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>• . * * . / "•* ' m<* "** * r4*" -i t-'.••"•• . . ciug flatutlcalcr I. VAN SLYKE, Editor M FablMter. McHENRY, ILLINOIS. AT the laying of the foundation stone gpthe Imperial Institute the Queen Hied glasses in public for the first time. The lenses were no larger than a shill­ ing piece, and set in a plain bit of tor- shell. AARON GOVE, President-elect of the National Educational Association and Superintendent of the Denver public schools, is 49 years old. He is a native of Rockingham County, N. H., and has resided in the West a quarter of a cen­ tury. Q W. P. BLAKF, Professor of Geology 'ttt Harvard College, who has been ex­ ploring the wonders of California, de­ clares the great Yosemite Valley is simply the bed of an immense glacier, and that ice actum only ceased qiute recently in California. THE game of croquet has become so near obsolete that only a few hundred sets are now sold where they used to sell by the tens of thousands. Nobody wants to be called a horse thief, liar, deadbeat, swindler, highway robber and State-prison bird for what enjoyment he can get out of a game. A GHASTLY Indian trophy is shown at H>6 War Department, being a "neck­ lace" of eight human* fingers, captured from the Northern Cheyennes in 1876. The necklace originally consisted of eleven fingers, each of which repre­ sented a pale-face slain by the owner, who was the "big medicine man" of the tribe. - CHABLES RAU, one of the curators of the Smithsonian Institution, who re­ cently died in Washington, was a curi­ ous character. He had no relatives in this country, and leaves his fortune to a nephew in Germany. For fifty years he lived the life of a miser. He slept and cooked in one room in the Smith­ sonian building. THE police at Kingston, New Mexico, stood as spectators while Con Ryan and Jim Burke fired five shots at each other. Then there was no occasion for the officers to interfere, as Rvan was Stone dead. It is always best to wait a little while, especially in New Mex1- ioo. It gives a bad mau a chance to go home with his boots on. Patti was commanded to do a little singing at Buckingham Palace to help out the jubilee. But royalty refused to pay Patti prices, and the diva allowed that her Majesty's commands might be laid on somebody else. She wouldn't sing, not a note, for less than her price. She didn't get her price, and the jubilee had to get on without Patti. A GOLD-BEATER of Soochow, China, violated an agreement of the union to which he belonged. His oonduct in­ furiated the craft, and the word passed round: "Biting to death i3 not a cap­ ital offense." One hundred and twen­ ty-three of them rushed on the miser­ able man, each taking a bite. Death soon relieved the victim of fiendish rancor. No one was allowed to quit the shop whose bloody lips and gums did not attest of his fidelity. DOWN in Georgia they have con­ cluded that the world will come to an end in 1977. Their reason for thinking so is that a hen has laid an egg upon the shell of which is plainly "inscribed" the outline of a heart, an acorn, and the number 77. In Cuba, Mo., a hen has laid an egg having on one side the face of a clock with distinct Roman numerals. It would seem that the hens are likely to start a kindergarten after they become a little more profi­ cient in object teaching. Miss VIENNA CARTER, living six miles from Wrightsville, Ga., while sweeping the yard one morning was surprised to see a large hawk dash down into the in- closure, within a few feet of her, and pounce upon a chicken. Miss Carter was equal to the emergency, and as his hawkship rose to carry off his prey she ran to the biddy's rescue and "downed" the hawk with the broom she held in her hand; and with one or two more well-directed blows succeeded in killing the impudent bird outright. A PRIMITIVE anchor, very probably lost^by the early French missionaries, was found at the head of Green Bay. It appears to have been constructed from a young maple tree having three branches from the root. Another bar was fastened on. Thus far it is like a round-topped stool with four legs. On the bottom of these legs are fastened, with mortise and tenon, the flukes, which were bars of oak crossing each Other. Between the legs of the anchor the spaoe is supposed to have been filled with stones to weigh it down. CLEVELAND County has the oldest living man in Arkansas. Jesse Marks {oolored), who lives with one of his sons-in-law, some three miles east of here, has attained the ripe old age of 118 years. The correctness of this statement of his age is vouched for by one of the members of -his old master's family, who knows something of his family record. Old Jesse, as he is commonly called, talks and laughs as free as a young man, and* gets about quite lively sometimes. He remembers distinctly and talks freely of many in­ cidents of the revolutionary war. The county is doing the old fellow the honor of providing for his support A BOSTON man who has crossed the Atlantic fifty-two times, and been sea­ sick each time except the last, explains the exception as follows; "I tcok a rubber bag with me, some twelve inches long and four inches wide, with an iron clamp to close the mouth of the bag, and filled it with small pieces of ice every morning (the steward brought me the ice in a bowl), and ap* plied.it on the spine, at the base of the brain, down between my shoulders, for, say, half to three-quarters of an hour, or, rather, I lay on it, pressing it against the spine. It had a most sooth­ ing effect, so that frequently I fell asleep while under it, and afterward felt braced up for the day, enjoying every hour and every meal.n 1 JAKES JAMES, a negro, and a citizen of the United States, who resides at Santa Rosa, Mexico, is probably the oldest man on earth. He was born near Dorchester, S. C., in 1752, and while an infant was removed to Med- way River, Ga., ih the same year that Franklin brought down electricity from the thunder clouds. He remembers of the rejoicing iu 1792 throughout the country in consequence of Washington's election to the Presidency, he then be­ ing 40 years of age. Five years ago, at the age of 130, Jim could do light chores, but subsisted mostly by con­ tributions from the citizens, but for the past two years, not. being able to walk, he remains for the most part in his little jacal, his wants being supplied by generous neighbors. The rheumatism in his legs prevents him from walking, but yet he has sufficient strength in his arms to drag himself a short distance-- fifty yards or more. THE attempt of "Charley" Reed to commit suicide in New York the other day by throwing himself into the river from a ferryboat says a Chicago pa­ per, came near being the end of a peculiarly pitiable and wretched ca­ reer; pitiable because the man was possessed of abilities which, if rightly exercised, might have led him to ex­ alted and honorable positions, and wretched because the career for years past has been marked by a series of disgraces, each lower and meaner than its predecessor. For many years "Charley" Reed fras a well-known fig­ ure in social, political, and legal circles in Chicago. He was a man of prepos­ sessing appearance and was possessed of ^affability and geniality, joined to a brisk, dashing manner, ^which made him a great favorite and secured for him popularity among all classes. He stood well as a lawyer, and his politi­ cal sagacity was sufficient to secure him twice the position of prosecuting at­ torney against formidable opponents. Had he been a square man that posi­ tion might have been a stepping-stone to higher honors. Outside of his pro­ fession he was a scholar of considera­ ble pretensions and was particularly fond of literature, in which he made at least a local reputation by his clever translations. It is a peculiarity of his case that his downward career was a long one. It began long before he left Chicago in his domestic relations. From his first wife he secured a bogus di­ vorce. He left his second wife, an ac­ complished and lovely woman, penni­ less, and she has since been obliged to earn her own living. It now appears that there is a third wife, who left him some time ago and returned to her parents. He lived a fast life in Chicago, and though in receipt of a good income squandered it all in riotous living, and at last to obtain more money wrecked the Irwin estate, of which he was con­ servator, and beggared the children of a too confiding friend. It was under this cloud that he left Chicago. He next turned up as counsel in the Gui- teau case, and he seems to have shared in the misfortunes which have over­ taken almost every one connected with it. CURIOUS FACTST DOORMATS made from scrap leather made into links and strung on metal wires are a novelty. The appearance of these mats is good, while they are at the same time flexible, durable and af­ ford a firm footing. A HINGED lamp-post has lately been devised. It has the advantage that no ladder is required to enable it to be cleaned and repaired, and it also can be lighted by bending it over, the lamp-lighter carrying a key for that purpose. THE danger of infection from the pro­ miscuous use of the mouthpieces of telephones is attracting attention. It is recommended that the mouthpieces be disenfected every time after using by means of a di3enfecting fluid kept at every telephone station for the pur­ pose. THE nutritive value of mushrooms has been investigated in Germany by C. T. Moerner, who shows that to get an equivalent of an average hen's egg a person must eat 10£ ounces of Agar- icus vampestris, or no less than four pounds of Polyporus ovinus. and that nine pounds of the former variety or sixty-seven pounds of the latter would be needed to equal one pound of beef. AN English gardener states that the roots of trees may be prevented from entering between the joints of drain tiles by using coal tar. In using it, mix it with sawdust to the consistency of ordinary building mortar. A layer of this should be spread on the bottom of the drain; on this set the drain pipo3 and then cover all over with the tar- mortar. If the work be carefully per­ formed, and the mortar applied in suf­ ficient quantity, 1| inches thick all around, success may be guaranteed. "POGONIP" is said to be the name given by the iqonntainers of Nevada to a sort of frozen fog that appears some­ times in Winter, even on the clearest and brightest of days. In an instant the air is filled with floating needles of ice. To breath the pogonip is death to the lungs. When it comes people rush to cover. The Icdinns dread it as much as the whites. It appears to be caused by the sudden freezing in the air of the moisture which collects about the sum­ mits of the high peaks. ONE of the latest novelties in paper pulp ware is a barrel, intended to supersede the wooden article for all pur looses. It is composed of five pieces is held together by wooden hoops, and the head is one piece and fits into the barrel air tight. A quantity of flour sent from a distance to New York in these barrels was found to weigh as much on its arrival as when it started. Usually there is considerable loss by the sifting of flour between the joints of the wooden barrels. As the material for making these barrels exists almost everywhere, the manufacture of them is likely to prove a considerable in­ dustry. PRESIDENTIAL PROSPECTS FOR NEXT YEAR. There will assuredly be four parties in the field next year--the Republican, the Democratic, the Labor, and the political Prohibitionists. Either the Republicans or the Democrats will win. The other two parties will but be dis­ turbing elements, drawing their strength from the two great parties. It is probable that the political Pro­ hibition party does more injury to the Republican oause than to the Demo­ cratic. The reverse is the case with the new Labor party. Its chief strength lies in the cities, of course; and in the few places where it plaoed candidates in the field at municipal elections last spring it drew heavily upon the Demo­ cratic strength--notably in New York City and Cincinnati It will probably be fair to accept the estimate of 75 and 25 per cent, as the proportions of Labor votes drawn from the Demo- cratic and the Republican parties res­ pectively. The Democratic candidate for the Presidency will undoubtedly carry the entire fc'outh. That section is still solid, and it will not do for the Repub­ licans to base any calculations upon a victory in Virginia, West Virgina, or Tennesseee, or any State of the late Confederacy. The Republicans can carry with ease next year the same States that cast their electoral vote for Blaine in 1884; but that will not elect their man. They must carry enough more to have a ma­ jority of the t >tal number of electoral votes. The Northern States carried by the Democrats, with the electoral vote of each and Cleveland's majorities, are given below: Electoral Cleveland's Tote. majority. Connecticut. 0 8.281 Indiana 15 6,572 New Jersey 9 4,412 New York 86 1,0)7 Cleveland received 219 electoral votes in the whole Union to Blaine's 182. The Republicans must gain 19 electoral votes or more. Indiana will probably go Republican next year, but her 15 votes are not enough. Indiana, with either Connecticut or New Jersey, would.give us victory; or New York alone would elect the Republican can­ didate. The Labor vote is the unknown fac­ tor in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. There will be a strong Labor movement in these three States; and if the general conditions are to be practi­ cally the same as between Democrats and Republicans next year, as they were in 18£4, the Republicans will carry both New York and Connecticut, through the strength which the Labor ticket will draw from the Democratic ranks. And we do not see but that, in gen­ eral terms, the Republican and Demo- crtic strength are in the same propor­ tions as in 1884. Then withdraw, in New York alone, the <>*,000 votes that were cast for Henry George for Mayor of the city last spring, remembering that about three-fourths will come from the Democratic vote, and about one-fourth from the Republican, and the prospect of Republican success is assuring. Indiana we will throw in for good measure, for we have no doubt that Bhe will cast her electoral vote for the Republican candidate.--Toledo Blade. Encouragement for Republicans. The narrow margin by which the Democrats carry the State of Kentucky this year, considered in connection with the sweeping and unanticipated success of the Republicans in Virginia last year, should certainly afford en­ couragement to Southern Republicans. The Democratic papers are advancing a good many ingenious excuses to ac­ count for the Bhaking up which their party has received in the old Bourbon State, and for the startling diminution in their majority. But it cannot be truthfully said that the Democrats failed to come out because of over- confidence in partv success. The cam­ paign was not calculated to lull them into inactivity; it was, on the contrary, a campaign of extraordinary vigor, and the appeals which reached them from their party papers and orators were vehement and urgent. The Repub­ licans were fortunate in their leader, but their campaign was conducted up­ on Republican principles which are as well calculated to make headway in any Southern State as in Kentucky; and its success--for to reduce the Dem­ ocratic majority almost to the vanish­ ing point may justly be reckoned as success--might well be repeated in any of half a dozen Southern States. The abuses of long-continued Bourbon rule may, indeed, be more apparent in Ken tucky thaD in some other portions of the South, but they are obvious enough almost anywhere to make some of the more intelligent and progressive Dem­ ocrats ready for a change. In Kentucky, too, as elsewhere in the South, there are Democrats who feel themselves misrepresented by that truculent free­ trader, Watterson. What is needed in the South among Republicans is a firmer organization and a new access of vigor. There has been reason enough for tlte discourage­ ment under which they have labored in the past, but times have changed and there is more hope in the outlook for the future. The growth of protec­ tion sentiment in the South represents a new element of strength for the Re­ publican party, and discontent with local misgovernment is another factor. Before the national struggle begins we hope to see indications of fresh cour­ age and activity among Southern Re­ publicans, and we expect that the Na­ tional Republican Committee will take the South into its programme, not as necessarily solid for the Democracy, but some of it at least as fighting ground, and will help the cause there by campaign literature and campaign orators. --Bos ton Journal Recerd of the Democrats. The Democratic cry, "open the books," wluch was renewed when a de­ ficiency was discovered in the accounts of the late Financial Clerk of the Pat­ ent Office, has subsided suddenly and completely. Was it because of the further discovery that some 90 per cent, of the shortage was in the pock­ ets of certain Democratic clerks and officials in the Interior Department, to whom it had been loaned within the last two years? Repeated efforts to obtain a list of all officials and clerks, Republicans and Democrats, who were thus indebted have been repulsed by Secretary Lamar and his assistants, but a list of clerks who contributed to a Republican campaign fund several years ago, and which had no bearing on the matter, was furnished to Demo­ cratic newspapers as soon as discovered. Probably all the facts will come out eventually. The examination of the accounts of other disbursing officers was a ^rise precaution, although taken pretty late, considering the eager anxiety shown three years ago by Mr. Hendricks and his friends to "open the books." Thus far the only discrepancy discovered was in the case of a dis­ bursing clerk, who is a Democrat c ap­ pointee of the present administration, and nhose cash was found short s me $20. The examiners, however, are strongly of the opinion that the dis­ crepancy was due to a clerical error, and pointed to the fact that the clerk has disbursed some $^00,000 in the past two years. The accounts of the dis­ bursing clerks of the Interior Depart­ ment, who have disbursed about $ii,000,000 per annum for many years past, were found correct to a penny. It may be remembered that the count of money in the Treasury when it was turned over to Mr. Jordan disclosed an apparent deficiency of two cents, but that the money was afterward found in a dark corner of the vault. Well, when the recent count was completed on the transfer from Mr. Jordan to Mr. Hyatt a shortage of $2.50 was discovered, and a clerk was required to make up the deficiency. This, of course, was in ad-, dition to the amount which he had been assessed as his share of the cost "of that magnificent silver punch bowl and ladle which was given to the retiring Treasurer by h's grateful and admiring subordinates.-- Washington telegram to Inter Ocean. Only Hair the lesson. The Louisville Courier-Journal is having a hard time to account for the Waterloo that overtook the Democratic party at the late election in that State. It ventures this sort of a reason: "As far as we can jtidge the Demo­ cratic losses are due to confidence and indifference in our party and unusually good organization on the part of the Republicans. The Republicans voted and the Democrats stayed at home." It is probably true that the "indiffer­ ence* of Democrats was in a measure responsible for the washout in the old- time Democratic majority. But to charge the result up to Democratic in­ difference is to give but half the reason. Will the Courier-Journal please tell what was responsible for the indiffer­ ence ? Purely it was not due to lack of warning, for Democratic papers for weeks before the election were tilled with frantic appeals to the faithful to save the State from the Republicans. The Courier-Journal itself, the mouth­ piece and leadiug State paper of the party, reached a dangerous degree of temperature for hot weather in its ex­ cited and hysterical onslaught upon the opposition. If the Democrats of Ken­ tucky were "indifferent" it was not the indifference of ignorance of what was going on in the State. But if they took no interest in again voting the old Bourbon ticket, it was because they were so disgusted with the policy of the Democratic party that they did not care enough for it to go to the polls to save it from defeat. The benighted, unpatriotic and unprogressive course pursued by the Democrat c party in Kentucky and in the nation is the rea­ son for the "indifference" upon which the burden of disaster is laid. But in­ tentional indifference is not alone re­ sponsible for the surprising results at the polls. When the returns show an increase in the Republican vote of 25,- 000 since 1883, it is a pretty good sign that disgusted Democrats did some­ thing else than stay awav from the polls. A good many of them have be­ gun to vote the Republican ticket, and they voted it this year as a protest against the free-trade Bourbonism of their old party associates. That is an­ other reason for the Democratic dis­ aster which the Vourier-Journal can probably see, if it does not oare to acknowledge.--Des Moines Register. They Need the Higgins Crowd. Congressman Wilkins, of Ohio, is one of the Democrats who don't hosi- tate to tell the party secrets out of school. Ho objects to the mugwumps' attack on Higgins and his outfit as an attack upon loyal members of the party whose assistance is greatly needed in every campaign. In a recent speech he said: "Nothing will be done with Higgins, and nothing should be done with him. They (pointing to the White House) want the support of the delegation from Maryland to the national conven­ tion next year, and that could not be had if Higgins should be removed. We shall want, for that matter, the aid of all the Higginses of all of the States." So that explains why the administra­ tion has been so tender of late of the feelings of the spoilsmen of the Hig­ gins type. It wants their services in the next campaign, and doesn't propose to lose them to keep consistent its pro­ fessions of civil-service reform. It esti­ mates the worth of spoilsmen's services far above the appeals of th« mug­ wumps, and doubtless thinks that the mugwumps will stay anyway, while the heelers need to be propitiated with all the Bpoils that can be furnished. Everybody except a few blinded mug­ wumps knew the hypocrisy of Mr. Cleveland's reform professions. They knew that while it might secure his purpose to be severe at first upon the spoils hunters, and pretend to keep politic* out of the civil service, yet as soon as the test came, and he had to choose between the mugwumps and the heelers, he would take the latter every time. He has been doing so for several months, and that is why Mr. George William Curtis and his crowd denounced his policy so \ igorously at the annual meeting of the Civil Service Re­ form League a few days ago. As the Ohi« Congressman says, the White House is going to need the help of all the Hig­ ginses in all the States when the next campaign comes round. It will be in­ teresting to Bee then if the mugwumps and the Higginses will hitoh up cheerfully in the same yoke, in the vain attempt to pull the Democratic load through.-- Iowa State Register. WHILE every other nation upon the globe is fidgeting about how to raise money to pay its interest and keep up appearances, the United States is main* ly bothered with the question what to do with the millions of surplus in the Treasury. This is, one of the inherit­ ances of Republican financiering. But it is better than the collapsed Treasury Republicans found when they took charge of the nat on's affairs. EVERT young man onght to take a vaca­ tion, especially if he has a girl. It will enable her to retire at an early hour when he is away, and thus get a much-needed rest. _ "A GOOD wife is the guide-post of life," says Tid-Bita. That's so; and the guide- post she uses en a refractory husband is the rolling-pin.--Boaton Courier. How OFTIN you see a country tavern with the sign hanging outside on the inn side. A LOCOMOTIVE reminds one of the old man's hoots, because it makes the spark* fly- WHEN a hen retires for the night, it is quite proper to speak of her as a rooster* Two Little Sisters. Margery and Dorothy Venable were the names of the two little sisters of my story. They had no nicknameJ; every­ body called them Dorothy and Margery, which sounded rather long and old- fashioned for such little girls. Margery was the older, but they seemed about same age; for while Margery was small and slender, wit'i narrow little face, all pink and white like an azalea blossom, lit up by a pair of beatiful blacklashed gray eyes, Dorothy was large for her years, sturdy and solid, and had a round, laughing face, with black eyes and a thicn bang of curly brown hair, Thoy were exactly of the same height; and Dorothy, who waj the I voidest and most daring, always took the lead in their plans and plavs. Did any of you ever have the fun of watching the building of a house in which you yourself were to live? Our little sisters had this pleasure, and they enjoyed every step iu the new building. When the cellar was dug, they went every day to watch the lay­ ing of the foundation. They nhvays took the kitten with them, and she was the first "person" to go down the new cellar steps. But the most charming thing of all to Margery and Dcrotby was their own special room which, at their urgent request, was not to be called the nursery, "but the children's room. It made them feel quite grown­ up to have a bed-chamber of their own which was not spoken of as a nursery. Their mother had taken great pains to make this room nice for her litile girls. Each had a closet and a bureau; tliere were wide south windows, near one of which stood the doll's house, and opposite the little white beds was a pret ty, open fireplace with brass and irons, where a fire could be lighted whenever needed. All was in order, as fair aud fresh as a lily, on the day when the little sisters took possession of it Aunty Belle had been helping put the last touches to the room before the little ones were allowed to see it. When they had exhausted their first raptures over the prettiness of every­ thing, she sat down in the window, and took Margery on her lap, "Now, chickens, I want to have a serious talk with you," she said. "You have the prettiest room of any little girls I know; now how are you going to treat it?" "I don't know," replied Dorothy, turning a summersault over the foot­ board of her bed, and coming down with a bang on the floor. "How do you mean treat it, Aunty?" asked Margery. "I mean, are you going to keep it neat aud dainty, and the things care­ fully, so that they shall look nicely for a long time; or are yon going to be rough with it. so that in a little while it shall lie shabby as the nursery was in the old house, with everything stained and scratched aud nothing iu order." "I wouldn't treat such a dear room as this roughly for anything in the world. I mean to keep my closet as nice as mamma does hers, and fix my bureau drawers every single day. You'll see, Aunty, how spickv it will be. Nicer than Margery's," (aid Dorothy, who was a little jealous of Margery's repu­ tation for neatness. "That sounds charmingly," observed Aunty, with a smile. "I shall be very much interested to see how you keep your resolutions. Every day or two, I shall come over and peep into the two olosets, and take a look at the bureau drawers. And each time I shall make some little marks in this little book." She showed the children a small memo­ randum book, where, on two opposite pages stood the names of "Dorothy," and "Margery." "One hundred is perfect," she ex- Jlained. "When things are quite nice, shall give you ninety or ninety-five; when they are only a little out of order, it will be fifty-five or sixty, but when they are all topsyturvy, the marks will be only fifteen or twenty--'dreadfully low," "I shall always put my things in order, when I know you are coming," observed Dorothy. "You will never know. I shall make my visits when you are at school, or out of school, or out at play." "I mean to have ninety-five each time," cried Dorothy, confidently. "Aunty, what will we get if we are always nice?" "You will get a good habit," replied Aunty Bell. And then she added, <mpre seriously: "Order is heaven's first law." Milton says, "Nobody can have a thoroughly happy heart, or a clear conscience, who lives always in 'confusion." t'or the first two or three weeks all • went welL The novelty of the thing made heedless Dorothy remember; and more than onoe her mark was ninety- five. But careless habits are hard to dire, and gradually she forgot about Aunt Bell and her little book, and left shoes and toys and soiled handkerchiefs on the floor, or flung her hat and cloak on the chair-back, just as she had done before her good resolutions. Margery's things, on the contrary, were rarely out of place. The difference between them was that Margery had formed the habit of being careful till it was as easy as to be careless, and Dorothy had not. At last came Christmas. The Yenables kept to the old customs, and hung up their stockings, from the least to the greatest. When the little sisters woke in the gray of the early morning, their first glance was toward the chimney- piece where their stockings were sus­ pended, Dorothy's scarlet and Mar­ gery's dark blue. They looked "full and queer," like Doctor Dog in the poem, and the children lost no time in scrambling out of bed. First they pinched the stocking legs, cautiously but rapturously; then they tore them down, and began to empty. All sorts of nice things for both ap­ peared--horses of candy, dolls, oranges. Below, on the floor stood two new sleds, and--what was that dark thing on the wall? Margery ran across on the floor and drew up the blinds. Now they conld see. The thing on the wall was the prettiest little book-shelf ever seen, in black wood, and pinne 1 to it were two cards. One bore this inscription: "Margery, from Aunty Belle. Reward for neatness." The other was: "Aver­ age marks for order: Margery, 83; Dorothy, 40." "Oli, dear!" sobbed Dorothy, when she had taken in the meaning of it all, and realized that she might have won this nice reward, and had lost it. "I do think Aunty might have re­ minded me. It isn't fair." But it was fair; for what Aunty Belle wanted, and what every one who values order want4, is that little girls should be tidy as a habit, and not be­ cause they are continually reminded. Aunty says that next year their will be two rewards, if two have been earned.--Susan Coolidge, in Sutulay School Times. GOOD manners and good morals are sworn friends and firm allies. FIGHTING FOR THE PENNANT. The Contest for the Base-Bali 43^fl2hampionship of the Ha- j tional Game. ••hi A Neck-anil-Neck Race Between De­ troit and Chicago--Noias of the Game. , (CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.] Wb*t a fight the League clubs ate having, and what a magnificent race they are en­ joying for the League pennant of 1887. When they started out at the commence­ ment of the season the indications for a race after the procession order seemed plainly descernible. Chicago, the cham­ pions of other years, seemed to have gone to pieces, and au assertion that they would be in the race at this stnge of the struggle would have received the laugh from nine out of ten lovers of the national game. The end of the seventeenth week of the season, however, finds Detro t (the pres­ ent leaders) and Chicago neck and neck in the most remarkable pennant fight the League has vet known, while Boston and New York, although a bit lower down in the string than are Chicago and Detroit, are stdl in the race, and either of them may go to the front before the season closes. Both are being whipped and spurred to their snpremest efforts by their respective officers, and the following cir­ cular issued to the members of the Boston team by President Scden npon the return of the team from its last Western trip, shows how much the championship is wanted at Boston. President Soden's cir­ cular reads as follows: To the Members of tht Boston Basr-Iiill CUih: GKNTM:MEN--You have retained after a dis­ astrous trip, unsatisfactory alike to the man­ agement and public. Various reasons have been advanced by lovers of the game for the poor showing made, nono of which we feel jus­ tified in accepting as the true explanation, and we therefore await the result of our observance during the coming gavtes to lead us to a satis­ factory conclusion. The Boston public, who generously and enthusiastically patronize the game, justly demand better ball-playing, and the management insist upon a better showing for the future. The management feel that you are very liberally compensated for your services, that a generous policy has been shown toward you, and that there is no ground for dissatisfaction or complaint, and in return they feel that they are justi­ fied in demanding your nmst skillful serv­ ices. We are very desirous that the champion­ ship pennant shall again l>e brought to Boston, ana as an incentive to you to redouble Your efforts to bring about that much-desired result we submit to you the following proposition: Should vou win the championship the present season the management lierebv agrees to di­ vide among you the sum of £'2,500. and in addi­ tion thereto to arrange for a complimentary benefit game, the entire receipts to be divided among the players. We hope and expect that eaoh member of the team will do h s utmost to win the coveted prize, that each will play as If the result de]>ended on his individual efforts, and that witn a "strong pull, and a pull alto­ gether, " success may crown your efforts, and our most sanguine expectations be realised. Vary truly yours, for the management. A. H. SODKN, President. DETROIT AND CHICAGO. The series of games just played in Chi­ cago between the champions and the Wol­ verines have been of absorbing interest to lovers of base-hall everywhere. When the Wolverines arrived here the standing of the teams was such that Chicago, by winning the three games, might take the lead in the race which Detroit had so long held. Both teams went upon the ball field Satur­ day afternoon "for blood," and a more in­ tensely exciting game has never been wit­ nessed upon the Chicago Base-bail Grounds. But seven innings were played, owing to the heavy clouds, which shut out the daylight; but the 15,01)0 people present --the largest crowd present at any one game this season--went home just as well satisfied as though nine in­ nings had been played. The game stood three to two at the end of the sixth inning, when Chicago suddenly dropped onto Getzein's delivery, and entered into a batting streak that raised that great crowd onto their feet in many and many a cheer that fairly shook the grand stand. The game was in many respects one of the most remarkable yet played on the home grounds. Clarkson, whom the Detroits drend as they do no other man in the National League, was in the points. His work outgrew the descript­ ive power conveyed in the adjectives, and became simply phenomenal. Pitching with wonderful accuracy and coolness, he completely baffled the great Bluggers from the Straits. Brouthers alone of all the team was able to gauge the wizard's deliv­ ery. Besides striking out six of the Mich­ igan men Clarkson fielded six grounders to Anson. Three of these were red hot, and one was pulled down with one hand on a jump. The great pitcher, besides pitching an extraordinary game, made two home runs--one over the Harrison street wall and the other a low, hard drive over the grass in left field. Flint handled the de­ livery of his old colleague in splendid form. When the game was called at the com­ mencement of the eighth inning the score stood 8 to 2 in favor of Chicago. The two clubs crossed bats again on Monday, and again the Wolverines were downed, after a magnificent contest, by a score of 6 to 4. This produced a tie for first place between the two clubs, and when the contestants met on Tuesday for the third game of the present series, ex­ citement among base-ball enthusiasts ran high. Another enormous crowd assem­ bled at the ball park to witness the battle of the giants of the League, and were rewarded by another splendid exhibition of the science of the national game, For a third time in succession Clarkson, the crack pitcher of the Chicago team, faced the De­ troit sluggers, and he held them down to five base-hits. Four of these, however, were bunched in one inning, \trhich, aided by an error and a base on balls, netted them five runs and gave them the game by a score of 5 to 3. In the other eight innings but one solitary base-hit was made off John Clarkson's deceptive curves. In the three games the heavy hitters of the De­ troit nine hit him safely just eighteen times, an average of six hits to a game. Verily is Clarkson a wizard. THE WESTELTN CLTTBS IK THE EAST. The Western clabs have started upon their last Eastern tour of the season, and the struggle during the next three weeks will be well worth watching. The foremost clnbs in the race are in better form to look horns than at any other time this season. The Detroiters, who were fast going to pieces with Weidman, Baldwin, and Get» zien in the points, will leave for the East with a powerful club. President Stearns, who alone of all the Detroit management has any sensible or coherent ideas about conducting a base-ball team, has been in­ defatigable in his labors to place the nine upon a level with Chicago. When his elub returned from the East on crutches, about three weeks ago, Stearns began to east about for new material. He signed Pitcher Gruber, of the Hartfords, and then stole a march on Indianapolis and Cincinnati in picking up Beatin, of the Allentowns. These two pitchers have saved the olnb from sliding down the column. Gruber has displayed considerable ability as a twirier, and Beatin gives promise of great things. They are youngsters in the league, however, and there is no telling what may befall them on their Eastern trip. Should the old hands get to hitting them Detroit is lost, for Getzein alone can­ not be expected to hold the club in its present position. The Boston club seems to be still upon the decline, compared with its strong showing at the outset of the season. The cause, as asBinged by many, is that there is too muoh Kelly in the club. The $10,000 man is a good player when under restraint, but as cap­ tain of a team he is a failure. This fact, added to the almost complete collapse of the Hob's batteries, has ruined the chances of the clnb. The Chicagos, who are still second in the race, are in prime condition. Upon the result of their playing during the next HUM weeks will DEPEND TTMIT tihanoss of winning the jwnnant. _ ILLINOIS STATE KEWSL --A new Christian Church ia projeete# ft Clinton. v --A water-works company has purchase# the Kankakee electrio-ii^ht plant. --A deaf-mute reunion, lasting thra* days and commencing Sept 9, will at Jacksonville. --Andrew Hardin, who settled in County in 18-56, died at Dixon from! disease, aged 62. --On account of the drought at Ts ville, the Wabash Railway has been off from using the city water. --In. the collection taken up in a promt* nent church at Lincoln, a counterfeit dot* lar is reported to have been foand. . . t --Deputy Sheriff Morgan levied on tto grocery store of Charles D. Hudson : v Hyde Tark upon a confession of judgment ' in the Superior Court for $2,235 in favalF . of Moses W. Gray and others. ^ --Hie Litchfield Council decided to ia» -s ' crease the water-works service there, anK have already commenced extending water mains. Three thousand feet ciP piping hns already arrived. The wate% works originally cost $73,000, and the e^ tension will cost several thousand dollail' V7 more. .li. --The first prosecution under the nefr >../ < medical practice act, that took effect Jnljr ' 1, was had in Decatur. Mrs. Mary Schultt*, a midwife, who has been following thffc / vocation there for years, was convicted anil 4 fined 8100. The woman bad no certificate from the State Board. Other arrests an to follow. --A severe wind-storm passed over Bur* lngton recently, doing considerable daiiH ', age. The house of a man named Jot son was demolished, and farm building hay-stacks, fences, and other objects scafe> tered about promiscuously. The storat passed from west to east, and was abo«| ^ half a mile wide. ^ , --Th j Dempsy Brothers at Basswood, near Joliet, are cutting down five or six red-oak tree* per day with which to feed their cattle. They seem to thrive upon such fodder. Matt Link says his cattle aw. in better condition this year than they weai* last. He has been dieting them on ndk'-' oak leaves and hazel brush. --The Peoria Transcript says the Maceiji, ' County Board of Supervisors have decided, to bring suit at once against W. W. Fostef, ex-Sheriff, to recover $11,492, being tho . sum the Auditing Committee reports that Foster owes the county for money wron$* " fully withheld. John Trainor, ex-County Superintendent of 'Schools, was reported short in his accounts over $1,000. --A supposed pauper was sent fnttfc Centreville to the County Farm at Belle­ ville; was admitted and received medic& attendance. When he felt better he asked' to be turned loose. In his valise, which was searched on bis arrival for dangerous weapons, was found A check for $1,100 and $30 in icash. The Superintendent made him pay for his hoard, lodging aqjl . medical attendance, and then diachaig«i^; him. ;• The difference of $39,968 between this year's and last year's assessments to the smallest difference that has ever oc­ curred. There are sixty-three counties fai whV:h the assessment is less than 1M|I yesfr. The greatest proportionate increase is that in Cook County, amounting to tho snug sum of $7,500,OiMJ. Without the ia- cresse in Cook the assessment would havo been away below that of 1886. A general and sweeping move will be made to eafcj!^ all the corporations which have heretofoDa managed to escape. .. -*-At the recent meeting of the State Board of Equalizat on Auditor Swigeft laid before them a statement of the stnnsf •lent by counties for 1837: •rJ Assessment, 1«87. * 14,o.5.;:07 V24O,7T'J 4,0 <8,716 8,73 a.1'22.403 10,432,671 1,187 100 <,«Jli,810 Counties. Adams Alexander. Bond ioone Brown Bureau Calhoun Carroll Cass 3,t;u;,;ui5 Champaign 10,520,181 Chiistiau 7,*18'2,007 Clark 1,9*1. ti'-S Clay ; «,092,41-2 Clinton. Coles 5,'J 14.418 Cook..... 158,698,338 Crawford CumherlfBd 1,11(3,052 l>eKalU.. 8,5o;),lt<3 DeVVitt Douglas ...I.. 8,.»8,!)24 l)u l'aye 5,408,ii9 Kdgar 6,0^1,74 > Inc. • over 1898. * Dec. « 9.9KI Kd wards Ktlhi^ham layette...... 1'ord Franklin lultou..... liallatin...... tireene liiundy Hamilton Hancock. Hardiu Hfiuierspn Htmry Iftxjuois •I^ckson .fasix-r seller soil Jersey Jo Daviess Joiuisou Kane Kankakee Kendall Knox Lake l.a t-alle Lawrence Lee., Livingston Loijun Macon... Macoupin... Madison..., Mhrion Marshall. Mason Massac McDonough. Mc Henry Met. can..... Menard Mercer Monroe Montgomery e. ;9..19H Morgan... Il,l.-7,i)y0 Moultrie.. Ogl© Peoria... M. ....... Beffy Piatt...... Pike.... Pope Pulaski Putnam liaudolph.......... KicUlttiul Hock Islands Saline Sangamon .'chuyler Scott Nhalby Stark St Clair <3... Stephenson Ta.-.ewell Union. Vermilion Wabash............ •\Vajren Washington....... Wayne. White Whiteside,.... WU1 WilliaiuMn Wiimtibago... .... WtrtKUonl. 1,*'^ 1,065 2,:-i'i'2.:t78 2,820, ;^>4 5.W.iMt l,a> ,926 8,791,1>4 l,4;><j,9>5 6,'23'J, *21 4,i3l,W7 1,-H2 VMS 8,300,'/TO 718,, ii 10,cao,88-t Si,-l>5,J32 1,041,792 ljtih'.Nie 3,408,(>S8 4,72-3,502 *27,328 13,637,811 4,72t),2u3 8,831.761 10,990,121 5,j:U,333 17,S5i»,580 1,434,781 8,111,925 10,1)1*, 018 7,75 s,003 9,587,137 S.748.875 ll,lo<),9t>8 #,78 i, 554 4,586,233 8/418,474 1.438,736 7,180,911 7,426,761 18,^5,^1 4,517,435 6^64.332 V,58,'«0 2,54^,240 6,945,799 15,511,680 1,885,611 4,814.503 6,496,070 1, IS I,'.<79 844,419 1,745,526 8,550.007 1,739,339 7,411.161 1468,951 17,i£5,i02 3.541,011 91650,918 6,829,0*) S.K8,i*J 16,680, 8,413,290 7,786,685 l.ttD,373 10.776,033 1.763,292 e,T75.037 9,51j.265 1,830,536 1,796,499 M1.M '1«.»M,7*I 1,787.841 10^*47,263 6,672,339 117,47* 44.840 Total. #726,138,163 Total increase over 1886, $10,408,5»8$ total decrease from 1886, 910,440,497.