Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1889, Page 10

oe Written for Tur Evento Stan. A NIGHT WITH THE NIHILISTS. A Former Siberian Exile Joins the Order. RE DESCRIBES BIS INITIATION—NOW A SECRET MEETING IS CONDUCTED“-THE OBLIGATIONS OF A MEMBER OF THE ORDER—A STRANGE SCENE at NIGHT. Some years ago while a resident of Peters burg circumstances threw me constantly into the society of leading nihilists. Being young | and of an impressionable temperament I soon became mterested in their work. I wes born and reared in a very much oppressed part of the ezar's vast domains and possibly for that reason my sympathies were more easily aroused. The conversation of my friends was ever temperate, with no suggestion of dyna- mite or any other explosive. Their chief ob- ject was to secure a more liberal form of gov- erument for the people, and to succeed in| this they must first educate the masses to a Proper understanding of the exigencies of the situation. This could be done only by the dissemination of liberal ideas, and for that Purpose the nibilist faction sent agents throughout the length and breadth of the land. Their success was simply annoying. not so much among the peasant population— among the higher and better educated classes, These latter were capable of comprehending the oppression under which they lived. while the former, buta few years released from bond- age, had yet to learn the glory and grandeur Of the word freedom. By foreign nations the | wibilist movement 1s regarded with suspicion for the reason that outside the Russian empire its aims and objects have been falsely repre- sented. Another reason may be deduced from | the tact that none but the Russian people fully | understand the fearful oppression which | governs every moment of their lives. The world is periodically convulsed with tales of bomb throwing und attempts on the emperor's | life, but this is not the work of the true nihilis’ it is simply the work of fanatics, who, anxio to appear prominently in the cause, take thi method of accomplishing their object. | The assassination of Rexander If has been the greatest mistake of the nihilists in later years. It well nigh threatened to overthrow the entire movement; but the cruel and tyran- Bical oppression of the present year has been the means of driving many to join the nibilist ranks. The cause bas found fresh adherents and ite strength rapidly increases. Of this fact Alexander III is well aware, hence his cowardly Precautions on every occasion of his public ap- | (for the first time saw Sophie Perovskayr, | whose name outer shutter. Immediately the lamp was turned up to its full capacity, while the ma- jority of the assembly disuppeared through Various outlets, so that if the police forced an entrance they would find apparently nothing more than a few persons enjoying social inter- course aud drinking tea, a not unusual sight, The alarm proved false and ali returned to their seats, the light was again lowered and the work was continued. + Dr. Ursuroff, the president, was a handsome man of perhaps forty years, who had identified himself with the nibilists for the last ten years. Madame Anne Popoff, in whose house the meeting was held, was the vice president. She was afterward arrested as a suspect and died in prison, Her history was laelagicoried asad one. She had a beautiful daughter, Maianys, who at the age of seventeen was arrested with a num- ber of other students; she was of a delicate con- stitution and the shock and confinement brought on rapid consumption, and she soon joined the numberless victims gone before. | The father died of a broken heart, and on his | death bed begged his faithful wife to avenge | their child's death by every means in her | power. Possessing ample means she ae came a devoted nihilist, and many were the plots arranged in her home un- der the very eyes of the police officers. There were also present several young ladies, | students of a neighboring college, fair young | girls just budding into womanhood, most of | whom are now in exile, while others either succenmbed to the long’ journey to Siberia or died in prison, My heart is sad indeed when, on taking a retrospect of the past, I see arrayed before me the faces of the noble men and women who offered themsclyes a sac- | Tiflce on the altar of freedom. That evening villbe handed down through all eternity. had a noble face, fall of sub- lime enthusiaam, but I soon learned she was member of the terrorist party, which up to that time I knew very little about. Her id and vehement utterances rather startled me at first, but I seon grew accustomed to her foreibie denunciation of the czar and his government, I saw her once afterward, when the almost fatal act of displaying the precon- certed signal was assigned as her part in the | forthcoming tr: When questioned in re- gurd to her fear of consequences she replic “I know no fear; no greater honor than this | could be conferred upon me.” Poor Sophie | Perovskayr, nobly born, gently nurtured, ended | her life through the hangman's rope and finds | rest in a nameless grave. Her co-worker, Jel boff. was also present, but he did not impress me favorably; he was too erratic in his conyer- | ion, There were nimny other notable per- | sons present, but it would occupy too much space to give individual histories, a } « After we had spent some time in conversa- { Pearance,andI might say his private life is also indeed after the same manner. But to re- turn to our secret meeting. The evening of which I am about to speak was in the middle } of the 70s. I had just returned after a few years of forced sojoura amidst the snows of the bitter north, not because I was a nihilist ‘as indeed I was not at that time) but simply it Lhad been known to associate with sus- Fostre nthilists — an example of Russian jas ic: tice. I feit that I had already suffered saf- ient for the cause to identify myscif with it, I therefore applied for membership. Two friends interested themselves to obtain my wish for me. I knew they had suceceded, but i was not apprised of | the day or hour of my initiation, It was an | evening in midwinter, with the snow deep on | the ground. aud the feathery flakes still falti rd thick and fast, The oppressive stillness which always accompanies a suow storm added to the gloom of the scene, and as I stood looking out ou the prospect ali the sad events of my very sad Jife flitted in silent array before me. T wondered if my friends in the far north ever paused to think of the poor exile who had passed some of the best years of his life in their midst. How well I remember the long winter nights (indeed it was nearly all night, only four | hours daylight) im which the ispravnik’s pretty daughter, Darive. and I renewed new Pledges of an undying affection, when a sudden summons from St.Petersburg ordered my imme- diate return, and our dream of happiness was | rudely shattered, I promised to return, but now other ties claimed my attention and I was fated never again to see my pretty snow bird— | the ispravnik’s daughter. ‘The sound of bells | » was wafted through the thickly falling snow and my meditations were sudde! Miterrupted by the stopping of a small sicigh in trout of the house. It was driven troika fashion and the pretty arch over the horses heads was visi- ble through the gloom. The two friends of whom I previously spoke jamped out and en- tering the house, informed me that I must hurry on my great coat, as they had come to conduct me to a meeting of the circle, mean- ing the nihilists. As 1 was putting on my coat 4 mask was suddenly thrown over iny face, plunging me into midnight darkness, Asking } Ro questions, trusting implicitly to my friend, | iwas conducted to the sicigh and then began a | drive, which I thougut would never end. I feel | quite sure [ was driven through ‘he same streets twice and across the iron bridge which spsns the Neva and back, but never a word escaped the lips of my companions dur- ing the memorable journey. At length we ar- rived at the place of meeting, situated in the Vasilewski Bateott. say that many of the names which I use are fic- titious, others are so well known to the world | that there is no necessity to give other than their own names, I must here digress to | oe The meeting was held at the house of Madam Anu Popoff. Still blindfolded I was led into the room where the members of the circle were assembled. I was as yet ignorant of my surroundings, when a loud voice from a distant + of the room addressed me in the followin; guage (I afterward beard it was the ch: mau): “We, the members of Narodnia » | (peop! will) are of all you have to endure by associating your- | self with our cause—cold, hunge contempt, derision, hatred. insults, nay! even # fearful death. In case of your arrest have you courage to bear the tortures the govern- Ment may inflict for the purpose of forcing you to reveal the secrets of the brotherhood? Are you ready and willing to sacrifice your life for the cause if necessity demands it?” Think well, and if your courage fails you there is yet time to retract, and we whence you came; but if can wholly submit to li tuke you back from you we yon feel conditions the obliga- | tions of the brotherhood indeedand it Fequire s strong determination allied to an in- domitable will to fulfill them to the letter.” Up | to this time I had notspoken. Iwas ponde deeply on all Thad heard. The chs sibly mistaking my addressed me, e for cowardice, again | w for the last time, in | you hold ssume these awed by the aud strength to say tn a clear, distinct voice, « and determined to take upon myself all responsi- | bilities mentioned and become a member of the secret order of nihilists.” the chairman | again spoke. “Brethren. if any person present has any objection to interpose against this | man becoming a member of this band let him or her state them or forever after hold their | pence.” No dissenting voice being raised he or- lered the removal ofthe mask. { was then told to face the assembly and hear the nihilis- tic or iron oath administered to me. This oath is most binding in its obligations to per- | form all things allotted to you, even to taking | life itself. You are compelled to swear that | you will be faithful in all things and stop at nothing which will advance the cause. That all | Your acts willbe guided by the greatest se- | erecy. At the conclusion you are made to swear | that you regard yourself asthe sworn foe of | the despotic czar and his government, and that | you will use every means within your power to compass their destruction. There was some- thing so uncanny or weird about the whole | affair that it left adeep and lasting impres- | sion on my mind. Th dimly lighted room, the awed but eager faces which surrounded mae, Leen never banish frosr my memory. In | my later aud more mature years I look back | shudderingly and realize how recklessiy [ Offered my own life to sucritice and how will- ingly I swore to take the lives of others if an inary wecessity demanded it, It was not until I bad taken the oath that I learned how mixed was the assembly which had witnessed my renunciation of self. There sitting together were officers of the army and uavy. the members of the imperial guard, government officials of high rank, pro- fessors, Taser gendarmes, merchants and a few peasants. A common cause made ail equal anda member of the imperial guard ‘clasped th hand of bis brother peasant. All class di tinections were forgotten in the struggle for freedom. In the center of the room stood a long table covered with a white cloth, On this was placed a samovar and the usual accompani- ments of Russian tea. There was also wine for tion the secretary motioned for silence; he dare not rap for fear of attracting attention | from outside the house. Some of onr people had lately joimed the secret police for ¢ purpose of learning what people and houses were suspected. and the president hal re- ceived an infallible warning that we would have to be very carefni. All eyes were turned to the secretary, who proceeded to read cypher letters from the different provinces, witich an- nounced the number of arrests and where arrested, the progress the cause was making and an account of the work accomplished by The expenses for the > roubles, 4. The balance in the treasury was sti to be about 20,000 roubles. It was apparent a large sum to have on hand, but they we: reserving their funds for a special purpose. They iutended increasing their tield of opera- tion. Madame Anne Ivanovnn was ordered to the province of Saratoff io take a position as teacher and at the same time disseminate nihilism. One of the hich disnitaries of the empire secured her the position, His name, though well known throughout the world, I cannot mention here. He was aware of her object. Michaci Isakof¥ was ordered to the shores of the river Volga, there to labor among the Starovers or Old Faith men. ‘These people | are bitterly opposed to the czar ana his govern- | ment and hesitate not to avenge the insults | heaped on their forefathers. They are a powerful factor in the empire and have always allied themselves to the nihilist we. Isakoff, rich, was expected to defray his own ex- 8. Next several names were proposed for membership, then a collection was taken up which amounted to 850 roubles, eluding 450 roubles sent by M. Philipoff of the Rizan prov- ince. The chairman thanked the members for the noble work they had performed and en- couraged them to further good deeds in the future; then, after bestowing on me my new name of Soukiusynoff (no nihilist is known by his own name), declared the business part of the meeting concluded. Music is not apt to arouse suspicion, so we enjoyed some fine sing- ing of Russian songs and a piano solo. Wo in- duiged in tea, wine, and, as became good Rus- sian subjects, cigarette smoking, varied by pleasant conversation on various subjects. About 11 p.m. the meeting was adjourned. The room selected for meeting in is invariably provided with a fire place, in which all papers are destroyed before separating. This work usually falls to the secretary's lot. So Madame Sophie Paulovna, the person filling that office, destroyed ali the cypher letters and documents used during the evening. Thus was every trace of our secret assigned to the tlames, * * Our leave taking was made in hushed whis- pering, and our departure conducted in the same stealthy manner in which our entrance had been effected. Two went first, who recon- noitered the street outside. and at a prear- ranged signal given at a short distance from the house two more ventured forth. In this way was the gradual dispersion of the assembly accomplished, and each one reached his home without having excited the suspicion of the po- lice. On stormy nights such as I have just described particular cxution was required, as many people on the street at once would lead to questioning and perhaps an investigation. We separated with hearts full of hope for the cause. But of the members present that even- ing three I never saw again, Sophie Perovsk- ayr, as previously told, died by the hangman's hands, | Jelaboi shared the same fate, while | Elinkoff yielded up his life from the effects of the same bomb which so cruelly killed his im- perial master. Such is the life of the nibilist in Russia, But, asevery cloud has a silver lin- ing, we ean only hope that the cloud will dis- appear and the silver lining make its presence f rosé which will be written the one word § SMIRNOFF. A Chat With the Secretary of the British Chrysanthemum Society. Condensed from the Pall Mall Gazette. Few people would suppose that this is the centenary of the chrysanthemum, but it is. It is true chrysanthemums were introduced into England a year later, but it was in 1789 when M. Blanchard brought the first of the magnificent blossoms back to Marseilles from a tour in China. Here and there a small fiow- ered species had, even before them, been blooming bravely and unknown in some quiet English garden, and in 1764 a plant, which was lost soon after, grew in the Apothecaries’ gar- den at Chelsea, but the “anno Domini” of the flower as a species in Europe was the sume year in which the bastile fell, at the day dawn of the reign of terror. The foundations of France were shaken to their lowest depths, but down in the sunny south, at Marseilles and Toulouse, the strange fair flower grew and flourished, and soon its fame spread far and wide beyon the borders of France. “Are people as crazy as ever about the chrys- anthemum?” I asked Mr. W, Holmes, secretary of the National chrysanthemum society, by way of opening the subject, “Just as crazy, if not more 80,” was the re- ply. “The craze began in 1846 and has been increasing year by year. Up to that date the flower was comparatively little known, except to a few gardeners, who took a special interest init. In 1820 only twelve sorts were known in England. Six years later 36 new varieties had been introduced and in 1833 they were for the first time classitied. Birmingham was the town which first held a chrysanthemum show, over — a century ago, & rage the founding of the Chrysanthemum society gave a great im| tus to the interest which was taken in the flower. Since then at has grown and grown, new varie- ties have been continually brought out and there are now between 1,200 and 1,300 different flowers in the market," “I suppose the fact that they bloom at asea- son when flowers are vory scarce accounts chiefly for their popularity?” “To a great extent it does; but another thin, which is greatly in favor of the flower is that it a very hardy plant and easily cultivated.” ‘November is its best month, is it not?” “Yes, November is the month in which it is generally most seen, but there are three kinds of the: earliest of which are out while the latest bloom in Janu- id | Japanese gold thread being more effective than | Written Tux Evento Stan. ATTRACTIVE HOMES. Pretty Things One May Make to De- light Friends at Christmas. DECORATIONS FOR FASELS—SCARFS FOR CLOCKS, BUREAUS AND DRESSING CASES—SOME DESIGNS FOR OTTOMAN CUSHIONS—TUE LAGE FOR SILVER- MOUNTED ALTICLES. From December 1 the days are but steps in the swift march toward the grand climax of the 25th—our Christmas, The thoughts of that day fill all hearts. The preparations for it are the principal business in life with most people in one way or another. The custom of exchanging gifts among families and friends on Christmast day is so universal that to re- member even a comparatively small number requires a good deal of thought and planning. This is the case when means are ample, for suitability and adaptation to different tastes are factors to be considered. Much more is it necessary when one wishes to make a number of gifts and the wherewithal is limited. Then ingenuity and skill must take the place of money to a certain extent and very charming | results may be the outcome of this combina- tion, too. For the benefit of all givers of gifts Christmas presents will be the theme at the present time to which attention is directed, DRAPING AN BASEL, From a northern city comes a request that through “Attractive Homes” come suggestions for easel drapery may reach the faraway read- ers of Tue Svan, Just now the fancy for white and gold makes that a favorite style’ in which to frame pictures which are intended to stand oneasels. For drapery or searfs to use about pictures framed in this way a good idea is to carry out the same white and gold effect. | ‘There are various {ubrics equally suitable and | pretty for this purpose. India silk in cream or | pure white, bolting cioth, China erepe—either crinkled or not—aliof which drape easily in soft, careless folds, ‘These are foundations on | which a number of effects can be gotten. The jesign is generaily stamped on the material, | and at end has been the style than ever—in silver. The small pieces of odd design are among the favorite things chosen for Christmas offerings and are specially nniqne and beautiful at this holiday season of 1889, ON THE MARRIAGE TIE. Views of Jules Simon on the Relation of the Sexes. From the London Daily News. The venerable Jules Simon has favored the readers of the Revue de Fanitle with his views on the important subject of marriage. He has not much faith in those sudden and romantic attachments which novel writers and dramatists prefer. As to the common com- piaint that marriages de raison often unite peo- ple who know little of each other, he thinks that this reproach is mach more plicable to what are called “love matches.” ‘Think be- fore you marry” is the maxim. M. Simon is not much afraid of mesalliance; he assures us that the only real mesalliances in the France of these days is the union of two persons of wholly diverse tastes and inclinations, Jndg- ing by the samples which he cites from his own circle of friends—though this circle, to be sare, is an unusually large one—these ill- assorted unions must be rather common in Frence, He knows a married Indy who spends her day in writing ““veporous verses” —her hus- band is a tanner and beyond hides and skins neither knows nor cares for anything. Another, a male friend, ix a poet; this friend's wife is a graduate in mathematical sciences, One of his acquaintances, again, who is a member of the institute, has marriod a country girl who can make cheese to perfection, and, as he scorn- fully adds, ‘knows little about spelling.” Another is an agnostic of the aggressive type; his wife is always at chureh. We are bidden to ask ourselves what conversations these couples can hold together, and how they can unite in directing the education of children, The most noteworthy feature of the essay, however, isthe writer's appeal to the drama- tists to assist in promoting sound and sensible ideas regarding the relations of the sexes, He deplores the influence exercised by the dra- matic authors of the day, and especially by the vaudevillists. They appeal to the passions and to the desire ior amusement; but, unhap- pily,in so doing they sre rather apt to let usually but to vary the monotony | morality suffer, Not that they deliberately ex- i would su, » flowers scattered | alt the false or debase the true. To take ah over the surfa For « scarf two yards long | tacident very familiar on the French stage, a eleven flowers would be a good number to | father discovers a foolish son in the toils of an alternate singly or to gronp. say sometimes two, sometimes on maybe m one place | three together. he center of these flow- ers should be large, cither round or oval, and to apply gold lace (not an efge, but large meshed net or “piece lace,” as it is ealled) over this center. w a conching of gold thread to conceal the edge, would give a} brilliant and decided character to each flower, | The petulsshould be detined with the gold | throat couching, several strands of the fine the coarser one. Any veining or radinting | lines from the cc ter are to be done in the | gold thread, fe strands being used than in | the heavier outlines, perhaps two for such lines and four for the outside. Yellow sewing | silk is used for the couching and the thread 1s to be applicd two strands ata time. much faster work than couching it singly. selvedge of the goods is for the finish of the scarf at the sides, while the ends should be trimmed with a narrow hem, and small white silk tassels on cords an eighth of a ‘dlong should be sewed on and a space of four inches left between the tassels, ‘This decoration | could best be applied to the China erepe or the | boiting cloth. The cloth should be held in | embroidery hoops while being worked and can be carefully pressed after working. if ne sary, by laying it ona flannel and putting the fron on the wrong side. Another way suitable for any of these materials could be carried out with the same design—that is to work the pat- tern in white filo floss in “long and short” stiteh, with center of the flower in lace or honey-comb stitch, and then outline the whole with a single gold thread, _ Still another more simple idea for a white and gold easel sear? is to geta length of the gold-stamped white Japanese crepe, a cotton material, very charm- ing in appearance, bem the ends and sew on the tassels and the thing is done. his, how- ever, represents nothing of one’s labor and ability, if those qualities. are desired to add value to a gift, cLocK scans. Another out-of-town request has come for something attractive in clock scarfs, Often with other draperies in a room anda pretty mantel that needs no concealment, any elabo- rate effect there is apt to look overloaded, A small scarf, however, held in place bya clock, and falling below the shelf, may be an addition to the room that will add much to its pretti- ness. Such bits of embroidery make accepta- ble gifts and may be made very effective. The handsomest materials should be used for the scarf, as its position will be such a prominent one in the room. Its size too is such that,even with putting as much time and work on it as aueilile Orie is sure that an end of labor cannot be far from the beginning Plush in small quan- tities is always beautiful, Sey where its position is such as to catch all the changing lights on its surface. Old blue is a charming color for a foundation. A large figure sug- gesting a conventionalized flower form, might be put in one corner, worked quite solidly with rope silk of a lighter blue. Curving lines, gracefully filling the rest of the space,are to be worked with the new art cord, and a single line of gold thread at one side of the couching ofcord. Fora finish something different from tassel fringe would be a reticf, so 1 would sug- gestone of the beautiful dress fringes that come this year in all depths. A fringe of an eighth of a yard deep, hanging fall and silky and waving as the air is stirred, would be a handsome finish. Another scarf might be made that would give a decided character to amantel. Use yellow—not orange—plush for the foundation and on it work rather a close pattern in gold thread— the more turns and curves in the design the more brilliancy there will be in the effect, A rather narrow band of the lee could form the scarf proper, with a tall ot gold-colored fringe a quarter of a yard deep. Somethin quite different could be made by using the si eanyas in ecru tint, and a charming color to embroider it in would be old pink. The de- signs suitable are numerous enough. Small flowers powdered over the scarf, worked in feather stitch, with connecting lines, suggest- ing lattice work, would be very pretty. An- other way would be a large design of flower and leaves, with a little gold thread to light it up. A heavy, handsome lace would be a good finish to ascarf of such light-colored ground- work, OTTOMAN CUSHIONS., Among the novelties that flaunt their charms to the Christmas shoppers are the ottomans consisting of wooden frame work with cushion laid on the seat. The wooden part is either of light natural wood or painted in white, some- times with gold touches and sometimes with- out. The cushions are in all grades of elabo- rateness. Some are simply covered with silk, either figured china or the lovely “shadow” silks, but most of them are specimens of hand embroidery, very beautiful to see. A number of these cushions are laced on to the founda- tion in the style so popular at present. Some- times a puff of plush shows between the crossed cords, while again the puff is of silk. The white silk damask, which launders as per- fectly as linen, when embroidered with white wash silk and a single line of gold thread here and there, makes an exquisite cushion and yet one that 18 thoroughly durable. The beauti- ful reed or serpant green makes lovely cover- ings in silk canvas for ottoman cushions, These frames have aseat that is quite depresséd in the center, so that a cushion is almost as much of a necessity on one for comfort as for looks, They bid fair tobe very popular as Christmas ifts, : BUREAU DECORATIONS. Bureau and sideboard scarfs can never come amiss in a house and most lovely ones are of- fered for sale this year. The first choice now in linen work is the white silk embroidery. A retty fancy is not to have a pin cushion match- 1g the scarf on a bureau, but with a white scarf have a colored cushion, either blue, green, pink or yellow. The tones of these colors must all be the “‘artshades,” Sane the yellow, which is as vivid as ever. The round cushion is preferred, not too fe, for showing off the collection of lace and scarf and bonnet pins which one may To have the center of frill of Indian silk, sometimes covered with lace, makes as satisfactory a cush- ion as may be gotten up. The silver-mounted plush casilons are in demand for gifts, as they were iast year, They are small generally, but make very pretty tions to & bureau or toilet table. A larger center pin cushion must, how- ever, still be the most ornament of bureau, as in former SILVER-MOUNTED ARTICLES. artful courtesan and endeavors to bring him back to the domain of sober reason The French playwrights are caceful to give the | father thebestof the argument; but then they must also present the case of the infatuated sou—uust not only depict the infatuation, but must “justify” it by | adequate causes. Here is the moral danger for the 8 Mr. Jules Simon would have the pl: rights turn occasionally from the psychology of the passions to the study of morai obligation. Where, for example, the son has been the tempter and his victim has been crucily betrayed he would have the stage father address the y your debt, word, You have stolen; you must loves you no longer, for she know you are; and as for yon, you have never loved her. Bot that shal! be your punistment,” Mr. Jules Simon is of opinion that such a father would be cominonplace than the other, thongh h ill not venture to predict that he would be a success on the stage. FOOT” BALL. _ The Qualities that Make a Good Player of the Game. icholas for December, From 8! “What makes a good foot ball player?” ia a | question asked over and over again. Many are the answers given, but no answer is correct that does not contain the word “pluck.” The same elements that go to make up excellence in any of the other field sports are requisite in foot ball; but while in certain of the others that peculiar type of courage called pluck is only required in a moderate degree, in foot ball it is absolutely indispensabie. Many aman has said: “Oh! I am too small to play foot ball; Icouldn’t geton the team.” Such a man makes a mistake. Look at the records of our players and see how full they are of the names of small men, Withington, Cushing, Harding. Hodge, Beecher and twenty others have played weighing under a hundred and forty! Nor it been that their deeds have been remembered because performed by such small men, These men made points as well as reputations, There is a place on the foot ball field for a man, no mutter what he weighs, ‘This brings us to another quality—the brains ofateam. That team is the best which has the most brains. Foot ball is, even now, an undeveloped sport, There is room for an al- most infinite number of as yet unthought-of lays, Every season brings forward new ones, ir a player wishes to devote a little of his spare time to a fascinating amusement let him take pencil and paper and plan out combinations in the evening and try them the next day. He will soon find that he is bringing out not only new but successful plays. ——— see Cats and Rain. From Notes and Queries, -& Undoubtedly, as the editor has pointed out, thie is a generally familiar prognostic. Never- theless, it may be worth while to place on rec- ord the result of a serjes of years’ steady obser- vation of this coincidence. The study of folk- lore naturally makes one curious to test the truth of sayings that have long obtained, and this comes so easily within the field of obser- vation that it only required a little patience and perseverance to note the result. The result has been undeviatingly in favor of the folk-lore saying. The hall barometer may be misinterpreted, and the Eevee “fore- casts” may err, but the cat never faileth. If he wash over one ear once or twice, there will be a shower; if over both ears many times there will be a down pour “‘as sure as eggs is eggs," as another folk-lore saying has it. Allscience is but the noting of more or less frequently recurring coincidences, and to make out a reason for a more frequent coinci- dence constitutes the whole difference between “knowledge” and “superstition.” In all prob- ability if a nature student takes the trouble to investigate the matter he will find that the con- dition of the atmosphere when rain is immi- nent irritates the keenly sensitive perceptions of the cat, or in some hoe parted a licking fit; but the coincidence will remain the same whether a reason be found for it or not. Another cat weather forecast occurs when a steady old Tom, long past the frivolities of youth, suddenly takes to capering about and kicks all the rugs into cocked hats, This fit generally portends the break-up of a fine sea- son, but it is a prognostic which does not so constantly present itself for observation as the other. As assertion is apt to provoke controversion, it is necessary to point out that for a perfect instance of the first prognostic the paw must goright over the outer side of the ear; the thrusting it into the innermost recesses of the inside may forebode nothing, and the creature is so slippery and so rapid and furtive in its movements that it requires keen observation to detect when the fatal limit is passed. I speak from observations made in company with in- credulous, but after trial, convinced friends, An equally unfailing folk-lore pope of rajn is a donkey braying—in England, It also serves asa type of the localization of such rognostics; for in Italy, for instance, the pas aes bray has no such significance, Similarly we had some time - in “N. and Q.” @ quotation of a bit of English folk-lore to the effect thata tire found burning over night was the token of a death. Now, of course, this is an unusual circumstance with a (coal) fire that has not been purposely “banked up and damped down.” But in Italy one as often as not finds in the morning red embers under the white ashes of the (wood) fires. coe Beer as an Antidote for Whisky. From the New York Sun. Yesterday a man very much under the in- fluence of liquor walked into one of the best hotels up town and insisted upon having a drink. He ordered whisky ina very loud tone and the bar tender with the utmost sauvity drew a glass of beer and placed it before him. ip : i TOYS FROM THE FAR EAST. Queer Playthings for Children Brought From Distant Japan. The Japanese are a fun-loving people. At Teast one day ont of every threo with them is a holiday. In summer they go on picnics for weeks ata time, disguising such larks under | the name of religious pilgrimages, For the rest of the year at least three days out of every week are occasions of some special festivity. Surely the children of Japan must have a far better time than any others in the world, since the grown people in that faraway land are such pleasare lovers, and the very toys the boys and girls have to play with are such in- genious inventions. In no respect has the originality of contrivance so characteristic of the Japanese exhibited itself more markedly | than in their playthings, No European would | ever have imagined, however remotely, the least absurd of them. The Japanese kite represents in itself, in its endless modifications, the solution of aerial problems unguessed at by Ben Franklin. Curiously enougn no Anglo- Saxon boy can fly such a kite; to accomplish the feat requires an instinct essentially Japan- ese. or Chinese if you will, A youthful oriental, without specific instruction, thinks — of setting off out of the nursery window halfa dozen paper birds of varied plumage, with strings attached to them. some of them so con- trived, maybe, as to give voice to chirps like those of chicken cocks and other fowls before the breeze. Of course the kite itself is a Chinese invention and probably the same is true of the top. Anyway it was a genticman of Japan who first conceived the notion of a nest of tops that should all fly out and spin when the papa top, was set agoing, and simi- larly it has been with all sorts of other imple- ments for adolescent entertainment, JAPANESE NOAH'S ARKS. Funnily enough, in Japan, grown people are fond of toys also. Puzzles in that country, of variety innumerable, are an inexhaustible de- light; and so it is with all sorts of playthi Each’ year the toy: lot of new absurdities; you can sce the latest of them, if you care to, by wandering around as a ‘ran reporter did among the Japanese shops of Washington, Some are very queer indeed, For in: ce, there are modified Noah's arks— merely little rectangular boxes—each contain- ing one dozenof the most surprisingly artistic animals, made of raw cotton wrapped around wires. The beasts of real Noah's arks are nothing to them in pointof zoological accuracy. These creatures reaily look like the animals they are intended to represent; the workmen who make them must be really artists in a high sense, It seems likely, however, that they are all done by one man—-their poses are 60 life- like and the details of execution so true to na- ture. A stag stands on the alert as if snuffing | danger in the breeze; a fox is evidently paus- ing in its flight from the hounds to take breath; a kangaroo is standing up on its hind legs; a | camel leopard is crouching on the ground and ze son in such words as: | extending its head wy You have lied; redeem yout | some foliage overhe: pward, presumably to crop ad; a watch dog is barking, estore. She | its muscles tense as if straining ata chain; you now as | a pussy cat is shrinking back, evidently at the | dog's approach, with tail erect and bristling; a rabbit with ears of pink silk is leaping mer- rily, while a monkey rubs its chest as if it hada pain. All these things are made with nothing more than cotton wound around bits of wire, | with 2 little paint added on the outside. It musttake days to manufacture a box full, which sells for only twenty cents, Who would be an art laborer in Japan? MORE FUNNY THINGS, Also done in cotton, in’ somewhat the same way, are apes, a dozen in a box, representing the soldiers of Japan. One, the general, rides a horse, two others blow trumpets, still another hammers a drum, while the rest carry guns and knapsacks. Besides, there is a color bearer who carries a red flag witha gold disc in the middle, the imperial sign of Japan, Then there are a lot of littie people about an | inch high who stand on little skirts of bristles, so that when you put them ona table or ona geography cover, say, and tap the board with your finger, thes’ all dance around in the most | curivus way imaginable, asif they were actually | endowed with life. Judging from the elegance of their dress they are evidently.personages of the court, the large golden ball upheld by one and the big umbrella sustained by auother seemingly indicating rank and authority, The way they dance, too, is exceedingly dignified. Frogs and crabs there are of the most lifelike description, though the latter are of a red and thorny species unfamiliar to the fishermen of the Potomac. Also an owl, whose eyes are turned inside out, with an accompanying squeak from the bird’s chest and a snap of its beak in a manner calculated to almost frighten an infant out of its wits, Monstrosities of other kinds, too, are plentiful—wonderfully cheap, considering their marvelous ugliness. Among other queer holiday things exhibited by the Japanese shops are tiny candle sticks in a box with little sticks of cinnamon wood sawdust compressed, This wood when burned gives forth a most delightful perfume, and one of the little sticks put into the holder and ppd will make a whole house fragrant. Absurd little boxes filled with rice powder for the toilet, such as Pitti Sing uses, are also sold, as well ag other boxes coutaining bundles of very small straws, for tooth picks. Besides, there are match boxes made to represent heathen gods, toads and fishes, books of colored photographs of real Japanese girls, boxes of paper. figures that expand marvelously into eautiful things when put in water, ivory back seratchers with long horn handles, and no end of other nonsensical articles such as could not ossibly come from any other country saye fapan, ——— What to Do for Squeaking Shoes. From the Boston Transcript. The squeaking of shoes, as the Listener be- lieves he once before explained, is due to the rubbing of the upper upon the undersole. This is prevented by putting soapstone powder be- tween the two thicknesses of leather, which acts asa sort of lubricator. A shoe which has jueaked can be cured by the dealer or a cob- bier simply by ripping the soles apart, putting in soapstone and sewing or pegging the leathers together again. Some people like to have their shoes squeak; it serves very much the purpose of an announcement of their presence and takes the place of the runner who, in India, precedes the t man’s carriage, shouting: “Make way for the sahib!” The Listener is not one of those persons. He prefers mute shoes, But he can stand anything except a pair of shoes one of which squeaks and the other does not, To go down a room, in the face of aconsiderable com- pany, with a pair of shoes making unlike and alternating noises, thus: ‘“Squeak, clump! squeak, clump!” is one of the greatest trials the world. —— How to Cure Insomnia, From the Hospital, Avery simple method of inducing sleep in cases of persistent insomnia, and one that has succeeded where many drugs have failed, is simply to administer a moderate amount of warm liquid food before the patient goes to bed, This diverts thé blood from the brain to the abnormal organs and takes away the cere- bral excitement that precludes sleep. : ——_—_$__o0——___—_— Makes His Living by Waking Folks Up. From the New York Sun. “There's a man who has gota job which will keep him comfortable during his old age,” said a twelfth precinct policeman to a reporter early yestetday morning, The speaker was standing at the corner of Grand and Pitt streets, The man whom he pointed out was a treet. oe What does he do?” asked the reporter, “Well File you is his who out a a ae to rising earl | degree of fidelity and intellig JEWS IN PUBLIC LIFE, Men Who Have Occupied Important Ofiices. From the Rochester Jewish Tidings The appointment by President Harrison of Solomon Hirsch, a Jewish gentleman, for the important position of minister to Turkey re- calis the fact that numerous citizens of the same religious persuasion have filled import- | 8ut public ofices in this country, and investi- gation discloses a very formidable list of Jew- ish namos distinguished in national, state and | municipal affairs for some years back. Marcus Otterbourg was the first American Hebrew to occupy the high office of envoy ex- traordinary and minister plenipotentiary, in which capacity he represented this country at Mexico as the successor 6 Thomas Corwin, by appointment of President Lincoln. Oscar 8. Straus was the second American Hebrew to occupy the office of minister, being appointed to the Turkish mission by President Cleveland in 1887. The state of Louisiana was for sev- eral yeurs represented in the United States Senate by Benjamin F. Jonas. Leopold Morse of Boston served for tive terms as a member of Congress, Joseph Blumenthal, now the repre- sentative of the twenty-second assembly dis- trict of New York, was also a prominent mem- ber of the assembly in 1870-71. It is generally conceded that Jacob A. Cantor, senator from the tenth district of New York, is one of the ablest representatives that city has ever sent to Albany. He was chosena member of the assembly for three terms and while a member jof that body he introduced numerous. im- portant bills, including many in the interest of various Hebrew institutions, in which he has always evinced a warm interest, Judge Simon M. Ehrlich of the city court was elected tothe bench in 1884, and daring his incumbency has won the respect and es- teem of his brethren at the berent the public, Theodore W. Myers, controller of the city of New York, was elected to the office in 1887 by a majority of 40,000 votes. Philip J. Joachimsen was sppointed assistant corporation attorney of tius city in 1840, and fifteen years jater was made assistant United States district attorney. During his term of office he secured the first conviction for slave trading. By direction of President Pierce he received the thanks of the government for the ability with which he discharged his official duties. Godfrey Morse of Boston was consul for the United States in the court of commis- sioners in the Alabama claims, Benjamin F, Peixotto has attained high rank as a diplomat. He was nominated by Presi- dent Grant as consul general to Roumania during the frightful massacres of Hebrews in that country, and his presence at once checked the tide of perscention. He declined the ap- pointment of consul general to St. Peterburg in 1877, and was consul to Lyons, France, dur- ing the administrations of Presideuts Hayes, Garfield and Arthur, At Lyons he displayed a nice rarely found in the consular service, and his oflicial reports to the government rank as the most valuable of their kind in the national archives, ‘The Jews of Albany are justly proud of Simon W. Rosen- dale, who has been assistant district attorney, recorder and corporation counsel of that city Adolph L. Sanger was president of the boar of aldermen of this city in 1885, and presiden- tial elector in 1880 and 1884. De Witt J. Selig- manhas been a commissioner of education since 1854. Ex-Judge A. J. Dittenhoefer d rives his title by appointment to the y ¥ caused by the death of Judge Florence Mo- Carthy of the marine court. He was a presi- dential elector on the republican ticket in 1860, Few Hebrews in this country have attained a eater degree of prominence than Simon | Yolf of Washington, D.C. He has been re- corder of deeds of the District of Columbia and consul gencral to Egypt, and has been on terms of closest friendship with the leading men of the day of both parties. ‘The following are some of the prominent He- brews who have occupied public office: Philip Walter, for fifteen years clerk of the United States court of Florida; Michael W. Ash, mem- ber of Congress of | Pennsylvania; Adolph | Braxdt, served two terms in the Georgia legis- lature; Edwin Einstein, member of Congress from New York city in 1876; Moritz Ellinger, coroner for New York city; 8. H. Fishblote, mayor of Wilmington, N.C.; Morris Friedsam, internal revenue collector, New York; Solomon Heydenfelt, justice of the supreme court of California; Julius Houseman, member of Con- gress from Michigan in 1880-82; Leonard My- ers, member of the Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses from Philadelphia; Philip Phillips, member of Congress from Alabama, 1853-55; Charles H. Schwab, con- troller of Chicago; Edward 8. Solomon, Goyer- nor of Washington territory; Myer Strouse, Congressman from Pennsylvania; David Eck- stein, consul to Amsterdam; Gerson N. Horr- man, coroner of New York; Isidore Raynor of Baltimore, state senator aud Congressman; Leo C. Dessar, civil justice, eleventh district, New York; Henry M. Goldfogle, civil justice, New York city; Jacob Hess, commissioner of charities and correction and commissioner of electrical subways, New York city; Joseph Koch, civil justice, deputy county clerk, school trus- tee, dock commissioner, state senator and ex- cise commissioner, New York cit: Lachmaa, civil justice, New York cit; nand Levy, alderman-at-large 1872, and coroner New York city since 1852; Jacob Schroeder, judge of the court of common pleas, Cincinnat Alfred Steckler, civil justice, New York cit: Samuel D. Rosenthal, assemblyman, New Yor! city, 1887; Myer S. Isaacs, judge of the marine court, 1880, and Reuben Trier, assemblyman, New Jersey, 1889, The Secretaryship of the Treasury was tendered by President Grant to the late Joseph Seligman, the banker, but it was declined by him. No Bathing Suit Required. From the Chicago Herald. A Chicago lady related in the hearing of a reporter the following bit of experience: I imagined that it would do me good to visit the natatorium for a daily swim, and supposing, of course, that the place was open to the public all the year around, I went over there to get what information I could about lessons and terms for the course. I met in the office a very pleasant young Jady and I asked her if she wus in charge. She said she was. I re- quested a catalogue, but she said the catalogues were locked up, though if I would sit down for a few minutes the teacher would be in and give me one, I sat down, and for ten or fifteen minutes I chatted pleasantly with the polite young girl. 5 Finally I said: 1 suppose that all I need is a bathing suit.” A look of horror overspread the young girl's innocent face as she said: “What?” I couldn't make her o: “Must I have more than a bathing sui I asked. “Well, I should hope so!” exclaimed the girl, Then I began to trust that something was wrong. ‘Isn't this the natetorium?” I asked, Asmile chased —_ the girl's look of horror, “No,” she answered: “it 1s the natatorium in the summer, but now it is a dancing school.” etrcsstalic Anteater —S The Propriecties, Sir, the Proprieties. “How singularly prejudiced,” wrote Lester Wallack, ‘the old managers were against any- thing like an innovation! It was thought an extraordinary thing when Garrick first put on a pair of Elizabethan trunks for ‘Richard III.’ He played ‘Macbeth’ in a square-cut scarlet coat, the costume of an English general, and a regulation wig with a pigtail of his own period, while Mrs. Pritchard, who played ‘Lady Mac- beth,’ wore an enormous hoop. Many genera- tions later my father was cast for the part of ‘Tressel’ in Cibber’s version of ‘Richard IIL’ ‘Tressel’ is the youthful who con- — lenry VI the news of the murder of son after the battle of Tewkesbury. Why, ou should have entered in a suit of decent with silk stockings on and with a white handkerchie fin your hand.’ ‘What! after de- 3 ‘the peietiont From the Indianspolis Journal. Prince Christian, the oldest son of the crown prince of Denmark, who is at present serving his year in the ranks of the cominon soldiers, is F i sill f tf : HINTS FOR HOSTESSES, What Good Taste and Comfort Require in the Way of Table Service. Theodore Child tn Harper's Rarer. | feost us, Heht and chetce, Mrnrow. Tho desirable thing, in the words of the poot, isa “neat repast.” There is not only an art of Preparing a delicate feast, bat an art of eating | one, and this latter art is not so advanced as it j might be, Method in eating i+ all important, } and the only method is the English, for the English eat with ease and without embarrassing their neighbors, Dubois, who had long ex- perience at the court of Berlin, says, in bis Cuisine de toas les Pays, that it seems dificult and emtarrassing to eat according to any | method except the English; but as he probably {had seon many Germans eating differently, he proceeds to expound the English method, the whoie theory and practice of which con- sist inusing the fork always with the lott hand, and the knife and spoon with the right, | The fork is to be held with the index stretched out, so as to maintain it in an almost hori- zontal position, Nothing seems clumsier |than to grip the fork with clinched | fist and to hold it perpendicularly, as | the Germans often do. Nothmg is less ““Eng- lish, *,” than to convey food to the | mouth wit orto touch fish with a knife. 2 YOU are not using your knife and | fork lay them on your plate, with the bandte of | the onc turned to the right aud the handle of | the other turned to the left, ready to be taken up atonce. The knife and fork should be laid on the plate, the one crossing the other, only when you have finished eating altogether. A case when the fc used with the right hand is in cating fish. These points neem so simple and clementary that it would apponr useless to put them down in writing, and yet # little experience of tables Whote, particularly on the European continent, will show that there are still many well-dressed people in this world who eat like savages, and not at all ac= cording to the English method. Ata table @hote in Hanover I remember once sitting be- side a German lady, a banker's wife, who bor- rowed my scarf pin to pick her teeth with after dinner, ‘This was not only proof of bad man- jners, but also of hyg! imprudence, be- jcause a metal toothy | the teeth. For tooth z stick is best, though aquill is not harmful, as Martial says in one of his epigrams: “Lentiscum melius: sed si tibi frondes cuspls Detuerit, dentes, ponua, levere potes.”” j THE CHAIRS AND TABLE, In order to be comfortably seated at table the chair must be neither too high nor too low, and, above all, it should not be #o heavy thatit needs | an effort to move it an inch, nor should it bo rough with carving that sticks into your #houl- | ders when you lean back, or entches and tears the dresses of the women, These details also may seem unworthy of being written down, but d to me very ly constracted dining room chairs, A wealthy New York bankerrecently had made in Europe some mossive bronze dining room chairs, His example is not to be commended. The table cloth should be laid not directly on the table, but over a thick cotton blanket, | The cloth itself should be epotlessly clean, and | if this condition should exist much will be par- } doned. Itmay be pure white linen or damask or it may have a color pattern woven or em- broidered along the,edges. The use of color the pattern of table linen is by no means novel, In the miniatures of the fourteenth and fif- | teenth centuries the table cloths and the long | narrow dresser cloths are constantly repre- sented with rose or blue stripes and borders. Some luxurious table cloths nowadays are not ouly richly embroidered but also adorned with inserted bands of lace, which give you the sen- sation of dining off a petticoat, Such excess is to be avoided. "The starching and stiffening of table linen, as practiced in England, is not to be recommended. The ideal table cloth ia smooth and fair to the eye; it has no obtrusive glaze; itis soft to the touch and its folds are not hard nor rigid. As regards the nature and shape of the table, we have already suggested the advisableness of rebelling against the tyranuy both of tradition and of the farniture makers of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and elsewhere. There are hints for hostesses to be found in Paul Veronese's “Ni de Cana” and in Lippo Lipp Feast.” Lippr's fresco in the cathedral of Prato might be reproduced easily in a Newport villa as @ gastronomic tableau vivant, THE NAPKIN. A most important article absolutely neces- sary for happiness at table is the napkin. ‘The napkin should be soft and ample, and abso- lutely devoid of glaze or starch. The English have a detestable habit of stiffening table nap- kins, so that they are utterly indetergent, and therefore useless. In all service the chicf consideration is appropriate- ness tothe end. Napkins are used to wipe the lips and the fingers, to cover the lap,and even to protect the bust. They should be fair pieces of linen, of generous dimensions, say 34 inches by 25 inches. May Comus preserve us from the paltry 6x9-inch rag which some Anglo- Saxons would fain foist upon us as napkins: The napkin will of course match the cloth, but if it is embroidered or ornamented in any way let this decoration in no way interfere wi its usefulness, and, above all thi let there be no mottoes or inscriptions harmingly worked in all kinds of odd places—in one cor- ner, or across the middle, or along one or all the sides,” as Mrs. Loftie suggests in ber little ‘he Dining Koom.” “Not only are such devices pretty and appropriate,” continues Mra, Loftie, “but they may sometimes afford a sub- ject for dinner com ation when the weather as been exhaustively discussed.” Mrs. Loftie has made many excellent suggestions in her pages about laying the table, but this one is too cruel and too ironical. If people's conver- sational powers are so limited that they require the motto of a table napkin to help them out it were better to prohibit conversution at table altogether and have some ove read alond, as was the custom in the old monasteries and also at the court of Frederick di Montefeltro, duke of Urbino, who used to have Piutarch, Xeno- phon and Aristotle read to him while he was at table, and thus maintained that serene frame of mind which is necessary for happiness at meals, KNIVES AND FORKS AND GLASSES. The knives and forks used at Anglo-Saxon tables are generally larger and heavier than comfortrequires, French knives and forks are smaller and quite enough for all food thatfigures on a civilized table. The knife never exceeds 9% inches in length, the small knives 75 inches, and the large’ forke 8i¢ iuches, Simple knives and forks seem to me to be desiral and all heavy and elaborate ornamentation should be avoided, es; oruamentation in high relief, which is irrit ingto handle. On the other hand, variet; may be charming. Ata dainty dinner I woul have knives and forks of a differcut pattern with every dish. ‘The glasses that figure on a table depend on the wines served; they should be convenient and elegant in form, and dependent for their prpiedacnn hedge ram Ags the crystal and the beauty of their silhouette. Engraved glass, cut glass and colored glass are used very spar- ingly by peuple of taste Bord. champagne wine should be ! te | ite i i £ G i | | i The new canes which are occasionally seen im ii