Evening Star Newspaper, December 21, 1895, Page 19

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1895—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. TW EMPTY. PURSE A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS TALE BY SARAH ORNE JEWETT. —_>__—_ [Oopyright, 1895, by Bacheller, Johnson & Bacheller.) I. ‘Little Miss Debby Gaines was counting ‘the days to Christmas; there were only three, and the weather was bright and warm for the time of year. “T’'ve got to step fast to carry out all my plans,” she said to herself. “It seems to ‘me as if it were going to be a beautiful Christmas; it" won't be like any I've spent lately, elther. I shouldn't wonder ff it turn- ed out for the best, my losing that money “I always call my Christmas money; any- way, I'll do the best I can to make up for it Miss Debby was sitting by the window ewing as fast as she could, while the light ‘of the short winter day was going, mending @ warm old petticoat and humming a Psalm tune. Suddenly she heard a knock at the door; she lived in two upstairs rooms, and could not see the street. “Come in!” she said, cheerfully, and drop- ped her lapful of work. “Why, if it isn't Mrs, Rivers!” she said, with much pleasure. ‘The guest was a large woman, fashionably @ressed. You would have thought that a very elegant blue-Jay nad come to make @ late afternoon call upon such a brown chippy-sparrow as Miss Debby Gaines. Miss Debby felt much honored, and brought her best rocking chair; and Mrs. Rivers seated herself and began to rock. Her stiff silk gown creaked a& if she were a ship at sea. “What are you doing—something pretty for Christmas?” she asked. “It may be for Christmas, but it isn’t very pretty,” answered Miss Debby, with a lit- tle laugh and shake of the head. “Tell you the truth, I was mending up a nice warm petticoat that I don’t have much use for. I thought I'd give it to old Mrs. Bean, at the poor house. Sie’s a complaining, cold, old creatur’, an’ she’s got poor eyesight an’ can’t sew, and I thought this would make her real comfortable. It's rather more heavy than I need to wear.” "ve been down town all the afternoon, and it’s so tiresome trying to get at any- thing in the stores,” said Mrs. Rivers. “They push you right away from what you want time to look over. I like to consider what I buy. It’s a great burden to me try- ing to get ready for Christmas, and I thought I shouldn’t do anything this year on account of my health. I've had large expgnses tais autumn. I had to have new entrar and a new outside garment. I do like to see the pretty things in the stores, but they were so full of people and so hot and disagreeable this afternoon.” Miss Debby had picked up her petticoat was holding it close to the window while she sewed on the button with firm linen stitches. “I haven't been down the street for two or three days,” she said. u'll excuse me for goin’ on with my work; it’s most dark, and I'll be done in a moment, and we can sit an’ talk.” “It does me good to come and see you once in awhile,” said Mrs. Rivers, plaintively. “I thought I'd stop on my way home. Last year you had so many making. es “There aren't any at all this year,” an- swered Miss Debby, bravely. “It wasn’t convenient, so I thought I'd just try having another kind of a merry Christmas.” “Sometimes I wish I had no more respon- sibilities than you have. My large. house is such a care. Mr. Rivers is very particular about everything, and so am I.” She gave a great sigh and creaked louder than before, but Miss Debby did not have the right sort of consolation to offer, and kept silence. “You enjoy having your pretty house,” she ventured to say, after a few moments. ou wouldn't like to do with as little as some—" and Mrs. Rivers shook her head in the dusk and went on rocking. “Presents aren't nothing unless the heart goes with them,” sald Miss Debby boldly, at last, “and I think we can show goud feelin’ in other ways than in bestowing little pin- cushions. Any , I've got to find those ways this year. ‘Tis a day when we New Sngland folks can seem to speak right out to each other, and that does seem good. Somethin’ gets In the air. I expect now to enjoy this Christmas myself, though I felt dreadful bad last week, sayin’ to myself ‘twas the first time I couldn’t make my presents. I didn’t know how Interested I was goin’ to get; you see I've mage my lit- tle plans.”” Then they talked about other things, ani Mrs. Rivers grew more cheerful and at last went away. She always found Christmas a melancholy season. She did not like the trouble of giving then, or, in fact, at any other time; but she had her good points, as Miss Debby Gaines always insisted. Il. ‘\ On Christmas morning early Miss Debby waked up with a feeling of happy expecta- tion, and could hardly wait ta make her cup of tea and eat her little breakfast on the corner of the table before she got out her best bonnet and Sunday cloak to begin her Christmas errands. It was misty and dark, * but the sunlight came at last, pate and ra- diant, Into the little brown room; and Mis Debbie's face matched It with a quiet smile and happy look of eagerness. “Take neither purse nor scrip,” she sald to self, as she went downstairs to the street. There was nobody else stirring in the house, but she knew that the poor hors would be open and its early breakfast by the time she could get there. It was a mile or so out of town. She hugged a large patkage under her shawl, and shivered g little at the beginning of her wats. There was no snow, but the heavy hoar-frost glistened on the sidewalks, and the alr was sharp. Old Mrs, Bean was coming out of the great kitchen, and when her friend wished her a merry Christmas, she shook her head. “There ain't nobody to make it merry for m™ she sald. “I wis’: you a happy Christmas sald Miss Detby again. “I've come on purpos> to besyour first caller, an’ I am goln’ 19 make you the only present I shall give this year. ‘Tis somethin’ useful, Mis’ Bean; a warm petticoat I've fixed up nice, so’s you bre put it right on an’ feel the comfort of The old woman’s face brightened. “Why, you are real kind,” she said, eagerly. “It is the one thing I've been wantin’. Oh, yes, dear sakes! ain’t it a beautiful warm one? One 0’ the real, old-fashioned quilted kind. I always used td have ‘em when I was better off. Well, that is a present!” “Now I'm goin’, because I can come an’ get an’ talk with you any day, and today I've got Christmas work,” and off Miss Debby went to the heart of the town again. Christmas was on Tuesday that year, and she opened the door of a little house, where a tired-looking young woman stood by an ironing table, and looked at her with surprise. “Why, Miss Gaines!” she owtar oni “where are you going 60 early?” wish you a happy Christmas!” said Miss Debby. “I've come to spend the day “I wish you a happy Christmas,” said Miss Debby. with you. the little Just through breakfast? rls are eatin’ away yet. No; Why, mean to bé,” sald the young er; “but I felt so tired this morn- ing, and pretty sad, too, thinking of last year an’ all. So I just let the children sleep. Nelly got cold and was coughing most all night, and I couldn't bear to g up and begin the day. Mother sent for me to come over to spend Christmas, but I couldn’t get the courage to start. She said she'd have some little presents ready for the little girls, and now I’m most sorry I disappointed her.” “That's just why I'm here,” sald Miss Debby, gayly, and with double her usual decision. “No, Nelly’s not fit to go out, I can see, but you leave her here with me, an’ you just get ready and take Susy and go. Your mother'll- think everything of it, and I'll see to things here. Ironin’? Why, “twill do me good. I feel a little chilly, and Nelly and I can have a grand time. Now you go right off an’ get ready, and catch the quarter-to-nine train. I won’t hear no words about it.” So preseutiy the pale, hard-worked young mother in h2r widow's bonnet started off down the stceet, leading bright-faced little Susy bg the hand; and Miss Debby and her favorite Nelly wat¢hed them go from the window. The breakfast dishes were washed and put away in such fashion that Nelly thought it quite as good as doll’s house- keeping; and then, while Miss Debby ironed, she sat in a warm corner by the stove and listened to stories and to Miss Debby’s old- fashioned ballads, which, though sung in a slightly cracked voice, werg most delightful to childish ears. What a Christmas morn- ing It was! And after the small ironing was done what pleasant things there seemed to be to do! Miss Debby rummaged until she found soras little aprons cut for the chil- dren; and first she basted one for Nelly to sew, and then she took the other herself, and they sat down together and sewed until dinner time. The aprons were pink and added to the gayety of the occasion; and they were ready at last to surprise Nelly’s mother by being put back in their place in the same roli—all done even to the buttons and buttonholes, for Miss Debby found time to finish Nelly’s as well as her own. And they had bread and milk for dinner, and Miss Debby told stories ef when she was a little girl. Altogether there never was a happier Christmas day, and the spirit of Christmas, of peace and good will shone bright in Miss Debby’s face. Her quick eye saw many chances to lend a helping hand to the poor, defenseless household. When Nelly's mother came home at night, heart- ened and cheered by her visit, she found the ironing and mending done; and a day or two later the pink aprons turned up all ready to be put on. And Nelly’s tiresome cough, which sounded like the whooping cough, was quite stilled by some gcod old- fashioned dose which Miss Debby mixed agreeably with molasses and put to simmer cn the stove. There seemed to be no end to the kind and thoughtful things Miss Debby did that day in a neighbor's house. She had started for hcme at dusk, just before it was time for young Mrs. Preller to eet back, and was walking along the street, a little etired, but very happy. “Why, it’s cnly half-past 4 o’clock now!" she exclaimed, as she passed the wate! maker's window. mean to go and see Mrs. Wallis a little while,” and she quick- ened her steps. Presently Miss Debby Gaines came to a fine, large house, very different from the one she had just left, and took pains to straight- en her little black bonnet as she went up the long flight of handsome stone steps. An elderly man servant opened the door. “I wish you a happy Christmas!” said Miss Debby. “Can I see Mrs. Wallis, do you Ir. Johnson?” ‘m,.” said Johnson, with feeling, ishing somebody'd ‘come in, Miss it's beginning to get dark. The young ladies was Here this morning, and brought their presents, but they'd made a promise to go cut into the country with some young friends, so they aren't coming to dinner, and Mrs. Wallis has been alone all day. She was pleased to have ‘em go, though. By this time Miss Debby had crossed the wide hall te the library, where the lonely old mistress of the house usually sat. She hesitated a moment before she could speak. misses somebody the world over.” “I wish you a happy Christmas!” she said. “It’s me, Mrs.Wallis—Debby Gaines.” “Why, Miss Debby!" and there was some- thing in the tone of this hostess which told at once that she was glad to see a friend. “Why, Miss Debby! Come and sit down in this chair by me! I don't doubt you have been trotting about all day,” and Mrs. Wal- lis held out a warm, affectionate hand. “No; I've been keepin’ house for Mis’ Preller, so she could go an’ see her moth- explained Miss Debby, quite simply. had a nice time with her little girl that’s just getting over a cold and couldn't go with the others. I was just on my way home. I tkought I'd stop and see if there was anything I could do for you.” “Nothing, except to stay a little while and keep me company,” said Mrs. Wallis. “My granddaughters are usually here, but they had a very pleasant pian made for them, and I was very glad to have them go. A skating p’ and a dinner the Ash- ton’s country house and a dance.” oung folks will be young folks,” sald Miss Debby. “L should like to hear all about it when they come and tell. vi hody seemed to be goin’ somewhere today ‘twas the nice ciear weather. “There are all my pretty table,” haven't been very good company; the first Christmas in all my life have happened to spend quite alone. Miss Debby might not have done it with- out thinking, by daylight, but she drew a little nearer and took hold of Mrs. Wailis’ hand. “You must have had a great many lovely things to remember,” she said, softly. “But anybody can’t help feeling lonesome; I know how ‘tis. Everybody misses soime- body the world over. There was all of us together once at home, and I'm a kind of sparrow on the housetops. But I've had a beautiful day so far. I own I was afraid you'd have a sight of company, an’ I should have to miss seeing you.’ “I'm glad somebody wanted to see me, sald Mrs. Wallis, more cheerfully, “and ene of the friends I’ve knayn longest;” and ‘hey went on with much pleasant talk of both the old days and the present time, and Mra. Wallis gave Miss Debby a cup of tea, and they had a happy little feast to- gether there in the library before the hum- ble, loving-hearted guest went away, leav- ing peace and good will once more in a lonely and troubled heart. She stopped here and there at the houses of other friends, forgetting in her happi- ness that she was emptyhanded on Christ- mas day, and everywhere she left a new feeling of friendliness and pleasant kind- ness. At one house she comforted a crying child by mending his Christmas top, and at another she knew just how to help a pretty girl to dress for hery Christmas party, and sat down and took’ off her big woolen gloves to alter the refrattory dress, which tt had seemed possible to wear. She was like a good anj as sHe sat there, sewing and smiling and making every- body’s mind at ease. & It was late in the evening when this was done, and she had had a long day; but she stopped, with great bravery, and asked to see the minister, and told him how thank- ful she was for his serman on Sunday and wished him a happy Christmas. The min- ister had been a littie discouraged for some reasons, as ministers often ure in spite of everything,and even some great kindnesses in the shape of welcome presents from his friends did not cheer him haif so much as the sincerity and affection of Miss Debby’s visit. And he watched the little figure go down the street with tears in his eyes. So few people could forget themselves to re- member others as this dear parishioner could; it was worth living for, if one could sometimes help and refresh those who are the true helpers; and so he went back to his work in the study, feeling like a better and busier man than when he had left it. So Miss Debby came back to her little home again. The fire was out and it was ail dark, but she went straignt to her small rocking chair by the window and sat down “Everybody that I to rest, and to thank the Lord for such a happy day. And, though purse was empty, her t was full, and she had left a little pleasure behind her all along the way. Presently she lighted her lamp, and then she saw on the table a great package and a note beside it; and the note was from Mrs. River: “Something you sald the Miss Debby read, “made me feel differently about Christmas from what I ever have be- fore, and I am going to try to make as many people happy as I can. And you must believe that my heart go2s with these presents that I send to you. They ure sorfie of my own things that I liked, and wanted other day bs share with you, and I send them with love.”” Miss Debby’s face shone with joy. She had always liked Mrs. Rivers, but she had pitied her a little; and now the note made her feel as if she had found a new friend and made her happy without knowing it. And so Miss Debby’s Christmas came to its. happy end. (The end’) IN ITS NATIVE LAND. Chrysanthemum Show in Ja the Wonderful Design: From the Boston Transcript. We had arrived too late in Japan for the cherry-blossom season, and we were begin- ning to fear, as our stay was limited, we should see none of the fetes connected with their charming horticultural divisions of the year, when Tan San arrived to re- assur3 us. The chrysanthemum show was “still in bloom,” and he would take us to see It that very afternoon; he sald, in his anxiety, ‘‘no native custom” should be lost to the visiting American, And so wo went. Along the broad, smooth roads, innocent of an erring leaf, over the moats like rib- bon bouncary lines, past the bird-cage houses, our jinrikishas flew through a del- icately tinted geometrical figure. We never made that figure out, though we tried all the six months we were in Tokio. Like everything else Japanese, it looked so sim- ple, so direct, and, when you tried to com- prehend it, so inexplicable. The chrysanthemum show was not held in a garden or a crystal market, but in a long Ine of Japanese rooms on either side of the roadw These were as temptingly mysterious as the tents in a western cir- cus; each had its own little particular exhi- bition, and its own little particular en- trance fee. When we had entered half a dozen we discovered there was a practical as Well as an artistic side to the Japanese character, but who could have criticised such an arrangement, when it was so 0s- tensibly in the cause of beauty? The flowers stood about in groups, white and pink and yellow, with the dignity and pretty consciousness of mondaines at a ball. There was no crushing or crowding; you felt the individuality of each. The Japan- ese have a strange capacity to invest flow- ers and inanimate things with a sort of lit- tle personality infinitely charming. For, intil we have been to Japan, the chrysan- themum is an unexplained beauty to us. We may have studied it historically, and examined it sclentifically, and praised it-at the shows, but of its dainty majesty, the subtle powers of its frail its exquis- ite individuality, we can feel nothing unless we have seen it In the land where roses are considered vulgar in comparison. For in the west it Is a queen in exile. We give it a habitation, and write leaderettes about it, but of its royalty we have no ink- ling until we know it glorified as an em- peror’s crest; the delicacy of its color and cobweb line we realize but poorly until the Japanese artist Interprets them for us as he interprets them cnly at home; and of the allegiance it can inspire we are una- ware until we have seen it holding undis- puted sway upon a lacquer throne. But if to the chrysanthemum the Japan- ese offer all honor, even as his gods must it serve his fantastic humor. In each of the little rooms there were two, sometimes three, elaborate tableaus entirely of flow- ers. The scenes were taken from the mot animated parts of history and from da ly life, and the merest detail of the mis-en- scene, the figures, everything but the faces, was of chrysanthemum. I remember a ouse, “life size," of white flowers, a prey to red ones, and flowery firemen scrambling over it and bringing water In buckets. Then there was a duel fought with chrysanthe- mum swords; a murder that had just been committed with a chrysanthemum dagger: and there was a winter’s tale charmingly ae in the language of this fantastic fairy- and. Extensive and Profitable Sale of the Numerous Varieties. From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. We leagn from a Massachusetts paper that about eight years ago a gentleman In that state thought that it would be proftt- able to have picked and placed on the mar- ket some of the ferns which grow in abun- dance in his neighborhood, and from this modest beginning the business has grown to such proportions that last year he dis- posed of 7,000,000 ferns. Previous to 1886 the gathering of ferns in their natural state was almost an unheard-of industry. The few ferns put on the market were raised in hot houses, though a few florists sent their men after wild ferns. But now the Massachusetts ferns are shipped to every state and-almost every large city in the country, and, strange as it may seem, there has been no falling off in the trade during the iness depression, the demand constantly exceeding the supply. There are two varieties of marketable ferns which always find a ready sale—the delicate leafed “fancy” and the coarser “dagger” fern. The season for gathering and shipping the ferns is from October 1 to May 1. Although now some two hundred persons are engaged in fern picking, only about sixty do it constantly. Good pickers can earn from $ to $6 a day, while the pay of others not so skillful in finding the nat- ural treasures amounts to only 32. ‘The ferns are brought in by the pickers, tied in bundles of twenty-five each, and 40 cents a thousand is paid for them. An average amount of $4 a day is paid the pickers. The ferns not needed for imme- diate shipment are packed in low rooms, containing each about 1,000,000 _ ferns. There are eight buildings containing these rooms. The ferns are placed in beds of 20,000 each, dry moss is placed between layers, and the whole bed is covered with wet moss. The greatest care and daily watchfulness are needed to keep the ferns from becoming heated, and thus bleached or covered with white spcts. The ferns are invaluable to the florists, as they form a really essential groundwork for de- signs, and they are also available for gen- eral decorating. ——__+e+ THE FERN INDUSTRY. From the Chicago Record. First traveler—‘How fur d’ye go?” Second traveler—First step.” “What's the name o’ the place?” “Don't know “That's cur'us.”” “Not at all. I have no ticket and no money, and I speak guardedly because I’m so often rut off between stations.” The evolution of an ornithologist. —The Sketch. NEW PUBLICATIONS. A SCIENTIFIC DEMONSTRATION OF THB FU- TURE LIFE. By Thomas Jay Hudson, author of “The Law of Psychic Paenomena,” &c. Chicago: ©. McClurg & Co. Washington: go: A. Wm. Ballantyne & Sons. Several -editions of Mr. Hudson's former work on the Law of Psychic Phenomena have been required to'meet the demands upon the presses for this valuable contribu- tlon to psychical Mterature. The object of the present work, Mr. Hudson states, is to outline a method of scfentific inquiry con- cerning the powers, attributes and destlay of the soul and specificatly to puint out and specify a number of well ascertained facts of psychic science to d¢monstrate a future life for mankind. In demonstrating the fact of future life, Mr. Htidson analyzes the mental organization of than and urges that from the nature of his physical, intellectual and psychical structure and organism, any other conclusion than that he is destined to a future existence is logically and scientifi- cally untenable. JOINING THH NAVY; Or, Abroad with Uncle Sam. By John H. Paynter. Illustrated. Hart- ford: American Publishing Co. Books about experiences at sea derive much of their value from the closeness with which the actual experiences of the author are followed, and in the present case there comes an unusually interesting volume from the pen of one who was in a position to ob- serve widely and in varlous lands, and to profit by his opportunities. Mr. Paynter was cabin boy on the U. S. S. Ossipee when, in 1884, that vessel was sent on an extended cruise. He speaks of having obtained his position from noting a paragraph in The Evening Star of a day in January, 184, which stated that Capt. McGlensey desired a cabin boy for this cruise. “Mr. Paynter comes from one of the oldest and most re- spected colored families in the District. The author acquired his early training in the colored public schools of Washington, and after leaving the High School, entered the college department of Lincoln University, graduating in 1883. He is at present em- ployed in the internal revenue bureau of the Treasury Department. SCRIBNE! with "S$ MAGAZINE. Tlustrath Y RY ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY MAG- May, 1895, to October, 1895. | New ‘The Century Co. Washington: “Robert Yor Beall. ST. NICHOL Folks. ume .n Tilustrated ducted by Mary 3 Pa ‘ agazine for Young odge. V i wNO' 1854, to Ij “May, 1895, ‘to October, The Ceutury Co. Washing- IXIES AND NAIDS. Legends of the . B. Evans, author of “In Various Mood: With Mlustrations by Wm. A. MeCull New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. ‘CORD AND APPLEDORE. rs N I ph W hew Arnold; David A. Wasson; W Appledore and Its Visitors: J Whittier. By — Frank Presi anthor of “Real and Ideal in Litera- ‘The Life of Tintoretto,” and “The Midsummer of Italian Art.” New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. Washington: Woodward) & Lothrop. ‘OLD DI NGS OF CAPE HORN. A Study fe in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia. By pe Mlustrated. New York: @. P. ‘Sons. Washington: Woodward) & Lothrop. THE KING OF ALBERTA. A Romance of the Bal- kans. By L. ham. New York: ae STORY OF A GOVERN G. W. Dilling- TH By Mrs. M. 0. S. rr Oliphant, aut of “A Rose in June,” a,” “Victorian Age of English Fenno & &e. New. York: FR Washington: Standard Book Store. ESSIONAL CURRENCY. An Outline of the 1M 9, Svutem. sey _Ammistead C._Gor- ork: G. P. Puigam's Sons. Wash- Woodwant & Lothrop. a FROM SMILES TO TEARS. Five Ladies Show That the Simple Penny Goes a,Long Way. From the Boston Herald, ? They were five In number—ladies, evi- dently—ard they boarged an electric car at the Tremont House. Possibly they intend- ed to have a little fu before going home, and as they occupled nearly one-half of one side of the car, a merry twinkle gleam- ed in the eyes of each. Then the conductor entered. ‘This was the signal for a simultaneous movement of five bands fer five handbags. Five tight- ening strings were loosened, five hands dis- appeared into uncertain depths, then five pocket books came to sight. Five bags were closed and five silver pocket bcok clasps snapped. Five nickels did not appear. The first lady tendered five pennies, and as she did so she smiled. No. 2 lady caught the Infection and passed up five pennies. Then No. the smile of No. 1 was a grin. 3 did the same, and five ladies somewhat unlucky, . No. 4 was hile she was poking numerous hair bbon samples and other bric-a-brac —which every lady carries in her pocket book—in search of ber change, No. 5 fish- ed up her five pennies. More laughter, somewhat increased. Finally No. 4 had to give it up. Three pennies were all she could find, and she meekly tendered a quarter. She received her change immediately. Every conductor in Boston is pleased to receive pennies, be- cause they are handy in making clange on transfers. This conductor did noi forget it, but he thought his opportuy had come, and without hesitation he dropped the twenty pennies into the dainty gloved hand outstretched to receive them. The iaughter had oeased by this time. No. 4 got real mad and threatened to re- port the conductor. He kindly gave her his number, but she refused to take it. The quintet alighted at Park square. Then the other passengers laughed. eo When They Qunrrel. From the Chicago Chronicle. The difference between a man and a wo- man is never quite so clearly defined as when they quarrel. No matter how many hundred times she has seen fit to forgive his derelictions, if he once imagines he has a grievance then the mountains are as putty in comparison with his immovability. The past is all forgotten; no matter how good she may have been to him or how actually right she is in the present in- stance, he is going to assume a highly ju- dicial air that no amount of pleading can alter until he gets good and ready to change his mood. The yielding, loving woman who over- looks a man’s faults and exaggerates his virtues stands no sort of chance when the high and mighty lord and master takes it into his head to be indignant. The one mis- take she has made, the one aggravating circumstance she has been the cause of creating, blots out all thoughts and mem- ories of the hours, minutes and seconds when she has sacrificed her own comfort many a time in order ‘to add to his enjoy- ment, and counting no trouble great if he but repays her with a smile. oe — —— An Ice Bicyple. From the St. Louls Post-Bispatch. The bicycle does not: golinto complete re- tirement even upon the arrival of winter ice and snow. In fact the bicycle will be one of the big things on ice during the coming season. From ‘the suggestion | is sufficient to hold the band firmly | place. thrown out by a boy:whé lashed an ordi- nary skate to the front wheel of his safety, and was enabled to maké good time over the surface of a frozen lake, two enterpris- ing you.g men in Chicago have invented and patented an ice bicycle, and formed a company for its manufacture. With the first perfected,;model one of the inventors made a mile in.one minute and twenty seconds, and this'can be improved upon, the skill of the rider being the only limit to the possibilities in the line of rec- ords. The change from the normal bicycle to the ice machine can be made in five minutes. The rear tire is deflated and the toothed band of steel tire slipped over it. The tire is then inflated until the tension in The blade is hollow ground, rendering lateral slipping {mpossible. The weight of the machine remains unaltered. The de- vice 1s quite cheap, costing less than $20, and for that reason cycling on Ice is sure to become popular, if not the reigning fad of the win’ A TONIC. Horsford'’s Acid Phosphate. Dr. A. E. CAROTHERS, San Antonio, Texas, says: “It is the best tonle I know of in debility and nervous prostration, with sleeplessness, caused by mental overwork or prolonged lactation.”* And Timel announcement of OF THEM? you have long desired. fireside. least $100. reduction. end. age of the offer. be seen and University League” graph Building.) set will be sent prepaid. -_ Post Educational _ close of the offer. THE GREATEST LI This elegant Library can “The Home ex= plained at the Post Edu- cational Department, 919 Pa. ave.(Columbia Phono= Or mail attached order blank and the complete De= partment open until 1 p. | _m.every night until the WARNING. The Washington Post desires that none shall be left out, but that all shall have an opportunity to come in before the offer closes. The first BRARY ever published; a University by your own 2 2 I inclose $3 as first payment. Name ... 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ARE YOU ONE These will enable Full Sheep (_ ). ee aera There Are Others. From Harper's Bazar. Bobby (presenting a friend)—Mamma, do you see Tommy Jones?” Mamma—"Yes, Bobby; Tommy before, Didn’t you know it Bobby—“But, you know, mamma, that you said yesterday that I was the naughti- est boy you ever saw. So I wanted you to see Tommy Jones.” = os The Bravest Battle. ‘The bravest battle that ever was fought! Shall I tell you where and when? On the maps of the world you will find it not; “Ewas fought by the mcthers of men. but I've met Nay, not with canncn, or battle shot, With sword, or nobler pen; Nay, rot with elcquent word or thought, rom mouths of wonderful men. But deep in a walled-up woman's heart— Of woman that would not yield, But bravely, silently bore her part— Lo! there is that battlefeld. No marshaling troop, no bivouac song; ‘No banner to gleam and wave; But, oh! these buttles, they last so long— From babyhvod to the grave! Yet, faithful still as a bridge of stars, She fights in her, walled-ui town Fights on and on in the endless wars, ‘Then silent, unsecn—goes down. O ye with banners and battle shot, And soldiers to shout and praise, I tell you the kingliest victories fought Were fought in these silent ways. © spotless woman in a world of shame! With splendié and silent scorn, Go back to God as white as you came, ‘The kingltest warrior bor —JOAQUIN MILLER. —_—__+ e+ -___—_. Hard to Prove. From Fliegende Blatter. “How could you say such silly things to my daughter?” “Can't understand it myself, judge. My mind must have been absent.” “Can you prove an alibi?” WHAT WE ARE COMING To. Elaborate Rules of Hyglene Are to Be Observed. From Muenchener Neueste Nachrichten. Scene: A school room in the year 1900. Teacher (to new boy)—“Hans, have you got your certificate of vaccination against smallpox?” “Yes, sir.” “Have you been inoculated for croup?” “Yes, sir.” “Have you had an injection of cholera bacillus?” ~ of “Yes, sir.” “Have you a written guarantee that you are proof against whooping cough, measles and scarlet fever?” “Yes, sir.” “Are you provided with your own drink- ing cup “Yes, sir. “Will you make a solemn promise never to exchange sponges with the other boys and never to use any other pencil but your pee Yes, sir.” “Da you agree to have your books fumt- gated with sulphur, and your clothes sprin- Kled with chloride of lime once a week?" “Yes, sir.” “Hans, I see-that you fulfill all the re- quirements of modern ae Now you can climb that wire, place yourself on an fsolated aluminium seat, and commence doing your sums.” TO CONQUER AN ISLAND. The Unique Mission of a Company Formed in California. From the Los Angeles (Cal.) Times. A number of Los Angeles men have re- ceived a concession from the Mexican gov- ernment of the island of Tiburon, in the Gulf of California. A company of 300 men is being organized, under the command of I. H. Polk. Each n is to receive $250 and 100 acres of land, after the island is con- quered. being put up by Col. Bradbury, who in- herited a million or so a few years ago. There are only about 100 male Indians on the island, but they are said to be such valiant fighters that the Mexican govern- ment despaired of subduing them, and has offered the island to Bradbury and his com- panions, if they wonld undertake the work. It is the intention of the Tiburon Conquest Company, as the new corporation is called, to establish a republic of its own, and have the United States establish a protectorate. It Is stated that Mexico has consented to this. One of the objects of the company is to establish a great resort, and lines of steamers will be put on from both Yuma and Guayamas. Stood the test—Dr. Bull’s Cough Syrup. The money for the expedition fs! SHE HAD PROVED IT. A Demonstration That Left No Doubts in the Minds of Many. From the Chicago Post. “Who's that determined-looking woman?” asked the stranger. “She ain’t a woman,” replied the native, quickly. ‘sn't a woman!” exclaimed the stranger. “Not much she ain't,” returned the native with conviction, “She's a lady.” “No doubt, no doubt,” admitted the stranger. “I have no desire to question her right to the title. I presume she has all the traits that are essential to a ladylike character and has proven her worth when- ever occasion required.” You bet she has,” said the native, with pardonable pride. “Why, she horsewhipped aman day before yesterday.” ‘Horsewhipped him! For what?” “Jest to prove that sh@was a perfect lady. He had kinder doubted it, I guess, but you bet we all know it now. There ain't noth- ing like being real strong and convincing in your arguments on etiquette, is there?” The stranger admitted that it would hgve a tendency to discourage critics, but seemed eas to go any deeper into the eub- ject. ses -—_ Accounted For. From the New York Weekly, Mistress (severely)—“How did this fire happen to go out?” New Girl (innocently)—“I guess you for got to tell me to put coal on.” pe SARS EGE SR ses The Feminine Instin: From Life. “Say, Floss, what makes that snake tl himself up in’a knot?” “Guess he wants to remember something, and he hasn’t got any handkerchief.”