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T9P wm^ UNCLE tOTlLt'S iMAKDIG OF BOOB 30AI1S. " I'm goin^ to get married, Tim 1" Uncle Cottles sat very uprigbi in liia obair and spoJce witii an air of invincible decision. " What, again V drawled his nephew wearily. Again, sir? When was I married be- fore .'" " But this isn't the first time you've been going to do it, uncle ; that's what I meant," Tim explained. " Do 1 know the favored lady t" â- ' It's Miss Sybil Holt, Tim," said Un- cle Cottle, confidently. " The most love- i ly â€" the â€" the â€" oh h I 1 met her the oth- er evening at Itlrj. Dyoham's silver wedding party and she â€" er â€" quite seem- ed to take to me. I'm older than she l»." he sighed pensively, " but I look a good lea years younger than I am ; don't you think so '" Young Tiiu regarded him critically without hazarding an opinion. He was past middle age und looked it â€" a full- bodied little gentleman, with stiort, dumpy legs and a bland, moon-like face, whose prevailing expression was of im- perturable simplicity. " Have you proposed ?" ' Why, no. I've only seen her once. Besides," L'ncle Cottle sighed again. " I'm so shy, you know, Tim â€" so infer- naily shy. The only tinae that 1 ever managed to propose was wiien 1 wrote to that widow â€" you remeuaber, you help- ed me with the letterâ€" and she never answered. You didn't say," he added, " whether you knew Hiss Holt f" " I don't remember to have met bfer." " Ah I If you had jou couldn't forget her. She's an aunt you'll be proud of, my boy." " But she may not appreciate the hon- or of obtaining me for a nephew." " If she refuse me, Tim â€" it 1 lose lier ta I've lost all the others," cried Uncle Cottle wUdly, " I shall think there's « curse on mo, and I'll give in â€" I'll nev- er love again. Ill live and die singly'" Young Tim hoped he would. U&le Cottle had been his guard^n ev.er since he was quite a boy, but sinoir he was become of age some six jdJars ago he kad rather reversed tijf'^sition of af- fairs, and looke4jij»e5" t ntle Coltle with the jea ous yt^'^ia sole proprietor who didn't waj^ anybody to meddle with his businJK^ " I'm his only relative," be complain- ed to Jus crony, Ted Merrows, as they sat at brvakiast next morning in the chambers Ihey tenanted in common. â- ' What's his is mine. He's said so lots of times. It hu gets married, though, his wife will exjieot at least half, and if he has childrerâ€" there'll be no meat left on the bone for me." They were both reading for the bar. but Ted Merrows put'osidf his paper for a moment and placed all his intellect »t the service ut his friend. " What's the use of looking black tbout it f Don't put on the poultii-e . prematurelyâ€" lirst catch your cold. He's been going to marry often enough be- lopeâ€" "But he's never seemed so determined as he is now. He's dyeing his hair and cultivating a figure. __ "Gone so far as that I" exclaimed Ted. "Then I'm afraid nothing will stop him." "1 shall try. anyhow," growled Tim. â-  If 1 can't hit on anything better I shall tell him I've found out she's en- gaged. I've stopped him twice like thiit; he's so nervous and afraid of seeming presumptuous. That widow was the most dangerousâ€" three months ago. I really thought I'd lost him that time. He WHS so b»<witche<l he was going to call at her house, only 1 p»>rsuiuleiniim it wasn't etiquette, and that he ou^'ht to write first and disclose his sentiments and ask permission to cull. I undertook to post the letter on my way home here to the temp'e and I put It in the tire. When he got no answer he wished he hailn't writtenâ€" felt he had been im- peninent and she was offended." " Suppose he meets lier and mentions It I" 'â-  He daren't ; 1 know him too well. He'd U> so asuamod and panio stricken he'd run away at the sight of her/" " Well, you've been lucky so far, but it can't go on like this forever," obeerv- •d Ted Merrows. " fake my tip and make hay while the sun shines." " How do you mean." " You are old enough to marry and as yiiur unole's sole heir vou'd be a val- uable article in the market. But it he otarries you'll find yourself on the shelf amotig the damaged goods and rem- nants. Dispose of yourself while vou are still an hoir and the fitting lord'for an heiress. You can't stop the old man doesn't spoil you by marrying first." does'nt spoil you by marrying first." " But 1 don't know anyliodv." remon- strated Tim. "How am 1 to find the beintss, get introduced, and engaged and marry her out of hand inâ€"" " You might find one through the matrimonial journals." "Nonsense ! Heiresses don't adver- tise' " Don't they 1 All heiresses are not ,in siH-iety. Some of them w.int to get (here and they advertise. They would- n't marry a gentleman with nothing, perhaps, unless they happened to be old ahd ugly; but they would be glad to $>ap up a man like you, moving iuk(oiKt »0('iety, with a lllieral allowance from your uncle and hopeful prospects. Then U your uncle tleserts you afterwards her money will keep the wolf fn.>m the door and save you from working yourself to death." • * • • Young Tim had a morbid horror of !>overty and overwork and that slorv Qsunttul him all day. It shiuic through iis 'lisiuat ♦'orelHKlitws UV* the moon liirough a luist ; it seemed almost too \tooil to he true. He dined alone that tvening at a restaurant in the Strand »Bd jK<.s.s'ing a news agt>nt c:i 'ois way back to the Temiile he noticed some ma- trimonial journals in the window and tvent lu an<l tniught one. He was â- omewhat relieved on entering hischain- bers to find that Ted Merrows was not jret home* He opene<l the journal and studied the crowded columns in private and lighted at length on a business-like advertisement that impressed him fav- orably. '• â-  â€"\ -^â€" . - .< ♦ Maud, young, dark, and good-looking, i JHE MOVEMENT FOR BETTER HIGH- with private income, wishes to corres- pond with middle-aged gentleman of means and position, with view to matri- mtny ; references exchanged. Replies were to be sent to a letter of the alphaliet at the office of the pa- per. rim was not middle-aged, bot he con- sidered that if anything that should tell in his favor. lie WAYS HAS COME TO STAY. Inlfrvlrw Wllb Prorinrlal Bond Imtlmrt* or 4'aujplM*llâ€" PrvurenM ol'ihr Nai'i'UK'Ul -Baes hut Mean Iacrfa»rd TaxattMu Since his appointment to office Blr. the advertisement till, from feeling temptevl to ana\ver it just to test the prol>ability of Ted Merrow's story he began to succumb to fresh fears for his future and became anxious to answer it for his own sake. " There's no harm in writing," he argued. " If I ciiange my mind or it d<;esn't seem good enough, I can drop it." And while tha impulse was upon him he wrote. He wrote vaguely of his in- come and said nothing of bis age. If he eiplaineil his precise position he fear- ed she might fanc^ it wus to insecure to render him eligible. But if he could see her he flattered him.self that tbe charm of his conversation and person- al presence woi'.M diz^le her and divert her attention from his less pronounced monetary qualifications. He signed his own name. " T. Cottle." because if the negotiations came to anything it might shake her confidence when he had to acknowledge he had approacbeil her un- der a false name. At the same time, as she had. withheld her surname and address, he ft;lt justified in reque-sting her to direct her reply In the first in- stance to the postoffu» in Bayswater road to be left till called for. " I can look in for it next time I go , . ^ . ,. â-  to see uncle," he reflected. " If it turns [ making, the p^ at which is given aa out a frost I needn't tell Merrows any- | follows thing. He'd only grin about it. I'll structor for Ontario, has been kept con- stantly busy by various municipalities that wanted information aljout how best they could improve their lines of road. He h:ifi lectured to coimty coanci's' and other interested in road mainten- ance all over the province, and they are writing to him every day to secure his help in various places. His prin- cipal work has been amongst tOe farm- ing population, and his suggestions have brought forth fruit in many places. With regard to city streets, Mr. Campbell thinias they should lie well paved all round. There should be through lines to carry most of the traffic oo heavily paved streets run- ning across the city, w bile lighter i>ave- menta would be satisfactory on resid- ential streets, where teaming is not heavy.. He thi"lf-* that brick will ccmie to the front as an all-round paving ma- terial. In a little chat the other day, he threw out some bints about road- get the letter off before he comes In." He half regretted his impetuosity when he contemplated what he haditone in the cool light of the next morning. Nevertheless a couple of evenings lat- er be journeyed to Bayswater and in- quired at the postoffifce for his letter, but it hadn't arrived! So he walked on to ace Uncle Cottle, but as his uncle was not at homt^ he told them to 8.iy he bfui called-And woul<ln't wait CAME TO STAY. When the agitation for improved country roads was commenced, a few years ago, it was met by the farming community with the, rebuff that it was merely the talk of a few "bicycle sports," who wanted to wheel about the country at the expem^e of the farmer* To-day the good roads movement is not a "fad." It is a serious problein. affecting the future social and com- ,,'.'. iT- ,â-  . ^ • -1 frighten their horses, and give inso- Imb mteraiw; m his rash matrimonial f, . orojecti*ycoole<l considerably, but go- l*^** "> return. Tmg to" see his uncle on the following SiwEurday aftcrni'ou he inquired casu- ally at the pojtoffice again and was not â- altogether displeased that there was . ., , . . „.l ,.«flll no letter for him. He decided that mercial prosperity of the country. The his epistle had not created a satUfac- I bicycle sports are being found to con- tory impression and that he should heap ' gjst ^^ ^ sports, but of business men %Sg°a'comer a little beyond the^^d ^onien. and geirlemanly tourists postoffice. he was surprised to run into I using the wheel in preference to the ITncle Cottle, goiveous in a new white railway express. Thvse latter, many of waistcoat and with a flower in his but- jj^^^^ wealthy Englishmen. Americans, ."J^S V ., V 14 1 â- â- !•„« lor their sons are carrying home with Tun. my boy, he ejaculate<l. 1 ve ; j^ rei.ons of t he weili h of this coun- been expecting to see you daily. Sorry - ' .... I was out when you c-alled last â€" I was out on particular business. " Oh 1" Tim had dim premonitions of disaster. He only upt.raided himself for neglect- ing the af'tirs of Miss Holt. " Yes." l'ncle Cottle winked his left eye and smacked his nephew on the shoulder eiulwrantly. "I was arrang- ing to get married." • To Miss Holt ? " faltered Tim. "No." laughed l'ncle Cottle. "You'll never guess. It's the widowâ€" Mrs. Net- ley. '\ ou remember we wrote to her. She answered my letter that evening, an hour before you called." try of ours, and this alone is a mat- ter of no little value to usj The bicy- cle h.is become not mereljjr a toy, but an indisi>ensable MEANS OF TKANSTT. The farmers and their sons, their wives ajid daughters, are everywhere using them, and it is now not only a thing of the city, but it is talcing its place !ut a conveyance alung aid*', not only of tbf> street car, but also the farmer's horse aind buggy. The f.irmer who deiUghta in ditching a wheelman, and the bicyclist who in- Milts any one who retains more than ! C.\N NEVER HE BC.'ii.VED DO\V\' 1 It \vould be swamped first. Why. there i i» <WM>Hitl> waxef »tQfed f^baxe in tahka to iiUit foil' many days' coatiniiL-M»pump- I Ing, in Cilse by any cisince the ordinary I supply gave out. Uue of tik: tanks in which the wiJLcs in s:uped lo right un- derneath I he for* touny<wd lu front of tiki wain entrance â€" an «gg-eihaped cisiem in this ca<se holding suuie b.WIG gaiiooB ; wlu;e furili^r auppiies iire stor- ed 'in vaxlouo otut-r parts of the build- ing. Eveny puliceiuaa. tou. 'm also a fiieiueu, ijeing e»ix-ciUly trained before : h? takes up his dutk-s, and if you were I { to be preaent at one ot the £re drills { I tci be preii«;nt at oue of ttii^ fire driils, i I which are lield every furtnjgbt. you 'would realize ihiit a fire would have ' small ch.ui£e against the foioes pro- I vided fuir coping with it at the British I , Mueeum. ^heiv ie ml a nook or cor- I , ntr la the rt=moLeiii oirt of the build- i ing which could not be deluged in two ' , mumtes, if ntH.vailty arose, theinks to ; : the supply lu. hoa^ staunlpipes, fire- I cocJ£ij, etc., \. ith w iiich evexy port of j tho buildiiig its equipped." I " Su there is nu chance of the Mu- ' seum Ijeing burned down t" i " None whatever ; nor any boilding , near it, for ihM matter. For ihey look after tbttni. too, huj-dly leas care- ! fully. And the Fire Brigade pet^le I were fairly asioiiieh<id only the other , day to find kow promptly a small I blaze which occurred in Montague street had been extinguished by THE MUSEUM FiH£MEN. They were on the spot with their hoae at work and the fire imder control be- fore the regular fiiemen had even ar- | rived on the acene ; and thieves have i juac about aa much ch.iiu» as the fire. I Such a thing an cvncvulment its out of the questiou." Immtdiaieiy after cioetng, Mr. Ool- lina explained, every galleiry and every room Ln the buili^ing is gone through, searched, and looked up. and then the whole proi'css is repeated again an hour laterâ€" this precaution being di- rected ag.uust fire rather than thieves, which latter. in<leed, are hardlv even so much as thougnt of by the Museum 1 auihorluee. Wl. ii fire it is different, ' and hence the whole building i«s seajcn- I ed twice. And a lengthy business this 'is. It ifi a full hour s bard work. Mr. I CoUins. tells you, meivly to lock and I unlock all -of iho doors in the building I â€" ^U of them fitted with Chubb loiiks, upon the perfection of which Mr. Col- lins waxed eloquent with all the pro- fetjsional enthusiasm of the ex-polLce- mon. " I tell you." be said, with eparkllug eyes. " you should see those locks and doors at tht; British Mu.-ieum. Why. the doors are swung and fitted to such a nicety ih-u the smalKat speck of dirt lu them 'is enough to throw them out of gear, w hile as for the lo<-ks. 1 pity t he man w ho did get ovexlookcd in one of tiie galleries, for he might try all night without getting ont again." Tim was too confused to grasp what his rightful sbarv of the road, are tie- he bearxl. " Hut vou said," he stammered, "that if Miss Holt rejected you you'd know- there was a curse on you. and â€" " " 1 haven't nsked Miss Holt. Besides it's three months since I wrote to the widow, so in any case, she h»s a sort of prior claim over the â€" " "The other curse." Tim suggested, bitterly. " Here's her letter." said ITncle Cot- tle, disregarding hU Interpolation. " Read it for yourself." He tlhrujt the missive into Tim's hands, and he read it dazedly aa they walked on together. " Dear Sirâ€" If you care to call on me I shall l)e pleased to see you. 1 j«gret you did not give me your own aildress. as I should have thought it implied either a want of ctmfidence in me or candor ui yourself had it not been that we are almost n''lghl>ors and 1 had the pleasure of meeting you a few months .ago and know you t>y reputation. Under the cirvunistancts you will appreciate my preferring to send this to your pri- vate address, which I have taken from the directory. Yours truly, " Maud Netley." "That's all right. Tim, ain't it," chuckletl l'ncle Cottle. Tim realizeil in a flash that this was his " Maud." and that it was his letter she was answering not his uncle's Imt he c<iuld not see his way to saying so. " What does she mean about your ad- (lr«">sf" he said. " Why I was nervous when I wrote that letter, and 1 must have forgotten to put my atldress inâ€" that's why she ilidn't answer before ; she (."ouldn't. And it's just cH-curTP<l to her to look in the directory. See* I meant to have ask- ed her alxiut it. but she was so nii-e, and amiable anil smiling, and I wtis so â€" soâ€" we!l. 1 hanlly know how I wasâ€" tmt there didn't seem any need to apolo- gize. an<l, in fact, I never thought about it till I was coining away." " Is she young," asked I'lm. for the $>ak? of saying something. I thought at first she was nearly t'orty, but she's only twenty-nine- she told me so herself. I showed her my Ixinkbook and a list oC my securities. "Oh. that's all right." she says, laugh- ing. "'Then wheu's it to bei" says I. And it's going to be next month." " Nextâ€"" "Month. I'm going round to the vi- car's now to put up the bixnns. Y''ou can come with me. And I say, she's ivn or- phan; so we want you, my l>oy â€" age tlun't matter; it's only a matter of formâ€" to l>e a father to ncr at the wed- ding and give her away." " rim was gloomy and reckless tind said he would. Why shouldn't -he t" He had given aiway his prospects ; he had given away his uncle. He might just as well do the thing thoroughly and give away the widow as well. 'Ihen he would have nothing and iioIkkIv leSt 'co keep â€"but himselt. TJIE NBAVEST PLAN. Mother â€" It you marry Howard it must be >wi the el'^>^lement planj 1 can- not 1* l)otbered with n wedding.' Daughterâ€" How jierfectly lovely I There won't l>e any -wedding presents to make life a burden. AVe will eloue to- morrow.* ing rapidly lost sight of and outnum- bered in the vast majoritv of gentlemen and gent Iewoui«;u using Ixith means of convey an)*. From lieijig merely "bicycle talk" the question of road reform haslwen taken mi by leading agriculturists* dairymen, jour'nii lists, and representa- tive men of the provincew, and is | rapidly gair.ing headway. At the In- dustrial Eoir ui Toronto, no exhibit was of more marked interest than that under t he ausplL-os of the GOOD ROADS ASSOCIATION where approved modem machinery.ma- terial and melhixls were exemplified. Road reform does not mean increased taxation. It iiie.uis the most economi- cal and systenutic administration of the Innes now in existence. In the township of Kxfrid it Wis reeultetf to the active oiK-rition of ;Ln old by-law which had Kvii a dead letter for a considerable tcriu of yeiirs. All amounts voluntarily suliscribed by any section of the to»vnshii> are suiiplemented l>y an equal sum from the general town- ship funds. In the lost three years very much has lieen done, and at the pre- sent rate, in five years there will not lie a road in th>- municimlity which is not nicely graielled and graded. Iload improvement timst be and is liecoming a popiJar movement. The road ques- tion is t'eing iliscuaaed on the whole continent, and this is a matter in which Ontario h.is an onportunity to take a step in advancti of her American cous- ins. AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM. â- ow llie t^renl liaiubil'alimfHl Ik l>r»(r.'lrd AanlB^t Fire Elaborule PrecautloitN Takes. Sotiie interest Lug information on this subject was given to a r<>pie«entalive of the Wefetmituster Uazette a day ur two since by ex-lnsj)ectar Collins, who has just retired amid many cvpros- siuns of good will, to stiy uotblng of a hondtfome testiuionial from his col- leagiuts and fel low-off iciuls. after sev- eral years' eervice as Inspector in charge of the Blooiiisibury establish- ment. Indeed, lu the light of his in- farmatiuu, it is difficult to imagine how evil of any sort could befall either the Museum wr its contents. In tJ»> matter of police. Mr. Collins explained that there are twTenty-fi:veâ€" aai innpt'ctor, two sergeants, and twenty-two mcu-employed exclusively oa duty, In and atwut the pJace. these "in addition, oi course, to sp«'cl;i.l at- temlants ot th'>- Museum, ciaumisslon- alreis. etc. Twenty of these ajre during the day distributed about the building and in vai lotus parts, and five during thin iii^ht. " wVs to fire," aald Mr. Collins. " I don't think it would be possible to make arrangement* more coiuiklete. The Brltksit Museum OUR INFIRMITIES. It is the fretting pebble in the shoe Tliat makes the journey seem so won- drous long ; We oLnnoi see the lark in heaven's blue. â- We cannot bear the robin's happy •ong;â€" All this we cannot do Because of that small pebble in the shoe. It is the little note we cannot hear That makes tne tune so sadly incom- plete : We loiter far away or gather near â€" We hold our bieathâ€" the music is not sweet To our unwilling ear. Because of that faint note we cannot bear.. It is the petty failing of our friend Thar makes us bimd when wo his life, are shown; We will not see the rose the children tend. For on its stem a tiny thorn has gro\vn. "You should your way amend !" With scorn we cry to both the rose and friend. It is the Totoe for which we wait in vain That spitils the chorus of the world's apiilause : The praise it gives is like x sea in pain That ivats upon insensate shores, lie- cause Our hearts will only deign To call that praide for which we wait in vain. I It ia the galling fetter on the wrist That gnaws the heart and eats into the soul ; Intent upon its links, our eyes have missed Those greater chains that keep us from oar goal. These manacles we kissed. We shrink at these small fetters on the v.rlst. It is the one dear f.ace we Tannot see That comes between oi»r clouded eyes and heaven Others, perhaps, are fairer â€" CMly we Want Wt the sight that to us is not given. Lord, let us not lose Thee Because of that loved face we cannot READABLE PARAGEAPAS. A Fvw Ueaw Tliat Uar be sf Ulerrsl is Tea. In Hamburg a dog is taxed accord- ing to his size ; a little tax for a liitl* dog, and a big tax for a big dog. A bciiliant sqpial light at Atlaatio City is visible' nineteen miiss at sea. Each yeax It bums 2.2UO gallons of eil. At the funeral of Linton, the profas- sional bkynlist of Lunduo. his wheel, draped in black, was led behind the heaxae. Some of the towns of Uermony liava their water pipes made of glass, pri^ tected wixh an Oisphalt covermg, to pr*- veni fracture. The world is crowded only in spots. There are stlU iO.OOO.COO.square miles of the eaxth's surface that have not basa explored- A shower of toads reoentlj fall on the railroad track in ropeka, K tnaoM^ and so impeded the prog-resa of a freight train that It came to a halt. The commoD belief that floe whit* bread ccniaine less nutriment thoA coarse brown bread is a mi,btaJu. Sa says M. Ulroxd, the eminent Poriaiaa chemist. An automatic tire-pump, oonnectsd with the bicycle saddle, is the latest invention. Whenever the rider ia bouBix'd on his saddle, air is foroediinto the tires. The finge&nalls of the King of An- nan are a<s long as his fingers, aaA the chief duty of five ot his wives is to take care of them. He has over una hundred wives. In the £1 Pinal vineyard. Southern CaJifoiruia, is the largest brandy still in the world. It is capuble ut convert- ing lo.OUU gallons of wine into brandy every tweuLy-four hours. The names of habitual drunkards ia Lauoen. I'russion Siieaia, are printed. and a list is given to each inn-keeper. Iht.- person wtio supplies them with in- toxicants is liable to a heavy fine. The National Bank of Norway waa started by the trovernment comiwUins its well-to-do inhabLauts. to suBscriba for the stock, and in sums diviaibia bj five to facilitate L>ookke«piug. Thii bau^ is also a pawnslMip. A Detroit paper announces, as on aa- tonishlng fact, that a young lady of that city bad a needle enter her waist about a year ago, and that it recent- ly wor'jed its way out of the arm of a young man who dv/ella in anothar city. It is the custom in Bnlgaria for new- ly married women to reoLiin silent for a month after marriage, uuleos whan addressed by their hiuuuids. When it \ at desirable for the customary restrii> 1 tioii to W permanently removed, he pr^ ! senis a gilt to her and then she can chacter to her heart's content. The pretty face and coquettish ways of a waitress at a country ciutt-housa near Chicago aroused the indignation of several of the wives and daughters of the memliers. Their concerted oo- lion emitted the dLsiuiss.il of the beau- ty. When she asked the reason sha was curtly informed, " For conduct ba* coming a lady, bat anheeuming a wal^ A LAUGH ON LORD PAl.MERSTON. Lord Palmepston on one occasion took the chair at a meet ing in con- nection with the I niversity College. Londiku. He was not so. f:uulli;ir with the sort ot sp<>ech expected in such a place as he would have been ai West- linster. and. moaning to adapt his rhe- toric to the occasion, began very ap- propriately: "li hai* been s;»id that a little learning is a dangerou.« thing; but it is letter thjinâ€" Ijetter thanâ€" better than " Here he came to a dead stop. Lord Broughiun, who sat beside (he speaker, ciune to the rescue, sjieakiiig with his pet-uli;ir niisal twangâ€" "Uet- ter thivn a grcit d«';il ot ignoraiut>." This, of course, brought down the house. and during .i \olley of laughter and cheers. Lord I'altiierston recovered ihe lt«st thread of his speech ami finished with his usual ease and fluency. HAD THE GAP. Guestâ€" Am I the unlucky thirteenerf Ho?.'.â€" Nn; you're the lucky fourteener. We invited" you to fllil the gap. Guestâ€" AH ' right. I've brought il with ir^. LI HONG'S WEALTH. II I* »nltl la Hntr Brea OvrnvUnalnlâ€" ««aT Mr Wlnkr<l at Nr. Fa>t«r. An amusing story of Li Uung Chanc is told m official circles, according to a Washington letter ui the Chicago Times-Hexald. Whether or not it ia Kvurate In all particulars no one eeema to know, but the tale is as foUowsvâ€" Wheji John W'. Foster and Mrs. Foster were> first In China they were hand- somely entertained by the Viceroy,and a warm friemlship sprang up between the former American Secretary of State and the greatetit man of the east- ern woild. Then, ae now, Li Uung Ch^ing was diqweed to ask all man- ner of questions, and at the first op- port unity he asked Mrs. Foster. If her huslxind was not a great man. and a very rich man in hi& own country. Mrs. Foster replied with becoming modestj thai. Mr. Foster h.ul held many high official positions He hud been Minis- ter to Spavin, Minister to Mexico, Min- ister to Uussia, a special envoy to Spain, and finally, the greatest hououx being reserved tor the last, Secretary of Slate, next in the Cabinet to the Pre- sident himself. " But Mr. Koeter Is not wealthy. In tact, he is a comparative- ly poor man." Mrs. Foster frankly ex- plained. Li cdiook his head. "You say Mr. l-'csier hns been MiiJstri to Mexi- co, to Spain, a Special envuv to Spain, and SeiTvUiry of Suite T" " Ves." "And h«' i» still poor f " "Yes, comparatively sjieiiklng." Ihe old Vici^roy looked Mr*. l'\ititer ui the eye for a moment, and then J>l:u-ing his two hands over hia uusi- and one eye he winked roguishly with the other ojjtis and tittered A sly old dog is Li Uung Ch:uig. Li Hluig Chang, by the way, is not as rich a man as some of the travel- lers ill Ihe East would have us believe. .Vcct«-di«g to reporrts the Viceroy is inse of thk' richest men in the world, his fortune being variously estimated from fitly to one hundre<l million. Aa a uiiittcr of tact, ex-Secretary Foster tells me the foremost man in China is not worth more than S.OOO.tKIO to »â- Â»,- OOO.IMM). In ^hat country a man witft 95,000 is rich, and the Chinese laun- dryman who rettirns to his iiative land from America >yit h a thousand or two of siivlngs in his Iwg is lixiked up to as u plutocrat. A man with halt a mil- lion IS enormously rich. Li Hung Ch;iiig hits always been thrifty. He la entei prising, too. In fact for monjr year.s he has been the only real enter- prisuig rich and influential man in China. He promoted the oaly railroad lu the empire and is a large holder of it.s stock. He urgaaize«l the China Merchant Steamship Company, now a prosperous concern. He has set a nogi- ber of manufacturing conot^rns going and ill this way has accumulated a few millious. He is .» Croeatis in China, but would not be considered a great pluto* cxat In this country. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. Customer (in restaurant) â€" Waitef^ have you any fried i-els? Waiterâ€" We have eels, sir, and thay are susceptlbla of being tfied. Sllim t\V , L' 'â€"'^