Newspaper Page Text
IL. .MILOLER. Editor. ENNDT. : : LOUISIANA. IN SEPTEMBER. Two and by two fl the doves through the timber, Past the red sunset's far lines; Past the tall, sentinel pines; Dip the long willow-tips, yellow and limber, Down where the dark water shines, Glowing in hollows, where floats the bent sickle, Scimitar-like of the moon: Where the round sand-eddies croon; Down where the sinuous brook-currents trickle, Dripping through rock-niches hewn. Two and by two go the reapers together, Figures in dusky relief; Bearing the scythe and the sheaf; 'Vhere the keen tang of the Autumny weather Perfumes each blossom and leaf. Two and by two stoop the doves to the willows, Where the wind's whisperings pass Through the wet reeds and the grass, Down where the river its still bosom pillows, Gray and transparent as glass. Two and by two drift the bronze upland plover, Bird-shapes thro' mist-spaces blown, Over the meadows new mown; And I and the night, like a lass and her lover, Meet in the twilight alone. -Earnest McGaffey, in WVoman's Home Companion. The Boy and the Woman. : 4. + By A. Myers. I. IN THE CONSL'LTING-ROOI. fiA tHAT'S a fellow to do, Doc f tor ?" "D)o? You blithering idiot. Go home if you can't give it up." "No names, Doctor dear. Shure it's mesilf that hasn't got the passage money." "Where's the £200 .you had last Monday?" Tom Griffiths blew a silent but sig nificant ejaculation out of his cigar ette, and lay back with a smile in the doctor's leathern armchair. "She's devilish pretty," he said, after a moment's silence. "That's the word," responded the doctor, cynically. More silence, filled up by energetic puffing. "Can't think why you bother your head about me, Doc." "Can't think 'why I do, except that I've seen such a lot of chaps go the same way." A flush mounted to the lad's face. He rose and turned his back-a strong muscular back-to his friend. "Well, tra-la-hn." "Where are you going?" "To the Devil, Doctor dear." And the door closed sofitly. II. AT THE DEVIL'S. "You're late. Tommy." For answer he drew a low chair up beside her. "May I smoke?" She held a lighted match to his cigarette. Hie puffed for a moment, then drew the hand to his lips. "You're looking awfully fit to-night. TVhat's that thing you've got on. I haven't seen it before." "That's the New Creation. Flam and's. She says I'm the only woman here who could wear it. It's copied from a print of Louire de la Valliere." Tommy didn't know who Louise de la V'alliere was, so he nodded wisely. "Did you have a hard day?" "No. Licked 'era easily. Why didn't you come?" "Who was there?" "All the pretty women. They'd have looked ugly beside you." She smiled. "I am pretty, am I not? That's why you like me, isn't At ?" He drew an end of the loose lace about her neck and kissed it.. He was perilously near her face, but she did not move except for the faintly ac celerated pulsation of her breast. "Doe wants to send me home." She smiled bitterly. "Out of my 'ay!" "Why do you let him malign you. Fleurette?" An undercurrent of controlled pas silon escaped him. "They--T-we're none of us fit to tie your shoe-lace." "You're silly now, Tommy. Don't idealize. I don't pretend to you. Threy -pay for my silks. D)on't you?" The sentences came with difficulty. She let her fingers slide along her skirt. smoothing the soft folds. She laughed into his eyes, lnut there was a tired ness in hers that hurt him. "I love silks-and-scents-and flowers-and luxury. They're meat and drink to me." "And we pay for them-and jolly glad to get the chance, too-to have the pleasure of looking at you," he said hotly. "And-to kiss me-sometimes." "I dare swear," he said indifferent ly. "A man would be a fool not to try." "But-you never have, Tommy." Her voice was very low. He flushed red. "No, dear." And then Fleurette did a funny thing. She put her arms round the boy's neck and kissed him on thie lips. He didn't move. "I love you, Tommy, I love you!" "I believe you do, my dear." ills voice was husky, hut he disengaged her arms and she smiled again into his eyes. "You have the most reason to doubt me-and you believe ini me. Incredi I le!" *I must go, Fleurette.n S"''ou've aily come:" .*!ll come again tomorrow--if I may." "And to-morrow, and to-morrow. And Doc will send you home after that, and itcwill be good-bye." "Pleurette." "Tommy." "I can't give you silks and cushions and flowers." "And-I can't do without them dear." III. IN THE CONSULTING-ROOM. "Hullo! Back again?" The doctor hadn't moved from his placid position, save in the shifting of a big tome which lay open at his elbow. "Yes. I'm restless. Give me an opiate." "Not I. Look at this diagram of the battle of Omdurman." "Oh, d-m Omdurman." "Quite so, quite so. Have a drink. The whisky's behind you, brandy to the left." "Doe, that girl's as good as they're made." "Quite so, quite so. They've all said so. Never knew one that wasn't." "I tell you, Doc- " The doctor flicked some ash off his waistcoat. There was a pleasant flavor of cigar-atmosphere in the room, homely and pervading. "It's serious, then." "Devilish serious." "Well, ask her to marry you." Tommy laughed. There was a curious strain in his voice. "She wouldn't, Doc." "Have you tried?" "Yes." "By Jove!" The boy buried his face in his hands. "She's fond of me," he gulped out. "She's fonder of the Devil." "No, only of silks and things dolls and sweets." "Did she tell you so?" " es." The doctor whistled and finally brought out his first remark: "My boy, go home." "Yes, yes, I will, I will. I'll go home-home." TI. A FAG-END OF CONVERSATION ON THE "PHILOMEL." "What's the run going to be to-day. Jack?" Jack nodded his bald, grey-fringed head wisely. "Ye mann consult the second en gineer. Ile knows more about it than. 1 do." "Hullo, Fabert, we're just. talking about you. Come and give ius a tip." Fabert lounged up to them. "Can't. I say, that chap Grifliths- by Jove-I never saw such a chap. Ten whiskys and it's not 11 o'clock yet, and as fit as a fiddle. Pity, isn't it?" "He's going home. Shipped out, and I should reckon shipped back. Some thing about a girl. Thle best of them isn't worth the spoiling of ai boy like that. I've half a mind to try and pull him in. Stick tight and preach 'the guv'nor.' atnd 'prove yourself a man,' and all the rest of it." "IHe's too (leep in now. Ilced think it. irn awfully good joke, and have the whole ship down on you, Saint "a bert. Fa'bert Sighed. "I'm sorry for the lad." "lHe'll get over it. They all do. What will the run be?3 :3h4?" "haven't the ghost of an idea." He lounged off again, and ilhe man who had accosted him lit a cigarette. "Never can get an~Sything out of thal c;lap. lie's so close and so selfish." V. TO THOMAS GRIFFITHS. New Year's Day. hJear Tommy-Your letter reached me in the middle of a supper party with your pal Timothy and the V'yner girls. At the next table was Mrs. Pal grave. When she was Nelly l'ellett she was grateful to mle for my cast off gowns. She cut me dead. I was tremendously amused, andi we drank her health. Good champagne, Toinuny. Why weren't you there? We also drank yours. and then-I don't know why- but mine suddenly tasted all wronia. Blest l'errier-Jouet, too! Then, in conies the l'rince. lie had been to my place, and Milly tolt him where we were, so elit brought up my letters. One was yours, the other ia irovoking bill from Flanumland. wh-o refuses to make my Ilnew tel-gown until her "little account" is settled. Little ne count, intledtl! £74. I couldn't hellp letting a tilny tear drop omn 1the P'rince's glove,. and he swore he'd wipe out the delit with his blood. llt I'd sooner have eash. And I lent him the fifty I horrowed from you the other day to pay a debt of honor, so I know hlie hasn't got any. I'm sending'you by the same post £30 of the amount you lent mne. Hlow did I get it? Well. I was lucky at the races on Satiurday, and if something comes off hefore next W'ednesday-I won't tell you what, as it's a dead secret with the Prince--I'll hand you over the balance next week and clear off Flamand too. Oh dear, how I want money-and how I love you, Tommy dear. I laugh and joke with T'im and the others, hilbut my heart is heavy. Timmy calls me. He asks me to sing "Du fragst mich taglich" and "Ich libe dich," and I sit dlown to the piano; but instead my fingers play "Ich grolle nicht," andil I find the tears getting into my voice. Hleigh-ho! Are you playing the good brother in Ireland? Taking Molly to the rectory to have tea with the one and only curate, and piloting Norah Malone through the mazes of cro quet? There isn't any Norah Malone? Oh. yes there is, but maybe she goes by another name. She's small and round, with innocent blue eyes and a pouting mouth, pink and white all over, and sunny hair. Have you told her yet that it's like wisps of gold ? Jealous? Of course I'm jealous, Tom my dear. But I think you'd like oys ters and champagne like we had on your birthday-do you remember 'how Tim spilt the may.onnaise over my new gown?-better than wishy-washy tea and bread and butter and the pretti est. ingenue :ever created by Pinero and company. Come back, and I'll in vite you again, and give you a lovely cushioned chair all to, yourself, and sing reveries and cradle-songs and love-songs--oh yes, especially love songs-to you till you shut your mouth with kisses-what am I saying? No, no, let us be careful, and cold surtout cold. But one little kiss does not matter, does it? Just before one goes out into the night-which is so callous, -so indifferent. And so I bid you farewell, Tommy dear. Hope for a letter next week. It will mean my luck is in. Your Fleurette. V-I. CHEZ PAPA. "It's no good, Dad. I've stuck to it six months and it's killing me by inches. i'll have to go." They were seated in the big book lined library. Thomas Grifliths, sen ior, upright in his red leathern chair, calm and dignified, observed his son from beneath acute, shaggy eyebrows. "So I see. It's the young blood again," he sighed. "I thought you had sown your oats, but it seems there's still a plentiful crop." "Indeed, dad, you're wrong. I'll be as steady as the Inchcape Rock, but-I must get away. I'm choking." "Can't brook restraint. Home ties -what are they? Brittle as paper, solid as water. fMy son!" lie turned over the leaves of the "Graphic" with a large paper-knife. and iet his eyes rest vacantly on the pictures. Sud denly he spoke again. "Of course, there's a woman. Will you tell me who and what she is?" The roots of Tommy's hair blushed a quivering red. "There's no woman," he said, after a pause. "'And before the cock crows ye shall deny me thrice!' 0 love!" Thlrough the stained-glass window fell shafts from the westering sun. Long shadows lay across the thick pile carpet, the face of the old man glea-med like the emontionless stern ness of a sculpture in the dying light. "You are choosing. Thomas," he said at last. "'My way or thy way. There is no going back. My fortune goes to your sister if you thwart me. I can allow you nothing any more." "I can't stick it, dad," lie repeated doggedly. "I'm sorry to cross you, but the fever's in my blood. The hat tie-cries drown the voice of agricul ture." "You are not in the army?''" "The hattle-cry of life. dad, of the world-the struggling-t he swimmning to shore. the hurzzas, the champagne. I must get hack to it, sink or swim." Mr. Grifiths rose. "I don't speak your language Thomas. 1 belong to the old school, I suppose. You have gone beyond me. Unless you c'hange your nlind before to-morrow week our ways lie apart. I)o ntot seek to alter my decision. You know my--shall we call it-obstincy-? (;oaodl-niglt.'" Upstairs in tie bouldoir of his dead wife Thomas (iritlit Its, senior,. un locked an eseritoaire. Drawing out a miniature of a little lad in a Scotch suit. he held it to the light . while. dliag onal lines fronl nostril to mouth deepetled into plougllhed furrows. "He should have bien named Ab salom,n" he said bitterly,. VI I. FLEIIRETTE. A familiar knock drew Fleurette bolt upright. She waited breat hlessly. The door handle was impatiently turned and a sunbulllrnt nilll stood bareheaded in the middle of the room. "Tommy!" Tommy didn't say anything. lie devoured her with his eyes, from the sober serge gown to the bangleless wrists. "What does it mean. Flehure'tte?" She laughed. bult the blotod flared in her cheeks. "-What an aw-ful time sinlce I've seen yoau? I believe you've grown." "\What does it mean. Flehurette?" "What does what doe means hat Don't he so silly. Tonmmy. You look as if you were going to eat nme." "Tell me. please." "Don't you like it ?'" Tommy spoke slowly. "No, I like the gew-gaws. frills anad things. Where alre they?" "1've c'hlangReI--t ired of t hem. I'm capricious. You haven't saidl you're g'la to see me." lie looikel alt her with suclth iint, nsity that. she stirred uneaasils-. "'(olne andI tell inie iall ya'ul've seen anld alhlna. I've lbeen ]lhul'gerinFg for youl.'" "Is that true?'" "'Of course not. Do 0o1 think I should say so if it was? I want to be polite." They sat down, and a stratined si lence fell laetween them. Tommy broke it diffidently. "I've got a billet with a chap who came asut on my boat. Rle's on 'change.' A speculator, rich as Croe sus. I get £30 a month and pros pects." "It will keep you in tobnacco." "I'mn not sure. It will give us oys ters once in a way." "I don't like oysters any more, Tommy." "It will buy an occasion ficlhu." "T-don't like fichus." "It will let us aask Tim and the Prince and Milly -" "Milly's married, and-TI haven't seen Tim or the P'rince for six months." Tommy got uip and paced the room. "Then what in the world's to pre vent us-to prevent you-to prevent me-" "I don't know. 'Tommy dear. Ex cept that you won't ask me." "No, I won't, by Jupiter. I'll take you without asking." "Oh! Fleurette. Flenrette." The boy's sobs betrayed the man. Andl Doe was best man after all. -Idler. HE WANTED SEEEPS. With Whiceh to Ensage in the Game with Antes and the Kitty. A young Frenchman, recently na' rived in this city, found .himself in a pleasant boarding house in Michi gan avenue, wnere most of the board ers were of long residence and were well acquainted-almost as members of a family, says the Chicago Chron icle. The Frenchman was a bright, intelligent, gentlemanly fellow, and was taken into full fellowship soon. One night a little poker game was started-a "penny ante" game, or something of the kind. The French man took to it very quickly, and found it very fascinating. The next day he detern'ned to purchase for himself a poker outfit to take back with him to France when he should return. So he went to "a large de partment store and asked if they had some "sheeps." "Upstairs," said the polite clerk, "in the toy deparment." The young man went up two floors and again asked for "sheeps." "Over in the far corner," said the floorwalker. When he reached the counter to which he had been directed a young worian to whom he made known his wants showed him a number of wooden sheep wtli, wool fastened on them. "Pardon; ect ees not zese I want. I weesh 'sheeps.' " "Well. these are certainly sheep." said the young woman. "and they are very good sheep." Then a new idea enlme to her, and she added: "Of course, if you want something cheap er. you lwill find some tin animals over at that other counter," point ing across the room. "linut it is not "sheeps' I want, but 'sheeps.' I want not 'sheeps' ze ani mals. buit 'sheeps to play wiz." "\IM dear sir, these are 'sheept to play with!' " The poor man was growing dis tressed, when a setond girl cams to the rescue. "I know \\ lwhat you want." she said. "colme with tile." Hle went with lier. aind she piloted hint over to a ceunter on which were piled miniature ships, yachts. and so forth. "There you are!" she exclaimed, tri umphantly. "BIut eet ees no, not zis! It is 'sheeps' zat I want." By this time it began to be the general impression on the floor that the man was crazy, and this was strengthened by his explanation that he wanted the "sheeps" for his 'aun ties!" "T'he'y nlust keep a boarding house." whispered one girl to anoth er. "'and he has nmistaken this for a grloe'e'r "" l1n t a sophisticated man overheard the F.'renchnian's last remark, and sa id: "i:xcuse mts,. sir. but I think I un derst what t you want-poker chipls. isni't it ?'" "Smtrt'lee!. Sheeps for pokeair! Zat ee l; ct!" HIS BLUFF DID NOT WORK. Culled for "PI'ickled Elephant" But Took ('heerne Snndwlic'hen lnstead. Stories o1 Yankae shrewdness have al 'a\\ s y been w\idt liy Ii irctulalt ed, bit when one gets ahead of a Yankee there is very little said about it, espe cially on the part of the man from the north. Several dayvs ago a hotel keeper at a small station ca one of thlie roads running out of lMemphis put the lautgh on a drunnmmer from the north in a very good way. and thte traveling inan was conmll'lt'ed to b)eat at hasty retrenat. The drullnner arrived at the hotel about .eight o'clock in the evining.'and fearing, that he would not be al114' to get any supper he asked the Iantidlord what he could get to eat.'re'attes the MIe'miihis Scimitar. "Mv friend." stid the hotel kerper. "I can give you anything front a pic'kled elephant t.o a broliled ctanary bird's tongue for sutpper to-night." The drummer looked at the "man. and, thinking that lihe was jesting. decidtled to (all his bluff. "'.\ll right, myII friend." said tle ldruntlmer: "I'll take snnome picied ch'pha nt." "'Vetry v \'ell." said thle host, "I'll go and get it." lie was pone aibollt five mitiUtmes and wrhen hlie retutrned said: "All right. sir: supper wilt be ready in a moment. You'll have to talk a whlole one. ais we don't carve themn after dark." The drummer decided that he was not very hiuniigry, and took sonime cheese sandwiches. The Mlnmion of Good Hlonel. We have spoken of the curse of snob bery. The surest and quickest way to crush iX out of American sioiety is to teach our children to value others aind estimate their own worth by what they canl produce that is useful ad tdi that is beneficial to others. And that their business in life is not to see how much pleasure they can get, but how mnuch they can give. instead, therefore, if weikly clinging to our children andt ntikiing thent weak by pamnliering themn in the homne. let us feel that our pa rt or theirs is not done until we have taught them to be strong to hIear ant forbear, to do fore themselves and carry help and cheer to others. Let us not hamper their career's with tour vain. regrets at their leavingi us. but help themt in all Iupward. onward tend ,encies.-lHome MIagazine. Prepared for the Enmergebcy. Sh e-Faith. 't is veryt suddint ! He-An' is it toitne yez want to think it over? "Och! SNot a hit! Sure, I thought it w, ould be suddint!"--Pick. FASHION'S FANIE . Pkstty Features of the Late Cotatwes -Newr Ideas in Hato, Trim. minds, HIte. The arttractive use of black velvet, so popular on summer gowns, will be extended to the fall and winter cos tumes. The ribbon designed to trim the bottom of flounces and skirts will, however, be wider than formerly. Lengthwise bands of black and colored velvet are a charming decoration for evening gauze dresses. They will be most in style when sewed down closely to the top of the flounce, with the end falling over the flounce in a graceful loop, says :: fashion authority. Long boas, reaching almost to the feet, are among the striking acces sories to the costume as fall approach es. If .the collar is of mousse-line de sole, instead of making the long ends of the same material, a pretty effect is gained by a finish of velvet ribbon, with a cluster of extremely long loops and ends. 'Brussels net may be em ployed in the same way wi~th black sat in ribbon. Black and white boas, in which the white largely predominates, also promise to take the -popular fancy, and among the latest novelties are those of black liberty silk, with black and white handkerchief ends. Round English walking hats of gray beaver are p.retty for early fall wear. One of these, stiffened in .the brim but having a soft crown, is trimmed with Persian silk, laid loosely around the crown, and a couple of wings. An other charming little hbat for rough and ready wear has a stiff crown with a perfectly flat top and a broad brim, while the only decoration is a narrow band of silk around the crown. The new ruffled sleeve is :,ne of the most fascinatinag creations. and lends itself admirably to the lacy, flounced evening dresses so much worn. In 1his sleeve the tight effect is retained from shoulder to elbow. while from that point the sleeve falls in two,. three or four flounees about the 1:wer arm. Full lengith I lose sleeves may also be made, and the ruffles plnced on them with a similar effect. Mock jewels of s.ilk embroidtery on black hose aire amongo the latest fads. One extremely pretty pair displayed recently had a dninly all-over lace pat tern running half way up the stocking, and the jewels were worked in red and white over the instep. Tiny buckles or buttons are much chosen now to set off the high belts which are made of velvet straps ar ranged in fa~n-shape front and back. The buckles are placed at the points or extremities of the ribbon straps. The broad collars of lace fancied most for evening wear just noiw are made full, and fall over the shoulders in folds, reaching sometimes nearly to the waist. A handsome lace in enru shade is one of the mo,st fashionable mnaterials fti' these collars. CALF'S FOOT JELLY. Ennily Preplnred and Very Pnlatable and Nonriahing to the Delicate in Henlth. This is a delicious form of gelatine jelly with which we are so famiti:iar. for gelatine is made of nothit r else than lhe feet iof calves and of o( her animals and of similar substances. Time is too val'uable to s.petid in tnatling jelly from't calves' feet. but eca-iunally it iay lie worth w' hile ;:,i '''}are ja:le - thus, if only to apl,e.r ia u;e ltlw l xuy of modern labor-saiwi:ng Im .It ,,:-. \'e insist, however, that there i- no su lperiority in jelly n t te iilret :\ i'fr, ll calves' feet and tha it.h'e ' '' , extrac.ted froml calc. - ' c :" in trust vworthli nulatlllfeturers. says the New York Tribune. I'Procurtre four feet of a ea:f 'ihich have beeln ciarefully 'elia:ned by the butcher. loil sloe ly in four quarts of water.(put over them cold) until the liqc(ide is reduced one-half. It should take about six hours. sit'in the liquor and let it stantid over night. hlen skim ifT alll the fat anti add a pint of orange juicye. the ,juire of a lenm on. faor cups of .surar. a litt le cinnation and half thet peel of the orad'ge used. Add also'the whites of tlree eggs anid the shells broken up. Let the. liquid slowly come :to the bh iling point- and -let it sim-nl .t 12 titlutes slowly. At the end of thisb time st rain t het jielly thr',ugh a fluatnuel iau- tw ice. l'ur'i i iinto molds ti nd let it cool on the ice or too'4r it itntil firm. Olive anti E~gg Sanlad. lRemiove the sh(ells fromI tht nlllutIlier of hard-boileld e.ggs 'desired. and be gitining ah thle sitil tend ciit the 'whitee, almlost to tlhe base. into fiftlhs lIntgthwise. rt''tmoving thie yolks: tien back tthe petals lthus fornd so that they will cutrl piretti[y. and tint them a le'liuttte pink with beet jitie: niush the yolks to a smlooth cream, addll chopped olives-half a cupful to, half a dozen egg"s--and a teaspoonful of paprika: mold again intoe balls, re turn to the tinteu petals, prick with a fork to roughen the surfaee, and pIlce on each a tablespootnftl of may ounnaise: set each in a nest of fringed endive. This is especially artistic. re semblilng pink blossoms with golden hearts.--People's H omte Journal. Tomatuto 2uustu ld. Slice hilf a bushel of ripe tomatoes, bruise hlilf a cdozen, small rtet plieppers ;and adld to, tile tomatoes; buil for ione hour. then rub through a coarse sieve; anrd two tablespoonfuls of blactk pep petr. i 'vo otllluces of ginger, ani otunce of nilspice. half anII ounce of cloves.eig gt h of an Oulliee of nmace, quarter of a piund of salt: boil gently for an houlr. \\h'len cold stir in twoi oOuntes oIf nuts laturd, two of curry powder and a plint of vinegar.--Washington Star. Shrinmp Sandwiehen. Shell c'ean a pint of shrimps. chop very fine, add l1, tablespoons of lemni .juice and three tablespons of oil may onnaise. Spread between buttered folds of white bread.--Good llouse. keeping. -The tTnlted `ma ti n t b ahiL O : flat settleahents, 'the rest of h world 55. Of the 125 schools which the Gerx man government supports abroad, 12 are in British territory. .Jhe total Roman Catholic popula tion of the British empire is 10,500, 000, of which 3,549,000 are Irish. The small German university town of Jena has no fewer than seven free reading rooms, with newspapers and books. Mark A. Hanna and William J. Bryan have each given $100 toward lifting the debt of Nebraska Wesley an university. England holds the record for mis sionaries, with a total of 5,136. Next comes the United States with 4,110, and Germany is a bad third with 1,515. In England only one child receives secondary education to 15 who re ceive elementary; WVales is the only part of the kingdom which has a complete scheme of secondary edu cation. Three European Buddhists are now in Burmah with the avowed object of turning the Christian converts back to Buddhism, and two Amer ican women from Chicago are on their way there for a similar pur-\, pose. Among the natives these for eigners seem to have unlimited in fluence. To-day there are 629 universities and colleges and 43 schools of tech nology in the United States. The total value of the property possessed by institutions for -higher ecation amounts to $342,8,36(il, a gain of about $I31.00.000 over the amount for the preceding year. The endowment fund amounts to $134.121t.tl0. The total income for the year. excluding benefaet lolls, almounted to $27.739, 1154. The value of gifts and bequests during the year I -,S-lPt99 amounted to $21.925.4:3. Soime $2.500 is invested for each student who is now enjoy ing the advantages of any of the in stitutions of learning. TESTING VASES FOR AGE. Can Be Fixed Approxinintely by the Ise of the Magnet-How It Is Done. The attempt to ascertain the age of a porcelain vase by testing it with a magnet may appear to the lay mind as rank lunacy. but a French scientist with the musical name of Fo'lphoraiter claims, with much plausibility, that he can fix, approximately, the dates of old potteries in this way, says the Chi cago American. The magnetic needle dioes not, as many people suppose, point exactly to the north, but deviates from a north and south line to an extent which dif fers in different places, and also varies froom year toi year tit th-e same place. At I'aris,. for example, the deviation, or "declination," as it is technictally called, was 11 /.. degrees to the east in thie yveal 15S0. In (1663 there was no detclination-that is, the needle pointed due north. Since then the declination has been westerly. The greatest west erly declination-about 2'-/ ., degrees occurred in 183;5, since which time the needle has been slowly coming back to the meridi:an. The ec lint i.mn is now It- than 1.5 degree,.e anLd il aunother centuryv it will te zero. Furthermiore, a. l .11 Vc ii'ti- t it nmi:inetie . i', F t<;.e not he, horizon- - tulLi tl o nt i ton\aird the ntorlIh, and hLi d pippin g, or "inclination," varies, as the declination does. It is evident that if we know the inclination and declination for all past times, or konw the laws of their variation so that we can compute their values at any epoch, we carn fix the date of any occurrence by the declination and inclination at that time. Now, most clay contains ican and is magnetized in the dir'ection of the pre vailing force-that is. parallel to the co(mpass needle. \W'hen the clay is "fired." or baked, the direction of t.his mragmetism becomes fixed, parallel with the direction of the compass needle at that instant. Hence, if the resulting vase or brick were undis turbede.it would preserve, graven in it,. so tYo speak. a record of the date at which it was made. Vase(s are disturbed. anti we c.annotl fell which side was north in the firing kiln, so that we cannot use the ma.g nettie "'declination." but we cnt make use o<. the "dip," or iatclinatiin. This ingenious method has been ap plied to vuses of the lroman and Etrus can periods. The former give a very different inclination from the latter, indicating a great difference in age, which is at least interesting and grati fying as a first result. Other investigators have endeavored to fix in a similar way the epochs of volcanic eruptions from the magnet ism ot clay beds which have been cov ered and baked by hot lava. No satis, factory results have yet been obtained, howvever. Retirement of the Sword. The sword, which has had so long and so distinguished a military record, has been placed on the retired list. itritish army authorities have decided that in the future unmounted officers shall carry carbines instead of swords during mnaneuvers and inactive service. The decision is the result of experience gained in the war in South Africa. The sword is not only useless as a weapon, except in close quarters, but it servea as a mark to distinguish the officer from his men. He thus becones a tar get for the enemy's sharpshooters, and when the private soldiers shall have small power of initiative, as is the case in most European armies, the loss of a large number of officers may mean disaster. The passing of the sword is one of the signs of the changed conditions of war.-Youth'u. Companion.