Mr. Sherman reminds Japan of the treaty between Japan and the United States that will go into effect in 1899, and which will give her the same privileges she had with Hawaii. He adds that if she is not content to wait the two years till the United States treaty begins, arrangements can be made to cover the intervening period. * * * * * There is a good deal of gossip over the fact that Mr. Sherman put his signature to the Annexation Treaty. From various speeches in the Senate, and from statements in his memoirs, it was believed that he was strongly opposed to the annexation of Hawaii. It is rumored, indeed, that Queen Liliuokalani based her strongest hopes of regaining her throne on the belief that the Secretary of State was opposed to the treaty and would use his influence to prevent its being ratified. Mr. Sherman, however, states that while he was opposed to such a step at one time, the trouble between Hawaii and Japan has caused him to change his mind, and he now thinks annexation will be most desirable for all parties concerned. The ex-Queen of the Sandwich Islands, Liliuokalani, has also sent in her protest against the Treaty. She objects because "her people," as she calls the Hawaiians, have not been consulted, and also because no provision has been made for her. This protest has been filed in the State Department, and will be attended to in due course. Notice of our intentions with regard to Hawaii has been sent to the various foreign powers, and so far no other protest has been received. * * * * * Christian Ross, the broken-hearted father of Charlie Ross, has just died in Philadelphia. You are all probably familiar with the story of little Charlie Ross, who was stolen away from his home; but it seems well to tell it you again, for it may serve as a warning against making chance acquaintances in the street. Charlie Ross and his brother Walter were playing in front of their home in Germantown, Pa., when two men drove by in a buggy. The men promised the boys a ride if they would walk up to the top of the hill on which the house stood. The boys ran gladly up the hill, and then, when they were safely out of sight of the house, the two men took them up and drove off with them. They gave them candy, and kept the boys happy and amused until they reached the town. Here they gave the older boy, Walter, a quarter to go and buy some more candy, and while he was in the store drove off with Charlie. All this happened twenty-three years ago, but from that day to this Charlie Ross has never been found. His father was frantic with grief, and a careful search was made for the child, but no traces of him could be found. Some days after Charlie had been stolen, a letter was brought to his father, saying that the boy was being held for ransom, and would be returned to his father on the payment of twenty thousand dollars.