MY SW EETH EARTS.
My first was young and very fair,
With bright blue eyes and yellow hair;
A surplus white in ch111ch he wore:
'I loved him for a. month or more.
My second he was gaunt and thin,
All around the hemiSplmres he‘d. been;
He‘d shot at lions. killed a heal“;
I loved him for about a year.
My third had flowing cold-black locks
(I wore then green and yellow f1ocks),
He played and sang my heart aw ay;
I loved him one year and a. day.
My fourth was handsome, but so poor!
That only made me love him mor;e
I wept and sighed, but had to par t,
' It almost, almost broke my heart.
My fifth was—well. I cannot say
W’ hat he 11 as li‘ .{e, but one fine day
I 5“ me to love him all my life;
And now he calls me “Little W ife."
My sixth? My sixth is very small,
Be hardly seems a man at all;
But, oh, I could not bear to part,
\Vlth ei her Fifth or Sixth Sweetheart.
——London “reekly Times.
A PAIR OF EAR DROPS.
The queerest things that happen
never find their way into the newspa-
pers. It is difficult to say why; per-
haps it is because they are too queer.
For instance, I doubt if you have ewi
heard of a certain strange incident
that happened only a season 01' two
ago in that select section of the fash-
ionable world known as “society.”
A lady of title. Lady Barmouth, re
quested me to call on her one morn-
ing about the beginning of June, the
London season being then at its height.
“I want your help, Mr. Lowe,” she be-
gan, and then stoppéd awkwardly.
“Perhaps you are not aware that at
several balls and dinner parties'this
season there have been jewels and
ornaments stolen. It has, of course,
caused a great deal of unpleasantness.
In several cases, trinkets have even
been actually taken from the wearers
without: their knowing how it was
done, or who did it.”
"I presume. then, that the—er—thief
is a guest—fiperson in society?” I said,
inquiringly.
“I am afraid so. Two or three
things were missed at a dance which
I gave last week. New, I am giving
another dance next Thursday, and I
am, of course, most anxious it should
not occur again, at any rate in my
house.
We made arrangements about terms,
and it was agreed that I should be in-
troduced as an American, by name
Captain Burke.
“‘1 ' suppose, Lady Barmouth,” I
said, carelessly, “you don’t suspect
anybody in particular?”
‘ “Oh. no,” she said, butI noticed
what I thought was a look of anxiety
on her face, and made a mental note of
it.
As I was leaving, Lady Barmouth
said, “Of course, Mr. Lowe, you quite
understand, there must be no expose.
If you make any discoveries, they
must be treated as secrets. I can’t
have a scene of any kind. It must be
hushed up.”
I returned to the office impressed
with two ideas. First, that my task
was one of those delicate cases that re-
quire all your tact and yield very little
credit; secondly, that Lady Barmouth
knew more, or, at any rate, guessed
more, than she cared to tell.
Thursday evening arrived, and I
went to Merion House.
For a long while nothing occurred
of the smallest significance. But at
about two o’clock in the morning,
.While I was sitting in a snug corner
of the conservatory, where cigarette
smoking was permitted, I noticed acou-
ple take up a position in the opposite
corner.- They were both young, and
evidently very much in love with one
another. The girl was handsomely
dressed, and Wore some valuable jew-
els. In particular I noticed a pair of
diamond ear-drops, which had just
come into fashion again. These two
young people were sitting out during
a dance, and they flirted all through a
set of lan'cers, without any impatience
at their length.
At last they got 11p and went into the
ball-room again. On the chair, where
the girl had been sitting, lay some-
thing shining. I strolled across and
examined it. It was her vinaigrette,
which she had probably left there by
accident. I replaced it, thinking it
might serve as a trap for our fashion-
able thief. if he were in the neighbor-
hood, and withdrew to my corner,
where I was almost invisible.
Presently an old gentleman strolled
out to smoke a cigarette. He was a
tall, handsome, intellectual-looking
man, with the air of the true aristo~
crat. His name I didn’t know, but I
had noticed him chatting with the
guests. He was evidently known to
everyone, and Was a man of social im-
portance.
Presently his eye caught the little
jewelled vinaigrette. He looked care-
lessly round the conservatory, to see if
he were observed. and picked it up. He
now had his back to me. I was 011
the point of stepping up to him, when
he turned round. and replaced the vin-
aigrette‘ and walked quietlyaway.
It was lucky I had not moved. I
' should have looked rather foolish.
Some curious inStinct bade me cross
the conservatory, and look at the vin-
aigrette again. Without thinking about
it, I put it to my nose.
The next thing I remember is, that
I found myself sitting in a chair. Grad-
ually, things became clearer. The vin-
aigi‘ette lay‘by my. side. It was drug--
ged. For a few minutes I had lost
consciousness. I still felt 'dizzyrand
sick, but knowing 'that everything de-
pended on my being prompt and acute,
I managed wih an effort to pull myself
together.
Then arose the question: What
should I do next? ' Should I go straight
to the man who had tampered with the
vinaigrette? A moment’s. thought
showed me that that would be worse
than useless. I had he proof of any
thing. The situation must be allowec
to develop itself before I interfered
.‘~ .1191 some little reflection, I decidec
o :0 Lack to the drawing- room, where
i .' zuld see what was going on. Unde1
1: 1 (' hcumstances I must not lose sighi
c’.‘ the gill to whom the vinaigrette be
101 red.
For nearly half an hour I waited in
‘ vain. She danced with two or three
dil‘i'crcnt men, but did not 'seem to
have missed it.
At last, after one of the dances, she
appeared to be looking for something.
With what was, I presume, an apology
to her partner, she skipped across the
room to a group of girls. Evidently
she was asking if any of them had
seen her vinaigrette. For some time
she got no information, but presently
a girl who was passing, leaning on a
man’s arm, turned round and made
some remark, pointing withher fan to
the conservatory door. The owner 01
the vinaigrette gave a little nod 01
thanks. and hurried across the room.
All this time I observed that the man
who had drugged the scent-bottle, and
who was chatting with some of the
people standing about, watched the
girl closely.
As soon as she had left the drawing
room, he broke off his conversation,
and strolled quietly towards the con- .
servatory. As he passed through the
curtains, I noticed that he glanced
round to see if he were being followed.
That settled it; I had found my man,
and must act promptly. Lady Bar-
mouth was standing near the piano.
Remembering her injunction that there
was not, under any circumstances, to
be an expose or a scene, it was neces-
sary to proceed with caution. I caught
her eye without much difliculty. She
understood at mile that I had Some-
thing to say, and disengaged herself
from her friends.
“Will you come with me to the con-
servatory?” I said, quietly. “I be-
lieve I have solved the mystery.”
She turned pale. “Very well,” she
said. “Give me your arm. Be careful
what you do, Mr. Lowe,” she added,
in a troubled voice; “it- must be
hushed up.”
When we reached the conservatory,
we found, just as I expected, the young
lady lying back in a chair unconscious.
Her ear—drops were missing.
“Miss Dainton has fainted,” said
Lady Barmouth.
“One moment,” I said; “there is no
cause for alarm. Do you see what
has happened? Her diamond ear-drops
have disappeared.” .
“Do you know who . it is?” she
whispered.
“Yes. Her vinaigrette has' been
drugged—not sufficiently to do her any
harm. I saw it done.”
“What shall I do? Fetch Lord Bar-
mouth, will you? He must advise me.”
“Which is Lord Barmouth?”
' She came to the curtains and pointed
him out to me.
“Very well,’ I said. “Chafe Miss
Dainton’s hands, and try to bring her
round, but don’t send for any help at
present.”
I don’t think I ever felt so reluctani
to proceed with a case as I did at that
minute. The man whom Lady Bar-
mouth had pointed out as her husband
was the man who had drugged the»
vinaigrette—who had followed Miss
Dainton into the conservatory. In a
word, Lord Barmouth was a klepto
maniac. -
“Will you come with me into the
conservatory, Lord Barmouth?” I said.
As I spoke I looked him sternly in the
face. He turned deadly white, and his
eyes shifted nervously about the room.
“What’s the matter?” he said, husk-
ily. “Is anyhing wrong?”
“Miss Dainton has fainted.”
“‘Oh," he murmured, with relief.
“And her ear-drops have .disap-
peared,” I added. For a moment I
thought he was going to drop down.
I put my arm through his, and led him,
towards the conservatory. He was
trembling like a leaf.
When we got well intothe shadow
of the curtains I stopped. “Lord Bar-
mouth,” I said, quietly, “take my ad
vice, and give them up to me at once."
“What do you mean?” he said,
hoarsely.
“The ear-drops.
scene.” _
He put a trembling hand into the
breast pocket of his dress-coat and
gave me the ear-drops. He did it like
a man in a dream,.and I really believe
that for the time being he. was uncon-
scious. Then he turned away and left
the drawing-room hurriedly.
. “Will he. not come?” said Lady Bar-
mouth, with an awful look of terror in
her eyes.
“Lord Barmouth is not well,” I re-
plied. “Here are the ear-drops.”
She was thoroughly unnerved. Miss
Dainton showed signs of returning
consciousness.
-“Now,” I said, “put the ear-drops
back into her ears. She won’t know
what has happened.” ’
Lady Barmouth replaced them with
trembling fingers.
“Send some one to look after this
girl: I’ll stop with her till help comes
But you must go and‘find your hus-
band. Make haste,” I added, signifi~
cantly, “or you will be too late.”
’ My work was not quite over. When
Lady Barmouth found her husband in
his dressing-room he was, as I feared,
It Will prevent a
on the point of committing suicide. She '
saved him. A number of trinkets,
some of great value, were found in his
safe. There'is, of course, only one ex-
planation. On that one point, Lord
Barmouth was mad- There was no
vobject in his stealing ladies’ orna-
ments, as he is a very wealthy man,
and had not put them to any use. ,
There was not much difliculty in find-
ing their respective owners. I returned
them myself, aSking each one as a mat-
ter of courtesy to make no inquiries as
to how they fell into my possession."
NUW is
To Subscribe for the,
, 1A TT
111111 11.1. 11111111.
Both Pacers Sent to one Address
IS OVER,
TIM
-_-'~i
MORE ABOUT FAILURES
Interesting Deductions as to Effect of
Business Troubles.
£1
THE RESULT BENEFICIAL.
According, to Dun’s \Veekly Review, a
Thorough Purging of Unstable and
Unwartliy Concerns Was Need-
ed to Restore Confidence.
NEW YORK, Jan. 9. —R. G. Dun & Co. ’5
Weekly review of trade says:
The year 1897 begins with one clear ad-
vantage—the past year has swept out of
the way a. great number of unsound con-
cerns which in any time of activity would
have been dangerous to business. Of the
15,286 commercial and banking failures in
1896, with liabilities of $276,815,749, a
large share represented crippling losses in
previous years or the violence Of specula~
tive storms in 1895 or the first half of
1896, while thousands more 1esulted from
the fury of. the political t01 nado last fall.
Banking failures amounting to $50, 718, 915
during the year averagedb$256, 156 each,
and were 145 per cent larger than in 1895.
Commercial failures amounted to $226, -
096,834, a. little over $1,000,000 having
been added by the last day of the year, but
the average of liabilities, _ $14,992, was’
smaller than in some years of great pros-
perity. The failures of brokerage and ‘ ‘ oth-
er” commercial concerns averaged $58, 448
each, increasing 183 per cent over 1895,
while manufacturing failures average
$28,808 each and increased 34 per cent, and
trading failures increased not 18 per cent
and averaged only $9,606 each. Over four-
fifths of the increase in manufacturing and
‘ trading failures was in lumber manufac~
turing, 170 per cent; dry goods, 50; woolen
manufacturing, 161; clothing trade, 20;
shoe trade, 87; leather and shoe manufac-
tures, 167; grocery trade, 33; machinery,
70; milling, 117;~furniturc, 90, and print-
ing, 97 per cent. In ten other'branches the
increase was moderate in amount and in
five, with the unclassified manufacturing
and trading failures, the liabilities were
smaller than in 1895.
No More Apprehension.
While banking failures have not ceased
at the west, apprehension about them has
almost wholly subsided, and no serious in
fluence upon general trade is now expected.
Many sound concerns were doubtless
caught by the epidemic, but practically all
the important failures are traced to disre-
gard of law and of banking sense at periods
somewhat distant. It is felt at the west
that all business will be the sounder after
' its purging, and the return of money to
New York has exceeded shipments to the
interior by $2,000,000 for the week. Heavy
disbursements by the treasury and by great
corporations make money abundant, and
banks and savings banks are seeking good
paper, taking some formerly sold at Chica-
go. Foreign exchange has risen a. little, as
large bills are about to mature. Merchan-
dise exports were 11 per cent over last year,
while imports were 27 per cent less than
for the same week.
Speculative markets have been dull.
After rising about $1 per share and $2 for
trusts stocks were checked by revival of
talk about Cuba at Washington. and by re-
duction of the dividend on the Delaware
and Hudson, Earnings ~repented for; De-
cember amount to 331, 121,905 in the Unit—
ed States alone, 2.4 per' cent less than in
1395 and 8.9 per cent less than in 1892, but
returns for the fourth week were the best
and show general gains. Chicago east
bound tonnage in five weeks ending Jan. 2
was 304, 806 against 417, 625 last year, a
decrease of 27 per cent.
Wheat rose to 92 cents on Monday, but
has declined again to 90.62, with western
receipts 1,000,000 bushels smaller than last
year, while Atlantic exports, flour included,
were 2,037,900 bushels against 2,337,936
dast year. The trade accounts indicate a.
great quantity in farmers’ hands, enough
to permit more than 100, 000, 000 bushels
to be exported m the remaining six months.
Cotton started up a. shade, but receipts
from plantations are still too large fer low
estimates, and the condition of the cotton
mills foreshadow s curtailment rather than
large consumption.
The Wool hIarket.
Stocks of wool J an 1 not owned by
manufacturers Or farmers are 123, 558, 080
pounds domestic and 26, 844, 000 foreign,
according to the'Boston Commercial Bulle-
tin, and the official estimate of production
shows a decrease of 20 per cent in three
years, but sales are only 3,885,000 against
6,694,300 in 1896. Prices are a shade lower,
and quotations by Coates Bros. are com.
pared, showing a. decline in six years of 16
cents in prices of northern states wool,
with relatively as great decline in western
and territory wool, which goes far to ex-
plain the large reported stocks, and quan-
tities held by manufacturers are probably
larger than is commonly supposed. In
woolen goods the only change is a reduc-
tion of 7/ cents in clay rsteds and
mixtures, and orders are ’nca more fre-
q ent. Orders for boots and shoes have al-
1; ceased, except for a few qualities
which have been advanced only 2% to 5
cents in price, but jobbe1s are buying a lit-
tle more as stocks run low. Leathcr' IS stiff
and hides a. shade stronger.
Enormous purchases of billets came with
a. rush, most of the large concerns con-
tracting for all they required for months
and even a year to come, and some of the
largest contracts are said to have been at
$15 or even less, but there is as yet no bet-
ter demand for structural work, bars are
weak, nails have declined to $1.40 for wire
and $1.30 for cut, and little is doing in
rails, as possible buyers think 825 is too
high with billets at $15 per ton. Neverthe-
less a great trade is expected when relative
nrices become settled.
Mutilation of Canadian Coins.
MONTREAL, Jan. 9.-—In view of the fact
that there are a vast number-of mutilated
and defaced coins in circulation' 1n Canada,
the department of finance at Ottawa has is-
sued a notice stating that coins so muti-
lated not only cease to be legal tender, but
persons so mutilating them are guilty of a
criminal offense and liable to imprison-
. ment under the criminal code. , -'
Probable Murder at Port Jervis. ‘
PORT J ERVIS, Jan. 9.-—William Speidle,
a farmhand employed by Ludwig Haux,
was found by Fred Ross lyi11-:d1 :d on the
Erie railroad at th cfoot of an 1 moankment
near the eastern boundary of. Port Jervis.
Coroner Harding found a red handker-
chief stuffed in the man’s mouth and be-
lieves that he was murdered.
Postmaster; Appointed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9"-—The fourthcl. ss
postmasters appointed today were:
Pennsylvania—Saylorsburg, T.Say101
New York—West Danby,A « .J. Snyder.
. in a coupe.
froR :BoYS AND GIRLS-
IN BUSINESS BECAUSE SHE LIKES 11'.
Lizzie Willoughhy Drives 8 maxim-gen
and will Graduate this Year.
‘ or. all the girls in Westfield, N. J..-
fifteen-year-old Lizzie Willoughby is
. attracting the most attention just
now.
The Willoughbys are in good cir-
cumstances. The father is in busi-
ness, but the family afiairs are such
that little Miss Lizzie is regularly dis-
tributing the. milk of thirteen cows.
and is building up a trade that is the
envy of the fourteen milkmen of.
“’estfield;
Regularly every morning Lizzie is
out of bed before 5 o'clock. Then she
hops into a light spring wagon with
an enclosed box top having windows
in front and on the sides. There are
two slits in the frame of the forward
window through which the reins pass.
The milk cans are in a forward come
partment. There’s a comfortable back
seat with cushions and-blankets, ,so
'that Lizzie drives on her milk route
pretty much as if she were sheltered
pens along, she takes along a. lantern
for a foot warmer. 7
“Of course I like the business,” she
says. “I wouldn’t .do it for one mo-
ment if I didn’t. Father has plenty
.for us all, but I like to be doing some-
thing.
“I finish my rounds about 8 o‘clock,
then I change my clothes and go to
the High School. I’ll graduate this
year. Then I’m going to study and
become a. teacher. ”
MONKEY PLAYS A VIOLIN.
Gan Bender Several Waltz Tunes in aCreti-
itable Style.
John C. lVarren, a young musician of
Philadelphia, purchased an organ
grinder's monkey some time ago be—
cause he was charmed with its danc-
ing and thought it would add pleasure
to the evenings at home, when he
played the violin with which instru—
ment he is a fine performer.
Noting the perfect time kept, and
also that the monkey was apparently
able to imitate every act it saw, he
concluded to try to teach it to play: a
violin, says the Ighiladelphia “Inquir-
er ” For some time very slow llead- ,
way was made, but finally Jocko seem-
ed to catch the idea and would ply the
bow over the strings, with, however,
very little regard to time or tune. For
an hour each day his master tried to
teach J echo the elements Of music, and
after the man’s patience' was almost
exhausted his efforts were crowned
with success, and the monkey began
to play one tune fairly well.
That tune once mastered seemed
to awaken all of the latent musical
talent of the animal and he became
passionately attached to the violin,
becoming. more proficient each time
he played the instrument. Now he
executes several waltzes, taking the
violin in his arm in correct position
and keeping time with his feet, and
head as he plays, not only furnishing
the music, but waltzing at the same
time. While his master does not ex.
pect him to become a. model to play,
he is nevertheless very proud of his
monkey, and, claims that he is a. bet-
ter player than the average man who
considers himself fairly proficient.~
Mr. Warren has almost closed a. deal
by which he is to dispose of the mon-
key violinist to the proprietor of a Bos-
ton museum. The price to be paid is
said to be over $500.
Echo Answers.
Of what has heaven given us an
equal sha‘re9—Air.
What does a rumor often do as it
flies‘2—Lies.
Which is the loveliest flower that
grows ?—Rose.
Which‘ children are we apt to think
the sweetest flOwers9—Ours.
What in manner is sure to please?—
Ease.
What will frequently overcome the
most austere9—Tear.
What loses its flavo1 when we b01-
row it ‘2—Wit.
What is it that Wealth seldom extinj
guishes‘2—Wishes,
What traits are .difliculf tOu extermi-
nate?—Innate.
What did Cleopatra to her bosom
clasp9—Asp.
ZIMMERHACKLE’S PHILOSOPHY.
The face of a hammer presents most
striking features.
Strange, but when a man Ts broken
up, it has a tendency to break him
down. '
Bishop Newman asks: “Is it acrime
to be rich. 9” Most Of us are willing to
becbme criminals, if it is.
Some men are credited ;with being
conservative, when in reality they
only. lack the gumption necessary to
take a decided stand. .
Time works many changes. Before
mariiage she was an artist, and drew
pictures, now it is a. baby carriage she
draws
-A deaf and dumb man and a deaf
and dumb woman were married in
Chicago. Their honeymoon goes with.
out saying. .‘
Because a. man wears a lot of motto“
buttons on his lappel, it is no evidence
that he has a full complement of but.
tens , on his
Breeze- ~
If a chill morning hap-n
, tronsers.7—Dansville '
Norwalk Chronicler