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"V V:u r ., SW? ,sii . At.-JS- - & &i .. .vifehJar &,. .rttfa- t.iM!MSnED EVERY THURSDAY At Flagstaff the county scat of Coco- nii.0 county. PJKEBE'S EXPLOIT. ltY I'UANCIS I.VNUK. I1C was the daughter of John Artley, whose 'run on the Western division be gan and ended at Oiival Junction. The junction con sisted of a round-houso, the railway station, a few s h n n t ies, a dreary boar ding- house and a choico . Hnn nt futuro possibilities; but 1-1 t.o, being motherless, bpont much f I, v tune on her father's engine, or ii her uncle's oflico at the station, and ,fot a larger view of life than the -u-ictK n itself could gho. ' t fourteen she had two ambitions. Onenas for her father, reaching out to tin- tiino when ho should have a ,n.art "cight-w heeler" and a passenger nu Mho other dated from a trip to v. In. emus with her father when ho was a member of tho grievance coui BiitUe I You'll have to put in your time an and tho hotel while I go to thu i.. tiug " he had told her; and Phoebe e k herself to the parlor, where a , .rtivilressed voirair woman was ' m' upon an ancient and some- ,Vt "tiii-panny" plana Tho music , ,..' the kind called "popular," and e pi rformcr played as the Irishman i v the cornet by main strength and inwardness but Phoobo went back n'.nal Junction that night with a m tetioii that life was scarcely worth nn ' without a piano and the ability P i it s ie said something of the kind to her t,i' tho nest day when she was eli .ng him on the coal report, and he .an Led at her. I thought you wero beyond such hrgV ho said. "A girl who can run t, locomotive, figure bills of lading u I telegraph tho arm off half tho prators on tho lino to be wanting uch a flno lady's plaything as a jUVlo' ' "Oh, but, Unclo Tom, you just ought o Late, heard her! She played ana .aed till I forgot who 1 was and there I came from. You can't think ww beautiful it was'." "Yes, I can. I was night operator at Cheyenne once, and I actually lived in the house with that piano for six months. And I hope everybody w ho ,tipt mo awake with it when I was "r ing to catch up on my sleep will be forgiven," he added, taking the "Freight Forwarded-' book from the safe "Don't you like tnuslc, Unclo Tom?" sho asked, getting the bunch of ab stracts to call off to him. 'Oh, music, yes but that's different. We used to havo rau.ic back at tho old home in Ohio: your Aunt Phcobo played tho organ in church, and wo sang in the choir, first and last." "Did ma play?" "Yes." "Wcll.sl mean to learn, aud I mean vo havo a piano, too, sometime. I wish pa could get a run so wo could live in a town; then 1 might hear music once in awhile anyway." "15ut what would become of me? I couldn't get along without 3ou." "You'd come, too. As if I didn't know that you keep this job jus,t so's to be w 1th us'." That was tho fact. Tom Norman had transferred his lovo for his favor ite sister to her child, and ho had fol low ed John Artley's shifting fortunes from one desolate division station to another, for the solo purpose of watch ing over and caring for Phcobo. "Do you believe pa ever will get a 2"od run?" asked Phoabe, when tho "GlllJin THAT TIME TABU.!" -freight forwarded had all been en- ""lured. "Oh, I hope so. We'll go on hoping co to the end of tho chapter, too, won't Mi'? Answer that call, will you, Phoebe?" Pnujbe sat down nt tho tctegraph table, snapped the key, and wrote "co" "ce" "co," signing "oj." Then sho dipped tho pen aud took down tho message: . "Largo gangs of tramps aro moving B-easiwarii on ireigm trains, jjenver re- hpoits that moro havo left there to i-neet Californias at Orival. Watch in coming east-bound freights and report promptly any unusual number of "tramps at your station." ' hat's that moro trouble? " asked E-2'ormau, catching a word hero and 4!tc in tho message. PhoJbo sighed wearily. "Oh dear, 'yes, it's more tramps; anil it n do ust pa's luck to catch them out of hero on 201 to-night." Norman read tho messago and shook .his head dubiously. "I've been afraid vf that all summer," ho said. "There Elias been a bigger crowd than usual Ffroiu California this season, and, now tfm b """J JJuiiAm AVAjMgtffl'ci&i ' hew tho Leadvillo excitement Is dying down, they'll bo pouring out of Den ver by the carload. I hope they won't mako trouble here; it wouldn't take moro than twenty-five or thirty of thorn to tako the tow n and everybody in it." Phoabe bit the end of her penholder' and thrust out her chin in a way that made her loott very much like resolute John Artley. "I know ono thing they won't do," sho said, with a defiant little nod. "They won't make pa pull 201 unless he has orders, like they did Mike McGaiYoy last spring." The afternoon wore away without incident, and there was nothing to re port until seven o'clock, when tho two sections of 201 came in fairly alive with tramps. Twenty minutes later tho timo freight from Denver arrived, bringing another contingent. Tho conductors reported that there had been no violence, but that was bo cause tho train crews had been bo far outnumbered as to put resistance out of the question. Normau wired a full report of tho situation to the dispatcher, and while ho was waiting for instructions tho tramps began tostragglo into tho waiting-room by tw os and threes. In tho absenco of orders to tho contrary, train No. 201 had been made up and- pulled out on tho main lino ready to go east. Norman knew this, and as neither Artley nor tho conductor had come in for orders, he began to get un easy. "You go over to tho boarding house, Phusbc, and stay with Mrs. Hannah," he said. "This is no place for you to night." "Please let rao stay," pleaded Phoobc. "iliey won't Hurt me, anil J. should go crazy over there by myself, and not knowing w hat was happening to you and pa. Besides, I'll bo a good deal safer hero with you." Norman was going to insist, but the wire called him. Ho answered and took the message rapidly: "Hold -'01 for ordeis. Use all means to pre cut tramps from seizing train or engine, bpecial with sheriff's posse will reach you about . eight-thirty p. in." Phiobo heard the message as it clicked through tho sounder, and looked at the station clock. It was now nearly eight if tho men would only keep quiet for half an hour! It was a vaiu hope. Two minutes later there w as a scullle on the platform, and Artley and tho conductor wero dragged into tho waiting-room. One of the tramps a big, burly fellow with red whiskers and flaming eyes acted as spokesman. "You shot up," tho spokesman was saying to her father. "You hain't pot nothin' to say about it. W'cn you git orders you'll pull that train, 'r we'll chuck ye into yer own fire-box. See?" Phoebe hcaid the threat in wild-eyed horror. Norman for five minutes rattled away at the koy, writing an endless string of unmeaning dots and dashes, to fill up time. Then the red-bearded man interrupted him. "Giraino that time-table," ho said, pointing to the sheet hanging over tho operator's desk. Norman hesitated, obeying finally at the point of a pistol. The man ran 1119 (1 111IJ UUUL U .tiivi ,, l n., .- umns of figures until he found what he wanted. "It's all right, boys; we don't need no orders. 1'ust meetin"-polnt's fifty miles down the road. Mister lightnin' slinger, you come out from behind there we'll tako you 'long, an' then you won't bo gittin' a switch turned ag'in' us at the fust side track." Norman hold back and tried to gain more time by arguing tho case, but tho pistol camo into play again, aud ho had to go, without so much as a word to Phcobo, who was pain with indigna tion and fright. When Norman surrendered, tho man spoke again: "Now then, git a move on that ingino-drivcr, an' we'll go." Phoebe's first impulse was to rush out after them to plead for her father's life; then sho suddenly remem bered that the special train was coming from tho east. Supposing her father yielded; or, what was more likely, supposing they put him on tho engino and made him responsible for his life and theirs, while one of their number ran it? Phoebe threw herself down at tho table and began to call tho first station cast of Orival with frantic eagerness. If sho could only raiso tho operator at Little Butte in time to have them warn the sheriff's bpecial 1 Again and again she wroto "lu" "lu," signing "oj" at every fourth rep etition, but there was no answering break, and tho angry voices on the platform glow louder and more threat ening. At last, knowing that death messages take precedence of all others, sho wroto "doth" "doth" "deth" be tween tho signatures, and then the op erator at Little llutte broke in and an swered. Phtobe began to tremblo nervously through her message, but he broke in again: "West bound special passed here fivo minutes ago," was what camo clicking back; and then she know that if 201 loft Orival there w ould be a collision. Tho mero thought of it made her sick and faint, and the lights in tho office seemed to bo going out. Then sho gasped and camo to herself with a lit tle jerk when tho crowd began to move down tho platform, and sho heard the leader say: "All right, my covey; we'll put you on the ingino an' go anyway." lteforo the crowd was fairly in mo tion, Phcobo had snatched tho switch key from its nail on the wall, and, darting out of tho backdoor, sho skirt ed tho mob and flow through tho dark ness toward tho forward end of the long freight train. As sho ran sho. prayed that tho engino might not bo beyond tho end of the siding, and sho nearly cried with thankfulness when sho could see tho red eyo of the signal lamp peering around tho front end of the big mogul. In ten seconds moro bhe was at the switch-stand, tho red eye flashed to tho east, and the two lines of rails glistening under the mogul's headlight swerved to the side track. Knowing that there was a chance for failure If sho tried to start tho heavy train, Phcobo darted back and pulled the coupllng-pln between tho tender and tho first car, running forwnrd again to climb into tho engine just as tho first stragglers of tho crowd began to come up. They gave her but a moment, but that was enough. Engine 309 had an easy throttle, and Phoabo had opened it more than once. Tho vanguard of tho tramp army saw a flutter of skirts on tho footboard, hoard a hissing of steam in tho cylinders and two or three sharp coughs from tho exhaust, and then tho big mogul dropped from tho end of the open switch and plowed into tho ties, blocking tho track as effectually as fifty tons of iron and steel could do it. Phrobo did not wait to see what would happen afterward. Sho had done her part; there would bo no col lision; and they could not blamo her father for something that ho had no hand in. She was safe in Mrs. Han nah's kitchen by tho timo tho special whistled for the station; and when tho train rattled up and the sounds of tho fray floated across tho tracks to her refuge, sho hid her face in Mrs. Han nah's apron and cried as any other girl might whose father and unclo wore in the thick of a battle. "There, tnerc, Phoebe, girl: don't cry, dear; they'll bo all right," com forted Mrs. Hannah, and sho was still trying to console Phcobo when Tom Norman ran in. "Where is sho? Where's the HJtlo girl that's got moro senso and sand than all the rest of us put together?" Phoabo looked up quickly. "Oh, Uncle Tom, whore's pa? Is ho hurt?" "No, he's all right; only they'ro about to smother him with praise. Mr, Johnson's over at the station, and ho wants to see you." Fivo minutes later a shy little girl with n tear-stained face was led into the presenco of the superintendent, who sat at the telegraph-desk sending messages right and left. He rose and took Phoebe's hands in his in a way that made the little group of trainmen forget for tho moment that ho was tho stern "old man" of the division. "And this is tho ltttlo girl who ditches our engines, is it?" ho said. "What put such a thing into your head, my child?" "Oh, it didn't havo to be put in; I knew thcro would bo a hcad-ender if I didn't do something quick, . and I couldn't think of anything else." Mr. Johnson smiled at tho ready re lapse into railway phrase, and said: "It SUE WAS AT THU SWITCH STASD. was a bright thought; it has saved us a good many dollars, and probably some lives, too. Now, if tho company were a good fairy, like those in the story-books, what would you ask for a reward?" Phoabo had a sudden inspiration. "Oh, Mr. Johnson, there's one thing that would mako mo happier than any thing else; if pa could only have a good run, so wo could live in a real town!" Mr. Johnson looked around at the circle of friendly faces. "I think your father has earned that for himself," ho said, quietly. "Is that the only thing you want?" "Oh, no, indeed," replied Phoebe, candidly; "but, you see, if we lived in a town, perhaps I could get some of the other things. We mighthappon to get acquainted with somebody that had a piano, and then, maybe, I could learn to play, and " Hero Phoabo suddenly realized that sho was chat teringactually chattering to tho man of whom everyone on the djvisjon stood in awe, and she shut up like an oyster that had been caught napping with its shell opon. Tho superintendent laughed at her confusion and sat down to finish his telegraphing. "When the general manager hears that, I'm sure he'll bo sorry that the company doesn't run a piano-factory," ho said; whereat the men laughed, too. Mr. Johnson had a little private con versation with Artley and Norman that night after Phcobo had gone back to Mrs. Hannah, and several things came of it. For one, the engineer got his binart "eight-wlieeler" and a pas senger run with the promptness that characterizes western railway promo tion when tho head of a department makes up his mind; and, at the same time, Norman found his way smoothed for a transfer in a most miraculous manner. A third event growing out of the sanio talk concerned Phcobo, but sho know nothing about it until ono day, after they were settled in a com fortable cottnge in tho "real town," a van drove up to the door with a piano. It was a gift from the railway com pany to Phoebe; and on a silver plate just abovo tho keyboard was tho in scription: To Miss Phoobo Artley: : : for meritorious ser Ices : ; on tho nlct o September slith, : : ut Orlvul Junction. : Outlook. Ttmt Sottlnd It. Dick Ana you will not marry me? May Naw! "That settles It. It you had saUt 'No,' I might still hope; buj 'Ne.-vr-M good-by forever." Trutli. ! 1 Mi, RplPfy STEEPED JLH INIQUITY. A Commune- of Vice- Which Thrives la Washington') Parks. Spots Which Aro tho Delight of 'Women ond Children During tho Day Bo como Hotbeds of Crime ac Night. 'Special WusMnKtcn Letter 1 When tho sun his given tho placid waters of tho Potomac his brilliant good-night kiss, and touched with gold tho 'tail treetops on the warm tinted heights and hills; when the aluminum tip of the Washington monument and tho bronzo goddess on the capitol dome have cast their last shadows, it is plcas nnt to roam through the public parks and stroll In the twilight along tho Mall, to communo with nature in tho midst of a wilderness of architecture and artificial human existence. The perfume-laden botanical gardens, near tho western wall of the bpacious capitol grounds, aro surrounded with a WITH GI.l'AJIIXO HATCHET UPLI?TKD. high iron fence, tho gates are closed, nnd the poor people of tho republic can onlv raze through tho bars and niff the incenso of nature, vainly longing for closer contact w itA tho rare exotic beauties which the public servants withhold from their sovereign rulers. Tho great Ilartholdl fountain is playing its crystal streams beneath electric lights; but children, women and men may view it only between tho inter stices of tho vails, and wonder why tho bars are there. Hut, even under theso circumstances, wo can enjoy ta beau ties and fragrance of t.io place which millions of our countrymen would gladly view, and who must envy us as favored and pampered people. Ilctween theso gardens and the whlto house grounds, south nf Pennsylvania, avenue, for nearly a mile there is onj continuous verdure wnlch Includes Uie arsenal, national museum, Smithsonian, ngiicultural department and monu ment parks, overspread with the branches of ancient trees in which tho sw allows, robins and other aerial in habitants twitter, chirp and sing until lulled tolumber by theif own music. These places belong to tho people, but when tho shades of night aro faille? fast they are usually forsaken by ladles nnd children because the Ishmaelitcs congregate there; tho men whom cir cumstances and conditions have ren dered homeless, friendless and, there fore, not wholly amiable. They asa the men whose hands aro against every man, and who feel that tho ha.ids of all mankind ar raised ngains' them. They people the Mall at night, just as tho birds people t-o trees. Whence they come or whither tnty go natters little, for they aro small factors in tho multiples of a great city, end not ono of their integers commands pcn-onal care or attention. It is or.iy when they violate law nnd order that they aro taken into custody; b-:t Li tho mean while they are objects ol tuspicton and dread, so that the timid aud frail for sake the Mall when the stars and moon nro overhead. There are long benches lr theso con tinuous parks which aro cirjpisi dur- HE fVAS DANCI.VO WITH THE OTHERS. ing the day by mothers and nurses, while children gambol on tho grass be neath the splendid umbrage of tho great green arms of tho gigantic trees. At night they aro occupied by many a weary wanderer who is harmless, but homeless. They aro not disturbed by tho rude command to "move on," which blue-coaled peace guardians in other cities harshly utter to similar sons of man. Iiut before they take completo possession of these places at midnight to seek "tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," they look like dangerous marauders, and some of their number may well bo feared. In the Smithson ian grounds many an unwary man has felt the weight of a club in the hands of a tramp, to awake from a swoon and jpnd hi3 watch and purso gone, never to bo recovered. As I walked through tho park near the Union dope t, between the botanical and arsenal grounds tho other night, thcro was a cry of "police" to the left ncar,"Tincup alley," followed by a shrill repetition of calls for "help." Hastily turnincr in tho direction of the I sound, and fearing a stray bullet in tho Op Wmms dark, t camo upon an old man with gleamiD,? hatchet uplifted over tha tiead of a burly fellow who had fallen upon his knees. From tho opposito side camo a park watchman who grabbed at the uplifted arm. Tho old man shouted: "Lot mo alono, and tike that thief." Tho watchman grasped tho burly fel low just as ho rose to run away; and then tho old man said: "Tako his re volver. Ho dropped it there where I was standinp. I am a clerk in Blank's store. I bought this new hatchet, and was walking along home with my hands behind my back when this fellow stopped rao with a demand for my mon ey. 1 swung my hatchet aloft, and co dropped his pistol. There it is. It w as true. Tho highwayman of tho park had assailed an apparently help less old man, and was surprised with tho suddenness of his capture. Ho will probably spend a term of yeors in tho pcnitentiaVy. I5ut that will produce no reformation. Ho will come forth as ho entered tho jail, a natural-born Ish maelite, to resumo a life of lawlessness. Before ho undertakes to assault anoth er old man, however, ho will warily watch him and ascertain whether or not ho has a tomahawk concealed about his person. Nobody would expect to find Pata gonia or Abyssinia in the vicinity of tho center of learning, statesmanship, sci ence and progress of the western hem isphere. Tho most vivid imagination would not bo likely to conjure up vi sions of Fiji islanders in all their crud ity and nudity within sight of her majesty, tho Goddess of Liberty, on tho dome; but here, beneath tho bluo can opy of heaven, with the light of the stars for tapers, and tho moon for a lantern, in a by-path leading from the park to Maine avenue, which is near by toward the south, haw-haws and guf faws of loud and discordant laughter attracted attention, and there, like un kempt denizens of the Pacific wilds, a group of men and women were found dancing and howling in aboriginal glee. Tho women were from a contiguous quarter known as Louse alley, and the men were trom overywnere. xney were blackerthanthenight, shamefully indifferent to their conditions. They were black women of sin and black men of wickedness. Iniquity is their portion and crime their pastime. They wore apparently not disturbing tho peace of the neighborhood, and police interference was not thought of by any of them; nor by me. For our W aslnng ton pollco force is composed of humani tarian philanthropists who never inter rupt orgies of any sort, unless some tragedy results, and then they make arrests as a matter of necessity. These people were hilariously full of five-cent whisky, or three-cent gin; but thero seemed to bo no law violated, and no reason on the statute books for the pre vention of their degradation, nor of the contamination of their influence. You will not wonder that I said abovo that women and children cannot enjoy these parks of the Mall after the shadows of nature fall, because then tho shadows of crime stalk forth and permeate even tho atmosphere. Tho only man in the crowd of half eivilized savages who was decently clad were the bluo uniform of a sailor in the naw of tho United States. Ho was iLineinir with the others, out in the nieht within a mile of tho navy yard, as wildly and frantically as any of tho foul and wretched beings about mm, No man can doubt the stories of dem oniacal possession which the Scrip tures narrate after having witnessed such a scene. All of these creatures wero bereft of true reason, and were entirely under tho influence of tho demon of tho still. Through the, trees I could sec tho gleaming spire of the Metropolitan Methodist church, where Bishop Newman preached so long, and beneath whose eloquent ministrations tens of thousands of dollara had been contributed to send abroad for the sup port of the missionaries in foreign lands. Within fivo minutes' walk, in tho direction of any point of tho compass, a man might come 10 mo uoor oi sumu Christian sanctuary where other tens 4 thousands of dollars have been raised for similar purpose, and yet, wo havo heathen so near home. Why is it that the eyes of sanctity so oftenlook over tho heads of these creatures of God and stretch and strain their visual power to see a necessity for proselyting in coun tries far away, while in our midst is a lower order of civilization, a thriving commune of crime which never heard the story of Calvary, nor ever dreamed that they havo a Father who is the came Father to whom tho whito men and women clad in purple and fine linen pi ay, and for whoso worship they build houses of worship too fine for our homo heathen to enter? Still the stars wero shining, and tho moon was beaming, and inc southern breezes were rustling the leaves over head as I continued ramblo which de veloped other scenes which deepened and emphasized tho reflections which have been written above. All along the Mall thero were groups of men with bottles of liquid damnation which they passed'.'rom lip to lip until stupidity or quarrelsome dispositions resulted. Pro fanity polluted tho pure air of the syl van place and ribald songs w hich can not bo quoted wero sung by the de praved human beings who know not truth and right, but dwell in sin with out tho light of life. And all theso things were seen and heard between tho capitol and tho monument, on tho Mall which has been provided for tho enjoyment of tho pure and innocent. And yet, professing lovo for God and man, and with intent to preach the Gospel "to every creature," we will con tinue to absolutely ignore these whom lie called "My brethren," forgetting that inasmuch a3 wo havo thus shame fully neglected the fallen at homo we bavo done it unto Him. Smith D. Pet.. Xot Unusual. Watts Did you ever know of anyone dying for love? Votts Once. I know a fellow who starved to death after being refused by an heiress. Indianapolis Journal. HOME HINTS AND HELPS. Yankee Dried Beef: Chip beef verr thin, parboil, pour off tho water, add milk and thickening, and a lump'ot butter. Western Rural. Stuffed Beef's Heart: Stuff a beefs heart with dressing, as made for tur key, pour over one cup of water and roast until tender. Chicago Record. Pineapple Compote: Cut pineapplo into small dice, stew slowly in a rich sirup, take one fruit, add to the sirup one-third of a box of gelatine previ ously dissolved in half a cup of hot water. Strain all over pineapple. Serve cold. Prairie Farmer. Broiled Sardines on Toast: Select fine, firm sardines; arrange them in a double broiler and broil for two min utes on each side over a very brisk fire. Place on fresh toast, pour over a little) maitre d'hotel sauce, garnish with lemon and parsley. Chicago Record! Cocoanut Pie: foak one and one half cupfuls of shredded cocoanut two hours in ono pint of sweet milk, then add one cupful of granulated sugar, the well-beaten yolks of three eggs, flavoring to taste. Put in a deep tin with an under crust and bake at least thirty minutes. Uso the whites to frost it Prairie Farmer. Hard Sauce: Beat one cupful of sugar and half a cupful butter to a cream, add the whites of two eggs beaten to a stiff froth, and a table spoonful of lemon or any flavoring to taste. Beat all together a few min utes; pile lightly upon a dish, grato nutmeg over it, and set it on tho ico to haidcn until needed. Boston Budget There is nothing moro unappetiz ing than tho ordinary boiled potato, and nothing daintier and more palata ablo than potatoes served as they may be served. Potato croquettes aro delicious. Boll and mash thoroughly four or five potatoes, add cream, butter and salt Cream them and add tha white of one egg beaten to a froth. Make into oblong rolls with the hands and dip into the yolk of the egg, and then into cracker crumbs. Put in a wire basket and fry in deep hot lard until a nice brown. N. Y. World. Gooseberry Jelly: Green gooseber ries are one of those good fruits that ono can not make too much of, and yet the cooking of them in most household) Is exceedingly monotonous, btcw a pint of green gooseberries in a quart of water with sugar, allow them to get cold, and then heat them again, for this will make the fruit a nice pink color. Dissolve an ounce of gelatine in water, add to it a quarter of a pound of sugar and place it in the juice of the fruit, which should bo carefully strained and clear, add sufficient water to make a pint and a half in all. Pour into a wetted mold, and when cold serve. Leed's Mercury. Spanish Cream: One-quarter of a box of gelatine, one-quarter of a cup of cold water, the yolks of four eggs, three tablespoonfuls of sugar, one-half a saltspoonful of salt, one pint of milk, tho whites of three eggs, one teaspoon ful of vanilla. Soak tho gelatine in cold water until soft, then dissolve it in boiling water. Make a custard with tho yolks of the eggs beaten and mixed with the sugar and salt Pour on tho hot milk and cook in the double boiler till it thickens. Add the strained gela tine, water, vanilla and the whites of the eggs beaten stiff. Mix all well and turn into molds wet in cold water. Place in ice-chest When hard serve Chicago Record. . FRUIT LUNCHEONS. IToir to Trepare it Palatable Warm W either Hepjst. As the fruit season comes again, all good housekeepers who like to enter tain are fond of making plans for dainty little luncheons, to which they may invite their very dearest friends. An orange luncheon has already been described, and a strawberry and banana luncheon is well worth a few notes. It. may be said just here that a fruit salad composed of strawberries, bananas and oranges is one of the most delicious things imaginable, ItU noj jlii&cult to get up fruit luncheon?, provided ono has some dainty china, fine tabic linen and a smaU amount of cut glass and silver. Oranges should be prepared in the morning, cut into slices and sprinkled with sugar and set in tha ice-box. The bananas must bo left until the last moment, as they turn black when cut any time before using, but they may be laid in the ice-box il one liltes them very cold. Strawber ries may be hulled immediately on their receipt This is best done by dropping them for a few moments into cold water, whirling them gently around, then lifting them out one by one, picking off the hulls and placing them carefully on a dish. These in turn may be set into tho ice-box, but under no circumstances should they come in contact with tho ice; straw berries lose their most delicate flavor onco they aro chilled. If kept per fectly cold until time to serve them, they will be 'exceedingly fresh and crisp. A few fresh strawberry leaves may bo placed around the edge of tha dish in which the berries aro served. A portion of them may be mixed with the bananas and oranges, or they may be served into the same dish if tho guests prefer. Strawberry ice-cream and strawberry short-cake are tha usual accompaniments. , Among tho most appropriate decora tions are hawthorn blossoms, if the season admits. There aro also many wild flowers that closely resemble tho strawberry, quite enough so, at least, to pass as a decoration. Roses aro al lowable, and there should bo an abundance of green, of which there is no lack in strawberry time. Straw berry leaves, properly handled, aro very effective in decorating the room when mixed with other greens. Sandwiches of boiled tongue aro very nice and delicate. The bread should be cut very thin, nnd the butter must be of the finest quality. Nothing is so disappointing as a sandwich In which the butter is not satisfactory. Iced tea and lemonade, with oraDges and strawberries, or claret punch, will be found most satisfactory beverages. N. Y. 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