Evening Star Newspaper, May 18, 1889, Page 10

10 f THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. Cc, SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1889—TWELVE PAGES. Written for Tax E¥ewrxo Stan. CONSERVATORI OF THE RICH. Beautiful Flower Rooms Arranged for Decorative Purposes. EFFECTIVE VISTAS IN HANDSOME HOUSES—MRS. W. H. VANDERBILT'S CONSERVATORY—FLOWERS AND PLANTS IN THE MARQUAND HOUSE—TRO- PICAL FOLIAGE THE RAGE—RENTING FLOWERS. In the play at the Madison Square theater applause inevitably greets the rise of the cur- tain on the third act. This populer favor is de- served. The stage se’ = is a conservatory and is not only an instance of fine stage effect, but it exemplifies for our purposes the conser- vatory in its latest aspect, which is as a decora- tive feature of an int¢rior, and nota place to cul- tivate flowers even as anelegant accomplishment. The conservatory is composed of indented arches, arranged in a semicircle making smafi alcoves. In the center is one still more re- cessed, where stands a diminutive goddess, before whom a veiled light burns as before @ shrine. There aré no flowers, but the scene painter has admirably simulated in each of the small alcoves palms, India-rubber plants and other tropical foliage. The tiled center is left free. Here are wicker chairs, lounge and table. It is a place for quiet companionships, cigars, coffee and comfort, and in the purposes of the play serves exactly the same mission as im private life. ANOTHER EXAMPLE in kind has been too prominently exploited in the newspapers to have escaped notice. The description will bear retelling. ‘The green trees of the floor were painted with a rank growth of grasses and ferns. Throngh the palms and tropical shrubs that crowded the conservatory glared the wild beasts of far-off jungles marvelously stuffed and poised. The walls were forgotten behind a tapestry of reeds and birds of the orient. In one corner was a fountain simulating a pool, and on its surface floated the pink, fragrant lilies that lie on eastern lakes.” The prominence which has been given to this conservatory was due to its supposed exaggeration and was intended to in- dicate the writer's unbridled imagination, but the illustration was badly chosen. As a whole it is exaggerated, but the details, barring the stuffed beasts and painted floor, can be found } in one or another of the different cdénservatories im town, IN A CITY HOUSE. The conservatory asa detail ina city house is always an attempt to render a certain decor- ative effect, not, to be sure, in every case so fierce and tropical as that described, but hav- ing some relation to the rest of the house. It belongs to the ensemble. and is ordered with reference to the rooms with which it is in rele tion. The most artistic purpose of the con- servatory is the perfection and culmination of vista. To counterfeit, to simulate space in a city house is the desire of every architect and every owner. Todo thishas taxed their re- sources and their ingenuity. Nothing so well serves their purpose as the conservatory, for the eye loses in the foliage mtassed at the back. which may extend, the mind lending to the illusion, to unknown depths. To this some such scenic effect as the drop curtain of the dison Square theater may even be called in. IN MR. VANDERBILT'S HOME the conservatory is immediately back of the main gallery and is entered at the side from the second gallery. The main gallery connects through the open passage that serves for water colors. with the square central hall. This in turn connects with the drawing-room. Here. from drawing-room to the conservatory is the vista of 200 feet, proportions ix . York house which are truly magnifi which are enriched by superb columns of marble, carvings, ¢ of art. The conservatory 1s semi-circular. The floor is mosaic, and the walls paneled in cream enameled tiles. There are no shelves, for there is no floral cultivation. Gi- antic ims, ferns, all manner of road leaved, curious, bizarre, gro- tesque plants with impossible names stand round in pots and jars that are grouped to per- fect the view from the vantage point of the dis- tant dgawing-room. These pots themselves works of art lustra. Japanese bron: museum spoils, all are beautiful scene. Here and th and before the sheet of plate the sliding door into the drt gallery, hangs an orchid like a tassel. This delicately guards the unbroken sheet, which gives so little evidence of being a barrier that otherwise it would be in constant danger. MR. MARQUAND'S CONSERVATORY. The conservatory in Mr. Marquand’s house terminates another superb vista of at least 175 feet through dining room, Japanese room and the Louis XVI drawing room, and connecting, on the Madison avenue side, with the Moorish room. Mr. Marquand’s con- servatory has an eastern exposure filling the angle at the southwest corner of the house, where Mr. Vanderbiif's has only the western sun. The curious and inexplicable stained brown. The next day they are set with emer- ald turf and enameled with primroses, daffodils and tulips, HOW THEY ARE TENDED. For conservatories such as those described there are no gardeners, They are stocked and tended by some city florist. One of the most* ——= orchid growers and florists who loes a great deal of this sort of thing says: “A rich man concludes he wants a conserva- tory. He comes to me and tells me the sort of effect he wants to produce. I to see his place, we compare ideas. talk it over and the Test is left to me, I agreeing to take charge of it for so much a month. The plants I own; my client probably doesn't know their names. So often a week my men visit it, water, wash and look after the health and welfare of the plants. ‘The only thing my client is responsible for is frost. He has the heating of the conservatory, I can’t control that. If he allows the plants to be killed by too low a temperature he has to pay for them, for I own them, and so to speak rent them to him, the rent being in- cluded in the gross sum paid to me monthly. There are fashions in plants as in everything. At present the basis of every conservatory is tropical foliage. These we get mainly in palms and ferns, of which there are endless varieties, These are not transplanted, but stand in tubs that may be hidden if desired in costly jars. Those we do not furnish. In their season we furnish plants in bloom, and when the period of bloom is over we take them away and sub- stitute others. A short time ago azaleas were in great demand. Again it is rhododendrons. At present ——_ trees in bloom are the object of everybody's desire.” “Surely the craze of all crazes is orchids.” ABOUT ORCHIDS, “You remember when everybody had rustic baskéts swinging from the ceiling? Well, that craze has passed and now we have orchids, Orchids are more curious. A bit of wood sus- pended from a thread alive with strange shapes of wondrous color.” “Are they not difficult to cultivate?” “They are dificult to start and require the closest care. This is done in our country fore- ing-houses, But when once they started they can be transferred to a city conservatory, and re- quire no more care than do the ferns and palms.” “Then there are no private orchid fanciers in town?” “There have been but two to my knowledge. Mr. Jay Gould has a fine collection, but those |are in his glass-houses at Tarrytown. The only orchid grower in town is Mr. Arnold. He has a collection to be compared with that of Mr. Gouid and of Mr. Chadwick of Albany, whose orchids are probably the finest in the country.” MRS, MORGAN’S ORCHID HOUSE. The other orchid grower to which the florist referred was the late opulent Mary Jane Mor- gan. Mrs. Morgan’s orchid house was a plain but extensive glass affair over her stables, Her ambition was to have the most comprehensive collection in the country, and her 2.500 orchid out of the Duke of Devonshire’s s: plicates is a matter of orchid history. The schoolmistress element always remained in lively force in Mrs. Morgan's nature. As she took up one fancy or another she acquainted herself thoroughly with it, and a library of = ties was the result. In this case her en- thusiasm is embalmed in an orchid morganien- sis. named for her by orchid growers. Nothing about city conservatories complete without an allusion to the wi r gar- dens of some of the hos; is. The York hospital has a spacious glass house on its roof with a center of palms and tropical foliage,and about it a wide promenade where convales- cents are wheeled in rolling chairs and may lie and luxuriate in the health-giving sun. Mary Gay HumpPaReys. ses __ ould be PTUCKY K AINEERS. A Visit to a Typical Family on Bull- skin Creek. Correspondence of Tur EVENING Star. Cuay County, Ky., May 10, 1889. It was early in the morning of a perfect April day that we went down the road that leads to the banks of the Bullskin—a creek that traverses a part of eastern Kentucky, It was a charming ride through the mists and shadows of the early morning. Our destina tion was the house of an old man named Berger. It was a quaint old place, much cleaner than the houses in that country w. are, with the remarkable luxury of an “up- stairs.” Old Mrs. Barger was preparing dinner when we arrived, and we sat down to dine at 10 o'clock in the morning. We told the family that we dined at home about eight hours later than that, but they would not believe it. Most of the party belonging to the geologi- cal survey set off immediately for the moun- tains, but I spent the long afternoon reading, napping and chatting with old Mrs, Barger. She busied herself about the stove, which, with the dining table, wsa under a shed in the yard, and sang old time hymns in the highest ice I ever heard. She suddenly stopped singing and asked me if I had ever heard that “hime” before, and while I was trying to guess at her meaning she explained by saying that glass has puzzled many a passer by. within it resolves itself into a Watte: rustic arbors. di: French fashions. is intended to.carry ont in land: he effect of the conversatory within? A: ng tothe same idea but in a different way, and with dif- ferent results than did the tapestried back ound of reeds completing Hermio 8 jy Mr. Marquand’s conversator very pretty feature copied from the Alhambra, This is a gutter cut in the marble floor and along the sides of the conservatory, with here and there openings through which jets of water From she got it from an old “hime-book” that was jsnearly a hundred years old. THE FAMILY, She was an active old woman, the mother of mahy stalwart sons and daughters. One of the latter, a strapping bare-legged lass of eighteen, had just gone to the creek with the family laundry. This is quite @ serious matter, par- ticularly for the clothes. They scrub them in the wnter, then pound them with heavy paddles till their ideas of cleanliness are satistied. It takes good homespun to bear such heroic treatment, In the evening I joined the group lay. These are not only a charming detail, ut keep the atmosphere of the conservatory desirably moist. A PART OF THE DINING-RooM. Where the vista is impossible, the next desira- ble position of the conservatory is attached to, and a part of, the dining-room. Sometimes both of these ends are accomplished, as in Mr. A. J. White's house on upper sth avenue. This house is the splendid monument of an prise that, it is said, began in a wash-bowl. is so curious, interesting and typical that it tempts digression. The drawing-room is Japanese and opens into a Renvaissance music-room, which is the expansion of the hall and receives the magnifi- cent stairway. This leads into the dining-room, beautiful with carved wainscotting and marbles and opening inte the conservatory. This suc- cession affords ope of the most superb coup sitting about the fire waiting for supper. ‘Lhe: were “the boys” come in from the farm worl with several neighbors who had been helping. Darkness had fallen, and the men about the fire were as silent and sedate as only a group of mountaineers can be. The silence was suddenly broken by the entrance of a hale, hearty, old man, whom all the party addressed as grand- pap and treated with great respect. The old man placed himself with utmost care on a stool near the fire, and waited until Mrs. Barger had resumed her work at the fire, and the men had gone back to chewing their “long cut” and to sileace; then he looked about him with an air “Why, what's the matter, grandpap?” came inachorus from all sides, for grandpap had been aland mark on the creek before any of them were born. d@ ail intown. The conservatory in itself is beautiful with carvings and martes. The floor isof marble. In the center is a large marble fountain. The sides below the glass are wains- cotted with tawny-hued Numidian marble, brass-bound. On the side walls is a frieze richly modeled, the motives, being birds and flowers and other signiticant attributes of a sylvan scene. Such is the background, and against it massed and grouped with proper effect are the broad-leaved tropical foliage plants that for the most part compose the con- servatories in town. SOME EFFECTIVE CONSERVATORIES, In Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt's house the con- Servatory juts out to 57th street and opens into the dining-room which I have before described. This, as the other conservatories, is a mass of tropical greenery which can be discerned from the Moorish smoking room through the lovely Italian corrider that intervenes. Mr. Jay Gould's town conservatory is attached to his dining-room but has no prominence aside from the restful effect of a mass of green. One of the prettiest conservatory effects in town is in the house of a Mrs. Fogg. on upper Sth avenue. ‘The conservatory opens out of the dining-room, which is « leather huug. brast-studded room bearing the impress of Mr. Louis Tiffany's in- _— decorative talent. The conservatory screened behind by glass doors that shut it off if desired, but the doors are so fashioned as to blend with and admit the beauty of the green beyond. The greater part is of clear —_ but mingled with it is stained glass which the semblance of vines and flowers. These are admirably drawn, glorious in color and assist in the prettiest illusion possible. + AN APPENDAGE OF WEALTH, These are inefficient to show the scope and disposition of the city conservatory. It is not intended for the cultivation of plants or flow- ers. Itis ted by neither love of flowers of planta. It isan appendage of ing wealth, a feature of decoration, and has not in it more carpets and curtains, The little woman who grows early primroses and cultivates rose slips under a disused sash, and is supremely content if she can attach a few pars of glass to the side of her house, may have she would like to exchange cuttings with the mistress of some fine city conservatory, but — two — a tongues, They both ure of possession, but Py age entirely different’ way. not be otherwise. There is not sun for by cultivation of flowers, “Cause,” he replied, ‘cause it ain't safe fur nobody as lives on this creek; it ain't safe.” WHY IT WASN'T SAFE. The men sat upright for a moment and for- got the chew, the bacon burnt unuoticed on the stove, and after enjoying the suspense for a mo- ment, the old man continued in his soft drawl: “Bud Simpson has done beat Joe Baker's wife all to pieces with a fence rail, and run off and lef’ her fur dead.” Various exclamations came from all sides, while I sat by and listened to the details of what seemed to me to be a shocking assault. Grandpap explained, with slow care, how the quarrel originated with the ~dawgs and the hawgs.” and finally concluded by repeating, “I tell ye I goin’ to leave the creek; it ain't safe.” rs. Barger returned to her bacon with the astute observation, ‘Wall, that beats my time,” and took no further part in the conversation, but the men were oe oughly aroused and discussed the outrage with solemn eagerness. One tall fellow who seemed to be a man of sume importance reached quite a fever of excitement and all the little circle stopped to listen when he delivered his opin- ion. “A man ain’t no right to beat a woman with a fence rail. A man shouldn't beat none of my women-folks with @ fence rail. If Bud Simpson wanted to beat Tildy Baker, lidn't he take his fist an’ beat her? A man ain't no right to beat a woman witha fence rail. He orter have took his fist.” ‘The party all agreed that punishment with the fist was the proper mode for women and silence soon reigned again. The old man then inquired who was this man as was around climbin’ all the mountains and havin’ all the trees cut down,” and the same tall spokesman enlightened him by replying: “He belongs to the Joel Hodgkins survey, least way that’s what he told me.” Think of it. ‘That learned bureau of science, the U. 8. survey, “Joel Hodg- to be known in Kentucky as the Party came in at last after a hard days work, su; pro- kins survey.” The belated ceeded with utmost harmony. We left the banks of the Bullskin as soon as the work was finished, and I had no ity to ascer- tain the fate of Tildy Baker. What good old Cees the Bargers were, ki " and intelligent; it was quite a treat to be with them for a while. MLB Y. ————_—_ €F Advertising is profitable only when prop- erly done,—that is, in the medium sure to reach the largest number of those whose attention is sought. Money otherwise expended for that pugpose is wasted. To expend it wisely, ad- vertise in Tue Stan. It not only claims the | dividends, we | mother have te THE ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN. The gate shut with a click behind her. Phil- omel turned and waved her hand. “Wish me good luck. I am going to try,” she said, and John Elliot, who was passing, smiled and lifted his hat. “Good Inck!” he said, cheerily, but, in spite of the smile, a tiny frown between his eves sug- gested that his obedience cost him something. Philomel walked quickly up the path leading to the house, A sweetbrier put out a slender finger and tried to catch her dress, But Philomel was too swift to be detained. The syringa bushes nodded “Good luck!” and the polyanthus looked up so brisk and knowing that Philomel actually stooped to pick a spray, saying: “Bless your little heart! news?” She ran up the steps of the ancient colonial house which had belonged to her mother’s family—oh, for generations. When middle-aged, reliable Judge Durant married silly, pretty, helpless Philomel Sea- grave, every one drew a sigh of relief. “Now the poor child will have some one to take care of her, and the Seagrave homestead will be repaired,” they said. But My. Durant must needs die only a year after his marriage, leaving a little Philomel on her mother’s feeble hands, There was enough money to keep the two from sinking. “A very genteel insufficiency,” our Philomel called it as she grew to womanhood, “I wish we had a little less blue blood and a trifle more yellow gold,” she added. That was the day when the rambling shed leaned lan- guidly to one side. “Like an old weak-back person lopping over on one hip,” declared Philomel. As for the stable, long guiltless of horses, it gave up the struggle for existence as a hopeless job and dropped to pieces in the last gale. The house itself bore up bravely, but cried aloud for fresh paint. As for Philomel herself, she had grown up tatl and straight, like the Seagraves. But she had the Durant way of putting down her feet with a firm tread, and her Seagrave hands had a decidedly Durant fashion of taking hold with a strong grasp; also her voice had the Durant ring. “Her voice was ever soft—gentle and low—an excellent thing in woman!” I fear Philomel might have shocked King Lear when she grew earnest. “Mamma,” she called, as she opened the front door and came into the big hall. Up the stairs she bounded, and burst into the room wiich Mrs. Durant always spoke of as “The Boudoir.” Here she sat to-day, mend- old thread lace with exquisite Who told you the ing some stitches, Philome! paused on the threshold, alert, wide- awake, her e: Mrs, Durant dropped her lace with the puz- zled look which her soft eyes often wore. Philomei, lite, the world in general, were puzzling to this “pretty lady.” she asked, laintively. : speak more slowly. ‘When I was young it was considered ill-bred to hurry oue’s words.” Philomel caught her breath. “Lam speaking of the new public library, mma,” she said, trying to curb her tongue, “You remember I explained it all yesterday. The place of assistant librarian is to be filled. Four hundred dollars salary. Competitive ex- amination, No one minus brains need apply. ‘A certain general knowledge of books re- quired, &e., That's the way the notice runs, Judge Akers and Dr. Loomis are the examining committee. Four hundred dollars would be @ very neat little sum to add to our income, my pretty lady.” “Oh, but, Philo, would you really be willing to—to earn money?” exclaimed Mrs. Durant, holding up both hands, as if to ward off a blow You know I must, mamma,” said Philomel, gravely, ‘Since that railroad began to pass its have less money than ever. I dear, and see you go without— g8,”" she ended, i with a i was R sweetsoaps, Philo,” said Mr ut and as for silk stock- ings, m . really I wish you would consent to we , and economize on something else. ladies of my family always wore them. . what would your great-grand- had she known you would go into business? When she was at the court of St. James King William himself danced with her, and remarked especially on her beauty and grace.” “His majesty didn’t happen to add, ‘And pray accept £5,000 for the use of your future great-granddaughter,’ did he? Possibly he didn’t realize how much I should need new rubber boots while my chariot was laid up for repairs.” Philomel laughed her frank, wholesome, girl- ish laugh. ‘But speaking of royalty, honey, couldn t you and I make over that green velvet dress of great-grandmother’s for the Akers party on Thursday? Very pretty of you to leave your gowns behind you,” she added, nodding at the portrait of the git teas ancestress which smiled upon her out of the heavy gilt frame. When dress was the question, Mra. Durant was in her element. “Ihad thought of that .velvet, Philo. This lace will finish the neck and sleeves to per- fection. Ring the bell and send Norah to the cedar chest.” But Philomel was half-pay up the attic stairs already. No clumsy maid-of-all-work fingers should meddle with what she irreverently called her “ancestral toggery.” This particular gown was easily made to do reneged aecride: Philomel and her mother deftly coaxed a plait here or a fold there—Mrs, Durant giving advice and Philo sewing busily. But the fatter’s mind was so full of her library that it was difficult to bring down her thoughts to seams and gathers. “Turn that corner under, and the lace will cover the joining,” Mrs. Durant would order, her whole soul absorbed by the velvet. “And if I get the place,” Philomel would reply, dreamily drawing her needle, “I shall buy a dozen hens, and see if I can’t sell eggs.” “This ostrich plume just matches. It will be charming on your hat, Philo.” “Thank you, my pretty lady. You see there are only three of us totry. One is Nellie Gill. She is aggressively stupid. So is not Algeria Tibbets. I’m afraid of her when it comes to general information.” E es Tibbets?” echoed Mrs. Durant leebly. “She lives in Lincoln Court,” said Philomel, smiling. “But, my dear, she must be a very ordinary person, this Algeria.” “I don’t suppose she ever hada grandmother, not to mention a ‘great,’” confessed Philomel, “Perhaps some day she will be an ancestress herself. The line has to begin with some one. Algeria is frightfully intelligent. I'm afraid she'll eave me nowhere in the examination.” “Come, Philo, come!” That was on Thursday, when Mrs, Durant was all alive with excitement. It was a long time since she had been toa merrymaking. Her cheeks glowed with pleasure; she might easily have been taken for her daughter's elder sis- ter. They were a lovely-looking pair. The old-fashioned dresses, which on anybody else would have been queer, were enchanting when worn by them. Philomel, in her di 4 pore velvet, broad yellow laces and big plumed hat, might have stepped bodily out of one of the icture frames which lined the hall. Had king William seen her I amsure that she too might have had her chance to tread a stately measure with royalty. Judge Akers’ new house and grounds were gay with guests, There was to be a grand re- ception to-day. To-morrow archery and a small dance would be in order. Philomel was to spend the night with Madeline Akers, and to be on hand for the shooting. “This way, mamm: said, festivities, That she went to the same school with Madeline and Philomel stood not at all in the way of her maki an honest b: peothota Sod nally ing penny by “I see you are stud; sauntered out on the lawn. where the Chinese lanterns were trying to outshine the moon. “My whole heart is in it,” she declared, stand- ing up tail and vigorous. “I’m so thankful I wasn't born a hundred years ago, when it was thought ——— for a gentlewoman to earn her honest living. Now”—Philomel stretched out her two arms—“now she is as free as air to work—to work!” “Oh, Philomel!” said John — wistfully. The evening came to an end, with its lights and its music and its happy gayety “Philo, id Madeline Akers, “you won't mind being ‘treated like oue of the family,’ as they said when they gave the boy a good thrashing. The honse is so full that we are going to give you a bed on the sofa in my father’s sanctum. I have tucked your blankets in his closet. Hold the light, wili_you, please? And hold the door open teo. Those ‘stupid (tees have put no handle on the inside, and ‘ve ro fancy for being shut in, as if I were caught in a trap. You won't be afraid, will you, Philo? The windows are all locked, and I can hear you if you eal the parlor lounge. Philomel smiled. “Afraid?” It would be amusing if a young woman who aspired to earn her own living should be timid in being left alone at night. Nevertheless, she went to the window to make sure it was fast. As she turned away, her dress touched some- thing which jingled faintly. She was passing the Judge's spindle-legged desk. and— What carelessness! A bunch of keys had been left dangling from its lock. Like a flash Medeline’s words darted into Philomel’s mind: “The papers are locked up in my father's spindie-legged desk.” urned away instantly, her lip half curl- ing as if in scorn that she should even remem- ber what had been said. She took out the pins, and brushed and braided her hair for the night. She sanga little tune under her breath, heartily vexed that her unruly brain persisted in repeating: “The papers—in the spindle-legged desk.” “Noblesse oblige,” she quoted to herself, haughtily. “Ihave not so far descended as to 3 my people in that fashion.” She laid herself down on the sofa. She shut her eyes. Evenin the dark she could see that desk on its slender legs. “The examination is scarcely fair. Algeria is naturally quicker than L 1 ought to be given some advantage over her. Ah!” she . drawing a long breath and shaking her m the pillow. Why could she not sleep? y ild the blood throb in her temples? “The papers are in the desk!’ It is so im- portant that I get the place. Algeria can doso many things that I can't. She can teach, She can go into a store. She can advertise to go to Europe as somebody's companion. And— and—‘the papers are in the desk!” What had at first seemed an absurd impossi- bility began to take ona certain fearful iikeli- hood. Could it chance that even a Seagrave- Durant— “Oh, dear Lord!” cried Philomel, from her inmost soul. She sat up straight. She made a boundand stood upon the floor. Softly she struck amatch and lighted her candle. She began to dress herself rapidly. She was terri- tied —appalled at her own thoughts, “Oh, dear Lord!” she kept repeating, like a bewildered frightened child. She blew out thé candle, made two long strides, found herself inside the closet. “Snap!” wentthe lock, ‘There was no handle for I am going to camp on “Now, young woman, you are safe from your- self,” said Philomel, triumphantly. “If you won't do right ‘by fair means, then you must be made.’ ” Philomel curled herself oP “One may be comfortab said she, gleefully The whole affair, now all temptation had vanished, took on the aspect of a joke. “How shall I get out when morning comes? Til thump till some one hears me. How shall I explain my being here, hobnobbing gith Judge Aker’s dressing-gown and slippers? 90h, we'll confess and e a clean breast of it! It’s no shame, in a case like this, to ‘run away and live to fight another d I must admit to you, Miss Durant, that this closet isn't as cool as we could wish.” it may be that the heavy air made our girl drowsy. She must have dropped asleep, for it suddenly occurred to her that morning had come very speedily. Was it daylight? Would the sun’s beams be so yellow as the glimmer which erépt in at the crack under the door? The gleam grew brighter. There was a sound of footsteps—very soft, but “undoubtedly foot- steps,” decided the prisoner. At first she thought of calling out. But an unaccountable fear seized her heart. The light grew, but Philomel was sure it was not day. She listened with all her might. There was a sound as of something faintly jingling. Was it robbers? Philomel’s breath came thick. Whatever it was, the light began to grow dim. Slowly it decreased, and then all was dark and quiet. The closet was stifling. Philomel stood up- right and stretched her limbs. The heat was getting worse and worse. “I wonder if the air will hold out till morn- ing?” thought Philomel, trying to smile. But the whole affair began to seem far from amus- on the closet floor. e, though honest,” ing. “The blackness of darkness.” She had heard or read of that; now she poe to realize what it meant. The minutes dragged on. The hours seemed like years. Sometimes standing, sometimes crouching on the floor, longing for the breath of a breeze, for a drop of water, Philomel tried to calm her fears, Strange to say, she never once thought of knocking and preeey | some one tocome to her relief. So firmly had she made up her mind that she was to endure until morning that no other way out of the trouble occurred to her. Besides that, her head began to grow confused, dizzy. Suddenly she became aware of much sun- shine, of a Ree draught of air, of water on her forehead, camphor at one nostril and am- monia at the other, while voices filled her ears. She was lying on the sofa. Madeline Aker and a servant maid were bending over her with ali ed faces, What is the matter?” gasped Philomel. ‘That's what I would like to know,” exclaimed Madeline, laughing and crying at once. “We found you locked in the closet, in a dead faint. Will you please to mention why you went in there?” The whole night rushed back on Philomel. “ Why did you go into that closet?” demanded Madeline. “To save my soul!” said Philomel Durant. Of course the whole story came out. Made- line was amused, She was also perplexed. She praised Philomel, She scolded her roundly. “But to do such a mean thing as to look at the papers—why, Philo, I can’t imagine it’s even being a temptation—to = Philomel looked at her out of the corners of her eyes and shook her head wisely. ‘I couldn't imagine it myself until I tried it,” said she. ‘The girls went gayly down to breakfast. Mrs, Akers was already pouring the coffee. The judge was late. He did not come to the table for several minutes, and when at last he did cers he seemed considerably disturbed in his mind. “Madeline,” said he, rather sternly, “ have ou been rummaging in my desk? Tieft along ist of questions in one of the pigeon-holes— questions to be asked of you, Philomel, to see if you're fit to serve in our fine new library.” Philomel looked at Madeline, Madelinestared back at Philomel, “Why, father, I didn’t ‘rummage.’ I haven’t been to’ your desk,” said Madeline, “But I You've overlooked knew the papers were there. them, maybe.” “Tut, tut,” said the judge, testily, “I never = I and see if I can find the: father?” os ° om “Nonsense! I’ve searched thoroughly. Well, go, go if you like, but don’t intimate that your “Siiadeli ‘ent is loosing his eyesight, miss,” leline rose. Philomel foliowed her. two met Algeria Tibbets sin the hall. “Oh, you were very g stay, Algeria,” said Madeline, cordially. ‘Mother says you are @ real support.” Then, ly, she spoke of the missing ques- tions, and the three girls went together into the “sanctum.” “Stand back, you two. It’s only I who have rmission to ‘rummage,” said Madeline, ughingly. “There! What did I tell my blessed pa! Here's the paper,” and she waved the big sheet triumphant your honor!” ly. “Pigeon-hole two from th eo ied, dancing iuto the break: “Wel “Yes, I see, I see, Philo.” But the very next time the daughter had to begin at tne beginning. for her “pretty lady” had retarned to her one idea. «What would my family have said, Philo?” Philomel almost lost patience, even with her precious mother. “You make me feel,” she cried, “like Juliet Montague, ‘she't was’ a Capulet. “*As in a vault, an it rece; re, for tiiese many hundred yeare the Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd."" . To which Mrs. Durant, with her puzzled look, ee softly that she didn’t know any Julict Montague, but that she was glad Philo- mel had an acquaintance who evidently came of a “genteel” family. Tuesday dawned bright and propitious. Phil- omel was at the new library betimes. So were Algeria Tibbets and Nellie Gill. There, far apart, lest there should be any communication between the “victims,” as Philomel laughingly dubbed herself and rivals, stood three chairs, three tables, and three sheets of foolscap, from which latter seemed to glare a long list of ques- tions to be answered in writing. A “Who were the principal poets of the Augus- in age?” That was question number one; and while Philomel was racking her brains for the an- swer, question number two seemed to be try- ing to stare her out of countenance with a mul- titude of beady black eyes: “What do you consider the best method of making a catalogue of books?’ Up from the bottom of the page question number twenty asserted its claims: “How would you deal with a crowd of per- sons making application for volumes at one and the same time?” “Ob,” groaned Philomel, “I never thought anything about a catalogue; and as for question number five, ‘What reason can you give for sn} pine that Shakespeare wrote his own pl. know he did, and don’t ‘suppose’ anything about it.” Nellie Gill, in the further corner, was gazing despairingly at the ceiling. As for Algeria, the steady scratch of her pen was torture to Philo- mel's ears, She had known that Algeria was clever about books, but she had never sus- pected her of having ready opinions concern- ing “catalogues” and clamot meh ae By 120’clock at noon Algeria had finished her work. Philomel, after a hasty lunch, plodded @ until 4. As for hapless Nellie Gill, the jan- itor, whocame to shut up the building at 6 o'clock, found her bathed in tears, and still wrestling vainly with question number ten, while the rest of the foolscap had as yet claimed none of her attention. Judgment was suspended for three days. “I feel like a person standing on the scaffold, with the black cap over his eyes, waiting for the drop to fall,” said Philomel, dolefully. “Madeline, the spry sound of Algeria’s pen was truly awful. Where do you suppose that girl got her superior brand of brai The “drop” fell at last. “Nothing left of me?” announced Philomel, keeping a stiff upper lip, but inwardly feeling asif her doll were traly “stuffed with saw- dust.” Algeria had come off with flying colors. Judge Akers declared that he couldn't have done better himself. He had not supposed that a seventeen years old girl could have such scnsible opinions ready and waiting to be called for. So Algeria,in a new gown anda lively red necktie, was installed assistant librarian, at a salary of four hundred dollars a year. ‘This. however, not until the end of the school term, for both Philomel and Alegeria were to graduate in a month’s time. Philomel shook | hands with the victor, and gave her honest though somewhat forced congratulations, Al- geria received them with due meekness, and owned that some of the questions had been “posers,” Philomel tried to absorb herself in her studies. She would, at least, pass her school examinations with honor. She remained after hours, one afternoon, reviewing’ her Horace until the waning light warned her that the sun had gone down belting a tall factory opposite. That meant tea-time. Philomel rose hastily and went down the aisle. As she passed Algeria’s desk her eyes fell by chance on a book with a big ink spiash on its cover. “Oh, that’s the Reed's English Literature she was studying so hard,” thought Philomel. She paused, ‘and carelessly took up the book. A sheet of closely written paper fluttered from between its leaves, Philomel, was about to re- place it. when suddenly a written line disclosed itself to her startled Vision. In a tumult of dread and surprise she glanced over the words, She recognized, in Algeria’s handwriting, every one of the questions asked in that examination for the library. As ifa curtain were suddenly uplifted dis- playing scene after scene unsuspected before, ‘hilomel’s quick sense startled itself with its own revelations. She remembered Madeline's thanking Algeria for remaining in the house. The light fashing under the closet door; the faint jingling sound; the Judge's missing, so unaccountably, the papers from his desk; Madeline and herself encountering Algeria in the hall near the study door, and their after- ward immediately finding the questions so evi- dent in the pigeon-hole. She might not be able to “swear before a jury,” but, in her own mind Philomel was sure that Algeria had copied those questions, No wonder that several days’ meditation thereupon had made her pen “spry!” Fora moment Philomel was overwhelmed. She stood as still as a stone, staring at the wit- nesses she held in her hand. Then her own share in that night's doings came across her, and her eyes filled with tears. “I know what the temptation was, pered, with a stifled sob, through it myself.” She stepped hastily to the teacher's desk, took a match trom its box, held it blazing to the be- traying paper, and through an open window the charred remains floated pathetically upward, as if to implore pardon ata higher than mor- tal tribunal, Then Philomel shut her lips tightly. To no mortal did she breathe a word ot what she knew. “Poor Algeria!” that was the way that, in her own heart, she always spoke of the assistant librarian, Algeria would not have thanked her for that, If any.one seemed on the wave of prosperity, that person was Miss Tibbeta Judge Akers was never weary of lauding her cleverness to the skies. Mrs. Akers invited her to her house, not to wait upon other guests. Many doors were open to one whom the judge's family saw fit to befriend. x In the meantime Philomel did her very best, and contrived to make both ends meet. She was cheery and happy, but she kept an eye open if a stray job should turn up. Concerning hopes of this sort she could speak no word to her mother. “Work? Oh, no, no, It is sucha relief to me that you were’ providentially cut off from that,” said Mrs. Durant, piously. But then she was never called upon to forego her Lubin’s soap or her silk stockings. So it came to pass that Philomel turned more and more to her two most sympathetic friends, Madeline Akers and John’ Eniot. y were both wise, but John seemed even more reliable than Madeline. John was heartily welcomed at the shabbycolonial house. Mrs. Durant held out both hands to him. Philomel watched for hiscoming. So that there was but one an- swer in her heart when,a year later, John Elliot said: ‘I did feel library scheme Philomel.” But there was something else to be said on that subject. Philomel held her head very igh, and spoke with emphasis, rant you to be very sure, John, that Iam lad to have you take care of me, because I love you res . Not because Iam afraid of she whis- “I know, for I went _eerigepeite me!—when your failed. Let me take care of you, to marry Archibald Wright, who visited Judge She gave up the situation Vapors Wy. judge said: Will you take it, Philomel? It is urs fora word.’ So you understand that I don't say ‘yes’ for lack of work?” John Elliot, much edified, replied that he un- derstood perfectly. coat of paint So the old house had a fresh Lert seo a 101 elgkbor wes heavily glal and the sheds were clothes, e large house, and a footman in livery. She 2p) to be « ing like a green y-4 Es HOME MATTERS. SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR PRACTICAL HOUSEKEEPERS — HINTS POR THE DININO- ROOM, PANTRY AND KITCHEN—RECIPES WORTH PRESERVING. Foun Trasrooxs are equal to one table- ‘Spoon. Honsk-RaDIsH, a8 @ poultice, is recommended for rheumatism. Learner Cuarr Stats may be revived by rubbing with egg-white, well beaten. Oxe Tan EesPooxrvt (well heaped) of granu- lated. coffee A, or best brown sugar, equals one ounce. Coarse Tovcn Brrr may be improved by pgre, bag through a sausage cutter and broiled in cakes like pan sausage. A Steir oF FLANNgL or a napkin wrung out of hot water and applied round the neck of a child that has croup will usually bring relief in ten minutes, Marrixe Cay Be Wasuep with strong salt water and a clean cloth, and do it, if possible, at midday, to insure quick drying, which pre- vents discoloration. %3 ies Warres on YeLks or Ecos may be used with whole eggs in any cake or other recipe calling for eggs, counting two yelks or two white as one egg. Praster oF Pants ScaTrerep 1x CRacKs and crevices and rubbed on shelves in cupboards, closets, &c., will drive away and prevent the depredation of the little red ants, cockroaches, and tends to keep away flies and other insects. By Curtine a Loar or Sponoe Cake evenly in two and spreading between a thick coating of mashed strawberries, covering the whole with a rich boiled custard, on top of which place a few whole strawberries, a very nice and very tempting looking dish may be made. A CEMENT Sarp To BE CapaBLe of use where Tesistance to the action of both water and heat is required, is composed by mixing ordinary glycerine with dry litharge, so as to constitute & tough paste. For uniting the joints of steam Pipes and other similar applications, this pre- paration is said to be very satisfactory. Wuew Beaten Eoos ane to ne Mrxep with hot milk, as in making gravies or custards, dip the hot milk into the beaten eggs a spoonful at a time, stirring well each time, until the eggs are well thinned, then add both together; will prevent the eggs from curdling. Goop Home-wape Crackers are thus made: Three-fourths of a cup of butter, 1 pint of sour milk, 3 teaspoonfuls of baking powder. Stir all except the milk in with the flour; when thoroughly mixed put the milk in. Be careful not to knead too much, as there is danger of their being too tough. Roll thin and bake in a quick oven. Mosr Goops To BE Cotorep are dyed over other colors. It is desirable to discharge as much of the old color as possible. This may be very well done by boiling in strong soap- suds and rinsing as long as any color is dis- charged, In all cases goods must be clean or dye will not take evenly. And it is best to wash well with sqgp. soda, or borax. Rinse perfectly in clean water, then dye. A Goop Cure ror Purpres Is: Bicarbonate of soda, 36 grains; glycerine, 1 drachm; spermaceti ointment, 1 ounce. Rub on the affected part of the face; let it remain a quar- ter of an hour, then with a soft cloth wipe off all but aslight film. Be careful of your diet, and avoid greasy food or any that you have discovered will interfere with your digestion. To Remove tHe Green that gathers on bricks, pour over them boiling water in which any vegetables, not greasy, have bien boiled, Repeat for a few days, and green will disappear. For the red wash melt one ounce of glue in one gallon water; while hot add alum size of egg, aif pound Venetian red, one pound Spanish brown. Try it; if too light, add more red and brown. If too dark, water. Satap Dressixe Wirsovt Om.—Boil three eggs for twenty minutes, take out the yelks and rub them very fine, add gradually one tablespoonful of melted butter and three tablespoontuls of thick, sweet cream. Kub un- til light and smooth; add half teaspoonful of salt, a dash of cayenne, and a quarter teaspoon- ful of mustard, mix, and add one uncooked yelk, a teaspoonful of lemon juice and a tea- spoonful of vinegar, A Paper Hotper.—Take a broom handle and saw it into a two-foot length and paint it black. Into each end screw a medium-sized picture knob and gild them. Suspend it by narrow scarlet ribbon, tying around the knobs and fastening each end with a tasty bow. Hang the papers over this. If liked, the whole may be gilded or stained with any of the pretty stains so popular now, using a shade of mbbon that will form a pretty contrast, or a brass chain can be used instead of ribbon. This makes a very pretty and unique holder, and is so simple in construction that any woman can make one’ Srrawzerry Ice-Cream.—One quart of cream, one quart of strawberries, one pint of sugar. Mash the sugar and berries together and let them stand one or two hours, Add the cream, rub through a strainer into the freezer, and freeze. Or the cream can be half frozen and then whole berries stirred in. Or the cream and sugar may be frozen and drawn with @spoon to the sides of the freezer, and the space in the center filled with strawberries and sugar, and these covered with the frozen cream and left for an hour or more. When the whole is turned ont it will look very nice if the base is garnished with strawberries. Raspberry ice-cream may be made in the same way, using a little less sugar. Pauxe Watr.—One pound of best prunes, whites of four eggs, two-thirds of a cup of fine granulated sugar, one-half pint sweet cream, juice of half a lemon, After the prunes are well washed stew them till perfectly soft; add sugar while cooking; when cold remove the its. Whip the whites of the eggs to a stiff roth, adding prunes and lemon juice, whip all together for ten or fifteen minutes, put intoa pudding dish and bake for twenty minutes in a moderate oven till alight brown. When very cold serve with the cream, whipped light and slightly sweetened. Raw Eoos ror Ixvatips.—Raw eggs are fre- quently ordered, as when they can be taken and retained by a sick person they are extremely nourishing, simply because the albumen not having been hardened is the sooner digested. Many, however, cannot take raw eggs as usu- ally given; that is, beaten up with milk or wine. The following mode isa good one; the appearance of the dish is 60 nice that an inva- lid will often be induced to try it. It is free from oiliness und clean to the palate. Put the yolk of an egg into a basin with a teaspoonful of white sugar and a tablespoonful of orange or lemon juice, and beat lightly together with a fork. it the white on a plate, add a pinch of salt, and then, with a broad-bladed knife, beat it to a stiff froth. Then as lightly as possible mix all together in the basin, and as lightly transfer it to a — — “sound will nearly fill if Properly made. must not stand in a warm p! or it soon becomes liquid and loses its snowy look. Written for Tar Evenine Stan The Temptation. A DREAM. Like notes in summer ever of far-off bells; Her voice did thrill; yet sweeter, and more strong, In varying cadence. Memory for long Would hold their echo. Like the fitful knells, Of joys called back—deep buried in dead years. Now, weaving with her hair and eyes, strange Half drunken from her grace, with laboring B Ase, Oxo Rysizoan AL" m ¥ 7uN pl wtathc 2 as line, express daily except Mor + a at 3.5 tor Lexington and Local Static oF week de: 0, 9:30, (45 mine 45-uiinaten) am 190 pm 8 30, 11:30 p. m. Trains leave Baltimore for Washi 5:10. 6-20. 6-30, 7.15, 7:20, 8 14,00 p.m. x Annapolis, 6-40 and 8:30 am.. 12.10, 4.25, F ‘days. ‘m. 4.35 pm 12.05, 3:50, and 10pm itan Branch, t6-45, Incipal stations only4 ™, 0 pam. Ville and way stations 4:35 p.m. ytberbure and intermediate points, *9-00e, 11:20 p.m, ‘and intermediate stations, +7.00 p.m, train leaves Washin P.m., stoppmg at For Freder: m. Sundays.1 For Hagerstown am. and t5:30 p.m. Trains arrive f ly ido a 0. mm; from cmunat and St. Louis daily trom Pittsbune 7:10 a.m ewark, Wils 6 a.m., between Baltimore and 30 and $430 p.m for Washington, and 30, *3:15, *5.00 pm “4 es by Umon T tices, 619 and 1 Pounsyivai rt. c 0. 8CU r LL, Gen. oTr TO THE NO ND SOUTHWES DOUBLE TACK. NDID MERERY STEEL KAILS. CENT bQUIPMENT. IN ¥ 13H, 1sKi TRar ON, FROM STATION, « BSTKEETS, AS FOL? A the Wset, Chicago Li estibuled Cars at $1.50. dail with Sleeping Cars: from Pitt and Harnsbury to St Louis, daily to Chicago, with Sleeping Western Express, at 7 Care Washington to C necting daily at 11 foona to Chi neh Slew pe for Louisvilieand M ific Lagreen, 10-00 P.m. daily, for Pitisoure and the West, with throuch Siceper to Pitisburg, and Pittsbure te Chicsso, For Kane, Cananda hester and Niagara Falle ar u ith sleeping ton t For W¥liamsport. Lock Haveu and. Eli ily. except sunduy ILADE LIA, NEW YORK AND T ‘00, 11:00 and 11-40 nd 11-20 p.m ym Sunday. ¢ a A, 4:10, 10-00 and 11 Express of }ul ut or pt Sumday, and 4 om. dally, with Diuime “FOR PHILADELPHIA ONLY. Fast Express 8:10 a in work daily. Express 2.10 j. daily. Ac ‘on. without ch» kiyn, N 40, 8 10, a.m and 4-40 p.m. dsily, except Sunday For Apuapolis, 7:20 and 9:00 am., 12.05, 44 6:00 pau. ‘daily, except Sunday. Sundays, am.,4:10 pan LEXANDRIA AND FREDERICK WAX, AND Al 1A AND KAILWA ¥ INE day 1300 ip. Ry at the station, where or ter S a 2 f ecbecking of baggage to desunaucn trom botels ai 3. R. Woor weyeer AR Route, Lyw tuons between Sleepers Montgomery New Sleeper Greensboro’ to Coluiu iia nan Sleepers Washington to Ciuc Ro . 8u P. m—Daily, excep intermediate Pp. m.—Daily vin tanooga.” Pullman Vest Memphis, counecting thence also Wasiington to New Orleans. 9:40 p.m.—Western Express, Anily f Charlottesville, Staus: xsville, Ci man Vestibule train Pullman sleeper f. 11:09 p. for Manassas, Bristol and Chat- © Sleepers Washington to F all Arkansas points; nton. Low Washing Louisvilie. he k Danville, k: Augusta, Atlanta. and California, Pullman ¥ New Orleans, Via Atiaute and Montsumery. Pallmuan Sieeper Washington winghaw, Ala., Via Atlante aud Georgia Pacific Raiiwey Trains on Washington aud Ohio division leave Wash- ington 9:00 aim. daily except Sun daily; arrive Kound Mil 11:50 Feturisng leave Round Hill 6:09 au. da yaud't 30 pum. dally except Sunday, arriving Waskuucton 8:30 Am. and 3:58 P. Through trains from the South via Charlotte, Dan- villeand Lynchbure arrive in Wasulngion 6:53 10, and 7:13 p.m. ; via Last Tennessee Land Lyuchs burg at 6:03 am. and*10 40 p a.m. Tickets sleeping-car reservation apd information farnished, and taurcage checked at oftice, 1300 Rou sylvania avenue, and at Passenger Stati ; tia Railroad, Oth and Batreeta — anus JAS. L. TAYLOR, Gen Pass. Agent POTOMAC RIVER BOATS. erst VERNON. = Steamer W. W. CORCORAN, Capt. L. L. Blake, leaves ‘7th st. wharf daily (exc eateries oes Vernon, leaving at 10 a.m. reaching Washington about 3:30 ge P. $1, including aduussion KSHALL HALL Steamer W.W. CORCORAN leaves 7th st. wharf daily leaving at 10 a.m., reaching Wash- ington about 3:30 pan, Sundaye—two trips—le t 10-30 . and 2.30 Ewadingioeat LG 765.a ze pm. reaching t F my? EN REBU y Bi LT, Sieares Tabeairect whart fon SUNDAYS. TUES! 7 at7 a. m., fo c ‘as far as Mattox creek. Potomac = and Wednesday: ». Brent's fe Thursdays down and Mondays and Wed E. L. TOLSON, Agént, 7th st. wharf, my4-2m_ Ji. MCUAHLE furcht, Alexandria, Wa TRANSPORTATION LINE. For Baltimore and iver Lapdiogs.| Steamer Sus, Capt. Gocpee=t. leaves: we 2 Whart or