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p THE UKt'Lt 1 UNi BT AUGUST GHAT. *Mld glided walls and stately hulls I paso the time away; >. 1 have great wealth, enjoy good health. And many servants pay. 2 have a wife to share my life, Whom servants wait npon, And by my side doth ever bide Ad unseen skeleton. ny wlfe'6 fair face doth match the grace And beauty of her form; With pleasant smiles, through many mile* We've passed, of calm and storm. Each well-aimed stroke some barrier broke, Each eem more friends have won. And each success hath come to bless Me and my skeleton. Sometimes I cry "O God. draw nigh And drive this fiend from me!" He never leaves, but closer cleaves And laughs ezultingly. Oh. aching heart I 'tis but your part To bear till life Is done; Will I be free, when they bury me, From this grim skeleton? Vhe poor pass by, and gaze and sigh, And wish they might exchange. Toll on! Thank God you have to plod, Nor wish for guest so strange. Canst thou find he who lived to see A youth's and manhood's sun. Who hath not sighed, looked back, and tried \ To hide a skeleton? These words hath pain burned In my brain: "-'J t TO struggle on til] life is gone, Or give the victor's shout. <Jh, God! Abide close by my side, As thou hast ever done. Though rich, how poor! behind gold doori : I dwell with a skeleton. j Linden, Wis. MfcteiMissioi fl Remark! Romance. BY EMILY THORNTON. 1 CHAPTER XI. A B1KQULAR KEQtTEST. Has she come?" asked Sir Reginald Glendenning of Lady Constance, as he distinctly heard a carriage stop before the door, and his own coachman's voice peaking to the horses. "She has; shall she he brought directly to your presence?" "Yes; and see to it that no one enters this room until they are summoned, as I ?. wish to see this girl alone. Do you hear? Alone! entirely alone!" replied the Barooet. "You will be obeyed. No one shall disturb you. Shall 3 order Matthew to put up the hor9es?" "No; tell him to wait for further notice!" Lady Constance withdrew, and very soon reopened tne aoor, ic usner in ?nu present to her sick husband Ethel Nevergail, his sister's adopted niece, then instantly retired, closing the door behind her. Very beautiful looked the young girl fts she stood by the side of the bed, her heavy crape veil thrown back, revealing her sad, sweet face and large, pitying eyes. "Oh! sir," said she, after an eager, yet half-haughty greeting, "I grieve to see you so helpless! Have you just been inJudre?" "Yes; this morning I was thrown from my horse, and am to lie here helpless for months. I sent for you, then, in answer 15 a letter received a few moments before the accident from my sister, written before her death. In that she asks me to give you a home for four months in return for any service I may wish rendered. I sent, because I need assistance Immediately of a very peculiar nature. Are you willing to undertake it, at a fair salary?" "Probably I can tell better when 1 hear what the duties will be." ' "Before I tell you that I wish you to hand me the small Bible you see upon that table." With wondering eyes Ethel reached him the book. "The duties to be performed are of a purely confidential nature. No human being must know what I tell you, whether you accept the charge or not. Wife, nephew, niece, man servant nor maid servant must ever know that you do more than read to and amuse me, write my letters, and attend to my daily business affairs. Tbe true duties will be performed in half an hour each evening alone. Will yon swear on this book to keep my secret?" "I will swear if you will assure me that these duties can be done with a pure conscience, and that they are perfectly proper for me to do." "I assure you you can do them with perfect propriety. Will you take the oattb?" i' '"I will," came from the lips of the trembling girl, reluctantly, it must be confessed, but still it came, because of the promise given to her dying aunt that Bue wuuju uui reiusc m? unci. "Then kiS9 that book and repeat after me these words: 'I, Ethel Nevergail. ewear I will tell no person the nature of my nightly duties, and that I will perform them to the best of my ability.' " Again Ethel shuddered, yet did as he required; and, after kissing the book, repeated the words. "Sit down, now. and come very close. bo you can hear, while 1 whisper the secret, for 'even walls have ears' has sometimes been said. "How," he continued, "listen to me intently. I have in my possession a very rare animal, one entirely unknown. It is the property of a friend, and I am secretly taking care of it for him. He is absent now abroad searching for more wonders to add to a collection. On his return he is going to exhibit all, and expects to realize a fortune by doing so, which I am to share. Now. although . wealthy. I love money, and always have; therefore I take every care of this creature is order to obtain more gold. No human being, save myself and Its owner, is aware of its existence. It is hidden in a ruined part of this house?in fact, in a concealed room, the existence of which no one knows but myself, and in close connection with, but not in, a place we call 'The Haunted Tower.' "This tower is not haunted, really, but 3 pretend that it is, in a way i snaii ie;i you of some other time, in order to kec^ prying eyes from off my treasure. "Now. what I wish you to do is this: 1 myself have always fed this ape, or ourang-outang, for it possesses some of their nature, and If he Is not attended to he will starve. About ten every evening you are to do this for me. "A Dasket is always standing In a certain place in the ruined part. A person 2 pay well comes every evening, under a Promise of secrecy, and puts food in it. ou must get this basket, go through a long covered corridor that connects this tower to the main building, and opens directly into a small hall or passageway near your room, and the door from your room is niaaen Dy a wararooe. "Open Jt and pass through, taking a JtniTe of a peculiar shape that you win find in a bookcase drawer in your room, ( together with plenty of candle and matches for your use. also there; ? nd to this drawer I will give you the key. \, y "You will find several of these knives there, for Ism one mjght accidentals - get broken. Take "one, with a lighted candle, 1 say, go down the passage to the tower, then count on the wall from the door that leads up the tower stairs, | backward, three panels; into a seeming j crack that you will see there insert the j knife-point, and then turn it around ; three times, when the panels will fly ! apart, revealing a small opening, where a set' of revolving iron shelves will "be seen. On these place the food. Water is in the room, where the creature can help himself as he wishes it. Keep and restore the basket to its place; also be sure and keep the knife. Push then the shelves and they will turn slowly around and come back to vou with the plate empty. ' "After this* replace tEe~paneT, and return to your room silently. That will be all for about two or three weeks, when I shall add a small service, such as placing a light of a certain nature in the tower, and winding up a little machinery. Will you do all this?" asked he, eagerly. "Yes." half moaned the poor girl, whose soul shrank in horror from the task, "if you assure me I will not be harmed by the beast." "You never will; he Is chained to a heavy iron bolt; besides, this room he is In has no windows or doors (being lighted from the ceiling), and there is no mode of reaching him, save by those shelves. I could not; you can never even see him or be seen by him. When my friend returns, and wants him, we will anscrew the iron shelves, and so take him hence. "Will you stay now, as he must be seen to this very night?" asked Sir Reginald, after a pause. "You can send for your trunks when you wish. I will pay you twenty ponnds a month." "I will stay." Then, please ring the bell you see yonder, as I must inform my fofe." The bell brought a footman, who took the desired message, and Lady Constance soon appeared. "Miss Nevergail is to remain. She is to be my amanuensis, reader, and assist you and the nurse, generally, in my care. r ttti'cVi tlio T>nnm novt lV>io nrenarftH fnr ft. TT lOU VU& 1 wui uva v vu>w ww ?v? her immediate use." "Why that one? It will not be wise to put her there." "Wise or not, there she goes, so have It in readiness. Also, tell Matthew to put up the horses, as they will be needed no more to-day. CHAPTER XIL ETHEL AND HER NEW DUTIES. In about an hour a servant maid en- 1 tered, to say that the room was in readiness, and she would lead Miss Nevergail to it, if she wished. Taking up her bonnet and wraps, the young girl passed through the front hall Into the room adjoining, which she found 1 exceedingly beautiful. It had evidently always been exclusively a guest chamber, and 60 richly was it furnished that she , guessed at once why Lady Constance had ; objected to its daily use. As soon as the maid had withdrawn, Ethel commenced an examination of the ; Implements Sir Reginald had mentioned. The bookcase he had spoken of she Knew nau oeeu carrieu mimci nvui kuv library for her use 6ince her arrival. The drawer to which he had given her a key of a peculiar shape was a secret one, found, as he had whispered, behind the books, and remembering his directions, 1 she proceeded to open it, after carefully locking her door. There lay the three singularly shaped, large knives, with long, sharp-pointed ( blades; there, also, was a china candle- i stick with three or four dozen wax can- 1 dies. Matches were in a large tin box, ready for constant and instant use. 1 Refastening the drawer and replacing 1 the books, the young girl proceeded to the wardrobe on the opposite side of the ' room, and unlocking it, Bhe saw at the ' back a door, bolted on her side, which gave her an immediate feeling of se- 1 curity. Softly drawing the bolt, she looked ' out into a small passage that led merely ' from her own room to a similar door in- 1 side a wardrobe she had seen in the bar- 1 onet's. These two rooms communicated with 1 this little passageway from the inhabited 1 part of the house, and these alone. Di- 1 rectly opposite her door was a smaller ' one, which she at once knew must lead 1 to the Haunted Tower and deserted 1 rooms belonging to this singular old mansion. She did not open this, but retreating ' to her own apartment through the ward- ' robe, bathed her face and hands, smooth- J ad her hair, and once more turned toward ' the room of the invalid. At the threshold, however, she met old I Mrs. Fredon, the nurse, who had been < in the family for years, who whispered 1 that the baronet had fallen asleep, therefore, the might walk around the grounds If she chose. Feeling that the fresh air would revivf ner poor shrinking spiru, Ethel tripped down the broad staircase and stepped upon the piazza. As she did so, she almost ran against a gentleman just entering. Raising her eyes to apologize, she found herself face to face with Dr. | Elfenstein, tbe Kind iriena tnat sue uaa parted with a few weeks before. He was as much astounded as herself, It seemed, at her unexpected appearance. "Is it possible that this can be Miss Nevergail?" "It is, indeed; but I can scarcely believe this my friend, Dr. Elfenstein. How is it we meet in this unexpected plaee and manner?" "I was about calling on my patient, Sir Reginald Glendenning, when, instead of being received by a servant, Miss Nevergail comes flying toward me. How Is it yon are here? I seo by your black dress that your aunt must have passed away! But come out upon the piazza, * ^ as you were auuut wj uu, uuu ten mo ui yourself." Passing from the door to the shadow of the trained rines, followed by the physician, the young girl related the occurrences of the last few weeks. "Did I understand that you were to remain here some time?" "Yes. I am to be Sir Reginald's secretary, amanuensis, and reader. For this, and helping to amuse him, I am to receive a good saJary. Ann will ftave a home for the summer." "I am very glad to hear It," exclaimed Earle, kindly, "It seems like a pleasant spot, and I think this pure, fresh air win Deneni your neaun ana spirits, i also have settled here, having bought a practice." "Shall we go to Sir Reginald now?" returned she, at the end of their animated conversation. "I presume he is awake by this time." "Yes, at once, and I hope I shall find him more easy than he was this morning." "Sleep Indicates some degree of ease. Do you think he will be helpless long?" "I am sorry to say it will be months before he can leave his bed. Even then, I fear he will be a cripple for years." "Poor man! This has been a sad accident for him/'Teplied Ethel, in tones full of sympathy. Dr. Elfenstein made quite a long call, as he had much to do to make the /tamfawinkla #1>a on/? uai wucu V.U1U1U1 bauiC iUl LUU aiiu as Ethel saw him handle the injured man so gently, and soothe him with kind, encouraging words, she felt that he must possess a heart of almost womanly feeling, and her interest and admiration deepened, even before his visit was concluded. After Earle Elfenstein withdrew a late jlinner announced, and in the din; lng-room Lady Constance presented t Ethe] her nephew, Robert Glendenninj and niece, Belle, his sister, the forme greeting her with rather au insolent loo of admiration, the latter with a bow ei pressive of haughty contempt From that momont Ethel saw tha neither of these young people wouia pr( mote her hapoiness while she remaine under this roof. Mr. Glendenning did converse with hei but it was with such an evident air c condescension that her replies were brie and cold, while his sister remained silec during the whole meal, witn the excej tion of answering one or two question asked by Lady Constance, which answei were given in a cold, mechanical wa thai told of a minci preoccupied and a) sent. The truth was this young lady wa surprised and not at all pleased with tb introduction of such a rarely beautifi girl into the home over which she hei sway. She was intensely proud and selfisl and fell that there might be an influenc exerted upon her few admirers tha might interfere with her prospects. The prospects particularly in view a present were the winning of the heai and hand of the new physician latel settled in the place. She had been introduced to him at th home of a friend, and had admired hi Vnft ? !?>/? Vftn/la/Mna f A* a OiC^OiUU uaxiviQviuu * W^v a*?r quiet manners, and instantly had ri solved to Jay siege to hie heart. With how much success this siege wa to be carried on time alone could de termine. After leaving the table the ladies r? paired to the piazza, followed by Mr Glendenning. As Belle paused to pluck from one o the vines a few flowers for her belt Lady Constance turned to Ethel and re marked: "I suppose you have no friends in thi vicinity, having just arrived." Ethel hesitated, while a faint blusl suffused brow and cheek as she replied: "I have found one here very unex pectedly." "Ah! whom may thai be?" asked he ittuyaujjA "Dr. Elfensteln. "We crossed the At lantic on the same vessel, and as m; aunt was taken very ill.during the voy ape he attended her, and, consequently we became well acquainted." Instantly Belle's attention was rivetet by these remarks, aDd with a sneer sh< exclaimed: "I presume, then, you waylaid bin this afternoon in order to renew the ac quaintance." "Pardon me!" replied Ethel, with dig Dity. "I waylay no one. We met casu ally on this piazza as he was about enter Ing to see Sir Reginald, and converse* for a few momenta " "It seems to me for the future, whei my uncle's physician visits him, it woul< be well for you to remember that yoi dow occupy the position of a subordi ehaiilr! wa4 *mi+ ni Uai)C, UUU VIAVIVXKJIK; OUVUIU llUl }/UV u< the airs of an equal to attract his atten tionl" was the rudo and unladylike re ply. "Belle," interposed Lady Constance who, with all her faults, was naturall; kind-hearted and just, "you forget thai Miss Nevergail in coming to us does no ;ease to be a gentlewoman." "Or, a gentlewoman's poor relation!1 was the cutting answer. "A remarkably beautiful one, howev sr," said the brother. "Say, Belle," hi idded, teasingly, "you must take care o she will carry off some ol your beaux.1 The Indignant girt gave~hlm a glanci Df withering scorn, but merely said, witl in angry toss of her head; "Let her beware how she interfere with me in any way. A word to the wi? is snffio.iAnt." Ethel could scarcely control her indig 3ant feelings, as she listened to thesi Insulting remarks issuing from the lovel; lips of the girlish speaker, but after ai jffort she did control them, and withou i word turned away, and again sough the side of the invalid. But she found him irritable and bar< to please, and the moments passed in hi: room became intolerably long, and sh< jighed for the time to come when sh< jould retire to her own apartment, evei though she knew a strange and annoy Ing duty would follow her there. Finally the baronet told her if she wa weary to go, adding harshly: "I an Lired already of gazing at your pal< face," then more kindly, as he saw sh< was startled by his rough way of speak ng: "I hope I shall feel better In the mom ng: If so, 1 should like to have you rea< ,o me, or, as you understand music, wil isten to a song." [to be continued.] TEMPERANCE, K w0bbe than wasted. It fs said that the wage earner? of til United States annually pay $600,000,000 fo liquor?a sum so large that 11 it were savei for a few years, unci properly invested, i fund would be oreated that, under wise man agement, would render destitution atnoai the poor of thin country forever impossifcJ" pbogtiess of tejutebaxce. From many quarters cocnes confirmator; evidence or the steady growtn 01 a pubii sentiment against the use of intoxicatini liquors, and in favor of u closer restricttoi of tbe liquor traffic. No testimony, perhaps is more telling tbau the comparison bet wee: the drinking habits of the people to-day an those of two generations ago. Every man o sixty reared in tbe country districts recall the free use made In his youth of intoxicant in the harvest -field. Spirits in some fore were as much a part of tbe provisions madfor farm laborers during th? season as wer tbe implements with which the grain wa cut. Nearly every agricultural centre ha* its distillery. Now no farmer thinks of sup plying liquor to his employes, and its use b; a farm hand greatly diminishes his cbauce! of employment. Distilleries have disap paared from country towns, and are seldon found outside of great industrial centres. In the village* and towns the change nai been Equally marked. Fifty years ago dran drinking was a comparatively venial offence Occasional intoxication was tolerated, an. neither social nor business ostracism fol lowed the offence. ]t was quite possible fo an habitual drinker to maintain both a fail social position and good business standing Now even moderate drinking is frowned down, the offence, when continued, provinj a oar to soeiul recognition. Society in th? town and village, always more exciting as respects good morals than that of the city has set its face against it. and in the clost intimacy of small localities, no offender cau hope to escape detection. In its effect upoi progress in business and the professions, the drink habit is everywhere a bar. Th? prent business interests of the country have combined with the social form!- in opposition to it. lu the majority of large mauufac turing establishments no man known to In an habitual drinker can secure employment Owners will not trust their valuabk machinery to employes whose senses art >i?ii?ri nr ut 11 riAfind with drink. The same i* true of commercial establishments and o: office businesses where a large force o dorks is employed. On the railroads, whi^l in the aggregate, are next to the agrieul tural interest. tht> largest employer? o! labor in the land, habitual driuking is- ai absolute 4is(jualifIcation for position. Oi many of them merely visiting saloons sub jects the offender to discharge. The rule moreover, is being enforced more rigorously every year, the growing public seutimeni forcing railway managers to greater care ir the selection and watoh over the men tc whom they intrust tbeir trains. Busineei men to whom the mere suspicion of th< drink habit attaches are watched closely bj -_i. - en i? orwl firnu with whinli ihpi I>illi ft uiuuiaio ii have connections, and their prospects o sn-jiTss are always heavily discounted in ad v.in?5.?New York Ot/server. ? . r I ol KT\ K (IK QP A T> A** f, JUili'AUiiuunjLi, th * fn t. PEOPLE AND WAYS OF THE BIG Oi ISLAND. gc A- di v. hi , The Two Leading Tribea? Dress and Diet, of the Natives? Peculiar ftI r> Marriage Customs?'-Blood ^ if Brothership." !t bi y "I ~T EW people realize the vast g \=/ area of Madagascar, bays a cl. p _| writer in the San Francisco wy 6"" Chronicle. It ie the largest 61 > island in the world, counting Anstralia among the continents. Its great- aT est length is 400 miles, with nn aver j age "Wiatn 01 zou miies, ana me popu^ lation is variously estimated at from b( 1,000,000 to 1,250,000. The general in j name of the inhabitant^ is Malagasy, tb e but they are divided into at least si: tt forty-five tribes. It is a popular idea of that the MalagasyB are Africans, as a m matter of fact they are Malays, and tl j ** % a ^ "WOMEN -WATERthough only 300 miles from the Afri- w; - can coast the African element is small, ca - The few Africans among them are im- th ' ported slaves. The Malagasys are aj 3 Asiatics in appearance, though they ui have developed in their long separation from the present race manners di a and characteristics 01 tneir own. xne in . theory is that Madagascar was once ri a joined to India, with a people, plants fr - and animals in common. This theory p< i- is borne out by the fact that the es plants and animals of Madagascar are m ? like those of India and entirely dif- w ? ferent from those of Africa. The ef ^ Malagasys have brown skins and some cc are quite light. The ruling family ct ? are of about the same complexion as tb the lightest skinned Japanese. ai There is a wide difference between R e the tribes of Madagascar. The most ei f numerous tribe comprises about one- in third of the population. The tribal e\ 0 name is Sakalava and they are the tb A most savage and warlike of any of the re 9 island peoples. They are averse to tb e civilization, xney are not. cumiiututj, but they are naturally lazy and stupid, tr They have a fine phyBiqoe and aver- ca b age over six feet in height, but:they m 7 are by far the darkest aborigines, ra 3 from much mixing with the slave popu- bi * lation. \ sa The Hovas, the second largest tribe pi j on the island, comprise about two- ei< 8 ninths of the whole population. They ai 3 are much smaller than the Sakalavae, fa a averaging only a little above five feet, th i They have straight, regular features, in - and take very kindly to civilization, tii They are intelligent and quick to learn, g< 9 and have preserved the strong feeling n< j of caste that exists among the natives hi 3 of India. The Hovas are the ruling vt . tribe, all the Kings and Queens of di Madagascar having been Hovas. The T] - Hovas do not mix largely with the ai i other tribes. When a marriage is ar- ci J ranged between a Hova and a member oi of another tribe, the latter becomes a bi Hova, unless the barbarian happens to in be very wealthy, in whioh case an im- si pocunious Hova foregoes his titles and ri glory for the pleasure of enjoying tem- ti poral blessings. The Hovas have tl straight, dark hair, very long, fine si ? and abundant, while the Sakalavas w: I have kinky hair, though it cannot be ti i called woolly. The Hova women wear m " their hair in two long plaits and it is ci - > - - ii ? i?ii. nor uncommon 10 wee itiese uraius i hj reach to the ground. The men wear I ge 7 c ? I S ^^^ ^ 5 : % TOMB OF A PBIIC ) their hair close-cropped. The Saka- co i lavaR wear their hair in four great TI knots, like bath bans, or elue in a m< myriad of small, tight braids. da i The natives of Madagascar are es- ne sentially gregarious. All over the hi ' island ard cluster? of grass houses. An mi isolated dwelling is indeed a rarity, in Villages of 100 people are the smallest, i lit 1 and from this size the towns vary all ' the way np to Antonanarivo, the capi- is tal city, with a population of 100,000. i H< i All the towns are surrounded by walls ar J of stone or sun-baked clay. The gate ch j of each settlement is covered with a ch large stone. Inside is a moat, thickly ! yo f planted with prickly pears. The ob- mi ject is to guard not against surprise, but against theft, and prickly pears tic form a good protection againt. bare or feet. The natives like to live clone to en each other for sociability's Hake, for wl ; there is but little trade done. Each soi a native owns hie own rice plot and bh 3 Borne stock, and this, with slaves, con- an stitntes their entire wealth. The cat- afl f tie are of the hump-backed variety pr ?nd the milk they give is poor. Thejpu J . ,v' ' , ktaves export them for food-purposes, pre ie entire eastern coast of Africa being wh irnished with beef from Madagascar. ad< scasionally on feast days the natives fac >rge themselves with beef, but or- ? narily they eat little meat. On the gh lands the natives raise sheep also id both sheep and cattle have a sculiarity. "When the rains cease the ass is very rank and abundant. The ieep and the cattle become very fat, it the fat does not distribute itself M 1 over the body as in temperate imates, but goes into the hump J bich curiously enough is composed itirely of fat. In the sheep the fat 1 goes to the tail. When the animals e in poor condition these abnormal > svelopments almost disappear. The staple diet of the natives is >iled rice, served with an herb dressg which leaves a pungent taste in ie mouth, like that of half-ripe per- ?; mmons. They also eat a great deal ! fruit, pineapples, oranges, lemons, C01 angoee, all of "which grow wild in ie greatest profusion. Chickens run kr: sel . ^ an ^^ ha CARRIERS. ild 8.11 over the island, and the Can- ne isiane eat more chiqken than any- ?ni ling else. Potatoes cost five cents >iece and flonr and bread are things 7ei lknown. m The territory of Madagascar is vided among the tribes, and per- 2,!* ission to travel from one tribal ter- : tory to another must be obtained . om the chiefs. In this way tribal c!? jculiarities are strengthened. For * Lftmple, the Hovas, who are monoga- *ee ous, have individual property, hich descends to their children in e jual shares. The Sakalavas, on the >ntrary, * hold their .property on a >mmunistic principle and cling to . le feudal idea. They are polygamous, ? id capture their wives much as the ? A iA fit a flftKinoo TKcv arp itirely without family feeling, sellg both wives and children when'er a buyer presents himself. On ir* ie death of a Sakalava his property verts to the tribe, and ie divided as ar< ie village authorities dictate. The marriage customs of the various ibes resemble each other when they 8*' ,n be said to have any marriage cere- 77 ony at all. The ceremony is a ^ ther pretty and effective one. The fv idegroom usually sends an emis- 5, * ry, and the marrige is for the most ^ irt performed by proxy on both ^ 3es. The groom sends a messenger 7?? id the bride is represented by her . ther. Often the groom has not met ,e bride, but he chooses her accordg to her rank, wealth and reputaDn of family. The groom's messen- ?01 >r goes to the bride's village and an- lea >unces his master's name, with all Fe s titles, of which the Malagasys are 18 :ry fond, and his wish to marry the cet iughter of such and such a man. mc den follows a list of promises, all vei mounced after the manner of a town ier in the open space at the centre the village. Then the father ol the ide steps forward and asks all the 1118 habitants of tne village why he va! lonld not give hie daughter in mar age to this man, repeating all the ties. Then he goes down through le list of promises and asks why he lonld not take such a son-in-law who 803 ill make such promises. These.ques- str ons are much like that one in our arriage service when the officiating 301 ergyman asks if any one knows why . iese two should not be joined to- W11 ither. These public proceedings so] on tr: to see no I . . ul > \ lin wil aDC g^ S MINISTER. nsume the greater part of a day. len the bride's father entertains the t essenger and his retinue, and in a I .y or two the bride start* out for her | iw home under the escort of the isband's messenger and her father's en. She is carefully guarded durg the journey. When she meets her isband it is her first view of him. Their acquaintance with each other J of gradual growth, and usually the tt ?va family is a stable oue. Families e small, and with the birth of each ild the name of tbe parents is anged, until with the birth of the ungest child the name becomes perment. ~ There is a peculiar custom of adop- ^oc >n among the Malagasys, called blood ^al othership, which ih accomplished by r*r< tting the breasts of both the men 10 desire to become related, and ftking a piece of cotton cloth in the 1 lod of each. These delicate tokens trie 5 then exchanged and swallowed, offii ;er whioli interesting and appetizing rec< ocese the two are brothers for all beii rposes, even to the inheritance of for I \ >perty. Strange as it may seem, the ite residents of the island are often >pted by the Malagasys in order to ilitate trade. - h A VILLAGE GATE. rhe dwellings of the tribes differ Qsiderably. The Hovas live in snbmtial honses bnilt of sun-dried icks, which they manufacture themves. These houses have partitions d windows, and are quite comfortle. The Sakalavae live in bamboo d grass houses, square, one-roomed uctures, with sloping roofs. The or is of dirt and fairly swarms with __ 1..* 1. ' 1 1 * as, wmcn are peculiarly ravenous m idagaecar. When the grass honse comes too fall of fleas the owner rns it down. [n one corner of the Sakalava hnt i fire is built, and here all the cooky is done. The furniture is exceedjly primitive. There are no chairs d the bed is formed of bamboo cks. The natives wear no jewelry i do not care for it. They are all jeedingly avaricious and prefer, to ve their wealth in money. They re no appreciation of the value of scions stones, and though most of ; -women wear earrings they are freently of wood or horn. Personally i natives are very dirty and have a >ugnance for water. Besides, they aint their hair with rancid lard, so it on warm days they are. very odor3. rhe natives have soft, musical ices, and are ready speakers. They re a printed and. a spofcen language, ich differ almost entirely. Two wspapers are printed on the island, 9 by the French and one by the glish, between whom the rivalry is ykeen. Both papers are printed Malagasy. The natives read them I incline first one way and then the ler, as their own' interests dictate, e Hovas, who take kindly to the ristian religion, wear the most thes, and even wear shoes occasiony, but when they begin to pinch the t they take them off and carry them tnc in their hands. The Hova 'von wear a single garment?a square ;et of linen, cotton or silk. The ler natives wear a garment much e a gunny sack, only that it is made woven grass, with holes cut for ;s, arms and bead. rhe Sakalavas bury their dead on } surface of the ground, with a preface for high elevations, and over j body erect a pile of rocks. The . ?? n V.llil/1 i/>TV%]^CI mOQAni?TT ' V CkO UUJXVi. bULUuo v/i Auwvuij) ttju^vu ? always oblong and run east and st. The body is wraped in a imta," or square cloth of silk or iss, and laid in the family vault, is considered a great honor to be i founder of a family tomb. When a >va dies the relatives put on dark is clothes and unbind the hair, e period of active mourning, when the relatives mourn and wail, ts one day. Then until the day of 3 funeral the slaves do the monrnThe funeral does not occur unthe rum and oxen provided for by i will of the deceased are entirely asumed. A wealthy Hova alwaye ,ves a considerable sum to be ex* tided in a funeral feast The tomb usually near the house and the proision thither is exceedingly unceremioue, the only care being to preQt the dead body from coming y where near the presence of royalty, ben a Hova dies away from home he L 1 - 1 ??? ouxieu in a Hunace gxnvc quu J bones are interred in the family nit. Daring the funeral ceremonies the kalavas beat drums made of hollow i;s with ox hide drawn over the ends. iey also fire guns, and express their :row?or joy?with noisy demonations. These festivities last a ek, and during that time the divis1 of property takes place. They ry all the clothes of the deceased bh him, as his spear and any peraal property which is not valuable, rhe Betsimasarka6 bury their dead top of the ground in a hollow tTee ? ? 4a 1 /%r>on IBKj one t/liU. Ui Wliiuu id iwiv allow the spirit to escape. Rice if ittered about that the spirit may t go hungry. Wiiiter Coats. I. Winter coat with collar of Persian ib. Jacket is of black cloth and is ed with silk serge. It is made up ;h one black piece, two side pieces I front sections, with the right one )jecting over the left one. Back and e sections are laid in plaits below i waist, which are pressed down, itache-braid trimming. Round 5K618. JDUttonnoiea ure orui*ui?3jui,ou h passementerie. Revere are front tions turned over. !. Jacket is of black cloth and is ed black serge. Has back, side and nt sections. Closes in front with ?? ? ? 1 >kB. Cape is composed of six pieces. ] nb's-wool-braid trimming with a j ;lot-fringe. Laid-down collar. Bal- ] n sleeves.?New York Ledger. i M f "he cancellation of stamps by elec :ity is being adopted by the Post;e Department of the United States, 1 sntly patented stamping machines ] ag used for that purpose and also 1 the postmarking of letters. j * -a,/-vv '' : ' > , ; fijSwfrJj . jmm =?t A.. 01^>_1. Unnaa . jxix uiorniv iiuuov* The famous house where the first' American flag wad made is yet standing in Arch street, Philadelphia. Ab will be seen from the accompanying cat, which is from a recent photograph, the structure is a tiny briok dwelling of colonial times. Apart from the historic associations which _ ! attach to the place in connection withi. the Stars and Stripes, the house is. also interesting in being built of English brick brought over in 1682 in the 'A W/l1/tA?VlA ill A flAVMA AIM V\ IrrrVt 1/MkWI/lPI' ?? KUC cauic Dilinm\/u wcu^^u 4> William Penn. The structure haa therefore been standing more than 210 years, being one of the most ancient in the country. It was already nearly - a century old when Mrs. Betsy Boss in June, 1776, under, the supervision of General Washing- I ton, fashioned the banner which a month later was flung to the breeze, and from a mere piece of bunting became the standard of a hew Nation, as the State House bell proclaimed . liberty throughout the land. il . ; BETSY BOSS'S HOUSE. I ' * Mrs. Rose was a seamstress, and her, connection with the flag was probably; y due to the fact that she did 4ne sew-; ing for the leading Philadelphia families, and being well known as an excellent needle-woman, Bhe was , selected to carry out the ideas of Washington and Robert Morris, .who . x-rJ together called upon her, and watched ^ the flag grow under - her nimble fingers. Her descendants are yet living in Philadelphia.?Detroit Free Press. ' 7 S-SSse Eolalie's Span Glass Dress. ' The wonderful spun glass dress which the Princess Eulalie - ordered during her visit to the Crystal Palace PBINCE88 BULAME'S GLASS DRESS. . ? . at the World's Fair, "was made by a 1 New York dressmaker. It cost $2500, and is one of the most unique costumes ever made. The glass fibre was spun from solid glass cones three-eighths of an inch in '1 diameter, whose aggregate was 760,3 feet and total weight 9 pounds 15$ onnePB. This srlass cloth fibre was spun in 37 hours 30 minutes, and was woven on a loom one vard wide. The v continuous length of the yard threads would be 1914 3-11 miles, and the aggregate weight of the silk threads was' 33.5 pound'. The warp was of silk > thread, the woof of glass threads and silk threads in the ratio of 260 to 1 respectively. With the exception of the glass fringe trimmings the total weight of the dress is 13 pounds 8J ounces. ?Herald. Food As an Aid to Sleep. Many persons, says Dr. W. T. Cathell, an eminent physician, though not actually sick, keep below par in 4 strength and general tone through fasting during the long intervals be< A ? VvAolrfoof Thfl twee ii tsajjpci auu un.aai<??, complete emptiness of the stomach during sleep adds greatly to the amount of emaciation, sleeplessness and general weakness. All beings except man are governed by natural instinct, and every being with a stomach except man eats before sleep, and even the human infant, guided by the same instinct, sucks frequently day and night, and if its stomach is empty for any j prolonged period it cries long and ' loud. Digestion requires no interval of rest, and if the amount of food during the twenty-four hours is, in quantity and aualitv. not beyond the phy* t Biological limit, it makes no hurtful r difference to the^omach ho* few or how short are '%he intervals between eating; b\jt It does make a vast difference in the weak and emaciated one's welfare to have a modicum of food in the stomach during the time of sleep, that instead of being consumed by bod?iy action it may during, the interval improve the lowered 3ys-( tem. and were the weakly, the emaci- K ited and the sleepless to take a light ' 1 1 mn4?UiAna> I linen or iueui Ui cjhijjjic-, Jiuuivivuu Food before going to bed for a pro- * longed period, nine in ten of tbem: should be thereby lifted into a better! standard. The turkeys of the United States are' mnually flavored with over 1,200,000 bushels of cranberries, grown mostly. dd n Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wis-: fl :onsin. ? *" ' S