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' ' ISSUED SBMX-WEEKL^^ l. m. gbist's SONS, Publishers. } % 4amil| Newspaper: 4or tht jgrontofion af the political, ffocial, Agricultural, and (gsmmtiitial Interests t>$ tht ftoplt. {TEBM88i^?>ooir1[nrac^f'""'established I85CL YORKYILLE, S. O., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1903. NO. 6. ??dl?^ ??????i^??? ? THE in By Rev. Cliarl Author of "In His Steps," "Roi Copyright, 1901, by Charles M. Sheldon. SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS. John Gordon, heir to riches, refuses 111? > '? hnnlr and EL pUSJUUU 111 UlO laiiiti o ?/*-??? ?? ? leaves home, father and sister to work for the people of the slums. Sordid money getting and a life of frivolity are revolting to him. Gordon's society sweetheart, Luella Marsh, refuses to share his life at Hope House, "an oasis of refuge and strength" among tenements, saloons and vaudiville halls. They part. Gordon goes to Hope House and meets its head, Miss Grace Andrews. He decides to join the slum settlement. His friend, David Barton, a successful "yellow" journalist with a bad cough, asks him to conduct a reform page in the Daily News, edited by one Harris. Gordon considers the offer. The offer tempts Gordon, but he scores "yellow" journalism. Editor Harris overhears the conversation, but gives no sign when he joins Gordon and Barton. Harris offers Gordon $500 a month to edit a slum reform page. Barton's cough grows worse. Gordon refuses Harris' offer because he thinks Harris wants the page for sensational, not reform, purposes. Gorhlo fothor a nH Tdipllft's UU11 1111UO Vim V. tito VUVMVk * %. MW.W..W ? own the worst tenements in the slums. Gordon asks his father to destroy his illegal, insanitary tenements, but is repulsed. Luella's father, who owns the worst dumb-bell tenement, visits it in company with Gordon. They also visit a disreputable vaudiville house near by. The indecency shocks Mr. Marsh. He promises to do something about the dumbbell tenement. Barton's cough is worse. Mrs. Captain George Effingham calls and Gordon learns that Barton has been sending consumptives to Colorado at his own expense. Miss Andrews tells Gordon that Tommy Randall, a political boss, blocks all tenement house reform. Gordon meets Randall at the bedside of Louie Caylor, a victim of the barbarous tenement system. Gordon and Don/loll nnnnco oaph nther pnnppmtn^ I the funeral arrangements, and Gordon defeats the boss. Gordon arranges a decent funeral. The dumbell tenement, owned by Luella's father, catches fire. There Is a terrible holocaust. Among the victims is Mrs. Caylor, Louie's mother. Hope House is saved by desperate efforts. Barton, Gordon end Miss Andrews do heroic work at the fire and Barton collapses. Tommy Randall, responsible for the deathtrap tenements, poses as the. slum's friend. Gordon calls to see Marsh, who has left town, meets Luella and intimates that her father is responsible for the death of over sixty children in his illegal tenement. Luella's love is still warm. but. Gordon does not note the fact, and they part coldly. Barton dies, a victim of "yellow" journalism. CHAPTER VIII. I ''' ^GORDON was j reading the two 1 \J letters that David V J Barton had received . from the old lady, ^ Mrs. Captain George Effingham. The funeral service had been held in obedience to Barton's request. Gordon, Harris, Williams and a small group of newspaper men had come up to the rooms. Falmouth read a simple service. aud be and Gordon and Harris and Williams afterward went out to the cemetery. When it was all over, Gordon, in accordance with his friend's wishes, came back to the rooms. Barton's will left most of his personal effects to his friend. The furniture and books he gave to Hope House. A small sum of money was divided among a few of the Colorado people who had been helped by Barton and were still in need. After Gordon had attended to these simple details, his heart still burning over the events that had become history after the fire, he at last came to Barton's desk and the disposal of its contents. There was almost no correspondence. A simple formal note addressed to Miss Andrews asked her to accept the furniture, pictures and books and use them in whatever way seemed best to her. Any stranger might ha >*e written it. As Gordon read the cold, formal statement he said to himself, "She will never know?I suppose it's- all right?but oh, David, to think of dying or hunger!" One of the letters from Mrs. Effingham had been opened. It was dated eight days earlier than the other, which had come to Barton on the day of his death, and still remained unopened. The first letter was written in a tine, close style, but remarkably legible and free from wavering or uncertain endings. Mr. David Barton: My Dear Sir?ihe promise I made to your frk.id Mr. Gordon that I would write you after seeing my grandson is a promise I take pleasure in fuliilling herewith. My grandson has recovered his health to a large degree, but the physicians say PER. es M. Sheldon. bert Hardy's Seven Days," Etc. he must remain in tnis climate or he will te In danger of a collapse. This Is a disappointment to me personally, as 1 had hoped to take him back with me to Salem. The l.ord and sometimes the physicians know better than we do, and 1 am resigned to the Lord's will anyhow and to the doctors' unless this is a scheme on their part to make something out of my grandson's case. I shall stay here until I find out. Mr. Barton, sir, words of mine cannot say to you the deep gratitude I feel for the great kindness you showed my poor wandering grandson. When you stopped him that night and put your hand on his shoulder and said a loving word to him, you saved him from something worse than death of the body. He was on the point of cursing God and dying. The Lord bless you. sir, and give you peace. Now, I realize, of course, that you are not one to desire reward other than that which comes to every brave soul that docs its duty, but 1 am a rich old woman, with no relatives except this boy out here, and I would count it a great honor to be privileged to do something with a portion of my means in some way that you might suggest. In -. city like yours there are, of course, very many causes that appeal to your humanity. What makes your heart ache the hardest? Let me know where a few thousand dollars will do the most good. I have looked into your face, sir, though you never saw mine, and I know full well that the time here with you is brief. Thank God, sir. It has been brave. When you and I meet on the other side, the fifty and five odd years difference in our lives will not be any gulf between us, for my heart has never grown old, and 1 shall be rejoiced to count you among the noble friends who have made life worth while. The captain will be glad to meet you. Tell him I have not forgotten how he looks and hope he has not changed overmuch! I am, sir, with great respect and gratitude, faithfully yours, MRS. CAPT. GEORGE EFFINGHAM. The allusion to the captain made Gordon smile a little. But Ills face regained its usual quiet seriousness as he took up the second letter and slowly opened and read It. Mr. David Barton: My Dear Friend?I hasten at once to answer your reply to my letter, for your words assure me that the days are few for you on the earth. God grant you peace, sir, both of mind and spirit. What you say about your friend Mr. Gordon and the work he is doing interests me exceedingly. I have read a little about Miss Andrews, and I believe in what she is doing. If either she or Mr. Gordon will write me stating the immediate needs of the settlement, I will send something. The only condition I make is a request that my name be -not U9ed anywhere in connection with the gift. I don't want to see my name over a doorway, "The Mrs. Captain George Effingham Retreat" or "The Mrs. Captain George Effingham Free Reading Room and Library." Aside from that I don't care what is done with the money: only I want to know how much will do something real well. I like the idea of putting it into something that will help children. Why on earth any one wants to live in a city if he can live anywhere else is a puzzle to me, but after they once get there I suppose we can't ask too many questions about it; at least asking the questions will not relieve the situation that has already been made. i am sure me capiam win De pieaseu with the use made of his money. If he asks you any questions about it, tell him I have saved enough to bury my poor old body decently and left the house and furnishings to the East India Marine museum. He need not worry about anything! If you are not able to answer this, turn the whole matter over to your friend. I shall await a letter from him or from Miss Andrews. The Lord bless you, Blr, and may he meet you himself as you pass over. With respect and affection, your friend, MRS. CAPT. GEORGE EFFINGHAM. John Gordon reread this letter with glistening eyes. The hand of David Barton seemed to reach out of the shadows and grasp his own with his old hearty benignant cheerfulness. "God bless you, David!" Gordon said reverently as he put the letters In his * t x j ,1 poCKet auu nusieiieu uuvvu iu nvpe House to show them to Grace Andrews. As she read her blue eyes grew thoughtful. It seemed at last as if some part of her desire for the people was goiug to be gratified. "She does not say how much she wants to give," Miss Andrews remarked as she finished reading. "No, only she says, 'I want to know how much will do something, real well.*" "We could use almost any amount," the words were uttered softly and the gaze of the blue eyes was on the scene visible from the library windows. The district burned over was about three blocks on one side of Hope House and two blocks on the other. Compared with the entire tenement district it was only a black speck on the city map. The people who were burned out were uow crowded into the other tenements. If conditions of overcrowding before the lire were indescribable. they were now beyond endurance even to the wretches who had before endured the indescribable. The city had begun the work of cleaning away the debris in Bowen street, but progress was slow. Carts were going by filled with rubbish. Hope House itself contained still many vicu'lmou fnnrlitinn wns so nrecarious that they could not yet be removed to the hospitals. The resources of the building had been taxed to Its extreme limit. But the outside scene was what Miss Andrews saw now with some gleam of promise shining out of those letters. Groups of children gathered over the burned area, poking in the ashes or among the bricks and lime for trifles that were eagerly treasured as souvenirs of the tragedy. The whole dreary, dismal, melancholy wretchedness of the scene had not one ray of comfort anywhere, except that which lay in the two letters in her lap. And even with that what could be done? "If that desert of ashes could be transformed Into a park, Miss Andrews." Gordon suggested. They had both reached the same conclusion at the same time. "Parks and playgrounds, tne two sweet 'P's' of my life," sbe said wistfully, "but It would cost"? "How much do you suppose Mrs. Captain George Effingham is worth?" "I have no idea, have you?" "Not the least Why not write and give her a frank account of the facts? If the old lady wants to add some of the spicy fragrance of life to children, here is her opportunity. Let Ford send her photographs of the burned district, Including the swarms of children like those out there now, and let us leave It to her to give what she will." "That is good. Will you write the letter?" "No; you write it She knows you by reputation. I am a nobody to her." "Vopb well I will writp the letter. You and Mr. Ford secure the photographs." Gordon and Ford went out that afternoon and secured several photographs taken by newspaper men at the time of the tire itself. In two days the group was made up and, together with Miss Andrews' letter, sent on to Mrs. Captain George Effingham, as strong a plea for parks and playgrounds as human language and the camera ever presented. Gordon reud the letter and marveled at It It set his heart afire. It made him long for millions to give, to buy up city deserts and transform them into paradise. It was the reading of this letter that caused him to wonder with increased amazement at the extravagant and heartless wickedness of a luxurious civilization that spends more on the things It eats that are unnecessary in one day than it gives to feed starved childhood in a year. If Jesus were here on the earth again, would he not say to the rich men and women in the cities: "Woe unto you, hypocrites! Calling yourselves, many of you, by my name, yet living in needless luxury, pampering your bodies, seeking pleasure and ease, while the blood of little children spatters the wheels of your carriages as you drive haughtily through the streets! And ye cry: 'Lord, Lord, have I not crone to church? Have I not Daid the highest pew rent and attended divine service regularly in my own church and given something annually to support missions?' Yea, verily, you have done these things, but for every dollar to religion and charitable work you have spent a hundredfold on your own self satisfied existence. Verily ye have received your reward. But the time is coming when there shall be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see little ones you have despised entering Into the kingdom of heaven and you yourselves shut out and hear me say: 'Depart from me. I never knew you!'" Before the letter to the old lady had gone its way to do its errand, while tbe settlement workers waited in suspense for its results, Miss Andrews received a letter by messenger. She read It and auietlv placed it in John Gordon's hands. The letter was from Luella. My Dear Mlsa Andrews?I inclose a check for $1,000, which may be of use to you in relieving some of the distress caused by the recent terrible disaster in Bowen street. I hope to be able soon to add to this. Will you kindly inform Mr. Gordon that my father returned this morning and is at his office? With best wishes. I am heartily yours, LUELLA MAR3H. Gordon read the letter through without looking up. He knew that Miss Andrews had heard of his former relation to Luella through the sensational accounts printed by the News. He handed the letter back, simply saying: "The money will be useful Just now." In reality he regarded the gift as conscience money. Luella was disturbed over her father's responsibility for the whole unnecessary horror. She sent a thousand dollars 'to ease her feelings. But would a hundred or even a million times a thousand dollars ever bring back to life the creatures that went down to death with the tenement? Would It ever restore to health and Joy the scores of maimed and broken wretches that lingered on in torture and lifelong dependence? His heart was cold toward this woman who had once been dearer than all the world to him. At the same time he knew that the sight of her beautiful face would appeal to the old feelings. "I am going to see Mr. Marsh," he at last said briefly as if he felt the silence was becoming embarrassing. "Can you persuade him to give us the site of the double decker for a part of our proposed park?" Miss Andrews asked calmly. "I don't know. He has acted the j coward in running away. I don't know how deep his feelings have been touched, whether they have worked down to his pocketbook or not. but I'll go and see him." "You will not lose your temper?" The question eamc with a quiet tone of gentle caution that Gordon felt crmnriinc in his ears as he entered Mr. Marsh's office. It guided him with unusual influence to check the indignant impulse that otherwise might have made him say or do the unnecessary thing. Mr. Marsh greeted him with evident embarrassment. "Glad to see you. Gordon," he said, shaking hands cordially. "Are you?" Gordon thought. But he simply said: "I don't need to tell you what my errand is, Mr. Marsh." "That unfortunate fire; I?yes?of course?I know. Business interests called me out of town that morning or I"? The older man was speaking hastily, and his eye wandered uneasily. Gordon wanted to say "You lie!" but instead he replied: "Very sorry you had to go away. For many reasons I wish you might have seen some things. There are sights that"? "For God's sake Gordon, don't torture me by enumerating them?will I you? Just as if I had not seen them in my dreams every night since reading the account!" the man ejaculated. "Of | course I lied to you Just now. I had j no business to cull me out of town. I ' simply ran away from the horror of the thing, thafs all." John Gordon rose up and his eyes gleamed; but It was with hope. "Mr. Marsh, the past cannot be changed, but It can be atoned for. What will you do now?" "I don't know; what can I do?" "Give us the site of the old dumbbell tenement for a playground; or, better still, help us transform the whole of the burned district Into a park." "It will be very expensive"? Mr. Marsh faltered. "It has already been very expensive in the cost of life. Was Louie's death necessary? Were all those deaths"? Gordon was beginning to grow excited when the thought of Miss Andrews stopped him. But he had been "I'U have thig property made over to pope House." on a great strain for many days and nights, and (this rich man's evident hesitation to; incur any financial loss to save life inltated him. It was maddening to Gordon to realize, as he had in the short time he had been at Hope House, the misdirected energies of money makers. The love of humanity with which he had begun his knighthood was already such a passion in him that it leaped with giant bounds over all smaller objects. He was not able to realize the slow steps with which such men as Mr. Marsh have to be coaxed find terrified and even driven toward a little philanthropy. John Gordon was beginning to have the same absence of feeling for indifference toward social needs that a perfectly sound physical nature has toward a confirmed dyspeptic or hypochondriac. The logic of the situation around Hope House was so absolutely thought out to John Gordon's mind that any slow, cautious, hesitating steps toward a conclusion seemed like cold blooded Pharisaism. "I'll do something, of course; I'll do something," Mr. Marsh said apologetically. "When? What?" "I suppose"? Gordon interrupted, not with excitement, but calmly: "This is your life opportunity, Mr. Marsh. Tell me frankly, if you were to donate to Hope House outright the property where No. 91 stood for park purposes would it seriously cripple your business?" "No, I don't think it would cripple me." "Then, will you give us that much?" Gordon asked boldly and almost bluntly. But he was not In any mood to wait or coax. "Do you know how much that property is worth?" "XTrt " "It cost me $32,000 to buy the lota and put up the tenement" Mr. Marab said imperiously. John Gordon was silent. "So that you practically ask me to donate $32,000 to Hope House." "Minus the Insurance on No. 91," said John Gordon quietly. "It was Insured for $00,000," Mr. Marsh said, while his face grew a little red. Gordon made no remark, and Mr. Marsh fidgeted in his chair and drummed with his fingers on the edge of the table. "Why would It not be better to put up a model tenement on the lots?" "A park would do more good." "But the people who were burned out"? "They must be cared for, that Is true. The Interest excited by the calamity may lead to the tearing down of other areas and the building of good tenements. But a park the size of the whole burned area would be of more value to Hope House than even sucn a model tenement as you might put up In place of No. 91." There was silence again. Mr. Marsh got up and went Into the bank. He was gone several minutes. Gordon never moved. When Marsh oame back, he brought some papers. "I'll have the property made over to Hope House." he said briefly. "Thank you," Gordon answered simply, and again there was a silence. "I want to make some atonement,". Marsh spoke slowly. "Do you think | this will be so regarded?" ( "Yes; It will be a great help to us." Gordon rose, and Marsh held out his hand. "I'll have the business attended to at once, and?and?I'll be down to Hope House some time this week." "Thank you. We shall be glad to see you." Gordon spoke gravely, and after shaking hands he went out. As he went down the stairs he had a momentary tinge of remorse at the thought of having done Marsh some Injustice or of having accepted the gift of the property churlishly ana In an ungra clous spirit But as he came back to the scene of the flre he said to himself: "Is it a case for effusive thanks that this rich mac takes a fraction of the wealth that belongs to God and reluctantly lets humanity get some pleasure out of itl He broke a dozen distinct ordinances relating to tenement house construction when he ordered No. 91 built He put up a deathtrap and received money for Its use. He cowardly absented himself from a knowledge of the human misery that his building housed, * 1 Jl 1 4.11 A? auu wiieu a uituiBier icii uirvuujr uaur ab'e to his criminal greed he ran away fr m the horrors for which his own hand was responsible. Was It, therefore, In order that he, John Gordon, and Hope Hoase and the public should fall down at the feet of this man with effusive and extravagant praise for atoning In a small degree for a tremendous wrong? Yet that Is what the public, through press and pulpit, did when It was known what Mr. Marsh had done. His act was lauded as "a most noble exhibition of philanthropy," "a splendid example to others," "fine gift outright to Hope House?Mr. Phllo H. Marsh donates $25,000 worth of valuable property." Mr. Marsh's minister mentioned the gift from the pulpit and took occasion to use the Incident to Illustrate the growing habit on the part of rich men to give sums of money for philanthropic causes. At what time had that pulpit ever spoken out against Ka 1 o n'laofl m?aa/1 tttKInK aIinnf a?*I?a^ uic v? icoo ft i ecu ttuilu \?uaiu\.ici UbCU this philanthropist when he allowed his business methods to sink to the level of barter in flesh and blood because other men did the same and the breaking of ordinances was counted a trivial thing simply because everybody did it? Is It not time that the pulpit said something in condemnation of wicked and un-Chrlstlan ways of making money before It says much more In praise of those who give what they have never rightly earned? A philanthropist Is not one who gives money to humanity that be has obtained by wronging humanity. Such a man Is simply a highwayman giving up a part of the plunder he has iniqultously stolen. TO BE CONTINUED. ptiswltetwmtjs leading. FOR A REASONABLE DOG LAW. Cltlsens of York Consider Leffislatlon Necessary. To the General Assembly of South Carolina: We the undersigned citizens of York fcounty, respectfully urge such legislation as will promise mitigation of what is coming to be generally recognized as the dog nuisance. It gives us pleasure to say that In his place the dog is a useful animal, often a source of pleasure to his owner, and sometimes a source of profit, and, therefore, we would not be understood as asking anything like a general proscription, or the enactment of anti-dog laws that would be either unnecessarily harsh or unjust. However, there are too many dogs in the country and too little responsibility for their ownership, and we think that for the common benefit, the ownership of the dog should be subject to certain wholesome restrictions. We would, therefore, beg to suggest the advisability of an act providing that all dogs in the state must wear collars to be furnished by the respective counties, at a certain proper price per annum, to be fixed by the general assembly, that the revenue thus derived, over the above expenses to go to the public road or public school fund, and that the respective counties pay boun ties, to be fixed by the general assembly, for the heads of all dogs found without collars, in accordance with the requirements of law to be made and provided. J. L. McGill Bethany. C. T. Crook Fort Mill. W. E. Gettys..R. F. D. No. 2 Yorkville. M. L. Smith Clover. J. A. C. Love Clover. O. J. Gwinn Olive. Joseph A. Smith Yorkville. William Ferguson R. F. D. No. 5 Yorkville. S. T. Ferguson, Jr R. F. D. No. 5 Yorkville. Sutton Ferguson R. F. D. No. 5 Yorkville. J. J. Gaulden....R.F.D.No.4, Yorkville. M. B. Massey Ebenezer Township. J. P. Hutchison..Ebenezer Township. J. H. Barnett Ebenezer Township L. W. McCoy Ebenezer Township. James McCoy Ebenezer Township. W. M. Carothers..Ebenezer Township. E. L. Barnett Ebenezer Township. J. T. Faris Ebenezer Township. S. D. Faris Ebenezer Township. T. M. Carothers...Ebenezer Township. W. J. Faris Ebenezer Township. A. C. Hutchison..Ebenezer Township. R. L. Carothers...Ebenezer Township. S. A. Hutchison...Ebenezer Township. W. D. Garrison....Ebenezer Township. W. S. Garrison Ebenezer Township. The Enquirer nas Deen aumunzeu by postal card and otherwise to print the above names to the foregoing petition. It Is our purpose to keep the petition standing for at least two or three weeks, during which time we will take pleasure in adding nil the .:iames we may be authorized to add. We are moved In the matter only by a desire to give the people of the county an opportunity to express themselves on this subject. The citizens above named have shown their Interest by giving the proposition their endorsement. There are no doubt hundreds of others who would like to do the same thing, and we suggest that their names be forwarded to The Enquirer without unnecessary delay. The attainment of the object sought will be greatly facilitated If one or more Individuals In each neighborhood will send in the names of all the people whom they know to be favorable to the movement. Our farmers have two great problems in their business?one to produce their goods at less cost and the other to find wider markets.?Aaron Jones. CLARKSON'S PECULIAR MISSION. i The President's Chosen Adviser In the Southern Political Field. Exactly how much truth there may be in the story that J. S. Clarkson, of Iowa, Is the president's chosen adviser as to affairs political at the south we do not pretend to know. We have no more Information than any other outsider, and have to form our opinions through the medium of conjecture. , Certain facts, however, are at our disnnnnl .T S Plnrlmnn nf Town has ?1 ways been regarded as a practical politician, a manipulator of nominating conventions and a manager of national i campaigns. Quite recently J. S. Clarkson, of Iowa, was appointed to a subordinate position in the New York custom house, and ever since that he has been a frequent visitor to Washington. It is hardly probable that he comes here to see the president about customs affairs in New York, since he takes his orders from the collector of that port, and his duties and responsibilities are not of a nature to require frequent conference at the seat of government. Nevertheless he seems to be in Washington about as often as he is in New York, and if he ever comes here without seeing the president nobody has yet indicated the occasion. This is not all. J. S. Clarkson, of Iowa, seems willing to impart his views to the newspapers when properly approached, and by a curious coincidence, his views Invariably relate to the Negro question at the south, the high character and manifold attainments of the president's Negro appointees, and the general obligations of the Republican party to citizens of African extraction and antecedents. The gentleman talks a great deal and very glibly about the demands of honor and good faith in this connection, and nothing seems so repugnant to his convictions as the idea of a white Republican party?meaning an organization controlled entirely by white men?south of Iowa and New York. He denounces the movement as a repudiation of the cardinal doctrine of human rights? whatever that may mean?and he darkly hints at a collateral conspiracy by the Democrats to provoke the president to action that will dissatisfy the colored voters In the northern states. J. S. Clarkson, of Iowa, does not seem to suspect, but it is nevertheless true, that the mere fact of his activities as an exponent of and an adviser in the administration's policy with reference to the southern Negroes, furnishes all needed proof of the necessity for a strong white Republican party throughout that section. If he had even the slightest sense of humor he would see the absurdity of a political organization in Alabama or South Carolina appealing for guidance and protection to a subordinate official of the New York custom house! What would be thought of the Republican establishment in Pennslyvanla or Ohio if, in case of a serious emergency, it should employ J. S. Clarkson, of Iowa, or Joseph Manley, of Maine, to act as its go-between with the president and its apologist before the country? Why, the mere fact that Clarkson has a vocation of this kind, the mere fact that the Crum8 and so on know of his existence and recognize him as a factor In their affairs?all this proves with unanswerable eloquence that the present Republican organization at the south Is without character and force? a mere mob of office-seekers, manipulated by bosses and managers afar off. Imagine Mr. Hanna employing Clarkson to Intercede for him with the president; imagine Mr. Piatt asking Clarkson to explain to the newspapers that he isn't half as bad as he is painted, but is really a person of great worth and no little education! If the situation were not so mischievous and melancholy it would be amusing beyond words.?Washington Post. WHY WE CAN RAISE PIGS. BeoaitNe the Wa*p That Ripens Them Has Been Bronicht Here. After more than twenty years of experience flg-raislng has become a success in the United States. The bulk of the figs produced in this country are grown in Central California, and more than 6,000,000 pounds of this once solely Oriental fruit. Is now shipped annually from the great "fig belt." As figs are the most valuable of all wholesale fruits, being worth in the neighborhood of $80 a ton in their crudest state, the discovery of the secret whereby the Smyrna fig can be made to thrive was one of considerable TV,o flrat Qiir>r>pssfnl Uie iiiipui taucc. x uv iiiuv ? effort to fertilize the fruit of the fig tree so that it will not become "soured" was made by George C. Reeding, of Fresno, in 1898. Unless the Smyrna fig is fertilized by a certain wasp, Blastophaga grossorum, the green fruit will not mature. To introduce this wasp from Smyrna, the only country in which it was found, was the problem which faced the fruit growers. For many years attempts had been made to introduce the wasp from Asia Minor. The Blastophaga was brought across the ocean in glass cases and tenderly packed in cotton. But no sooner did it reach America than it died and the expectations of fig growers vanished. The Smyrna wasp breeds in the inedible fruit of the wild fig, and in Smyrna branches of the wild figs are hung in the fig orchards at the proper time. Wild fig trees were introduced in California and in the season of fertilization their branches were hung in the orchards. But without exception the wild figs and the wasps within them perished, and it was not until the department of agriculture co-operated with Mr. Reeding that the wild fig tree 1 and the wasps were successfully imported. The first trees were carefully wrapped in cheese cloth and then put into hermetically sealed glass cases. Even after they were transplanted the utmost care was taken to prevent them from being subjected to any injury by sudden changes of climate. After the second year cuttings wwng tried in the open at Niles, Cal. Onfce acclimated they grew with great vigor. Now they can stand all weather and are found throughout the great fruit belt in Central California. The young wasp emerging from the wild fig, bears upon its wings a heavy pollen, barely discernible through the microscope. The wasp enters the omyrna ng at tne open end and tne pollen causes the fruit to develop rapIdly and to ripen. The wasp has three generations each year, which are produced in three successive crops of the wild flg, known as the winter, spring and summer crops. The wasps emerging from the spring crops fertilize the Smyrna figs. This year California's crop is well over half a million dollars, and if the young trees now growing bear well the ensuing annual crop will amount to several times that sum.?New York Sun. ENTERED LHASSA. Three Japanese Said to Have Penetrated Mysterious City. The sacred city of Lhassa, the capital city of Thibet, hitherto a forbidden city to all foreigners, has been entered recently by three daring young Japanese explorers. They are Capt Yoshiteru Narita, Hiroshl Nomi and Kelkai Kawaguchi, a Buddhist priest of Honganji Kyoto. Capt. Y. Narita is a promising young soldier and a son of a Samurai of the Satsuma clan. He went to China several years ago, staying in that country for several months while he was * preparing for his arduous expedition. After many dangers and hardships ha succeeded in reaching Lhassa, having taken several years to accomplish his self-appointed task. He stayed In the holy city for eighteen days and then returned to Japan, about two month? ago. About the same time that Capt. Narlta visited Lhassa Mr. Hiroshl NomI reached the interior of Thibet There has been no news from him for some time, and he is supposed to be on his way home. He is a very young man; but brave and cool and quiet in his ways. Mr. Keikai Kawaguchi the third of the Japanese explorers, had the hardest experience. He went by way of the Himalaya mountains and suffered a severe attack of snow blindness. He was totally blind for some time; but has entirely recovered from this mountain disease. Once he was m!8taken for a robber by the Thibetans, who came near making him pay the penalty, which is in Thibet to put the robber on a horse and then shoot him. Mr. Kawaguchi, who is a Buddhist priest, at last succeeded in reaching Lhassa and is still residing in that city. These achievements, remarkable in themselves, are significant in another way. in me nrBi piace, iney snow me tremendous energy and Indomitable bearing of the Japanese. It will be found in the case of others who have tried to reach Lhassa that they were men who had fitted themselves by long study and experiences for the attempt, and who made the final effort under the most favorable conditions possible. All of them, with one or two rare exceptions, failed lamentably. Missionaries who have won the confidence of the Thibetans, and who have learned their language, failed to penetrate even to the vicinity of the sacred city. Some succeeded in getting within a day's march, and were tortured or turned back or killed. Even the most accomplished explorer of modern times Sven Hedin, the incomparable Swede, who had fitted himself for his work by years of study and travel, could not pass the Thibetan guards that profited the sacred precincts of Lhassa. Xet the Japanese, young and untried adventurers, with the exception of Capt. Narata, who prepared for this expedition by living in China for several months, succeeded in attaining a goal that has been denied to the most dar ing" anu CApcucu^cu uavcicio ui iu? world. But the chief significance of these remarkable achievements is the relation of a new force and energy In the world of action. It reveals an awakening in Japan such as occurred in Spain when there dawned upon her early greatness, and when she was preparing to send forth into the world her Cortez, Pizarro, De Soto, or in England when Drake and Howard and Hawke led the way to the glories of England on sea and land and transformed her into a world explorer and world conqueror. It reveals the birth of tremendous national energy and an Indomitable national spirit. Japan is no longer a group of islands, a collection of people; but a nation possessed by a fiery national spirit. These things reveal it just as it was revealed by the greater things of the war with China, and by the splendid heroism of her soldiers In the advance on Peking, and by their more than splendid chivalry and courtesy toward the conquered Chinese. We must now look to Japan for the Skepes, Burtons, Magellans, Livingstones, Cooks, Marco Polos. We find bume ui UICSC nai uy auu uai 1115 caplorers penetrating into portions of China forbiden to foreigners for centuries; we find more of them passing the cordons of Thibetan guards around Lhassa, and calmly residing within the holy limits of the capital of Lamalsm, unshaken and unafraid, while the English explorers still find the Himilaya the bound of their explorations from their neighboring possessions in India; and we may soon find in them the same nonchalance with which they advanced to the walls of Tien-Tsin and Peking under fire, scaled the walls of Ping-Yang or sank the Chinese warships in the harbor of Wei-Hal-Wei. A new nation has been born into the world.?Japan and America.