Evening Star Newspaper, January 2, 1892, Page 9

y THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C. SATURDAY. JANUARY. 2, 1892-SIXTEEN PAGES. PLAYS AND ACTORS. Play Writers Who Can Demand Their Own Terms. THE PEN AN ‘The End of Scanian’s Brilliant Career—Bis reat Earnings and How They Were Dissi- Pated—A Contrast With Murphy's Provi- dent Habite—Scanlan’s Fear of the Mad House, THE STAGE. Bpecial Correspondence of The Evening Star. ew York, January 1, 1892. N HOUR WITH A PLAYWRIGHT IN upper Broadway today yielded an interest- ing exposure of false pretense on the part of actors. The common impression given out by Conspicuous stage folks, and especially by “stars,” is that their lives are made miserable by the importunities of authors who have plays tosell. Of course a vast quantity of writings by amateurs is sent to actors and managers, just as editors of newspapers and publishers of books are overwhelmed with crude manu- scripts, but beyond this undesirable supply the posers of the stage like to make it appear that professional authors grovel at their feet with Plays proffered in their appealing, uplifted bands. It isnot so. The brief time spent with the dramatist mentioned disproved the familiar fallacy. This writer is by no means illustrious. He is what we would call in the newspaper profession a hack writer. ‘That is to say, he produces such matter as will sell most surely and remaneratively. He has never aspired to writing @ drama for itsown fake k to stand alone on its merits, but bis method isto first find a customer in the person of a star, and then Sithim out with a play suitable for his best exploitation. Now, this author of medium gradeand middling Prosperity, might Le supposed to seek pur- chasers of his wares. ‘ell, a8 we sauntered along through the portion of Broadway known as the Hialto my companion was stopped by a brisk, smallish young fellow, who proved to be ® brother of Lotta, the actress. He told the playwright that bis sister. who is taking a vacu- Uoh this season, would return to the stage next Your if she could geta new play that she liked. Then he button holed the author and impor- tuned him to write a piece for her. “Submit a scenario, st least.” he pleaded. ‘The author ‘replied that he hadn't time to do that, but if am idea should come tohim he might drop a line to Lotta letting her know of it. A little further along we came across Charles Abbott, the husband of Maggie Mitchell, and the first’ thing that he said to the playwright was: “You said you'd send me the Scheme of a play for my wife, but you haven't done it.” My friend retorted that he had made no such promise, and he got away by saying, indedinitely, that he would communicate a plan if one should occur to him. Now, Lotta and Maggie Mitchell are the richest two actresses in the world, yet here was each of them begging a playwright to work for them. Before the end of the Lour he had encountered four more man- agers of less prosperous stars, and in every case invited to write a play. Jusiness seems tobe booming,” I remarked. Db, no,” was the reply. “This is the or- inary sort of thing. You will recall that not one of these men really talked business. They simply wanted me to submit schemes for plays for their rejection in case they didn't like them. ‘That would put me to a week or a month of work, according to how soon I might hit upon scheme, and for that time and labor I would be assured of no pay whatever. But suppose that my scenario did happen to strike the man’s fancy? Then he would coolly ask me to write the play on option. Now, my terms are Feasonable but invariable. I want $500 cash down Lefore i put pen to paper, even to so tnuch as write out a scenario. If the scheme of tue play is accepted I demand $500 more be- fore coumercing to write the play. The contract must assure a production of the piece on or before a certain date, and during its use I must get royalties at’ the rate 5 for each evening performance and €10 ch matinee until the aggregate of pay- as reached $5,000, at which point the becomes the property of the purchaser ht. All these men know my schedule of when they talk indedimitely, 1 do ‘am not tempted for an instant to ¥ time on them. When a man comes to me with the money in his hand for prelim- inary payment I set to work at once, provided Jam not already engaged.” XEN WHO MAKE THEIR OWN TERMS. ‘There are something like adozen men of fair ability and much experience in play making who work on this same basis. That is to say, they are being constantly importuned by actors actresses to write plays for them, and they doit without a certainty corresponding ¢ to that which my friend explained. Be- © authors there are four American s who won't write a play fora star .s paid very extravagantly thercfo:. ouson Howard, David Belasco, Wil- tte and H C. DeMille. The last piece whch Howard wrote fora star was ks” for Helen Dauvray, 0 down royalties to follow, piecs was a failure at that. This quar- eaccessful playwrights will not any longer cevote their talents to avy purpose ia Which arisk of small recompense is involved. for stock company pro- contracts, the terms of tonish the general reader, who ps, to rate all authors as im- ‘ach of these four is in Weekly receipt, 1f not oltener, of solicitations tr to write plays for them. So it is ¢lear that while actors are chased by untried ors with manuseripts they in turn chase those authors whose reputations are established. SCANLAN'S FATE. It takesa good man to go the pace in this fast world. W. J. Scanlan found the gait too speedy. He bad been in the race nearly three Years before he quit, not to the surprise, but sure: drama ail unle y to the sorrow of all who knew him. ‘This young Irish actor and sweet singer, now a ike first published accounts ¢ have been softened, prob- m of the feelings of the ors rianager and relatives, but the facts st longer be disguised. The best brain ably in consider ac content to “save,” as in the old days most men “saved ap.” All the same, be has today the keys of a safe deposit vault in which he keeps about $300,000 of government bonds; and 4 per cent interest suffices him, it seems. Scanlan, too, is wealthy, and he will die surrounded by all the luxuries human skill and tender solici- tude can plan for him; but he is not half so rich us Murphy, because, in the first place, a manager has (justly enough, however,) enjoyed half the profits of Seanlan’s work, and, again, because Scanlan, to come back to our first remark, has gone the pace. The gaming table, the wine bottle and the charms of fair women are costly. Scanlan has footed the bills and the summing up is heavy. Poker and-faro fascinated this man. He could play # day and a hulf ata stretch, he ‘was wont to boast. He could bet so long as his check book was in his pocket. And itwas his Labit in contradistinction to the welching ropensities of some actors who, unli [in loved the notoriety of the faro ba: pay in full whenever he jost. He was noted as adend square man. No game wns closed to im, as many a game was to louder-mouthed but closer-fisted Thespians. He never went to court when the cards ran against him. He never squealed SOMETHING ABOUT SCANLAN. To look at him on the street you would never recognize in the undersized, black-eyed, dark- haired, nervous little fellow, whose smile was genial and whose greeting was always cheery, the rollicking and apparently good-sized hero of “Miles Aroon” and ‘Mavourncen.” stage makeup wassingularly deceptive. because itmade bim handsome and of athletic build. His voice ad lost its old sweetness since 1889, when a tour of Texas exhausted him physically and mentally. A pretty woman's face ever Lad & fascination for this actor, yét he wasnot what is called a masher umong actors. It is no se- erct thateven within the past few monthe he had paid assiduous court toa handsome bur- lesquer at Koster & Vial’s beer hull, where the crowd is always lively and the tempo is always presto. In vain his wifo had guarded him from the dressing room to his cab. He was master, and his will was law. The finger of fate can make @ mark in Scanlan'scase. Two years ago he was a conspicuous volunteer at the big benefit in the Academy of Music to Tony Hart, that other victim of paresis, whose career was analogous in so many respects to that of Scan- lau. They had long been friends, for indeed they were much alike in habits. In the old green room of the historic Academy, Scanlan— already eccentric at times, but not to a degree visible to his associates—chatted and mourned over the fate of poor Tony. “I pray to God,” he said to an actor who tells the coincide today, “that I may never meet the fate of Tony Hart.’ If I felt it coming and they went to put me in an asylum I'd brain myself.” And in all his lucid moments during the week preced- ing his collapse he had begged his wife not to lisis in this city agree that there is no ope fo o he may have had a cb: led to work steadily e all to resist his old inclina- tious: ¥. bie to heed the warning. He bad played, it is wpe, until the last, but there was’ often @’ mockery in his performance, which was at times s0 Wretched as to amaze his atdience, while at other times it had all the old fire and finish of the past. Work might have helped Scanlan, 0 the doctors said. They had not counted upon bis hours of recte nd that is where their foresight was at fault. ' Thisis a big town, and At is still liveliest after theater hours. Scanlan found the old habits too stroug to overcome. The keenest watchtulness could not prevent him from breaking away, and the b: have brought him face to face with the finish. Then not tell the trath about him? Why not ta moral with bis sad fatey This man at -tive bas lived all the life that Octave et pictured in Baron Checrial. At twent; he was a variety singer, earning €30 Week; at twenty-seven so clever he was cot sidered worth three times that amount, and at thirty be was successful star in Irish drama, the youngest up to bis time. the best singer of them alk and the one ‘with the bright- st prospec! Seven years an to “cstouish old actors antl ‘manntre by the size of his annual profits ‘Dhey bave never since ceased to wonder at those earnings, which were, to tell the truth, amazing. Joe Emmet aloue surpassed Scanlan oe “and there were seasons when ven Emmet, whove periods of inebriety cost Bim thousands of dollars, igured his profits as & consequence far below those of “Billy” Scanlan. It seems like fiction to say it, but it is nevertheless a fact that fora number of Years Scanian's tours netted, clear above all ex- i more than Edwin Looth's and Lawrence rett’s. Their heavy expenses made an in- road into their receipts that was not felt in Beanian’s case, for bis company was small and eheap and bis scenic outtit was of slight ac- count. The sules of his songs, including the famous ~“Peek-a-boo,” served to increase his Profits, Joe Murphy has often said that from the profits of bis (Murphy's) songy be has for ears paid bis own snd his wife's hotel expenses ear "round, yet no soug of Murphy's ever sold like “Peek-a-boo.” aie MURPHY SAVED UIS MONEY. Between these two actors there is only the one parallel of popular success as evidenced in large profits. Murphy's tours, which grow shorter as he grows older, have netted him Yearly from $25,000 to $40,000. Scanlan'shave from’ $40,000 to $60.00. Murphy been an economist in everything. Never a “spender,” in the common acceptance of that term, he has neither been a daring speculator Ror s shrewd investor. He has apparently been send him to # mad house. It seemed to be his only fear. WHAT A DYNAMO I5. Popular Description of the Main Principle of an Electrical Machine. J. A. Grier in Mechanical and Electrical Progress. The collection of electricity, or its genera- tion, as it is often called, is no more or less mysterious than the generation of heat. For those who make no pretensions to understand the governing principles underlying the gen- eration of electricity by a dynamo we present the following brief explanation, which we hope may be casily grasped: Perhaps every reader has played with a com- mon horse-shoe magnet. No one can have one on his band, even for a few moments, without noticing that the small piece at the two ends called the armature, when brought close to these ends, not being allowed to touch tiem, is affected by some invisible influence which tends to draw it toward these ends. This mysterious influence is called magnetism. On laying a horse-shoe maguet on a picce of paper placed ina horizontal plane and loosely sprinkling iron filings around these ends it can be seen that there is an apparent current of this influ- ence projecting into space from the ends and running across the space at the open ends of the magnet. These imaginary projections or currents of this mysterious intluence are called “lines of magnetic force.” Here we have the magnet.c force, and the next thing is to get the clectriaty. By’ moving an armature across these ines of magnetic force at the ends of a magnet we find it requires an expenditure of energy. In the case of a dynamio we obtain this energy from steam, water power or some othersuree. The generation of electricity is as easly understood as the method of getting powerby asteam engine. It is known that if we take a conductor of electricity, like @ com- mon copper wire, and by any means cause it to move through lines of magnetic force in a certain direction that electricity will be de- veloped in this conductor. No one pretends — shy. ‘This isthe whole sayetery of irnamo wit its astonishi: possi- bilitiesin the service of man. Re We know how to do it, but are as much in mystery about the reason nature acta in this asweare to explain why an. apple goes down instead of up when rolled from your open hand. A dynamo consists principally of two parts, one of which isa large mass of soft cast or wrought iron called the magnet and the other part is called the armature. Soft iron docs not remain permanently as a magnet except to a very slight degree. However, some magnetism alwaysremains stored up in ‘the iron. There isa germ of magnetism great enough to Le easily and quickly increased when properly handled by well-known methods. The re- volving shaft, as seen in the ordinary dynamo, is called the armature. ‘The armature is usually constructed by having hundreds of in- salatedcopper wires in it and is ‘made to re- volve sa high velocity by some mechanical force. such as steam. Suppose this speed is 1,000 revolutions per minute, which is not untsua, and that we have 500 wires on this armature, then we will have, as the armature revolves, what would be equivalert tom siugle wire cutting across all the lines of magnete force 500,000 times each minute. ‘The mgnet generally surrounds the ature aud these magnetic lines of for shootitg through the armature in a con- tinuous stream at an inconceivable velocity. All the wire conductors on the revolving armature as they move through these lines of maguete force are constantly picking up their little share of electricity aud unloading it by means of ingenious mechanical devices con- necting with the conducting wire that leads from the dynamo aud receiving the returning clectrici:y on another wire leading back into the dynane. ‘Oue of nature's wonderfully mysterious laws causes scit iron to become magnetic when sur- rounded bya current of electricity. In the ordinary dynamo this law is of the greatest utility. As the electrical current is being col- lected by the revolving armature it 1s led around the magnet aud thus the magnetic germ is quickly changed into a mighty force, Again feeding the armature which transforms it ftom magnetic to electrical force. ——__—_oe___ THE ORIGIN OF AN OLD SONG. “The Old Oaken Bucket” Said to Have Been Composed in a Saloon. - “There have been several versions of the origin of “Ihe Old Oaken Bucket,’ says Geo. M. Young im the January New England Maga- zine. The most widely circulated and popu- larly believed iv as follows: When Woodworth was journeyman printer in an office on the corner of Chatham and Chamber streets in New York,near by in Franfort street was » saloon kept by @ man named Mallory, where Woodworth and several particular friends used to resort. One afternoon the liquor was un- usually excellent and Woodworth seemed in- spired by it. After taking draught he set bis giass on the table and, smacking his lips, declared that Mallory’s eau de vie ‘was superior to anything he had ever tasted. ‘No,’ said Mallory, ‘you are mis- taken: there was one thing which in both our estimations surpassed this in the way of drink- ing.” ‘What was that? asked Woodworth du- biously. “The draught of pure spring water that we used to driuk from the old ouken bucket that hang ir the well after our return from the ficld om @ hot day in summer.’ A teardrop glistened for a moment in Woodworth’s eye. ‘True, true! he replied, ‘and shortly after quitted the place. He immediately returned to the office, took @ pen, and in half an hour ‘The Old Oaken Bucket’ was ready in manuscript to be embalmed in the memories of succeeding generations ———<--___ One of the Family, From the New York Ledger. “No, please,” once wrote a lady to @ friend, “when I come to see you don’t treat me as one of the family. When I hear that promise I stay away. I like, when I goout, to be ‘com- ATTRACTIVE HOMES. Some Christmas Gifts That Are Worthy of Mention. INGENUITY AND TASTESHOWN Several Styles of Home-Made Photograph Frames Described—The Bow-Knot Decora- tion Very Prevalent—Ornaments for = Little Girl’s Bed Room—China Painting. ‘Written for The Evening Star. HE ANNUAL REACTION AFTER Christmas has come, and every one feels like resting and lounging a bit, but reaction does not mean stagnation, and the rest must come from change of occupation after all. The winter holidays bring too many engagements forjany one to be very quiet, but the relief that comes from surcease of shopping is a blessing of itself, Every year Christmas presents wax handsomer and more numerous, and tho va- riety of hand-made articles which are given then is atributo to industry and good taste all over the land. The beautiful things that fill the shops every one knows, and money can compass them all, but the individual thought of love that finds expression in some unique and specially appropriate form cannot be bought, and these are the gifts that may be suggestive and suitable in connection with one subjectand title, There are many helps to home work that one may buy nowsdays that facilitate labor and save time, and all may avail themselves of some such benefit now and again in their arrangements. Different retty forma in glass and pasteboard for foundations can be got ready cut, and, with these to begin with, the rest is comparatively easy for making many pretty things. Perhaps photograph frames were given this year as ¢x- tensively as any one thing, when a small gift was in order, aid certainly a pretty variety of them has come under my immediate notice. HAND-MADE PHOTOGRAPH FRAMES. Leaving out the silver oncs,of which 0 many were given, and, as well, the small oval gilded ones with bow knot atop, I will only speak of the hand-made ones, ali probably of home manufacture, and for which foundations may be bought in various shapes. About the pretti- est is a frame of white linen in heart shape and with an opening large enough for cabinet picture. On this is embroidered in two shades of heliotrope silk two or three violets, held to- gether by a bow of ribbon which twists and curves gracefully from top to bottom of the frame, where a few more flowers are knotted together by it. The working of the ribbon is ingenious, for it is very effective and 80 easily done, being in button-hole stitch, crosswise, each stitch making the width of the ribbon, and as they are not set too near together it looks light and suggestive, not so heavy and precise asa more close working would be. A standard at the back is held by a white ribbon to the frame, which is sewed overhand instead of being glued together, as most of them are, a space being left at the bottom wide enough ‘to p in the picture. A WHITE LINEN SQUARE FRAME. Another white linen frame is square, also for cabinet picture, the margin being rather wide. In each upper corner is » bow knot, with one end waving down the side, the other making a continuous ribbon over the top. ‘This design is worked solidly in two tones of orange yellow filofloss, the many turns of the ribbon giving a good effect of light and shade. All vnch frames nre lightly padded and may be perfumed, and this shape has a standard back which is’ easily arranged by gluing. The double and treble frames are rather super- seded by single ones with standard backs, and the reason is probably that a better angle for the picture is gotten in this way, for in the double ones a straight up and down position is the only one possible and gives the photo- graphs a tipped forward look that is not pleasant. Another odd and dainty little frame is made of erepe paper, which is so much used in fanci- ful ways now. This 14a two-fold frame cov- ered with white crepe paper, with a bow-knot decoration, made by taking a tiny strip of the paper in blue, bowing it up lighily. catching it to the frame’ by glue, by twisting and turning itand gluing at each turn, giving a very light and ribbon-like effect. On one side and on the back two or three small pink flowers, like spring wild flowers, but also made of paper, are thrust threugh a knot of the ribbon, and over all, ribbon and frame alike, a brush charged with gold has been lightly passed here and there, following the upright crepe folds of the paper and giving the finishing touch to this unique little frame. ‘Tho rage for photograph frames is not con- fined to this country. and from abroad come accounts of them made of old brocade, edged with gold gimp and in pale shades of French leather, with silver corners or fleur do lis of gold in the corner, and on silver frames are €ven coronets of diamonds. These extravagant models we follow afar off, maybe, but with sat- isfection in the dainty, tasteful results of our own handiwork. the coliected Christmas gifts of several house- holds, on so many articles did that decoration appear. In embroidery. combiued with flow- ere, it is the favorite design of the moment, and some pretty examples of it ure shown forth in the holiday offerings of 1891. A center piece for a luncheon table, or which would be just as pretty for a spread for some duinty white en- ameléd table, isa square of fine white linen, with a fringed edge. Inside of tins is a ribbon border with bow knots in the corners, ail worked solidly in one shade of silvery blue silk. ‘The inner equare is powdered with small flowers, worked in Dresden coloring, and it is a style. ALITTLE GIRLS BED Room. For alittle girl’s bed room, which is fur- nished in white and pink, and where the man- tel has festoons and bow-kuot decoration in re- lief, an embroidered set of linen was made for a present, including along scarf for the chif- fonier, a cover just fitting the top of the small dressing table and achair back for the little pink-covered easy chair. The scart for the chiffonier has the ends deeply fringed, and above that a band of drawn work. From this until the top of the chiffonier is reached the space is filled by the embroidery. A bow-knot pattern is used here, « bow being in the middle and each end of the band reaching across, the ribbons conuecting them. ‘These are all worked in a double row of outlining, two shades of old pink filofloss being used and a double thread taken. Above the ribbons a space is filled by small pink carnations powdered irregularly and worked in solid stemstitch ‘he dressing table has a hemstitched cover, with the same design arranged to suit its shape for a border aud the pinks inside. Tho little tidy has only the ribbon part of the pattern and a rosette of narrow piuk ribbon like the silks fastens it to the chair. Another linen set for a bureau which was in Santa Claus’ budget this year hus yellow for ite coloring and is a handsome examyle of needic- work. A Lem is on the four sides of the loug searf, witha band of drawn work inside, the corners being very elaborate. Several groups of flowers aud leaves are scattered over the sarface inside this border, which are colored with tapestry dyes in tones of yellow, with brownish shades in the leaves. ‘Tho shapes are all worked in tong and short stiteb, with silks to correspond with the paints. The cover for the pin cushion consists of two round pieces of linen, both scallo with yellow and an eye- t worked in each scallop. Ou the piece for e top is a group of the flowers with a leaf or two added. The foundation cushion is to be round and covered with yellow satin. Then the two pieces are to be put on top and bottom and laced together with yellow cord. NOVELTIES IN DOLLIES. As usual doilies were given and received, and some noveitiesin their adornment aro seen. A. pretty little one for cake plate or any similar use has a center of n cambric and a lace- work border, made of honiton lace braid, but- ton-holed down so as to form u wheel-like de- sign, white sewing silk being used for the but- ton-holing and. the lace stitches which counect the wi This is anew kind of lace work and may be adapted to many things, being very showy ineffect. A houseliold journal for the present month has an article devoted to this use of Ince braids and it will doubtless be suggestive to many needleworkere. Another beautiful.» spron will be more durable than at first sight it appears. (CHINA DECORATIONS. On the china, which was painted this holiday season by amateurs, the bow-knot fancy was developed likewise, and ® square rbonbon box is a pretty example of the style. On a ground- work of pale green a wreath of pink flowers, with «pink ribbon waving in and out, was killfally painted. ‘The simulated ribbons in the china, which cross the box, with the bow- knot handie on the top, are inthe rich gol: which adds #0 mach to any china. ‘The initial of the recipient 18 on one side, making a very tasteful and useful souvenir. A novelty in vbina, of which I saw two examples of amateur work,'is a paper weight for a. desk, which is easy to use and decorative.:Both are painted in Dresden designs, with one large bunch of flow- ers and scattered smaller ones anda filigree gold border and knob on top, touched up with gold in the same way. ‘These aro decided novelties, and,as very few could be found for decorating, they are not likely to become hackneyed at present. ee THE GIANT CRABS OF JAPAN. An Unpleasant Companion to Have in = Small Boat. From St. Nicholas. ss Enoshima is an island lying some thirty miles below Yokohama. At low tide Enoshima is a rocky peninsula joined to the land by a long sandy bar. At high tido the water covers this sandy strip, and in time of heavy storms also the far-reaching waves make it an island and surround it with foam. Enoshima is covered with groves and ancient temples, and there is even a temple in a cave far in ander the island, which one can enter only at low tide. Tea houses and pretty summer villas peep from the dense groves; and while pilgrims resort there to pray, other people go to enjoy fish dinners and to buy all the curious shells, sponges, corals, seaweeds and pretty triflos wt can be made of shells and fish scales. ‘The only unwelcome visitor to this beautifal beach fs the ginnt crab, whose shell is about as large as that of the green turtle, whose eyes Project and wink and roll horribly, while each of his claws measures five to six fect in length. ‘The ordinary visitor docs not meet this crab walking up the beach in the daylight. Heavy storms sometimes sweep them in from the deep waters where they live, and thegfishermen hunt them on the reefs offshore, or to their surprise bring them up in their nets, The weight of the crab and the thrashing of his claws gen- erally ruin the fisherman's net, and he is an unpleasant fellow traveler in’ a small boat. Such a crab in the middie of a boat twelve feet long could reach out to both ends of it and nip the men at bow and stern; and his reach, meas- ured sidewise, in the real crab fashion, is some- times over twelve fect. The fishermen used to consider it bad luck to haul up one of these crabs inanet. They would make quick work of throwing the crab back into the water, and afterward beg in the cave shrine of Benten Sama that the gods should not plaguo them with any more auch luck. In this modern and money-muking day the fishermen have learned that one big crab is worth more than a whole netful of common fish. Every perfect crab landed can be sold for #5 or more, and in time each travels to a foreign country and becomes the gem in some museum's collection of shell- fil hhe fisher folk along this far Pacific strand tell some stories that make a bather find this crab as dreadful as the cuttlefish, which also inhabits these waters. They claim that the big crab will fight fiercely when attacked, and ill, without reason, nip at any moving thing. Then, too, they say that its eyes give out light and glow like bails of fire in the dark. Some revelers coming home very late from the tea houses of the neighboring village of Katase have been frightened sober by secing the beach fuil of these red-eyed crawling monsters, which cracked their claws in the air and rattled their bodies over the stones ax they gave chase. In Japanese fairy stories these crabs have run away with bad little boys and girls, haunted wicked persons’ dreamy and taken other part in human affairs. The Enoshima crabs were brought into modern English fiction by Rider Haggard in his story, ‘Allan Quatermain.” In that book the heroes came out from an un- derground fire chamber and floated along a deep and narrow canyon. When they stopped to rest and eat an army of crabs came up at the smell of food, and rolled their eyes and cracked their claws until they frightened the heroes away. Mr. Haggard says in a foot note that he had read of these crabs in some book of travel, and borrowed them for this canyon scene to make Allan Quatermain's adventures the more ex- citing. ——__+e+—____ THOSE WHO TEST TEA, To Preserve m Delicate Taste Sense They Abjure sh-Seasoned Food. From the Iria Times. Tea tasting is a remunerative business, and it should be, for experts devote their lives to the cultivation of taste and umell. In order to do this they deny themselves many luxuri But few of them smoke, as that habit has a tendency to blunt their sense of taste. The same is true of wine and liquor drinking, and those who do permit themselves at times to in- dulge in a cigar or a glass of wine take only the very best to be obtained and then limit them- selves to very small quantities. ‘hey are also careful about the seasoning of their food; toc much rea pepper bas a tendency to blunt the sense of taste, and the tea tester if successful in his s has his food much less highly flavored 4 pepper or spices than 18 exucted by the club man and the epicure. ‘The testing of teas is usually done in the morning, the tester preferring the hours before noon for his work to those later in the day. He himself can give no logical reason for this except that he finds his senee of taste more acute during the hours befere noon, and con- sequently prefers those hours for bis work. When the teat is to be made, forty or fifty tiny cupsare filiea with tea freshly brewed and un- sweetened. ‘The tester sips from each cup, and can at once tell the exact character, grade and line of tea he tastes. If the tea given him to taste ie a shade below t usually to be expected from the grade he can at once detect it, and is relied upon by the importer to estimate the difference in value between such tea and the best tea of that de. He must also fix the value of all the tea before hm, even to the half and quarter cent. Itcan thus be seon how very finely his Sense of taste is cultivated. In tho mujority of instances the testers aro acurious class. It has been said that they make a living by committing slow suicide, It is a well-recognized fact that the excossive and constant drinking of tea is ag dangerous to the physical system as the excessive use of alcohol, aud those who ought to know assert that the majority of the men engaged in this method of earning a livelihood become -#o addicted to the stimulation produced by the drinking of tea that they are ay much slaves to the habit as is the Frenchman to his absinthe or the Chinaman to his opin. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, in every tea broker's office there are ten ora dozen boys who are being trained to the busi- ness. One of the first things that the appren- tice is taught is absolute cleanliness. He must keop his person clean in order to develop thorough'y the sense of taste or smell neces fury to suécess in the business he has chosen. ‘This sense is developed in him much like the sense of touch is developed in the blind or the senee of sight in the deaf and dumb. ——o The Way to Treat Them, From Life. Pater—“‘So tomorrow's Lord Engie’s birth- day, eb? Well, as his fiancee I suppose you're expected to give him = present oF two?” hter—“Why, Pater—“Then I'm going to let a receipted bill for every dollar Sad\a first-class ticket to Liverpool.” A Nice Distinetion, From the Indisnspolis Journal. “Poor old Lushforth fell down and broke the trestle of his nose.” “Don't you mean the bridge?” “You might call it a bridge, but as no water Seren under it I thought the other word course.”” give him owes me BE WAS CAUTIOUS. And Created a Coolness by Inquiring for Her Slater. From London Tid Bits. He—“Would you object to my proposing to you?” She (with timorous composure)—“Not the slightest. He—"Yon would be perfectly willing that I should state in a few well-chosen words the length of time I have worshiped you and loved you and the terrible despair which has been mine as I saw you universally adored and perceived how little chance there was of my hopes being realized while you remained queen over the hearts of suitors far more worthy?” She (as before)—“Perfectly willing.” He--*Wonld you prefer me to pon the pro- posal standing or kneeling?” She (correctly lowering her eyes)—I think the latter way would be tar better form.” He—“Would you prefer the declaration in language fervent, fierce and outspoken, or intense, passionate and contained?” She (with considerable promptness—Fer- vid, fierce and outspoken.” He—"‘And would you deem it indiscreet if the proposer, during tho declaration, should print some kisses on the hand of the proposce?” Sho (with artless candor)—-Yee, if there were anpthing better and more satisfying reason- ably contiguous.” . le-—“If he encountered a feeble opposition merely would you consider it unwise on the part of the proposer should he pass his arm around the proposee's waist? She (gently but firmly)—“It would be, I think, a matter of extreme regret if he failed to comprehend whatever possibilities the situa- tion presented. le—“‘And in case the proposer should, after slight resistance, realize these possibilities would you consider such slight resistance suffi- cient encouragement to justify him in fondly folding tho proposce to his beart?” She (as bofore)—“Undoubtedly. le—*Taking it for ited, then, that the last situation has been consummated: ean, you fee no reason why the jould ‘not rightly regard himeelf in th magnifi- cent successes aa a wooer?™ et OF _ ona thy cannot.” le—""Or why he should not be jo: thought that for the nonce, at fey stir ts and he hers?” She (with some impatience)—“No.”* He—“Now, appearing to you as belonging to that sex which intuitively seos and understands the peculiar properties of an emergency of this sort, are there not occasions more appropriate than others for a declaration of lot She (trifling nervously with her handker- chief)—*"There are. The elements of ti place and siability of interruption must, course, be properly regarded.” He—"Do you believe the present contains = a te?” She (trifling more nervously with her band- kerchie! ‘Lt have no neebeee it” = He—“You also believe, do you not, that tastes, inclinations—in fact, all dispositional characteristics are found to’ be conspicuously similar, more especially in family groups?” She (trifling most nervously with her hand- kerchief)—*Certainly.” He—“Now, for instance, you and your sis- ter are, I fancy, vivid illustrations of this tra- ism. She (elevating her eyebrows)—“Yes, Mabel and I are, so far a8 proference: are concerned, singularly similar.” He—“Is your sister at home?” _ She (slowly looking him over)—“I think she is” He-—“Will you tell her, ple: I would like to see her—alone?” — ———_+e-—____ Written for The Evening Star. Morning. O’er hill and vale a solemn stillness reigns And folds the earth in nature’s mystic sleep, While from the unknown, infinite domains ‘The twinkling stars their gentle vigil keep. But now the lights of heaven, one by one, As dew drops sparkling in the summer fleld, Grow faint and disappear before the sun E’en ere his fulgeut splendor is revealed. For see! the shrouded distant hills grow bright, While whisp'ring melodies the day proclaim; ‘The radiant sun dispels the darksome night Iis slumb'ring mistress to again reclaim! With fond caress he wakes the blushing earth And wondrous life once more is given birth, CLIFFORD Howaxp. proposer January 2, 1802 ———_ ree _—____ When Her Mother Was a GirL From the Pall Mall Gazette. The betrothal of pretty Princess Mary of ‘Teck, writes a correspondent, recalls the days when the Duchess of Teck wasagirl. I remem- ber well how she was the heart and soul of all the gayeties at the Castle of Mecklenburg- Strelitz, even at the age when she had hardly entered into her teena. She was a lovely girl, but a romp and tomboy of the first order, from whose practical, though innocent, jokes nobody at the castle was safe. If all the candles in a room went suddenly out, or if ghostly torms appeared to visitors on their way to their bed room, Princess Mary was sure to be at the bot- tom of the plot. ‘One winter evening (continues the same cor- Tespondent) stands out especially in my mem- ory. A party of children were frolicking about the castle, Princess Mury the brightest and gay- estamong them. They were playing about the corridors, and I'have a very vivid receliection of seeing the princess rush along in wild haste, pursuing ono of her visitors. “Suddenly her air, which was held up at the back of her head by an arrow-shaped ornament, came down and enveloped her asin a shower of gold. I never saw such lovely hair as thatof the Duchess of ‘Teck when she was a girl. As sho flew along, with flashing eyes and burning cheeks, she twisted the mass of hair into a golden coil, dashed the arrow through it and vanished into a gallery. She was a favorite with everybody, agirl of remarkably sunny temper, and even her tutors and_governesses were always on her side, though they confessed that she was “a fair handful.” Deader Than a Smelt. From the Minuespolis Tribune. “You know old Anron Meadows that used to live on the banks of the Kankakee river in Stark county,” said a visitor at the Nicollet House yesterday while talking with an Indi- ana friend. “There was no poetry or senti- ment about Aaron, and figures of speech were watted on him. Last summer Aaron's Wile died very suddenly, and it broke the old man all up. He in some way seemed to shrink and grow older. One day he was lean- ing on the bars, thinking of her, no doubt, as he always was, when Si Hopkins rode up and passed the time o' day with him. Si hadn't seen Aaron sinco his wife died, and so be says to the old man, kind of tender like: ‘Wal Aaron, poor Murtha has gone over the river, bas she? ‘Aaron looked up at him in surprise, and then said bitterly and with tears in his voice: ‘Over the river! she ain't She dead, b’gosh! Deader'n a smelt!" ——_ Justified in Holding Out. From the Comic. A story is told of a well-known judge who is noted for his fondness in conveying to jurors in his charges to them his own opinions in re- gard to the merite of the case. In one case he had done so with great plainness, but to his amazement the jury remained out for hours without coming to an ment. The judge inquired of the oficer what was the matter and learned from him that one juror was holding out against the other eleven. He sent for the Jory At once, and, stating to the Jury, that he lainly intimated how the case ought to be led, waid he understood the one juror was standing out against the other eleven. Ho pro- ceeded to rebuke the jurorsharply. The obsti- mate juror was a nervous littic man, and as soon ‘as the judge was done he arose and said: “Your honor, may I say a word?” “Yes, sir," said the indignant judge; “what MAW, whet wanted to aay i, Tam the only what I wan’ say is, Tam fellow thateon your side.” ee Precious Love Letters, From the Chicago Tribune. “What isin the package?” asked the clerk atthe express office, proceeding to fill outa blank. “Old letters,” replied the young woman. “Value?” mechanically inquired the clerk. “Fifty thousand dollars.” And the plaintiff in the breach of case of Joone inst De Cember, bad just remitted a batch ef documents to her lawyer, walked out of the express office with a vivid bas business-like glean’ ie ber oye. “The drinking water here is absolutely vile,” said « visitor to the city. “Don't you think wor” ‘Tm not “You are not! You're the first person I've who hasn’s found fault with it? What's the fact that I sell beer bave some thing to do with it.” as YEARS DO NOT MAKE OLD AGE. Where There ie Vigor of Mind and Body ‘There is Youth. From the British Medical Journal. Sir James Crichton-Browne has enumerated instances of long-lived,persons possessing all their faculties unimpaired, and opened up « subject full of interest and which even the largo space occupied by his address did not allow him fully to develop. It seems a phys- iological law that the functions of the body must be kept in exercise in order to maintain their efficiency, and it is as true of the body as of the mill or any other machino that it will rust out from disuse sooner than wear out by employment. ‘The fact is constantly observed in persons engaged in commercial pursuits who retire at the age of sixty and then fail into rapid decay, while professional men remaining at work pre- serve their vigor, often for another twenty years. It is a sad thing to see the nerve centers decay, with a corresponding weakness of bod: and mind, but it is still sadder to witness, wi a wrinkling of the skin, a corresponding shrink- age of the brain, allowing vanity and some of the weakly passions which had been kept in suppression to come again to the fore. low different is the spectacle when the organ is kept in its integrity by constant use, and the mental faculties preserved in all their pristine force. We havo only to look around and to see our poets, bishops, judges, ministers of state and medical men long lived and still in mental vigor while working at their respective avocations. Very remarkable, too, is it that, as Sir James Crichton-Browne observed, the freedom of language will remain as goodasever. An illus- tration of this was observed but lately in a dis- cussion on the London university questions, when two of the most logical and well-expressed speeches were made by octogenarians. We can at the present time point to states- men and lawyers of great age still before the pablic. ss not long ago we could eco Lord almerston, Lord, Brougham, Lord Lyndhurst and others.’ In former times we may remem- ber Newton living to be eighty-five, while hocles is said to have lived to pe ninety and Plato not much short of this. It is clear that hard work does not Lill. The toil, how- ever, must be genial and diversified. ‘Theman of business often had no occupation besides his bread winning, whereas a medical man basa variety of subjects to interest him. Aspeaker at the recent international con- gress showed by experiments upon school ch iren when three or four sums in arithmetic were given in sutecession that each sum showed an inferiority to the previous one, both in cor- rectness and as regards the time in which it was completed. The one faculty employed was gradually exhausted, afresh piece of evidence showing the necessity for divermty of work. In the treatmen: of persons with mental trouble or worry the very worst method is to rely too much on what is called rest, meaning thereby leaving the patient without other em- ployment than to brood over his sorrows. True Test to the mind is only to be obtained by the vecupation of other faculties roused into action by new surrounding ‘There is no reason why old age should not be as happy and as enjoyable as any other period of life. "If old persons be asked as to their con- sciousness of age they will all with one consent declare that there existe nothing of the kind. An old person has a knowledge of his age the same way as his friends, he sees it by looking in the mirror: by remembrance of past events, or the loss of contemporaries, but he is not con- stantly carrying about with him the conviction or feeling that he is old; he is thus stili able to occupy himself in the business aud pleasures of life. Buffon spoke of his green old age as ono of the happiest periods off hie life, although. the kind of pleasures then experienced are, of course, different from those of youth; and even when decay comes, and a man is becom- ing free from the remembrance of all earthly things, then, as Sir James Paget says (and no better example could be fotind of full mental activity by continued work), it may be so ordered on purpose that the spirit may be in- Vigorated and undisturbed in the contempla- tion of the brightening future. Another writer, speaking of old age in refer- ence to the decease of an’ eminent barrister, also maintained that the highest faculties are kept keen by constant exerc the brain vigorous by constant action and renewal. The understanding has often been in the highest perfection in quite advanced old age, and that has been the best period of human life. It is the time when the rage und storm of passion have dicdaway, when the jealousies and cares of a career have ceased and been forgot- ten, when memory lingers uponall thatis bright and charming in the past and when hope scat- ters her most glowing tints over the fast ap- prouching future or, in the words of Sir J. Srichton-Browne himself: “We ure able to see in old age glimpses of the truth that its chief glory consists, not in the remembrance of feats of prowess nor in the egotistic exercise of power, but in the conquest of peevish weaknesses, in the brightness of hope and in the discrimination of happiness around. “Depend upon it, the best antiseptic against enile decay is an active interest in human affairs, and that those keep young longest who love most.” In the same key did Oliver Wendell Holmes, the laureate of old age, sing when some ladies lately presented him with « loving cup in his eightivth year: Better love perfume in the empty bowl ‘Than wine's nepenthe for the aciiDs soul; Sweeter thau sone that ever post SUD, Ieiuakes the old heart young. ee —__ A GIRLS’ LITERARY CLUB. How to Form One and How It Should Be Conducted With Success. From the Ladies’ Home Journal. A literary club for girls may be organized in some such manneras this: The giris noed not necessarily be of equal capacity or identical tastes. In fact, some diversity in these respecte would be for the general advantage. Bat all who take part should be interested in reading and study and have in some measure the desiro and capacity to produce. The moctings may be held weekly or atlongerintervals. The timo oc- cupied in reading, studying nnd discussing the various questions that will naturally arise. Once a month each member should hand ina story, sketch or poem (without signature), which should be read aloud, in turn, by the presiding officer or an appointed reade>. No name being appended, the party should feel free to discuss the merits of each manuscript sub- mitted, criticise and suggest improvements, while at the conclusion a vote should be taken as to which of those offered should be entitled in the general opinion to the highest place. Each git] should endeavor, notso much to copy the stylo and manner of any particular frieud or admired writer, but to improve, prune and embellish her own natural production. At stated intervals some older and experienced Bterary friend should be invited to be present and givo the benefit of his or her opinion and criticism. One subject might be agreed upon as the theme for all pens, or each individual could be left to her own inclinations,and the intermediate readings o1 bear upon the articles severance and good nature are most essential to the success of any such undertaking. Noth- ing would be accomplished were it pursned in- termittently or taken up and presently dropped again; nor Unloss all toa free expression of opinion without offense would the general criticism be of vervice. ‘To this object the ab- eonce of signatures would greatly conduce, though doabtiess in time some if not all of the writers would come to be recognized by their aty! A Girl's Own Room, It is natural for every girl to want her own little nest to look as pretty as possible, and I wish I could encourage her in this, writes Ruth Ashmore in the January Ladies’ Home Journal. Let her learn to have around her the books A Remarkable Case in a Kentucky Criminal Court. One of the most noted murder cases in the state has just been disposed of in Cumberland county, Ky., according to a special to the Phil- adelphin Times. It was a bloody and tragic affair and was remarkable for its cold-blooded atrocity. [In April, 1882, Austin Franklin was a gay young man of Fern's Fork, Metcalf county. He wasa wild young biade that cut a wide swath.among the susceptible young ladies of the section, and, being a good looking young fellow and the son of a pleasant man and excel- lent citizen, wrought havoc among the hearts of the neighbor girls, Among the neighbors of the Franklins was the family of a gentleman named Elisha Smith Being in every way eocial equala, the two fam- ilies were on intimate terms, and young Austin Franklin wasa frequent visitor at the Smiths. Among the Smiths’ . ther ions Ww handsome young daughter, and to her Austin Franklin paid devoted court. RUMORS ABOUT THE COUPLE. In the process of time the names of Franklin and Miss Smith became coupied together in ugly whispers and isinuations, and finally the report, by this time rife in the neighborhood, came to the ears of the father of the girl In- stend of shouldering @ shotgun and making a bnnt for Franklin, most Kentucky fathere do, the unhap; man merely went tothe young man, remon- strated with him and urged him to right the wrong he had done his victim. This Franklin promised to do, and the old genticman rested Satistied in the assurance that justice would be done his child. Ona bright Sunday morning, however, a week or two afterward, just as the citizens’ of the Fern’s Fork neighborhood were assembling for worship at Wainut Grove Church, the still- ness of the spring Sabbath morning was broken by five loud pistols shots aud the agonizing screams ofa human being. Those who first arrived on the scene saw old man Smith in the throes of death, with — five — gap- ing wounds in his body. ry one of the assassin's shots had taken effect. The murderer had stood behind « hickory tree by the side of a path leading from the Smith residence to the church, had deliberately awaited the old man's approach, and then pumped him {uil of lead. SAID FRANKLIN SHOT IM. The oldest daughter of the murdered man was the first person to arrive on the scene of the tragedy. Sho testified that when she reached there her father cried out that Austin Franklin had shot him all to pieces. She also declared that she saw Franklin standing about fifteen paces away, pistol in hand,and that when he saw her he turned and ran over the hill. Ina few minutes other parties had ar- rived, but the bullets had already done their work and Elisha Smith wasa dead man. ‘The daughter proceeded to Edmonston that very night and swore on? a warrant charging Franklin with the crime. Franklin was rested and at the examining trial was put un- der heavy bond toanswer before the circuit court. When court convened he was imme- a indicted for murder and remanded to jail. Owing to the prominence of the parties to the killing, and its cruel nature, nearly every- body in Metcalf county ranged themselves on one side or the other, and it soon became Parent that public opinion was overwhelmingly gainst Franklin, At the xext term of court ranklin's counsel made application for a change of venue, and the case was transferred to Cumberland county. Then commenced one of the most extraordinary legal struggles ever witnessed in Kentucky. The family of the ac- cused at the outset was ir good financial con- dition, and spent moncy for the son lavishly. ‘The very best legal talent was obtained. SENTENCED TWICE FOR LIFE. Six times bas the case been puton trial. Four times the juries have disagreed, and twice Franklin has been sentenced to the peniten- tiary for life. In the trial concluded at Burks- ville afew days ago a jury could not be ob- tained even in Cumberland county, and a special venire was summoned frovi Clinton. Immediately after the rendering of the last verdict sentencing Franklin for life his counsel gave notice that they would ask for a new trial on the ground of errors in the court’: instructions. ‘The case came up Judge Allen of Burksville last ceptions of the defense were overruled and notice of appeal to the Supreme Court given. Unless the decision of the lower court is re- versed it looks that Franklin might at last be meted out the tardy justice that should long ago have broken bis neck. The case has cost the stato about €10,000, possibly something over; has literally bankrupted the defendant and his relatives and is really not yet settled. A peculiarly sad feature of tho lest trial was that Franklin's father, aman aged and worn by his son's disgrace, took sick in the court room and died before he could be removed to his home. His death was caused by grie? over the course of his son and dieappointment at the result of the last trial. ———_ ns A KING AMONG INDIANS. A Central American Story That Rivals That of Capt. John Smith. A correspondent of the New York Sun at San Jose, Costa Rica, writes: A few days ago there died at the hospital in this city an Amer- ican who came from Baltimore more than thirty years ago to seck his fortune, and who had never revisited the United States. ‘This was John E. Lyon, who, dur- ing these thirty ong years, was the first and foratime the only white man in Talamanca, that marvelous and as yet little known coun- try. Lyon was origmaillya sea captain, He drifted into the harbor of Bocas del Toro, saw the magnificent virgin forests of the coasts, and dreamed of enchanting, untrodden re- gions awaiting him up the rivers a that be had not been mistaken. There was small sign of human life. He resolved to locate and create a habitation in the new aradise. But he was not permitted to remain long undisturbed. From their palenques up the head of the Sixola and the Uren and Chi- riquen there swooped down upon him a num- ber of dufky warriors, bronze-limbed, supple, fierce of aspect. They made him prisoner, and their king, whose name was Lapiz (Peucil in Spanish), ordered his execution. Lyon was in a bad way. Hecould not speak their languag and what Spanish he had acquired in touching as & mariner at Spanish ports was of no use. He was bound to a tree, and there, in passive despair, awaited the poisoned arrow which was to putan end to Lim. Something in his very quictude and calmness caused the Indians to use and hold a conference. He was certainly Erave. His bravery affected. these children of a nation that had held its own for centuries in spite of the invading Spanish forces. It is uncertain whether any ‘Talamanca maiden played — the + of Pocahontas or not, but at events the prisoner was untied and led away to sort of prison. ‘hile ho was liberated, and as he seemed ES hae WITCHCRAFT. A Majority of the Citnens of the Unites States Believe in It From the Century. Witcheraft is at the present time believed im bya majority of the citizens of the United States, The larger number of immigrants from the continent of Europe are more or less fear of such powers, To these must be added no inconsiderable proportion of persons of English and Scotch descent, for a strong vein of superstition is discernible in many Irish, Scotch and some English, whose “folklore,” diffused in nursery tales and neighborhood gossip, has entwined iteelf strongly about the fibers of spontaneous enbconscious mental im- agers. Among the more ignorant members of the Catholic church of every nationality the belief produces 8 mysterious dread, against which men and women cross themselves and resort to various rites supposed to be effica- cious, Where colonies of immigrants have re- mained isolated, retaining the use of their own language, the influence of witchcraft is more easily traced. The interior of Pennsyly: affords better illustrations of this, and larger scale, than any other state. it has bee but two or three years since suit was brought ainst his mother, in one of the : nia, to recover da harged her with having ‘ nd he not only brought suit, but obtained judgment from a justies of the peace. Various witnesses testified as to their experiences im witchcraft, and only one suid that he had never bad a friend or ve who was bewitched. in divers villages in Penm them in the Dankard eth who are suppoted to be witches. Some are shrewd enough not to apply their arte for stranger, but to those whom they kuow, as stated in an article in the New York Sum some years ago, they will sell charms to ward off hgbtning from buildings, dry up the wells of the enemies of applicauts, force cows to give bloody milk, cause sickness in the family, Gestroy beauty, separate man and wife and re- Unite estranged lovers. In the interior parts of the southern states, where a large proportion of the white popula: tion cannot read, and there iy little admiature of society, there are “witch doctors,” who, as- suming that lisease is caused by witches, secure athriving practice in counteracting their sylvania, some of nt, are women influence. The Philadelphia Times, on the authority of a reputable correspondent, who giv y facts to sustain his representations, says: “For generations the poor whites have believed in witche ecated and incurable The African population brought this belief from the dark continent, and it persists among them to this day, though the progress of re- ligion and education is doing something to check it. I have recently noted in various parts of the United States more than fifty suits instituted by persons against those who, they claimed, had bewitched them: but under existing laws the accused could not be prosecuted except Where money had been obtained under false pretenses, or overt acts of crime had been sug- gested or committed. During pedestrian tours in New England, in Yarious parts of the west and in every southern state I have frequently stayed for the night at the houses of poor farmers, laborers, men and trappers. In euch journeys I invariably listened to the tales of the neighbor- hood, stimulating them by suggestion, and have found the Witeberaft cropping out in the oldest towns in New England, some- times within the very shadow of the buildings where a learned ministry has existed from the settlement of the country and public schools have furnished means of education toall classes. The horseshoes seen in nearly every county and often in every township upon the houses of persons suggested the old horseshoe beneath which Lord Nelson, who had long kept it nailed to the mast of the Victory, received his death wound at Trafalgar. —coo—___ Attacks Upon Public Parks, From the Century. ‘The fight to prevent the injury and impatr- ment of public parks, large and small, appears to be perpetual one. There is always «pring- ing up some new person or persons possessed with a craving, as absorbing as it is mysterious, to get into « park of some kind and do harm to it in one way or another. If the park bee small one in @ great city, the hostile attack and the belief ie deep- takes the form of a request to run railway Across or over @ corner of it, or to be granted a section for @ railway station or some other semi-public use. Plausible reasons are alwa; advanced in su of such propositions, the chief of which usually is that the public convenience will be greatly enhanced by the incursion. A fer years ago it was proposed with much serious hess to run an elevated railway across the Centrel Park, and it was claimed that the structure might be of such architectural beauty as to constitute an additional charm for the park. Again, it was proposed to construct along the entire length of one side of the same ark a speeding track for horses, which should te devoted to fast driving by the owners of blooded horses. in Boston and other cities the proposition is made anew every year to allow the city parks to be used as training and parade for = nog : a ean tacks upon the great parks, those the ‘Adirondacks, the Yosemi 4 Yellow- stone, differ ouly in degree. Somebody wishes torun arailway into or through them, or to construct a highway across them, or to use por- tions of them for some kind of private enter- prise of a profitablonature. The mere sight of so much property lying idle appears to be irritating to the utilitarian spirit of the age. Men wish to get at itand make it earn some- thing for them. And the first excuse that they make is that their particular project will be a great public convenience. If it bee that they propose, they say it will not injure the park, but bring its beauties and delights within ‘easy reach of thousands of people who otherwise would never be able to enjoy them. If they wish to cut down trees, they say they only desire to do so in order to improve the views, to “open vistas” from hotels and thus increase the enjoyment of Visitors. “Opening vistas” bas long been the favorite device of park desolators all the 4 from New York city to the Yosemite valley, is one of the most extreme and violent forms rk vandalism ever invented. All these at- tacks are open to the sume objection, which is unanswerable, that they remove, in part if not entirely, the very qualities which are essential in the park. ———— A True Story. From St, Nicholas. It appears that a bright little fifteenth-cen- tury Italian boy, a son of humble and honest parents, was possessed by a strong desire to go to sca, and so when he was about fourteen years , and e pretty mean one at that. At was as proud and bappy a little mariner as one could wish tosee. But trouble came. The ship caught fire, and as this {talian boy never had beard of your old friend Cassbi- anca and the situation was desperate he eprang overboard. Fortunately he caught hold of am oar, and with its assistance he determined te ‘swim all the way to land, wherever it might be. It wasa hard tussle with the waves fora boy of fourteen, but he had grit and resolution, and, in short, there was ‘work waiting for him somewhere, he knew. So he swam on for a mile, then another—and another—and an- other—and snother—and finally sone die tack ae safety! I believe b Sook iW Bin So heen tut benno sd Aas in later " suffered; whether he race or not Who can f ; it I 1 tls I i | : f 1 i ! I u i f F i] ;