rted to its feet,
women waved their handkerchiefs and wept with excitement; men shouted and
joined their voices to swell the great chorus.

The poor young Queen, whose courage had been tried enough during the day,
stood in the front of her box, bowing and smiling, until at last the scene
became more than she could bear; then she burst into tears, and had to
leave the opera-house.

* * * * *

The Dingley Tariff Bill was reported to the Senate on Tuesday, May 4th.

A great many changes have been made in it by the committee; and a great
many more are expected to be made before it passes through the Senate.

Germany is still declaring that, if the Dingley Bill is passed, she will
make such a tariff on American goods that our export trade with Germany
will be killed.

One of our consuls, however, writes us that there is a very small market
for American goods in Germany, and that our trade will not be very greatly
damaged if she does carry out her threat.

It seems, from the accounts given, that Germany buys very little from us
besides the raw material which she cannot get elsewhere; and so, if she
does make a tariff against our goods, it may not make much difference to
us.

* * * * *

Word comes from India that the plague is gradually dying out, and it is
hoped that the worst is over.

The authorities will continue their care in quarantining people from
infected districts, and fumigating all the baggage, but the fear that the
plague may reach Europe has pretty well died out.

* * * * *

They make a great deal of use of elephants in India.

You know, of course, that India belongs to England.

The title of Queen Victoria is Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and
Empress of India.

England is obliged to keep a great many soldiers in India, and the
elephant has gradually become one of the most important factors in the
Indian army.

When the British first occupied India, the soldiers used the elephants to
work on fortifications, to haul timber, and to do any work that required
great strength.

After a while, as they began to understand the creatures better, the army
officers gave them more important tasks, until at last an elephant
artillery corps was formed.

It is said of the animals in this company that they know as well what to
do as the best artillerymen, and will bring their guns in line with the
precision o