To which a fox is used:

A rooster who is bound to crow,

A crow who's bound to roost. And whichsoever he espies He tells the most unblushing lies.

"What's more," quoth he, "I understand You're more than merely natty;

I hear you sing to beat the band
And Adelina Patti.

Pray, render with your liquid tongue
A bit from Goetterdaemmerung."

Took in the situation,

He said one brief, emphatic word,

Unfit for publication.

The fox was somewhat startled, but He only sighed and answered, "Tut!"

The moral is: A fox is bound

To be a shameless sinner. And also, When the cheese comes round, You know it's after dinner. But (what is only known to few) The fox is after dinner too!

THE "SEVEN CURVES" IMPROVEMENT.

SHOWING THE CUTTING AWAY OF THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALTIMORE & OHIO R. R. THE OLD TRACK, RUNNING AROUND THE POINT, IS PLAINLY DISCERNIBLE.

THE SEVEN CURVES" IMPROVEMENT.

THE 'HE Manila & Dagupan Railway,

the only railway in the Philippine Islands, is running along smoothly as if peace prevailed throughout the land. Ordinarily railroads suffer as much inconvenience and loss in business and damage as any other line of business when comparatively small countries are in a state of rebellion. This loss is not only because of demoralization in freight business and from common disinclination of people to travel where the existence of social disorder creates an additional element of risk in traveling on public carriers, but because of destruction of railroad property, as a matter of proper warfare and military strategy, as has been the case in Cuba. The Philippine railroad has been remarkably fortunate in the respect of enjoying immunity from inconvenience and violence at the hands of the insurgents. so fortunate, indeed, as to agreeably surprise and disappoint the management of the property.

The road, says the Railway Age, from which the foregoing is taken, is of three feet six inch gauge, and runs from Manila, with a population of over 200,000, in an almost northerly direction, 125 miles, through several large municipalities, to Dagupan, a reasonably prosperous seaport of about 30,000 souls.

The island of Luzon, of which Manila is the capital, has a population of about 3,500,000, nearly half the population of the twenty-one islands that form the Philippine group, and with an area of nearly double that of Great Britain. The railroad, as might be expected, runs through the most populous section of Luzon.

While the railroad is private property and owned and managed by Europeans other than Spaniards, it was thought the insurgents would nevertheless try to prevent its operation, at least spasmodically, inasmuch as it was proving of so great advantage to the government in the effort to quell the revolt. There has, however, been no trouble with the road as yet. The forbearance of the rebels has caused no little surprise among Spanish officials. The insurgents derailed a passenger train several months ago. Since that time there has been absolutely no violence. The rebel leaders were much displeased when they learned that some of their subordinates had molested a train, and at once gave orders that the personal and property rights of foreigners other than Spaniards should be respected, and that this order was intended to apply particularly to the railroad, which they well understood was the property of English capitalists. The fact that the railroad company has not since been subjected to the slightest trouble or inconvenience, while the immediate country is involved in serious and formidable revolution, demonstrates these facts: (1) That the Philippinos are not savages warring just for the excitement of the thing. (2) That they are a peaceful and easily governed people, and are regarding with respect. the wishes of their recognized leaders. (3) That they value the good will and sympathy of Europeans who live in the Philippines, and will unquestionably see to it that these foreigners are protected to the fullest possible

extent.

FEBRUARY 8.-Publication of letter written by Senor Dupuy de Lome, Spanish Minister to the United States, speaking disparagingly of President McKinley, led to the Minister's resignation of his post.

FEBRUARY 14. Senor Luis Polo y Bernabe was appointed Spanish Minister to the United States to succeed Dupuy de Lome.

66

FEBRUARY 15.- The United States battleship Maine," at anchor in the harbor of Havana, blown to pieces. Two officers and more than 250 members of the crew were killed; 104 survived, most of whom were injured; the ship and all her contents were totally destroyed.

FEBRUARY 16. The Senate passed the fortification appropriation bill. The House adopted resolutions of sorrow for loss of Maine."

FEBRUARY 17.-A naval Court of Inquiry appointed by Admiral Sicard to investigate the blowing up of the "Maine."

FEBRUARY 18.-The Senate debated providing for Congressional investigation of the "Maine" disaster. Passed resolution appropriating $200,000 to recover bodies and save property from the Maine."

FEBRUARY 19.-The request of Spanish officials in Havana for joint investigation of the wreck of the "Maine" declined by United States.

FEBRUARY 21.-The Senate instructed the Committee on Naval Affairs to investigate "Maine" disaster, and passed the House resolution appropriating $200,000 for work on the 66 · Maine wreck.

FEBRUARY 22-24.-The Senate, by a vote of 52 to 4, passed bill providing for two additional regiments of artillery.

FEBRUARY 25.-The Spanish cruiser "Vizcaya" left New York harbor for Havana.

MARCH 1. The Senate adopted resolution providing for erection in the National Capitol of a bronze tablet to the memory of the "Maine" disaster.

MARCH 7.-The steam tug "Dauntless" seized by United States Government, charged with taking arms and men to Cuba.

MARCH 8. The House passed bill appropriating $50,000,000 for national defense, after four hours of debate, by unanimous vote of the 311 members present.

MARCH 9. The Senate passed the bill appropriating $50,000,000 for national defense by unanimous vote, without debate. President McKinley signed the bill appropriating $50,000, ooo for national defense, and measures for preparations for war vigorously pushed.

MARCH 11. The Secretary of War issued orders re-arranging the military departments of the country. The House Committee on Naval Affairs provided for three new battleships, to cost about $6,000,000 each; one to be named the "Maine."

MARCH 12.-Senor Polo y Bernabe, the new Spanish Minister to the United States, presented his credentials to President McKinley.

MARCH 14. The Navy Department purchased two Brazilian cruisers, having just been built in England. The special board on auxiliary cruisers, appointed by Navy Department, began examination of merchant vessels at New York City.

MARCH 16.-The House Committee on Naval Affairs decided to provide for six torpedo boats and six torpedo-boat destroyers, in addition to the three battleships previously decided upon; also the erection of a smokeless powder factory. Spain remonstrated against the presence of the United States fleet at Key West and against other measures of defense taken by this Government. MARCH 17. Battleships "Massachusetts" and "Texas" detached from the fleet at Key West and ordered to Hampton Roads. In the Senate, Mr. Proctor (Rep. Vt.) made statement of what was seen by him in Cuba.