Evening Star Newspaper, May 9, 1891, Page 7

“THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D. C. SATURDAY, MAY '9, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES. XO WORD UNTIL. a teey @ De od tte Kansas Wedding, WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THE EVENING STAB BY OCTAVE THANET. (Copyrizhted.} CHAPTER L WAS ALWAYS THE PRAIRIE. T To every point of the compass the prairie. No trees, unless you count the scanty two- year-old growth of poplars in front of | the Rogers’ house, or the three wee peach | trees by the well, not ono of them) more thea a shrub! For the rest, every- where and alw-ys, the prairie: beautiful in early summer, when it is a tender green fea, rippling and shimmering in the sun; terrible | in the autumns sometimes, because it may be- come only a bellowing, cruel ocean of fire; desolate and dust swept in the dry winters; monotonous and unutterably Ionely all the year. Nohill, no water, nothing to break the horizontal lines that grew to vex the eye with their sameness, except the jagged ripple made by the roofs of the distant village and, nearer, the low buildings of the Hon. Seth Rogers’ farm. ‘The farm* houses and barns, the fences and ploughed fields had an agrecable trimness of outline. There were no breaks in the fences or sagging rails, the buildings were of wood and the house had been painted. True, the color was « bluish drab with no relief of trimmings, blinds and all being drab; but this lack of va- | riety need not be imputed to the taste of the owner, but was far more likely to represent simply the meagerness of the stock of paints in the village store. There were a few sharp backed cattle nibbling at the first spring grass im the back yard, and some pigs sleeping in the sun. Three geraniums in round tin cans made & splash of color in one window. ‘There was a box of plants in the other window, down stairs, on that side of the house. Crawling across the prairie, heated toward the came adusty farm wagon drawn by two dusty horses and holding two dusty women. Any observer could have told that the younger of these was a gentlewoman: as plainly, rhe was England woman. She was thin and | very straight and wore eyeglasses. Her gray traveling gown, in spite of the dust, gave her the air of @ person accustomed to be both im- maculately and appropriately garbed. Her gloves wore fresh. One small foot, from which | the old shawl used as @ duster had slipped, | showed gaiters exactly matching her gown, | and a flat, low heel. There was about her a certain primness and decision that distracted one's attention at first | from her striking distinction, and a charm of | looks that was almost beauty. She sat, un- consciously, as far as the seat would permit her from good Mrs. Armil, who drove. But, all the | same, she had @ substantial regard for the | country woman, whom she had, for two years, supplied with good moral and entertaining literature, as the secretary of a “Post Ottice Mission.” In fact, she was enduring dust and a hot Kansas sun in this particular part of the state, rather than rome other, because of her interest m Mra Armil. Having been within | an hour's ride by rail of the little town that was Mrs. Armil’s post office, she had come the evening before, to the village inn, and having visited Mrs. Armil for an hour or two (dis covering in that time all that the most curious t office mission could care to learn of her Emtory and condition) al the congregation # benevolence. Mrs. Armil thought her a “mighty curus’ lndy;”” but Mrs. Armil was from the south and took thi easily without divi: uncomfert- ably ‘Senthe reason of moral puzz! ‘As she sat on the seat by the Reverend Elinor Brainerd she felt peacefully at ease in her best frock that “the dust wouldn't stick to, no- ways.” Her broad beck was inclined at an oblique angle from the minister's erect spiae. She rested her elbows on her knees, while the reins flabbed geutly with every jog of the horse's trot. She was » largg woman. tall as fellas stout, and with the fatality of taste to expected as surely of @ person of her build and habits as a fondness decked her gown of azure blue besprinkled with huge | white nosegays. The village storekeeper had assured her that this startling fabric was the “very latest thing in Kansas City.” She always wore it with the consciousness that in it, at least, she could defy the eye of fashion. To the storekeeper's clerk she owed the steeple- crowned hat, trimmed in a profusion of flowers and green leaves, that surmounted her large, fair face. Emil, her son—she was a widow | lhad given her the brooch of triple plate glit-| tering at her white throat, and in honor of her guest she cazried besides the useful cotton square, with which she mopped her face or dusted off her gown, a tine embroidered haad- kerchief that came from Em: wife. Quite satisfied, therefore, she rattled the reins at the horses and discoursed on the niis- fortnnes of the country. “Well, yes, ma'm, wo are pretty bad off,” she said, continuing’ the conversation. “and I was right glad to beable to give round that sent, Iwas so! I gave a heap of well ones gos any was Old Lady Turnyard who's bedrid, #0, really, you can’t jest call ington’ Y she repleriy cried when I gave it to her; and hetty was kinder punying around, tailed her, but reckon she working too hacl. She is the greatest one to work I ever did see! If Seth Rog. like they got; no, sir! is i struck into the stream of rem- iniscence on which Mrs. Armil seemed to be embarked for an indefinite Hogers ie « member of the “Yes, he is. and red hot for every fool law that will make bad come to wuss. You see, Seth, he’s a real nice man, but he's one of them men that reads a heap of things in books and thinks everything that's printed must be true, and he’s got a notion that laws run their selves, which ain't my experience. Bus 1 reckon seuce Xe got up to the legislature he's found out every Farmers’ Alliance man ain't an angel jes frosh let out of heaven, like he lowed they was to first. He's got’ sorte obstinate streak in him, too—'tain’t all Het fault, though I ain't excusing of her. ber plum out what I thought of her. ‘If y ot @ righteous grudge agin’ Seth Rogers,’ say: “why don't you divide up honest and part? ‘That's fair and decent,’ says I, ‘but this living im the same house with # man person and never parting lips to him, not so much as a ‘howdy be: comes back home or ‘wish ye well’ when he goes ‘call it seandilous—' ” “Then she hasn't much to say to her hus-| band?” asked Miss Brainerd, feeling more in- “Much to say!" screamed Mrs. Armil, “law me! Why she ain't spoke a mortal word to him for more'n ten years. That boy of hers, “Mr. journey. legislature, isn't Leon, ain't never heard his mother speak to his father !”* “Do you mean that literally, Mrs. Armil? Not a word?” “Not word. Ain't it owdacious? Would make my biood run cold to live that way for a week. I told Hetty, would’nt pat up with sech foolin’—that's my husband, a real nice tun, but a German and liked his own way. He ad the same preity blue eyes ike Emil and a sorter sulkey pint blank like Emil, too. But Seth, he’s terribie patient and he sets tho world and all by Hetty—always did: and the: do got on better than you'd think they ‘could; cooks everything ‘his way, and furnished the house with her own money’ jest. to = to skin us,’ and so it goes on, first and la | Leon never opening his head, only when Rite right tired he sometimes’ does say: ‘Paw and maw are you all done talking?’ and gits off that way.” “But what do they do when they are ill, any em?” of th “Ti? He ain't a bit ill to her or to him, it's the peacefulest family you ever did ben in. mean sick,” Miss Brainerd amended, re- calling the southern interpretation of the word. “Weil.” Mrs. Armil answered, reflectively, “they ain't ben much sick; worst waa when Hetty broke her arm; that was bad. Yon see Hetty and me was raised and first cousins and all like we be; we think a heap of each other: so I'm over there all the time Ican, and I was there that day. Yes, ma’am, I don’t reckon I shall ever forget the way Hetty looked marching into the room with Leon in her poor arms and one of them plumb brok and Leon all bloody. ‘The way of it was, the bull run at Leon—be wan't only five then and uny as puny—never believed they could raise 1im, and he wan't much hurt, but he fell down, that was how, and bloodied himself and looked the worst in the world, and she'd made a run for him and wropped the bull's head up in the cloth, and Lord only knows how she done it— ihe got him back into the barn not hurt a bit and picked up Leon and carried him into the house—he made a kinder mess on the cyarpet tracking in, you ki nd. someway Seth got word and come a fi Leon. by tov a broke being toward him, he didn’t think of her. ‘Leon! Leon! Is Leon hurt bad?’ was all his word. ‘For Goa’s sake, Esther, tell me,’ says he, ‘I won't never ask you tosay another word ! But she didn't say oné word to him, jest calls in a queer, choked up voice, ‘Leon, come on here to your father.’ ‘Then I said Leon was all right, it ben Hetty that had broke ber arm, and guve him the whole story kinder peppery like, for I felt riled to see him going on about the wrong one. I knew Hetty didn’t like it, neither. But he felt bad enough when he got at the rights of the story. He hilt Hetty’s arm when the doctor set it. She never made a lisp— didn’t take ether or nothing, and the drops Jest rolled off his face—looking on. But she never spoke to him. He waited on her night and day; is a right good nurse. “Nor she didn't speak to him the time the news came that he was elected. He walked into the room. He's a mighty pretty man, only he’s got s mouth for all the world like Leon's and he’s light complected, with kinder red cheeks wher: he gits excited, but he didn’t have a spear of color about him. She looked at him and I could see she was as worked up as him. ‘Leon,’ says he, ‘tell your mother I'm elected.” Kinder queer, kinder queer, I do “— “But, Mrs. Armil, “what made them do that way in the first place?” “Well, it’s a longish story. but we're a right smart from the house yet.” It come about like this. Hetty is from Arkansas, born and raised there, but he comes from Kansas. He come down’ our way and settled down in the gum woods to make his fortune; but he fell in love with Hetty. Arkansas girls is pretty, and Hetty wax the prettiest kind of a Arkansas girl—hair black’s = buzzard’s wing and real snappity black eyes and white little teeth, and es long nough to put in curl papers, and Jest as slimber and graceful likea young fawn— that’s Hetty Senquins. But Hetty—they do say there's Injun way back in tho Senquins, anyhow there's French and Spanish, and Hetty, though she was jest as good a girl as you'd meet the longest day in the year, she was a kinder bearing-malice critter, laid things up and stored them by. So that's how it ben; she a liking for young Robinson, who had a sorts store at the cross roads, and he was waiting on her regular, so ‘twas when Seth asked her to marry him one night going home from playing games at the Widder Packard's, for you see we was all professors and didn't hold by dancing. Where wasI? Oh, yes; he asked her and she said no mighty prompt, and he was dreadful taken down. He knew well enough what made her.” CHAPTER IL ‘The woman continued: “He did pintedly feel bad, but he kept himseif to himself and went on fooling his money away, rafting his timber down Black, and getting aground, and having to pay a heap to boats to tow of him off, and md, one day, Robinson had to go to St. Louis to buy goods, and there he got a good jace as a clerk and sold out, though Hetty Ridn't like it; but he hadu’t fairly anked her to ame the day, so she couldn't say nothing, but she hated it the worst in the world and looked like she couldn't bear to have him go; but he did go and she didn’t get but one letter and news c in a month he was married to aSt. Louis girl Then Hetty, she took up with Seth and married him, and "bout a year after they was married back comes young Robinson, no more married than the door post, and accuses Seth of knowing the story was not true, and having had a letter from the girl they told it ‘bout saying she wasn't engaged to Kobinson, and of sending him the paper with the notice of the marriage and making him think Hetty had goue back on him, till he met up with some one from our way and got the whole story. I couldn't begin to tell you all the row he made. He drawed on Seth. but Seth was not afraid of him no more than nothing, and knocked his istol in the river and said he never did get that tter, and sure’s you're born he told the truth, for it’ come outafterward that she thought she'd sent it, but she hadn't. But you can imagine that Hetty felt terrible. Robinson camo up {0 our house—I was back on » visit then— and he begged me to git him speech of Hetty once. He wanted to explain and he cried, he felt so bad. He was a right nice fellow only a litde hard of hearing and mad if you spoke too low, and he was awful fond of clothes and used to put pretty smelling stuff on his hand- Kerchiet like a girl. "I told. him there was no use trying to stick on a chicken’s head that was cut off, but he said here he'd come all the way to see Hetty, and how they had played together, and all that when they was children, and how Iwasa kinder mother to’em, and so he sorter got me all worked up. I ain't excusing myself, but when he showed me the ring he'd brought Hetty and made like he was going to throw it into the river—but he didn’t, he groaned like and stuck it back in his pocket, and they do say his wile wears it now—it was a gold ring with a little blue stone and two pearisin it. But,as Iwas saying, when he went on thataway, Iclean forgot to quiz him "bout why he hadn’t written to Hetty, forhe hadn't, and hs could write the best in ths world. I was sotaken up with pitying him and — ing at his fine clothes Ge _ let him wheedle me into promising that I'd give his letter to Hetty. And I did. It was only three mouths before Leon was born. Idon't see how could do it, but I did. Hetty read it all through, and when she had finished she, that was as strong a girl as you ever see for ail her littleness, she fainted dead away right there!” rid she go?” “Well, no, ma'am; she did not. She set and set there, she told me afterward, until looked like her head would fair burst with studying. ‘Then she got up and put on her bunnit and went out down the road where he was going to ber and Iwas going to be near by, for I wasn’t grite sech « God-forsaken fool as I veemed, and lowed to have an eye on them two heart- broken things, for young things are jest natch- elly fools and ‘no knowing. So there, if you please. Thad perched myself on a stump nigh enough to see Christie Robinson marching up and down and talking to himself, most likely saying over the words he was going to say to her. “I give you my word, ma’am, I waited and he waited on Hetty forfour blessed hours. and, being young and foolish, I can't tell you whether I ‘was most relieved she didn’t come or mad at her for not coming and Giving me my wait for nothing. But it was like this, as I said, Hetty did start and she got a speli into the woods when running for she mid she felt so tormented that she didn't know which way to turn, mad vith Seth for how he had behaved (as she thought) and yet softening, remembering how kind he wus to her and worshipping the ground she trod on, as the word is, and being warm like, she pulled out ber handkerchief to wipe her face and there tumbled out, to the same time, a little bit of crochetin’ lace she was doing for trimming—for , You know—and when she seen it, it all eame over her, different, you know, and she burst out crying’ and run home as fast aa she could. But the mischief was Seth got wind of her beiu; become home end mised didn’t hart, he home and foun: going to see Christie and with him. She tried toe: wouldn't ‘believe her. That d awfal; she always was feery, he didn't believe her 5, - crite Efe ¥ i into the he looked at the little red mite and he = illow, white as the pillow case was. ‘Esther, Fre cays, “it will both of us to bring up our boy; can't you forgive me?” She turned her face to the wall. I was sorry for “What did he do?” “Nothing. Jest drawed in his breath and went out of the room. He didn’t come back till she got well, but many and many anight Td look out of the window and see hii 4 ing up and down outside, and ho wasal: hand for errands. Seth isa right kind, nice man.” The minister was thinking; what strange similarities there are in dissimilar characters; story of the same unnatural state of domestic arrangement in New England fitted thro her mind; the woman had died unbendingly, with her last motion rejecting her husband's prayer, but showns a religious fanatic. Would irs. Rogers carry her sense of injity or her sense of duty to her word so far as poor Aunt Maria by? she thought, and what a life those two must have lived in this weird silence! “You have not tolé me the rest,” she said, “how did they come to this place?’ “Well,” said Mrs. Armil, “I was settled here, and Seth had a little money left him, and he liked here, and so they come and Seth has been ® working and a toiling ever sence to git his farm clear—well, ho has paid off all into twen- -five hundred. He has got a mighty nice farm; and Hetty does look after things close. Now, look at their cows, not nigh so ga'nted as most. Hetty didn’t let them into the corn- fields after crops was laid by. no ma'am, sho ent down everything and saved the fodder. They'll do all right if they kin git the mortgage mau to wait; and I got hopes he will. for he waited for Emil. Emil sent him all the money he could raise; but you see the banks are bud off as the rest of us now. The man wrote a real nice letter to Emiland renewed it for three years. I feel thankful enough; folks are so r now; the Gannetts, they was sold out last ursday, and it was dreadful, eight little children and nobody willing to pay anything for the cows, they was so run down. Ani they've set off in their wagon for Indian terri- tory. I know as well as I want to that the sec- ond boy won't live to git there, he’s so puny. Poor little trick, he was saying to his mother: ‘Oh, maw, will we have apple sass and fresh meat to eat in the nation” Hetty she jest fetched over a bag of dried apples and I gave “em some sugar and a loaf of light brend to carry. ‘It may be our turn next,’ said Seth, pet gave the little boy 50 cents. It would bees break his heart to lose this place, but I am oping Mr. Raimund—” “What is bis name? Raimund, of my town?” “Yes, ma'am.” “He is not a hard man.” “Well, so Tsay, and it’s hard for them that has money owing as well as them that owes. Well, "twill be all the same a hundred years from now, but it’s hard pickings in the mean- while! Here we are.” CHAPTER IIL Mr. Rogers opened the door, « tall man who stooped a little. He wore the black broadcloth of @ rural politician, but it was scrupulously well brushed. His face was rather long, look- ing the longer for a gray chin beard and a bald forehead. His huir, like his beard, was gray and beautifully soft. It curled about his face. His blue eyes were large and mild; indeed the whole expression of his face was that of rather melancholy patience. As he walked’ along he dragged his feet, giving a slump to his gait—more of indecision than awkwardness. He greeted Mra. Armil warmly. and bowed with a courtesy that was not so much rough as untrained to Miss Brain- erd. “This is my wife, Miss Brainerd,” he said, in the same tone that any husband might have The minister in her one year of office had seen some strauge sides of ‘domestic life; but this drama had new features. Sho felt a little thrill along her nerves as she glanced at the wornan who not spoken to her own hus- band for ten years. This woman did not look capable of such weird obstinacy. She was pretty, as Mrs. Armil had said, but witha more lelicate and refined boauty than the miu had expected. look like?” thought the minister. “I declare it is Mono Lisa, Sho has just that mysterious smile!” Perhaps a photograph of Mona Lisa hanging side by side on the wall with the Archangel Michael suggested the comparison. She won- dered if it was Mrs. Rogers’ taste that had se- lected them, or the quiet paper on the walls, or in werk the little dash of color in a crimson drapery for the ugly mantle behind the stove, the retty wicker chair in the corner, the plants in the window. A small library she was sure belonged to the husband. “No,” she remembered, "Mf Armil suid that she furnished the room to suit im.”” And after a glance at the wife's toilet, a brown alpaca gown made up with profuse draperies and trimmings of red velvet, she gave Mr. Rogers credit for any evidence of taste. Meanwhile, Mrs. Armil, who wished to do honor to her guest, had introduced her like the columns of a country paper, as “Rev. Brainerd.” She now set the conversational ball in mo- tion with ‘Rev. Brainerd’s been interested in the destitution round here. ‘Yes, it's bad,” said Rogers, crossing his legs and nervously ‘twisting his fingers, “it’s bad, but we could get along if we could get ‘moro time on our mortgage.” farms about here mortgaged?” ma'am. You may say all sbout here . rl,” addressing Mrs. Armil, “havo you heard?” Mrs. Armil told more in detail th she had told Miss Brainerd. ‘The interest in the man’s eyes was plain, and though veiled the ‘fet | close the mort “Oh, Lord,” gasped Mrs. Armil. But Miss td had her word “tell him that I know Mr. Rainmtind well; he is in gregatior, and I will: ‘con- engage that he shan't fore- ge.” “Well, Lord bepraised! You're doing right, Hetty,” called Mrs. Armil at the empty door, as soon as astonishment released her omen bee Bg Reni} a of her ving in now when he'd lost property, End him thie helplessest man alive!" “I think that was why,” laughed Miss Brain- erd, “such slight things are women!” COATS AND GOWNS. Some of the Latest Styles Designed for Royalty. \HE PRINCESS Margaret, sister of the Emperor of Prussia and granddaughter to Victoria, and the Prin- cess Victoria of Tock are both mentioned as possible brides for Prince Albert Victor of Wales. Both the royal maidens are anxious to look their best, and have equipped them- selves with some of > Redfern’s coats and gowns, 8 sample of ay" which will be seen in the following sketches: The first is a cont of yy broadcloth, with vest and sleeves of a airy French tweed in stripes of fawn and gray. The large buttons are covered with cloth and set in gilt rims, and the girdle and twisted trimming at the neck are of gold galloon, studded with steel nail heads. The second gown is for the Princess Victoria, and is of royal blue-faced cloth, handsomely braided in black and steel. It has a pri cess front and the sleeves are quite tight at the wrist. Flowors bid fair toremain this season much in favor as they were last year, and ‘they will” cer: tainly be more bean- tiful than ever to judge from the lovely lossoms in close imi- tation of nature, which may be seen in the millinery estab- lishments. Clusters of butter- cups and grasses can be got for #4. Those made in mimova and in cowslips are pe haps the most effec- tive of all. Pretty armlets in hyacinths or other small flowers, finished with single bows of ribbon, are also being sold for wearing round the sleeves of evening dresses. Yellow will be worn a good deal during the London season, perhaps be- cause Princess Christian seems so fond of it, and she and her daughters are just now tho ob- jects of peculiar attention. Daffodil yellow is lirst favorite, and then comes primrose, maize end then cream, which has been in so long that ultra fashionables aro alittle ti Literary Curiosity. From Good Hourekeeper. A lady occupied a whole year in searching for and fitting the following Itnes from Eng!ish and American poets. ‘The whole reals almost as if written at one time and by one author: LIFE. ‘Why all this tofl for triumphs or an hour? ‘ —Young. Life's a short summer—man is but a tower. —Dr. Johnson. By turns we catch the fatal breath and die— The cradle and the tomb, alas! so nigh!— —Prior. To be is better far than not to be,— —Sewelt. ‘Though all man’s life may seem a tragedy: Dencer. But light cares speak when mighty griefs are dumb— —Deniel. The bottom is but shallow whence they cute. —Sir Wal er Raleigh, Your fate is but the common fate of all; Lémafeltor, Unmingied Joys here to no man befail Nature to each allots his proper sphere. Fortune makes folly her peculiar care; —Churehilt. Rochester, Custom does often reason overrule. And throw a cruel sunshine on a fool. —Armstrong, Live well—how long or short permit to heaven, —Milton, They who forgive most shall be most forgiven, —Kaley, Sin may be clasped #0 close we cannot see_its fac French. Vile intercourse where virtue has no place. —Somervill, ‘Then keep each passion down, however deur. —Thompson, ‘Thon pendulum betwixt a smile and tear; Her sensual snares let faithless pleasures iay. llett, ‘With craft and skill to ruin and betray. —Crabbe. Soar not too high to fall, to stoop to rise; —Massinger, We masters grow of all that we despise, —Crowley. Oh, then, renounce that impious self esteem. Beattie, sm. Riches have wings and grandeur Is a dré ‘Think not ambition wise because 't!s brave—? Walter Davenant. same interest was in the woman's. arn't you had wetter from him yot2" ania rs. Armil, with the sympathy of safe people for other's trouble. sie “No,” answered Mrs. Rogers, “not yet; but wo sent Leon to the town to see if we had a let- ter.” ‘Then the talk drifted into generalities inter- rupted Be the sound of hoofs. “It's Leon,” exclaimed Hogers. He wont hastily to the door. ‘The child of this strange couple came in. Ho looked like his mother and his father, delicate like the one, dark-haired and smiling’ like the other. His eyes turned from the man to the = in a cordial glance that embraced them th. “Yes, I got the letter,” he said. Then, for the first time perceiving the guest, he made his awkward schoolboy bow to the lady and sub- mitted to be kissed by Mrs. Arai “We have a mortgage on hand, too, you see,” said Rogers; “will you Indies’ excuse me?” Here he tore open the letter with fingers plainly a-tremble. There was no attempt at di ine. Every woman in the room stared at him. For him, his jaw fell; he grew paler, until his skin took the tint of gray ashes. His first action was to hand Leon the sheet with its type-writ- ten copy and engraved heading. “Give it to your mother,” he said, huskily. Leon's eyes shone as he obeyed; he was a child and hopeful. Mrs. Rogers read the let she may have had more self-control than he’ for there was no change, only a Figia settlin of the muscles. “She is thinking that she told him so,” reflected the minister. “Ma,."—Leon’s voice broke the silence— “won't you tell me?” “There ain't no reason why they shouldn't all hear it,” said the man. ‘He says that he was expecting to extend, knowing wo'd had hard times, but he read my name in the list of rej resentatives that voted for the stay law. doesn’t consider his property safe in where they pass such laws, or with aman that will vote for them.” Ho swallowed something in his throat. “I "he went on, “there's lots of fellows feel does, and lots of poor farmers will have to give up for the same reason. If it was Gar dees it wouldn’t be so bad; but—" for the time he looked at his wife. She returned his look, a dull red creep- ing into her cheek; nor did she take her eyes fii face while he remained in the room—“‘it "tonly me. If we have = mistake we ed. have ruin th us.” : died little bitterly. What tragedy ers: a itterly. a mee ‘Brainerd thought, a What a loneliness! He had in him. she decided in a flush of sympathy, rarer and finer qualities of nature, of affection and aspiration, his unforgiving wife could ever com: a. “I seem to have missed it all ‘round,” he tate | greet ir ‘The paths of glory lead but to the grave. What is ambition? ’Tis a glorious cheat. —Willis, Only destructive to the brave and great. . —Addi What is all the gandy glitter of a crown? ‘The way to bliss lies not on beds of down. F. Quaries. Tow long we live, not years but actions tel —Gray. —Warkins, ‘That man lives twice who lives the first life well. Make, then, while yet ye may your God your iend. —Mason, Whom Christians worship, yet not comprehend. ‘The trust that’s given guard, and to yourself be Just, —Dana. For live howe’er we may, yet dle we must. —Shukespeare, Art Criticism. From the Youth's Companion. “What it takes to make a paradise,” some one has said, “depends upon the person who is going there.” ‘There was once an artist who painted a picture of Adam and Eve in the gar- den of Eden. It was exhibited publicly. One day the painter, entering the hall, saw two men, who appeared to be farmers, standing be- fore the picture. “Now,” said tho artist to himself, “I can hear an unprejudiced opinion of my work.” He drew near and listened to what the farm- ers were saying. 1 jA¥ell, Joun," said one, “what do you think of it?” “I ood,” said the other, “but 8 about it that strikes me asa little mite queer.” “What's that? “Why, he's got Eve with « Rhode Island ning a.” “Well, what of it?” “Hum! Seeing that the first Rhode Island greening was in this country, I don't juite see how they could have had them in Paradise!” “No greonings!” exclaimed the other, con- temptuously, “how do you suppose they could have got along in the garden of Eden Rhode sland greeningst” voices, using their inflections and accent pre- cisely as women do. You-hear this effeminate Et Hell i HOW TO FIGHT FLESH. The Danger Resulting From An Accumulation of Fat. DISEASES TO BE DREADED. Maladies That Accompany Corpulence— Apoplexy, Diabetes, Bright's Disease and Heart Failure—We Generally Eat Too ‘Much—Standard Weight According to Height—Care to,Be Taken in Diet. ‘Written for The Evening Star. {Copyrighted 1801. HEN PERSONS BEGIN TO “FLESH up” they not only feel, but look well, women yy taking on # roundness of out- line which is pleasant to the eye, sete off their costumes and lends» certain dignity as well as grace to their general appearance and bearing. If the increase of adiposity could be kept at the first stage of embonpoint there would be no risk in becoming a little plump, but it can- not. Unless in rare cases where the individual understands how to check and restrain the ten- dency to corpulence within safe bounds, it steadily increases until it blots out altogether the grace it brought at first. If this were all there would be no harm done, except to the personal vanity, which might be borne with equanimity, but obesity leads to many different diseases which may terminate fatally. The fatty heart is most to be feared, as it is slow, silent and often quite unsuspected in ite progress and too frequently the causo of that “heart fuilure” which results in sudden denth, usually in persons who, to the unprac- ticed ’eye, have every appearance of sound health. When the circulation of the heart is impeded by a superabundance of fat its action becomes irregular, at times contracting with difficulty, at others dilating under the pressure of the sanguineous volume and then becomes diseased, hence the numerous deaths from heart failure. Whe: reon in the prime of life suddenly drop through abrupt ces- sation of the heart's action it is almost always observable that the victim is of plethoric habit. DISEASES TO BE DREADED. Apoplexy is another disease to which the corpulent are peculiarly liable; should such show an inclination to undue somnolency, no time should be lost in consulting physician, asin all human probability they have passed bevond the point when dietetic measures alone vill insure them from danger. The liver, in especial, shows a great tendency to disease pro- duced by too much fat, hence the so-called “fatty liver.” Diabetes is a disease of the lobules of the liver. It is this portion of the liver which makes animal sugar. When we feed too ex- clusively upon foods which produce sugar, this part of the liver becomes overactive and forms more sugar than the system requires, and thus incites the kidneys to work excessively to carry it of. This overexcitation of the liver and kidneys induces the diabetic condition, the seriousness of which requires no insistence to the intelligent reader. But of ail diseases none are more dreaded by humanity than “Bright's which is ore nor lesa than fatty ¢ , and is caused by long-continued over- indulgence in vegetable, saccharine and starchy foods which produce self a disease. but only vital parts. Dropsy in tl disease of the heart or kidne; in the abdominal cavity indies portal glands. There are numerous other lesser maladies caused directly by obesity, such as gout, rheumatism and anemia—the bid diminution of the blood supply in the body. That is Webster's defizition of anemia -more strictly medically speaking it is a ebange in the qnality—an impoverishment of the blood caused by bad alimentation. No WISH TO ALARM. 1 do not desire to alarm the obese reader, but only to awaken him or her from that easy state of indifference to corpulence which is the out- come of the flattering unction each is liable to lay to his soul, “My fat is healthy fat.” Do not thus deceive yourself. No fat is healthy if allowed to excved a certain point. Nothing is more frequently heard among the victims of corpulence than the remark: “My stoutness is inherited, and I enunot hope to os cape my fate. My parents suffered -asI do, and in their later years attained enormous bulk, as I doubtless shall however I may struggle ngaingt it.” But that is nonsense. Obesity and a tendency to obesity are two ver} different things. The latter may be inherited, but the former cannot be. The predisposition to the family bane comes, in some degree, from tho transmission of weakened organs and im- paired vital forces to the offspring of the fat. and therefore it may be admitted that thus far a tendency is inherited. Obesity is more frequently the product of habit thun of heredity. Its great cause is the eating of food that ferments in the stomach. Of course there are certain articles of food, hydrocarbons, that are more readily converted into adipose tissue than others are; but, in a general way, every ounce of vegetable food in excess of so much as can readily be digested and assimilated has evil consequences in the direction of corpulence. It must be remem- bered that ours is a meat-cating race. The survival of the fittest—or the toughest under adverse conditions—in many generations has produced a special adaptation for an exclu- sively vegetable dict in some peoples, notably the Hindoos, Chinese and Japanese. Their foric valves are permanently paralyzed, and rice they put {n their helpless but indif- ferent and useless stomachs is promptly passed along to the duodenum and smail intestines, whero it is digested and its nutritive elements are properly assimilated. But we are not built in that way. Our pyloric valves work. MEAT AND VEGETABLES, ‘The stomach is a meat-eating organ, but when fitted with » pylorus upon which it can place any reliance, endeavors honestly ta do its duty upon whatever is supplied to it. By the time, howover, it has dealt with the stattered frag” ments of meat in the ordinary American meal, the mass of vegetable matter forced upon it has begun to ferment. Volumes of carbonic acid gas rise from the acid mass in which the process of fermentation has been started by germs of vinegary and alcoholic yeasts alread: lished on the coats of the ‘stomach, an: timulated by the natural animal heat, often aided by deluges of hot liquids. The ‘sensa- tions of oppression in the stomach, pressure upon the heart, suffocation and sour stomach aro the natural and quickly experienced conse- quences. ‘The gas evolved has a directly toxic effect, in addition to its injurious pressure, and tends to the speedy impairment of the func- tions of stomach, lungs and heart. Nature, as @ measure of Pradent onservation, builds around weakened organs sustaining and pro- tecting walls of fat, so that we fairly started the growth of co Tie re you. ulen¢ rpulence. But the evil has only commenced. When the | tits acid, gus evolving heap of vegetable matter is eventually allowed to escape through the pylorus it enters upon tract where it is now, ‘owing to its condition, a potent factor for evil instead of healthful alimentation. The assim- ilative fanctions, perverted by the toxle effecta of the gases involved, carry into the blood in- stead of healthful, nutritive elements, the yeast germs permeating the mass and t- ing themselves at every point. ‘The i fibrinous clote im the tissues suffer for fat upon a person whose long-continued ex= vectmeag “neuen for insurmnce &) ATTRACTIVE HOMES. aa We Height. verage Weight. i ii er wipe Suggestions for Harmonious Deco- ; “ rations for the Summer. : “ : « |TWO PRINCIPAL DESIGNS. 4 “ 5 = cae 5 a ‘The Japanese Style May Re Employed and § + ‘This 1s Quite Frequently Done—Rugs and 5 “ the Difference in the Durability—Chintz and * Denim for Coverings and Drapings. 6 inch. * 6 “ inches. mm « In practice the allowance is just a little more ‘Written for The Evening Star. Liberal than is there set forth. But the schedule worth insertion as demons! Pro- fessional idea of how loan a really healthy per- ry ant oun INTERESTED IN INTERIOR decorat son should be. ition there are numberless things which, though not intended primarily for that Purpose, are suggestive of ways and means whereby they may be made available. It needs ‘quick eye and lively imagination sometimes to seo the possibilities in rather materials, but many = good result bas been achioved with such a natural equipment. One hears of charming things accomplished maybe while in an isolated country place, the village store being the only resource for supplics. It really seems sometimes as if restrictions only spurred one's ingenuity and better results are sometimes the outcome in consequence. For summer homes two styles of furnishing come prominently to the fore, one the Japa- nese treatment of stamped chintz and cotton rugs, the other blue denim. Both are effective and have their claims toattention. The stamped chintz is very attractive and can be used in a varicty of ways, while the cotton rugs are as satisfactory as possible. There is a choice, however, in them as to their serviceablencas, some of them retaining their good looks much longer than others. DIFFERENCES IX RUGS. Several years ago two were bought by the ‘as they are the sure forerunners of die- gase, one excessively probable, early manifesta- tion of which will be ‘of corpulence. Remember that while the chemical constitu- ents of the class of foods known as hydro-car- bons are such as put faton most rapidly all egetable food tends to the eame effect in pro- Portion to the quantity consumed and the de- gree of ite proper assimilation. Limit the amount of food taken to what nature really re- quires and you may afford to be indifferent to your imaginary hereditary tendency to stont- hous A French statistician, has cacertained that a human being of either sex who is a moderate eater And who lives to be seventy years old, consumes during “the days of the Years of ‘his life” a quantity of food which ‘would fill twenty ordinary baggage cars. CONSUMPTION OF FooD. Almost everybody eats far too much and too often. Eating is made a matter of habit, not of necessity. One takes dinner because the hour for doing so has arrived oftener than to satisfy an honest and natural desire for nutri- tion." And the weary stomach is not allowed to = "3 same person at the same time, one being in « capo pr pilot agetead ngerous | Pattern suggesting—probably imitating—a Per- indicator of threatened illness, and measures | sian rug, and the other quite in an castern for its correction are taken at once. Alcoholio | Prayer rug design with gray and brown border stimulants, “tonics,” “bitters,” “pick me ups” | and center of peacock blue. ‘This latter one and “bracers” in tnGinite seviott andl exe. | Sas very protiy.'oml es 48 tp cnet eames, palling multitude of blue bed room in the house the p: took —all harmaceutal compoun: Tore or less deadiy-are provited to sting the jaded palate and «pur the tired out stomach to new exertion. Fiery condiments, spicy sauces and piquant relishes help along 1@ Conquest of nature. And as the outcome of it all—the improper food and the excess of it_we get fat, and no wonder wo do. Frequent cating Keeps the food constantly assing over the absorbent surfaces until, little y little, layer after layer, the surplusage is de- posited in fatty tissue. Stimulants, expecially malt liquors, tend to produce the diseased con- dition of which one of the commonest results is corpulence; but that fact is 80 generally known and its causes so well understood that it need not be dwelt upon here. Cexia Loox. it, fh with an inward demur, as the color seemed likely to prove a somewhat fleeting one in cotton. other rug, however, was con- sidered to have ite durubility established with- out question, as its subdued culors seemed to carry their guarantec with them. Exactly the contrary result occurred, however, and today the blue rug looks almost precisely as it did when it was bought, while the other is dingy and almost ugly in appearance. The blue one has bad more light upon it always, and the other has perhaps been walked over « little more than the blue, so an average has been maintained. ‘These rugs were #4 apiece, I be- lieve. and the blue one especially was well worth it, for it corresponded with a room which is ina difficult color to suit and in of & good size, 4 by 23¢ feet. These rugs come large enough to cover whole floors and are good for summer houses and are quite reasonable in Price. — BEAUTIFUL SALT LAKE CITY. A Washington Woman's Impressions of the Mormon Metropolis. Correspondence of The Evening Star. Saut Laxe City, April 28, 1891. Did you know that Salt Lake City is one of the most beautiful places in the whole world? Nobody had ever told us, and when the clouds lifted and the sun shone out about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon we simply held our breath with wonder and admiration. In front of our windows, back of us and on every side were the most gorgeous snow-covered mountains, rugged, and wild, and grand beyond words to express, with great splotches of red sand stone on their sides, looking almost like blood in contrast with the dazzling snow around. They are far more beautiful than even our beloved Rockies at Colorado Springs; so you may know GOLD STAMPED CHINTZES The gold stamped chintzes with medium dark grounds are very pretty, and « good many uses can be made of the: Thave seen one piece with fawn ground and quite large set in gold fignres rather far apart, which was to be used asa box plaited valance toasmall corner divan, with a Turkey rug laid over the seat and hanging down in a point over the valance. pillows to the extent of about four could be piled up on it, one to be covered with the chintz and’'the others in other coloring, and this device is certain to make picturesque a corner in a little parlor which hitherto has proved rather unmanageable. The Japanese chintz comes in both single and double wiith, and some scems thinner and more sheer others. It is somewhat used for wail coveri how grand they must be. They are the Wa-| in place of paper, the joining covered wit satch mountains. Their dazzling peaks against | Wooden moldings, but its use is not very gen- the biue sky remind us of Switzerland, I | eral in that way as yet. can't get over my surprise at finding this such a beautirul . Why haven't we heard more about it otherwise, and it almost leads in cheap and paige we durable material for effective decoration and The san was shining brightly when we woke | ¢ ; Sve Auesbdhah chitbarheeseanas up this morning, and directly after breakfast | of it an art material, but naturally after arriv- we took awalk tosee the town. Itisa big | ing at that distinction, its price must be some- city, with lots of electrie car limes in “every di-| what in excess of what it is when in its pristine rection and many handsome banks and other | state. They ask 75 cente per yard for the denim business houses. We went by the Mormon | with designs in white on it, which could be effect- temple, such a queer-looking building, with an | ively combined with plain and cheaper goods enormous dome-shaped roof, which makes it | if desired. Rugs of denim are in use for sum- look like a gigantic mushroom. ‘mer cottages, sometimes the edge being turned closure wil up onto the right side to form a border. I hear of these, and should think they might be very satisfactory. India China in very pretty shapes DENIM GROWS IN Favor. Denim seems rather to grow in favor than we crossed the street and went along by ‘a1 igh built iously, like can begotten for either use or decoration where tures in the ‘iivie of thoes cauters well? | these be furnishings are uscd. or if ene Tess Jerusalem. Behind this wall was a colony of | Contrast, the Portuguese and South American houses, and presently we came to quite a hand- some yellow house at the corner of the inclos- ure and stopped « little newsboy to ask who lived there. “Brigham Young used to live there,” he said. “and his wives live in those os creer xt Soiesalan” on the wrong side, which softens the color, After walking for some time along streets rreaginee rp nar inward =] deo bordered with benutiful trees just coming into|Some are in blue and some’ tawuy yellow, leaf, and where the irrigating ditches on each | si with cream. Several designs are shown, side are full of clear running water, we took | and they are decidedly novel in appearance. the electric cars and rode out to Fort There is alsoa charming design in several which isa very large post commanded by Col. | colors stamped <Bpoe fine cream-white cheese Blunt. It is ‘most beautifully situated on a | cloth, which wi make lovely curtains for very high hill overlooking the city, and with a grand panorama of the mout.tains ‘spread out before it, like the Bernese Oberland from that terrace in Berne. We admired the charming officers’ quarters and the lovely green ground, and finally, going to the ie dl of the hill, stood a long time gazing at the exquis- ite view, with just a glimpse of the blue lake in the distance, and all the time we were gazing at it our cousin, Lieut. N.. was gazing at our backs through a field glass in the guagd room and wondering what two young women could be doing there so early in the day, be- canse people always come in the when the band plays. Wasn't it too funny? We didn’t know he was anywhere within a thousand miles of us. He saw our arrival in the paper several hours later and came to see us. A SERVICE IN THE TABERNACLE. After luncheon we went to service in the Tabernacle. It is an enormous elliptical build- ing, and the dome comes down so far on the sides that it looks lower than it is. There is no decoration whatever inside, just the vast dome with two small skylights in it, « plain galler, runni around an organ, whic was bul in the Templo when it was erected, pottery, in the soft. dull reds can be efectively combined with the dark blue of the denim. STRIPED AWNING CLOTHS. Besides denim the same society of artists shows striped awning cloths, which are printed cottage windows. One in n is particu- inriye ool and _guractive looking. ‘the same yellow very pretty and Er wany wayo con bo used Somdvantugs, Ties pretty cheese cloths are 30 cents a yard, and I should think would be very for sum- mer draperii For tie first time I heard lately of cream- AN INGENIOUS DEVICE. I saw recently a description of = device to break up the monotony of long and often nar- row rooms. This, pole, like @ curtain rod, fastened at right angles with the side wall at a ight so that di will hang well from it— ki banging may depend, which may should be | enough ao as space, fasbion. to form « corner with the adjoins side of tho organ are tiers and tiers of | Otte jorprvvined caienn a eee ement seats for the choir, and in front of the choir those made by the angles of room. One seats for the president and bishops, | Sigerence ‘exists, homever, ‘aad. thar is, the Siglorcnt Sut rg Soar sefeten [sage iat say un, ate table cove: with a w! a a numbers of silver cake baskets and silver pitch- | Wall does, and a corner scat, for in Then the cach other in won- played. ‘The “vox bu. mang’ tually uisitely pathetic old a hymn, and then we front and lifted his rose like one pote oe a . The cupboard below oF ee” teed | iron reaching across in = ve our Lord's | manner. A little carving is ‘on the wood and on carth as | the whole arrangement is an attractive feature and began | of the sare babes ter b been cnkiniow } oan fear} Boy Fo Grass in rather fall with the edge = a gredunted to face the ed . and curtain also in the same old | Toom. Then a One of the con: ‘and wo| © Pretty little one s RPpical about | eeat. It been a shallow, md Hibben in edge wat in Seted na] chars ei wee mee when | A similar ox the front of the come?” It is | holder. After the run in two: falld choot wiss a or 4 foc nenowered . fs Se BS ie front. Ribbon nearly two here and with @ bow on cach and loops of the same with bows and ends hang it by make @ pretty and useful addition to the deck, the color in this case being ue. —_+e2-— FUN DUE TO ITALY. Lote of Amusement Contributed by a Mach- Abused People. “In all this abuse of the Italians nowadays one hears no mention of the valued gift of langhter and happiness which we, particularly our children, have received from them in the shape of ‘Punch and Judy,’” anid a scientist at- tached’to the Smithsonian Institution to a Stam reporter. ~Once upon a time there lived near Naples a vintager named Puccio d’Aniello, who pomessed, in addition to « wit acute, e physical aspect most grotesque and droll. He wasa humpback and his voice had ‘8 aqueak surpassing tbat of our Stuart Robson; but his most surprising feature was an enot- mous nose, formed as if designed to furnish « model of comic nasal deformity. This honest and merry vintager was induced to join « troupe of strolling players, and so mirthful a success did he make during hix lifetime that, upon his death, other actors preserved his yet im the performances with the aid ofa > bump. and imitations of his dress, squeaking Yoice and humorous manner. “-Sneh, at all events, is the best. dition respectin ted tra- mg the origin of Mr. Punch Later on it is supposed that hie character was frausferred to the miniature stage, so that it became with the Italians, aud subsequently for all the world, the prime favorite among all puppeta. Some authoritics have asserted that ‘Panch and Judy’ is teken from an ancien’ ‘mystery play’ of @ religious nature, in which the Pamers for good and evil are maile to con- md for the possession of the merry gentle- man’s soul; but this theory I should take to be PUNCH'S EXPERIENCES. “During the earlier days of Punch’s appear- ance on the stage, in miniature or otherwise he fought against many allegorical foes, euch ‘&* want and weariness, as well as with his wife, the police and the hangman. He was on inti- mate terms with the seven champions of christendom, sat on the lap of the Queen of Sheba, and cheated the ingusition as well as the civil executioner. inch « wife, Jud; was introduced presumably for no other pui ose than to establish for himself domestic re- ations necessary for dramatic construction. No one knows the origin of the dk Toby, but scat has at times been substituted for him in France. TRE PANTOMIME. “There is another joy that the children and Ourselves owe to the Italians,and that is the pan- tomime.with Harlequin, Columbine, Pantaloon and the clown. They were brought over the Alps centuries ago by Italian players. Colum- bine was originally the di bat later =e two wedge womb A yore pd With whose love making the ‘buffoons, clows and Pantaloon were naturally engaged. in in- te ‘s riering, just as the small box, “Lobby’ or mmy,' of the present day appears in the per jokes us « inarplot of all Cupid's de- are developments of the assuilable nature of the incipient amour on the ground of the ridiculous, which is simply due toe want ‘of sympathy at large with personal illu- sions. Harlequin is a name derived from *hallekin'—i.c., heli’s-kin,” signifying a demon that plays tricks. Originally he was associated with the storm asa player of diabolical tricks. In this shape he came down through tradition, for hell and its devils were very prominent features of the mediwval stage. Later on he appeared as an intriguing and mysterious creature which is dressed ins shining armor of spangles and defics ordinary human ingenuity to catch him, with the aid of devices - natural. At a moment's notice he clothes him- self in the gleamiugs of his sword and disap- Pears. It is very amusing to realize that this creature of the comic stage is only a burlesque reproduction of the devil of earlier ages.” fw ace SOME INDIAN SHOWS. Curious Tricks Performed by Mystery Mea— Panch and Judy. “Mankind in all ages has enjoyed illusions,” said Prof. Otis T. Mason to « writer for Tas Sram. “He has always evinced a surprising fondness for shows of any sort that depended for their effectiveness upon the deception of the eye. Take a little trick, for example, that is performed by the Chippewa Indians. A num- ber of the sorcerers or ‘mystery men,” as they are called, gather ine circle closely with their heads bowed together so as to shut out the view from without Presently, after going throngh some monkey business, they separate, and lo! there is a century plant growing on the prairie where nothing had been before—a plant actually of a dozen years’ growth and two or three feet high. How is itdone? Idon't believe any whito man can tell you that ith certainty, although doubt- less it is some hocus-pocus, like similar feats performed by the native jugglers in India. My only theory is that there must be some bole previously dug beneath the surface of the ground, in which the plant and « confederate are concealed. When the performers are thered together in the way I describe, the Fogetable may be pushed up and the ‘arth made smooth again around it before the specta- tors are permitted to see any . But many credible’ authorities, among them ‘severe od Catholic priests, have testificd to having seeu these abori ry men go out on the KILLING A SEAL. “Another trick performed by the northwest coast Indians is more strictly of the nature of an optical illusion. It is a sort of stage play, representing the capture of a seal through the ice, a double platform serving for the conceal ment of the man who represents the animal ken. To ettencs Co om the “4 hunters scratch w form with their spears a they door a real hunt.” Where “a man who impersonates m, = sealaking, a ppeatsata hole and ts, immedi. ately thrast through with « spear and dragged out. Apparently the weapon bas gone through his body and he is carried off thus impaled by two of his captors, each shoulder- ons appreciatipe of the cajeymica To be boned in than are savages, They de- ~ Sof all sorta: in- ene aiid i F it ET ; Might oull be with us hosting Uke the mischiat becca Por ‘cor youtg malace, Tom, and very “— onre Lllcces Hea *