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, r KLONDIKE. 4 _ ——* • Over the mountains and far away, Many a husband, many a son, In the regions of Ice and snow,. „ And many a father, too; Many a pllgrlm-ia trudging to-day Many a man who Is dear to someone With a heart full of hope and shouting Is climbing the glaolers, leading through “Yo-ho v To Klondike! -.- T —, For Klondlkol’* ‘ - Many a mother and many a wife Over the mountains, beyond the plains, And a OD ,° tl, At lß dear. „ Where tlio great rlvor winds to the sea, Is dreaming to-day of a happiorllfo Many a pioneer jingles his gains, i Aad hopefuny wa tlng to hear And sings In a frenzied ecstasy— rrom luondlae. In Klondike! . , ”■ * ,W,_. And thousands and thousands of golden Thousands andlthousands of mile's away, hopes, In tho land of the polar boar, , And many a dream that is fair Many a man Is digging to-day, Aro destined to die on tho frozen slopes Only to And that there’s nothing there— And And thetr graves out there In Klondike! 1“ Klondike! —Cleveland Leader. At Seafoam Lodge. By HELEN FORREST GRAVES. HEBE must be no other boarders B taken,” said Mr. MoOorkindale. “I vQytjjS stipulate for that.” “Oh, there will be none!” said Mr. sifetssr-"* Dewey, the board ing anil real estate agent, nibbling the end of his pen. “I know Mrs. Sweet clover very well—a most respectable widow, in reduced circumstances —and I know all about Seafoam Lodge, a de lightful place, on the edge of the ocean, where a man can’t help being healthy.” “Very well,” said Mr. McCorkin dale. “Let her know that I consider the thing a bargain. I will send my trunks on Monday of next week.” Mr. McCorkindale had been sum mering at the Adirondacks, and had found that mountain breezes, black flies and dried pine-needles didn’t agree with him. He was now resolved to try the seaside. And he went home, well pleased with the bargain lie had made. Now, Mr. Dewey was in a partner ship—Dewey & Salter —and so neatly dovetailed together were the arrange ments of the firm, that Mr. Salter, who dined at half-past twelve o’clock, came to “keep office” exactly at the hour in which Mr. Dewey, who dined at half past one, took up his hat and cane to depart. And scarcely had Mr. Salter lighted his cigar, and settled his chair back at exactly the right angle of the wall, than in came Miss Mattie Mil foil, a blooming young old-maid, who gave lessons in swimming at the Aqua Pura Academy. “I want board at the seaside for a month,” said she. “At a place, please, where there are no other boarders. Prices must be moderate, and surf bathing is a necessity.” “All,” said Air. Salter, bringing his chair down on its four logs at once, “the very place! Airs. Sweetclover, a client of ours, has taken Seafoam Lodge, on the New Jersey coast, and has a clean, light, airy room to let, with good board, no mosquitoes—” “Yes, I know,” said Miss Milfoil. “Just let me look at her references.” The references proved satisfactory. Miss Milfoil struck a bargain at once. “Let Airs. Sweetclover expect me on Alonday,” she said; and Air. Salter pocketed his commission with inward glee. “Anything doing?” Mr. Dewey asked, when he came back from din ner, with a pleasant oleaginous flavor of roast pork and applesauce about him. “I've let Airs. Sweetclover’s room for her,” said Salter. “Hello!” cried Dewey; “I let it, this morning, to old AloCorkindale!” “And I’ve just disposed of ittoAlias Milfoil,” sputterefl Salter. “Why the deuce didn’t you enter it on the books?” “A man can’t think of everything,” said Air. Dewey; “and I was going to enter it when I came back.” “But what are we to do now?” said Salter. “Nothing,” said Dewey. “Ten to one, one of the parties won’t keep the contract. We’re not to blame, that I can see.” And Air. Dewey, a philosopher after his way, arranged his bulletin-board anew, and sat down, a human spider, to await the coming of any flies who might be disposed for business. Mrs. Sweetclover, in the meantime, had swept and garnished Seafoam Lodge, until it was fresher than a cow slip and sweeter than roses. She had decorated her up-stairs room with China matting, fresh mus lin curtains, and dimity covers to the bureau and dressing-table. “I do hope I shall be able to let it!” said Mrs. Sweetclover, with, a sigh. “But there are so many seaside lodg ings this year that—Dear me! here comes a gentleman and a valise up the heacli-road, aud as true as I live, he’s making straight for my house!” “Have my trunks arrived?” said the gentleman—“name of AlcCorkin dale.” “Sir!” said Airs. Sweetclover. “I engaged the room through Dewey & Salter,” said Air. AlcCork indale, “last week.” “It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” said Airs. Sweetclover, all in a flurry. But you’rejkindiy welcome, sir, and the room is quite ready, if you’ll be so good as to step up stairs.” “Humph! humph! said Air. Mc- Corkindale, gazing around him with the eye of an elderly eagle. “Very clean tolerably airy—superb view from the windows. Upon my word I like the look of things.” “Do you think the apartment will suit ?” said the widow, timidly. “Of course it will suit!” said Air. McCorkindale. “Here is a month’s hoard in advance —ten dollars a week, the agent said. You may serve din ner at one o’clock. Blue-fish, roast clams, lobstei-salad—any sort of sea food you may happen to have. I don’t eat desserts. And now I’m going out to walk on the seashore.” Mrs. Sweetclover looked after him with eyes of rapture. “The boarder of all others that I would have preferred,” said she. “I am in luck! I thought yesterday, ■ when I saw the new moon over my right shoulder, that something fortu uate was going to happen. ” But Airs. Sweetclover had not stuffed the blue-fish for baking, when • light, firm foot step crossed the threshold, and Miss Milfoil stood be fore her, in a dark-blue serge dress, and a sailor hat of black straw, while across her shapely shoulders was slung a flat black satchel, traveler wise. “Mrs. Sweetclover, I suppose?” said she. The widow courtesied an affirmative. “I am Mattie Milfoil,” said the lady. “I rented your room, last week, of Dewey & Salter.” “Dear me!” thought the widow. “Am I dreaming?” “I like the situation very much,” continued Miss Milfoil, looking at the curling edges of foam that crept up the beach at the left, aud then at a mur muring grove of maple trees at the north. “I shall probably remain here until Christmas, if lam suited!” “But the room is let already!” fal tered Mrs. Sweetclover, at last recover ing her voice. “Taken already!”repeated Miss Mil foil. “But that is impossible. I have taken it.” “There’s some mistake at the Board ing Agency,” said Mrs. Sweetclover, almost ready to cry. “It’s been let twice; and I never knew of it until this moment. Oh, dear! oh, dear! It never rains but it pours!” “But what am I to do?” said Miss Milfoil. Mrs. Sweetclover’s fadad eyes light ed up w ith a faint gleam of hope. “I’ve only the eligible apartment on the second floor,” said she; “but if you don’t mind the garret, there’s a nice, airy room finished off’ there, with two dormer windows overlooking the ocean ” “I’ll look at it,” said Miss Milfoil. She looked at it, and she liked it, and she straightway sent to the village for her trunks, unpacked her books, her work-basket, her writing-desk and her portable easel, arranged some sea weed over the mantle and made her self at home. Mr. McCorkindale, going upstairs from the dinner table that very day, heard a sw r eet, clear voice, singing the refrain of some popular ballad, from the upper story. “Eh!” said Mr. McCorkindale. “Is that your daughter?” “It’s my lady boarder, sir,” said Mrs/. Sweetclover. “Look here,” said Mr. AlcCorkiu dale, stopping short—“this |_v/on’t go down!” “What won’t go down, sh - ?” said the bewildered landlady. “No other boarders taken, you know,” said Air. Corkindale. “That was my express stipulation.” “I’m very sorry, sir,” said Mrs. Sweetclover, “but —” “And I’m not going to be trifled with!” said Air. Corkindale. “Either she or I must go!” “Couldn’t it be managed, sir?” said the landlady, half terrified out of her senses. “No, it couldn’t” said Air. AlcCork indale. At this moment, however, Aliss Alil foil herself made her appearance on the scene, tripping down the stairs in a quiet, determined sort of way, and facing the indignant elderly gentleman as he stood there. “What’s the matter?” said Aliss Mil foil. “The matter,” said Air. AlcCorkin dale, “is simply this. I have engaged my board here, on the express under standing that I am to be the only boarder.” “I see,” said Miss Milfoil. “And I am in the way.” Mr. AlcCorkindale was ominously silent. “But,” said Alattie, with an engag ing smile, ‘ ‘if I promise to be very quiet, and to refrain from annoying you in any manner whatsoever—” “It would make.no difference,” said Air. AlcCorkindale. “I object to young women.” “But,” cried indignant Aluttie, “suppose I were to object to middle aged gentlemen on no better pretext?” “You are perfectly welcome to do so,” said Air. Corkindale, stiffly. “You see, I am an old bachelor.” • “And lam an old maid!” pleaded Alattie. “It makes no difference—no differ ene’e at all!” said Air. AlcCorkindale. “I am sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. Sweetclover, but •” “Stop!” said Alattie, resolutely. “Airs. Sweetclover, if either of your boarders leaves ycu, it is I. I came last, and I occupy the least remunera tive room. I will take my departure on the noon-train to-morrow.” And Alattie went back to her room and cried a little; for she had become very fond of her pretty little room already. “At all events,” said Alattie to her self, “I will get up before daylight to morrow morning, and have one good swim in the surf.” She supposed, when she came out the next day, in her dark-blue bathing suit and the coarse straw hat tied down over her eyes, that she would have the coast clear. But she was mistaken. All*. AlcCorkindale was paddling, like a giant purpoise, in a suit of scarlet aid gray, among the waves. He had always wanted to. learn to'swim, aud here was a most eligible opportunity. “He don’t see me,” said Alattie, to herself, as sh crept cautiously down in the shado of the rocks. “If he did, I suppose he would issue a pro clamation that the whole seashore be jonged to him. But I hope there is room enough for us both In the Atlan tic Ooean.” And Miss Milfoil strnok out scien tifically, gliding through the waves like anew variety of fish, with dark blue scales, and straightway forgot all about the troublesome old bach elor. “It’s very strange,” said Mr. Mo- Corkindale, revolving around and around, like a steam paddle-wheel, “A log floats, but I can’t seem to manago it without the help of my arms and legs. I’ve always under stood that swimming was a very easy business but—Pouf —ah-h—-wliust — sh—sh! Help! help! Pouf-f-f! I’m drowning! The undertow is carrying me out, aud I can’t help myself! Whush-sh! Oh! ah! help! he-e-e-elp!” And Mr. McGorkindale’s voice lost itself in a bubbling cry, while the deaf old fisherman upon the shore went on whistling and mending his net, and the solitary individual, who was pick ing up shells with his back toward the surf, never dreamed but that the stout gentleman was diving for his own' 1 amusement. But Mattie Milfoil, cleaving her way steadily through the waves, per ceived in a moment that something was wrong. Mrs. Sweetclover fainted away when they laid the boarder on a pile of blankets on her kitchen floor. Slie was one of those nervous ladies who always faint away at the least provocation. Bst Mattie had all her senses about her; and, thanks to her courage and presence of mind, Mr. McCorkindale’s life was saved. “What is that rattling on the stairs?” he feebly inquired, as he sat up, the next day, in an easy-ehair, with a cur ious sensation, as if a gigantic bumble bee were buzzing in his head, and cataracts pouring through his ears. “It’s Miss Milfoil’s trunk going away,” said Mrs. Sweetclover, with a sniff of regret. “Tell her not to'go,” said Mr. Mc- Corkindale. “Sir!” said Mrs. Sweetclover. “Do you think I’m going to turn the woman who saved my life out of doors?” puffed Mr. McCorkindale. “But I thought you objected to wo men." said Mattie’s cheerful voice out side the door. “I’ve changed my mind,” said Mr. McCorkindale, with a fluttering sem blance of a smile. “A man is never too old to learn. And I mean to learn to swim next week, if yon will teach me.” He did learn. Miss Milfoil taught him. And the old bachelor and the old maid spent their month at the sea side, to use Airs. Sweetelover’s expres sion, “as quiet as two lambs.” “I declare,” Air. AloCorkindalepen sively observed, on the afternoon be fore his term was up, “I shall be very lonely after I leave here!” “You’ll be going back to the city, you know,” cheerfully observed Aliss Alilfoil. “But I shall miss you!” said the bachelor. “Nonsense!” said Alattie. “I'wonder if you will miss me?” said Mr. AloCorkindale. “Well—a little,” owned Aliss Mil foil . “Did you never think of marrying, Alattie?” abruptly demanded Air. Alc- Corkindale. * “Very often, ”slie answered, calmly. . “And how is it that you never have married?” Alattie laughed. “Because I never found the right one,” she said. “Just my reason, exactly!” said Mr. AlcCorkindale. “But I think I have found her at last—and it’s you, Mattie!” “Is it?” said Aliss Milfoil, coloring and smiling. “Don’t you think, if you were to try me, I might suit you —as a hus band?" ho asked, persuasively. “I don’t know,” whispered Alattie. “Try me!” said Air. AlcCorkindale, taking her hand in his; and she did not draw it away. How brief a time will sometimes suffice to turn the current of a life time! That month at Seafoam Lodge made all the difference in the world to Air. and Airs. McCorkindale. —Satur- day Night. New Method of Preserving' Meats. Anew method of preserving meat, proposed by Dr. Walker, of Alonaco, consists iu washing it with an antisep tic liquid that may be removed with warm water, and then keeping it in air freed from bacteria. A two per cent, solution of persulphate of sodium has been found a satisfactory liquid. The meat, first placed iu a specially-de vised chamber capable of being her metically closed, is covered with the antiseptic, which is drawn off through a cock at the end of ten minutes, when warm water is admitted through an other. cock and allowed to run as long as it brings away any trace of the chemical. The air which enters the chamber through a tube is thoroughly purified by first passing through sul phuric acid or some other antiseptic. The germs of fermentation in the meat being destroyed, and all the manipu lations having been carried on in a sterilized atmosphere, the meat may be left in the closed chamber six months or more with the assurance that it will continue fresh and unchanged. Interesting Work of Mound Builders. The Dayton Journal says that Fort Ancient, which is picturesquely situ ated on the high bluffs overlookiugthe valley of the Little Aliami river, uear Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, is believed to ba the largest, best pre served aud most interesting work of the Mound Builders. It has been visited and studied by the leading archmologists of Europe and America, and models of it are now on exhibition in Hie museums of London, Paris and Beiliu. The fort, which covers about one hundred acres, aud one hundred and eighty-seven acres outside of the walls, is now the property of the State, part having been purchased in 1890, and the remainder in 1896. Ancient Ornaments Found. Alany gold ornaments have been found in a tomb in the Etruscan Cem etery at Votulonia, making the dis covery one of the most notable of re cent years. A necklace, eight large clasps, two large earrings, some hair pins and other articles of jewely, to gether with a sword, are among the objects. The treasure will go to the Florence Museum, Stocking a Forest With Big Game. The big game that William C. Whit ney has brought on from the Bocky Alountains to occupy his 8000 acres on October Alountain, about four miles from Lenox, Alass., is creating great interest among the New York people who have summer places in Lenox and vicinity. He has secured some of the largest buffaloes in this country and has considerable other wild game from the Kooky Mountains, the only specimens whioh have ever been brought to the East, except a few which the late Austin Corbin had up in New Hampshire. They are the finest specimens that could be secured in Alontana, Wyoming and along the THE ELK ENCLOSURE range of the Bocky Alountains in that region. His herd of buffaloes numbers thir teen, while his elk and deer are twice that number. The buffaloes are of especial interest because they have become so rare in this country. Be ginning with the great bull buffalo AlcKinley, which stands at the head of the herd, weighing 2600 pounds, down to others weighing 1000 pounds, they are the rarest specimens in Ainer- 1 ica. The great hull McKinley and the entire herd were brought East with the greatest difficulty. They came in two freight palace cars, in charge of the Adams brothers, who were given the order by Air. Whitney over a year ago. Some of the buffaloes they raised themselves. The chief of the herd, AlcKinley, is six years old and is the ugliest animal that has ever been brought East. He is the chief figure in the buffalo picture and he doesn’t allow any biped to come into the cn w K& mr. whitney’s favorite elk. closure without a protest. It was with great difficulty that he was taken out of the car, which he nearly tore to pieces, and was taken up on October Alountain from the Lenox station in an immense crate, drawn by four horses. He excited the greatest in terest all the way, from the time he was loaded into the car until ho got to his destination. The buffaloes are confined in about 800 acres of land surrounded by a fence which is nine feet eight inches high, made of steel wire. AlcKinley has tried to get through it several times, but he found in locking horns with it that it has beaten him every time. It has been tested by a twenty-five horse power engine, which has been rushed against it with all its force. Since Alc- Kinley has found that he cannot get through the fence he has become do cile, and is quite content to stay in the enclosure, which has the best gl ass that can be procured for a herd of buffaloes. THE BUFFALO HERD. * Tlie other buffaloes are becoming used to their new home. There is another bull which weighs only 100 pounds less than McKinley, but is not as vicious. The whole buffalo herd have wandered about the enclosure with the greatest curiosity. They look about for places where they can escape, but are becoming contented, as the gamekeeper treats them well. They are, however, wild, and it is dangerous to venture near them, and so unsafe for any one to go inside the enclosure that it is with the greatest difficulty that pictures could be taken of them. ' The dozen antelopes have all eloped. As soon as they were put into then thousand acres, surrounded by its wire fence, they rushed away into the thicket, and even the - gamekeepers have been unable to find them. Some times of a clear morning glimpses of them have been caught in the dis tance on the rocky hilltop above the forest, but as soon as any one tried to trace them they again disappeared, and are keeping themselves so'very quiet that it is impossible to tell whether all of them have survived or not, but it is probable that they have. They undoubtedly enjoy the wildness of the region, which resembles their Bocky Alountain home, and where they are no more liable to be mo lested than in their own mountain fastnesses. When Air. Whitney wanted to see his antelopes he was told that they had all cleared out. He went out and tried to find them himself, but without success. He had the same experience with a dozen black-tailed deer that were brought on at the same time. They were turned into an enclosure of 1000 or more acres and left to roam at their o-wn sweet will. They are the first black, tailed deer brought to New Eng land. The Adams brothers have instructed the gamekeepers to feed them when they come around. It is probable that they will not be seen until they get hungry late in the fall, when the grass is gone. The country where they are placed contains roaring mountain brooks and small ponds which in a measure resemble their na tive country. The thirty-five elks which were brought on last year all survived the winter aud are doing well. They were young animals when they came on, but their horns have grown out so that they would not be recognized. They are very tame, and, although inclosed in over one thousand acres, the same as the inclosures for the others, when the gamekeeper gives a piercing whis tle they all gather around him like so many sheep. They are exceeding ly handsome and attractive animals. They often gather in groups in the in closure and lie down quietly in the most docile manner. No one likes tc get near the bucks, however, for they have a disagreeable rnanuer of jump ing on visitors with their forefeet. It doesn't take them long to become ac quainted with the people who feed them and they respond readily to the calls for meals. They are fed grain, oats and other cereals, just the same as if they were domestic animals. It is not an easy matter to take care of this large natural history preserve on October Alountafn, and a half dozen gamekeepers are employed to keep track of the animals. These game keepers live in one of the farmhouses on the land, and they are out day and night looking after their charges. Air. Whitney has only given up about three thousand acres to the game he has already brought on, and what he is going to do with the other five thousand acres remains to be seen. He has a large number of game birds, has stocked bis brook with trout, and it is evident that in a few years this will be the greatest private game preserve in this country. How to Make a Permanent Paste. Soak an ounce of refined gelatine in cold water for an hour, then drain off and squeeze out the -water as much as possible. Put the gelatine in a jelly pot, and place the pot in a pan of hot water over the fire. When the gela tine has melted, stir in slowly 2i ounces of pure alcohol. Put in a wide mouthed bottle aud cork tightly. This glue or paste will keep indefinitely, and can be melted for use in a few minutes by setting the bottle in a basin of hot water. As it contains a very small percentage of water, it affects the gloss of the prints but little, and dries almost immediately.—Harper’s Bound Table. Strength of Steel. An experiment •which demonstrated the capacity of steel to endure greater pressure than the hardest stone was recently made at Vienna. Corundum was chosen for th© stone, and small cubes of both substances were placed under pressure. A weight of six tons smashed the corundum, but forty-two tons were required to crush the steel. When the steel did give way, the ef fects are described as most remarka ble. With a loud explosion the metal flew into powder, and its sparks are said to have bored minute holes in the crushing machine. A Clever Engineering Feat- City Engineer Morris R. Sherrerd did a piece of engineering work yes terday that has never been done be fore. Bv a device patented by Mr. Sherrerd and Engineer D. W. French. Superintendent of the Hackensack Water Company, a valve was placed in a six-inch water maiß without shutting off the water. A piece of the water main was cut out, and the valve put in place and securely fastened. Work of a similar nature can be done on any sized main.- -Newark (N. J.) Call. TOWER FOR GREATER NEW YORK. Triumphal Structure Wliicli U to Outstrip That of Hahylnn. Asa matter of curiosity it may be mentioned that Greater New York is to have —on paper, at least—a tower which is to beat anything in the world, past or present, even the con fusion-breeding structure of Babylon. William J. Frye is the architect, and E. G. Townsend is mentioned as pro moter, who is said to be confident that the necessary funds will be forthcom ing. He has not yet gone into figures, which is a mere matter of details with him. The tower is to be 2110 feet in height, and is to be twelve-sided, with a diameter of 300 feet for the main base, to be flanked by four pavilions, which will give the entire base a di ameter of 400 feet. The outer walls are to be of cement and wire cloth. Internally the plans represent a laby rinth of steel columns, girders, beams, plates and other forms of steel con struction, not a particle of wood to be employed in either construction or finish. Electric cars with reserve motor power of compressed air are to run spirally around the 100-foot cen tral area, making a trip to the fifth floor from the ground about two and a half miles in length. From the fifth floor to the top visitors will be con veyed in an elevator. The proposed tower is to be built within the next feminEfS M\iT, Fiji 'I'M 'MilLffilHLß gim litlFT J film hfe ji (ffif.fr ImUTmlf 11 IFF IT/I t|~ipTn KTilfrf |isT/llFhi fefjj)fS ggTg F Ft- Iwflrrr fts nilfTTn Tjfjlrrr ll Fre if n IHTT filrrrgrWmilriTil IgMifff l|ppp|| in I'll Mjam-Pgl.t i l"il Sm GREATER NEW YORK’S TRIUMPHAL TOWER. three years somewhere in upper New York, where there is a firm rock foun dation. Original AVay to Get Kid of Fleas. Those who wish an original way of getting rid of fleas might try some plan like that adopted by Professor Gage, at one of the buildings of Cor nell University, and described by him in “Insect Life.” This plan consisted in tying sheets of sticky fly paper, with the sticky side out, around the legs of the janitor, who then for several hours walked up and down the floor of the infested room, with the result that all or nearly all of the fleas jumped on his ankles, as they will always do, and were caught by the fly paper. Where It Snows and Never Rains, Boborowsky, the Kussian explorer, has discovered a place in central Asia where no rain, but only snow, falls at any time throughout the year. He found this delightful summer resort in the Thibetan highlands, at an altitudo of 17,080 feet. The thermometer on June 15 was twelve degrees below zero, centigrade. There was no sign of life, save the appearance of a few Grongo antelopes, and these were in such an exhausted condition that they passed within a few yards of the ex plorer without showing any sign of fear.—New York Times. A New and Startling Boat, The umbrella boat has been the sen sation of the yeav at the Cowes (Eng land) regatta. The sails fold up just THE UMBRELLA BOAT. like the covering of an umbrella. It sails very fast, and is expected to create a revolution in sailing on quiet rivers aud bays. POPULAR^SCIENCE. A Parisian is said tohave construct ed a machine which makes it possible to split a human hair into thirty-six parts. Specimens of firedamp have been recently collected from many sources, all containing nitrogen, with appar ently about the same proportion of argon as is obtained from the nitrogen of the air. The Manhattan Elevated, the Brook lyn Elevated and the Elevated Rail way of New York are seriously con sidering the substitution of electric motors for steam power. They are all working together with the view to get ting the change in motive powder made at the smallest cost. Dr. F. E. Yoakum, of Los Angeles, Cal., believes he has made a discovery through his X-ray investigations which will revolutionize the present method of mining valuable ores. He says that it is now possible to detect by the use of the X-ray gold and other ores in the rocks in which they may be hidden. A reason for doubting that oxygen is an element has been given to the London Boyal Society by Air. E. C. C. Baly. Under the silent electric discharge, the gas that goes to the cathode with long sparks is less dense than unelectrified oxygen, while ie the case of short sparks it is more dense. Next to that of the British Museum, the largest collection of birds’ eggs is that belongiug to a lawyer named Neht Korn in Braunschweig, Germany. He intends soon to issue a catalogue of his collection, with fifty colored plates, depicting the more valuable speci mens, of many of which no other sam ple is known to exist. The four great tunnels of the world are cited as an illustration of the marked diminution of the cost of en gineering works during the last quar ter of a century. The Hoosac tunnel, the oldest of the four, cost SSOO a foot the Alont Cenis, the next in date, 8475; the St. Gothard, 8365, and the Arlberg, the most recent, only 8200. The “penny-in-the-slot” principle has been applied in France to a ma chine for producing X rays. The ap paratus contains the stored electricity and a Crookes tube in a small box, separated from which by a little space is the fluorescent screen. A suitable coin enables any person to view his bones and other marvels for a certain time. llow riacer Mine* Are Worked. Doubtless many people will go to the Klondike region who know little or nothing of mining. Fortunately for these the Klondike mines are placers—the most easily worked mines of any, and requiring the least ex penditure. The methods of washing out placer gold are known as “sluic ing” and “panning.” The former is employed where the yield is of ordin ary value, while all old-timers prefer the latter in rich ground. In sluicing the dirt is shoveled into the sluice box, through which water is rapidly running. The box is of vary ing length, and has holes bored in the bottom. These holes are filled with quicksilver; the dirt, gravel and small bowlders are washed over the quick silver, but the gold adheres to it. When a miner “cleans up,” sometimes every night, sometimes once a week, the -water is turned off and the sluice box holes are cleaned out. In panning, the dirt is put into a gold pan—about the size of a small dish pan. This pan is made of cop per. The miner squats beside a stream, dips water into the pan, oscillates it. with a motion that can only be ac quired by experience, and gradually sloughs out the water, dirt, gravel, etc., retaining the gold in the pan. Gold being the heaviest substance it is of course the easiest to retain in the pan. If it be in the shape of nuggets, the miner picks them out of the pan with his fingers; if the gold be in small particles, fine gold or “flour'' gold, he dries the pan in the sun and carefully brushes the deposit into a piece of buckskin or other material used for carrying the precious metal A pick, a shovel, a gold pan, water, and, of course, some gold are the only essentials of placer mining. The gold taken out of the Klondike placers, so far, has been coarse, or in good-sized nuggets. Machinery is only necessary in placer mining where large areas of ground that yields only moderately are worked, and then only for hy draulic power in washing down the lirt. A Curious American Cane. Mr. Thomas Groggan is an’Alderman elect. By virtue of the large number of votes he received he is a Police and Fire Commissioner. Besides all this, he is generous and would give every man so desiring a place in either de partment if there were places enough. He also has a fund of humor and a new cane. The cane was presented to. him by William Meininger, who has recently been in Mexico. It is a huge affair, as canes go, but fits the dignity of the position held by Mr. Groggan. The stock is made of the trunk of a coffee tree about two inches in thick ness at the top. On it are carved the Mexican coat of arms and several huge coffee leaves. The Mexicans, it is said, carve these caues with flint and make their own dyes for coloring the leaves and coat of arms black, red and green. Mr. Groggan, whenever any one enters his office, hastily presents the cane, thereby conferring upon all callers the police knighthood.—Gal veston (Texas) News. Fastest Time on llecord. “A Texas and Pacific railroad train recently made 83.1 miles in eighty-two minutes, an average of a mile in less than a minute, including five stops,” said W. T. McChesney, of Dallas, at the St. Nicholas. “The run was made, between Plaqifemine and Gouldsboro’, La. The reason of this remarkable run was on account of the illness of the wife of State Senator Wilbert, who desired to carry her to New Orleans with all possible speed. He wired to Dallas for a special train, and in a Sew minutes it was dashing on its way to Plaquemine, where Mrs, Wilbert was placed aboard at 7.42, and the train reached Gouldsboro’ at 9.20, a dis tance of 83.1 miles. No other railroad in the world can show such, speed for so long a distance. The railroad men are willing to back up the declaration with big money.—St. Louis Republic.