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Amâ€" ifERSH M lift .._ ,___.__. 7. _.â€"â€"â€" CHAPTER XXV. A DIVIDED HOUSE. Esther had looked forward with some dread to her first evening under Sebastian’s roof, but she need not have been afraid. Most of the English colony had left in search of greater coolness, and of the three gentlemen present only one was an English- man. There was an Italian count and a \French officer and his wife. The English- men seemed also to be a military man. He was addressed as Major Knyvctt, and treat ed with great distinction by his hostess. She was happy in her own companion, M. do Cazelotte, the French oflicer, but she was not so much absorbed in conversation is to be blind to what went on elsewhere. “ Thank heaven it’s allover 2" said Nina, falling back into the depths of a great easy~ chair u hen Sebastian had gone out to hand Madame de Cazalotte into the carriage. " How tiresome people are ! \Vhat are you looking at, Esther Y” .. ”I never saw anything so beautiiul as the moon-light,” said Esther. She was standing at a. window, gazing out upon the orange and olive groves, the distant hills, and the silent sea, all bathed in a glorious flood of silver light. Thus standing, a curtain partly hid her from view, and debastian did not see her when he re-euter- ed the room. He stood for a moment looking at his wife, and then said gravely: - “ I thought you understood, Nina, that I did not want you to ask Major Knyvett here.” “ I can’t prevent his calling," said Nina carelessly. “ And when he was in the room just before the dinn'er-hour, I was obliged to ask him." “I would rather that you did not ask him again." “He is a very amusing man. I like him." " Don’t say so in public." Sebastian rc- plied dryly. “ He hears a bad character.” “ That has nothing to do with me. You are responsible for his coming to the house first of all. I am not going to be uricivil to him,” said Nine, in a determined Voice. “ Ihave asked him to tea. next Wednes- day.” “ You need not have done that : you knew that I did not wish it.” “ Yes, I knew. But you are so unreason- able in your likes and dislikes that I did not care,’_’ said Nina. coolly. "There. don’t look so dreadfully cross, or Esther will think you a. perfect ogre. Esther ! come in, dear, he has done scolding now.” “ It is so stupid of him to object to Major Knyvett," said Nina, yawning when he had gone. “ He is a much more amusing ' companion than Sebastian. Come, Esther, dear, I am sure you must be tired. We will have a. long. long talk in the morning.” Esther was told to be downstairs at nine o’clock, and a dainty little repast was served by picturesquely dressed Arab servants to herself and to Nina, is a cool and spacmus room already shuttered to keep out the sun. “ Where is Mr. Malet ?” she asked. “ 0h, he had breakfast at six or seven, or some unearthly hour, and went into the town. He Will not be back till the afternoon. He is often out all day.” . “ I’m awfully lonely, and I have nothing to do.” This was the burden of Nina’s lam- antation. “ One can not always be fussing over the children. It was not quite so bad in the winter when a good many people came, but now that they are going away. I assure you, Esther, that it is perfectly ghastly ! It is so unkind of Sebastian not to come home with me this summer; he might have come if he had liked ; instead of which he kept me here in the heat until tow, and said that he would not allow me to go home unless somebody whom he could trust went with me. Of course I did not tell momma. that. Unless I went with the Gold- neys, he said, and I hate and detest the Goldneys l Mrs. Goldney has been here all the winter, and she takes upon herself to lecture inc about all sorts of things~â€"my husband and the children, and my dress, and my acquaintances! I told Sebastian that I would have no more of her importi- nence ; and when she called last I sent out word that I was not a. cues, and I was sit- ting in the windowjust where she could see me ! She is a. very consequential personage, and thinks it a. great honor for her to call on me, because she is Lord Ripingtou’s sister ; and so she went away desperately offended, and of course it was impossible, after that, for me to travel home with her. I was very glad of it, but Sebastian was angry ; he always rather liked Mrs. Gold- ney. and would not take my part a. hit. All the English people here were talking about it-some were on her side and some on mine ; it made quite a sensation 1" Nina; smiled complacently at the remem- brance. “ One needs something to stir one up in this dead-alive old place," she went on. " You can’t be always thinking of the sky and theses. and Moorish architecture, if you live here, you know. Those things are all very well as amusements, but one wants occupation for one’s mind too ; don't you think so ?" “ Yes,” said Esther, rather amused by the question. “ And what occupation do you find ‘2" “ There’s just the difficulty. There are :0 few people that one cares to know, and without society how can you have occupa- tion ? By occupation,” she said, “ Imean social intercourse. I think the study of our fellow-creatures is the most improving of any, don’t you? And what opportunity has one for studying them when they are for the most part either intelligent tourists or broken-down invalids ? And I don’t care to study my black and brown fellow- crcatures ; indeed Sebastian tells me it would not be at all improving.” “You have developed since the Kersham. days, Nina. You never thought of study- ing your fellow-creatures then !” “Oh yes, I did,” said Nina, ”Only coun- try people are all exactly alike, don’t you think? Except mommaâ€"she was different : we was quite a. study. But it was very i'nusmg to look out for the people‘s little s cukncsses and vanities. I go to tennis- [‘ll‘lles for that reason more than for any I ihcr; and people say that I am so satiri- [fill l Madame Ls Houpe is always bring- .ng up people to me as fresh types of char- tctcr, you know. It was she who intro- duced Mayor Kuyvett, whom Sebastian dislikes so much. Butas lady to him, why liould I not know a. fresh type, when one nmcs in my way ‘3" ‘Don‘t you think that you are rather too self out in that Way for the study of new types I" “Now, Esther don‘t be priidish. You know I have seen a great deal more of the world than you have, although I am youngâ€" er than you. I am a married woman,” said Nina. with importance, “and a married woman may do anything.” “Are there many parties, then, in the winter ?" Esther asked presently. “Dozens. People liavebreakfastparties, and picnics, and excursionr, us well as the ordinary afternoon teas and dinners, you see. Of course We are asked everywhere: we go to the best people," said Nina once more, “I have known myself to have twenty-three engagements in one week !" “i can only hope that you did not keep them all." “Indeed I did; every one.” “And what does .Vlr. Mallet do when you are out so much ‘3“ “Sebastian !” exclaimed Nina, “why, good gracious, Esther, he goes too! You did not think that he would be left behind, did you 7" “I thought that perhaps he had Work to do,” said Esther meckly. “He can always leave his woxk when he likes,” said Nina, with a. little sneer. “It iSjuSt official work, and his clerks can do it, I believe, as well as be can. 0h, Sebas- tian is very fond of society. Besides, he must always be where I am, you know- You need not think, because he looks so cross and so tiresome, that he is not as fond ofme as ever. The fact is, he is always bothering me about not loving him, so Well as I used to do." And Nina shrugged her shoulders. “And do you not?" sai'l Esther, turning upon her suddenly. “Oh, well, I don’t know. Of course one can‘t continue to feel its one did on the weddingdny. And I think tuxt Sebastian is rather tiresomeâ€"not nearly so nice as I used to think, before our marriage. You would not believe it, Esther, but he has turned out quite stingy." “Oh, Nina.” “It is quite true. He is always talking about expense, and saying that be can not afford this and that. Aml now that that wicked old uncle of his has gone and got merrier ,” cried Nina, with vicious energy. “I suppose that he’ll be Worse than ever! For he won’t have Kersham now. How I hate being poor.” “But you are not poor,” said Esther slowly. looking round at the luxurious furnishings of the room in which she sat. “Well, Isuppose you would not think so," returned Nina, “but for usâ€"â€"in our positionâ€"we are poor.” Esther had some needlework in her hand She seemed intent upon it, answered, “Per haps so.” ‘ “ There is no 'perhaps’ about it,” she insisted. “I know that we never have enough for our needs. \Ve have been here a year and a half, and do you know why we left Vienna, where I enjoyed myself immensely l Simply because Sebastian de- clared that he could not afford to stay there any longer, I was so extravagant. I am sure that my poor little gowns and trifles did not cost one tenth of what other people in our position used. to spend. There Were the Shiplakes ; I assure you Esther, that they had not a. thousand a year. and they spent for more than we did ! And you know that Sebastian had thirty thousand from his Uncle Roland ; so it is ridiculous to say that we cannot afford things i” “ But you said just now that you were poor.” “ He says We are poor, and I am bound to believe it," replied Nina bitterly. “ I don’t believe we spend half our income. What he does with his money I am sure I can’t tell. I sometimes thinkâ€"” She stop- ped short, and the color came into her face. She did not tell Esther what she sometimes thought. “ I wish I Were at home again l I wish I were dead l"she broke out passion- ately, after a moment's pause. “ There are your children, Nina,’ Esther in a low tone. “ Oh, the children l Everybody says ‘There are the children,’ ” cried Nina. “ The tiresome little brats 1” Esther bethought herself of Mrs. Malet‘s present “ for the baby,” and gave Nina an account of the interview. Nina laughed over it quite happily ; her outbreak of strong feeling had been but for a. moment. She accepted the envelope with great cam- placency, and smoothed out the bank note on her knee with a. satisfied air. “She's not a bad creature. after all. ‘For the baby,â€"of course thwt was a mere pre- text for sending the money to me. It will just do for â€" By-the-bye, Esther, be sure you don’t mention it to Sebastian." Esther locked up. “I am not likely to speak of it; but Why '2” “ Can’t you guess why, you dear stupid old thing 5'” laughed Nina. “ A debt of course. A bric-a-brac man down in the town. He has becn dunning me dreadfully of late ; and I (laren’t~l simply dare not â€"-tell Sebastian. This will stop his mouth." Three or four weeks were to elapse before Nina and the children set out for England. During this time Esther had li:tle to do save to act as Nina's companion, and it was natural that she should watch what went on before her with the uniiiipassioned inter~ est of a. spectator at the play. The drums. was not a satisfactory one. Nina's part in it was problematic; to Esther it seemed as if Sebastian’s role were more tragic than he knew. Esther’s presence recalled old times to Sebastian’s mind with a vividness which surprised himself. associations, with which she seemed to accord so wonderfully well. He had grown skeptical of late as to woman’s sincerity, woman’s faithfulness, yet he felt quite sure that sincerity and faithfulness were two of Esthcr's distinguishing trails. He could not pretend to disbelieve in them when she was neonthough he did say to himself that she was “an exception.” There was some- thing in this “exceptional” nature of hers that always urged him on to confidenoes. A few evenings only before the day on which Esther and Nina were to start with the children for England, Sebastian step- ped out upon the veranda and found Esther seated there alone. ”Nina is not here ‘3" he said, with an accent of surprise. “No, Madame La. Roche called directly after dinner.and they are in the little salon together. Did‘you Want Nina?" “Oh, no: Ionly wondered that she was i said : , “‘3 and 500' ‘t'°°“P"eWY. ‘0 lay your J not here. Do you object to my cigarette '1” It brought back the old . Esther liked it rather than otherwise, and Sebastian sat down near her in a deep low wicker chair, and kept silence fora time. Presently he said : “So you go on Thursday and leave me to my loneliness ‘3" “Yes. But you have many friends. Will not be very lonely.” “Perhaps not. And What do you think 0f us all, Esther? \Vhat about Africa‘s ‘goliien joys ’? I am afraid we liuvc not done much for your enjoyment." “I dill not (some for enjoyment," said Esther, “I wanted to be useful.” “You have been vcry useful, and we are grateful," Sebastian answered. “Indeed I do not know how to he gratefulenough. I could not send my wife home alone; and I know that you will take care of her.” ”I will try to take Care of her. ” “I shall feel quite safe when she is with you,” said Sebastian. “th has been quieter, happier, ever since you came. I wish," he went on meditativcly, “that. she liked this life better. \Vill you try to per-- suacle hcr, Esther, that at any rate it might be worse?” Of course, a European cipitnl is more to her taste; but we have an ex- quisite climate, beautiful Scenery. pleasant enough society-I think she will grow re~ Conclled to it in time." “You did not like Vienna? I heard that you gave it up,” said Esther. “ Oh yes, I liked it well enough. Nina liked it loo. She did not tell you why We left, then ?" “No.” “We began on too large a scale," said Sebastian, trying to speak lightly, but not succeeding. “We were there for a year and a half, and did our best to ruin our. selves. We were absurdly extravagant. Our income is far less now than it ought to be. I had to draw upon my capital.” “Does Nina. understand that?" “l have tried to explain it, but she does not seem to listen. Itliought, lt‘sther, that youâ€"as an old friend-might tell her how l matters stand. I think she wouldlisten to you. She does not comprehend ; I believe that she fancies that I am romancing when I try to explain business affairs to her. She is so youngâ€"so delicate and childlike still, you see. ” “Yes, Isee." “She might listen to another woman.” said Sebastian wistfully. “ The fact is~â€" there were one or two little extravagaucos of hers, and I was hard upon her-â€"[ sup. pose that! was harsh, andI spoke too strongly. She nearly broke her heart over it, poor child." He spoke between long pause, as if recalling foregone scenes. “I told her afterwards that I was sorry ; but she has been afraid of me ever since. . . she does not understand that I am bound by a. private letter from my Uncle Roland to reserve part of the money that he left to me untouched, in case a relation of mine should turn up. If the man does not re- appear shortly,I think that I shall be justi- fied in appropriaiing part of the sum to my own uses. I have made it a point of honor hitherto not to touch even the inter- est of that money.” “Nina ought to understand that.” “Yes. She ought to have known from the beginning. You see,“ said Sebastian, “I had a. difficulty in telling her, because I fancied that she would not sympathize~ and so I shirked the subject until, now, it has become a painful one. My income was from the first just about half what she had supposed it to be. ” “ Was that fair to her '2” said Esther gently. “ No, it was not.” He looked very gloomy. “I was afool. But- you know~ or perhaps you don't know”â€"and he tried to smile --“that wives are often in ignorance of their husbands’ exact incomes.” “Yes,but every one knew of Sir Roland's will," said Esther. “I did the thing too much by halves, I know," he continued. “I ought to have made her understand from the beginning what we had and what we had not. How- l ever, we are not in embarrassed circum. stancesâ€"you ucci not begin to think that! â€"We have retrieved ourselves, butâ€" I have . sacrificed my career to do it.” “What do you mean '3" “A consulship in a. little Mediterranean port is not much. I offended several of my friends by taking it. I shoul l have stayed l where 1 was if I had wanted to get on. I have been shelved. I suppose that I may stay here all my life now, if Ilike.” “I almost wonderâ€"W “That I accepted it. I see that it was a. mistake. I did not see it then. And Iwas desperate to get away from Vienna. There was nothing but ruin before me if I stayed.” “It is not exactly what Uncle Roland wished, is it ‘2” he said with a bitter smile. “He did not forsee this turn of events. But I think I could guess what he would so .” I" Well? You ought to know his mind as well as any one, Esther; you saw him so often during those lost two years. I think I shall take what you say as if it came from his lips." “ Oh no, you must not do that. I may be mistaken, I may be presumptuous. But I think he would tell you that there Were many Ways in which amsn might distin- guish himself, and that becausca man has failed in one path it is not necessary that he should despair and do nothing for the rest of his life.” “ You have noticed that I do nothing ?" said Sebastian. “ You are rightI have‘ done nothing at all since I came hereâ€"- eighteen months ago. Official routine, of course. Cards and billiards and a. little sport, and my wife’s tea-parties. And how I have hated it all 1" He got up and moved restlessly to and fro in the shadow of the house. “ And you have been disappointed in me, Esther?" he said gently. “ I have only thought sometimes,” she said, “of what Sir Roland wanted you to be." “ I shall never be that. But it is per- haps not too late to do somethingâ€"to be somethingâ€"still. You shall bear better things of me yet. What a. power you have â€"~do you know it ?-â€"of stirring one’s ambitions, Esther. What a help you Would beâ€"will beâ€"” He did not complete the sentence. Perhaps he thought that he had already said too much. He turned away and walk- ed into the house, without any word of apology or leave-taking. Esther was left alone. She was leaning fowarrl. her hands clasp- ed, her brow knitted, as if with pain. Her face had gradually grown very pale. Her eyes were still fastened on the moonlit sea. but as she gazed they were dimmed with tears, which fell at last uu..oticed down You her cheeks. them away. ”I dil not know,” she was saying to herself; ” I would not have come if I had known. I thought I had forgotten. But there are some things one can never forget; and 1â€" God forgive incâ€"I love bebastian srill. " She Was too miserable to wip: CHAPTER. XXVI. or "run mum: As the last three days of Esther's sojourn at the villa passed by, she became more and more concerned about Nina. A little inci- dent opened l‘lsthcr's eyes. As she stood by the Window readjustiiig a. blind which was hanging loose, she was struck by the sound of voices in the next room-«the large draw- ing-room. There was a man‘s voice, then Nina‘s: she was sure, too, that she heard a sob. Had Nina turned hysterical at the thought of leaving her husband so soon? Without waiting to consider the Wisdom of the proceeding, she walked swiftly to the drawing-room door, with the intention of consoling and calming her friend. Nina. was standing with one hand on the back of a. chair, the other pressed a hand- kerchief to her eyes; she was sobbing quietly but unrestraincdly. Beside her, bending over her in a protecting manner, stood Major Kiichtt, with one hand on the pretty wrist poised on the chair, his face lowered until his mouth seemed almost to touch her ear. Esther caught his last words. “ You shall be convinced, when you meet me to-night. 1â€"" Then he saw Esther, and drew himself up, altering his position so as to put some paces of distance between himself and Mrs. Mallet. Nina did not look round. “ What is the matter, dcnr '2" she said, n her calm, sweet tones. Major Knyvett directed a glance of alarm toward Nina, but stood his gm iml. Fortu- nately an opening door, the rustle of silken skirts in the next room, and the appearance of a white-robbed, brown-famed domestic at the door, put an end to the awkward situ- a'ion. ”Mrs. Russell. mom." Major Knyvett turned and fled by the veranda: Nina Vanished by a side-door into the hall, and Esther was left to meet and greet the English visitor. She (lid not see Nina- ogain till dinner- time. Mrs. Malot came down to dinner as usual, in a gay dinner dress, with jeWels on her arms and neck, and flowers in her hair; but she would not meet Esther’s eye, and she ate nothing, though she drank more than one glass of wine and talked with fev. erish voluhiiity. Sebastian accompanied the ladies to the drawing-room. He said he wanted to be with them as long as possible, and spoke half regretfully of his decision against goin to England that summer. “ But perhspSI shall run over after all. You need not be surprised to see me at Kersham. Nina. Nina smiled vaguely, but made no reply. “ And till then,” said Sebastian, ”I must be as busy as I canâ€"Iam going to look over my uncle’s papers and to set to work on them while you are away." “ My head aches,” said Nina, rising abruptly. “ You won’t mindif I leave you for a. little time? I will get some eau de Cologne and lie down; if I feel better in half an hour [will come back. Don’t let me be disturbed, please.” She slipped away, not glancing at Esther. Sebastian seemed disappointed at her de~ parture; but he said very little, and finally sat down to read, while Esther occupied her hands with needlework. But Esther could not sew; could not an- swer when Sebastain addressed an occasion- al remark to her. She was listening in- tently ; she knew not. for what. She thought at last that she heard a footfall on the verandah, the closing of a. distant door. Without sayings word she suddenly rose and slipped out of the room. The outer doors stood open. She crossed the veran- dah, descended the steps, and turned into the garden. At the gardcngate she came face to face with Nina. “ What are you spying on me for 2’” she cried out in a. high. shrill voice. “ I will not be followed ; Iwill not be interfered with! Twice in one day! You are not paid to do this sort of work ! Go back to the house!" “I will go when you come with me,” she saidiirmly. “Nina, come back With me. Itis not safe to be out so late. You will be ill." “Take 'your hand away,” said Nina, “I want a little fresh air, I want to be alone. I should be glad if you would leave me for a. little time. " “I wants little fresh air, too; I will walk with you," said Esther, “ I want to talk to youâ€"” Nina’s look was haughty; her face still aflame. “ Upon my word l” slie exclaimed, “ 1 never heard anything of the kind l Do you mean to force your company on me whether I will or no? Well, mamma was right; she always said that you did not know your place." “ It is useless to try to insult me, Nina,” said Esther, “I do not follow you out of mete curiosity; I will go back if you can tell me that you are here only for the even- ing coolnessâ€"that you are not expecting any one to meet youâ€"" “ Why should I expect any one to meet me? I am aloneâ€"as you see. That is enough." “ Nina, tell me that you are not expect- ing to meetâ€"â€" Maj or Knyvett l” “ Andif I were,” Nina. cried vehemently, “ what is that to you ‘2” “ It is a great deal to me,” said Esther, “because I love you and have loved you, Nina, for so many years. How can it be nothing to me if I see you sinking into a. terrible abyss? Nina, think of your hus- band; think of your little children, and come back with me l Don't meet that man ‘. “ My husband does not care for me,” she said. . “You are wrong, and you know that you are wrong,” Esther answered vehemently. “He loves you with his whole heart; he grieves when you are cold to him, his mind is bent on pleasing you. I have watched ; I have seen it with my own eyes. He cares for nobody but you: you are the whole world to him, and if you refuse to see it and try and break his hcartâ€"" “ It. would not break his heart,” said Nina. “ Even if I left him he would not care." “ If you left himâ€"for anotherâ€"I think that it would kill him with shame,” said Esther. almost in a. whisper. “Idid not say that it would be with another," said Nine. in a lowered tone, mean itâ€"you were speaking only in o. jest. But, dearest Nins~â€"-” “ I did mean it ; I was not in jest," said Nina. “ Sebastian does not love meâ€"there is one who does-he has promised to make me happyâ€"t0 give me everything I want, if only I will go with him,” “ But you, .Iinauyou saidâ€"no 7" Esther asked at length in ii. voice that was not her own. ”I said~wliat does it matter to you what I said, I will give my answer to him myself.” “ It is he whom you came to meet? Oh, Nina, think a littleâ€"stop before you go too far, dear. Iam sure you mean to do right, you do not mean to leave your hus- band, your poor little children, your moth- er, and all who love you ?â€"â€"because, you know, you would then set up a barrier between them and yourself that nothing could breik downâ€"you_would never be able to see them again, to look at your children’s innocent faces, Nina, or to feel your mother’s kiss ! What would you do? â€"-I might be your friend: I would love you still; but what could I do for you‘.7 N0,Nioa, no,” cried Esther in an agony of passion- ate entreaty, “for your husband's sake, dear Nina, you shall no: go 1” “You do not understand,” said Nina, who was now trembling and very pale. “ I did not say that I was going nowâ€"how could I be going anywhere, Esther, in this dress? How absurd you are l”-â€"-She burst into a quivering laugh that showed the tense condition of her nerves. “I did not mean to go farther than the orange groveâ€"just yet. I did not say whether I had answered yes or no.” (To BE commons.) H“ THOUGHT HE ‘YAS CRAZY. [mllnns Take a Scientist for n Crank and Sliver] Ills “reâ€"They Killed General Custer Though. “One very peculiar characteristic of the Indian,” says Major Barbour, a former plainsman “is his reverence, amounting to absolute fear in many instances, of an in- sane person. They never harm one whom they believe to be mentally afflicted. I re. member one striking instance which will illustrate. I was a member of the expedi- tion headed by Gen. Custer that made a tour through the Yellowstone Valley and that section of the country the year before the Custer massacre. It was put on foot in the interest of science, and we had a lot of fellows from the Smithsonian Institute and about a. dozen Yale professors. “It was a big party, comprising two or three companies of cavalry, one of infantry and some artillery, so the Sioux, who at that time simply swarmed over that coun- try, Were afraid to tackle us. But they hung around us all the time, and Gen. Custer gave orders, after two men who were hunting had been killed, that no one should leave camp without permission. “Those Yale professors just Worried the life out of the soldiers; Every professor hada detail of five men who had to watch him. They would go around picking up bugs and chasing butterflies all over the prairie, and would break up rocks and paw- wow over them with magnifying glasses until the soldiers swore that every man of them was a howling idiot. " “ One day the worst old fellow in the crowd, who wore two pairs of glasses, one red and one green. managed injsome way or other to get out of the sight. of his detail and Wondered two or three miles away. He ran plump into a gang of Sioux. He walked up to them and ofiered to shake hands. They grabbed him, and the first thing they did was to dive down into a big green baize bag he carried. They pulled out. lizards and pieces of clay and bits of rock and bugs and the worst assortment of truck imaginable. Just- about this time the old professor caught sight of a peculiar- looking bug. He caught it, pulled out his glass, and began to study it, That settled it. An Indian took him by the hand, led him to a. hill close by, and, pointing to the army below, said, ‘Go.’ “He came back and said that the soldiers totally misunderstood the Indians. ‘Why, I found them the most polite and courteous of people,‘ said he to Gen. Custer. But an old chief afterward told me that they Wouldn‘t have had him stay in that country for anything on earth.” - -â€"â€"â€"â€"-.-â€"-â€"â€"- FACTS IN FEW WORDS. A thimble will hold over 103,000 of the smallest screws made. The indirect losses on buildings and enter prises of the world’s fair is estimated at $10,000,000. W hen a resident of the arctic region tsk e a. night off in winter be is away for shou twenty-one weeks. At Great Falls, Mont, the mercury has been known to drop twenty-live degrees, inside of five minutes. In the year 76:) A. D. Pope Paul I. sent the only clock in the known world as a. present to Pepin, king of France. Some of the fish in the royal aquarium in St. Petersburg have been on exhibition for more than 150 years. The Bibliotheque National of Paris, con. taining 1,400,000 volumes, is reputed to be the largest library in the world. Cotton has been cultivated since time out of memory. One of the presents received by Jacob. Joseph’s father, from the royal hand of Pharaoh was a “ cotton rope." The Japanese believe that their emperors are descendants from the gods, the present mikado being the l‘let in direct line from the heavenly being. The meanest man yet was an Ohio youth who got married and left an envelope con- taining a ‘2»ceut terry ticket in the parson’s hand. There are entire apartment houses in New York monopolized by self-supporting bach- elor girls, and they are the happiest of their sex. On some parts of the coast of France when the wind is east the mist that appears beers with it a very noticeable perfume. Arrest before trial was not customary in Abllenflfihfid a citizen would generally escape a. trial by going into voluntary exile. It is computed that the number of people who die in London every year would fill a cemetery twenty-three acres in extent. In India among the natives one woman in five is a widow. Tlic Empress of Austria has a lady doctor in, her suite.