Evening Star Newspaper, December 22, 1881, Page 7

K; OR, THE CHEISTMAS PANNIEKS, RY FRANK R. STOCKTON. There was once a gloomy old giant named Bhawruck. His castle was ona hili not far from a at city, in which dweit the king of the cow Everybody knew Shamruck. He was ant, and no one feared him; er cared to Dut it may also be said that he ne k always seemed more quiet than usual, and more anxious to ng could ever induce him to re- astle during the holiday-time. He did not wish to see nor hear the happiness and gayety ofthe people, and always went away & day or two before Christmas, and did not retarn until all the festivities were over. At the time of this story, Christmas was draw- ing near, and the King had been thinking a/ great deal about Shamruck. It disturbed him that any one in bis kingdom, especially the very largest person in it, sh i not be cheerfal and vous Christmas-time. He there- ake a grand effort to in- t home and join in the . “If he does it onee, he will the old King to himselt. “He a how happy we are, I wil i ill to Shamruck’s castle was 5 red, and so the court engi- | neers made a road upto the castle door, and along this road the sixteen royal piebald horses easily drew the royal carriage. The King went | in to see Shamruck. He had a long taik with but it was of no use. The giant would not nt to remain in the neizhboriood during He was not even willing to stay for any one to wish him “Merry | ” “if Paid that,” said the grim old wouldn't go away at all.” i ed. the King came out, and palace. not give up his plan. he hail not But this monareh did | He thought that although Jed, some other person might ; ed a proclamation to be made should prevail upon Shamruck to | Femain at home until some of the citizens wished | him * Merry Christmas” should be allowed to give away the Christmas panniers. The Christrnas panniers were two great wicker baskets, filled with valuable presents, and given by the King every Christmas to the most de- serving person in his de ions. The panniers Were put on the back ofa mule, and driven on Christinas morning to the door of the deserving person. The King proposed this year, as the + gteatest prize he could set before any of his sub- jects, to foreo his delightful privileze of giving ‘away the panniers in favor of that person who should make Shamruck hear, for the first time in life, a ** Merry Christmas,” This proclamation set all the people ina fer- ment. Everybody wished to gain the prize, | and everybody began to devise some plan by which to do it. It was now Monday, and as Christmas came on the following Saturday, there was no time to be lost. All day Tuesday great people and common people thronged to the giant's castle to try and persuade him to change his mind about going away at Christ- mas time. Some of these the giant listened to, some he laughed at and some he told to go home. About noon he put upa placard in front of his castle, and shut the great door. The placard read thus: “Any person coming up here to disturb me with propositions about Christmas shall be thrown back to his home, wherever that may be. ‘Swamrvce.” at the giant’s Ped this nobody knocked or. About a dozen miles from Shamruck’s castle there lived two young giants. They had heard of the King’s proclamation. They laushed when they heard of the placard on Shamruck’s castle, “He can’t throw us anywhere,” they * We are nearly as powerful as he is. if} we want to make him stay at home, all we have to do is to doit. Ifhe attempts to go away, we | will just take hold of him, and show him that | two giants are better than one.” | ‘The next day the two young giants met Sham- | ruck tal yy a river bank not far from me castle. They went upto him and spoke to i is Christmas, and we have undertaken to carry out his wishes. So you must go back to your castle, and stay there unti! Saturday morning.” “ Suppose I don’t do it?” said Shamruck. “Then we will take you back,” said the young giants. | ery well, then, I don’t do it,” remarked | Shamruck. Upou this, one of the young giants took hold of Shamruck by the right shoulder, while the other took him by the left, and they endeavored to tarn him around. If you have ever tried to twist a lamp-post you will know how hard it was | to turn Shainruck around. The two young giants | could not de it. Shamruck let thein try for a| little while, and then turning suddenly, he took | one of them by his belt and the back of his neck and hurled him heels over head into the middle of the river. He then caught the other fellow by his collar. The young giant, very much frightened, seized hold of a small tree to which he held with all his mightand main. Shamruck id no attention to this, but gave him such a endous jerk that the tree came up by the roots, and both it and the giant went splash into the river. Shamruck then continued his walk, and the two young giants came out of the ri iy P that they would never again try to make Sham- | ruek do anything he did not wish to. | managed it very well. had failed to detain the sought her to help him. “And what are you going to do with the niers when you get them?” asked the fairy. “I shail give them to the most deserving per- son I know,” he answered with a little chuckle. “A very worthy fellow indeed.” The fairy understood him. “I do not care a bit.” she said, “about benefiting you, for I am not at all certain you deserve it, but [ think the King is quite right in wishing Shamruck to spend Christmas with the rest of the people, and i have agreat mind to try and see what I can do to bring the thing about.” “But if you sueceed.” said the shoemaker, “ I must have the credit of the affair, for if I had not come here to-night you never would haye done anything at all.” “That is very true,” returned the fairy. should not have thought of it.” After a tew minutes’ reflection, the fairy told the shoemaker that she hada plan which she thought was a good one. “‘And if I succeed,” she said, “what will you do for me? Will you make me a pair of slippers? ‘The shoemaker laughed as he looked at her tiny feet. “I'll do that,” he said, “whether you succeed or not.” “Very well,” said the fairy. “Take my meas- ure.” The fairy then went away as fast as she could to the top of a cold mountain, where the ice imps dwelt. She gathered these little beings about her. and when she had told them what she wanted them to do, cree ice imp waved his diamond cap in the air, and vowed he would go to work that very instant. The next morning Shamruck got up and went out to look for his cow. Somehow he hada good deal of troubie in finding her. He could hear the tinkle of her bell, but it came from some very tall reeds and rush ind he could not see her. At last, hearing the bell close to his feet, he stooped down that he might the better find the cow. Suadenly he felt himself moving. In an in- stant he was out from among the rushes he found that he was sliding down a jong ice as smooth as a polished slab of marble, which extended a great distan ti seemed the bottom ofa deep ravin pan- ey | Scent was very gradual, and the giant slid slowly down, but though he made every effort to do so, he found it impossible to stop. In a moment a strange figure appeared before him. It was a very small dwarf, about a foot high, mounted upon stilts four or five times longer than him- self. On the end of each stilt was a little skate, and on these the dwarf was sliding backward down the hill. “Hello!” said the little fellow. like it?” “I don’t like it at all,” roared Shamruck. What does it all mean?” “Tt means that you are going to the bottom “How do you | of this ravine,” said the dwarf, throwing out his arms to steady himself. ‘I expect you'll go faster after you get well started, but you needn't be afraid. There's a pile of straw—four or five cris the bottom, and you'll go right into t.” “Who did this thing?” cried Shamruck. “You'll find out when you get to the bottom,” said the dwarf. “But there! did you see? I nearly went over.” = ‘You'll break your neck directly,” said the fant. “No, I won't. Or at least I think I won't. But my stiltsare very unsteady. They are made ot skewers tied together with thread, and they are not stiff a bit, and the skates make them more shaky yet.” at did you put them on for, you little idiot 2” said the giant. “Twas bound to slide down with yo plied the dwarf, ‘and I wanted something to raise me up. so I could talk to you and hear you. You see, | want to teil the ice imps, and the fairies what you say while you are sliding down.” You can tell them,” roared § Isaid you were an impertinent little fool, and that I hoped you'd break your neck.” “There's nothing interesting in that,” said the dwarf. ‘ant you tell me what sort of sensations you have? Did any of your family ever—” At this moment one of the stilts of the dwarf bent under him, the other flew forward, and the little fellow went sprawling on the ice. Shamrack had not time to see what happened next. He was now moving very swiftly, and as he passed the struggling dwarf he tumbled over on his back, and so went on and on until he landed safely in the pile of straw at the bottom | of the bill. The giant floundered to his feet, and looked about him in dismay. pit, three sides of which arose perpendiculai high above his head, while in front of him stretched upward the smooth and glittering ice hill. He knew it would be absurd for him to try to ascend this, and the steep walls were coy- a glazed with ice, and impossible to climb. He was greatly wondering how there hap- pened to be such a place, how he happened to slide into it, and how he should ever get out of it, when he heard a little voice not far from his head. Turning around. he saw the fairy stand- ing upon a slight projection on the wall. ‘Are you hurt?” she said. “No, I am not hurt,” id_you plan it for, you wicked 2” cried Shamruck. am not wicked,” replied the fairy; ‘and I didit necause I wanted to please the King, and tomake you stay with him over Christmas, and I think I Some of us fairies took the bell from your cow, and we tinkled it before ou until we led you to the very brink of the ice hill. ‘Then you slid down, and were not ‘There was a little shoemaker in the city who theucht he had a very good idea. He went boldiy upto the castle, and found Shamruck | sitting in his front doo! | “You needn't throw me back to my home. I have come only to ask you to let me make you | & pair of new boots. You will want them if you | are going on a journey.” ‘iant looked at his boots, which were very old and worn. “Yes,” he said, “I do want @new pair. How long will it take you to make them?” “They can be done Friday night,” said the shoemaker. “That won't do,” said Shamruck, “for I shall | ‘want to wear them at least a day, so as to make them easy before I begin my journey.” ‘Very well, you shall have them to-morrow night.” At the appointed time the boots were done, and each was carried by tour shoemakers up to | the giant’s castle. Shamruck thought they made boots. | | will bid hurt, and now you can't get away.” But what good will that do you and the | King?” cried the giant. ‘I shall certainly not | join him and his people at Christmas.” “You can't help it.” said the fairy. “To-night the ice imps will build up the iee under you un- til you and your straw will be on the side ofa very high hill. You will be in a smooth cleft or gully ofice, which will slope downward until it ends in one of the great parks outside of the 'y. You can’t get out of the cleft, and are bound to slide down as soon as we are ready. Everybody will know what is going to happen, and the King and hundreds of people will be in the park. Then, early to-morrow morning, you will slide down among them, and everybody ou ‘Merry Christmas.’ What do you think of that plan? Giants and men can do | nothing with you, but we little creatures can Manage you, can't we? “You are a lot of little miscreants,” said Shamruck, “and you cap do a great deal of mis- chief when you try. [acknowledge that in this ‘re is a good dealof iron about the heels,” replied the shoemaker; “you won't | Want them to wear out very soon, if you are | going to travel in them.” The giant went into his great hall and put | the boots on; and then the shoemaker told him | to stand up while he and his assistant buckled | the boots around the ankles. While the seven | assistants were buckling the boots very tightly, | the wily shoemaker went behind the giant, and | iting great screws in plates of iron he had set | the heels of the boots, he screwed them firmily to the oaken floor. | When all this was done, theshoemaker retired to some distance, and the giant attempted to | vhat Is the matter? ne take-a step. What is the matter?— | red. “I can not move my feet | You needn't try to do it,* said the shoe-| maker, who, stood by the open door. | “Your heels are serewed fast tothe floor, and those buekles are all padlocked. Youcan't get | ‘And what do you expect me to do?” shouted Skamruck. “Lintend you to stay there until Saturday morning,” said the shoemaker, “‘when the peo- Re can come and wish you a ‘Merry Christmas.’ hen, if you'll promise not to hurt me, Pll un- Jock your buckles and unserew your heels.” I must stay here, must 1?” roared Shamruck. And with that he jerked up his right foot with | Buch force that the great oaken plank to which the leet was screwed came crashing and splint- | ering with it, At this the eight shoemakers @ashed out of the front door and ran down the hill. The giant now pulled up the other foot, Plank and all. Then he sat down and cut the ‘Straps ef his boots, and taking them off he un- | screwed the heels from the planks. “With uew buekies and straps.’ these will be good boots, and if ever I catch that shoemaker I will pay him for them.” The shoemaker was very much frightened, but he was a stubborn little fellow, and would | Bot easily give up his purpose of winning the | niers. “There is no use of trying force on that giant,” he said, “and everybody knows time that he can’t be persuaded he don’t want to do. There is noth- have him enchanted or bewitched. T will go ee the case you are more powerful than giants or men. But do you know what will happen if you carry out this plan?” “What?” asked the fairy. “T shall lose bef temper, a thing I don’t often do; but I know { shall do it i? you play such a trick on me as that.” “And what will happen tnen?” asked the fairy Happen!” cried Shamruck. “I shall boil over with ge. If I find myselfagainst my will among thd people on Christmas day, I shall be so wild with anger that I shall trample them to death without mercy. Tnere will not be many of them who wilt think it a merry Christmas.” Do you really mean that?” asked the fair “I certainly do,” said Shamruck. The little creature looked earnestly at the giant’s stern face. ‘“Shamruck,” she cried, this plan of mine is to cause trouble and misery, I give it up instantly. I’ll make the ice imps build the hill up under you, and the slide shall lead right down to your castie. If Ido th: will you be satistled, aud will you hurt nobody: “If you do that.” said Shamruck, “I will be satisfied, and will hurt nobody.” The fairy instantly left him, and it was not long before Shamruck felt that the pile of straw on which he was sitting was gradually rising in the air. Soon was on a@ level with the surface of the earth. Then he rose higher and higher, until he sat up- on the top of a small hill. Then before him gradually but swiftly appeared along slope of smooth ice. Down this the pile of straw, with Shamruck on it, now rapidly began to slide, and it did not stop until he found himself at t back door of his castle. It was now late.in the afternoon, and the giant laughed as he entered his castle and made ready for his journey “How ridiculous it is,” he said to himself, “for these creatures to try to make me do what I don’t want to!” . When he was ready to start, he opened the front door, but stopped suddenly as he saw something on the door-step. At first he did not perceive in the twilight what the object was, but stooping down, he saw it wasa little ye “Child!” he cried, “what are you doing 4g T almest trod upon you.” “T san tenth tired. se eae aes, “and Tam as hungry as anything. I thought you'd ing while.” asked Sham hamruck, “that | He was in an enormous | even if stood upon one of his big chairs. Be- sides this, the bowl was entirely too efor her to manage. So, taking one of his spoons, he sat down, and took the little girl on his lap. Then he fed her with milk from the nd gave her as large a piece of bread as uid hold in her hands. Taking milk from the giant’s spoon was like drinking out of a soup plate; but the child was very hungry. She drank the milk and ate the bread, and félt happier and happier every mo- ment. When she had had enough, she leaned k against the giant's hand, and looked at him with a little smile, and said, “It is ever 50 nice not to be rath “You poor little child,” said Shamruck, “are “It you often hungry “Nearly always,” said the little girl. didn’t use to be quite so bad when mother was with me, but it was pretty bad even then.” “Where is your mother?” asked the giant. she is tired to death,” said the little girl. “Really and truly?” exclaimed Shamruc! “Yes, and they buried her,” said the child. Shamruck did not say anything for a few mo- ments, and then he asked, ‘Did you come here replied the little girl, “I had forgotten all about it. TI used to remember when Christ- mas came, but for the last two or three years mother told me I had better try to forget it. did try, but I found it right hard to forget Christmas. I always remembered it a little until this time.” | “Poor child!” thought the giant. “It must | be very hard to be obliged to forget Christmas | when ‘you want to remember it. Now, as for | me, I'd be very glad to forget it if these people would only let me. But I must be going. Lit- tle girl,” he said aloud, ‘‘wouldn’t you like to take a nap? The little girl did not_answer, for she was al- | ready taking a nap. She had’ thrown herself back upon the giant’s knee, and was sleeping | Fae Shamruck looked down upon her anc , smiled. “She must be very tired,” he said_to himself. “Pll put her down inthe iniddie of my bed. But when he attempted to take her in his hands, the child turned over and looked so troubled at having her sleep disturbed that Shamruck let her lie where she was. “She will wake up after a while,” he said, “and then I'll put her in my | bed.” ‘But the little girl slept soundly a long time, and Shamruck sat and looked at her, and thought what a pity it was that there should be such creatures in the world as himself and this little girl who could not enjoy Christmas when it came. ‘It should not come at all,” he thought, “‘when it only makes us feel how lonely and miserable we are.” Once again he tried to move the little girl, but she turned over with such an impatient gesture, and such a troubled look upon her sleeping face, that he could not bear to disturb her. After g while he heard, through the open door, aclock striking in the city. “I wonder what time it is?” he saia to hiinself. “I must be off before daylight.” It was not long after this that he heard the | Yoices of people coming up the hill. It was past 12 o'clock, and a large party of the citizens, who had staid up late to see Christmas come in, had noticed the light in the giant’s castle, and had come up the hill to see if he was really there. They entered the hall, and were astonished to see him sitting by his table. With one accord they took off their hats and shouted: Christmas! merry Christmas, Shamruc | merry, merry Christmas to you!” | Other people now came running up the hill, | and entered the castle, and everybody shouted, “Merry Christmas!” over and over again. At first Shamruck sat, utterly bewildered, looking atthe people, and listening to this strange eting then he leaned forward, and shouted, “It isu’t Christmas yet.”” The little girl, who had been awakened by the noise, sat upon his knee, and looked a3 much astonished as he was himself. “It is Christinas,” cried the people, “it struck | twelve o'clock half an b z0.” People were still coming up the hill, and the good news had been | mouth until it reached the city. The King, when he heard of it, jumped out of bed, and ordered ; his coach and sixteen piebald horses. They were speedily reudy, and then he went galloping up the hill to the castle. “Shamruck, | great hall, ‘you must stay with us now all day, and join in our festivities. You promised to do that if you ever staid long enough for anybody to ua ‘Merry Christina.” I suppose I must stay Shamruck, first having turned the empty bowl upside down on the floor for the King to sit upon, now told all that occurred to him inthe last few days, and how it happened that he was still at home. “Little girl,” said Christmas panniers are yours and in the morning you shall know everything about them. You shall now come with me to my palace, and the Queen will have you washed suitably for Christmas.” The festivities in the city began soon after breakfast. The little girl was the heroine of the day. The Christmas panniers were presented to her amid great cheering and rejoicing, and the King told her all about them. am to give the panniers away,” she said, “T shall give them to Shamruck, for he is the best person I know.” It was not very polite to say this before the King, and some of the courtiers siniled a little; but his Majesty said: “You have made a good choice And he patted her on the head. Then, turning to his treasurer, he said: “If these panniers are to go to Shamruck, you must hasten to empty them of their contents. The giant will not want the pretty knickknacks and costly ornaments they contain. Put the pan- niers on the back of the stoutest mule in the stables, and flil them with gold and silver coin.” This was speedily done, and the stout mule had scarcely staggered into the great square in which the court and the people were assembled, when Shamruck approached. He was late; but messengers who had been sent up to see what detained him had reported that he had not an- awered to their calls, but looking through the cracks of the door, they had seen him mending his clothes. So nothing was said to him about his tardiness; and although he looked rather shabby among the people iu their holiday clothes, nobody cared for that. He was cheered and welcomed as no one had ever been welcomed before in that great city. When he was told that the panniers were his, he stood still for a min- ute and said not a word. Then he turned to the ne and said: “I will not take the panniers unless I can also have the little girl.” “Will you go to him?” asked the King of the child. “He is kind and the King, “the “Indeed I will!” said sh® good, and his cow gives the best milk I ever tasted.” Then Shamruck gently took up the child and kissed her. It was one of the largest kisses any little girl ever had, but she was not fright- ened a bit. The Christmas festivities lasted all day, and far into the night, and when they were over, Shamruck declared that he had never had the least idea what. a joyful day was this great holi- day, and the little girltold the King that no matter what happened, she never could forget Christmas again. Shamruck did not want a mule. He took the panniers in one hand and the little girl in the other, and went up to his castle, a great crowd of people accompanying him, and siiging carols as they walked. In a day or two pleasant rooms were fitted up for the little girl in the castle, and the giant provided her with teachers and good companions, and she grew up to bea fair and happy woman. As for Shamruck, he was never gloomy again, and ever afterward Christmas time was to him the most Joyful season of all the ear. The little shoemaker had a weary time try! to make the fairy slippers. He had’not tmagiaed it could be such a difficult task. He equid never shave any leather thin enough; he could never get any thread or waxed-ends fine enough; and his fingers were all too big tohandle such tiny bari on He worked in his spare time, as he had said he wou!d; but as he had always given him- self a good deal of time, he had to work a good deal on the slippers. Before long he be- gan to dislike them so much that he gaye more attention to bis regular business sc as to have as little spare time as possible, and he soon be- me & prosperous man. ‘The fairy were never finished, but the little shoemaker made all the boots for the giant Shamruck, and all the shoes for the little girl, them nothing at all.—From the ber of Harper's Young People.” elite ET Tue Fate or Toe Steamer Batu C: from Bristol for New Yi see and ig no She sunk off Newfoundland. ie by the bark Wil Thenday landed at " said the giant, “I promised that, and | giant. Then he be-| any ofthe food. She eonld not reach the table | DISGRACEFUL i | preservation of which ever CONDITION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY. From the Providence Press, Several very important measares will come before Congress for action, but not one in which the necessity of doing something immediately is more pressing than that of providing adequate and suitable accommodations for the congres- sional library. This is a matter which has been repeatedly brought to the attention of Congress in the course of the last dozen years, during which it has been criminally neglected until the present condition of the most comprehensive and valuable collection of books and other lite- rary treasures in the country isa public re- proach and scandal, and would disgrace any na- tion which pretends to be civilized and enlight- ened. Somewhat more than one-hall of the library is bestowed in three lofty rooms which, according to the notions of the architect who superintended their constraction, are fire-proof. They might have been so before every inch of space that could be used was fitted with pine shelving dry as tinder, and before cords of unbound books and pamphlets were neces- sarlly arrangea im these improvised tinder | boxes, or piled in heaps upon the main floors | and in the alcoves and galleries. In these three | rooms, with their kindling-wood fixtures, per- haps three-fourths of the poss ms of the library are contained. Where is the remainder? Senators and Congressmen know, unless th are criminally ignorant, that the library’s collec- tion of documents published by the general go: ernment, is stored in a loft whichis by no means | fre-proof, and which ts so small that of nec: | sity thousands of volumes are piled on the floor which they are thus imprisoned by the ineffi- ciency, neglect and parsimony of Congress is dark and ill-smelling, and affords a secure hai bor for dust, rats, mice and other vermin which prey upon books.’ While this collection of pub- lic documents is not complete. itis more nearly so than any other in the world except that de- posited in the British museum. If destroyed, as it is now lable to be at any hour through accident or carelessness, it could never be re- | placed except at enormous expense. Be great portion of the books are virtua! cessible for puro. of study or reference, Senators and Congressmen also know, or ought to know, that the priceless collection of | ber, which furnish an unbroken diary of events from colonial days down to the present, are packed in a garret adjoining that in which the public documents are stored, and where they are exposed to the same dangers of destruction | from fire and from vermin. Should these in | uable records of contemporary events be de- stroyed no expenditure of money would replace them.’ The two garrets mentioned are thirty or forty feet above the main floor, and can be reached only ‘by three narrow, steep flights of winding stairs. A fire kindled in either garret would immediately spread to the main libra where the pine cases and shelves before men- tioned would furnish fuel enough to cause great, if not irretrievable, damage to the 300,000 vol- umes therein contained. All this is disgraceful enough, but worse re- mains to be told. In the basement and sub- dungeon-like rooms, unfit for any purpose ex. cept as places to store fuel. They cannot be heated, and no ray of daylight penetrates them. For si cannot remain in either of them any length of time without imminent risk to health and life. In one of these dungeons, where dampness and mildew prevail and vermin hold carnival, are stored the copyright files of the library—the records of title to literary property, in the American author and publisher is personaily and pecuniarily in- terested. Into another dungeon are crammed the government publications of foreizn coun- tries, a file of. which certainly ought to be sui ably arranged for reference; now they are prac- tically as worthless as though they had never left the printing press. Two other dungeons serve also as literary mausoleums, and are filled with valuable volumes which appear destined never again to see the light of da. But there is worse even than this to be told. The congressional library possesses one of the most complete and valuable pictorial and carto- "he cried, as he ran into the | graphic collections in the United States, mainly accumulated without expense under the opera: tion of the copyright law. This collection valuable, not only intrinsically but as furnishing anillustration of the rise, progress and present condition of the arts of engraving, lithography. cartography and photography in the Unite States. By requiring the deposit of these arti- cles, as_ well as of book assumed a trust and made itself responsible not only for their preservation, but for their proper arrangement and display for pur- poses of public study and instruction. How has that trust been fuliilled? If any Senator or Congressman is curious to know, and can spare a half-hour from his engrossii to his “deestrick” and from the importunities of office-seeking constituents, let him make a pil- grimage to a certain subterranean recess under the erypt in the Capitol. He will there find a dark archway, a section of which has been roughly inclosed, and into the black, damp hole thus created he will find crammed, packed and Squeezed—without arrangement or order, be- cause either is thus impossible—tens of thous- ands of maps and charts and other treasures belonging to the congressional library. Then let him blush as he asks himself what share of re- sponsibility rests upon him for this disgraceful condition of affairs. The attendants in the library are crowded about as badly as are the books; the rooms are wretchedly ventilated; there is np elevator or dumb waiter, and when a book is wanted from the uppermost gallery an attendant is compelled to climb three steep flights of stairs and make a journey of 100 to 500 fect going and returnin; the toilet arrangements are in a remote, out-ot the-way corner! People who desire to consult the books in the library are furnished no suita- ble accommodations. A half dozen small tables are provided for their use. These are at all times crowded with readers during library hours, but they are necessarily placed in the most pub- lic part of the library, so that anything like prof- itable and continuous study and investigation of any subject is practically forbidden. In fine, owing wholly to the incapacity, neglect and ni; gardliness of Congress, which has steadily dis- regarded the appeals and protests of Mr. Spof- ford, the able and accomplished librarian, and of the more enlightened portion of the American people, the Congressional library is practically useless. Some Congressmen whose acquaintance with literature is chiefly confined to the daily news- pers and Congressional Record, have deigned express an interest In the library to the ex- tent of suggesting that it contains too many books, and that three-fourths or nine-tenths of them might better be sold! One of these mod- ern disciples of Omar coolly declared that half thelibrary might as well be burned,and expressed. a willingness to serve as a member of a select committee to decide which books shouid be sayed and which destroyed. By purchase and by the operation of the copyright Inw the yearly accessions to the library exceed 25,000 bool pamphlets, maps, engravings, ete. The ratio of accessions, of course, increases, yearly, and the architect of the Capitol has ‘estimated that if the Senate chamber, the Rep- resentatives hall, the Supreme Court room and all the committee rooms should be given up to it, they. would barely furnish suitable accommodations for the possessions of the library at the end of the next half-century. With this fact staring them in the face, Con- ssmen and Senators (among the latter was ‘oscoe Conkling) as members of library com- mittees have advocated the enlargement of the Capitol itself in order suitably to accommodate the library. Such a proposition is simply absurd. We heard a western Congressman not very long ago advocate the purchase of “Ben Butler's Row” fora library building. This “row” con- sists of three first-class dwelling houses, and would accommodale the library about as easily as Union square would contain all the people of New York. And this conreman, an Ohio Congressman at that, and withal quite as intelll- gent as the ay member of Congress, could see nothing absurd in his pro} ition. For several years col lonal committees have been wrestling with this library problem, oe without any di ne it: They paxe ma sure, Tipon a for Been able to of the Capitol. The the latter site are that it is a would therefore cost n¢ it is the-only public the int decade Wad sang t Ro in great heaps like cord wood. The garret in | basement of the Capitol are four dark. damp, ‘| the government has | breathing-place for the people in that quarter of the city. It is to be hoped, however, that even if the best site—that east of the Capitol—is not se- lected, some other one will be before the ad- journment of the next session of Congress: and that as soon as a site is chosen a suitable library building will be built as speedily as practicable. A dozen earnest men in each branch of Con- gress can carry this measure if they devote themseives to it. Will they do it, and earn the vill and gratitude of the country? We promise them that sach a work will “pay” them better than ‘loz-rolling” a river and harbor steal through Congress. From the N. The return of Prof. F. B. Hough from Europe is announced, and to the majority of readers edge that the Agricultural burean has a PD) of Forestry, of which he is the head. For seven | § months he has been studying the schools of lection of materi 1, he proposes to make recom- mendations to Co ress for planting, presery- the announcement conveyed their first kn hea forestry in various Continental countries of | MR: | Europe, and, haying brought back a large col- | S.HOOL, corner of 19th xtreet north: Sanmary Sd, 1882. If thes there. ¢19-20" FPSESSH EFpsos S JANUARY Morning, Afteracoh and- Evening Clases of grades. The’ systet of teaching is pleasant, tiozouch, | and practical. A Parisian pronunciation taught. Terns | moderate. Gail, or nend mame and address. MILLE. | VI PRUD HOMME, T3181 street northwest. a E SISTERS 01 OF WASH- inat Limited nom, 08 Conn ete. For farthve the Acag = oa ee tecacd wa pee station, Washington, D. C. a Prepa vation for ¢ Sqppcis. “Tatiow corman Clare in the venin@iiasses for sentiemen. Address, Lor lars, F, MUSSAEUS, 1213 L street northwest, im MA’ 3 ADELINE DUVAL a2-Im York i street northwest. ing, and maintaining forests on the prairie and | #7 desert fands of the west. Some prozress has already been made in tree culture in this coun- A few states, by exemption from tax or | bound newspaper files, more than 5,000 in num- | Se RECON AC HELE (OE tO) SORE AU DION ee aL on lesa than UD Awe adjoining some other tract which will make that area of | se, have sought to arouse an interest in the subject, but for the most part local and vol: untary organizations have done all the work. in 1876 Mr. B. G. Northrop, secretary of the Connecticut board of education, dis circular among the schools of that stat gesting, a3 a ood centennial movement —1 end soon but to be continued—an annual tree planting on highw He said then, in a pamphlet reviewing various educational topics, that Mr. George B. Emerson, authorofawork on “The Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts,” had, during that year, imported and pianted more than 30,000 European larches of two years’ the chief timber trees of Europe. was pro- nounced by the Boston and Albany railroad, after fifteen years’ trial of it in ties, as durable as red cedar, and the Illinois Central road offered to carry the European larch gratuitously to any point on its lines, provided the trees were to be planted near the lines. Many millions of this tree, and of the Scotch pine (said to be the best tree for poor soils) are growing in the west, and } Gsaid this pamphlet) “in the new arboretum be- longing to Harvard College, situated in Brook- line, and including 130 acres, are now growing over 200,000 smail trees started from the seed, including ninety-three varieties of evergreens, 450 of deciduons trees and shrubs, and thirt four of oaks.” Connecticut, in 1877, passed a jaw exempting from all taxation whatever, for a term of ten years after an average of six feet in height had been attained, any plantation of any of eight trees named, provided that the land s0 used had not heretofore been woodland; that it was not actually worth more than $15 per ucre at the time of planting, and that the trees numbered at least 1.200 to the acre. In Massa- chusetts a draft of a bill is réady for the legisla- ture, which provides that whenever any town devotes, by proper legal form, any part of its area to tree-culture, and whenever the appro- priation for buying this tract, plus donations, equals the assessed value of the real estate in: cluded, the tract shall become a public domain, the title to vest in the commonwealth, but the tract to be perpetually held for the benefit of the town, subject to some restrictions unneces- to quote; the act shall not apply to any continuous public domain. A State board of forestry is also provided tor. The foregoing only shows the drift of feeling, and is by no means a cot ganized moyement wi has resorted to statutes and to work through fair and similar associations. The best work, because the speediest and the most contagious, is probably that of the village improvement society. Thus, an item we have previously quoted trom the Springfield Republican, a rortwo old, reads that “the Williamstown Village Improvement Society finished week its tree-piantin: there is now a continuous row of over 450 elms for three miles from the village to the Adams line. It asks North Adams people to continue the row to their village.” It is natural for North Adams to do so, end for other yil- lages to imitate the exainple set. Here is probably the most effective plan, needing only that some pul virited person in every vil- lage should stir about and make the start. “ But, we have already remarked, the tree lines should not stop where the village ends; they should be continued until all the highways be- come leafy lanes. The work is no very arduous one, requiring only co-operation and concerted action. “Tree-planting day” may be made one ot the most delightful in ‘the year. That the mud will not dry so quickly on a shaded road is true, but it is an error to assume the necessity of having the mud there. ‘The trees will natu- Tally beget a desire for good roads, which do not include mud and sand, and the farmer who has intelligence to value a tree except to fell it will not be long in discovering the economic value of good roads, even when they cost something. Do trees pi In part an answer may be had to this if we suppose wood capable of being mined, fruit and nuts growing on vines, and | then the earth to become treeless. Where trees are wanting is desert; where they will grow other vegetation will. and their cultiva- tion is able to remove sterility in many places. Civilization makes a mistake in viewing the for- est as an enemy merely because it had the soil first, and counts too much on the axe and linked with high civilization, comfort, prosperit; and edueation, and the rule should be ev where that trees should be wherever the soil is Proof V | not needed other ‘wise—this would allow all the room wanted by cultivation, while retaining forest and shade. The close connection be- tween rain-fall, drought, and trees is becoming seen; their intrinsic value is only to that of minerals, no investment yields so well, for their first cost. is inappreciable. Nor is it necessary to base their culture solely on regard for posterity, which has never done anything for us, because a decade or so will make them useful to their planters. Hard and slow work as it is to start public movements which do not appeal es- pecially to private interests—for example, in | the matter of the Niagara Falls international park and the Adirondack reservation in this state—there is a gratifying progress in tree- culture. An evidence of it is the enlightened selfishness which has led some railroad com- panies to erect tasteful station buildings and to beautify them cheaply by little flower-beds, as well as to discover the practical utility as well as pleasanter appearance of a grassy road-bed. ‘Trees are a good part of the original plan of the world, and it is sensible to discover that their destruction and repression are no improvement upon it. eS ee : Regulators String Up a Young Lady by the Neck. The Harrison county, Ind., ‘Knights of the Switch,” who whipped Philip Borden, an in- valid ex-soldier, in an inhuman manner, re- turned next night, and taking Mr. Borden’s step-daughter, a young lady of about nineteen years, from the house, thev placed aropearound her neck and demanded that she reveal to them certain secrets they accused her of being in pos- session of. She refused to do so, and they threw the rope over a limb ofa tree and drew up, hanging her by the neck until nearly dead. ‘They then let her down and again de- manded that she reveal the secrets they alleged her to posses She told them she knew noth- ing of the matter, and they again drew her up, strangling her nearly to death. After this they released her and rode away. ——-——+e2-—______ THE ET OvT.—A reporter dropped into one of ddr largest retail establishments yester- day, ahd held a conversation with the pro) tor. ‘ou have a great rush,” remarked the reporter. ‘‘Yes,” replied the proj ‘e big rush—partly because it is holi but mainly on 9990 unt of aarti: ; whether pee good mediums?” ePSan tell that advertising pays by 4 are my advertise— ments. Tretred it, le drops, not at once, but the tide of purchasers flows some other way. The cash receipts tell the story.” “Suppose ou should give up advertising?” ‘Yon must le the boilers heated if you want steam. If you bank your fires too long it takes time to start up. “Advertising is the steam which keeps business moving. [ve studied the matter.” Boston Journal. sda tame \t growth from the seed, That tree, long one of | _™? fasces asa symbol of progress; trees are closely | Perpetual Charter Act of Congress January 224, 1867. in | | | ofthe ‘elty:, "The: healt and | F.C. x + OCTOBI STREET NORTH EST. full particnlare and circulars apply to . EC. COLLIERE, A.M. Professor of the French (Translations done.) ‘CE, FROM PAXIS, WIL onversational Lessons in French, at her « Vupils’ residences; iso, oncanize Evening Pilces moderate. Bost city references. Ap) VE WITH OUR CHILDR ergarten and Seminary for ¥ and Normal Tnstit 00 IRL A VAVERLEY | SEMINARY northwest, Washington, D. V School for Young Ladies. 126-1 MISS LIPSCOMB, Principal. QRENCH TAUGHT ORALLY—NO MORE GRAM- mar. [am prepared to teach on A. Sardou's Oral Spetem, the ‘simplest, quickest and miost 1 . any years experience in best echools in the city-Ad- dress Prof. C. GINESL, P.O. Box 614. nld-6m MiSs MARY K. SCHREINER, TEACHER OF ELOCUTION, No. 1212 L street northwest. E RS—A HOME SCHOOL FOR YOUNG Ladies and Little Girls is situeted on the Heights of is accessible by street cars to all parts is are extensive, the location ides Minwes E groun: land beautiful. Ad id Vashingt: m, th #4” ORGAN and ‘to begin a 35th ion qualified for northwest. Joe EFL, Teacher of PIANO, « VOCAL MUSIC. Particular at tis bers, as well as those wishing to be formers or Teac! ‘734 12th street dl-eolm* GQEENCERIAN BUSINESS COLLEGE, CORNER SS Ninth and D streets northwest, occupies’ its new and attractive ha!l in the handsome edifice known throughout. the United States as LINCOLN HALL BUILDING, Day and Evening sessions for Ladies and Gentlemen. and daughters edi for real life. Students re ceived throughout the year. A pamphlet, contaming an eloquent address to the students on *'Element« of Success,” by Jamen A. Garfield; also full information concerning the College, will be sent. free upon applica tion by mail, or may be obtained at the College office. HENRY C” SPENCER, Principal. MBS. SARA A- SPENCER, Vice Principal. 027 °° \HERE IS NOTHING ON EARTH 80 PRECIOUS asthe mind, soul and character of a child.” FRIENDS’ SEMINARY, I Street, Between i8re axp 19TH NorTawest, Affords to Girl education ; prepares its pi have no expense for books. 06-3, OARDING SCHOOL FOR West End Institute, New Haven, Superior facilities. S ence ind Engiish, priv ys ‘Addrees y A. A.M., o4-3m Columbian College, Washington, D.C. USICAL ACADEMY M' 1534 1 st Principal, J. P. CAULFIELD. Mus. Studies resumed September 26th. ME: AND, SHES: ALFRED Bi aE and ich Boardinx and Day Ladies, 1012 17th street northwest. School will be resumed SEPTEMBE! a HE ARCHER INSTITUTE. HAS returned from her western tour. Her school will Seiumence on THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 20th, | For ulars address or call upon Ro. Ta0t ‘Massachusetts avenue, i Young The duties of this : Sm" TAS, INSTITUTE, 903 161% STREET NORTH- weet—Mre. L. Swrru, Principal. select Eng- lish and Classical ith superior facilities for French apd German. Ths Principal will ive the enre and comforts of a pleasant home to six a ‘i may be oblained st te Bookstores Or from the 26-5m, TON COLLEGIATE E.— Boarding and_Day School for ¥ Children, re-cpens Sept PRNATELY, QR IN CLASS MATHEMATICS, Latin, Greek, French. German and English. ‘Special ‘attention to for College, West Point, Annapolis and all eompetitive exaninations. ‘Terins in advance. 8..W. FLYNN, A. M., a6 8, W. comer 8th and K streets, ortin " 07 Sth street north: 4 &c. Church organ for practice. ___ SAFE DEPOSIT CO. SECURITY FROM LOSS BY BURGLARY, ROBBERY, FIRE OR ACCIDENT. THE NATIONAL SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY, of Washington, In its own Building, : Corner 15TH Street axp New Yorx Ave. according to size and ion. Joining Vaults, provided for Safe-Renters. VAULT DOORS GUARDED BY THE SARGENT TIME-LOCK. SECURITIES AND VAI tion, “including BONDS and ELRY, DEEDS, &c., SPECIAL GUARANT BENJAMIN P. SNYDER, President. : CHAMLES ©. GLOVER, of Rigys & Co., Vice President. ALBERT L. STURTEVANT, Secretary. ©.'E. Nymui, Asst. Sey. ECTORS: TABLES of every denerip- STOCKS, PLATE JEW- taken for SAFE-KEEPING, on E, ut the Lowest Hates. the Dm : Benjamin P. Snyder, I ©. Glover, Ego oid Henry A, Willard, Albert L. sturtevant, ‘Evans, John G. Parke. _00-PARTNERSHIPS. IMITED CO-PARTNERSHIP. Bie TS Ee 4 Dame or fumn of WASHINGTON AND GLORGETOWN ¥.. No bills paid WOOD AND COAL. __ -CREVELING, WOOD AND COAL, removed from 17th street wharf to 14th street wharf. Offi 1822 14th street. Best Spruce Pine, 5: best Bakers Pine, $5 Oak, ; Hickory, $7.50; ‘Sawed and Split Oak, $7: Pine, 36.50. nil -2m* INSURA (KOLUMBIA FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, ‘ThusrEes: |OHN PAR FRED'E B. McGUIRE, es FLEMING, Gp WB. WaITE, wae BM GALT. HENRY A." HENRY A. .. WILLARD, President. FREDERICK B. McGUIRE, Vice President. Fhetrance against all Lom ty Fire at reasonsble rates. 3y9-6m Ligzs BINDERY, 1 2 PENNSYLVANIA AY. Plain and Fancy description done atfearonable rates,” Blank Books ami Best of references, Orders by mail promptly to. 026 Geren 2012 Pennsi Fine E| g her ‘ollece, Military | _STEAMERS, &e. | STEAMER “MATTANO™ eaves ith-strect wharf st | ROTOMAG RIVEK LANDINGS an follows tn Ronee daye for Nermini; on Thursdays t ow Bock House Land- | te Machodock Oreck) and Mattox Creek, on Sepdays. | fe an apd Mattex Greeks; | alternate days, touching at i Shag and eh: al Creal i y8and Fridays G. T. JONES, Agent. FOR POTOMAC KIVER LANDINGS. On ond efter NOVEMBER 3f, 1881, the steamer | ARROWSMITH will leave her E. tor THUD On SATURDAY, € i JOHN K. WOOD, Agent. TSMOUTH, PORTRESS POINT AND KOT NECTING WI DENCE § | _ Steamer EXCELSIOK on TU and SATURDAYS at 5 pum. | FALL AND WINTER ARRANGEMENTS, BEGIN. NING OCTOBER Ler. arfotk and Fort Monroe. | Second-clase fare to Fortress Monroe atl N | Piret-claes fare to"Piney Point and Point Lookout. Second-class to Piney Point and Pointdookout.... | wiret-ctams tare ‘Tickets and stateraoms tor sae and eee information tur. F street northwest; 4 avenue uerth> ven ER st prin HE. chorn, neat to City Pow Uke Company's Office, 7th street wharf. BORGE MATTINGLY, General Supt, | wat. Pp. WELCH. “Acont. cory hee; and at ORFULK AND NEW YORK STEAMERS, STEAMER LADY OF THE LAKE ry MONDAY, sok pom. teuch- Monroe. 1 STEAMER WITH ik BOSTON Norfolk. ..$2.50 ie DAYS ina SAT jock pin. Tickets and stateroon be secured at general | oft, 613 15th street; in. the National Metropolitan Bank Bui OF at the office, 6th street wharf, W YORK STREAMERS kK i JOHN GIBSON River, New ¥. 1 m., and aon eat a anaes ¥ particulars aj) > nt, 63 Water street, ALFRED WOOD, Secretary, uF £ 613 loth street, Oppomite (CUNARD LINE. 4 8. Treamiry. 022 Fates. Through ‘bills of iaaengiven for Belfast, Havre, Antwerp and other portaon the Coul for Mediterranean ports. For freight and parsage No. 4 Bowling Green, or 8 BIGELOW Siw. W& CO., 605 Tth strect, Washington, 3 VERNON H. BROWN & CO., New York; Orto Meer. O1IS BIGELOW & OO. jan]? 605 72h otrect, Washington. y ORTH GERMAN LLOYD— STEAMSHIP LINE METWEEN New Yorn, HAVRE LONDON, SOUTHAMPTON AND BREMEN. The stearwers of this company: wil eall EVERY 8A7- URDAY from Bremen Pier, foot of 3d steeet, Hoboken. Rates of From New York to Hay: Lem men, first cabin, F100; ‘so $0, prepaid steerage certincats, ly to ORLAUCHS & CO, W.G. METZEROTT & enue northwest, Agente for Jan Panag Southawvton and cabin, $60; etecrage . "For freight or ap) Powine Green Sew Monk! CO., 925 Pennsylyauia av Washineton NEW York ROTTERDAM. MN, = The fire: “AMSTERDA’ “SCHIEDA! . SCHOLPEN,” . CALAND,* and’ "MAAS," Carrying the U. §. Mails to the Netherland son Stores Brooklyn, regularis, on WE First Cabin, $60-80). 2d Cabin, $60 . CAZAUX, ‘General Agent, 27 So York. For 01 ; 1. A National Safe Depot Build jew York avetiue and 15th street horthwest. daft R. LEON, THE OLDEST ESTABLISHED AND inost relisble LADIES’ PHYSICIAN in thecity, {obmulted daily At 455 Sasscchuretts avenue, sm to4and6to8. All Fewale Complaints and a ties quickly cured. Prompt treatment. Separate reome for Indies. 20-1 R. AND MME. SELDEN, PROFESSORS OF MID- wifery: over 20 yearx muccesafal practice: &kilful treatment ; elerant adoommodations ; consultations with 182 Lexington avenue, near sist street, Patients virited at any place in thie Correspondence by telngrayh only. )pR. ROBERTSON, THE MOST longest established specialist in rieuce, will tee ‘xix. order received by us Shy a Seat to pore eaten VE une) lvenia avenue, om, D. Wi .d Hotail Agents, to whom ail coda ould e QTARTLING FADAME DE FOREST HAN KEMEDY FOR LA MD ice Gattemste complaints quickly cured. Can be pe cs consulted dail from 1 to9 0’ p R. MOTT’S FRENCH POWDERS—C) Die Kidne vs Nervous Debit speedily: cu sale by WM. B. ENTWISLE. strect and Pennsylvania avenue. ‘Tail under seal on receipt of pric mii Fie Ei i 4's ui age wi A i md rast i 8 if 8) ¥ | til LH i E Fi FE §j i i i i i i