Evening Star Newspaper, May 7, 1892, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C. SATURDAY, “MAY 7, 1892-SIXTREEN PAGES. A MOUNTAIN. PALACE, Mr. Vanderbilt's Mammoth Estate ia North Carolina. BILTMORE AS It WILL BE. Like a Fairy Tale—Everything Being Done on a 6! ie Seale--Ten Thou- sand Acres of 1: Mites of Perfect Roads—-An Army of E. OME TIME AGO MR. George W. Vanderbilt concluded to purebase somewhere in this country several thou- sand acres of Iand und to erect thereon the finest residence in the UnitedStates, and, after © treveling through the eastern and southern sections, concluded to make his home in the mountains of south- western North Carolina, © He located the ground wanted and authorized his agents to purchase it at any price. Shortly after one or two farms had been purchased property in the vicinity of Asheville, N.C., began to increase in value, and after securing sever.«i hundred acres ata nominal figure the agents were forced to agree to pay several times the amount for the land that it would have brought at an ordinary mic. At this time, however, all of the prop- erty has been secured that Mr, Vanderbilt de- sires and the work of getting it into shape for building, grading, &., has been going on for a little over two years. and a small army of men are engaged in clearing up all of the brush, &c., that bas accumulated in the last century. AN ESTATE OF 10,000 ACRES. The total number of acres: in the estate is something like 10,000, with an average elevation Of 2.200 feet above the sca level, the highest point being nearly 9.000 feet. This elevation according to medical authorities, renders the place unequaled as a health-giving locality. ‘The length of the estate is something over six miles and its average width is three mules, while the streams (the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers) cover from eight to ten miles in length and their width (each) is not over 500 feet. These rivers are very swift-ranning streams de theestate into three parts, and terfatis add great beauty to the already cent mountain scenery. These rivers furnish the water used in the towns of Ashe- ville and Biltmore, the latter being the name bestowed upon the railroad station at the estate by Mr. Vanderbilt. There are sixty miles of roadway upon the place and from the mansion to the railroad station the drive is about four miles over the mountain, while the drive aronnd the borders of the estate is twenty-five miles long, over hilis and mountains, For this vast estate the sum of $600.000 was paid, and when it is taken into consideration that the major portion of it was p valueless as farming land and that little or nothing was c paid was quite a large one. farms were pur the prices p: from 235 to $400 per ‘acre, and in no case did the property holders realize less than 300 per Cent on their investment when they sold out. WANTED A FANCY Paice. * An ex-slave at the close of the war purebased for 25a little patch of ground not much larger than a copy of Saturday's Stam spread out and on this he erected a log but such as are seen Hi around this section of the state. He never “fenced in™ his little piece of ground and when FERRY ON THE FRENCH BROAD. he learned that agents were buying up all of the land and were paying unheard-of prices for ithe determined to get rich immediately and when the agents questioned him as to the amount he would take for his hut and ground he replied that he wouldn't get out for less than £2.00. This, of course, they refused to Pay and the owner, thinking they would pay what he demanded in the course of a few days, thought no more of the matter until he saw a fence erected separating him from the estate. ‘Then he offered to sell out for two hundred, but ‘bis offer was refmed. Several others tried to work this little game on the agents and in some cases they sacceeded, BUILDINOS ON THE ESTATE. Some of the farms purchased contained as high as $00 acres, and for these less money was paid than for the smaller ones. There were Upward of forty dwellings on the estate when archased, aside from the cabins occupied by © negroes. and there have been erected lately other buildings which swell the number to eighty, several of which are used for offices Gud are occupied by the heads of the various departments of construction. The dwellinj are mostly built after the strle of the south, with achimney at each end. stairway in the center, and iarge. broad porches running around the buuding. Some of them are built Of logs. with the crevices plastered, and then the weather bordiog is placed over ail, thus in- s@riug Warmth in the winter season. PRIVATE RAILROADS. From the Richmond and Danville railroad station Mr. Vanderbilt bas had constructed a Tsiiroad of his own, running to the mansion direct, and from the brick and terra cotta ‘works he has a narrow-gauge road running to the ciay pits, about two miles distant. He bas twenty-five tiatand several of the regulation size freight cars, which are used fo the traus- portation of material to the house, and the Cost of these oe. complete (they are only AN ARMY OF Work4ex, The number of men employed on the estate ‘Varies from 600 to 900, © portion being im the employ of Mr. Vanderbilt and the remainder are the contractors’ men, and the monti:ly pay Toll is something like $50,000, exciusive of the Yery large salartes paid the superintendents of the various departments, the engineer corps and dranzhtemen. The larger portion of the employes at this time are laboring men, who are cleaning up the place and working around he house. as the aly skilled labor being used few tm the bouy of stone masons, who are about completing the foundation of the big house, which is 375 ieet by 192 fect in wid! not inctuding the stable, which is a porti of the louse, and which is 105 feet long by 178 feet wide. The terraces are not inciuded in the above figures, and they measure 320 feet song by 140 feet wide, and there t& a space of 50 fect between the house and main terrace. This makes the house really occupy 475,000 square andof great depth. The foundation is of stone, which comes from various parts of the estate, and which is admirable for building purposes. THE PLANS ON A MAGNIFICENT SCALE. The house is to be, according to Mr, Vander- bilt, the most beautiful one in {the world, and before a line of the plans had been drawn thousands of dollars had been expended in get- ting together ideas, he having traveled through the old country studying the various structures of the present day and those of centuries past, combining the present styles of architecture with those of the fifteenth century and arriving at the conclusion that such » combination wonld suit him, the plans were prepared for the stricture, which, in appearance, is that of the French of the fifteenth century with some few additions of the twentieth. All that money can do in making the house and grounds complete in every respect is bei done. It is impossible for any que who bi not visited the placs to form the faintest idea of the magnitude of the undertaking, of the vastuess of the estate he millions to be Spent before the house is ready tor occupancy. ‘The contracts for the house have not all been given as yet, but estimates are Leing furnished from contractors all over the country and it is thought that it will be five years before the last contractor ean leave the mansion, and then the fnrnishers and decorators will occupy a year or more in doing their share of the work. THE STONE To BE UsED. The mansion will be built of Bedford lime- stone of alight yellowish brown, which is shipped from Indiana, and the foundation as it now stands, when viewed from any of the numerous clevations, reminds one of Fort Washington, 86 great is the resemblance between the two, the only difference being the color. MAMMOTIE ROOMS, On the first floor there will be eight rooms, viz, the banquet hall, the Nbrary, the “den,” the tapestry gallery, music room, salon, breakfast room and window garden. The ban- quet ll will be 42 feet in length and 75 feet ad the ceiling will be 65 feet from the ; the library will be 45 feet long and 72 feet wide with a ceiling 26 feet high; the “den” (ily, Vanderbilt's private quarters) will be the smalicst room in the house, and its dimensions tar WEST ELEVATION, are 18 feet long, 35 feet wide with a ceiling of 26 feet: the tapestry gallery will be 89 feet long, 35 feet wide and 26 feet from floor to ceiling. ‘The main hall will be 35 feet wide and 110 feet long and window garden will be the largest in the country, and a gardener will be in attend- ance at all times, as it will be a regular hot house anda large one at that. This will be conducted exelusive of the nurserie: ‘There will be three floors above this and will all be sleeping apartments. the rooms being arranged in suites, The basement and top floors will be occupied by the servants, and & very fine passenger elevator will be used for guests and the servants wiil have one of their own. [It is said that nearly one hundred ser- vants will be engaged at the mansion exclusive of the employes of the estate.] ‘The total amount of floor space in the man- sion, aside from that occupied by the servants, Will be 225,000 square feet in the 120 rooms, THE GRAND STAIRWAY will be a winding one with a common center, and the hallway in which it will be located is circular on the inside ¢nd octagon shaped out- side, with windows looking in three different directions, The entire house will be lighted with elec- tricity. as will a portion’ of the grounds, and steam heat will be used. A subcellar will be used simply es the bottom of the various fresh air shafts, which will open into each room in the house, and by this and means yet to be employed the ventilation will be as near per- fect as it is possible to make it, GYMNASIUM AND BOWLING ALLEY. The gynasium will be over the subcellar, and this, when equipped, will be as fine as money can make it, and adjoining this will be a pool or plunge bath five feet deep and of great di- mensions, A bowling alley the regulation size will be constructed, and from preseut appearances there will be no lack of amusements for the cccupants of the house during inclement weather. ‘Ibe columns on the south terrace will be covered with running vines in a short time. Mrs. Vanderbilt, mother of George W., planted some vines,as did Mr. Frederick Law Olm- stead. THE ESPLANADE. Directly in front of the house is the espla- nade, which is an artificial slope cut out of the small mountain. This is being sodded and is already beautifal, though not half completed. ‘The esplanade 18 800 feet long, 300 feet wide, with a driveway 100 feet wide, a winding bridle path after the pattern of the old stage coach roads down the mountains, with a foun- tain at each V-shaped turn in the path, and a jarge one (the basin of which is 40 feet in diame- ter) in the center. When complete this foun- tain will be much larger than the one in the Eotanical Gardens, and with eight large foun- tains playing im the saulight of moonlight upon these wountains the signt will be truly grand, ‘Iwo years hence, the contract stipulates, the house shali be under cover, and itis then estimated that two years more will be com- sumed in completing the interior, the exact style of which has not yet been determined upon, but as much marbie will be used as is possible. THE FURNITURE. Though the work on the mansion has hardly begun, so to speak, a large amount of the furniture it will contain has already been par- chased and is stored in New York city, When Mr. Vanderbilt goes on his annual European tours he purcbases in different cities of the continent such furniture and decorations as he desires used im the house. Ouly the most beautiful and costly has thus far been selected, and before returuing from the tour on which he started a few mouths ago he expects to have parchased cm additional amount of furniture, tapestry, &c., which will all be stored, ‘THE DEER Panx, which is quite near the house, is about com- pleted and 13 beautiful. Not long ago it formed part of the vast forest of tho estate, but 175 seres were allotted to the deer, and all trees over three or four inches im diameter have been taken out by the roots and the younger ones which were the least ly were also | removed, a now epark as 8 young growth of green grass ‘and saplings uyon it, In this park the deer will soon be placed and they will add to the great beauty of the place, gradual slope, and it is probable a deer house ‘Will be erected thereon shortly. ‘he roads will be macadamized, well drained and sewered and on either side will be planted various small foreign trees and cultivated ones of this climate, i A GIGANTIC NURSERY, ‘The nursery attracts great amount of atten- tion from the fact that it is the largest private one in existence and that though it has over:| three million piants upon it there are no flow- ers at prese: alt lants are being vated ina sisped for outdo groweh Sif the year roun: estate, with wich the sue , wit shall be hs a be = are under cultivation, a large number of which are imported and which rested in the bottom of the Atlantic for several weeks, the vessel in which they were shipped having wrecked off the Jersey coast « year or two ago. These plants are thriving, as are some which were sent from Japan, and which are more fra- grant than many of the native flowers, MINERAL COLLECTION. All over the estate instructions to employes are posted in which they are told to take any stones of peculiar shape or kind to the botanist in He has really a cart load of rare and valuable stones, tomahawks, spearueads and arrowheads, and emeralds, diamonds, hid- denites, rose garnets and amethyste. When the mansion is completed this collec- will occupy a promiment place in the library, TENNIS COURT AND GARDEXS. ‘The tennis court will be the finest in the conntry and will adjoin the pergola; this will be filled in with cement and rolled down until it 19 a8 firm and solid asthe mountains them- selves. Work on this will begin shortly. ‘The garden which is to supply the veretables, fruits, &c., to be used in the mansion is also near ‘the house. As the soil is not suit- able for vegetation ‘top carth” has been aud is being hauled from all party of the estate, and this garden will be the pride of its 6wner when completed, Around it high stone wall has been erected to keep out the decr. This wall and the gar- dener's cottage, which occupies @ corner of garden, will cost an enormous sum. THE DAIRY is already established and is supplying tho larger portion of Asheville with Alderney milk, Mr. Vanderbilt has a large number of beauti- fal cows, all young, which are as weli taken care of as most children. ‘The stables are kept clean and the dairy proper is all that “purity and cleanliness” can make it, the latest im- proved dairy implements being used. 7 SOUTH TERRACE. When everything is completed and the big house is filled with people, a small army of men will be employed to. keep the place up t0 its standard of beauty and cleanliness, and there will also be gamekcepers, florists, a bot- anist, general superintendent and others, and allof the last named will be provided with substantial dwellings upon the estate by its liberal owner. rent and vegetables free. ‘These houses will be erected on those portions of the estate where the labors of their occupants will necessitate their presence. If the majority of the laborers employed are nagrocs he has shown his appreciation of their services by donating to them im the town of Asheville a building, now in course of erection, to be cailed the “Christian Institute,” the cost of which is between £15.000 and $20,000, He has contributed largely to the charitable institu- tions here, and is already quite popular with the people, Ail in ail, George Vanderbilt will have the most beautiful and heaithicst spot on earth for the home of his mother and himself. Millions Will be spent before the remaining four years roll by. but he pays regular visits to Biltmore, a8 he calls the mountain estate, taking the last syllable of his own name and his mother's jen name. Electric lights have been lately put i passing the place at night on the tri sees a beautiful sight, At the present time abont 5,000 souls depend on George W. Vanderbilt for the necessities of life. Artuun McLeay. —_-—__—. AND SHE WAS HIS. Fate Willed: It So, but All the Time She Had the Bulge on Fate. From the Boston Daity Glove. The scene was in a drawing room in West Brompton, and a strange idea came into her mind, She was romantic and ail kinds of strange i flitted in and out of her preity little eilly head, Stamping as kard as she could a patent leather boot on the carpet, throwing back her shoulder, her dress tightened over her bosom, which was heaving like the Mediterranean, and, jing to the Japanese cabinet in the corner of the room with a commanding ges- ture, she said in the peremptory tone of one who will not brook contradiction, whom noth- ing car. turn from a set purpose: “Open one of those three drawers.” ‘The young man precipitated himself toward the Japanese cabinet. “Don't be in such 4 burry, pray, what I have to say.” He stopped suddenly, as if she had told him that the drawers were charged with dynamite, ready to explode as soon as the cabinet was touched. “Open one of those drawers, and be careful how you choose, for in each one I have placed an answer to the favor you have been begging and praying for so long. “Ihave made up my mind to let this speak for me, and if you put your hand on the paper on which -Yes’ is written, then I must yield to you, Then I am yours, “But if the paper in the drawer says ‘No,’ you understand, t must be.” “Iam sure it will be against me,” said her Bassanio, who was not so poetical as he was an ardent lover. “Ob, I say it is not fair,you know; it’s really too cruel, ‘pon my soul it is,” “You must take your chance,” she replied, tragically. ““Atany rate, I shall have this conso- lation—it you choose the answer you want, it will be fate that gives me to you, “Tell me, do you believe in fate: “I don't know,” he answered, hesitating be- tween the three drawers. ‘He paused to ‘look into her face for guidance, but he found none there; so, closing his eyes and trusting to providence, he elected for the middie drawer. He opened it, took ont a tiny roll of scented pink paper and handed it to her. “Well, what's my sentence? ad it yourself,” and she held up the rose leaf of paper, upon which was written one word— First hear 80 Asif to take immediate posscrsion he put his arms about her and pressed her to him. She did not resist. She bad given her word and she resigned herself to her fate. With her lips clinging to his the young man was not entirely happy, for after a few mo- ments of extreme ecstacy he became suddenly cool. “What's the matter, darling?” sho asked, noting the change and looking amorously into hiseves, “‘Are you not happy now?” “Not quite.” “Not quite! Am I not yours?” “Yes; but I owe you, don't you see, to chance. Iwon you by chatice." You did not come to me of your own free will, did you now?” and the fellow looked so ridiculously disconsolate tt she could not help laughing’ in his face. “Don't be so silly,” she said, tightening her rt on the tips arms about his and stan From the Pittsburg Dispatch. In the center of the county jail there is a ome 111 fect from the floor and totally inae- cessible except by balloon or a high scaffold. Around the dome are several strong barred windows, which, like the balance of the dome’s interior, are absolutely .black, showing in strong contrast with the white walls we ‘How to clean the dome has been a puzzle that every official about the , including the HER RUSSIAN LOVER. A Romance of the Early Days of FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH. ‘The Story of Count Rezanoff and His Expe- dition to San Franciseo--How Love Aided Diplomiacy--A Ship That Sailed Away Never to Return, Written for The Fvening Star. <> WONDER HOW MANY people whe read all this stuff about theseal fisheries, Bering sen, modus vivendi and mare clause know that there is connected with the first govern- ment protection of those fisheries one of the saddest romances thatever broke hearts for love on this conti- nent. A story not un- like that of the Acadian lovers and more piti- ful because it is a matter of history, and no element of fiction could make it more effect- ive.” It was white-haired Uncle Zarah who spoke half to himself, and scenting a story, I su pended my writing and placed myself in a lis- tening attitude. " “Strange, but I have not thought of Sister Concepcion in twenty years, 1 gueas, This seal fisheries talk brings it all back as though but yesterday, I, a boy of twenty, tramped into San Francisco, footsore, heartsick, penniless and hungry. “The gold fever of '49 reached my quiet Ohio home nnd against the earnest protests of my parents I Joined a party who were going to the country where the waters ‘wandered over sands of gold.’ The real joarnoy began at In- dependence, Mo., where we got wagons, oxen and provisions and wet out in May of 1849 to crows the plains. In attempting to follaw the advice of some Indians and find at the same time a shorter route than that made by the freighters who carried overland to he forts supplies for the government troops, a trail which was devious and need- leasly lengthened, we got lost in the mountains, were snowbound, and, as a last resort, killed our oxen and dogs to live upon. ‘The last week of our struggle to find an outlet to the wost we had only the dried ox hides to chew. At last in May of 1850, just a year from the time we left Independence, wo wandered into San Francisco. ‘There were but four of us left, the other four we buried in the snow on the ‘divide.’ We were a scurvy lot, almost naked and starved to skeletons, IN THE nosPiTaL. “I was ill a Jong time after that terrible ex- perience. 1had never known what it was to suffer from either cold or hunger, but’ from October, 1849, to May, 1850, I sxperaoned daily and hourly the extremity of both. The day we struck the town I was picked up senseless on the street, and when Ifound myself three weeks later 1 was in a low cot, with spotless sheets and counterpane, shut off from fifty other cots by screens of white muslin, in a long narrow room with walls and ceiling of white canvas, Ihad on a white night shirt and my hands were so painfully clean that my first maudlin curiosity led me to examine them to see if they were really fastened to me. Just then a woman came in and in the softest, sweetest voice Tever heard, exeept my moth- er’s. she said in Spanish: ‘Ah, my young American is better. It is 0 ~fhen she laid her hand on mine. The whitest, prettiest, emallest hand I ever saw on a woman, and on one finger gleamed a curious jewei-set antique ring. It was so long since I had scen a woman and this one seemed so alto- gether adorable that, with what feeble strength I possessed, I drew her hand to my lips. With a gentle smile the sister dropped the ivory crucifix held in her other hand and smoothed back my hair. I was too weak to talk, but to look at her was food for my starved heart, She gave me some medicine, and then in Spanish murinured a benediction’ and moved away through the opening between the screens, pass- ing lixe a gleam of sunshine down the long room. She was robed in white wool, About her waist was a thick silver chain with long ends, to which were attached several emblems beside the crucifix. Ou her head was a cap of stiff muelin flaring like a sombrero, and sometimes Isaw curls of snow-white hair peeping out Over all was an enveloping mantle of black crepe. Her face was a poem which I tried vainly to read. She was evidently past middie age, but there were no lines on her clear, pallid face, which was lighted by melancholy fi lack eyes, mirrors of a soul from which pain’s 'y furnace had burned all the dross, “*She has history,’ was my half formed thought as I dropped off to sleep. Three weeks longer I occupied that cot aud three times each day Sister Concepcion paused beside me and cheered my homesick boyish heart. I was only twenty and looked even more youthful, Thad been carefully reared and when my head- strong will led me to seek my fortunes in the west I knew literally nothing of the world or its ways. I think Sister Concepcion understood this and it made her even more tender to me than she would otherwise have been. I repaid her in adoration, If my strict old Presbyterian father had known that I said my prayers to Sister Concepcion instead of directing them to heaven and that [hugged to my heart a little crucifix that she had given me his righteous soul would have been consumed with wrath, “When I was once more able to be about Sis- ter Concepcion found employment for me and aided me in many ways during the two years I remained in California, and when I left there in 1852 on a vessel that was going round the Horn the deepest sorrow of my life seemed to have come upon me, for I had to bid Sister Concepcion good-bye. My expericuce had been ‘a dear one, for beside my illness,which left me awreck of my former self, ali that I had to show for my mining experience of nearly a Fear was a little package in my vest pocket which contained the realization of my golden dreams, There was just enough gold to make my mother a handsome ring. Five years later the last leaf in the romance was tured, Sister Concepcion was dead, There must be many people living who remember her graceful form, gentle ways and sweet voice, SISTER CONCEPCION’S STORY. “Sister Concepeion's fall name was Dona Ma- ria de Ia Concepcion Marcela Arguello, and she was a native-born Californian, daughter of Jose Dario Arguello, for many years command- ant of the presidio or fort which guarded the entrance to the harbor of San Francisco, I suppose she was about the first American-born woman to be captured by a title,and it brought her no more happiness than comes to the ay- erage title seeker, for from the moment the coveted honor lay within her grasp happiness fled from her gay young heart, ‘Our seal islands were discovered by/Geras- sim Gavoriiovick Pribylof, a master in the Russian navy, in 1786. ‘The seal fisheries opened up a ‘new industry for the Cossacks. Fars were the currency of their nation. ‘Thoy had been a century in crossing the Urai monn- tains and bleak Siberia to Kamchatka, follow- ing the retreating sable, and then they deter- mined to brave the dangers of the unknown seas for the seal and otter, whose furs they were learning to prize. Through terrible pri- vation they established fur posts along the the Alaskan const, Kurile and Aleutian Islands, and began the wholesale slaughter of seals, In 1798, when the sea! catch was reported to Russia as growing less each season, that gov- ernment concluded to investigate its American possessions, COUNT REZANOF'S EXPEDITION. “Count Nikolai Petrovich Rezanof, grand chamberlain and favorite with the empress and later with the emperor, was dispatched with two ships ona grand tour, He was to toJapan and China and fix up some treaties and return by way of Bitke el, proper. food. hed only their fare id dried to barter, and these bs ‘them from ‘disposing s — ing of extremely hazardous, THE IOXO at SAN FRANCISCO. “After @ voyage of some weeks, in which destruction and death seemed to be the chief Passengers, the Junio sighted the Golden Gate, and after some parley was permitted to enter the narbor and the presidio, « lot of ‘ons story adobe buildings, guarded by an earth- fort mounting n few small guns, ‘On landing they were met by twoFranciseah friars, Fathor Uria and tes & Ppt. end Alferez Luis Arguello, who acted in the ab- sence of his father, the commandant, Langs- dorf, who was with Count Rezanof on this trip, said in his published account of it that the at- tire of the people amused them greatly. Don Luis wore his 8; h-Mexieati uniform and over italongmantie of abed i ad, at it fell over his back and breast, H nigh boots were elaborately embroidered and wore extravagantly large spurs, Neither party could speak the lahguage of the other, but the count and the friars met on common ground— Latin. In that language a halting mterchan; of questions and answers was maintained, The Russians were invited to the homo of the com- mandant,where they were graciously weleomed by Senora Arguello and her family of thirteon children. ‘The family room wns a large square apartment in one of the adobe houses, its mud walls whitowashed and straw matting on the floor. It was meagerly furnished. When the snt down to dine the repast was plain and al- most poor, but was served from silver pinte of exquisite beauty. THE ROMANCE OF IT. “Dona Concepcion, the fifteen-year-old daugh- ter, scems to havo captivated Count Rezanof atonce, She is described by Langadorf as be- ing gracefal and beautiful, with sparkling black eves, even white teeth and charming manners, She in tura was attracted by the count, who was a handsome man of commanding appear- ance and widower, Count Rezanof'h position was a delicate one and only a mitrof his fine diplomacy could have carried his plans toa successful termination. His government bad informed Spain that a Russian ambassador with two ships and retinue commensurate with his state would visit the Spanish- American colonies, and this information had been duly forwarded to Governor Arrilliga ef California, Count Rezanof had been over two years in following up the im- perial information, his own ships had been wrecked and his retinuo bad dwindled to lorf, the ship's surgeon, Their clothing was much the worse for wear, and taking it altogether it took some plausible fabrications to allay the suspicions of the old governor, who, on being informed of the arrival of au ambassadot from Russia, came from the seat of government at Monterey to receive him. 1 “the governor had suspected for @ mo- ment that Count Rezanof had come for trade instead of to renew friendly re- lations he wonld have been ordered out of Spanish dominions at once. The count was politic and patient, however. He made elegant presents to the houscholds of the governor and commandant. and the annals of thoso days speak in terms of high praise of him. For weeks he visited among the varions missions im company with the governor and commandant, seem- ingly studying the manners and customs of the people, but in reality hoping to find some way of approaching the subject nearest his heart without ontraging the hospitality shown bim and setting Spain and Russia by the ears by violating treaty agreements. lie had won the friars over, but even they saw no way to approach the heretofore incorruptible gov- ernor and commandant. Finding that he wa making no headway, but was losing valuable time, the count laid his case before the com- mandant, That official was indignant at the deception practiced upon him and refused to listen. The governor was then approached. He furious atthe attempt to hoodwink him, and peremptoriaily refused to infringe upon the treaty obligations. The friars, who had great influence with all classes in those days, were then called to Rezanof's aid. So well did they plead his cause that he was per- mitted to remain for a time longer, instead of departing at once, as was at first ordered. A SEW ALLY. “Meantime there was aspy incamp. Dona Concepcion had surrendered her heart com- pletely to the dashing ambassador and consti tuted herself a committee of one to guard his interests, She told him ench day what between the governor and her father on the subject and on this information he based hi ans. Love of humanity would not move the panish officials, so he struck nearer home. It was no part of his intention to marry Dona Concepcion, he says in his journal; he only wished to while away lonely hours, but he reckoned without hie heart, for he began to Jove her,and willing to racrifice himself for his starving people—since it advanced his own in- terests, for Dona Concepcion's dowry of doubloons would be large—he played his last card, he asked for the senorita’s hand. Then there was a scene, Count Rezsnof was not of the faith—he belonged to the Greek church. He was an alien. He sailed under false colors. Dona Concepcion was rushed off and confessed and Ordered to give up the heretic, which she promptly refused to do. “Flove Count Rezanof,’ she said, ‘and I want a change. He has told me of the gay life atcourt, Iwant to test it, It is all very nice here, the sky, the sea and the sunlight, but I am tired of the eternal calm of this uneventfal existence. I want to see more of life. IfT may not marry whom I love I shall not marry atall’ “So well did these two plead their cause that the hard hearts were softened;official and paren- tal wrath was appeased when the advantages of the union were fully presented, and the result was a public betrothal and drawing up of a il marriage contract. Upon Dona Concep- cion’s finger was placed the ing T had noticed, ‘This was all that could be dono until the Spanish and Russinn rulers had been consulted. “All was lovely for a time. Rezanof became one of the family and Gov, Arrilliga, no longer able to hold out against the importunities of his old friend Arguello, permitted the friars and Rezanof to make an exchange of wares in which the government did not appear. As soon as this was brought about Count Rezanof hastened his departure, anxious, he said, to re- turn to claim his promised bride. He went to Sitka with his ship load of provisions, then set sail for Siberia, ‘THE SHIP THAT NEVER CAME, “I have stood many times on the rocky cliffs below the presidio and I never could get away from thought of the lovely girl who stood there and watched the white sails of the Juno fade into the horizon while she built air castles and peopled them with creatures who belonged to the rank of her Russian lover. “<a inoment only Btood lonely as before." “Dona Concepcion had declared herself tired of the eternal sunshine and dead calm of her sheltered life. It is sad to remember that the ood-bye, kiss her noble lover pressed upon fer sweet, grieved lips left a shadow upon her heart which never lifted. Week after week, month after month, year after ear went by, t the fitful winds never filled the sails of Rezauof's retarning ‘Bhip, In the long bright Dona Concepcion used to stand on the heights and through her tears look off to the west, where the sun made a shining path down which to glide fato the harbor, but his ship never Tound it. As the years went by, ripen ing her bexuty and rounding ber natare into erfect womanhood, others came to woo and iid their titles, riches and devoted love at her feet, but with gentle firmness she sent each one away. “Sickness, sorrow, financial loss and death crowded thick upon her and hers, but as night brings ont the stars 60 was Dona i weary years of waiti west Weinde never ‘ussed aii. He “Possib!: the hada hove etry, ike Se er cae be “‘So when the Doininicans founded the convent of St.Catharine at St, Benecia Sister Concepcion entered it there to fall asleep in death in 1857. I have made one pilgrimage to the old mission to find her grave, but if her dust is there it is ‘unmarked, and I thought how like, yet unlike, the Acadian lovers: “Far away in his namotets grave the lover 160 aleep- Under the humble walls of the little Cathohe church- In the heart of the city she lies, tnkbown and unno- et Workent Batt meni THE CARE OF A PIANO. Points About Keeping the Instrament in Good Condition, ‘From the New York Sun. “The care of a piano must be begun the mo- ment the piano enters your house,” @ piano maker said, “‘and to be effective it calls for the employment of some good common sense, If it be an upright piano, do not stand it close to the wall, unless you prefer to have the tone muffled. It will sound best across a corner of the room. Keep a piano in the winter in the coolest part of the room, not exposed, of course, to frost or dampness. The hot sun, particularly when shining on the piano through glass, will sometimes blister the varnish. Neither is it good to keep the instrument ins dark part of the room, as the ivory keys are more likely to grow yellow and there is also Greater danger of moths, “Nine times out of ten the buzzin, ing noises that are wo frequently heard are out- side of the piano. It muy be the mica in the hanging lamp near by, or an easel ‘on the piano, or u score of other things whose keynote: i with the tones izontal piano ch as pins. beads, &e., fre- quently find their way into the sounding board, and cause greut annoyance, “The most serious injuries that befall pianos are usually the results of temperature. Either itis too dry or too damp. The incompetent tuner does great harm, but the extremes of not air or moisture do more harm than ail the tuners alive, From careful observation it is safe tosay that 9 perceut of the pianos in cold latitudes have, after the first year, one or more cracks in theirsounding boards. If your house is heated by stoves put the instrament in a room without astove—in one that is heated from an adjoining room. If you have steam or furnace or any of the other modern methods of heating your piano will do better if kept in ® Toom that is not quite warm enough for com- for’ a know the sounding board—the life of ® piano—is foreed into the case when it is made so tightly that it bulges up in the cen- ter. The wood is supposed to be as dry as possible, but of course it contains some mois- ture and gathers alot more ou damp days and in handling. Now when you put a piano in an overheated, dry room all thls Eoiatere is dried out, and the board loses its “belly” and gets flabby and finally cracks. Even if it does not crack the tone ioses its resonance and grows thin and tinny, and the felt cloth and leather Used in the action dry up, the whole mechan- ism rattles and the piano is blamed. “How can you prevent it? Easily eniongh. Keep a growing plant in the room, and as long as your plant thrives your piano ought to, or else there is something wrong with it. Just try it, and see how much more water you will have to pour on the flower in the room where your piano is than on the plants in any other Toom. Some people keep a huge vase or urn with 9 sopping-wet sponge in it near of under the piano, and they do this as long as their fires are kept up. “Sudden changes from cold to heat will cause moisture, which is injurious to the finish ‘ument, Buta piano in room that is freezing cold, even 40 degrees below zero for that matter, can be gradually warmed and receive less harm in five years of such treat- ment then it will during one winter in the same climate if subjected to a continuous heat of 75 degrees, “Every one has observed, after purchasing a new piano, that it soon takes on a duil, smoky appearance, To remove this uses fine tepid water and castile soap. Go over the case. a little at a time, The water alone, with- out the soap, will usually be ail that is needed, Achamois skin, as dry as can be wrung out of water, should be used to dry the surface after using the sponge. For old pianos a polish of raw linseed oil (two parts), alcohol and best vinegar (one parteach) may be applied with results if care be taken to use a very little atatime and to thoroughly rub that little off. Shake the polish frequently, use soft cotton cloth, one piece to rub it on and a large, ciean Piece to finish off with. Bruises, usually on the front, can be taken off by rubbing with powdered pumice stone water or with Sapolio. Clean the keys with alcohol and water, equal parte, it Zour piano should be tuned. A piuno, to be kept iu fair condition, should be tuned four times year. So much depends, however, on the temperature, style and make of the instrument, the manner of use, its con- dition, &c., that where one piano requires fi or six tunings annually another might get along fairly with much less, ng the matter of taning there is mnch neg- iigence, people preferring singular versity to let their pinno go to ‘rack and rain’ rather than get good tuner in time. This is the sort of penny-wise pound-foolish policy that buys a cheap piano for a beginner, fondly expecting musical progress to be made on a poor instrument and with a poor teacher. To sum up, buy a fair-priced piano from a re- liable dealer and with a well- ite fall board. bought it. Don’t try to know how, and to know how you must employ & good, not a cheap teacher, and finally employ 4 reputable tuner to look after the instrament.” es gees ‘Washington and the G. A. E. From the Seranton Trath, The appropriation asked from Congress to aid in meeting the expense of the District of the Republic at its appronching encampment has met with hostile criticisms from various parts of the country, 60 that the Washington Star has felt called upon edit to explain the rights of the District ia tle wiser ana ite entire relation to the general government, Tt does soem a little singular that at this late ey uo largo a proportion of American citizens should be practically ignorant that the District of Columbia, th Vashi only question in the present or any other pro- posed District expenditure for Congress tc de- cide is whether or not ities lawful and an expe- dient appropriation, As the Star goes on to recall, when Washing- TOM CYPHER'’S ENGINE. A Phantom Northern Pacific Loconiotive ‘That Runs Ahead of Trains. ‘From the Seattle Prets.Times. Locomdtive engineers are, as 9 class, said to be superstitious, but Mr. J. M. Pinckney, an engineer known to almost every brotherhood man, is an exception to the rule. He has never been able to believe the different stories told of apparitions suddenly appearing on the track, but be had an experience last Sunday night on the Northern Pacific east-bound over- Jand that made his hair stand on end. By the courtesy of the engineer, also a brotherhood man, Mr. Pinckney was riding on the engine. They were recounting experiences, and the fireman, who was a green hand, was getting very nervous as he listened to the tales of wrecks and disasters, the horrors of which were graphically described by the veteran en- sincera, The night was clear and the rays from the headlight dashed along the tra: a. they were interested in apioning y lookout was kept, for ther were pidly ing Eagle gorge, in the Cascades, the scene 90 many disasters and the piace -which ia said to be the most dangerous on the 2,500 miles of road. The engin-er was relating astory and ‘was just coming to the climax, when he sud- denly grasped the throttle and in » moment had “thrown her over;” that is, reversed the engine. The air brakes were applied and the train brought toa standstill within a few feet of the place where Engineer Cypher mot his death two years go. iy this time the passen- gers had become curious as to what was the matter and all sorts of questions were asked the traiumen. The engineer made an excuse that some of the machinery was loose and in a few moments the train was speeding on to ber destination. “What made you stop back there? Pinckney. “I heard your excuse, but I have Tun too jong on the road not to kuow that your excuse is not the trath.” His question was answered by the engineer Pointing ahead and saying excitediy: “There! Look there ! Don’t you seo it?” “Looking out of the eab window,” said Mr. Pinckney, “I saw about three hundred yards ahead of us the headlight of a locomotive,” “Stop the train, man,” I cried, reaching for the lever, “Oh, it’s nothing. It's what I saw back at the gorge, It's Tom Cypher's engine, No. 33. ‘There's no danger of a collision. ‘The man who is running that engine ahead of us can run it faster backward than Iean run this ono for- ward. Have I seen it before? Yes, twenty times, Every engincer om the road knows that engine, and he's always watching for it when he gets to the gorge.” “The engine bead of us was running silently, but smoke was puffing from the stack and the headlight threw out rays of redy green and white light. It kept a short distance ahead of us for several miles and then for a moment we saw a figare on the pilot. Then the engine rounded a curve and we did not see it again, Wo ran bya little station, and at the next, when the operator warned us to keep well back from a wild engize that was ahead, the en- gineer eaid nothing. He was not afraid of collision. Just to satisfy my own mind on the matter I sent a telegram to the engine wiper at Sprague asking him if No. 33 was in. I re- ceived a reply stating that No. 33 had just come in and that her coal was exhausted and boxes burned ont. I suppose you'll be m- clined to — at the story, but just ask any of the boys, although many of them won't talk aboutit. I would not myself if I were on the road. It’s unlucky to doso.” With this comment upon the tale Mr. Pinck- ney boarded a passing caboose and was soon on his way to Tacoma. It is commonly be- lieved by Northern Pacific engineers’ that Thomas Cypher's spirit still hovers near Eagle Gorge. ae oe THE SECRET OF YOUTH. Wise Elderly Women Who Refuse to Grow ol. From the New York Recorder, It is sad to see how many elderly and middle- aged women take it for granted that life holds nothing for them but the role of grandmother. Many a woman has little time for study while rearing 8 family, but when the children are married and gone to homes of their own then comes the time when she needs some outside interest. If she has not something to take her out of herself she will turn to gossip and fancy work to keep her busy, This is just the time for her to devote her- self to some study. Let her take up the one that was a favorite in her school days, whether it be one of the sciences, painting or music. If she has no predilection for anything let her try several things until she knows what she likes best, If she never does anything worth showing the time will not be lost, for the happiness found in these hours of absorption in a chosen pursuit cannot easily be estimated, But the middle-aged woman may surprise herself by making a great success of her under- taking. ‘The time would fail me to tell of the distinction that has been won in different fields by people far from young. Schliemann was thirty-four yeurs of age before he knew a word of Greek. George Eliot was thirty-five when she put her hand to the first of her great novels, Prescott published the first of his almost per- fect histories at the age of thirty-five. Ogliry, who made an excelient translation of Homer, began to study Greek at fifty, ‘The first of the Waverly novels appeared when the author was 41, and Cowper was nearly 50 before he did his best work. When we think of Mary Somerville at { the physical science. of Gladsto iz his oaks and studying Homer, and of Tenny- son, also an octogenarian, writing Bar,” no one can hold his hands and cross the say, “I am too old to do anything of any moment.” “A man is only as old as he feels,” says Oliver Wendeli Holmes, who carries a young heart, if his head is gray. jumberless cases that are not so marked might be cited. A woman whose stories have done an incalculable amount of did not dream thatshe could write until her children had gone to homes of their own, and she be. gan to write to beguile her loneliness, Another woman, whose songs are household favorites, did not know anything of the theory of music till she was fifty, e began to study har- mony. Today she is well known as a compoeer, er Music supports her most oo grandmother used to dabble in her grand- ints and became so interested itudied under a good teacher. Today her pictures have an honored place in the water color exhibitions, Every woman cannot be an artist, author, or musician, but every one of us can have some wide outside interest, lied, however, and yi esterday he able to walk seven foot and get the whisky bor. tle out of the cupboard. F. ie! He E g ! | f f i i TTtyF A} if DOWN IN THE OCEAN'S DEPTHS, A Divers Shocking Experiences on the Wreek of the Blanco Epcalada. ‘From the San Francisco Cail. H. M. Hartman, recently discharged from the cruiser San Francitoo at San Diego upom tho expiration of seven yoars’ service, is in the city and tells an interesting story of his experi- ence asa diver while investigating the wreet of the Blanco Encalada. Hartman is a Pennayk Vanian, twenty-three years old. Daring the troubles in Chile be enlisted with the insurgents and was snecessitely an officer on a torpedo bost, licutenant of artillery at the battle of Acacalgo river, aspy against Balma- ceda and commanded two pieces of agtiilery of the battle of Placilla, which opened @§® way te Vaipar ded, and after re covery was taken back in the American service, Hartman was engaged in diving on the im- surgent vessel, Blauco Encalada, sunk by the Adwiral Lynch in the harbor of Caldera. me Mouth after the insurgents, then in pow nm of the port, employed Hartman and am. Englishman, also a diver, to go down end measure the hole and determine the chances of raising the vessel. Divers equipped with incandescent lights were jowered into the ship, which was lying im nine fathoms of water, The ship was lying upon her porteide. Shc hadeunk ina field of sea grass growing ten tect high, The waves had washed great avenues of white sand through the grass to various parts of the Versel, ra these Almost evergwhere were arms, and trunks of human bodies, Many of the fish had eaten clean of the flesh, only the skalls and bones remaining. The flesh that stil remained intact was soft and mushy and wheu touched would fail away from the bones, Many bodies were found whole, the men have ing inet death by drowning. In the starboard rizging stood the skeletons of two mon with the bonesof their hands still clinching the ratlines. The whole scene was rrible and revolting beyoud description, © Kreatest obstacle in the work Was the fish. There were millions of fish and eels every= where. They would shoot through the water and magnitied by the water and the glass of the diver's heimet and reflecting the rays of the electric light they looked like thousands of blades of polished silver, Whenever Hartman would lay bis hands the deck they would come th contact with @ The ecis would wrap thomselvos along the slimy eel about the divers’ legs as they deck. This, and coming in freq Wits dissolving human flesh, afforded « variety Of sensations not frequently met with by even a diver. Among theso fish were numerous sharke, They were with difficulty kept away from the divers. With one Hartnian had a Suit of a diver m so shotted as to about an equilibrium slight motion he can As he goca ly touches ground, A diver is also provided with a weapon of defense against a ravenous fish in the shape of an electric pole six fect long and covered with rubber, except at the end, which is « stecl point, Bending ina large curve over this point ® hook with a ballon the end. The pout ond bail are positive and negative poles of an electric current, which 1 furnished by wire fyom a dynamo on the vessel, When « shark Approaches too close to the diver the end of the pole is thrown against him and the curreut asses from the pot the fish to the all, ‘The fish rebstees «visi cneaie which may either stun or kill. Hartman ‘saw an enormous man-eating shark quietly approaching bim and slo aud shutting his enormous jaws, Wien witht striking distance the pole Was thrown against him, The shock stopped him and he re- mained under the influence for minutes, then recovered and came on again, It was repeated with the same fo- sult the third time, Hartman ped under. neath the shark, and while he was yet motions less ripped with @ knite the bell the gills to the tail, jeoving tie intestines Se fall out —-_—_ MORAL, It Does Not Do to Follow Moral Tales Withe out Consideration, From the Detroit Tribune, A tiger once invited « goat to dinner, The goat was ticked to death at the notice of the noble beast, and wore his spike-tailed costand Link sleeve buttons in token of his appreciation, “Can I help you to some of this venison steak?” the tiger asked the goat very cordially, ‘The gost could not eat venison steak, but he dissembled cleverly and preserved s smiling exterior, “My physician,” he protested, “positively: forbids venison steak.” There was nothing else on the table, and the Poor goat was obliged to sit idiy by while the tiger devoured a hearty repast, But the goat Was not disposed to deprive himself of the sweets of revenge. He accordingly pressed the tiger to dine with him the folleciog oveet ing. The invitation was gna) promptly on ‘time ind legs under the goat's mahogany. “Can I help you,” sweetly inquired “to some of this Tricassecd tomato brown paper sauce?” with thanks, tiger thrust his the pada d “No, thank you,” rejoined the tiger,” doctor forbid” A “So sorry,” murmured the goat in secret glee. “I fear you will have only an unsstie- a I ‘shall do very protested the “Oh, lo well,” tieer, ° Whereat he fell upon and devoured the goat himself, “Alas!” exclaimed the latter with his dying breath, “I was too funny.” This fable teaches that it is perfectly to take an insult from some le without Fe senting it It is all « matter of judgment. pacientes Proved an Alibi. From the Detroit Free Press It was @ case of chicken stealing and the Prints of bare feet were found in the sand around the hen house. The lawyer for the the Alps; he would simply have pulled them up by the roots and thrown them over the fence. _ ihe prisoner was an unknown tramp