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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Times, 1897-6-17, Page 2maaranimarsouramompolananalt. walbatainnwn .....N111011111•2511140 WINNING HER WAY CHAPTER U. Moritz glanced at hie •mother n sur prise as she knitted calmly on ;he pac ea the room several times, his land behind, his baok. "Did yeu know., Moritz, that Ilege back is going to retire?" she asked al te,r a pause. "That is the best thing he can do,' replied her son, "for he quarrels wit all, his reepertors." "How aboue the small pension?" "Oh, he can live on it, =other." "He? Yes—but tee child?" she a:eke impatiently. "Oh. mother!" "You. Mini: z, talk of roarriage Wber you have balf a dozen chilaren, whin do you thiek I shall get the mone from for so many?" She uttered te words in jest and. they both laughte "You dear little mother, he eried kissing her lips. "No. all joking aside." said she, "I will provide for Elsie. You need not think I shall do things by halves. Sin must learn something; I think she should lie a governess, and, as soot: es she is ten years old. I shall take he,r to D—. Is not that the best thing to do, Moritz?" .At that moment the door opened softly and a tiny head with golden hair was thrust in, a pair of large, brown eyes sparkled in the rosy, smiling face, and a sweet, bird -like voice aeked: "Moritz, Moritz, will you come into the garden? equirrel is in the chest- naletree." "Come here, Elsie!" cried the young man, and wben the child hastened to him, he took her in hi •s arms like a doll and carried her to h•is mother. "just took at ber, mother." besaid In a etra.ngely gentle voiree. The lady glaneed at the lure, 1.like faoe said then inquiringly at her on. "Now run along, lesie, I will cerue after you." and the young man care- fully opened th,e door for the tiny ere,a, ture to pass through. ebe um." he aeked, returning "as fresh as a rostehul? And. you pro- pose to ehut her up in a dismal school- room far into the year, of her maiden- bood, and to make her miserable by ov- ertaxing ber brain. "Mother, you have wade me uneasy. 'What a, world of tease and wakenai nigets, of buried hopes and bitter denials lie in those words: She must become a governess! Ale mother, do not force her to it, the poor little thing I" "Why, 'Moritz," sale Frau. von Rate - now imintiently, "ycm. talk ae if I were about to do the (quild a grievous wrong. (live her an allowance, if you can! Do you know that she has noth- ing but three hundred dollars of her mother's.? When lit geba.ch dies, he will leave at the most, debts; and what then? However, matters have not gene so far yet, and you need not pity your 'roe -bud!' As you are be love, my son, I wilt forgive the comparison; she is, no doubt, a rosebud too." With those words she laid her knit- ting in the basket, and. left the room; shortly after, her son ueard her reson- ant voisze saying, belong:tears: "I will won now you. that. it can be done. One can do anything, if one events to." Lees that evening Moritz von Rate - new knocked at his mothex'e door. "I surely heard you ride into the court," see said to him as he entered. "Come ; where .have you been'!" He seated himself upon the side of her bed and said; "Guess! 13ut no, you cannot -1 have been to my lather -in - lag -elect's. It was on accuurtt of the /pension, mother. I told him that I loved Frieda, that sive loved me, and that if he had no objection we would eet married. and—" "Of course he had no objection!" she exclabned proudly. "No. he had tune! And Frieda is com- ing home." "How old is she, Moritz?" "Sixteen and a half. beau von Tess- feld thinks we should wait four years." "That is very sensible, Moritz." "Are you satisfied. mother?" he ask- ed softly. "What can I do? f3he is from a fa.m- ily as good as ours, and if she takes! atter her father, she will make a fine woman." She paused 'thoughtfully. "I ' breve not been observant enough,. Had I suspected that dm was to be my daughter-in-law—but," she continued, "it seems to me that her father onee said. to me: 'Frieda is as capricious as Ler mother.' Yee, I remember it dise tieertly. Now, lister* if teat is son you must held the reins somewhat tightly." He laughed."Her charm lies, mo- ther, in her being suola an elf." "Teat is notheig to laugh about. Moritz," she onteured. "But now go to bed. I shall drive to Tessfeld to- monnw 1 As your mother, 1 must do so out of compliment to you." And she stroked his fair hair caressingly. "Go ! to bed now, and do not gaze at tb,e moon any longer." When he ev-as gone she sat up in bed for a long time with folded hands. "I am glad be is so resolute," she said ! at length half-alaine "When his fa- I Cher was courting me, the very birds I sang of it from the tree -tops. Tthe , boy knows his own mind—that he in -1 herits from rae 1" The door of an old house, the win- dows of white overlooked a, narrow street, was softly pushed open and the e geareeful form of a girl barely ten " years of age passed through it. The ethild wore a simple gray dress and a te brown straw hat. from beneath which ' fell two heavy braids of flaxen hair, In her hand she carried a small bask- et containing pears and grapes; she hastily ascended the stairs and knocked at a door. "Come in!" eried a man's voice, and. ft the next moment Elsie von Hegehach stood before lin father, in a room 1111- d with clouds of tobaccotemoke. The man looked very old and very untidy in his threadbare dressing -gown; his skin lied eirown sallow and. the Iretiful expressior upon his faoe hed. changed to a domineering one. Notwithstand- /mg that, the rosy, youthful face was pressed confidingly against his cheek. "Papa, how are you?" asked theeltild, and. placing her basket on the table. she threw beth arms around her fa- ther's neck. "Do not always ask nee that the first. thing." was the irritable reply. A shadow of pain flitted across the child's smiling countenance. "Papa, mayI stay with you awhile. or are you going to the club?" she ask- ed shyly. "You know I am going to the club. but Siethmann is in the next room." "Dear papa."—the ttny, rosy mouth quivered, but the tears were bravely reser:tined. "I will not stay long: you know I must bid you "Good-bye' to -day —to'morrow, I am to go to ,D—e' "Already to -morrow he asked, look - ng up from his paper. "What time do you go ?" "Frau Cramm said I sheedd be et her 'louse at seven o'clock. Aunt Ratenow liked Frau Cra,mna to take me with her, •ir Annie is going to 0— too; and as •roritz gets married. to -day, and they ge all at Teesfield, there is no one at tome to take me—" "Yes. yes," he laterrupted impatient- '.. , "all right. The term probably be - ens the day after to -morrow." "Yes! Shall I read. the paper to you .wicale, papa ?" "No, thank you. A safe journey, elsie, and be diligent." Be held out his hand to her and turn - Ind again to his wee. The child. for a moment stood beanie him motionlessly; ior pallid lips moved, but not a word escaped them; then she turned to leave the room. "Elsie!" her Lather called out. She started. "Give that stuff to Siethmann; 1 d not eat it," and he pointed to the dainty basket. Suddenly she fell upon he knees before him. "Papa, male elle cried ,"why do you not lov.e ? 'Why do you not epeek kindly to me, as Annie's father dues to herr lier delicate form trembled; in her agitation she laid her fair head upon his knee and burst into convulsive sobs "Good Lord, child, get epl" eriedoli Sietlartanza, who, on hearing the girl's sobs, bed entered tbe room. She raised THE EXETER TIMES inn to a close, dark clouds were gath ering in the west and the evening breezes fanned the cbild's Hustled cheeks, "Mother I" she whispered. There was an indescribable accent of anguish in her voice as she uttered that word. She erouclaed down and laid her cheek earessingly against the simple iron cross. She remained in that position until the sexton's wife, accidentally passing by, kindly warned her to re- turn home as the cemetery was about to be -closed. She gathered a few ivy leaves before she left the grave. On arriving home she stood at the window in Aunt Lott's room ane listened to the singing of the ment-servants, and of the maids, who were celebrating their master's wedding -day by drinking punch in the servant's hall. On the following morning at eight onloct, evhee the sue with difficulty pierced the clouds, it shone upon a pale, childish face which peered. with large, wondering eyes out of th.e win- dow of a carriage tv,hich rolled along the highway. In the carnage sat a plump, blooming woman, wrapped. in a black velvet mantle, and a cerpulen man; between that couple sat their little daughter with straw-colored hair and a snub nose; they were taking her to the well-known institute at D— for a couple of years. Each parent he1d. one of the small hands, and one vouid tell by the mother's eyes that she had. wept bitterly. Elsie sat alone on the battik seat with the bundles, arze before the child stretched, dark and uncertain, that un- known life in which her tiny feet had taken their first steps that day. About the House. CARE OF THE BABY, The Batlh—As 'widely as this sub- jeot in and has been discateed tbere is yet considerable to learn. Parental responsibility extends over both the physical and moral being of a olaild, and proper precautions as to its healthi are just as essential, for some time at least, as the training of the ethical na- ture. A mother's duties are many and varied; they embrace not only food. and olothisag, but an =idea:emitting of the Physical requirements of her infant, and the acquiirement of a.11 theknow- ledge on the subject that she min ob- tain from books and physicians. The question of greatest importance is cleanliness. The little one should own a batb-tub a,nd every morning receiv from the mother's own bands a thor ough waslung. The baby's bath shout be regular. Midway between tw feedings is the best time. Never when he is hungry or immediately after meal. His second bath is usually giv en the third day after his initial toilet There should be in a warm room tw tubs of water at a temperature of 10 degrees as indicated by a there:tome tee White castile sotto is best for the baby, and then it is not necessare to use muell every deo' on that soft skin A little borax added to the water is cleansing and softening if rain water is not abtainable. The ba.by weapped in a soft warm blanket in the nurse's lap is then waelhed, beginning at the head and bathing and drying one part at is. time. Great care should be taken that no soap entexte bis eyes. lie is tlext dipped to the neck in tee clean water, and allowed to remain for half a min- ute, tben dried with soft, warm towels under a cover. If he happens to have a cold tide bath should not be omitted. Wren him up in a large blanket, Put a little cool water on his head and bathe the body with warm or tepid water under a cover. Sponge tile skin, 'before drying, with equal parts Of with -hazel and alcohol. Before dressing warm the clothes by the fire. Many mothers use alcohol and water throughout the entire winter for the baby's skip, as it is an astringent, los- ing the pore, and thus preventing i cold. He should be carefully dried witk soft towels, as too much powdering is unwise. If used, however, procure good, mineral powder, such as talc. Keep the scalp perfectly clean, using a soft brush in ,preference to a comb. Cleanse the gnme several times a day withi a soft cloth over the finger and dipped in cool water. Later on, a soft camel's hair tooth bruzeh may be used. . Exerciee—The baby should have plen- ty of freesia, pure air. Not Iese than two 'mum after leis bath must he be taken out of doors. If born during the warm season he may be taken out every nice day after tyre weeks of age. Fresh air wall never make a baby sick, but the warmest room xnay be infested with disease germs of the worst kind if not well ventilated and plenty ot sun admitted. Outdoor life is as essen- tial to the mother as the child. An o a CHAPTER III. tinEleight. years had passed sheet> that In les stuffy room on the "Rosen- °. gasse," still smoking and. reading, sat r major eon eleventh, while old Siette mann still prepared ber abominable cof- fee. The major did not, however, go to the elub as regularly as he once had done, for walking was difficult, with him. Gout had deprived him of his only diversion, and. his dispositon was not improved by it. Siethmann had a harder time of it than ever; but she did not realize the situation, for she 1 had grown duller; ant nothing. with Elsie from the floor. at the sante time elieting a severe glanee the Lunen He had risen and in his excitement was pacing to and fro. \\ nu Lae mule anytleng to you?" he asked, half -anxious, half -provoked "Have you been el:ceded? What ails you? Tell nie! .If yeti are ill, Sieth- mann shall go with you and put you to bed?" "I am not ill," was the gentle reply, "Good-bye, papal" and hastily wiping bier eyes. she paesed from that room I into the ene tvnichad formerly been her inuther's and in which eietemann 'h :lived since le kept bouse for the mej- m ; e The ehi d. seated herself at the ; window and gazed Ligon the neglected !garden; for several wee,,ks she had been , very eel. One day Aunt. Ratenow had sunamon- ! ed tier to her room a.nd had said to I her, as she stroked her soft, fair hair: 'Eleie. you are now ten years old. and beuseee girl; it is thee to talk seri- ously with you. You know that every - ane in order to be happy inuet be of ' some uee in the mixed, and you wish to be useful too, do you note! Many ' are born, so to speak, with silver nations , in than: mouths, and. during their en- , tire iivet they need not tvorre- nor ask: What !tee t we eat, what shall we drink, . what we wear? Others have no - thin, else to du but. to as thos:e ques- tjcxii.. Your father, Elsie, is a sickly, lonely man, who has had many crosses to bear; he is, tee ,a poor man; he can- not give you a silver spoon. But in place of that, the Almighty has endow- ed you with an intelligent mind and a healthy body, and it will be easy for you, if you so desire, to answer the questions I just mentioned to you. 1 wish to impress upon you to be dili- gent and studious, so that you may ob- tain your governesscertificate. That is the only means a young lady of good birth has of making her own way in the world." It seemed to the (Atari as if a dank visil had been suddenly east over her entire life. The gray School -room with its oppressive atmesphere—with its walls wiech seemed to crusb her, e it h its windows through whittle a sunbeam :seldom gleamed—rose before her eyes. She was to be walled In—she who loved flowers, air and sunlight!—walled in, net alone until she was a woman, but forever. forever! it could not be "Well, Elsie, do you not like the idea ?" Olei shook her head. "Then remain a little dunce, and you will be like Siethmann some day! An ignorant person receives treatment. ac- cordingly." -Why should. I have to do that?" El- sie exclaimed. "'Other girls do not!" And she raised her doe -like eyes to the stately lady's grave fate, as it awaiting the solution of an incom,prehensible problem. "Many have to, Elsie, and you are one of the many. L. is my duty to ed- ucate you so that some day you may be independent- Now go; you know you should be ubedient, Elsie, even if you do not see why you should be. - Elsie then flew to Aunt. Lott tvith pallid cheeks and panting breath. "I am to go away. aunt." She could not utter another word, but her eyes roved about, the oozy room and finally res•ted on the kind. old face; she saw two tears trickle down the wrinkled cheeks and fall upon the old lady's cap -strings. She could not weep. She was to go away for so long a time —away from the home of her childhood, from the shady garden, from Moritz, and from all! The day before, Aunt Lott. had tear- fully packed. her trunk; she had bid- den her, Aunt Ratenow and dear Mor- itz farewell, for they all went to Tees- feld for the wedding. Elsie would have liked to have gone too, but Aunt Rate - now would not, h,ear of it. "What could you do Opera, Mete?" she had asked. "Children are always he the way." She was alone all day, for even the cat, took a walk. 'What. difference did t make that the maid gave her a glass of wiee and apiece of cake for dessert? "Els:e, master bade me give you• his," she had said. For the first: thee she was lenescaue, nd she felt a passionate yea.rning, for heart which was solely hers; thee, she had hastened to her father, wtlb what esults we have already seen. Suddenly Elsie sprang up; she could o longer remain in the stifling room. t smelt of stale coffee; there were Xesseespots on the floor; on the wall ung Siethmann's entire wardrobe; the urniture was moth-eaten and worn lareadoare by bard usage. The young girt descended the stairs, alked hastily through several streets, nd fi.nally reethed the (cemetery, hich she entered she sought out end eased before the ivycovered resting - lace M. the mother she had. never mown. The September day was draw - the exception rrhaps of Elsie a,nd her in b.er. • Regularly every four weeks a letter , lay upon the old man's desk, the hand- writiag at first the laborious effort of thild's pen, and later on, the deli- • nee but not characterless writing of a woman. He had only written to his daughter once, and that was when Elsie was confirmed; the letter was treasured up in a box with a necklace of garnets, the only ornament her mo- th bad. • e A tender, grateful reply was for- warded to him with the childish promise to always remain an obedient. daught- er. On the day of which we are writ- ing a. letter again lay before him. "111.e. dear beloved papa: You are the first to be inforzned that 1 pessed my examination No. 1! The prineipal has just told me so. I am. so rejoiced that all the trouble is forgot- ten. I shall come home now in a Lew ; days. my dear papa, and I am delight- , ed at the thought of seeing you. again. I "Your affeetionate daughter, ELSIE. I ; He read the letter and his face grew , grave. While be was thinking it over, e pair of hands at the castle were busy preparieg the room for the loved one who was about to return, Aunt. Lott and Aunt Ra.tenow had received the same joyful news, by the second post, ' and Aunt Lott. had at once begun to I set to rights (he young girl's former I nursery. It was of course understood , coffee -can cou awaken any interest fn • • 5 that she would (wimpy that room. Frau von Ratenow's sitting -room had " not changed with time; she herself had grown somewhat stouter, and her firm will was perhaps more strongly marked on her features; and yet there had been a ehenge which lent the cozy room, with its soft carpet and its heavy blue hangings, a more domestic char t- er 1 Before the fire -place in• ! fire crackled three chi,ldren were play - lug a—boy and two girle—the latter, fair, blue-eyed and rosy-cheeked, . their father; the b • a la k 1 • . rated rogue , the household pet, the baby. These little ones were frolicking, romping and making a din generally, which would have disturbed anyone but a grandmother. Frau von Ratenow was reading a letter, which she let fall upon her lap : and then took up again. . "Lulu!" -he cried at length, "fetch your papa." • The eldest, a girl of five, sprang up ' and hastened out of the ruom. , in a fee- moments a short, but grace- ful wCiMan„ inan elegant Week dress, entered. The children greeted her with: ' "Itiamma ! Mamma I" "You little darlings!" said she, kiss- ing them; and turning to Frau von Rat- ' enow. she said, with a show of curiosity: ; -Moritz will be here directly, mamma; , what 15 ; "Ie your name Moritz, sauciness?" asked t he old lady, not unkindly. But the dainty lade creature was not to be frightened off. With a laugh she threw her arms around her mother-in- law's neck. ".0h. mamma, you know I am ter- ribly curious; surely it is. no state sec- ret I Please, please, let me stay I" "Wilt you ever be sensible, Frieda? Will you alves.ye remain a child? it is because Moritz has spoiled you so!" She seemed created to be spoiled— thatcharming little person with the perfeet form, delicate oval face, large, deep -blue eves with lung. dark lashes and blue-blaok, glassy hair, which simply dressed., showed ta advantage the finely -shaped head. ft was no wonder that. the "toy," as his moth- er called him, was as deeply in love as upon the first day of his married. life. "Of course," said he, an entering the room, pretending to be vexed while his eyes glowed with the light of affection; "here she le again. in order to hear what is going on!" "I know nothing yet, Moritz I" "That, is very sad, little wife," he cried. eBe quiet. good-for-nothingsl" he continued, stopping u phis ears, "who can say a word here? Go over to Caroline I" The mother banded:her son a letter, ('o Be Continued.) DESTRUCTIVE BUtE,LETS. Lee-Metford bullets were made ef- fective during the recent Beein expe- dition through the soldiers shaving off the tops. This caused the case to drop off when the rifle was discharged, and enabled the leaden inner part to in- flict a wo,und severe enough to stop the, onset of attacking parties. BICYCLE AILM:ENTS. Brother elm has the bicycle face, Joe as the bicycle back, and Sister Sue has he bicycle leg. Any other bioyele ailments in your amity? Well, papa says he has the bicycle ocketbook and it's badly punctured outdoor stroll with the baby twice a day, and a drive occasionally will pro- bably. do more far both teen many mediemes and doctors. Children un- der six months of age need the protec- tion of the nurse's arms in cool weaLther when taken out of doers a et should not be bundled into a carriage. Young Infants will get all the exercise they need if placed once or twice it day on their baelts and allowed to kick th . limbs at will. Under no circemetances should the little one be pertained to stand or walk until at least a year old. Feeding the Baby—A baby xnust be fed regularly. Every nee hours is con- sidered correct, and by no means should the little one be dozed with an anodyne every time it cries or whimpers; neither should it be fed. If bottles are used too much care cannot be taken to keep them immaculately clean and pure. Rubber tubes should never be used, as it is impossible to keep them clean. lf they are teed they should he washed every day, ineide as well as outside, in hot soap suds, using a brush to clean with. All milk used in bottles should be sterilized. A. good home- made sterilizer can be fashioned as follows: Take a tin pail, perforate a pie. plate and place bottom side np, within the pail. Next tutees the bottle tightly corked, containing the milk, in this false bottom and fill in sufficient water to reach the level of the surfaete of the milk. Puneh a hole in the cover of the pail, insert a cork and put through a chemical thermometer, plac- ing it so that the bulb dips in the wa- ter. The temperature of the water must realla 155 degrees Fahrenheit, and by this method can be watched without removing the cover. The pail can teen be removed from the heat and kept tightly covered for an hour. This milk can be used any time within twen- ty-four hours. The baby's bed.—Give the child a bed, not a oraille. The tiny baby ac- quires bad habits as readily as an older person, and the mother who puts her infant to slee,p by rocking it makes no small amount of extra. trouble for hexself. If the baby is giv- en its own little bed and placed there whether sleeping or otherwise, it is surprising how comfortably and sweet- ly it will lie without the aid of sing- ing, rocking, walking, or other unnec- essary care. It is the management be- stowed by parent or nurse on the tiny bit of humanity tvhich m.akes of it of- ten a veritable little tyrant, or it good, sweet baby. But the baby's training commences at its birth. The best mattress for baby's bed is one of hair. He sho.u.1.41 not sleep an feather. If a hoer mattress is weal made it will not be too hard; and there is one advantage, it will always be flat and smooth. The pillows must be flat and quite small, in oeder that lois little head may not be raised too high, thus keeping his body straight and erect. Small blankets can be nought or made to fit the bed, and four at lea.et should be secured, so that the little bed can constantly be kept neat and sweet. As the baby grows older, or if the weather becomes wasen, dainty little sheets may be substituted foe the blankets, The bed may be en.ade as plain or ela'borate as the mother's tixue and puree permits. One recently made for a little stranger was of iron enamelled white, with braes trimmings. It was ehreatened to send fox, ney vnife's mo - dinary bed, and large enough to exoem- modate thelittle one for three or four years. ',nee spring, of woven wire, was very eatable. A hair mattress six inches high exactly fitted the bed. One- half dozen dainty white woolen blan- kets with blue borders, as many lace - trimmed muslin sbeets and pillow cases, and three Belt cheesecloth tem- forterts, completedethe outfit. A canopy of vale blue sile,sia, over which was a curtain of white dotted Winn with a four -inch lace -trimmed ruffle, was drawn down to the sides of the bed and tied with pale blue ribbons. 'Three baby Inatome., eovered with blue sil- esia whieb peeped through the lace, trimmed cases, looked so dainty and inviting that one wondered if sweet sleep could be long in combeg to the tiny one whose head should rest there. The three wadded cm:afore% one of blue, one of pink, en.d one of oreem cheesecloth, ware knotted and but- tonhole !stitched around with yarn of the same color as the cloth. There was but one thicknests of the cotton, such as is made for quilts, used, making the little comforters light, soft and dainty. When the little one is plated in his bed care should be taken that be is not always laid on the saraesidie. If given suoh a habit he will not sleep unless put Just as he has been accus- tomed. Very often babies have be-. come deformed by always sleeping in the same position, so it is well to guard against it ••••••••,14•••• ECONOMY IN THE SEWING ROOM. In the home where every little counts and there are many such honaes even in this prosperous land, a little economy exercised in the sewing - room will go quite is. way toward mak- ing both ends meet. By careful cuttieg of both material and linings, by preservation of "scraps" for !needing, and turning, by neatly folding and saving patterns intact for future use, much can be saved. Basting -thread, costing only two or three cents a spool. will do its work even better than the sewing sine, so handy, to be sure, but costing ten cents spool. 13uttonscut from old, gowns and gar- ments of every sort, and put into the but tonbag for future use, will not eorae anaiee ween fashion swivels herself around, or when other garments are lententees. There is an old. saying teat if e-ou keep a thing seven years you will find a use for it, but ver- ily one need not keep buttons that length of time. Dress -shields for tbe ordinery bodi- abvnekirdu.leksill outwear leaeyes. andstft.weto gowns These seem but small things, yet tbe linings, etc., of a dress sometimes cost nearly as much as the dress goods, , When perchanc,e a waist -lining cut , frcea some pattern has been basted and tried on, and turns out to be a perfect fit, it is economy to spare the time to reopen the seams after trimming the edges, and to cut a pattern by same thus mabling you to alwa,ys aye a ,perfect lining or foundation pattern for any waiet, fancy or plain, which noia may desire to make. All these are but little things yet a. penny saved is a penny made, and pen- nies make the dollars. Strawberry Ice Cream.—Sprinkle strawberries with sugar, wash well and rub through a sieve; to a pint of juice, add bait a pint of good cream; make it very sweet; freeze artd when beginning to set, stir lightly one pint of cream whipped, and lastly it handful of whole strawberries sweetened. It may then be put in a mold and imbed- ded in ice, or kept in the freezer, If not in the strawberry season, use bot- tled or canted berries. A. MARVELLOUS INSTRUMENT. Mrs. Mabel Loomis Todd, while in Ja- pan, beca.me readily accustomed—as, in- deed any good housekeeper would—to putting off hex shoes before entering palace or a terople wbexe the exquisite- ly fine matting, or smooth, laequered floor might be injured by contact with anything so coarse and heavy as the sole of a shoe, in which possibly, too, there might be a loosened nail to tear or scratch. But once, while traveling in a portion of Japan beyond the route of tourists, where she was the first for- eign woman the iahabitants had eeen, she had an odd experience. She had just visited, in company with a Japanese gentleman who understood English, a temple of which the floor was of the most delicate a.nd beautiful gold -leaf lacquer, and had of course discarded her European foot gear while doing so, On coming out, she sat down on the top step of the temple stairs en,d pro- ceeded to resume her boots, when she found herself at once surrounded by a large, carious but perfectly respectful crowd, who cbattered eagerly to each other, gesticulating, explaimng, look- ing at hex, and then beck to each oth- er with further rapid conversation, which she did not understand. At length she asked her 'companion, who himself appeared interested, what it was all about, and why the people were so excited. " It is 1 he marvellous way in which you fasten your buttons rso quickly with that curious steel instrument," he explained; end he suggested. that she should, allow it to circulate among the crowd and be examined. Having her boots completely buttoned by that tirae she graciously consented., and had the satisfaction of looking on while the grateful Japanese—very polite and greatly wondering—passed from hand to hand, wieb. ejaculations of eurprise and delight, that convenient implement of civilization—a boot -buttoner. . HOW THE CUBAN DRJNKS. The no.axiner in which they quench thirst is a Cuban art. Elevating the clay bottle on his wrist until it is slightly above the top of his head, the native turns the water loose at a dis- tance of 10 to 12 inches from his mouth. The stream, about the size of a lead pencil falls by a pretty curve in full vtew until it passes between the lips. Thus the Cub= quenches his thiest mitt:hut spilling a drop. acome- plishment has its utility. As the wa- ter passes in. this continuous pouxing from the bottle to the mouth it is be - loan the eyes of the drinker, and any foreign roa.tter is seen. BETTER TH:AN MEDICINE. Why, yen seem a. great deal better t,his mornmg. Yes dootor, Whispered the patient, but don't let it affect yet= bill. They as high, or, perhans highe;r, than an or- Leen WIT AND WISDOM. up pTiothe baeethitowahlyngtopalsetad a fast life is The evil that men do lives after them, but it isn't reoorded on their toralastones, saThi;isdirooffetr,ence between it saint and a sinner, is a sinner is found out, a All the world's it stage, and all the men and women, want to be stage man- agers. _ He that dee* good. to another man does also good to himself, for the con- mecaierndee. of well -doing is an ample re- Tthe man wee) spends his life belittling air cacitle.s will probably never own so muoh as a hut of his owe, to die in. "What is the average life of a good bicycle, Sprockets?" 'Well, some of them 1.est until they are paid for." "Don't look so glum, old ma,n, use, (emery voards—they cost nothing." "Cost soothing? If I speak ten cheery words to my wife, ants me for • some. money;" "So you feel you cannot marry bent." ""es; am fully decided. le by ? Don't you. like. him?' "Oh, 1 like him 11 g u can' getdam e propose. I" In a French paper the editor says that his idea of a roan raight pass for a Christiae, ie ane, who doesn't laugb when it rain, on it 'Annie party to which. was not invited. My wife was rather worried when I left her this morning." "What was the. trouble?" "Well, elle bad been wor- rying about something or other last night, and this morning she couldn't remember 'treat it was." kiettorney—"What was there about the deceased tbat led you to believe he eves of. unsoend mind ?" Wit ness—"Well or one thing, he abhorred bicycles. When a Illan takes your hand with a firm cardial grasp, it is a sure sign that his heart is full or bis purse etaipty. Slae—"Have you any poor relations?" He—"None that I know." She—"Mang rich ones?" Fle—"None that know 211e." Missionare Tenter— et bat, is the leading doctrine of Chrielianity?" Chineman—"Kid tbrow stone.--smasbee giass—no one eatebee—forginam." Mrs, Roe -die he her lueleand)—"It strikes me, Charles, that you're 'going to the dogs.'" Mr. Rewdie (airily)— "No; eats! 1 ant just gob:1g to °all on your mother and sister!" PRISON STATISTICS. Tie Nunawr or Male natl F031111.1 Prjgolle/r le the Vatted Ohioan'. return showing the number of Male> and female prisoners, the euirtber pun- ished an.d the number receiving oorpor- al punishment in the local and convict. prisons of the United Kingdom in each of the six years ended on 1)eoexaber 31, 1896, has just been issued as a Parlia- mentary paper. 'llac figures for Eng- land and Wales are for the year ended. on March 31, but it has been possible to give the figures for the calendar - years for Scotland and Ireland. The prisoners transferred fi•om one prisan. to another during the year have been. reekoned twice. A person committed to prison on two or more occasions dur- ing the year appears twice or oftener in the "eumber of prisoners," and if puniebed during more than one sen - tome appears more than once in "the. number of prisonera punished." Sub - jetzt to this, the number of persons pun- ished is given, riot the number of pun- iseanents, and the number of persons receiving corporal punishment. There is no statutory power to inflict, cor- poral puniebenent on female prisoners. In 1896 there were 205,004 prisoners. in local prisons in England and Wales, of whom 155,55a were males, and, 49,440 females. Of these 16,390 males and 1,- 793 temalee were punished, and 88. males recerfee CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. The number of prisoners and of pun - laments was greatest in 1894, when the. totals were 207,702 and 23,071 re- spectively. Tee greatest member re- ceiving corporal punishment was 144, in 1803. As regards conviet mons in. .Engicted and Wales, the tote nu.mber of prisoners in 1896 was 4,813, of whom 305 were females. Tthe number punish - s4 was 1,02$, 52 bailee women, and It received corporal punethonent. The year 1891 tehowed the greatest totals both at prizioners and of purtishments, but the hightet number of prisoners. • 1 b t 47 in 1893, 'The Scotcle local prisons cone tabled 59,039 prisoners in 1890, 39,387 beine men, and 19,053 women; and the member rani:heel was 3,430, of whom 41f1 were 'a When, Tthe .3'ear 1896 show- ed tee higb ett nuxaber of prisoners, but the. greatest number punished 'MIS 3,- 727 in 1893. %here is no power to in- f.lict corporal punishment in Scotch local prisons. There were 453 men in tbecon.vint prisons of Scotland in 1890 WARS GROWING SHORTER. against 468 in 1895. The highest num- miring me last Thirty 'Veers Wars !env heated Only a Few :theallaq. 'With the exception of the Franco- Pruesian wan, the greatest war whie bee punished was 227, in 1893 and 1899. Corpoial punishment was inflieted on two men in 1896, and on three in 1895. No more than three received this pun - 'element in any of the years. The num- b be.r of men in the Irish local .prisons wus 24,803 in 1866, the total being 36,- - 411; or these 2,563 men: and 585 women were pueished. The highest totals of prisoners ane Mose punished was in s 1891., 'ellen tbe totals were 43,200 end e mem cannot be inflieted /rise local p5r,0i5507ner,espectively . Corporal punish - Europe hats seen since the days of Na, poleon wan the Crimean nen wleoh took place more tame forty years ago and lasted about two gears. The campaign of Napoleon, of course, 'while they wor considered sheet, as compared with some previous wiles in Europe, were certainly long are omen -red with the ware of the past few decades. A dis- tinct movement in the direction of the shorter duration of wars is to be mos timecl in the past few centuries. The campaign in the Spanish Neth- erla.nde lasted forty-two years. Then followed the thirty yetis' war in Eur- ope, eliding in the peace of Westphalia. Civil war in Englanil lasted from 1612 to in ple6.64reattlethalligttaliquileit.les the Spanish Succession, of till'heelAvNeuNr.aSetrrSnia°4 Succeesion, the Swedish-Russia:Li war, and the Seven Years' war followed, av- eraging about tem years apiece. the Frenchand. the American revolutions averaged about, eeven years apiece. The Napoleonic campaigtne covered nearly fifteen yearn. The Crimean war last- ed from 1854 to 1856. In the American civil war, the world saw the latest war which extended over four years of tirae. Since 1865, with the general introduc- tion of the telegraph, the electric cab- le, and the modern system of railways, war has become a matter of a few menthe at most. In 1866 Prussia, de- feated Austale in seven weeks. Prussia defeated France en about two months. The tear between Ruesia and Turkey began in April, 1877, and wa,s practice ally finisbed by the close of that year. The war between China and japan be- gan about mid:summer, 1891, and end- ed in elaree, 1895. The present war between Turkey and Gxeeee seems to be practically ended in about four weeks from the outbreak of formal hos- tilities. It seems to be ehown by. ex- perience that two important civilized natione in thews clays of telegraph and railway can 'not conduct wars for any length. of time unless the contending countries are separated by the ocean or some other natural barrier. LORD LANSDOWNE ON THE ARMY Ile Speaks Very niehusinsticany et Its resit bill at the Present Time. The Marquis of Lansdowne, Secretary of State for War, speaking in London at the dinner for the Wiltshire Society said: those responsible for the admin- istration of the army were constant- ly striving to render it more efficient, but much remained to be done. Mean- while they were correct in holding that the British army was never better of- ficerea, never better equkged end armed, never had a larger reserve of strength upon which to fall bade or which could be more easily mobilized, either for offence or defence, than at the present time. With regard to the reservists, last year's training, showing that less than five per cent,. failed to present. themselves, was an answer to those who believed our reserve only ex- isted upon paper. To meet, the need of more extended training ground for our troops, especially cavalry andi artilleey, nee War ()aloe proposed to acqiure about sixty square miles of Salisbury Plain, by fax the greater. part of which would be obtaatted by annoable negotia- tions. Me had appointed a Depart- mental Committee to consider the ques- tion of private rights, and he had no doubt that every one concerned would be ultimately satisfied. THF, VISIB1L1TY OF LIGHTS. Experiments show that it light of 1 candle-power, is 'plainly visible at one mile, and one of 3 candle-power at two miles. 4. 10 candle-power light was seen with a binocular at tour miles, one of 29 at five miles, though faintly, and one of 33 candle-power at tbe same distance without difficulty. On an ex- ceptionally clear night a white light of 3.2 candle-power can be distinguished at three miles, one of 5.6 at four and one of 12 at five miles. RACE FOR NAVAL SUPREMACY. 41.1=w1011 England :tliad Remain lho entree et the s The tunoutnt efenaval construction, now actually LA process in the cblef nations of Europe is without precedent. English supremacy upon the sea, is nedothe3:etpecssonntile:taeedta, hlztttt iaatiieniss. thEreearrateenr: ly, it was a maxim of Englisb states- manship that the English fleet must be. as strong as all other fleets combined. Later, it was held. that the Esaglish fleet mut at least be superior to the combined strength of 'the two next strongest. Eight years ago, a parlia- mentary paper required a superiority of thirty-three per cent. over the com- bined Frencb and Russian battle -ships. But both Pranee and. Russia have push- ed. the building of ships so rapidly that. this standard is not now reached. During the last three years England has built seven battle -ships, while France and. Russia together have built eleven. Last summer France and. Rus- sNiaveltvdeg.ether had. fourteen battle -ships building, while England had but t Germany, another rival of England, is also pushing naval construction rapidly. She is spending now about twice as much money annually in this way as she did seven or eight years ago, and the emperor recently astound- ed the Reicilostag by presenting, through his secretary of state for the navy, a plain which contemplated an outlay of . wbout eighty nrillion dollars for the next three years. The Reichstag dis- apieroved the plain, though it made pro- vision for some new construction. Ger- many bas now twenty-one battle -ships Lund seven protected cruisers, and in addition three battle -ships and seven armored or protected cruisers are build- ing. case of war, England meet retain vessels to defend herself against pos- sible invasion, and she has scattered colonies and a world-wide commerce to protect. She cannot therefore rely up- on all her fleet for active operations. It is of vital importance to all the. material interests of England that she remain "the mistress of the seas." lie= that reason, the bonniest burdens for naval construction and equipment are c!heerfully borne. This year's esti- mates for new construction, for ex- ample, amount to more than one hun- dred million dollars, and the vessels to be finished or to be under construc- tion this year number one hundred and sehigth, fourteen of which are battle- s.MAXINIS OE' THE DAY.. Grasshoppers have dumb wives. The female grasslicpper is client; that is why the rnaleus always singing. eVhat would women clo uf headaches were abolished ? They are the uni- versal feminine resource. There, is nothing in the, world so sen- sitive as 'affection. It fees its own happiness too muf.M not to tretuble for itsrealuly.pealirteyse Thnt age has been defineci. as the age .of uofctith; its great maxim, distrust ; is great wisdom, suspicion. Choose always the way that 'seems Ike best, however rough it may be. Custom will render it easy and agree - °Dia' A BOARDE,R'S VIEI,V. Frost hasn't any sense. Why? • 11. never tape the canne.d fruit.