? ' . . ' I ^ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL^ J _^?? ? ??^????????????????????????????????? l. m. grist's sons Publishers. } A Aiaiiitlj JJewsfager: Aor the $romotioR of the (political, Social Agricultural and Commercial Interests of the (people. {TBRVraver. We can manage our allies If they show signs of bad faith, although we risk something, doubtless, even by the partial confidence. Better do this than break up our little force watching those who profess themselves friends, and may yet prove so." "You may be right, major, and I anly speak perhaps from an old prejudice; but keep an eye upon him, for ha r^rtnfnlv will nnf> on VOU. Even now he is looking slyly to this bush, although he can't see or hear either of us, but after the old fashion, to 11 nd out what he can. If he were only honest, he'd be a spy among a ihousand." "I will see to him in particular, and if it be possible to drill honesty into him something may be got out of him vet. We must take him. "Very good, sir:?and you now go back into the camp?" "Yes; we must put the wounded man Into some sort of care, though he will suffer, wanting attendance." "Leave that to me, sir. You take him into camp, and I have two men to come out this very day, one of whom is a sort of doctor?good as any one hereabout. He used to drench horses In Dorchester: and some of the grannies did say, that there were no drinks like those made by Doctor Oakenburg. But that. I'm thinking, was because he put more brandy in them than anything else: and if a Dorchester granny loves one thing more than another, after opium, it is brandy: and sometimes, liking them equally well, she takes both together. He, major, and the old negro, with some one of the troop, will be guard enough, and Brampton's son Lance can stay with them in the swamp. He's quite too young to be of much service, and will only learn whut's bad, going with the troop." "I have thought better of that, and shall endeavor to attach the lad to myself. and nrobablv. In the end. place him at 'The Oaks' with my uncle. But time wears, and we must move for the camp. I shall take these men into service, and place the wounded man under the charge of one of the troopers, and your doctor can relieve him." "Well, the doctor will be here today with Lieutenant Porgy"? Porgy?an ancient and fish-like name." "Yes. but Lieutenant Porgy is not a fish?though you may call him a strange one. He is more fleshy than fishy; for that matter he has flesh enough for a score of dragoons. He's a perfect mountain of flesh." "He will never suit for a dragoon. Humphries." "Well. sir. if I didn't know the man. I should think so too; but he rides like Diazes. ne s oeen ngiumg num ioc very beginning of the war down in the south. He conies from the Ashepoo. rind is mighty smart fellow, 1 tell you. You'll like him. Lord, how he can talk. You'll like him, I know. He's been a rich planter in his time, but he's ate and drank and talked everything away I reckon, but his horse, his nigger servant, and his broadsword." "And he's one of our lieutenants, you say." "Yes. he joined us, saying he had been a lieutenant from the beginning, with Harden and Moultrie, and he wasn't going to be less with anybody else. You'll like him. sir. he's a man, though he's a mountain of tlesh." "Very good. I suppose you know him well, and now to other matters." Counselling thus, the two continued to confer apart upon other matters connected with their enterprise. To visit "The Oaks" during the day, where his uncle and sister resided, was the object of Singleton; but his desire was also to Intercept the supply of arras and ammunition of which Huck had spoken as on their way to Dorchester. They were looked for hourly, and could not be very remote. It was determined, therefore, to Intercept them, If practicable, as an acquisition of the last importance. T.a arrange their route, plan the place of their next meeting, provide the means of intelligence, and concert what local measures might seem necessary in future, was the work of but little time between the two; and this done, Humphries, withdrawing silently from the cover In which the conference had been carried on. unperceived by the rest, made his way by a different route of the swamp, and keeping the forest all the way, was, after no long time, safely in Dorchestei^-looking for all the world as pacific and quiet as ever ?without weapon of any kind, as, with a wonted precaution, he had left his sword in the woods, safely hidden, and his hands now grasped only the common wagon whip, which he han died with a dexterity which seemed to Indicate but little acquaintance with any more dangerous or deadly instruments. Major Singleton, in the meanwhile, had returned to his troop. They had been busied daring his absence In collecting the scittered horses and arms, and repairing their own little losses. The captives were loud in the profession of their new faith, as patriots; and as rebelion loves company, the Whigs were not unwilling to receive an accession even from their late enemies. Mdor Singleton declared his acceptance 'f their services, taking care to addrss himself particularly to the man Bonay, or, as they styled him more familiarly, Goggle. An awkward tach of the hat acknowledged this kst courtesy, and one eye of Goggle, 8 he made the movement, peered up l.to that of Singleton with a searchlngand doubtful glance. The major did Dt appear to notice him or they any father, but giving directions for the diaosal of the wounded sergeant, Clotgh, so as to spare him as much pain is possible, he led the way once more to the cover of the secluded place, I the centre of the swamp, which hadbeen chosen as their camping grounc Here th< whole party arrived at leneth. art havine comDleted his ar rungemeni, placing Clough in charge of one of Is dragoons, and in as much comfort 8 possible, Major Singleton gave the word, and the squad moved , forward n their way out of the j swamp, ad in the direction of the vll- , lage. Bt this course was only kept while heyet remained In the swamp. *, As booi as he emerged from It, he , drew up his men, and then, for the j; first tlm- perceived the absence of the !, elder Fhmpton. The two sons had. kept wh the troop, and seemed to ( know Dthing of their father. The | younger had ndden close beside his i commarier. wto had so willed it No- ] body cold give him any account of the ] absent tan af:er his removal from the , body o the corporal whom he had | slain. -le hai disappeared suddenly, ( it was thougkt at that Juncture, and , there wre not wanting those who in- | slsted ipon hs absence from that mo- , ment: out Singleton remembered to , have sien hin after they had reached ? the canp, anl to have noted the sin- ( gular compsedness of his features. ( But ftw farher Inquiries were made after the abentee, as the major well , kneir that wth a man in such a mood , but little coid be done. He was per- , haps, perfedy satisfied that nothing , cou'd' have happened to him, from . the composre of the two sons, who , doubtless, wre acquainted with all | the father's movements. Conjecture succeeded tt inquiry, but was intermitted by tb order to move on. The coursiof the troop lay now towards the loose Creek road. 1 Major Singleton deed not carry his squad along the jshley without exposing himself, unrcessarily, to unequal encounter; ad, at Dorchester, with a foj-ce far su?rlor to his own. Pursuing a northrly direction for a while, therefore, ht placed himself at *qual distances ttween the Wassamasah and Dorcheier roads; then striking to the left, fc passed over an untraveled surfaceof country, broken with frequent swmps, and crowded with luxuriant udergrowth. In a few hours, howe?r, he had gone over the ground almot unseen, and certainly unobstructed Davis was his guide in this quartr, and he could not hpve had a better The discarded lover had given sufflcnt earnest of his truth and valor, lrthe courage and perfect enolness of hi rnnrhiot In the nreced- . ing struggle :ind he now led the party with all the cutlon of the veteran, and all the confience 'of a thorough-bred soldier. The road, ike all in that country', was low andnlry; and the path taken for greater scurity, being little traveled, was stilmore troubled with natural obstrucons. They reached the desired polntat length, which was the Goose Creek tridge; then leaving it to the left, theymce more departed from the beaten tick, and throwing themselves direoy across the country, were, after i few hours, again upon the Dorchestr road, and some two or three miles How the garrison. They covered therrelves in the close forest by Archdale Sail, and Singleton then proceeded to nspect the road. To his satisfaction, e saw that the wagons had not yetmade their appearance, and must beitill below them. Cheered with this onvlction. he despatched scouts to brig him intelligence, and then proceed! to arrange an ambush for the entrpping of the looked-for detachment. The road, t the spot chosen for this purpose, wa narrow?but a single track, and tht raised into a causeway from a ditch on either side, at that time lilled w.h water, and presenting natural advatages for the forming of an ambush, "'he woods, growing close and thickly, irmed a natural defile, of which Singlton, with the eye of experience. soo availed himself. He divided his litle force into two equal bodies: andgiving the command of one of them o Davis, placed him upon the right of tie road in the route from Charleston. \hie he himself occupied the left. Th firmer division lying in covert some ffty yards below, was ready, in the e'ent of a struggle between the b^gige guard and Singleton's troop?o which it was to be left ?to secure tie precious charge which ] the guard hid undertaken to defend, , and at the same time to cut off theli retreat. Thus arranged, and with th? plan of conduct properly understood on all hands, the parties lay close hidden, impatiently awaiting the approach of the enemy. They had not long to wait; for scarcely had their arrangement beer well completed, before the scouts came at full gallop alor the path, crying loudly that the enemy was at hand. A shot or two whistled over the headf of the fugitives at the same moment giving full confirmation to their intelligence; and a few seconds after, th< rush of half a score of British dragoom was heard upon their footsteps. Passing through the ambuscade without pausing for an Instant, the scouts kept on their flight bringing the pursuers fairly between the two parties. Once enclosed, a shrill whistle from Singleton announced the charge which, he led in person; and dashing out from his cover, he threw his men quickly between the .flying scouts and the assailants. In the same moment the squad of Davis obeying the same signal, as repeated by their leader, followed him as he charged upon the force left In possession of the munition wagons. The guard in this quarter, seeing the superiority of the force opposed to them, and struck with surprise. offered but a feeble resistance, and were soon put to flight. Davis followed them a little distance, and then returned to the aid of Singleton. His approach and attack upon the rear of the party with which his commander had been contending, put an end to the fight?the dragoons having lost three men killed and two wounded. With the charge of Davis, they threw down their arms and were made prisoners. To be Continued. MISSOURI STEAM BOATING. First Boat to Ascend the River?An lll-Fated Fur Trader. The first steamboat to ascend the Missouri river was the Independent, John Nelson, master, says Phil Chap-' pell In the Kansas City Star. He came up as far as the mouth of the Charlton, Just above Glasgow, In May 1819. A town had been laid out at that place, which It was then supposed by the boomers would become the metropolis of Missouri, and it is an historical fact that lots there were exchanged, foot for foot, for ground in St. Louis, on Fourth street, a,*here the Planters' hotel now stands. But, like many another Missouri river town, old Chariton has long since disappeared from thei map. There was no Kansas City here, then, but only a steamboat landing, i called Westport landing. Old man Kelser, captain of the St. Peter, was rne of the best known steamboat commanders on the river in the 40s. Hp came to Missouri at an early day and located at Rocheport, in Boone county, Mo. He was a skillful mechanic and built the first mill In Boone county? , McConothy's mill. Recognising his *klll, Pierre Chouteau, then at the bead of the American Fbir company, Induced him to remove to St. Louis, ind employed him to superintend the cuilding of his boats, which were en?uged in the mountain trade. He afterward went on the river as a captain, ind commanded several boats, among >thers the Satan, Trapper and St. Peter. To recur to the St. Peter, the terrible results that attended the last t'oyage of this ill-fated boat is one of :he saddest pages in the annals of deamboattng on the Missouri river. The St. Peter was a single engine, ddewheel boat, with a cabin in the lold, built on the same lines as were ill other Missouri river steamboats of that early period. She was built for :he upper river fur trade in 1836. and Keiser was her commander. She left St. Louis on this unfortulate voyage in the spring of 1837, sound for the mouth of the Yellowstone. She was loaded with a cargo if Indian goods for the different tradng ports. Her deck crew was composed of negroes, and before she arrived at St. Joseph, then called the Black Snake river, the smallpox broke >ut among them, and one, who had lied, was bulled there. The contagion immediately extended to other members of the crew, and the danger of communicating the disease to the Indians, who were then numerous along the upper river, became apparent. Runners were sent forward to give the alarm und warn them to keep back from the river panks; but. notwithstanding this precaution, the terrible contagion spread ind was communicated to every tribe cast of the Rocky mountains. The fatality, as the Indians knew no tvay to treat the disease, was appallng, and among some tribes amounted to annihilation. In the case of the Manikins, a tribe then seated near ivhere Bismarch, N. D., is now located, i population of 1,700 was reduced to 31. \mong the Pawnees, who were then jn the Platte, the death rate was so ;reat that, according to the official report made to the government, they .vere reduced within a year from 10,)00 to 4,500?more than half of the :ribe had died. Col. John Daugherty of Liberty, Mo., at that time an Indian agent for the western tribes, wrote of the Paniees during this epidemic: "Judging from what I saw during the four days [ spent with these Indians. I am fully persuaded that one-half of the whole lumber of this unfortunate tribe have been or will be carried off by this cruel tind frightful distemper. They told :ne that not one under thirty-three ^ears of age had escaped the monstrous disease?it having been that length of time since It visited them before. They were dying so fast that they ceased to bury their dead." Utter dismay pervaded all the tribes, mu iiiry iit?u iitiiii intr pcsiiiciivv fvery direction, leaving the bodies of their dead to be devoured by the ivolves. Bad Habits. rhe grasshopper chews tobacco; The quail gets out his pipe; Fhe fishhawk is so awful poor He has to hunt a "snipe." rhe rooster has his cocktail; The orchard gets plum full: rhe onion squanders every scent: And the radish haft a pull. ?State Journal. When you see a rattlesnake with ten rattles and a button, you touch the button, and the snake will do the rest. A Jttiscfllaitcou? $radittf). A M AH ATM A 8TIRS LONDON. b< a' Crowds Going to Listsn to Sri Agam- tc ya's Teachings. A deal of Interest, says a correspon- s* dent of the New York Sun, attaches to ai ^he visit to London of the M&hatma Sri Agamya. who Is said to be the ei Prst genuine Mahatma that ever left m jndia to visit the western world. c' Before renouncing all else to devote ot himself entirely to Yoga, or the occult, he was a judge In the high court of. pl India. He has come to London and ar will en n little Inter to Amerlon. nnt as m a propagandist of his religion In the a 1 ordinary sense, but to organize what he denominates a parliament of Truth, and answer any inquiries which seek- m 1 ers after truth, as It is viewed by those ^ of his ancient faith, may care to make of him. m The response in London to this quasi 111 Invitation has been so overwhelming 'n that it has been necessary to eliminate &r from the throngs who seek to see him the cranks and merely curious who tr torm a large proportion of the crowd. th These come to Him usually In hope of seeing some manifestation of his socalled miraculous powers, and their "I curiosity is never gratified. It Is ex- at plained by his friends that Sri Agamya W Is able to suspend at will his physical life for periods long or short, and to do other strange things which, he says, may excite wonder, but are mere ha trivial physical phenomena compared an with which the powers of the mind 1st are Infinite. an One who recently conversed with "II him thus describes the interview in w< what follows: as , Stf sti : We fopnd a man of tall and powerful build seated In an armchilr by the mi fire, the features rugged, the head, ? or turbaned in dark blue with gllntingsof d gold. wan intellectual and massive. JHe wore simple, khaki colored Indian rei garments of soft wool. Pj^Wlth a steady questioning look at ?ach person ushered In he asked In a tnodrlated deep voice, not unkind but ^ with a ring of authority in it, what we ^ wished to know of him. In answering sh Nur questions he expounded his wisdom. giving at the same time the sense ^ f one who would not willingly throw ^ that which is holy unto dogs or pour out pearls unavaillngly to the trivial. There Is something of the Judge In him still as he sits In his armchair, the great steady eyes either darkly dim ' or burning with magnetic fire. He has given up great social position and riches In order to be a teacher of men and proclaim to them "their true and trv eternal selves," otherwise, "the klng1om of God within." ?1 1 He has millions of followers in India. and though a high caste Brahmin, ^ belonging to an ancient and great aC1 Punjab family, he holds himself singularly free from prejudice and the superstitions with which the Vedantlc 0 Cftl teaching has through the ages become entrusted. He is a reformer, or rather _ frr a reviver of what he considers the true and mighty traditions of his race. He embodies the philosophy of the , DIC Vedas, having passed through the ^ mary stages of development to that ^ of a perfect Yogan, and having ac- ^ quired on the way the well known . power to produce physical phenome? ? r% mllswl ? .vwin nr t.'KInU ncz, au-tauru inn awicn, aiuuug n men Is the power of voluntary suspension of the body's life, and its deliberate ^ resumption after any predecided pe- . * . .1 foi riod of time. That Paramahamsa possessess this sp< power has been fully authenticated Wll in the presence of scientific men at . Oxford, among whom were Prof. Max ^ Muller (on the occasion of a former visit in 1900) and Prof. J. Estlin Carpenter, and at Cambridge in the presence of the late Frederick Myers and .. Dr. Hodgson. 0 Prof. Carpenter said: "As he sat In my study on the day of his first visit, he showed me that he could en- TT Un tlrely suspend the normal circulation of the blood and the pulse ceased to ^ beat as I laid my finger on It." The mahatma has no desire to be- t ter come famous as a wonder worker. He j thinks true faith Is not Incited by that means, and says: kj0 "The exhibitions of this control of ^ 1 physical phenomena are only for em small people: they are not for the full , grown. The visible world Is a small rlfl thing In comparison with the mind. "The mind controls all things and creates all things. The control which I exercise over my body is In no way ai whatever miraculous, any one could ^ learn to do the same If he would t ike * 4 I the time and trouble required." clu When he consented to show this power his body was to all appearance ~~ lifeless, though subjected to every | known medical test by the physicians ror present. He can remain in that state for any length of time, retaking the fnc III c normal vital condition at will. ' He says there Is no danger connect- e< ed with the experiment, which de- ma notes nothing but the exercise of a ma power resident In every person. saj When asked if the koul during that arf time was out of the physical frame are he said: "No It Is confined within a single an^ atom of the body and constitutes the ?cgl| vital spark to be expanded to full life flame at the appointed time. we! "We do not send our spirits away from our bodies; the spirit cannot move In that independent way, ' ed though It may have visible reflexions. As to the movement of the spirit after ">a death it cannot come back as a spirit: If perfected it returns to the Divine eNe Spirit from whence It issued, and to ^ the highest bliss, but If still unper- j fected It reenters some earthly body at Its birth and so comes back into ^ this life." an| In spite of his assertion that he has n attained to a state of divinity where j he is no longer of this world at all but lives in the eternal plain, his personallty Is natural, simple, hearty, prac- ^ I tieal. essentially modern. There Is .. certainly nothing of the ecstatic or weird or crank about him. He is full of fresh vigor, physically and men- | tally, enlivening and electric, al- ( | though 60 years of age. He said, that having prior to this n,|j I present life attained the stage where am he had realized his divinity, he had ^el scr no use to return to an earthly body, ^ and that after this he will be no more in reincarnated. ha^ s I asked why in that case he had taken up the earth life this time. His apj answer was that he had been sent and Afl ad chosen to come out of ardent dere to help all those who could recogIze and understand his teachings ack to their true nativity and to waken them to their true selves and > the conclousness of their divinity. When asked if he meant that we lould renounce all accomplishment id energy In this life he said: "Certainly not; on the contrary ev y fight must be fought to the utterost and every duty fulfilled, espe?I1?? I# It (nimtnaa t V?? tfnll Kalntr r\f any ii iv iihuiyco vnc: wen ueuig ui hers." He accepts no money, leads a s!me, pure and kind life; rises early id takes food but once each day. at Idnight. It consists of bread and dish of vegetables seasoned with jppers, prepared over'a spirit lamp r his secretary, who is himself Brahina. a dark-eyed, bright-eyed young sclple. The Mahatma recognizes the great aterlal achievement of Western clvzatlon. but says that we are all mad our rush for money and that our eed of gain and devotion to money itting Imprisons us away from our ue selves, straining our forces to e utmost, but giving us no satisfacin in return. As a young Irish :utenant put the same idea to me: .,00k at our civilization! Just look it! It's tremendous stupendous! e're going right ahead: right ahead! it what do we get out of it? We're lng ahead backward!" The Mnhntma aavs that If we irive ilf so much devotion to discovering id recognizing our true forces of exenoe we would Indeed be mighty, d as for worldly treasure, these iluslve creations of maya," they >uld be there too In richer plenty. they are the shadow of the subince and would follow that subince so long as we exist In this >rld?which seems but another forulatlon of "Seek first the kingdom God and all these things will be ded unto you." The Mahatma's pedantic teaching uts on two principles. One Is exessed in the sentence. "Saty aj nam duhkhakshayah." which means, he knowledge of truth Is the de oyer of pain." It Is very like. "Ye all know the truth and the truth all set you free." The other prln)le Is Yoga, the absolute control of e vibrations of the mind; the mind iloh controls all things, creates all Ings. I said to one of his disciples: "That jnds like christian science." He answered, "Yes, they have y.rti initi principle, uui uicjr uu nui derstand It. nor how to apply It." The Mahatma spoke of his plan to 'm a great world parliament of jth, which Is to unite all who pure e justice. The parliament Is to be helper of humanity, to'examlne the Is and Important movements among t different nations. Judge their ext nature, and undertake by all posde means that pure Justice shall be ne Independently of what might be lied political vested Interests. The Mahatma has just received >m members of the British Parlia>nt a request to be received by him, it they may inquire regarding this in. Apart from his plan the Matma has no desire to make any indatlons or to organize any socles. though millions of money have ?n offered to him for that purpose. ! holds himself above all doctrinal tellings and institutions. His attile to all religions and sects Is that ?y are well In their various ways the training of the childhood of manlty, which recalls Christ's 1- -U TJU V?lo #n1lAnfoH3 ;ev-'ii auuui ni.i iccuing iuo iohuitv th milk convenient for babes and vlng many things to teach which >y were not then able to bear. COUGAR AFRAID OF MAN. t a Brave Beast and Wrongly Regarded as Dangerous. Regarding the cougar, the largest imber of the feline family In the Ited States, It may be said that It blessed with more than a rightful ire of names. In one section It is ? panther, somewhere else It Is med mountain lion, In another Ioity it is called a puma, and the old le backwoodsman will tell you tod curdling stories of the panther, northeastern Washington it Is gentlly spoken of as the cougar. The writer, in a long life spent with e and trap, has hunted and killed >se animals in their native haunts 1 can bear witness to one truth re-dlng them all?wherever found or iler whatever name, their habits are ntlcal. Among many people?and this indes those who should know better his animal is looked upon as very igerous. Awe-inspiring stories are d of the cougar springing from a ky ledge or an overhanging tree J rending the hapless wayfarer pass: beneath. These anecdotes have in heard by all and believed by ny. nor will I deny that such things y have occurred, but It Is safe to ' that practically all these stories ( exaggerated and many of them ' downright lies. rhirty years ago. in company with old and experienced frontiersman, ras shooting deer, elk and bear and ling the meat to a gang of tie cut s in the Roeky Mountains. Cougars | re more abundant than I ever saw ni elsewhere; yet it was perfectly e to roam the woods at will. RollIn my blankets, I have passed ny a night under the sheltering Hiches of some big tree without in a fire to scare these animals ay. was never attacked by one unless was cornered or perhaps so badly unded as to be unable to get away, der these conditions nearly any mal will fight. The coqgar, when followed by the iter on foot, will often double on trail, make a long loop and hide :il Its pursuer passes, and then peris take the back track for miles. :er a long chase the man with the i comes along still hanging to the il and discovers where the animal and watched him go by?possibly in some overhanging rock from lch, had it been so disposed. It ?ht have pounced upon Its enemy 4 torn him to shreds, or perhaps llnd a log under which it had atched a peephole. I'here are many old trappers living the haunts of these animals who i-e never seen a cougar except in a p. All the large cats are afraid mankind and retire quietly at the l roach of their enemy.?Sports eld. THREE GREATEST WARSHIPS. i The British, the Jap and the Proposed American. What would happen If In- the unlikely event of a war between Japan and England the giant British bulldog Dreadnought and the heavier Japanese battleship Satsuma should meet in a duel on the sea? That speculation is calculated to stir the imagination of naval folk the world over, and experts will answer according to their conception or tne respective oattery power of the ships, their constructive strength of resistance and the ability of the men behind the guns. It has been demonstrated that the Japanese can shoot and that they are as courageous as the Causaslan. It is known also that the English are good at hitting floating targets; in fact, that they are second only to the blue jackets of Uncle Sam In sea practice with big guns. The comparative ability of the ships is a problem the solution of which is rendered difficult by the mystery with which the Japanese have surrounded the Satsuma. She is of 19.200 tons displacement, thus exceeding the 'Dreadnought by 1.200 tons. She has what the English themselves no^jf seem to regard as the disadvantage of reciprocating engines. The Dreadnought Is propelled by turbines that give her greater steadiness when going at high speed. The more rigid the gun platform the more accurate the gun fire will be. Both the Satsuma and the Dreadnought were built In record time. The Japanese ship has the distinction of employing only Japanese In her design and construction. She represents the highest genius of the Japanese adepts who went through the war with Russia as officers of the conquering squadrons. It may be that they found out a few things that escaped the observers of other nations who had less Intimate knowledge of the sea fights, and that the Satsuma has been built and equipped in accordance with these discoveries. The Dreadnought has the advantage In speed by nearly two knots. She Is practically In the cruiser class in this respect, and If she were getting the worst of It she might run away. The Satsuma would have to fight to the end or surrender. The somewhat indefinite reports about the Satsuma, published Just after the launching, say that her main battery consists of four 12 Inch guns In turrets forward and aft on the centre line, and twelve 10 inch guns in pairs in turrets on the broadside. She can concentrate the power of two 12 inch guns and four 10 inch guns ahead or astern, and deliver a broadside of four 12 inch and six 10 Inch guns. She also has a battery of twelve 4.7 Inch rapid firers to turn against torpedo boats and destroyers. The Dreadnought has a main battery of 12 Inch guns capable of piercing 22 inches of armor at 3,000 yards. She can concentrate in either broadside eight of these mighty rifles and can fire six either dead ahead or astern. The Frltlsh declare that the lessons of the Japanese sea battles have demonstrated the superiority of th 12 inch gun. The Japanese themselves, who were closer to the conflict than anybody else, apparently believe also In the efficacy of the 10 Inch gun. Otherwise they would have placed more rifles of the greater calibre aboard the powerful Satsuma. It may be Inferred, although there are no accurate data at hand Just yet to bear It out. that the Satsuma and the Dreadnought are much alike In having little top hamper and In having their guns so placed that the blast < of one will not Interfere with the work of the crew shooting another. The Dreadnought has three separate conning towers from which the ship 1 may be fought. Our own uncompleted big battleships, the South Carolina 1 and the Michigan have two each. The Satsuma and Dreadnought are 1 alike In having great beam (that of < the Prltlsh being 82 feet) and depth, ; which give them stability. Stays and shrouds have been abolished on both ships and the tubular masts are self- 1 supporting. Whatever the .American naval exnert may think about the chances In 1 bottle of the Satsuma and the Dread- J nought, he recently has had reason to , congratulate himself on the prospec- I tlve possession of a greater wardog I than that of either the Mikado or John Full. Uncle Sam has decided to go them one better by construct- < 'og a floating, or racing, battery of 1 20.500 tons displacement. ' The plans submitted are' receiving ^ the consideration of a special naval board appointed by Secretary Bonanarte. They call for an armament of ' twelve 12 Inch guns mounted in six j turrets, all on the centre line, and so arranged that all may be flred on either broadside. The middle turrets of the group are to be 45 feet above < the water line. The design provides also for sixteen 5 Inch rapid flrers for defence against torpedo attack. All the vlr- - tues of the S&tsuma and the Dread- j nought, it Is said, will be utilized in the proposed battleship, which will not be built in a hurry. ( Secretary Bonaparte's board has six other plans than that of the giant battleship to ponder upon. It Is said that all of them are for ships more powerful than the Dreadnought.? New York Sun. MEANING OF CALIBRE. Either the Diameter of a Gun or Its Length Divided by Diameter. There is surely no word in the nomenclature of guns, big and little, which has caused and Is causing so much confusion in the lay mind as the word caliber. The confusion arises chiefly from the use of the term In an adjectival sense to indicate length, as when we say a 50 caliber six inch gun. ( The word calibre as applied to artillery signifies essentially and at all 1 times the diameter of the bore of a gun. A gun, then, of six Inch calibre < Is a gun whose bore Is Just six Inches. For convenience and because the power of a gun when once Its bore 1 has been decided upon depends so { greatly upon Its length, artillerists are In the habit of defining the length of "! the gun in the terVns of the calibre. i The six Inch napld fire gun, as mounted on the s$lps of the navy, is a trifle under twenty-flve feet In length and is therefore known as a 50-calibre gun. In the case of small arms the caliber la expressed In hundredths of an Inch, as when we say a 22 caliber or 32 caliber pistol, meaning that the bore is .22 or .32 of an Inch In diameter.?Scientific American. TRAQEOY OF A REFORM. Death of Simple Spelling Commemorated In Eulogy and Rhyme. The following clever gei off on the reformed spelling fiasco, from the Philadelphia Press, is very well calculated to amuse those who have kept in touch with the subject: SIMPUL 8PELINO DED; ITS LIFE HISTRY BRIEF DIDE AFTER ATE MUNTHS OF 8UFERING FROM RUSH OF WURD8 TO THE HEAD?GRATE KAREER EXCITING WHILE IT LASTID. DIDE. Desembur 18, at the home of its adopted father. Theodore Ruaevelt, Washington, D. C.. after ate munths of suferlng, Simpul Speler, belovd foster child of Androo Karnagy and Brandur Mathuse. Obseekwiz prlvute. Pleez omit flours. The above simpul obituary notis was a severe shock to the many sorrowing friends of the little stranger who was brought to earth by an educated stork last March, and after a painful, bottle-fed existence of a few months passed away without giving any indication of the promising future that was predicted for It by the wise men of the East who were present when the waif was sent to the Washington Home for the Alleviation of a Congested Language. Messrs. Karnagy and Mathuse wrapped the little waif in a copy of a paper containing a complete report of the proceedings attending the latest presentation of a library by the master of Skeeboo and an expurgated edition of Mr. Mathuse's latest work, "Recreation of an Anthologist." while a copy of "Josh Billings" was put in the chubby hand. Deserted by Foster Parents. Then In the dark of the moon the foster parents of the waif went to the White House and tenderly laid the bundle on the steps. "Mr. Rusevelt is a kind-harted man," said Mr. Karnagy, "and he will not see the little deer suffer." "Surely," said Mr. Mathuse, "Mr. Rusevelt will take It in and nurrlsh it. He is opposed to race sooighslde, you know, and this is such a little deer he cannot help luving it." Then they gave the bell three hard pulls and ran around to the corner of the house to see what would happen. The door opened and Mr. Rusevelt looked up and down the street, as though looking for Bellamy Storer, but he didn't see him. Then the kind-hearted man heard a little squeak and glancing down saw the little waif. "pellted," said Mr. Rusevelt, as he took the Infant In his arms and went into the house. But the waif had a very bad spell as soon as It was taken into the household and Mr. Rusevelt said he would have to get a nurse so he sent for Mr. Olllett, of Massachusetts, who is very expert In handling Infant Industries. Put to Work Early. Mr. Olllett said he would have no trouble in getting a nice place for the Infant to work as soon as it got strong enough to work, and he asked Mr. Rusevelt to recommend the little fellow for a place with the publik printer. Mr. Rusevelt again said he would be "dellted"! and he did so. Under the nursing of Mr. Olllett, Simpul Speler began to grow and develop a lung power that could be heard all over the city. The naybors began to make complaints about the noise and saitk that Mr. Rusevelt would do well to send the squaller out of town or. else get a nurse that knew his business. But the waif got worse all the time, and Mr. Rusevelt said: "Here, this fellow is strong enuf to work. Let him go and help the publik printer." The printer didn't like It, but he gave the kid a place. But the foundling was attacked with a rush of wurds to the hed one flay, and expired suddenly. Nurse Dllletl nseH niMen on/1 nthop r??fnra. tlves, but without avail, and it was laid to rest. Over the grave waa placed a stone, with this inscription: Sakred to the memry of Stmpul Speler. We morn our loss. Brander Matthews Is now in a rath?r unpleasant frame of mind over the failure of the effort to introduce simplified spelling. How Congress Past on Clipt Spelling. A LACRIMAL LIRIK. In Which the Vext Reformer Speaks His Wo. My song is husht, my hope Is crusht; The Pedagog rejoices; rhe form accurst, learnt first and worst, The nation's seeming choice is. Dur dream Is dasht, our idol smasht, Ere convert lips have kist it; Webster purs (oh, how he ers!) And whispers, "You have mist It." Some congressman?a partisan From sylvan Pennsylvanya? Profest that he most thoroly Opposed reform as manya. 'No spelling cropt, nor tail-ends lopt, Nor any word-abridgment, 5oes thru today, If I've my way: They hurt my better Jidgment." rhen others rose?you might suppose The Decalog in danger;