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PRESERVING THE EYESIGHT. remarked Incidentally that the man had an immense dairy, from which he sent out over a million pounds of "butter/and anequal Quantity of cheese, every year. At this, several of his hearers looked decidedly incredulous, a ad one o* them, turning to tho elderly mac, said: "You como from round his way, I b'lieve; did you ever hear tell *6f that dairy?" "Wal, no," drawled the person ail- dressed, with a perfectly grave face; "I don't recall ha.vin' lieerd of it till now, but I have lieerd that there's a man over in that town that has ten sawmills, that are worked an' kep' a- goin' by buttermilk, an' I persume to say it's tlie-same man, au' if one story's true, like as not the other may be." -'Any suspicion ?" asked the captain. . "I am net so sure,;' I am not so sure." . .' /• ' v . '• "Any person on board See them?" "Yon pepsou only. Mr. Greig, if you please, come here. I show you my pre­ cious diamonds. ain't it, two days after we leave Calcutta?" "That's so/' said Greig, cheerfully. "And very magnificent diamonds they were. I remember telling you that I wished one or two were mine, so that I might give them to He stopped. "I suppose we shall have to search the cabins," said the captain of the Ben­ gal. "It's a fearful ̂ nuisance, ladies and gentleman; but it aftJt be helped. May we begin with yours, Mr. Greig?" "I really don't know," protested Greig, "wh&I should have my cabin up- IT is always an inscrutable mystery to everybody why other people quarrel. For our own little argu­ ments there is always, of course, good, sound and sufficient reason; for the dis­ putes of other folksthe excuse appears ever absurdly inadequate. Why, for instance, young Greig and Miss Elsie Norman, both returning from India on the Bengal, should break off with amaz­ ing suddenness their engagement just as the Bengal was nearing the Bay of Biscay it was not easy to see. But they did. "And I suppose," said young Greig. with a face that looked less bronzed than usual, "that nothing I can say will alter your decision? Your mind is quite made up?" "It always is," declared Miss Nor­ man. She held tightly to the brass rail and looked away at the spot in the distance which represented Spain. It is best when quarreling with anyone you have cared for not to look at that person's eyes. "I particularly wish that for the time that we shall have to travel together, we shall see as little of each other as possible. We can easily say 'good-by' at Plymouth." "It will not be easy for me," said Henry Greig., "I am not used to saying | good-by to anyone that I---that I have "You should be glad of a new experi­ ence, Mr. Greig, It's a precious thing nowadays." "You're not yourself this morning, Elsie." 1 "1 wish I were not!" she exclaimed, with a sudden change of manner. "If I were some one else I wouldn't be so un­ set and turned out just becaus "I desire that Mr. Greig's cabin should be searched," said Mr. Yan-Straaten, insistently. . "That settles it, then," said Henry Greig, carelessly. "Fire away. I'll comedown with you." - - - The crowd went below apd stood in the corner while the examination was progressing. Elsie Norman, hearing the noise, left her aunt. and. rather red at eyes, came forward. The captain. Mr. Van Straaten. the chief steward and Henry Greig reappeared at the door of the cabin. The old German bore a leather case very carefully in his arms. "The diamonds have been found," an­ nounced the captain of the Bengal, se­ riously. "We shall not have to trouble you, ladies and gentleman." They were only ordinary folks, rath­ er bored by the tediousness of the jour- happy. Here is Mrs. Renton. She j uey from Calcutta, and they could not mustn't see my eyes. This is the last time we shall speak to each other. Good- j by!" | "But, I say, isn't there some means Elsie Norman held out her hand. Grieg pressed it and she turned and went below. Mrs. Renton sank into her deck-chair carefully, as stout ladies do, and seemed gratified .when the deck chair only creaked complainingly and did not give way. "Mr. Greig, pray come here at once. Miss Norman monopolizes your time to such an extent that we poor women see nothing of you. Sit down here at once and tell me all about yourself." "It is an uninteresting subject," said Greig, pulling another deck chair to the side of Mrs. Renton. "Tell me.a secret, then. I'm exceed­ ingly fond of secrets. When are you going to marry Miss Norman?" "Never." • "Never? Of course you're both young, but that seems a long time to wait, doesn't it? Mr. Yan Straaten said-- "Van Straaten is au old fool of the, kind they make in Germany. I shall have to ask Yan Straaten not to inter­ fere with my affairs." "His servant Hans is a queer youth. He looks after the diamond samples, I suppose." "I haven't seen Hans. But Van Straaten is the sort of old nuisance that ought to be labeled, like some of the luggage, 'Not wanted on voyage.' " "He always speaks very highly of Miss Norman," remarked Mrs. Ren­ ton, thoughtfully. "Why shoudn't he?" "Precisely. She is very charming, no doubt. But she should remember tha-t she is only a girl after all." "That fact has not escaped notice, Mrs. Renton." Mrs. Renton looked complacently down the undulating scene that her plump figure furnished, and lifted first one small foot and then the other from under the hem of her yellow skirt. The number appeared to be correct, for Mrs. Renton, having mentally audited them, sighed with satisfaction. "There is such a thing," said the widow, confidentially, "as common sense.", "I know Cheap eau-de-cologne and a certain relish over the serr^Ir. Yan Straaten's almost comic appearance, of Injury. On the other hand, it was delightful to feel that close to him th this time of stress, as hessat on deck or strolled up and down, was a cheerful young pei-son in her very best spirits. The bay meanwhile sym­ pathetically behaved in a manner quit® exemplary. "I any astonished, my tear," said Mr. Van Straaten, severely, "that you should be friently with Mr. Greig after what has habbened alretty. I strongly advise you to gif him up. You told me you had decided " "I've changed my mind," she said definitely. "Women folks are not good at a lot of things, but we do1 know how to change our minds." Mr. Van Straaten lifted his hat and turned away. The old gentleman, when he was a few paces off, seemed agitat­ ed--so much so that he had to pat his eyes gently with his scarlet handker- chiew. He called to one of the sailors: "Dell my man Hans to come up in­ stantly." Much commotion after the appear­ ance of the stolid-factjd Hans. A rush toward that part of the ship by all the passengers on deck. Swift talking In "German. Considerable temper on the part of Van Straaten; penitent words from Hans. ' v - "Mr. Greig," cried the old German, "come here directly. And Miss Nor­ man. Listen to this horreeble man .of mine., I haflost alsd my hat box. I ask him where it is, and he replies that he think he place it by mistake in Mr. Greig's gabin. Is it hot so, Hans?" Sorrowful acknowledgment from the profusely penitent Hans. Mr. Van Straaten raised his voice: "Then I say to him: 'Is it possible that you gareless schoundrel you plac­ ed also by mistake the diamond box in Mr. GJreig's gabin?' And he say, 'Yes.' " Quite a noisy cheering from the as­ sembled passengers. A pressing for­ ward to congratulate Greig. He, de­ lighted beyound question, turned to El­ sie Norman: , : "You don't regret being counsel for my defense; young Portia?" . "You are just the client I like." "And respecting this morning?" "Sir! I do not respect this morning. Let's look forward." They walked forward. , "Dot was a good drick of mine," said Mr. Van Straaten, as he watched them. He wiped his glasses carefully. "I knew it would answer. I was once, a long time ago, in love mineself."--St. James Budget. "No, no. Sense. S-e-n-s-e." "I wonder where, Mrs. Renton?" ' "It is not for me to tell you where/1 answered Mrs. Renton, modestly; "all than I can say is that you don't find it with young girls. At the age of, say 30, sometimes, now, you find a girl--or, perhaps, I should say a woman, ad­ mirably fitted to be a companion for a sensible man." "The. popular prejudice," remarked Greig, 'is nevertheless, oddly enough, in favor of girls of 20, sometimes." He looked up. "What in the world is the matter with Yan Straaten?" The old German, with his pince-nez awry pinching the end of his nose, was coming excitedly up the gangway. "Vere is the captain?" he screamed. "I Insist. Priug me all at once the cap­ tain." The captain of the Bengal hurried up. In a few words of mangled English Mr. Van Straaten explained. A group of Interested passengers «tood around. "I talk to Miss Norman for leedle time," cried Mr. Yan Straaten. "I go then to my gabin; 1 find there my pre­ cious diamonds--vaujshed." "They can't have gone far, sir," said the captain. "They have no need to go at all. Eight thousand bounds' vorth all gone. I must know how queekly who has stole them alretty." help showin diversion. "Most painful affair, really." "Case fouod under the pillow in the berth." "Seemed such an honest fellow, too." "My dear," said Mrs. Renton, bitter­ ly, "it don't do to trust any one nowa­ days. You never know who's who." "But you'd think really on a P. and O. steamship " "I'm sorry for that poor Miss Nor­ man. She was engaged to him, you know." "Oh, that's broken off quite definitely. I heard her tell the old German sdrThe old fellow asked her what was the mat­ ter, and she told him. He was a part­ ner of her lather's, you know, and he seemed much concerned about it. You see. dear, I wasn'-t exactly listening, but----" "But you heard, dear--that's the main point. Come into my cabin and see my new serge dress." They went aft, leaving Greig at the door of his cabin. lie was holding the sides to prevent himself from falling. | < )ther passengers went past his cabin, j keeping carefully to the other side of i the narrow corrider. None »f them spoke to him, but they all spoke to each other. "What does this mean?" cried Henry Greig. "Do they suspect me of " "Harry!" A soft, white hand on his arm, with a kindly pressure. He turned and seiz­ ed it gladly. "Elsie! Aren't you, too going to fol­ low them?" "Tell me first what it all means." It did not take him long to put that girl into possession of the facts. Her face flamed red with indignation. "And they dare to think that you would do a thing like that?", ( "Well," said Greig, uneasily, "they fouud the things there, you see. It's circumstantial evidence of rather an awkward kind. But I needn't tell you, Miss Norman----•" '>< >"> 'V "My name is still Elsie." "My dear girl, I needn't tell you that I shouldn't dream of taking poor old Yan Straaten's diamonds, nor anybody else's." "I'm quite sure of th#t, Harry. I must see him about it.^"' She repinned her straw hat with a decided air. "We two must stand together now, whatever happens." •» ..y>vV "Elsie; hadn't you better let me fight it out alone? The truth is nearly sure to come out sooner or later, and----" "In the meantime, dear, you will have to forget our stupid quarrel of this morning. I was quite wrong." ' "So was I," said Greig, promptly. A man has no business to kiss a girl The Indian Swell. A long-skirted tunic or frock of white muslin, close-fitting white trousers, and a rose-colored turban with a broad band of gold lace and tall, flashing plume of dark feathers and gold filigree, were the salient points. Other accessories were the sword belt, crossing his breast and encircling his waist, of dark green vel­ vet, richly worked with unalloyed gold, and thickly studded with emeralds, rubies and brilliants; a transparent yellow shield of rhinoceros hide, with knobs of black and gold enamel; a sash of stiff, gold lace, with a crimson thread running through the gold; bracelets of tit dainty workmanship known as ,lf>ypore enamel thickly jeweled, which he wore on his wrists and arms; and there were strings of dull, uncut stones about his neck. The skirts of his tunic were plaited with many folds and stood stiflly out, like the skirts of a "premiere danseuse" in ballet, and when he mounted his horse a servant on either side held them so that they might not be crushed. Four valets had charge of this costume, and it took them some time to array their master. The trappings of the horse were scarcely less elaborte; his neck was covered on one side with sil­ ver plates, and his mane, which hung on the other side, was braided and lengthened by black fringes relieved by silver ornaments. White yaks' tail hung from beneath the embroidered saddle cover on both sides, and his head, incased in a head­ stall of white enameled leather and silver, topped with tall aigrettes, was tied down by an embroidered scarf in order to give his neck the requisite curve. , Pules That.Max 'Be Useful to Those Threatened With Blindness.' A few simple rules carefully obeyed will do much to preserve the eyes in health. "Light and color in. rooms are important ' The walls are b^st finished in a single tint Windows should open, directly upon the outer air, an'd light is better when they are close together, not separated by much wall space, not dis­ tributed. Light should" be abundant, but not dazzling. It should never come from in front nor should sunlight fall upon work or on the printed page. Never read or sew in the twilight after au exhausting fever nor before break­ fast. Look up frequently when at work- and fix the eyes upon some dis­ tant.object. Break up the stretch olj, wall by pictures that have a good per­ spective. These rest the eye, as does looking out of the window. When at work on minute objects rise occasionally, take deep inspirations with the mouth closed, stretch the body .erect throw the arms backward and forward, and step to an open win­ dow or out into the open air for a. mo­ ment. Two desks of different height are valuable for a student* or writer/ one to stand by and the other to sit by. Plenty of open air exercise is essential to good eyesight. . • The general tone of the nervous sys­ tem has much to do with the eyesight. Prolonged or excessive study frequent­ ly has pain or poor vision as symptom. The use of tobacco may bring about de­ fective vision and alcohol sometimes de­ stroys it utterly, owing to herve inflam­ mation that it sets up. City life, with shut-in streets and narrow outlook, fa­ vors the production of errors in vision. When looking at distant objects the nor­ mal eye is at rest. To see near by, muscular effort is required. This ef­ fort, when constant changes the shape of the eyeball. After the eighteenth or twentieth year parts of the eye that earlier showed signs of bulging or be­ coming near-sighted may acquire new strength, and those who escape myopia up to this time are usually free from it after that. The children of near-sight­ ed parents are in special danger. They require constant care. It is best to« have all children's eyes examined for defects when they are 10 years old. Near-sight and color-blindness, are barriers to the army and navy, to cer­ tain fine and mechanic arts and to many industrial pursuits. Their early recognition saves time and money and often prevents the. discouragement of d^eat. Ounces of prevention are bet­ ter than tons of cure. There are but few forms of partial or total blindness that were not at one time the reverse of hopeless. In view of this fact the duty of parents and guardians is clear­ ly manifest. Ignorance must be replac­ ed by knowledge, carelessness by en­ lightened forethought. Precaution in the way of type, light, color and rest and exercise, together with occasional calls upon the oculist will probably secure fair eyesight for life.--Outlook. as she is ascending the gangway of a P. and O. steamship. .Ithas been done, no doubt, on more than one occasion, but it Is nearly always an act to be con­ demned by right thinking people who have not had the chance of committing the crime. Nevertheless, if it is at any time to be pardoned, It was in the In­ stance at present in question. "But" said the astonished Mrs. Hen- ton to her companion, "I thought you said, my dear, that thelf ^engagement was all off." "She certainly said so. Why sliotifkl she be so affectionate with him now, after this scandalous affair, goodness only knows." "Ah, my dear! Girls are queer crea­ tures." There were a few hours of mixed feel­ ings for Mr. Greig of the Eastern bank. It was terrible to feel this suspicion hanging over him, to watch the looks cast at him by the passengers, to ob Beyond His Means. The Chicago Herald tells an amusing bit of experience which one of that city's benevolent men had with a beg­ gar. The gentleman has a regular staff of "visitors," to whom he gives alms according to their needs and his ability. There is one old fellow whose calls are as punctual as the sun. On a recent occasion this man accost­ ed Mr. G. as usual, and received from him a half-dollar. The beggar took it, thanked the don­ or, and turned toward the door. Be­ fore reaching it, however, he seemed to be considering a matter very seriously. He hesitated, stopped, and then turned to Mr. G. again, saying, "Excuse me, sir, I would like to ask yoti a ques­ tion." "Well, what is it?" asked Mr. G. "It is this. Every month for years past you have given me a dollar, but to-day I come, and you give me only fifty cents. How is that?" "Well, I'll tell you," said Mr. G., smil­ ing good-humoredly. "I have had some unusually heavy expenses this month. My eldest daughter got married, and the outlay for her trousseau) etc., has compelled me to retrench in every di­ rection." "Ah, ,. yes, I see,"' said the beggar. "But, Mr. G., I really can't afford to contribute toward your daughter's wed­ ding expenses." & Adopted by a Newspaper. Willie and Oscar Mannerstrom are the legal wards of the Grand Rapids Evening Press. The paper is a great friend of the poor boys of Grand Rapids, and has done a great deal to help them in differ- erent ways, but it has eclipsed even itself by the adoption of these boys, who last winter were homeless and friendless in Chicago. And what a success the venture has been! The first thing to do was to find some way for the boys to earn a livelihood. Such little fellows they were, only 12 and 10 years old, that it was impracti­ cable to think of their doing anything very hard. Some one suggested es­ tablishing a messenger service in con­ nection with the Press, to be run by the boys. Neat uniforms were bought for them, they were furnished with bi­ cycles, given the use of the office tele­ phone and lots of advertising in the paper, and the thing was done. The kind-hearted people of Grand Rapids patronized them at fir&t because they felt sojry for them, but now they do so because they know them, like them, and trust them. Before long Willie, the oldest, found he could make enough money, by himself to support both, so Oscar began going to school, and his teacher says he is a remarka­ bly bright boy. Both boys are brim full of energy and ambition, and will, no doubt, when grown be successful men of Whom the Press need never be ashamed. POE'S EARLIEST EFFORTS. • • : 1 ' ' ' ' . " A Poem Not Included in His Works -iy«\ Recently Discovered. The "Greek Letter Societies" of the University of Virginia, called "Corks and Curls," which has just been issued, contains a never-before-published poem by Edgar Allan Poe. We regret that we cannot reproduce the lithographic facsimile of the last verse and the sig­ nature "E. A. Poe," which is clearly sliojvn in "Corks and Curls." The story of its discovery is thus told: The poem was. discovered by H. Dalton Dillard Feb., 23, 1805, in volume 1 of Rollins! Historic Ancie,nne, in the University of Virginia library. A search of the rec­ ords by the librarian, F. W. Page, show­ ed that the book had been borrowed by Poe while a student here in 1826, and had not been taken out since his time. In this poem the peculiar genius of Poe may be seen at lirst glance, and traces of the philosophy that marks "The Raven," "Dreamland," and other productions of his "lonesome latter years," are clearly apparent. As the poem must have been written when the boy poet was only 17 years old, it is in­ teresting in that it disproves?the state­ ment of his biographers that there was nothing cynical in the tendency of any of his earlier poems. The manuscript is not particularly neat; in the third st^uiza especially, several alterations and erasures occur. The verses are as fol­ lows: MY SOUL. Sailing over seas abysmal, From a world of shame; Once a vessel, strange and dismal- Phantom vessel--came Toward a fairly isle and olden, Where ill angels embeholden. Tenanted Fate's ghostly golden Fane of Doom and Fame. Fane of Fame! by seraphs builded, In the days of yore."" Here a temple chas'd and gilded From the earthly shore. Up to heaven rose it gleaming, All with Hope and Beauty beaming-- (Like a dream of Aidenn seeming- Had it seem'd no more!) But the pilot nearing, steering For that temple bright, Ever found the island veering From his aching sight. Till, from mighty shores appalling Came the solemn darkness falling-- In his hungry clasp enthralling Land and sea and light. Then, the vessel, sinking, lifting , Over hopes sublime (Perished hopes!) came drifting, driftir& To a wild, weird clime; Here a visitor undaunted, In that desert land enchanted, Still is seen the vessel haunted, Out of Space and Time. OUR FARMERS. Some of the Resources of Uncle .Sam's Agriculturists. :- The total acreage of all the farms in the United States is 623,218,619, of which 357,616,755 are improved of un­ der Cultivation, and 265,601,864 acres remain uncultivated. * According to the details furnished by the eleventh census, the estimated val­ ue of all the farm products raised in this country in 1889 was $2,460,107,454. i In the value of stock, the State of Iowa stands first, having $206,436,- 242"'invested; Illinois is second, with $180,431,662; Missouri is third, with $138,701,173. The total number of cattle in the United States in 1890 was 51,363,572, of which 1,117,494 wCre workihg oxen and 16,511,950 are milch kine, the re­ mainder being classed as miscellane­ ous. In the estimated value of farm prod­ ucts, according to the returns of the eleventh census, Illinois is first, with $184,759,013; New York is second, with $161,593,009; Iowa is third, with $159,- .347,844. •/•••'.; V " Ohio has the .greatest number of farms, 251,430, having 23,352,408 acres; Illinois is second, with 240,681 farms and 30,498,277' acres; Missouri being third, with 238,043 farms and 30,7S0,.- 290 acres. • - • - • - , -;r New York has the greatest arooUnt of capital invested in farm Implements and machinery, the sum total being $46/659,465; Pennsylvania is second, with $39,046,855; Iowa is third, With $36,665,315. , . , Kentucky .stands first in tobacco, having 274,587 acres, producing 221,- 880,303 pounds; Virginia is second, with 110,579 acres and 48,522,655 pounds; and North Carolina is third, With 97,077 acres, producing 36,375,258 pounds. Thfh first corn-producing State is Iowa, with an acreage of 7,585,522 and 313,130,782 bushels; next comes Illi­ nois, with 7,863,025 acres and 289,- 697,256 bushels; the third being Kan­ sas, with 7,314,765 acres and 259,574,- 568 bushels. According to the statistics furnished by our consular service, the farmers of this country are better clothed, bet­ ter housed, better fed, give their , chil­ dren a better education, and have more money in bank than the rural popula­ tion of any Country in the world. * Sounds Like a Scotch Story. A case of unusual strictness in Sab­ bath observance is reported from West Auburn, Me. A fanner was waited on by one of his neighbors who asked for the loan of his team the following Sun­ day "to take his wife and children to the cemetery. At first he flatly refused to let the team, arguing that it would be a sin to receive money for such a thing on the Sabbath day, but he finally said to the neighbor that he would think it over and let him know Saturday, re­ marking that he would pray over it in the meantime, uurday the neighbor called and the f ner said that he pon­ dered and praye I over the matter, and com© to the conclusion that it would be no harm to let the team, but that the neighbor must not pay for it until some week day following. So the neighbor hired' the team to go to the cemetery on Sunday, paying for it on -Monday, and everything was satisfactory. 1 Science Versus Custom, In Hungary, where it Is the custom for school children to kiss the hand of their teachers on coming and goi ng, the Board of Education has forbidden the practice for the future. Their decision is based on a declaration of the Sani­ tary Council to the effect that kissing is a dangerous proceeding always, from a sanitary point -of view, and should not be practiced unless abso­ lutely necessary, as It Is a certain means of carrying infection, especial­ ly In the case of small children. Consistency. "Now, you must not repeat this," said Jones to Smith,' after retailing a choice bit of scandal. "Oh, certainly not," said Smith. "How did you happen to hear lit?" "My wife told me. She is just like any woman-rcannot keep a [ secret of course?' America's Frostless Beit. What is supposed to be the only frostless belt in the United States lies between the city of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. It traverses the foothills of the Cahuenga range, and has an elevation of between 200 and 400 feet. Its breadth is perhaps three miles. The waters of the Pacific are visible from it, and the proximity of the ocean has of course something to do with banishing frosts. During the winter season this tract produces toma­ toes, peas, beans, and other tender veg etables, and here the lemon flourishes, a tree that is peculiarly susceptible to cold. Tropical trees may be cultivated with success, and in connection with this fact it is interestihg to know that a part of the favorite territory has been acquired by Los Angeles for park purposes and it only a question of time when the city will have the dis­ tinction of possessing the only tropical park in the United States. Strange to say, only the midtoay region of the Cahuenga range Is free from frost, the lower part of the valley being occa­ sionally visited. Not Unwholesome. Many people believe that it is an in­ jurious practice to drink with meals. A prominent sporting man is of an op­ posite opinion. He says that drinking nothing during or for an hour and. a half after meals is the best of ways to train down weight, but he cannot do It because it always brings on rheuma­ tism--probably from the solid food pro­ ducing over-concentrated salts in the circulation, and consequent deposits in the muscular fibre. The same writer says that the notion about animals be­ ing injured by giving them a drink when heated is a stupid and cruel piece of barbarism; that it only does them harm when the drink is very cold, by producing nervous shock as it would to a man; while if the chill is taken off at first, It refreshes a heated horse to take a good drink just as it does a heated human being, Floor Covering Out of Old Shoes. ^ new use ht>s been found for old boots and shoes. This is how they are treated in the process of conversion into a novel kind of house carpet: The shoes are thrown promiscuously into a large tank into which steam and dis­ solving compounds are run, thereby causing old shoes to take a thick liquid form. Certain proportions of tallow, borax and glue are then introduced, and the pulp is then run into moulds. The moulds are shaped and may have the form $¥ flowers, leaves, figures or geometrical designs. The pulp is run into these moulds and the figure har­ dens in the cold air. These casts are arranged in the proper figure or design, when a cementing process begins. The cement is a compound maie from the leather pulp and glue, and is run be­ tween the figures. * The figures soften a little with the compound, and the whole hardens together. In the cast­ ing of each figure a different colored pulp is used--red pulp for red roses, white pulp for white flowers, green for leaves, and so on. Thus elaborate de­ signs may be carried out. Tlfen comes the pressing by the use of rollers, and polishing with varnish; The result is a nice-looking floor covering. The cost of which is less than straw matting, and less than oil-cloth; in fact, an economical and durable carpet cover­ ing. *Hijfh Noon. - r rime's^fing^r on the dial of my life Points to high noon. And yet thehalf- spent day Leaves less than half remaining'! For . the dark, ' / Bleak shadows of the grave engulf the end. ' • v. To those who burn the candle to the • Stick- . y ' - • • The sputtering •'socket yields but little light. . • . V •... •• Long life is-sadder than an early death. We cannot count on raveled threads of • , age Whereof to weave a Jabric;rWe must us© The warp and woof the ready present ; 0 yields,, , ' And toil while daylight "lasts. When I bethink ... How brief the past, the future, still more ' brief, Calls on tqfaction, action! Not for me Is time: for retrospection or for dreams; Not time for self-adulation or remorse. Have I done nobly? Then I must not let Dead yesterday unborn to-morrow shame. Haye I done-wrong? Well, let the bit­ ter ta»te . . v " Of fruit that turned to ashes.on my' lip^. Be my reminder in temptation's houiv And^keep me silent when I would con­ demn. Sometimes it takes the acid of a sin To cleanse the clouded windows of our souls So pity may shine through them. Look­ ing back My faults and errors seem like stepping stones That led the way to knowledge of the truth And made me value virtue! Sorrows shine In rainbow colors o'er the gulf of years Where lie forgotten pleasures. Looking forth Out of the western sky, still bright with no(j>n, I feel well spurred and booted for the strife That ends not till Nirvana is attained. Battling with fate, with men, and with myself, „ . Up the steep summit of my life's fore­ noon, Three things I learned--three things of """" precious worth, To guide and help me down the western slope. I have learned how to pray and toil and save; To pray for courage, to receive what comes, Knowing what comes to be,divinely sent; To toil for universal, good, since thus, And only thus, can good come unto me; To save by giving whatso'er I have To those who have not--this alone i»-gain. --The Arena. An Odd Pavement. E. Turke, the head chemist of a sugar refinery at Cliino, Cal., lias recently been making some experiments which have resulted in the completion of the oddest pavement ever laid. It is made mostly of molasses, the kind used hav­ ing been a refuse product hitherto be­ lieved to be utterly worthless. It is simply mixed with a certain kind of sand to about the consistency of as­ phalt, and laid like an asphalt pave­ ment. The composition dries quickly, and becomes permanently bard. The heat of the sun, instead of softening it, makes the pavement harder and drier. A block of the composition successfully withstood repeated blows of a machine hammer and showed no signs of crack­ ing or bending. Should the pavement prove to be all that is claimed the sugai planters of the south may fin<La profit­ able market for the millions of gallons of useless molasses which they are said to have on hand. Rivers of Buttermilk. There Is more than one way of turn­ ing the tables en a person who Indulges in the practice of "drawing a long bow." One of the most effectual meth­ ods was recently employed by a slow- spoken Yermonter on an "accommoda­ tion" train. Several persons were listening in open-mouthed, wide-eyed astonishment to the talk of a loquacious young man, whose stories increased in size and gen­ eral Incredibility as time went on. He was a resident of iffewn adjoining that In which the elderly Yermonter" had spent all his days; but the old man watched the. narrator In silence, though with none of the interest displayed by the other listeners., ; At last the young man mentioned one at the citizens of his native town, and I)o You Know. That many a poor typewriter could make a good servant girl. That It takes a long time to decide whether "Trilby" is or Is not Immoral. That geese are Intelligent compare^ with women who try to cheat nature. That golf offers better facilities for flirtations than any outdoor recreation. That it Is a splendid law of etiquette in Japan that ladles cannot talk of their servants. That families not going to Europe this season are almost mortified. The vacation days spent in "riotous living" are never beneficial. That the caprices of some society women are insane enough to suggest an asylum. That those draw social lines closest who ought not be within them them­ selves. . The World's Highest Tree. No tree has yet been measured which Was taller than the great eucalyptus In Glpslapd, Australia, -tfhich proved to be 450 feet high. <* You can select a man from any swet to be a guide and philosopher, but It takes a Quaker, to be a guide, philoso­ pher and Friend Wet Boots. When boots are wet through, do not dry them by the fire. As soon as they are taken off, fill them quite full with dry oats. This grain will rapidly ab sorb every vestige of damp from wet leather. AsJt takes up the moisture, it. swells and fills the boot like a tight­ ly fitting last keeping its form good, and drying the leather without harden­ ing it. In the morning shake out the oats and hang them in a bag near the fire to dry, ready for use on anoth­ er occasion. " The Team Question. The worst thing one can do Is to feed horses for which he has no use. But when the farmer only needs the two horses, what kind should they be? This depends a great deal upon the soil of his farm. If his soil is loose and easy to farm a pair of horses weighing from 1.100 to 1,200 is the kind he should keep, while, on the other hand, if his soil is not easy to farm, and it requires a big, strong, steady team to do his plowing, this is the kind he should havp. s»v -- Coke as Fuel. Tests In the use of coke as a fuel for locomotives in place of coal have been made by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail­ road on some of its Virginia lines dur­ ing the past, few weeks, and have proved very successful. With the heaviest freight trains equally good results have been obtained from coke as from coal, with the great advantage of an =avoidance of the smoke and cin­ ders attendant on the use of coal. Consolation. Thou wondrous world! To-day how brightly fair thou smilest In despite of thy despair of yesterday! Thy tears then gathered with the morning dew, All somber was thy mantle, And the chill of sunless sky Smote thy young soul And bade thee weep a last farewell to gladness. Noon came-- And darker still the shadows wrapt thee round, When on thy pallid face A light resplendent should have shone, Closer the veil of sorrow pressed thine eyes. The thunderous elements fierce fought And struggled to enchain thy soul, And in tfieir mightiness weighed heavily. Dense darkness stifled and oppressed, Through weary, groanihg moments des­ perate thou, Till midnight tolled and seemed thy knell of doom. Then chaos came-- Thy heavy breast sank motionless, Struck with a sudden, awful fear; Cold dampness oozed from every pore, TJby misery was extreme. Earth! 'Twas thy purgatory, not thy death-- For at suspense, that blackest hour ere dawn, The chiming spheres exulting rang from heaven Arousing every chord of thy numbed faith. Soft radiance spread o'er all thy fading senses. • Thy new-lit soul responded with great glory, And quivering shafts of hope and joy Showered o'er all creation. Tumultuously retreated the spent shad­ ows, Vanished the darkness, Shone the morning star! _-Trr£ ... O mighty God of earth and heaven, / ' That canst thy word so torture and sub­ due And yet restore again to sweeter beauty. How infinite, sublime, incomprehensible Must be the resurrection of our souls! Tobacco-Growing States.« Tobacco is grown in forty-two States and Territories, but nearly half the crop comes frora Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, North Cvollna, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Connecticut A Sons of Need. When you shall dwell in Tranquil land, Where sweet the summers be, Lean in the light and kiss your hand, And kiss your hand to me. For I, who dwell in Lonely land, By that sweet sign shall see That love to you is kind and grand-- So kiss your- hand to me. When you shall dwell in Midnight lan^ Where tears and moanings be, Fold on your heart the unkissed hand And sigh your soul to me. And I, though lost in Lonely land, Will send an answer true,' And groping blindly for your hand, Creep in the dark to you! Profitable Rivalry. Topsham, Maine, has a very satisfac­ tory way of settling a town quarrel. Owing to the appointment of a chief engineer of the fire department who was not acceptable to some of the fire­ men the latter formed an independent company and bought a new hand tub. The town now has two companies, and there will be a hustle to see which can get to a fire first and do the most effect­ ive work. No one laughs harder at a poker joke than the man who wants the bystand­ ers to believe that he /understands Jt '