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Jk Theory About k "Table Tipping," By Andrmw Lang. was one* laying 1117 ban da, alone, on a little table wllch apon. about (he room. No doubt I moved It, but I did ao "auto matically." K did not, oonaclouely, exert any force. I aald. "Ask the table a queatlon." and a lady remarked, "Where are the watchea?" The table then tilted; the others used the alpha bet In the ordinary way. 1 did mot know what waa tilted out; but they told me that the measace waa, "The watches are in Frank's pocket. In the children's room." 1 saked "What watches?" and the lady said, **I gave two to Frank to take to IM watcbmaker, and M doe? not know what hsrsias of them." "No more do I," I Mid, and thooght no mora about It. Prank was a Wr, a nephew of the lady; I scarcely knew hlaa by sight Two months later, when I was In France, Fraak'a father, who had been present at the table-tilting, wrote to tell me that I "was thadevfl!" The watches had Just been fjpond la an old greatcoat of Frank's; in a drawer la the children's room. ? which was not a room la the boose where the table was so well Inspired. Nothing else of the sort ever happened to me. It was an "automatism." I did not know what the table "said" till I was told, aad of the watches I knew nothing at all. I simply do not understsnd the esse; bat "spirits" did not evenr pretend to be mixed up In 1L The least inconcelvsble psychic explalnatlon is that Frank, who was at school, "wired" on to me. without knowing It, a fact which he had forgotten, and that I, without knowing It, made the table tile out the answer. Frank at that time was a queer. Visionary boy, "sensitive," but to do all this was rather out of his line. The sceptical theory would be that Frank having heard the story, and accidentally come upon the lost watches, put them In the place where the table said they were, "and the same with Intent to de ceive." Btft I did not even know that -V.^re was a room in his faher's house called "the children's room." 1 What Sympathy Is ? By Jinnie Payson Call. ? ? O be truly sympathetic we should be able so to Identify our selves with the interests of others that wo can have a thor ough appreciation of their point of view, and can understand their lives clearly, as they appear to themselves; but this we can never do if we are Immersed in the fog ? either of of their personal selfishness or our own. By understanding others clearly we can talk ln^ways that are, and seem to them, rational, and gradually lead them to a higher standard. ir a woman is In the depths of despair because a dress toes not fit. I should not help her by telling her the truth about her character, ?nd lecturing -her upon her folly in wasting grief upon trifles when there are so many serious troubles in the. world. From her point of view, the fact that tier dress does not fit is a grief. But if I keep puiet and let her see that I un derstand -her disappointment, and. at the same time, hold my own standard, ?he will be led much more easily and more truly to see for herself the small neas of her attitude. First, perhaps, she will be proud that she has learned not to worry about such a little thing as a new dress; and, if so. I must re member her point of view, and be willing that she should be proud. From the top of a mountain you can see into the valley around about, ? your horizon is very broad, and you can distinguish the details that it encom passes; but, from the valley, you cannot see the top of the mountain, and your horizon is limited. This illustrates truly the breadth and power of wholesome human sym pathy. With a real love for human nature, ? if a man has a clear, high stand ard of his own, ? a standard which he does not attribute to his own intelli gence ? his understanding of the lower standards of other men will also be very clear, and he will take all sorts and conditions of men into the region within the horizon of his mind. Not only that, but he will recognize the fact when the standard of another man Is higher than his own, and will be ready to ascend at once when he becomes aware of a higher point of view. On the other hand, when selfishness is Sympathizing with selfishness, there is no ??cent possible, but only the one little low place limited by the personal self* fah interests of those concerned. ? Leslie's Monthly. Is Opportunity All By E. S. Martin. . . HANCB abounds, so do chances. Life Is not a speculation, it Is a problem. Opportunity is one of its most persistent incidents. It Is the stuff in the man that makes the differ ence. It is character end energy and work that count. The ' man who recognizes his first considerable opportunity and Improves it, may succeed so early and so easily that he nev er develops what is in him and comes to disaster and dry rot in the end. Or his early success, without absolutely bringing him to grief, may restrict him ail hla dava. To nu.e aomeming that is a little too good to drop and not good enough to tie to. Is not an uncommon human condition. Mishandling of opportunity means defeat, but defeat may be the most Invaluable discipline. Most of the strong men have borne their fnll load of It. Think of Grant from the time he left the regular army until the breaking out of the civil war! Think of Lincoln's early life! Opportunity may skin her knuckles rapping at the door without the ?lightest avail unless there Is some one Inside who Is prepared for her com ing. It Is what Captain Mahan calls "Preparedness" (and a bad word It is) that makes opportunity valuable. Get "preparedness;" have It In the house; Veep It In stock; get more of It and more, but lose no wink of sleep, nor skip a meal, for any fear that opportunity may be knocking at the door, and you may not hear her. If you are her man she will have to make you hear. Pre paredness Is the bait for Opportunity. If you have preparedness you will hear her knock, and have her in with all she has, but if you have not got ready vou can do no moro than ask her to call again. ? "Opportunity and the President" In the Metropolitan. Music As Medicine By Gustav Kobbe. hat in several public Institutions music Is now regarded as one of the most Important of the outside aids in the cure of disease, that musical treatment is systematically applied there and a careful record of the results kept, really Is not extraordinary. The true occasion for surprise lies In the fact that it has so long been neglected. For if anything Is obvious, it Is that music, according to Its kind, excites, ex alts or soothes the listener; and the deduction that from tht~e emotional states there results a Dhvuimi rMctinn obvlo". "o^ 'or in the administration of medicine, seems equally The effect of music upon physical being readily can be observed In those who make It a profession. In New York orchestral players are often obliged to play a long opera rehearsal in the morning, at a concert In tbe afternoon, ?ad then at an operatic performance laatlng perhaps until midnight. A clerk or average business man equally hard worked would be morose and on the verge of pervous prostration. But with orchestral players the stimulating effect of music seems to counteract the fatigue of overwork. They are a cheerful and sociable lot. Here music seems a preventive. In caaes of lung trouble singing lessons (under a really able teacher) usually result In great physical improvement, due not only to the Incidental Instruction In proper breathing and consequent expansion of the lungs, but also to the stimulating* effect of music Itself. In fact an artificial emotional crisis, such as Is pro-, duced when either Interpreting or listening to muse, results In a beneficial physical react Ion .^-Good Housekeeping. Paet Fulfilled After 40 Yeare. An agreemeht made between friends forty years ago wan kept yesterday afternoon at tbe funeral of the Rev. George Heacock. The Rev. J. Rich ards Boyle, pastor of the Spring Gar den btreet Methodist Episcopal church, officiated, and the pact that whichever of the two should die first should have hla funeral services con ducted by the other waa fulfilled. Mr. Boyle converted Mr. Heacock to Methodism In Maueh Chunk four decades ago, at which tlma the agree ment wm made ? Philadelphia Publle ?hooting With Horaeahoe Nails. Horaeahoe nails kicked about tha roads of the worlu by horses Innumer able are far from the useless frag ments we might think them. Ounmak era tell ua there Is no Iron so well fitted for their purpose as that derived from horseshoe nails and similar worn fragments. I The nails, made originally of the beat atuff obtainable, receive from tho conatant pounding of the horses' feet on bard surfacea a peculiar annealing and toughening, making them a most perfect aubstance for the manufacture of Ua Inaat gun barrels. KETCHIN* WOCti # Tm awM food of ketchin' ride* ^ ^ ? I Hke those tracks where I km (tnd Without t-boidia' to the aide* (Br maybe hold in' with ?m hand). Though teacher says it's not refined To go a-keichin' on behind. I almost ?m walk to schooi. Bo many wagons pass our place; , My fav'rite one he makes a role Of always leadin' me a chase, , An' then pertsndin' he's too blind * To see me kctchin' on behind. I've found there's just two kinds of men What drive* the wagons in our town, 'Cause when I meet 'em, now an' then. There's some that grab their whips or frown, Put some they nod'an' never mind When I am ketchin' on behind. I guess when I am rich an' great An' own a truck an' grocery cart, I'll alwavs drive 'am slow, or wait So little chnns can get a start ? ( An' have 'etn huilt so boys kin find A n'acc (fr ketchin' on liehind. ?Barrel Johnson, in Harper's Magazine. A Double Find. Cy C. ANDERTON. H, stop. Jack! There Is something beneath my feet. A glove, perhaps. Look for It, ?lear!" The boy stooped down at .??? s request. "Well, I declare, Lily, it's a roll of notes. Oil, what a fl ml!" cried Jack. wliat a loss to Home unfortun ate person! Let us wait awhile and observe If anyone is searching for them!" ?'Hush. Lily, or some paRser-by, who has no right to this money, may ov?r? iiear you and claim it. But the real owner will go off and advertise his loss. You're five years my senior, and very hook-learned, sis, hut I know the world far better than you do. especial ly this great world of London. Why, it wouldn't be safe to go to the nearest kimp-post and count the money, or I'd like to!" So the young philosopher of fifteen put that "find" in his vest pocket, and buttoned his coat over it. Lilian Huntley was a music teacher, nnd two afternoons each week she gave lessons to a girl who had no other spare time. It was some distance from Lilian's home, and Jack, who was em ployed In an office, always called for her upon these occasions, very proud to be his sister's esccort. "How late you are, my. dear children! I feared something had happened to you," said Mrs Huntley, who was peer ing out Into the November dusk. "We're all right." replied the son, "though we met with an adventure. But come in, mother dear, and lock the door. Then sit down and count these notes." i She counted them, Lilian and Jack looking on eagerly. "Three of one hundred pounds, two fifties, and ten of ten pounds each five hundred pounds." "It was Lily's luck, mother.** "I don't know that it is such great luck. The owner is sure to advertise his loss." "Well, lie can't offer less than fifty for a reward, nnd that is something, mother." For the three following dn*'s the col umns of the "Lost and Found" were searched In several papers In vain. "It may be some one very, very poor In consequence," said Mrs. Huntley, '"this sum being their entire savings. Therefore, let us advertise." So a few lines were drawn up to this effect: "FOUND. ? On the evening of No vember?, a sum of money, which tho owner can receive by giving a full description and paring expenses.** lint days, and weeks, and months passed over, and 110 application was made through the office of the news pa per. Yet Lilian and her mother gratefully blessed that loser, for upon one occa sion Sirs Huntley had a severe spell of sickness? the little funds wer* low. and a small sum was borrowed from that store. Then Jack required an en tire new suit; and lastly, by that means, they were enabled to take a small house In a better neighborhood, letting two rooms to a respectable young couple. Yet each time the money was honor ably returned Into a safely-locked de?k. Four months went by, one April evening. Lilian was returning from one of those weekly music lessons, arm-ln-arni with her brother. They always exchanged n silent pressure ?f the hands upon reaching that well-re inemhered spot. Two young gentlemen were In con versation. "I oug.it to know this place." ?aid one. "for it was here 1 lost five hun dred pounds, having shortly before re ceived that amount, and 1 never missed it until* next morning, when many a league out at sea." "Iteinember. this is not Arcadia, but London, so more probably some loafer picked it up and made for the nearest public house. Hut I will leave you ihiw. Mr. Mrnliam. I will call to-mor row morning at nine o'clock without fall." "O .Tack!** "O Lily!" had been whis pered by the brother and sister In the shadow of a neighboring gateway. "Call to lilm, Jack, or he will be out of sight." And Jack not only called, but seized the slnmger'a arm. "Mir! sir!" he cried, "your money was : not lost; m.v sister here found It!" "Is It possible that such rare honor and honesty exist?" If you will come with us. sir. to our mother's home." said Lilian, "you shall be convinced that In our case such a thing was possible!" "Pardon my abruptness," returned Alan OraJiam. "I have only to look at your countenances to see my error." Mrs Huntley was watching for them a* usual, 'or the dally Incidents seldom varied In that quiet family. Hut as Jack Introduced their visitor, she. In F.rn, was surprised: then, quickly un locking the desk, she laid the uotes before him. Mr. Oraliam never counted i the money, but a?ked >|rs; Uuatle/; to ; replace it, pref?r aot to take It that He then tokl tMjKbout the time the iwyiey was lott Hf recttwt a letter front his iistertflp>ided la Ameri ca, imploring hl2v cobO to her inline dlately. Her ftpBband had been thrown from hHTUn* and killed, and between her det^ grief and terrible shock she had sustained she was utter ly prostrated. <>?] He found the poor, broken-hearted widow aeriously*#!. and though she seemed to rally for a abort time, yet she gradually aUk'and died, tarring her only child, kittle girl about five yesrs of age. to his care. . "And now, Mrs. Huntley,** he con tinued, "I win -venture to make a pro-1 posal. Will you take the poor little wait as an inoditt of your pleasant home, and allow this money, so for tunately lost and found, to be my pay ment for a few advance Y* Then n discussion arose respecting the payment. Mri Hunfley considering a smaller sum. than he proposed an equivalent, but. finally he gained hi* point. It was decided that Mrs. Huntley and Lilian should call the next morn ing and make little Nell's acqualntanco "How do yon like our new friend. Lily?** asked her "brother, who had re turned from piloting their visitor to the 'bus, en route to his hotel. "Very much, indeed. Jack. And dur lug your absence, mamma has sug gested that 1 give up my out door pu pils and become the child's governess." Later iu the summer Alan Graham, who had been traveling on the Conti nent, returned. He* had heard from Lilian that little Nell had suffered slightly from the extreme heat; so. be fore coming even to see her, he made a trip to Dovereourt, and there arrauged for Mrs. Iluntley, her daughter, and their little charge to remain until cool weather set in." And when they met It was almost like old friends, for he and Lilian had constantly corresponded upon Nell's account, the child always enclosing a little letter of her own. At the close of their week's sojourn, Mr. Graham made his second trip, bringing with him Jack, who perhaps, was for the time the happiest mortal in all that seaside resort. Jack had to return to Monday morn ing's business, but Graham lingered a few days longer. Then these weekly visits came to be a matter of course. "And you think 1 have fulfilled poor Elinor's desires, Lilian?" asked Alan Graham, owe evening, during a sea beach ramble. "Indeed I do, Mr. Graham, and con sider you to have been one of the kind est and most devoted of brothers." "And yet there was another request my sister made.; I will repeat It In her own words. 'Alau, you are now twen ty -seven; why do you not change your lonely, single life for one more home like? Think you. Is there no dear, loving girl whose sweet presence would udd to your happiness? To Nell we shall remain only a tender memory; but to you she will look up. with a child's love and duty, as to n fsthctr. Will you not give her a moth er. also?* 1 was constrained to prom ise, though at that time there was no one whom 1 loved, or, perhapi, who cared for me; but now I have found her! Lily? dear Lilyl will you help me to fulfill my sister's last wishes? I think you care for me? a littler' "Not only a little, Alan, but very, very greatly!"? New York News. * ? Awakening of ChiMM. "The awakening of the Chinese to the superior merits of Western eivlll zutlon has been flow, hut the Celes tials are gradually having their eyes opened," said Mr. Thomas Handcrs, who lias lived in Pekln many yearn, to a Tost report# at the Raleigh. "One of the surest signs of the decay of con servatism hi China Is that ere long the croel practice of binding the feet of the women Is to be abolished. Con sidering tha great repugnance of the -people to changing the custom of cen turies, this Is a wonderful triumph of modern Ideas. Heretofore Chinese wo men of the upper class' were scarcely thought elegant if their feet from toe to heel measured over thirteen centl raerres. This 1k hut little over half the length of the feet of European women of the class that prides Itself om deli cate pedal extremities. "The suffering and physical agony that the women of China have borne stolidly for generations through this i custom of foot binding will soon be at an end, and they will have feet pretty much after the sort of the rest of the daughter* of Eve. It is (Interesting, however, to note that the agitation for the reform <11d not come from the fair *ex, but' from masculine philanthrop ists." ? Washington Post No ?ert*r, Needed to Ounl, "Some people." remarked an employe at Broad Street Station, "have their own ways of doing things. The other day a party of four persons arrived at this station from one of the summer resorts. They were laden with a mis cellaneous nssortment of luggage, and the head of the family hud an Immense white bulh'.og. The luggage was so heavy that they were compelled to call upon the porters for help. "When they reached the cafe door they directed the porters to pile the luggage in a heap on the tioor. Then, their request being compiled with, they placed the bulldog on the top of the heap aud went Into the restaurant and dined, failing to appear for two hours. "In the meanwhile the dog was 'mon arch of ail he surveyed,' for none dared k ? learer than ten feet of him. "The ; rty finally took a train to one of the suburbs."? Philadelphia Press. Vlr?t Aid la Wreeke. The Pennsylvania Railroad has just adopted a plan for the relief of pass engers Injured in wrecks. All baggage, mall and express* cars and Important stations are to be equipped with stretchers. Yard offices, shops, loco motives, etc.. are to have "first aid boxes," which are sealed tin boxea containing six sterilised packets em* bracing a large triangular bandage, an ordinary bandage, two compresses and two safety-pins. Surgeons of the road will give Instructions to trainmen and terminal employes regarding the hand ling of atretchcrs and attending to UM wounded.? The Pathfinder. ~ ' OUR. GIRLS AND BOtS THE HICKORY NUT. j A little brown baby, round and w?e, With kind wind* to rock him, slept high in a tree. And be grew add be grew till, oh, dreadful to say! He tumbled right out of hia err die one day, Down, down from the tree-top, a terrible fall! ? But the queer littla fellow was not hurt at all; And sound and sweet he lies in the grans. And there you will find him whenever you pass. ? Minneapolis Journal Junior. A LOCUST'S BREATHING. ' Hold a loeust between your fingers and watch tbe breathing movements of tbe body. Prof. Packard says: "There were tixty-flve contractions In a min ute la a locust which bad licen beld be tween the fingers about ten minutes." How does that compur * with tbe num ber of breaths you take each minute? Insects of swiftest flight breathe most rapldty.? From Nature and Science in St. Nicholas. STRAWBERRY FISHING. "Moilie, Uncle Herman's fleld is Just like the sea," said Millie as a gentle little summer breeze swept over the tall grass flecked -with daisies, and made It bend in rippling curvcs like the green seu waves with their white caps of foam. "So it is," said Moilie; "let's play fishing in it." "But there are 110 fishes, because it's not a truly sea, only just grass." "But we'll catch play Ashes," an swered Moilie; "and, oh, I know what they'll be? strawberries.'.' So the two children made safe little dives down under the green grass waves. With happy calls, they told of every sweet, ripe, rosy strawberry fish that they caught. There were plenty of fish. ~By and by they wan dered into the very high grass. Millie stood up. She could not see over it and began to cry: "We're lost, we're lost and can't find our way out." "Never mind," said Mollle, "I think I can find tbe way." So off they started. They must have walked a very long distance, it seemed to Moilie, but the grass was fctlll over their heads. Somebody walking along the road saw two pink and white suubonuets bobbing about in the grass. "Hello, girlies!" lie called. "What are you doing over there?" "It's Uncle Herman," cried Moilie, racing toward the direction from which tbe sound came. "We were strawberry fishing, nnd got lost," said Moilie as Uncle Herman lifted her over the rail fence.? Adapted from the Mayflower. BOYS ON A BUKXIXC SHir. Five hundred boys from different workhouses in Loudon -were put to school to be trained as sailors on board the training ship Co! lath. This great ship suddenly caught tire r.bout S o'clock one winter morning. It >vas hardly daylight. In three minutes the ship was on Ore from one end to the other, and the lire bell rang to call the boys each to his post. What did they do? Did they cry, or scream, or fly about in confusion? No; each ran to his proper place. The hoys had been trained to do it, and no one forgot himself, nor lost his presence of mind, but all behuved like men. Then, when it was found impossible to save the ship, those who could swim, at the command of the captain. Jumped into the water and swam for their lives. Some, at the captain's command, got into a boat, and when the sheets of clouds of flame and smoke came out of the ship at them, the small er boys for a moment wera frightened and wanted to push away. Hut there wa3 one among them, a little mate (his i:anis was William Bolton), n quiet bo;\ much beloved by his comrades, who had the sense and the courage to say: "No, we roust stay aud help those who are still in the ship." He kept the barge alongside of the Goliath as long as possible, and was thus the means of saving more than 300 lives. And there Wvre others that were still in the ship ~vblle the flames went 0:1 spreading, and they were standing toy the captain who had been so kind to them all, and whom they loved so much. In that dreadful moment they thought more of him than of them selves. and on** threw his arms around his neck and said, "You'll be'burned. Captain;" and another snld, "Save yourself. Captain!" But the captain said,. "No, boys! that is not the way at sea." He meant that the way at sea Is to prepare for danger beforehand, to meet It manfully when ?t comes, and I to look at the safety not of oneself, but> of other*.? Little Christian. MAKING A TOOL CABINET. *A very convenient tool cabinet that will hang against the wall may .tie made with two doors of nearly equal size, so that there will be four Instead of two surfaces against which to hang tools. The body of the chest is thirty inches high, twenty Inches wide, and nine inches deep, outside measure. It Is made of wood three quarters of an Inch In thickness, fastened together with screws and glue, aud varnished to improve Its appearance. One aide of the cabinet is but three Inches and a half wide, and to this side the Inner door Is made fast with hinges, so it | will swing in against a stop molding on the opposite side. A small bolt on the door will fasten It in place when shut In, and on both sides of this door hooks and pegs cau be arranged on which to hang tools. Inside the back of the cabinet books and pegs can be arranged also, for saws, squares and other flat tools. The outer door Is provided with ? wide ?trip, lo Mkf tilt pJtct of tU? lacking < part of that aide of tlie cabinet, and when the doora are closed In and locked the appearance of the chest will be uniform. With a little careful planning and figuring It will not be a difficult mat ter to construct this cabinet aud the doors so that they will fit snugly and close easily. The doors will keep their shape better If made from narrow matched boards aud held together at the ends with battels or strips nailed across the ends of the boards. Two inch wrought butts will be heavy enough for the hinges of the doors. Provide a cabinet lock at the edge of the outer door. On the inside of the outer door same tool pegs cHn be arranged, and near the bottom a bit rack is made with a leather strap formed into loops as de scribed for the tool rack. Under each loop a hole Is bored ill a strip of wood into which the square end of the bits will fit, so they will stand vertically and appear in an orderly row; for chisels a similar set of pockets can lie made of wood.? From Joseph II. Ad ams' "The Practical lioy," in St. Nich olas. A "KOIJN 1> A BOl ?T" THICK. Give another hoy a broomstick or a somewhat lor.ger stick and tell him to grasp it with both nat.ds near one end. plant the other end fit-inly in an angle between the wall and the Hour and then pass entirely under the stick, from one side to the other, betweec his hands aud the wall. If he attempts this apparently easy feat Without knowing how it should THE START OF THE TRICK, be done, lie will be aimost sure to do 09c of tlirce tilings. He will stop and give the . '.log lip, or let g<< tlic stick and tumble on Ills nose, or, possibly, bold on aud come down to the floor, stick and all. because bis knees have given away or his feet have slipped. This is because be, quite naturally, tries to pass under the stick with his face toward the wall. After lie aud the others have failed in one way or another aud have de clared the feat impossible, show them how easy it is by doing it yourself. But you must stand with your back toward the wall and with your feet rather far apart and ?well braced, and, of course, you must bend backward as your head and body go under the stick. Your feet and the end of 1 lie stick form a broad triangle, and if the stick is long enough and (irmly grasped there is little danger of either falling or The end of the stick should not be very round and smooth, aud you J'ASHINO UNDF.lt THE BROOM. should always hold il and caution (lie others to hold It. exactly perpendicu lar to 1 lie lino where the wall moots the floor, without the least slant to right or left, which might make it slip sidewise.? New York Kvening Mail. The Hygienic Vnlu? of ftumlajr. Sunday is not only a religions, but ft hygienic institution. It is bcneflcient In its nnen, morally and physically. How workers should best spend the Sunday is still a moot question, but that It should bo a iinic of houl refresh ment and recreatloji, n moment, as Miss Corel II expresses it, "for standing ami taking breath on the threshold of another week," a season for thought, for Intellectual enjoyment, for the so lace of uature and the admiration of Its wonders and beauty, 110 sensible person will be likely to deny. Whether motoring or card playing is the liest way to attain these ends must be left to each individual's Judgment.? Lady Violet (Jrevllle, In the London Crap hie. A C1*T?r K, <11 tor. "Csn you tell me what sort of weatli er we may expect next month?" wrote a subscriber to the editor of a paper; and the editor replied as follows: "It Is my belief that the weather next month will be very much like your subscription." The inquirer wondered for an hour what the editor was driv ing at, wllen be happened to tblnk of the word "unsettled." He tent In tlia required amount next day. 9 Oar Defective Roa>1 Lawii Since our National Government ha? ahown such liberality in appropriating enormous sums of money for rivers, harbors, railroads and the building of country itoads in our newly ncipiired possessions iu which the musters have but little luterest, many arc of the opinion that Uncle Sam might well af ford to lend some assistance to our own people, "who pay all these ex penses, by co-op era ting with the State, county, township and individual con tributors In the improvement and maln?( tenancc of our common highways. By this method the burden of expense would be more evenly distributed and no one would be injured, but all mate rially benefited. To make this plan effective, much agitation and educa tion among the people will be neces sary. Already considerable progress has been made along this line through the public press, the organization of good roads associations and otherwise, and as ?n evidence of the Increasing popularity of this plan, resolution* of approval are being adopted by many State Legislatures, political cop voli tions and by various Industrial and la bor organizations in all parts of the country. The result of this agitation and organization on the part of the farmers and business men of the coun try has led to the more serious consid eration of tills important question by the law making powers, not only ??f several States, but of the nation as well. Many States have already pro vided large sums of money for thv? bet teuBcnt of their roads, and now tlm general Government Is being appealed to for assistance. About one dozen bills were introduced during the l'lf ty-eightli Congress, asking that one half of the cost for the improvement of the common roads of the country be paid from the National Treasury, so as to facilitate the delivery of the ru ral rim ilk and the general traffic, and none are meeting with more popular favor than the one introduced by Sen otor A. ('. I.at'.nier, of the Palmetto State. Mr. I*atimer is a good roads enthusiast, and does not intend t?? re lax his efforts and energies in this di rection until something lias been done by the Nntioual Government to assist farmers in the Improvement of the common roads of the country. Coat of Had linaiiii. Good roads enable the farmer to haul more produce with the same ex penditure of liorse power, and also lo horses and wagons. An abundance of surplus fruits and vegetables are an nually left on the farm to decay on ac count of impassable roads, whereby both the producer and the consumer ?re losers. Both pay the penalty for bad roads. Such occurrences are by no means infrequent in all parts of the country, tlood roads also promote social intercourse, enable the farmer to take his family to visit his neigh bors, attend church and to keep hi* children iu school during all seasons of the year. The inconvenience ex perienced from the lack of good roads is one of the reasons why so many persons, particularly the young men, become discouraged with country life and leave for the city, and why so few* give up the city for the country, ex cepting for a temporary sojourn at llhat season of the year when nature itf at her best iu the country and worst in the city. With good roads neigh bors would be more neighborly, churches more prosperous, and the school districts would be enlarged, so us to enable them to have better school houses, better school teachers Slid better schools. Now that these facts regarding had roads exist, no person denies. And naturally the question arises, Can these condition* be improved? There are many ways in which this enn be done, but to do it right everybody ad mits that it can be done only by the expenditure of money and labor, a* in all other internal Improvements. The most economical plan is not n I way a the best and wisest to pursue. The better highways the better services they render, and greater will become the value of property adjacent there to. California Oiled Road*. Within jibe last Ave years the Cal ifornia roadinakers have made rapid advancement from the first period when oil "was used simply to lay the dust to a second and far more mo mentous one in which permanent roads are being constructed with it. The oiled road costs about one and a half cent per square foot, while aspbaltum costs fifteen cents, and a powdered granite road is nearly twice as expen sive as the oil, where there Is the same relative situation as to material. I'.nh bcr tires are not injured by the oiled road, as was claimed at first, and the t surface does not soften ns asphalt roads do, and Is not so easily cut up by wagon tires. Indeed, it Is mid that oiled roads are the most important dis covery In roadmaklng for dusty conn- | tries that has ever been made. Where these conditions can bejuet a beautiful Voad may be constructed, differing but little in appcarance from an asphal turn road, and having all its advan tages without any of Its drawbacks. At present there are about 1000 miles. of these roads In California.? Country Life In America. ?y'Yf* rift Kflli of Bad KoiAl, The people of the United Stales nre becoming more thoroughly convinced of the evils of bad roads. Good roads are conducive to peace, prosperity nmt civilisation, while bad roads are the earmarks of poverty, Ignorance, super stition and barbarism. The fact that a great majority of our public high- t ways are in a most deplorable condi tion, Infinitely worse than those of less progressive countries, Is quite appar ent. Especially is this the condition of afTalrs during the winter season, when those llvtng in the rural districts are compelled to use the roads In mar keting their products and In the edu cation #f their children.