Flats, i& UtUe city *<, measuring an elgni^ acre. These includt ground which hare been' tennent, parish churchyards, _ er disused burial grounds, of «\ the largest is 11 acres and the sma.. est a few yards square.

The estimate that the population of the United States and its possessions will reach a total of 100,000,000 at the end of the first 10 years of this century has a rounded fulness which may puff American pride unduly. It may be prudent to moderate the screams of the eagle and not to count too many chickens years in advance. Some of the eggs may be addled. This is a wonderful nation, and it is growing amazingly. In fact, we grow so fast that we should beware of vainglory. It is time to take heed.

In an official report submitted to the war department the statement is made that the magazines of nearly all the forts upon the New England coast are damp and unfit for use. It is not likely that these shore defences will ever be required to repel invaders, but of what use is a dtidel In which the first maxim of successful aggression or of formidable resistance Is constantly disregarded? To keep your powder dry is a good rule here and now as It was In the Irdnsldes army of Cromwell 250 years ago, and every fortress of ours should be dismantled and abandoned, or waterproof and thoroughly protected magazines must be constructed.

The Brussels correspondent of the London Times says the bill for regulating the administration of the Congo Free State as soon as it is annexed to Belgium has just been published. It Is an Interesting study as an experiment In colonial government, but compares unfavorably with the freer ideas, based on autonomy, adopted by Great Britain. Its leading feature Is the ad most autocratic power conferred on the king, who is controlled neither by councillors nor parliament. Legislative power is exercised by royal decree, and the king controls the civil and military services, the administration of justice, aad taxation. «

A movement is on foot in Massachusetts to organize a society for the protection of our native plants, especially near the larger cities, where the need seems to be the greatest, for it is in the cities that the deepoiler of the woods and the streams finds a sale for what be gets there. The pond lily, the trailing arbutus, the native orchids, the fringed gentian and many of the evergreens have been gathered In such quantities to be sold that their extinction is seriously threatened. It is not intended to put a stop to the gathering of such flowers, but rather to induce people to do it in the right way. They should be cut and not pulled, for pulling disturbs the roots . s^d HUs many felants. It is also

discouraged by lack c _ /

foi. cotto eovereu never come. on her knee strained to brea&.. seemed an age. At length a firm tread crunched the gravel aad she started to her feet with bis name upon her lips. "No, It isn't Sydney, my child." An elderly man. whose likeness to the girl betrayed the relationship, appeared round a curve in the path. His - face was pale with a great trouble, and be crushed a telegram In his hand. “No, It isn't Sydney, my child," he repeated huskily. Hla eyes wandered to the grass, the trees, anywhere to avoid her questioning gaze. "In fact, be won't be coming here at all today. I’ve Just had news of him." "Father!” The girl went white to tue lips. “There is something the matter. What is It? Speak.” "He is ill—very ill. Agnes, child, don't look at me like that! I—oh! how can I tell you! He will never come, neither today nor any other day. He Is dead." a "Dead!” "He died on the voyage home.’ 1 Then, like a blinding flash of light, her desolation came home to her. "Dead! Oh, father!" she walled. He caught the slender, swaying figure he held It close against his breast, and smoothed her hair. “Cry, little one; why don't you cry?” But her eyes were wide and dry. Her grief was too terrible for tears. She felt as though the shock had numbed her, and that, no trouble would be great enough to make her feel again. Before two days were over the girl was tossing in the delirium of brain fever. For weeks her life hung In the balance, and then youth and a fine constitution proved the conqueror, and she rose, a pallid, little ghost, with sad eyes, to face the long years of loneliness and regret. “She is young, she will forget," her father tried to believe, and he said It to the man, his nephew, who had loved her since her childhood. But when he suggested as much to the girl, she shook her head. ‘1 shall never forget," she answered, "and I shall never marry another man." She meant her words, but fate was too strong for her. The cousin was so kind to her father and herself, and they told her that her coldness was spoiling his life. “But for bis generosity I should be a ruined man today," her father flkld. "He. is a good fellow, he is rich, he worships you. .Make him happy! You have had a great loss, but you are J too young to alt down and brood over the past for the rest of your days, i It Is a wrong thing to meditate; you j will grow morbid, old before you are young. Agnes, believe me, that I have ! your welfare at heart when I say .that for your own sake, as much as his, you ought to marry Ralph.” i She waa still weak from her 111- ' ness. She thought she had no Interest left In life, no desire save to please those who loved her. So she listened to persuasion, and when her cousin spoke one day, she answered "Yes." “I have no feeling tor you," she sxplalnsd. "other than affection aad

to eat his lunch, smoke his pipe, giance over the late evening papers purchased on his way to work and take life easy generally. "Oh, tell me, pretty maiden, are there any more at home like you?" The singer was on the track, alongside the tower. His voice was harsh, discordant The operator looked out of a window. Some 60 yards away, walking toward the tunnel mouth, waa a man none too steady on his feet Reaching a low semaphore signal poet he stopped and sat down on the westbound rail*/ Then, slowly and with some difficulty, be began to remove his shoes. “Hey, get out of there,” yelled the signal man. The stranger paid no attention and continued to undress. The signal man believing that the fellow had not heard him. took a megaphone, used to give orders to conductors on passing trains, and bellowed: “Get out of there or you’ll get killed, you chump.” It was clear that the man was so full of liquor that be could not appreciate his danger. The bell In the tower rang warning the operator that the "theatre” train was entering the tunnel The train time through the tunnel was four minutes. Something had to be done quickly. No one was In sight; the track wajken by the usual contrariness of fftte were somewhere else. The operator, knowing that the line was open to the westward, set a "clear" signal for the train. The he fairly tumbled down sta)n and ran down the track. He seized the man, who had sprawled on the broad of his back, and tried to get him on his feel But the fellow fought. There was a scuffle, but the sober man was Just In time, throwing tne bibulous individual to one side as the train was emerging from the tunnel Then he went back to his tower. Reaching the foot of the stairs he heard the telegraph sounder clicking “PX. PX. PX." It was his call. He hurried up, opened bis key and replied. "PX. PX, PX’’ Then he paused and waited for his message. It read; "Superintendent of division has been calling you up for five minutes. Got no answer. Has ordered your suspension for two weeks for , neglect oi duty.’’—New York Commercial Advertiser.

At law Sine* ISM. The Melbourne law coarts have their Miss FUte, a character Immortalized by Dickens in “Bleak House" An elderly woman may frequently be seefi in the corridors, addressing the empty air—sometimes in passionate tones, with outstretched arms, and again in low, threatening mutterings. During the progress of an argument In the county court, before Acting Judge Johnston, some reference was made to the absence of evidence on a certain point Suddenly the court was startled at hearing & female cry out in irate tones, ‘1 have* given plenty oi evidence since ’66!" A glance around ■bowed that the Interrupter was th< old lady of the corridors, who was advancing wKh determination toward the barrister*’ tabU.-London Glow

^/ack in the structure can rest m peace for a while. The big bridge has undergone almost as thorough an examination as if it was being taken to pieces. As surely as a watchmaker would detect a broken wheel in the watch he was cleaning, so surely would these cleaners and painters discover and report any serious flaw they might find in the bridge work. People who watch the work of painting the big bridge, think that it is a dangerous and nerve-racking task for the men employed, but, as a matter of fart, the men say they would rather work as painters on the Brooklyn bridge than upon a good many houses or apartment buildings. They say that on the bridge they can see what they are doing, and that there is always good scaffold support. Half the accidents that occur on a Job of ordinary housepainting are due to the ■lipping or breaking of the masonry to which the painters’ swinging scaffold has ben fastened. Another cause of danger la the fart that It is frequently a long and troublesome task to move the swinging scaffold so that the men can comfortably reach a new place. To save themseves the work of moving the stage, painters will often hang over the edge of the scaffold in attitudes thst simply court s fall. On the bridge there are none of these objections. Because of the numerous spider-web ropes which support the roadway and bridge floor there Is no lack of secure places from whidh the painters’ scaffold can be swung. On the highest and most dangerous parts of the bridge these ropes are closest together In fart nothing but the grossest carelessness can bring about a serious accident during the work of painting the bridge. The men can, at any time, more from the stage to the work Itself without risk and, because of the numerous seats which the wire ropes afford. It is a very easy matter to move the swinging stages. In most of the locations on the bridge the ordinary painters' hanging scaffold is used, but there are some places where the exigencies of the work compel the employment of the device known as a "boatswain's chair." This is simply a small piece of plank—or sometimes a legless chair —which is supported In a loop. The loop Is attached to a long rope which runs through a pulley. In moving it the painter places himself so that he is seated on the plank and usually ties himself In. Then helpers take hold of the rope and draw him up to ^he point at which he desires to work. The "boatswain's chair" Is largely fcsed by riggers and by men engaged in painting the masts and gear of

■hips.

The worst part of the work, and the only task whldi is not readily undertaken by the men, is the work on the main towers. Any oce who will notice will see that these are reached by walking up the main cables which support the bridge. On each side of this giddy patM a wire rope is fastened, to set aw a hand rail, but any one who looks Aan see that there many places where these hand will either be)'above the Verkman'

the

. , act by Mr. Franklin himself, . . ^fnermore he washed and pressed every piece to make ready for this day. / The story of how this cheery old gentleman happened to flnd|such employment is interesting. e always led a busy, active life, first on a New Hampshire farm, then In Wny parts of the world as ship's capUm. and later as a builder and ‘decorator. About 10 years ago, while woriing on the roof of a building, he fell 4> the ground and received serious injujes. A broken leg meant months of inprlsonment and his active temperapent rebelled at the enforced idlenea. Always a favorite with his youngiacquaintancea he never lacked for coumany, and one sympathetic girl conceited the idea of teaching him fancy wort Some coarse materials were brought and lying Hal upon his back, he leaned to his intense satisfaction a fewfcimple stitches. Thus, at the age ofj75, when most people are willing to f>ld their hands and consider their woVk In this world accomplished he beesne an apt pupil In 10 years he ha-i developed wonderfully; has learned .nore complicated embroidery and ac- aired the art of finishing off. He always buys his own silks and spends muth time in the choice of colors, for he Is particular to a shade, and nothing Is a trouble to him in this occupation. 'Early and late he keeps at work. Ttate near to him have much fun over Sis unnecessary industry tor he gets u&at unheard of hours even while yet o4t of town for a summer’s vacation. he stitches away contentedly and jq ns the laughter. I ' Mr. Franklin Is a philtsopher and he talks of what might hive been, but for this pretty pastime. Nothing pleasM him more than \o have his work admired and wha a helpful thing it is to keep one hands and head occupied even at tW* age of 85.— Boston Evening Transcrfcl

Tfe* Poll

An eminenl

deceased was sadly giv(

Americar la wye adly giv( to Ini

ilpll V«rsi

it A i sad

tlon. On one occasion - ^e entered a

UUU. VSU UUC WVAVJVU _ *c UUMIGU a church while a mlnietef was holding forth on the future punishment of tho wicked. 'Y'; Fixing his eye upon thwlawyer, who was relling near the dooritne preacher exclaimed, "There star* a sinner against whom I will bem- witness In the day of Judgment’’ m At this the lawyer K fed his arms planted himself as firmly m he could, and addressing the man la the pulpit, electrlfled the whole congregation af-

ter this fashion:

"Sir, I have been practising In the criminal courts for 20 years, and I have always found that the greatest rascal Is the first to give state's evidence.—The Scotsman.

re are 1 i railf : assail 1

Jaat Rnppoaln*.

"Suppose, now,” said the artist’s wife “that we had 11000 in the house, and you heard a burglar crawling through the window—what would you do?" "Oh, fudge, darling." the artist replied, “why look on the dark side of thlnga? Let's suppose we had $1000 in the house and stop right there."—

Chicago Recortf-Hsrald.

..uit-nca .... „ yecu^.. people who are spotted in a queer manner. All members of the tribe are similar in this respect, men. women and children being mottled blare and white. They live almost entirely on fish. The tea used in the housebo.^ the Chinese Emperor is raised in a private garden surrounded by a high wall. At the time of harvesting the pickers must wear gloves, must bathe thfeo times a day. and must abstain from eating flesh, lest their breath should taint the aroma of the tea. One of the curiosities of the old city of Guadalupe. Mexico, is a great column of stone sails rising from the upper walls of the cathedral. There are three sails, one above another, each with reef {Mints and showing a stone mast. On the top is a niche containing the figure of a patron saint. Chief Officer Bradshaw of the P. and O. steamship Clyde was reported drowned several years ago. and on his turning up shortly afterward alive and well, what was his surprise to find that a tablet had been placed in his parish church, England, recording his death and setting forth his many virtues. E. A. Suverkrop of Phlladelpnia is said to have discovered in South America an orchid which takes a drink whenever it feels thirsty by letting down a tube Into the water, the tube, when not In use. being coiled up on the plant Mr. Suverkrop came across the plant by the side of a lagoon on the Rio de la Plata. The archaeologists, who have made so much progress in recent years in uncovering the evidences of ancient civilization, now tell us that the Caliph of Bagdad owned and operated • paper factory before the year 800 A. D. The material is not stated. It Is bard to believe that the paper was made by our modern pulp process. The dressing of the hair Is the most important of a Chinese woman’s toilet. The district she comes from may always be known from the manner in which she does her hair. It also Indicates her station in life. Young girls whether married or single, wear cues, coiling up their hair, as their Western sisters do, on attending a certain age. A man while walking in the railroad yard at Columbus, Ohio, the other day, was struck by a passenger train moving at high speed. He was thrown to one side and whe:i picked up by some men who saw the accident, was unconscious. Examination showed that apart from a broken arm, he had suffered no injury, And he walked away, refusing to go to a hospital

A Jav*alU rhll»nthropl»t, “I like that boy of Snlggins’.” "Isn't he a little obstinate? The day I called his mother had to threater to ’apank him before he would recite pieces for the ladies and gentlemen.” \ "Thati Isn't obstinacy. That’s moral courage^’—Washington Star. ) 1

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