"where Is The Great American Desert?"

Mr. William rrescott bmith, mimni(cr of the Air Line betwecn New York and Washington, iu a speech delivercd at the rcceut railroad colebratiou ut St. Louis, put to hiH enlhusiastic hoarers the following significant conuDdrum : "Whereistho (Jreut American Desert that I rcad of whcn a boy, and that iny school uiañter shovved me iu the geography ?" Every wan iu the audienctj fortliA'itli had rccourse to his pooknt gccgríiptiy (ruilroad men alwaya oarrv a gcograpliy in their pockots), l)ut not ouo of them could solva the puzzlo. Fieseutly a voico from the rear of the ball shouted: "Put tip your books, gentlemen. -You oan't fiud tho Great AmiricBii Desert thero. It wos stolen hy the 'land (rubbers' during the last session of Conrress." Smith promplly offered the man a situatiou on his railroud. A New Albany woman ruarried another mau during lur husbands temporary absences, and now she excu"es herself on the round tbat he promised to return iu 9x weeks, but was gouo four daya over the time.