The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

“ I don’t know. It is possible, and the evidence is strong. It is possible ; I have known the Zulus make longer marches than that. The Governor has ordered me to gallop to the spot, and report if 1 can see anything of this Impi.” “ Am I to go too?” “ No, you will remain in the corps. 1 take Roger with meâ€"he is a light weight â€"â€"and two spare horses. If there should be an attack and I should not be back, or if anything should happen, you will do your duty." ll Yes.” “Good-by. I am off. You had best muster the men to be ready for an emergencyâ€"" and he was gone. â€" . . .. 1 1 7â€".-. “v, Ten miimtes afterward, down 01mm an orderly from the officer commanding, with a peremptory order that the ofliccr comA manding Alston’s Horse was to mount and parade his men in readiness for immediate service. Just then Jeremy came in, saluted, and informed him that the men were mustered. “ Serve out the saddlery. Let every man shoulder his saddle. Tell Mazook to bring out the ‘Devil’ (Ernest’s favorite horse). and march the men up to the Government stables. I will be with yoq presently.” The next fortnight was a busy one for all concerned. The organization of St colonial volunteer corps is no joke, as anybody who has ever tried it can testify. There were rough uniforms to be provided. arms to be obtained, and a. hundred and one other wants to be satisfied. Then came some delay about the horses, which were to be served out by Government. At last those were handed over, a goodlooking lot. but apparently very wild. Matters were at this point, when one day Ernest was seam-(l in the room he used as an office in his house, enrolling a v new recruit previous to his being sworn. interviewing 2t tradosnutn about flannel shirts, making M'rangenu‘nts for a. supply of forage. filling up the (null \SS forms which the Imperial authori ins required for transmission to the \Vzrr-ofliw. and a. hundred other matters. Suddenly his orderly announced that two privates of the corps wished to see him. n.‘ 1‘ wzii'iérre is a. pretty g0,” thought Ernest, “ and the horses not served put ye_t !”_ THE CHOICE OF THREE : “Look here, Ernest,” he said, “ here is a pretty business. Three men have come in to report that Cetywayo has sent an Impi (army) round by the back of Secocwni’s country to burn Pretoria, and return to Zululand across the High Veldt. They say that the Impi is now resting in the Saltpan Bush, about twenty miles off, and Will attack the town to-night or to. morrow night. All these three, who have, by-the-way, had no communication with each other, state that they have actually seen the captains of the Impi, who came to tell them to bid the other Dutchmen stand aside, as they are new fighting the Queen, and they would not be hurt.” '1T< i .,1 “ What is it ?” he asked of the ordm‘ly testin for he was nearly worked 10 death. “ A complaint, sir.” “ Well, send them in.” The door opened, and in entered a curious couple. One was a. great, burly sailorâ€"mun, who had been corporaLat-arnis on board one of Her Majesty’s ships at Cape Town, got drunk, overstade his leave, and eserted rather than face the punislnnont -, the other a quick, active little fellow, with a. face like a ferret. He was a Zululand trader, who had ruined himself by drink, and a. peculiarly Va.thth memle of the corps on account of his knowledge of the country in which they were going to serve. Both the men saluted and stood {Ll- case. “ Be off with you both,” said Ernest, sternly, “ and don’t trouble me with any such nonsense again, or I will put you both under arrest, and stop your pay. Como. march l ” and he pointed to the door. As he did so he observed a Boer gallop swiftly past the house, and take the turn to (lov- ernment House. “ What is up now ‘2” he Wondered. Half an hour afterward another man passed the window, also at full speed, and also turned up toward Government House, Another half hour passed, and Mr. Alston came hurrying in. --: ..1 4v“ H 1 , U . _ “ Well, Sir," answerefl the blg 58.1101‘. scratching his head, “ is I must give it a name it is thisâ€"this hero man, sir, be too infarnul sagustic.” ~ ‘1 u .1 1‘ A jilkiégems incredible,” said Ernest you_b§lieye_it ?” '1' ‘11 “ Bezause he and I, sir, as is messnmtes, air, ’ad a. difference of opinion. It was his day, you see, sir, to cook for our mess, and instead of putting on the pot, sir, he comes to me he does and he says, ‘ Adam, you father of a. mce of fools‘wtliat's what 110 says, sir, a-comparing of me to the gent who lived in a garden 77‘ why don’t you come and take the skins off thefltaters, instead of a-squutting of yourself down on thatâ€"bed !’ ” “ Slightly in error, sir,” broke in the little man ; ” our big friend’s memory is not as substantial as his form. VVlmt I said was, ‘ My dear Adam, as I see you have nothing to do, exoept sit and play a Jow’s- harp upon your couch, would you he so kind as to come and assist me to remove the outer skin of these potatoes 9’ ” ” Don’twtalk nonscfise, Adam; tell me your complaint, or go.” _-‘ .. 1 u , 1 J1,“ “ \Vell, my men, what is it ’2” ask Ernest, going on filling up his forms. “ Nothing so far as 1 am concerned. sir said the little man. time to waste.” Ernest; begin to ciplodc, but checked himself and said sternly : Adéinvwhiitched 11p his brooches and began: ‘ v. ‘11 x 1 n _-O.._ v " You see, sir, I brought he hch by the scruff of the neck.” jrihiét’s true, sir," said the little man rubbing that portion of his body. Erneétfllgoked up sharply at thnqnondum tar. ESEâ€"fiaygaluted again 'zmd ‘vanislm'd. He “NOW, Adam, your complaint; I have no She came, and I who linger‘d there, I saw that she was very fair; And, with my sighs that pride suppi'ess’d There rose a trembling wish for rest. But I, who had resolv‘d to be The maker of my destiny, I turn'd me to my task and wrought, And so forgot the passing thought She paused; and I who quostion‘d thm'v. I heard she was as good as fair; And in my soul a still, small vuico Enjoin'd me not to check my choice. But I, who had rcsolv'd to be The maker of my destiny, 1 bade the gentle guardian down And tried to think about renown. She left; and I who Wander fem- There‘a nothing more to see or hear: Those walls that ward my paradiso Are very high, nor open twice. And I, who had resolv'd to be The maker of my destiny, Can only wait without the gnio And sit and sigh: “ Too lute! 100 mu 011, who can tell the troubles, The trials and the cares, The heavy dmly burden That the puticntmothor wears In cooking, washing, sweeping, Gusting All her days am spent; No wonder that bvforo she's 01d Or gray, her back is bent. She's 11 and sends the children 011 To 50 1001 at early morn, And she had their dinner randy When they at noon return. When supper‘s over, and she's \mshvd Plates, knives and forks and spnons, Then she must sit my half the night Half-901mg panmloons. So patient and unsolfish. She’s us loving as she‘s Ianu But when she guts a rest, ‘twill ho ~When she is m the grave, The Destiny Maker. The Tired Mother. A NOVEL. asked do was the most punctilious sergeantmajor who ever breathed. Twenty minutes later, a long file of men, each with a carbine slung to his back, and a. saddle on his head, which, at a distance, gave them the appearance of a string of gigantic mushrooms, were to be seen pro- ceeding toward the Government stables a mile away. “ Now, my men,” he said, as soon as they were paraded, “go in, and each 1mm choose the horse which he likes best, bridle him, and bring him out and saddle him. Sharp 1” Ernest, mounted on his great black stallion, and looking in his military uniâ€" form and the revolver slung across his shoulders. a typical volunteer officer was there before them. The mom broke their ranks and rushed to the stables, each anxious to secure It better horse than his neighbors. Presently from the stables there arose a sound of kicking, plunging and wohohing impossible to describe, “I knowit,” replied Hans, in the same tongue; “but useless is it to seek rest till God gives it. You have sought and passed through the jaws of many deaths, but you have not found. If it be not God’s will you will not find it now. I know you too seek rest, my brother, and had I known that you would find that only down there ” â€"-and he pointed toward Zululandâ€"“I had not come to warn you, for blessed is rest, and happy he who gains it. But no. it is ” 'l'hcrc will be a pretty scene soon, with those unbroken hrutes.” thought Ernest. 110 was not destined to be disappoint-ed. The horses were dragged out, most of them lying back upon their haunches, kicking, bucking and going through every other equine antic. “ I have done my duty. and told you what \Vilhemina said. Now go, and when the black men are pressing round you like the sea-waves round a rock, may the God of Rest guide your hand, and bring you safe from the slaughter !” Ernest gazed at the old man’s pale face ; it were acurions, mph expression, and the eyes were looking upward. “Perhaps, old friénd,” he said, address- ing him in German, “I, as well as you, have a City of Rest which 1 would reach, and care not if I pass thither on an assegm.” “ Saddle up 3” shouted Ernest. as 90011 as they were all out. It was done with great difficulty. “ Now mount." Sixty men lifted their legs and swung themselves into the saddle, not without sad misgivings. A few seconds passed, and at loaat twenty of them were 011 the broad of their backs ; one or two were being dragged by tho stirrup-loutlivr ; a few were clinging to their bucking and plunging steeds ; and the remainder of Alston’s Horse was scourâ€" ing the plain in every possible direction. Nm’cr was there such a scene. “ My good Hams, what is the good of coming to me with such an old wives’ tale ? Even if it were true, an} I knew that I mush be killed twenty times, I should go ; I cannot run away from my duty.” In time, however, most of the men got back again, and some sort of order was restored. Several men were hurt, one or two badly. These were sent to the hospital and Ernest f01‘111{‘(itll(‘. rest into half sec- tions to he marched to the place of rendexxmus. Just then, to make matters hotter, down cmne the rain in sheets, soak- ing them to the skin, and making confusion worse confounded. So they rode to the town, which was by this time in tin extramilinar)‘ state of panic. All business was suspended. women were standing about on the \‘e‘midus. hugging their babies and crying, or making preparations to go into lauger: men were hiding deeds and other valuables, or hurrying to defence meetings on the mnrkntsquare, where the Govern. mont were serving out rifles and mmnunition to all ablebodied citizens; frightened mobs of Busutos and Christian Kufirs were jabhering in the streets, and telling hilvs' of the completeness of Zulu slaughter, or else running from the city to pass the night among the hills. Altogether the $400110 was most curious, till dense darknees came down on it like an owinguiahm'. and put it out. “ Sir, I am going to say a strange thing to you this night.” He was speaking quit-e quietly and composedly now, and might have been mistaken for a. sane man. “ Sir, I hear thth you go down to Zululand to tight the fierce anus. When I hear it, I was far away, but something come into my head to travel as quick as Wilhemina can, and come and tell you not to go." “ What do you mean?” “ How can I say what I do mean ? This I knmw (many shall go down to Zululand who rest in this house to-night, few shall come back. “ You mean that I shall be killed?” “ I know not. There are things as bad as death, and yet not death.” He covered his eyes with his hand. and continued : “ I cannot sen you dead, but do not go; I pray you do not go.” A ‘ That is spoken as a. brave man should,” answered his visitor, in his native tongue. ” Now. what is your business with me ?” The German’s face changed from its expression of idiotic grief to one of refined intelligence. He glanced toward Jeremy. who was exploding in the corner. “ You can speak before this gentleman, Hams,” said Ernest. “ Ah, there you are, dear sir ; it is two~ three years since we meet. I look for you everywhere. and they tell me you are here, and I come on quick all through the dark and the min; and then before I know if I mm on my head or my heel, the cruel man he ups a rifle, and do shoot my ‘Wilhcminu, and make a great hole through her poor stomach. 0 sir, wat shall I do ‘2” and the grout Child hogan to Shed tears ; “ you too, you will weep; you, too, love my \Vilhe- mina, and sleep with her one nightâ€" bohoo l” “For goodness’ Bake, stop that nonsense! This is no time or place for such foolmg.” He spoke sharij and the monomanific pulled up, only giving vent to an occasional sob. .Ih-nos't tmok his men to a building which the Government had placed at their (lixpnsul, mid had the horses stabled, but not iiimmldlcd. Presently orders came down to him to keep the corps under arms all night: to send out four patrols to be relieved at midnight to watch the approaches to the town; and at dawn to saddle up and recmiiioiter the neighboring ('nunti‘y. Presently Ernest’s old 'friend of the High Voldt, looking very wild and uncouth in the lamplight, with his long beard and matted hair, from which the rain was dripping, wm bundled rather unceremoniously into the room. Ernest obeyed those orders as well as he could : that is, he sent the patrols out, but so dense, was the darkness that they never got back again till the following morning, when they were collected, and, in one instance. dug out of the various ditches, quarry-holes. etc., into which they had fallen. man has killed my W'ilhemina l” “ Heavens, it is that lunatic German! Home, orderly, run up to the Defense Comâ€" mittee and the Government offices, and tell them that it is nothing ; they will think the Zulus are here. Tell two men to bring the man in here, and to stop his howls.” About eleven o'clock Ernest was seated in :1 little room that opened out of the 11min building where they were quartered, consulting with Jeremy about matters Connected with the corps, and wondering if Alston had found a. Zulu Impi, or if it was all gmnmon, when suddenly they heard the sharp challenge of the sentry outside : “ \‘Vho goes there?” “ “hoover it is had better answer sharp,” said Ernest ; “ I gave the sentry orders to be quick with his rifle to-night.” “ Bang! crash I " followed by loud howls of “ Wilhomina, my Wife I ah, the cruel “ I am well aware, gentlemen, that with many of those who are your guests here to- night, and my own comrades, this state of affairs and the conviction of the extreme urgency of the occasion has been the cause of their enlistment. It is impossible for me to look down these tables, and see so many in our rough-andâ€"ready uniform, whom I have known in other walks of life, as farmers, storekeepers, Government clerks and what not, without realizing most clearly the extreme necessity that can have brought thesc peaceable citizens together on such an errand as we are bent on. Certainly it is not the ten shillings a day or the mere excitement of savage warfare, that has done this” (cries of “ No, no l”) ; “ because most of them can well afford to despise the money, and many more have seen enough of native war, and know well that few rewards and plenty of hard work fall to the lot of colonial volunteers. Then, what is it ? I will venture a reply. It is that sense of patriotism which is a part and parcel of the English mind” (cheers), “ and which from generation to generation has been the root of England’s greatness, and, so long as- the British blood remains untainted, will from unborn generation to = generation be the mainvspring of the great- ' uses that is yet to be of those wider Englands, of which I hope this continent W111 become not the least.” (Loud cheers.) “ That, gentlemen and men of Alston’s Horse, is the bond which unites us together ; it is the sense of a common duty to perform, of a common danger to combat, of a common patriotism to vindicate. And for that reason, because of the patriotism and the duty, I feel sure that when the end l l of this campaign comes, whatever that end . may be, no one, be he Imperial officer, or , newspaper correspondent, or Zulu foe, will i be able to say that Alston’s Horse shirked iits work, or was mutinou, or proved a 5 broken reed, piercing the side of those who 9 leaned on it.” (Cheers.) “ I feel sure, too. that, though there may be a record of not that ; I am sure now that you will not die ; your evil, whateverit is, will fall from heaven.” “ So be it,” said Ernest; “ you are a strange man. I thought you a common monomaniac, and now you speak like a prophet.’ ’ The old man smiled. “ You are right; I am both. Mostly I am mad. Iknow it. But sometimes my madness has its moments of inspiration when the clouds lift from my mind, and I, see things none others can see, and hear voices to which your ears are deaf. Such a moment is on me now ~, soon I shall be mad again. But before the clouds settle I would speak to you. Why, I know not, save that I loved you when first I saw your eyes open there upon the cold veldt. Pre- Hently I must go, and we shall meet no more, for I draw near to the snow-clad tree that marks the gate of the City of Rest. I can look into your heart now and see the trouble in it, and the sad, beautiful face that is printed on your mind. All, she is not happy; she, too, must work out her rest. But the time is short, the cloud settles, and I would tell you what is in my mind. Even though trouble, great trouble, close you in, do not be cast down, for trouble is the key of heaven. Be good; turn to the God you have neglected ; struggle against the snares of the senses. 0]),Ican see now. For you and for all you love there is joy and there is peace LSuddenly he broke off, ntion faded from his face and wild-looking. “7“‘7A117,t-he cruéi 1mm; he made a great hole in the stomach of my V‘yilheln‘ing l” Ernest had been bending forward, listen- ing with parted lips to the old man’s talk. When he saw that the inspiration had left him, he raised his head and said : “ How shall I stop do bleeding from the witals of my dear wife ?»-*Who will plug up the hole in her ?” Ernest gazed at the man. W’as he putâ€" ting all this on ?â€"or was he really mad ? For the life of him he could not tell. “ 1GAIALEtligr310urself together, I beg you for a moment. I wish to ask one question. Shall I everâ€"‘2” Takinfout a soverei n, he twe it to 1 ' g 11m. “ There is money to doctor W’ilhemina with," he said. “Would you like to $1991) he1‘_e<?#1 cqn give you a blankep.” Of course. after the banquet, Minâ€"or, as he was now called, Captainâ€"Alston’s health was drunk. But Alston was a man of few words and had a horror of speech- making. He contented himself with a few brief sentences of acknowledgment and sat down. Then somebody proposed the health of the other commissioned and non-com- missioned officers, and to this Ernest rose to respond, making a very good speech in reply. He rapidly sketched the state of political affairs, of which the Zulu War was the outcome, and, without expressing any opinion on the justice or wisdom of that war, of which, to speak the truth, he had grave doubts, he went on to show, in a few well-chosen, weighty words, how vital were the interests involved in its successful con- clusion, now that it once had been underâ€" taken. Finally, he concluded thus : m’lr‘he old man todk the money without hesitation, and thanked Ernest for it ; but said he must go on a§ once.“ a 7‘ Whererareuyou going to ‘3” asked Jeremy, who had been watching him with great eurosity ; but had not understood that part of the conversation which had been carried on in German. “rifting; turned upon him with a quick look of suspicion. I “ Rustenburg (Anglice, the town of rest),H h e answered. “ Indeed, the road is bad, and it is far to travel.” On the 8th, the good people of Pretoria gave the corps a farewell banquet, for most of its members were Pretoria. men ; and colonists are never behindhand when there is an excuse for conviviality and good- fellowship. “ Yes,” he replied, “ the road is rough and long. _ Farewell_!”~â€"a_n‘d ‘he ‘was gone. “V‘V‘VW'efi, he is a curious old buster, zuin no mistake, with his cheerful anticipation, and his Wilhemina,” reflected Jerefimy alogd. 2; Just fancy stérting for Rustenbui'g at this hour of the night too ! \Vhy, it is a bun dred miles off I" MR . ALSTON’ S VI EWS . The Zulu attack on Pretoria ultimately turned out only to have existed in the minds of two mad Kafirs, who dressed themselves up after the fashion of chiefs, personating two Zulu nobles of repute, who were known to be in command of regiments, rode from house tohouse, telling the Dutch inhabitants that they had an Impi of 30,000 men lying in the bush, and bidding them stand aside while they destroyed the Englishmen. Hence the scare. They were 136 march from Pretoria on the 10th of January, and expected to overtake Colonel Glynn’s column, with which was the General, about the 18th, by which time Mr. Alston calculated the real advance upon Zululand would begin. Some while afterward he heard that he had attained the rest which he desired. Wilhemina got fixed in a snowâ€"drift in a. pass of the Drakensberg. He was unable to drag her out. 1 .. ‘ n1‘ ‘ The next month was a. busy one for Alston’s Horse. It was drill, drill, drill morning, noon and night. But the results soon became apparent. In three weeks from the day they got their horses, there was not a. smarter, quicker corps in South Africa, and Mr. Alston and Ernest were highly complimented on the soldier-like appearance of the men, and the rapidity and exactitude with which they executed all the ordinary cavalry manceuvres. rErnest only smiled. He knew that it was no earthly Bustenburg that the old mam sought. So he crept underneath and fell asleep, and the snow came down and covered him. CHAPTER XXXIV the look of inspir- which grew stupid brave deeds such as become brave men, there will be none of a comrade deserted in the time of need, or of failure in the moment of emergency, however terrible that emergency may be.” (Chers.) “ Ay, my brethren in arms,” and here Ernest’s eyes flashed and his strong, clear voice went ringing down the great hall, “ whom England has called, and who have not failed to answer to the call, I repeat, how~ ever terrible may be that emergency, even if it should involve the certainty of death â€"I speak thus because I feel I am address- ing brave men, who do not fear to die, when death means duty, and life means dishonorâ€"I know well that you will rise to it, and falling shoulder to shoulder, will pass as heroes should on to the land of shadesâ€"on to that Valhalla of which no true heart should fear to' set foot upon the threshold." A Welsh couple from a, mining settlement near Pottsville, Pm, recently obtained a. marriage license from Register Johnson, Then they went home happy in the thought they were men and wife, andlived together for two or three weeks before they found out that a. minister or a. ’Squire was necessary before they could be really married. A novel advertising scheme was recently introduced by a. merchant in Carthage, 111. A series of prodigious boot tracks were painted leading from each side of the public square to his establishment. The scheme, it is said, worked to perfection, for every- body seemed curious enough to follow the tracks to their destination. “ Some fool will go to pick up that saw and in hell go. ’ He proved to be a prophet, for forgetting his trick a. few moments later he himself stepped on the ice cake and went down in seven feet of water‘ Ernest sat down amid ringing cheers. Nor did these noble words, coming as they did straight from the loyal heart of an English gentleman, fail of their effect. On the contrary, when a fortnight later Alston’s Horse formed that fatal ring on Isandhlwana’s bloody field, they flashed through the brain of more than one despairing man, so that he set his teeth and died the harder for them. Is it astonishing how much scorn, indignation and contempt a. woman can put into two words. If you do not believe it just listen while she speaks of some one she dislikes as “ that man." One of a gang of ice cutters near Mount Carmel, 111., cut out a block of ice on three sides and then laid a. 3:1an ittremarkingi: “Bravo, my young Viking!” said Mr. Alston to Ernest, while the roof was still echoing to the cheers evoked by his speech, “the old Bersekir spirit is cropping up eh?” He knew that Ernest’s mother‘s family, like so many of the old Eastern county stocks, were of Danish extraction. It was a great night for Ernest. Two days later Alston’s Horse, sixty four strong, marched out of Pretoria with a military band playing before. Alas! they never marched back again. Atalented pianist, Madame De Vâ€"â€"eâ€", sitting at dinner by the side of Colonel Ramollot, asked him in an amiable tone : “ Colonel, are you fond of music ?” “ Madame,” replied the warrior, rolling his eyes savagely, “ I am not afraid of it.”~ Fleigende Blatte'r. At the neck of the port or pass the band and the crowd of ladies and gentlemen who had accompanied them halted, and. having given them three cheers, turned and left them. Ernest too turned and gazed at the pretty town, with its white houses and rose hedges red with bloom, nestling on the plain beneath, and wondered if he would ever see it again. He never did. The troop was then ordered to march at ease in halfâ€"sections, and Ernest rode up to the side of Alston ; on his other side was the boy Roger, now about fourteen years of age, who acted as Alston’s nide-de-camp, and was in high spirits at the prospect of the coming campaign. Presently Alston sent his son back to the other side of the line on some errand. “ Do you know Frau Zâ€", madame ’2” “ Oh, yes ! she is my best friend ; we have no secrets from each other.” “ Ah, then, perhaps you can tell me how old she is ?” “ Oh, sir, we are not quite as intimate as all that !”~De Amsterdammer. Ernest watched him as he galloped off and afihoughfi strqgk hi}n. “ Alston?" he said, “ do you think it is Wisg toA bring that pox int0_ _this business?” “Ach, Adele, I love you likeâ€"like~ 1ikeâ€"” “ Well, think it over, Herr Fritz ; perhaps you can tell me to-morrowl”â€" Flcz'gemle Blatter. His friendv slued fiimself round sharply in the saddle. “ Why not ‘3” he asked in his deliberate way. Men in active service in armies and navies, omitting reserves : Russia... ....1,094,50'7 Italy . . 765,91) France . 575,959 Germany . 462,678 Austria. . 298,501 Great Britain 281,746 Turkey . 180,404 Spain 116,256 Switzerland 118,368 Holland...... 77,689 Belgium 46,539 Sweden . 43,174 Denmark . 37,725 Greece 33,187 Portugal” 29,920 Norway . 22,250 Roumanm . 20,572 Servia. . 13,079 14,252,915 or] ‘- 24 United States 36,294 or 1 “ 1,640 “ Well, you know there is a risk." “ And why should not the boy run risks as well as the rest of us? Look here, Ernest, when I first met you there in France I was going to see the place where my wife was brought up. Do you know how she died ‘2” “ I have heard she died a. violent death ; I do not know how.” “ Then I will tell you, though it costs me something to speak of it. She died by a Zuluassegai, a week after the boy was born. She saved his life by hiding him under a heap of straw. Don’t ask me par- ticulars, I can’t bear to talk of it. Perhaps now you understand why 1 am command- ing a. corps enrolled to serve against the Zulus. Perhaps too you will understand why the lad is with me. We go to avenge my wife and his mother, or to fall in the attempt. I have waited long for the oppor- tunity ; it has come.” Substantially one in five of all men of arms- bearing age. Proportion of men o‘f arms-bearing age in the standing armim and navies not including reserves 2 Erheét relapsed into silence and presently fell back to his troop. Armies of Europe in a Nutshell. (Edward Atkinson in the Century.) Standing armies and navies of Europe and the United States compared in ratio with $11G number of an of arms-bearing age, assuming 01161111 ve of the population to be of that age : Standing armies of Europe in actual Proportion Tom] armed force ..................... Reserves ready for service at call seryice,.‘.,.......r..‘ Men 111 the navxes 4,123,374 or} man mm of population Reserves ...10,129,541 Total All Europe. Italy Holla Frmxce.. Russia.” Germany , Belgium Austria.“ . Great Brltam United States Fun fronl the Fatherland. 765,851) 575,959 462,678 298,501 281,746 180,404 1 16,256 118,368 77,689 46,539 43,174 37,725 33,187 29,920 22,250 20,572 13,079 (To be continued.) 1n 25. 40 26. 322.00 11. 17. 19.50 16.18 7.50 Exempts 4.12;,374 10,398,163 14,521,537 25. 321.00 10. 16. 18.50 15.13 The late Prof. Archibald Alexander Hodge, of Princeton Theological Seminary, was a man of broad sympathies and con» siderable humor. One day an impecnnious young graduate called with a letter of introduction to task help in obtaining a, pastorate. Harper’s ll’eekly says the docuâ€" ment stated that he had a. Wife and baby and was in a starving condition. “ You have a wife? ” asked the Professor. ” Yes, sir.” “And a. babv?” “Yes, sir.” “Is it plump and tendér ? ” “ Oh, yes, sir.” “ Well, why not eat the baby? ” BUYERS of costly furs who go abroad to make their purchases will be interested to hear the substance of acommunieation just made to the Vossische Zeitzmg by its Paris correspondent: “ The fur of the French rabbit is in great demand at this time of the year. It figures, moreover, under all sorts of names. The easiest form in which to present it is that of “Siberian fur ;”V with the long hairs taken out it takes the name of “ castor ” closely shorn by machine it sells as “ otter.” Two~thirds of all the furs sold, in fact, have acquired their beauty neither in the plains of Siberia nor the Waters of the Arctic Ocean, but on the back of the rabbit that disports itself in the fair fields of sunny France.” Foreigners who wonder why their expen- sive furs fade so rapidly ought to need no further satisfaction of their curiosity. A yoke of oxen and span of horses were found on the prairie nearKillarney, Dakota. Territory, frozen to death after the recent blizzard in the Northwestern States. Two men who left Killarney in company with the animals are missing. and it is feared they have been frozen to death. When the Salvation Army in East Portâ€" land halted in front of a saloon the other day and began singing lines, the words of which were, “ It is water we want, not beer,” the saloon keeper, 1; genial and obliging person,turned the hose on them. THE official inquiry into the causes of the terrible railway accident near White River Junction, on the Central Vermont Road, last Saturday morning, does not, thus far, clear up the mystery. The engineer of the fated train says that just as he came upon the bridge the bell»oord was pulled and at the signal he slacked the train. His speed was not more than eight miles an hour when the signal sounded. Looking back he saw the rear car swing off the bridge. In its fall it seemed to pull three cars with it, one after the other. Then the coupling broke and the forward part of the train was saved. This would indicate that the truck of the rear car broke and that somebody in the car realized this and gave the signal to the engineer. As nearly everybody in this car perished, the probabilities are tlmt we shall never know more about the cause of- the disaster than is known how. Ginger “ bread,” Rome one has found out, is one of the most antiquated of “ cakes.” It seems the early Roman child- ren would not go to the circus without it. He (enraged and engaged)â€"Why, Laura, how is this? I thought you were to save those dances until I came, and here your programme is full ? Lauraâ€"Oh, that is all right. I filled it out with dummy names. It saves embarrassment, you know. when disagreeable persons ask you to dance with them. Ewan since a few London West end ladies adopted the Bloomer costume in 1851 there have been spasmodic spurts in favor of dress reform. Of late years an annual conference has been held at which corsets, skirts, highâ€"heeled shoes and garters have been denounced as the parents of all the evils, physical and moral, which afflict a stiff~necked generation. The annual con- ference of the Rational Dress Reform Asso- ciation in London has just been brought to a. close. The meetings were not open to the sterner sex. The platform was adorned by ladies dressed in various styles of “ rationality.” Yiscountess Herberton, who appeared in a divided garment, deliv- ered an address, and so did Mrs. I’feiffer, who wore a Greek costume with modificaâ€" tions, but nothing positively novel seems to have been said or worn and no fresh suggestions offered. There is not in London the least Sign of a disposition among women of society to adopt anything but the latest fashions of fashionable dressmakers. An increased demand for cut diamonds, which has been noticed for some time at Amsterdam, is reported also from Antwerp, which is the principal rival of Amsterdam in the repairing of diamonds for the mar- ket. The workmen engaged in the trade have decided to ask for a. considerable increase of wages, and they threaten a general strike if this; increase be not granted. The body of an unknown seaman, token from the schooner Lucerne, which foun- dered off the entrance to Ashland Bay, Lake Superior, in November last, was pm» be.ny that of Patrick H. Madigan, of Oakâ€" ville. Mrs. Madigan has been making inquiries regarding the whereabouts of her husband, and from information she p05» seamen there is left little doubt that he was aboard the ill-fated craft. A few days ago, Miss Edna, eldest daughter of Mr. L. Peaslie, 2nd line, VVar- wick, and niece of James Busbie, of this city, was married to Abraham Warren, of Vigner, near Sammie. They had been married but a. week, when the bride was taken suddenly illwith inflammation,nnd in four days she died. The body was interred in Lake View Cemetery, Sarnia, yesterday. Deceased was 18 years of age and is“ re- gretted by a large circle of friendsâ€"St. Thomas Times. WHILE Mr. Stanley has been making the last preparations at London and Cairo for his journey into Africa, some of his assist- ants, sent in advance to Zanzibar, have been hiring porters and buyingand packing the trade goods needed for the march. Stanley expects to arrive at Zanzibar on February 21st, and if the thousand porters he requires have been secured by that time he will doubtless depart at once on his difficult mission. He greatly prefers the Congo route, believing it to offer the easiest and safest road to Emin Bey’s camp at Wadelai. It would, to be sure. take him over a month to round the Cape and reach the Congo, but he estimates that with the aid of the Congo State steamers, which King Leopold has placed at his disposa1,he could reach Emin Bey in forty-five 91' fifty days from the mouth of the river. If, however, there is no steamer at Zanzibar that Stanley can engage at once to take his party to the Congo, he will risk the mani- fold perils of the overland route. It is a noteworthy fact that although the natives serve the whites as porters along a large part of the African coast,the Zanzibaris are by far the most trustworthy ; and Stanley thought it necessary to go to the east coast for them, though he desired to begin his mission on the west. The Vice-Regal party attended the fancy dress ball given at the Victoria. Skating Rink, Montreal, on Thursday night. The Governor-General worea. short coat of dark brown velvet, trimmed with sable, black hose and breaches and a. gold cnnin. It was in fact a. Hamlet dress. The Mar- chicness was dressed as a Swiss peasant. The Governor-General surprised the (Jana- dians with his dancing, which was grace- ful, his steps being gracefully taken and with the confidence of an expert skater. It is by no means an easy matter to dance on skates, and the effect is surprisingly grace» fill and impressive. he Governor Dances on Skams. CURRENT TOPICS Bride and Corpse in a Week. Probably an Oakville Dian. Fifteen cows huddled in a Northern Pa- cific out to keep from freezing to death,and n freight train came through and killed 3.11 of them. Mr. Kinch Kitchen’ has attained an envi- able notoriety among his neighbors near Talapoosa because fifteen years ago he swore of? from getting mad and has kept his reso‘ lution from that day till this. Animals That “'ill Keep Up a Siege All Night. “ Three Thousand Miles Through Brazil 1 ” contains this animated descrip- tion of a fight with pecoaries: I had barely closed my eyes‘when I felt my hammock violently shaken, and perceived an odor of old pigstyes. It became evident that we were surrounded by some animals, for in many directions was heard the sound of bodies moving through the bush, twigs snapping, grass rustling, etc. It was a moment of suspense, but not for long, for suddenly from all around us came a blood- curdling sound of the simultaneous snap- ping of teeth from vast numbers of the enemy, followed by the appearance of a crowd of charging black ‘ animals rushing with wonderful speed ‘ toward a common centre â€"« our fort. Each of us lighted a coil of wax tapers that were prepared ready for the occasion. And what a scene ensued. The fire was rapidly scattered and partly extin» guished. Under and around us was a seething mass of black peccaries, barely distinguishable in the dim light, but al pushing and struggling to the front. * * The men in the hammocks, after discharg~ ing their guns, reached down and slashed with their knives at the swarming animals below them. The attack was more like the wild, reckless bravery of the Arabs of the Soudan,_, for as pig after pig fell squealing and disahled, scores more struggled for his place. * '* They threw themselves against the fort, regardless of being struck down one after the other, and always im» polled forward by those in the rear; others rushed for our hammocks, or viciously gashed the trees that gave us support. The extremely disagreeable and nauseous odors of the animals, their snapping of teeth like musketry file firing, the reports of the fire- arms, the shouts of the men, the howling and barking of the dogs and the dim light created an indescribably strange and excit- ing scene. Every bullet of my revolver took effect. I shouted to the men to reserve their powder and fire volleys, but it was like talking in a gale of wind at sea. The animals appeared to be in immense 'numâ€" bers, grunting, squealing and gnashing their teeth ; but noticeable above everything was the abominable exhalations from their bed ies, an odor like a combination of rank but. ter and garlic. * * Then came adiaboli» cal crash of teeth from a complete circle around us. followed immediately by another wild charge, and the battle was again renewed. * * Six or seven other attacks followed, but each one became weaker, and the intervals of longer duration. The eventful night seemed interminable, and finally it was not until near daybreak that we heard the last grunt. In the morning 27 dead pec- caries were found in about the camp, and several wounded, to whom it was necessary to give the coup de grace. * * * During the battle I could not help noticing the apparent method of their movements, as though they were led by chiefs. Their mode of attack is to surround in silence by a complete circle the object to be stormed ; when, at a given signal, a simultaneous snapping of teeth takes place, followed by a converging rush to the centre, whereby the largest and strongest reach the front first and the smallest bring up the rear. Their retreat is carried out on an equally methodical system. A Scotch farmer rode up to atoll-bar, and finding the gate open, he wheeled his horse round about just as he passed through, and shouted for the tollâ€"keeper, who was in- visible. “ Hey,'I’m sayin’ fat’s the damage tae git through yer gate wi’ a horse?” “ A shillin‘,” shouted the toll-keeper, making his appearance. “ A shillin’,” echoed the farmer, sel'ceetically. “ N0 shillin’ d’ye get free me. I’ll awo’ hame again ;" and wheeling his horse for the second time, he rode off in the direction he wished to go, chuckling at the trick he had performed upon the toll-keeper. There is already a large display in all the shops of seteens, batistes and other cotton goods, because such dresses are made up during the leisure of Lent. Panels of embroidery, borders for the lower skirt and entire skirts of embroidery are special features of these pretty gowns. The various shades of heliotrope, so popular this winter, reappear in the ssteens, as Well as several of the new greens and greys. The fancy is to make them with plain skirts of solid colors, the drapery being figured in white or ecru. Drab and tan shades, brown and gray are largely represented in what is called covert cloth for short covert coats to be worn with suits of wool of lighter colors, or as an occasional wrap to go with almost any dress. There are also loosely woven English cloths in small blocks of two or three colors‘rsuoh as olive with blue or red with brownâ€"to make travelling suits or the suits worn in the morning for shopping, or any use, except for visits and afternoon entertainments. The sleazy diagonal wools of light quality are shown in all dark colors, with white lines and bars, like that which had such immense popularity last summer. How- ever, the method of making them up will be quite difierent, thekilt plaits and smooth short lavandeuse drapery being replaced by plain skirts and voluminous Grecian drapery. The sailor hats almost invariably Worn with these suits last year will be re» placed by the brimless turban. Surahs with large, wide diagonal twills are shown in all solid colors and in many plaids, some of the prettiest being dark blue crossed with pink or lighter blue; Suede, with bars of rose and green, and green grounds barred with pink. These are to be made up in entire dresses, not combinations, with velvet collar, vest and cuffs; the skirts bordered with velvet, or with velvet laid in between the plaits. India silks are more popular than French foulards, owing to their superior durability. White India. silks, with allâ€"over patterns of graceful lines in black, blue, brown or scarlet, will make pretty summer dresses, and there are many VVatteau and Pompa- dour designs of roses and pinks in pale and charming colors. Lace is no longer used-in profusion to trim these light silks, velvet having superceded it. Ladies beginning to lay aside mourning wear gray cashmere combined with white corded silk and trimmed with steel passe- menterie. Knots of platinum and gold heavily chased are liked for linked sleeve buttons. Among fashionable women the favorite ring is a. large shield shaped turquoise sur» rounded with diamonds. Black braiding on white cloth vests and panels is not new, but is still worn, geneâ€" rally upon house dresses for those in mourning. There is a tendency to return to some oldiashioned colors under new names, A bright blue shade is called “Jubilee blue,” in honor of the Queen. A light pink that is being brought out in velvets to combine with black lace is much like the old Magenta shades and is called Charles X. pink. Anemone is a, new red» dish purple, much prettier than the helio- trope now worn. A FIGHT WITH PECCARIES. Late Fashion Notes. A Canny Scot. wiBAKING £53 POWDER { THE COOK’S BEST FRIEND How He Led the Mormon Chief Into the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. John Y. Nelson, the guide who piloted Brigham Young to the present site of Mon mondom, told the story of the trip as fol- lows to a reporter for the New York World I “ It was late in the fall of 1846, I think. 1 Was at Cottonwood Springs, Neb., living with an old Mexican half-breed, who knew every inch of the Rockies like a book. We were doing nothing in particular and ready for a job, when Brigham Young came along and asked my .VIexican friend and myself to be his guides across the Rockies, pro- mising us good pay. He had four com- panionsnMormon elders, I think, but 1 can- not remember their names. Seven in all, we started with two emigrant waggons, one of them loaded with flour, bacon, coffee and biscuit enough for two years’ supply. I don’t believe Brigham had an idea when he started just where he was going nor when he would get back. It was a sort of 3 prospecting trip. He and the elders called ‘ each other ‘bi‘other,’ and the old man was a goodaiatured, jolly sort of fellow. He talked a good deal of religious lingo, but he was not the Sunday School, pious-Jonah kind; would say ‘I)â€"â€"â€" it ’ just the same as I would, and played a good hand at euchre. I was quite a young fellow in those days, and, as the old Mexican didn’t speak much English, Brigham talked a good deal with me and tried to convert me to Mormonism. When adrop of oil is placed upon the surface of water it rapidly spreads in all directions, forming a film of exceeding tenuity, and afl‘ecting the waves as if a. sheet or carpet of thin, flexible, elastic, and yet tenacious substance, like rubber was Ipread over the waves. Almost without a. dissenting voice, the House Committee on Shipping yesterday resolved to make a. favorable report on Mr. Dingley‘s Bill to protect the fisheries of the United States. The Bill makes liable to seizure and forfeiture any foreign vessels found taking fish of any kind within three marine miles off the shores of the United States. are very uncertain property; for every payin mine a. hundred exist. that, do not pay. But i you write to Hullect & 00., Portland, Maine, you will receive, free, full particulars about their HUNl)1]alllCSS,fLIllefl.l‘n how some have made over in a, single day at it. You can live at home Mid earn from $5 to $25 and upwards per day WIIOTUVOI‘ you are located. Both sexes; all nqu. Capital not required ; you are started free. Send your address and all will be proved to you. " He was about 40, Well set up, and with a, big, strong head and neck. I didn’t take much stock in his arguments defendii g polygamy, which Jo Smith had recently introduced as a. revelation among the Saints. But Brigham gave me the idea. of a man who was pretty firm in his opinion and actually believed what he preached. Branth'fltfib‘e, '37Ybfifiéfitfif‘l‘firanto. to cure the worst cases. Bm'amm Amer: reason for not now reopivhu; 1A ru~ E“ treatise and a Free Bottle at my inthll Exprels and Post Office. II can: y'm n 21d 1 will cur:- you. Address DlL 11.0 Know from experience that Putnam’s Pain- less Corn Extractor is the only remedy to be relied upon for the extraction of coma. This is the case everywhere throughout the Dominion. Be sure to get Putnam’s sure-pop corn cure. AL dealers every where. “ We didn’t hurry ourselves much, making only about twenty miles a day with the waggons, pitching our tents for three or four days at a. time when we got into a likely region Where game was plenty, and exploring thecountry for miles around. I don’t think we met a white man all the way across. There were lots of Indians, but they didn’t trouble us, just coming into camp to trade off fresh meat or skins for bacon and coffee, Toward Christmas we struck Ham’s Fork, in \Vestern Nebraska, after making a journey of nearly a. thou- sand miles. There we were snowed up until the spring. ‘ I was attacked with rheumatism and tried usual remedies without success. I then took McCollom’s Rheumatic Repellent, and it drove rheumatism out of my system. With confidence 1 recommend it to those similarly afilicted.â€"â€"an. JAMES Bnocx, Kingston, Ont. Whenl any ‘ time and men cure, lhave m Illinois Whiskey is dangerous stuff, even in the bottle. An Odin physician bought a flask for medicinal purposes and set it on the table for a. moment. It exploded with a. hang, the bottle was shattered, and the liquor where it fell on the tablecloth burned it like acid. cure, I ha G SICKB Llw ‘11:" 1 lifwlm “ That was a particularly hard winter, and the snow was forty feet deep in places where it had drifted over the canyon. But we didn’t suffer ; provisions were plenty, there were lots of game. and when we couldn’t get water we got snow and melted it Our camp at Ham’s Fork was pitched in a sheltered valley, and we got all the elk, antelope and bear we could shoot. “Late in the spring, when the snow had melted. we struck camp and started straight up the mountain about forty miles. Right up on top of the mountain we found a. large lake. fed by a living spring. chockfull of trout that beat anything in the world. The smallest of them was about two feet long and weighed five or six pounds, and the flavor " The old trapper smacked his lips as the recollection of the gustatory gratification of forty years before arose in his mind. Ice cutbing on the Lake of the Woods, in Illinois, has been abandoned because it was found that the heavy cakes contained many fish that were caught during the cold snap and frozen in the ice. “ Brigham was all the time spying out the lay of the land, and as he looked from the top of the mountain over the level stretch of desert nearly fifty miles away he said :’ ‘ The promised land is in sight.’ \Ve made our way down the mountain Without any accident worth mentioning, and when we struck the water now known as Salt Lake Brigham swallowed a mouth- ful and named it the Great Salt Lake. Then we struck out about six miles to the north- west, and Brigham Young stopped suddenly in the middle of the valley and shouted : ‘ This is the spot ; this is the place revealed to me by the Great Spirit in a dream long ago. Here we will build the New Jerusa- “ \Ve stayed in the neighborhood about six weeks. Brigham staked out the place so that we could find it again easily and made a. sort of map of it. Then we started back to Cottonwood Springs, which we reached late in the summer. Brigham and his friends went" over on to Nanvoo, 111., and I went off on a deer hunt with my Indian friends. Next year Brigham took ularge party of Mormons over, and Salt Lake City was built or the very spot to which I guided him.” 1ém WES! BRIGHAM YOUNG’S GUIDE. People in the Northwest DCNL.8.87. Gold )1 i new FilmEl‘H ’fiY (IrFALb } I \vnr ml my remedy nu athers h 4“» mm In no ru~ in >Px14} ut mm; {or . yiululllhh- rvmndy. Give tn y'm nothln: for a lrhl, “L 11 G ROOT, ly (y, sin}: them for I u I mmm a radical