Evening Star Newspaper, June 28, 1890, Page 10

OUR SCHOOL HOUSES. Milestones Set Up in the Progress of Public Education. MANY TYPES OF BUILDINGS. coneBigancetes A Stery Told ia Bricks and Mertar—The First Schoo! Butidinzs in the District ISTORY is written in the brick and mortar of the public school buildings | of the District. The structures mark- | jing different epochs of school house building mark quite plainly the differ- | ent stages of the growth of the public school | i system from its struggling infancy to its pres- ent splendid development. The history of the public schools of Washington is quite interest- ing. The municipal government of the city of Washington by an amended charter in 1804 au- thorized the establishment and superintend- ence of schools. The mode, however, was pre- scribed by an act of December 5, 1304, and provided that the superintendence of public schools within the city of Washington should be placed under the direction of a board of thirteen trustees, seven of whom should be annually chosen by the joint ballots of the council from among the residents of the city and six chosen by individuals contributing to the promotion of schools. Section 2 of the old act provided that so much of the net proceeds of taxes laid or to be laid on slaves, dogs, li- eense for carriages, hacks. for ordinaries and for retailing wines and spirituous liquors, for billiard tabies, for theatrical and other cmuse- ments and for hawkers and peddlers be appro- priated as the trustees may decide to be neces- sary for the education of the poor of the Acommittee of three was appointed i scriptions and reported 32 collected from 1: per- sous. Amoug the contributors was President Thomas Jefferson, who subscribed $2 in pursuance cf the act the following trustees were elected: Thomas Jefie: ‘Thomas Mon- roe, Gabriel Duvall, Thomas Tingey. Joseph Brombey, John Tayloe, Rovert Brent, William Brent, Samuel H. Smith, William Cranch, George Biagden, Joun Dempsie and Nicholas King. The first meeting of the board was held August 5, 1805, and organized by the election of Thomas Jefferson president and Nicholas King secretary. A committee was appointed to notify Thomas Jefferson of his election as pres- ident of the board and received a letter of ceptance from him. dated at Monticel! gust 14. 1805, in which he sai lieving that knowledge promotes the happin of man. I shall ever be disposed to contribute | my endeavors toward its extension. and in the instance under consideration will willingly un- dertake the duties proposed to me, so far as others of paramount obligation will permit my attention to them.” | THE POTOMAC BUILDING. The first system of public schools was on the plan of an academy, and consisted of two schools known as the eastern and western schools, the western school being located at the corner of 14th and G streets, and which was torn down a few years ago to make room for the Small building. This schoo! house was originally the stable of President Jefferson, but was transformed into a school in 1805. The eastern school was located at the corner of 34 and D streets southeast, and was afterward transferred to the Wallach school. The oldest school buildiug now owned by the District of Columbia is the two-story build- ing at the corner of 7th and G streets south- east. It was erected in 1849. The next oldest is the Anacostia, built in the same year, at the corner of 9th street and Virginia avenue south- east. Some of the school houses built by the city bear the names of celebrated Americans, mely, the Franklin und Jefferson builuings ceiving their names from those well-known triots, while other buildings, such as the jallach. Seaton and Berret, were named for the mayors of the city. The trustees of the schools were not forgotten and the names of Cranch, Miller, Abbot and others are perpetu- ated by the buildings which bear their names. ‘Thus it was that the public school system of ‘Washington was first organized and from then up tothe present time it has until now our public school ond to none in the couutry. ‘At present the Distric buildings, worth about of this number have changed considerably in point of archi- tecture aud interior arrangement THE GREENLEAP. ‘The contrast between the old style of con- struction and that of the prescnt day is afforded by the old Potomac and Greenleaf buildings and the new Smallwood, Jackson 8 placed on both sides of the rooma The ceilings were about ten feet only in heighth and there was no ven- tion. y were devoid of cloak rooms and heated by stoves. It was customary to construct them with four rooms. The first change made from this style of building oo- curred with the erection of the Wallach build- ing in 1965 and the subsequent erection of the Franklin and Jefferson buildings. These new buildings, imposing in appearance, one would think now were constructed more from an ex- terior standpoint than with a view to interior convenience and sanitary arrangements. Their lans were decided upou, however, after a care- iM consideration of the subject of school build- ings all over the country, and when they were erected it was thought that they combined all the useful requisites of a model school. The school rooms were more conveniontly arranged than was usual and were properly supplied with cloak rooms. eo disadvantage, was always evident, and that was, buildings were not fireproof, and then @ too high. ANTHONY BOWEN. In later years, however, the importance of gnitery arrangements and convenience became Se generally recognized as to bring about an- change in the construction of school } | term of service that the dry-closet heating and Deen tak THE BRADLEY. One of the greatest improvements is the manner of heating and ventilating. During Col. Ludlow’s administration as Engineer Com- missioner the construction of sehool buildings came under his charge. It was during his ventilating system was introduced, and now it 1s to be found in all of the new buildings and many of the old ones, Fresh air from out- doors, supplied m such qnantities as may be desired, is heated by furnaces and passes through various flues into each school room. The same volume of air enters the room con- stantly and the proportions of warm and cold can be regulated to a nicety by the teacher according to the requirements. After circu- lating through the room it passes out through grated openings which are placed at short in- tervals in the baseboards on the outer bound- aries of the room. This warm air then passes under the floor, heating it sufficiently to warm the feet, and is carried to the foul air room in the basement. ‘Then it is drawn by way of arched openings in the brick wall through the | closet vaults to the brick foul-air chimney, where it escapes into the open air at the rate of 43,200 cubic feet per minute, THE ARTHUR. Another great improvement isin the arrange- ment of tke schoo! rooms. In allof the new buildings erected the cloak rooms are reversed in such a manner that the light from the win- dows is always irom the leftof the pupils. The ceilings are 14 feet in height. “Then. cost of this new class of building is considera- biy less than the oid-style siructure, and now two eight-room buildings can be erected at the cost of one twelve-room building. This gives opportunity of distributing the school acco modations more equitably. These latter re- quisites were, in a great measure, overlooked in buildings formerly constructed, and now In- spector Entwistle thinks he has solved the se- eret of a model school building. THE AMIDON. The first step in obtaining a school house is of course to get an appropriation from Con- gress. The next step is to obtain a site, and that is no easy matter. A school house fs gen- erally regarded as a very undesitable neighbor and when it is known shat it is the intention of he authorities to obtain iand for a school site the holders of property ccutiguous to the pro- posed site overwhelm the Commissioners with protestations against it. In cases where the objection to the locating of the building is not very strong the authoritities have to contend with the natural desire of the people to get all they can for the land and are met by demands for much more than the land is worth by those who are willing to sell at any price. Some of the Commissioners in order to avoid these difficulties resorted to the practice of purchas- ing sites secretly through a middle man, but this practice was so open to abuse that it was severely criticised and itis not likely that it will be resorted to in the future, TRE SMALLWOOD. ‘The next step is the preparation of plans and specifications for a building, which is always done by the inspector of buildings and his as- sistant, Mr. Bredy, As soon as the plans are prepared they are submitted to the Commis- sioners and the architect of the Capitol for their approval. Upon receiving such approval bids are called by advertisement for the con- struction of the building. and under the law that of the jowest responsible bidder is ac- cepted. The construction of the building is constantly supervised by the inspector of buildin, is assistants and when completed is named by the Commissioners, The pending appropriation bill for the sup- port of the District contains items for the con- struction of six public school buildings, and if these are allowed the District public schools will number 97. Que of these buildings asked for is a colored high school. the others tor eight-room buildings in the first, second, third. sixth, seventh and eighth divisions, paar OF NTE: THE ABUSE OF TOBACCO. The Society Begs for Legal Recognition in France. Paris dispateh to the London Daily Telegraph. ‘The Society Against the Abuse of Tobacco— to give it its proper style and title—is just now distinguishing itself by an unusual display of energy. It is about to present a petition to the chamber of deputies asking that a lew shall be passed forbidding boys—and it 1s to be pro- sumed girls as well—under sixteen years of age tosmoke. It has also sent a deputation to the minister of war begging ‘sim not to permit sol- diers to indulge in the fragrant weed in their own rooms. Not content with this the society has also requested M. de Freycinet to instruct the commanders of regiments to see that to- bacco rations be not distributed to non-smok- ers as well as to lovers of the pipe, the cigar or the cigarette—as is said to be the case in certain corps—in order that temptation may not be thrown in the way of men who have not already taken kindly to the luxur; a Itmight bave been assumed that if young ople under the age of sixtecn were not able Took efter. themselves shatr geniors, who have donned the red breeches, the kepi, or the helmet, might at least be supposed to have ar- rived at years of discretion, ‘The society, how- ever, entertains a diferent opmmion, Like most enthusiasts, the ant ists have over- shot the mark, yet, as a matter of fact, there is no doubt the weed is a THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. MEG THREDGOLD. oe 4 AN EXCITING STORY BY FLOR- ENCE WARDEN, The Author of ‘The House cn The Marsh.” . F I had not boen an artist I dare say I should not have fallen so quickly and so hopelessly in love with Meg Thredgold, ‘As it was I fell a victim to her gray-blue eyes and blonde hair long before I had had any chance of discovering what a thor- oughly good, fair-minded girl she was, and What a particularly practical and prosaic view of life she took out of those poetical eves, was the child of the overseer of a coal mine, a shrewd, hard-headed man who had worked his way up and who stood vory high in the estimation of his employers. Some dis- turbances in tho coal district having brought the subject of the mines prominently before the public mind I had been sent north by the editor of an illustrated paper to take sketches of the affected districts on the spot. Zech Thredgold had been very good to me and had not only initiated me into ail the mysteries of the Bluestone pit, where his own work lay, but had allowed me to visit his home and so to be- come acquainted with the girl whom, I dared not confess, I wanted to make my wife. She knew it, of course. But Meg wasa model of discretion, and received my timid hintsand half avowals with a bland and im- perturbabie calmness which was rather discon- certing, the more so as the senior partner of the firm which owned the Binestone pit was a constant visitor at the overseers unpretending little home. “Do you like that old Sebert Corringham, Meg?” Tarked her one day, whenT had been more than usually irritated the evening before by the ogling glances which the senior partner bad cast at my divinit: ‘There was, unhappily, nothing indicative of atender friendship between us’ in the fact of my calling her by her Christian name. She had beon just Meg Thredgoid to all her ac- quaintances from her earliest years, and my first attempts to adress her more formally had been snubbed as presumptuous. She had been washing the family table linen and was fasten- ing it up with pogs ona cloties line ata little distance from the grimy-looking red brick house which was her ridiculously unsuitable home. The whole neighborhood was unsuvita- ble for her, 1 glanced around on the drear: landscape, the barren, black-looking moor wit! scarcely tree—with here and there, on a spot blacker than the r wheel high above the groun4, denoting the shaft of a coal pit—the rows and groups of dingy miners’ cottages, and at the uncouth-looking creatures who nodded to Mex in passing, as if she had been one of themscives. By what miracle had Meg ob- tained, among such surroundings, the com- plexion of a rose and the carriage of a queen? Inthe meantime she was giving a leisurely answer to my question. “Do Ilike Mr. Corringham? W of course Ido. He's very good to ud thinks a lot of him. Look at the way he'll come in and have supper or acup of tea with him, ‘That's a great coudesceusion in a gentleman of Mr. Corringham’s position.” ‘Condescension! Why, that’s all on the other side, I thiuk, What pleasure could his society give any one? You know very well why he comes, Meg.” Iwas by this time enveloped in a table cloth which, in a wild endeavor to make my- self useful, Ihad been endeavoring to fasten up with a peg on the clothes line. Meg stood watching my struggles with sedate amuse- ment. I was annoyed with her for being vain enough to be pleased with my insinua- tions. : “Don’t you know,” I went on irritably, “that’s he’s a hard, bad man, and that he mar- ried a girl years ago who ran away from him? Perhaps she is alive now. It wouldn't be a very safe thing for auother woman to marry him,” I finished spitefuily. Meg took the tablecloth from me and an- swered me with her usual deliberation: “Mr. Corringham would find plenty of women to take their chance at that, Lexpect. He's got £6,000 a year, you know. And to be hard isn't the same as to be bad, Mr. Bell. And as for the girlhe marricd running away, why it isn’t always the husband's fault when that happens.” “And you don’t mind a little risk for the sake of £6,000 a ycar! 1 see, Miss Thredgold.” “haven't had it offered me yet, Mr. Bell,” said Meg, dryly. ‘Fortunes don't get thrown avout quice 80 freely as people seem to think. Who am I that I suouid have the spending of £6,000 a year?” “You're more worthy of it than any girl Thad to admit. “You wouldn't fill a osiiion any the less well for being able sh up tea thin That's what Mr. Corringham says.” “Oh, Mr. Corringham be hanged!” Uninckily, as I uttered this wish in no very subdued tone the person whom it concerned happened to be on his way to Zech Thredgold’s house and #0 near ay to overhear my words, Meg caught sight of him first and. to my pas- sionate indignation, greeted him with a smile at least as cordial as that sho had bestowed on me. Igave him a curt salute, which he re- turned more curtly still. Sebert Corringham was a thick-sct man, un- der the middle height, with a face which in repose looked as if it had been carved out of wood, but which was capable of plenty of strong expression wien bis passions were aroused. le treated me toa stare of infinite contempt as 1 raised my hat to Meg, ana with the excuse that I must be off to my work turned hastily away. When I reached the lane at the bottom of the hill, however, I found that Mr. Corringham had, by a short cut, got there first. He stood waiting for me, with his hands in his pockets, his feet planted wide apart, anda look of stubborn resolution on his face. I would have passed him without a word, but this I saw he was determined not to let me do. “Hey there, Mr, Pulette-and-brush, a word wi’ ye, if you please!” he cried imperiously, on my approach. 1 stopped short and waited for the threatened ‘word’, which came without delay, “You're sneakin’ after that lass, Meg Thred- gold, up yonder,” he said with a jerk of his head in the direction of Zech's home. “I'm not sneaking after her; I'm going to see her openly day after day, whenever I get the chance, because I want her to be my wife,” I answered defiantly. “And I don’t sce how you yourself could have a better object for your visits,” - be Ihaven’t one so good,” returned Mr. Corringham with an unpleasant dryness of tone, ‘but that’s neither here nor there. I take an interest in the girl; I'm her father’s employer, and I don't approve of young men of your sort philandering about her.” “I don't see what your approval has to do with the mattor!” I said, haughtily. “Don’t you?” said Corringham, with a hard ehuckle. “Cail on Zech tonight and you'll see, On the other hand, if you're wise you'll be con- tent to take my word for it and save the young lady some awkwardness,” ‘Perhaps the awkwardness will turn out to be for you,” said I, incensed at the man's Coarse presumption. ‘You make six thousand @ year, I don’t make six hundred, but I haven't the ill-treatment of a young wife on my conscience, nor the possibility of her turn- ing up in at an inconvenient moment to haunt me. This taunt, which Idelivered with all the force and pomt of which I was capable, caused my rival to turn livid with rage. “You ——cockney whelp!” he said, in alow thick voice, with his teeth set fast, His first impulse seemed to be to attack m: person; and although much taller than het should have stood a poor chance against his muscular force. But he restrained himself, and fixed upon me a look of triumphant malice which made me far more uneasy than a blow would have done. ‘Then with another dry chuckle he walked off, his hands again in his pockets, with an sir of safe superiority. My forebodings were realized. That evening when I called at Zech's house—as I generally did—to bave acup of tea with him, the door was > d by Mrs, Thredgold, who told me very shortly that her husband was ont. I could hear him in the room overhead, but worse than that, Meg, who was laying the tea table and looking perfectly unconcerned, did not even glance in my direction. I would have linge: uestion, for I was meek spiri enough when was concerned, But the door was shut in my face, IL. Iwas much more miserable than angry at this snub, for I loved Meg so deeply as to be able to grieve = grieve more over her scant Brospees.at his tail, while I made my confession. ‘*Ah,” said the landlady of the “Swan,” as stle hanged me s box of cigars. They were very cigars and very dear; but for some reason it was considered a special privilege to be offered one, and I dared not refuse. “You're not in the mood to take it kindly, but let me -tell you there’s many worse men about than Sebert Corringham, for all he’s a bit rough in his way. And as for that lass he married, she was a regular bussy, and it was her flirtin’ ways got her into trouble with him. And then to go and leave bi as she did, with her child un- rn,and him dying to have a chick of his own, it wae enough to turn asaint hard, let alone such a man as Corringham.” “But thai po ition as employer to turn another man out of the field.” ih, bat we are none of us quite fair when we're in love, you no more than the rest. The Jass knows he’s had a wife, and if she likes to take the risk, why even if the first should turn up, Corringham would do the right thing by her and not let her starve.” But this suggestion was intolerable to me. Laprang up from my seat. ‘The collie, whose head I had been caressing, leaped up about me, aw if sympathizing with my indignation, “And don’t you think,” I burst out trying to keep my passion within the bounds of deco- rum, “that it would be better for her to marry @ man with whom she would run no such risk? And a young man? One who would be a com- panion to her? And——" “And a deal betier looking and less rough, and agentleman. eh? Well, that’s for the la: herself to say, But after all, sir, she’s no lady, and maybe she thinks she'd not fall in with ‘our London ways, She's no fool, isn't Meg Thredgold.” “That's just it, She would accustom hereelf toanew mode of life without any dificulty, being eo intelligent, and she would soon feel more at home ina London drawing room than in that miserable brick tield where her home ia.” “Well, if sho married Corringham she'd have plenty of money—more than you could give her, { reckon, No offense to yon.” “But she'd never learn how to spend it ald educate her and without her This interruption, in the shape of a dry, hard laugh, came from outside the bar. Startied and angry, 1 looked up to see Sebert Corring- haia’s wooden face wearing an expression of mocking amusement. 1 could not tell how much he had heard, but his head was bent for- ward in an attitude of listening attention. + “Educate her. ch?” he repeated to himself, in a voice like a file, “why, thou wantst educat= ing thyself, thou young cub, afalling foul of thy betters!” in his anger, which peeped through his tone of contemptuous amusement, Sebert Corring- ham fell into a rougher kind of specch than I had before heard kim use. [ turned my b upon him without a word and was leaving Mrs. Long’s parlor, when he raised his yoice to utter a final taunt, ‘Thou hast lost thy chance of a dinner ora tea now and then at my hovse, lad, hou’ll not be ou my wife's visiting list, and go I tell thee.” So this coarse brute was Mog’s choice! For Icould not doubt, both from his easy tone of assurance and from the reception 1 had had from Mrs. ‘Thredgold, that he was boasting on asure foundation. In an agony of mortifica- tion and resentment I was abont to rush out of the ina, when I was suddenly restrained by the knowledge that Corrmgham was waiting at the bar and that I should have to pass him. I paused and stooped to pat the collie, which, having apparently taken a great fancy to me, had followed me into the hail, At that mo- ment the door of the smoking room opencd, anda red-faced man, who was sitting inside, with along clay pipe in his mouth, called to the dog: Sat, Ruff, coom ’ere!” But the collie shrank behind me as the door closed. J turned to the chambermaid, who was cross- ing the hall. “Do you know who this dog belongs to?” I asked, “Oh, yes,” she answered at once. “Ti Duckers, a cheap-jack and his wite, that’s stay ing here. Mrs. Long let them pitch in the field at back, and they've got a van ont there and a tent. Auice pair o’ skinflints they are, and ertel, too, Why, they've made their own dog xo shy he won't go near strangers, but hangs about the van all day long.” “He will go to strangers, though. He's been fawming upon me and following me.” ‘The girl looked at the dog, which at that mo- meut was licking my hand. “Well,” said she, in surprise, “I never saw bim carry on like that before; never.” The door of the smoking room opened again, and again the red-faced man called to my dog friend, Iwentinto the room, the collie fol- lowing close at my heels, this your dog?” I asked of the man with the long PPS who iooked, in spite of the character [ had just heard of him, prosperous and jovial. “He secms to have taken a great faney to me and so Ihave to him, for he’s a beauty and no mistake.” “Ay, sir, that 'a be,” was evidently a Yorkshi “And a picter ‘a used to look, a udin’ ont’ plank wi’ a boy Rot up as your Little Lord Fondeloy, black velvet and crochet coliar aud u particular nice ‘ead of ’air. It drawed t'folk, ‘specially the women. better nor plum pudden competitions or barrer races, or any sooch-like, Didn't it, Martha?” A stout lady in purple silk, witha black “front,” who was sitting by her husband’s side, careless of tobacco fumes, nodded emphatic assent as she smoothed out the folds of her dress with « large mittencd d. ‘You've given her up; then his regretful tone. “Ys given me oop,” he answered, rather sharply. ‘Wi’ noth to do but eat his head off, ‘a’s taken into his head to catch such a cold I can’t let him show, as folk ould be saying it was cruelty, So there I am, supporting boy and dog, and nothing to show for it.” = he took two or three vicious puffs at his Pipe. “You might engage another boy till this one lost his cold,” I suggested. “That's what I'm always a-tellin’ of him!” broke in Mra, Duckers. triumphantly. But her husband sbut her up with a glance of scorn, “Nae, I couldn't,” he said decisively, “To be any good, t’boy must be takin’-like, and have a’eadof "air. Wigs won't do; I've tried “em, And our boy has a pair of eyes that fetch the women, and there's no denyin’ he makes your ord’nary brat look common-like and broad in the nase, “Besides, it don’t do for your Lord Fondeloy to sniff. and most of ‘em cniffy. Now, Wailie doan’t sniff; and that fact alone is worth 8 fortin’ “Well,” said I, as I rose to leave the room, “I bope he'll soon get well for his own sake as well as for yours, poor little chap! “He'll take his time about it, if only to spite me!” grumbled Mr. Duckers. while bis wife rose and made me a bob-curtsey suits his book better to lie all day a coddiin’ self oop than to earn his bread and repay his benefac- tor.” the cheap-jack, who J asked, noting [didn’t care much for the benetactor's tone and I quite sympathized with Ruff for not liking him. It wasa strange thing, though, to see how the animal, which had been lying quietly under the table, jumped up when J opened the door end slunk out after me, I paused in the halla few minutes to put my pipe away, thinking I would go into the coffee room and have some tea. AsIdid sol feit something tugging at my coat. It was Ruff, the collie. He was wa; git his tail and puiling me toward the back of the hall. Wondering what was the matter with him I let him lead me across the stone-paved floor and along a passage which led into the court yard behind the inn. At the bottom of this court yard was a closed door, to which Raff led me, evidently desiring me to open it, I did soand he bourded through into 8 slopi field, in which a large tent was erected, close by which stood a living-van on wheels. The dog ran barking dares wooden steps and a few moments later door was opened afew inches and achildish voice, hoarse and weak, said: “Ruff, good old Ruffie! Where have you been 80 long?” Then the boy broke into a violent fit of coughing. I noticed how thin the little hand was which he put out to pat the dog’s head Sees vex mervpd with pity for the a little beggar left out Here in the cold. It was too dark for me to see his face in the shadow of the a yy little man,” I cried. “AU alone here? ven't you got a light?” “I don't want thank you, sir,” answered ‘the boy timidly, “I'm all right,” “That rem: be bg ee L to ~ his stood between wagged his tail. © “5g. “Oh, no,” said the boy, “Ihave a rug and Ruff comes and curls himsclf up by = ot ps me warm. ‘And do they leave you shut up here by rour- self all day?” Tasked, trying to my indig- mn. “Oh, I don't mind, Ihave a book that I can read while the light lasts, and I don't feel I want to run about now. Mra. Duckers never forgets to give me my breakfast and dinner, but T don’t seem to want to eat much andi shouldn't much mind if she forgot.” The little fellow, while rather alarmed by the thought of what the consequences might be of admitting a stranger, was evidentl delighted to get some relief from his lone! ness by this conversation. He told me, in answer to my questions, that he had never known his her or heard anything about him; that his mother used to make dresses, but that she had died, “oh, ever so long ago,” as Walhe added, with ‘a sigh, and that ir. and Mrs. Duckers, who were lodging in the same house with his mother when she died, had adopted him and taken him around the country with them ever since. No, they were not unkind, he went on in answer to a further question, at least not until his cold got bad. Then Mr. Duckers had said that Wallic’s mother came from these parts, and perhaps they might be able to find some of her friends. if not, the boy continued with a sob, they eaid something about finding his mother’s parish and put- ting him into the workhouse there, “What was your mother’s name, Wallic?” I asked gently, whiie I privately clenched my fist with a strong desire to ‘go for’ old Duckers. “Lizzie,” said he. “But she must have been Mrs, Something. What did the people call her?” Wallie opald ack remember. He had a book with her name in it, but it was only just ““Liz- zie.” He would show it to me. The boy brought out a box containing such Private treasures as he possessed, a book in a inding which had onco been’ gay with magenta and gold. It was a volume of selec- tious of poetry;a regular lover's gift,I guessed, with smile, as T opened it and turned to the y-leaf. Lut the inscription there, written with a quill pen in a bold, firm, mnsculine hand- writing, startled me beyond measure. It was is: ! “With denrest love to Lizzie on her birthday, from Sebert Corringham. Then there was # long flourish and a date of ten years back. My brain reeled as the possibilities which this discovery opened out crowded in upon my mind. Sebert Corringham was a free. man the And this was the child whom he had never seen! After a brief, passionate struggle with myself, I set my teeth Rare, knowing what I must do, “Wallie,” I said, in a voice in which even the noticed a change, “will you lend me this I will take great care of it and I think y showing it tosome one I know I can get you a good friend.” The little lad assented at once. , “You are a good friend, [ think,” he said simply. Leaving my lantern with the boy, and tell- ing him not to mention my visit to the Duckers yet. I hurrie v, while Kuff watched me with a disappointed bark as Iran down the wooden steps. I think the collie had had dimly in his faith- ful dog’s mind t I should take his little master away somewhere where it was warm and bright. .All right, Ruff, I'll come back and look after him,” I said, And my encouraging tone set his bushy tail wagging. IL I made straight for Zech Thredgold's cot- tage. Ihad two missions to fulfill—one with Meg and the other with Sebert Corringham. Not much to my surprise Tfound that I could make one journey do for both; for when I knocked at the door it was opened by Meg and Icould hear the voice of her elderly admirer, who was sitting at the tea table. The house was built in such primitive fash- ion that the front door opened inte the family sitting room; but a wooden screen had been built up to keep the draught out, so that no one saw me but Meg when the door was opened. The girl looked startled and rather confused. Sut I hastened to reassure her. “I haven't come to tease you, don't be afraid,” I said, in a most matter-of-fact tone, “I start for London tomorrow morning. But as Ihave just !cerned something it may be to your advantage to know I thought I'd better run over here and tell you,” Meg twisted the door handle rather nerv- ously and seemed to wish to say something. But Iwould not give her time. I could not trust myself not to do something idiotic if once we came to parley, So I rushed on withmy specob. “Your admirer in there—Mr, Corringham.” Meg looked uneasy and blushed. “You can marry him without any fear of his first wife turning up. She's dead. I thought it only fair to let you know thisas soon as I knew it myself, since I threw the doubt in your face this morning.” “Thank you,” answered Meg, in a trembling voice. “And now I should like to speak to Mr. Cor- ringham, Would you ask him tosce me? 1 won't detain him more than « few moments.” Meg was spared the trouble of making this announcement, for her elderly lover, with a most portentous scowl on his tace, now made his appearance at the door with his hands planted deeply in his pockets, He had heard my voice and believed that I had come to make another attempt tosupplant him with Meg. ‘Can I have a few words with you, Mr. Cor- gham. on a private matter of importance Lasked coldly. before he had time to speak. “That's just what I want,” he answered, with lowering “und ferocious’ sullenness, which seemed to frighten Meg, for she uttered a ery and glanced from him to me in terror. I was in no way alarmed by histone. But Meg knew the brute better than I. He seized his hat and, pulling the door, shut it roughly, took me by the arm with « strong grip and turned up with me across the moor to the left. As he led me rapidly away a woman appeared at the window. It was too dark for me to be able to see more than this, that it was Meg and that she was making me gestures of warning. [felt far too secure in my power of taking care of myself to take heed of these, but I was glad to find that my safety was not altogether a matter of indifference to her. Meanwhile Corringham was hurrying for- ward, directing our steps over a rough and broken part of the moor, where I had never been. It was some minutes before he spoke, in a savage, dogged tone which made me wonder whether the poor little son I had dis- covered for him would not be better even where he was than in the care of such a father. “Now. then,” he at last, “what do you mean by slinking up here after that iass when you had your orders ‘Hands off?” “I take no orders from you," I said, very quietly, knowing what a sure’ position my erraud gave me. “But, as it happens, the business that brought me here hats nothing, ape to nothing, to do with Miss ‘Yhred- gold.” “Tha cursed lie, youn——” I fe! 'yself suddenly seized by both arms, turned and forced bi ‘dover the rough — Ishouted ‘‘Heip!.” I struggled, but I ad been taken too much by surprise, Icould neither free nor stop myseif. Quicker and quicker We went, over ground which sloped wn, until suddenly stopping with a jerk, my assailant flung me from him, tripping me up. A moment later I was lying many feet below, at the bottom of a pit which had been dug for quarrying pury butsinee abandoned. I had fallen with my right arm under me, and the stab of pain Ifelt in it as I touched the earth told me it was broken. At the same time Thad sense enough to be thankful that Ihad not fallen on my back, for assurediy if I had Se- bert Corringham need havo feared my Tivalry no longer. I think that, having given this asant little vent to his fectirnat ieeringhan ten a moment of coripunction. I saw his bvarly figure looking down into the pit, as he said gruifiy, yet, I thought, not withoutantiety: z “You'd better not have interfered, you see.” _ My head was beginning to swim’ and my limbs to feel numb. Iknew that I must make ——— - my =, : “Come down here, said; * ven't heard what Thad to any. SS “708 = After a little hesitation walked d the edge of tho rE pes po ove tea by an are bees bear = had given me. yur » pocket here, I said; “my arm is broken or I would not a you, Take out a book you will find ere, Sebert gave s grow! like an angry bear—it was his way of showing a of remorse. He complied Without a word and drew out the volume of be had to the he ‘@ hoarse exciamation. “Who asked in alow, eaare: you this?” ho in alow, I struggled, in ite of the pain in arm, 46 torn OxA beck tots tos mare nti “Do you mean that?” I asked abruptly. Ido. That's what made meso savage. I think I°ll just go and tell her what— what I've done. It'll do me to make a clean breast of it, and Meg won't spare me, if I know the lass,” ~ He hurried off, heartily ashamed of himself, Penitent, humble. I lost conseiousness as soon a8 he was out of sight, and before I had re- covered altogether I had momentary gleams of intelligence. during which I koew that I was being enrciod along by two men, one of whom was Corringham and the other Zech Thred- gold, while Meg herself was walking by my side. When the doctor saw me he declared that I had sustained a compound fracture of the nght ankle, besides breaking my right arm, But I didn’t care. The more there was the matter with me the longer it would be before I could leave the dearest spot onearth to me—Zech ‘Written for Tar Dvexree Stan. ATTRACTIVE HOMES. Some of the Newest Fanctes of the Sum- mer Season. SILVER AND CHINA ORNAMENTS AND UTENSILS POR THE DRESSING TABLE+VARIOUS KINDS OF Panae SOL AND UMBRELLA NANDLES—WHITE PD STEADS AND BEDS? UNIQUE FASHIONS. EADS: OWADAYS popular favor sooms divided Wh between silver and china for toilet use, i of a lady ordering adress» hng table outit of forty-six pieces cur fancy bas to soar somewhat to even imagine the various articles or the uses to which they may be applied. Of course several different materials will probably enter into the teave the dearest 5 rt z construction of such a bewild lor redgold’s little house on the moor. How-| ent giaas will be wa silver for ever, when I did leave I took the charm of the . ‘ place with me. Meg never had cared for | ™Micure pot andl chins for smail boxes and Sebert, she said, and never intended to marry | tars. As ie gee and backs hes, tore toise sholi is the last preferred novelty. Au- — I thoaght,” she added, with her prosaic | other new decoration for thes, as well aw hand Rorth-country caution, “that you being so ® toilet for low much younger and better looking, and having | ™TTOP% 78 ccusehaibee: vine rey so much the prettier manners, | was perhaps | ters also, isd neg ee letting myself be led Away too much by th: canters this is upou glass. for other articles eyes. Andsol thought I wouldn't jump at! upon ivory, The very latest in sachets Se — waita Little and see how you | is a hoart shape of silver in Genoese fretwork out, “And are you satisfied now, Meg’ She wasn’t going to spoil me by too much effusivencss, She just looked at me out of the corner of her eye and said, “Yes,” Sebert Corringham gave us a wedding present more fit for a duke and duchess than for a poor artist and his wife. ‘The recovery of his child— for little Wailie proved to be indeed his son— softened his rough nature and made a happy man of him. The boy's delicate health was now his only trouble. He took the child about 1 to warmer climates when the winter came on, | and whether on sea or land the one constant | attendant on father and son was Ruff, the collie, for we all felt there would have been no loving father’s arms and no comfortable home for the outcast if it had not been for the fidelity and sagacity of Wallie’s chum. THE END. ee = HOME MATTERS. Seasonable Hints and Practical Sagges- tions for Quick-Witted House Keepers. Sart ix Warrewasa will make it stick better. Tue Best Coventya ron a Povttice or a mustard paste is tissue paper. To Crean Wittow Furnrrvne use salt and | water. Apply with a nail brush, scrub well and | ary thoroughly. | To Daive Away Ants sernb the shelves or | drawers that they frequent with strong carbolic soap, after which sprinkle red pepper in every crevice. Ix Prcktxa Cucumnens for putting down in brine it is best to leave a small portion of the | stem adhering to prevent withering and iusure perfect keeping, OaTmeaL Mape ry a Paste wita Gurcerrse | two parts, water one part, is recommended as a face lotion to be applied at night, with a muslin or thin mlk mask worn over. Soreness on “TiantNess” 1x THe Curet may be relieved by dampening a flannel cloth with kerosene and applying over the spot. Care should be taken not to raise a blister. Do Nor Licur a Sick Room at night by means of a jet of gas or a kerosene lamp burn- ing low; nothing impoverishes the air sooner. Use sperm candles or tapers which burn sperm oil. FLANxeis axp Buayxets may be soaked in a pail of water containing one tablespoonful of ammonia and a little suds. Rub as little as pos- sible and they will be white and clean, and will not shrink. Ix Damwrextxsa Crotaes ror Ixoxtxa use warm water as hot as you can bear the hand in, — fine, fold smooth and roll up tight and they will iron much easier. The hot water penetrates more readily and you do not need to dampen so much as with cold water. ' SMoxkeD axp Dusty Giopes or CnaNDELIERS may be nicely cleaned by soaking them in hot water to which a little sal soda has been added. Then put some ammonia into hot water, im- merse the globes and scrub briskly with a stiff brush, Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. An Excrtext Toxic to prevent the hair from falling off may be made as follows: Spirits of turpentine and neatsfoot oil. of each one ounce; active solution of cantharides, thirty drops; mix. Apply to the routs of the hair two or three times a week. Witp Grapes Maxe tae Most Dericiovs Jerry. Its flavor is not to be equalled by that made of the cultivated sorts. Cook. tbe grapes in astone crock in the oven, witl the ad- dition of water, before straining, A gentle, continuous heat is necessary. Strain once with- out pressure; use three-fourths of a cup of sugar to one cup of juice. Grr Picrurr Frames May pe Brrontexep by taking sufficient flour of sulphur to give a golden tinge to about one and one-half pints of water and in this boil four or five bruised onions or garlic, which will answer the same purpose. Strain off this liquid, and with it, when cold, wash vith asoft brush any gilding which requires renewing, and when dry it will come out bright as new. SaspperRyY Suoxtcake.—Rub two table- spoonfuls of butter, half a teaspoonful of salt and two of baking powder into a quart of sifted flour, add sweet milk to make soft dough. bake in two buttered pie pans. When done split with asharp knife, butter both halves, cover the lower balt with layer of ripe, fresh, red rasp- berries mashed and well sweetened, lay the other half on top, crust down, cover with more berries, sprinkle freely with sugar, serve with eream. Ir 18 ax Enron To Svrpose that an old piano of poor tone is good enough for children to learn to play on. A musical education is more an education of the ear than it is of the fingers, Aun old piano, worn and tuneless, will do well enough to learn to play on so far as the finger- ing is concerned, but during hours of practice on it the ear will become vitiated, the musical sense blunted and a delicate perctption of cor- rect musical sounds is rendered impossible. To Crean Parxt.—Provide a plate with some of the best whiting to be had and have ready some clean warm water anda piece of flannel, which dip into the water and squeeze nearly dry; then take as much whiting as will adhere to it, apply it to the painted surface, when a little rubbing will instantly remove any dirt or grease; after which wash the part well with clean water, rubbing it dry with a soft cha- mois, Paint thus cleaned looks as well as when first laid on, without injury to the most deli- cate colors.’ It is far beiter than using soap and does not require more than half the time and labor. Diary on Starsep Forsrrver.—tIf the far- niture is in a bad state, but not stained, it will be sufficient to clean it by washing it well with spirits of turpentine and efterward polishing with linseed oil, colored with alkauet root. When, however, the furniture is stained or inky it should be washed with sour beer or vinegar, afterward rubbing the stains with spirity of salts, rubbed on with a piece of rag, which will remove all the stains, The wood ma: then be polished, either with linseed oil col- ored with alkanet root or with beeswax dis- solved in turpentine, with a little cold varnish or resin added. Tue Hostess Wao Kxows Her Busrxess is careful what use she makes of the divan. Many women have fallen intg the way of placing these convenient bits of Sumptuousness in the middle of the room, just where the old-fash- ijoned center table used to stand under the chandelier. This may be allowed in an im- ing and stately drawing room, where the space needs something to break it, but if you happen to be spending an evening in such n apartment never let your dearest enemy temp! to seat yourself on such a divan. The light from overhead has » curious effect in deepening lines in the countenance, making sixteen look like twenty-six and thirty like from the sediment in: off the clear liquor inte Ficsoc: cutaniaat tool lnk sith Sap tae pieces of silic d down. Of course the silk A eaghondbory wringing it; let it with perfumed cotto: PARASOL. AND A great deal is rx uns de of umbreila aad parasol LLA ANDERS. handles nowadays, some of them beiag really works of art. 1 crystal and pore celain are all w and some h a knob or ball of Dresden china end mo. in others. All of these are mo: bright colors and gauzy materi ful silver wh. We associate with TORI rain umbrellas, One of the w the mo- ment are the parasols covered with w grasses or leaves or some one suggests, th ers of pedestal jamp shades to popular. The porcelain crook bai audies are somet td ectic jewels are wet more artsocietios, Thé fancy. Someti from Dresden and made costumes. To go with ai are a pretty finish to the parasol accompany WHITE BEDSTEADS. Among the pretty things at reasonable price are the iron bedsteads, pain knobs and top rails, They ore woven-wire mattresses and can be furnished to look almost as pretty as the entire brass onca, In trimming a bed of this kind some persons prefer around bolster covered w: material as the ornamental spread, ‘hosen shape with lace or rufile-e ¢ the choice of most peopie after These suit any kind of coveriet, which may dark or light. A very simple and pretty w to dress a bed of this kind will recommend it self to especially neat and particula keepers. Around the bedstead a decoy of white is put on quite full, The pili white and the spread is the uni the white striped dimity, This is the sides and foot with linen lace width which falls over the valance in a grace= ful way. To those who like the white t this is & good arrangement, for the spread willl wash as well with the iace as without it, whils the effect is much prettier, A MOUNT VERNON SPREAD. In a visit to Mount Vernon the other day I noticed a white spread on one of the tall four- post bedsteads which might be adapted to modern use, The spread was of white cotton, I should say, and embroidered in a graceful pattera, with many knots and fancy stitches filling in spaces ber there. was finished with full wome 15 in they are brought unmounted up here gave * what the effect of a valance, and yet had « pretty unique look, ali its own, it might suit some tastes to make cover of tl Q originality could find much scope the patiern to be put on at. A pretty finish for a cretoune spread, where a valince is on the bedstead, is to have a deep tassel iringe han over it, the tassels of different | made of colored cottons, harmo: colors in the cretonne. In this should be a plain color of the ground shade im the cretonne, PRETTY EMBROIDERY. Many people enjoy doing a pretty piece of embroidery if it is all prepared for them, but to choose material, design and coloring is more than they care to undertake. Sometimes, to @ neat and really exquisite necdiewoman cave not trust her own taste in selecting or ordering apiece of work. For such are prepared the articles already begun and they will do well io avail themselves of the well-started work. A German provero says, “All beginning is difi- cult,” and my old professor used to rec’ us with every fresh exsay at intrica the German language. It is equally appli- cable ertakings and I advise a novice at embroidery to avoid *“begiu- nings” according’ ng the novelties in which the way oothed so that the work is easily dom table covers blue and brown denin:. ure in different sizes, made with the | je for the right side. with a deep hem of the darker tone turned up into it, A pattern is then stamped partly on the cover and on the bem, tor im- stauce, « vine will have ® few leaves and ten- drils stray design is on the cover proper. on either as a border or as co spread out each on the sides, t heavy white linen floss au that neither gre F to do them. ny suggesting cher with the fruit in solid disks of white and the Jeaves heavily outlined in long and short stitch, are among the pretiicst shown. ‘These covers will @once recommend themselves for suitability for bed rooms, summer cottages or seaside bome ving over ou the hem, while the maim it may be put res made in the same way of the de- nim @ border all around of the reverse tide and the embroidery overrtnning the hems in the same way would be very eflective tor summer furnishings of cottages. PILLOW COVERS AND MATS, There is another pretty style shown for work with all the part done that requires any thought or trouble. One large square and two small ones come etamped on the same picce of cloth—a cream-colored momie. A design of father small figures covers these squares. con- sisting of flowers and leaves conventionalized both in form and color, The large square makes a pretty sota pillow cover aud the swall ones can be used for mats or tidies, or all may be used together ona large burean, The only werk left ior the embroiderer to do is to take the same colors of linen floss as are already the pattern and work a heavy edge in long- and-short stitch to flowers and leaves and out line each side of all the stems. ‘he effect is very pretty and @ pillow, for instance, looks like & much more elaborate piece of work tuan it really is, The pinks, blues and greens are rather crude and glaring as they are stamped, but by toning down with duil and darker sbades of floss, using olives forthe green tones, @ very soft, subdued coloring is the result, which is quite artistic. All the leaves should be veined with the floss also, as much more ex- pression is secured by doing so. A NEW PANCT FOR A PENWIPER is a large flower, which is easily made by any one who uses water colors at all A flower shape, as of a hollyhock, is drawn on water- color paper, as if for painting, and th cus out and folded togethor across the middle, and the outside is colored like the outside of flower petals—a pink, for instance, with enough shad- ing to define the petals. The inside is lightly touched with the paint and at the fold in the per # few leaves of chamois, tinted yellow on ine edges and cut into a narrow fringe, are tied in to wipe the pen on. On the outside a loop of pink ribboh (or green) and tiny bow are fastened where the stem would naturally course from the ce: ee Pe BW ae ard