng
down the curtain I threw myself on a
chair, overcome with mortification at
the occurence.
"In a few minutes the comical side of
the picture presented Itself, and I must
have laughed for an hour. I bnd been
suffering from an attack of nervous
dyspepsia consequent upon the excite
ment of the past week, and I firmly be
lieve that this continuous tit of laughter
cured me. "Joseph Jefferson's "Rem
iniscences. ,
fi
On one occasion the Prince of Wales
visited a Hindoo school In Madras. The
youngsters bad been drilled Into the
propriety of saying "Your royal high
ness" should the prince speak to them,
and when .the heir-apparent accosted a
bright-eyed lad, and, pointing to a pris
matic compass, asked, "What Is this?"
the youngster, all in a flutter, replied:
"It's a royal compasa, your prismatic
htghnesa."
Robert Hllllard, the actor, brought a
young Englishwoman to see "El Cap!
tan." She was much Impressed with
De Wolf Hopper, and remarked: "What
a charming man your Mr. Hopper Is.
Tell me. Is he married?" "Been mar
ried three times," was the reply. "Three
times!" she repeated; "and they are all
dead?" "No," was the answer; "dl
Torcefl." "Ah!" she rejoined, "I see;
he Is a Grass-Hopper."
A young lady, who had greatly en
Joyed John Kendrlck Bangs' "House
boat on the Styx," thought It only just
to wrlto a few lines expressing her de
light She ended her letter with: "I
did so much enjoy your 'Houseboat on
the Sticks.'" Mr. Bangs politely an
swered: "Dear Miss: If you have stud
ied mythology, and without doubt you
have, you will realize that considering
the ungodly heat where those Styx are
supposed to be located, it would be Im
possible for them to support the house
boat until my lines were finished. Yours
truly, J. K. B."
The late Hall McAllister some years
ago entertained a visiting scientist at
the Union Club, before Its amalgama
tion with the Pacific, and during the
evening a particularly foggy one
made eome whimsical remark convey
ing the Idea that fog was an excellent
conductor of sound. The scientist took
exception to this novel theory and asked
Mr. McAllister on what It was based.
"On phenomena which we hove all ob
served," returned the ready Jurist; "on
an evening like this we hear the fogi
born quite distinctly, but when there la
no tog we cannot hear it at all."
An Iowa Judge recently related an
amusing Incident that had occurred In
his court when a colored man was
brought up for some petty offense. The
charge was read, and as the statement,
"The State of Iowa against John
Jones," was read In a loud voice, the
colored man's eyes bulged nearly out of
their sockets, and he seemed overcome
with terror and astonishment. When
he was asked If he had anything to say,
or pleaded guilty or not guilty, he
gasped out: "Well, yo' honah, ef de
whole State o' Iowa Is agin this one
pore nigger, I'se gwlne to give up right
now."
An English police Inspector being In
formed that a hotel-keeper was serving
game out of eeasou, visited the restau
rant In plain clothes ond ordered dinner:
"Walter, partridge for me." The Inspec
tor finished his dinner leisurely, and
then said to the waiter: "Ask the pro
prietor to step this way a minute."
"What for?" "I wish to notify him to
appear In court to-morrow and answer
for selling partridge out of season. I
am a police officer, and have secured
the necessary evidence against him."
Walter "It wasn't partridge you had."
Police Inspector (uneasily) What was
It then ?;' Walter (cheerfully) "Crow."
The Inspector swooned.
Disraeli, It is said, laughed only once
In the House of Commons. Gladstone
had made an Impassioned speech In
favor of the union of Wallachla and
Moldavia. Disraeli pointed out that the
result would be the extinction of the
Independence of these people, and the
only thing left would be the remorse
which would be painted with admira
ble eloquence by the rhetorician of the
day." In reply, Mr. G'adetone said that
he would not be guilty of the affected
modesty of pretentlug to be Ignorant
that that designation, "the rhetorician
of the day," was Intended for himself.
Mr. Disraeli interrupted with the re
mark: "I beg your pardon; I really did '
not mean that." Gladstone's face ex
pressed amazement and Indignation,
and Disraeli sat down with a satisfied
smile that told of his enjoyment
Bhakapeare and Sanitation.
An amusing paper entitled "Shak-
speare and Sanitation" was read at the
recent provincial meeting of the Incor
porated Society of Medical Officers of
Health at Stratford-on-Avon. Among
other things the author related the
following: "It Is Interesting to find that
the name of John Shakspeare, the fath
er of the poet first appears In the rec
ords of the municipality as owing a
fine of twopence for having made a
dirt heap with his neighbors Adrlen
Qulncy and Henry Reynelds, In Henly
street; and on another occasion he
stood amerced' In fourpence for fall
ing to keep his gutter clean."
Ualn, Evaporation ami the Ocean.
Lieut Maury calculated that If an
Inch of rain fell over a fifth part of the
surface of the Atlantic, it would mean
an addition to Its volume of 300.000.000
tons of water; and that It the same
amount of water evaporated from the
ocean. It would leave 16,000,000 tons ot
sea salt
The patient usually has more confi
dence in his physician than the latter
baa la bliceelf.