dustry, owe their success almost wholly to their ability to select men. A politicians's success depends upon his aptitude for putting the right leaders in the right places. Every great movement depends for success upon the wisdom used in choosing helpers; and the employee's best opportunity lies in being the kind of a man discerning employers will choose.

COMMON CONVERSATIONAL

FAULTS

Can you narrate an experience concisely and interestingly, or do you go all around Robin Hood's barn before you come to the point? It is positively wearisome to listen to some people tell a story. The art of talking well will win a woman more popularity than all the beauty she can possibly create by the use of creams, beauty sleep, massage, etc. After all, beauty is more a matter of self-satisfaction than anything else, while an intelligent conversationalist leaves so pleasant an impression of herself that she is never forgotten. If women would cultivate conversation as assiduously as they do complexion, they would find the results far more gratifying.

There are many types of women as to conversational powers: One type always says the sharp, half-cutting thing-meaning to be funny; she wins few friends; another type is all suavity-one feels on leaving her company as if one hal been looking all morning at chiffons in a department store. She is so non-resisting, so ready to agree, to "be sweet," that while a few moments in her society are pleasant, a longer time leaves. one excessively bored. Another type monopolizes

the conversation to such an extent that her companions become impatient of her long-drawn-out periods. No matter how interesting one's experiences may be, no audience will assist in a continuous performance indefinitely and claim to enjoy it.

Still another is of the silent variety. She does all the things expected of her and is often a satisfactory soul to be with when one is tired; but most of the time people are not tired, and thus she does not do herself justice. She fails to receive credit for being as bright as she is. She is decidedly not entertaining. Then again there is the gushing woman who manifests perfect delight over everything that happens, and everything others do and say. It's gush and gurgle from the beginning to the end of her visit. And again there is the coldly-unresponsive mortal who is so very aggravating to an enthusiastic person without meaning to be.

Another characteristic of many women-and I have also found it in men, though not so frequently As a rule they cannot discuss a matter dispassionately; the personal equation must enter in. This was illustrated recently in a little gath

ering in which some one introduced the discussion of affinities, likes and dislikes of people, etc. One member of the party remarked: “One has hardly a friend but what there is something about him one would have changed. It may be the way he walks, his manner of speech, a peculiarity of temper, an eccentricity, and the interesting part of it is, that the same trait does not annoy all his friends alike. One is not at all annoyed by his careless attire, but is annoyed by his lack of a religious nature; another does not object to his religious views, but does wish he would keep his engagements more promptly; and so it goes."

Instantly the speaker finished, a half dozen women exclaimed in varying forms of expression: "Why expect perfection? All of us have our faults. You are not perfect yourself." And the tone was distinctly an injured one. They could not discuss the question without growing personal over it.

Another time a woman said of a man wellknown in public life: "I cannot admire him and I cannot understand the secret of his popularity."

Whereupon a man, a boorish one, I admit, turned to her and remarked: "He must have failed to succumb to your charms, Miss ———.”

Again, the personal equation came in, this time showing that men also fail, where intimately interested, to discuss a subject dispassionately.

All these and countless other conversational defects could be remedied far more easily than your complexion or your figure, your eyebrows or your nose; and the added charm would surpass the effects of any other investment of time I can now call to mind. The most perfectly charming woman I ever knew-and the one most admired by women as well as men, had, I now remember, an extremely homely face, a leathery complexion, prominent teeth, an indifferent figure, and, in fact, no physical charms excepting those of perfect cleanliness and the appearance of careful grooming; but her conversation was so bright and sparkling, so infused with royal good nature, so tactful, frank, and sensible, that she was easily the most popular woman of her circle, and had opportunities to marry that many a prettier girl might well envy; and when she did marry, she made one of the most successful wives and mothers I have ever had the opportunity to observe. She was a constant joy to all about her.

Of course, mental and soul development must have been back of the verbal expression, to direct it, but many another woman, equally well endowed with rich womanly qualities of soul and brain, fails to make her personality felt.

All these things play their part in a man's or a woman's popularity.

A few simple rules, if observed, would make general conversation among men and women polished, sensible and more intelligent.

Be simple and direct in your speech.

Avoid vulgar slang.

Say the gracious thing, the friendly, pleasant thing, but leave your wits to be evident through other avenues than the cutting, uncalled-for remark.

Respond in a full-hearted way to kindnesses shown or to the enthusiastic plans unfolded by your friends.

Think kindly of people, and form your conversation according to this keynote.

Express your opinions freely, if they will hurt no one, and if you really have an opinion on the subject.

Learn to speak distinctly, musically, and in a low voice. Nothing is more absurdly grotesque than a bevy of women all talking at once.

Read the papers and keep up on current topics. Be able to discuss or listen intelligently to others discuss subjects of national and international importance. Know what is going on in all parts of the world. If you read the papers merely for the murder stories and the fashion notes, you had better not open the sheet at all. Be just as intelligent as your brothers, your husband, or any men of your acquaintance, and you will find their respect for your opinions heightened and your companionship giving them greater pleasure.

A young southern youth spent several months in a family consisting of single women-one a teacher, another a business woman, and another a musician. When the time came for him to return home he expressed the greatest reluctance over leaving.

One of them said, consolingly: "But you will be glad to get home, after all.

"Well," he explained hesitatingly, "you see, father is always away, and mother is busy with the house, and I never hear anything talked about that is interesting."

The boy unconsciously gave a picture of many an intelligent American family circle. The father absent, the mother not interested in the doings. of the great world, and so the children seek other circles: if the mother would keep abreast of the times, in the absence of her husband, she would find a general discussion of public matters with the growing boy a pleasant pastime.

It is all very well to be womanly, to love distinctly feminine belongings, and have distinctly feminine tastes; but the successful women, as all round women, are those who add to this an intelligent knowledge of the world and its doings, and a bright, intelligent manner of discussing subjects of general interest.

One of the most attractive things about the nation's bride, Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, is her intense interest in what is going on in the world. She is as well up on questions of vital moment as any young man would be, similarly situated. She has been the companion of her brothers, in

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sport, intelligence, and wideawake liveliness. She is no simpering society girl, mooning over laces and ribbons to the exclusion of other more vital subjects. Miss Ethel Roosevelt bids fair to be as wide-awake a young woman as is her sister, and as popular with the general public. The great beauty of the Roosevelt children is that, had their father never been United States President, or occupied any other high office bringing them prominently into the public eye, they would still have been the thoroughly alive, wide-awake, intelligent young people that they are to-day; their father's prominence has not changed the method of their development. They are a model American family. And though President Roosevelt has had some things to say regarding race suicide, women's clubs and other totally feminine subjects which would indicate that he believes a woman's position to be in the home, rather than in public life, yet his own women-kind furnish ample evidence that he firmly believes in the intelligent woman, in her being the equal of her brother in every mental qualfication, though preferably protected, in the home, and not a part. of the scuffle for supremacy in the dollar-hunt game. And who shall say he is not right?

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTENT

BY EDMUND VANCE COOKE.

You wouldn't care to be the Pope,
I hope?

With not a chum to call your own
To hale you up by telephone,
With, "Say, old man, I hope you're free
To-night. Bring Mrs. Pope to tea.
Let someone else lock up the pearly
Gateway to-night and get here early!"

Perhaps you sometimes deem the Czar
A star?

With not a palm in all the land
To strike his fairly, hand to hand;
With not a man in all the pack
To fetch a hand against his back
And cry, "Well met, Old Nick, come out
And let us trot the kids about.
Tut, man! you needn't look so pale,
A red flag means an auction sale."

I'll bet even Shakespeare's name was "Will,"
Until

He was so dead that he was great,
For fame can only isolate.

And better than "The Immortal Bard"
Were "Hello, Bill," and "Howdy, pard!"
Would he have swapped his babies' laughter
For all the praise of ages after?

-Success.

After years of practical experience, Mr. Wm. Best, by perseverance added to a peculiar inventive faculty, has placed his firm in a position of leadership in its line. Never, from the days of Sir Humphrey Davy and George Stephenson, until the present time, has there been so complete and effective a system of colliery lamproom reform presented to the notice of those interested in mining operations as is supplied by the combination of miners' safety lamp and lamp apparatus, the inventions of William Best.

Born at Farnley, near Leeds, William Best soon afterwards removed to Morley, near Leeds, where he was to reside permanently and make famous the name which already represented a very high standard of qualification.

Circumstances of a far less favorable nature than at present exist, then surrounded him. He was left fatherless, and must make his way alone. One day, when a mere boy, while busy whittling, his thoughts were running along the line of his present condition and his future prospects, and this resolution framed itself in his mind: "Some day-by God's help-I will make a name for the Best family."

Endowed with zeal equal to the task before him, encouraged by the example of others who had pushed past obstacles and won, he plunged into the fight with full confidence as to the ulti

mate outcome.

He secured a position in a local colliery and took advantage of every opportunity to become acquainted with the points of safety lamps used by miners, including the various points as to construction, repair, cleaning, oil-replenishment, examination, and delivery to miners preparing to do duty underground. So closely and intelligently did he study the subject that in a comparatively short time all of these processes came to be carried out under his direct and responsible supervision. He had become familiar with all the details of his department, acquiring a thorough, practical, and also a theoretical knowledge of all that pertained to its systematic and orderly

conduct.

It was early evident to Mr. Best that he had become intimate with the core of a subject which held a peculiar fascination for him.

After having completely overcome every difficulty in connection with the existing system, the desire unconsciously grew within him to turn his attention to the improvement of each process.

By means of certain inventions he had in mind, he believed he would be able to justify himself and his employers in claiming the origination of a "lamp-room reform system" far superior to any other in operation.

His plans were materialized. The application of the new system has produced the desired results-the promotion of safety and security in mines. Certain inventions included in the system produce results far exceeding all expecta

tions.

The first invention, a machine for cleaning lamps, was a perfect success, proving beneficial to those who adopted it at other collieries, at the same time enabling Mr. Best to reap rich returns financially as the result of his ingenuity.

This signal success resulted in bringing him into closer touch with his employer. Being endowed with a natural aptitude for improving and inventing, manifested by the constant application of improvements with beneficial results in other departments of the colliery, he naturally won the confidence of his superiors, who eventually joined him in a partnership undertaking, which was afterward carried on entirely apart from the colliery.

In this manner, with the assistance of capital, which his employer, now partner, freely advanced for the development of various ideas, and their practical application, there came about the production of a series of patents suitable for the reform of various departments.

Mr. Best gradually built up a business upon the basis of these patents which were to thoroughly revolutionize every department of miners' The new sytem was resafety lamp treatment. ceived everywhere with the greatest satisfaction. The business grew so rapidly that a huge building of three stories, combining a suite of commodious offices, was provided.

The principal departments of the works are: Brass foundry, electrical engineering, mechanism, brass finishing, joinering, and stores. Every article sold is produced on the premises. This enables them to keep every article up to a high standard of manufacture.

The demand for complete outfits of the system throughout the country became extremely great, the transactions being conducted upon a fine priced scheme, planned by Mr. Best, of monthly rental. This scheme absorbed working capital to so great an extent that it was ultimately found

necessary to obtain public subscriptions of capital. to insure an adequate production.

Mr. Best has personally-almost single-handed-worked up the whole of the existing extensive business connection, as well as having perfected each patent.

It is frequently necessary for him to come in contact and transact business with men considered to be the highest authorities upon the subject he represents.

He is so well fortified with points of technical knowledge concerning that subject that he almost invariably issues from the fiery furnace of criticism into which he is often cast with a promise from his vanquished opponent to adopt the reformed system.

These conferences have resulted in Mr. Best making an abundance of friends throughout the country, who are ever ready to appreciate and acknowledge his superior ability in the treatment of this most important subject.

Merely a concise reference to each of the principal inventions of Mr. Best will be made. Accuracy of operation is necessary to insure perfect security from the danger to which every other system is subject.

The miners' lamp is one of the most important of his inventions.

The "Defiance" lock is capable of resisting any informal effort on the part of an unscrupulous person to open the lamp, even with the assistance of mechanical implements of any kind. Unlike other types of locks applied to lamps of this nature, most of which can be opened by any ordinary means, this lock requires a specially constructed apparatus, without which it cannot be opened.

Another purpose for which the lock can be used is to make secure a lamp-glass found to be insufficiently tight on examination, without it being necessary to open the lamp.

Oil ignition, by means of an electric current being internally directed to the wick, during the time that the lamp is in an entire condition, a process which can safely be performed in the underground working parts of the mine, is a feat accomplished by this lamp. This is done in conjunction with apparatus specially suited to the purpose. In the space of a second the lamp, using oil of 250 degrees Fahrenheit, can be successfully ignited.

Oil replenishment can be readily accomplished by simply compressing a cylinder full of oil from an apparatus into the oil vessel, by means of a valve applied to the latter, thereby filling it.

Various apparatus are specially constructed; these act in conjunction with the above lamp fittings, for the purpose of completing the various processes.

Special lamps are designed, capable of denoting the presence of gas, near the roof, in any portion of a mine. It is necessary to examine

I I

various parts of the mine frequently. This insures the safety of the working staff. Otherwise results of a very disastrous nature would be the consequence from the ignition of gas lurking in old cavities.

The "Climax" is the name given to Mr. Best's first invention—a machine for quickly and thoroughly cleaning safety lamps after having finished a working period in the mine.

Lamp and igniting stand: This is a special stand for the reception and arrangement of lamps after having passed through the cleaning process. Electrical arrangements are combined, by which it is possible to quickly ignite the lamps when required for serving in large quantities to the miners.

The foregoing are the most important features comprising the "lamp-room reform system" originated by Mr. Best, which has, after having been subjected to the most severe tests and criticisms, without doubt fully merited the preference and support given it by expert users.

The work has been conducted in so practical a manner as to have enabled the proprietors to manufacture and supply nearly one hundred thousand lamps, with corresponding apparatus, to various collieries in the United Kingdom of Great Britain during the several years of the company's existence.

Suffice it to say that Mr. Best has, by persistent endeavor coupled with the zealous application of energy to the surmounting of obstacles appearing to all others too great to be overcome, enabled himself and those connected with him in the work to reap the rich reward due those who by pluck and push and confidence make the most of their opportunities.

BY ALICE LANGLAND

"Don't ever tell me again that there is nothing in signs," exclaimed my literary friend, bursting in upon me in my cozy den.

"Why, what has happened?" I asked.

"Well, you know how I have always wished under the new moon, and picked up pins, and locked fingers and wished when I said the same thing some one else did, and worried most to death when I dreamed of a woman kissing me, or of a marriage, and slept on wedding cake, and-"

"I know the whole list," I exclaimed, laughing. "What has gone wrong with the witches, now ?"

"Well, you know some people think it a very foolish thing, and I have been trying strenuously to get out of the habit. The supreme test came when my new novel was finished and I came to the point of deciding what publisher should have the first chance at it. I was undecided between a New York firm and a Chicago one, with a strong leaning toward the latter. My literary adviser said with a conviction I don't like to oppose, 'Send it to New York.' Every instinct in me said, 'Send it to Chicago.' What was I to do? Follow my leading or his advice? To decide it I secretly consulted all the despised signs: I looked in my teacup four times a day for something indicating New York -I could always find a big 'C.' I flipped pennies-heads, New York; tails, Chicago; tails invariably came uppermost. I was worked up into a perfect fever of excitement, for, as you know, I was sure this book of mine would prove the book of the season. Finally I reached the point where the manuscript was tied up, ready for mailing. In an agony of suspense I waited, pen in air, for something to indicate what address should go on it. No sign came. I wrote two letters, one to New York and the other to Chicago; then I tossed them to see which should turn up. New York fell face down in a great blot of ink. I started to address another envelope and found my fountain pen dry; there was no ink in the house. I went to the study to address it on the typewriter and found the ribbon worn out. In despair I turned to my literary adviser. I just can't get it addressed to New York,' I confessed, trembling from the conflict.

"Just like a woman-what can you hope to do in literature so long as you follow those absurdly ignorant superstitions, rather than sound common sense!' he sputtered.

"I was conquered. I meekly handed him the manuscript and the letter to address for me, then subsided into that condition of dumb expectancy which follows the mailing of a manuscript. The

and I began to hope, and to plan what I should do with my first royalty check. And then to think that today's mail brought me that!"

She sank into a chair completely overcome. I caught the letter from her hand and read as follows:

"Dear Miss Brown: A month ago we received a letter from you saying you had sent us the manuscript of your new story. We have never received it, and write so that you may look it up, if it is lost."

"Have you sent a tracer after it?" I asked.

"What is the use? I'll never set eyes on that story again-at least not in time for the summer trade. It's too disgusting! And to think I brought it all on myself. I shall follow my leading in future, no matter what anybody says.'

Then she bustled out to hunt up her "adviser" with an expression of vengeance which made. me tremble for him when the dynamics of her wrath should be exploded.

A GENTLEMEN'S BARBER

A certain college professor of high standing started out early one Sunday morning for a stroll through the Italian district of New York. After peering about for a few hours he decided to get shaved before bidding adieu to Italy. He entered a small, dingy shop, and was surprised to see the barber's face take on a most radiant expression of delight as he seated himself in the shabby chair.

The barber could speak but few words of English, but he continued to smile his delight through two rows of very white teeth. As he worked the professor realized he was in the hands of an artist in very truth; the man's touch was exquisite, and his work of a kind few tonsorial artists can accomplish.

When he had finished, the professor handed him his fee, but the Italian shook his head repeatedly, at the same time begging his new customer to come again come always.

The professor returned very often and invariably found the Italian delighted to see him, while always refusing a fee. His curiosity was aroused, and he finally unraveled the mystery. It seems that the Italian had, in his own country, been a barber of "high rank," serving only "gentlemen," but since coming to America luck had gone against him and he had been compelled to serve a different order of people. The sight of a "gentleman" in his shop brought back the days of better times and was compensation sufficient to the poor old fellow.