The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

1 A MODEL STEP-DA UOHTER. • « « « # « « CJJO HE meadow was all pearled over HP with dew; the August sun was ^ distilling sweetness from Abigail Wray's clove-pinks and sweet will- lams, and the girl sang gayly at her work, as she put the coffee and hot graham gems on the table, and nodded to her father comiug in from the fields, with his black-ribboned straw hat In his hand. "Well, puss," safd the farmer, with a smile, "how did you enjoy yourself last night, listening to this fine new lec­ turer?" "Oh, so much, father!" cried Abigails "The hall was crowded, and I don't know whether we all cried or laughed oftenest. Oh, father," £be added, "what a.grand thing it must l>e to be able to move people's hearts like that!" "Humph!" said Ellhu Wray. "In my time women used to stay ait home and mind the house and look after their children, instead of going tramping around the country giving lectures." "But Miss Perceval has neither hus­ band nor children, father," urged Abi­ gail. "And I don't suppose she has any home to look after." "Miss Perceval? That's her name, is it r "Father, I wish you'd go to hear her!" cried eager Abigail. "I'm sure she'd make you laugh and cry, too! You couldn't help it. She isn't pretty, you see, but' she has such an expressive face, with bright, sparkling eyes like a bird's!" "I knew a woman once," slowly ut­ tered Wray. "who took to speechifying in public. Nobody would have thought it of her, either--the quietest, shyest little thing in the world. But there is no accounting for women. I never beard her, but I'm told she made a suc­ cess of it. Her name was Daggett." "Father, you'll go with me to-night, won't you?" coaxed Abigail. "Do! Just to please me. .1 do so want you to hear Miss Perceval. John Tracy--he's on the committee, you know--he says they pay her fifty dollars a night. She must have a deal of money laid up. Oh, I wish I had a talent like that!" "Tut, tut, my little girl!" said the farmer as he sprinkled sugar over his heaping saucer of blueberries. "I don't wish it at all. What should I do if you *went lecturing half over the continent and left me here alone?" "But, father, I must leave you some tUAe," reasoned Abigail. "Every girl does." "Then you're not going to become a little old maid for my sake, eh, puss?" Abigail laughed, shot a roguish fiance at him from beneath the dark curtain of her eyebrows, and shook her head. "All girls marry, father," she said. "Tour Miss Perceval hasn't got mar- lied, it seems." "No, father. She can do better." "Don't you believe that, my girl," Bald Mr. Wray. "There is no better fortune in all the worj^i than to marry. If you can marry the person you love." "Getting sentimental?" Abigail ask­ ed, clapping her plump hands. *lt ain't sentiment, child. It's com­ mon sense," sturdily maintained Wray. "Father," abruptly spoke Abigail, Tve often wondered why you did not marry again " /*' "T'" W<» m* .tn "Because," added the girl, "mother never was much of a companion for you. She was always sick and com­ plaining. and she didn't care for books, as you did, and she fretted at every lit­ tle thing, until I used to wonder at your patience with her. Oh. you see. 1 noticed all these things, child though yon thought I was. And she told me ODCC " She checked herself abruptly. Wray looked at her with grave surprise. "Told you what, Abigail?" "1 don't know whether I ought to re­ peat it, father," said Abigail, comiug around to his side and resting her elasped hands lightly on his shoulder. "It was the day before she died; and ahe told me lots of things, besides, that I did not know. She said she nev­ er had any real right to your heart; that you never had cared for her, and that she didn't deserve that you should. aM that there was another girl " "There, puss, there," said the farm­ er, with a strange quiver in his stern eyelid. "Mother was flighty toward the last. We'll forget these things." "But, father, if it's Lucia Lee--as mistrust it is--and if you'd be any ha pier married to J)<;'r^i_w«ftH Tiiake aiiy p^tfedAbigail. "I'll be the stepdaughter in the world; I only j want you to be happy, father." ' . /'Well, it isn't Lucia Loo," said Mr. Wray, laughing, "and if it was, why you'd be crazy, child, to think of get­ ting me into such a scrape at fifty-odd years old.' "But you're young-looking. father, and handsome," urged Abigail. ' "Nonsense! There, give ine some 7:; ,'ippre coffee. Those lazy fellows in the ten-acre lot will be sure to dawdle away the time until I get back<to them. l*et's hear something more about this ^ ||eturing old maid of yours," he added. /^"Father, hush!" * '(Abigail had gone back to her seat bo- ty, "• pnd the tray, where she faced the \f" #ide, open door. She could see a figure •landing hesitatingly on the threshold; her father,was quite oblivious to its presence. "It's Miss Ferceval herself!" cried v. ' Abigail, jumping up. "Please walk in, ' ̂ flliss Perceval. I'm so glad to see you. ,*v1fou don't know it, perhaps, but I was i- ane of your listeners last night, and I Jfcept thinking bow proud I should be "5, i If ever I had a chance to speak 1o you! ; • Oar name is Wfay, and I am Abigail. > jather. this is Miss Perceval!" y.'"i Mr. Wray, who had risen from his p* 'teat and now stood facing tin; unex- &v. ^vjpected guest, bowed courteously. Few f' *" tity votaries of fashion could have dis- 1f. *> jyuare exquisite courtesy and hospitality than this country lass, in the blue cambric frock with the simple white ruffling at her neck, as she wel­ comed the stranger. "Will you have some of our fresh blueberries?" said Abigail. "I picked them myself, while the dew was on them. And the coffee is quite hot!" Miss Tercival was a tall, middle-aged woman, wiih brown hair, slightly threaded with silver; bright, dark eyes and color that varied in her cheek, as she looked from Abigail to her father. "I--I have lost my way," she hesitat­ ed. "I oughtn't to have attempted to ramble about aloae; but I used to know something about this part of the coun­ try, and-- Once more her eyes fell beneath Elihu Wray's searching glance; she laughed uneasily. "So you are the lecturing woman?" said lie, quietly. "The "lecturing old maid,' you called me, Elihu," retorted Miss Perceval, re­ covering her composure with marvel­ ous quickness. "Have I grown so very old?" "But--Miss Perceval?" "That^s my nom de publique," said she. "One must shelter one's self be­ hind something. How do you suppose •Huldah Daggett' would look on the bulletin boards? Can't a woman change her name except by matri­ mony?" "Father," cried Abigail, "are you ac­ quainted with Miss Perceval? Why didn't you tell me so before?" "Because I didn't know It myself, child. How was I to know that Miss Perceval, the famous lecturer who makes people laugh or cry, according to her.will, was little Huldah Daggett, who used to hunt hazelnuts with me and build snow forts beyond the school- house forty years ago?" "I feel exactly like a ghost come back to this earth," said Miss Perceval, shiv­ ering. "Everything is so changed, and yet the same. And I have dreamed so many, many times about returning to dear old Millville: And so Janet is I'LL BE TUB BEST STKP-DAUGHTEB IX THE WOBI.U. GAME PRESERVE IN CANADA. Plans to Secure 30,000 .cqa«re Miles of Hunting and Fishing Grounds. About the most ambitious flsh and <an*e club yet projected on this conti­ nent Is the proposed Lake St. John Limited Privilege Clubt with a proposed membership running Into the thousands and the rights to the fishing and bunt­ ing contained in 30,000 square miles of territory. A few prominent Canadian# and Englishmen are interested in the movement, but the great bulk of^ the members will be Americans. The promoters of the club have al­ ready secured control of nearly all the trout and ouananiche waters of Lake St John and Its tributary lakes and riv­ ers. All the rivers flowing In from the north and west, some of which are 200 or 300 miles long, and all the waters connected with them, are already secur­ er. Small portions of some of the great lakes' southern feeders are fished by existing clubs that will probably be ab­ sorbed in the new organization. Ex­ penditures to the amount of $400,000, already made in acquiring these rights, In erecting hotels at Roberval and the Grand Discharge of Lake St. John, In providing steamers on these waters, and for canoes, camp equipment, etc., will be assumed by the club. Hatch­ eries are to be established for both trout and ouananiche to keep up the supply of these flsh in all the club wat­ ers, and--most Important undertaking of all--the Atlantic salmon Is to be planted in all the large rapid rivers flowing Into Iihke St. John. , Arrangements are now being made with the Government of the province of Quebec for securing two immense tracts of territory for game parks for the new club. Each of them is to be about 1,000 square miles In extent. One of them will run back from Roberval, on the west shore of Lake St. John, to­ ward the St. Maurice district, and the other will be southeast of the lake, and take in the Lac de la Belle Riviere dis­ trict, already noted for the quantity of large game found therein. These parks are to be abundantly stocked and to be inclosed by heavy wire fencing. The fences alone will cost $150,000. In ad­ dition to moose, elk. caribou and red doer, it is proposed to stock these parks with the best species of foreign game birds from localities enjoying similar climatic conditions to those of Canada MET HENRY CLAY. dead, ar*d this tall girl leaning on your shoulder is her daughter! But you are not changed, Elihu; at least, not out­ wardly." "I am changed in nothing, Huldah," said he. "Nor have I ever changed in j nny-r^ppct." "No;, when you married Janet? Oh, Elihu it was then that I felt forced to plunge into some all-absorbing occupa­ tion, to keep myself from heart-break. I nevi«r should have had a career if it had not been for that." "Janet told me you had confided to her ti^it you were engaged to a rich bankpr in New York." "It was not true!" exclaimed Miss Perceval. "She told me that you were in lore with her; that you were heart­ ily sU'k of your old bargain with me. And I wrote you a last appeal, which you sever noticed by word or line--an appeal that I sent you by Janet. After that what could I think?" Abigail had flown upstairs, and now returned with a time-yellowed note in her hand. "Father, I believe I can explain this," said the. "Poor mother yielded to temp­ tation and kept back the letter. Here it is. I found it between the leaves of one of her books, and, until now, I never understood what it meant. I see it ail, father! Miss Perceval! Father! Farter! Remember what I said ten minutes ago. Dear Miss Perceval, he is so aaad. so-tree. an d r ni re ad y to make such a model stepdaughter!" And then she ran out of the room to rescue her pet terrier from the fangs of the butcher's big dog, coming down the road, and when she returned Miss Perceval sat smiling in the deep wMn- dow-seat, a daisy in her hand, a blush on her cheek. "Would you really like a stepmother, child?" said she. "I would like father to be .happy!" eagerly answered Abigail. "Then," said Miss Perceval, "I sup­ pose you must have your way!" And the world at large wondered at this brilliant lecturer marrying a quiet country farmer, and secluding herself in the wilderness. But the world at large did not know how happy she was. New York Ledger. An Anecdote Related by Miss Crosby, the Blind Hymn Writer. One of the anecdotes related bj Fanny Jane Crosby, the blind hymn writer, concerns her meeting with Henry Clay. Clay had been Invited to visit the institution for the blind, at Thirty-fourth street and Ninth avenue. "I was but a girl at the time, not yet out of my teens," she said at her Brook­ lyn home, "but I had had considerable experience, and while not reasonably known to Mr. Clay I had written little things and sent them to him. One in particular which I had sent to him about that time was upon the death of his son, which was fresh ia his mind, for he referred to it when he began speaking to us. "At 3 o'clock Clay, with a number of friends, drove up to the entrance of the institution in a carriage and alighted. All the girls were marshaled in the grounds in pur best bib and tucker, with the board of managers, just in­ side the entrance gate. It was a nice day in May, I remember, and the girls who had prepared their pieces came forward and recited them to Mr. Clay. He appeared greatly moved at the dem­ onstration, as indicated by the tones of his voice in his reply, for, of course, I did not see him. "Mr. Clay, who was, I believe, one of the kindest of men, alluded to his several communications with" me, and my deep sympathy in his sorrow over the death of his son, and spoke of his sympathy at what he described as my misfortune in not being able to view n,itnrr> in it<» V>npn1r>«*t mood it was on that May day. He had some­ thing to say to the other girl speakers, and went up to the institution itself and seemed to feel a deep interest in everything. "Mr. Clay sat down to a luncheon pre­ pared by the girls, and asked particu­ larly as to who had prepared each one of the good things. Then he said that at his Kentucky home he had simple food, and so they could, understand how great was his delight to get such nice food when away from it. All of the girls voted Mr. Clay as. the great­ est and best of men. He went away greatly pleased with his visit."--New York Sun. f there cans BEST TO HAVE HIGH IDEALS. tip HE polishing process IS not al- jt ways fortunate for the object ex- ^ peri men ted upon. Pure sliver can be worn thin as paper, and show true metal all the way through; but the plated article must be brightened carefully, and so must coarse souls, for their basis Is brass. Nothing destroys freshness and purity of heart like dally contact with a sordid nature, says the Buffalo Enquirer, especially If this be one to whom bouud by ties of affection. Between those who are continually to­ gether there can be no compromise in relation. There must either be con­ tempt for sympathy, and bow rare to find sympathy! Art Is the one Idol whom the lover never charges with his own imperfec­ tions. Every Intimacy between man and woman lias Its disillusions and hu­ miliations; upon the shoulders of the other each lays the burden of the fault. But he who Is enamored of an art suf­ fers only from self-betrayals. Un­ changingly perfect, it commands eter­ nal devotion. Selfish persons do not begin their career by revolving to p'ease only themselves, but by finding some apparently valid excuse for ignoring the welfare of others. False premises, like earthworms, attract the gaze which is lowered from heights of beau­ ty and generally to the mire upturned by the wanderer's own feet; and to the mind which once gives itself over to specious reasoning there will obtrude a thousand proofs of the baseness of associates to one suggestion of personal reproof. Women Lawyer*. In refusing to enroll the name of Miss Sobrajl, a distinguished English law graduate, upon the list of lawyers ad­ mitted to practice, the High Court^of India Is behind other En­ glish colonies. In New South W ales, and even In Cape Colony, there are several women bar­ risters. The idea that women as lawyers is a new notion is an er­ ror. As long ago as 1648 Margaret Brent, Maryland, was duly licensed to practice in the courts of her State. An­ other instance to prove that the woman lawyer is not a product c-f the nine­ teenth century is that in 1487 Cassan­ dra Fidelis, then only 22 years of age, was a professor of law in the Univer­ sity of Padua. She is supposed to have suggested Portia to Shakspeare. The first woman admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of the United States was Belva A. Lockwood. good reason for it Amerl- pt to smile at the well-known reserve of the English; but our cousins over the sea are wiser In their genera­ tion than we take them to be, for In "shutting themselves up" they save themselves from many of the indis­ criminate fllchings of vitality which we pay so dearly for exposing our­ selves to. A celebrated, physician ascribes much of the waste of nervous force which is characteristic of Ameri­ cans to our over-soclablllty. We re­ spond so quickly to any sort of com­ panionship that only by occasionally isolating ourselves can we shut off the nervous drain. No occupation absorbs more vitality than that of a teacher, and it Is Imperative that she should have perfectly quiet hours In which to recuperate. Straw Horseshoes. In Japan most of the horses are shod with straw. Even the clumsiest of cart horses wear straw shoos, which, in their cases, are tied round the ankle with straw rope, and are made of the ordinary rice straw, braided so as to form a sole for the foot -about half an inch thiek. These soltfc cost about one cent a pair. Discovery of Acetylene Gas. The facts relating to the discovery of acetylene gas are Interesting. It ap­ pears that some years ago Thomas L. Willson of St. Catharines, Ont., was smelting for metallurgical purposes From time to time he used a good deal of rock salt in his furnace stock, and also limestone as a flux. Whenever these two materials were fused togeth­ er the slag produced by the Intense elec­ trical heat included a dirty grayish substance wholly unlike anything else he had ever seen. For weeks he no­ ticed this substance without giving more than passing attention to it, dumping it into the stream upon the bank of which he had built his furnace. One day a curious thing occurred and at a time when the pile of slag had be­ come so large that its top rose above the surface of the water. A minute or two after dumping the slag as usual in to the stream, some of it going under and part remaining above the water In it red-hot state, Hie sizzling and steam ing was followed by a bright burst of flame. The next time Mr. Willson used rock salt and limestone the blaze .again appeared over the slag after it had been cast into the river, and, it being al night, he was much struck by the bril limit white light produced. The next rime that he had a batch of tlie queer grayish residue to dispose of he did not waste it. but saved it and poured over it some water for experiment. He held a lighted match over the pile, when in stantly./fhere was a white, glowing flame.-^Vewteru Electrician. A. LOCKWOOD. Utfe for Old Pillow Covers. Old linen pillow cases that are worn to the verge, but noit over it, of break­ ing in places, may be slipped out of the linen closet and put aside to be used as bags, in which valuable winter gar­ ments may be safely put away. Any place that is fretted through should be re-enforced with a piece of old material; either cotton or linen, and when the coat or gown Is carefully brushed to see that absolutely no moth egg or crea­ ture is left in, it may be Inserted. The ends of the case are then slipped in the machine and closed tightly. Thus pro­ tected, it is safe to keep the garment in bureau drawers, a few pieces of lump camphor being tossed in aa tut addition­ al safeguard. Decree Against Corsets. The Minister of Education in Saxony has just issued an order that all girls and young women attending the public schools and colleges shall discard cor­ sets and stays. The preponderance of public opinion in Saxony favors the de­ cree, but the girls affected and their mothers are protesting vigorously. Recent and vigorous agitation of the- subject in the press and in the lectures given by professors in medical schools is responsible for the Minister's order. Tight lacing has been denounced unani­ mously by the physicians of Dresden and other large towns because of its effect on the health and of its increas­ ing prevalence, even little girls indulg­ ing in the practice. Sbje Admires 1>«wer. This Is a picture of Miss Marie Pow­ ers, Decatur, 111., school girl. Her pho­ tograph stands on Admiral Dewey's dressing case in the Admiral's cab­ in on board the Olympia. "Every morning when I shave I look at the picture, instead of in the mirror," the Ad m i r a l t o Id E .W. Hardin, the St. L o u i s P o s t - D i s ­ patch correspond­ ent. "I have al­ ready cut myself MI88 POWERS* three times while looking at her, and expect she will be the death of me yet." The Admiral sent Miss Powers a big brass button from his uniform coat. She wears it constantly attached to a long gold chain. They knew nothing of eacli other until after the battle of Manila, when she wrote a school girl's letter of congratulation to the nation's hero. She sent her photograph and won tlid" great, silent, fighting man's warm admiration and a photograph with his autograph. Rales for Beautifying Complexion. Here are a few rules given by the celebrated French dermatologist, M. Felix Chaleux, for a clear, beautiful complexion and perfect health: Don't drink tea or coffee. Drink pure water. Eat grapes, apples, raisins and figs. Eat a few salted almonds dally., Don't eat mlich animal fooji. An egg or two a day, soft boiled, in­ stead of meat. Eat an oi'ahge every day or so. 'Walk two or-three miles a day. Bathe the whole body daily in tepid water. L-on't fret, don't worry; be calm and quiet.^ Follow the above, you will be perfect­ ly strong, healthy, beautiful and live to^ great age. Symptoms of Over Exertion. An eminent German physician de­ clares that as long as a bicyclist, after a long tour, has a good appetite, does not feel a desire to go to sleep at once, and Is not annoyed by heavy dreams on the night following, he may consid­ er that he has sot made too great a de­ mand on his physical resoUjf'es. Women's Paares by Men. Mrs. William A. White, of Emporia, Kan., made a great hit at |he State meeting of clubs recently by an amus­ ing paper on woman's pages written by men, ind which invariably contain references to a bright and cheery smile." The smile is the only help the writ­ ing man gives when the jell won't Jell, the roast burns, and cream sours and the ice MBS. WIUTE. melts. Then there is the economical- minded man, who tells how to make a H20 hat .out of 33 cents' worth of chif­ fon, seveii cents' , worth of violets and a silver buckle from grandfather's old shoe. He has no help for the woman whose grandfather wore cowhide boots. Eating thirty quafi in thirty days can't be much of a feat; many a map has eaten beefsteak every day for fifty days. If a girl is really fond of music, -her own piano playing will make her side. Absolutely False. Citizen--is there any truth in the Morning Screecher's statement that since you assumed the reins of govern­ ment the city's treasury lias been ir­ regularly plundered by politcians? The boss--Well, I should say not. Why, the thing has been done as regu­ lar a# clock work.--Philadelphia Rec­ ord. Cnltnre Best Acquired at Home. There is a mistaken idea of culture prevalent. Culture does not mean merely committing to memory a great number of facts but of text-books, but it does mean a careful and thoughtful assimilation of every bit of knowledge that comes our way for the purpose of making ourselves more intelligent, niore noble, more helpful human be­ ings, and where can be found a better school for the development of these attributes than in a wisely and proper­ ly conducted home V--Ladies' Home Journal. Economizing Nervous Force. The lady principal of a normal school gave excellent advice to a class of young women who were receiving their diplomas, when she recommended them strongly to room alone. Nervous pros­ tration is not common in F-ngiapi^ It begins to look as if the shirt waist had settled down into an inseparable part of our national dress. Fortunate­ ly, it is becoming to the majority of women--the degree depending largely on the fit of the waist. It is usually supposed that a shirt waist Is a very difficult thing to make, but it is a fact that many women that look the best in them are wearing waists that they themselves have made. It is a "fussy" job, bfit the reward is worth the pains­ taking trouble. Some of the handsom­ est waists are made with a round yyke that is finished with a half-inch insert­ ing. Small pearl buttons are largely supplanting studs for the front. Pique jstocks with ties.to match, are the latest. In neck dressings. A pinkish white organdie is sprigged with sprays of bright pink blossoms, buds and leaves. Satin striped organ­ dies prevail in these first exhibits, with single flowers scattered over the striped surface. A pale blue ground, with bright blue stripes, is sprigged with red. These goods illustrate fairly well the new spring shades and their great variety of tones. There are six tones in gendarme blue, from a pretty gobelin tint to a deep dark one. Then there are the forget-me-not blues and several turquoise shades with greenish tints. Orient yellow is a smart color, as well as two or three other yellows under different names, though but slightly different in shade. A deep orange with a reddish tinge is known as Klondike. Reddish yellows and orange yellows bid fair to be popular. KING DANCED THE HULA.HULA. How Kalakaua Put Aside Dignity add Entertained Americana. "I witnessed a most extraordinary thing In 1889, and one that I never ex­ pect to see again should I live 100 years --a crowned head, a king, dancing on a billiard table," remarked Paul Tromm- litz, of San Francisco to the Enquirer man, "and there were several Ameri­ cans presexft who will testify to the truthfulness of my statement. There was a party of us from the Pacific coast stopping at the hotel In Hono­ lulu In the year I mentioned. King Kalakaua was then on the throne, little dreaming that his dynasty was fading away forever to be merged Into the American government. The old man, for he then appeared to be nearing 60, was wont to come down to the hotel every evening from the royal palace and mingle with the guests. He was attired in ordinary citizen's garb, with no insignia of royalty about him. "On the evening I refer to Kalakaua came to the hotel attended by several of his best musicians and most accom­ plished dancers. We all went to the wlneroom below, which was also the billiard-room, where we were enter­ tained at length. Later, along about midnight or after, when the wine, song and dance had w;armed his blood to the boiling" point King Kalakaua leap­ ed upon the billiard table with the agil­ ity of a cat and commenced to give us the 'hula-hula,' or native muscle dance, In great shape, while we applauded him to his most effective efforts. When he had run the gamut of the exciting dance someone bet him that he could not kick the chandelier. He attempted it several times, but failed, owing, per­ haps, to his exhaustion from the dance. Then one of our party jumped upon the table and kicked the chandelier from its fastening to the gas Jet. The flow of gas was quickly shut off with a bottle stopper. All damages were promptly settled by cash on the spot, and the Kipg and his retinue retired from the scene. King Kalakaua died in San .Francisco during the Knights Templar conclave a few years ago. He was a Knight Templar, and after at­ tending the banquet returned to the hotel and died."--Cincinnati Enquirer. The Cuban Major General. I am the very model of a Cuban major general; My sole idea is money, made of paper or of mineral. My love of Cuba libre is not such as makes my livin' end, And I scorn all sorts of warfare that does not produce a dividend. We gather in assembly and shoot oft oui mouths ferociously, And all agree that Uncle Sam has treated us atrociously. The proper course for him, we think, would be to roundly pension us, Although the war dispatches did not prom­ inently mention us. All such affairs as sorties and surprises we were wary at, And yet we stuck quite closely to the Yankee commissariat. We're very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical, , And when prospective pay's in sight oar instincts are piratical. When Cadmfls sowed the dragon's teeth, armed men sprang up in brave ar­ ray, But nothing like the troops we raised by commonplace chicanery. The jingle of the dollars far more power hath to raise a force Than all the patriotic blood that in out dusky veins doth course. We garrison the restaurants, and with consummate strategy Pick out the best positions, and pose with mighty hat a-gee. Of battles that were never fought we prate most sanguinaceously. And when some one suggests a drink, we accept the same quite graciously. --Washington Post. Don'ts for the Nursery. Don't hang curtains around the cot. Children need plenty of air, especially when sleeping. Don't place the cot in a position where the light will fall on the child's eyes; nor in a draught. Don't forget that children's clothing should be warm, but light. Don't forget to remove the child to a cot, with a hair mattress, when it Is old enough to leave the cradle. Don't neglect to air the' children'# bed clothes every day, taking them in about noon. Don't allow a child to sleep with ad elder person; Its rest will be less dis­ turbed .and more beneficial alone. A Statesman's Remarkable Career. A very icuiarLable uiau is Prince Khilkoff, the Russian Minister for Railways and Public Works. He com­ menced his public career by making a tour of the world, in order to take note of all the latest inventions and to study the working of railways abroad in a practical manner. He first of all work­ ed as an ordinary mechanic in the loco­ motive works at Liverpool, after which he obtained the situation of a railway guard, and subsequently became a sta­ tion master in an English town. Re­ turning to Russia, he again worked as a mechanic, and afterward became a station master In his own country. After passing several years on the Trans-Caspian Railway he was made director of the Varsovie Railway; then Inspector General of Railways, and, lastly, Minister for Railways and Pub­ lic Works. A Costly Droucbt. The drought of the last few years has cost New South Wales an enormous amount of money. The flocks of the colony have shrunk from 00,000,000 to 40,000,000, representing a loss of 20,- 000,000 sheep. If to this is added the loss of the natural Increase, th'e shrink­ age amounts to 50,000,000 sheep; enough, that is, to equip a considerable- sized colony. In addition, there has been a loss of learly 300,000 horses and 150,000 cattle. That the colony has been able'to survive these terrific losses is a striking proof of energy and re­ source. Translated into money, the colony has suffered a loss, due to mere inadequate rainfall, of from £12,000,000 to £20,000,000 sterling. How Sea Lions Capture Gulls. In capturing gulls the sea lion dis­ plays no little skill and cunning. When in pursuit of a gull It dives deeply un­ der water and swims some distance from where it disappeared, then, rising cautiously, it exposes the tip of its nose along the surface, at the same time giv­ ing it a rotary motion. The unwary bird on the wing, seeing the object near by, alights to catch it, while the sea lion at the same moment settles be­ neath the waves, and at one bound with extended jaws seizes its scream­ ing prey and instantly devours it.--Sci­ entific American. Forests in Germany. With the single exception Of Norway, there is no laud In Europe whose area is so taken up by forests as Germany, more than a quarter of Its surface be­ ing devoted to them. ^ The anatomist ought to be able to fur* nish inside Information. Home-Made Refrigerator. ' In a large dry goods box place nf dust a foot deep. Inside the large box place one a foot ? horter on every side. Fill the space between with sawdust; On the bottom of the smaller box lay a removable crate of slats or lattice work, below which the ice Is to be placed. Removable'shelves are sci on cleats on all four sides, and the refrig­ erator is ready for the lid, or cover with hinges. When space in the cellar la limited, this box may set In a cool place outdoors In towns or villages where tne ice man calls every day, or In homes which store their own Ice, shelves and slat-bottom may be re­ moved to receive fresh ice every day. If It be kept outside, padlock the heavy Ud.--Orange Judd Fanner. A Gas Broiler. A very small and compact appara­ tus for roasting and broiling by gas has been patented. Two metal heat-retain­ ing walls are mounted on a pedestal, . and through these at the bottom many tiny jets of gas Issue, the opening being covered by a screen. A holder for the BROILING BY OAS. material to be treated fits between these walls and consists of a basket of wire-work, having a handle for the con­ venience of the operator. This device is adapted either for the broiling of meat or toasting of bread. ^ - Washing Clothes.* I used to be from half to a whole day doing my washing, rubbing, boiling and rinsing, in order to have white, clean clothes, but now I short-cut my washing, and am done in two or three hours, and am not tired or half sick, but am happy, with whiter, cleaner clothes. I soak my clothes a few min­ utes in a warm suds of boraxine soap powder, then machine them slightly out of this, then make a clean suds same as before and machine them through very slightly; then rinse in one clean water, with a little blueing added. Result, very white, clean clothes and no backache.--Rebecca L. Snavely, In Practical Farmer. Tired Kyes. People who complain that their eyes get tired while engaged in such pur­ suits as writing or sewing might try the ingenious invention of a Glasgow journalist. Finding that his eyes be­ came so tired that he could write only with great difficulty, he hit upon the plan of having some strips of colored paper pasted on his desk close to the inkstand, so that every time he wanted a dip of ink his eyes fell upon the color­ ed strips. The result was surprising, and the Inventor claims that by this simple device he not only avoided the use of glasses, but also Improved his sight. Smoking Hams Without Smoke House. Dig a hole in the ground one foot in diameter and one fo^t deep, and put three blocks of green wood or stones a foot high on the edge of It. Then take an empty sugar barrel and bore holes in bottom large enough to pass the hain strings through to fasten outside by passing little stick through loop, and after setting barrel up on the blocks start fire and it will smoke contents of barrel to perfection in a short time. Colrt Tomato Sancf. Twelve large ripe tomatoes, chopped and strained through a colander; one large sweet pepper, chopped; three onions, chopped; one tablespoonful black pepper, one tablespoonful all­ spice, one tablespoonful cinnamon, one tablespoonful cloves, two cups vinegar, salt to taste; stir al together and put in jars. Will keep a year. Do not cork. Virginia Cotn Muffins. Three eggs, well beaten; two heap­ ing cups Indian corn meal and one of flour; sift into the flour two teaspoon- fuls" "baking p"owderT'lifW|;^C" *ta(bie- spoonful melted lard, three cup# sweet milk, one teaspoonful sal*;' beat Ivell; bake quickly in rings pans; serve hot. . V"' Y'r': --, ±Ji wH*v- For Cleaning: tHe t , -. , Wash the hair thoroughly witl\/warm water and tar soap. Rinse "properly and rub riskly until fWcbtighly dry, and give the hair a good brushing.,Mix bay rum and cocoanut oil, and rub in the scalp thoroughly. This proves to be the most wonderful treatment, both for the growth and beauty of the hair. Cream He Kecipj^f J» Take a pint of sweet cru^jmT s#$»ten and flavor to suit your tast^.' Wh|p till stiff, have ready your crisis i^jready "baked, and spread on tjeni. ;T£im quantity makes two or thivipies. ̂ idy are soon made if you want a ifBicUf'les- sert. . " • "5"<- Cahbajre fuddimr. *' Boil a head of cabbage until tender, chop, add four eggs, one clip bread crumbs, one teacup of melted butter and milk to thin; season with peppe.* and salt; bake in a deep dish. •How to Clean Rronsss To clean bronze, dust it earefyily first, then wipe it with a soft cloth slightly moistened with sweet oil, and polish it with a very soft chamois skin. Oettinar Rid of Water Bnvs. To rid a house of water bugs, keep everything scrupulously clean and scatter powdered borax freely about the Infested places.