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It ?sir't th? thing yo? Jo, dear, - It's the thing you've left undone. Wbi<& gives you a bit of jfcwutache .. At.the setting of the son. T & <9ae?letter yondid not witifie;' The flower yon might haye sent, dear, Are your haunting ghosts tonight.. * ' . . iv.-" v : ?.* ? The stone yon might have lifted Out of a brother's war, 1 jj? bit of heartsome counsel ?Ton were hurried too mach to say. The loving touch of the band, dear, The gentle and winsome tone That you had no time or thought for With troubles enough of your own. The little act of kindness, So easily ont of mind; Those chances to be angels Which every mortal irads^ They coin? in night and silence Each chill reproachful wrath When hope is faint and nagging, And a blight has dropped on faith. For life is ali too abort, dear, And sorrow is all too ereat, To suffer our slow compassion That tarries until too late. And it's not the thing you do, dear, It's rite thing you leave undone, Which gives you the bit of heartache At the setting of the sun. .-[Margaret E. gangster, in Fraternal World. THORPE MANOR DEAS FRANK: I have found the very house for you-Jabobean period and almost origma!. I was a trine spoiled by some Philistine individual about thirty years since, but with your taste and the ?id of the local architect everything can be put right. This pearl of houses goes hy the name of Thorpe Manor, and is, of course, haunted, so yon may relieve the monotony of country life by a genuine ghost hunt. Ever yours. JOH* RIDGEWAY. F. S.-The house is in Surrey, about four miles from Winton station. You had better come down at once, as I hear some one else is after itv At that time I was a fairly good looking, weir to-do bachelor of thirty Jive. My ample leisure I devoted to ? antiquarian researches, literary work and the collection of "curios." I had no relatives and few friends, and I lived an almost solitary and perfectly ?tappy life in my chambers. Among what some people called my "craze" was an enthusiasm for ancient houses, and I had deputed John Ridg? way, an artist friend of mine wno lived in Surrey, to find me a genuine old coan try house-a dreamy? ram? bling place-where I cou id spend the summer. Hence his letter. As the tram steamed into the little, station at Winton, John rushed up to my carriage and clasped my hand. Dear old chap! he quite beamed with joy at the prospect of showing me his wonderful house. ?*Charming old place ? Tve bad my eye on it six months !" he said as he walked over;$he common. he produced the inevitable and-pernell and wis soon drawing pia?? and explaining de? rails. As we passed through the- village we called upon the house agent and took him with us. He was a prosaic man, and evidently thought we were a couple of mil I lunatic?, so excited , did we become when suddenly turn? ing a comer at the foot of-a steep in? cline we stood in front of Thorpe Manor. It was a 'quaint old house, ... standing \mk> ?flUte from tue road? and its walls were as perfect aa when first built, bot mellowed sud beau li? lied by time. We walked up the prim gravel path to tho wide doorway with its fantastic carving. Here our agent produced a huge, rusty key and unlocked the door, which swung back easily on its large hinget. We . entered and went through Use rooms, which had low ceilings sad broad window seats. Most of these had panelled walls, though some of them had been covered .,7ith paper which? of course, we said m ust come off. One of the bedrooms - which I thought from the elaborate carving on the -high mantel shelf and the beautiful oak panelling had orig? inally been the state one-was perfect. I felt strangely attracted to this room, I know not why, and as we turned to leave I lingered behind the others for a parting glance. Then I slowly went down the winding stair? way. "Seen the ghost ?" asked John, jest? ing*}'. The agent looked uneasy. Ghosts are tiresome things, apt to militate very much against the chances of se-j curing a good tenant, but I reassured ? Mm by remarking that I rather liked i ghosts, and that so far as I could see j the house was exactly what 1 wanted, j Of conr?e, there were many details to j be settled about the lease, repairs, and j other matters, and I stipulated that I j - should be allowed to make some alter- ! i ations, such as removing the staring plate glass with which the late owner had "modernized" thejjtfndows of the lower rooms. Six weeks later I was installed in my new residence. The alterations were noj^Ru'ly completed, bat declin? ing "t?!^^Kgway9, pressing invitation to tafe* $p uiy quarters with them, I occupied two rooms in the old house and engaged a woman in the village to come daily and attend to my simple [ wants. On the third evening after my ar- f riva I 1 T?as smoking my favorite pipe ?rb$&wood lite in the oakroom, which j 11 had made my bedroom. It was I nearly 12 o'clock, but being accus? tomed to late hours I did not feel in? clined for bed-far from it I de? cided to have one more pipe, and hastily taking np my pouch I began to rsull my pipe. Suddenly I stopped shOit, and with my. little linger sti?i rammed into the bowl of the pipe, kft my chair and walked to the oppo? site side of the room, for I could have j * vorn 1 saw the panelling move ever j i .o slightly upward. Nor was I mis- j tjjken; for very slowly the whole i 2>anel disappeared and in the opening H stood the figure of a woman. The room was dark, |or tfee wood f fire had begun to smoulder, so I coala not see what ?he was lifce -young or old, rigi?or beautiful. ?X I wai^iot nervous-'Ifiad a pro? found ?feelieX iu tho superna taral so I simply-wai fed to see what the iu 1'rnder proposed to do. She advanced into the room and came close to my elbow, thea raised her hand r.ud beck oned mejto follow her.- Of course 1 wenV^njfe-?? *e<* me through the ?nerture-and down a sleep wooden Staircase. It was pitch dark, but I struck marches at interval*. My com? panion went on quickly, never looking beh?nefter, but I sntiied as she raised her skirts gingerly from the dusty stairs, and once I saw the woman shudder as a rat scuttled by. "No ghost this," thought I. On we went down the wooden stairs till at last" we came to some stone?" ones all green and humid, owiug to neglecl. Wc continued our course, going down flight after flight ot damp slippery stairs, till at length, to my relief, my companion paused before a heavy oaken door, then opened ii and entered. Following her, I found myself iu a low, vaultlikc chamber, mere like a cell than any? thing else. The floor was stone, the walls were bare, but it was apparent? ly inhabited, for there were a few articles of furniture-a rickety, spindle-legged table, a couple of high backed, worm-eaten chairs and a bat? tered horsehair sofa. In the grate, loo, bunted a small tire and a couple of tall, white candles in tarnished sconces were on the narrow mantel? shelf. v lu the dim light afforded by these caudles aud the fire I closely scrutin? ized the womau who had brought me there. She was fall and slender, and wore a long russet gown of an old fashioned cut, but ker face was pale and sad, with sharp, clear-cut features, and a mass of rough, reddish hair was care? lessly twisted into a long knot at thc nape' of her neck. She motioned me to one of the diairsr^taktug the other herself, and she now sat bending over the fire, ap? parently too deep in her own bil ter re? flections to be conscious of my pres? ence. The expression on her thin, worn face was. very sorrowful, and her hands were tightly clinched in her lap. But, though thin and worn, her face was still lovely, and as I gazed I thought how lovely, it would be were the hollows filled out and the deep lines smoothed av.uy. Suddenly, with a little resolute ges? ture, she turned towards me and be? gan to speak in low rapid tones. "I brought you here because I wanted to tell you my story, aud I want your help, if you will give it." Then, with voice rising and falling with varying emotions, and with deep gray eyes lixed on my face, she told her sad talc. The begiutiing was com? monplace enough-a beautiful wilfui girl; astern unyielding father; two lovers, one brave and handsome, the other morose and unattractive; a pro? posed flight; a sudden death; a broken heart-the last three were the tragic j elements. "And. I saw them carry him by the house-dead," she said speaking in "a strange, dull way, "and for a longtime I think I must have lost my senses. When my father still insisted on my marriage with the wretch he had chosen for my husband 1 raised no protest. I viewed-the preparations for the wedding with indifference. 1 seemed turned to stone. But a week before the marriage my reason returned, aud I reallied the horror of the coil which was slowly tightening around me. Then it was that 1 determined on what was virtu? ally a living but iah 1 was boru iu this dear old house, and Lknew every nook and corner of it. My foster mother had shown me the sliding panel in the room above that which 1 then occupied, and she and 1 were the only living persons who knew thc secret. She was devoted to me, and I at length won her over to my plan. (iO? the night before the bridal day I fled down here, and herc 1 itave re? mained (Ter since. For eight years ? have been dead to t lie world. Iliad valuable jewelry which had been my dead mothers: that has been gradually sold, and on thc proceeds 1 have sub? sisted. My foster mother comes daily and brings mc food-not through the house, of course. There is a,secret pain and door of eominu?r?e<uion in the garden.? "And the (?]-^^^f queried. "Oh," siy^^R^wi:\\ a (?Meer little smile>^rani the ghost! Von see, I wanted to keep the house empty, so that 1 might wander about the rooms and grounds: but now I am tired of this unnatural existence Life will always be sad for me! 1 have had a j dreadful grief and all mv dear ones j are dead; but, in spite of all, my | youth reasserts itself, and solitude j has at last lost its charm. So 1 wish j to return to the world, and you can | help me to do so. Will you?*' Of course I helped her, and within j ai.week frocn that time the Thorpe Manor "gbo>t"-now laid forever was 6afe under the kiud wing of John Ridgway's homely little wife, and by the time the roses were blooming in my sweet-scented, old-fashioned gar? den the "ghost," too, had bloomed ! into beauty, and 1, sober old bache- j lor, had fallen in love-quite hope- ? lessly, I told myself, for her heart was with lier dead, and yet it hap- j pened that one June afternoon, as we ? stood alone by the stin-diul on the sloping shady lawn, something gave me courage. Perhaps it was that she looked so j 1 sweet in her fresh muslin gown, with j fb> flower* in her belt, or perhaps I . because I caught a strung??, flcetiuir rook in her shv gray eve?; anyway, I j know she murmured that she loved j . &e dear- old home, with its many \ gables and pretty garden. Thea whispered: "Need you erer leave it?" An looking under the broad-brimmed gai den hat into lier flushed, happy fac< I added, "Como, sweet ghost, an haunt the old place forever I" Aud she consented. - [Manyon' Magazine. Saved by Pare Serre. "About two weeks ago 1 was ca rn j: ing with a party on the shore of I**k Erie, not far from Ash tabu la," sai? George Wi son. "Shortly after we had returned on evening. I heard a peculiar whirring sound, which I recognized at once .There is a rattlesnake in camp!' exclaimed. 'I am going to get np. 'Hush!' came the word,slowly hissing through thc teeth, from a compauioi near me. 'The snake has crawled iu to my shirt bosom.' This was 6ai< very sof tty, and we were almost para lyzed with fright at the prospect. W were afraid to stir for fear ?he reptil) would take alarm and strike its vic tim. It crawled over his body goot naturedly, evidently enjoying Iii? warmth, for the night was a littli raw. "At times the snake's head wai close to his face, and he told us af? terward he feared the motion of hi chest up and down in breathing wouk stir up the reptile, and he tried haw to breath sa little as possible. Finally the snake crawled toward the fire, anc in an instant the whole camp was up. One siezed a club and broke the rep tile's back before it could make i spring. It measured nearly five feet, "The mau who had the terrible ex? perience collapsed like a rag after il was over. During the ordeal we wen all surprised at thc coolnessand nerve he displayed. With all danger passed he fell into a faint, but he soon re? vived."- [Syracuse Standard. The Mule as a Kicker. The mule has been grossly libeled According to the caricaturist and pro? fessional lui ?no list, he is always "hunting trouble," and his heels are generally in the air. Now, the male, to be sure, is quick on his feet, and in moments of extreme agitation his hind legs are brought into play with won? derful rapidity. But that is not his customary attitude by any means, and though it is well to remember the in? junction, uDo not look *the gift mule in the heels," the average man and the average mule can maintain pacific re? lations without a great strain on either. This is the testimony of those who have an expert knowledge of the aui mal; and "mulc-sensc" and not "horse-sense," would, in the opinion of some observers, more accurately indicate thc possession of everyday? practical intelligence, lt is said that George Washington first introduced the jackass into the country, and the wisdom of this proceeding was notably borne out three-quarters of a century laer, when the official reports of the United Suites government were elo gislic of the valuable qualities aud splendid services of the army mule. On the continent of Europe and in South America the mule is valued at his worth, but in England he is little known, and during the war iii Egypt the government of Great Britain im? ported several thousand head of mules from St. Louis for campaign service* --?St. Louis Republic. ? Tale of Two Barns* There was a mau named Hibbs whd bought a farm, built a large Stately dwelling at the end of a long shady avenue of maples and settled down to enjoy the comfort and independence of a farmer's life. He built a cozy little barn of logs and shingled it with clapboards There was another man of the harrie of Hubbs, Who bought a farul in the same neighborhood, built a CJSV little dwelling of logs* shingled it with clapboards and settled dowu to the hard, grinding monotony of a far? mer's life. This man Hnbbs built a large state? ly barn at the end of a long shady avenue of maplos. At the end of ton years Hibbs' bi* house had broken him up. And Hubbe*-tig- barn had enabled him to tutv Hibbs' statclv dwelling foi about half price and move it over on his own farm. Hubbs has a big dwelling and a big barn and represents his county in the state legislature. Hibbs has a little log cabin and a little log stable and is tryiug to sell out to Hubbs. He wants to quit farm? ing and travel with a peddling wagon. - [Chicago Tribune. Tennyson'* Mesmeric Powers? Tennyson, the late Poet Laureate of England, had extraordinary mo-morie power?. He went, as a young man, with his wife to some country inn, and soon after his arriva! a doctor called, who, having introduced him? self, said: "1 am here with a lady who is suffering from severe mental ailments, and I want you to came and try your mesmeric passe? on her, be? cause I am quite convinced that you have strong mesmeric powers*" Ten? nyson laughed at this, but lie went with the doctor, who showed him how , to make thc pass.es, and he found that i he had the power, and that it exer? cised a very beneficial influence on j the suffering lady. Afterward, when j he went into the room, the patieut j would fall into a mesmeric ^leep al- | most before he began his passes <>u j her. After the parties left the ?un they did not meet for some years, and | Tennvson did not recognize the doc I tor until reminded of the cireum- j stances by the latter, who further said: "Do von know von saved thc '? I lady's life, und she i< i?ow my witp^' j ?-[New York Commercial Adver- 1 User? j HUNTING TERRAPIN. A Profitable Industry Along Chesapeake Bay. Curious Ways of Catching the Toothsome Tortoise* I A Baltimore correspondent of the N'ew York Times was told by a dealer (hat terrapin from the Chesapeake sold at $60 a dozen. The correspondent goes on to say i The senior member of ibis fir in was the iirst dealer to regularly sell terra I pin in Baltimore^ That was about fort\' years ago, and he received S8 a dozen for the best The difference between $8 and ?00 shows how much the terrapin has advanced iu public appreciation. In fact, the high cash value of the terrapin is modern. The records show that the Indians caught and roasted them, hut they were looked upon as very common food. At Yorktown, "Washington and Lafayette atc a dish of terrapin because the supplies were low at the time. Ia the annals of two counties of Maryland there are con? tracts in which it is stipulated that slaves should not be fed on terrapin more than twice a week, and they once rebelled because they were given terrapin instead of pork. Mr. Clay? ton of Delaware, who was Secretary of State during the Administration of President Taylor, used to buy them at $1 for an ox-cart load. The best of the terrapin, and thc most of them, are found in Chesa? peake Bay, from which 500 men take nearly 600,000 every year during the season, which is from November to April, inclusive. The method by which they capture them is as inter* es ting as the terrapin itself. Along the bay, which extends nearly 200 miles, with dozens of large rivers running into it, are immense marshes, mud flats and shallows, on many of which grow the water cress, which gives to the terrapin and the canvas? back duck the flavor that makes them so attractive to cultivated appetites. If you should happen near some of these places you would probably find an old colored man wading around with a slick pronged like Neptune's trident, prodding into the mud and looking very like a person who had lost something valuable in a queer place, without exactly knowing where to seek lt* But so experienced is he tbat the slightest sign of a terrapin leads at once to a quick investigation below, and generally to a quick trans? fer to the large cotton sack which the old man carries. This is oue way* There are others, thc most successful being the dragging of loaded seines along the bottom. Mauy terrapin aro also caught iu the oyster dredges) and all find their way to market. In (he au Inuin the terrapin begin to get ready tor their winter sleep. A Maryland man buried twenty-six of them on thc 1st of ?hine) aud dug them up on the 1st of December* lu the six mouths they did not lose an ounce of weight) and every one of them was alive and well. You eau take a terrapin and put it in the cellar lu thc autumn* and without receiving food or drink it Will be all right in the spring, lt is$ iii fact? about the cheapest boarder iu the entire auinial kingdom: Several have tried to raise terrapin in ponds, but they have not made much of a success, for the terrapiu do not like captivity. An interesting thing about them is that they have so much curiosity that when they are confiued in these ponds they can be trained to come to the surface wheu their food bf the Cr?b-meat ?ud dottgh is ready. Boys along the Chesapeake catch terrapin. There is not much sport in capturing them, but they are very well satisfied with the profits. Many terrapin are caught along the coast of North Carolina. One of the curious methods of catching them there is that dogs are used, which in Bummer track ther:* from the water's e<tge Collie grass where they go to lay their egg?. The way in winter is to bnrri the grass in swamps. Thc terra? pin, mistaking the warmth for spring, come from their hiding places and are captured. Both of these plans, how? ever, are considered barbarous. Hammer Snakes in California. A letter from Dr. E. E. Brown says he and party havo made a molt won? derful discovery up in King's Uiver canon. In crossing a small creek they came to a beautiful canon or basin of about three acres of level meadows, surrounded by perpendicu? lar walls some 300 feet high. A fine stream of cold, 'dear water was flow? ing into the little meadow, but there seemed to be no outlet. There was no way of getting down into the valley) bul quail und rabbits seemed to in bab* i it the little basin. A p.iir of opera glasses brought to light a number of snakes basking in the sun on the flat rock. 1'hoy were from one to three feet in length and had heads shaped exactly like a black? smiths hammer. While the party j were examining with the glass thc j manoeuvres of a number of the snakes crawling through the grass ;i very i large one was noticed making a sneak j on a cotton tail rabbit. When within about two feet ol' thc rabbit the stink? Stiffened the front half of its body ami beni into a n^lil angie. Then his suakeship ?ti night med out sjtddeuly, bringing ?he rabbit a swinging blow on the *it!o ot* it* head which laid | bunn} our completely. Another snaiu"? \v;:s observe?! '><> j creen out" :< quail ?Kling <>n ?j M-ni?-hv j lire. Tl;t-i Snake twisted :?!.i?:'' folll ; inches o? iU 'ai! ?long ;i limb ??l I tic* j 11 CL* ami used a)! the resj of jj? body j for a hammer and handle .to whack thc quail on the head euch a stinging blow that it dicii without a flutter of its wings. The snake seemed to have the wonderful -f -vcr of Ie??rtheii?ug its body out nearly double its normal length and as small as a whalebone whip, the heaviest part being next to the part wrapped around (he tree. After killing the quail and rabbit the snake humuiered thc body into a phip, boues and al!, with its head, and then swauowed the wh >le bn-dnes*. The swallowing showed that thc ham? mer part of the head could be laid back out of thc way while thc swal? lowing was done. Every effort possible with thc appli? ances tiiey had with them was made to get one of the snakes, but they failed.- [Selma Irrigatotv Food Supply of the World. Au article at the end of thc report of the judges of the International Ex? hibition held at Paris in 1889, thc London Mark Lane Expr?s? obscive-5, bears on the food supply of the world. It is from the pen of M. Louis Gran cleau, member of thc Conseil Sup?ri? eur de l'Agriculture: The total popu? lation of the G?obe, which was 1,401, 000,000 in 1880, was estimated in 1891 at 1,489,000,Q00, ah increase of 70, 000,000 iu ten years,, being 5.54 per cent. The known production of wheat and rye has risen to 3,440,250,000 bushels annnall}r, and thal ot maize to $2,750,000,000 bushels, one-third of which is used as food for man. By estimating 687,500,000 as thc amount of other cereals which are used as food, one can give the figure of $4,950,000,000 bushels as aunuaily consumed by man. If this sum is divided among thc inhabitants, it will bc found that each person consumes about 3 1-2 bushels of cereals a year. The annual production of wheat in the world is about 2,181,250,000 bushels, which oniy gives about 1 5-8 bushels per head-a very insufficient figure while rye allows seven-eighths of a bushel per head, making a total of the two latter of 2 1-4 bushels per head. Extinction of Birds* Dr. Morris Gibbs, in analyzing thc causes of the decrease in thc numbers, or the absolute extinc? tion of certain of our birds says that the lighthouses of our great Jakes and coasts sacrifice mauy thousands each year, aud possibly hundreds of thousands, the birds killing themselves by dashing against the lights when migrating seasonally. He doubts whether there exists an in? vention, with the exception of the gun j more deadly to birds than the electric light. Another indictment is brought against the headlight of the locomotive^ and also against the tele* graph and other wires which term n network through the country* All these causes unquestionably contribute in a greater or less degree to the de? st ruction of birdsj but it has beeu conclusively proved that when the number of birds destroyed at any pw? ticular place by any of these ageucies has been carefully determined by a series of daily records the result has inevitably been such as to lead to the belief that the accounts generally given of the aggregate destruction of birds by various forms of the electric light hare b?eri greatly exaggerated. - [(jhicago ??ews Record; Country Lads. Boys who are fortnuate enough to be boru in the country have unmistakable advantages over city lads. The coun? try is the place of all others to be born in. The associations of youth; of home, of school, winter^ and the farm work aud play mixed together in ? delightful t?ugle, are liefer rooted out; but grow deeper into the character and become dearer to tile being while life passes aud the revolv? ing year* hold out. It is worth more than a university education to have been born and brought up on a farm, of well-to-do parents. That supplies what no learn? ing from the books ever can. That is a resource that stands by. It is some? thing lo feed dpoil: And if the boy as a mau engages id business or a profession, lie has ? stock of health and a sound constitu? tion to draw upon that wid be sure to carry him triumphantly through wheu the city boys are giving way all along thc road. Morally and physically, he has by far the best of it.-[New York News. (fiant Bees of India. Before long au attempt will be made to Introduce into the United States the giant bees of India, which build combs in the forest as big as house doors. Their honey is gathered by piofessional bee hunters. The drones are no bigger than ordinary bees, and for. that reason it is more likely that tiley would breed with the races now domesticated here. These bees of India have longer tongues than oilier ! bees, and thus they would be able to ! gc1, from many kinds of flowers much \ honey that now goes to waste. Alarm ing stories are told of the extraordi- ? nary ferocity of this specie^ swarms ! being said to have attacked native vii- I hiycs with fatal results, but expert I bee keeper? wouid have no diffh-ulty j in handling them. - TBostou Tran- 1 script. t? i bra It ar's Summit. It is only recently that people have ! be<m permitted to ascend the rook and signal station al Gibraltar. Since last i November thc British military, with their families and pei>ous connected with the British navy, have been per- ! milted to visit this tine lookout. The ! privilege, however, has not been ox tended to the citizens ot Gibraltar nor ? io ?U\-iii?*:er*> vi-ir i ny- the forirc**. a ! c. i1 eu mst alic s wu ich is generally re- j <en!e.1. particularly by lija, subjects of j ?I Uto Qtts?u. RUSSIA'S POLICE, Facts About the Greatest Detec? tive Service of the WciicL A Police Ag?rit?r Spy in ?Very House in St. Petersburg. ? man's life is as safe in St: Peters? burg as it is ih &ew York, and there ls less vice and crime here than there i| in thc average American city, says frank G. Carpenter in a letter to the "Washington Star. There is a police? man on every block both day and night, and there is always a policeman in the centre of every street crossing. The laws of the road are 6uch that though a mau may drive at thc rate of twelve tuilea au hour down the Nev? sky sprospect and though the people always drive at a break-neck pace you never see collisions. There are few burglaries and few murders here, and lhere are less arrests than in London. The police force of St. Petersburg couiists of two thousand men. The city is divided up iuto forty-two po? lice districts and each district has a police station, with whichisconuected a sort of police court. In each one of these stations records are kept of all the citizens of the district, aud these records are classified so that thc police can tell iu a moment the history and standing of any man in the district. These records are made on papers of different colors, and those who are suspected of political olleuses have papers of a separate color from those suspected of crime and dangerous characters have their polic? biograph? ies written on a paper of still different color. In every on-j of these police stations and in the police stations all over the empire are kept lists of men who are to be arrested wherever they are found, and of men who are con? sidered dangerous to the government. Similar lists are sent to the agents of Russia in the different capi'als of the world, and by reports from these po? lice agents the government knows as far as possible just where its euemies are. The 2000 policemen of St. Peterburg wear uniforms. There are tens of thousands of other men employed by the police who dress in citizens* clothes, and every house in St. Peters? burg has its police agent and spy. Many of the people here live in flats, and the man who takes care of the fiat is known as the dvornik, and he is responsible to the police for the people withiu iU He reports upon their do? ings $ he sees that their passports are correct, and he keeps the police in? formed as to what goes on his house, and it is almost impossible to have a secret meeting in Russia without it being reported by one of these men. These dvorniks have a sort of trades union among themselves and they are governed by a chiefs and this chief is a member of thc police aud is, to a eftrtain extent, responsible for the ac? tions of the dvorniks. It is necessary for every household, et- to have one of those men and often there are several of them in a single fiat. They have control of the sani? tary arrangements of the houses as well as the political and criminal ar? rangements; They are expected by the police to sec that the streets in front of their houses are swept and watered twice a day? aud St. Peters? burg h?s as Well-kept streets as auy city in the world. The dvnorniks are responsible for any dirt or filth inside the house, and the mau who does not keep his house cleau in St Petersburg can be arrested. If the police see a business man whose shop is not prop? erly tared for they Order him to clean it. If hs does not do so he may re? ceive au order to close up his estab? lishment for ? Certain number of mouths; abd lie has to dd it: it is the same willi theatres. One here it St. Petersburg had not as many exits as the police considered necessary. The manager was playing a big engagement when he received an order from the police to remedy this defect and make the house safe. He paid no attention to it and went, on with his show* The result was iiiat ?. few days later when his theatre was closed by the order of the police, and what he might have repaired ?t the loss of a few nights of acting Cost bim many thousands of dollars. It is the same with the smallest matters. There is a law here ?hat the barber shops must bring a clean piece of soap and clean brush to every man they shave, and thc barber who would do otherwise would be arrested. The result is that the order at St. Peters? burg ls very good indeed, and though there is much drunkenness among the people there are few brawls and practically no riots. Wild Herds in America? ?n several parts of Washington and j British Columbia aro herds of wiid j animals defended from domestic ancestors. Vor instance, in th; West- I ern edge of Washington, next the \ coast, is thc remnant of a herd of cd- j tie which for years has roamed through the woods aud over the prairies there. Long ago a military post was main? tained on (bray's Harbor and adjacent was a large amount of rleared laud, cultivated by soldiers as a farm. The troop owned a good many cattle, which pastured on a part of thc gar? rison ranch. For some reason or other the post was abandoned and the sol? diers found it impossible to take their cattle with them. So the animal" were left lhere and, since there were no >ettler< in the vicinity to look after them the herd grew wild. In spite ot tho face that the heavy forest ?t?'orded but :i small amount of pasturage, and not withstanding the i depredations of black wolves, which I Ihcn infested the woods along the j coast, the cat th increased in numbers ! very rapidly and were a constant ai noyance to eariy Settlers: Fena were broken^ down; crops were d< s troy ed and tame cattle coaxed oil i the woods. Many of the anima were killed by parties Organized I exterminate them, and the reinainde of the herd was driven into the slur of the ?lympics and into the coa range south arid east of Gray's Harbo: But every now and theil the hunte for elk; which abound in these mom tains; comes ii non a bunch of wil cattle almost as licet as the deer. lu Suohomish county, forty mile north of Seattle, are a lot of wi! hog?, the number being estimated ? 300. Some years ago about forty pig got away from a farmer, James Di val, and they have since multiplie like ra's. They are rapidly develoj ing all thc traits of the hog whic have never been domesticated. The are becoming gaunt, long-haired, long tusked aud savage, and they ru swiftly through the underbrush, fore ing their way wherever they choose t go. Huu?ng them, as hogs are stii hunted in Northern Europe in thc prc serves of the nobility, is getting to b a favorite sport of the youug Suoho mish farmers. In au area about fifteen mile square below Trout Creek, in Britis Columbia, is a band of at least sevei hundred wild horses. They are no only eating off the stock ranges, bu are becoming a more direct source ol loss to stock owners, for they en tice away good horses, especially th colts. The Government has sc?era limes been petitioned either to exterui iuate the baud, or give settlers per? mission to do it, but thus far no actioi has been taken. Though these wild horses are worthless little animals the authorities are afaid that killin? them will give offence to the Indians who claim some of them, but wh< nevertheless shoot without hesitatioi when any of the horses interfere wit! their tame animals.-[St. Louis Pos Dispatch. - A Truly Wonderful Baby. . lu 1721 there was born at Lubeck Germany, oue of the most remarkable characters ever known in the histor} of the world, or perhaps that will evei be known in all time to come. Toil human prodigy was little Christiar Henry Heinechen, who could pro norillee every word contained iii the German language when but 9 1-5 months old. When one year of age he knew al of the leading events of the world's history and was as familiar with Pen? tateuch as most modern professors are supposed to be with their first text? books. At 14 mouths he could give s complete history of every book in both tho Old and Sew Testaments; aud at 2 years b months he could an? swer auy questiou in geography ot history, ancient or modern. At that age he was able to hold conversation! with the learned European savants in either German, French, Latiu oi Dutch. He did not live to gee the end of hil fourth year, but during the few short weeks allotted to him little Heury was a baby/ boy, youug mau and gray? beard, that is, as far as the knowledge of worldly affairs were concerned? He had learned more in his three years aud a half of life than many of the world's greatest personages have been able to leam in their "three score years and ten." Just prior to his death he was called before the King of Denmark, his majesty showing the littie prodigy every mark of respect Early in 1724, he returned to his native Lu? beck to complete his studies.of Orien? tal religious, which added to his other acquirements, was too much for his delicate constitution, resulting in his death as mentioned.-[New York News* Finite and the Big European Armies. The financial aspect of the great armed truce of Europe is indeed over? shadowing all -other phases, remarks the New York Times. Practically ev? ery Continental State is kicking its heels in the ante-room or the hallway of thc Rothschilds, or, having been warned away, is patrolling the street outside. It seems there is money enough; Evett Russia could borrow, I believe,- if wiiliug to pay five per cent. Bdt she clings doggedly to no? tions of a io?:*er rate, and in other countries, where the budgets are an? grily audited by Parliaments, lhere is blank dismay at the mounting totals of interest charges. It is these hope? less, crushing figures which are mak? ing ihe Social Democrats all over Eu? rope much more than theories of hu? man brotherhood and universal peace. Wind Music Produces Dimples, An observant American has discov? ered that performers on wind instru? ments generally develop dimples in their cheek*, caused probably by the frequent strain on the facial muscles which are brought into play by the act of blowing. The clarionet, the flute, thc cornet, the trombone and the French horn are all said to bc excel? lent factors in producing this little indentation so often vainly courted by artificial means. Perhaps this discov? ery of cause aud efi'ect may lead to i's becoming fashionable for girls to play on wind instruments. His Eyes Opened, .'You can't always depend on popu? lar opinion," he s*id gloomily. "How is that?*' asked his friend. "Why, lt is a common saying that iL is as easy to support two as it is to support cue.'' .'Well.''" "Well; I went and got married, and today her milliner >ends mea bill of ?2"> tor u hat. 1 never paid moro ihan 50 for a hat for myself in ?nv I life. li-iULi popular opinion, say J, I - [New York Press- j SKATING ?N mm Popul?r Winter Amusements in Frigid Norway. Snow Races Fast Becoming a National institution; ?iie aih?sem?fits of Christian ia are those of all cold countries: One spe? cial delight is skating oii the fruzcu snow; it may, in .facfj be cal ed lite national sport of Norway in the coid white months. For the peasants,how? ever, it is no mere sport, but a neces? sity of existence,whereas in the towns it is a recreation which every one loves to 6hare in or to walch. The snow-shoes are long, flat and pointed, made of light, elastic, but solid wood. When wearing tb ese snow-shoes, a balancing-stick is necessary, but the most skilful skaters only need a little branch- The rest of the equipment is very much the same as for ordinary skating, except that very long stock? ings and very thick muMrs are worn to break the force of concuss s?onsi fol* ska?ng oil snow in ??oi? Way is really a mad rush front the (op to the bottom of thc hills; with bud? den leaps in the air where the grotimb becoming suddenly vertical; disarm pears from beneath your feet lt is" I an intoxicating sedation to speed j through thc air as quickly as light? ning, as lightly as a bird, the lung? inflated with the pure air, the blood rushing through one's veins, making one feel strong, vigorous, supple, and as if one's limbs were elastic. This salutary and delightful exercise, vio? lent as it appears, is not really ai all exhausting, and delicately bre?, high? born youug ladies can take part in it Truly it is a beautiful sight, and thoroughly Scandinavian, a sort of glimse into the heroic ages of the sa? gas, to watch a beautiful fair girl in her short gray dress, with bright eyes and glowing cheeks, shoot, like an ap? parition from another world, across the whiteness of the untrodden snow. The races on the snow are amongst the greatest fetes of the capital, and ail the world, headed by the court, goe3 to see them. The most celebrated Norwegian skaters compete; but of late years it has always been the young people of Christiania who have carried off the prizes. This sport is becoming every day more and more of a national institution, and it is not unusual for young nobles to spend a long time up m the mountains practis? ing skating. Alpine hotels aud inns, which used to close at the beginning of the cold season, are now kept opeu for some weeks in thc depths of win? ter. Very soon cT? those who value their reputation in society will go up to greet the New Year at a height jf 2000 metres alfbve the ?ea, flying about all day, as thc saga tells ns Frithiof and Iugeborg did across the the s wow fields, aud at night, throwing aside the costume of the skater, dance in full evening toilet in the brilliantly lighted rooms of the Kursaal. Those who are blessed with vivid imagina? tions already see the heights dotted with a whole series of winter stations, a sort of white Riviera; for we no longer dread the cold, we have already begun to send those who have any? thing the matter with their lungs to winter amongst the snow, where, after a few weeks training, the most delicate will write their letters with their windows open. Skating on the suow does not pr?vaut tne Norwegi? ans from successfully practising or? dinary skating on ice, and amongst the crowds on the Karl-Johans-Oade we are sure to recognize one or two champion ?oiw?gia?? skaters who have carried ort prizes hi both hemi? spheres.- [Harper's Weekly. A Frog Swallows a Mease. Gaba Myers has bee? considerably vexed by a mouse which daily enjoyed a free lunch iu the pretzel basket? Traps were set, but the mouse Was too sharp ami defied all attempts to cap? ture it. This morning Mr. Myers heard the mouse in the basket and determined te try a ?cw plan to gel r^l of it. He picked np the basket very carefully ami carried it over to a box m which were several big frogs. Holding tiie bas kc trover tue box lie shook it vigorously, expecting to have the mouse drop into the box, when he would kiil it. The programme was tarried ont -so far as shaking the mouse iuto the box, but when that was ac? complished a new actor entered upon the stage in the shape of one of the frogs, which al once went for thc mouse, lt was a stern chnse, bnt did not last loug, the ?rog catching the mouse aud swallowing it head first. In one second the tip of the mouse's tail protruded from ?he mouth of the srog, which blinked with th* content? ment born of a full stomach. - [Lau ?aster (Penu.) Examiner. A Rare Pacific Coast Shell. Probably the most in:eres ing of al! thc shells on the Pacific coast is the chiton, or "coat-of-mail," which hardly resembles a shell at all. It is much more suggestive of the dried fruit of the magnolia, with its dull shaded browns. In shape it is some what like a boat or tray, and deeply concave. Tue shell might be thought half a bivalve, as the upper side it open. But the animal has no covering except a membrane, which dries dries around the edge in the dead specimen. The most curious circum ! stances connected with the chiton is I that it formed iu regular, scale?like ? layers, audit would seem r'^a two ! flaky shells in each row. Tlie scales ?ire yellowish-broWit, the connecting j bands and edge* d*rk bi-owo. The in ? ?ide of 'b<> shell shows th?* scale for? mation more plainly. The sections fie in ?bod st?hnen? clean and white. -fSau Francisco Chronicle,