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S U P P L E M E N T •maaondatlons for the Increase of the navy, suggested'by the Set-rotary. Army and Navy lViinionn. The 00th of Juno, 1S!»0, the pension roll Of •be United States numbered {MM,Ml). Those lachide the pensioners of the army and navy in al l our wars. The number added to th* rolls during the year was 40.W1. The •umber droppnl was 4;?,18fi . ami the number «l claims disallowed was leT. ' .Ml*. The •noiuri disbursed for army and navy pen­ s i o n s d u r i n g t h e y e a r w a s S 1 O . V . ; . which was $l, t i . r>l,461.(11 less t l iau the «um of appropriat ions. Preliminary Work of Census. In aeeonlanee'wlth the act of Congress ap­ proved March ISK'. t . the preliminary work in connection with the twelfth census is now fully under way. The oit ieers required for the proper administrat ion of the duties im­ posed i iuve been selected. The provision for securing a proper enumeration of the popu­ lat ion. as well as to secure evidence of the Industrial growth ol the natiou. Is broader nnd more comprehensive than any similar legislat ion In the past . Uuder the authority of thft act of Cougress •pproved July 7. 18!>N. the commission, con­ sist ing of the Secretary of the Terasiiry. f i le Attorney General and the Secretary of (in­ terior, has mode .M I agreement of set t lement, which has had my approval, of the indebt­ edness to the government growing out ot the ispue of bonds to aid in the eotistrpetiop of the Central Pacific and Western Pacific rai lroads. . The agreement secures to the jOTCrnment the j)t*tucip:t l and Interest ot said bondf, amounting to f>S,8r_' .7ir>.48. The whole indebtedness was about. $."><»,ouo.ooo. wore than, half of which consisted of, ac­ crued interest , for which sum the govern^ ment has realised the entire amount, les* about $6,000,000, within a period of two' years. . < Progress of Agricultures The l>epnrtment of Agriculture Is con­ stantly consult ing the needs of producers in al l the States and Terri tories. I t is Intro­ ducing seeds and plants of great value and promoting fully diversif ication of crops. ' Grains, crasses. fruits , legumes and vegeta­ bles} are imported fo.r al l .pi jr ls of the United State 's . ' tender this encouragement the sugar beet factory multiplies in the North and far West semi-tropical plants are sent io t l in South and congenial cl imates are sought for the choice productions of the far Kiisi . The subject of irr igation when i t is of vi tal im­ portance to the people is being carefully studied. Markets are being sought and opened up for surplus farm anil factory prod­ ucts in Ktirope aud Asia. The outlook for the education of the young farmer through agricultural college and experimental sta­ t ions. with opportunit ies given to specialize In the department of agriculture, is very promising. There Is widespread Interest i t i the Im­ provement of our public highways at the present t ime, and the Department of Agri­ culture Is co-operating with the people In each locali ty in making the best possible roads from local material and in experiment­ ing with steel tracks. Philippine Island Problem. Dec. 10, 1898. the treaty of peace between the I 'ni ted States aud Spain was signed. I t provided, amonjr other things, that Spain should cede to the United States the archi­ pelago known as the Phil ippine Islands, that the I 'ni ted States should pay Spain the sum of $20,000,000, and that , the civil r ights and poli t ical s tatus of the native inhabitants 'of the terri tories thus ceded to the I 'ni ted States should be determined by the Con­ gress. The treaty was ratif ied by the Sen­ ate L'eb. (J, 1800, and by the government of Spain March 1 following. The ratif ications were exchanged April 11, and' the. t reaty publicly proclaimed. March U the Congress voted the sum contemplated by »he treaty and the amount, was paid over to the Span­ ish government May 1. In this manner the Phil ippines came to the United States. The Islands Were ceded by the government of Spain, which had been in undisputed pos­ session of them for centuries. They were accepted, not merely by our authorized com­ missioners In Paris , under the direction of tho executive, but by the consti tutional and •well-considered action of the representatives •of the people of the United Slates in both houses of Congress . I had every reason to Itel ieve. and I st i l l believe, that this transfer of sovereignty was in accordance with the wishes and the aspirat ions of the great mass, of the Fil ipino people. Frourlthe earl iest moment no opportunity was lost of assuring the people of t he isl i tnds of our ardent, desire for their welfare and ot the Intention of this government to do ev­ erything possible to advance their Interests , i ln ' tny order of May 10. 180S. the commander of the mili tary expedit ion dispatched to the Phil ippines was instructed to declare that we came not to make war upon the people ot that country, "nor upon any party or fac t lou among them, but to protect them in • heir homes, in their employments and In their personal and religions r ights." Dec. 21, after the treaty was signed, the commander of the forces of occupation was Instructed "to announce and proclaim in the most public manner that we come, not as invaders and conquerors, but as friends, to protect the natives In their homes, in their em^lovinents and In their personal and re­ l igious r ights." The same day, while order­ ing C.en. Otis to see that the peace should be preserved in Hollo, he was admonished that: "I t is inost important that there should be no conflict with the Insurgents." Jan. 1, 1899. urgent orders were rei terated that the kindly intentions of this govern­ ment should be in every possible way com­ municated to the iusurgents. The 21st of January I announced my in­ tention of dispatching to Manila, a commis­ sion composed of three gentlemen <>f t l ie highest character and dist inction, thoroughly acquainted with the Orient , who. in asso elat ion with Admiral Dewey and Maj, Gen. Otis , were Instructed to "facil i tate the most humane and effective extension of authority throughout the islands, and to secure with the least possible delay the benefi ts of a wise and generous proteetiou of l ife aud property to the inhabitants." These gentlemen were Dr. Jacob Gould Schurmnii , president or Cornell Universi ty; Charles Denby. for many years minister to China, aud Prof. Dean C. Worcester , of the Universi ty of Michigan, who had made a most careful study of l ife In the Phil ippines. AKuinaldo'» Claim Disproved. While the treaty of peace was under con­ sideration in the Senate these commissioners set out on their mission of good will and l iberation. But before their arrival at Ma­ nila the sinister ambition of a few leaders of the Fil ipinos had created a si tuation full ot einbarassnient; for us and most grievous in I ts consequences to themselves. The clear and impartial preliminary report of the com­ missioners. which I t ransmit herewith, gives so lucid and comprehensive a history of the present Insurrectionary movement that the story need not be here repeated. I t is enough to say that the claim or the rebel leader that he was promised independence by any officer of the United States In return for his assist­ ance has no foundation in. fact and is cate­ gorically denied'by the very witnesses who were called to prove i t . The most the iu surgent leader hoped for when he came back to Slant la was l he l iberation of the islands from the Spanish control , which they had been laboring for years wirhout success to throw off. The prompt accomplishment of this work l»y the American army and navy gave him other ideas and ambitious, and insidious suggestions fYoni various quarters perverted the purposes and intentions with which he had taken up anus. No sooner had our army (raptured Manila than the Fil ipino force 's I tegun to assume an att i tude of suspicion and hosti l i ty which the utmost efforts of our officers Mid troops were unable in dis­ arm or modify. Their kindness and forbear­ ance were taken as a proof of cowardice. The aggressions of the Uiliplnos contluually Increased. unti l , f inally, jusi before the t ime •et by the Semite of the United Stales for s vote upon the treaty, an at tack, evidently Srepared In advance, was made all along lie American l ines, which resulted In a tep- rlbly destructive and sanguinary repulse of the insurgents. Order of Kxterminatioii. Teu days later an order of the Insurgent veruuient was issued to its adherents who d remained in Mnnlla. of which G<yi. Otis Justly observes that "for Imrburous mtuftfc It Is unequalcd In modern t imes." I t di­ rects that at 8 o'clock the night of the 15tl i of February the terri torial lul l l t la shall come together In the streets of San Pedro, -armed with their bolos, with guns and am­ munition where convenient: that FU'mjuo families only shall he respected; but that all other individuals, of whatever race they may be. shall be exterminated without any compassion, after the extermination of the army of occupation. A eop.V of this fel l by good fortune Into the hands of our officers and they were able to take measures to con­ trol the rising. W |hlch was actually at tempt­ ed the night of Feb. ,l '2. a week later than was originally c-mtcmplated. Rebellion Must He Put Ihiwij, This was the unhappy Condll iou of affitirs which confronted our commissioners Oil their arrival iu Manila. What they found can best be set forth iu their own words: "Deplorable as war Is, the one which we are now engaged was unavoidable by us. We were at tacked by a bold, adventurous and enthusiast ic army. No alternative was left to us except ignominious retreat . What­ ever the future of the Phil ippines may be. there is no course open "Ni us now except the prosecution of the war unti l the Insur­ gents are reduced to submission. The com­ mission Is of the opinion that there has been no t ime since the destruction of the Spanish squadron by Admiral . Dewey .when i t wns possible to withdraw our forces from the Islands, el t l icr with honor to ourselves, or with safety to the Inhabitants. ," •'»„* The course thus clearly Indicated has been unfllucli ingly pursued. The rebell ion luus. t be put down.. Civil governtnci:! van not .be thoroughly established until order Is Jfe-: stored. • With a devotion irtm gallantry worthy o.f i ts most bri l l iant .history, the atnuy; ably, and loyally assisted by t l ie "navy, has ciay rled on this unwelcome, but musi r ighteous campaign 'with r ichly-deserved'success. Al­ though their operations have been some­ what Interrupted. .and cheeked by a rainy season of unusual violence and duration, they have gained ground steadily in every direction, and now look forward confidently to a speedy completion of their task. The unfavorable clrcnnistanccs connected with an active campaign have not been per­ mitted t 'o interfere with the equally impor­ tant work of reconstruction. American Rule in Sulu. The authorit ies of the Sulu Islands have accepted the succession of the United States to the rights of Spain, and our flag floats over that terri tory. The 10th of August , 1899. I t r ig. Gen. J . C. Bates. U. S. Volun­ teers. negotiated an agreement w^th the Sultan and his ptlncipal chiefs, which 1 t ransmit herewith. By art icle 1. the sov­ ereignty of the United States over the whole arehlpelago of Sulu.and Its dependencies Is declared and acknowledged. The United States will give full protection to the Sultan in case any foreign natiou should at tempt to Impose upon him. The United States will not sell any island of the Sulu archipelago to any foreign nation without tho consent of the ^ultuv. . Any ,«lave iu the j irchipclngo of J4UI I I shall have ihe rigli t I tf pufi 'Mnse free­ dom. T]ie agreement hv 'Gen. Rates was made .subject (o conlirnial Ion b.v the Presi­ dent and to future uiodit lcal ions. This agreement is not to be deemed in anyway to authorize or give the consent of the-Uni­ ted' States to the existence of slavery in the Sulu archipelago. 1 communicate these facts to the Congress for Its 'Information and ac­ t ion. Everything indicates that with the speedy suppression of the Tagalo r<*bcll ioii l i fe In the archipelago will soon resume Its ordin­ ary course under the protection of our sov­ ereignty, and the people of those fav/ored islands will enjoy a prosperi ty and a free­ dom which they have never before ktlown. Now Rents with Congress., The future government of the Phil ippines rpsts with the rongress of the United States. The islands l ie under (he shelter of our flag. They arc ours by every t i t le of law and equity. They cannot be abandoned. If we desert them we leave them at .once to an­ archy and finally to barba.ri-mi. We tl l 'ng them, a golden apple of disco, .1. anuuig the rival powers, no one of which could permit another to seize . them unquestioned. Their r ich plaius and valleys would lie the sceue of endless str ife aud bloodshed. The suggestion has l iecii made that we could renounce our authority over the Isl­ ands and. giving them independence, could retain a protectorate over them. This prop­ osit ion will not he found, 1 am sure, worthy of your serious at tention. Such an arrange­ ment would Involve at the outset a cruel breach of fai th. I t would place the peace­ able and loyal majori ty. w;ho ask nothing better than to accept our authority, at the mercy of the minority of armed insurgents. I t would .make lis responsible for the acts of the insurgent leaders and give us no pow­ er to control t l ieiu. 11 would charge i ts with the task of protecting them agaiust each other and defending them against any for­ eign power with which they.chose to quar­ rel . in short . I t wouid take from the Con­ gress of the United States ihe power of de­ claring war and vest that tremendous pre-, rogatl .vc In the Tagaian leader of the hour. I t does not seetn desirable that I should recommend a t th i s t ime a spec i f i c and I I I I H I form of government for these Islands. When peace shall be restored i t wil l be the duty of Congress to construct a plan of government which shall establish and maintain freedom anil order and peace in the Phil ippines. Un­ ti l Congress shall have made known the formal expression of i ts will . I shall use t l ie authority vested in me by the Consti tution and t i le s tatutes to uphold the sovereignty - of the United States in those distant Islands as In al l other places whore our flag r ight­ fully flouts. Status of Hawaii. Some embarrassment In administrat ion has occurred by reason of the peculiar s tatus which the Hawaiian Islands at pres­ ent occupy under the joint .^resolution of an­ nexation unproved July ".""1898. While by that resolution the Republic of Hawaii as an independent nation was extinguished, i ts separate sovereignty destroyed, and Its property and possessions vested in the Unit­ ed States, yet a complete establishment for i ts government under bur system was not effected. The people of these Islands are enti t led to the benefi ts and privileges of our Consti tution. It is 'manifest ly important , therefore, that arr act shall be passed as speedily as possible erecting these islands Into a judicial distr ict , providing ' for the appointment of a judge and other proper officers, and mthods of procedure in appel­ late proceedings, ami that the government of this newly acquired terri tory uuder the federal Consti tution shall be fully defined and provided for. . Alaska Needs Legislation. A necessity for immediate legislat ive re­ l ief exists In the Terri tory of Alaska. Sub­ stantial ly the only law providing a civil government, for t .hls terri tory Is the act of May 17. 1884. Til ls is meager In i ts provi­ s ions and Is f i t ted only for the administra­ t ion of affairs In a country sparsely inhab­ ited by civil ized people, and unimportant trade aud production, as was Alaska at the t ime this act was passed. There is practic­ ally no organized form of government. . . and no reason why a swore complete form of terri torial organization should not be pro­ vided. Government of Porto Rico. I recommend that legislat ion to the same eml be had with reference to the government of Porto l t ieo. The t ime is r ipe for the adoption of a temporary form of government for this island. I t is desirable that the gov­ ernment of the island under the law of bel­ l igerent r ight , now maintained through the l i 'xceutlvc Department, should be superseded by an administrat ion entirely civil in i ts na­ ture. For present purposes 1 recommend that Congress pass a law for the organiza­ tion, of a temporary government, which shall provide for the appointment by the Presi­ dent, subject ' to confirmation by the Senate, of a governor ami such other officers as the general administrat ion of the Island may require, and that for legislat ive purposes on subjects of a local nature not partaking ot a federal character a legislat ive council , composed part ly of Porto Kicans and part ly ot ci t izens of the United States, shall ho nominated and appointed by the President, subject to continuation bv the Senate, their acts to be subject to the approval of the Congress or the President prior to going Into effect . Our plain duty Is to abolish al l cus­ toms tariffs between the United States and Porto t t lco and give her products free access to our markets. Punishment of Lynchers. •Those who, In disregard of law'and' the public peace, unwill ing to await the lodg­ ment of court and Jury, consti tute them­ selves judges, aud executioners should not escape the severest . pytial l les for tfcelr enmes. The constitutional authorities must be cheerfully and vigorously upheld. I .ynch- iugs must not be tolerated In n great and civil ized pouutry l ike the United States. Courts, not mobs, must execute the penal­ t ies of the laws. Merit System Strengthened. The executive order of May t», 1890.' extending^ the l imits of the clusslf led service, brought within the operation ;of the civil service law and rules nearly al l of the executive civil service not pre­ viously classif ied. Some of the Inclusions were found wholly Il logical aud unsulted to the work of the several departments. After long and very careful consideration i t be­ came evident to the heads of the depart­ ments. responsible for their efficiency, that iu order to remove these difficult ies aud pro­ mote an efficient and harmonious adminis­ trat ion certain amendments were necessary. These amendments were promulgated by me In executive order dated May 29. ]K99. All of the amendments had for their main object a more efficient and satisfactor.v administra­ t ion ..r the system of appointment^ as estab­ lished by the civil service law. Presented to this Congress are grept op-. portunit ies. With them conn' greiLt rcsponsi- t l i i ! i t ies. The power confided to us Increases the weight of our obligations to the people, . ' s l id we must- be profoundly 'sensit ive of •1-l ietn as we couicii ipiaic the new and grave problems which confront, us. Aiming oti lv Var 1 ho public, good, we cannot err . A. r ight .• interpretat ion of t he people 's will and of 'duty cannot, fal l to tnsuri 'aajf to measures for the welfare.of the lsla | i(1s^\nw. ' l i have come : .under the authority of the united States; and Inure to the common luterest nnd last ing >hoifc.r of our country. Never has this na­ t ion had more abundant cause than i lurlng the last year for thankfulness to God for manifold blessings and mercies, for which we make reverent acknowledgment. • 'WILLIAM MKINLKV, THE NEGRO'S ADVANCE. Steladily Marching Oil, in the Face of I>i*awbackH( in Old Virginity. Here in Virginia, perhaps as nntrh as anywhere except where the graduates of Booker Washington's manual train­ ing system arc at .work, the negro's ad­ vance is most marked. Not that there are many rich negroes or particularly able ones. Hut throughout the black belt of (lie James and Roanoke Hivcr valleys there is a revolution in land ten­ ure going on, and. while there are lazy and shiftless bl:tekvtuetb just as there are lazy and sliiftiess white men, there is :u surprisingly large number of col­ ored men who own land; not merely building lots, but small farms, writes a Hiehmond correspondent. This'began within a few years after the rebellion.' The.white planter was •land poor. He had neither slaves noV money with which to hire farm hands. In comes the "darky h\tstler(" of the neighborjiimtl. aud offers to work for him for a share of the crop, or for a little piece of land that he eotikl call his own. There was nothing to do in a great many eases except to accept the offer. The few acres of land .which this colored man eventually acquired might be covered with timber, but there-was plenty of time to clear it on open and dry winter days, of which there are many up. to ('hrisrmas. The timber itself furnished some good building ma­ terial; and it was not a great while be­ fore the "colored hustler" was living ill his own cabin on his acres, and culti­ vating them when not at work by the day for the white'man. , The second stage was the effect of this example on .the other colored people, in the neighborhood. This was slow, but sure in its workiug. The white peo­ ple would help the process along by making offers of a little land to colored men who had none, and would point to the pioneer "colored hustler" as a shin­ ing example. The third stage was when the "col­ ored hustler's" prosperity grew till he substituted a frame house for a log cab­ in, and had second-hand green shutters on his windows, flowers in his yard, a neat wire fenee around his property, flitd a pair of .steers and a can. The 'Virginia colored .man of this ris­ ing type may have his faults, lie may not be ail angel or a saint, but he has generally "go* religion." Tlie "colored hustler" always is ready to turn aji honest dollar by doing a day's work for somebody else.' lie gets.the dollar, half in cash and half iu three meals for that day. tlie foreknowledge of which helps tnadaib in ilie cabin to economize in the consumption of pig and corn bread. Often lie buys his groceries by giving his labor in return, and until he builds his own housu lie pays his rent by working for the white landlord whose cabin be occupies. lie pays out little cash, and scorns the ohl-time lK>unties of second-hand clothing from the white people discarded attire. He may deign to accept them as gifts, fiut he will Jiot count theui as considerations in part for actual labor. WHEN MEN MISS SUCCESS. Idleness aud Incompetency Keep the Bushiest* Novice Dunn, Walter P. I'hUHps. the founder of the national newsgathering corporation known as the United Press, and the in­ ventor of Phillips' telegraphic code, a typical, energetic American, who has put many younger men iu tlie news- gathering business, believes that the cause of failure everywhere among young business beginners, lies iu incom­ petence. _ Xine-tenllis of the young men who are struggling for a. name and place in the world are unfitted for the callings they have picked out for themselves. Besides an unlimited supply of energy and whole-heartedness in the work be­ fore him, the successful man of the future must know his business from A to Z. The next greatest drawback to suc­ cess is Idleness. Nothing worth while is accomplished without work, and plenty 'of it.. Things do not happen without a cause, and behind every great life there are years of coneeiitrated en­ ergy and tireless industry. Idleness wlH make any tu.-w a faHure; intel'.i gent work will land any man among the successful. Iris all so simple and so trite that one hesitates to put the fact down iu cold blood, and yet how few men recognize, or. recognizing, live up to the axiom, that labor conquers all tilings. Idleness ami tb? consciousness of In­ competency should make any man ashamed of himself and drive him to do something that is worth the doing. It is within ihe grasp'of every one to learn some one thiug that will yield both pleasure and profit. tSticcess comes only to those wlio-seek it. , Y , : . The young until who Is really in earn­ est w^ill riot have to *S(l,t1sod how to succeed, lie may learn niueh by study­ ing the fitllurcs of others, however, and lie will -always find, after a survey of I lie great legion, of tjie unsuccessful., that -two'^ causes have brought tlieiu to their present"riiiseuy -idleness -and in- • 'oni]>eteney. -».Pliilade'.j'ihla Saturday Evening: Pi,>81. ,V . NO EXPRESSION IN THE EVfc. It Is the. Kyclid tliat Does tlie Kind- lies*, Hityw an Knulisli Oculist. There stre no expressive eyes. The Expression of tlie eye is really in the lid. The eye itself, independent of its surroundings, has no more expression than lias a glass ma ride. A prominent English oculist makes this daring statement, and lie defends his position' with emphasis. "The eyes have no expression Whatever." he says, "'llow do you explain the fact that the eyes of one person are more expressive than those of another?' I am asked. They are nut. The difference consists in certain nervous contractions of the lids peculiar to the individual. "Observe lor yourself, and you will see t.hat. 1 sun riglit. We will say that I am greatly interested in something, and my attention is suddenly «ailed from it hy an unexpected interruption. My upper eyelid raises itself just a little, but the eye proper does not change all lota in appeareuce. If the Interruption is but momentary the elevation of the lid will be but moment­ ary. If the surprise caused by an iu- terrruptloii Is continued tho lid may be raised even a little more, and, in fact, the whole of the forehead, including, the eyebrows, is raised and wrinkled. Hut the eye remains tlw same. "When a person is excited much the same motions are gone thrfeuglii" con­ tinued the doctor. "Ilis eyes are open witle. in cases of Intense excitement to their greatest extent, but the forehead is not wrinkled and the .hall of the eye is as expressive as a bit of gla«s. 2$o more. Y > "Observe the face of one who laughs. You will see that the lower eyelid has no muscle of its own, and it is only by Ihe contraction of the adjacent muscles in smiling or laughing that it is made to move. That is wliy there are many wrinkles about the «\ves of raprr^* per­ sons. ' » "The expression of deep fhoughtful- ness is produced by the drooping of the1 upper lid. If tlie meditation is over a subject that worries Ute thinker the expression is again quite.different. The eyelids, contract and the eyebrows are lowered, ami drawu together. ;This Is trite of a reflective mood. "As to emotional moods there is the expression of anger, for instance. The eyes, instead of closing, are open wider Jlian they are normally, but the brows are closely^ knit. "In expressing sadness the entire up-; per eyelid conies about half way dowin, ami the folds of the skin collect there, giving the" lid a thick, heavy appear­ ance."--Cleveland Plain Dealer. Little Woman's Willful Way. .The most willful being in the world is it little woman. The smaller the woman the less yielding.' It is unneces­ sary to state that it is a man who makes the discovery, which isn't a discovery at all. . Women knew long ago that little women would get their way through all maimer of impediments. That is, big women found this out. Little .women deny the fact, but go rigid ou getting just whatever they want from every direction. The "little helpless thing" is the most formidable creature in tilt; world and she is certain to defeat a. man especially, in every encounter. My sympathies, however, go to the man who makes the state­ ment, for he asserts it with-feeling and the vigor born. 1 am afraid, of painful experience. A small but better, half lias' evidently hail great success in molding Ills ehnracter and shaping his views of.life. It doesn't seem fair for him to comiUain wheii by his own ad­ mission lie tloes not happen to possess much individuality or a powerful will. If he could only lie honest and own up he probably .e.njoys being managed. I've never noticed, though, that more big women marry tiian little ones. That seems another indication of the managing qualities of the little woman. A Transformed Country. Except in a few out-of-the-way dis­ tricts. the South African travler seldom meets specimens of those large and dangerous aninials which were a con­ stant menace to* the early settlers in the country. It is Recorded that when Van Riebeck landetl In Table bay, in 1652, hippopotami smarmed iu a swamp fed by a stream on)tlie site of the present Church square,' in Capetown.--London Mail. ROAD ACROSS SAHARA FRANCE WANTS TO SPAN TM€ DESERT SANDS. Total Coat of Building a Bail way Tunis to the Lake Tchad Country Would Be Much I.etwi than Kstima*' ted Twenty Years Ago. In view of the growing strength of, Kngiaml in Africa the construction oC- a railway crossing the desert of *?ahar$: and unltittg the French colonies of AI-' &eria and Tunis with the fertile country^ about Lake Tchad is urged as a political*, and military.necessity. There is now a railway about 250 kilometers(150 miles) long from the port of Hfax, on the Med^ itcrranean. to tJafsa. in the interior oi': Tunis; where a valuable deposit of fihos* phate rock is found, from which annual'; shipments of over .'UHI.OOO tons are uoujfc lirade. The general conditions of rail1-"; way construction in tills .country ar^v; weld known, aiiid it rtiay be assumeife without serious error that the prolonga­ tion of the Sfax-Ha4'sa railway across the desert could be made at about the same cost per mile as that portion al­ ready built. The climate is about the same, water i^ found at frequent inter­ vals aud the topography tloes not greatly differ from that of the existing railway. It may. therefore, be esti­ mated that the entire 2,000 kilometers (1,240 milesi could be completed at the cost of (10,000 ffiincs per kilometer, in­ cluding rolling stock, or a total of 320.- 000,000 francs ($24.000.(K)0>. and. even if this amount be increased by one-half to provide for unfon«seen contingencies it is yet far within the estimate of twen­ ty years ago. which reached the enor­ mous sum of over 800.000,000 francs. Apart from the strategical value of such a railway there is some probability that ifs construction would have the effect of developing materially the na1- ural resources of the country through which it would pass: As matter-of fact the real Vallit1 uf this of Africa is but imperfectly known. It is but a short time since the phosphate deposits of Algeria, began to lie worked, and even how, with proper transporta­ tion facilities, the present output of these beds could readily be increased to over 1.000,000 tons per year. For some time there has been reason la believe •that there exist, in the interior of Sa­ hara important deposits of nitrates, which only need accessibility to rirai •those of Chili, aud there are salt de­ posits already known to be awaiting'de­ velopment on the Soudan frontier. These sources of traffic, however, are almost entirely in prospect; there is ev­ ery reason to assume that the primary reason for the construction of a railway across the desert is that of extending and at the same . time coilsolidatiug French power in Africa nnd meeting the British colonial .expansion in that continent, by anticipating her i* railway cons.! ruction. , It is especially interesting to the en­ gineer to note that In the attacks which sire being made by nearly all the na­ tions of Kurope for permanent terri­ torial hold iu Africa, engineering work is depended upon as a more certain and enduring form of attack than military power,.and that the railway, canal and harbor are tihe real weapons In the con* quest of a continent.- Engineering Mag­ azine. Gettlnic Kid of Them. . "Come in anil see how I get rid of bores. You've often asked my recipe, and I'm about to deal with one of the most virulent of his type." It was an old banker speaking, and he showed his guest, into the private office. "Halloa, Orpey," began the bore at sight, "just dropped in to have a taJk about poor Lipsey. I suppose " "Yes', of course; neglected his busi­ ness. gambled away enormous sums of money, fell a vlct im°to the terrible curse of intemperance, dissipated his fortune, and even lost his home. Too badl" "Awful!. Bui did you hear " "Certainly. Tried to drown his sor­ rows in deeper potations than ever, lost his situation, was branded a bad egg. and left to his own resources. Drifted away into a great city, family suffered, lie braced up, found honest employ­ ment. won friends, and was doing well, everything considered." "That's right, but " "So I heard. Back with us again. He has a. fine position, looks like his old self, aud everybody happy." . "I>o you think he'R-- "I know he will. A few ohTTsrhwui- tyitcs think otherwise, but lie's/aM right. We have invited him to dinner to-morrow night. (Joes to the Cppies next night." "No? I hope " '•That's all riglit. So do the rest ot us." "Well, good day. Pretty busy, these times." v "There you have it," laughed the banker, as he .closed the door. "Yon persist in doing the talking, and a bore will run every time." Ou the Rtebt Side. In Jewish marriages the bride is always placed to the right of the bride­ groom. With every other nation of the world her place in the ceremony is on Ipe left,