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Home My WebLink AboutThe Brussels Post, 1893-12-15, Page 2THHE BRUSSELS POST I N THE MIDST OF ALARMS. I QBT. BARB, IN " LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE." CHAPTER IX,--(ZioNTlNactn.) ;'If you do that again," cried Yat elntehinahim by the throat, "1'I1 choke you," But he did not need to do it again. The girl heard the cry, turned with a frighten.. ed look; and was about to fly into the house, when she recognized the two. Then she came towards them. Yates took his hand away from the oonstableei throat'. 'c Where is your father or brother? de- manded the oonstable. "1 don't know." Where is your mother ?" She is over with Mrs. Howard who is ill." Aro you all alone ?" "Yes.' Then I command you in the name of the Queen to give no assistance to this prisoner, but to do as I tell you." " And I command you in the name of the President," oried Yates,I " to keep your mouth shut and not to address a lady like that.—Kitty," he continued; in a milder tone, could you tall me where to get a file, so that I may cub these wrist -ornaments? Don't you get it. You are to do nothing. Jab indicate where the file is. The law mustn't have any hold on you, as it seems to have on the." ' t'i'hy don't you make him unlock them?" asked Kitty. "Because the villain threw away the key in the fields." ' He couldn't have done that." The constablecaught his breath. " But he did. I saw." " And I saw him unlock them at break- fast. The key was on the end of his watch. chain. He hasn't thrown that away." She made a move to take out hie watch - chain, but Yatss stopped her : " Don't touch him. I'm playing a lone hand here." He jerked oat the than, and the real key dangled from it. " Well, Stalker," he said, " I don't know which to admire most, your clever- ness and luck, stupidity, or Miss Bart- lett's acuteness of observation.—Can we get into the barn, Kitty ?" "Yes, but you musn't hurt him." "No fear. I think too much of hint. Don't you come in. I'll be out in a mono ent, like the medium from a spiritualistic dark cabinet." Entering the barn, Yates forced the ow stable up against the square oaken posh Width was part of the framework of the building, and which formed one side of the perpendicular ladder that led to the top of the hay -mow. "Now, Stoliker," he said, solemnly, "you realize, of course, that I don't want to hurt you,yes you also realize that linnet hurt you if you attempt any tricks. I can't take any risks ; please remember that ; and recollect that by the lime you are free again I shall be in the State of New York. So don't compel me to smash your head against this post. Re, with some trouble, unlock- ed the clasp on his own wrist; then, draw- ing Stalker's right hand around the post, he snapped the same clasp on the constable's hitherto free wrist. Theunfortunete man, with his cheek against the oak, was in the comical position of lovingly embracing the post. " 1'11 get you a chair from the kitchen, so that you wilt be more oomfortable,— unless, like Samson, you oan pull down the supports. Then I mast bid you good. by„ Yates went out to the girl, who was wait - ng for him. I want to borrow a kitchen chair, Kit- ty," he said, " so that poor Stoliker will pet a rest." They walked towards the house. Yates noticed that the firing had ceased, except a • lseulrory shot here and there across the country. I shall have to get over the border as quickly as I can,' he continued. " Thia country is getting too hot for me." "You are much safer here," amid the girl, with downcast eyes. "A man has brought he news that the United States gunboats re sailing up and down the river, making prisoners of all who attempb to erose from this side." "You don't say l Well, I might have known that. Then what am I to do with Sboliker? I cau't keep hon tied up here. Yet the moment he gets loose I'm done for." ' Perhaps mother could persuade him not to do anything more. Shall I go for her?" "I don't think it would be any use. Stol. iker's a stubborn animal. He has suffered too much at my hands to be in a forgiving mood. We'll bring him a chair, anyhow, and see the effect of kindness on him." When the chair was placed at Stoliker'e disposal, he sat lawn upon it, still hugging the poet with an enforced fervency that in spite of the solemnity of the mouton neer. ly made Kitty laugh, and lit up her eyes with the mischievousness that had always delighted Yates. "How long am I to be kept here ?" asked the conetable. "Oh, not long," answered Yates, cheer- ily ; " not a moment longer than is neces- sary. I'll telegraph when I'm safe in New York State ; so you won't be here more than a day or two." This assurance did not appear to bring much oomfort to Stoliker. "Look here," he said, "X guess I know as well as the next man when I'm beaten. thinking all this over. I I have been am g under the sheriff's orders, and not under the orders of that officer. I don't believe you've done anything anyhow, or you wouldn't have acted quite the way you did. If the sheriff had sent me it would have been different. As it is, if you unlock those cutis I'll give you my word I'll do nothing more unless Pin ordered to. Like as not they've forgotten all about you by this time ; and there's nothing on reoord, any. how," "Do yon mean it? Will you act square ?" "Certainty 1'11 sur square, I don't sup. pose you doubt that, I didn't ask favors before, and I did what I could to hold you,,, ' Enough gaid," oried Yater. "I'll risk it." Stallion etretohed his arms wearily above his head when he was released. "I wonder," ho said, now that Kitty watt gone, "if there is anything to eat in the house ?" "Shake t" cried Yeeee, holding out his hand to him, "Another great and mutual sontimetib unites us, Stoliker. Let us go and sea." CHAPTER N. The man who wanted to gee the fight did not gee it, and the man who did not wanb to an it saw it, Yates arrived on the field Of eoefliet when all was over ; Renmark found the battle raging around him before he realized that things had teethed a trials. Tho result of the straggle wag similar in effoot to an Annerioan railway aooident of the first elms. One oliioer and five privates were killed on the Canadian side, one mu was missing, and many were wounded, The number of the Fenian killed will probably never be known, Several wore buried on the field of battle, others were taken back by O'Neil's brigade when they retreated. Although the engagement reeultod as Yates had predicted, yet he was wrong in his estimate of the Canadians. Volunteers are invariably underrated by men of exper- ience in military matters. The boys fought well, even when they saw their ensign fall dead before them, If the affair had been left entirely in their hands the result might have been different, as was shown after- wards, when the volunteers, unimpeded by regulars, quickly put down a much more formidable rising in the Northwest. But in the present case they were hampered by their dependence on the British troops, whose commander moved. them with all the ponderoue slowness of real war and ap- proached O'Neill as if he had been approach- ing Napoleon. He thus managed to get in a day after the fair on every oocasion,boiug too late for the fight at Ridgeway and too late to capture any ooneiderable number of the flying Pentane ab Fort Erie. The cam- paign on the Canadian side was magnifi- cently planned and wretchedly oarried out. The volunteers and regulars were co meet at a point close to where the fight took place, but the British commander delayed two hours in starting, which fact the Cana- dian colonel did not learn until too late. These blunders culminated in a ghostly mistake on the field, Tho Canadian colonel ordered his men to charge aorosa an open field and attack the Fenian force in the woods,—a brilliant but foolish move. To the command the volctnteers gallantly re- vealed, but against stupidity the gods are powerless. In the field they were appalled to hear the order given to form square and receive cavalry, Even the schoolboys knew the Feniaus could have no cavalry. Having formed their square, the Cana- dians found themselves the helpless targets of the Feniaus in the woods. If O'Neill's forces had shot with reasonable precision, they mut have cub the volunteers to pieces. The volunteers were victoroius if they had only known it, but, in this hope. less square, panic seized them, and it was every man for himself ; and at the same time the Feniaos were also retreating ae fact as they oould. This farce is known as the battle of Ridgeway, • and would have been comical had it not been that death hovered over it. The comedy without the tragedy yeas enacted a day or two before, at a blood- less skirmish which took place near a ham- let called waterloo, which ;affray is digni- fied in Canadian annals as the second battle of that name. When Yates reached the benb he found it empty and torn by bullets. The fortunes of war had smashed the jug, and the fragments were strewn in front of the entrance, probably by some disap- pointed man who had tried to sample the contents and had found nothiug. Yates was tired out. He flung himself down on one of the deserted bunks, and was soon sleeping almost as soundly as the man be- hind a log not six feet away with his face among the dead leaves. When the Canadian forces retreated, Renmark, who had watched the contest with,all the helpless anxiety of a non-com- batant, sharing the danger but having no influence upon the result, followed them,. making a wide detour so as to avoid the chance shots which were still flying. He expected to some up with the volunteers on the road, but was not successful. Through various misoalouletions, he did not succeed in finding them until towards even. ing. At first they told him that young Hou and was with the oonpany and unhurt, but further inquiry scion developed the fact that he had not been seen since the fight, He was not among those who wore killed or wounded, and it was nightfall before Ran - mark realized that opposite his name on the roll would be placed the ominous word "missing." Renmark remembered that the boy had said he would visit his home if he got leave ; but no leave had boon asked for. At lab Renmark was convinced that young Howard was either badly wounded or dead. The possibility of his desertion the professor did nob confider for a moment, although he admitted to himself that it was hard to tell what panic of fear ?night oome over a boy who for the first time in his life found bullets flying above Iris ears. With a heavy heart, Renmark turned back and mode his way to the fatal field. Be found nothing on the Canadian side. Going over to the woods, he carne across several bodies lying where they fell; but they were all strangers, Even in the darkness he would have had no difflool• by in recognizing the volunteer uniform which he know so well, He walked down to the Howard horneebead, hoping yet fear. ing to hear the boy's voice,—ahs voice of a deserter. Everything was silenb about the house, although a light shone through an upper window and also through one below. He paused at the gate, not knowing what to do. It was evident the boy was not here, yob how to find the father or brother without alarming Margaret or her moth• er puzzled him, As lie stood there, the door opened, and he recognized Mrs. Bartlett and Margaret standing in the light.ht. Ho moved awayfrom the ate and heard the older womasay,— g " Oh, she will be all right in the morning, now that she bee falloh into a nice sleep. I Wouldn't disturb her tonight, if I were you. It is nothing but nsrvousnoee and fright at that horrible firing. It's all ever now, thank God. Good•nighb, Margaret." The good woman came through the gate, and then ran with all the speed of sixteen towards hor own home. Margaret stood in the doorway, listening to the retreating, footsteps. She was pale and anxious, but Renmark thoughb he had never soon anyone so lovely, and he was startled to find that he had a most un•profossorlike longing to take her in his arms and oomfort her, s feel- ing which had never assailed him in the dim edusationaloorridorss thestatelyuniversity building. Instead of bringing her console - Son, he feared it would bo his fete to add to her anxiety ; and it was not until he saw that she wasaboob to close the door that be found courage to speak. " Margaret," he said. The girl had never heard her rams pro- nounced in that tone before, and the cadence of ib went direct to her heart, frightening her with an unknown joy, Sho seemed unable to move or respond, and stood there with wide oyes and impended breath, gazing into bhe darkness. Ren. mark shopped into the light, and she saw his keit was haggard with fatigue and anxiety, Margaree,a be said again, "I want to speak with you a moment. Where is Yate brother?" "HellB gone withMBa rlott to Bee i f he can find the horses, There le swatting wrong," she continued, stepping down be. aids slim, "I can the it in your `coo. What is it?" "Is your father in the ham ?" "Yes, bub he is worried abotto moth r. Tell me what it is, Ib is better bo tdi ire," Renmark hesitated. "Don't keep Inc In snepsneo like dile." oried the girl, in a low but intense voice, "You have said too inuoh or too little. Has anything happened to Henry?" No. It in about Arthur I wanted to speak. You will not be alarmed?" "I am alarmed, Tell me quickly." And the girl in her excitement laid her Banda imploringly on hie. "Arthur joined the volunteers in'loronto some time ego. Did you know that ?" "He uever told Inc• I understand—I think so, but I hops not, He was in the battle to -day. Is he—itus he been—hurt?" "I don't know. I am afraid so," said Renmark, hurriedly, now that the truth had to ootne out, and lie realized by the nerv- ous tightening of the girl'o unconscious grasp how clumsily he was telling it. "He was with the volunteers this morning. He is not with them now. They don't know where he is. No one naw him hurt, but it is feared he was, and that he has been left behind. I have been all over the ground." " Yes, yes," "But I could not find hint. I came here hoping to find him." Take me to where the volunteers wore," she sobbed. " I know what has happened. Come quiokly." "Will you not put something on your head ?" "No, no. Conte at once." Then, paus- ing, she said, "Shall we need u lantern?" "No ; it light enough when we get out from the shadow of the house." Margaret ran along the road so swiftly that Renmark had some trouble in keeping pass with leer. She turned at the side -road and sped up the gentle ascent to the spot where the volunteers had crossed it. " Here is the place," said Renmark. "Ho could not have been hit in the field," she oried, breathlessly, " for then he might have reaolted the house at the corner without climbing a fence. If he was badly hurt he would have been hare. Did you soaroh this field?" "Every bit of it. He is not here." " Then it must have happened after he crossed the road and the second fens. Did you see the battle ?" " Yes." "Did the Feniaus oroes the field after the volunteers?" "No ; they did not Leave the woods." " Then if he was struck ib could not have been far from the other side of the second fence. He would be the last to retreat ; and that is why bhe others did nob see him," said the girl, with confident pride in her brother's courage. They crossed the first fence, the road,and the second fence, the girl walking ahead for a few paces. Sho stopped and leaned for a moment against a tree. "It must have been about here," she said, in a voice hardly audible; " lave you searched on this side?" • " Yes, for half a mile farbher into the fields and woods." " No, no, not there, but down along the fence. Ile knew every inch of this ground. If he were wounded Imre, he would at once try to reach our house. Search down along the fence. I—I oonnot go." Renmark walked along the fence, peering into the dark corners made by the zigzag of the rails, and he knew, without looking back, that Margaret with feminine iuoon- sistenoy was following him. Suddenly the darted past him and Bung herself down in •tbslong grass, wailing out a cry that cut Renmark like a knife. The boy lay with his face in the grass and hie outstretched hand grasping the lower rail of the fence. He had dragged himself this far and reached an insurmountable obstacle. Renmark drew the weeping girl gently away, and rapidly ran his hand over the prostrate lad. Re quickly opened his tomo, anis a thrill of joy passed over him as he felt the faint beating of the heart. "He is alive," he oried. "lie will get well, Ma.garet." This statement, how- ever, was a somewhat premature one to make on so hasty an examination, He rose, expecting a look of gratitude from the girl he loved. He was amazed to see her eyes almost luminous in the dark. nese, blazing with wrath. " When did you know he was with the volunteers?" " This morning,—early," said the pica fessor, taken aback. "W1ty didn't you tell ore ?" "He asked me not to," "He is a mere boy, You are a man, and ought to have a mans sans. You had no right to mind what a boy said. it was my right to know and your duty to toil me. Through your negligence and stupidity my brother bas lain here all day,—perhaps dyiug," she added, with a break in her angry voice. If you had known—I didn't know any- thing was wrong until I saw the volunteers, I have nob lost a moment since." "Iehouldhave known he was missing, without going to the volunteers." Renmark was so amazed at the uojnst accusation from a girl whom he had mode the mistake of believing to be without a temper of her own that he knew not what to say. lie was, however, to have ono more example of in0ouaisteney. "Why do you stand there doing nothing,, now that Iha have found him ?" she demand- ed, Ib was on his tongue to say, " I stand here because you stand there unjustly quer. railing with me," but he did not say it, Renmark was not a ready man, yet he did, for once, the right thing. Margaret,' ile said, sternly, " throw down that fence," This curt command, delivered in his most sekoolmastery manner, was instantly obey- ed, beyed, Such a task may 05001 a formidable one to set to a young woman, but ib is e foot easily accomplished in some parts of America. A rail fence lends itself readily to demolition, Margaret tossed a rail to the right, ono to the left, and one to rho right again, until an open gap took the plaoe of that part of the fence. The pro- fessor examined the young soldier in the mean time, and found his leg had been broken by a musket'bell. He raised hint up tenderly in his arms, and was pleased to hear a groan escape his lips, He walked through the open gap and along the road to wade the house, bearing the unconscious form of hie pupil. Margaret silently kept close to his side, her fingers every now and tltetl nnoonsciously caressing the damp ant ly looks of her brother. " We that' have to have a data?" Her assertion was half an inquiry, " Cerbainly." " We moat not distarb any one in the haute, It better that I should toll you What to do bow, so that wo need not talk When wo reaoh thane," ,t We cannot help disturbing same ane," b think na it will be sear neo if Ido e t Y• you will any with Arthur I will ge for the doctor, and no cue need kliew," "I will go for elle doobor." " You do not know the way. It is five or six miles. X will ride Gypsy, and will noon be baibo," ' But there aro prowlers and stragglers all along the roads, It is not safe for you to go alone," "It is perfectly agfo. No horse that the stragglers have stolen can overtake Gypsy. Now, don't say anything more. Ib is best that 1 should go. I will ran on ahead and enter the house quietly. I will take the lamp to the room at elle aide, where the window opens to the floor. Carry him around there. I will be waiting for you ab the gate, Bad will show you the way." W ith that the girl was oft, and Renmark oarried his burden alone. She wee waiting for him at the gabo, and silently led the way around the house to where the dour. window opened upon the bit of lawn tinder an apple -true. The light streamed out upon rho grass. lie placed the boy gently upon the dainty bed. It needed no second glance to tell Renmark whose room he was in. It was deoorated with time pretty little lrniok-knaoks that are clear to the heart of a girl in a snuggery which she can call her own. " It is not likely that you will be die. turbod here," she whispered, "until I come back. I will tap at the window when I. come with the doctor." "Don't you think ib would be better and safer for me to go? I don't like the thought of you going alone." " No, no. Please do just what I tell you to. You do not know the way. I shall be very much quicker. If Arthur should—should--wake, he will know you, and will not be alarmed, as he might be if you were a stranger." Margaret was gone before he could say anything more, and Renmark eat down, devoutly hoping that no one would rap at the door of the room while he was there, (TO 330 coN1313UED.) FOR ICELANDIC GIRLS. A School Soon to be Established for Their higher Education. The establishment at Reykjavik of a school for the higher education of girls is likely to be soon complete, A peculiar interest is found in the work front tite fact that ib indicates a total change in social aspects in that country, where the few ex. isting educational institutions of a good order have been provided exclusively for men. The girls generally have had no outer education than thab acquired at home. They will be indebted in a cer- tain degree bb the World's Fair for so unfair a course being interrupted since this brought as the Ioelandio delegate Mme. Sigridr Magnusson, who has been diligent- ly at work for the school, proposing to devote to its benefit the proceeds from the sale of private property of her own in the form of a collection of northern antique. tics. The patrons of the school are Rio Ma- jesty the King of Denmark, her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Teck, the Dowager Lady Stanley of Alderley, the Viscountess Endyn, tiro Dowager Lady Churchill, the Lady Kensington, tite Hon. Emily Cath- cart, and others, A house hes been built for this school on a pieoo of ground given to Mme. Magnusson for the purpose by her mother. Tho people have shown good ability in bheir induatriss, executed in the family circle during the long Winter evenings, by means of primitive spinning wheels and hand looms, when, as is learned from Mme. Magnusson, " the spinning is mealy ac- companied by the reading of the native Saga or ancient history." Their knitted work is much to be praised, as shown in the exposition, as is also the vadmal, or serge, in natural colors, oream, brown, and gray, said to be invaluable for tennis, boat• ing, and shooting costumes, because it is waterproof and light. In discussing tate qualities of some woolen gloves shown in the exhibib of hor nation, "the only glove of the !rand whish Queen Victoria wears," this representative from Iceland inquired, "Do you think people would have bhe pa- tience to prepare the yarn with the three threads ae in these stockings and gloves— this honest work—in a country where everybody rushes as if half mad?" Ib is to be hoped that the Icelandic glide will work no less honestly when more highly ed seated. "The only education that children gen. erally receive," as the delegate explains, " is instruction in reading and in religious knowledge. This is in most oases taught by the mother. Hitherto it may be said with perfect truth that the Ioelandio another has been the universal schoolmis- tress. But for this purpose sbo most receive an education arlegttate to the de. mands of modern times. This is a want widish is very keenly felt by the woman of Iceland, and they are anxious to avail themselves of every opportunity within their reach to inform their minds. Intense thirst for knowledge is manifested by women all through the country." During a residence of several years at Cambridge, England, Mme. Magnusson has found opportunities to aid the educational advantages of her eounbrywomen,who have now apremiers of better means of education. By the plan proposed the girls will be en- abled to live rent free, and she thinks they might also bring a part of their food—as many students in tine Scottish universities have been in the habit of doing -in order to save oastThe trainingn will ino lads teohni- cal education, as being of importance, coneidering thab the Ioelandio women aro already famous for certain kinds of hand work. The plan is bo have some necessary peculiarities in other ways, adapting it toa country two-thirds larger than Ireland,wibh a population of 70,000 scattered over its inhabited portions, and where travel is so dilfioult that a system of schools main roan• bites under differon b oonditions is practically impossible. TWO 0$ILD11EN CREMATED. Patel Fire In St. dohu's Caused by W0 Explosion of a Lamp. The other evening a fire occurred in A, A, Dalgado's shop and house at St, Join's, Nfld. In the kitohe2 wore the children alone. Two of the children wore Vioeubia, aged 7, and crippled, and Philip, a boy of 4 years. The girl heard a scream, and run - fling upstate saw a lamp broken on the floor and rho boy Philip, on fire. She did her beet to save the child, but in the ab• tempt, eoverely burnt herself. 'J."ho Melo cripple, who was sitting in a chair, was not noticed. When the firanot had ob. toned a maseery the children were both dead. The (ire was mood by the broalting of a lamp. The oldest person in Indiana fs " Aunt Baldy," who r000nbly attained her. 104th birthday. She It an inmate of the 'Ole Ladies' Home, at Terre Mauro, WONDERS OF ALUMINUM. NOW Does Found For the White Metal of the Future. ft is Driving SII Ver Out or site Arts to Sonic Extent—Unction Illanslls and a 'rhea. ae"nd Other Things \lade of It—Vast Ole• Noelle of the Ore. There is big news to bo told about elucmi- num. It is now on the market at 65o a pound, and a thousand fresh uses for it have been discovered, Already it bas driven silver out of the arts to some extent, It has almost superseded the latter metal ua foil for "gilt" work, became' ib i0 ciuibo as beautiful and can be beaten into feat nearly as thin as gold -leaf. The production of it hoe surpaesed that of niokel and will soon exceed that of oopper and lead. In fact, aluminum is deabined soon to take the place of lead and copper to a large degree, us well as that of iron when it becomes oheup enough. Economical processes for ire re- duction alone are needed. There is more of it in the world than there is of iron. It forms 7 per cent of the material of the earth's orueb. Every slay beak is a mine of it, and nearly all rooks are literally ore. beds of it. At present itis comparatively dear because no method has as yeti been disoovsrsd for obtaining it at low cost from common clays. The minerals from which it is now derived are comparatively rare, The States produced 83 pounds of alumi- num in 1883. In 1802 the output of the United States was 260,000 pounds. Last year one concern in Germany, at the falls of the Rhine, turned out 720,000 pounds of it. The domestic produobiuu le to be large- ly increased by works at Niagara Falls, which will utilize the power of the Niagara Tunnel. Up to January 1, 1803, the total world's outpub of the metal has been only abort 1000 tons. But ib is not long since aluminum was regarded only as a curious experimental creation of the laboratory. Its history is all before it. Slate-ponoils are among the novelties 010100 of it. The soft aluminum wire, with sharpened point, works admirably upon school slates. Such pencilu aro small more durable than the old-fashioned kind, suffering less wear and tear, Shoes of this metal aro now em- ployed for race horses. Not only do they possess the advantage of lightness, but they are said to preserve the foeb'of the animals remarkably. Racing shells are formed of single sheets of aluminum, ons-ninoteebh of an inch thick, weighing less than cedar. One such boat, for four oaramen, lowered the mile record nine seconds last summer. FOR ROOFINCI. Aluminum is beginning to be utilized for roofing, in sheets like tin, the cost of it for that purpose being about the same as cop- per. It may be rolled down to a thickness of about 15-10,000ths of an inch. The beaten "leaf" is uow employed to a con- siderable extent in decoration. It is thus used in leading hotels of New York and other oities. All the ornamental work of the Transporbation buildingab the World's Columbian Exposition was on a base of thin aluminum foil. The metal "takes" oil -colors well, and sheets ani plaques of it are being manufactured in greab quantities for artists. One of the most important of future uses of aluminum is for kitchen utensils. The heavy iron pot, which the cook can scarce- ly lift off the fire, will bo superseded by a vessel of the whits metal that, while equal in capacity and strength, may be raised with a finger. This new materiel, remem• ber, is as light as chalk. At the same time it is so strong that any kind of hollowware formed of ib may be knocked about to any extent and bent into all sorts of shapes without breaking. An aluminum pot oasts no more than a copper one, and, unlike the latter, it does not have to be lined with tin for culinary employment, because it does not corrode. For tea -kettles, coffee- pots, and covered dishes intended to retain heat, it serves admirably. Various accoutrements for German and Frenoh soldiers are now made of aluminum —such as breastplates, helmets, bolts and buckles. From the military point of view in these days it is of the utmost importance to save every possible ounce of weight in equipment in order that the fighting man may carry the maximum quantity of ant• munition. Even cartridge shells are being turned out in the seine metal. The latter are drawn down to the finest sizes of wire. The addition of it small percentage of ib to type metal makes the typo far more dur. able. The remarkable development of the last few years in the quality of steel cast- ings is due to an admixture of aitentiunm, which renders the steel more fluid. Even ordinary stoves 11005 contain somewhat of the same ingrod:ent, A n0AUTrrnL ALLOY. A new and beautiful alloy is produced by mixing twenty-two parts of aluminum with sevenby-eight parts of gold, the result being a rich ruby tint. The white metal is also plated with gold, silver an.l nickel. It is employed in making rho finest kind of art castings, engraved, chased, and repousee work being brought out with as much per• faction of detail and finish as is exhibited by electrotypes. The concern referral to turns out thousands of medallions and groups of human figures and animals in bee. relief, using molds of sand and piaster -of peels. These articles may be thrown aei'Oe9 the room and will nob breast, as would iron castings similarly treated They look like silver. Sounding -boards and stringed instruments of various kinds are now being made of a capable ktminum which is elastic and c ab a of vibrations through a wide range of tone pitch. The material has the great advantage of being proof againsb moisture, and it will nob split endtr any circumstances. Ever since the new metal became available at a moderate pride it has been utilized by ex. perimontors in flying machines. Before long It will be extensively used for bridges, because it is so light and strong. Other uses to which it fe being pub are for pro. pellere for strips, valves for air•brakea, opera glasses, picture frames, cigar cases medals, vases, salvers, watches, bioyeleg, brushes and combs, and forks and. spoons, For these table utensile ib has the disad- vantage thab a alight coating of its own oxide always gives it, a greasy feel so that iu is never,likely to supersede silver in this way. Aluminum bine a ntimber of wonderful properties, Most striking among these Is its lightness. Ton eubio Mites of it weighs lees than a pound, Iron ie nearly four time as heavy, gold nearly eight times. It is net, tinted upon by organic accretions. Heim Itis most serviceable for surgical inetru- menbs, for wire to sow up wounds, oto. It is itlrnost absolutely proof a ainstsea water, and ht that reaped is much Letter than cop- per o - pper for sheathing the bottom of vessels, Unfortunately, those pornicicus mollusks, barnacles, seen to thrive on it, 50 they do on steel, .lintan aluminum bronze, made by mixing a small par0ontago of the white metal with ooppor, fo free from this ob- jection and servos admirably for the pur- pose. DECE11 BIIR 15, 1898 1335500 rN afALitAalr Aluminum is only exceeded 1n malleebil• ley by gold and sliver. In point of duotiis iby it to seventh among the metals, ranking miter copper in that respect, It be equal be silver 10 taking and retaining a very high polish. Fine efreots are produced by fleet burnishing and then atsmptug it, eo as to shows unpolished figttrss in relief. It is absolutely tton'magnetio, and for thle reason is largely employed for electric. al appliauoe5. A small percentage of silver mixed with it hardens and strengthens 11, snaking it most suitable for many kinds of engiueeriog and other scientific apparatus. The demand for it in astronomical and other instruments of physical science is growing. It is a remarkably good conductor of heat and of electricity. On the latter account it was selected ae the material of the pyramidal cap whish now forms the apex of the Washington monument, Tide cap ex. cited great Interest in 1881, when it was lit on, the metal being at that time worth 58 a pound. The monument has been struck by lightning several times, but the danger- ous fluid has been oarried from the alumi- num cap down the lightning rod $60 feet into the ground. Perhaps if it had not boon for the safeguard thus provided the huge obelisk might even uow be in ruins. Aluminum was drat isolated in 1827 by Wailer, who had previously discovered the metals barium, magnesium and calcium, obtaining them from alkaline sarbhe by means of electricity. Calcium is sold at this day for $300 an aunoo, owing to the difficulty of separating it from bhe elements with which it is ordinarily found combined, though it is reckoned that the skeleton of a roan contains 518,000 worth of it. That some of the existing metals remain as yob unknown ie quite certain. For a long hints this white metal was manufactured only in the laboratory of the ohsmieb for bhe sake of experiment. Only half a dozen years ago melancholy notices were printed in the newspapers reporting the death of " the only man who possessed the secret of producing it in large quantities on an economical basis." Nevertheless, it can now be obtained in amounts practically unlimited for (iso a pound. It is on the market in the form of ingots, plates, sheets, bare, wires, castings, foils, ole. Its prop- erty of strength without weight renders It far more serviceable for mechanical pur- poses in general than any other known sub- stance. It can be dissolved out of any clay. bank by the use of conoantrated sulphuric acid, but the process ie too coaly. Sooner or later a method will be found for produc- ing it as cheaply as iron. ANOTHER 0_P_B. FEEDER. The t•rew's Nest Pass Hard 'Far Meer a Traffic. Mr. Hugh D. Lumsden of Toronto is a distinguished railway engineer in the ser- vice of tete C. P. R. He las had to do with the construction of the prinoipal lines of the 0. P. R. in the North- West, especially with the Regina & Prince Albert Railway and Calgary & Edmonton Railway, These two important lines were built by the Big Four, Hoes, Mackenzie, Holt and Mann; under companies organized by themselves, and the roads when finished were turned over to the 0.P.R. under a long lease. Mr. Lumsden was the chief engineer of construc• tion on those representing both the 0. P. R. and hose & Co., and man- aged to give satisfaction to both parties During the present year he hits been en- gineer over construction on the "Soo" Pacific . from 6ioosejaw, N. W. T., to United States boundary, and he has also had the supervision of the 0. P. R's surveying parties in the Kootenay country in British Columbia, The object of these surveys is to find a satisfactory line from the Crow's Nest Pass westward through the Kootenay SILVER 0ININO COONTRt to the main C. P. R. at some point west of the Rockies. The 0. 1'. R. now controls what was popularly known as the Galt railway, running from Dunmore on the O. P. R. to the ooal mining town of Leth- bridge; ib also owns the line extending from Calgary to Macleod, which rune about as far to the southward as rho Galt road. In British Columbia it bas a water and rail route extending from Revelstoke to Welton ; and other mineral roads run. ning south from the main O. P. R. are pro. jested. The 0. P. R. proposed new lino through the mountains by rho Crow's Nast Paas will leave the main C. P. R. at Dun. more; follow the Galt line to Lethbridge; cross the country from Lethbridge to Mac. leod (a link of aboub twenty miles to be bore built); enter the mountains to the Crow's Nest Pass •and reaoh Nelson and other B. 0. points by the most available route. The development of the silver re. gion of British Columbia under the pro- posed new tariff in the United States, which admits Oaiadiau lead ore and galena free of drily, will, no doubt, be very great; and as the United States lines into British Columbia are already bidding for this min. oral traffic, the C. 1, R. may be expooted to " ORT ,t 1000130,1' ON " and proceed with its Crow's Nest Paas road as early as possible in the spring. Some 30 or 40 miles of the linebetweenMacleod and the Pass are already graded. The snows; in early November broughb the work of the surveying parties in the Kootenay country to a stand still, mitt Isle. Lumsden states that they were thea withdrawn for the winter. W f With the securing the C s as practically ob Pass U. P.I'�. lr a Neat P e rho (.p y g oontrol of all tete pass through the Rooky Mountains in Canadian territory ; as the, northern terminus of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, which they are opera. ing, is opposite to and controls the Yellow - head Pass, the only available pass that is not already occupied. ied. It Pays to Have a Tool Shed. Every farmer ougltb to have a shed in which to store machinery over winter, but not every farmer has one, and often we see the plow and harrow, the wagon and the mower, exposed to the weather all through the winter. If farmers oould oily be made to understand that the neglect of tnaoltinery fa more destructive to it than all tate .use. bheyy give fejt really seems as 0 they would build a ehelter for it as thou as possible, A cheap shed can be built in a day, and any farmer who knows how to use a saw and hammer can build ono. The knowledge that tools can be found when wanted to tide, f0 worth snore iu a year than rho Goat of the shed, leaving out all other considerations, A good altars of tate profits of the ordinary farm is wasted in malting good rho toss Width comes to machbuery from gross 0e• gloat in taking caro of ft, and this San bo eta down in a theorising dogrel with little ex - pens() anti labor. If you have no storabonse provide a rifled for your farm machinery before winter sets in, and when you have built the tilled, the that ali the maohinos are put under it at ottoe,aud make an:,hrventory of all the thole net it