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- , jV It' •:> p¥^si %TV - ^ v ' v-&'w 1; Pe JloWef of f)eath. I &;i' 5> •: 71 • • •* • S#V: YOU are as good as dead," said the doctor, looking steadily at Anatole. Anatole staggered. He had come to y»g« a cheerful evening with his old ilriend. Dr. Bardais, the savant whose Works in poisonous substances are BO Veil and favorably known, but one Whose excellence of heart and almost fatherly kindness Anatole had been •hie to appreciate more than any one. And now air of a sudden, without re­ gard for his feelings, without being pre­ pared to hear it, the terrible prognostic It tittered by so great an authority. , "Unfortunate fellow," continued the Aoctor, "what have you done?" jv : "Nothing that I know of," stammered ^^tnatole, greatly troubled. "Try to recollect. Tell me what you :lwe drank, what you have eaten, and What you have breathed." •» Tbe last word six>ken by the doctor •as a ray of light to Anatole. That SSfery morning he had received a letter from one of his friends who was trav­ eling In India. In this letter had been a flower plucked on the shores of the Ganges by the traveler--a flower, red, warped, and of bizarre shape, the odor of which, he remembered well now, had •eemeri! to him strangely penetrating. Anatole searched in his pocketbook and took therefrom the letter aiid flower in question, which he showed to the sa- ifot *"Wi thont doubt." rtrciaimed the doc- i»r. "it is the Pyramenensis Indica­ te fatal flower, thtf flower of death." ~\v"Do you really think so?" **I am sure of it." "But it is not possible. I am only 25 ftear old. 1 feel myself full of life and Health" "When did yon men that fatal let- ti-; Wi&- & , 1ST r.';- thing very important to say to me.1 "Very important, M. Bousard. It is necessary that you give up your plan of marrying my cousin Nicette to M. Capendac." "Never, monsieur, never." "But I say, yes." "Monsieur, my resolution Is taken. The marriage witttake^ftlicfe." "It will not." "We'll see about that. And now that you are acquainted with my answer, I will not detain you longer." "That is not altogether polite. But I am as good-humored as I am tena­ cious, M.t Bousard. I am not offended at your procedure, and I will remain." "Remain if yblk like. | consider you as gone, and I will not converse further with you." Aj v ? \ And M. Bousard turned toward the wall, grumbling, "Did one ever see the like; to disturb a peaceful m^n, to rouse him from his sleep, ftr the purpose of IS' •N ' .'-S "At 0 o'clock this morning." * "Well, to-morrow morning at the *me hour, indeed at the .same mo- Ifcent you feel a sharp anguish at the • Hfesrt, and It will be all over with you." iyi '"And do you not know any remedy, HWiy means of " # ~ "None," said the doctor, and hiding : llis face in his hands he sank backward 'lb an arm-chair, choked with grief. • :£:• %Vt€m the emotion displayed by his •U friend, Anatole realized that there ,' Was no hope. .He departed in a dazed I" „>•**«»*. , . With heads of cold perspiration on | ilis brow and his thoughts confused, * : Anatole moved along unconscious of What was passing around him, and not Oven suspecting that the streets were ftecotning deserted. He wandered a ^ Jong time thus; but at length, coming ID a bench, he sat down. The rest did him good. Until then fee had been like a man who has been Utrack an the bead with a club. The «. ' Effects of the shoek were disappearing, „ tnti he began now to collect his vagrant thoughts. « - • "Mv plight," thought he, "is that of KU % person condemned to death. Yet I «*n still hope for mercy. By the way, ^ JK>W much longer have I to live?" J He looked at his watch. gjs/-.-* "it lacks three hours of morning. It I* time I was in bed. I go to bed, In- £ tfeed! To devote the last sad hours.of £• tny life to sleep! No. I can certainly <So better than that But, what? Par- Y f , t>leu! I have It. I will draw up my •' will and testa»en,V < A restaurant which remained open i «D night was near by. Anatole enter- y and sat down. - "Waiter, a bottle of champagne and Jt-, ' © foottie of ink." | T - , H e d r a n k a g l a s s a n d l o o k e d a t h i s awritiag-paper, * reflecting: "To whom | / ' ishall I leave my six thousand francs £ v-V ^ Jlncome? I have neither father nor *,'* k*«iother--a fact which is lucky for .^V jthem. And among the persons who - interest me I can think only of one-- 4*iv;;jiicette/' • * Nicette was one of his forty-second cousins, a charming young girl of 18 years, with fair tresses and large, black eyes. Like himself sbe was an orphan, and this community of fate had long ago established a bond of sympathy between them. His will was speedily " drawn up. He left everything to Nicette. When it was finished he drank a sec- said glass of champagne. "Poor Nicette," thought he. "Her guardian, who knows little of the world except his class, which he teach­ es to play on brass Instruments at the , Conservatory, has bethought himself < £ to promise her hand to a brute, a sort £?£ " • of bully, whom she detests, because she ; > loves another, as she has avowed to me. although with reticence and an em- ||f tMUTassed air. Who is this happy mor- ^ taJ? But be must be worthy of her, since she has fixed her affection on him. Good, gentle, comely, and affec- tionate Nicette deserves an ideal hus- . |s tasted Ah, how well would she have ^ i ^ patted me for a wife, it is an infamous /> -tyranny to spoil her life by giving her " te a brute. But why should I not be Nicette'8 champion? I have said it ,no*» *Qd to-morrow morning I will be- to act. But to-morrow morning it win be too, late. Now is the time to begin, if at all. The hour is a little mal a propoB to see people, but as I shall be dead In five hours I don't care a sou far conventionalities. Yes, I'll do it-- •ay Hfe for Nicette." -It was 4 o'clock in tbe morning when . Anatole rang the bell at the house of Kkfette's guardian, M. Bousard. Bad­ ly frightened and wearing his nights cap, he answered the door. "Is the house on fire?" "So, my dear M. Bousard," replied Anateie, "I have cojue for a chat, "At this hour?' "I am at all hours pleased to see you * bat you are not dressed, M. Bousard Ape you going back to bed again?" i "That's what I am going to do. But- 1 imppose, monsieur, that to disturb me fci this manner you must have some- listening to such nonsense." SuddenlyM. fiousard made a bound from his bted. \ ^ Anatole had taken up One of the trombones gt tbe pTOfessor,\into which he blew 'wjth might and main, madly moving Infernal sounds were emflftetl by the instrument. "My cherished trombone' given me by my pupils! Leave the Instrument alone, monsieur." , "Monsieur," q*ld Aaatole. "you con­ sider me as departed. I consider you as absent, ftnd I am arousing myself while waifing for you£ return. Um-pa! Um-pa! What dulcetjraelody!" "You will cause melo receive notice tq leave the house. My neighbors will not tolerate "the trombone after mid­ night." "Then all I ^an say is. ̂ ey have no love of DittSid in their souls. Z-z-z-z! Wow! Tootle-too! Um*pa5, Um-paT' "Stop, for mercy's sake.P' "Do ydu consent, theBf \ "To what?" "To give up the marriage." "But, monsieur, I -can't do It." "Then, urii-par' • : "M. Capendac Is ft terrible man. If I affront him thus he will kill me." "Does that reason influence you?" "Yes, and others besides." "In that case leave all to me. Only swear to me that if I obtain the con­ sent of M. Capendac to the breaking of the match, my cousin shall be free." "Yes, monsieur, she shall be free." "Bravo. I have your word. Permit me to retire. But where does this Capendac live?" "Number 100, Rue des Deux-Epees." "I will go there. Good-by." "As for yot," thought M. Bousard, "you are putting your head In the lion's mouth, and you will be taught a lesson that you deserve to learn." Meanwhile Anatole hastened to the address Indicated. When be arrived there it was G o'clock in the morning. "Ting-a-ling-a-llng." "Who 1s there?" said a deep voice from within. ."Open. I am the bearer of a very important message from M. Bousard." He heard -the noise of a safety-chain being displaced, and of a key with which three locks were successively opened. "Here Is a man well defended." thought Anatole. Finally the door opened. Anatole found himself in the presence of a gen­ tleman Vvith a large, curled mustache, who wore a fencing costume as his night-dress. "Always ready, you see. It is my In­ vention." The waUs of the antechamber were hidden by suits of armor. In the little parlor into whieb Capendac conducted his visitor he saw, only weapons ga­ lore; ataghans, poisoned arrows, sa bers, one and two-handed swords, pis­ tols, lances; there was plenty there to make a timid heart quail. "Bah.". thought Anatole, "what do I risk now 2 Two hours and a half at the most. Here goes." "Monsieur," said Ajaatole, "you are going to quarry MUe, Nicette?" "Yes, rfiMsieur.*' # "Monsieur, you shall not marry her." "Blood vibund£r,, Aim! who will hinder mer 'V : v ;«• "I wlil.V / < V <••,/ \ 4, Capendac looked askance at Anatole, who was not a large man, but who seemed very determined. "Ah, young man," said he, at length, "you are lucky to find me In a pleasant humor. Profit by it. Do you know that I have fought twenty duels, in which 1 had the misfortune to slay five of my adversaries and to wound the other fifteen? Once more I warn you to retire." I see," replied Anatole, "that you are an adversary worthy of my steel, and my desire Increases to measure swords with a man so redoubtable. Let us see. Suppose we fight with those two swords by the chimney, or these cavalry sabers, or these--or what do you say to these curved ataghans. You don't deddet- ^hy 'do' yob hesitate?" I was thinking of your mother and the grief jrour death would cause her, "I am'an orphan. Do ypti prefer the carbine,*- the pistol, or the'revolver?" Youup toau, do not fool with these firearms/' - .. • A • -. "Are you afraid? You tremble." "I trembled Non£?bs$, it is the cold." "Then either fight renounce the hand of Nicette", > I llk&your pluck. The'ibrave should always be In hartnohy- Wth each other. Do you wish mfc to confe^ something t o y o u ? " • ; ; 4 t J "Out With It." UfOS*' "For some time past I have wished to free myself from this betrothal. But I did not know how to go to work about it. I would consent very willingly to "what you d&tre of me, Mt you must understand that I, Capendac, cannot nave the air of yielding to threat*W0W you have menaced me." / "I withdraw the menace." "Then It Is agreed." : "Will you write and sign your re­ linquishment of Nicette?" "I have so much sympathy for you that I can refuse you nothing.' Furnished with the precious paper. Anatole hurried bock to the residence of M. Bousard. He reached his door at 8 o'clock. jjl "Tlug-a-ling-n-Iing." | "Who is there?" "Anatole." "Be off to bed." dried the professor, wrathfully. 'I have the consent of ML Capendac. Open, or I will have to break the door." M. Bousard opened It Anatole show­ ed him the paper, and going to the door of Nicette's room, called out: "Cousin, rise, dress yourself quickly, and come down." ^ Some minutes after, Nicette, fresh as the dawn, came into the little parlor. "What is the matter?" she inquired. "The matter is," answered M. Bous­ ard. "that your cousin is crazy." "If that be so there is at any rate method in my madness," exclaimed Anatole. "This very night, my dear cotisln, I have achieved two things. M. Capendac has renounced his claim to your hand, and your excellent guard­ ian consents that you shall marry whom you please." "Really and truly, my guardian, ajn I free to marry Anatole?" "Ha!" exclaimed Anatole, . "Then, I love you, my cousin." At that moment Anatole felt his heart beat rapidly. Was it by reason of the pleasure which the unexpected avowal of Nicette had caused him? Was it tbe pang predicted by Dr. Bardais? Was it death? "Wretch that I am!" exclaimed the poor fellow. "The cup of happiness Is at my lips, and I am going to die with­ out tasting it." Then feverishly taking Nicette's hand, he told her all: how he had re­ ceived the letter which contained the flower whose fragrance he had inhaled; and of the prognostic of Dr. Bardais; how he had made his will in her favor, the steps he had subsequently taken, and the success with which his efforts had been crowned. And now," sighed ue, "I must die." But it is Impossible," said Nicette; •the doctor is deceived. Who is he?" 'A man who is never wrong in his diagnosis, Nicette--Dr. Bardais." Bardais, Bardais!" cried M. Bous­ ard suddenly, bursting out laughing. Hear What the morning paper says: "The learned Dr. Bardais has just been suddenly stricken with mental alienation. The mania from which he suffers is of a scientific character. It Is well known that the doctor made a special study of poisonous substances. He believes now that all whom he meets are poisoned, and endeavors to persuade them that such is the case. He was removed at midnight to the big white house.'" Nicette!" "Anatole!" kThe young couple had rushed Into h other's arms, and were locked in a nd embrace.--Argonaut. "A te fonc IN FAVOR OF SHORT PRAYERS. Flogging that Was Timed by a Long-Winded Invocation* It happened," said Col. Jack Chlnn, that there were two colored preachers inhabiting cells in the penitentiary at Frankfort at the same time. If I re­ member aright both were sentenced for polygamy; but old Sam was a Meth­ odist parson, while old Jake was of the Baptist faith. It seems that Sam had done something to greatly offend the warden, and the punishment decided on was an old-fashioned lashing. Some weeks after the affair came off, the Rev. Sam, whom I had known from boyhood, was telling me about it. 'I didn't mind de whippln' so much. Mars Jack, ef It hadn't been for de way old Jake acted. You see de warden he said to me: "Sam, I'se gwlne to whip you, and I 'low de whippln' will do you a whole heap uv good. I'm gwlne to let old Jake pray fer you, and de Wows will continue to fall on your black hide while Jake's pra'r is a-goin' on. When he come to a final .stop de punishment will likewise end." •Land sakes. Mars Jack, I knowed it was all up with me den, for that ignor­ ant old nigger never did know when it was time to get up off'n his knees. De fac' dat a po' human beln' was in dis­ tress wasn't gwlne to make a bit of dif­ ference with him. Well, sir, it was Jes' like I 'spected it'd be. Dey brought me out and old Jake, de old vlllun, started in, and as fast as he prayed the warden come down on me wid a whip dat cut like a knife. I never did want to hear a pra'r come to an end so bad in my life, but It weren't any use. Every time I thought he was most through ojd Jake took a fresh hold and down come de licks harder'n ever. Shorely it seemed to me like he prayed a month, and. Mars Jack, T wants to tell you right now dat I am sot against long pra'rs for de rest ov my life.'" COLD STORAGE Of Recent Uie, Thonsh the Principle tfras Known for Age*. It is a curious fact that although dwellers in northern climes must have known for ages that a low temperature preserves flesh from putrefaction, it never seems to have struck any one that this natural fact could be turned to artificial advantage until Lord Ba­ con stuffed the historic chicken with snow, and thereby caught a chill which killed him. It is perhaps even more curious that an experiment resulting in the death of one of the most eminent men in the world should not have called any attention to an already welU known principle which might have been readily turned to great advantage. As a matter of fact it was not until the year 1875, 249 years after Lord Bacon's fatal experiment that freezing was practically employed as a method of preserving flesh. This was the com­ mencement of the frozen meat trade between America and England. Four years later a dry air refrigerator was perfected, and the system env which th),s was constructed has since become fcfactically universal. Slakes Cannon Shot Whirl. The tube of a 12-lncb gun, which Is used in some warships, has fifty spiral groves inside, which cause the shot to revolve at the rate of seventy-five times per second' as it r«shes itorough the air. BOOM IN FULL BLAST. AH INDEX OF UNEXAMPLED PROSPERITY* ---------- • J Dealers Agricultural In»**aai«nta Report a Lively Business Through* out the Northwest-Good Times for Farmery--TrnstS+€ho«td Be Doomed. An index of the unexampled prosper­ ity now inundating the farming re­ gions of the great Northwest Is fur­ nished by the lively boom that is being experienced by dealers in agricultural implements. Last year was an extraor­ dinarily good year fbr the sale of all fettHli of farm machinery. During the pKVlous period of depression there had been a very appreciable check to the normal demand for this class of mer­ chandise. The farmers manifested a disposition to make the old machines do the work and worry along without any expansion of their equipment until bet­ ter times came. The good times .that they had been hoping for came shortly after. President McKInley's inaugura­ tion. Last year the demand that had been bottled up for five years or thereabouts broke loose. Factories, distributors and dealers were pretty well swamped with orders. Early in the harvest season the manufacturers of harvesters announced, that they would be unable to fill any more orders. Had It not been for the slow maturing of the crops In this vi­ cinity serious Inconvenience would have been caused by the scarcity of har­ vesting machines. All lines of farm im­ plement manufacturing shared in the boom. Being the first year of general buying after several years of economizing it was naturally supposed that 1898 would continue to figure as the high water mark of Implement buying for many years of simply normal demand. Par­ ticularly was It predicted that the re­ action would certainly make this year a poor one In that line of business. These predictions are not going to be verified. The year 1899 is going to set a new high water mark in the agricul­ tural Implement trade. Manufactur­ ers and distributors report that so faif this year their shipments of farm ma­ chinery have been from 20 to 25 per cent larger than in the supposedly ban­ ner year of 1898. With good weather and fair crop prospects during the spring the showing will increase rather than diminish during tbe year. Fac­ tories are working day and night to fill the orders that are pouring in. Distrib­ utors have welcomed the late unfavora­ ble weather, for It has given them time to fill orders for machinery to be used In spring work that would otherwise have had to go unfilled. The boom is on in full blast again. It will be a little curious to see how the fellows who Insist on trying to con­ strue present conditions Into "sham prosperity" will explain this reliable in­ dication of real prosperity among the farmers of the Northwest. The theory that was applied to the wage raising movement--that it was a bribe to labor tendered by the trusts--will hardly hold good in this case.--Sioux City Journal. All Volunteers Can Come Home. President McKinley has administered a crushing blow to all the anti-adminis­ tration howlers, In his order that all the volunteer soldiers who desire to leave the service must be promptly given discharge. The treaty with Spain has finally been concluded, and on the very day the ratification of the peace treaty occurred all the army command­ ers were notified that the war with Spain has been settled with a treaty of peace and all the volunteer soldiers In Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines and elsewhere, who desire to return home must be honorably discharged from the army with the least possible delay. President McKinley has kept faith with the people and with the sol­ diers. The order for the discharge of all the volunteer soldiers who desire to return home is sufficient explanation of the reason why the regular army has been-rushed to the Philippines dur­ ing the past three months, and still further proof of the President's, never varying desire to carry the will of the people into effect.--Des Moines Regis­ ter. , Trust* Are Everywhere. There are trusts in Germany, Austria, Italy and Russia, as well as every othr er country which has great Industries or natural resources valuable enough to attract large sums of capital in their de­ velopment. The trusts are doing more damage In some of those countries than they are doing here. Nevertheless the Republican party will keep up its war­ fare on the trusts. It has been fighting them from the day they first made their appearance. It is the only party which has had either tbe courage or tbe Intel­ ligence to strike a blow at the illegiti­ mate practices of the combines and to restrict them in their operations. It is a satisfaction, therefore, for tbe coun­ try to know that as the Republican party is going to remain in control of the nation for years to come Its vigor­ ous and practical work In maintaining the people's interests In this as in all other fields will be kept up.--St Louis Globe-Democrat. condition in other ways. Where two years ago hundreds of thousands of workingmen were Idle, they are now employed, and their wages have kept pace with the increased cost of living. This is evidence of general prosper­ ity, for the advance In nearly all com­ modities has benefited the producers, especially the great mass of American producers, the farmers. If this increased cost of living had not been followed by an advance In wages, prosperity would have been one-sided and oppressive to the work- ingman. As It is, all are now prosper­ ing together and in like degree. The advance agent did not belie his show. Everything advertised on the bills has been exhibited.--Tacoma (Wash.) Ledger. ' Down with the Trusta. ' Trusts can be formed in any civilized country. There are trusts In England, where free trade is one of the policies of the government Trusts can flourish in those countries which use silver money as well as In those countries where gold Is the only standard of value. All trusts were conceived and organized in selfishness. The first trust brought together producers, cheapened the cost of manufacture, aod increased the profits of the men concerned. The march of Invention, of new proc­ esses, has Invariably been faster than has been the lowering of the price of the finished product to the people. To say that trusts have reduced the prices of manufactures is to state a thing which is fklse. Trusts take refuge ber hind this lie in order to justify them­ selves. in the Opinion of the people. Trusts are organized for the purpose of Increasing profits. Products would be cheaper to-day if there were no trusts. A hundred competing factories are bet­ ter for the people than is one corpora­ tion which controls or operates five, hundred factories. Recently trusts have been created for purposes of speculation.- A great many men have become rich In this* Way dur­ ing the past year. The losses which are inevitable will fall to those who are caught with watered shares in their possession. All trusts, therefore, are harmful to the people. All trusts are created in order that the people may be robbed in one way Or another. The only course open to the several States and to the United States Is to destroy the trusts. The Republican party leads in re­ forms. The Republican party. should make immediate and relentless war upon trusts. The Republican platform in Ohio this year should be built upon this idea. The Republican Congress which will meet next December should take up the trust question at once. Mr. McKinley should be renominated and re-elected on the declaration that all trusts are dangerous, dishonest, and must be destroyed. The fight should be hard and fierce. Down with the trusts! --Cleveland Leader, A Result of Protection. A lot of 500 tons of steel rails were recently sent by the steamship Kastalia of the Donaldson line from t&e Spar­ row's Point mills to Glasgow, Scotland, for the Caledonian Railroad. These mills are now supplying both Scotland and Ireland with rails* in competition with British makers. The Orthia, an­ other steamship on the same line, is to carry 500 tons on her next voyage. From the same port rails are being shipped by different vessels to Mel­ bourne, Australia, the total order being for 35,000 tons. We respectfully submit these facts to Mr. Thomas G. Shearman and to all other free traders who hold that we should have imported "cheap foreign steel" for American Industries instead of establishing an Iron and steel indus­ try of our own to supply the American market. And we would say to them for their information that the prices on iron and steel are lower to-day because of the establishment of the American industry than they ever would have been had Americans depended on Brit­ ish manufacturers for their steel. We have the gigantic steel industry in this country and we have cheap American steel as a result of protection. Brvan in His Blindness. Little wonder Is It that the Jeffer- sonlan Democrats of the East are call­ ing for a new party leader with the courage of his convictions and with Intelligence to grasp the difficulties of the present situation. Little wonder Is It that the disciples of Jefferson and Jackson repudiate the leadership of Bryan when he poses as a nerveless demagogue, as he did at Milwaukee. Mr. Bryan Is trying to commit the Democratic party to an out-and-out anti-annexation policy. If he is to make the platform and be the Presi­ dential candidate of his party in J 900 the Democrats will enter the campaign antagonizing the principles and policy of Jefferson and devoid of the sturdy Americanism of Jackson.--Chicago In­ ter Ocean. A Wonderfully Good Becord. Last week's statement of business failures in the United States was the best made in a long time. Many other weeks this year have shown remark­ able Improvement compared with the good conditions existing in 1898, but last week was a record-breaker. In the corresponding part of last year the number of failures reported to R. G. Dun & Co. was 232. The latest figures are only 141. The decrease, for a single week, is 109. That is a falling off of no less than 47 per cent. It is at the rate of about 5,700 failures In a year. Such figures are nothing less than the evidence of a revolution in busi­ ness conditions, and It must be borne In mind that the state of trade and in­ dustry was not bad' a year agO. The rate of improvement |s the most extra­ ordinary which can be found, taking Into account the comparative good Con­ ditions which existed in 1898. The present state of buslne^iijf excellent and the outlook is good. Prosperity Is General. The general advance In wages is an evidence that prosperity has become general Instead of being confined to cer­ tain classes. It may be that the work­ ingmen of the country are In no better condition than they were In former years, so far as wages are concerned, for the advance in tbe cost of living may have been equal to the advance In wages. Still, they are in much better Trusts and tbe Tariff. The craze for trusts is great and growing. Their own future as well as their effect upon the industrial and com­ mercial world is something which can­ not yet be foreseen with anything like certainty. If they shall prove to be as bad In fact as they are in the anticipa­ tions of many persons, and In popular opinion, generally, there Is no doubt that tbe American people will find a remedy for them. But the man who knows that there are more trusts with­ out protection of their products in the tariff law than there are with such pro­ tection, and who still contends that the remedy for trusts Is to take away the protective tariff, Is a demagogue, while the man who believes that any political party is responsible for the system or has a ready-made remedy for Its evils should begin his work of reform at th© primaries in voting for men whom he is sure are wiser than himself.--Mil­ waukee Sentinel. Relative Importance Many of the free-traders tmjp that the Dingley law has been injurious to the country because it destroyed the Importing Interest. The people have, however, abandoned the idea that im­ porters are of more Importance than manufacturers and farmers.--Water* rille (Kan.) Telegraph the 6,000 street railway employes of Joliet have received an advance of 10 per cent In their wages. At Des Moines, Iowa, the Iowa Knit­ ting Company has been incorporated with a $25,000 capital. About 4,000 women work for Uncle Sam, the highest salaried getting 93,000 and the lowest but $240. Tbe Brotherhood of Locomatlye Fire­ men now have 545 local lodges in the United States and Canada. All building trades in Blnghamton, N. Y., have secured agreements for the nine-hour day for the present season. Over 40,000 operatives in the New England .^textile mills will share In the recent advances In wages In th*t sec­ tion. The Midland Railway Company of England has ordered ten more locomo­ tives from th^ Baldwin Works at Phila­ delphia. At Baden, Switzerland, 1,000 metal workers went out on a strike because an employer discharged the secretary of the union. The iron works at Hantgan, China, employ 2,000 men. The plant cost $4,000,000. Only nineteen Europeans are employed. The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers will demand an Increase of 20 Jer cent, when the present scale expires. The Potter Printing Press Company of New York Is said to have perfected an automatic stereotype casting box, which Is expected to do the work of six men. The Speaker of the Pennsylvania Legislature is a member of the Inter­ national Typographical Union. There are nine other trades union men in the Legislature. There are now being ordered or being built in the United States 156 locomo­ tives for foreign railroads. Last year 580 locomotives were exported from the United States, against 348 In 1897. Los Angeles draws its electricity from a turbulent mountain river ninety miles away. The 12,000-horse power runs street cars and machinery, and supplies the city with light and heat. Russia has taken up the Italian idea of using the army as a means of educa­ tion. All conscripts are to be taught reading and writing during their six- years' term Of service, and where neces­ sary or possible will be taught trades as well. A syndicate In Syracuse, N. Y., has offered the labor unions of that city any amount from $10,000 to $100,000 for the purpose of building a home for them­ selves--a labor temple, in which all unions could have headquarters and hold their meetings. The Kansas Legislature passed a bill establishing a binder twine factory In the State penitentiary. The product, it is claimed, will not colne in competition with that of free labor, and will make the binding twine trust come to terms as far as Kansas is concerned. Of twentyrelght cities of over 100,000 population Rochester, N. Y., stands at the head in the number of families owning their own homes, the percent- age being 44 in every 100. Detroit and Milwaukee are next, each with 42. St Paul and Buffalo follow with 40 each and Cleveland 39. Co-operation has taken hold of the Minnesota farmers, and now extends to nearly all their trading operations. There are 140 co-operative Insurance companies, carrying Insurance to the extent of $95,000,000. Co-operative grain-buying and selling is transacted through stores, lumber yards, etc. The Standard Oil Company gives em­ ployment to 25,000 men, or a number equal to the entire army of the United States before the late war. Pipe lines controlled by the Rockefeller concerns and interests amount to over 20,000 miles, and placed end to end w&uld reach almost around the earth. In ad­ dition 200 steamers and 3,500 tank cars are employed In transporting its prod­ ucts. BUILDING OF A WATCH. Marks the Highest State of Develpp- ment in Labor-Savins Machinery. *T If we were asked to state the most important element in our rapidly.'ap­ proaching industrial supremacy, ! We would name without any hesitation la­ bor-saving machinery. If we were asked where labor-saving or automatic machinery was to be found in its very highest state of development we would direct the Inquirer to visit one of th4 great American watch factories, \^h&h are at once the pride of the watch {&• dustry in this country apd tbe despair of all foreign competitors, says a writer In the Scientific American. Time was when all watches were made by hand, and the prejudice agatli&t machine-made watches, based upon the mistaken supposition that they must be necessarily rough in their construc­ tion hnd uncertain In their running, dies a lingering death. The credit fpr the scheme of applying machinery to watch manufacture belongs to this country and Is due to a Boston watchmaker, Aaron L. Dennison, whose earliest work In this direction dates from the year 1848. Mr. Dennl- son's theory was that the substitution of special machines for human skill would insure such uniformity of prod­ uct that similar parts would be prac­ tically interchangeable. Getting Alcohol from Smoke. Chemists, who can make sugar from old shirts, and perfumes as well as col­ ors from coal tar, have other triumphs awaiting them in the twentieth cen­ tury. One of these Is the manufacture of alcohol from the smoke of blast and other coal furnaces. Coal smoke of the kind contains ethylene, from which al­ cohol is readily made by simple means, and it is recognized that ere long the smoke of high furnaces, coke ovens and gas works will be turned to account in this way. If some one will lecture on tbe de­ sirability of people remaining at> home; and attending to their ovrn business, we will go. Human Nature in the Steerajre*. t H. Phelps Whitmarsh Writes of "Tti3 Steerage of To-day" in the Century. Mr! Whitmarsh, who crossed the ocean in the steerage himself, says: To nae the most noticeable thing about the life was the ease with which the yoke of civilization was throwin off. If condi­ tions be favorable, I opine that a large proportion of the steerage passengers throw back to their Darwinian ance»» try about the third day out Away from home, country, and religious in­ fluences, unrestrained by custom and conventionality, bound by no laws of action, and separated from all that force of opinion so strong in the world ' ashore, they let themselves go, and allow their baser natures to run riot. No sooner has the seasickness left the!*. , than they growl and snarl over their food like dogs, scrambling for the choice pieces, and running off to their bunks with them; they grow quarrel­ some; their talk is lewd and in uniting; brute strength is in the ascendant;'and, without shame, both sexes show the animal side of their natures. But most - apparent and obnoxious are the filthy habits into which many of them fall. The sea seems utterly to demoralize them. Some of them will remain for days , in their berths, where, without changing their clothes, they eat, sleep,, and are sick with the utmost impar­ tiality, and without the blessing of soap and water, . Hence the .steerage as a whole, the rt«»rj1ed quarters" (where tbelfe were cht^|)en) in pjtftirtu&r, was ill-smelling and Otherwise objection­ able. * 'V'v Yielded to Nature. I^he great Marteilo towers that for ao piny years have formed fhe most pic­ turesque portion of England's Kentish coast defenses and which never yield­ ed, to the cannon of the enemy ate at last being rent asunder by the bom­ bardment of nature. Sfhey were built to resist the expect­ ed/invasion of Napoleon, and while all are of solid masonry from eight to twelve feet thick, No. 17, which stands at, Hythe, was split by a recent gale from top to bottom, with a gap wide enough for a man to walk through at the bottom, which is the narrowest Mint of the fissure. Tbe Latest In Feat|alne Clubdom. Newest in the rapidly swelling ranks of women's clubdom is the Half Hour Club, which brings the list of women's clubs In New York up to the GOO mark. The object of the club is educational, and the requirements are that half an hour must be spent each day in read­ ing, except on Sundays. A strict ac­ count of each half hour missed must be kept, and a fine of 1 cent for every one shall be paid to the secr^awr at" the end of the year. Mie Central.-Polnfc J---Vy*- Which American city Is nearest to the center of the United States? When the Aleutian Islands were oyr "far­ thest west" San Francisco was about half way between the eastern and the western boundaries. Now that the Philippines are ours--Aguinaldo not­ withstanding--the central point must be somewhere between San Francisco and Honolulu. "Courage and Strength in Times of Danger." Ifead the 'warning between the tines. What is that«warn­ ing*} It is of the danger from accumulation of badness in the blood, caused by the usual heavy living of the Winter months• Spring is the clearing, cleansing time of the year ; the forerunner of the brightness and beauty of glorious Summer. Follow the principle that Nature lays down. Start in at once and .purify your blood with that gr>at specific, Hood's Sarsaparilla. It never disappoints. Tu mors--" A tumor as big as a large marblft came uuaer my tongue and instead^ of letting my, physic tonic, appeared. Lowell, Mass. Rheumatism--"I had rheumatism for five years and can conscientiously say that Hood's Sarsaparilla has given me entire relief. As "S blood purifier it has helped my children wonder­ fully." MRS. S. A. SAOAB, 83 Fmnklln Passaic, N. J. Avenue, Never D/s^pp omts Hood's Pills enre liver ills, the non-Irritating art! the only cathartic to take with Hood's SarsaparllBL PIMPLES CTS and lhajr bttl 'twen troubled with constipation for some time, but after tak­ ing tbe first Caacaret I have bad no trouble with this ailment. We cannot speak too high­ LY of Cftscarets," FBBD WARTMAM, 6709 Ctermaatowa Ave.. Phllartglpl Pa. (•feasant. Palatably. Potent. Taste Oood. p» flood. Never StekM. Weaken, or Gripe. 10& Sbc.%. ... CUM conaTiPATioii. ... Ktritoi «WI» «!•!•». CMs«e», M--«fl. In Vark. !U •o-TQ-BM **sii brksP SLICKER WILL KEEP YOU DRY. Don't be fooled wttfc a a>sckbMo«b or rubber coat If yaw wantac<&t that will keep yoii dry la the hard­ est star* buy the Fish Brand Slicker. If not for sale in your town, write for catalogue to A. J. TOWER. Boston. Mass. a. N. u. No. 17--09 JHWEYEWAI