Exeter Times, 1902-10-16, Page 6CTOR JAC
• By Sr. GEORGE RATIelBORNEs
VhCkm Jaelea Wife"' "Captain Torn!' °Palen &gip "Miss
Pauline of New Yotla" "Miss Caprice," Ete.
LarrY leolcs up, meets the gaze Of
Avie, sees an interrogation point in
her eyes, and with a grin jerks his
thumb back over bis ehoulder in the
direction of Doctor jack, just now
deeply engaged in taking a nap, for,
poor fellow, he has not had a wink
et sleep the Preceding night.
Avis understands—this thoughtful
man is the good genius whom they
mast thank for such forethought—he
has telegraplied ahead that the din -
leer be ready, and given the guard
money to pay for everything—that
guard, by the way, must imagine he
has an Amerlean prince aboard, judge
Mg from the prodigal way he throws
his gole and silver aroused.
So the young girl feels more than
ever tender toward the hero ot the
arena—soniehow it seems to her she
has known him for years—he was
Aleck's friend, and now her ohaumion.
He seems to be resting unea,slisr—
the cushion bas partly fallen from
under his head, and bending down
Avis tries to rearrange it, In so doe
ing a lurch of the train causes her
hand to touch his face—his eyes open
—she blushes as he quickly and deftly
catches her hand, and presses it to his
lips—thank heaven! the others are so
busy arranging dinner on the table
that they do not see this.
Lager, seizing a tin van, beats a
tette upon it in lieu of a gong, and
this brings Jack to his feet with
ludicrous haste—love must take a back
seat now, since appetite reigns.
The Y have great fun over the din-
ner, as there chance to be 'several
dishes which none of them understand,
EO that their tasting and comments on
these are ridiculous. On the whole
the dinner is good, and they enjoy it
with rercarkable unanimity.
The others cannot but notice that
,Doctor Jack is unusually quiet. Avis
inquires if he has a headache, and is
not satisfied when he says no, for she
understands that there is some worry
on the other's mind.
In this she is right—Jack foresees
trouble of some sort ahead. He has
learned that Don Carlos is on the
train, which fact is in itself sugges-
tive, for the Don would not be mak-
ing this journey only for his presence
aboard.
Then he is also sure the pasha must
be near at hand. If these two unite
their forces, trouble may come. The
train has to pass through a lonely sec-
tion of country during the night run,
and makes so many stops that it
would not be difficult for a resolute
body of Carlists to capture the whole
expedition.
When the meal is done they chat
for a while and look at the scenery.
They are now getting into the valley
of the river Ebro—vineyards and
orange groves are to be seen, although
the latter are not plentiful this far
r orth in Spain, the main crop being
gathered in the region of Seville, in
the eouthera province of Andalusia,
and along the TV2.1111 coast of the
Mediterranean, the upper portion of
the peninsula being often bleak and
cold in the winter season.
It is half -past three when the traia
enters the city of Zaragoza, on the
Ebro, Here quite a long stop is
made—their course for the next
alC hours will be up the val-
ley of the Ebro, and they may expect
to see much more of Spanish thrift
and Industry than has as yet greeted
their vision. •
.Again Jack goes out to stretch his
legs and smoke a cigar, in which
former act the dude imitates him.
Presently Lamar sees some fruit, and
rushes off to buy. Jack hopes he will
not be left behind, and is determined
that nothing shall take him from the
vicinity of the car.
There are many people at the sta-
tion, and he eyes them with careless
indifference. As he stands thus be
feels a hand touch his arm.
" Senor Sack," says a, low, hesitating
voice—he recognizes it instantly, for
he can never forget that velvet-like
tone—wheels without delay. and then
and there receives a powerful shock.
CHAPTER. XV.
Tbe person who has touched him is
a boy—fils face shows traces of grime,
and altogether, with his ordinary gar-
ments, he is one upon whom a person
*would hardly bestow' a second glance.
It is that faoe, however, upon which
the American fastees his eyes—the
voice has already given him a clew,
And he finds no difficulty in recogniz-
ing—Mercedes.
He has seen her as flower girl and
nun—now he discovers her as a pea -
Bent boy. HIS admiration for her
boldness and qualities as an actress
are unbounded, and yet he would not
like one he loved to -be engaged in such
a business.
Mercedes understands that he has
recognized her-eeven a faint blush ap-
pears beneath the grime.
"Senor jack, do not judge me be-
fore yeti know why I axn here—why
sacrificed rny beautiful hair and as-
sumed, this hateful disguise It was
to warn you—to save you,"
Her words are 1o'—they thrill Jack,
• aid tell him one thing he is glad to
know—that liar good angel bas triure-
t
phed.
" Warn zne of what ?" he asks, eag-
erly, tor elthough deepleing clanger for
alineeie1 „eanriot forget eviie 15 fi
t 1
—r
st carr ag• a
"A here danger awaits you. The
train is to be attacked by a fear Car-
net friendsof Don Carlos when it
Stope at it email station, X believe it
lo on the other side of Lagrone,. ef
roe would avoid trouble, Yoe had bet-
ter welt feta.? here fer the morning
trein, ee est eMee atop at Logroito."
Tack ponders—it is his desire to get
out of the thentry as sooe as possible,
but he does not want to make a mise
take.
"When are we due at Logrono ?" ixe
s.Xdo not know—there is the guard."
• "Conte with me, we will enquire."
This brings them near the train—
Mercedes Is irresistibly drawn to look
up at the windows and a hot wave
sweeps over her feet as she sees the
.A.merican girl eyeing her. Uacon-
sciously site draws herself up haught-
ily in a manner very unnatural to the
pleasant character she assumes—It is
a terrible torture for the proud wo-
man to be thus scrutinized by her ri-
val—she in it lowly disguise, while Avis
looks so fresh and pretty in her neat
travelling dress.
Mercedes holds her breath—she feels
dizzy, and a, whirl of contending emo-
tions rush through her mind. At
sight of her rival's cold stare her blood
has seemed like molten lava—she feels
the position she has placed herself in
keenly, and a desire for revenge conies
to her. Then her eyes fall on the face
of Doctor jaak—his calm gray eyes
give her life and she is her own true
self again, though she feels that dur-
ing the last minute she has passed
through the fiery furnace.
Jack learns that they reach the
town at about half -past ten, and be-
lieves this is a good tirne to leave the
train. So he makes up his mind to
go on. It is unfortunate, but not be-
ing able to foresee future events he
does not know the chances he takes.
Mercedes speaks a few more words,
aud turns away, flee she feels the eyes
of Avis upon her all the time, and it
makes her very uncomfortable. Sack
sees her enter a compartment near by.
He does not know what to think of her
action, but, like a sensible man,
judges it from the motive, which he
knows is a noble one.
Their time is up—the signal cries are
being given, and as yet Larry has not
turned up. He will be left—all are
anxious concerning the little dude, and
crowd the windows—the guard has left
the door of the compartment open, an&
as the train begins to pull out Larry
Is seen running with all the speed his
little legs are capable of, his arms
full of the fruit he has bought.
Lucidly the watchful guard sees
him; and on the alert to please his li-
beral patron, he signals to the train -
master. so that presently Larry climbs
into the carriage exhausted, out of
breatb, but triumphantly holding aloft
his packages of fine fruit.
"'Pon 'onah, now," he declares, as
soon as he can find breath, "it wasn't
my fault, ye see. I would have been
back in good time, but d'ye know a
beastly fellah began to accuse me of
running away with his sister or his
, aunt, or sontebody in petticoata.canght
me by the arm, and declared it his
intention to awest me. I heard the
guard cwy 'all aboard,' but, hang the
luck—pawdon the expwession, ladies,
but a fellah gets worked un, you know
—this chap wouldn't let go, so I just
dwopped my packages, sailed into the
bloody pirate, tumbled him over
among the owanges, and then snatch-
ing up my bundles sria,de a bee line
for the twain, which I came vewy near
missing, bah Jove l"
That was the story—a very simple
one, and with just enough of the lu-
dicrous about it to create a general
laugh. Doctor Jack, however, sees
deeper into the game than any of the
others, and taking advantage of the
first opportunity he tells Larry so.
"The whole affair as a set up job,"
he declared.
"What 1" cries the dude.
" Tbat man had lost no wife, or sis-
ter, or grandmother. He simply
lied."
"With what object in view, pray?"
" To d.etain you in Zaragoza while
the rest of 1.1S went on," replies Jack.
"TO wob me ?"
"It. might have come to that, al-
though I am not sure. The main ob-
ject was to separate you and L"
"The duse L What for ?"
"Simply that .A.vis might have one
the less protector when the attack
on the train to made."
" Attack on the twain!" gasps
Larry.
"Certainly, I have learned that
after we leave Logrono, at a, certain
small station where the train stops to
give the locomotive a drink, a band
of Carlists mean to attack us. Their
object yoti can readily guess—it is to
take our lives, for you are Met) ac-
counted a traitor to the cause, since
'you.are hand in glove with me."
This information astounds the New
York dude, but does not frighten him.
It seems a pity that such indomitable
spirit should have been placed by a
freak of nature In such an insignifi-
cant little body.
, "Well, the first part of their scheme
has been a fallure—we ca,n outwit
• them, I rather gimes, and if not, then
we'll nett."
; " Brave 1 Larry, old boy. Never
fear but that two such eroiliee as you
and I Will fall upen them hip and
thigh ie the occasion arises. But I
hope to •aveid it by leaving the train
at Logrono, and welting over until to-
morrow, By the way, are you arm-
ed, Larry ?"
The dude node.
• " I'Ve got a regolvall in My hip
pocket, and was accounted the crack
altet ef the laaehl Ran Tape Club in New
Yorice re makes reify.
"Better and better. x myself ani
no mean marksmen, and 1 have a
dandy sle-shooter in my portman-
teau, which, as you seethe gesed hes
placed under the Beet there. We Tall
not **erre over the matter, old felleete
Let vs go to the ladies—they leek this
Way, as tbeugb wondering what We
are PlOtting ebout." ..„. „
Soon they are all eating fruit ana
ceattina as merrily as though not
the slightest shadow hung over them,
leut Jack speedily becomes amare"of a
certein faet—it causes bins Additional
worry. Avis has turned as celd
an icicle toward him, When she
ellats with the rest she is as merry
as or yore, but if he asks her a ques-
tion she answers in the shoetest way'
possible.
Even the others notice her manner
—how Can they help it—and wisely dee
Ode that a, chance should be given
these two to make me for already
they look Upon jack awl Avis as lov-
ers. •
As for Doctor jack he is nuezled
oyer the action of the girl, He kaows
no reason for it, and is about to set
the thing down as some peculiarity in
Iter dieposition—les experiences in the
Past have warned him thet truth Iles
In that old refrain of the ioets :—
" Oh woman, in our hour of ease,
Uncertain, coy, and hard to please,
And variable as the shade
By the light, quivering aspen made—
When pain and anguish wring the
broW,
A ministering angel, thou."
As chance will have It, he finds
himself with the young girl while the
train rolls on up the valley of the
Ebro. Avis has something on her
mind, but she does not know how to
go about introducing it If Jack on-
ly knew whateit was he would gladly
help her,. but by 'adeident he stumbles
into the breach. -
They are talking of some queer
things seen en the -way, and Jack
happens to express his opinion of, peo-
ple with black eyes, first looking inta,
the translucent depths of leer own
blue orbs,
"Strange as it may seem, my fancy
has always been. in that direction—I
have declared to my friends that.if I
ever married it would be a man 'with
black eyes. I adore them," she says,
jest like a woman intent. on causing
hire rain,
"The pasha has the finest I ever
saw in a man," he returns. nonchal-
antly, but the thruet only' causes her
to east') a little, aed resume :—
"And I never saw such wonderful
eyes in rny life as were possessed by
the peasent boy of Castile you were
talhing with at Zaragoza."
Doctor Tack smiles—he has discov-
ered wnat is on the mind of Avis now,
even before she sails her craft any
closer to windward.
Ah, you noticed him. I was wish-
ing you would. I wanted you to see
"Indeed I should have thought
that under such circumstances you
would have brought him up to the
car windier," she says, coldly.
Zack is entirely -unmoved—firrn in
his position, knowing he has only done
all that a tine man might, he does
not shrink from the investigation
about to bogin at the hands of the
fair girl he loves.
"1 endeavoured to influence him,
but he would eot come. Too -mo-
dest, I presume, Miss Avis."
Sae laughts at this—how ,disagree -
abler even the sweetest girl in the
world can laugh when she wants to
FOR FARMERS •
$1,asonablle sod Prontab-10
Hints for the Busy Tillers
of the Soil. '
e'Ykeii(4-4,ieeWsseree•*10W•e•*:e•?-10414
OROP ROTATION,
A well-defined rotation of crops le
,wise in general fermieg. and I ad-
vocate mid preceice if, but believe
there are often times when rotation
is practiced at an inconvenience and
loss when not absolutely necessary,
writes Mr. W. Ie, MoSparran. For
example, we who feel silos extensive-
ly find it very deah•alale to leave
the corn field pretty close to the
silo, on account of heavy lia,uling.
Here the antagonist of the silo
comee in and ,spers if we would cure
the corn in the usual way and let
the -ilieter dry out, we vecruld have
the feed without the weight. But. we
do not want the water to dry out,
sande hence we have the weight and
want to grow it so as to avoid too
much hauling.
The idol farm has the buildings
In or near the centre„ and all...fields
are equidistant, but, unforetmately,
all bar farms axe not ideal. lf an
inflexible rotation is followed, 'it
will happea every ila•ee or toter
yeare, that the ensilage corn Muse
be brotathe from the beck fide. • I
believe that coin can be grown 111
the nearby fields very successfully
successive years for a long time if
the supply of Mamas is kept intact,
or better, ,increasing in the soil.
Farnt maniere as employed in oe-
dinary feria operations will not "be
in sufficient quantity to, maintaia
humus for best results. rn .connea,
tiorih with the farm manure,. eenee.
green crop Or one's extensive roots
plowect down will be found the
best way to provide the humus.
It may be stated as almost an.
agricultural law that it we have
plenty of Manus we will be well
supplied with moisture, and with
the Moisture caul the Ileums the
crop is generally assured. ef the
coin, prop is eor the silo, the plant-
ing is usually so thick and, the
growth so luxuriant that no other
crop has a chance to grow with the
MIT, as cowpeas or crimson clover
at Ordinarily planted for curing. If
rye follows the ensilage corn ane is
ploWed down the following spring,
an immense amount of vegetable
matter will be added to the soil,
and as this Matter disorganizes, the
Mimetic conditions will be greatly
improved. 13y alternating rye and
corn, with both crops given a dress-
ing ot =inure if possible and such
commercial fertilizer supplied as the
land seems to require, there need be
no diminution of yields for many
panes, and often an improvement
rathes than deterioration in land
fertility.,
Near my hoeie is it small tract of
land that was -planted to corn every
year for 38 year. The lead was
given cetera geed preparation and
the crop thoroughly el:titivated, and
only received light yearly coats of
Manure el not richly fed animals.
No green crepe were grown for
plowing down. Very heavy crops of
corn and fodder Were grown for
years until the last few years of the
period ; while the fodder growth
was as heavy as usual, -very few ears
were set. In the latter years of the
time some commercial fertilizer was
used. When the corn ceased to make
satisfactoey ears, the ground 1.41.9
seeded to wheat and clever and
kept in clover for e few .years, when
then was again planted, and a num-
ber of crops in the second period
have been raised..
be particularly perverse—and Avis
Morton tust now is, struggling with a
little amen her heart has never
known before—jealousy.
Jack casts a side glance at her—
wonders as ti, what she knows, and
how much she suspects, and in the
next breath leazns all.
"It was my opinion, Doctor Evans,
that I had never seen more effrontery
exhibited by any one than was shown
by—that person."
The last words are spoken through
: -
her pearly teeth with particular force,
and Jack knows now that Merceaes
has been unmasked—her secret has
not been able to stand before the
clear vision of those keen Yankee eyes.
He hardly understand just hew to
go about it, but a,n explanation in cer-
tainly in order, and nothing but the
whole truth will satisfy Avis. .
"Miss Morton, there is no need of
you and I mincing words. We un-
derstand each other. I am led to be-
lieve from what you say that you
have discovered that boy's secret."
"Boy—well, no doubt other eyes
were deceived, but not mine," she re-
plies, and there is a touch of eager-
ness in her -voice, for she has a cur-
iosity to know what has caused the
haughty Spanish woman to so de-
mean herself as to appear in this
humble disguise.
" You recognized her by her eyes ?"
he asks.
"'Well, I remembered seeing such
dazzling orbs before—something sent
a suspicion into my brain, and when
she looked at nee I knew I was right;
for she seemed ashamed. Now Doc-
tor Evans, I don't know whether you
owe me an explanation or not, but I,
have believed and trusted in you as
a gentleman, and unless you have ob-
jections I should like to know why Mer -
"cedes Gonzales' is on the same train
with you, in deep disguise, and why
she talked with you so earnestly at
the station."
Straight to the point these come,
but Jack is ever ready to defebd the
absent, which trait is one of the nob-
lest In his make-up. I
"First of all, Avis—Miss Morton—
before I tell vitt the whole story
from the beginning, I must beg that
you will not condemn the Senorita
Mereedes from our cold American
stanapoint. They do things differ-
ently here in Old Spain, and that he
is poisessed of a noble nature after
all, r eon prove by telling you that she
Is even now ;asking her own life to
save us from a threatened danger—
warning of which she gave me at
Zaragoza."
At this Avis looks sorry—her cold
meaner ventshes like the twee -frost in
the morning sun, atid upon her face
steals it look of eager anticipatien.
Already her heart is warming toward
the Sperilsh girl, and it will soon beat
with even greater sympathy when
she' learns how Mercedes, In her
strange way, played for the stake and
failed to graps It.
jack gecemateeseeeseed tat ethers—
Ainst Sophie is feet 4,11,elp, and Lefi:y
heed over ears in it Peenth no -Vel that
chains his attention. The Mast is
clear, the rattle of the train preeents
other ears eatching his Words than
those are intended for, oreeeespessee
,
1 -710 1.,To Ile eontinueilt), .,:je
In Russia no phetegkapher can
practiee, les art Witheat a license,
FEEDING WIIEAT.
meats conducted with hop of difiere
eizt ages and in varioue eonditioes,
it required ' 42e pounds ef wheat
Meal as cellepared with ela pounds
Of corn Meal for 100 poends gain.
Five hundred and four poands of
wheat meal and brass, mixed half
and bale made the Same gain. It
Was found beat to grind the wheat
coarse and then wet it with weter
at the time of feeding, rathe than
soak the whole grain, to insure com-
plete digestioe, 'When not conve-
nieet to grind it, soaking is benefi-
cial, but pigs do not seem to digest
it as well nor make as good Pea
Of it. Feeding wheat in the sheaf as
practiced by some is not ecoaomical
exceet to breeding stock when on a
light ration.
Briefly stated, wheat excels corn in
its digestibility and in th,e amount
ef Protein, starches and sugars
which it contains, and on this , ac-
count it has a. higher, food value.
For young animals, where growth is
a consideration of as suede or more
importance than fattening, wheat is
the better food, but for mature
stock where fattening is the chief
object corn is eetter.
Wheat has been shown by experi-
ment to be equally as good as corn
for feeding some classes of stock
and, by inference, it may be said to
be equally good for all classes when
properly used.
If fed alone the following points
slimed be observed : Give a very
small daily .allowance at the be-
ginning and increase very gradually
to it full ration, taking great care
not to over -feed; grind coarse for all
classes of stock except sheep, to
which it slimed be fed Whole. For
best results, grind and mix with,
bran or some one of the grain,
corn, oats or barley. Sech a mix-
ture will prove superior to any one
of the grains used alone.
The experiments of different sta-
tions as well as my owa, experience
show that when properly fed, wheat
gives results with all kinds or stock
praceically equal to those produced
bycorn, writes, Mr. Luther -Foster..
In both composition and digestibil-
ity ,it is superior to corn, but it
differs fromecorn in the fact that
When fed alone, ..stock will not eat
it AS well and do/not seem to have
the same relish for it, because it is
too Sticky when ground, adhering to
the teeth and gums. There is
-greater danger, too, of over -feeding
than with corn, butwhen fed in
connectioa with other greens, or
particularly .with bran, there is
little danger of getting the animals
off feed and all kinds of stock then
seem to like it fully as well as corn
and inake equally as good galas on
it. In my own experience I have
usually Mixed it with bran, half
and half by weight, and have secur-
ed excellent results. •
Th eaperimente I conducted, wheat,
pound for pound, proved superior to
corn when fed to growing animals.
Fed to thrifty young pigs, 12 to
15 pounds of pork wefe secured
froua each bushel of wheat. Taking
the average of the several experi-
• FATTENING PIGS.
In order to get the best and quick-
est returns from hogs, begin fatten-
ing -the pigs as soon as they are
born, says Mr. G. W. Herd. I rais-
ed pure-blooded Poland -Chinas e of
medium size, and never ,attempted to
keep more than I could handle well.
My brood • sows were kept in a
thrifty „Rendition. They were not
fat, but are far from being goof. I
fed ae lietle whole corn and a slop
inade of rye meal and milk.
When the pigs begin to try to eat
(and they will do this when only a
few days old), I fix a place -.where
they could go and eat by them-
selves. I first give"..ethem skintmitk
and, then gradually added rye meal
Increasing the emount as the pig
grows.. As soon as they are large
enough to cat it, I add a little corn
but I fid' , *that I canmake the
most rapid growth with rye meal if
I have plenty of milk to go with it.
If the meal is fed alone, it is in my
opinion too concentrated. I raise
two litters of pigs 'each year. They
generally average fermi.. 275 to
300 pounds at seven months old.
P4.
611
To prove to you That Ms
chase's, Ointment ire a pertain
and sae:siege taro for each
and eeery form °fetching,
bide:Massed tretruslinerelics,
lixo eaennfactursrs hale, enema -calve eates-
leeonlals ee the OW press cad esli
I ors what they think °tit. Yon tan ueo it and
let roar money beak if not cured. seen boxsat
III dealers or EDMANseN,11Arzs & Co., Teront.,
Dr. Chase5s Cantata:it;
KEEP BUILDINGS PAINTED.
The importance- of keeping farm
buildings well painted is apparently
I not appreciated as it should be. in
travelling about the country ,great
carelessness in this respect is no-
ticeable on every hand. Neat look-
ing houses, barns and other build-
ings denote thrift and good man-
agement, while dilapidated, weather -
'worn structures give the place an
air of neglect or poverty, accoeding
to the degree af decay. If a farmer
cares nothing for looks, he should
keep his buildings well painted, be-
cause it is good business to do so.
Good paint, in. conerenient form fOr
use, is now put ' up •and sold at
reasonable prices. Any one with
sufficient 'energy to rub the paint
well into the weather checks, and in-
terest enough in his work to keep
the paint thin, can do a good job.
Of painting. A thoroughly . good
brush is necessary ; this is a sure
'case of the best being the cheapest,
as it will not only enable a man to
clo more and beeter 'work, 'hut a
good brush will last longer than a
cheap one. The fall is the best time
to do outside painting, as it then
has all winter in which to harden
slowly—whereas, :paint put on in
spring or summer is sometimes in-
jured with the hot sun while it is
fresh and soft.
Paris has 130 Russian girl stud-
ents, of whom nearly 100 are Jew-
ish.
Fettrecen ounces of theese aquae
in food value two pounds of bread
or six pounds of herring.
Pains in the
• COULD.STAN IT.
Serpent Disproved itRepulat•
Zeologieto ha%elief'
genereleer eXhibite
ecl it lively scorn at the stories of
living frogs) or toads imbedded in
rock whiele find a place in "the col-
umns of the local prees."
The workman' pick plaits open
the cavity ; the toad's eyes shine
with unusual brilliancy; it eleds it
diffiesat to eerform tbe process of
respiration ; makes a beetling noise;
its me -4th is completely clewed ; it
is of a pale coloi, but ehortly after
grows darkee until it is of it line
olive brown ; Mr,— the well
known local geologist, give ce it as
his opinion that the animal is at
least 6,000 years old ; and so on.
One also 'team femeue tales of
fasting serpent% but it is not often
that'll° reptile enjoys the advant-
ages possessed by a great Japanese
Python reticulates which has just
paid its debt to nature in the Mu-
seum of Natural History at Parisi.
It arrived at the museum in the full-
est healthand strength Nov. 17,
1899. It was about eight feet long;
of brilliant coloring, enormous dia-
meter, and of singularly aggresaive
disposition, Its- keepers soon found
that it was a teetotaler of the most
bigoted character. Geese, ducks,
hens --every imaginable dainty
was offered, but in vain. It would
occasionally take a bath, and for a
change *would lovingly envelop a
victim in its enormous coils, but
not a morsel would teach its lips.
%lee state of affairs gave rise to
great concern, especially as the bril-
liant coloring began to ,wane and
its fine proportions to decrease, At
the beginning of the present year it
was of a dull gray color, and was
a mere bag of slcin and bones. Its
aggresse-ve habits disappeared, it
became apathetic and inoffensive,
and reraained motionless in the cor-
ner of its cage. Its weight dropped
to two-thirds of its original twelve
stone ; and, to cut the story short,
it passed away April 20, 1902, after
it voluntary fast of two- years, five
months and three days.
This is, not the first experience of
the kind that the officials at the
museum have had end* their no-
tice. Fasts of twenty-six months
and twenty-eight months have not
been uneommon. But the palra—if it
be a pcara—is carried away from all
competitors by the Peloplailes nia-
daaaseariensis, two specimens, of
which died of starvation after pe-
riods of three years and forty-nine
zuonths, respectively.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PULPIT.
In the old days -'and probably to
some extent the present day— the
Scotch clergyman was very much
the pastor of his flock.. He looked
out for the big and little needs of
their souls, and also of their bodies.
Dean Ramsay, in his good old book,
"Scottish Life and Character," tells
a story vouched for by one of his
correspondents as authentic.
John Brown, Ihirglier minister at
•Whitburn, ,grandfather of the author
of "Rab andHisFriends," was trav-
eling in the early part of this cen-
tury on a small Shetland pony to
attend the sacrament at Hadding-
ton. Between Musselburgh and
Tranent he overtook one of ais own
people.
"What are ye dein' here, Janet,
and whaur ye ,gaun this warm wa-
thee?"
"'Deed, sir," replied Janet, "I'm
gaun to Haddington for the occa-
sion, an' expeck to bear ye preach
this oftern.00n."
"Vera sveel, janet, but whaur ye
gaun to sleep?"
"I dinna, ken, sir, but Providence
is aye kind, an' al provide a bed."
Mr. Brown jogged on to Hadding-
ton.
After service in the afternoon, be-
fore he pronounced it blessing, Ise
said from the pulpit:
"Whattr's the eulde wille that fol-
lowed me frac Whieburn?"
"I-lere I am, eirl" piped a shrill
voice from a back seat.
"Aweel," said Mr. Brown, "I have
fend ye a. bed; ye're to sleep wi'
Jennie Fife."
• MOVED IN TWO MINUTES.
An engineering feat, which for
magnitude and quick eXCCUUOT1 ilas
eeldozie been equalled, was accom-
plished 'lately at New Brunswick,
N.J., by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. The bridge crossing the
Raritan '. River aud the draw -span
coenecting, which span. the Dela-
ware and Raritan Canal, were mov-
ed 14 feet 6 inches in one minute
and 43 seconds. The length of the
bridge and draw-skan is 006 feet.
The bridge 'has five span% each 150
feet long, and the dray -span is the
same length.
Within the past 90 years the
Spanish-speaking population of the
world has increased. from 26,190,000
to 43,000,000.
Bad Digestion and Racking Headaches—Cure has 13rought About
by Dr. Chase's Kidney -Liver Pills.
e'Paine in the sztiell of the back"
is the way' bests of peorle describe
teveir sufferings, not knowing that
the pain e are in reality in the kid -
nem, Pains in the back, weak
back, lame back, beekache—theSe are
the • first indications of kidney
trouble., They are the warniug
which Agate glees you. If you heed
et once you, can be cured. Neglect
vial soon put you at the mercy of
the moat pitieful end fatal o/ ells -
eases,:
Wotnen as Well As men ham kidety
disease, and may well feel aenxieue
when the kidney pains naake these. -
selves felt in the small of the back.
Because Dr. Chaee's ltiney-Ljtpr
Pine give, you prompt relief
bacikaeb.e it, is well worth your while
to take them. But they do more
then this, They regulatA and en-
vigerate the action of the kidneys,
arid tame% a return tci heelth of
these invert/ant organs.
Mrs, J, Lerter, 123 Cross street,
Charlottetestn, P.E.X.„ arid whose
hueleancl is it contractor, states :—
'I had estfferee a great deal with
pities ie the Wotan of my back, eity
digeetion was bad, and I was fre-
euently troubled with spells Of rank-
ing hettdctche 1 have been entirely
aured of these distressing symptome
y the use of Dr, Chase's Kieney-
iver Pills, and find that My gen-
eral health is greatly improved since
have ben tieing this, preparation,
"I in elm testify to the merit of
Dr, Chase's Syrup of Linseed and
Turpentine, as 1 was cured of a me -
Vero skate,* ef brorwhitis by the urge
of tale reihedy."
Dr, Cheee's Kidney -Liver Pills, 5
cereals it 10,61r, att'all deities, ar
13:Liaisons, Betes & Co, Torontes,
SPIEE ROYAL
,
XING zpWAIM XS AN EXETBT'
WITH B4N30.
Ali. of Qteeen Vietoriae$ Children
Are Passionately Foud of
Of Queen Victoria's children there
is not one who has not inheriead her
passion for and skill ia reeeic. Even
King Edward, who genially aVelwie
that he is else least musical menaber,
et his family, is a clever Pieniete
With a gift,f or improvieation, and
can conjure sweet melodies from
that rather unnromieing iestriernante
ahe banjo,
Princess Henry of Battenberg is
a pianist of remarkable brilliancy
and skill ; Princeas Louise. Duchess
of Argyll, is en equally clever per-
former on piano and organ, for
both of whiclt instrumento she Ilea
written music ; Princess
in her younger days, -treed to' sing
with a rare sweetness and skills and
is equally, proficient on both piano
and harp; 'and the Duke of Con-
naught, not to be left behind in the
competition for musical honors, has
acquired more than average ekill on
the elute.
But for native and acquired musi-
cal ability none of ho brothers and
sisters-in-law can rival Queen
Alexandra, who, as she says, was
"cradled on the piano." Under the
constant stimulus and example of a.
highly musical mother, Queen Alex-
andra, and her two sisters attained,
even as girls, wonderful r roficiency;
and they excelled especially" in the
eight -handed duets which the three
sisters loved to play in company
with their mother. Of the younger
generation of Queen Victoria's 'des-
cendants, the
GRAND DUCHESS OF HESS
inherits all her father's love of
music, and is as skilful on the piano
as he was on his violin. The Grand
Duke has won some reputation as a
composer, and has produced and ap-
peared in at least one opera of hie
own composition. It is Said that he
can play at least half a dozen in-
struments with equal ease.
The Russian Empress shares her
brother's musical taste and ability.
She plays the piano almost as well
as Queen Alexandra, and has com-
posed several songs which her huse
band, who ha's a pure and highly -
trained tenor voice, singe with ex-
cellent effect.
The German Emperor, not content
with executive laurels, has challenged
royal rivalry as a composer ; itis
brother, Prince Henry, is one of the
most sleilled of amateur accompan-
ists, and is credited with being able
to play faultlessly any air he has
once heard. The German Erarress is
an expert on the organ, with a
marked preference for classical mus-
ic, and has frequently officiated dur-
ing service at the organ in the
castle chapel at Homburg. Of her
many children there is not one who
is not a clever performer on at
least one instrument; and the Crown
Prince has developed such a geraue
for the violin that he is already,
qualified to take a very high posi-
tion in rrofessional ranks:
The Grand Duke Michael of Russia
is another musical genius, and has
not only composed but published
some excellent pieces, including one
clover humorous composition called
"The Influenza March."
EX -QUEEN MARGHERITA
of Italy is such an enthusiast that
for many years she has had an or-
Mestra of her own, for which she
bas written 'some beautiful music ;
and she plays the violin with a skill
which many a professional might
envy. The Duchess of Orleans has
composed many songs which are ex-
tremely popular, especially among
the peasants for whom they were
written, in Hungary; and the Arch-
duke Peter of Gascony, who is still
on the sunny side of thirty, counts
his musical compositions by the
score.
But the .pre-eminent genius among
royal musicians is undoubtedly the
Landgraf of Hesse -Cassel, whose
blindnessis, in a, large measure,
compensated by an undeniable ge-
nius in 'music. It is no exaggeration
to say that thiseamiable and afflict,
ed Prince lives simply for bis music.
Many of his compositions, "hide
are chiefly religibus, are known and
admired throtughout Europe,and he
ePezsds a large portion of each year
in Paris, where his works are pro-
duced under his own supervision.
TESTING A BABY'S MIND.
In an experiment whose Tempos))
was to trace the stages of develop-
ment of e baby's enind the infant
was plaeed before a mirror daily -
During t,he earliest stage of the test
he simply looked at his reflection,
as birele do. He next showed fear a
it, as do many of the higher animals.
He then grasped at it with his
hands, as cats strike at reflectioes
with their paws. Later be looked
behind the glass to find the object,
as cats and monkeys here been
knosva to do. But on the 420th day
of his life he deliberately turned the
glass at different angles to obtain
required refieetionsaxi intelligence
not poseessed by any animaneother
than man. • e " gaa
sliisn 141.P,'s RECORD.
A remareable example of constant
attendance in the British House of
Commons through e long series of
Meg has been given by an :fresh
M.P. Mr. Donal Sullivan has been
seN =teen years a member, and has
taken part ie over 5,000 divisions.
This -year he lias been in the House
during every daeisiou, though re-
fraining from teking part in five s
through the Irish party abstaining.
Mr. Sullivan geese down to the
House (when sitting) every day at
noon and remaintill tile end, how-,
ever late it may be. His only eeer-
ciao is waliciag on the Teerace, and
he is in the best of health,
1.4*••••••••••*...•
X ic o o Pithima, been it Naples, in
1728, produced the eceord nember
Of 131 operas &tease,hi leretiree.,