Evening Star Newspaper, December 19, 1891, Page 13

12 FATHER OF THE HOUSE Is Judge Holman or Mr. O'Neill En- titled to That Name? LONG TERMS IN CONGRESS. Interesting Reminiscences of the Patriarchs of the House—How Their Terms Were Broken—Silver-Haired JoshuaGiddings and Elthu Washburne—Judge Kelley. INCE NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THE OLD- + est member of Congress has been called the “Father of the House.” Judge Kelley wore this title proudly for many years. When he died Mr. Randall became entitled to it, but be enjoyed it but a few months before he died. Seemingly no question was made as to the right of Representative O'Neill of the Penn- sylvania delegation to succeed to the honor his distinguished colleagues had earned by their Jong service im the House. He had entered Congress the same year Mr. Randall did—in 1863-—Judge Kelley having preceded them two Years. Mr. O'Neill, however, had not served continuously im ail that time, as Mr. Randall did. O'NEILL'S CONTINTOUS SERVICE. His continuous service dates from the Forty- third Congress—nine terms, or eighteen years. ‘That is an age in these times of lightning-like changes. But twootber members now in the House were members of the Forty-third Con- yese are Roger Is and Nr. Blount of Georgia. if0' Neill had not served so many years before the unincky break in his record be would be on a_parity with Mille and Blount. Bec of this rervice ante-dating his election Ber. o'xEmt. to the Forty-third Con- gress everybody agreed that O'Neill was the Fightful heir to the Lonor. Lut they did not stop to think of Judge Holman of Indiana, who his own theory of the situation JUDGE MOLMAN'S BI RD. Judge Holman was in Congress before any of thecongressi nalfxthera. Heentered December tonk wart in the memorable contest speakershij a of the oom- ou ways and neang, Was & candi-iate foc Speaker, and after scores of ballots William Pernington of New Jer- sey was chosen. Judge Holman voted” against alusha A. Grow, who Speaker of the ‘Vhirty-seventh Con- gress, and at one time cr another bas had the pleasure of voting with is party good many rep Spenkera, ‘THE FEW WHO ANTE-DATE JCDGE HOLMAN. ‘the Sorat JUDGE HOLMAN. There are a few men stili in public life whose appearance in the House ante-dates even Judge Holman’s. Sena- tor Harris of Tennessee was in the Thir first Congress in 1849, ten years before Judge Holman entered. ‘Sena- tor Colquitt was a mem- ber of the Thirty-third House, Senators Mor- rill and Sherman of the ‘Thirty-fourth, Senator Dawes of the Thirty- fifth, Senator Pugh of the ‘Thirty-sixth, Jus- tice Lamar was in the Thirty-fifth and Thirty- sixth. Senator Voor- hees, Senator Allison SEXAToR Mannix, and Senator Wilson all entered in the Thirty-eighth—two Congresses later than Judge Holman. But Judge Holman's service in Congress has been interrupted sev- eral times. He was “out” in the Thirty-ninth, Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth His continuous service dates from the Forty-seventh. Thus while O'Neill has served eighteen Peat consecutively, Judge bas ten years, or five Congresses in succession. SWEARING IN THE SPEAKER. ‘One of the duties of the father of the House ter like a bird's wings in skips and hops down the ‘sparrow at his morning meal. Eis height is precisely four feet ten, yet his head is as big as any states- man since Dest Weleter died, nd he is a hardworking member. popular and influential. The sight of this little Congress- man swearing in the big Georgian would have reminded the House of David and Goliath, al- though the likeness goes no further than ‘the gifference of stature, and they are the best of IF WAS HOLMAN WHO DID IT. ‘To the surprise of the House, when Speaker Crivp was escorted to the chair it was Judge Heiman, and not O'Neill, who stood there aa {ath of the House to swear him in. The judge bad seen Crisp, told him that no one in the House had been there earlier than he and got the Speaker's consent to bis administering the ‘HOW O'NEILL'S RECORD WAS BROKEY. O'Neill had done yeoman service for the aure of the Union through the war. No mem- ber could be more attentive to details. Of concse he could not in- salt his constituents who spent their lives on the, cobble yuanes of Philadeiphia by sendii them seeds. He sent them, however, any quantity of good speeches ead documents galore. But a young lawyer named Creeley thought it was time his greatness was recog- N@nized and be made a rush for the nomina- tion aud divided the convention. The demo- erats, to make things in- SENATOR MOREILI. teresting voted for Creeley and he was elected. But his term of service wasa short one O'Neill took up the Barden where Creeley Isid it down and hes carried it ever since. Such prolonged confi- dence in a public servant is one of the things that marks life in Philadelphia and makes it a city unlike any other. When Judge Kelley died been in the House over twenty-eight The Ave Philadelphia members, Gen. x. O'Neill, Mr. Ran- owlered just one rvice up to that time. All of them were born im Philadelphia WHEN sUDOE KELLEY was FaTuER. Judge Kelley vecame father of the House in . A x THE. EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C. SATURDAY.* DECEMBER 19, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES. and appointed Editor Washburne Secretary of State for a day and then minister to France. He had represented the Berkshire hilis in Con- reas for twelve years fore that, and not only by seniority of service, but by his plod- ding diligence an thodical mastery of de- tails had become the leader of the House. Twice did Mr. Dawes swear in James G. Biaine as Speaker. Sena- tor Dawes has grown gray in serving bis SENATOR Dawes. country and now quite patriarchal in appearance. s THE ORIGINAL WATCHDOG OF THE TREASURY. The most famous of the Washburne family, Elihu Washburne, was father of the House from 1962 until he brought out Gen. Grant as acandidate for the presi- dency and retired from the floor to enjoy the fruits of his own plant- ing. He was like Kelley, Dawes and Randall. an able man, whose jong service only added to his strength. He was called the “Watchdog of the Treasury.” The ruler of the House in those deys was Thad Stevens, who first entered it in’ 1849, but his congressional gaveer was broken by in~ tervals of rest in private life. Galusha A. Grow of S*¥ATOR Fvaw. Pennsylvania, who came to Congress in 1851, was for two terms the “father.” That was from 1859 to 1863. In 1859 THE OLD ORIGINAL FATHER OF THR HOUSE, one who wore the title longer than any one, had retired. That was Joshua Giddings, the anti-slavery champion whom Obio rent to Con- , gress for twenty-two are. There are scores of men in Washington, seemingly young men yet, who remember the scene when old Father Giddings swore in N. P. Banks when the latter contested the Speakership with Mr. y Aiken of South Carolina, y and after a struggle last- ing nine weeks triumphed over his opponent. Gid- dings had sat night after night in the House with a bread-brimmed hat shad- ing his eves from the glare of the chandelier, SENATOR corgurr. and through all the ex: citement of the contest had shown the elasticity and vigor of a boy of fifteen. It is said that to his Jatest day he enjoyed ail gamesandathleticsports Indeed. he dropped dead while playing Dill- iardyin Montreal, where President Lin. seng him as consul gen- eral of Bri Amer: laid aside, nie silvery locks flowing about his shouiders, the old man administered the oath in @ most impressive manrer to the lion-like Banks, one of the hand- THE VOLCANIC LAKES. A Cluster in Extinct Volcanic Craters in Nicaragua, THE LEGEND OF TISCAPA. ‘One Lake Said to Mark the Spot Where = Whole Tribe Was Destroyed—Laundry Women of Nicaragua and How They Per- form Their Task—Everybody Smokes. Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. Maxaava, Nrcaraava, December 1, 1891. 66. FAVE YOU HEARD OF THE ‘LEGEND f Tiscapa?’” I was asked when it was known that a trip to the volcanic lakes back of the capital was being arranged for. No. Then must have old Pedro come this evening and tell us the story which ho has recounted many times since, as a boy living about here, he re- ceived it with gaping mouth, staring eyes and mind filled with excitement and wonder. It would have added interest to have known the story relating to the cluster of lakes, nest- ling in the extinct volcanic craters afew miles away, before visiting them, but that being beyond our power we prepared for the journey up the steep road, making an ascent a short way from the city of several hundred feet, until, stopping at a turn of the road, we locked back, the tile-roofed, somber little city at our feet and the Inke bearing its name stretching away in the distance to the rngged mountains, capped here and there by @ volcanic peak and hemming in the expanse of water. Rather a | stony, rongh road it was that wo hud climbed, better fitted for travel on horseback cr afoot than in a vehicle which would tumble about unmercifully in the ruts and washouts met at every point. We had made the trip on the backs of lively little animals that trot along at 8 good speed and keep up their gait without fingging from sunrise until sunset if called upon todo so. ‘The only drawbacks to this mode of locomotion, for which the hittle fel- lows could hardly be held responsible, are the miserably hard, native-made saddles’ of raw hide of excellent shapes for producing blisters. Uphill or down the horses maintained their gait uniformly. We had passed many women and girls tradging up the hill carrying great bundles of clothing on their heads, and we learned thatat Tiscapa, the nearest of thegroup of lakes to Managua, congregate daily crowds of Havadoras, women and girls. Arriving on the crest of the ridge forming the crater we pre- ferred to walk down the steep winding road leading to the water. A FASCINATING SCENE. It is a pecuiturly fascinating ecene. The ridge, several hundred feet high, encircles, as ina pit, the body of water perhaps a mile in diameter, its contour describing so perfect a cirele that it scems a compass must have drawn the lines of the shore. On the latter, for dis- | tance of half its extent, are women ‘and girls ronsly Leating pieces of clothing on the flat stones before them while they stand waist deep in the lake and are attired about as dau, aaa: Wks head scantily as one could imagine. Even a modern alae Geen dana’ ta Cua steam laundry does not attach fringe to gar- aca; cot oheceal Voiod ments so liberally as do these dusky avadoras, Gia aaaca’ than Baa who pound the clothes withall their strength, then stretch them out on bushes todry. It is safo to say they leave on them no trace of dirt brougist to this great washtub, though physiognomy was leo- SEXATOR voorares. nine. The cheering that followed the close of such a deadlock was something to be remem-| t bered. Giddings waa born in Pennsylvania. | mother carth in various forms is freely dusted ‘The keystone state bas thus far had five “old. | 0Ver them by the time they again aro. perche est members.” on the heads of the women on their return trip 0 the city. A PATRIARCH OF EARLY DAYS. In the far dim period before Giddings’ time there seems to have been no father of the House. For many yeare Mr. John Taliaferro (pronounced Tolliver) wi- looked up to as the patriarch of the chamber. He was first elected to Congress in 1500, and he retired from the House in 1843. There were breaks and “outs” in his congressional eareer which would not bring his name in the list of fathers. He was a whig and swore in Henry Clay. He dressed in kneebreeches and was a snuff-taking courtier of the old school. Never anything but a Vir- ginia planter, he was a fine speaker and # most persuasive man on the stump or in debate. So A CIGARETTE SMOKERS BATTLE. But what an casy-going, peaceful scene it is. Even if the clotiies are thumped heavily time and again those who do the work are not in any hs ‘They drudge aiong in a contented fasbion aud do the work in as hard a way as possibl These voleanie Inkes are especially impres- sive; these some time vents for terrible forces thatrend the foundations of the earth. ‘The slopes of the ride surrounding the crater are thickiy wooded and +o precipitous that one can climb up them at many points only by the aid of trees and buslies, and often even these donot render the ascent possible. There is not a rip- ple on the surface of the lake, which bas no Visible source or outlet. The rays of the sun only reach its surface during a small portion of the day, when it is directly over the funnel- shaped’ reservoir. An ex-prosident of the republic, whose interest was moved to in- vestigate this body of water, dropped a lead with line into it for teveral bun- dred feet, until the line gave out, but sounded no bottom. A similar test near the shore gave evidence that the sxme precipitous slope that ‘The speaker, a young man, stood before the | characterizes the ridgo over the water line ex- open fire at the Denison. He was looking ata | tends far below it—how far noone yet knows. sixteen-year-old boy who was inhaling aciga-|Tiey call it an extinct volcano; yet in the rette by the news stand. memory of those living bere the water hi « i en known to become warm, sniphurous re ppg ee pr ho sd —_— slave | tames rising from it, and within « few praia it, and the struggle I had with my-|as if impelled by un impetuous force, rise 2 self before I quit it was as terrible as any | number of feet, the frightened women ewim- drunkard ever went through to quit drinking. | ming to the shore for their lives and scamper- “Thad smoked cigarettes continually during | 198 Up the hill sides, There isa dead Coes - ere, occasionally broken by the chirp of a my sophomore and janicr years at college, | bird‘or the crash of » loosened boulder’ falling and my health was suffering from it. It is the | down through the bushes and sinking into the inhaling that is the dangerous part of ghe | clear, cool lake habit, “If smokers wouldnt inhale the cignr- © SHORE OF TEE LAKE. ette it would almost harmless, except for A the disgusting odor. but ninety-nine Gut of | Stretching ourselves out under the shade of every 100 do inhale. I bad inhaied until it had | 0Verhanging trees we watched the scene below brought on «sever? throat _and Inng trouble. | us. By and by a couple of muleteers went knew { ought to stop, but I couldn't. I would | down the patli, allowing the animaly to bathe stop for days at a time and then go back to the | and drink of the water as they themselves did. old indulgence. Now and then one among the group of lava- “It was the summer of 1890 that I made my | doras, finishing her work, swam out into the final resolve to quit, and succeeded. I had | lake, diving and sporting about like a porpoise, been at Mackinac Island and returned via | then coming ashore by some mysterious method Petoskey anda steamer to Chicago. I knew | became trausformed into a neatiy dressed per- that the boat would head right down the lake | sonage. There were no bath houses in which for Chicago, without a single stop. I also | she could retreat and just how this act was knew there was no place to buy a cigarette on | done was a mystery, but it was accomplished in board, and that I would have a terrible battle | a style that would give a “pointer” to a New- to fight out for thirty-six hours. I deliberately | port belle Then rolling into ® bundle the id not lay in the usual supply of cigarettes. _ | clothes just washed, sle and her daughter “As the steamer backed out into the bay I| would disappear up the ‘road and down the looked into my case. There lay three ciga-| slope, wending their way back to Managua. rettes. I went up on the pilot house and | Every day this scene is repeated. Not only in moked one slowly; then I threw the other two | the volcanic lake here bit along the water into the lake, and ‘the struggle began. After | front of the town where the waves surge on the dinner I sent up on the top of the pilot house | beach are met a troop of women knee-dee; agin and tried to read. Hut I could think of | the water pounding the clothes from more ing sothing but my usual postprandial smoke. My | till night. Toward the middle of the day they nerves got all unstrung. My throat was dry. | occasionally duck under Llonged for those two cigarettes I had toesed | keep cool, for the into the lake as @ starving man longs for food. | terribly hot. I started down to see if there was an; whom I could borrow. But I gave A Story That Shows How Strong a Grip the Habit Has on a Man. From the Indianapolis News. “Some day Iam going to write the ‘Confes- sions of a cigarette smoker. the water to sun's rays are then While passing the time onefrom | here at the lake a number of children at up and | come running down the road. Visions of the sat down again on my lofty post. I had an idea | cigarette worslfiper—the dude and small boy— that it would be better to in the brisk | that are so well known in the states, rush upon lake breeze all Tcould. I sudfered fearfully | ns, for both boys and girls of but five and eve all the afternoon. I regretted a hundred times | years of age are puffing puros with an air of my folly in not laying in my usual supply. | satisfaction, the puro being tho eigar of the Toward evening I felt better, but could eat no | country used ty every ove—men, women and supper, merely drinking @ great quantity of | children. It is a small-sized cigar, made of almost undiluted coffee. That night I tossed | native tobacco, and those who do not use the in my berth till dawn. The secoud day my-suf- | weed in this form are very few. Little tots of ferings were not so severe, but they were bad | tender ages, whose fingers are not stron; enough. Slept most of the afternoon, and we | enough to roll a cigarette, are given these ci- reached Chicago at 8. gars by their mothers in some instances. Of “I was afraid to trust myself about a hotel | late yeurs it hax come tobe not quite “the office, so I went right to a theater and then to | thing” for young ladies to use the weed, though bed. The next day I felt much better, and, | those of the less favored class smoke ‘quite as except immediately after my dinuer, had little | generally as do the men. desire to smok: We had not time to visit all the lakes of the "I have not touched a cigarette since. The | group within a radius of teu miles, though ‘odor of them is now unbearable to me. When | others are quiteusinterestingasTiscapa. Within 1 look back upon what I went through I think | a fewmiles from it is Najapa, sunk several hun- it can truthfully be said that no habit is more | dred fect below the crest of the surrounding dangerous and to leave off than the smok- | ridge, and whose waters are so strongly im- ing of cigarettes.” pregnated with alkali that polished metal im- mersed in them comes out bright and shining, however thickly the dirt was coated on it pre- viously. When we reached the hotel and had had din- » ner wo went to the front of the house where, With azure deep as Italy's, today protected by the baicony overhead, we found Bends the benignant sky, while, fitful, play chairs d on the sidewalk, where the cool “Mid the bare boughs soft winds from the South-| air of the evening could be enjoyed. An old west. man, slightly lame, hobbled toward us, took ‘How warm the sun shines on the old earth’s breast! | off his hat and nodded a friendly salutation. In silvery splendor sparkle on theit way “Lam Pedra,” he said, “I am told you are in- ‘The brooks, no ice-bonds wearing, and of May | terested in hearing the — of Tiscapa. Sing liquid rondels in their glad unrest. He was evidently pleased to be called upon to y > anmbaerpes ttle. relate the story, no less because of pride in his oud, rejoicing lay powers in that line than because of the silver he Seems of green summer a late, aeriai guest, Expected to receive. Far-echoing o'er brown hills, and meadows gray. ‘om One naif expects to see young blossoms gay “ riding aia Topi “ In sheltered nooks, and curious bees in quest ‘Many. many years ago,” he began, “long ‘Of boney—ut December sighs, “Nay, nay!” before Nicarao welcomed Gil Davila to our —W. Eutess. |country nearly 400 years ago, and gave the Written for The Evening Star. December in D.C. Surely, methinks, this clime of ours is blest! Monteolia, D. C., December 12, 1891. land his own name, there lived on the plains ieee south of the Great Lake the Chieftain Guatuma How to Make = Denial. of renown. Evory battle fought by his From the Argonaut Shibe felted ins wots toc is eee was believed to be charmed from the possession of as rich a brogue as can be bra npn rin Theee samo powers he imparted to his braves nunciation at a church meeting, Ghich greatly | where Wines red him. He immediately called upon one when of his leading parishioners and after complain | for te ing of the injustice done him asked him | have but one whether, in his opinion, a fe trace of the greed ed poets was to be observed in his speech. ‘Makers workors weap Tact es S| mae writing.” royal dra all the tribes of the mountains -_* apt oF “Everywhere went a alarm, which was only subdued by an old” medicine man, who, knowing the common report of Guatuma’s se- eret charm, promised his people that he would forth alone and not return until it should broken. THE MEDICINE MAN AND THE CHIEF. “While the surrounding tribes prepared to move away to the south, far from Guatuma’s hunting ground, the medicine man stealthily spproached the wigwams of the tribe of the t chief. He secreted himself by day and luring the night time watched the camp and listened and looked for any incantation or sign which might form a clue to the mighty power of the chief. Many days passed by and he learned nothing. Finally after his long series of night watching he discovered the tall form of Guatuma come ont from his tent and under the shadow of bushes and trees pass to the westward. Following as closely as possible to be unobserved, he saw the chief enter what ap- peared to be acave in a hill side. Creeping closely behind him he crawled on his knees along the low and narrow passage way among the rocks until he emerged into an open space. By a faint light he could see the chief firing torches, and he then had revealed to hima scene of a great caver: “In the center of the vaulted hall and shoot- ing up fora distance of many yards wasa fountain of boiling water and about it a small pool from which arose fumes of sulphur, the outlet of the seething liquid flowing over a rocky bed and dashing down a deep ravine. ‘The tall form of Guatuma stood by the side of the boiling fountain, so near, in fact, that the epray from the Lot liquid fell upon ’ him, thongh he did not wince under it. The medi cine man wondered at his strange behavior, but was not slow in seeing that he prayed to the fountaim for success of himself and braves. ‘The wily fellow soon determined what course to take. Crouching behind the rocks before him he called forth in solemn and guttural tones: THE INVOCATION AND IT8 RESULT. “Ob, Mighty Guatuma, long, long have you been made victorious over your enemies. No the fountain of power demands a great saci fice. The bravest and best of the warriors of your tribe must plunge into the abyss, the home of the waters of the fountain, or else no longer will your braves meet victory.’ ‘The old chieftain started at these. words and repeated to himself ‘the wisest and beat’, ‘The medicine man, rceing the impressionbe lind made, forwith retraced his steps and found his Way into the open air. “Guatuma pondered long over what he had heard from the fountain, and instead of join- ing his tribe with boastful words of vengeance against his enemies he was moody and thought- ful. Le became dispirited and no relief could be fouud for him. He would not own that there was a warrior braver or better than him- self nor would he take the great leap into the deep abyss that received the boiling water. He could not go to battle and his braves saw that he no longer was confident of success when they became alarmed at stories of the preparations their enemios were making to re- rist them, for the cunning medicine man had told his people no longer to fear Guatama, that his charm no longer protected him. Guatuma emained sullen and dreaded impending evil. The cavern and the boiling fountain were beneath his wigwam, known only to him- | self. His tear was not without foundation, for | as he hesitated with cowardly thoughts the roof of the great cavern gave way and every wigwam, every brave and member of his tribe were received into the boiling foun- tain and dashed into the abyss below. ‘Now only beautiful Lake Tiscapa remains to mark the spot of the tribe's destruction aud stories of the water rising and becoming hot fill those who go there with fear, for then al- ways is recounted tue Legend ot Tiscapa.” Cuartes E. Kenx. ——_ BOSTON GIKLS IN THE SADDLE. How They Rode in Present. From the Boston Transcript. Awoman used to offer hostages to misfor- tune when she mounted a horse. Twenty years ago there was about everything possible done to risk her neck when she set forth to take her pleasure on the back of a wildish animal. Now, with her short riding skirt and tailored trous- ers, her straigh: seat saddle and her stirrup that would fly open and release her foot i stantly if she were thrown, the Maid of Athe: mounts and rides away in perfect safety. A joy forever is this girl to sce. Go out around the reservoir on a sunshiny morning or ® gray afternoon, and you will see numbers of girls riding, all with that trig aur of good, training and thorough knowledge which is the first charm of ‘a horse- woman; without it the costliest saddle and the best Hollander habit are nothing. ‘The first requisite for riding precedes this first charm, and that of conrse is courage. If one has an'unconquerable timidity where horses are concerned there's little use trying to to ride, particularly if that one isa girl. are sometimes made courageous when lacking this quality by being put on a horse. But timidity 1s likely to get on the nerves of a girl, and unless the is a fearless horsewoman she will never be a happy one. The trath is, some girls are born to ride and some are not. It is of those who take to the saddle as natur- ally as to the Lathing suit or the tennis racquet that these ont door notes are made. You may see a representative of this class mount. Up goes one hand to her eaddle; firmly the other rests on the shoulder of him who puts her up; the sole of her little boot presses a Steady palm. “Now!” A spring and she is up. Itis not the old-fashioaed rocking-chair-sbaped saddle that is well girt upon her horse's back. It is a saddle straight asa board, where she site upright in an absolutely natural position, with no twisting of body or legs necessary and with no effort demanded to keep erect while ridin No chance to wrench the spine or get stitches in the side, as with the old scoopish-shaped saddle which went with the long, fioating skirts, the tall, ugly hats and the single reins of the past. Now the lass who rides has both snafile aud curb; although she may seldom use the curb, ’tis well to have it at her command it her horse is likely to object to clectrie cars or sprinkling carts or other objects of bis wild terror. She muy ride with a little spur at her heel, too, and it is a very effective way to man- age ‘her ‘horee. Girly don’t use riding whips much, except for looks. ‘Then a crop ia carried, but tlere’s no lash for the good steed. ““{t's » good horse you can ride with one of those things,” & horseman. “I can do more with a spur in a second than with a whip in ten minutes. ‘The modern Guinevere is a different being to sce from the one that Sir Launcelot rode be- Past and Ride at ATTRACTIVE HOMES. The Christmas Idea Pervades Every- thing at This Time. GIFTS FOR OUR DEAR ONES. Hows Young Maiden Will Be Surprised on Her Return Home, and the Result Was Not Expensive, but Required Taste and In- genuity—Suggestions for Trifling Presents, Written for Tux Evewixe Stam. + HE CHRISTMAS IDEA PERVADES everything, all the air is full of it; it is the burden of every song and will be until the 25th arrives and all secrets are revealed and evi- dences of thought and labor for loved ones are made manifest. Not only will the dear ones be Temembered in the world, but the poor, the sick, the careworn of the earth wil! not be for- gotten in the universal time of rejoicing. There is scarcely any one, let us hope, that is not planning to give pleasure or comfort in one way or another to some one less fortunate than themselves. Here is where the real Christmas spirit of “Good will toward men” comes in. Naturally, however, our first thoughts are for those who are dearest to us, and the choicest of our gifts are for them. It may be that the best we have to offer is far less and poorer than we could wish, but the accompany- ing love must add its weight to the token and bear its message for us, ‘A YOUNG MAIDEN'S SURPRISE. The knowledge of a novel Christmas gift has come to my ears which will make one maiden happy and is the proof of what affection can aecomplish« For six months past a young girl has:been absent from her home, which is in one of the small towns of a northern state. It was arvanged that her home-coming should be a pdaybor two before Christmas. A loving mother and futher anda home where good taste and limited means went hand in hand are what await her at the reunion. Her own especial sanctum was a rather small bed room furnished with old fashioned high topyed bed and plain washstand. A mirror of small size hung over a table for dressing glass, and n old carpet on the floor and several odd chairs, Some months ago an article in some paper came to the mother’s notice containing an ac- count of how an unpromising bed room had becn modernized and beautified by consideta- ble outlay of time and trouble, but little money. Inspired by this and with ample time ahead to doit in a leisurely way, she undertook the traneformation of her daughter's room against her return, and the father hearing of the plan lent his efficient aid toward a successful result. The idea of the room which hadgtarted her thought was something of a guide and helped in deciding what was the best plan in the pres- ent changes. PAINTING THE FURNITURE WHITE. with the predilection for white furniture that now exists, it was settled at once that everything paintable in the room must be made ivory white as fast as brushes could work and paint could dry. Plain every day white paint could be obtained in the village, but the “Aspinall” enamel had to be ordered from the city; however, from reading, they knew of its merits, and alittle goes far, so the order was sent and the finishing cont on everything was of this enamel, which makes amatenr work Jook twice as well as any other paint will. The house was not old andthe walis of the bed room had never been papered, now they re- ceived a kalsomining of deep cream or buff, which has a soft, pretty tone when finished. The woodwork of the room bad been drab, but now thet was made white also, and in contrast the buff wall is prettier still, ‘The bedstead was found to have the headboard joined in such a way that the upper etory of or- hamentation could be taken off entirely without the lenst injury to the rest, and it was greatly improved in looks by this means. A cheap little tatfo was bought and also painted. Some old brackets were resurrected and likewise treated, and then the real decoratioa of the room be- gan. THE. DRAPERY DECORATIONS. As very little money could be spent for this pur- pose and the village afforded nothing butcheese- cloth in the way of cheap material, the mother sent to one of the larger cities for samples suit- able for her purpose. There came in response out of many others a soft cotton stuff, whit, ground with a vine running over it in yellow, and a blossom of deeper toneat intervals. It harmonized perfectly with the walls, was 50 cheap that a couple of dollars bought all that could be used, and the pleasant work went or Curtains of this pretty goods, with wide rufiles, were soon at the two windows, back with bands of the same, with upstanding ruffle at the top, and wide shirring, slipped over a narrow strip of wood, and tacked to the window frame. First of ali the goods had been found wahabl>, go it could be used with impunity, as it was worthy the work put on it, Over the white washstand a shirred splashe: of it protected and decorated the wall; on the table under the mirrow, which was now white, there was a cover with frille nine inches deep a!l around, and over the little white-framed looking glass a rod came out a right angle to the wall, and long curtains, like the cover, fell down each side to the floor. ‘he bed having side pieces, go that the clothes were tucked in, was left in the old way of ar- ranging it, and a plain white bedspread and white pillow cases looked better than any more fanciful adornment would have done. | A SCREEN ARRANGED. A three-fold clothes horse was painted white with the other things, and shirred panels like the curtains were put in, while the screens placed by the warhstand concealed it par and gave it a desirable nir of seclusion. The toilet set was un old-fashioned, plain white one, bo no change wasneeded to make that suitable, A white matting of the inexpensive kind was laid on the floor, with only one rug by the bed. ‘The mother longed for a white goatskin, but, as that was out of the question, her in- ventive genius was put to work to devise something that was as cheap as possible and yet would tone with the room in color and be pleasant for the first step from a warm bed. She had some old threadbare, Brassels carpet and from this she cut a length one and a half aide “in the boyhood of the year.” But an the boyhood of ‘92, when the New Riding Club is in fall swing, tho will be quito as charming to see, in her close cloth habit, as Tennyson's queen, who, as she rode “A gown of grase-green silk she wor Buckled with golden clasps belorey ‘A light green tuft of plumes she wore Closed in a golden rin; : i Tmagine a Back Bay girl starting ont dressed like that for a ride with her papa’. Yet of the modern maid an appreciative cavalien may a ren ee “As she fled fast through sun and shade, The happy winds upon her played, Blowing the ringlet from the braid; She looked so lovely as she swayed ‘The rein with oy finger tips Aman had given all other bliss ‘And all his worldly worth for this ‘To waste his whole heart”— But there the modern cavalier cries “Hold on!” to himself with the remembrance that the ringlet must not be allowed to escape from the braid because ‘twould be untidy, and, too,how- ever lovely she may look, the Back Bay Guine= vere does not sway her rein. She keeps her “dainty finger tips” iirm; her shomlders back, her ‘‘’eels and helbows down 'n’ spirits hup,” as her riding master has instructed her. Aman who had evidently arrived ‘By the train walked into a boarding house in ‘a Texas town and asked: “Is Mr. Day in?” “What Day, sah,” asked the porter. “What doI know aboat him? Do I look like a detective? If Mr. Day isn't in tell Mr. Week to step out here.” “What Week do you refer to, wah?” “Ob, last week, or week before Christmas! Do you take me for an almanac? Who runs this shebang, anyhow?” “De Widow Flapjack, sab.” yards long She then bought golden brown double-faced canton flannei, one and three- quarters yards, and sewed it to the old carpet- ing, leaving a little extra at each end, which she cut into strips, making fringe. In several places the canton flannel was tacked to the car- peting to prevent ite slipping and rumpling, the tacking being from underneath, and no stitches showed on the right side. ARRANGING THE PICTURES. ‘The brackets were put on the walls in suita- dle places and then the pictures were arranged. Théte is really no excuse for a room being pigtureless now, with ail the pretty prints in ers, magazines and even advertisemepts; frames for even the best mount up in ex: pense too fast for every one toindulge in them, though most people have on hand a collection of the pictures. ‘This was the case in the house I of, and so the mother’s ingenuity end taste again came tothe fore. Two or three aheets of fresh water color paper were bought, the pictures were selected and also the best pisces for them. As there were plenty of the prints these were grouped, a number in a space, and fastened to the wall by gimp tacks. Before nailing them, however, wide mats of the white water color paper were cut for each one, this requiring measurements and exact ‘The pictures then bei tacked in piace the brass thumbscrews mat was put over it put into each corner, or if more seemed neces- sary they were put likes mitering from each corner to the angle of the inner opening. ait and, the being well chosen, the effect econ caten Setaal very toeiee: toes can tanagie of wooduerh avvuus thom aed fonkaa i | a gE i L £ j ‘oak has been painted with several coats of “in- ww wero culty removed’ wate, the taining wes going on. The silkoline curtain was replaced by a silk one with white ground and big yellow flowers, nd the dainty fittle screen was pretty enoage to grace any room, and make the welcome gift it {intended for at Christmas fide. A bracket of unusually good shape bee lately been brought forth from its resting place an “aspinalled” and it makes as pretty an orna- ment as possible for a bed room farnished in white to support a small plaster cast. SUGGESTIONS FOR TRIFLING GIFTS. For trifling gifts which there is yet time to Prépare I have read several good suggestions, one of these isacase for fine doilies. If one wishes to present doilies, then the case makes pretty and useful addition, but if not, the case alone is something that will be apprec ated, for doilies must be carefully kept in order not to have them tumbled and wrinkled when not in actual use. _The case is a simple affair, consisting of two Pieces of cardboard nine inchesaquare, covered with India silk in any pretty colorand design, and tied together on the four sides with fine cordor ribbon In the description I read em- broidered satin was suggested, with lining of contrasting plain satin or silk, but this is more elaborate than is suitable or necersary, and the flowered India silk secms better tome. It is certainly not worth while to spend one's en- ergies ‘working acorer to be used only in a sideboard drawer, and even where fine doilies of Turkish work or beautifully embroidered lace or similar dainties are kept in a cabinet, and Occasionally displayed the India silk cover is nice enough, and a really useful thing for protecting the delicate specimens of hand work in beautiful coloring. Written for The Evening Star: The Song of the Stockings. NUG im the oid chimney Place Five stockings their vigil were keeping, While warmn in their beds upstairs Four little children were sleeping, And the hands of the old hall clock Slowly to midnight were 2 creeping. As too and fro they gently swung A song each little stocking sung, IST STOCKING. “Iam for Mabel fair, Mabel with golden hair, Fill me with presents rare.” 2 sTocEING. “Tam for Harry bold; Knives, marbles, gifts untold, ‘Try me how much I'l hold.” 8D STOCEIN' “Iam for merry Grace, For her dear sunny face, Fill up my every space.” 4TH STOCKING. “1am for Baby Will, Almost too small to till Claiming my portion still.” STH STOCKING. “I am for noone neat All of these children dear Said, as they hung me here, ‘For the poor beggar Jake You shall a Christmas make For the deat Christchild’s sake.” As the midnight chimes rang out Down the chimney old Santa came creeping Straightway to his pleasant task, ‘The stockings he filled to heaping; And loving kisses he threw Where four little children lay sleeping; But he dropped each fairest gift and toy In the stocking of the beggar boy. ATHARINE HAMILTON, —_+e- —___ A Life for a Life. From the New York Recorder. A bright sun shone into the room where Margaret Westervel: lay peacefully sleeping her new-born baby breathing softly beside her, At the window sat her mother knitting a tiny sock.-Save for the clock’s ticking no sound dis- turbed this serene picture of young mother- hood. The warmth of the room produced a somnolent effect on Mrs. Collins, who began to nod and slip an occasional stitch, when a» ery from the bed startled her. ‘Save him, save him, and take me instead. Oh, God! he is burning.” Over the sleeper’s face passed an expression of wild and agonized pleading. Her mother leaned over her. “Margaret, my dear, let me lift you. You are lying too low. Margaret opened her eyes wide with fear, glinging to the arms that were trying to raise er. “Mother, Ihave had such a terrible dream. Isaw Jack ima burning train of cars. He was trying to save somebody, when a piece of tim- ber struck him, burning into his shoulder.” Ske covered her face with her hands, “Oh, it was horrible!” jonsense, my child. It is natural to dream at such atime. Don’t thiuk about it and try to sleep again.” Margaret did not answer, but gazed dreamily about the room, then sank back with a sigh upon the pillow. “Oh, if he would only come home.” “My'dear, if you worry Jike this over trifles you will be ill.”* “Give me the baby, mother—in my arms.” .Mrs. Coliins indulgently placed baby in its mother's arms and Margaret sought for the little face among its soft envelopings. “Dear little baby,” she whispered, “I wish papa were here.” ‘Jack is probably in Albany by this time, Marge A smile flitted over the pale face. “He was very happy when he left this morn- ing, wasn't he, mother?” “Yes. I don't know when I’ve seen him like that. Now go to sleep.” “No. I'd rather lie awake; when I close my eyes I see the whole scene over again.” Gradually as the afternoon light waned the room regained its air of peaceful quiet. Mrs. Collins drew the curtains, replenished the fire, and sat down to feed the baby, watching him dig his fists into his eyes. “If you could only see him now Margaret— stretching himself—oh dear, oh dear!” closing A sound of the front door softly startled them both. Unmindful of herself “Mother, some Mai t sat upright in bed. aos mg just come in. Quick, see who it is.” Mra Colline rose, chiding <her daughter, and placed the baby back on the bed. “How unreasonable you are today. Lie down, do, and behave yourself.” Margaret obeyed and her mother left the room. When Mrs. Collins reached the foot of the stairs sho started back aghast. Her son-in-law stood leaning against the wall, his clothes dis- ordered aud his face pale and drawn. “Jack, my dear boy, what bas happened?” “Hush, mother, don’t scare Margery.” made a movement to pull off his coat, but gered and would have fallen. “Lean on me, Jack.” sofaand forced him to drink some brandy. “Don’t speak yet. Rest awhile.” She tried to loosen the bands about his neck, but started back at the sight of blood. “It's nothing, mother, only ® scratch.” He wus faint from loss of blood. “We met with an accident beyond Troy.” A chill crept over Mrs. Collins at the remem- brance of Margaret’sdream. “The train took fire. I start in to help, when I was struck He stag- now, Has she been ill since I “No,” Mrs. Collins answered. outo your room.” A half hour She ald cl ompellod until a 4 ats compel ncfother wil with my famil her hand to be ‘The Birth and “Bringing Up" of the Com- Panton and Friend of = Little Girl. ‘From the New York Sun. It is an open secret that Santa Claus brings the greater part of his vast stock of Christmas toys from Europe, Germany being his favorite collecting ground. But he encourages Ameri- can industry in « few directions, notably in cheap mechanical toys, The tin railway trains and tin horses and steamboats that run whea wound up witha key aro made in great quan- tities in Brooklyn by machinery, and the cast- iron toys of the same description are made principally in New York. When he desires an expensive mechanical toy, however, be goes to France for it; to Saxony for his Noah's arks and all the other carved wooden tors; to Nu- |remburg for his tors, tin trampets and magic lanterns and to Thuringia for his toy chiuagtea sets. Far more important than all other toys are the dolls, and nine dolls out of ten are little German girls. In whole districts of Germany the country people spend the winter in making dolis, tilling their fields in summer. The cheap wax doll, “commercially known as “composi- tion wax," such as may be bought at retail in this country for 25 cents, furnishes perbaps the best idea of how dolls are made. A “modeler,” who bas nothing further to do with the making of doils, makes plaster of Paris models of the styles of heads and limbs most in demand, and eelis them, «ingly or in sets, to the peasants who make the dolla. There are all sorts of faces among the models—pretty Sirls, smiling boya, old women, negroes and crying babies, Throughout the winter father, mother and all the larger children unite in | making papier mache caste from these models, each cast being, of course, an exact counter- part of the models, but thin and light, and gi in color. The legs and arms are dipped in flesh-col- ored paint, and the painted shoes are put on With brushes. These various parts, together with the head, are fastened to a cloth stuffed with sawdust, and dolly goes off to the factory, where the more artistic work is don Her limbs have the proper tint, her body is as true to nature as necessary, but her head is still bare, her cheeks are gray, and ber color- el less eyes express no i An expert workm: nce. the factory, holding dolly by the fect, dips her head and shoulders for a moment in me emerges from the bath the composition wax doll of commerce. When she is eufticiently dry she Pasees into the hands of axirl operator, who uickly paints the pink tinge up nother girl adds the blue e or the eyebrows and eyclashes, and’ so eho goos through the hands of a row of girls, one girl for each tint, the whole process takin, six hours, for there are delays while the p are drying. In six hours #ix girls ave exp to paint ten gross, or nearly 1,500 dolls, com- | plete. This requires rapid work, receive about $1.75 4 week © locks of mohair are fastened to dolly is ready to emigrate to Am For the real wax dolia more expensive arti cle—the molds for the head are made in ti parts—-one back and two fronts. The mold is filled with melted wax, which is allowed to-re- main for a minute or two, and then aii that Aas not hardened is poured out. This lexves a hollow wax head about a quarter of an inch u which is afterward strengthened by “backing” with a quar! r of an in mache. “Some patent “washable” dolls are made of hardened papier m these have cloth fevt, which will not break, the; are a valuable addition to the nursery The most ble doll in the market, how- cording to. an expert German toy: mat rer now in this country, is “kid body .” The kid bodies are stuffed with har; and with bisque heads, flowing wigs, moving eyes and shoes and stockings they are seid « retail in any of our large cities for from cents to $10. Occasionally cawdast is substi- tuted for the hair stuffing. There are several styles of jointed d. common ones to sell from 5 to.30.cent grade, “full jointed,” to sell at from 25 cents to 5, and cspecially fine ones which are used as show pieces in store windows. But if we do not make dolls to any extent in this country we repair them ata great rate, About Christmas times “doll hospitals” are ex- tablished in all the big stores in New York where toys are sold, and dolls with eyes that should move, but ars fixed, with legs that in- sist upon being knock-knecd, with arms that are loose, with wigs that fall off or with joints at refuse tobend are taken back to be re- paired or exchanged. In some of the larger concerns the doll hospital at such times con- tains more tients than any real hospital in the city. These returned dolls would be al- most a total loss were it not that there are in New York number of foreign doll makers, who make regular visits to the toy stores soon after Christmas, carrying away the killed and wounded and taking them back in a few hours asgood asnew. The mending ofa doll is an extremely simple matter, unless some of the casts have been broken. The wooden stables, kitchens, groceries, butcher shops and the familiar Noah's arks are all made by hand in Saxony. What wages these simple carvers make mi judged from the fact that small Noah's arks, containing more than a score of carved animals, can be bought at retail for 5or 10 cents. Even in cheap Saxony the peasants could not live by this in- dustry alone. They have some other calling, and on wiuter nights the whole family gather about the blazing’ fire aud carve out miniature lions and elephants. The children of these families often develop peculiar ab ing particular ani One boy may make good horses and camels, whilea younger brother may far excel him in the carving of lions and tigers. “So remote,” says the German manufacturer, “are many of the German districts where dolls are made that it is often nezessary to send men out on six or eight hour journeys to get the heads and limb=, and in summer they can hardly be had at all, for then the doll makers are at work on their farms.” ——<eo—_____ A REAL SPECIFIC. How & Philadelphian’s Wife Meanly Bi- chlorided Him Unawares, From the Philadelphia Times. Last Thursday four gentlemen sat about a table in a certain hotel in this city. The po- litical discussion in which they were engaged was brought toan abrupt close by # remark from one of the party. “Hello!” he said, “B— is drinking » lem-/| onade. Why, B—, hasn't the waiter made = mistake? Didn't you order whisky?” Mr. B—slowly shook his head, took a final pull at his straws and then pushed aside the empty tumbler. “It's all right,” he said. lemonade.” “Surely you have not given up whisky?” “T've quit drinking,if that's what you mean,” B— confessed somewhat reluctantly. Unparalleled astonishment was depicted on the faces of his three companions as they leaned forward. “Well, why in time did you do that?” cried the first speaker. “What in the world has hap- pened, B—? Is the world coming to an end or are you doing it on a bet?” “There's no bet about it.” “Some one has been talking probibition to m " ‘Nope.” “I asked for bape it will Billy here. ‘OF y tae arelenerasiiasd inte boris. cout t and pulled out a small ne FIVE MESSENGER BOTS. Carnegie, Oliver, Pitcairn, MeCargo and Moreland ina Pitsburg Office From the New York Sun The story of five messenger boys begine tr the early days of telegraphy. Ina dingy wifiee in Pittsburg about ists Andrew Carnegie, Henry W. Oliver, Robert Pitcairn, Major Wi- liam ©. Moreland and David McCargo #ere Messengers. It is maid that they took the op- ponte of other boys, and spent their epare mo- mente in learning useful lessons Andrew Carnegie is the oldest of the lot, and he wae the smartest, leading all in learning how to telegraph. He was one of the first operstors in the country to learn to take the Morse «re tem by sound, which in those days was ¢on- sidered a remarkable achtevoment. It did mot taxe Thomas A. Scott lo to snatch Mr. rnegie from the telegraph office in P¥tte- — into his as private secretary when the gr gentu charge of the Pit w eof division eape was made vice premilent ¢ he subtle cu and watching taught hina his lines ino! irectione than watchin the divisions of a railr him. His pl look into other lin @drift intoan iron mili but bis cun ze of his ax. presi d by Mr. Carnegie.” Col. Scott was a power in thi . a8 well ae the railroas d Carnegie began to gather wealta. "My ambition in those days,” he said re cently, “was to write newspapers. 1 took j 8 material im that direction rit by the | the poor t A th { It made m ents. liow jo 1 me elsewhere, and 4 + manutucturer.” Tbritt and industry were the derricks lifted Harry W. Cliver out of the t chair next to M clerk for a big iron fi with a head f 1 of can | life © | the p u " day a slick biock and d him out . rms workshop a * bas since prow of the concerns tu the wor He has grow st and fairest bill ever pre- Krewe Anoth cichman of Robert 1 eupied | He wen road business ated the best many times a 1 big tre an the me as denied himselt p he likes to cling t $a meseonger be purth me eae i.” Bis tr te big railway graph and took « place on tt “Think oi it,” said Maj Duncan o t Wea in Phuiadetpi Leharge rt wire those 5 it was imposible to send a menge to New York irom New Orleans. Brooks nd Keid waiked over and inspected the line f the crescent city to Pittsburg riving here and assuring the line was perfect, the cflort was every telegraph fact, the who pense to known ram on at i Atter at effort. Every mag: electrician on the iine st eng for the result. At the signal New York caled Philadelphia, the Quaker city signaled Harv burg aud then in quick succession Cincinnati, Louisville and New Orleans mere opened to the metropolis. No one drew s breath scarcely until the tick came minute an unbroken tm the north and south. That vein these days, when tl electric power, but then it was the talk of the nation. This isa bit of untold history; but L | shall never torget that hou “Mr. Carnegie never forgets the old b and we shall never forget celebrating ih twenty-first birthday. He was Scott's conte | dential u and he invited Lis former ce to bie hos Liew . where his mother and br iagood time and parted witt other's success. mong Us, excep A New York Minister's Boy. From the New 3 There is @ certain up town minister whoy little son, having profited by bis futher's teach ings, has a most complete faith in God. Lax summer the ttle fellow spent some weeks i | the coantry, and became much interested in | yoke of oxen which belonged on the place w which he was staying. One day, desirous « etirring the creatures up # little, be poked thet | with a stick, bat they didn t mind that. ‘The | he scratched them with a hoc which iay handy | but still they stood drowsy, almost lifeless | Finally the boy stucka wixp of hay upeach ox j nose. That did the business. Ihe oxen stop ped chewing their cuds and begau to look ex frie care, Harry,” “them be “Couldn't you stop shouted the hired man ry. Well, perhaps I could, and then ag'in per haps I couldn't. Oxen is powerful ugiy some times.” Harry was silent for a moment, and then be i know who could stop ‘em if you answer. How could God stop 'em?” “He could say “Gee-baw’ at ‘em,” was the triumphant answer. — To Prevent Bagging. From the New York Week.y. ‘Customer—“Will these pants bag st the \ Dealer—Mine frient, no pants will png at ‘do knees if you treat dem right, I tellgyou how before you go. It eos Customer (delighted Here 1s the money. y Own invention.”