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*• » H'»fV :/" -* '** !|iC^ >|§*^"-\ *W\ } "',J;J3"":'"" ." 1 ? - ; •". ;::: ;:Jy :•' ' v- -M'.: •-;•/: - •'" ; *• «• J * 'J ' if1*.' ilr - Winter Windows Abloom. Among the most easily grown and Satisfactory house plants for winter •re winter-blooming bulbs. They are especially suitable for city flats, where • window garden thrives with most flfflculty. Hyacinths are the best, be­ cause they demand only a very sim­ ple culture. A four-inch pot serves tor one large bulb, a five-Inch pot for two and a six-inch pot for three. Ro­ man hyacinths are extremely popu­ lar, low in price and easily brought to flower on Christmas, if potted in October. A succession, planted from that time on, produces a succession Of flowers throughout the winter. Three or four"' bulbs may be planted In a six-inch pot, or a dozen or more In a bulb pan or basket, j^ny good garden soil, mixed, with one-fourth of coarse sand, will grow any, sort of hyacinths. Use no manure, as it rots the bulb. Put an inch of broken char­ coal, pottery or pebbles in the bottom St the pot for drainage. ^ 5 Fashionable Pillow. The fashionable pillow this year Is half a yard square. This, when It re­ ceives its border, Is quite a fair size, or It can be made a little smaller, for the highly decorative cushion is used for the easy chair and for the small sofa. For the couch there is the flat, square pillow which is very large and exceedingly decorative. This offers a fine field for handsome embroidery, and you see these pillows appliqued with lace birds and trimmed with Jew­ eled trimmings. The middle is left plain out of regard for the sleeper's head. t Coat costume of white cloth. The «o*t shows much openwork embroid­ ery through which the green silk lin­ ing shows. The Long, Fitted Coats. „ ** While long, fitted coats suit fine fig­ ures better, their skirt portions make them cumbersome to wear, especially when walking, and the additional weight and warmth are by no means always desirable. The warmth of the long coat in cold weather may be off­ set when the Eton model is selected by wearing an extra or heavier pet­ ticoat Many of the new Etons for even cold weather have sleeves of little more than elbow length, but these will not be worn for walking when the snow flies, unless heavy furs, in­ cluding a large muff, are worn and carried to protect the lower arms. The tailored half-length, three-quar­ ter-fitting coats, with skirts to match, made in the severest possible fash­ ion with plain coat sleeves, are in evi­ dence on fashionable women for trav­ eling and shopping, and numbers of them a;re still seen in the smart reft* taurants at the luncheon hour. pine of sweet cider and add to it half a box of gelatin soaked, in one-l^alf cup of cold watef for half an hour; stir until the gelatin Is dissolved in the hot liquid; set in a pan of ice water and stir slowly until it begins to congeal, then fill the cups, and set on ice until firm; dip into hot water a second, slip out on to a chilled dish, surround the top with marshmallow cream made by melting marshmal- lows witii > little water.--'The Pil- grin*. nSidences White fox will be a favorite fur. Barrings of delicate pink coj$| are worn. . V ; The oddest and quaintest of old buckles are used on Tiats. Narrow belts of black patent leather with gilt monogram clasps are gopd. White feathers on a black hat will be found becoming to most faces. Dainty cravats and embroidered col­ lars are worn with the tailored gown. Little felt sailor hats, the back brim turned high witSh huge choux of velvet are jaunty. ' A beautiful muff and boa is of os» tricft and marabou combined in that dark smoke gray known as taupe. White felt hats faced with black velvet are modish, while the all black hat of velvet will be the thing for evening wear. A clear stone gray is a very fashion­ able color for coat and skirt frocks, which are nicely topped off with a hat of darker gray. Elaborate Tailored Gowns. The most elaborate tailored gowns are difficult to describe. The cloth is manipulated in a surprising fashion with every kind of variation to the empire long coat, fancy Eton, reding- ote and short jacket. Gray is the pre­ dominating color, but claret, purple, green, blue and off shades of plum and other unusual colors are seen. Very many of these gowns are made wtih sweeping skirts. Not trains, of course, but decidedly long skirts. In fact, all gowns not strictly for walk­ ing purposes, are made with skirts that touch the ground. The bell- shaped skirt Is the most fashionable, although plaits have by no means gone out. Broadcloth and the soft, pli­ able materials, such as cashmere, vel­ vets, voile, etc., are mostly used. Feathers and Fur. Burnt orange silk beaver hats trimmed in dark brown velvet and dark brown plumes have been sent by a famous French milliner and are ex­ ceedingly chic. The dark brown must be of the rich, deep, yet colorful tone that harmonizes so well with the or­ ange shades and only little of the bright color is left in view after the brim is bound in brown velvet; brown velvet is folded high around the crown and a brown plume is on the side, fall­ ing both over and under the upturned brim. mvm . Stains on knives will disappear if rubbed with a piece of raw potato dipped in brick dust Put a drop or two of glycerin -or sweet oil in the crevice about the tight stopper. In an hour or two the stopper will be looser. A white straw hat, when soiled, may be cleaned by a scrubbing with sul­ phur and lemon juice; after scrubbing rinse in pure cold water and hang up to dry in a shady, breezy corner. To clean cork carpet wash all over twice a week with skimmed milk or polish with beeswax and turpentine, as you would a stained floor. The latter method darkens the cork and giyes it a rich appearance. If a dainty bit of neckwear or a light blouse has acquired an unsightly spot rub both sides of the cloth well with a cake of magnesia and lay away for a day or two. When the magnesia has been carefully dusted off the spot will in most instances have disappeared. In Blue Broadcloth. Richness and gorgeousness to ft de­ gree that would be barbaric were the results not so harmonious in color and so beautiful in line are characteristic of a great number,, of the new trim­ mings and gold, silver and other met­ allic effects enter Into many, but em­ broidery is the feature that runs riot everywhere. But no matter what oth­ er trimmings are used they are fairly sure to be re-enforced by touches of velvet. A stunning suit of blue "broad­ cloth has a wide circular skirt with tiny tucks over the hips and two deep tucks around the bottom. The bodice closes under the arm and has a bib front of gold-embroidered white silk, outlined by a narrow band of blue velvet. The elbow sleeves are one large puff with three tucks over top and finished with a turned cuff of vel­ vet and a frill of cream lace. The buttons on designed piece in front are cut steel. Princess robe of Alice blue chiffon broadcloth with cape top of panne velvet. Folds of velvet piped at the top with darker blue soutache braid trim the tunics. Old silver cabuchons appear on the top. Blue beaver hat lighter blue bird of paradise plume. English Crumpets. J ' One quart of warm milk, 1- yeast cake, 1 teaspoon salt, flour enough to make a stiff batter. When light, add >£ cup of melted butter, 1 teaspoon soda mixed in a very little more flour. Let it stand 20 minutes until light Grease some muffin rings, place them on a hot griddle and fill them half full of the batter. When done on one bide turn and bake the other side. Butter them while hot, pile on one another and serve Immediately. Unique Little Cape. Unique little capes for wear on semi-warm evenings, are quite the voglie. Either cloth or silk is used in their making, and usually in some light shade. One is made of satin cloth with collar of velvet in same chade, trimmed with two gold but­ tons. An Invisible closing is made with hooks and eyee. r .. Use of Embroideries. • The frailest chiffons and gauqps are Selected for some of the most elabor­ ate bullion embroideries. One gown in mauve chiffon is intricately worked in Oliver. The combination Is lovely, j but th6 gown is so noticeable that it • could only be worn a few times. The ' majority of women do not as a rule care to be distinguished as the wo­ man with "one gown," even if that gown be a beautiful and becoming one. They prefer to exhibit some variety in their costuming and convince the world and their neighbors that their outfit is sufficiently well supplied to permit of frequent changes. A touch; ©f bullion embroidery here and there on a gown, a delicate outlining of silver or gold gleaming from the filmy chif­ fons, is attractive and artistic, and this anyone may compass without much par ticular effort "Gold and silver have I none" may be modified a bit and a lit tie of the precious metals fljgftJayed to "jffcvantage. Steel-Blue Sleltlenne. 4 One of the new steel-blue slcQi jSanes with a tracery pattern all over It in silver makes a modish and ai' the same time strictly practical style ,of tailor-made. The little coat is deep* ly plaited at the shoulder seams and the fullness tucked into a deep and closely fitted girdle of black satin. The fronts are open to display the blouse beneath, two tab-shaped re- vers and the little cravat being in White. The sleeve Is full of leg-of-mut­ ton design, full at the shoulder and Close below the elbow. The skirt is dose at the top and groups of plaltf are inserted into slashings at inter*' •als below the curve of the hip. The plaits are not stitched down but pressed flat to the hem. WHERE THE DRUMMER FAILED. Should Have Continued the Chase Be­ yond the Grave. was with one house and traveling iver the same route for seventeen fears," said the New York drummer. "On my very first trip over the,,route I called on a merchant in a Pennsylva­ nia town, or, at least, tried to. He refused to see me, but as I am a per­ sistent cuss I put it down on my boob that I was to call on every trip until 1 got sight of him. I got to his town four times a year, and four times a year I made inquiry for him. Some­ times I was told he was out, or in the east, or ill und in bed, and though I knew better I went away smiling. Pour times a year^for fourteen years I dropped into the store and asked the usual question and was one day in­ formed that the merchant was dead. I had hung to him for a long time, but he had beaten me at last" "And did things stop there?" W*8 asked. 'Yes. You can't pursue a man be­ yond the grave, can you?" 'Of course not, but I'm disappointed In you. If you were a drummer worth the powder to blow you up you would have married his widow and stepped Into a good thing. Say, you New York fellers are hustlers in some things, but when it comes right ^Own to a real old bonanza you ain't fix it. Pursued a man for fourteen long years and then didn't marry his widow! Um! Some queer people come out of that town an the Hudson."--Philadelphia Press. Bound to Beat. At the junction of two highways in a certain county in Iowa I found the directions on the guideboard all faded out, and, noticing a farmer at work In his field, I hitched the horse and went OYer to him and asked: "Will you kindly tell me how far It Is to Painsvllle?" 'Have you asked anyone else?" queried the farmer, as he leaned on his hoe. 'Yes, I asked a man back here about a mile." 'Was his name Bill Scorel?* 'Yes, I think it was." 'What'd he say?" v * 'I understood him to say that it was nine miles." "Well, then, it's 'leven." I took his word for it and went on, but found the distance only seven miles. Returning that way next day, I encountered the farmer mowing weeds along the highway and said: 'Why did you tell me yesterday that It was eleven miles to Painsville? You must have known that it was only •even." 'Bill Scovel told you nine, didn't her "Yes." "Wall, BUI Scovel thinks he's the biggest liar around here, and I told you 'leven to show him that he'd got a hard man to beat when he set out to git the best of Jim Watson."--Balti­ more American. Not Interested. '"Well, is there anything doing in politics down your way?" he asked of the old farmer in the seat beside him. "No, nothing very much," was the reply. 'What do you think of the next state election?" I don't think." 'Have any idea who will be the next President?" 'Noap." 'Will the member of congress from your district run again?" 'Can't say." 'Then you don't take much Interest In politics?" Not a bit. All I know Is that my son Sam was elected to the legislature last year and come home from the session with $800 in cash in his pocket and wouldn't lend me $5 without a note and a good indorser. I haven't even asked him whether he sold out the gas com­ pany or the butter and milk trust."-- Baltimore American. NEWS NOTES FROM THE ORIENT. Yielding All. "Our wlHs are ours to make theni thine.* H ' Jellied Baked Apples. p, - Core tart apples, fill the cavities 3^ With chopped dates and grated maple. If^JI N sugar, and bake, basting with water pr-- In which scraped maple-sugar has 'c.l'j'l,.. ; been dissolved, or thinned maple r"'i& tv .Syrup-will.do. Cool; then scrape alt V" ^ V Jellied Juice and pack into the j ' • we centers. Place an apple in a cup tad fill up with this Jelly. Seat one Sv< EMPIRE COAT. / Laid on Thine altar, O my Lord divine, Accept this gift to-day, for Jesus' sake. I have no jewels to adorn Thy shrine, Nor any world-famed sacrifice to make; But here I bring within mi trembling hand This will of mine--a thing that seemeth small-- And Thou alone, O Lord, canst under­ stand, How when I yield Thee this, I yield mine all. Bidden therein Thy searching game can see Struggles of passion, visions of delight; All that I have or am or fain would be, Deep loves, fond hopes and longings infinite. It hath been wet with tears and dimmed with sighs, Clenched in my grasp till beauty hath it none. Now from Thy footstool where it van­ quished lies, The prayer ascendeth--may Thy will be done. v Take it, O Father, ere my courage fall. And merge it so in Thine own win, that e'en If In some desperate hour my cries pre­ vail, And thou give back my gift, It may have been So changed, so purified, so fair have grown. So one with Thee, so filled with peace divine, jf I may not know or feel It ad/ mine own, Bui gaining back my will Jmay find it Thine. (I Japanese Fans Offensive to Mohamme- ' dans--Tale of Cruelty. In the Japan Mail is a curious little tele of the fate of a consignment of Japanese fans imported into Bombay. The Mail says: "A number of the fans were found to be decorated with; pictures of the holy places of Medina, Mecca and Bagdad. So soon as this had been ascertained the Mohamme­ dans of Bombay took feteps to buy up all the fans, regarding them as sacri* legious. Having thus averted the dan-t. ger of their falling into the hands of- followers of other religions, they ad­ dressed to the local authorities a doc­ ument bearing 300 signatures, in which they begged that steps might be taken to prevent any further im­ portation of such fans. The matter was brought to the notice of the Jap­ anese consul and he has asked the foreign office in Tokyo to warn the fan merchants against sending to India goods which must tend to Injure Jap­ anese trade." Says the Pekln Times: "A rumor is current in Seoul to the effect that some days ago several Korean chil­ dren and a whole family of Koreans were deliberately shot by order of the Japanese military authorities at a cer­ tain point, some distance north, near che Seoul-Wlju railway. No reliable details are at hand as we go to press, but it is believed that the chil­ dren were amusing themselves by playing on the railway track and prob­ ably placing stones on the rails." DI8AGREE OVER AGE OF SUN. Millions of Years' Difference In Scien­ tists' Calculations. The age of the fun has been for many years a matter of controversy between geologists and physicists. The Investigators of tidal friction claim that 500 or 1,000 million years have elapsed since the birth of the moon; and other scientists, arguing from purely geological reasons, claim the age of the sun to be between fifty and 1,000 million years. On the other hand it is asserted by physicists that, at the rate at which the sun is emitting en­ ergy, it can not have been active for more than twenty million years. A solution of this discrepancy has been recently suggested by Prof. O. H. Darwin, president of the Association for the Advancement of Science, in his presidential address at the recent meeting of that body In Johannesburg, South Africa. He claims that the dis­ covery of radium explains the differ­ ence in these estimates, because it has been shown that concentration of mat­ ter is not the only source from which the sun may draw its heat , There is every possibility that ra­ dium exists In the sun, and its energy will be more readily appreciated when it is considered that, while it requires from 5,000 to 6,000 tons of coal to prof pel a 12,000-ton ship 6,000 miles at thef rate of fifteen miles an hour, the same amount of energy is contained in twen­ ty-two ounces of radium. % .At*. ,/* Men of Brilliancy 8eem Scarce. German professors are supposed to be as plentiful as strawberries in June, but the University of Vienna seems to be unable to find men worthy of occupying some of its chairs, especially in the medical facul­ ty. The late Prof. Nothnagel's place has been offered to Prof. Kraus ,who, however, prefers to remain in Berlin, und no medical instructor now In Aus­ tria seems to be considered big enough for the place. The chair of hygiene was vacated two years ago |>y the departure of Prof. Gruber to Munich. It has not been possible to jsecure as his successor one of the only four men considered sufficiently eminent--Gruber, Rubner, Flugge and flueppe--wherefore the professorship will probably be offered to a younger jman who has yet to make his reputation. V. , ' Senator Clark's Mansion. ; The wonderful mansion built by Senator Clark of Montana, In Fifth lavenue. New York, is nearing comple­ tion. The total cost will be about $5,000,000. , It is not so large as one •or two others in the neighborhood but u» by far the moat jnoft.JvotjKwr of thef£ , / Kaiser and King at Outs. King Edward and his nephew, Em­ peror William of Germany, are at outs according to German newspapers, which speak of the alleged quarrel with the utmost frankness. Though their difference is in a large measure of a political character and is due to the acts of the German emperor, a good share of the responsibility must be ascribed to those who have sys­ tematically devoted themselves to carrying tales from one court to an* other. Hostile observations regarding Great Britain and the British navy on the part of the German emperor were reported to London, where they are said to have been dismissed by King Edward with the phrase, "Let him play with his navy"--a phrase which was promptly transmitted by eager courtiers to Berlin, where it produced a prolonged fit of ill temper. Smiles and Tears. The Joker, he who writes the thins* That make the reader smile, And *n his way perhaps has made The* world forget awhile, Was talking to the other man, Th«i one who seldom cheers, Whose pathos rends his readers' hearti Or fills their eyes with tears. No doubt," he said, "I do not touch Th<? deeper chords that lay Clos« to the heart, and what I Write Will live but for the day; Tet in the aftertime I'll work In Paradise, you know. While you won't have a thing to do Unless you go below." The other man resented this With arguments of force; The joker smiled his sad, sweet smlle^ And said:' "Of course, of course, £ You argue well, but, just the same, * This fact you can't efface-- There are no tears In Paradise; They're in the other pla/oe." , ^ --William J. Lampton In New York Times. His Fallibility. Frederick (five years pld)--Daddy. is that way west? Father--No, son; that ifc north. Frederick--But it seems to me as if It was west. Father--You're mixed on the points of compass, that's alL People often get mixed that way. Frederick--Do you ever get mixed on the points of compass, Daddy? Father--Oh, "yes, my son; often. Frederick (after a moment's consid­ eration)--Perhaps you're mixed now, Daddy. I think that way is west. Preparing 'for Trouble. "What are you doing, Maria "My engagement ring fits so tightly, mother, that I have to put my teeth around It to pull It off." "But why do you gnaw It so?" "I'm putting my private mark ot* It, mother, so that I'll know it again if John and I ever quarrel and he gives it to some other girl."--rCleveland Plain Dealer. Shprtcomings Freely Admitted* Some frank person recently insert ed this advertisement in the London Times: "A hopelessly incompetent fool, with no qualifications, social or intellectual, totally devoid of knowl­ edge on any conceivable „ subject, thoroughly indolent and untrustworthy Is desirous of obtaining a remunerat lve post in any capacity." Photo of the Kaiser. Emperor William was recently pho­ tographed again. His latest posing was for a set of official portraits ot himself in full regimentals, and some­ thing like two dozen different atti lodes were assumed. • "T ABOUT THE BEGINNER - ' t ) v v v t i m EARL N. F«ATT Re came into the woods with a bag of potatoes and garden seeds on his back, an axe in one hand, a gun in the otner, determination in his mus­ cles, and good judgment in his head. Cutting down trees in a way to have them fall across one another ior burn­ ing, some land was cleared and vege­ tables started. Fish were oaught and game was shot, and a home was started. The skins of wild animals were traded for meal and salt, and step by step the beginner accumulated tools, grains, clothing and buildings. Some claim that the motion of ths> human hand is the source of wealth, but it is only a changer of one form of wealth into another form. You can see how a poor man could walk into a financially panic-strlckea city, where thousands of workers were idle, and by a willingness to do whatever his hands found to do with all his might, and by a resourceful­ ness to think of the benefit of every one, he could create a place for him­ self and enjoy success while many others might be buried in failure on account of Ignorance and inactivity. WRITING. TEACH ART OF PLAY bw Ides Meant to Elevate the Amer- / lean Drama. • school for play writing is found nong the varied lines of training In ^modern development. The object of the school is to advance American gen­ ius, to make the American drama rank with the best No one can write a play without a knowledge of ,the art. Play writing is a human art as much as painting or music. The dram­ atic art has progressed from crude be­ ginnings. Genius is not enough; it must be trained and adapted to the age. Natural endowment generally de­ cides the line of work chosen, but the art Is In the skilled or trained en­ deavor. No art should blush at being schooled. Even Shakespeare'B dramas could not all live on the stage. With a progressive training in play writing with an acquired proficiency in the art, the standard of the American drama would be advanced and bettered in ev­ ery way. The character of the age de­ cides the style of the drama. Prob­ ably fewer words are used now than formerly. The old-fashioned soliloquy is becoming obsolete in the American play. Then, too, there is not so much stress placed upon climax, unless, per­ haps, in melodrama. The principal consideration of the modern drama is not in the theme or plot so much as In the technique--in the modern ad­ vanced art. The school hopes to at­ tract the best talent to the task of play writing. J All But the 98 Accounted For. 1 scion (scamp, more property speaking) of a wealthy Brookllne (Mass.) family married against his family's wishes, and was obliged, on a meagre income, to support his wife apart from his family home. As his salary only netted him $15.98 a week, it was his habit to pass over $15 to bis frugal wife, wlthhholdlng 98 cents for his personal expenses. One time, however, on returning home very late at night, he failed to give her the usual allowance. She therefore demanded an accounting. "Well," said the husband, "I spent $10 playing pokfer with the boys. Then 1 spent $5 more at the club, paying for the drinks." "But," said the wife, "where is the 98 cents." ( "Oh," he respondeat, *1 mast tare spent that foolishly." Too Open a Compliment. A group of traffic managers and au­ ditors at the convention of street rail­ way men in Philadelphia were tilling stories of street railroading. Irwin Fuller of Detroit said: "A pretty Irish girl, fresh from the ould country, sat In a trolley car look­ ing at the strange American country with modest interest. "She had soft gray eyes, a face like roses and lilies, beautiful hair and white teeth. V " 'Your fare, miss,' said the con­ ductor, pausing before her. "She blushed and bit her lip. "'YOMT fare, miss,' he repeated - " 'Sure,' said the girl, 'an' what tt 1 be? Ye must not be repeatlri' it like that before folks.'" : W a e L o o k i n g f o r t h e B u t t o n s * ^The late Rev. Lucius R. Page, his­ torian, formerly city clerk of Cam­ bridge, Mass., and pastor of the First Universalist Society, used to relate this story, of Samuel Saunders, a well known contractor and builder Of Cam­ bridge, and one of Dr. Page's parish­ ioners: Mr. Saunders was shingling the house of the Rev. Thomas Whltte- more, a neighbor,of Mr. Page, and fell from the roof. Both Mr. Page and Mr. Wlhittemore ran to his assistance, and found him groping about on the ground. When asked if he was hurt, he replied: "No, I was looking for the buttons that were rlpjp^d..^.^ a est when I came down." > • . Lincoln's Story About Long. ' " Of ex-Gov. Long of Massachusetts, always famous for his quick wit, the late Hosea Hobart Lincoln, a native of Hlngham, and for nearly half a century head master of the Lyman school in East Boston, was fond of telling the following: "Walking one day with Mr. Long, and passing a frame building of rath­ er rapid construction, I said: "Why, Just look at that house. It was only the other day the foundations were laid and the lights are in already!' "'That's all right,' replied the ex- governor, 'the liver will be in next weefc»"* v. University to Sell Land. > It is expected that the I00,00»*«"e tracts belonging to the Stanford es­ tate, which form part of the university endowment, will be cut up into small farms and sold. The property Is as­ sessed at nearly $1,000,000. Honor for Roosevelt. Nlnove, in Belgium, and Chrlsttanla, In Norway, have established Roose­ velt streets. Geneva and Paris pro- •fese to do tits same. TRIP ABROAD WA8 CUT SHORT. Would-Be Traveler a Victim of Strong . English Beer. "See your own country first»* ;rjM claim," said the man-with the blue nose, as he waited for his glass to be refilled. "Why, there's many a man will talk to you like a preacher of Rome and Paris and Luxor when he ain't never seen so much 'as the falls at Merna nor the Lodi monument "I never had but one experience of abroad," he went on. "And I dont want no more. Once was enough for me. "I bought a return trip ticket to Liverpool and I sailed away. It was in '94. I reached Liverpool at night and started out to see the sights. But alongside of the docks there was s saloon and t went In there to get s lew beers before my sightseein* should begin. "English beer ain't like ourn. ftfs terrible stuff. It's like whisky. "And that English beer done for me. I was laid out cold, speechless. For two days I didn't know nothin'. Mean­ while, findin' on me this here return trip ticket and the boat startin' back the follerin' afternoon, they put me aboard her, and when I come to my­ self I lay In my same old berth, my bead spllttln', bound for home. "What fools them English cops must be. Gee, I was mad and disap­ pointed. If I could ha'. got ho|d of the man what put me back on thst American-bound boat I'd " But just then a fresh glass arrived. Ungracious 8peech. "That speech," said Bird S. Coler, "was ungracious. It reminds me of a Scot's speech to his wife. "The Scot had married for the se» ond time. His new-mate was senti­ mental and a little morbid. She could not resist asking her husband now and then if he loved her better than he had loved her predecessor. "She would say: " 'Do I more than fill Jean's place In your heart, Jock?' "'Are ye sure ye're no' regretting Jean, laddie?' " 'Jock, do ye love me better nor her?'" "The man bore several of these ex­ aminations patiently. Then he ended them once for all with a gruff: " 'Tak' ma word for it, Betty, if Jean was livin* ya wadna be here.' "--New York Tribune. "Tip-Top" Wood, as Ordered. The following story Is told of Albert French of Dexter, Me., who was a pop­ ular citizen of that town: Being out of fuel, he asked one of his neighbors to bring him a load of "tip-top" wood. The neighbor, accord­ ing to agreement, drove his big ox team up to French's door with a load of wood. French surveyed the load, and then said: "I thought I told you to bring * me a load of tip-top wood. Now I * call this small and inferior wood." "Well," replied the neighbor, "I cut It from the very top of the trees, and supposed that was the kind you w^t*,,, ed--'tip-top' wood." _ 5 French had nothing more to say. Difficulties of a Dancer. While summering at Sandwich last year I attended one of the dances given in the town hall, says a writer in the Boston Herald. During the , evening one of the natives of the town, who is afflicted with the habit of stuttering, asked me for a dance£s Nothing was said by either of us for a long time, but finally my part­ ner broke the monotony by saying, | "My!" and then stopped short Half S way around the hall he again broke | the silence with the same calculation, r "My!" It was not until we had gone entirely around the hall that he fin­ ished his speech by saying, "M-m-my sh-shoe Mace is untied," and he stop- ped to tie it ± t A. , •---- 1 " i Wt- ' * . Spurned* ' He extended both hands In paoelon- ate appeal. "No, Harold," said the fair, proud girl. "I can never be yours." "Never?" he cried, in anguished t<mes. • * "Never," she answered oolgly. His mood changed. "Oh, very well," he sneeres^ "There are others." ^ "Yes, Harold, I know there are," . she said. "And I accepted one of $ them this afternoon." With a muffled oath he turned uposi ; his heel. Telephone Improvement. Although not yet perfected, fhe Mar Jorama telephone bids fair vastly to extend the field ot usefulness of the long-distance telephone by rendering audible vibrations too taint to actnate the disk of the ordinary receiver or even the microphone instruments. ^ . Pension for Educator. George K. Linsley, for fifty-aetea years principal of the same school in > Jersey City, has been retired on a pesr slo*oftl.»)fc