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MANHOOD. Hot till life’s heat has cooled, The headlong rush slowed to a quiet pace, Ami every purblind passion that has ruled Our noisier years at last Bpuia us in rain, and, weary of the race. Wo care no more who loses or who wins— Ah' not till all the best of life seems past The best of life begins. To toll for only fame, Hand-clapping and the fickle gusts of praise, Por place or power or gold to gild a name Above the grave whereto All paths will bring us, were to lose our days We on whoso ears youth’s passing bell has tolled, in blowing bubbles, even as children do, Forgetting we row gold. But the world widens when Baob hope of trivial gain that ruled us lies Broken among our childhood's toys, for then We win to self-control And mail ourselves la manhood, nnd there rise Upon use from the vast and windless height Those dearer thoughts that are unto tbo soul What stars are to the night. —A. 8t. John Adcock. THE FAIREST OF ALL. ORA O’DON- NELI* was happy ami blithe, stand ing at her father's door; for the fresh ness of spring was in the air, and the birds singing their little songs at the top of their voices. And Nora was ringing, too. She had a voice like a bird herself; and I’ll engage maybe ■ho was aware of that same. A girl may be as good as gold and as inno cent as a dove, but she can’t help knowing if she has a good-looking face. And there’s not the least harm if she has a little vanity on the score of being able to tarn a tune well or dance a light step at a wedding or lairing. And as she stood there, a bravo young follow, dressed in groon, tamed the corner of the mill with a quick, light foot. She turned about at the name time, and they looked at each other. He had a bit of a cap on top of hie red mop of curls, and says ho, laughing oat and lifting the cap: “Qood-morning, a colleen I You’re by far the prettiest girl I’ve seen be tween this and London.” Nora dropped a courtesy, and says she, as qniok as a flush back again to him: “Thesame to yonrsolf, sir, as a gentleman. By all I’ve beard my father tell of him, your’re the image and the repetition of that great king of all Irp^ml, Brian Born.” The yonug man laughed again, and ■ays he: “My fairy prinoeei, will you be after giving me the pleasure of taking a cup of cool, fresh water from your lily-white hand?’’ “The water you may have and wel come,” says she, “barring the lily- white hand. For, sir, ’tin only grand ladies that have that, or that have any call to the like. I’m only a millor’u daughter and a working girl.” Well, the compliments went on; and when he had the drink of water, he got the smell of the potatoes and bacon from the kitchen, nnd says ho bo was in the door by this: •Tm hungry from my long tramp; and if your father and mother are willing, nothing would please me bet ter than to sit up with the family and take a bit of dinner foreninst you.” “The bit of dinner my father and nother will make you woloomo to,” ■ays she; “for they have never turned nan or woman away ftom the door yet, let alone a fine gentleman like yourself. ” “And what makes you call mo a fine gentleman?” says he. “Yonr speech, and the way you hold yourself, and your elegant manner, and the whiteness of your hand, sir,” ■ays she; “not to mention the bright ahmiug jewel you wear on your finger.” “Faith, you are a clever girl,” says be; “and you’ve read me rightly. I'm valet to tho Earl of Arreumore, taking ny first trip through this beautiful eouutry of Ireland, where I was born, but where 1 never set feet before since I was a babe in arms. ” “And what's a valet, good sir, may I ask?” says she. Well, he explained, that it meant a gentleman’s gentleman. And, for fear you wouldn’t understand what that is, children. I’ll tell you. ’Tie a man that waits on a grand gentleman brushing his clothes nnd laying out bis linen; and ’tis said that, nine times oat of ten, the fellow is prouder and ■ore conoeited-like than his master, the real gentleman himself. Nora called her father, and the old ■an invited the young one to stop in nd make himself at home; nnd so he did. And ho so charmed them al‘ with his coaxing ways and the praise of everything he got, that tho miller offered him tho freedom of the stream for fishing, wtiioh he took, nothing loth; and seemed not only thankful, but quite delighted. Two days length- tmeu to throe, and three to six, and the young stranger lingered on ; and do you know why? He was striving to make love to Nora, but she wouldn’t h«ar to him; for there was a line boy in the next barony that she was to be named to in the spring,and her heart was true to her fiist love. So the oooler she got with him tho more ho tried to coax her, promising all kindi of fineries and easy living if she’d go with him to London and bo his wife, till finally she got greatly displeased, and says she: “I thought you were a gentleman, but you’re not. If you were, you d never be abasing the kindness of a decent man and woman like my father and mother by trying to steal their only daughter away from them. No, sir, I wouldn’t give Ned Fagan’s little finger for yonr whole body, if yon were one mass of diamonds from bead to toe ; and I’d not go to London along with you if you paved every step of the road in gold blocks before me. 80 take that for your answer, and bother mo no more.” With that she turned to leave him, bat he called her back ; and she told her grandchildren many a time that she liked him better at that moment than ever before; for his face was changed into a grave and serious man ner; and says he, taking the ring from his Huger: “You are a gool girl—tho very rose of Ireland, as all may know. I’ll trouble yon no more. Bat take this as a token, and keep it safe; and if ever you need a friend send or bring this to London city, and yon 11 find him in tho house of Arranmore.” At first she’d have none of it, bat he persuaded her, and, so as not to vox him, she took tho ring, for she had a kind heart, and thought it best to bo courtoons to him, after all. When he was gone she showed it to her father and mother. “It’s too like a real diamond not to be paste, Nora,” said the old man. “I doubt much but he’s a wanderer of some kind; maybe ho stole it, for that matter.” Rut tho mother said ’twas a mean thing to malign a gift, anyway, and she bade Noia keep it safe. And so she did, and forgot all about it, in a little box of trinkets she had put away. Time passed ; tho old man and wo man died; tho mill wont to other hands; Nora married Ned Fagan and they were fairly well off and happy. Then tho old Earl of Arranmore died himself, and the young one came into power—just about tho time of the famine—not tho greatest of all, but another one, Tho crops failed. The potatoes turned black in tho pits. Tho new agent was a terror, turning peo ple out into the road after raising tho rout on them till they couldn’t pay it. Ned Fagan took down with tho fever, and when he rose up ho was a weakly man. The rent was behind and Ned not able to earn a shilling; and one day Nora was crying up in her room, so ho wouldn’t see her; and, to divert her mind, she began funlbling about in her little box of trinkets that she had by her still. There she came across the ring, nnd she took it down to Ned and told him tho tale, thinking to divert his mind as well. “It’s queer, Nora,” says he, “bnt that seems to me to bo a real jewel; and the setting is fine, as you can see. Maybe if you’d take it up to the city yon might sell it for a trifle; and you know every little helps.” Just then there oatne a knock at the door, and Nora opened it. There stood tho very man they were talking of, bnt dressed more sober, and looking older and changed since the day when Nora saw him first, ten years before. He put out his baud. But poor Nora, thinking of all she’d gone through since she saw him last, burst out crying. ’Twas Nod had to tell him tho tale of their misfortunes, and of the avarice and greed of the agent; how the tenants were in poverty through him and tho fever and the famine; and low be threatened that tho Earl him self would bo down shortly and pat what was loft of thorn, body and bonos, on the road, where they’d either have to die or go into tho workhouse. “I don’t think he'll do that,” says tho stranger; “bnt I wouldn’t call it much of a surprise to thorn that know if tho agent was left on the road him self.” “And are you still in his lordship’s service?” says Nora. “I divine you are, or you wouldn’t bo here.” “Yes, I’m thankful to say I’m with him still,” says the other; “and I’m pretty sure of being that same till ho dies.” “It’s well for you,” says Nora, with a sad smile. “It’s far different with me; and Hook far different now, I'm sure, from what I did in those days long ago.” “Yes," says the man, “you do; but the clouds are parting even now, and tho day will break in joy and consola tion before you know it. Aud have you the ring I gave you yet?” says he. “It’s hero, on my little finger,” says Ned. "My wife was showing it to me when yon oame to the door, and that for the first time since we were mar ried.” “Sure, I forgot all about it, Ned," says she, giving a deep sigh. “It was to sell it we thought, we were that pushed *t the present moment.” “Oh, don’t do that!” says the stranger, rising up. “But I’ll ask you one thing only. Gome np yourself this very day, Nora, to the oastle. I'll speak for you to the Earl when he comes; and, take my word for it, some good will oome of it. And fetoh the ring along with you, for good luck, and show it to tho servant at the door.” So he cheered them up till be left, and ibeir hearts were lightened in them; and Nora promised to go up to the oastle, as he bade her, iu the after noon. And then ho went away The suu was setting as Nora climbed the long hill and made her way to the castle. There was a power of horses aud carriages round about, and fine ladies aud gentlemen on tho terrace. Nora thought it queer to see tho valet mingling iu among them—bnt there he was, like one of themselves, talking to a beantiful lady, and a little boy play ing at his feet. He saw Nora at once, roee npi nnd, leaving tho company, he came over, aud the lady along with him. "And did you fetch the ring, Nora?” says he, laughing. “I did,” says she, handing it to to speak to the liarl for mo, as you promised?” With that he took the ring from her hand and pat it on his finger. “I am the Earl of Arranmore,” savs he; “and these are my dear wife aud son.” With that poor Nora fell down upon her two knees (she wouldn’t do it, if she lived in these days, to earl or king. I’ll warrant ye, children; but that was in your great-great-grand mother’s time, when people weren’t too proud and ignorant to acknowl edge their betters). But the husband and wife each took her by the hand ; and says the lady, in her sweetest tones: “How glad I am to be able to see and help you this day! For my hus band has told me all that little story, and how, for the time, ho was so fond of jon that ho really and truly wanted to take you away to London and make you Countess of Arranmore. ’ “Nora was right, and I was mis taken,” said the Earl; “and while I live hereafter neither she nor heirs shall ever want. From this day on I intend to live at the castle three months iu tho year, to know my ten ants aud care for them as a landlord should know and care for those who depend on him, and on whom he also depends. And during the time wo are absent, and for all time, I appoint your husband and yourself caretakers here, with * comfortable stone house and a garden, and everything neces sary for a good and honorable living.” For a While poor Nora couldn’t do anything but cry for joy, and blush with confusion at the way she’d treated the Earl when he was coaxing her long ago, thinking of the sharp words she’d said to him that day. “Oh, your lordship aud your lady ship,” says she, “what can I say! I can’t say anything for the grand, good news. But my heart is bursting with gratefulness; and I wish I could fly, to be tho sooner homo to Ned with the joyful tale." “You carryyour heart in your face, Nora,” said the Earl; “and ws cau read every thought that’s in it. There’s no need for a word of gratitude. Run away home now to your husband and children, and I’ll be down myself iu the morning. And by that time I’ll expect to see the old light in your eyes and the old smile on yonr lip, and tho same rose-flush ou your cheek that a wandering stranger onoe thought the fairest iu all Ireland.”-* Notre Dame (Ind.) Ave Maria. INTO THE UNKNOWN Explorations That Were Made During the Past Year. Late Conquests In Remote Quar ters of the Globa nation of the personnel of tbo expedi tion has been tho only achievement of a well directed purpose. Tho region, except on its borderland, has thus long remained a virtual terra incog nita; indeed, many of it# most salient features were hardly known before the earlier explorations of MacGregor, in 1889.—Washington Star. him. “And will you bo so good Man and the Mammofb. A remarkable discovery was made a few years ago in the sandstone rock at the Nevada State Prison. The “find” was considered wonderful, not only from a geological standpoint, but from an ethnological point of view also. While the eonviots at the institution were nnearthing some huge blocks of stone they nncovered some peculiar in dentations in one of the slabs. Closer investigation proved that these queer marks were the tracks of some gigan tic beast of antediluvian time—per haps^ a mastodon or a mammoth. Wnesi the startling intettigenefe was announced to the prison officials they had Die sandstone slabs containing the trackjs carefully cleaned, whereupon another wonderful discovery was made. In the same pieces of stone, sometimes at the side and sometimes between the tracks made by tho great prehistoric beast, were a series of human footprints, which proved con clusively that man and the mammoth lived not only at tho same time and in the same age, but that the huge beast and the mna had passed that way daring the same year, and per haps on the same day. These wonder ful relies of a bygone age wore found in a quarry at a depth of about fifteen feet from the surface and had pre viously been covered with a stratum composed of hundreds of tons of stone —the accumulation of the ages that had intervened between the date upon which the tracks were made and that upon which they were revealed to the scientists. Expert geologists who have since passed an opinion on the matter say that at the time the tracks were made that which is now hard sandstone was a “mucky” deposit o ! soft sediment, probably the border o ! a lake, where ttie man had been fishing and where the mammoth had come to bathe or drink. - A Vegetable Pumping Engine. This is the title bestowed upon the ordinary tree by Sir Benjamin War( Richardson. In a recent address, quoted iu Cassier’s Magazine, he says: “Hydraulic engineers would be sorely puzzled to explain how the large quantity of water required to supply tlie evaporation from the extended leaf surface is raised to heights up to 4U0 feet and above. We know that the source of energy must be the sun’s rays, and we know farther that, in the production of starch, the leaf stores up less than one per cent, of the avail able energy, so that plenty remains for raising water. Experiments have shown that transpiration at the leaf establishes a draught upon the sap, and there is reason to believe that this pull is transmitted to the root by tensile stress. The idea of a rope of water sustaining a pull of perhaps 150 pounds per square inch may be repugnant to many engineers, but the tensile strength and extensibility of water and other fluids hove been proved experimentally by Professor Osborne Reynolds and by Proloosor Wortluugton aud others.” Americans Abroad. “There have been many estimates published of the total expenditures of Americans in Europe every year,” said a steamship agent to a Mail and Ex press reporter. “1 estimate that $500 is the average expenditure of each tourist. I believe that 120,000 Ameri cans wont abroad last season. This would make the total expenditures last year, at $500 a head, $60,000,- as 000.”—New Yorx Mail aud Express. In briefly surveying tho work that has been accomplished by travelers daring the past 12 or 18 months, and the field of exploration that is left unfinished by these labors, it is made manifest that the planet which we in habit is not yet fully conquered. The most brilliant piece of recent exploration is unquestionably Nan sen’s heroic effort to reach the “far thest North;” if he has failed to reach tho ultima thule of the explorer, to plant his flag upon the much-coveted North Pole, he has at least succeeded in arriving nearer to it by some 200 miles than any previous voyager of the Arctic seas. How long tho record of 86 degrees 14 minutes will stand cannot bo foretold, but there is rea son to hope and to believe, with the advances that have latterly been made in polar work and knowledge, nnd the activity which is being manifested in this field of inquiry, that it will bo challenged and passed before many yeara. Nansen’s greatest contribution to geographical knowledge is not tho attaining of his high northern posi tion, but tho determination of the ex istence of a profoundly deep sea (of some 12,000 to 15,000 feet) in the far North, for it had been almost univer sally assumed by geographers that the Arctic basin was a comparatively shal low one- In the continent of Africa tho hand of tho explorer has not been idle; an other of its main features has been sketched out and the problem of tho Niger solved. Every succossivo quar ter of a century has added something to our knowledge of the general course of this river, but, singularly enough, up to the present year the work of ex ploration has not been such ns to make a continuous study, and sections of tho “intermediate” course of tho river lave remained as unknown ns though no work had been conducted in the region before. Tho announcement is now made that the full exploration of the river has been brought to a suc cessful completion by the French trav eler, Captain Hourst, who, in boats, descended the stream from Bammako and Timbuctoo to the actual mouth. The journey was begun 'in January, 1896, aud terminated in the early days of October,with the arrival at Okassa. Of tho long section between Timbuc too and Say hardly any trustworthy information has heretofore existed,nnd Barth himself knew but scattered pa. .a of both banks. The journey of Cap tain Hourst thus makes a memorable addition to African knowledge, aud it closes nearly the last important problem connected with tho geogra phy of tho “dark continent” It has, moreover, a great commercial signi ficance, since it establishes the fact that, despite the predeuce, here and there, of impeding rapids, the river is practically navigable throughout its entire coarse. The heart of Asia, in the remark able explorations of Mr. St. George Littledale—his traverse of the Kuen- lun range nnd of the great eastern plateau of Tibet, the so-called Chang is the beginning toward filling in the great cartographical blank which be gins with the northern Himalaya chain and ends with the Altai, and with which are associated the head waters of some of the mighty rivers of the globe—Irrausdi, Yaug-Tze and Mekong. This Tibetan plateau, as has been properly pointed out by General Walker,chief of tho trigonom etrical survey of India, is the largest protuberance of the earth's surface, and its physiographic features are among the most unique aud imposing that this globe presents. Toward its exploration will doubtless be directed much of the energy of travel during the next quarter of a century. In a brief dispatch addressed to the governor of Queensland, Australia, Sir William MacGregor, the adminis trator of British New Guinea, an nounces that, “without loss of life or limb,” he has successfully made the first crossing of New Guinea. Through this venture, therefore, another one of the presumably inaccessible regions of the earth’s surface has fallen sub missive before man’s determination nnd daring. Various attempts to pene trate into tho interior of New Guinea have, from time to time, been made, but, owing to the hostile character of the native tribes, the dense vegetable growth, and the comparative insignifi cance of the water courses tending to make avenues of travel, these ef forts have met with but little success, while in some instances the extermi- Rats Destroying Paris. Quite a cry of alarm is being raised. Paris and the Parisians are menaced with destruction by rats, which arc honeycombing the city, and will soon start on an organized raid, with a view to devouring its inhabitants. The mu nicipal council is invoked to avert the impending catastrophe, and it is sug gested that a substantial reward might be offered to auy one who could in vent some practical process whereby these horrid creatures might be ban ished off the face or, rather, tho depths of the earth, ere worse befall. Set ting manifest exaggeration aside, it must be admitted that never has this nuisance assumed more formidable proportions than at the present date. Novel* before have the rats, within tho bounds of the fortifications, increased and multiplied to such a disagreeable extent. They teem everywhere, and tho recent floods and rains have ren dered them particularly active. They emerge in their thousands from the drains, and in out-of-the-way districts scour the streets in gangs, affording fine sport to the policemen on duty there at night, who pursue them with their sword bayonets, committing veri table massacres. It is, however, in the neighborhood of the central mar kets and the Palais Royal that they most do congregate, as well as in tho slaughter houses. Vendors at the Halles do not know where to stow their goods for greater security, and at tho abattoirs havoc is played by the rats with the carcasses which come ready to their teeth. Tho demolition of old houses, large stables and the like, for building purposes, has de prived myriads of their former means of subsistence, aud has turned them loose on society. That something must be done to keep this nuisance within certain limits at least is a neces sity which seems to he generally rec ognized, but nobody appears to be, as yet, ready with a plan of campaign.— Paris Letter. About Cousuiuption. Tho germs of consumption cannot obtain a foothold until the resistive powers yf the tissues have been re duced. There must be not only tho seed, but the soil. This impaired power of resistance may be the result of heredity, nnd this influence in the causation of disease is seldom shown tb better advantage than in the history of consumption. There have been in stances in which a single case intro duced into a long and sound ancestry has vitiated the stock forever. How unfortunate that such matters are so little considered iu marrying aud giv ing in marriage. It is not that the disease is inherited, but the vulner able tissues, the feeble resistive pow ers, render the offspring an easy prey to the ubiquitous bacillus. This weak ness often shows itself by a tendency to become ill from slight causes, a sickliness not by any means to be con- founded with merely a lack of robust ness or strength. One organ or part of the body, frequently the mucous mem brane, is usually more prone to become affected, aud tho beginning of the dis ease can often be traced to an attack of some slight ailment Not only the children of consumptive parents may show these characteristics, but also those of parents generally enfeebled, or whose ages are widely separated,or who are closely related by blood, or of a mother who has previously borne a number in quick succession. Even when heredity is sound, the same con dition is sometimes induced by cod dling, by improper feeding, by attacks of acute disease, or want and distress. In growing children, a bad carriage of body may act injuriously by con tracting and deforming the chest. The stooped position which boys some times assume in bicycle riding should bo discouraged for this reason.—Ap pleton’s Popular Science Monthly. An Abnormal Appetite. Melancholia on account of the loss of two children has developed an ab normal appetite in an Odessa woman 62 years of age, whose case is report ed in a German medical journal. She first tried to commit suicide by drink ing petroleum and a solution of car bolic acid. Sue then took to swallow ing metalic objects, beginning with needles, nails, hairpins, buttons nnd ateel pens, and winding up with forks and teaspoons. The doctor, who took 37 pieces of hardware out of her stom ach, asked her how she got them down. She answered, “Ob, it is easy, with the handle first,” CLOTH FROM CAT'TAIL A New Use for the Humble but Pretty Water Plant Very few, probably, are aware that the fur, or vegetable down of the cat tail Is a marketable article, superior to feathers or cotton for many purposes. It Is not quite so valuable or useful as eiderdown, but It approaches it very closely, and is cheaper than any of the three. As a matter of fact, a great many people are to-day using articles covered with cat-tail products who have no Idea where the material comes from. It Is a vast extent of country, com paratively speaking, from which the cat-tail Is gathered. It conies from the swamps along the numerous creeks that put in from the Delaware hay, from Morris River to Cape May. The average amount gathered in the season Is a ton a day. The work of gathering and transporting it, and then weaving it into the many forms which it mast take before becoming salable, consti tutes a considerable Industry. One of the most elaborate uses to which this material is put Is that of covering sofas. Very many of the sup posed plush-covered divans are really covered with a fabric of cat-tall. It wears better than the plush, and is in finitely cheaper. The same argument that applies to the sofa is applicable to the pillow. Very often, however, such pillows go by another name. Sofa pillows, also, are made of cat tail because a pillow avowedly covered with cat-tail would probably be regard ed with contempt. Call it Alaskan plush, however, or Shetland wool that has been treated by a new process, and It will sell readily enough, and give good satisfaction, too. The family album which graces the centre table in the parlor of so many farm houses is also in many instances adorned with cat-tail covers, although the housewife cannot be convinced they are not plush. She has doubtless paid almost as much as if they were what she supposes, and naturally she scoffs at any person who hints that she has been victimized. It Is becoming a prevalent custom to use cat-tail fud on the back of hand mirrors and brushes, which have here tofore been backed with plush. Some say that the substitute is really proving better than the original. The head rest, too, seen on the easy chair, is often of cat-tail—a^d it is none the less comfortable for that. Another article for which the cat tail is used is the bed quilt. The eider down quilt is an old-time article of luxury. The cat-tail quilt is every whit as comfortable, and costs about one quarter as much. In New Jersey, at least, *he housewife fully appreciates the value of the cat-tall quilt, however much her less well-informed sisters may scoff at the idea.—St. Louis Globe Democrat. Queer Love Making. There Is a bird In South America that makes love with Its feet. It is a handsome creature, but walks clumsily, and the only sound it can utter is a hoarse cluck. It dances, however, in a way that wins admiration from the fe males of its species, though its antics only serve as an incentive to laughter to human beings who see them. This bird, known as the cock of the rock, lives in the northern mountain ous portion of South America. It is about the size of a large chicken. The entire bird, body, wings and tall, is blood-red In color, with the exception of the tail feathers, which have a nar row band of brown across them near the ends, which are tipped with buff. On the head is a crest of feathers like a great red ball, which contracts or expands at the pleasure of its owner. When the mating season comes, seven to ten males seek some secluded spot, where there is a level patch of ground, and clear it of any sticks, stones or leaves, stamping down the dirt until It is hard and level. Then they call the females, who stand at the edge of this novel arena. One at a time the males then perform a most curious dance. Each dancer will first strut up and down a few times, and then, to the apparent delight of the rest, commence to caper around in an extremely ludicrous manner, spread ing Its tail and wings, puffing up his crest, bowing to the others, and at the same time keeping up a hopping gait until he is exhausted. When all the males have danced, each female will choose a mate, and the happy pairs depart to begin house keeping. Artistic Inaccuracies. Berlin' equestrian statues have been examined by a veterinary surgeon of Potsdam named Bougert, who asserts that the position of the horses’ legs is wrong in all of them, not excepting the statues of the Great Kurfuerst, of Fred erick the Great and of Frederick Wil liam III and IV. He finds the same faults In many of the paintings. In the Assyrian. Babylonian and Persian works of art the positions of the horses are natural and right; in those of the Greeks and Romans they are not al ways correct. Two Barrels of Flour. A Barton tVt.) wife made the fol lowing from a barrel of flour: One hundred and fifty pies (mince, apple, custard, etc.), 5 chicken pies, 89 apple dumplings. 11 jelly rolls, 18 cakes, 24 dozen ginger snaps, 67 dozen dough nuts, 20 dozen cookies; and this from another barrel of flour: Eighty-six loaves of bread, 634 rolls and biscuits, 24 finger rolls. 20 pies, 7 dozen cookies, 6Mi doien popovers, 25 dozen cakes and 6 dozen flour gems. mmam