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difficult to explain as why the tower of Pisa leans, or who built the Pyramids. He went around the state while selling cuttlery, for some weeks, boring his friends on the train with the story of the almost supernatural sagacity of cats. Finally, one of the boys gave Hugh a little light. And now, in his most enthusiastic moments, he can be made shy and silent by reference to the subject.
# Insurance for Traveling Men.
The traveling men have two associations, largely for insurance, other objects being to secure the rights of the craft (as abolition of license tax on travelers), railroad and hotel concessions, and so on. For about eleven dollars a year, a traveling man can secure, in one of these companies, an accident policy which will grant him from $5,000 to $6,000, in case of death by accident; $25 weekly indemnity, to run a year in case of accident; $1,000 for hand, one foot, one arm, one eye, etc. Standards of traveling men have been greatly raised of late years. There is system and dignity in the business, which are a long ways removed from twenty-five years ago.
Hypatia Boyd, as she was known in the University of Wisconsin, now Mrs. Reed, is very happy, notwithstanding she and her husband are mutes. She writes a long letter to the paper printed by the pupils of the mute school at Delavan. Its beginning is touching when one remembers how a bright heart will cheer affliction. The letter follows:
"Dear Times: One of the poems written by Robert Burns is entitled, 'Wooed and Married and a',' and somehow or other I am reminded of it tonight as I try to think how I can best fulfill my promise to the editor, 'to write the Times an account of the wedding.' I hardly know where or how to begin this sketch, although I have actually been 'wooed and married and a',' but life these glorious Indian summer days, is to me, like a sweet, enchanted dream, so much so, that I feel as if I could better express my thoughts in music, or in poetry. Indeed, the happiness that comes from wedded love is so indescribably exquisite and tender, that really I feel like advising every eligible person to do as I have done, namely, to marry for love."
The two met five years ago in Delavan. Mr. Reed is a nephew of Alexander Mitchell and the romance opened with a life of the great railroad man which Miss Boyd wrote in a prize competition for the Milwaukee Sentinel.
# Observations in LaCrosse.
I was in LaCrosse last week. It is a metropolis in appearance-with the exception of Milwaukee, no city so much so in the state. This is largely due to street after street of beautiful homes, elaborate and even palatial homes, each with a generous setting of ground. LaCrosse is a city of about the same population as Superior, Racine and Oshkosh, but it is the wealthiest of them all, as regards individual citizens. Moreover, the land site is not cramped. There is no residence frontage in the city, I was told, rated at more than $50 a front foot. In Madison some is offered at $200. A most excellent lot of sixty feet can be bought in most parts of LaCrosse for $2,000. The prairie stretches an unlimited distance, the city is well veined with the street car lines and everybody may have a lawn and a garden.
LaCrosse will soon have completed a $200,000 hotel, all but $20,000 being laid out in construction and equipment. It is a public project, largely by popular subscription, and the citizens are genuinely interested in it. It will be the talk of the state when opened. Its construction is massive and simple, in the heart of the city. There is a LaCrosse club, with 210 members, and a waiting list. The dues are $20 a year. It is run on broad lines, non-resident business men's and women's clubs holding their sessions there. The Mississippi river is the romantic object of interest to strangers. To LaCrosse it is chiefly interesting now by reason of the island of some 225 acres opposite the city, which Mr. Pettibone, a wealthy citizen, is making beautiful for the use of the people. LaCrosse has had its period of depression, following the conclusion of lumbering operations, and is now developing as an important manufacturing and jobbing point. A recent list shows more individuals and estates with large holding than any other Wisconsin city, proportionately. It is the home of many interesting people, noted figures in Wisconsin.
# Talk Gently of the Banks.
A run on the Amsterdam Savings bank of Amsterdam, N. Y., was caused by a Polish laborer, who, finding the bank closed on election day, took it for granted that it had failed. About $25,000 was withdrawn. The bank has a large surplus.
