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pi-"' /X\ ii- k»." K:v'~ fr ?ifc 2V Sttforthimitou Jldraiife B. fiAfur, Publisher. WORTHINQTON. MINN. NEIGHBORS. I, In a garret, and she—well-a-day!— Looking through curtains of lace. Dreaming the beautiful moments away, While I sing a song of h«r face. But never a glance from her beautlfu) eyes She knows not my songs, and she hears not my sighs. Here Is her picture. And is it not fair? See—the red Hps, and the fall Of her sunshiny tresses: the gold of her hair And the bright eyes that dream over all! This Is her picture—too glad for a saint The picture that Love led the Unknown to paint! I have passed the flowered window that looks o'er the lawn. And carried the light of that fact (The light that was bright as the rosiest dawn.) Up to this desolate place. And here I have fashioned It. (What is her name? And where shall I gather the gold for a frame?) I have fashioned it here, where my heart* hopes have died— Tolling unloved and alone. (The carriage is there. She Is going to ride, And she speaks in a silvery tone To the footman. Away! from this desolate place But she leaves me—thank Heaven—the light of her face!) —P. L. Stanton, in Atlanta Constitution. Madre Maria's Magic By G. 0. Terry. ON the very corner of Calle de los Pescaditos Blancos (street of the Little White Fish), just where it juts into the little Plaza de San Pablo, is the shop of Dona Antonia. It is a clean, tidy little place, and in it you can buy the best cigarettes to be found in all Mexico, and you can be served at all hours of the day with thick Spanish chocolate, hot and pasty—for Dona Antonia is Spanish, nnd therefore knows how to make de licious chocolate—also, you can buy there pins, needles, lottery tickets, native Mexican sugar in tall brown cones, macaroni fresh from Italy, sardines, olives, Spanish wine and many other things, for, while the shop is a small one, it contains what the proprietor proudly calls "an as sort of the most complete and fin ished." Dona Antonia herself waits on her varied customers. All of the common folk in that part of the city patronize her, and so she is kept very busy, with hardly time enough to attend to her yellow-headed parrot, or to keep the "mariposa" light burning under the picture of la Virgen which hangs on the wall. Things were different when Car los the torero was there—good-look ing, swaggering Carlos, in his gaudy bullfighter's shirt and tight trousers, with his pig-tailed head surmounted by the flat torero hat—but Carlos has most cruelly been banished. Not that he ever did any work in the shop, the gods of bullfighters forbid! But he at least was always willing to lounge in the door or against the counter, thereby scaring away robbers, and even on some occasions so far unbent his dignity as to serve the chocolate to customers of his own fraternity, while Dona Antonia beamed from afar. For she worshiped Carlos with the adoration that only a fat and homely woman of 40 can feel for a young and handsome man. Ever since bullfighting had gone out in Mexico, three years before, she had waited on Carlos, hand and foot, giving him cheerfully and lovingly from her savings, and working doubly hard in order that he might appear gorgeous on feast days and Sundays. His clothes were of the best that money could buy his pointed Mexi can shoes were of the finest yellow leather his vivid scarlet neckties were always of satin or softest silk none of the bullfighters who lolled on Ban Francisco street or in front of the Cantina del Tio Pepe smoked such long, fine, black cigars as did Carlos, and none of them could boast the sil ver and copper coins which always jingled in the pockets of his braided torero jacket. In short, Carlos was in the greatest of luck, the very high est of clover, and did not realize his blessings until it was too late. For all this magnificence and luxury was taken away from him, through his own fault, and that of Panchita. Not that Carlos cared for pretty, co quettish Panchita*, not a bit of it! Carlos loved no one but his own lazy, good-looking self, and nothing but his own ease and comfort. For Dona Antonia, who furnished him with the good things of life which he so much cared for and appreciated, he had a kindly, fraternal regard being, more over, aware of the furious temper which lurked beneath Dona Antonia's good-natured exterior, he had always been careful to avoid entanglements with younger and handsoiher women, or, at least, to keep such affairs from her sharp and very suspicious ears. In the case of Panchita, however, It was a difficult matter, for she was either too careless or too much in love to dissemble. She could not or would not refrain from casting co quettish glances at the bullfighter, even when Dona Antonia was by, and finally even took to purchasing her thread and needles and other supplies from Dona Antonia's shop, refusing there to be served by anyone but Car los himself. Naturally this state of aifairs could rot last for long, and things came to a crisis one day when Dona Antonia overheard Panchita addressing some coquettish remarks to the torero, and, moreover, caught him in the very act of kissing her pretty though needle worn hands. After which there was ft scene, and very nearly battle, mur der and sudden death. Dona Antonia, being a very powerful woman, and, moreover, greatly infuriated, scrupled not to fall upon the luckless couple, tooth and nail. Carlos managed to escape with his life and a blackened eye, while Panchita, at the end of the fray, was minus one tooth and what at first sight to be fully half of her pretty black liair. 'The noise of the fight naturally attracted atten tion, and the combatants were finally separated, much the worse for wear, but nevertheless still breathing forth defiance and slaughterings. Carlos had most unaccountably disappeared after the first* two rounds and could not now be founds pitying neighbors escorted homeward the battered and wailing Panchita, while the equally wailing Dona Antonia barred her shop door in the very face of gaping cus tomers and locked the kitchen door upon herself. No, not even that grace less Carl(h should enter, if, as was al ways his custom, he came home peni tent and entreating at supper time. For once Carlos should be severely handled and taught sense and decent behavior. That was at eight o'clock. At nine Carlos had not yet returned at ten there was still no sign of him, and Dona Antonia was beginning to grow very uneasy. Something must have happened, for, no matter what waa wrong, he always came for his meals. At 11 he was still missing so, at 12, the poor woman put on her tapalo and went forth in search of him. At the Cantina del Tio Pepe she found him, w&ping bitterly in the midst of sympathetic comrades, who reproached the lady for her cruel treatment of poor Carlos. Truly, she had not seen what everyone else well knew—that Carlos loved no one but her. "All the world" knew that the shameless Panchita pursued him with her coquetries. Fie upon Dona An tonia to so ill-treat poor, faithful Car los, who had been driven to drink and threatened suicide through her hard ness of heart! Two comrades carried homeward the incapacitated Carlos, with Dona An tonia weeping remorsefully behind them, and sundry other toreros wink ing and chuckling in turn behind her back. For, while in luck, Carlos was as generous a torero as ever lived, and it would not do, for their own sakes, to have Dona Antonia cut off his sup plies. And so, as the cortege wended its way toward the little shop of Dona Antonia, one shameless bullfighter after another poured into her ear tales of poor Carlos' persecution at the hands of Panchita. Well knew the Virgin, they declared solemnly, that Carlos cared for no woman but his own adored Antonia. Had he not sworn it to them many a time and oft? And was it his fault if infatuated girls would make unwanted love to him? Before the noisy departure of the toreros, Dona Antonia's plans for ven geance had been completed. When she went to sleep that night she said sev eral padre nue&tros before the image of la Virgen and promised to burn long and costly candles before her pic ture every day of the year if certain prayers were granted. And then, wise ly believing that God (and also the Vir gin) helps those who help themselves, the wily shop-keeper made her plans for an early visit next morning to old Madre Maria, the witch, who would tell her, for a consideration, what she should do with that graceless Panchita. Madre Maria lived in a small, dark, smelly tenement far out. Here Dona Antonia found her at dawn, and into the sympathetic ear of the shriveled old woman she unfolded her tale of woe, while Madre Maria smoked away steadily at her cigar stub, nodding her white head at intervals as she listened. Good! Then what the nina wanted was a cosita—a small charm, that is to say—for the shameless Panchita? Something not dangerous, the nina un derstood merely a little thing that would, after taking it, cause her to lose any love for Don Carlos? Aie, but it would be easy! And only a matter of five days at that if the nina would listen, paying to her pobre madre first the small number of eight reales, she would tell her what to do. Half an hour later, with a wee bot tle of black lluid in her pocket, and a thin, blacl: chicken muffled up in her rebozo, Dona Antonia turned to ward the Street of the Little White Fish. Joy and hope once more shone in her eyes and beamed from her fat, red face, even though the advice and charm of Madre Maria had cost $1.80. Most assuredly it was old Maria's "day." Hardly was the broad back of Dona Antonia turned than another client appeared upon the scene, also bespeaking advice and a mild charm that would destroy the love of a rival woman. In the same manner did Madre Maria advise the second appli cant—no less a person than Panchita —selling her, in turn, some white fluid and an attenuated white chicken, the mate of the I:lack one sold to Dona Antonia. "Of a truth did the chicken come somewhat high," the old witch had stated to each applicant, "but fig ure to yourself, nina mia, that it is a charmed one, wherein great power lies, and it has moreover eaten for weeks only charmed food given it by the hand of •tour Madre Maria!" As a fact, both chickens had been stolen by mendacious Maria in the dark of last night's moon—but no matter! So Panchita, her mind at ease, and also believing that all of her sorrows were now soon to be ended, hurried joyfully home, with bottle and chicken hidden safely in the depths of her blue rebozo. Meanwhile* at intervals dur ing that entire day, chuckles of hearty and most unwonted mirth issued from the dark room of Madre Maria, who, while not ordinarily 9 merry person age, seemed mightily amused over something. Never in his life had the astonished Carlos been mere kindly and: generous ly treated than during the next few days. Dona Antonia seemed to think that nothing was good enough for him, and, filling his pockets with coins, fair ly pushed him into the streets, with injunctions that he enjoy himself with his companion .. Had the torero been a suspicious man he might have thought Dona Antonia was engaged in secret pursuits of which she wished him to know nothing. .Not being sus picious, however, he hastened to obey her commands and have a joyous time. As a matter of fact, there was noth ing evil in the actions of Dona Antonia, once left alone, save that one might have accused her of foolishly pamper ing and overfeeding a debilitated black chicken, which she had housed in the charcoal-box and fed thrice daily on black zapotea and tortillas made from dark meal. But no one—Carlos least of all—ever saw the chicken, whose life endured for a brief sj*n only, and therefore no one unjustly condemned her. Now, in the great tenement house just across the street, this same chicken-pampering process was secret ly being gone through with by pretty Panchita, save that her fowl was fed solely on white zapotes and light-col ored tortillas. As in the case of Dona Antonia's chicken, which flourished and day by day waxed fatter and fatter, her white chicken also throve and grew plump until, by the end ct the fourth day, you Would not have recognized either of these "charmed chickens." On the evening1 of the fourth day, Dona Antonia arrayed herself in her best purple skirt and black lace man tilla, with the announcement to the dumfounded Carlos that she was going to the house of Panchita for the pur pose of asking her and her mother to eat the midday meal with them the next day, since it would be a fiesta and Panchita accordingly at leisure. For many months it had been the custom of good-hearted Dona Antonia to invite Panchita and her blind old mother to her own savory feast-day dinners. In view of last week's quar rel, however, Panchita's mother was even now tearfully lamenting that their dinner would have to be of tor tillas and beans. So that, driven to it by her mother's tears and her own urgentdesire to break bread with Dona Antonia, Panchita was about to start on a mission of peace, when that per son herself appeared, with jovial ex pressions of sorrow that any misun derstandings had arisen between the two families, and her desire that her two good friends should join her next day for the usual fiesta meal. Of a ver ity they must come. Carlos had prom ised to go with some companions to the Naucalpam bull-fight, wherefore she would be all alone and sad if they did not come to eat with her. Peace was restored in full, and soon Dona Antonia bustled home to prepare for the next day's feast. Poor Carlos was hustled incontinently out of the house, while Dona Antonia, doors and windows carefully shut and locked, pro ceeded to kill and boil the black chick en, first carefully burying its feathers and bones. All that night the mortal remains of that charmed chicken sim mered away in a tiny olla. The result ant broth was carefully collected next morning by Dona Antonia, and, with the black fluid from the little bottle of Madre Maria, was mixed into a very savory soup, flavored with sherry, and garnished with aguacotes—of which there was only one plateful. Not that any of the trio had to do without soup, however—far from it. Soup of the very best, also made of chicken, with sherry and tiny bits of garlic flavoring it, was to be served to herself and Panchita's hlind mother. The dinner was a great success, de spite the fact that only three women were present, and that the hostess was called away from the table at least four times to speak to customers out in the shop. The first of these calls gave Pan chita her opportunity, for Panchita also had killed a chicken the previous night, and in a small bottle, carried in her pocket, was the boiled-down result thereof. The door between the dining room and the shop had been carefully closed by Dona Antonia, so that her guests might not be molested by noises from without—never was there a bet ter chance. In two seconds Panchita had uncorked her bottle and emptied its contents hastily into Dona Anto nia's soup. Then, concealing the bot tle, she was unconcernedly swallowing her soup when Dona Antonia returned to the table. Neither of the two women for a moment suspected that they were partaking of charmed soup, made in identically the same manner," from the charmed chickens of Madre Maria, and warranted to kill the love of any man, woman or child on the terrestrial globe. Now, few of us place overmuch cre dence in signs, tokens, and, least of all, charms. For which reason I am loath to tell you of the final result of the charms so ingeniously and unsuspect ingly exchanged between these two jealous women still, if you are incred ulous, it is not my fault. That very same night, reaching home late and in a somewhat intoxicated con dition, poor Carlos tasted the first fruits of the charm. For, in spite of all blandishments and words that should have melted the heart of even a stone image, Dona Antonia fell upon the luckless torero and, with abuse of the strongest, literally smote him hip and thigh, after which she cast him forth into the outer darkness of the Street of the Little White Fish, cruelly bolting the door in his face and an nouncing that she had now washed her hands of him and his shiftless com rades. This from the woman who had adored him during three long years this from the very woman who had that very morning given him all her available money and entreated him to come home early. Poor Carlos! For, even though he returned several times to tearfully beg for mercy, there was shown him only freezing contempt and coldness, with at last the announce ment that his next call would be watched by the gendarme at the cor ner, for which reason he had best keep away for good and all from the shop of Dona r\ntonia. Being as it were off with the old love, the hapless torero bethought himself of a new. Was there not pretty Pan chita, for whom he had always enter tained a fondness? Doubtless even yet she was fretting her heart out for him and his neglect. He would go to her and console her. How Panchita received him deponent sayeth not of how she sped him on his departure admiring neighbors in the tenement still speak, though of the or der of his going Carlos remembers lit tle more than a vision of multitudinous bright stars, and a "bump, bump" that seemingly lasted for centuries, mean while his surprised and helpless body hit the steep stairs at the rate of sixty times a minute, with Panchita and the neighbors cheering from above. The "charm" waa complete. FIREMEN ABE Never more was the torero, Carlos Garcia, seen in the Street of the Little WhTte Fish, and never were better friends than Dona Antonia and the girl Panchita, who, strange to say, have never realized just how the thing really occurred, and have, in fact, forgotten all about Mad re Maria and the black and white chickens.—San Francisco Argonaut* Hot a Horseless Joke. Horseless wagons are increasing in number, says the Chicago Tribune! is beleaguered Mafeking every day. Often Risk Their Lives to Save Those of Others. Chlcago'i Fire Department and Haw It Is Managed Men a«4. Horses Trained to Re spond Without Delay. [Special Chicago Letter.] A MAN without hat or coat rail to the corner of Halsted and Madison streets, a few nights ago, and, with nervous hands, un loceked the red fire-box. In aji in stant he had turned in the alarm. There was a slight buzzing in the electric ticker in the fire department in the city hall. "Box 333," said the man in charge. At the same time the tickers were buzzing in engine houses Nos. 5, 7, 17, 34, 40, and in hook and ladder houses Nos. 2, 6, and the alarm was given for fire-marshals A, 5 and 6. The coat less and hatless man had put in motion the machinery of the great fire department of Chicago. In PULLING BOX 333. iess time almost than it takes to write it the sturdy little engines with their snorting furnaces were puffing out big clouds of black smoke, the snake-like coils of the heavy rubber hose were scattered here and there across the street, while the firemen were throw ing strong streams of fire into the win dows of the shambling tenement build ing from which fierce flames were dart ing. There was Chief Swenie himself, the veteran fire fighter of half a cen tury, in top rubber boots and rubber hat, cool and deliberate. There were his two assistants. On each side of the street were little piles of coal to feed the engines. On the sidewalk was a crowd of men, women and children, who had gathered there in an incredi bly short space of time. The second alarm had been already turned in, calling out engines Nos. 1, 3. 10, 12, 18 and truck No. 4, with two ad ditional marshals. Still the flames grew higher and snapped more fiercely, and the third alarm was turned in, bringingout five more engines, another truck and another marshal. For four hours the department fought steadily with the flames and then, smouldering and black, the ruins stood like specters in the deserted street. This is but an an outline of the daily work of the fire department of the city of Chicago. There are incidents enough and stories enough connected with every fire around which one might weave a romance more thrilling, more pathetic and abounding more with the bravery of noble men than is por trayed in the most imaginative work of fiction. Here are the stories of- heroes who brave without fear the flames and risk without question their own lives, to save the lives of others. But- back of it all is a most remark able system—a system so replete with minutiae and details that the most trivial fire of the great city is as much a part of the records as the most dis astrous conflagration. An idea of the magnitude of the work in hand may be obtained when it is known that in the year 1898 there were 5,048 fires in the city of Chicago, involv ing a valuation of property amount ing to $91,922,210, with a loss of $2,651.. 725 and an insurance of $56,550,740 WHEN THE BELL RINGS.„ There were 6,423 alarms turned in dur ing that year, and of those 3,526 were first alarms, 64 second alarms, 22 third alarms and 33 fourth alarms, or as they •re called, 4-11. In addition to this there were 26 special calls and 2,752 "still" alarms—that is, alarms turned in by telephone or messenger. There are 1,300 fire alarm boxes and the same number of police boxes in the various fire districts of Chicago. This box, 333, at the corner of Halsted and Madison streets, represents one of the worst fire districts in Chicago, but just, south, at the corner of Halsted and Fourteenth streets, is the banner box, No. 325. Last year this box was pulled 77 times. One who is not familiar with the workings of the fire department of a large city can scarcely have an idea of its scope and magnitude. The chief of the department in Chi cago is D. J. Swenie, who celebrated his.fiftieth anniversary as a fireman December 3, 1899. And yet he is so hale and hearty and active that one would not venture in putting his age a day above 55. The rank and file are as well drilled as soldiers in an army. There are 1,100 firemen in this city, 87 engines, 27 trucks, 4 fire boats, and 2 hose com panies located in the suburbs where there are high pressure water sys tems. The perfect arrangement of the fire telegraph system has reduced to a minimum the time it takes for the liremen to respond to a fire. When an alarm is turned in the number of the box is indicated automatically at the headquarters of the fire depart ment in the city hall and in the en gine houses which must respond on the first call. On the first alarm the fire marshal, or the chief of the battal. ion, responds in person. The average number of engine companies called out is five and one hook and ladder company. If the chief of the. battal ion sees that the fire promises to spread, he pulls the box again and turns in what is known as a 2-11. On this second alarm five more en gines and another tfruck generally re spond—but this depends entirely upon the locality. A third alarm, known as 3-11, calls out five more en gines. Sometimes after the first alarm is given, when the conflagra tion is quite threatening, a 4-11 is turned in, combining a second and a third alarm. When the second alarm is turned in—that is, the 2-11—the chief of the battalion goes direct to the fire alarm office in the city hall where a large board is fastened to the wall. This board has holes in it each representing an engine and truck company. The chief places pegs in the hole of each company that has been called out and in this way the department keeps track of all the companies. As a territory becomes unprotected on account of a large fire, companies are called from more re mote districts to take the place of the absent men. Thus are the firemen shifted back and forth in order that the whole city may be protected. There are 16 battalion districts in the city with as many chiefs. Probably the. most interesting fea ture of the fire, department is the celerity with which the firemen re spond to alarms. In each of the en gine houses—day or night—a man is continuallyson watch at the switch board where the alarms are indicated. Above the engine room are the sleep ing apartments of the men. On the first floor are the horses in their stalls. Adjoining them is the engine with kindling and coal ready for the touch of a match. Above the engine are the harnesses which can be in stantly adjusted at the touch of a button. If, for instance, the man on watch gets an alarm at midnight he instantly turns the switch, a gong is sounded, the horses are immediately released automatically and, trained to their work, they spring to their places in front of the engine an-i the harness falls upon their backs. While this is going on the men spring from their beds and, in a twinkling, slip on their "bunkers"—this is, rubber boots with trousers attached—slide down the brass poles to the floor below and— well, before you can count three, they are ripping down the street to the fire. The best time that has ever HIS BRAVEST DEED. been made here was by an engine company that went a distance of 121 feet to the first hydrant, laid 300 feet of hose and had 100 pounds of water pressure playing on the flames in 1 minute and 18 seconds after the alarm was turned in. As much care is exercised in the selection of firemen as the govern ment exercises in the enlistment of men in the army and navy. A man to be eligible for the Chicago fire department must be between the ages of 21 and 33 years he must be not less than 5 feet 7 inches in height and must weigh not less than 135 pounds. In addition to this there is a rigid examination and investigation as to health and morals. This in brief shbws the system of the fire department of Chicago, one of the greatest organizations in the world, composed of brave men and conscientious officials. FREDERICK BOYD STEVENSON. TO CUT DISTANCE AND TIME. Revival of Project to Conncct Chi cago and Sew York by Air Line Reducing Time to 10 HOOK. A New York paper says that, stimu lated by the boom in railroad earnings and the general condition of prosper ity, a group of eastern railroad men and New York financiers are disposed to revive the scheme to construct an air line railroad between New York and Chicago. Men who command large capital have been sufficiently inter ested in this project to have surveys made and maps prepared, showing ap proximately the course of the proposed new road. Roughly described, this proposed railroad is to extend between New York and Chicago in almost a straight line. It will cut across the northern part of New Jersey, and will pass through the Mauch Chunk coal fields in Pennsylvania. According to-the route as now marked out the new line will skip most of the large cities in Pennsyl vania, taking in only Oil City. Passing through Ohio, the road will touch at Cleveland arid Toledo, and will pursue nearly a straight course to Chi cago, via South Bend. This "air line," its projectors declare, will be more than 300 miles shorter than any other route between the At lantic seaboard and Chicago, and tr&ins are to be run from New York to Chicago in 16 hours—perhaps a little less. One feature of the proposed road will be the running of speiedy freight trains. In the construction of this new road some old railroad charters would, it is said, be made available. Merely lancstlon. Husband—What's the matter with the biscuits this morning? .Wife—It's the fault of the yeast. It failed to make the rise. Husband—Why don't you use an alarm clock?—Chicago Daily News. THE STUDY OF BUGS, Pursued for the Benefit of Farmers as Well as Consumers. Oar Washington Correspondent De erlbes a Visit to the Most Inter esting Braiysh of the Agri cultural Department. [Special Letter.] WHILEWashington the insecticides, vermi cides, germicides and microbe killers are diligently engaged efforts to destroy certain forms of life, there are scientists in. government employment who are making strenu ous efforts to hatch obnoxious insects and their parasites. Under the direction of the depart ment of agriculture, in a building erected specifically for that purpose, insects are bred and reared in a large -glass conservatory which serves as a hothoure for the propagation of bugs of scores of species. Thejr are as care fully cared for as the eggs in chicken incubators, and are given plenty of light and warm, moist air all through the winter and during the damp or chilly days and nights of spring and autumn. Altjhough it is conceded that the greatest study of man is man, there are scientists who seem to have accom plished all that they desire in that di rection, and they devote their waking hours to the study of bugs, beetles and all of the forms of minute animal life. In all sorts of jars, from a small jelly glass to a large glass globe of kettle form, they have insects in various stages of development. The daily his tory of each insect is carefully no ted, and all of its transformations are his torically treated for several genera tions. In one of these jars there are two sunflower heads infested with the larvae of beetles. These larvae have buried themselves in the sand with which the vessel is partly filled, and there they have been hibernating for four months. Very soon they will be set out in the sunlight. They will then emerge as perfect beetles, will lay eggs in the sunflowers and anew generation will be watched with solicitude and in terest. The careful study of these things has been fostered by the department of agriculture in order that ultimate ly the best methods of destroying the pests, and preventing their propaga tion, may be discovered by those wrho make specific study of these subjects. Some time this spring the department will issue bulletins for farmers, giving all of the information which has been acquired during the past 12 months in these studies. One of the officials, upon being com plimented upon the value of the work which is being done, said: "We are doing some good, but of course it is very little. You must understand that there are about 10,000-,000 species of in sects, and we are treating them by scores instead of by millions. Human knowledge is exceedingly small, and our investigations are circumscribed. But if we can help our agriculturists even a little bit we are doing a good work. Men who give their lives to sci entific inquiry naturally become moral philosophers. We realize the vastness of the forms and qualities of creation and are lost in awe. Many generations of mankind must come and go before we have anything like a comprehensive scientific cyclopedia of these things. "We see death and life here together. We see insects die, and out of their death we see new life arise. The ordi nary illustration of the butterfly emerging from the death form of its predecessor we see multiplied indefi nitely in these studies. Here in this jar is a twig infested with little worms. STUDYING THE INSECTS. they will die very soon, and out of their decayed forms will come full fledged beetles. In. this jar are several immature grasshoppers, buried in the earth. They have been there six years. Eleven years more will elapse, when they will come forth from their graves as full-fledged locusts of the 17-year variety. "Naturally, we who see and study these phenomena of nature are not staggered with the statements of the ologians that out of the death of hu man beings there will arise new forms of life. There is a very slight border line of demarkation between science and philosophy. Science ascertains facts. Philosophy asks: 'Why?' and tries to give the reason. Theology goes a little farther. But all stu dents, all scientists, philosophers and theologians are striving for the ad vancement of human knowledge. And sometimes our bitter divergences and controversies result in bringing forth truths which might never be devel oped but for the earnestness and in creased energy which are let loose by acrimony and controversy." But to return to the jars: In one of them, which is half full of beans, there are hundreds of bean-eating bugs which will continue to live and reproduce their kind so long as the food supply is continued. In one small jelly glass there is a large Irish po tato, where a lot of little flies have laid their larvae, and the potato is fairly riddled with the holes which have been made by the larvae. An other larger glass jar contains a few yucca pods. In the sand beneath them are buried a number of grubs which have deserted the yucca pods. Some time in April they will emerge, not as grubs, but as moths. The yuc ca will then be blossoming, and the moths will live ou the blossoms. ture supplies food for all manner ol life, and the food-eating insects bring death to these forms of vegetable life. One of the strangest things in this collection of wonders is the fact that half a dozen huge oak galls not only nourish the gall bugs, but protect their destroyers. Just as a cancer is concealed within the body of a human being and protected from medical and surgical agencies while it eats away a human life, the oak is stung in hun dreds of places by gnatlike insects forms over the injured parts, where eggs are deposited, odd-looking growths which protect the offspring of the gall bug until they are able to come forth, lay other eggs, and per haps sting the Tery stem which fos tered them. A microscope is required to see the wood-boring larvae. In one jar, which is partially filled -with sawdust instead of sand, several pieces of bark are to be seen, completely riddled and honey combed by wood-borers. They bury themselves in the sawdust during the the winter, just as others bury them seles 4n the sand. When they come forth and are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, they are removed, killed and stuck on pins in boxes, ac cording to their species, numbered and described fn the scientific library of reference books. Each insect has its scientific name, and the students here give the full history of its develop ment. Dealers in large quantities of wheat and flour have lost on their invest ments, sometimes heavily, because flour beetles and wheat moths have de stroyed their property. Here in a jelly PARASITES UNDER THE GLASS. glass containing a little wheat flour are some of the beetles at work. They are watched in their progress from egg to larvae and from larvae to beetle. The wheat worms and joint worms are seen feeding upon the stems of the wheat plant. There are also jars show ing the work of root-devouring bugs. When they have eaten up the roots in their jars they come to the surface, but cannot escape, because inverted jars cover them. They do not burrow through the ground. They eat roote destroying plant life. Then they come to the surface and travel to the near est contiguous plant, burrow to ita roots, and begin their deadly work. Most singular of all to an uneducated observer of these singular things is the fact that upon all of these insects the microscope discloses parasites, which devour the insects themselves. Long years ago Dr. Johnson said: "Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em while they, in turn, have lesser ones, anj so ad infinitum." The writer was not a great scientist, but he had some idea of what these learned students of insect life have disclosed so plainly. Cyrano de Ber gerac, in the sixteenth century, wrote of some discoveries of the same kind, made by himself. But these writers were only able to imagine that what they saw with the naked eye must be going on in the lower forms of life. There is no imagination, however, in the things which are now to be seen in the agricultural department, and in the scientific institutions of some of the great universities. This study of parasites is distinct from the study of the insects. When it is known that certain parasites speed ily destroy the insects, the parasites are cultivated and encouraged to in crease and multiply. The oranges of California which have been destroyed by the fluted scale insect are now saved by the dissemination of the Aus tralian ladybug, which preys upon the scale, but does not injure the oranges. The chinch bugs of Kansas are being destroyed by the fungus which eata the chinch. This is the practical part of the story. These bug students have learned which parasites will kill the bugs, and then they have sent the parasites forth on their mission in various sections of the country. Vegetation is destroyed by the insects, and the insects are de stroyed by the parasites. By putting into the field big armies of parasites the insects are eaten up, and vegeta tion is saved from its almost invisible enemies. These pale-faced young men and these bald-headed veterans in the sci ence of bugology are quietly doing a whole lot of good for all of us for the farmers in the fields, and for the dwell ers in cities who depend upon the farm ers for the food which sustains their l»ves. SMITH D. PRY. MRS. M'KINLEY'S PICTURE Poses Before a Washington pbotoar- rapher, and Her Photographs Will Be on Sale Shortly. Mrs. McKinley gave a Washington photographer a number of sittings a few days ago, and has approved three or four of the proofs. She posed in sev eral different gowns, having as a back ground the various living rooms of the executive mansion. Fifteen pictures were taken all, esdi intending to show the characteristic attitudes fa miliar to her friends and the public. This is the first time that Mrs. McKin ley has been prevailed upon to give regular sittings for pictures since those made shortly after her advent as the first lady of the land. A number of pic tures were taken of both the president and Mrs. McKinley together, but, hav ing some aversion to having them fall into the hands of the general public, she had the plates destroyed. The new pictures will be on sale in about a week's time. The Gold-Brlcic Tale. Same old story, same old finis Bought mining stock—mine, miner, —Elliott's Magaalash Na PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS "Pa,, what had a feller orter do when he gits water on the brain?" "Oh, dry up."—Indianapolis Sun. ••Let's play tag," said the New Yozle boy. "You play it," replied the Bos ton boy "I cannot play anything. I never studied music."—Town Topics. A New York Symphony.—He—"So far, dear, our married life has been •one grand, sweet song.'" She— "Yes, darling in one flat."—Philadel phia Bulletin. "What paper do you take?" "It de« pends a little on which way the wind blows. Sometimes I take Brown's, sometimes I get Smith's."—Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Wayside Missionary—"Why do you drink that vile stuff?" Dismal Dawson—" 'Cause it's the easiest way. to git it down I can't breathe it, kin I?"—Indianapolis Press. There is a young man in Dayton so careful that in calling on his girl he always knocks, for fear if he came with a ring she might consider it a proposal.—Cincinnati Enquirer. It All Depended.—Moses, Jr.—"Fad der, a shentleman in the shop wants to know if that all-wool nonshrink able shirt will shrink?" Moses, Sr.— "Does it fit him?" "Xo id is too big." "Yah, id vill shrink."—N. O. Times Democrat. "WTiat have you got?" he inquired, as he seated himself at a table in the restaurant. "Almost everything," re plied the waiter. "Almost everything? Well, give me a plate of that." "Cer tainly. 'Hash!'" screamed the waiter. —Ohio State Journal. "The door is open!" cried the own er of the house adjoining the fire. "You need not smash the window!" "Sir!" cried the foreman of the fire company, sending his ax through the glass, "we know our business!"—* Philadelphia North American. CANNOT REMEMBER NOUNS. The Peculiar Case of a Russian Sail or's Special Forgetfulness— A Rare Case. At the Boston City hospital recently the peculiar case of a llussian sailor, who could speak English fairly well, but who could not remember nouns, was brought to the attention of Har vard medical students, reports the Boston Transcript. The sailor had al ways carried such familiar articles as a watch, matches and a knife, and knew the uses of each one, but the faculty of remembering their names had totally gone from him. The ex amination into his case was carried on somewhat after this fashion. The examining physician took out his watch, and holding it in front of the man said: "Do you know what this is?" A smile of recognition passed over the man's face and he said: "'Oh, j*es I know what that is it is a match. No, that isn't a match. It's a—a"— and a blank, irritated expression came upon his face. Then the doctor said: "Isn't this a watch?" "Oh, yes!" exclaimed the sailor, "that's a watch—a watch." The same performance was repeated with a tumbler, and then with a match. The Russian could remember the name of an object or thing for about five sec onds, but for any greater length of time his mind could not retain the name. The medical explanation of the case is this: Over two years ago the sailor was troubled with heart disease. A particle from a valvular vegetation which had grown on his heart becom ing detached, started on a journev through one of the large arteries wljich lead up through the neck into the head, and became fixed in the little brain area which commands the power of speech. As long as that bit of for eign matter remains in that spot the sailor will be unable to remember the names of objects or things. In every other way the man is enjoying normal health. The medical name for the disease is motor aphasia. Cases'of it are rare, and do not appear oftener than once in three or four ears. If the treatment which the man is undergoing is suc cessful he will probably regain this most important power. At present, however, the loss of this faculty is de cidedly irritating to the Russian. Who Supports Grand Opera? There is a general opinion that the stockholders support the opera, and that the general public may consider itself highly privileged to be admitted at all to the sacred precincts. As a matter of fact, if the opera depended for its existence upon the support of the stockholders, the doors of the Metropolitan opera house would never be open. The bottom would drop out of the whole enterprise. The parquet and the galleries are the manager's chief reliance. Opera is not a social function it is a public institution, and without the public's support would collapse like a house of cards. I have referred to the half a million dollars paid during the season to the principal singers. The next largest item is $90,000 for the orchestra, and next to that comes $25,000 for transportation. In speak ing of expensive performances, I have mentioned that of 'Les Hugue nots' when it cost over $10,000 to raise the curtain. At that performance, however, scenery, costumes and prop erties were not new. When an opera is produced for the' first time the cost of these must be added to the salaries for the night.—Ainslie's Mag- Eels as Water-Pn rifle m. Few people would be gratified if they should find an eel in their rain water cistern, aid probably the last conclusion come to would be that the water was thereby improved. Yet, ac cording to Prof. Sobrero, of Turin, this would be the case. The professor has recently suggested that eels should be used as purifiers of water. All one has to do in order to keep the water in the cistern pure is to put two or three eels, not very big, but lively, into it. With marvelous rapidity they will devour everything objectionable that may drop into the water or generate there. All that the water may chance to contain in the way of aninkalcules, infusoria, vegetable mat ter or animal matter, is accept able to them. Their mission end ed, they may in turn be eaten, or may be saved as scavengers in other depart* ments of the water-supply.—British Medical Journal. I