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THE NEW BATTLESHIP PENNSYLVANIA, • a 4, ONE OF FIVE TO BE BUILT FROM IDENTICAL PLANS AND FOR WHICH BIDS HAVE BEEN ASKED, The Future Home in Belgium of Ex-President Kruger As soon ns ex-President Kruger reaches Belgium he will find liis future home all ready for him. Thanks to the generosity of Oswald d’Aumerle, a Boer sympathizer In Belgium, the Chateau d’Anderlecht has been put at the disposal of the refugee ex-Prosi dont by its owner. M. d’Aumerie has owned this chateau only two years, and when he bought it it was exceed ingly run down, but he spent money on it liberally, and made it look as if it really were an ancestral seat. M d’Aumerie has had great sym pathy with the Boers all along, not be cause of any special hostility to Eng land, but because he believed in ob serving inviolate the sanctity of small nations. So, when it became known that Kruger was on his way to Bel l-A-a - - ■* I railv * 1 i^ipiix —■ wmr — CHATEAU D’ANDEIILECHT, WHERE KRUGER WILL LIVE. gium, the Belgian got together several ©f his friends and fellow countrymen who believed in the Boer cause, and proposed to them that he give up his chateau to the use of the refugee. They were willing, of course, and so the scheme was brought about. Auderlecht is a pretty suburb south east of Brussels and consists of hand some mansions dotted about in grounds of limited extent on the slopes WHAT THE BOER RIFLE PITS LOOK LIKE. •of the undulating country. The chateau Is reached by a drawbridge crossing a narrow moat, and the road leads directly to the colannades which form the front of the mansion. The main gate is flanked by two colossal busts, which formerly belonged to the Castle of Gravesande. On the right of the vestibule is Mr Kruger’s antechamber, which Is furnished in Gothic style. Here the oje-Presideut will find at large Bible, of which book he is said to be so fond. T t is more than seven inches thick, aud was printed in 1772. The grounds have an area of ten acres, laid out by M. d’Aumerie, who also drew QUIET CHAT IN A RIFLE PIT. the sketch of the chateau and its sur roundings accompanying this article. There are two odd coincidences con- uected with this gift. Catholic monks built the chateau three centuries ago, and now it will shelter the ex-l?resi dent of a Protestant republic, who is a descendant of the Huguenots. Besides this, the chateau once was occupied by King Leopold 1., who slept in the same bedroom which is assigned to Mr. Kruger. A rifle pit hardly realizes one’s ideal of what a subterranean dwelling ought to be, even when hollowed out and en larged into quite a respectable bomb proof, like that shown in the accom panying illustration. But tire pit served its purpose admirably from the Boer point of view, and many a gallant Britisher came xo an untimely end through the Boers’ persistent use of this ingenious hiding place on the veldts and kopjes of South Africa. Snugly ensconced in their bottle shaped retreats, with spirituous re freshments contained in vessels also bottle-shaped, at hand, their guns tightly grasped and a companion ever alert for the enemy’s approach, the Boers w r ere continually on the watch for a chance to “snipe” the foe, while the shells whistled and screeched over head and the battle waged fiercely around them. It is claimed that the art of digging rifle pits, or “sniping” or sharpshoot ing and the use of sand bags in de fensive earthworks were all derived from observation of American meth ods. Motors For Market Gardens. The idea of utilizing a motor haul age iu connection with the market gar oen near a metropolis has been sug gested of late. Motor vehicles would obviate some of the difficulties that market gardeners have now to encoun ter in produce to market, and it would certainly pay some en terprising carrier to make the venture. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CENTENNIAL Description of the Ifememto Fubrioated by the United State* Mint in Philadelphia. The medal to be struck in commem oration of the hundredth anniversary of the day upon which the District of Columbia became the seat of the Uni ted States Government was received in Washington December 1. It was made at the United States Mint In Philadelphia, and In point of work manship, as well as excellence of de sign, is one of the most expensive of the sort ever Issued. ii •rrj'''-**"n^._ ME U 8M338QG5 ETfl> SK 1 WMSi] MEDAL COMMEMORATIVE OF THE HUN DREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIS TRICT OF COLUMBIA. The bronze used is of rich dark color. The medal is one and three fourths inches in diameter. The ob verse ride carries the heads of .John Adams and William McKinley In pro file, with the following inscriptions encircling the heads: “John Adams, 1800;” “William McKinley, 1900.” On the reverse side, across the centre is a panel with the inscription “Com meorative of the establishment of the National Government at Washington.” Above this panel is a view' of the Capi tol building as it is to-day, over which is inscribed “United States Capitol, 1900.” Below the tablet is a view of the Capitol building as it appeared 100 years ago, over which is inscribed “United States Capitol, 1S00.” The metal used in the manufacture is from the old portion of the Capitol building, and some that was used at the White House. Everything Made of Irish Peat. A large Dublin manufacturer has a room entirely furnished w’ith Irish peat. The carpets ou the floors, the curtains at the windows and the paper on the wall are made from this sub stance. For years be has experimented with the material, which is now very largely exported as fuel, and he ha? discovered that from it it is possible to produce almost any kind of fabric. The process is simple—the fibres, which are strong and tough, being ex tracted and woven like cotton or Silk. The fabrics have the toughness of linen and the warmth of wool. Blank ets made of them are found to excel In warmth and lightness anything yet discovered. Newspapers of Regiments. Most of the British regiments have their own newspapers, published once a mouth. The news consists chiefly of matters pertaining to the officers and men of the regiment and their fami lies, but the papers also devote regu lar columns to sporting news, humor, poetry or other departments. All con tributions are from members of the regiment. These papers are. much in favor among the officers and soldiers, and many of them are Wry well edit ed- V - SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL. It is reported that the immense cok plants at Connellsville, Penn., are to ho equipped electrically, with the idea of cheapening production. Not only will electric mining appliances be in stalled in the coal mines, but the elec tric lifts and electric cars will handle it afterward. Anew device for moistening and sealing envelopes will commend itself to many people as more cleanly than the method with which every one is familiar. The moistener and sealer is a central glass tube, provided at one end with a soft rubber nipple, in which metal bearings hold a soft rubber roll er. The central glass tube contains water, which is fed to the sponge. In sealing an envelope the sponge is drawn across the gum flap, which is thus moistened. The device is then turned around and the moistened flap is evenly and squarely sealed by means of the rubber roller. For holding the moistener and sealer when not in use a holder is used, composed of a soft rubber suction base, upon which a glass rod is mounted. When the suc tion base is moistened and pressed down on the table or desk the air is expelled and *h 1 holder stands up right, convenient for use when re quired. The developments of recent years have given new importance to water powers, and at a recent congress of physicists at Dusseldorf it was pointed out that great progress in the use of such power must follow the damming of mountain streams to hold back water for dry seasons. The advan tages of this water storage were thus summarized: Creation of a uniform water power for the factories in the valley and inducements to increase said industries; distribution of power by electrical transmission; a higher water level in the streams, even in the warm summer months, and a de crease of their impurities; decrease of liability of rivers to freeze by the drawing off of comparatively warm water; improvement of the water sup ply for cities and irrigation of barren lauds; decrease in the liability of floods and the damage done by them; decrease of the desire of the inhabit ants to collect in large towns; beauti fying the landscapes, developing fish eries, water and ice sports, etc., and improvement of means of transporta tion. '• „ t A device has been introduced for the .purpose of combining the good effects of exercise and the physiological ef fects of electricity. By this apparatus a person can have an electric shock while going through Ins usual matuti nal rope and pulley exercise. The ma chine resembles the ordinary exerciser, with elastic cords passing over the pulleys, but the cords serve as conduc tors and the handles ar electros. Close to the hand of the exerciser is an ap pliance which enables him to increase the current strength at pleasure. A metallic foot plate with which the ap paratus is supplied can be placed in the circuit, so that the current can be passed through the body. It can be so switched as to be directed from either hand through the body to the other hand, through the body to the feet, or through the feet to the body. The drawing out of the slide of an induction coil regulates the cur rent in strength to meet all require ments. The dosage of electric current which is supplied by this invention is so slight that it would be difficult to do any harm with it, and it may possi bly prove of much benefit to those who use it to a moderate extent. A Poisonous Food-Plant. “One of the most deadly poisons and a common article of food are combined in a single plant,” remarked a botan ist. “This is tapioca, a South Ameri can shrub that grows to a height of six or eight feet. The root as well as the wood of the plant, secretes an acrid milky juice so toxic that it kills in a very few minutes. This quality is eliminated by heat, and that which, in a raw' state, is so deadly is thereby converted into a nourishing and agree able aliment. The root is grated into pulp and subjected to great pressure, which extracts all the poisonous juice. It is then heated on metal plates which transforms it into the tapioca of com merce. This information regarding the poisonous properties of the shrub need not disturb tbe equanimity of consumers of tapioca, as the process employed in its conversion from a deadly plant into a substance entire ly innocuous is absolutely infallible.” Washington Star. Sudden Changes In Government. Heilbron, in tbe Orange River Col ony, has undergone some remarkable experiences of late. Roth the English and Dutch forces have occupied it ueh a number of times that the in nabitants hardly know, until they look at the flag over the magistrate’s court, whether the town for the day owes allegiance to her majesty or is claimed i by Theron’s guerrillas. Since May 23 —four months ago—it has changed its rule no less than seven times.—East Loudon (Cape Colony) Dispatch. I’HE MERRY SIDE OP LIFE STORIES THAT ARE TOLD SY THE FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS. •Just a Way Slio Han-Ill* Becominen,!,,. tlon—A Fountain rtf Ignorance-Hu Lost Opportunity— One of the B u „i ne ,* Troubles—The Whole Truth, Etc., Etc. A woman can’t vote and a woman can't throw A brick or a stone very high. But a weak little woman of thirty or so Can bring a young nmn or liis grand, father low b ua By merely a drop of the eye. —Chicago Times-Heraid. His Recommendation. She —“Would you Recommend any particular method of learning golfy’ He —“Decidedly! Coeducation Puck. A Fountain of Ignorance. Gayboy—“What have you been do ing all day?” Bighead—“lncreasing my ignorance. I have just read the latest -historical novel.”—Life. Hts Lost Opportunity. Bacon—“ Samson was noted for his strength and his long liair, I believe?” Egbert—“ Yes; too bad they didn’t have pianos in those days.”—Yonkers Statesman. One of the Business Troubles. “Every man lias liis limitations.” “Yes; hut even after he reaches them lie keeps on thinking liis salary ought to he raised just the same.”—Chicago Times-Heraid. The AVhole Truth. Judge—“And you say lie liad murder in his eye?” Victim—“No, Sor. I think it wuz in his hand. Tliot’s where he liikl lb’ rock.” —Chicago News. - No Necessity. Miss Pepprey—“You don’t mean to say that you absolutely do nothing.” Cholly—“Aw, weally, I don’t even do that. My nmn attends to ev’wy thing, y’ know.”—Philadelphia Press. Left at the Post. May—“ They say that Miss Oldgiij really has been engaged.” Belle —“How often?” May—“ Judging from appearances I should say that she was engaged once too seldom.”—Puck. An Unreasonable Client. First Lawyer—“Y'es, we’ve won the case, but talk about an unreasonable client! ” Second Lawyer—“ What’s the trou ble? Does lie expect some of the money ?”—Brooklyn Life. Bolstering Up Class Dignity. Horse—“ Our coaching club .has made a neiv rule.” Mule—“ What is it?” Horse—“ Why, w'lien an automobile goes lame it must get another automo bile to haul It home.”—Puck. Her Preference. Clerk —“Perhaps you'd like to look at some goods a little more expensive than these.” Shopper—“ Not necessarily, hut I would like to look at some of better quality.”—Philadelphia Press. Two Veterans. “Yes, it’s true,” boasted Colonel Bragg, “I’ve been in innumerable en gagements, and yet I never lost my head.” “And I’ve been in hundreds of them,” replied the summer girl, "and never lost my heart.” Bringing Up Children. “Do you know much about the train ing of children?” “Do I?” returned the fond father. “Well, you bet I do. I know a whole lot, and if children weren’t so contraiy and unappreciative, I’d have the best rained hunch in the neighborhood. Would Have Made No Difference. A subscriber wrote to the editor thus: “I don’t want your paper any long er.” To which the editor replied: “Glad to hear it. I shouldn't make it any longer if you did.”—Pick Me D* An Appeal For Adjustment. Freddy—“ Papa, mamma promised me a quarter if I would have my tootn pulled.” Papa—“ Well, Freddy, you got n, didn’t you?” . Freddy—“No, papa. I was thinkm ’bout the quarter an’ didn t m. much fuss, an’ so she only gmime • dime.”—Puck. The Only Way. Mrs. Dimpleton— “My dear, it is ing reported around that we everybody.” ,- s Dashaway— “And the worst of a * • it’s true. So what are you going do about it?” h “Do?- Why, we must corree - :tn impression immediately >J F 3 on elaborate dinner party.”—Lite. Hl* Disbelief- ~* “He says he is from Nev, c said one young woman. "Yes.” answered the otbei. “I cau’t believe it. “He* bn Iked* with me for five min'd ej without saying anything was 6" ■■ „ characterizing anybody ns n lobs —Washington Star.