His message, among other things, containing the following:

"Get that addition on your shop going; it will cost you less today than six months hence. Is trade a bit dull in the works? Get those improvements begun. Prices are low and likely to rise. You have been thinking of that contract work; better start it yourself before things get the start of you."

In this choice bit of impractical philosophy the distinguished Secretary seems to be characteristically oblivious to the fact, that for many months the manufacturers have been anxiously awaiting to contribute their share towards prosperity.

He appears to be equally blind to the further fact that with factories operating at only 40 per cent of their capacity, there would seem to be no real necessity for building additions, even though the price of material is low, nor does it appear clear how the dullness of trade can be corrected by manufacturers commencing unnecessary improvements, it being also equally puzzling. for a manufacturer to understand how he alone can negotiate a contract, or until the party of the second part, the purchaser, is really in the market for something for which to contract.

Another most regrettable evidence of the administration's natural tendency to to improperly discriminate against manufacturers and business men, was also illustrated in the President's Indianapolis speech, when he deprecated the fact that it was largely difficult for any but rich men to obtain justice in the Courts. Evidently, he must have experienced a peculiar lapse of memory with reference to the thirty odd dynamiters and members of the National Federation of Labor, who, by a striking coincidence, did obtain justice in a trial conducted in the Federal Court at Indianapolis some two years ago, and who were justly sentenced to terms of varying periods in the penitentiary, the result of such trial which

was sustained by the higher Court, after which the President, by an inexplicable exercise of executive clemency, commuted the sentence of four of them to the extent that they obtained their immediate liberty.

Conclusions.

A comprehensive study of the commercial history of this great commercial country, compels one to conclude that unlimited competition is as ruinously harmful in its effect, as unrestricted monopoly. One is obliged to recognize the absolute necessity of remedial legislation, equitable in character and entirely free from improper discriminatory features, providing for the federal supervision of business generally and its operation under proper safeguards.

It is an imperative necessity for business men, through organizations, whether local, state or national in character, to co-ordinate their efforts towards crystallizing a sound public sentiment relative to business; besides exercising their constitutional rights as occasion requires, by directly and in person appealing to the officials of our federal government, whether executive or legislative, and convincing them of the prime necessity of the recognition by all concerned, of the natural interdependence existing between those two direct factors of business, capital and labor, and the equal necessity for the most active co-operation, not only between them, but also on the part of our entire business element, under supervisory laws administered by the federal government in a co-operative spirit; and in this way insure by the concerted action of all concerned, the complete restoration of our domestic trade, which is naturally the backbone of our country's material progress, in addition to increasing our foreign trade, as opportunities for doing so develop.

OW, my dear girl, let us face the situation. It is a crisis, I admit; but everything in this world may be got over, if we only face it in the proper manner. First of all, what have we to consider?"

Mr. Harry Rakeley was supporting his young wife tenderly, and that young wife was weeping bitterly and hopelessly on his shoulder. Even the tone of determination in which he spoke failed to put any courage into her; she only shook her head and wept the more. They had been married but two months; and it is scarcely too much to say that they had been ideally happy during that time. And now tonight their castle had tumbled about. their ears like a house of cards.

"The first thing to consider, my love, is that Uncle Parker and Aunt Lucilla will be here in something less than half an hour, and will expect something to eat; the second thing to consider is that there is nothing in the house, and no prospect of getting anything."

"Oh-that brutal man at the Stores!" wailed Bella Rakeley. "I tried to argue with him-I-I tried to reason with him; he was like marble."

"My dearest girl," said Harry, with a smile, "a Stores is not generally possessed of a heart; it isn't to be expected. More than that, we have to remember that this man has been worrying us for payment for some time past, and is probably getting anxious. He has seized this opportunity to endeavor to squeeze money out of us."

"But you know, Harry, we have no money," said Bella.

"Practically, we have none, my darling; theoretically, we have plenty. Tonight, as you know, I shall receive the sum of fifty pounds; I have particularly asked Robinson to send it in notes, so that I may pay some things at once. at once. Did you tell the man at the Stores that I should receive a large sum tonight?"

¶ "Of course I did, Harry, dear; and he laughed and said something about some one named Walker. Then, of course, I said that I was not accustomed to have my word doubted, and I walked out of the shop."

"Quite right, my darling," said Harry. "The only thing is what are we to do?"

Let it be explained that Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rakeley had-partly from motives of economy and partly in order that a rising young writer should receive that inspiration he could not get in London-taken up their residence, immediately after a very short honeymoon, in the picturesque little town of Longdip Cross. There in a very light-hearted fashion they had patronized the one large shop in the place - dignified by the name of "Stores"-and had ordered everything they required. In a most. unaccountable fashion money had failed to come in so readily as they had anticipated; the proprietor of the Stores had hinted that payment would be esteemed a favor, and had been put off with promises. Now, at the very psychological moment of their lives, the man had taken what they regarded as a mean

dears; and I hope you'll manage something tasty.'

They met in the kitchen-that unhappy bride and bridegroom-and, after one long, despairing look at each other, fell into each other's arms. Susan, the one servant, who understood probably more of their difficulties than any one else, looked on sympathetically.

"My darling," cried Harry, desperately, "something must be done. Reduced to such an extremity as this, we must use desperate means. Something must be smuggled out and pawned."

"Quite out of the question," said Bella, despairingly. "Uncle Parker and Aunt Lucilla know every wedding present by heart; and Aunt Lucilla would notice a gap in a moment. There's only one thing to be done-we must go up and tell them; we must confess," said the poor little bride, with a sob. "We must confess that we are failures and bankrupts-and that we ought to be "

"Oh, mum-look at this 'ere!"

The cry had come from Susan-not a loud cry, but with a certain feverish eagerness about it. And Susan was down on her knees before the fire, and was eagerly examniing something in the pocket of the waistcoat of Uncle Parker, then hanging on a chair back. It was the large gold watch of Uncle Parker, which he had left, attached to its large gold chain, in the waistcoat itself.

¶ "Susan, get up from your knees this moment!" exclaimed Bella, in a startled whisper.

"I could pop round the corner with this 'ere to a shop I know, with three knobs 'anging outside it-an' could get enough to pay for 'alf a dozen suppers," said Susan, fingering the watch lovingly. "An' the larst post ain't in yet, sir."

Harry looked at his wife, with a white face. "We could do it," he whispered, desperately. "By the last post Robinson's money must come; we

can pay off everything then. Susanoff with you!"

Susan was quick. In less time than it takes to write she had visited that curious shop "round the corner;" had obtained a generous advance on the watch, and had sped away to the Stores. The proprietor, evidently surprised, handed her the dishes for the first course, and a bottle of champagne. She raced home gleefully.

Uncle Parker had not expected it. He murmured something faintly about extravagance as the champagne cork popped, but smilingly allowed his glass to be filled. That first course was a great success; and all the time the two young people were waiting and listening anxiously for the postman's knock.

"We will have the sweets, Susan," said young Mrs. Rakeley, with dignity, and Susan disappeared.

She was gone a very long time. At last Bella jumped up, and with a little murmured apology, ran out after her. Another long wait, and then Harry, fearing disaster, murmured his apology and ran out also.

Directly he reached the kitchen he understood the full nature of the disaster. The wily proprietor of the Stores, seeing that at last he had forced solid cash out of the young people, determined to make hay while the sun should shine; accordingly, he refused to deliver up the remainder of the supper and the other bottle of wine until he should receive further payment!

"We're in for it, my love," said Harry. "We've begun-and we can't stop now. I must see what else there is."

There was a gold cigar case. They emptied out the cigars, and once more Susan raced out in the night to secure the remainder of the supper. Uncle Parker was just growing impatient when she came in, hot and flushed, and set it on the table. Harry opened the second bottle to disguise his agitation.

"I think, my dears, I ought to be getting into my coat-to say nothing of my waistcoat," said Uncle Parker. "There's a tightness about the armholes of this coat of Harry's that doesn't go well with chicken pie."

"You'll have to wait a bit, uncle," said Harry, hurriedly. "I wouldn't have you catch cold for the world, you know; and the coat-to say nothing of the waistcoat-is not nearly dry."

"I'd no idea the rain had been so heavy," said Aunt Lucilla.

It was at this moment that Harry became aware of an apparition near the door, no other than Susan, who was beckoning to him, in a spectral fashion and evidently forming words with her lips, although nothing could be heard. Once more he excused himself and went outside.

"O! if you please, sir-the post

man-"

¶ "Yes-yes; what's he brought?" asked Harry, seizing the arm of the girl in his excitement.

"Nothing, sir!" said Susan, and, understanding to the full all that that statement means, began to weep hysterically. "O!-if I should be took up, sir, for leavin' watches an' things unbeknown-"

"We won't let you get into trouble," said Harry. Then, as Bella came out into the little hall and looked in his face, he added, blankly: "It's all over, my dear; the postman has brought nothing, and Uncle Parker's watch and cigar case cannot possibly be rescued from the oblivion to which Susan has consigned them. We will go back-arm in arm-and throw ourselves upon Uncle Parker's mercy."

¶ "Well, I'm sure I hope you did, my dear," said Aunt Lucilla. "We have been talking about your marriage, and we have come to the conclusion that in all probability, although you don't admit it, you have had something of a struggle. Now, this supper tonightyou can't do this kind of thing for nothing, you know?"

¶ "It hasn't cost us very much," said Harry, finding it difficult even at that moment to hide a smile.

"Now, I tell you what your Aunt Lucilla and I are going to do about this," said Uncle Parker, diving behind him into his hip pocket. "I'm going to give you"-Uncle Parker had got out, after much exertion, a fat pocketbook and had spread it before him on the table-"I'm going to give you something I brought down on purpose." He pulled out certain crisp rustling pieces of paper and spread them with a large hand. "There's ten-and ten's twenty-and ten's thirty -and ten's forty; and that's because I'm pleased with you. Forty poundand you can buy yourselves any little thing you happen to want. Don't thank me; I won't be thanked. And, for goodness sake, let me have my coat and waistcoat!"

"Very funny thing," said Uncle Parker, as he walked back to the station that night, escorted by Harry. "When I came to put on my coat I found my watch in the lefthand pocket instead of the right. That's your Aunt Lucilla's fault; always makes me dress in a hurry."