VERY EASY TO DISCOVER.
Two young men in France were called on to draw for conscription. One only was wanted to complete the number, and of the two who were to draw one was the son of a rich farmer and the other a child of a poor widdow.
The farmer ingratiated himself, with the superintendent of the ballot and promised him a present if he could find means to prevent his son ! from going in the army. In order to accomplish this the official put into the em two black balls instead of a white and a black ball. When the young man came he said : "There are two balls, one black and one while, in the em. He who draws the black one must serve. ,Your turn is first," pointing to the [widow's son.
The latter, suspecting that all was not fair, approached the em and drew one of the balls, which he im mediately swallowed without look ing at it.
" Why, " said the superintendent "have yon done that? How are we to know whether you have drawn the black or white ball ?"

"Oh, that's very easy to discover," was the reply. "Let the other now draw. If I have the black, he must necessarily draw the white one."

There was no help for it, and the farmer's son, putting his hand into the crn, drew the remaining ball, which to the satisfaction of tho spectators, was a black one. The widow's son was thus saved, and, th« other obliged to wv».
QUEER MARRIAGE RITES IN RUSSIA.
