Evening Star Newspaper, December 12, 1896, Page 16

THE EVENING STAR, well as i znother 1,’ remarked the keeper of a » extreme northern part of the bad weather during the week tm vy business is means a b others situ: me, wh ather means misfortune. weather is good, the people all go town to the big stores and make their erely left. On the 2 weather is bad the ch s, and we get ther hand. if can't get down town and the grown won't i the result is they make chases from us. I know @f several toreKeepers who failed fast y On account of the weather.” ee * is hardly any observance now of was a time honored custom onze in iter of congressional calls,” said an employe of the Senate. “On the first of session every Senator sent card to every other Senator the Representatives of his the members of the cabi2t, Court and the heads of the navy. So also Representatives ards to every other Repres=nta- the Senators from their own way Uley indic ar id ay every perscnal well as as own sta Supr and S ago, and proo- had it of the did an he passed kept up. After he lied out, though probably the older Senators and remembered and observed last 1s dozen tatives lay ject are having a time these days sirable seats for the next session, he it a clerk: seats have been spoken for. and for “Already all of the Orizinal- ly many years everything in the matter of in the Senate chamber was attended to by the late Capt. Isaac Bas-! sett. Whatever he said was law, and there Was no ap 1 from his selection. He worked on the plan first come first served, and in an experience I never heard any very loud growl over On the House side of th generally known, seats are the day of every opening being a continuing body no can be made. At relating to seats in the mos Senator morning in his rooms than two hours alled on ©: corner seat of an side of the was a very de- the republi nter aisle, course, was much dinners, public an’ tas much as is generally a well-kn caterer. way from a what they ate and drank t detail as to its elegance those who had charge now that the expense was s as large a mi y have pposed it to be. It is omary | rsons to speak of ‘champagae you as water.’ I assure and I can add that in managing Washi © rarely seen an immoderace is is not erie mest kind the way ef a_banquet from to 6 a claret and cha This pays the bill for le decorations, including t mount of flowers. Of course, now and re is a great display of flowers, and known of $300 worth of roses alone ised at a banquet, but this has be rivate houses the most furnished for $ per plate, includes the wines and very » flowers. When there are fifty or * at a banquet the plate price is very much reduced. * x * I had an experience a few days ago,” said the keeper of a confectionery store, “of a rather novel character. Among my call- a drummer who handled exclu- s nny goods; that ts, goods sold to us so that we can afford to sell them at retail or a penny each. His Hne included over rty nevelties in the way of boxed goods, condies, popeorns and confections, some of whi yntained a prize In each package. prizes were not exac gold wat 3 sets of silverware and things of that kind, t re 1 prizes and of a char- a appreciated by the litte ones Ss ir penny at the corner store. that retail had a line of over forty for a penny, miniature re, whistles, horns, guns, us and His display ing that I had ever bet d in my line, being interesting ying aside all other considerati ted a concern that has d © over $100,000, and which d handles penny goods ee & * on iS very conservative usually er of styles, and has ciung for to the fancy for dressing th of its ‘a la marin or boys are doomed. Ever sin on of the ezar, which wa » many Americans, uses az~ has children have © streets attired in the blouse of the Ras- ant, @ coat fastening at the left a by leather belt and knees, where it is met by boots. to be absolutely cor- be cut of an equal , something after cut, and this is ornamented at . all of which is ning child, but hope- Of course every tan” ap ediocre one ber boys belong to the so the Russian invasion pro- x *& e * & The Mutsal Improvement Club almost came to grief last Wednesday over an un- ex ted « ‘ion that came up at its week- ly me The girl-who-wants-to-know yropounded the poser how President Cleve- and would figure in a piéture which should embrace all the Presidents in successive order. Would his face appear as the suc- essor of Arthur and later follow Harri- son, thus making the only ex-President who should have the henor of twice, or should he be seen only once, but have his terms of office designated in some special way? He being the only incumbent during two looking after de- : marked one | of over twenty years | i | i | } terms who did not succeed himself the girls had no precedent to base thelr ar- guments on, and the question was lald on the table until authorities on such subjects ad been consulted. x eK Ke “In Florida they have marsh hens that build their nests in the grass or in‘logs,” said AP. Cornell of Jacksonville at the National. “I was hunting along the upper St. John’s river, when I saw what at first appeared to be a log. Then I noticed that one end was split and went to investigate It. I soon aw that the object was a dead alligator, with its mouth wide open, and as I ap- proached a marsh hen flew from between its jaws, making a fuss that indicated its nest was near. On reaching the alligator I found the nest in its mouth, with four eggs in tt. Tbe saurian’s remains appeared to be whole, except a portion of the tall, which had rotted away. 1 went to turn the hody over and found that it was a regular apartment how From the tail emerged three good-sized moccasin snakes, and from a hele in the side that I had not seen a ground hog emerged, while the hen that occupied the mouth strenuously objected to my interfering with her home.” x OK OK K x “Promoters have nad a long vacation, said L. A. Langley. ef. New York at the National. ‘‘From 1887 to 1892 there was no trouble in making a great deal of money by organizing syndicates and stock com- panies. No legitimate enterprise needed to suffer by reason of lack of* capital, and I was like all other men. engaged in the business, I did not realize soon enough that conditions had changed. During the past three or four years I have lost money in everything I have undertaken. But I have already received inquiries from sev- eral capitalists asking what I have to offer, and I know of several very heav trans.-tions that will prove of immense benefit to the country at large. Capital does not seem to be inclined to wait until there is financial legislation, but is ready for investment now.” —_ MISTAKE SHE MADE. THE Railroad Travelers Who at Last Un- derstood Each Other. She sat by the car window gazing out son the unrclling scenery, and possibly dreaming of home and things Ike that. About six feet away from her across the aisle was an empty seat, which at the next station was filled by a man with a sample case. He was fifty years of age or there- abouts, and was quite as dapper-looking as if he were thirty and still the knight to please fair dame who set her soft eyes u him. The lady was young and pretty, with per- haps a shade too much of display In her make-up, but still one could hardly say that, for all is gold that glitters In such | cases—or words to that effect. When the man had sat down in the va- cant seat and composed himself for the journey before him he began to look about to familiarize himself with his environ- ments, and in the course of his visual wan- derings his eyes fell upon the !ady. He save a slight start, as people do when they think they see somebody they know, and looked again. The lady wasn’t looking, of course, but she wasn’t asleep. ot in the slightest. s After a minute or two or three or four of hesitating investigation the traveling man, for it was he, arose and very politely Se deferentiaily approached the young lady. It was done as if he had been practicing that sort of thing ever since he had picked up the first sample case. Either that or he Was to the manner born. “I beg your pardon,” he said as she turn- ed from the window to meet him with a half-startled, fawn-like movement not al- together unusual on such occasions, “aren't you Miss.Morton of Philadelphia?” Sh zave him « glassy stare with a raw- on it. You don’t look like a man,” she replied, with an inselent air, “who would try to work as old a racket as that on me. Do I look so green as that?” It was now his turn to gaze at her in startled wender. , Oh, that’s all right,” she laughed, mov- ing over to make room beside her, “and I'll forgive you. You know I'm not Miss Mor- ton of Philadelphia or anywhere else, and so do I know it. But sit down; I'm lone- some, and I'd just as soon have a pleasant little talk with you as not. I'm to meet mamma at the station where we take din- ner. I beg your pardon,” said the traveling man, backing away. “I am sure if you are not Miss Morton I have no desire whatever to talk with you.” Then he went back to his place and the flip young woman was rather inclined to the opinion that there was at least one man on the road who could be mistaken honestly. All of which occurred between Washing- ton and New York within the last two weeks. <a A PRESCRIPTION NECESSARY. The Doctor Couldn't Satisfy Mother Without It. “While it is true that a physician sees much of the sadness which is the lot of the human race,” sald an M. D. of this city, “he also at times has professional experiences which are very amusing. 1 am reminded of this by a call I recently had to th® home of a lady who was en- Joying the society of her first born, aged four months. I was sent for hurriedly and went prepared to treat any malady incident to childhood. The mother on my arrival was almost in hysterics, but striving to re- main calm. She took me to the bed, pointed to the sleeping child, but said nothing. The baby appeared to be in excellent health and resting comfortably. I looked up to inquire the cause of her alarm and she whispered: ‘Don't you see it—its head?’ “The child's head appeared to be all right. “It's throbbing,’ she sald. “I could scarcely refrain from smiling, for she evidently felt alarm be cause there was a gentle” pulse on top of the child's head, a thing common and necessary to in- fant life. I endeavored to explain that an infant's skull ts prot hard and composed entirely of bone Mke that of an adult, but that a portion of {t remains soft to allow for growth and expansion. She would have none of {t. The child, she imagined, had had an accident or was suffering from some dreadful disease. I saw that it was useless to remonstrate, and said I would give her a prescription. It was aqua pura, one teaspoonful every three hours, and i presume she is still giving It to the child.” > It Made Him Strong. From Truth. Jack—“Do you find that club-swinging increases your strength?” Tom—“I should’say so! You just want to come up to my room and see the amount of furniture I was able to smash after a few day: inging with those club: —— Ss In Chicago. the From Serf er's, “You say she is a connection of yours?” ‘Yes; 1 am her husband once removed.” FOR BASHFUL WOOERS “Much has been written about singular patents, but there is not one with which I am familiar,” said a patent attorney the other day to a Star reporter, ‘‘so singular as the one herein recited. The patent, however, has expired and the invention has become public property. » “The patent was taken out by W. 0. George of Richmend, Va., May 20, 1856. In the language of the application, the invent- or ‘respectfully represents that your peti- toner has invented a table, constructed upon a new and useful plan, designed for use In the parlor, and at other places, and so adapted as to contrive for the pleasant passing of the hours of company in a novel and interesting manner, which is done by means of a peculiar method or game, ot which your petitioner is likewise the in- ventor, performed by means of the said table, together with the checks accompany- ing it, which game your petitioner calls the game of equality—so called in consequence of its placing man and woman upon an equal footing in an important respect. It being a new method or process of effecting a desirable and useful purpose in a remark- able, novel and entertaining manner, is a permanent invention, and one which will yield lasting happiness to society. “There are in this world numbers of the male sex s9 very nervous, bashful and backward as not to be able to declare their affections for a young lady, no matter how deeply they may be attached to her. Not- withstanding the lady may possibly be both willing and ready to jump into the gentle- man’s arms at the-slightest declaration of affection, still his diffidence or her modesty can and often does prevent its accomplish- ment, thus destroying the fond hopes and happiness of two beings perhaps exactly suited to each other. To obviate this diffi- culty and make the road to matrimony eagy and certain is the principal object of this invention. For no matter how diffident the gentleman may be, or how coy the lady, if they once play at this table, and play with an earnest desire to catch each other, their object will certainly be accomplished, and that with secrecy, safety and dispatch. Where He Got His Idea. “In order to understand the object of the invention and insure a perfect comprehen- sion of the game we must necessarily refer and go back to the circumstances that orig- inated the first ideas on the subject, they being a sort of le mot d’enigme, or passe partout to the better understanding of the game. The invention originated thus: The inventor read in a newspaper a paragraph in substance as follows: At a wédding which took place in the western part of the state some years back, the marriage cere- mony being over, and the company having partaken of the plentiful supply of the good things to be found on such occasions, they amused themselves as best they could in conversation until somewhat run out, when they set their wits to work to find some more agreeable occupation. There be- ing no musician present they could not dance, so it was proposed to play some game, such as pass the thimble, grind the bottle, the sawyer, stage coach, etc., but neither of these games seeming to meet the approbation of the ladies, the company were at a loss what to do, unti} it was happily suggested by some one prefen? that each unmarried lady and gentiem4p should be required to confess to the oldest married man, or Major Domo, the state of their af- fections; in other words, who they were in love with, the Major Domo to be first sworn not to divulge the secrets told him unless they proved mutual, in which case he was to communicate only to the parties most interested. “The company consenting to this ar- rangement, the experiment commenced, and each one having performed the task of making the old man, or Major Domo, their father confessor. The result was announc- ed (followed by a burst of applause), which was that three matches had been perfected, three couples made happy, but which three could not be ascertained at the time by any but the parties principally concerned. ‘It was only after several weeks had elapsed that the discovery was made, which happened in this wise: One of those itinerant intermeddling ladies y’clept an old maid whose only occupation consisted in croaking about the neighborhood, having made several indifferent attempts to find out, and passed a few sleepless nights thinking on the subject, went as a dernier resort to the mantau maker in the place, where, after much finessing, succeeded in Picking out of her the fact that she was making three brid&l garments, and who they were for. Of course the secret was out, and flew like lightning. The result was that the three couple were soon after married, to the great delight and amuse- ment of all their friends and neighbors, but the exceeding annoyance of the old maid, who, I regret to say, was neither ‘invited, expected, or desired at either wedding.’ Object of the Game. “Having read something similar to the above in a newspaper, the idea occurred to the inventor that provided anything could be invented which would supply the place of the old man or Major Domo, that could not possibly tell tales, it would be a most amusing as well as useful invention. Ac- cordingly, he set his mind to work on the subject, believing in the proverb, ‘Nil tam d:fficle quod nose solertia vincat,’ and af- ter some reflection turned out the table and game hereafter more fully described, which he hopes and firmly believes will answer the purpose intended. “Here follows a minute description of the structure of the table and of the checks with which the game is played, and by means of which each lover may unerringly discover his love, and each love her lover, each known to the other but to none other: but neither will be known to the other un- less their love be reciprocated.” ene How to Dispose of Bad Coins. From the Beston Traveller. Tackleton—“Some one gave me a bad coin yesterday’ and I didn’t know what to do with i Von Blumer—“Couldn’t you pass it?” Tackleton—“Not for a long time. The first man I tried it on was a ticket clerk, and he refused it with scorn.’ Von Blumer—“Why didn’t you try it on a chemist? Their profits are so great they're likely to be careless in money matters.” Tackleton—“Oh, I did; but it wasn’t any use. Then I tried to buy a newspaper with it but the boy wouldn't have it. I went to buy a drink, but that wouldn’t do. I was almcst discouraged, old man.” Von Blumer—“I should say you might have been. But you finally passed {t, didn’t you?" ‘Tackleton (proudly)—“Oh, Von Blumer—“On whom Tackieton- n a friend of mine.” ++ It May Be the Reason. From the New Yorm Herald. “I wonder why it ts,” said the sweet thing, thoughtfully, “that humorists dare say such mean things about women, and especially about wives.” “What is there surprising about it?” he asked. “Why, humorists are often married men, are they not?’ “Frequently,” he replied. “It’s a remark- able thing, but nevertheless true, that many women have been known to take kindly to; humorists instead of looking round for men with titles. The theory ts that they are dazzled by the vast wealth that every humortst—” “I don't believe that,” interrupted the sweet thing. : “NO?” . “No, I don’t. Women are not so mer- cenary as that. But that has nothing to do with the case, anyway. I don’t see how a married man dares say such mean things about wives.” “That's the only safe subject for him,” explained the man who was trying to en- lighten the sweet thin; “The designing humorist knows that his wife is the only | Person in the world he can be absolutely | sure will never read any of his jokes, so he can whack away at that subject without the slightest fear of being called to account unless it is by some other man’s wife. You see, you are in error if you look upon the professional humorist ase thoughiless per- son, who recks not of what may follo’ gibes and jests.” ~~ ae. It was two days before the sweet t could make up her mind her kind frie’ was a man of truth and veracity. —_———-e-_____* . Low Enough. From the Chicago Post. She was waiting’ for the ball and was dis- cussing trivial little everyday matters with ber mother while waiting for the carriage. “And among other things,” she said, “I really must get some collars.” “Not for that gown,” interrupted her in- corrigible brother. ‘ou can use a belt.” SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1896-24 PAGES. THE FICIAL ROUTINE 4% . “The pension office, besides examining imto pension claims and passing on them,’* observed an official of the pension~ dffice, “does an enorméis amount of other bus- iness in the. way of initing and reuniting familles—we find husbands for wives, wives for’husbands, parents for children and ehfldren for parents. Only recently a case came under my observation which illus- trates my meaning, and ‘tts a sample of a number of others (An application was re- ceived from a Idy who applied for a widow’s pension. ' She gave the name of her husband, his service, company and regi- ment. In looking®into the claim {t was found that the *Wtisband was alive and drawing a pension through the pension agency at Chicago. The woman, who re- sides in Massachusetts, was so informed. “Immediately came a reply from her ask- ing the address of the man, which was furnished. A correspondence ensued be- tween them, and when they satisfied them- selves that they were on the right track they arranged a meeting. The man thought that his wife had died and at the close cf the war entered the regular army and went west. The woman, not hearing from the man, became convinced that he had been killed or had died. She was unofficially in- formed that he had died in a hospital and supposed it was a’fact. In the meantime she had married again. Her second hus- band died and had been dead over ten years when she applied for a pension. “Another case I call to mind is that of a soldier who originally lived at Niagara Falls. He went in the army and served under Sherman. At the close of the war he settled in New Orleans. He had posi- tive information that’ his wife had died, but he never was able fo get any informa- tion as to what had become of his three children, except that they had been sent to an orphan asylum. He did not know in what state the orphan asylum was located. Neither did the children know whether their father was dead or alive, though from what they had been able to pick up in the way of information from time to time, they had concluded he had passed to the other side. “It happened that the daughter of the soldfer not only grew up to be a beantiful woman, but had married a wealthy man. She wrote the War Department to iearn of the whereabouts of her father’s grave, but there was no record of it. She then wrote to the pension office for the address of a man she had heard served with her father and who at one time lived at Niagara Falls. The ending of it all was that the children found the father and the father found his children. There are hundreds of such cases, though, of course, the number of them is becoming smaller as time passes, There was a time in the history of the pension office when such cases were of frequent occurrence.” ee THE DOCTOR'S STORY. An Experience That Followed a Call at Night. ; Four or five physicians were talking up- town the other evening at the home of one, and the conversation later turned to shop. One of them had recently moved his office dcwn town and there was some discussion as to the advisability of separating house and office. “Well,” said the separatist, “I can’t see any difference, so long as I am at my office during office hours.” “Let me tell you a story oldest man inthe, party. “Thirty years ago, when I began practice, I lived in Vir- ginia, and for a year or two I slept in my office. Then I martied, and my wife owned a nice house, and I went to it to live. It sat back from the street about fifty feet, and we decided that it would be much nicer if we had my office out on the street in the far corner of the lot. Only fifty feet away, you will observe, but still it was enough. In order to seq: such callers as came dur- ing the night, I had a night bell and a speaking tube connecting the front door of the office with my bed room. You see, I did not want a patient to escape under any circumstances. ; “Well, everything. went nicely enough for three years or s0, when one night a ring came to my bell. It was then about 2 o'clock in the morning, and the ring was a hot one. I asked-wha it was, and the answer came froma friend of mine to the effect that he was a mighty sick mancand wanted to see me at once. I told him to come around to the house and I would meet him at the door and take care of him. Then I got up, and, putting on my dressing gown and slippers, I proceeded to the front door. But there was no one there, and no one in sight on the way between the gate and the house. “That was odd, and I went back and called through the tube to know what was wrong. I reczived no answer, and, being quite unable to account for it, I took my lamp—it was a very dark and still night— and started to go out and investigate. Just as I was about to step off of the porch I lowered my lamp to get a better light on the step, and there at the foot of the porch lay a body. I turned it over at once, and as the light fell on the face I saw it was my friend, who had only a minute before spoken to me. He was quite dead, and when an examination was made it was discovered that he had died of heart dis- ease, and so near to me that I could almost have touched him. Possibly I could not have been of any service to him if I had seen him when he first rang the bell, but the possibility that I might so affected me that from that day to this I have had my office as near my bed as I could get it.” The Living Easel; Or, The Adventure of a Landscape Artist. From Fiegende Blatter. FOR CH RISTMAS.GANDY The Christmas bonbonnieres have already ‘arrived from Paris and are even more beautiful or charmingly quaint than usual. Nowadays even the candy boxes must be up to date, and as a result the bicycle ap- pears in many of the novelties. It is a "97 machine, too, with well-filled tires and all the latest improvements. It is also equip- ped with a bell and with the cunningest of miniature lamps. The bonbonniere bicycle is nickel-plated from end to end, and comes for either gentlemen dolls or for their bet- ter halves. They are mounted on the boxes destined to hold the sweets in a variety of ways. On some the box cover is made to represent a velvety lawn and has the toy wheel attached to it. On others the bicycle seems to be gliding along a well- kept dirt road, while the bonbons repose in the heart of a grass-grown mound at one side. It is evident that the useful tricy for the carrying of parcels is muca the French capital, for this is a favorite design for the Christmas boxes, and any- thing more cunning could scarce be imag- ined. They are absolutely true te their models, and although but eight inches long show every improvement that has vet been thought of. These also are nickel-plated, and have two styles of boxes for holding their sweet freight. Some have baskets made of gilt wire, and others have the large brown house-shaped boxes so familiar on our streets. Very old styles of conveyances seem to be almost as popular at the confectioners’ as the newest device. Thus side by side with the bi le are Roman chariots. They are made either of combined nickel and gilt or of exquisitely enameled wood. In both cases the seat serves as the recep- tacle for the goodies. The shape is of the most graceful possible, and they make very pretty little Christmas gifts, A Venetian gondola, not painted black after the usual mournful practice, but decked with bright colors for a festive occasion, is another pretty bonbonniere. A gay awning covers the little boat; the oars are tied up with ribbons and flowers are everywhere. Vehicles and Farniture. A Sedan chair, such as our great-great- grandmothers rode in when they went to routs, is still another vehicle that has been pressed into service as a bonbonniere, and a very charming one it makes, too. ‘Phe chair is made of gilt and enamel and squares of looking glass represent the windows. It is supported on the shoulders of two little mannikins dressed in faultless livery. The roof serves as a cover to the candy box concealed within the chat A little French wine imerchant is seated cn his cart, dressed in serviceable plaid ginghams and wearing a broad-brimmed straw hat. The horse he drives seems to have no trouble in pulling the heavy bar- rels with which the cart is loaded. Each of these, although bearing in large letters the irscription “Vin de Bordeaux,” is in real- ity filled with nothing more intoxicating than fancy bonbons. Empire furniture in miniature is as pop- ular at the confectioner’s as it is at the fashionable art dealer's. There are chair: buffets, dressing tables and corner cabinets, all in the best style, with lovely little landscapes, picturesque figures and wreaths of flowers enameled upon them. They are finished, too, with marvelous daintiness. One of the prettiest examples of these is a grand plano. It is exquisitely painted, and, as you lift the cover to help yourself to one of the candies that fill the satin-lined receptacle, soft music starts up. This comes from 2. little music box concealed in one corner. A bonbonniere that will be an equal de- light to children and to lovers of the gro tesque is called the “Renard marchant. A fox, most cleverly made and with an ex- pressian of intense cunning stamped upon his countenance, is standing on his hind legs. In his right paw he holds a chicken he has just stolen. It is a wonderful little chicken, made of real feathers. Strapped cnto his back is a basket filled with bon- bons. Concealed in M. Renard’s long fur is a little spring that winds up like a ciock, and on being wound up he walks along in a very amusing fashion. Toys and Dolls. Another mechanical tey bonbonniere is the rabbit in the cabbage. Bre'r Rabbit raises his white head and locks about him meditatively while he chews a turnip, keep- ing time to the tune played by a music box ecncealed inside the cabbage leaves. At in- téevals he appears to be startled, lifts his ears, gives a frightened glance about him and sinks down into the heart of the ple beian vegetable where he makes his home ittle dolls perched on other bonbonnieres move. One of these is an energetic-looking little Parisienne, who waves her gold um- brella about vigorously, and another is a gendarme who presents arms. Really beautiful French dolls form part of some of the new Christmas boxes. Thus, y fishwife, who sits on a pile of in the quaint costume of her country, is an exquisite sample of the doll- aker's art. She has a fishnet in her hand and on her back is a basket of chocolate fish. Another lovely doll is posed as an Alpine climber. She stands upon a rock in a tailor-finished traveling suit. In one hand she holds an alpenstock and in the other a pair of ivory-mounted field glasses, the case for which is strapped across her shoulder. The rock is hollow and is to be filled with candy. = A rustic bride and groom make twin bon- bonnieres. Each sits upon a miniature cart, decked out in gala attire, and each drives a cunning little donkey. The bride's wagon is filled with grass and flowers, but her more practical spouse has evidently filled his with provisions for the wedding feast. They are both adorned with bou- of orange blossoms. ‘rench student, represented by another fine doll, Is shown ridirg a pig. The pig, true to his nature, Is stuffed full of goodies. A little lady doll is gracefully perched on the back of a St. Bernard, who also serves as a receptacle for sweets. Another new bonbonniere that has the advantage of be- irg very Inexpensive is the ball and cup. It is a practical toy, but the ball opens and is filled with candies. . —_-.--—- A Dream Dispelled. oi the Detroit Free Press. The two sweet things were standing on a corner waiting for a car when they saw a bey coming up the avenue leading a four- footed object that was blanketed and swathed out of sight. A small crowd was following the blanketed ebject. “It's one of those perfectly lovely race horses. Just see how gracefully it walks, Maudie, dear. Isn’t it a dream?” “Oh! Lily, don’t you think we might just see its dear ncse? Why, it must be a per- fect poem or they wouldn’t be so careful of it. I have a lump of sugar—there was more than I wanted with that chocolate. I am going to ask if I mayn’t give it to the dear thing. “Yes, dear, do. B-o-y!” But the poem and dream began a series of contortions just then that gave the boy all he could do to keep his feet, and he was pulled across the avenue and back again several times before he could respond to the two sweet things who were trying to converse with him. “Been to the races with it?” they asked in concert. “New; ain't any races.”” “Oh, tnen you are just exercising the lovely animal?” * “Naw, miss; it’s the other way. lovely animile is jest exercisin’ of me.’ “Is it very fast?” “Fast? Don't I wish it was.” “Isn't it a race horse?” “Horse? Haw, haw. Why this ’ere is Mr. Ks Jersey cow, a old muley”— __ But the sweet things were climbing into their car. + 0+ The Gan Went Of. T'll stop the procession. The {From the Cotumbia Falls Columbian, A facetious lawyer had undef cross-exam- ination a simple-looking youth, who re- jJoiced in the name of Sampson, and re- solved to raise a laugh at his expense. “And so,” questioned the legal light, “you wish the court to believe that you are a peaceably disposed and inoffensive kind of person?” “Yes.” “And you have no desire to follow in the focateps of your illustrious namesake, and-smite the Phiilstines?” “No; I've not,” answered the witness. ‘And if I had the desire I ain’t got the | power, just at present.” -“Then you think you would be unable to shag a thousand enemies with the Jawbone of an ass?” : “Weil,” answered the ruffled Sampson, “I tight have a try at them when you are done, but I'll be teetotally swamped if I'd want to use your jaw. A DRUMMER’S EXPERIENCE. How He Made a Chance Acquaintance to His Pront. As usual, it was the drummer who was talking. “They may talk as they please,” he was saying, “about the naughtiness of flirting with the dear creatures, but it sometimes pays, and pays tn cash.” “You don’t mean to tell me.” remarked a severe-looking person with a gray whisker and a stiff hat, you have ever made any money for your house by one of those disgusting flirtations I have seen some of you chaps carrying on on trains and elsewhere?” “Yes, and I do say that, too,” asserted the irrepressible, “but this one was a net profit to yours truly only, and I never divided with the house a [ttle bit.” ‘The severe person's harsh gray whiskers bristled. “It was this way,’ mer. “At Crestline Ohio the Big Four * continued the drum- in the great state road going north and scuth crosses the Pennsylvania, whica leads principally at that point to’ Canton, though a few benighted persons still go to Chicago. Well, 1 was coming down from Canton and way stations, and when I got to Crestline I had an hour to wait for a train to Cincinnati, During the walt L met a rattling good-looking girl waiting for a train to Cleveland. There was an immense crowd of pilgrims and others about the station.on their way to the McKinley ehrine, it being before election, and in the crowding some fellow made a grab for the girl's pocket book, and if L hadn't been on hand she would bave lost it, “My train was delayed an hour, and I told her she had better let me carry the tcok for her till I departed, when she would have to take care of herself again. Time flew and we strolied up and down the platform, and gratitude warmed her heart ‘When my train finally pulled In, we forgot all_about the pocket book in my pocket, and I didn’t Jeave her till the train was moving. Half an hour later I remembered the pocket book and took it out to see what there was in it. Nothing. so help me, but a $0 bill and a few odds and ends that meant nothing. She had refused to tell me her name, and I didn't even know whether she was married or not, and I had nothing to do but wait. “I had lied to her and told her I was going to Columbus, and I had given ber an assumed name, or rather an assumed first name, and that’s all she knew about me, so there wasn’t much of a chance for her to find me. I told the conductor about the dilemma I was in and the money I had, and I notified the police that I had found $0; I also put a notice in the papers, but so far I have heard nothing, and I am be- ginning to think that the fair creature would prefer to lose fifty than to have somebody find out she had been flirting with a horrid drummer. Be that as it ma I am now $50 to the good, besides the flirta- tion, and I'm not saying a word, am I?” — > BLOOM ON TH THE PEACH. Some of the Good Things That Must Re Sacrificed for the Complexion. From Harper's Bazar. The complexion of yovng girls is very often a source of trouble to them, and continues to be so in spite of doctors and dermatologists and medicaments of all sorts. Perhaps when all things else have failed they will find the whole trouble done away with by a judicious diet and course of living. In many places there are no doctors especially skilled in relation to the skin, and mothers content themselves with thinking it will all come right in time. But they need not wait for time if they will follow a wise routine in matters of bath and diet. In the first place, they should abolish the cold bath entirely, understanding that it is only the very rugged who can endure it, and that very few take it to advantage anyway; and they should use only the warm and hot baths, and use them tfre- quently—the hot bath, a quick one taken at bed time, with proper precautions about taking cold afterward. With this there should be not only exercise about the house in the way of familiar duties, al- though it is always in the same over- breathed air, but there should be rapid walking and hurrying out-of-doors, with- out any other fixed purpose than that of enjoyment, now and then a short run, if it may be taken without discomfort, ana sometimes. properly protected, a tussle with a rainstorm, but never exposure, when unveiled, to cold and sharp winds. And for the rest, diet is to be called upon to work miracles. Pastry is to be aban- doned; all s is and desserts ily nuts, the whole delicious bonbon tribe, together wit the homely old-colonial doughaut, the rar bit and cheese in any form. Frult. too, will be taken with hesitation, and more gener- ally cooked than uncooked: fritters will be forsaken, potatoes will be replaced by bread, and the bread will be, as far possible, of coarse grain rather than of tine jour. Neither tea nor coffee will be drunk by our young aspirant for a good complexion, nor chocolate, be it said; she can have milk if it agrees with her, preferably skimmed milk and buttermilk. She will be surprised to find how soon she can dis- pense with much drinking at her meals, and how refreshing water alone will be- come If she drank no water at all while exiing, and as much as she wished a couple of hours or so later, it would be better yet; but if that 1s too much of a sacrifice, she would do well to try and limit herself to no more than a dozen tablespoonfuls of Nquid with each meal. Of course it is un- necessary to say that she takes no wiie nor anything of that sort. Z With this she should allow herself plenty of good and well-cooked meat, and dish- gravy when it is free from fat; not al- Ways a great deal of beef, but rather mut- ton and poultry and game. Meat in- creases the muscular firmness and strength, and is supposed to add more to the ner- vous force than other diet; and often a low condition of the nerves has more to do with the skin trouble ghan anything else. Some of the most irritating, dis- figuring and painful of skin troubles arise from depression of the nervous system, elther from worry or overstrain, or from mal-nutrition. It must be understood, then, that the diet is to be bountiful and generous, but that it Is to be thoroughly digestible, and never greasy nor tco rich, and that all eat- ing between meals and before going to bed is to be given up. Any girl who brings her habits down to these simple ways, and has regular and prolonged sleep, will soon have the peachy skin that belongs to her years, unless she has some more deep- Seated and ineradicable trouble than 1s common. For those who have no trouble with their skins, of course such strictness of regime is not requisite; but the bloom will be kept a great while longer which has not been interfered with by indigestible dainties and lazy habits. ———_+2o—_____ About Time. From the New York Herald. Howsoe—“I hear they are gcing to intro- duce civil service on the ‘L’ road.” Comsse—“I hope so. It’s devilish uncivil now.” eo —___—_ Of Course Not. From the New York Herald. Jones—‘Bicycling is ruining business.” Smith—“I don’t find it sc. What's your business?” A Valuable Training. From Harper's Bezar. mI don’t see why Miss B. (Vass: aay it Vassar, Mabel. you approve of foot * Miss C. (Vassar So)" helps her fi the ‘assar %, ips her in. rit. If I had tearned to play foot ball, Go ‘you suppose T'd have to stay at homs <a days at the big department of | J DANGER IN SODA. SERIOUS RESULTS SOMETIMES FOLLOW ITs EXCESSIVE USE. Common soda ts ait right tn its place and tn. dispensatie in the Kitchen and for cooking and Weshing purposes, but it was merer Intended for @ medicive, and people who use it as such will me day regret it. We refer to the common use of sofa to relter Leartburn or sour stomach, a habit which thou sands of people practice t daily, and one Which Is fraught with dang preower, the sole only gives temporazy relief and im the end the Induble gets worse and worse. ‘The sada acts as a mechanical irritant te ¢(h: walls of the recend where it in the causing death by influnmation or peritoni Dr. Hariandson recommends as the surest cum: for sour stomach Jomenges, very plonsant 1: end rontain the natural ackis, when taken afte fectly and pro and vous system Waerth states invariably asee it's Dyspepsia Tablets in all cases of stomach i finds them a certain cure pot h, but t wtiy Aigostiing > healthy apperite, inerens flesh an u the acthn of the beart liver, ‘They are not a cathartic, but intended only for Stomach diseases and weakmose and will be ad reliable im any stomach trouble except can. cer of the stomach All drugytsts sell Stuart's Dyspepsia ‘Tablets at 50 cts. per package A little book describing all. forms of stoma, ness sod thelr cure malled free by address Stuart Co. of Marshall, Mich deanbet> Bt = TABLE DECORATIONS. uskestions That Will Be Valuable to the Housekeeper. From Harper's Bazar. Every true housekeeper is always on the lookout for new receipts for cook- Ing and new ideas for table decoration. If there is a great deal of money in the fam- ily exchequer, much of the real personal interest I housekeeping is done away with. Of course labor and time are saved when one simply gives carte blanche to chef and butler, but there is the feeling of being merely a guest In one’s own house, not knowing at all what the decorations nor p bill of fare is to be. After all, con- siderable pleasure is lost when one does not personally superintend the details of one’s housekeeping bd is now much a part of the table furnist ings spoons and forks to have some flowers or plants on the table for eack meal. The ferneries In white metal, china, or silver baskets always look fresh and pretty, and if care is taken about the watering, will last a surprisingly long time. There should always be an inner dish in which the mcid is put and the plants planted, and this inner dish must have per- forated sides. A fact not known to all amateur florists is that in our heated houses plarts, small or large, will not thrive if in a flower pot or basket that 1s not porous. The common earthen flower pot is the best of all, and can be made possible In a dining room by being put in a larger china one. Those who are most successful with their plants discard all at- tempts at decoration, and use only the flower pot, preferring the beauty of the plant to anything else. When one lives in the city, even the sim- plest daily arrangement of flowers or leaves is an expense: and it should be borne in mind when buying vases, ete., to choose those which will look well with only a handful of flowers. An old fashion lately revived is the placing of fiat. mir- rors on the table. These are to be bought at almost all the shops, and can be ha in squares, oblongs, round pieces, and va riety of fancy shapes as well. A round mirror of this sort, or indeed a square equally as well, is an immense improve ment to the table, and also helps as re- gard the flowers. In one case a bowl placed in the middle of the mirror gains sreatly in beauty and size by its reflected image. Glass bowls are to be had in most dainty shapes; and four small ones at each side of the m‘rror, with a larger one in the center, will have the appearance of a most lavish display of fio even if only a few flowers are used. Geraniums and chrysanthemims cheapest either meke The scarlet ge fully marked ive a warmth and richt ess of h seem to sei off the linen, gla stp sible advantd here are a few flower: lishe ey are gl hoid ad 7 only tong rrow, almost two high and two broad: These have an cpen wire covering, whi i pital scheme for making cach ind) flower show to advantage, and also requires very few blossoms to look well fille High and low deccrations are both fash- ionable just at present. If one has a tasie fer arranging flowers, that taste can ba put forward as the very latest thing, oniy the taste must be there. A pretty dinner the other day was decorated with There was a large center piece, the edge embroidered in different colored roses. A _mirros covered the center, and in the dle of the mirror a glass bowl filled with roses was reflected in the glass. Four all mirrors were placed at each corner the table, alsc on mats with the em- broidered roses, each holding a few nat- ural rcses. The dinner was for eight peo- ple, and by each plate was laid a long- stemmed rose. The four glass lamps which lighted the table had K paper made to look like roses, and four gil bonbon dishes were filled with candied rose leaves. The effect of it all was most charming and irdividual, and of couse the same color scheme could perfectly de car- ried out in cheaper flowers and embroid- erles. The embroidered center pieces, tray cloths and doilies are favorite fancy work, and while the more elaborate work Is, of course, more effective, the simpler pat- terns are extremely effective, and it is really better to have two or three simple ones than one very handsome one for oo- casions. It is nice to have something m reserve when one wishes to entertain for- mal guests, but no greater mistake was ever made than to slight everyday living and only make some great splurge for vis- itors. Even outline patterns look well on cen- ter pieces, and leaves, in particular, are desirable, forsthen the natural leaves can be used to fill the vases—a much cheaper everyday decoration than flowers, and then, too, the planted fernery can be used. ———-+e-+— NEWSPAPERS. RUSSIA In the Cznr’s Country There Are Many Journals With Odd Names, Newspapers printed in the Russian lan- guage are not circulated nor read generally in the United States, and any one who has ever made even a cursory examination of a Rvussian newspaper printed in Russian char- acters can see at a glance why, as far as this country is concerned, they do not “fill a long-felt want.” In the naming of Rus- sian newspapers “Observer,” re Advertiser” and “Eagle” do not prevail, but in place of these, more descriptive titles are used. The hemorous newspaper of St. Petersburg is called the Weekly Schut, or translated, the Fool. The medical journal of St. Peters- burg, published under authority of the war office, is the Russian Invalid. The official morning newspaper of Moscow is the Viee dcmosti Gorodskoe Politsii, otherwise the Police Gazette. The Russian newspaper best known in this country is the daily Novoye Vremya, or the New Times of St Petersburg. One of the illustrated St. Petersburg weeklies is called the News, after the river which flows through that capital, and the two weekly newspapers longest established in the city of Moscow are the Boudiiniig and the Krougozor, otherwise «he Alarmer, and the Horizon. For some reason which is not very clear, the word “wiedomosti,” meaning “news,” is popular as a news; per designation in the city of Mosco There are four daily newspapers in Moscow having this title—the Russian. News, Mod- ern News, Moscow News and Old News, The Old News is maintained for the repub- lication of articles from other newspapers. ‘There are perhaps some newspapers in th United States worthy of being called the Old News, but it is certain that there is no newspaper in the United States which for- —nZ and voluntarily would assume thai tl