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AT BEDTIME lh« oak tree spreads his mighty boughs Above me where I lie, {The sleepy flowers k!ss my cheek, The wandering wind goes by. Amid a shadowy mist of leaves The shining stars are set $• •I wish thnt I could pluck one. off, Just like a violet. If I were tall enough to reach Beyond tho robin's^/neat, IM steal a little baby -star And wear it on my breast." —Phoebe Lydo, in Lippincott's, 1 I 1 II W ii 'Twas Leap Year EPPERS and pumpkins! A wid ow moved in'right next door, and this leap year." Mr. Alonzo Larkins stared upprelien •ively-out of his window, as if he ex pected to see his newly arrived neigh bor Hitting up his porch steps in search of him with a lasso. Instead he really did see a small, Inoffenslvc-looklug woman walking serenely from her doorway toward her own front lawn, bearing a pot of pansies and a trowel. "Of, course," he continued caustical ly, "wants to make a good impression flrst before she lets out at me. Well, ma'am, my heart is tougli. But you are a neat little bundle," he added with a slight change in tone "trim as sassafras whistle. That's right—let that rufUed-up pink contraption slide off your head. Gum, what shiny Brown balr! And look at the little curl bob' bing over her off ear!" Little Mrs. Bittersweet did not seem at all troubled by the orb Mr. Lnrkins deemed it expedient to keep focused* upon her. She trotted around nbom her own business, paying little heed to tho doings of her bachelor neighbor. The flrst time she met him plump and square she gave him a sweet, indiffer ent little neighborly "Good morning," which somehow excited his discontent and ire. "Took about as much notice of me as ahe would of a brindle. dog," he com plained to himself "in fact, not so much. She pets up all the old stray dogs and gives 'em bones. What's tliu matter with me, I'd like to know?" He looked anxiously into the mirror as he brushed his hair. He saw there in a good-looking and fairly good-na tured face, the chief defect of which was an expression tending towards •elf-conceit. "Now, ma'am," he observed decis ively, addressing the absent willow, "you've got to see me and appreciate me then if you choose to take advant tga of leap year privileges, I don't real ly know as I'll run away." Meantime Mrs. Bltterswcet's atten tion had been directed to Mr. Larkins by her friend, Miss Podderly. "He'« the smartest man In Bibb v!Ue,,J said she, "and got everything in his house a woman's heart could wish, from gas ranges to teaspoons, not to mention scuds of blue-and-white ware saucepans. But seems like he's afraid some woman'U marry him in spite of himself. I guess he's too bashful to ask any one. But I believe In my heart you could overcome the dltllcu:ty, Polly, If you'd set your cap good and •trong." "Set a fiddlestick," retorted Polly Bittersweet, scornfully, "I'll never set my cap for any man." :.-J...cV•: Mr. I^arklns finally grew decidedly •discontented and a little puzzled. "I don't understand you, ma'am," he admitted. In one of his mental apostro phes to the widow. "I have so far mod ified my views as to give you every op portunity to signify your-wish to be come Mrs. Larklu, and yet you're as cool and calm as a bale of snow. I'm not used to it, ma'am, and I won't stand it I'll give you three weeks more to get interested in me, and then I'll take and propose to you—that's about 'what I'll do." When the allotted three weeks of Brace had expired Mr. Larkins, in des peration, executed bis threat and re ceived a plump "No!"—the result oi Miss Podderiy's championship and a streak of contrariness in tlie widow's, disposition. He accepted the sentence with vis ible disappointment, but bore it with manly fortitude. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, frank ly, "tearing sorry. I've taken more of a shine to you, somehow, than I ever did to any one, and I'd be good to you, you can bank on that. But if you can't like me, you can't There, now, ma'am, don't go and cry—don't. I wouldn't hurt your feelings for forty farms," for the widow's heart all at once had (mitten her sharply and some subtle pathos In Mr. Larkins' simple accept ance of defeat caused her eyes to brim with misty tears. "I'm so so-soo-o sorry,'.' she faltered, blushing and sobbing, "I "Don't mention It," implored Mr. Larkins, "don't you be miserable or blue about It But if you should—kind of change your mind, you know, ma'am. Just let me know, won't yon?" Mr. Larkins dove headlong into his garden patcli and hoed vigorously to distract his thoughts, and tho widow sat down on the edge of her porch and Bwung her neat little foot dejectedly. 'I do believe I'm lialf-wittedf said she, under her breath. "I dare say I've lost as good a man as I'll ever meet, and all because Jlenrletta Pod derly told me to run after him. I needn't have run after him, but I could hove thrown him away, and I nin't half as smart as I thought I was. I'm lonely and miserable, woo—oo—oo." Mrs. Bittersweet ran into her sitting room and cried as heartily as Mr. Lar kins hoed. After that she smiled sunnily when ever she met him. He smiled genially. The widow daintily became more lone some and more convinced tliat she had discarded a congenial spirit. "He" won't propose again-in a hun dred years,'" she bemoaned herself, "and no wonder he don't want to risk another snub. He did tell me to let htm know If I changed my mind 1 hate to, like fun, but One golden afternoon when both were sitting, in an unusually pensive mood, upon Mrs. Blttersweet's porch, the widow's heart suddenly prompted her to a little prospecting. "Mr. Larkins," she said softly, "do ron ever change your mind?" "No," returned Mr. Larkins piump ly, "not without solid reason." "We-ell," Bhe continued, holding her breath' at her own boldness, "would yon still like me to—er—er—be— Her meaning rushed through Mr. Larkins like a streak of electricity. He •prang out of his loliinj attltude at a bouiice. "Polly, If you're asking me if I'd Ika you tP be mj wife, I say yes— THE WIRELESS GUIDANCE OF ggnpv wmMsm yes—yes. I don't dure to ask you again, but you've a perfect right to iisk me, even If 1 hadn't told you to, for it's leap—-why, 1'olly, love, what's tlic matter? You're as pule as ashes. What is it, darling?'' "Why, I've actually as good a? asked you to marry me," gasped Polly, "Just what 1'vealwaysdcclarcd I'd dio ralher than do! Oil, well," as Alonzo's arm stole protecting!}- around her Waist, "1 guess I was excusable tills time. But, Alonzo, listen. Don't you ever, the longest dAy you live, let Henrietta Podderly know 1 did it—will you?" "Never," vowed Alonzo, kissing her. •San Francisco Call. A Tin Wedding. There ore so many tilings about the celebration of a tin wedding that can be made amusing that it is rather a mistake to take it too seriously. Tlie best plan Is to biiiis In as many droll features as the iinagiiialluu will sug gest, without making the provocation t9 amusement too much of an cfl'oit. It' Is not feasible to have tlie iuvi- "Well'' Sald MIss rodderlv/ *i wl»l. '"isiu.e 10 nave tlie invi m',*lccts "f the cards 6n TORPEDOES BY ELECTRIC WAVES tlu'but are written may be attached^ little strips or tags of tiu. The wording of the luvltatiou may be as simple as one chooses. wUlt'h 1110 -,nvltation« There cannot be very much douo in the liue of tin decoration, although I have heard of takln^the ot (From tho London Illustrated News.) The Orling-Arnistrong torpedo is not projectile. It is just dropped or slipped into the water, and is then, without any connecting wires, entirely subject to con trol, either from the bridge of ship or a room on shore. The first picture shows Mr. Armstrong, the inventor, sending ovlt electric rays from a room ou shore, td control a torpedo out at sea. Within the torpedo itself is the apparatus, simi lar to a wireless telegraph instrument, ft receiver and an arrangement called a transformer, which makes the fine im pulses received net upon nn arm! the movement of which causes the screws to turn. Every quartcr-turu of this arm causes the screws to revolve differently, and consequently makes the torpedo take up a new position. Of course, it was necessary to have some mark to show the position of the torpedo in the water. A flag was used at first, but something had td be devised which could not possi bly be shot down by an enemy. One night Mr. Armstrong dreamed the way to get over the difficulty, rind now there is nn air-pressure tank in the torpedo which sucks in salt water and sends it ont again liko the blow of whale. They may fire at that forever without doing any harm. The spray of water at the same time serves as an indestructible receiver for the electric waves. Ou en countering a warship the torpedo first travels towards the uttting which sur rouuds it as a protection ngniiist torpe does of all kinds. After it has struck the nl?t it goes back, as shown by dot ted lines in the picture, sinks, as indicat ed by the said line, and theii bldws u|| the vessel. ... "Now," said tlie economical head of the household to the coal-heaver, "after you get this load all in. put out this light." Half an hour later the family was disturbed by a strong odor of escap ing gas. Mr. Black, sui-mining that the coal man had extinguished tho light by blowing it out, went to tho cellar to investigate, and found that Ills surmise was correct. Just as he opened the windows to let out tlie gas the coal-heaver drove into the yard with another loatl. Mr. Black prompt ly escorted hlui to the cellar, gave him a lesson 111 the use of gas, and ex plained tlie dangers likely to follow the informal method of extinguish ing it. The man, evidently deeply Interest ed, listened intently. "Well," ho exclaimed, when the lit tle lecture was over, "ther"'« something to learn, now. Isn't there"' APish wilh Anns Zoologists have long regarded the fish which remains for days out of water and climbs trees as one of the strangest departures from nature, but the most wonderful of these is the periophtlialmus of the West African coast. Tills not only is as much at home on land as In water, but climbs the mangrove roots and takes long Journeys about tlie swamps on them, and builds Iteelf mud-houses raised above the surface, with an opening at tho top, from which its bulging eyes stare out at every alarm. For this life tho iisli is fitted with long arms, with elbow and wrist, while the fin gers are separate and prehensile, In stead of being flat and flnlike. These hands In tlie African species holu the mangrove roots in climbing, and arc the means by which the mud struct ures arc built, and the instrument of propulsion through the mud. The round eyes project from the skull, and can be turned in every direction hence the Greek name, which may be freely translated "Rolling Eyes." tin from which tinsmiths kavo stamped patterns and utensils, and putting these up as a background for flowers. Tho many bright, irregular points of the till caught tho light, and In the openings were thrust bnncV of flow ers, fenis and greenery different descriptions. The effect was odd, but pleasing. All" the flowers that are put about the room should be In tlu receptacles Instead of in vases of glass or china. The bouquet carrlcd by the bride should be placed in a tin funnel, to serve as a bouquet-holder. If this Is decorated with ribbons it will be very pretty. The brightness of new tin will contribute to the gay effect and beof value wherever It Is used.—Wom an's Home Companion. SiKjSSfg® An Open Mind. In these days of electric lights it seems strange that there are American born persons still unfamiliar with their use, but occasionally one turns up. Here Is one who turned up brightly— as.the lights do not always do. A Pardonable Mlstnke Ellle—Silly! dolls don't eat tblug! Bertie—Don't, eh? Weil, that old one of yours tliat I cut open was stuffed chock full of breakfast food.— Woman's Home Companion. HOW THE RUSSIAN COLUMNS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER IN MANCHURIA I ir $ RUSSIAN ENGINEERS ERECTING A TELEGRAPH LINE. The camps on tho Yalu have communication with headquarters over wires strung by the engineering corps. The picture sllows Russian en gineers- erecting a telegraph line between Vladivostok ai}4 Constant! No vetsk. A GL1MPSK OF LAKE BAIKAf.. S -1. *Hf a-i CI.ADOQA PETERSBURG' SS1A MOSCOW ENZA SAHARA Lake Baikal lies in a generally north and south direction. It is 400 miles long, and surrounded by tall moun- LIFE OF THE MARINES. Unclc Sam's Boys Having a Good Time Oil the rauutun Isthmus. Tlie general commanding tbe?raj£ ama soldiers stationed at Panama aud his staff visited our camp the other day, writes a soldier at the marine camp on the Isthmus to the Washing ton Star. His staff consisted of two colonels, one major and their interpre ter, and they were accompanied by a newspaper correspondent. The-corre spondent took .pictures of our camp any- Elderly Woman (In the department store)—Where's the pin counter?. Floor Walker—What kind—hat, hair or rolling?—Cleveland Leader. 31 EHATERmSl/HO kvRGAN ~PRBfBUa'o I.,.! One of tlie greatest problems of Rus sia in her war with Japan is that Of transportation. In sending men and supplies to the far east she must rely lltrgcly upon the railway. The dis tance between St. Petersburg and Vladevostock is 5,737 miles, and be tween St. Petersburg aud Port Arthur 5,854 miles, and for more than 4,000 miles of tills distance the only rail way is the Trans-Siberian, which, al though It cost §500,000,000 In construc tion, is only a single-track road. Tho weakest part of the system Is a gap 40 miles wide at Lake Baikal, nearly 4,000 miles from St. Petersburg aud 2,000 from Port Arthur. Commu nication is. carried on over the lake in a haphazard manner. In summer a steamer conveys the trains across the stretch of water. In winter, If the ice permits, rails aro laid on it and the trains glide over them from one to the other side. Sledges are also extensively used, and sometimes when the ice will not permit the laying of rails an Ice breaking steamer is used and-a pas sageway is kept open for tlie regular steam ferries. For tho guidance of sledges trees are stuck in the ice at Intervals across the 40 mile stretch from shore to shore. In considering the gordian knot in Russia's main line of military trans portation from her base, tlie casual ob server asks, "Why did Russia lay out the road to this lake?" The answer to this query Is told by tlie map. It was the shortest and only practicable route in the trans-Asian survey. Tho distance around the foot of the lake is 157 miles and the route to be taken by the railroad is ISO miles. brought from Africa to the island of Jamaica. French contractors stopped at Kingston while on their way to the isthmus and by means of extravagant promises tliat were never fulfilled they induced many of them to come here to work on the canal. Tl^e French con tractors took "French leave," abandon ing many thousands. Those who were uot able to go back to Jamaica phil osophically remained and made for themselves little homes. When the canal work begins again It will cer- UNITED STATES MARINES IN COLON. and the ofllcers and many of the ma rines. The general is a very small man lie looked like a boy about 35 years old. lie wore a white suit, rub ber boots and a campaign hat. The two colonels and tlie major wore white suits, too, but no boots. We will never forget the beautiful icenery here. Beyohd the hilltops we sec the rising and setting sun. A beau tiful rainbow over our camp spans the land.from ocean to ocean nearly every iay. The climate Is made for people who don't wear many clothes. The location of our caiup' is unique. The surroundings are unsurpassed in beau ty. All around the camp Is a mass of Cruit and flowers. No matter which direction one may go there is a beautiful view. It is not wise to hurry and worry. It is a land for idling. Every oue is kind to us and all regard us as a great-people. People living along the line of the rail road visit our caiup frequently, and aji make complimentary remarks about the American marines. Many of the natives about here have never seen Colon city or Panama, but have remained here since childhood. Many don't know their own ages. Ev ery oue of them, however, is very hap py and contented. If people in Washington think that we are sick with fever and the other complalnts'that were predicted before we came here they are^mueh mistaken. Our condition is quite the contrary. Our camp is high and dry, clean and healthy. Our officers arfe kind and con siderate. Good nature prevails through out the camp. We wercv not wildly excited when the news reached us that £,000 Colom bians were approaching. It turneti out that the papers in general were wrong ly informed. But* we prepared for all possible danger. There was a report current that 1,30® meu were working on the Culebra cut of the canal. Another report was that 1,000 were at work. I went qut there the other dny aud was told bjrone of the workmen that there were only iou engaged and that the report of there being 1.300 there was circulated to frighten the Colombian soldiers. The negroes here are the descendants of ^.fric«js who ^yero griginaily tainly prove a big "boom" for those de serted blacks, who will probably be employed. Most of the blacks are now at work on plantations growing bamin as *oranges aud cocoauuts. WATER FOR LOCOMOTIVES* Roads Crossing Plains Guard Against lioiler Destroyers* The annual expenditures of railroad compaules for purposes, concerning which the public takes little thought, are enormous, according to the Wash ington Star. One of the items of large expense is the softening of water used in locomotives, experience having dem onstrated that it is cheaper to install water softeners than supply these lo comotives with ratV water. Ou the middle division of the Atchi son, Topeka aud Santa Fe railway system the sum of $27,375 is expended auually for this purpose, the softeuer. being used at 29 water stations where. tUe water has been found unsuitable for boiler purposen. The locomotives passing these statio?is use, on an aver age, about 999,000 gallons of water dally. The water from nearly all these sources coutalns incrusting constitu ents that is, the suiphntcs and carbon ates of liine and magnesium, and, in many cases, corrosive substances, such as oliloride of calcium and magnesium, are present in troublesome amounts. The incrusting solids ctmtahied in 999,000 gallons of water uscd each day in the year amount to over 3,200 pounds, or, in the course of a year, nearly 590 tons. This amount of in erustiug material deposited in the boil er would, in the first place, damage the boiler plates and cause an enor mous increase in the consumption of coal. The removal of this scab would .cost probably from to 10 cents per mile of distance run. At these 29 water stations water softeners have been erected at great initial expense. The maintenance of theso softeners requires the expendi ture of about $17 per day for chemi cals and an additional charge of about $5S per day for services of attendants, making a total of $75 per day, "or $27, 375 per year. The cost of construction of these water softeners was not made RUSSIA'S, Weakest Link Difficulties of Transporting Men nnd Supplies Over the Siberian Railroad. I A Lackinsk L.BAIKAL .,•? f'*CHINESE EMPIRE, & |y SEA of ',V' e3T/ma/3ii':^Vi"lcm'.s SjL/l ItUSSIAN OFFICERS CROSSING LAKE BAIKAL. tains. Those to tlio south are ail im passable range, and on tlie far side lie still other ranges, in northern Mongo lia. To pass around the north end of the lake would have lengthened the line about 1,000 miles, In a country composed entirely of mountains. Tlie original plan for building tlie road embraced a line around the head of the lake, or south end. Work on this connecting link was left to tlio last in the general rush to push tlie road for ward to the Pacltic, and so little has been done on it that under tho most efficient engineering direction and with ample labor Jt probably could not be completed within two years from this date. ^^ymvtAoiyojroKk There are 19 tunnels in tho proposed route, the longest two miles in length. Many marshes, ravines and gorges will need to be bridged. Until this work can be done, in all probability, Russia must depeud on her ferry across Lake Baikal to take care of the trans-Siberian traffic when the lakais not frozen. Further than this, the Trans-Siberian railway for most of its way is rudely constructed aud not suited for heavy transportation. It was knowledg6 of this coudition that rendered Russia so anxious to delay the struggle with Japan. Every month of delay meant bettering of the road, a little advance in tunnels and on permanent bridges, a little more ballasting of track, addi tions to rolling stock and further steps toward closing the gap at Lake Baikal. public, but. if the cost of mainte* nance represents 4 per cent oiythTln-. vestment the total .amouptjjtpended for water softeners is neariy 3700,000. The same experience holds true of other railroads. At 10 water stations along the Union raeiflc 2,700 pounds of solids aro removed from the water each day, almost as much as is re moved from the water of 29 stations along the Santa Fe system, although, at the 10 Union Pacific stations, they use about 50 per cent more water than at the Santa Fc stations. The chemical survey of natural wa ters which is being made by the dydro economic experts of the geological sur vey is directed, in part, toward tho lo cation of available waters which may be used for boiler purposes without treatment If, by extensive surveys, such waters can be discovered and their location made known, the saving of a tremcudous amount of money will be effected. In the case of railroads the cost of such great losses, as above mentioned, is due largely to lack of information concerning the sourpes of water suitable for boilers, and they will become the greatest beneficiaries of this phase of the work of the gov ernment. CHARMS OF AMERICAN WOMEN. Possess Beyond All Others the Gift of Kxprcaslon. The American woman is delightfully pretty, often extremely lovely, but rarely classically beautiful. Beyond all women, perhaps, does she possess the gifts of expression and genius for pose. With her the sense of knowing what Is proper to do under certain con ditions seldom falls. She knows her strong points physically and how to throw them into most striking relief. An American woman's taste in dress is as perfect as anything can be In this imperfect world. Of her genius for adapating herself to her environment there can be no question. Such a mere accident of birth as the one which gives her a pork butcher or a patent pillmaker for her father is no draw back to her ultimate career. One secret of the Amerlcau woman's charm is her individuality. She is al ways original aud gay and merry, gen erally amiable, and more often than not good tempered. All American wo men are born talkers, and they pos sess the faculty of interesting their listeners in subjects no more occult than a visit to the milliner's or "mom ma's" love of "tomaytoes." To her husband she may be capricious, incon siderate, selfish, exacting, but iu her relation to her children all tho nobler qualities of her character come out Iu them she forgets egotism and is ready for self-sacrifice. As years lay hold upon her she becomes more and more disciplined by her children and more and more unquestioningly obedi ent. In this phase the American Is at once a pathetic and curious spectacle. —London World. A Growing Climate. The Professor—Do things grow rap idly in your part of the country? Young Housekeeper—I should say they do. When I order lamb from the butcher it always grows to mutton ou the way home.—Woman's Home Com panion. Answered^ "When does a girl reach the 'mar riageable ago*?" "When her father's purse has reach ed the marriageable size."—Detroit Free-Press. The short-sighted girl who wears glasses may uot be vain, but she knows Bhe looks bet{?r ith them, jL OUR OWN SOLOMON. He Consldereth the War Correspond ent and Marveleth at His Work. My son, didst see thou the paper yes terday afternoon? And didst thou see it tho day before, and even the day before that? llast thou taken heed of the black face rumor and the scareliead report? Ivnowest thou who it is that roamcth up and down and puttcth tacks where they will attract tho at tention of the seat of war? Knowest thou who it Is that ken neth the secret thoughts of kings and the innermost ideas of warriors? It Is the war correspondent and his name is Legion. Yea, Legion is his name—John B. Legion. Consider now the war correspond ent, how ho taketh his fountain pen, and his breeeliloadlng lead pencil, and his submarine kodak, and his maga zine lunch box. And whoopfcth adown the pike to ward the place where the distant fir ing Is heard. Behold, when there Is peace, when there is nothing doing, then doth the war correspondent sit about the gates of the city and in the market place. Saying.that the country is going to the dogs, And telling how he gat the news of the battle of Bosky. Dell before it had been fought. But when one statesman and anoth er may not agree as to the ultimate ncss of an ultimatum, then doth the war correspondent slug merrily and go about with a glad smile, Looking for an expense account thfft he may call his own. He taketh unto his bosom the maps of the world and he draweth thereon many lines, Showing that if the foe striketh here, then it Is all up But that if tho foe eometli over against this valley, then will the de fender come upon him like a gas bill and shrivel him with despair. He sniffeth the bottle from afar and he tosseth his head and eryetli, "Aha! Let uic get at it." He liasteneth unto the clothing store and the place of them that sell circus teuts aiul things, and lie many garments (at somebody else's ex pense), Also a tent that he may eat in, and a tetit that he may sleep In, and a tent that he may write in, And a tent that he may have his pic ture taken hi front of. Yea, he also garnereth In the guu shops, Securing horse pistols, cow pistols, dog watches, and Ivrupp guns, and daggers, and swords, and other arti cles too numerous to mention. So that when lie goeth aboard the ship that Is to take him unto the field of war the captain thereof asketh that he wait until the ship hath another hold upon it. tlie war correspondent whose name is Legion poet#speedily unto the place where tho war is advertised. And he saith nuto the warriors "Get busy. For I am here." He putteth upon his head a khaki helmet aud he strappeth about him a belt, whereon he hangeth his gun, aud his sword, aud pistol, And he has his picture taken to send home to the folks. And he letteth his whiskers grow. Then he goeth unto the hotel and showeth the bartender how to make the hilarious highball aud the ram pant rlckey. And when night eometli he eittetli down aud taketh out his fountain pen and writeth six pages out of the en cyclopedia and sendeth it by the ca ble ($1.38 each word aud punctuation mark), so that his employer teareth out much hair and speakotli curdling words. Peradventure the next day he meet eth another war correspondent aud his name is Legion also. Now, tho other war correspondent asketh if there is anything doing. And the first looketh wise and saith that he hath- prom ised the chief of all *jthe warriors not to say a word about it. I) So the other war correspondent rush etli unto the cable office and maketh obeisance to the censor. And sendeth a message statiug that a fleet of war ships hath come up over 'the ocean, aud hath sunk all the warships that come against It, and that now the war is over. Aud the flrst war correspondent, whose name is Legion, hasteneth also to the cable office and giveth the cen sor a cigar, and sendeth a message stating that there hath been no bat tle. Yet, again, the war correspondent' getteth news of a fight, and he run neth with speed to the telegraph office, and sendeth tidings thus: "Behold, I was In the thick of it. "Yea, the ten ton guns shot muchly about me, aud the bayonets were thrust against my cheek, the" points thereof being much blunted "Fourteen horses were shot over me and I shook off the last horse "And it was two hundred miles unto the town wltcrcfrom I could scud the news, yet I walked an huudrcd miles, and swam fifty miles through a river, and skated fifty miles upon thin ice. "And bought a mule with my last nickel (please cable $1,000), and rode it sixty miles until it fell aud died by the wayside, "And then I rode upon a load of hay until it was come unto this town, and then I got off and rau upon my feet the remaiuing thirty miles, "And I alone am escaped from all them that were fighting. "And it is generally conceded that never before was such a battle." Whereat the editor sendeth word to him, asking: "Who licked?" And ho hath gone and cannot be found. And the editor" teareth out the rest of his hair and then advanceth the sal ary of an ofilcc boy. On condition that the office boy shall permit his hair to be pulled out for the good of the office. Yea, the war correspondent doth all this aud much more. He heareth heavy firing off the coast la the morning, And lie oenyeth it at night. He sendeth word of a victory at noon. And lie saith it is a defeat at mid night. With his fountain pen doth he sink tho cruiser and with liis typewriter doth he blow up the battleship. With his lead pen cil doth he lead great armies over the mountains. Hast thou given eye to the victory which is cabled at 1 p. m. and denied at 1:30 p. m.? And with his mind's eye doth lie see other great ar- klfwntr mies going Into winter camp iu the middle of July. He asketh the diplomat what about it, and the diplomat tcllcth hlm, And he turneth in and writeth an article that showeth thnt this Is i^ot it, nor even about it. Even so. And his heart Is happy and his mind is glad, For his expense account flourisheth as the grass of tho field. And waxeth great as the flowers of the field, which may not be cut down. Though he eateth hardtack from the army wagons, yet doth he get pay for porterhouse steak and truffles. To-day he puttcth a hero upon a pedestal, And to-morrow he fprecloseth upon the pedestal, aud the hero woudereth where he Is at. And when the cruel war is over the war correspondent, whose name is Le gion, eometli home. And the lyceum bureau and the 10 cent magazine sit upon his front steps and plead for an hour of his time, Shaking large and juicy wads of money in Ills eyes. And he taketh the time, Also the money. •. For he telleth all the people how he told the winning army how to go about it. Yea, verily, my son, he is as the 'north pole seeker, who stayeth away long enough to write a lecture and some magazine articles. My son, there is nothing like unto war correspondentlng except it be writing the story of a debate in a woman's club. And the war correspondent, whose name is Legion, everybody wanteth to read what he writeth and nobody be lieveth him.—W. D. Nesbit, in Chicago Tribune. A N I E E A IN O A Craft Used by Russians to Open the Frozen Vlndivostock Harbor. When the Russian government be gan to give serious attention to the enlargement of her commerce, Ad miral Makarolf was deputed to make a careful study of the sub ject and plan a vessel capable of breaking ice of great thickness, if possible. This was of flrst importance because while Rus sia has the longest coast line of any country in the adm. makaroff. world the greater part of it lies so far north that many of her finest ports are ice-bound for from S to 11 months each year. The result of Admiral MakarofTs ef forts was a vessel, launched five years pflgfc which recei ved. -of .Er made, after the Cossack warrior who conquered Siberia. The odd-shaped craft was found to be admirably fitted for tlie purpose iu hand, for it proved capable of'forcing Its way iu and out of harbors sealed by ice 30 feet in ICE-BREAKING 1IOAT, ER1IACK. thickness. When the Ermack thrusts her nose forward onto thick Ice she can briug to bear a downward pres sure of 1,100 tons which cracks the wiutry barrier into huge fragments, these In turn beiug forced aside by the 10,000 horse-power with which the throbbing engines urge the vessel for ward. So efficient has the Ermack proven to be that Admiral Makaroff has ex pressed the belief that it would be pos sible for two such vessels to crush their way through the ice-packs of the polar sea, even to the long-sought pole Itself. Admiral Makaroff has been in activa service as an officer of the Russian navy for about 40 years.'Tie, with his boat, was sent to Yladivostock to free the Russian squadron embarrassed by the ice iu that wintry harbor. Why Is It? "It Is all well enough," said Uncle Joseph, as he put down the book, ''but it Isu't true." lK "Why not?" I asked. "Because the author makes him pro pose to the heroiue in a crowded thea ter. Now, a woman doesn't want to be proposed to In such a place. She wants a quiet spot, where she can weep a little. Story writers should take this into consideration." "Pshaw!" said I. "When a woman accepts a man for good and all, she likes to put her head on his shoulder and cry," said Uncle Joseph. "I do not know why It is, but they all do it." "Do they?" 'Didn't your wife when she accepted you?" he demauded. "Well, yes, I believe she did." "They all do," said Uncle Joseph. "They like it it somehow comforts 'em." "But why?" said I. "Ask the women," said Uncle Joseph.—Woman's Homie Companion. Not in Such Cold Weather. Bridget—The butcher's wagon's at the door, mum. Mrs. Housekeep-rAh! has he got pigs' feet? Bridget—How kin Oi tell, mum? Shure, 'tis too cold fur him to be goln* barefooted this weather.—Philadelphia Press. When the average mother goes to visit her daughter she takes a lot of home-made cooking, and when her visit is returned her daughter bringq the children to be taken care of.