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The silence la the room could han beea cut wltif a knife when John con­ cluded bis reading and laid the epistle back on the table. Jean stood rigid, gazing with a fixed A LETTER OF REFUSAL. cellingward to r tt f^W' T Tvr*' ; "", > - • * .. - -'I AT I come In?" The curtains from be­ hind which, the musical p\ ftmIce issued shook a little, but no one ^Th^man at the easel painted away :4. „ industriously, putting In a sunset sky p^Vjrith strong, even strokes. "When our forefathers signed the Jf?X Declaration of Independence 120 years * *go »" he began. k*,/ "Please " A face made its appearance at the jMirtlng of the curtains, a face framed s-f'V 1b dark, wavy hair, with big. shining £ ,, . <!yes, made 6oft by long curling lashes, f / and a red, red mouth, just now droop- * Ing pitifully at the corners. ^ ^ . "They made all men free and equal," «t" proceeded the man, never once look- < Ing up, "and since then a lot of ladies f '"With abbreviated hair and petticoats ' 3bave been struggling to make their sex 'jC » also Independent--and with considera- K i»le success. ^ . "Don't be horrid," pleaded the red p M ftiouth, seconded by the shining eyes. "Therefore, I was about to say," he '£[ * Went on, calmly, "I don't see how I I ' can hope to prevent you from coming S- in, If you choose to do so." She stepped inside, but did not ad i, Vance into the room. f "I know you're going to be horrid," f *'jflie said, plaintively. f ' He laid down his brush, and, turning last, surveyed her deliberately as "• the stood, her slender shape outlined against the curtains. They were bur­ lap curtains, which she had painted a dull brick red ("Pompeian red," she Called it), and which she had orna- ; . thented with a Greek border in yellow /• floss and hung in the doorway, herself, t jn spite of his scoffing and ribald pro- r\- They were pretty bad, those curtains, {ilut whatever their limitations from an '/ -fsthetic point of view, they certainly ,.*Qade an effective background for the , «Whrte-robed figure, and his eye lin- y; ^jgered approvingly on the picture a mo- \ : anent before he said, severely: "What have you been doing*:" ?- - "Why. the idea!" she exclaimed, ln- jflignantly drawing her figure up to Its ^ full height and flashing a protesting glance at him from under her long lashes. \ i ¥ "I notice that you generally take It | »• for granted that I'm going to be horrid Lr" Jlrhen you've been particularly horrid ^ 'yourself," he observed blandly. \ She did not reply to this daring re- f ' an ark, but, crossing the room to the tnantel, carefully selected an especial­ ly ugly bulldog pipe from the collection Jt contained. This she filled, with ijffP.:. practiced fingers, from a battered to r . " ttacco jar that stood near, and then, - •ero.-ismg to tne easel, offered It to the v««iaa with a most bewitching little air -<if coaxing humility. f "My dear young woman," he cried, "Waving the offering away sternly, "do $ look like a man who would accept a If? Ijribe? Do my features bear the*im- ! print of vulnerable virtue, that you I' should, thus seek to gain my favorable •« •* Judgment for your nefarious goings-or % v 'toy such a palpable " He said no more, for just then the «tem of the pipe was dexterously in­ serted between his teeth, and, deftly striking a match on the broad sole of liis shoe, conveniently presented to her fjy the careless attitude of its owner, the girl applied it to the tobacco in the jpipa bowl. la spite of himself, he closed his teeth on the stem and drew a long r^rcath, <Uid an IH*i UIQL cluud o£ aro­ matic vapor rose to his nostrils his £jeat ures' relaxed. i "Weil, who is It?'" he asked, as the -girl seated herself on a hassock and fixed her eyes on him appealingly. • "It's--it's--Hinsdale,"' she replied, dolefully. » "Hinsdale. Why I thought we dls- posod of Hinsdale three weeks age, and since then--let me see--there was .Smith and Devereux and bow many others?" "Oh, never mind the others," she cried, petulantly. "It's Hinsdale now. We did dispose of him--or at least, I thought we had--and I'm sure that let­ ter I wrote " "Ah, did you write to him, too?" he asked, puffing a big cloud of smoke " over his sunset and watching the ef­ fect of lt3 vivid hues shining through the clouds of grayish vapor with an ar­ tist's delighted appreciation of color. "Oh, well--the letter you wrote, then," she said. "Though I'm sure you dida't do It all; you only helped me." "Oh, yes," iie answered indolently. " "But Hinsdale--he's broken ou^ again?" _ ajfr*-" -JtYes, \rorse fhan evar^'^and sh<? sighed dismally, "and I want you to smoke smile. "And she doesn't mind my having a studio, if I'll fix one up at home, but she doesn't think it looks well for me to have one in this building and run In and Out of here all the time--and so I've got to move to-morrow.* This time she forgot to dry the tear, and it ran forlornly down her cheek and fell with a splash on a study of the head of John the Baptist that lay on the floor. For a moment there was silence, then lohn suddenly pushed back his easel and pull a writing table toward him. Well, if you can't come to-morrow, I suppose I'll have to help you write your letter to-day," he said, but there was an unnatural sound in his voice and Jean looked up hastily through her tears. John's face was grimly set, however, and told her nothing. - "Let me see--it was Hinsdale, I think you said"--he went on, still with that grating sound in his voice. "Yes," she replied, miserably, again having recourse to the crumpled sash. "And I think we told him, in our last, that w^d be a sister to him," he pro­ ceeded. nibbling the end of his pen. "Something of that i«»jt." And she flushed warmly, clear up to the curly waves of dark hair on her temples. "Evidently the 'sister' racket wont go down with Hinsdale," he said, re­ flectively. "You might offer to be his maiden aunt, you know " "There! I knew you'd be horrid!" she exclaimed, indignantly. "It's a delicate job," he went on, re­ flectively. "Are you quite sure you mean to refuse him this time?" "Of course J am." she burst out in­ dignantly. "You don't suppose I could care for a boy like him, do you?" "He has a nice eye for color," pro- ceeeded John, drawing faces on the margin of the paper--faces that had big, soft eyes and pouting lips, strange­ ly like the girl on the hassock, "and his drawings are wonderfully strong. He's a gifted fellow, is Hinsdale--the best pupil I have." "Yes, he's gifted enough," she as­ sented. "I've often wondered why he fancied you." said John. "Oh, indeed!" she exclaimed, flush­ ing once more. "Yes. He's a dreamer, you know-- an idealist--and it seems to me some angelic creature a little too pure and good for human nature's daily food, and that sort of thing., would be more in his line than a little human bundle of naughtiness like you," went on John, cheerfully. "You'd make a fel­ low like Hinsdale- unutterably misera­ ble, you know." "You're very kind," exclaimed Jean, crimson with vexation. "But I shall not make Mr. Hinsdale miserable. I have not the slightest intention of ever doing so." "Ah," replied John, coolly. "'Then the sooner we write this letter the bet­ ter. Now--what do you want to say to him?" "Oh!" she cried* struggling with her anger. "You are so disagreeable, I hate you--but I've got to have some­ body to help me with that letter." "Of course. And you really want to refuse him--for good and all?" "Certainly I do. I want him to un­ derstand definitely that there is abso­ lutely no hope of my ever caring for him in--in the way he means"--and once more she broke tlcvtu, uiusiimg but defiant. "There's only one way to make a man understand that," said John medi­ tatively. "Anything--so long as he under­ stands and leaves off being--being sil­ ly," she cried impatiently. John made no reply to this, but after a moment's deep thought commenced to write rapidly. Five minutes passed, during which John's pen scratched industriously over the paper and Jean, sat bolt up­ right on her hassock, staring at the picture on the Canvas. It was a rale watery sunset that shed green gleams of light on a wide, lonesome landscape, in the center of which a woman stood alone, gazing with desolate, hopeless eyes at the retreating figure of a man on horseback. It was painted with In­ imitable skill and a strange wild po wer that had made John Steele the most famous of the younger school of paint­ ers. What an artist he was and what a friend he had been to her! And now she must go away and perhaps nover see him 'again, "except in tlie "class with the others. All those hours o" and haughty stare at some point on the wall above John's head, when he turned and confronted her with as lit­ tle embarrassment as he would have shown in facing a new pupil. "Well--what do you think of it?" he asked coolly. "I think," she flashed out, "that you're the most conceited beast I ever saw." "My dear girl," he protested* "I told you that extreme measures were nec­ essary. It's the only way to get rid of htm, and I'm willing to sacrifice myself in a good cause." With great dignity Jean turned to leave the room, but somehow he Was at the doorJ>efore her, with bis arms oat- stretched. ~ * •. "You're not going to leave me, little Jean!" he cried. "I can never get along without you any more, for, oh, I love you--love you--love you!" A second she stood hesitating--then, with a little sigh, she went to him and burst out crying comfortably on his shoulder. 'Jean!" came a voice suddenly from behind the burlap curtain. It sounded like the clinking of ice in a pitcher. 'Aunt Maria!" gasped Jean, in hor­ ror. ' "*S Oh, come In, Miss Chester," said John, drawing aside the Pompeian red draperies. "We were just going to find you and ask you to come to our wed­ ding to-morrow, at 12." * Jean--what does this mean? Why didn't , you tell me this before?" ex­ claimed Aunt Maria, aghast. I thought I ought to consult John before I told you," said naughty Jean. --Chicago Times-Herald. GIRL'S "CITY EXPERIENCE. SHOULD HAVE ASKED. Vexations Way in Which a Name Will Sometimes Slip the Memory. Names of persons will sometimes es­ cape the memory in a most vexatious fashion. One does not like to admit his failure to recollect, and ask a friend pointlHank for his name, and efforts to ascertain it in a roundabout way do not always meet with success. An Englishman who had tried vainly to recollect a friend's name said to him: There is a little dispute as to how you spell your name." "Oh, with two p's," was the reply, which left the question­ er as wise as before. Mr. Yates, a London gentleman, as the story is related in ltichard H. Bar- num's "Reminiscences," met a friend in the street and invited him to dinner, but was unable to recall his name. Reaching home, he told his wife what he had done, and described the gen­ tleman. They had often visited at his home in Bristol. "Oh, yes," said Mrs. Yates, "I remem­ ber him very well, but what Is his name?" Neither husband nor wife could re­ call it. The day of the dinner came, and the servant was instructed to ask the name of every gentleman who came to the dinner, and to announce it dis­ tinctly as he entered the room. As luck would have it, this gentleman came late, was let in by another servant, and hence entered unannounced. Several indirect attempts were made to get the name, but without avail. Good-bys were finally exchanged, and Yates was congratulating himself that all had passed off well, when the nameless one said hastily: "Oh, by the by, my dear Yates, I for­ got to tell you that I bought a French clock to-day at Hawley's, but as it needs a week's regulating, 1 took the liberty of giving your name and order­ ing it sent here, and said that you would forward it. It is paid for," say­ ing which, he entered the hall and was descending the stairs. Yates recovered breatn and hurried after him. Stop!" he said. "To make sure, you had better ^rite the address yourself." "No, no, I can't stop," returned the guest. "I shall be too late. The old house near the cathedral-you know It. Good-by," and he was gone. How the affair terminated is left to the Imagination of the reader. KING a farmer's daughter, the eldest of a large family, and my father In rather close circum­ stances. I concluded to go to the city and engage In something, with the hope of bettering home finances, writes a young woman In the Practical Farmer. I procured a situation with a private family and went to work. But tlie^contrast between mj life there and at home was so great that I remained but three weeks. At home I was a leader among my friends and asso­ ciates; there I was not deemed worthy to associate with the family whose roof sheltered me. At home I gathered with father and mother, sisters and brothers, around the family altar morn­ ing and evening; there I was denied this precious privilege except on Sun­ day mornings when I did not attend church. At home I sat with the family at the breakfast table and discussed with them' the topics of the day; there I took my meals in the kitchen in lone­ liness and Silence, and they almost choked me. I often glanced at the fam­ ily gathered around the tea-table or library lamp of an evening, and it al­ ways filled me with a longing desire for home. My wrork was light and the people were kind to me, but I could not endure that loneliness and lack of com­ panionship. How I did wish they would invite me into the library with them just one evening any way. That room, with its well-filled bokcases, beautiful statuary and rare paintings bad an almost irresistible charm for me; but it was too sacred for my coun­ try-bred feet to tread except with a broom and dust-cloth In my band, and wondered why it was so. I do not know whether my experience would be called a failure, a success, or a mis­ take. but I believe it was all three. I made a failure as a servant girl, but I gained knowledge concerning the hired-girl problem" that I could have gained in no other way. My object In writing this article is to convince other girls, that home is the best place. help me write him another letter--one that will fix it so he'll understand there's no hope--uo possibility--I mear j|v --of my ever being anything more to jp jf him--here She floundered and broke | tJt quite down. ""Can't do it to-day," he said, decid- gj L edly. "I've got to get this picture done to-morrow--order, you know--and it'll be a scratch if I manage to do it. It means painting all night as it is." "Oh, John, you must." she cried, eag­ erly. "I've just got to send it to him this afternoon by a messenger boy or he'll be sure to come up to-night and make a scene or something, be- sldes " "No, it's no go,"' he said, cruelly, taking up his brush. "You'll have to get rid of him somehow and come to- ggijv morrow " . "But, oh, John," she burst out, tears coming to her eyes. "I--I can't coinc to-morrow. Aunt M»ria has issued her commands--the flat has gone forth I'm forbidden to come here any more." "The deuce you are.'" And he laid down his brush and faced quite around in his astonishment. "Yes," she replied, furtively drying a tear on one of the ends of her muslin aash. (Jean never could find her hand­ kerchief, being always without pock- «ts.) "She says it's all well enough for me to take painting lessons of you, though everybody knows I never could lura to paint. Aunt Maria is so ig- jaorant about such things, you know." I ka*w.w Mowing a stag of gierry comradeship were over--never to come again; all tlie sweet work and play togetiter. A great sob came up In Another Letter to Wed a Peer. It Is reported that Miss Daisy Leiter, sister of Lady Curzon, is engaged to the Earl of Suffolk. Miss Leiter is several years younger than her sister, Lady Cur­ zon, and has been voted no less beau­ tiful by Washing­ ton society. When Lord Curzon went out to Bombay as Viceroy of India* Lady Curzon took her sister with her. The younger woman has been as popular as the miss leitkb. Viceroy's wife has been admired. Among those who have paid Miss Leiter devoted court, ac­ cording to the gossip from Bombay, and later from Simla, the summer capi­ tal of the Indian empire, has been the Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire. He is an aid-de-camp on the Viceroy's staff. He is 22 years old, and succeeded to the title only last year. His full name is Henry Molineux Paget Howard. her throat, but just then John threw down his pen and she choked down the sob and rising, reached out her hand for the letter. But he did not give It to her as $he expected. , It is a dlfBculf tfilng to do," he said. "To maUe a man understand that no matter liow much he cares for you, you can never care for him." Yes, I suppose it is," she assented. "But you have done it, I'm sure." "Indeed, I may say there's only one way to convince a fellow of such an unpleasant fact" iie went on. "Iiut you employed it?" she asked, eagerly. "Yes. You inajf think it an extreme measure, though. I'll read it to you." And lie read aloud: "Dear Mr. Hinsdale: I thought I had made it quite plain to you when, several weeks ago, you asked me to be your wife, that such a thing was quite impossible. I certainly tried to have you understand it, and I deeply regret that I did not succeed, because this renewal of your offer can only result in added pain to both of us. Believe irie, I am deeply grateful for your pref­ erence, but you will realize. I am sure, how hopeless it is for you to ask for more than my estet-m when I tell you that I am engaged to be married to Mr. John Steele. Hoping that'you will be­ lieve in the sincerity of my friendship, I am very sincerely yours, "JE4^0CHESXEE> F U N N Y ? The Over-Critical Grammarian Spoils a Comic Story. Under the title of "His Funny Stq- rles" Harper's Bazar makes fun of the too critical person who is always on the watch for small errors of speech. Not content with being grammatical him­ self, he must teach every one else to be so. '"I want to tell you something funny that happened to me this morning," said Spatts, cheerfully. "All right," said Hunker. "Go on." "I started down the street after my lauadry. and-- "You mean you went down after your was hi ng, I suppose," liuuker mterrupt- ed. "I imagine you do not really own a laundry." "Of course that's wha't I mean," said Spatts, a^trifle less cheerily. "Well, \ had went--" • -j •; Hunker interrupted him again. "Per­ haps you mean you 'had gone.' " "Certainly. I had gone but a little ways when I " "I presume you mean a little way, not a little ways," said Hunker. "I presume so," said Spatts. but the cheerfulness had all gone out of his manner. "As I was going to say, I had gone but a little way when it happened. It tickled me so I thought I'd just have to lay down and die." "Lie down and die, not lay down, Is the correct form of the verb." "Oh, yes, I know; but those kind of errors seem to come natural " "Not those kind of errors, my dear boy. Say that kind of errors. But go on with your funny story. I'm getting interested." "Are you? Well, I've lost my interest in it. I don't believe there was any­ thing funnj*. after all. Good day." "Now, I wonder if I offended him?" Hunker thought, as Spatts strode off; To Get Fat or Thin. It Is easy enough to get fat or thin, as one desires. The famous example of Amelia Summerville, who, from being the heaviest woman on the stage, is now the thinnest, is the most conspicuous. Then there is Bernhardt, who, after Eihe learned the art of fat­ tening, became just plump enough. The woman who Is too thin should never forget the cake of chocolate. Drink it in the middle of the morning, and the same in the afternoon. Take milk, chocolate and boiled eggs, well buttered, for lunch. Eat sweets, take a nap after lunch, eat at »ight. Eat cornstarch and drink ice cream soda. In fact, drink as much as you can. Getting thin is harder. It requires rigid dieting. Toast and tea for break­ fast, without sugar in the t£a or but­ ter on the toast. Only one cup of tea. Lunch, stewed prunes, more toast and a chop. Dinner, rare beef, without gravy; vegetables, without corn, and rice pudding or prunes. Drink only at meals and take no naps. Walk, leave pie and sweet drinks alone. Pent to fchool Too Early. There is a class of children who suf­ fer from overworked brains who have nn right tn suffer. We refer to children would seem that a single dip into ob­ livion is that magic, fairy touch which preserve*, us youth and vigor, however taxing may be the routine of our lives. To tills many will say: "But I cannot sleep in the daytime." That, however, is only incidental, for any one can cul­ tivate the habit by trying persistently. It may take a week, two weeks, or even a month, before the first "drop­ ping off" occurs; but it is sure to come; a second will quickly follow, and the habit ultimately becomes established, says the Pittsburg Dispatch. Every one accustomed to napping must have remarked how much more refreshing is a nap of five, ten or twen­ ty minutes than a long daytime sleep of two or three hours. This is because in a short nap the brain and senses are rested without relaxing the muscular and nervous systems. Indeed, there Is no better way of gaining time on a busy day than 'to cut out fifteen to twenty minutes for renewing the ener­ gies. After a morning's effort body and mind both grow tired; the work flags; "things go wrong." Now Is the time for the magic dip, from which you return to your post fresh and In good spirits* ready to carry on things with a vim. Bracket for Curling Irons. „ One of the latest and most valuable introductions as an accessory to the toilet Is the "keep clean" curling-Iron bracket. This clever little arrange* ment will appeal to the woman who BRACKET FOR THE CURLING IRON. uses a curllng-iron, on sight. It con­ sists of two parts--a nickel-plated steel tube, to hold the iron, and an arm pro­ vided with a socket which will fit over any gas burner. It may be allowed to remain on the gas bracket, In no way Interfering with the light. The tube CITBLING I BON IN PLACE. prevents the accumulation of soot on the iron, and also precludes overheat­ ing, two matters of great Importance In the preservation of the hair. An addi­ tional advantage Is that it 1$ not neces­ sary to hold the iron over the fiahne, the construction of the article, as shown in the cut, being sufficient for the purpose. Purses "Out of Sight." The strictly tailor-made girl has dis­ carded the purse. Nothing of the sort is seen in her hand or suspended from a neck chain. For large purchases she uses the credit or G. O. D. system, and tier small change is carried in one of the many pockets with which her tailor gown is always well supplied. What a Woman Can Do. A woman has had charge of the street cleaning in the First Ward of Chicago for eighteen months, and the business men of the district have sent her an address of congratulation on her zeal and efficiency. They say the streets were never before kept in such excellent condition. The Care of the Nails. It is not possible to be too particular In the care of the finger nails. Cleanli­ ness is a mark of refinement, and, too, lack of cleanliness is unsafe, as dis­ ease germs are often carried under the nails when foreign matter is allowed to collect there. Economical. The long lace ties that are so popu­ lar are very neat and airy for summer. The careless, graceful bow-knots at the ends are easily put on, and making the ties one's self considerably reduces the expense. Onida's Writing Desk. Ouida does no^ use a table for writ­ ing her stories. She sits on a low stool, with nn ink pot on the carpet, and writes on her kuee. Kas,' Mi Common sense Is easier than non sense. It is common sense to believe what, you know; it is nonsense to be ,4ieve a lot of unreasonable stuff that other people tell you. under 7 years of age, whose parents understand nothing of the laws of physiology, but feel that no time should be lost togcU i£SL-12. g9_hwl. 5he brighter The child the harder he Is pushed. During the first seven years of life the brain develops yejy fast. ^11 that is done to cfowc! It during this tfme is done to the child's disadvan­ tage. During this period attention should be given to developing a good constitution, remembering that the brain will go forward fast enough after that age. Parents make a mistake if they send their children to school before they are 7 years of age (unless, perhaps, to the kindergarten). There is no doubt about this. All physiologists agree on this point, and there is no sound argument against It.--New York Telegram. To Keep the Hands Soft. One of the best preparations for keep­ ing the hands soft and white is a mix­ ture of glycerine and vinegar, to which a little perfume may be added if desired. After the hands are washed, dry light ly, and while still damp rub on a little of the mixture. This may be used with excellent results by people who can not use the glycerine alone, the vine gar neutralizing the unpleasant effects of the glycerine. , THE GIRL'S WAY. Of Coarse No One Vm Qnite Surprised ai the. He was one of those hesitating young persons who, having eyes, sec not, and, havl&g ears, hear not, and the girl In the case was not that sort. "Do you know," he said to her one -eyeing as they talked, "that I think a great deal of you?" "Yes?" she twittered, with coy In­ terrogation. --* t * "Yes. and the more I bee of you the more I think of you." „ "Yes?" and again the pretty little note of rising inflection. "Yes, and I want to think more of you every day." "How sweet of you," she mar- mured. "Yes, and I have something to say to you, too." , "Indeed?" This in pretty surprise. "Yes, and I would say it if I dared. I_I_I_^» /• "But you don't dare," she Interrupt­ ed. "How do you know l don'tf very bravely. "Because." "Because what?" and he moved one degree closer. "Because you don't say it." "But I Will say it." "When?" "When you want me to." "I want you to now." "Really?" with intensity. "Yes, indeed." "Can't you guess?" "How can I? Tell me, won't you?* "Right now?" nervously. "Of course." "Well, w-w-wlll you marry me?" this Impetuously after the first two words. "Oh, Mr. Brown," she cried, in much sorrow, "what did you ask me for? I had no idea you were going to say that Don't you know I am engaged to Mr. Smith, and have been for a whole week, and we are to be married in Oc­ tober? I am so sorry----" but Mr. Brown, muttering maledictions, had got out.--Washington Star. > Increase of Canoer. Physicians, both in this country and In Europe, are concerned and greatly interested by the increase of mortality from cancer. In the Medical News there was lately published a paper by Dr. Roswell Park of Buffalo, In which he names cancer as the only disease now known to be in the increase. In England and Wales, he says, the death rate from It has increased fourfold since 1840. In 1S87 in the state of New York there were 2,363 deaths from cancer and 11,609 from consumption. In 1898 there were 4,456 deaths from cancer and 12,552 from consumption. A careful study of the rate of this in­ crease of mortality from cancer seems to Dr. Park to warrant the assertion that if for another ten years the rela­ tive death rates are maintained there will be more deaths in New York State In 1909 from cancer than from con­ sumption, typhoid fever and smallpox combined. Naturally the medical pro­ fession has bent its mind to the Inves­ tigation of cancer aud its causes, but not as yet with conclusive results. The investigators now believe that the dis­ ease is undoubtedly parasitic, and therefore infectious, and we are enti­ tled to hope that progress may not be long deferred from that conviction to the discovery of a remedy more effec­ tual than any now in use.--Harper's Bazar. Facts Aboat Tortoise Shell. The finest tortoise shell comes from the Indian archipelago and is shipped from Singapore, and much of it is ob­ tained on the Florida coast. There are three rows of plates on the back, called "blades" by the fishermen. In the central row are five plates and In each of the others four plates, the latter cou- tuiniug the best material. Besides these there are twenty-five small plates around the edges of the shell, known as "feet" or "noses." The biggest tur­ tle does not furuish more than six­ teen pounds of tortoise shell. Former­ ly the under shell was thrown away, being considered worthless, but at present it is very highly valued for its delicacy of coloring. Nowadays a very beautiful Imitation of tortoise shell is made of cow's horns. All over the land our women are try­ ing to make their dresses at home, and in general they succeed wonderfully well. The correct paper patterns which we can buy so cheaply are a great help, but In one point they often bother the home dressmaker--they allow for such very large seams, which are a waste of material and a puzzle as to the line on which to stitch. The utmost care should be used In cutting the lining and outside, so that the thread of the goods runs the same way in each; but the lining must be cut and fitted before the outside, which not only secures a better fit, but enables one to cut the more expensive goods with economy. Some persons think It best to-tot'one side of the waist, then rip apart and cut the other 6ldfe exactly like it;, but others, remembering that no figure is perfect, find it better to fit the .waist all around to the form. To secure a stylish-fitting tight sleeve requires careful basting and fitting. Try on the .lining separately, and when the dress goods is basted on be sure and hold it loosely at the bend of the elbow, which will give shapeliness and Not So Easy to Cheat Him. The Indian Is improvident, but he is keen enough at a bargain. An anec­ dote told of Joseph Rolette, a famous trader of Prairie du Chlen, well Illus­ trates the point. The story is told in "Leading Events in Wisconsin His­ tory." A lady who visited Prairie du Chien In the early days of the territory re­ marked to Mr. Rolette: "Oh, Mr. Rolette, I would; not be en­ gaged in the Indian trade; it seems to me a system of cheating the poor sav­ ages." "Let me tell you, madam," replied he, with great naivete, "it is not. so easy to cheat the Indian¥1ns^'WTBiagtner~^ have tried it these twenty years, and have never succeeded." Cultivate Kapplnsr. The cultivation of the "forty winks" habit Is the cultivation of longevity and of general well-being throughout fc^fort"to'\he"tightestTl^ve." life. There Is no antidote against' _: American nervousuess half so potentl The woman who doesn't own any as the quick renewing, in the midst-of | furs' i&£pared the worry about motha duties, afforded by a short nap. < It [ destroying them. f Waptoi a Wheel. \ boy asHe3 nis fatlier for ft wheel. "Well, my son," said the father, "you Will find one In the front end o^ that wheelbarrow, and there is a TiTg pile of cofll^aghes back^of the house that will have to TiioVed. The handlebars are of while ash. Keep the ball bear­ ings well oiled. The tire is puncture- less, so you won't have to take a pump and repair kit with you. By the time you have removed that pile of ashes I think you will have, got the exercise of a century run. Let's see how quick you can get at it."--Ex­ change. Had Not Outgrown the Habit. At a cafe a group of gentlemen were discussing politics. A young fellow en­ tered and joined In the conversation, .but his argumnet did not please the others, and one of them said to him: "Be quiet! At your age I was an ass myself." "You are wonderfully well preserved, sir," was the immediate and cashing reply. New Fuel Composition. A new fuel composition, which has received the name of "velna," has been invented In Germany. Its principal ingredients are waste products of pe­ troleum, refuse animal fats, and soda lye. it is proposed to make up the ma­ terial Into briquettes, and the fuel Is said to possess gas-making and calorie qualities of a high order. Good Kpadi and State Aid. The losses from bad roads in the Uni­ ted States are enormous. The U. $» office of road inquiry explains that our average load of crops weighs practical­ ly a ton, while in Europe it Is upward! of four tons, and often six tons. Joha M. Stahl, editor of the Farmer's Catf, estimates that the annual cost of wa#* on transportation of the country fat $900,000,000, of which $500,000,00© might be saved. General Roy Stone, chief of the road Inquiry office, has verified this by careful computations, and reports that the total haulage oa the public roads each year Is 313,34%A 227 tons, costing $946,414,G65.54, which constitutes over one-third of the totf| value of farm products. He states that nearly two-thirds of this cost Is due to bad roads. ' The average farmer resents any in­ terference with his rOad-building meth- ods, which he considers peculiarly hip. own affair. No reform, therefore, ca#k be forced upon him, and any successful; plan of road improvement must leaVS it optional with him to avail himself of Its provisions. The initiative must be left in his hands. The State-aid system seems to have solved the problem to the farmers' satisfaction. This system has been adopted in several States, but Is most successfully in operation in New Jersey, where It was Introduced through the combined efforts of the League of American Wheelmen and the leaders among the farmers. This sys­ tem divides the cost of road Improve­ ment between the State, the county and the abutting property-owners. Im­ provements are made only upon a peti­ tion from the latter. The feature of the State-aid system which appeals most strongly to farmers Is the fact that city taxpayers, large property- holders and wealthy corporations are made to contribute to. the cost of im­ proved country roads, through the tax­ es and license fees now paid into the State treasury. The Farmers' National Congress, the most powerful agricui4 tural body in the United States, passed resolutions, last December, strongly In­ dorsing State aid as the solution of the good roads problem, and commending the efforts of the League of American Wheelmen to bring about its general introduction. The National Road Par­ liament, consisting almost entirely of farmers, passed similar resolutions at last annual meeting.--Otto Dorner, In Forum. New Material for Roads. The latest of the wonderful inven­ tions of the day is a method of convert­ ing the tough wiry grass that abounds In the extensive marshes along the sea coast, in many sections, into a first- class road building material. The In­ ventor, a New Jersey man, claims that this grass is, by his process, one of the best as well as cheapest materials for making wagon roads ever used. The road will be smooth and easy to the feet of the horses, and the wheels of vehicles, and at the same time noiseless and durable. The manner of using the grass is by first saturating It with a mixture of tar, resin and oil, and then pressing it into small compact blocks by hydraulic pressure. These blocks are to be laid in the roadway like brick or stone, upon planks or compact earth. Already some pavement of these grass blocks has been laid In Norfolk and Richmond which, it-is stated, has given cood sntlsfncHon--Tndlntid FflrfT?"". Harrow Tires Ruin Hirbway^, A Toronto man wants his govern­ ment "to enact a law compelling all vehicles carrying a dead weight of 600 pounds or over on the public highway, to have a tire not less than five inches wide. It is the narrow tire that is de­ stroying our roads. As soon as the rains soften them the narrow tire cuts like a knife. I do not believe that there is, or ever will be, a country road con­ structed thjrt will stand the narrow tire. A five-inch tire, however, will, press and make the Surface still more solid, especially whtn the road is soft- ?ned by rain, instead of cutting as a narrow tire does." WEAK MINDS IN CHILDREN. Hens of Defective Mind and Its Pre­ vention Stated by London Doctor. In the London Times of a recent date is a report of a lecture by Dr. Henry Rayner, delivered before the Childhood Society of England, held in London, in which he treats of the early recognition and treatment of mental condition in childhood. This pretty full report may be condensed Into a Tew sentences." Dr. Rayner euumer- ated the many causes and signs of men- tal disorder in cUIldreu, and asserted Ui7it tTi'e value of care in preventing a defoctite mind could not be too strong; ; ly insisted upon. Xn'oTig the poo?, said, a defective mental conditioij was intensified very frequently by defeo^ tive nutriment Later on children suf­ fered from having meat and other arti­ cles of food which they had not the | power to masticate. Children who were supposed fo Ve suffering from imbecil­ ity were frequently curedby proper diet. Among the well-to-do classes dangers arose from overfeeding or feeding of too stimulating a character. Special attention should always be paid to the teeth, and if they become decayed the# should be disinfected or removed. The air breathed and the modfe of breathing s was scarcely less important than the proper mastication of food. Nasal breathing was of the utmost import­ ance for the health and development of infants. Adenoids were often thto cause of defective mental condition^" and their removal was invariably ao m companied by a great development of? mental and physical vigor. Among the poor neglect of children was of tea < very great, and he was of opinion it- would be most advantageous If there were centers where young imbecile children could be received for a week tir two and attended by efficieUt.nurses, who could demonstarate to mothers how much good could be dotte^ their children by proper care. " When the fox slumbers h» fnnmyv ates poultry in his dreams. ' /&?,• •i: *.W '.K:'- '. V>