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WONDERFUL MEXICO. HER SCENERY, PEOPLE AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. Interesting Description of the Country From the Rio Grande to Its Southernmost States-Some Inside Facts About Rubber and Chocolate. Oopyright, 1904, by Harry C. Wildesen. Even at this time, when we pride ourselves upon our knowledge of all the countries of the world and are more or less familiar with its remotest corners, Mexico may truly be said to be to most people a "terra incognito." Why this iV, so seems almost inex plicable. Both the country and its people are .'.tensely interesting and attractive to the point of fascination, and, with the exceplton of certain un healthy sections immediately on the eastern coast, our sister of the South has a climate indeed difficult to excel. Her people, from banker, mine owner or planter, to primitive Toltec or hum ble peon, are always the quintessence of all that is kindness, gentleness and polite consideration towards the stranger within their gates. Old and young, rich and poor, the highly cul tured, and the untutored of the moun tain, plain. and wilderness, seem to be alike filled with a gentle politeness and a dignified, genuine hospitality which, amon: the poorer classes, often alproaches the pathetic. The still primitive-mannered de scendants of the people whom Cor tez conquered are bearers of no un certain testimony of the noble qiali ties of their forefathers, while the oagnficent ruins of prehistoric cities, whose giant aqueducts and sculpured walls and temples cover many a square mile of that land of mystery, are silent, yet eloquent testimonials of a civilization from which we could even now perhaps learn some good lessons. Some day, perch.ncd, the key may be found whch will unfold to us the story of their rise and fall, and those who read the tale will learn, I have no doubt, their supergentle natures were their own undoing. Scenery there is to inspire with awe the most stolid mind or call forth the loftiest thoughts of the poet's soul. The pastoral haunts of childhood days are brought back to memory's gaze by familiar scenes in richer and more gorgeous setting, and idyllic surround ings such as hope and fancy oft have pictured for our later years afford con genial resting places for leisure-en dowed tourists or appeal with even deeper attractiveness to those whose pressing duties in a more artificial sphere vouchsafe an all too brief ao qaintance. Passing the grim "sierras" of the northern boundary, -standing like the outposts of a forbidden country, the traveler soon enters upon the enjoy ment of a panorama of fascinating grandeur, arranged by Nature in one of her supremest efforts. The first glimpse of the great Valley of the City of Mexico, just before the train begins its rapid descent from an alti tude of ten thousand feet, seems a fitting climax, and one is lost in con templation as the valley unfolds be fore his almost enraptured vision, and tae newer City of Mexico comes into vw-w. Here, indeed, is a city from which we might p. fitably copy much. From the immaculate cleanliness of its streets-asphalted to a degree of per fection which our city fathers do not seem to be able to command-one might be excused for thinking they were constructed solely for the dainty tread of lovely "Senoritas;" while the vigilant military police, models of neatness and courtesy, ever alert and attentive, are truly public servants whom it is refreshing to behold. Nothing that France, Germany, Eng land or the United States can produce is too costly for Senor and Senora's comfort or pleasure, while the handi work wrought at home by patient skill and artistic intelligence brings an added beauty to the palatial stores, whose display windows and reception rooms evidence a tasteful use of time and wealth which would do credit to our own New York. The wealthy al ways ride, and the American automo bile and Kentucky thoroughbred vie with the finest products of English breeders in making a perfection of equipages, more numerous and uni form in their elegance than it has yet been my good' fortune to see in any other city of similar size. Regretfully leaving for a more pro pitious occasion a visit to lovely Cuer navaca, where Maximilian built his country home and Borda created the famous gardens which bear his name, where balmy spring is ever with you, where strawberries tempt your break fast appetite three hundred and sixty- five days of the year, and blushing brides may seldom want for orange blossoms, we journeyed on past Ori zaba's hoary, cloud-crowned summit. and Popocatepeti's snow-filled crater, further and further southward, to the tropic zone, where widely varying softer moods of Nature's playtime pro vide an enchanting scene of wondrous growth and gorgeous color. Along winding rivers and through primeval forests, as yet untouched by man's depleting hand, abound in wild confusion a wealth of palms and deli cately patterned ferns, the wild vanilla and other graceful vines on giant trees, and orchards rare, of most exquisite shape and hue. Civilization's needs, however, are fast encroaching upon this great, riotous, ufltrimmed garden of the Republic, and far-reaching fields of sugar-cane, corn, chocolate and rub ber, and many broad acres of richest pasturage, where sleek, contented cat tle browse and fatten, are seen on every hand. The native planters are most thor oughly posted as to the vqrious com binations of soil, altitude and climate to be had in different localities, and their effect upon the quantity and quality of whatever crops or products it may be desired to cultivate. With unfailing patience, courtesy and and friendliness, they will go to any amount of trouble to demonstrate dis tiictions and differences and to enable one to make intelligent comparisons and arrive at correct conclusions. Once let them see that you like their country, that you appreciate the difficulties under which they have la bored as a nation and as individuals, that they have your confidence and sympathy, and that you rely upon, and are grateful for their friendly assist ance, whatever they have of food, shel #er or information is absolutely at your disposal, and the national phrase ofr welcome: "Aqui tiene Usted su casa" ("here have you your house"), is at once translated into a meaning but little understood by those who have not sought to approach this re lationship with them. On the other 4. hand, go about your business among them with an arrogant assumption of superiority and, with Anglo-Saxon bluntness or "Gringo" brusqueness, fail to accord to them at least that meed of kindly sentiment and friendly consideration they have a right to ex pect-with wounded pride and a rea sonable sensitiveness which foreigners often fall to properly understand, they withdraw within themselves, and you go your way without the helpful coun sel and pointed information which might have been yours for the asking, without stint or reserve. Our investigations, at times, led us through regions remote from railroads or steamboat routes or anything which could even be properly termed a road; and while the torrential rainy, season is of comparatively short duration, it happened that these side trips were made during the months that Jupiter Pluvius puts forth his best efforts. i. was sometimes a thrilling sight to see our horses battling for their lives, at rope's length, in swimming the rush ing currents of swollen rivers, and a still more thrilling sensation to feel ourselves and canoe tossed like a cork or shot like an arrow through boiling rapids. The Indian canoemen are powerful and expert, however, and it rarely, if ever, happens that a boat in their hands is overturned or a life lost. It was not so thrilling when we were forced to cross bridges so in secure and slippery that the most ex pert horseman could do no more than loosen rein and trust his animal to feel its way over (relying largely at the same time upon the help of Provi dence and the provisions of his acci dent policies) or, when with legs drawn up and resting on our horses' necks, we would carefully feel our way through flood-formed lagoons, to later camp on higher ground where billed and cooed, in festive gladness at the approach of tender-skinned foreigners, countless mosquitoes of splendid size and tireless energy. During that time of year, there are also in many of the sections through which we passed, multitudes of "gegen" (pronounced "he-hen"), a diminutive, pestiferous kind of gnat which, without making the least sound, quickly nips out a piece of -your cuticle and leaves a raw. bleeding spot about the diameter of a small pin. A good many of these cause one's face to wear a very strange and unfamiliar expression. There are not lacking inferior soils and undesirable locations in many parts of the State, or unhealthy spots and mosquito-ridden sections, just as may be found in many parts of the United States, and the inexperienced or the incautious, the over-optimistic and the credulous who rely too con fidently upon the opinions or expe riences of one or two individuals are, in such a country, very likely to ma terially assist in causing their own dis appointment. I have in mind at this moment one sugar planter who has erected expensive machinery and gone into the business on a large scale in a locality where, on account of the lower proportion of saccharine matter neces sarily yielded by such lands, it is esti mated that a large percentage of what should have been profit will always be lost to him. Some wishing to en gage in planting rubber may acquire lands much more suitable for coffee, while some who select their lands dur ing the drier months, when "every prospect pleases and man alone is vile," are likely to wake up on a watery morning during the rainy sea son to find a large portion of their possessions in a temporary lake. On the other hand, while I have had occasion and opportunities for travel which enabled me to traverse the splendidly productive lands of our own country from the shores of the Mexi can Gulf to the Lakes of the North and the Canadian border, and from the great Empire State of the East across the intervening fertile valleys and plains, to the Pacific shores of that golden principality of our far-famed West, the praises of whose climate and soil and products have so often been justly sung in rythmic verse, and more precisely stated by prosaic stat isticians, I am compelled to confess that in all our wonderful country I know of no spot where Nature, with rich soil, never failing moisture, and continuous warmth, does so much for, and so little against, the agriculturist, as in that portion of the State of Ta basco from which we have just re turned. The yield obtainable from sugar cane seems almost incredible. There is not a day in the year unfavorable to its growth and development. With ab solute certainty, it gets the moisture and warmth it requires, and cane that cuts fifteen feet or more for the mill is to be counted upon one year as well as another. It is no uncommon thing to see splendid stands in fields that have not been replanted. in twenty years. I cannot but believe, however, that changing the rows to the inter vening earth at least once in six to eight years would be an improvement. Such a growth as can be produced un der these conditions yields between forty and fifty tons per acre, and the juice runs from eight to eleven de grees (Beaume). While outsiders have been examin ing lands in different parts of South ern Mexico and Central America, theorizing and debating upon the sub ject, and setting out young rubber orchards in localities of varying merit, experienced Mexican agriculturists have, during the past fifteen to twenty years, been quietly estaolishing groves of cultivated rubber trees. With them it is not a matter of theory or expecta tion. They have long ago settled the question as to how the -cultivated rub ber tree compares with its wild pro genitor, and the thousands of trees being planted by them year after year are evidence as to the profitableness of those which have already come into bearing. The rubber tree should have only partial shade during its first year; during its second year it requires less, and, after reaching the age of two years, it needs none whatever. It can be readily understood, therefore, why trees which have been planted so as to allow for full development and growth, and for which the shade has been intelligently regulated and grad ually diminished until the proper time for removing all shade, are so much more vigorous and productive than wild trees of the same age, which have grown up in a dense tropical forest. The cacao (chocolate) plant, or tree, which is of very much smaller and less rapid growth, requires a great deal of shade always, and thrives splendidly on the very best rubber lands. The experienced planter, therefore, sets out from a hundred to a hundred and twenty-five rubber trees per acre, and places between them from two hundred to two hundred and fifty cacao plants. These commence to bear at the end of the fifth year and are in full bearing at the end of the seventh year, at which age they yield about one hundred and twenty-five pounds of dry cacao or chocolate beans per acre, per annum. No culti vation whatever is required beyond keeping them reasonably free from such weeds and grasses as thrive there, even in that much shade. The gathering of the bean pods, which are about the size of a very large cucum ber, and the opening thereof and dry ing and sacking of the beans for ship ment, are extremely simple and cheap operations. Two valuable products are thus secured from the same acre age, and the two groves being com bined in one, the expense of caring for each is reduced to a minimum. One variety of the Castilloa Elastica (and possibly more) sheds a great number of its smaller branches each year. These frequently fall with sufficient force to knock off the blossoms of chocolate trees, and, therefore, wher ever the two crops are grown to gether, care should be taken to secure seed or seedlings of the proper va riety. The native planters of Tabasco are practically a unit in expressing the opinion that much better results in variably ensue if their trees are not tapped until after they have reached the age of eight years. The growth of the young rubber tree is extremely rapid, and it would seem to be a short-sighted policy which would draw upon its immature vitality during a period when the tree is still tender and its powers of recuperation not fully developed. Trees should also be tapped only once a year, and not dlrawn upon at any one tapping to an extent which will cause a disappoint ing yield when the harvest season again comes 'round. The yield of the rubber tree, per annum, at any given age, having in view always the idea that it should be so tapped as to quickly recover and give still more latex each succeeding year, depends so much upon the age at which tapping was first begun, the time of year, the extent to which the tree has been drawn upon at each tap ping, and the care or negligence with which the incisions have been made, etc., that it is practically impossible at this time to make an entirely satis factory estimate on this point. I think it would be perfectly safe, however, to take a half pound of rubber, each, from trees eight years old, and calcu late upon securing a gradually increas ing yield each year thereafter, which would probably reach a pound per tree when they are twelve years old. It is also stated that trees not previously tapped yield a pound of ruboer, each, at ten years of age. The still-used primitive method of tapping with the machete is wasteful and expensive. The wages of the expert "sangrador" amount to about ten cents per pound, and the latex, or milk, lost by spurting from the incision made by the sharp blow of the machete is sufficient to make a material difference in the sea son's profits. It is only reasonable to suppose that Yankee ingenuity will vastly improve upon this crude means of reaping the harvest, as well as the slow and imperfect method still em ployed for evaporating the water con tained in the latex and coagulating it into crude rubber ready for delivery to the manufacturer. A number of ex perienced minds are now at work on the problem, and I have understood that one or two machines have already been evolved which promise a sub stantial saving of time, labor and product. I am particularly indebted for de tailed information and minute explana tions to such experienced men as. Senors Conde Hermanos (whose "fin ca" on Tacotalpa river, near Tacotal pa, is a model one); Senor Eraclio Perez Moreno, Hacienda Gran Poder, Puscatan river, Tacotalpa District; Senor Antonino Saury and Doctor Mal donado, Hacienda Santa Ana, near Teapa, and Senor Pedro Bustamente. Hacienda La Sultana, Pichucalco, Chi apas. Hacienda Santa Ana and Haci enda La Morelia (the latter just across the river from Teapa) are probably not excelled by any other cacao and rub ber plantations of like extent in that part of the country. The country trib utary to Pichucalco is of older devel opment, in a general way, and has a larger number of fine plantations. All these people have their planta tions in what 'experience has proven to be the heart of Tropical Mexico's natural rubber zone, and their figures are with reference to what rubber trees will do under the most favorable conditions of soil, %tmperature, and well distributed and abundant rainfall. Of course, it is very easy to take more latex from the trees at a given age, if one is careless of the future and willing to have them stunted and "played out" long before the time when they should be yielding their greatest revenue. It is a well-known fact that rubber trees grow beautifully in many loca tions where the various conditions above mentioned are not to be had in such perfection, but it is necessary for them to attain greater age to yield the results obtained from trees grown under ideal conditions. It is also a mistake to suppose that the Castilloa Elastica likes a soggy, or watersoaked soil, for, although it thrives best with abundant rainfall and an absence of drought at any period of the year, gently undulating slopes or land otherwise well drained is best suited to its requirements. I take it for granted that when well managed American companies become thoroughly versed in the business and have to handle the product of many hundreds of thousands of trees, a rapid and economical method of evap orating the watery constituents of the latex, so as to cause its coagulation, will be used; and I believe that large vats with steam coils or other artifi cial heat properly applied, might be employed to that end with great ad vantage. Of the cruder methods still in use in the Tacotalpa-Teapa-Pichucal co country, that employed on the Hfa cienda La Sultana impressed me as being highly satisfactory for convert ing into rubber the milk of a limited number of trees. As the pans and buckets are filled in the groves, they are brought in and the milk, or latex, is thoroughly skimmed and cleansed of all leaves, pieces of bark, twigs, etc., and emptied into a large shallow cement tank, about fifteen feet wide and twenty feet long, built on the sur face of the ground, at the side of the owner's house. The latex being thus spread out over a very large surface, with a depth of an inch or two, three days exposure to the hot sun com pletes the process. This large thin sheet of rubber is then cut and rolled up, ready for market. The prospective buyer cuts into these rolls and finds no moisture-filled bubbles or watery streaks in it. Neither does he find it scorched or burned or containing a liberal admixture of dirt or other for eign substances. The result is that this old gentleman has always re ceived the top-market price for his rubber. Tobacco, as fine as anyone might wish to smell or smoke, is grown in Tabasco, and many a fragrant so called "Havana" enjoyed by European royalty is the product of her soil. Cattle are also a source of great profit to many planters. Very few are bred and raised in Tabasco, but large numbers are driven down from mountain ranches in the adjoining State of Chiapas, where, surprising as the statement may seem, apples and wheat of very fair quality are grown. These fine, large animals, very lean on their arrival, are bought cheap, and after feeding five to six months on the rich, succulent pasturage awaiting them, are fat and heavy and sell at an advance ofabout twenty dollars, Mexi can currency, per head. One acre per animal is required, and the same land easily fattens two herds per annum. Corn yields two heavy crops, aggre gating about seventy-five bushels per acre, per annum. Rice and beans like wise grow luxuriantly and yield enor mously. These staple products are all sold at excellent prices in home markets, easy to reach. The State of Yucatan, with its peculiar soil so largely de voted to "henequen" plantations, which are immensely profitable, culti vates very little else, and with its large and prosperous population, is one great hungry maw, always seek ing and clamoring for food. No sugar trust controls the output of the cane-fields. No beef combine compels the sale of fine, sleek, fat cat tle at figures fixed by them, and then, with fine humor demonstrates that the simple operation of running them through their slaughter-pens has made a beefsteak so costly, membership in a vegetarian society seems a pleasant alternative. No clique of market ma nipulators can depress prices until after the crops are shipped, and then take profits which should go to the producer. In certain portions of Tabasco and Chiapas, there are still large quanti ties of marketable mahogany, and rafts worth many thousands of dollars may be seen in the Usumacinta river at almost any time. It is a disap pointing tree to look at, standing be side its handsomer cousins of the for est, and it seems difficult to associate it with the beautiful finish of the Pull man sleeper or the handsome polish of the rich man's table. HARRY C. WILDESENT. Guess Again. An old lawyer tells this story of one of his experiences, years ago, In cross examination. The witness seemed to be disposed to dodge his questions. "Sir," said the lawyer sternly, "you need not state your impressions. We want the facts. We are competent to form our own impressions. Now, sir, answer me categorically." From that time on he could -get lit tle more than "yes" and "no" out of the witness. Presently the lawyer said: "You say you live next door tno tao defendant?" "Yes." "To the north of him?" "No." "To the south?" "No." "Well, to the west, then?' "No." "Ah," said the lawyer, sarcastically, "we are likely at least to get down to the one real fact. You live to the east of him, do you?" "No." "How is that, sir?" the astonished attorney asked. "You say you live next door to him; yet he lives neither to the north, south, east nor west of you. What do you mean by that, sir?" "I thought perhaps you were com petent to form the impression that we live in a flat," said the witness, calm ly; "but I see I must inform you that he lives next door above me." Spent Part Foolishly. At a reception given recently to Gen. Chaffee by the militiamen at Poughkeepsie, the general told this story: "Not long ago a soldier in the regu lar army stopped me on the street and asked me to lend him a quarter. " 'Why, yesterday you received your month's pay, did you not?' I asked him. "'Yes,' replied the veteran. t 'Where is your money now?' "'It is like this,' he went on. 'I left the post and crossed to New York with that $15.50. I met a friend and we had dinner. I was mightily surprised when the bill was $8. Then I bought $1 worth of cigars, and we went to the theater for $4. After the theater we went down the Bowery, and I spent $2 there.' "'That is $15,' I replied. 'What hap gened to that other 50 cents?' "The old fellow seemed puzzled. Finally he answered: "'I must have spent that foolish ly.' "---Washington Times. The Unknown Great. "Wasn't a famous man born around here somewhere?" asked a sight-seeing visitor in Caldwell, N. J. "Huh?" queried his driver. "Wasn't a former president of the United States born in this neighbor hood?" "H-m. Not as I ever heerd of. What was his name?" "Cleveland---Grover Cleveland." "Was he president?" "Yes, indeed-twice?" "Sho! An' was he born up here?" "Yes." "There goes Jim Duggs. I'll ask him. Hi, Jim!" 'Mr. Duggs sauntered up. "Did pon ever hear about a man bein' president up here-feller named Cleveland ?" "Naw. He lived in Brooklyn or somewhere, didn't he?" "He lived in Buffalo," explained the visitor. "He was born in Caldwell." "I never knowed anybody by that name," replied Jim Duggs, "an' I've lived here thirty years." "Gues you must be mistook, Mister," said the driver. "If there'd ever been a president in these parts Jim'd ha' knowed about it long ago."-Exchange. WASHiNGTON LIETTE SUMMER DAY GOSSIP OF NA TIONAL CAPITAL. KEEPING BACHELOR'S HALL How the President Lives When His Family Is Away-Secretary of the Democratic Congressional Committee-Other Items. Washington-President Roosevelt Is back in Washington hard at work. His stay at Oyster Bay has been re .- garded in the light of a vaca * tion. It has been . a as much of a va ,o cation as a presi o dent of the United 0 States can take. I The truth is that the highest officer in the land gets no real vacation. ( r Wherever he may be he has to at Escaping for a Vaca- tend to a certain tion. amount of routine official business. The only way he can entirely separate himself from work is to get out of reach of rail roads, telegraphs and telephones. This Mr. Roosevelt did last year on his big western tour whew he, escaped into the Yellowstone park for a week and got out of communication with his secretary and the rest of the world. At Oyster Bay the president enjdys many personal privileges that are de nied him in Washington. He is per mitted to spend more time with his family and can indulge in sports and pastimes of which he is fond to a greater extent than when in the white house. At the same time he devotes a good portion of each day to the trans action of official business. He signs papers and listens to official business just as faithfully as he does in Wash ington, so that his vacation at his summer home is largely in name only. Now that he is back in Washington he will feel the full pressure of official life. Scores and hundreds -of poli ticians have been waiting for his re turn to discuss with him the situation and to press requests for appointments and if possible to secure promises to be used in the campaign. At Oyster Bay any one desiring to see the president has to make an en gagement and in this way Mr. Roose velt's time is tolerably well guarded. In Washington he is at the beck and call of any citizen who has legitimate business with him. Keeping Bachelor's Quarteru. When the president is in Washing ton and his family at his Oyster Bay home the white house is turned into %a sort of bachelors' hall. A free and easy life 1 is led, no formali ty being exacted, but everything conspiring to com fort and good fel lowship. The corps of servants is limited, some being on their va cation and others Having a Friend for at and others Luncheon. at Oyster Bay, but enough are on duty to attend to the president's wants and to the comfort of the guests whom he always has with him. It is during periods of this kind that the president delights in entertaining little "stag" parties. He surrounds himself with his bachelor friends or those who are in temporary widowerhood on account = of the absence of their wives and f~tn illes and a jolly party sits down to the table morning, noon and evening. I Any of the president's friends who I happen to be in the city are captured and brought into the. bachelor circle. The president is famous for discussing I matters of state and politics at his ta ble, and it is a common practice for him to invite statesmen and politicians tb luncheon or dinner for the express 1 purpose of discussing public issues wvith them. When he is alone in the ( white house this custom is followed very generally as a stag party about the table can then devote their atten tion exclusively to politics or states manship, no ladies being present to require attentions and courtesies or to divert the drift of conversation to oth er subjects. Among those whom the president delights in having at the white house are Attorney General Moody, a bach elor of the cabinet; Commissioner of Corporations Garfield, familiarly known as "Jimmy;" special council in the post office investigations, Holmes Conrad; Secretary of War Taft and half a dozen other men in official life noted for good fellowship and for their sympathy with the president's poli cies and purposes. All the time is nt devoted to the discussion of great top ics and high politics, but the president and his official fami ly unbend, joke each other, tell stories, repair to the tennis court and have a swift game or mount saddle horses and have a gallop through the suburbs. The president manages to put in several hours each day in this sort of relaxation. Quaint Charley Edwards. The democratic congressional cami I paign committee has as its secretary a I newspaper man of 4 most unique and original character. I He is Charlie Ed- t wards, who came / to Washington t from Texas sever- I al years ago, and t was at once placed a in the same class I with that inimitable r Texas philosopher c Col. William Greene S Sterrett, whose e fame has spread Like the Expense all over the coun ccount ry between Wash- t i ton and the Lone Star state. Both I these newspaper meh are renowned for their originality, quaintness of ex pression, blunt honesty and the habit of speaking their own minds. Edwards has been a rampant, shout lug Hearst man and on account of his 1 dlsinct partlsanship In that direction an effort was made by the Parker democratt to prevent his selection as secretary of the congressional commit tee, a place which he filled two years ago. The advantage of having a man of Edward's experience, acquaintance and originality overcame the Parker opposition and Charlie is now assist ing Chairman Cowherd in trying to persuade the voters of the country to elect a democratic majority to the next house. Secretary Edwards accepted the re suit at St. Louis with his usual com placency, although he has sacrificed none of his opinions regarding the is sues the party stood for in 1900 and 1896. He was asked the other day whether the proceedings of the St. Louis convention really committed the party to the gold standard. "Well now," said Edwards, "I think I can best illustrate the situation by'relating a little story of the experience of a traveling man, a friend of mine. "This drummer on his return from his first trip on the road turned in an expense acco;unt in which was such items as 'a pair of shoes, $3.50; one shirt, 99 cents; hat,. $3.00,' and a few other things of the same nature. " 'Here, what does this mean?' said the head of the house, 'we don't mind being liberal in expense allowances, but we are not buying wearing appar el for our agents. You've got to fix up a different expense account.' "The next trip my friend turned in his expenses, which footed up a larger amount than on his first trip, but it was paid without a murmur. 'That's something like an expense account,' said the head of the firm. 'You don't see any overcoats mentioned among the items?' asked my friend. 'No, I do not.' was the answer. _'Wel, the overcoat is in there all the same,' re sponded my friend with a grin. "That Is the way with the St. Louis platform and convention," laughed Ed wards, "you may not find the gold standard among the items, but it is in there all the same." Old White House Servant. Old Jerry Smith is dying. For a third of a century he has been the man of all work and gen eral factotum about the white house. A few months ago failing health compelled him to leave the old mansion, where he had served so faithful ly since President Grant's first ad ministration. One of his duties was the running up of Was the Officka! the American flag Duster. on the whie house every morning. Just before he had to give up work he made a blunder that betrayed his failing faculties. He ran up the flag Union Jack down, the sig nal of distress. The mistake was quick ly discovered and rectified, but Uncle Jerry never got over this blunder. He took it as a sign that he was failing and the time had come to give up work. He was relieved from duty and soon took to his bed, where he now lies slowly passing away with cancer of the stomach. In his modest little home he has not been forgotten, as President Roosevelt, National Chair man Cortelyou and many high officials have called to inquire after the old man and to let him know that he is well remembered. Utcle Jerry is a Virginia negro and was first engaged at the white house by Gen. Grant. Up until the last few months he was a man of striking ap pearance. Fully six feet tall, broad shouldered, with erect carriage and wearing a snow-white mustach and imperial, Jerry Smith was a regular colored field marshal. He was univer sally esteemed for his good nature, cheerfulness and willingness. No one ever heard him grumble about work that might be required of him. During his 30 odd years service he was em ployed in all sorts of positions, frem cook to head usher at an official fune tion. Of late years he seemed to be the official duster in the executive man sion, for he was never separated from a large feather duster, with which he was continually brushing furniture and windows. In manner he was a colored Chesterfield. His death will remove a very conspicuous landmark from of8 cial Washington and will leave Arthur Simmons, a North Carolina negro who came to the white house as a refugee during Lincoln's administration as the remaining link between the old and new white house regimes. Expensive Dove Cot. A flock of Washington pigeons have preempted the gold dome of the library of congress for a mating and nest ing place. This is probably the most ornate and expen sive dove coat or pigeon roost in the world. A few weeks ago a pair of birds entered one of the ventila. tors of the rotun da and flying around surveyed the gorgeous fres. Pigeons in the LI- co work, beautiful brad- Dome. statuary and pro fusion of gold paint, with evident sat* isfaetion for they concluded to locate there permanently. They selected a cornice, in which they placed a nest made of excelsior, which has for its background the gilded dome on whick $40,000 worth of gold leaf was used. The example of this pair of pigeons has been followed until now quite a lit. tie flock gathers daily on the gold dome and their crooning can be dis tinctly, heard in the reading room be low. The birds fly through the ventila tors every day in search of food and are very much at home in the beautiful building.. The library authorities do not know how to get rid of them with out closing the ventilators, which would not be comfortable in the pres ent summer temperature. The. pigeons are of the "tumbler" variety and in flying about the rotunda they sometimes startle the readers At the publie desks. About the Size of It. Teacher-Now, Jommy, how did Adeai fall? Johnny--Buttered side down.-Buoek lyn Life VALUE OF HUMAN JIIVES. Some Pertinent Suggestions Arnent thi Duty of American Railroade . The startling information is co veyed in the report of the interstate commerce commission, relating to railroad accidents, that during 190 -. there were 9,840 fatalities in America from this cause. It is shown that deaths from railroad accidents In $th*. country average one person to every 2,000,000 that travel, while in Great Britain the rate is one death to everyI 48,000,000 passengers. The railroads, of Great Britain and Ireland in 1903 -carried 1,194,833,000 passengers, and of these but 123 were killed and 1,912t ILjured. During the same year Amer-.' can railroads carried only 694,891,535= passengers, and out of these there' were 355 killed and 8,231 injured., These figures also include employes. The commission reports that since the adoption of the airbrake the fatal idies from accidents have been reduced 32 per cent. There are thousands of . freight trains running every day throughout the country without this seemingly necessary appliance. Lawi enforcing the use of airbrakes exist irh many States, and the recomImen dation is. made that it become a na tional law. From the appalling record as shown by the interstate comnmerce commiia asion, it would appear that some great railroad corporations hold the value of human lives too lightly. Hundreds of innocent children, affectionate 'wives and mothers, intelligent and invalu able men are hurled into eternity in an instant; any why? It is because of negligence on the part of the railroad companies? If so, then there must be a remedy, and that remedy muirst be reached through the laws of our land. Modern appliances would pre vent many accidents These appli ances are in the shape of airbrakes, electric safety switches, block sys tems, crossing signals and many other contrivances that go toward reducing danger For years efforts have Deen made is various States to have enforecd laws that would compel the companies toc adopt systems tending to reduce the number of accidents, !ut in some instances these efforts hate ;,een met with strong opposition,--Denver News' The Care That Prevented a Horror. A train was running away down a steep grade on Saluda Mountain in North Carolina. The speed increased with every foot traveled. The air brakes would not work. Trainmen were helpless, passengers in a state of hopeless fear. was expected the train ran up a short incline and stopped. The next morn ing in the New York papers, in place of the lists of the dead. and injured that might have been, there was the story of how a safety-switch had worked and had saved many lives. This was a story of preparation. The railroad company in North Caro lina knew of certain dread possibilities on its route. It provided against them and has reaped in the happy conclu sion of a terribly threatening incident the reward for its forethought. When the Slocum took fire in the. last river the first fact revealed about the boat was lack of preparation against the horror then impending. Yet the possibility of what was hayp pening hail been demonstrated manyi times-with what should have been everlasting force in the case of the Seawanhaka. What is the difference in the edu cation of passenger-carrying corpora. tion which brings it about that in North Carolina they take care while in New York they take chances? New York World, July 9, 1904. As It Was Intended. A certain clergyman reports the fol. lowing incident as occurring just in side the entrance to one of the large. t and most popular New York churches during a crowded service. It was during the reading of a pray er, and the entire congregation were kneeling. A man of rough appear ance, evidently unused to ecclesiasti cal surroundings, strolled through the open doors and stared in apparent wonderment at the silent and knesl ing congregation. He looked a mo ment, then, turning to the sexton, who stood nearby, remared, briefly: "Well, this beats the devil!" The sexton turned a serene eye on him. "That is the intention," he replied. -Harper's Weekly. No Wonder. "Well, old boy, is this hot en;ugh for you?" "I should say not." "What! Goodness, gracious, man, what's the matter with you?" "Nothing: I just bought out an ice company." The Summer Resort Appetite. Waiter Girl (with rising inflection) -Chicken pot pie, roast leg of lamb or Summer Boarder-All three! In Prolific Colorado. Last Sunday three pairs of twins were visiting together at Thos. Black. well's. They were May and Fern Wooley, 9 years old, Itaphealita and Juanita Cavalier, 4 years old, anl Thomas and Vinton Blackwell; 3 years old, Chester and Raymond Stoneburner, 2 1-2 years old, who were expected to be at the twin reunion were not there. The group were lined up to have their pictures taken, and a nicer lot of children woult be hard to find.-North Fork (Col.) Times. A School in the Forest. A new kind of school is about to be started by the authorities of Chariot tenburg for the benefit of children, who, though not exactly ill, are so weakly that they are very liable to be attacked by disease, more especial. ly tuberculosis. The school, which is to accommo. date from 120 to 124 children, is to be built in the depth of the Junfernhelde woods, near Berlin, and the children will remain there the whole day, spa tial tmeals being supplied them. i,·i·