NERY uSTLY POLITIOS| Es aimale OF AN ELECTION IN GREAT E BRITAIN. Some Members 'Pay $10,000 for' a, Seat. of Doubtiul Tenure To Sanadie there is sciasseilee the method of conduct elections tor the British Parliament, although when' one stops to analyze the system, it does not appear 80 much different from a similar election in Canada, writes a correspondent. The question of finance is a serious 'one in Great Britain for the individu- al. _The to wage a hard contest; friends may contribute, but generally he bears the brunt of the expense. It .i-- a serious matter for a man in the middle class to stand for Parliament and the man in the lower classes has mo chance at all. So it is, that Par- liament is made up of wealthy or well-to-do members, many of whom have no real business in life. COSTLY, BUT mOT CORRUPT. There is very little corruption, for the slightest evidence will serve to unseat a man who runs at the polls. The "good old days-' when the can- didate whose purse could longest withstand the onslaughts of the "'free and independent" are gone; yet even "to-day 'the cost of contesting a seat ia by no means small, and the can- didate who is well supplicd.with -funds-has, other things being equal, @ distinct advantage over the aspir- @nt of limited financial resources. And then when there is no contest 'fhe expenses may bé heavy. for it is generally nocessary to prepare for a fight. Take, for example, the con- atitucncies losing their representa- tives through death. In 1890 there was no fight in Dul- wich, yet the expenses paid by Sir John B. Maple amounted to $1,810, of which $335 was paid to'the re- turning officer, while -$1,090- was cx- pended in printing, advertising, sta- tionery, postage, and telegrams. In 1895, when a contest did take place, _ the expenses of the winning candidate amounted to $2,900, being equal to 54 cents for every vote cast in his favor. The losing candidate's votes worked out at 66 cents ca an his total expenses ameunted to §$1,- FEW ELECTIONS THERE, In Lewisham, John Pennawas re turned unopposed at the last general clection, yet his expenses amvunted to $1,030. There has not been a con- tested election in that constituency since 1892, when the victorious can- didate expended $3,636, equal to §1.- Ot per vote. It is many years since the Ludlow Division in Shropshire, found itsclf in the throcs of an election campaign and on the unopposed returns of the late member if 900 the expenses amounted to $1,160. Seale Hayne, however, had a fight for his seat in Mid-Devon in the year named, and _ nis total expenses amounted to $6,950, equivalent $1.54 for cach vote in his favor. His unsuccessful opponent's bill was $7,- 15), equal to $1.91 for each vote received by him. Or course, in county constituencies the maximum of expenditure allowed by the Corrupt Practices Act is much higher than' in boroughs. a borough usually covers only a comparatively Small area, while county divisions are often many miles in extent, and the cost of reaching the voter is nec- essarily greater. In an English county division with less than 8,000 voters, the maximum o ° the Corrupt 050; whereas a candidate in a bor- ough with a similar number of vot- pail is only permitted to spend $2,- 650, both these amounts, being -- ex- cineive of the returning officer's charges. LEGAL TO HIRE VESSELS. It is a curious fact in connection with clection law that, although it is illegal to hire a carriage to teks a voter to the poll, expenditure for the hire of vessels is permissible, where the nature of the ceustituency is such that the voters #ct unable to reach the polling plac» without cross- ing the seca or ar «em of the sea. This, of course *¢ a matter of im- portance in 'cme of the Highland constituencice afi in Orkney and Shetland. The last named, from its peculiar mature, Je an expensive constituency to tigk', as at the gencral election of 1900 each vote cast for Cathcart -Wason cost $3.60; while the losing candidate's expenditure per vote amounted to $2.45. t is seldom now-a-days that the election expenses of a candidate even. in a-big county constituency amount to more than $7,500, though in the huge division of Romford the sitting member after the 1900 fight report- ed his expenditure of $9,630; while his defeated opponent's bill amount- e.! to $10,665. the M. P. whose expenses do not amount to more than a shilling per vote recorded--as was the case in Keir Hardic's. election for Merthyr Tydvil--is in an exceptional position. Another legislator whose election ex- penses are invariably l is os Labcuchere, whose bi es cents. per vote pecseiea in his "ten 00D FOR PRINTERS. . AS aq rale, the more keenly a scat ia candidate for Parliament jcontested, the larger the expenses: in- curred. A sitting member who is not 'in an exceptionally strong position may not find "it necessary to put forth great cfiorts, while on the other hand a champion who assails a noted fort- am ot the enemy is called upon to jincur large expenses for literature, placards, and other electionecring Weapons of offense. Elections, then, are essentially popular with the printing pa bill sticking fraternity, who doubtless would give their undivided and loyal | 255 support to a bill for annual Parlia- ments. ng M.P."s themselves, however, frequent elections are not regarded with approbation, for cven wealthy to defray too frequently the expenses incidental to a fight. feeling in favor of making the return- ing officers' expenses a public charge is growing in Parliament. Apart from_the question of, actual expenses, circumspect lest by some act, per- fectly innocent in itself, they bring heavy themselves within the moshes of the law, and after winning a seat, lose it through a technicality. It is in such matters as this that the import- ance of having a_ skilled election agent comes in. cs Der EEE Speman aay HOME FOR TIRED HORSES. How Man's Best . Damb Friend is} Treated :n Britain. The 57 inmates of the Home of Rest..for Horses, Friars-place, Acton, \Fongland, were regaled with a special New Year dinner consisting of apples, carrots, brown and white bread, su- gar and corn, the soct of which was defrayed by Mrs. Gore, of Brighton. The Duke of Portland is the presi- dent of the home, which numbers among its supporters the Duke of Hamilton, the Duke of Rutland, Lord Hertford, Lord Linlithdow, Lord Crewe, Lord Essex, Lord = ton, Lord Howe, Lord Lonsdale, and Lord Yarborough. 'The institution was established at Neasden in 1886, with the cbject of enabling the poor- er classes to procure on modérate terms rest and good treatment for their animals, i With timely help of this kind ani- mals are enabled to work with com- fort for years instead of living a life of perpetual drudgery, and being pre- maturely worn out. Upwards of 1,- 600 cases of this kind have been dealt with by the home since its founda- Poor people are also provided at a small charge with horses for tempor- ary use while their own animals are resting, and a third object of | the home is to provide a suitable asylum for old favorites. PURIFYING MILK BY OZONE. An apparatus in use in Germany for the purification of milk by ozoniza- tion is so constructed that the milk contained in a vessel flows thence in a thin stream into another vessel placed beneath. The wires &nd car- bon points vo. na strong electric bat- tery are so arrnnged that the are formed by the jumping of the current from one carbon point to the other passes through or in close proximity to the stream of milk. The ozone which is thereby engendered from the oxygen in the air is said to be suf- ficient to kill all micro-organisms con- tained in the milk. While no refer- ence has been made to the use of this apparatus for the purification of wa- ter, there seem$"to be no reason why ozone could not be applied to this end, unless it be the diflerence in cost between the milk and water, the wice obtainable for the latter possi- bly not permitting the use of _ this purifying agent. --+- 1T WAS JUST POSSIBLE. "f don't understand,"' said Mrs. Youngmother, "why it is that baby won't go to sleep. Tere I have been sitting and singing to him for the last hour, and yet he keeps crying, -- _ seems just as wide awake = as 'Well,' * said her husband, thought- fully, "I don't know, of course, and perhaps am wrong, but it may be that baby has a musical ear."' men_do- not rolish_the-idea-of-having | @ idates have to be very | poy Lloyds, SOME ODD FORMS OF RISK|>=: MME. ADELINA PATTI HAS MANY POLICIES. Secured in Event of Loss of Voice or Other Mishaps While En' Tour. One is now able to get insured inst almost any possible danger. One of the most unusual risks ever assumed by an insurance company is that in behalf of Mme. Adelina Pat- ti, whereby the noted singer is in- sured against pecuniary loss if, she "loses" her voice during her present '"'farewell" tour of the United States is to get $5,000 if she cannot sing at any one of the concerts. Another policy guarantecs diva $50,000 on the whole tour in the event of permanent and total loss of voice. In addition, the singer's manager has a third policy, the health of Mme. during tke various engage- ments of her American contract. The latter policy is for the personal re- muncration of the manager should the prima donna's health break and prevent her from filling her pro- fessional engagements. The "voice policies are her own inveubpiens, and she personally paid the premiums. SECRECY PRESERVED. All three risks were underwritten in England and, unlike many theatrical ventures, there has been considerable endeavor on the part-of those intérested to keep tho policies a secret. For-this reason some of the details are difficult to obtain. It is known, however, that the corporation that assumed both voice liabilities jected the singer to a most exhaus- tive throat examination, and that a celebrated German specialist was called into the medical conference. The throat of Mme. Patti was re ported to be in the best condition, but the underwriters hesitated some weeks because of the doubts of the doctors as to the rigors of an American winter. It was made mandatory on of her being unable,to sing she was to cable her address immediately, that have the privilege of communicating by wire, -for purpose of: corrobora- tion, with any physicians Tt.saw fit in any American or--Canadian city that she happened to be in at' the time. She is also to furnish at her own expense affidavits from _ three leading doctors as to the condition of her throat. This is the known instance in which a singer has insured herself against possible mon- etary loss through her inability to sing because of voice failure, APPENDICITIS POLICIES. The representative of a successful firm of underwriters says that with- in the last few months hundreds of policies have been issued illness or death from appendicitis. The fact that the treatment for appendicitis can rarely te success- fully accomplished at home, except at enormous expense, is said to be the chief reason for the desire of many to insure against partial pe- cuniary loss from {be disease. London is at present upset, by an epidemic of measles and scarlet fever, and the insurance companies have begun take risks to ward off the loss from victims of these diseases. Last week five lords and twelve prosperous bankers' availed themselves of the chance of insuring under these special clauses. English underwriters have for several years written many odd risks, but insuring against discase is new and has caught the town, "Take out « policy for measlies," or "Are you in- aured against scarlet fever?" are common expressions of the Strand and music halls. The custom of taking out a policy on the life of some great public man, much on tho order of buying a lottery ticket in Havana or a chance on a race horse, has been a long- honored one in the English capital. "-- where the limit for odd insur- nce comes in is a vexed question. ows till another odd form of insur- ance is a divorce clause, whereby the 'injured party" may have his or her wounded feelings repaired by the payment of pouniis, shillings down sub- for the part of the singer that in the event the insurance company might first against and Goin NEW YORK RISKS. 'Fidelity and casualty insurance has been most progressive within the Past five years, and there are many companies that make a business of insuring against oe by burglars, pacts mishaps, robbery by -- ser- ants, accidents of every degree and kind, whether self-contributory or otherwise, loss through delay in steamer and train transit, fraud by clerks and other employes and loss through legal actions. All the big express companies, dry goods stores, coal firms and trucking houses pay a certain sum every year as a pro- tection"--ngainst damage suits by drivers and helpors who are hurt while in their employ. The insur- ance firms contest the suits or effort compromises. One large New York company makes a specialty: of insuring saloon Proprictors against pecuniary dam- e through arrest for violation of the excise laws. This company fur- nishes lawyers, who appear in the courts question and perplex witnesses, bails out the bartenders, and otherwise protects the interest of the accused. », Severul companies insure druggists against blackmailers or even legiti- | far. sary bg preserve health, both in in- stituting and carrying on regular ha- bits (all important in this foundation mate victims of careless clerks. Mis- takes are sometimes made in com- pounding drugs and sults are the result. The income of some fidelity and casualty companies through furnish- ing bonds to employes is enormous. Every form of. insurance imagin- able, even recompense for damage | for personal injuries because of attack by a mother-in-law, may be obtained. It is merely.a question of looking for an up-to-date com- pany. and paying the premium = ex- acted ----_4+--_ --_ UTILIZING THE DEAD SEA. Plans on Foot to Convert It Into Ind ening "phere excellent as it is, an? all. en stockings reaching well over ; FOR Te HEME s oe =: 3. 2 ry S e A . oe «ome Nook = 4 a er Ps for the : & s e SeSeReSeSs--ceOceeneGeOs CARING FOR THE BABY. In chilly winter mornings it be- comes quite a problem to the hygi- enically disposed. mother, who lizes the importance of fresh air, let the two-yuers-old baby run abort out tually raining, @ithout taking cold from so doing. Now as long as the little feet are kept warm and there is healthy: outdoor baby taking even in winter weather. o'd-fashioned hes been kept bundled up in blankets and away from open windows or the rea- te _ of doors whenever it by not ac- dry, hardly any danger of a cold, the who It is coddled darling slightest wind all his life who so | easily becomes a victim to croup and 'eoughs and colds. Still one must not carry the tough- too nstant watchfulness is neces- age of the man or woman), and in keeping them warm cnuough without Wrapping them up to. such an extent as to impede the free movement of | their limbs or throw them into a perspiration after a little exertion. Socks are so much prettier and more stylish looking on babies than long stockings, that one is some- times liable to make the mistake of thinking that a normal healthy baby does not need to wear stockings at We think any but an abnormal- ly tough baby should have long. wool- the knees as soon as the weather beconies ustrial Purposes. The London Daily Express of Dex cember 26th had the following from Paris: I'rench engineers are at wor on three difierent projects for explot- ing the Dead Sea for industrial pur- poses. The level of the Dead Sea be- ing more that 1,300 fect below that of the Mediterranean and Red Sea, it is thought by connecting either of these two seas by means of a canal with the Red Seca a stream of water would flow with a velocity calculated ~ to produce some 52,000-horse power. | There would be no danger, it is as- serted, of an overflowing ot the Dead Sea, for the waters there cvaporate at so great a rate (6,000,000 tons a day) that the incoming waters would make no appreciable difference in the level. One project is to start the canal from the Bay of Acre, lead it southward past Mount Tabor, and let it join at Baisan the waters' of the Jordan. Another plan is to build the canal along the railway line from Jaffa to orusalem. But this would mean blasting a tunnel of some 37 miles through the mountains of Old Judea. The third project, the cheapest, pro- poses to start at Akaba, in the Red Sea, and pass through the desert of Wady-el-Jebel. er in this manner it is thought many industrial works would be -- carried on. ---- STRANGE ACCIDENT. One of the strangest railroad cidents on record is reported from Hammond, d. A hotelkeeper, Charles Stahibohm, was driving home one night recently, and, coming to a ac- railroad track, tried to drive his orses across ahead of the fast freight. Th engineer did not even know that he had hit anything, but kept up the speed of his engine until he pulled into a station 15 miles be- yond the scene. Then he got down to oil his engine, and was slightly startled to see Stanhibohm sitting on the cow catcher, a whip in one hand and the ends of some reins in the other. * He shook him a few times, and when the hotelkeeper came to he asked where his lat and hors- es were. He did not know that the train had made them in soap stock. COULDN'T SPLIT THE WOOD THEN. ES ema mai de have you a sag? Tramp May 1 inquire {if you have an axe? ' Tramp I wish yous give me something to eat--I'm Bune? - Having obtained pow- eold;--- Attach them to the side buttons of the waist. Buttons should be sewn to the siat of the stockings at the knec, with a side underneath to kee from tearing, holes-in the stocking when pulled. It is better to change a_ baby's stockings three or four times a day than to kecp him cooped up in the house by a close stove just because it is a little damp under foot; no surer Way of rendering him liable to cold and croup could be found. Rub- bers small enough for a baby can be bought in cities or ordered from a catalogue, and are often very valu- able in allowing the child to run about when otherwise he would bo kept in the house. In the country in cases where it is advisable to economize washing as much as possible, an excellent plan jfor keeping a two or three years old baby warm and tiay, is td&® mako woolen drawers for him out of an old pair of stockings belonging to a grown person. The fect are cut off and the upper parts hemmed. Then the tops are slit down about 10 inch- s and joined together, : with a square gusse® in. the middle, in the form of drawers. Often the tops of cashmere stockings are ready hem- med, but if not they can be hemmed ready to thread an clastic i] are not only warmer, but obviate the constant changing necessary, -where children are playing out of doors in sand and dust, with the usual white drawers, Tiny red, navy blue or white fjer- Sseys, With a tilted blue or white serge skirt and woolen tam o' sha er to mate: are much worn in Er land by bablex this size in cold wea ther. The woolen drawers descrit above would answer excellently with' such a costume, obviating tho need of petticoats. FACTS WORTH KNOWING. That by adding two parts of cream of tartar to one part of oxalic acid ground fine and kept dry, in a bottle, you will find by applying a little of the powder to rust stains while the article is wet that the result is much quicker and better. Wash out in clear warm water to prevent injury to the goods. That cold rain water and soap wih take out machine grease, where other. means would not be advisable on account of colors running, ete. That turpentine in smal! quantities may ke used in boiling white goods to a great advantage, as it improves the color, and the boiling drives all odor. Resin in soap is quite an- other injures and discolors some goods, and shrinks woollens. Soap men argue that on account of the turpentine in the resin it assists in the Washing. It is used for a filler, and to make the soap hard and cheap. That paraffin will soften leather, belts, or boots that have become hard from exposure or use around the wash-room, Good for the harness when hard' from rain or dampness. | Wash with warm water, then greaso" with good animal oil or dressing) like the following:--One gallon of neats- foot oil, two pounds of beeswax, two- pounds of beef tallow, Put the above in a pah over a moderate fire. When thoroughly dissolved, add two quarts of castor oil, then while' on the fire stir in one ouncs of lamp black. Mix well and strain through a cloth to remove sediment, let cool, and you have as fine a dreas- ing for harness or leather »f any kind as can be hed.