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■31 ME CUEJS EI FLOffiES 3 Will Drive Away Headaches and Soothe the haled f " ' Violet odors, a the flow, hailed late the organs and assist the digestion, so the beauty specialists declare, and, indirectly, they act upon the complexion which depends so closely upon the heart and the stomach. The lily has a pery stong odor, of the latter- which, while not stimulating, is very ty teachers to discover the cheering. The fragrance is good for ; of sweet flowers upon the I the spirits, though it is less invig-And now that it has been j orating upon the heart than that of discovery, women the red rose or the violet. But it is good for the blues and the woman' who is troubled with blues can sniff the lily and be pretty sure of re- i saying that it is a wonder no one ever thought of it before. If you stop to think of it there is a certain relation between the flow-dons and your own spirits. And, whether unconsciously or not, you are affected in no small degree bj e blossoms and their state of pros- perity. If the fiowe end bloom bloom, yoo fngiy The the i Well sight of i the temper. The very presence of the cheerful growing things makes you content with • the earth and your lot upon it. And this is felt, not only by you you not among your acquaintances some dear, good, kind soul who re vels in her window garden? In the winter it is fdled with roses, wher all other windows stare bleak anc bare into the sullen streets. In ' gay uid the woman who attends the garden t'pot is found perpetually hovering over the beds. By what has always been considered a happy chance, the wom« who revels in the garden is a creature of gentle soul, always cheerful, alwtiys kind hearted, ever charitable and endowed with every virtue from the beginning to the END OF THE CHAPTER. And now the beauty specialist comes along and declares that it is the influence of the flowers that brings all this about, and that all who would enjoy tranquility Ida! ailtivat the one drawback, for, limits of the city, it house that can have £ window garden. The too much demand to t gardening purposes. But the city woma lily, or a bunch of vie Tack of space i 3 spared for l, the beauty always buy e and benefit and all those sweet ng flowers are good for the spir-" those who are troubled with grow bright again. Rose water, lavender i perfume of bergamot and of otl sweet plants, shrubs and fruits, h£ nil been used as cure-alls. But n it is the natural flower that is lected for the remedy. And these are the ills which Blues of spirit, by restoring e ol' n ind. headache, by driving it away and tranquilizing the nerves. Heart trouble, by stimulating the heart and the digestion. And the complexion is benefited so that woman becomes prettier and prettier all under the good influence of the human headaches and rose water, highly scented with rose, is a recognized remedy for this ill. The rose also allays nervousness, for its odor is very penetrating, and, having cured the nerves of the head so that it no longer aches, it gets in its good work upon the other nerves of the body. Gradually one becomes soothed and tranquilized. The woman who is subject to nervous attacks should never be without a rose in her bosom, in her hair or in her hand. She should have it always where she can see It <&nd ■njoy its invigorating influence upon the Wild flowers have their distinct mission in the scheme of beauty getting. The odor of the wild flower makes one unselfish. There is that wild flowers and come - in spirit by ten years, than she has been sinc< REFORMS FOR RUSSIA. What the Czar Proposes to Do for His Country. Nothing has come from Russia in many years of wider interest or greater potential importance than the reform proclamation by which the Czar surprised the world a few Freedom of religious worship, presumably for Jew as well as for Christians; the abolition of that form of slavery which has gone by the name of "forced labor"; the use by the rural banks of a larger share of their funds for the development of local interests, and such a readjustment of the relations of the individual to the village commune as will allow a larger personal liberty without destroying what the Czar calls "the foundation of the empire," in other words, the communes them-2s -- these are, in brief, the reforms which are decreed. As to feeir reai importance, two views ex- In spite of the rigid press censorship, news has come from Russia, in late years which makes it impossible to doubt the existence of dangerous social unrest. Those who take a hopeful view believe that the Czar has recognized that the people are burdened, and has attempted, to relieve them. On the other hand, of the twe most prominent figures in the present Russian Cabinet, Mon6ieru Witte, a radical, and Monsieur d< Plehve, a Conservative, it is Monsieur de Plehve who has been choser to execute the reform decree. In the past he has either opposed all change or has approved only that which would least disturb the existing order of things. Those who take a despondent view of the situation believe that the selection of Monsieur de Plehve indicates that, however well meant the Czar's decree may be, the reactionary party is still powerful enough to prevent the complete success of his plans. When one remembers that Russia BARGAMM FOR A BRIDE Something About the Wedding Day Preparations and the Feast. A Zulu girl would feel very slighted if her father should give her atvay for nothing. She wants to know her value and takes pride in seeing that her fiance recognizes it. Now when a young man considers himself of age to marry, or when he sees other young men of his age get married, then he too begins that his own time has come for his series of marriages. He then his father about it. This he does soon after he has located his first wife. Then if the father thinks that he is of age to marry and likes the boy's choice, he takes the matter into his own hands ; according to custom a young mar can never go himself and ask the father of a girl lor his daughter. The father then selects three well-known men from his relatives and sends them to introduce the subject-to the girl's father. Now as soon as these men enter the yard they address the father in a style peculiar to such occasions only. After they have been admitted before the girl's father they declare their message. He gives them a very unfavorable reply. First he tells them that his daughter is no', of age and again he would never let his daughter go to such people as they. Then he definitely tells the, that he does not want them, so they better go away from his presence at once and must never come back again for that purpose. The party then leaves, not at all disappointed, because they know that it was simply a formal reply. After they leave, he does all he can to find out how many cattle or how much property the young man's father has, because this would guide him in his next reply. The party returns after a few days. This time he again repeats I his first reply and wonders at their j most daring obstinacy. They try to j talk him down this way and that | fo' way unfTI, as is the after he has established for her high ancestral record, he in brief gives his own history, her health and all her good traits. Then finally ne declares that he resigns great charge and now leaves into his care and commands hin Keep and provide for her. The young man's father, with less dignity, receives her and pledges his protection. Then the ceremony is ended. All the crowd then steadily begins to disperse until i the bridal party remains. These leave the next morning, only small girl, usually the bride youngest sister or some relative ri maining to keep her company unt she is used to her 5W home. SHAKES AT HOME, These Big Serpents Are at H in the Deadly Forests of West Africa. Between thirty feet of gigantic snake, valued at $5 a foot, travelling through the jungle twenty miles an hour, and the s beast wrapped up in flannel behind a sheet of plate glass in Britain, and fed by hand, there is plenty ol excitement and variety. The big-snake market is nearly always short of supplies, and python-purveying a profitable business ; but it takei very good man to tackle these monster serpents, and a good deal of trouble to keep them alive and healthy when they are brought The biggest demanc the big snake i python, which I in travelling Wes ne I himself by the and hitches : to i E she knows the he calls th. e people. She THE FATHER SETS THE PRICE. The father then turns to the party and sets his price. The most common price is ten herds of cattle; but they are supposed to bring one I than he asks, and that is for mother as a reward for girl-kind b do not keep long; they ire, the seeker after i must go out often and laden in order that i-ith i i flow, be many good come from. Here the doctors their patients out into the to pick flowers, sure that they ome home bright and pretty e, and old people are sent to nato their youth. Empress of Germany d with the flower cure two igo and last year the Prin les took it. The prescrip ; had small experience in self-gov-that slight changes in the old institutions are often viewed with distrust by a Conservative and uneducated people, one need not take a pessimistic view of the reform decree. If the provisions of the decree are faithfully, even though conservatively, executed, Russia will have entered upon a new stage in its de- A BRAVE ^MOMENT. Thrilling Story of the Bravery of a Young Officer. Patriotism lights the quick flame of courage in many a breast. But the courage of the battle-field or even of the hospital is stimulated by the numbers who share it. That of the spy or scout who encounters his "one is surely a rarer quality, lurago of the very highest type does not need either a great uise or a great company for its Ivent. The London Spectator has thrilling story of bravery, which as the fruit of the simplest pity the pity a strong man feels should feel for any smallest < ' mKin he found that the young man's family was well-to-do he adds some additional requests ; such as s good overcoat, blankets, and so on Then, after all this has been paid in, the wedding day is fixed and- tin bride is prepared for the occasion. The wedding day is one of greatest excitement. Nobody asks himself as to whether or not he is in that right is reserved only for relatives. The bridegroom fully prepares to feed from one thousand three thousand people. The numbers rise according to his rank and tc his popularity. Several oxen art slaughtered because the meat is made the chief part of the feast The crowd begin to pour in from of thi ' " The ladies the called out and shown their ox. If they do not like tne looks of it, they refuse it and wait another has been found that their fancy. This ox is then killed and its breast is cooked for the ladies. The other oxen for the of the people are slaughtered boiled in large pots. Their of etiquette have fixed certain portioos of the suffering a ielples mtil ! l the r ruing. ;he patients while they were tak-the cure. city girl who is afflicted with a bre spirit has rigged up a cosy ier filled with plants and vines, couch, which is a Turkish afreets upon the floor, and at its 1 the: e stand potted plants; over top there dangle vines that fall i a hanging basket which is sus- 3 flor bow the its refreshing 1 Us soft odors, she serration as she needs kelp i This feel in very "id Christmas when the church is to be decorated with greens. "The piny smell is very good for the nerves and the odors act with full medicinal properties Upon the body. AS A CURE FOR THE BLUES, the first spring violets are very effective, tor they have a strong, rushing through a pursuit of a frantic dog. The cry of "mad dog" rang out be-Suddenly in a blind alley they surrounded the quivering, crazed animal, and paused a moment until some one should throw another stone, or, at least, until a merciful bullet should finish the ghastly business. Just then a young officer pressed through the crowd, gazed for an stant at the wretched, panting beast, and then, with a look on his face which gave the lie to his words, ho said, "I don't believe he is mad," and stooping, picked up the dog and bore it away in his arms. It happened that he was right and that the dog was not mad, but that young soldier--foolhardy and reckless if you will--never faced a more threatening moment and was never inspired by a purer motive. ELECTRIC WASHERWOMAN. Electricity lately has been pressed lto the service of the housewife, the Budapest newspapers announcing invention of an electrical wash-machine by Josef Nagy, of Sze-n. With this machine the use of soap is dispensed with, the elec-current being intended to take away any stain or grease. This ma-" e is said to be capable of wash-as many as 200 or 300 pieces portions of the meat to different !parately. The ladies have the breast of an ox, and it must be dressed and cut only in a certain anner ; if not they will reject it d therefore demand another ox to slaughtered for them. The head and neck belong to the men. The men, and the heart and lungs are given to the small boys, who always take their portion raw to the field and roast it over the flame. All eat the lungs together; but when it comes to the heart, only the best fighters taste of it, and the strongest one present is judge and ruler of the feast. Now at home, while the meat an other foods are still cooking, tl young people are engaged in dancin and talking and in all sorts < amusement, such as looking aroun for the next bride. AT THE FEAST. When the feast is ready all tl people separate into different group according to sex and to ages. There each group receives its prescrilh position. The small boys form thi group near the men and receive from them whatever they offer. But here, as an exception to the rule, certain favorite young men accept kind in-from the young ladies to Jieir company. And since the young ladies always have the best part of the feast such favored young men are generally envied by the less fortui ' ait for the drink. He can "put away" a gazelle or a pig with as little trouble as you would dispose of a Bath bun. As the natives fear him like death itself, the professional collector, usually a Briton or a German, has to search him out where the brown mangroves stretch their skeletoi roots over » mud-reefs, and th fever-mists hang round the trees lik a blue shroud. It is the business o the snake-collector to imperil hi life, and the trap he sets for thi kind of python is usually a large box, collapsible, with a dead-fall lid, baited with a young pig(whose business it is to sq-ueal), or else a huge, loose bag. The box method is old-fashioned, and needs a lot of patience, as the great snake only feeds once or twice a fortnight--so ONLY ONCE A MONTH. : bag is more up-to-da' though almost every collector his pet method--and is a large and long affair of very *th cords that c« together, and this usual track of the python. Though "e nntives will not attempt to tch a big snake by themselves, the Hector gets some "Kroo-boys," ho are not afraid to lend a hand afterwards, provided the dangerous part of the work is done by the hite man. When the snake finds himself pressing on to the sacking--having generally been driven that way--he does not like it, and makes a dash forward to get clear. It is impos-ble for a snake to move back-ards, as the edges of the 'broad lale-plates of his urrder-parts catch. The strings are pulled, closing the bag, and in a second tde .urious blinded python is lashing and plung-colt, bag and all threshing round madly. The bag' being very roomy he cannot get. purchase and when he is tracts to supply o size. The famous ' by the way, which is the name people tack on to a big snake, really quite a small memher of the family, 15 feet being a good length for one. There is one at the Zoo-- IT DOES NOT COST MUCH to board the big snake, once you have him--as he only eats ahout once a month--often refuses to eat at all. The big Indian rock-python, and sometimes the West Africans, are often fed on goats, but they are less able to tackle such a meal than is a wild one. Although the great Reticulated Python at the London Zoo has a neck no thicker than your arm, he can swallow a billy-goat, horns and all, without much trouble. First of all, the goat has to be made eatable by constriction, and the python's method is to wrap himself about his prey, and smash done like ish of a ; the slow, crawling pressure that novelist and many natural history books love to dwell upon. The goat i goat i the ifeless mass, without an unbroken bone. There is no quicker death. Another hard-dying fable is that of the python licking his prey all over to help the swallowing process. He does nothing of the sort, and his tongue, anyway, does not carry enough moisture to dampen a fly's wings.--London An- KNITTING AS A NERVE CURE. A Physician's Advice to One of His Patients. It is told of Robert Louis Stevenson that one of the many tilings he learned to do to keep him amused when ho was restless or ill was to knit. There are many men of a generation much older than ours who improve ohd moments by woricing with yarn and needles. But women, to be women, simply must knit after their hair is gray, am is good for them. "My presciiption, madam, is that wo hours daily," said the THE STEAMER, MOITREAL, A Steamboat Tragedy That .Has Not Been Forgotten in Canada. It was in June, 1857 that the steamer "Montreal," owned by Mr. John Wilson, left Quebec one warm afternoon, with several hundred immigrants, mostly Scotchmen, their, wives and children on board. These immigrants had just crossed the ocean in the ship "John McKenzie."-After she had been one hour on her way the steamer took fire. What followed, told by the survivors, shows an incomprehensible culpability or incompetency on the •art of the captain and crew of the -essel. When the fire burst out and seemed uncontrollable, the captain! ?as asked to run the boat ashore.-liver men and lumbermen on board vho well knew the nature of the iver and the dangers of their situa-ion, said that the captain refused o run the boat into places where andy beach was visible. When the teamer finally was run ashore it TB.S in such a position that escape from death by burning could not be made to shore, as the passengers that had not by that time jumped overboard to their death were cut off by fire from reaching the shallow ' ir under the bow of the burning mer. Even there they were very 'rom the shore. Here i i the i giv< by Mr. Hayes, t published in the Montreal Witness of July 1, 1857 : ten minutes the flames burst and filled . the saloon, and out on both sides. I was in tern of the vessel when this I lowered myself down by the side of the vessel, and while I I hvsi "Kni knit? ' After all have feasted, they form large circle and sing most favor-i airs. Th- center is always used by those w'-»o are specialists in the of c?*imc{ng, compliments, and loud chr^rs are paid to the ful pe'f'ormers. After they be he bride's father dignity and well-measured strides steadily makes his way through the with the throng is hushed. H dignified manner daughter to the young He begins first by c. heroes that are found i great 3 fathi tired out and sulky, fair is slung to a big pole, and eventually placed on a homeward-bound p«lm-oil "tramp" steamer. There the great snake is emptied out of the bag into a crate, more or less strong, often built of old packing cases. He has very little room to turn round, and can only live coiled up. If he knew his strength he would soon be out, and i does happen that a python i the homeward voyage; case of "ALL HANDS CATCH SNAKE !" Being bewildered and sullen it is often fairly easy to secure him ; sometimes he is unmanageable, as one blow of his head or tail often kill a big man, there is coolness between the snake and the Balsarroch,' The doctor replied, "Because noth-iore soothing to the nerves; nothing conduces to such a d cheerful frame of mind. I escribe valerian for you, but will be better. It will '" rch more good. I be! that a month of it will cure you He went on to explain that attention had been called to an tide in a medical journal on beneficent effects of knitting, and he had prescribed the treatment, with excellent success, to a dozen wo- "Tl:e shining needles," he said "playing swiftly among- soft-colore silks or wools, engage the eyes pleasantly and fill the mind with cheery and sane thoughts. At the same time they may produce admirable things -- golf waistcoats, golf stockings of wool, delicate evening stockings of silk, shawls, a hundred ar- The woman smiled, and said e'at did not know how to knit, but that she would begin to learn at onci JUST TO AMUSE HER. Pat was one cold day lately going along a street when on came a heavy shower of rain. To keep his coat dry he entered the doorway of "What's ' bu.si Pat--"Och, thin, I was > disturb yiz, but now got yer attention I was song called 'The Auld An Shopkeeper -- "Oh, ye Chair."* get : Ire called i , I s loos the r the upper deck, his assistance. He 3s of the boat and d I the other. To- Pat - "Thin mid gets 1 it i then Shopkeeper -- "Just at hand here, Pat -- "Thin 'The Last Rose of Summer,' and that will do." The shower having abated, Pat as making for the door when he as reminded that he had left his songs and that the charge was three shillings. Pat -- "Och, thin, just put A\rld Arm Chair' in the corner, clap 'Annie Laurie' in it, and stick 'The Last Rose of Summer' in her breast and if the creathur should weary give her that good old song, 'Jilted by a Paddy,' just to amuse her. hold gethi WE LET HER DOWN. I slid down the rope. In less than ten minutes the boat was under the s pa- water with the crowd that rushed I on it ; she was prevented from sinking to the bottom by the tackle, which held her fast. Had the tackle given way, the boat would have sunk to the bottom. It also prevented her being pushed off by the first occupants. In and about this boat a great many lives were lost. Parties rushed wildly toward it, throwing themselves over the side of the steamer. The heat became so intense that I jumped out of the boat into the water and swam toward another boat I saw coming to our rescue, but it shot past me and made for the boat at the side of tho "Montreal." I swam back and got under the boat that had come to our assistance. There were a number of females in the water, and seven or eight of them clung to me. These were taken out one by one and I was disentangled. The boat took its load to the "Napoleon" and I went with it. I was the last taken out of the water into it. . . . The "Montreal" was headed for the shore about ten minutes after the alarm hen the flames had broken out in the manner I have already stated. I think she ought to ave been headed for the shore soon-r. She got aground in the attempt o reach it and stuck fast nearly as far off the shore as she was when the fire first broke out. I saw no give directions or take command board the "Montreal." Everything was in utter confusion. I think she might have got nearer the she did with proper management, and the destruction of life made much less. NOBODY SAVED ANYTHING except what was on their persons. There was no time to look back.-The "Montreal" was burned to the water's edge. The boilers exploded eome time after the fire broke out.-1 heard the "Montreal" had been on lire twice previously during the afternoon of the same day ; and that in consequence they had a person to watch. I understood the furnaces were badly secured and were not properly protected by metal sheeting. I heard this from the captain of the "Napoleon" and others on board the steamer. The year or two age an African pythi sole charge of monster, havinj own quarters, retreated there, held it against all 3nce landed at t it straight to y--the Zoo for quently a private bought by - , 18 feet lor s lazarette. for vith vner. Otherwise of the big deal-notably Jamrach, the famous dealer of St. George's street East, which is the old Rat-cliff Highway. His price depends on his condition and size, and be anything from $10 to $100. The exhibi-python runs up to 20 feet in length, and $2.50 to $3.75 and $5 foot is a fair price for a private consignee to give ; but sometimes these great snakes are specially lommissioned by a wealthy private eptile fancier--there are many such-- md in that case the price--often ieage, I $250 or more--is fixed beforehand, and and the order given to a profes-Then j sional wild beast collector, who con- LORD MILNER'S BATH, ome of the unfortunate happen-3 in South Africa were caused by failure of officials in high pi. s obvious to people occupy: less exalted points of view. Some time before war was clared there was a water famine Johannesburg. The city fai gasped with thirst. The citizens had other grievanc and it was decided to invite Lord Milner to Johannesburg, and lay matters before him. The first morning after his arrival he amazed the hotel attendants by ordering- a bath. Bathing was a luxury which even the rich were denied at that time. Poor people had to go unwashed, while the wealthy dipped daintily into basins filled with imported English soda water at two shillings a bottle. But Lord Milner's orders could'hot be ignored. "ill the tub with soda water!" exclaimed the proprietor. Lord Milner splashed, all tm-;ious of the drought and panic his ablutions had brought upon the rest of the establishment. Later that day, among the grievances submitted to him was the woe-il scarcity of water. "Scarcity of water?" he repeated I've observed no scarcity, gentle-en; I had my bath this morning." ingl.v t rific board the "Montreal," and on the "Napoleon" distress w. Here and there one saw parents seeking for their children ; and children seeking for their parents with terror and dismay on their faces-anxious to catch tidings of those they loved. I saw a good many bodies badly burned and disfigured , and many persons in intense suffering, which those on board tried to assuage by means of scraped potatoes, etc. ' There were from 450 to 500 persons on board ; about thirty of these were cabin passengers. One hundred and twenty-five bodies, living and dead, were tajcen out of the water. There were sixteen dead) bodies. I only noticed one Mon-trealer,, Mr. 'Leslie, of Carter & if he is saved. A few swam to shore and took the road to Quebec. The steamer "Na-was at no great distance when the fire captain i l the "Mon-broke out, and diately sent out passengers and < till the ill-fated the water's edge ; the A BIG Two i -.ight blue e srful, and grey c tally the ve hundred thousand and three tons of cough Jozen-dispensed every year" at the London Hospital. Ninety-two miles of lint, 476 mijes of bandages, also six ton6 of cotton wool, antt nine miles of plaster are used annually. Every day half a ton of Ice and! 400 siphons of soda water, and in a year the eggs used, if pUxed end to end, would extend to sia' and a half