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OK? Senate Committee Decides That Bonds men of the Missing Silcott Are Not Responsible. The Defaulter (Jot Away with $71,800, Mostly Salaries of Members of the House. Silcott Was a Fast One—Horse Racing: and Women Led Him to His Ruin. WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—The Silcott in vestigation committee determined that the bondsmen of Silcott are not respon sible for the §71,800 taken by him. The law, they determine, gave members no right to collect their money from the treasury through the sergeant-at-arms' office of the house, and that Silcott acted only as the agent of the members in col lecting the money. The entire loss falls on the individual members of the house. Mr. I.eerioin'M Statement. Mr. Leedom seemed to lake the matter quietly and with some fortitude, al though he told the newspaper inter viewers who crowded about him that he was in no condition to talk. "All of this money has been drawn since Wednes day," he said to a United Press reporter, as he sat in the back room of his little office gazing at the stream of anxious congressmen who poured in the door to look at the big empty safe and to ask questions and offer sympathy. "We did not suspect anything until 4:30 p. m. Wednesday," he continued, "and we had ho absolute knowledge of the extent of the defalcation until just before I made the report of it to the house. Sil cott went to New York Saturday, telling me that he had to collect some money. Sunday night he telegraphed to his wife that he would be back Monday night. We did not know what had happened to him when he did not appear, but we thought that he had been killed. We never suspected the truth until liis ab sencc became prolonged, when we be gan to investigate. We did not believe the worst until we had gone to the treas ury as a last resort, hoping that he had not drawn the money. There we found that he had drawn since Wednesday ap parently with the intention of carrying it away. Then I determined to report the matter immediately to the house and await its action. The" shortage is $71 . 1)82. I had $10,000 in the sate and Sil cott had a like amount up to Saturday. That is all gone. I suppose Silcott has it with him in Canada." .. Silcott canio from Youngstown, Ohio, where lie was a merchant for many years. Hull a Good lleputiitioii. While Silcott's reputation for honesty had never been brought into question in any of his official transactions, it was known that he was spending a larger amount of money than he could afford to spend on the salary he received, but this was explained in the minds of those who thought anything about the matter by the belief that Si.cotfs horse racing ventures had been successful. He was a frequenter of race tracks and pool rooms and had gained a reputation as a heavy better. A Woman in the CanH. Although Silcott's family live in this city he did not seem to multe ony effort to disguise his relations with a woman known as Louise Barrett whom he had mej at a house of ill fame here. On this woman he lavished all soils of "luxuries, and she is believed to have been the prin cipal cause of his disgrace. The Barrett woman cannot be found, and it is be lieved that she is with Silcott. She is a French-Canadian and has been living in Washington for three years. Silcott re cently took her from the house of ill fame*where they had met, and estab lished her in a very respectable locality. Han Had Warning-. In several annual reports of different secretaries of the treasury attention lias been called to the manner in which the sergeant-at-arms of the house is .allowed to draw the salaries of members from the treasury. The secretaries have held that some change should be made in the method in vogue on the ground that sufficient security is not afforded the government. It is a question among the members of the house whether Silcott's offense is an extraditable one. Mont of those who expressed themselves on the question inclined to the belief that Silcott is safe from arrest if he has succeeded in getting to Canada. They think the crime can only be called a breach of trust or defalcation and this is not covered in the laws regarding extraditions between the United States and 9tiier countries. If it is shown, however, that Silcott committed theft, he may be extradited. Iowa Live Stock Axsocintioii. NEW HAMPTON. Iowa, Dec. 7.—The, most profitable, although not the largest attended meeting in the history of the Iowa improved Live Stock association, has closed. Resolutions were passed' favoring the continuance of the oleomar garine law. more extensive use of silver currency, more stringent enforcement of the interstate commerce law, an appro priation of $5,000 from the state legisla ture to be used in holding farmers' insti tutes, asked the legislature to establish the measure of butter and value of milk and favored Chicago as the site for the world's fair in 1892. ORANK ONE ANOTHER'S HEALTH. Wiwiman'a Account Hl» Meeting With Stanley and Entln. BERLIN, Dec. 7.—Capt. Wissman re ports his meeting with Stanley as fol lows: On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Stanley, Emin, Casati and Wissman met at Atoni, on the Kinghani river, and drank one another's health, and proposed and re sponded to loyal toasts in bumpers of champage. Capt. Wissnufa provided horses for Stanley and Emin and the whole party made their triumphal entry into Bagamoyo at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning. Bagamoyo was profusely dec orated with bunting, and green arches and palms were waving from every win dow. Wissman'8 force and the German man-of-war Speebor fired salutes and all the vessels in the roadstead were dressed with flags. Capt. Wissman entertained Mte party at luncheon and the captain of Ute Sueerbor formally welcomed titan ley. flMI 0« THE MIFF. WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.—Secretary Win dom'B report was sent to congress to-day. It shows the revenues of the government for the fiscal year ending June 80,1889, to have been $887,050,058.84 expendi tures 1881,996,615.60 leaving a surplus of 1105,058,443.24. Of this $45,583,318.66 was used in the purchase of bonds. The estimated surplus for the next fiscal year is $93,728,595.30, of which $49.1^9,078 will be required for the sinking fund. The total amount received from cus toms, the last fiscal year, was $223,822, 741.69, showing an increase over the year 1883 of (4,741,580.06, and being the larg est amount ever received in any one year from that source. The total net receipts from internal revenue for the fiscal year 1889, as shown by the books of the treasury, were §130,881.515).92, being an increase over the year 1SS8 of $6,584,641.94. There was a decrease of $3,163,365.44. from the sales of public lands, and of $377,800.4-8 from miscellaneous sources. During the twelve months ended Oct. 81, 1881), there were purchased under the circular of April 17, 1888, United States bonds to the amount of $99,233,950. Of these. §32,279,400 were obtained prior to March 4, 1889, and §66,954,550 after that date. •*. Mi-. Windom says in substance: It appears, from the foregoing esti mates,that after due provision shall have been made for meeting the ordinary ex penses of the government, including the requirements of the sinking fund, there will remain, under the operation of ex isting laws, an annual surplus of revenue of about $44,000,000. An accumulation of money in the treasury beyond the ne cessities* of the government endangers legitimate business, tends to excessive and wasteful public expenditure, and to encourage extravagance in private af fairs. In the presence of such conditions it is a manifest duty to wisely guard against a future needless accumulation, with its fruitful train of evils. Mean* of Reduction. If a portion of the surplus revenue can be used to enlarge our foreign markets, and thereby advance our commercial and productive interests, it is the part of wisdom to so apply it. The strengthen ing of our coast defenses, and the build ing up of our navy, subjects of national concern, offer further opportunity for wise expenditures that would return the money directly to the people. But after making provision for such expenditures as may be proper and rea sonable for these purposes, a large an nual surplus will still remain under the operation of existing laws. Reduction of the interest bearing debt of the government, by the purchase of bonds, is the expedient resorted to for returning a part of this surplus to the channels of trade, and is the only means now open to the secretary of the treasury for the use of this money. To require from him this measure of responsibility and discretion is of doubtful wisdom. It is manifestly wrong to take money from the people "for the cancellation of bonds, to the saving of only about 2 per cent of interest, when it is worth to them, perhaps, three times as much in their business. It is rather through a reduction of customs receipts ana in ternal taxes, that an unnecessary ac cumulation of money in the treasury should be avoided. Internal revenue receipts for the year were $135,000,000. In case the tax should be removed both from tobacco and alco hol used in the arts, the reduction thus effected would be about $37,500,000, leav ing a balance from internal revenue of about $07,000,000. Reduction in receipts from customs presents the only other advisable means for diminishing the revenue. Horizontal Kednction. The cases are exceptional under our tariff in which a moderate or reasonable reduction of rates would result in a de crease of the revenue. As a general rule, a reduction in the rates of duty would increase importations in greater porpor tion than the receipts are reduced, and so increase rather than diminish re ceipts. This would be the result of any plan of horizontal reduction yet pro posed: thus, a horizontal reduction of 10 or 20 per cent, in rates might result in 20 or 50 per cent, or even greater increase in the volume of imports. The tendency of this would be to largely increase the surplus, and, to the extent of the increased importations to deprive Amer ican workmen of the employment which belongs to them, and correspondingly to reduce the price of labor. It would also withdraw from active circulation here the money required to pay the duties on these increased im portation!, ami thus add to the evils of our present surplus. Tnrifl' for llvvenue Only. A tariff for revenue only contemplates such an adjustment of duty as will yield the largest amount of revenue at the lowest rates. It means the largest possi ble quantity of importations consistent with the amount of customs revenue re quired to defray the expenses of the gov ernment. The result of this policy would be to take from American pro ducers their home market and transfer it to their foreign competitors. A tariff based upon the difference in the cost of labor and materials, in this and foreign countries, will foil of its purpose in times of overproduction and depression in compotiu countries. Itevision of the Tariff. I believe it to lie the dominant senti ment of the country that, in the adjust ment of duties on imports, protection to home industry should be a governing consideration. While there is a wide divergence of judgment on this propo sition, it can not well be denied that it is the settled policy of this government that such duties shall be so levied aa to result in tli* protection of labor, em ploved in domestic industries, from de structive foreign competil ion. The trustees of the New York sugar trusts declared the regular quarterly div-. idend of 2 1-2 per ceni. Friday. John J. Townsena, a leading lawyer, president of the Union club, of New York, died Thursday, of pneumonia. Oliver L. Barbour, author of "Bar bour's Reports and numerous other law works, is dying at Saratoga, N. Y. He is 78 years of age. The announceucwnt is made that Em perors William of Germany Prana. Joseph of Austria will meet at Innspruck on Nov. 15. THE GREAT GRAY OWL "A cor'us feller" was Clay Cote, the neigh bor* said. "Ever1 minute he can git from hi* work he's allays wmnderln' round through the woods with his gun, s-ahootin' innocent birds in a most triflin' way. It does seem as ef a dead bird was worth more to him than its weight in dollars, the way be takes on over torn (ometimes, an' smooths their feathers, an* grins, an' carries 'em off home a-whistlln'. Uncle Ezry oughter puta stop to his triflin'." Clay was misunderstood. The "innoceut birds" were not killed wantonly nor in idle amusement. Clay was thoroughly a student of nature he loved the feathered songsters, and it was for this love that he sought to ob tain and to study them. Clay was an en thusiastic ornithologist. In the rough neighborhood in which he lived the people did not appreciate his pas sion. How there could be joy and triumph in the discovery of an unusually bright breasted oriole or a peculiar colored warbler was entirely beyond their somewhat dull comprehension. Clay would have explained these matters had any one among bis neighbors cared to be informed, but he did not seek to force in formation upon them, and their ignorant re marks did not disturb him in the least. Only one person was able to annoy him by criti cising bis pursuits, that was Saul Rhodes, a boy with whom Clay thought it a disgrace to have words of any kind. A book on ornithology, which in his early boyhood had falleu into Clay's possession, had started him in bis favorite study and was a source of constant reference and pleasure to him. He called it his "field book," for he frequently carried it about with him, and every new bird he secured was by its aid identified and named. Clay was nn orphan boy, about 17 years old, and his home was with "Uncle Ezry" on a farm near the banks of the Missouri river. He had never been able to get the "book learning" he desired, and about the only things he could call his own were the clothes on his back, his beloved field book and his specimens. Even the old shotgun be used be bad found stowed away in the farmhouse garret, where Uncle Ezry had put it when his squirrel bunting days were over. Tbe old man had as little sympathy for Clay's study as his neighbors had, and he was a severe taskmaster, who made the boy work as hard and as lougas tbe "hired man." But when there was no work which was par ticularly pressing, he was not so ill natured as to refuse him the gun and a little time to himself, for all that it was to "carry on fool ishness." Clay had filled his little sleeping room in the old farm house with many specimens of the birds of the country. He had studied taxidermy, and bad mounted many of his specimens in a careful and praiseworthy manner. There were some rare birds in his collection, and these he secretly hoped one day to sell, and thereby gain some money to enable him to go to school He had also corresponded with the author of his "field book," who had given him the name of every rara avis which was likely to be found in his vicinity, together with the cash price a professional bird fancier would pay for each. So be was always on the look out for unusual birds to add to bis collection or to sell at a bargain. One cold April evening Uncle Ezry sent Clay to the ferry on an errand, and of course the boy carried tbe gun along. The distance was about three miles, and in a walk of this length it was not at all improbable that, he would see some desirable specimen, either an early spring adventurer or a winter laggard. The road lay for the most part along the bank of the river, and as the wild geese were now flying north, he thought be might get a shot at some of these birds, which were fa vorite food at his uncle's table. He did succeed, very soon after lie started, in bringing dowu two geese, which he left in a covert of bushes until he should return but lie saw no other birds of any kjnd worth shooting on his way to the ferry. Here he met Saul Rhodes, overgrown, slov enly dressed and loud mouthed, who informed hiin that be was just ready to go home, and would walk with him. This was unpleasant intelligence to Clay, for be had no interest in common with his rough young neighbor, whose company was very distasteful to hiin but be could not well refuse to walk with him, so, having deliver ed his message to the ferry master, Clay, in company with Saul, started on the return home. As tbe young naturalist had expected, be fore they had gone half a mile Saul began to sneer at his habit of hunting birds. Wastin' so much good powder an' shot." he said. "What'd ye bring yer gun fer to-night*" he went on to say. "Ye can't kill no robins when it's this cold, an' at dusk, too." "1 don't want any robins," Clay replied. "I got two geese coming down, and I'm lia ble to get some night birds about this time." "Night birds, haw! haw!" laughed Saul. What you need is aright cap an' a wig." Saul burst into a second coarse roar of laughter, which was out short by tbe sudden explosion of Clay's gun, as the over alert boy caught sight of a large bird as it dew across the road just in front of them. It was a snap shot, and Clay feared that he bal missed: but as the smoke cleai-ed, he was surprised and elated to see tbe bird fluttering in the middle of the road. He ran forward, followed leisurely by his companion, and perceived that the bird was an immense owl, and that his shot had wing ed and partially stunned it. He was too wise to tuke hold of it with- bis bore fingers until he had completely disabled it, so be placed a foot on each wing, and thus held it firmly to the ground Then be examined it closely, for be quickly recognized that it was a new species, one that lie had never seen before. The light was fad ing, but he bent down and. without difficulty, made out its distinguishing features. All at once the young ornithologist gave an excited exclamation: "It's a great gray owl!'' "Do tell!" said his companion, with mock concern. "A great gray o»v!' Waal. waal. who'd 'a' thought it4'' Clay said nothing. With eager eyes be •raimcd the owl from beak to f«et and tip of tail He noted the great yellow eyes and bill, the dark lirown of its hat-k. mott led with grayish white, and the broken liari-ed wings ami tail, with grayish white auarhling. The under parts were.dark brown and )ale gray, aud the great facial disc was marked with dark brown and light gray rings concentric with each eye, and below them was the ragged white collar Clay had fully acquainted himself with the characteristics of this rare member of the owl family, and after his scrutiny be bad no hesitation iu positively declaring it to be in deed a great gray owL "The only thing see cur'us 'Unit it," said Saul, sarcastically, "is thet it ain't a great red, white an' blue owL It would be purtier, dout ye think so. Cole?" Clay was so delighted with bis prize tbat 8auft sarcasm fell on his ears unheeded. "You see, Saul." lie said, as be aroae to bis feat, "the great gray owl, as it is called, is one of tbe rarest birds in the United State* Its home is in the Arctio regions, and believe ttor i»ot, as you please, that bird under my fast worth a hundred dollars, at least" This last statement called forth aloud guf faw from Saul. "A hundred dollars! hawt Ye'r' as crazy as a Jane bug, Clay Cole! It haint worth the powder ye wasted on it" Clay did not attempt to argue with the ig noramus, but felt in his pocket for a cord with which to secure tbe feet of his prise and thus escape the sharp claws. "What are ye goin' to do!" Saul inquired as he watched the movement Clay informed him. "Goin* to carry thet old screech owl bonier Saul exclaimed. "Waal, ef you ain't got 'em bad I See hyer. do ye know ye'r a fool?" Clay made no answer, but made a noose in one end of the cord, slipped it over one set of the vicious claws, and Iwgan to fashion a second noose in tbe opposite end for the other set. He meant to carry the owl as be would a basket, with a cord for a handle. Suddenly he was shoved backward so for cibly that he almost lost his balance, and his ears were assailed by aloud oath. Saul Rhodes meant trouble for him! "This blamed foolishness of yo'uru might as well be stopped right hyer I'' the young ruffian cried. "Blame ef I ain't sick o' yer crazy doin's, an' I'll put a stop to 'em when I'm around. This owl ain't dead, I guess, an' I'm a-goin' to turn it loose, er ef it can't fly I'll throw it in the river I" Clay knew that he meant to do what he said, for he was a notorious and heartless bully, and the young naturalist was fpr a moment spellbound at the thought of losing bis precious capture. Saul was larger, and evidently considered himself stronger than he, it was certain that if Clay, interfered with his dastardly plan it would result in a band to band difficulty. But the smaller boy bad courage as well as a love of nature, and he determined to defend his prize with all his power. Ho bad scarcely an instant in which to con sider his action, for Saul was proceeding at ouoe to carry out his threat. Just as the rough stooped tor pick up the string which was attached to the owl. Clay launched himself upon bim with righteous fury. Saul was hurled hackward several paces, but recovered himself and got hold of his antagonist, and then the two boys en gaged in the fiercest rough and tumble strug gle of their lives. Saul was bent on giving his foe a sound drubbing for daring to resist him, and Clay knew, that unless be mastered bis enemy he would suffer not only a whipping but Ibe loss of his great gray owl. First up and then down the two wrestled and fought, tb ir teeth set and their breath coming in hard gasps. Presently, locked to gether, they began to roll over and over each other and approach the bank of the river. The bank at this point was high and steep, and on the very edge of it the two ceased to roll, and Clay, who had slightly the advan tage, tore himself suddenly from his enemy's clutches, then, exercising all his force, be shoved the recalcitrant rough over the edge of the bank, dowu which he went like a sec ond Tommy Twist, turning and tumbling with amaziug rapidity until he reached the bottom. He stopped, within a yard of the water's edge, so dizzy that he did not know what had happened to him, and with bis eyes full of dirt. Clay could not resist a laugh, nervous though he was, as he viewed him. It was well for Clay tliut the light lasted no longer, for during its continuance the owl had beeu doing its best to escape, and, ham pored as it was, bad already got a consider able distance away After a little chase Clay secured it, and lifting it by the looi of the string that fast ened its feet, lie shouldered bis gun cud with no further attention to the discomfited foe, bore his treasure to bis borne in high elation. He paused a moment on bis way to pick up the two wild geese lie bad left in the bushes. The victory over the bully of the neighbor hood was a sigua) one, and ever after Saul treated ("lay witii the utmost deference. Tbe capture of the great gray owl was re ported to Ins frieml and adviser, tbe author of his book, who immediately replied to con gratulate him, and to state that he bad writ ten to a professional dealer iu Kansas City, who would probably -visit biui iu tbe course of a few days. The dealer came and examined the boy's collection with manifest delight. Before be departed be gave Clay $1^5 for the owl and $1(K more for a number of other specimens in his collection. Happy Clay! Now be could get tbe school ing be bad so long dreamed of uow he could make a man of himself, and uow "Uncle Ezry'' and tbe neighbors would no longer sneer at his proclivity for bird hunting. Be it said, in conclusion, that ali these things were realized, and more. The finding of the great gray owl was the beginning of a new life for Clay Cole, aud he has so far progressed in his ambition tbat his real name is now familiar to ail devotees of liird lore. —Arthur C. Urissom in Youth's Companion. To Keep a Trim Figure. Women who wish to preserve theslimncss and contour of their figure must begin by learning to stand welL Tbat is explained to nieau tbe throwing forward and upward of tbe chest, the flattening of the back, with the shoulder blades held in their proper places, and the definite curving in the small of tbe back, thus throwing the whole weight of the body upoti tbe hips. No other women hold themselves so well as the aristocratic English women. Much of their beauty lies in their proud carriage, the delicate erectncss of their figures and tbe line poise of their beads. Tbe same aristocratic-carriage is within the reach of any American girl who takes the pains to have it, it is only tbe question of a lew years of eternal vigilanee, never relaxing her watchfulness over herself, and, sitting or standing, always preserving her erectness and pose, the result being tbat at tbe end of that time it has become second nature to her, and tbe never afterward loses it This, in a great measure, preserves the figure, tiecuuse it keeps the muscles tirni and well strung, and pre vents tbe sinking down of the flesh around tbe waist ami hips, so common in women over Si), and which is perfectly easy to escape. Another thing to avoid is a bad babit of go ing up stair*, which most women do, bent for ward, with |be chest contracted, which, as well as an indolent, slouchy tuaiuier of walk ing, is injurious to tb* heart and lungs.— Dress. A Sword of the devolution. As to old things that are constantly being spoken of, 1 have a sword that was used in the Revolutionary war. It is a quaint old weapon, about three feet long, uiade of the tinest imported steel, and shows signs of having beeu sharpened many times before it was laid away. It was found in 1848 with a lot of mus kets in afield at Tonawanda. near Burnt Creek, between the Niagara Falls and Buffalo, by a man named John Valquet, formerly known as "Dutch John," who now lives at Twenty-third and Dickson streets.—Interview in St Louis Globe Democrat. INFATUATION. Near to thee, near to thee, oft, in my roaming. Missing thee ever, like will-o'-the-wisp, Still I hare followed through light and through gloaming, Knew 1 was near to tbee. Felt I was dear to thee. Dreamed thai vou called and I said "I am com* fnpr," Dreamed I was held in your arms to be kissed Followed thee, wistfully, year after year, Loved thee, and missed thee, and longed for thee, dear. Lost to me, lost to me, ever and ever. Must 1 resign thee, oh, king of my heart? To find tbee, and bind thee, never, ob, never To hold thee as lost to me. Whate'er tbe cost to me. Severed forever, vain every endeavor. Always to know we are always apart To know that tbe space that divider from your face Can never be traversed, whatever the pace. Blest to me, blest to me, over and over. Was thy essence of presence near or afar Friend of my soul and closer than lover. More thau confessed to me Tliou wert a rest to me, AH that thou wert to me slow to discover— Grand as a king and calm as a star: Enthroned in my heart and set high in my sky. Still loyal to thee 1 will live and will die. Pity me, pity me, fruitlessly seeking. Tireless as hopeless and eager as vain With soul that Is faint and heart that is break ing. Btill I will cry to tbee. Strive to get nigh to tbee. List, as for life, for tbe sound of tby speaking, Hark to tby silence with exquisite pain. And still, If thou beckon, my star and my bing. I have no choice but thy following. Over the river that bounds thee forever. Through infinite grace thy soul I will trace Resisting, persisting, but faltering never. Dowu inazy flights to thee. Up hazy heights to thee. Rewarded at lost my uutiring endeavor, I count it great joy if discerning thy face, And near or afar, wherever you are. You still are enthroned my king and my star. —Ruth O. D. Havens in Washington Pest. How Hall la Formed. A correspondent of Nature contributes to that journal a theory of the formation of hail, which is so short and clear that it will interest many readers who have at times opportunity to test its correct ness. Limiting our notice to such compound hailstones as are the most destructive, and are produced during a tornado or a violent thunder storm, the following is, in a few words, the theory of their forma tion: When the winds gyrate rapidly round an axis, more or less inclined to the earth, tbe space at and about the axis is rarefied. When air charged with vapor is drawn into this rarefied space, it may be condensed into cloud or rain, but at a greater elevation into snow. Now supposing the rain formed in the lower region to be drawn up by the as cending current into the snow region and so held for a short space, the drops will be frozen, and then, if propelled be yond the gyrations, it will fall to the ground as a shower of ordinary hail. But if in the descent they are again drawn in by the inflowing current, they will be again carried up into the cold region, and so acquire another coating of snow. or. if wetted in the previous descent, the water will freeze into a coat of transparent ice. Iu this way the globule may make a number of ascents and descents, and acquire afresh coating each time. )Vlmt Insomnia Is. insomnia is not pain: that is, physical pain. It is something in the nature of a blank, a dead, level, sandy desert on which there rests a dull glare. One thinks incessantly and incoherently. An impression inserts itself in the vagrant thoughts to the effect: "If I don't sleep soon it will lie idiocy, heart disease or death." Under the influence of this im pression, the insomnia, which, at the outset, was the symptom of some local disorder, liecotues itself a disease. One lies with open eyes- staring into the darkness. Tho dire possibilities of the future, the interruption to business, the ardent, intense desire to sleep, all flit through the night, like dim and menacing phantasms. The days are op pressive. The body is weak, the brain confused, the blood sluggish. An over powering tendency to sleep possesses the tired frame. He throws himself down on a bed with the impression that he must and will sleep fOr weeks lie drops into a doze and in an instant later wakes with a start, and then is as wide awake as ever: if a wicked man he flings off the covering with bitter malediction, and with tired frame and dulled soul re sumes his daily task.—Chicago Herald. An Unhappy Position. The man who seeks a wife for the pur pose of securing the means of living with out working does not merit the respect of the meanest person that walks about the earth. His intentions are so mani fest that they deceive no one. He plans his attack with the ingenuity of a general. His is an aggressive courtship, and ahyp ocritical one as well. He cannot afford to let the flame flicker for a moment. He must act the role of deception continu ally. If there should ever come the mo ment when a feeling of self independence and self respect enters the young wom an's mind, his hopes in that instant may be shattered beyond redemption. There is the necessity of ever present caution and a constant recourse to hypocrisy.— —Detroit Free Press. Wouldn't Need Protection. Not long ago Fish Commissioner Bart lett. of Quincy, was back in the Illinois river country with a fishing party of whom ex-Congressman Anderson was one. The ex-congressman is an amateur with tbe rod and line, but attributed his poor catches to various things, and on this occasion blamed the tish commis sioner for not keeping the waters stocked. "You don't protect the fish." he said. "Your office is a sinecure." "It would be if everybody fished like you." said the commissioner. "They wouldn't need any protection then."— St. Louis Republic rfing (hJ-ur of Swtxlen lm writlmi and composed "h «p**ra Wvl I'll** 1 :i.-"i -'i Krvnberv." wiii«* wi:i u.•!'•»(•» "r iut-ed at several ii.menial ••i'-'i'fi uouse i" ft' Under the Chin. -1 ,'J You may have heard travelers scoff at the practical Frenchman who stuffs one corner of his napkin inside hi* shirt col lar and spreads it fully over the front of his person from his chin down to bis knees. This is tbe practice of Che French people of the middle and lower classes, who are thrifty and prudent, and who wish to eat at their ease and not spot their clothes. There is nothing ridiculous in this practice. There is a reason, and an excellent reason, for. so spreading the napkin, and if I were dining at home, or alone at a restaurant or club, and had on my spotless shirt and open waistcoat and clawhammer coat, all ready to go to the opera, I should certainly spread my napkin over my manly and snowy bosom, just as the Frenchman does, and so I should dine at my ease, serenely and without care, knowing that 1 had thus insured tbe immaculateness of my linen. However, let it be remembered that com pany manners in all countries require you simply to spread your napkin loosely over your knees, and to eat cleanly and decently.—Theodore Child in Harper's Bazar. "Boy Hamlet." John Howard Payne enjoys the dis tinction of being the first American Hamlet who was born tn America, and he had been born but seventeen years when he played "Hamlet" at the Park theatre in May. 1809. He was the first of the long line of infant phenomena in this country, and the original "Boy Hamlet." Fired by the marvelous— and ridiculous—success of Master Betty in England, he went upon tiie stage with little professional training, and with barely sufficient intelligence to play the parts of Rosencrantz or Guildenstern, but he drew enormous crowds, and put money in his purse. Two years later, on the 5th of April, 1811, he introduced the tragedy of "Hamlet" to Albany au diences: but he is remembered by pos terity as a playwright rather than as a player, ami as the author of one immor tal song. His Hamlet naturally was as immature and as amateur as it was pre mature.—Lawrence Hutton in Harper's Magazine. Steel Pens. Nearly all the steel pens used in this country are manufactured here, though twenty years ago nearly all were im ported. Now only the highest priced ones are imported. We use about 1,000.000 gross every year, which is not so large a number as might appear, con sidering that it represents fewer than three pens apiece for all the inhabitants. As many people who use them wear out a gross (144 pens) or more in a year, it is evident that there must be a great many who never use a steel pen at all. The pens are made of imported steel, which is preferred because of its more uniform quality It is rolled into big sheets and cut into strips, after which it is an nealed, rolled to the thickness required, then tempered and cut and stamped into pens. Much skill is required in all these operations and in those of finishing the pens for use The manufacture and trade in steel pens has seen very little change for a generation.—Good House keeping Consumption Surely Cured. To THE EDITOR:—Please inform your readers that I have a positive remedy for the above named disease. By its timely use thousands of hopeless cases have been permanently cured. I shall be glad to send two bottles of my remedy FBEK to any oi your readers who have con sumption if they will send me their ex press and post office add e-«. Respect fully, T. A. SLOOUM, M. C., 1S1 Pearl st., jN'ew York. MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LODIS Kailway". A*I THE FAMOUS 'Albert Lea Route-' Two Through Trains Daily From St. Paul aiul Minneapolis To C"h oago. Without chang**, coniiectjiia with tbe fast traies of all lines for Ute East and Southeast1 The Direct and Only Line Runuing Tlir»u Cars between Minneapolis fc DesMoine* Via Albert Lea and and Fort Dodge. DIRECT LIKE TO WAfERTBWH, DAKOTA. 2 SOLID THKOUGH TRAINS 2 l'.ET W F.EX MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. LOUIS And the Principal cities of Mississippi Valley I'onrhH'tini in Union IVpot.^ with an loints south and southwest. MANY HOURS SAVED re^3g two train* daily to Lea^ rAV'CAC TITT enworth and Atchison. IvrVliOrtO V^l 1 I making connections with the Union Pacific at Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fc railways. enclose connections made in Utifoa Devote with all trains o( the St. Paul Minneapolis A Manitoba, Northern Pacific, St. Paul & railways, from and to all points north and north west. Tlie irains of the Minae- REMEMBER! aimlis & St. Louis railway k. Mastiil Reclinteg are composed of Comfortable roaches, cent Pullman Sleeping C»rs, Morton I Chair Cars, and our uistlv celebrated PALACE DINING CARS! ISO lbs of Baggace Che"ked FREE. Fare al ways as low as the lowest. For Time Tahiea, Through Tickets, etc., call upon the «K*aresl Tiekest Agent, or write to C, H. HOLDR1DCE. ien*l Ticket and Pass. Agent, innaoolis Muaa