Various

“ A correspondent at Paris, France, telegraphs that the understanding between the two countries is to the effect that should the United States take any active measures to secure the freedom of Cuba, or persist in the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands, Spain and Japan shall declare war on her at the same moment. The plan is that Spain shall send vessels to attack our Atlantic seaboard, and Japan shall simultaneously make war on the Pacific coast. ”

“ We will destroy the wicked insects and worms that spoil your cherries and currants and plums and apples and roses. We will give you our best songs, and make the spring more beautiful and the summer sweeter to you. ”

“ Morocco is ruled by a Sultan, whose authority is supreme.
The Moors, as the inhabitants of this country are called, are a very ancient and warlike people, who were at one time a very powerful race.
In the twelfth century they conquered Andalusia, Valencia, and a part of Aragon in Spain, together with a portion of Portugal. In Spain they established the Kingdom of Granada, about which so many enchanting poems and romances have been written. ”

“ He has issued a proclamation, saying that Spain might as well stop any attempt to grant reforms to Cuba. He says: "We will accept neither reforms nor home rule. Spain must know that this war is one for independence, and that the Cubans would rather die than yield. The day we lifted our flag of liberty, we wrote on it: 'Independence or death.'"
The committee appointed to inquire into the Transvaal raid has sent in its report to Parliament—or, to speak correctly, it has sent in two reports, for the members could not agree. ”

“ The work of mining this gold is very lengthy and somewhat curious.
The Yukon region, in which the Klondike lies, is very cold. Alaska is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, and the Arctic circle runs right through the Yukon country. You can imagine therefore that it is terribly cold, and that the ground is frozen nearly all the year round.
The rich pay-dirt in which the gold is found lies from eighteen to twenty-five feet below the surface. It would not pay the miners to wait for the short warm season when the frost is out of the ground to make their harvest ”

“ They are still a very warlike people, and have had frequent campaigns against France and Spain.
Their country is supposed to be very rich in minerals, but as yet it has not been developed.
A great part of the trade of Morocco is controlled by foreigners, and in consequence special laws have had to be made to protect the traders.
According to the treaty between the United States and the Sultan of Morocco, American traders are allowed to employ two natives as agents for the sale of their goods. These natives are given the same protection as Americans. ”

“ You have always made a law that no one shall kill a harmless song-bird or destroy our nests or our eggs. Will you please make another one that no one shall wear our feathers, so that no one will kill us to get them? ”

“ In England, especially, the highest class of young men go into the army as officers, and to leave the army without wishing to, to have one's commission taken away from one, is a great disgrace. An officer who leaves the army at his own wish has all other careers open to him, but one who is dismissed from the service is disgraced and cannot easily find fresh employment, and moreover loses all the income and standing that being an officer in the army had given him. ”

“ One miner, who is a thoroughly experienced man, declares that he is absolutely amazed at the amount of gold that has already been produced. He says that the work has only been commenced, and that this present find which is setting people crazy is nothing to the gold that will be discovered as soon as the miners really get to work. ”

“ We have built our nests in the trees and sung many a song as we flew about the gardens and parks you have made so beautiful for your children, especially your poor children, to play in. Every year we fly a great way over the country, keeping all the time where the sun is bright and warm. And we know that whenever you do anything the people all over this great land between the seas and the great lakes find it out, and pretty soon will try to do the same. ”

“ The San Francisco mint has received half a million dollars' worth of the gold, and expects another half-million by the next steamer.
The Mint Bureau has been informed that Alaskan gold has been received at several of the Pacific ports for shipment to the East, and the ton and a half from Seattle is also on its way.
There has long been a movement on foot to limit the wearing of feathers on hats.
So many charming birds are slaughtered to adorn the headgear of our women folks, that it has been feared some of the songsters might become extinct. ”

“ When you sit down on your porch after dark, fifebird and hermit-thrush and wood-thrush will sing to you, and even whippoorwill will cheer you up a little. We know where we are safe. In a little while all the birds will come to live in Massachusetts again, and everybody who loves music will like to make a summer home with you. ”

“ In his opinion the gold deposits of the Yukon region form the mother vein of all the gold in North America.
Many people are hurrying to the Klondike district from all parts, and the excitement is intense.
San Francisco has caught the gold fever. It reached the city through some miners from Klondike, who arrived by steamer, bringing with them piles of shining gold to prove the truth of their stories.
Not one member of this party went up to Alaska with anything more than his outfit and a few hundred dollars. All have brought back stores of riches. ”

“ In regard to Cecil Rhodes' refusal to produce the telegrams which they asked for, the committee says that he ought undoubtedly to be disciplined for his conduct, but that it would take so much time to do so that it would perhaps be as well to let the matter alone.
This is one report.
The other is much stronger in its tone. It blames everybody concerned, and says that there is little doubt that the raid was simply a plot arranged to make wealthy men wealthier.
This report does not agree that the home Government is entirely blameless. ”

“ In making the selection of important events, remember that wars and political events are not necessarily the most important. If, for instance, the air-ship had turned out to be a genuine and successful thing, it would have been most important as affecting the history of the world. ”

“ We will teach your children to keep themselves clean and neat. We will show them how to live together in peace and love and to agree as we do in our nests. We will build pretty houses which you will like to see. ”

“ The book covers themselves are a marvel of ingenuity, and, although they are in one piece and can be adjusted to fit perfectly any sized book without cutting the paper, they are also so simple that any boy or girl can use them; as they are already gummed they are always ready for use. ”

“ But most of the birds like us have lived here a long while; and the birds like us welcomed your fathers when they came here many, many years ago. Our fathers and mothers have always done their best to please your fathers and mothers. ”

“ The chairman of the committee, Senator Davis, would be glad to have the treaty ratified at once, as he thinks that speedy action would be the best way to avoid any trouble with Japan. He has, however, been warned that if he tries to press the treaty this session, the Senate will block it with the lengthy discussions about which we told you. Senator Davis therefore thinks that it will be best to let the matter rest for the present. ”

“ England does not believe that he really intends to give up Thessaly, but the other Powers think that he will do so as soon as he is absolutely sure that a refusal will mean war.
The most interesting news in regard to Cuba this week is the renewal of the report that Spain and Japan have entered into an alliance against the United States. ”

“ He intends to punish these merchants if they infringe the law, and then, when the law has had time to be generally known and understood, he intends to arrest all women who still persist in wearing feathers in their hats. ”

“ Or if by chance the telephone or telegraph had been invented in this period, these inventions would have been important events.
Prizes will be awarded to those who make the best selection and who mention the events in the best order of their importance. Answers may be sent in any time before September 1st.
The Great Round World does not want you to hurry over this contest, but to take plenty of time and do the work carefully. It will be a pleasant occupation for the summer months. ”

“ The following day the Ambassadors sent to Tewfik Pasha, and asked him whether Turkey was willing to resume the peace councils in accordance with the wishes of the Powers. They stated very clearly that if matters were not to be discussed on those lines, they would be obliged to break off the conference, and tell their various governments that Turkey could only be made to obey by force of arms.
After consulting with his Government, Tewfik Pasha replied that the Porte was willing to accept the frontier suggested—with some slight alterations. ”