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Our army, navy and pensions cost $210,000,000 a year. The engineer who designed the steamer City of Paris says that a vessel will soon be built that will cross the Atlantic in five days. The Portuguese arc the most illiter¬ ate people in Europe. The educated people arc only eighteen per cent, of tKe entire population. r i he New York Commercial Adver¬ tiser announces that. “Some enterpris¬ ing Southern men propose to give an exhibition of Southern products in some Northern city.” Siam, it is said, is feeling the im¬ pulse of the railway spirit, and it is taking the preliminary steps for build¬ ing several hundred miles of lines. Siam has a population of nearly 6,000 >■ 000 people and an area of about 280 > 500 square miles. IV illiam J. McDowell, who was a conspicuous figure at the meeting of the Sons of the Revolution in Louis- - ville, Ky., last spring, is in favor of a “congress of republics.” His object is to “crystallize the democratic senti- inent of the world.” Target-shooting contests in the Turk¬ ish army have developed the fact that not one soldier in twenty could hit a man at twenty paces. A target as big as a barn door placed thirty rods a wav was missed twenty-nine times where it was hit once. The Turk looks well in red trousers, however. »i —.___ The curious fact is commented upon by the New York Star, that the Cramps of Philadelphia, the Scotts of San Francisco, and nearly uli the other firms engaged in building our war ships Quakers. r T. ~ II. Savery of are Wilmington, Del., who built the Vol¬ unteer on Mr. Burgess’ plans and who has been looking into the specifications for the new navy, is also a Quaker. A real estate transaction of stupen¬ dous proportions has been consum- mated by Texas parties. It is the sale of 6.000,000 acres of land in the State of I amantispos, Mexico, together with about 100,000 head of cattle, The purchasers are an English and Dutch syndicate lately formed in Europe by John Hancock, of Austin. The syn¬ dicate purposes to colonize the land and also erect on it refrigerators for beef exporting purposes. The price paid was fifty cents an acre for the land aud $10 a head for the cattle. •Some Antipodeans have been as¬ tonished by the possibilities of book¬ making. Mr. Theodore Bevan visited the island of Iviw r ai two years ago, and wrote an account of the cannibal feasts of the natives. Another expe¬ dition recently went to the island, and Mr. Bevan’s account of them was translated and read to the natives. 'Soule roared with laughter, but others looked at it more seriously, and said it was “hitter language” and “not true.” These natives cultivate thirty-six kinds of bananas, twenty kinds of yams, and ten kinds of sweet potatoes. • The Times-Democrat notes that the recent school elections in the Dakotas do not indicate that the women there «gre much about using the ballot. In Sanborn county, Southern Dakota, out of'(he 1200 female voters not over 100 Voted, and that is the county where are the headquarters of the woman- suffrage campaign and the banner pro- liibition county of the State. The per- eentage of women actually voting was sinaller in other counties. In North Dakota the same indifference was oh- servable. When the women voted they voted usually as their husbands d;d - A case of hypnotism in London firings up some interesting points for mental scientists, remarks the Chicago Post. The case is that of a man who charges the popular novelist, Walter Bcsant, with a literary crime even worse than plagiarism. The novelist, it seems, is possessed of hypnotic powers, and his accuser 6ays that he put bim into a hypnotic state, and while in that helpless condition stole a romantic story from his brain and published it to the world as one of his own novels. Of course, Mr. Besant merely laughs at this strange yarn, but he must ad¬ mit that he has quite a rival in the icalm of fiction in this imaginative pers< n. According - to the evidence presentee to the Committee of the English House of Commons on colonization, the emi¬ gration from Ireland since 1851 is stated to have amounted to 3,276,!03, or fifty-nine per cent of the total popu¬ lation. Of the above number, 471.909 same from Connaught, and 155,576 ilrom Galway. Emperor \\ illiam, who seeks to imi¬ tate in all things his illustrious ances- tor, King Frederick the Great, has re¬ cently adopted the latter's taste for white horses. Since the death of the h#ro of the “Seven Years’ War,” al¬ most 130 years ago, horses of that color have been excluded from the royal imperial stable at Berlin. With¬ in the last two or three weeks, liow- e\ cr, both the Emperor and Empress have repeatedly appeared in public in carriages drawn by white and cream* colored horses. Some French crank with a taste foi s^Gstics that arc of no value to anyone * ias d o u, ' ed ^ out that the dentists ol America annually insert in the teeth ol dl<dr custorne, 's about 1800 pounds ot ?° ,d » which represents a cost of $450,- ' )0u ’ sa vs * tbe Touis Globe-Demo- crat. This gold is never recovered, of course, but is buried with the person in whose mouth it is placed. The statistician then goes on to say (hat allowing for the rapid increase in the population of the United States and the still more rapid deterioration M American teeth within 100 years the cemeteries ot this country will contain more gold than is now in cir¬ culation in France. I suppose that when that state of affairs is reached mining companies for the working of cemeteries will he a matter of course, Indian corn is not known in France as an article of food. One of our consuls there, Mr. Griffin, writes that if corn meal could be introduced, a lasting benefit would be conferred upon the poor, and a new outlet would he lound for the overproduction of American farms. A simple way to reach the French country people, Mr. Griffin says, would be to follow their monthly fairs held in every canton. At these fairs corn meal could be cooked in various ways before the eyes of the people and served to them. In a short time the French would see that corn meal is a cheap, wholesome and easily cooked article of food. It would pay to start a similar crusade in every civilized country in the world. The result would create a new de- maud for the corn which our western farmers now burn as fuel, and the - ro P would become the most valuable of all our food products. Albatross Skin. The most valuable part of the alba¬ tross is its plumage. The neck, breast and body are snowy white, shading delicately into gray and dusky brown at the sides and back, and tlie feathers are so curled and elastic that the skin w*ith the plumage on it is an inch or an inch and a half thick. No finer material can be got for muffs, cuffs, collarets, capes or the trimming or lining of cloaks and robes. It is very >’ ct exceedingly warm, while for a PP eai 'ance its dove-like smoothness aud P u, '' t y cannot be excelled. It has the advantage, too, of being Very dluable > the natural oil of the preserving the skin and feathers ^ 01 man ^ y car8 > while the character- istic lnusk y otlor is easily overcome cam P llor - H is a wonder that some euter prisi»g furrier or modiste does not set tIlc I as,llou of w*earing aiba- tross P Iunia ff e a » d send to Antipodes or the Crosets for a season’s supply, rhere would be money in it, not only its noveIt y, but by its usefulness. At the same time I hope it will not he done, because if once the skin of the albatross acquired a commercial value, and the ruthless hand of fashion "ere laid on its smooth, white neck, the poor bird would soon he drivan from its secluded haunts and might even be in danger of extermination. May the day be far distant when the trader shall invade the home of the albatross or the pot hunter disturb its ancient, solitary reign.—[Forest and Stream. Encouraging to Genius. Poet I\ hat is this ode worth? Editor—Hem, let’s see. The ink can't be used again—that’s no good; and the paper—Jimmie, what’s paper worth a pound?—[Epoch. A. LOOKOUT BRIDGE. How Big Ocean Steamers Guard Against Danger. Two Watchful Pairs of Eves On an Elevated Station. “Two bells!” exclaimed a sailor - like looking passenger on the ship Majestic as the metallic strokes rang out sharply from the forward dim¬ ness. 4 i Two bells? How's that? It must be clo ; e on to midnight, and I’ve been listening for eight bells, when I was going to turn in.” i i IIo, ho!” laughed his companion, who w*as none other than the first offi¬ cer of the ship, “that’s a good one on you, and though you’ve been a deep¬ water 6ailor all your life, you’ll find we can teach you a thing or two yet. Take a squint through these glasses over the starboard bow, and perhaps you’ll see something.” The passenger, who was an old sail¬ ing captain, did as directed, and after gaziug intently out over the shadowy waters for a few moments, reported a light in sight, apparently that of a steamer coming toward him. “That’s what the two bells meant,” replied the chief mate. “Thev were struck by the watch on the lookout bridge, and notified the officer of the deck that something had been sighted off - the starboard bow. One bell would have meant that it was on the port side.” Just then eight hells, sounded in an entirely different key from that of the lookout hell, announced the hour of midnight. The chief mate bade his friend good-night, and turned toward the main bridge, where he would as- suinc the duties of officer on watch; while Lis companion sauntered in the direction of his cab n, reflecting upon the new-fangled methods of naviga¬ tion as practised aboard the trans- atlantic liners. The Chinese paint watchful eyes Oil the bows of their junks to guard them against the perils of the deep. On the ship of'Columbus the lookout was sta¬ tioned away aft on the highest point of the towering poop, while on most modern vessels lie may he foiled p ecr- ing ahead from away forward, in what lias come to he appropriately designated the “ship's eyes.” 1 liis is well enough for slow-moving >ailing vessels, or even for coastwise steamers, but on the huge over-ocean liners rushing at railway speed through darkness and fog, a further coign of \ antage from which to note and report sudden dangers was demanded. A cro’-nest at the foremast head would be unnecessarily high, and too far from the deck for ready communica¬ tion ; so a few years ago the lookout bridge was devised, and is now* in general use. It is on the foremast, away forward of the latter, and in communication With it only by means of its clear¬ voiced bell. Here, tw*enty feet above the deck, on such a ship as the Majes¬ tic, from the moment of departure to the moment of arrival, at least two pairs of keen, far-sighted eyes scan every inch of the forward horizon. From here any object that is detected —strange sail or sister ship, drifting derelict or glimmering berg—is in¬ stantly reported to the officer stationed on the main bridge, by one sharp stroke of the bell that hangs between the watchers if it appears on the port bow, and two if on the starboard. Even to this elevation the leaping ° spray clouds often find their way, and the stout canvas breastwork behind which the lookout seeks a partial shel¬ ter, must be supplemented by oii skins and sou-weslers. The occupants of this most import¬ ant post are always men of tested eye¬ sight and hearing as well as of ap¬ proved reliability, devoted to this es¬ pecial service and assigned to no other. When extra precautions are demanded, as in times of fog, another lookout is stationed as far forward as possible on deck, and still another on the main bridge; while on entering or leaving a port tlie second officer of the ship in¬ variably shares the lookout bridge with its more permanent tenants.— [Harper's Weeklv. There are sixty-four churches of the Church of England, besides those of other denominations, within a quarter of a mile of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Catacombs of Paris. The vast catacombs by which a largo portion of the city of Paris is under- mined • onlv known by tradition were until the year 1774, when some alarm¬ ing accidents aroused the attention of the government. The old quarries were then surveyed ami plans of them taken, the result being the discovery that the churches, palaces and almost the entire Southern portion of Paris were undermined and in great danger of sinking into the abyss below. A special committee was appointed to investigate the matter, but ^vere very tardy in carrying out instructions, doing but little until the summer of 1775, and not then until several houses had sank 90 to 100 feet below the surrounding level. Investigation proved that the quarrymen who had honeycombed the foundation of the city had done it regardless of the con¬ sequences, leaving pillars without any regularity whatever, and some too weak to stand the enormous strain of the weight above, some of the pillars themselves having been undermined or set upou founda'ions that had been previously hollowed out. The aqueduct of Acunell passed over this treacherous ground; it had already suffered some shocks, and, if the quarries had continued to be neg¬ lected, accidents wou'd have hap¬ pened that would have cut off its sup- plv from Paris and flooded the exeava- tions with water. For years and years, workmen were busily engaged budding pillars and supporters under the city, until about the year ox the rev- olution, when everything was brought to a standstill, and the catacombs con¬ verted into an immense underground deadhouse. IIow many innocent persons were murdered during the awful days of the “reign of terror” and thrown down the shafts and wells that led to this awful charnel house will never be known. At least 3,000,000 human re¬ mains are said to repose in the cata¬ combs.— [St. Louis Republic. Plaiits for Second Crops. There arc three plants that, in a fa¬ vorable season, can ho grown as a sec- ondcrop; these are clover, sorghum, millet. Clover is more certain, be¬ cause of its earlier start in the spring. Maturing the first crop reasonably early, it can he cut before the hot, dry weather sets in, and the plants, get¬ ting the benefit of the late spring or early summer showers, will make a good start to grow. The second crop can be cither cut for hay or be al¬ lowed to ripen seed, or be plowed un¬ der as green manure, It is one of the most valuable crops grown on the farm, and the principal fault is that the acreage is not as large on the ma¬ jority of farms as it should be. In the earlier varieties of sorghum, eithei the early auiber or early orange, are planted in reasonably rich soil, well prepared and in good season so the crop will mature early, the first crop or growth can be manufactured into molasses and a good second glowtli will be made that can neither be cut and used as a green feed or be cured aud stored away for winter. Or if raised especially as a forage crop it can he cut a little early, giving more time for the second growth. A large amount of feed can be secured in this way on a comparatively small acreage. It makes a good feed for cattle or sheep, or the second growth can be turned under as a fertilizer. Millet may be sown for hay, and if ° Ut k efore th ° Seed ripens ’ wiI1 S ive a g° od Quality. Or it can be used for soiling, if needed; and after cutting off in anything like a favorable season, a second growth will start up, that will furnish considerable feed; under' or, like the other two, if plowed will add considerable to the fertility- of the soil. In many cases it will be an advantage to grow these crops, harvesting the fii at growth and arranging to plow* the second under in time to derive as large an amount of benefit as possible. Splitting a Hurricane. A farmer saw a hurricane coming straight toward his barn. Something must be done without delay. He seized two boards, and, standing be¬ fore the barn, held them as tightly as possible with the ends together in front of him, so that they made a sort of wedge. In this way he spread the hurricane apart, and it took off only the two corn :rs of the ham. Evening. U‘ e sor C rp s out behind the purp’ 0 ge Tile clouds swim along the Mo, west, Shadowlcss, shapeless, and in the 8 | ‘ 0 * ^ rest, Along the west, all dark and silently The night throned with behind solemn the state and rnajp, !v Is eastern oceanV breast. Wrapped, like the eagle in her s ecm nest. Waiting the hour when her broad win gs free. The evening smiles a smile of fear and !, The peace of starlight, may come with n night, Or all the thunders of the sky may 0Df . the sleeping ‘ To smite earth to wakic. fright. Which shall it be? What prophet has -t, scope To read the warnings in Mn wanim light? —[W. H. Henderson in New York Ti tries. II13IOROUS. A road race—Tramps. Stumbling e ver a croquet wicket very small summer trip. Is the man with a shady charaJ any cooler than other folks ? j The rifled umbrella is the nioi common weapon of danger. IIow soon the crying baby i n j J house grows to be a girl with api a “Ingleby has gone out West for j ferial for his next novel.” “Brains, reckon.” The stenographer doesn’t live t, hand to mouth, although his is from mouth to hand. Customer—Is this woolen material new? Tailor—Yes, sir; it is so ned you can almost hear it bleat. Charles—Miss Ella—Ella —mav , hope to win you? Ella—Why, Charlie do you think I’m to be raffled’ Merchant (ia want of a boy, toajt plicantj—Can you spell Correctly Boy— Yes, sir. C-o-r-r-e-c-t-l-y. Waiter (to a guest who helps himsel somewhat bountifully)—“Shall I not perhaps, bring you another plate?” The bald-headed row, and althouri they are not champion oarsmen theii single skulls are usually coiispicuouij MiJ Mr. Rounds—IIow nicely that InstyJc carries her head. Miss DukJ J —She ought to carry it easily—its light. Kaiser \l illielm now calls “the man of rock and iron.” Alittl sarsaparilla added will make a fia bitters. Barber—Does the razor hurt job sir? I ictim—Are you sure it’s i razor? I had an idea it was a piece ol barrel hoop. One does not like to be made fun oj in words of grandiloquent praise, smootil Ij is a sad irony which does not one’s feelings. I lie man best qualified to enjoy honeymoon is the one who had all romance kicked out of him before reached that period. Mendicant—Can’t you give mej d few pennies for my poor family idsiiJ home, sir? Merchant—No, no, fuffii.'j I don’t want to buy any poor Lawyer (to witness) : “Did say that an incompetent man keep a hotel just as well as Witness: “No, I said an inn-expci* enced man could.” ^ there is anything that exceeds a c ^ sc ror a PP a Biugness it is the situate °* a lnan gets caught in a rai storm in a fl annel shirt that is lo ° for him. High-priced doctor—You are convalescent, and all you need is ercise. You should walk ten miles day, sir, but your walking should an object. Patient—All right, I'll travel around trying to enough to pay your bill. Sharing on Sunday. I lie Supreme Court of is to be called upon to whether shaving in barber shops Sunday is a necessity and lawful. The question has been pa- s?e upon by the courts in several and the general conclusion has states the New York Herald, that barber shops are in violation of law. ’ In one case the Court tnat “if men want to get shaved on day they must be tlieir own tl appeal to the Legislature to change law. The latest tribunal heard ft 01 on the subject is the Supremo Court Indianna. It holds that the is one for a jury to decide.