Subscribers enjoy higher page view limit, downloads, and exclusive features.
THE EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1895-SIXTEEN PAGES. 1, The Evening Star will pay $500 in gold to the reader from whom it receives by ma at the publication office, Pennsylvania ave- nue and Ith street, the complete and abso- lutely correct solution of “When the War Was Over,” as it shall be disclosed tn the firal chapter of the story to be published Friday, November 15, In The Evening Star. If two or more complete and absolutely «or- rect solutions are received the $500 in gold will be divided equaliy. 2. Should The Star fail to receive a solu- tion that is complete and absolutely correct in all its details, the $00 in gold will he allotted to the twenty-nine readers whose explanation shall come nearest to the true solution of the mystery according to their bercentage of merit, and the money will be divided as follows: $100 hy 50 25, 25 Prizes of $10 each. 250 29 Prizes; aggregating. 500 The first prize of $100 will be paid for the explanation which comes nearest to the true solution; the second prize of $75 to the Person sending the explanation next near- est, and so on, for the third and fourth prizes. The remaining twenty-five prizes of $10 each will be awarded to the persons sending the twenty-five explanations next nearest to the fourth prize, as the judges may determine their merit. 3. The Star is pre-eminently a family Newspaper and its daily installment of a high grade serial story is a feature Inten1- ed to especially commend {tt to the home circle. To emphasize—and advertise—the fact that The Star is a newspaper peculiar- ly suitable for women's reading, the fu ther condition is made that the $500 in Prizes shail be paid only for explanations sent in by women and girls. All may reac but only women and girls may guess—ani win the gold. “When the War Was Over” will continue in daily installments until Friday, Novem- ber 8, on which date all but the final chap- ter will have been published. The interval between Friday, November 8, and Tuesday, November six o'clock p. will be allowed for the forwardi 2 es, and the final chapter wiil be published in The Star on Friday, November 15. Un- der no consideration whatever will guesses be received from any source and considered prior to Friday, November 8, or later than six o'clock p.m. November 12. For no rea- CONDITIONS OF THE STAR’S GREAT OFFER. | som whatever will guesses from any source be received or considered after six o'clock p.m, November 12. Persons who miss the first installments can obtain back numbers at the office of The Evening Star. Rules of the Competition. 1, But one solution can be entered by a reader. 2. Ali guesses must be sent by mail «nd in no other way, plainly addressed to “Prize Story Editor,” The Evening Star, Washington, D. C. 8. In order to put out-of-town readers of ‘The Star on a time equality with city read- ers, they will be permitted to secure from thelr local postmaster an indorsement on the back of the envelope in which their guesses are forwarded, Indicating the day and hour of delivery of the letter to him, and such guesses will be accepted at the Washington post office on the day and hour certified. The indorsement, plainly written in ink, must be personally signed by the postmaster or acting postmaster. 4. Inquiries not considered fully answered here will receive proper attention if ad- dressed to “Prize Story Editor, The Even- ing Star, Washington, D. C. 5. The $500 will be awarded under the foregoing general conditions, according to the best judgment of the judges appointed by The Star, and they will have complete control and final dectsion in all matters re- lati: to this contest. 6. “A complete and correct solution” can be made in the reader's own language and in the number of words necessary for an absolute statement of the reader's gues: It must disclose the mystery and such ma- terial facts of the plot revealed in the de- velopment of the story as may be deemed necessary by the judges to a clear and full explanation of the mystery. The names and addresses of the winner or winners of the cash prizes will be pub- lished in The Star at the earliest date vos- sible after the publication of the final pter. No condition of subscription to The Star is imposed. Guessers must be women and girls and recessar:ly they must be readers of The Star, but they may read the story in The Star taken by any member of the family and need not be regular subscrib2rs themselves in order to enter the competi- | tion. While only women and girls may | guess and win the prizes, they can receive j help as to their guess from any member of ‘heir family or from all the family. ~~‘ TWENTY-SIXTH INSTALLMENT. (Back numbers can be obtained at The Star office.) CHAPTER XXVI—DUTTON THE IN- CUBUS. “By gum!” exclaimed Sam aghast at the discovery, “I saw him in here as still and silent as a grave stone not half an hour before you come back.” “We must make a chase for him,” said Mr. Warren. “He's stolen property from Dutton that’s worth forty townships. “Is it really diamonds, Nick?” “Yes, one of the most valuable in the world.” “I'll harness up right away,” said Sam as they crowded up the stairs and he ran across the road to his barn, which was be- hind his house and store. Just as he was running into the driveway a womay who was hurrying up the road called to him: “Mr. Springer! Mr. Springer!” but he neither answered nor halted. “What is it, Em'ly?” asked Mrs. Springer coming out from the store. “Oh, dear!” said the woman hysterically, “I don’t know as it’s anything, but I'm “At full gallop on Mr. Horse.” Springer'’s afraid your horse is stole. Did you lend him to that Mr. Golding!" “I should say not, indeed! that Mr. Gold- ing is tied to a post under the meeting hous “Oh, deal ! then it’s so!” cried the woman, “I just saw him pass our house at a full gallop ou Mr. Springer’s horse. I mightn't have thought anything of it, but that I just happened to catch sight of him, leading the horse round back of Mr. Newcomb's, and so to the road through the lane. It looked suspicio. I wanted to stop him, but when he see me he get into the saddle and galloped away. And there Weren't any men folks around to help.” all the men folks a distance from had gone to Mr. returned from Den ‘ Sam more around the Men folks, indeed! Nc in Granite who were not their houses in the fields, he Warren’s when “No use, nelghboi gloomy than angry a: corner from the barn. he cam fastest ho in the township. We can't catch him. erhaps not,” responded Mr. Warren with energy nut We can go to the nearest Place that has a telesraph office and set all the police #m the county on his track. He won't venture to yo to Denby, but there’s other towns and to towns he must go after awhile.” “That's right,” admitted Sam, “and as it’s my nag that’ I'll go with anybody who'll take m A volunte forthcoming and ina few hi hbor Bet out to tr » and surely to telegraph his description to the local officers ef all to through which 1 to his house. * he asked of his wife. setting the diamond? 1 it will upset room. Dutton r the excitement rre “you must be t bad for y nvalid looked up at ed, and he took the with intere ay, did he ell, tand_ me, ‘ th him? He got hold id stop him. You Du “J under old tan y Wa ‘ow slightiy comra’ said Dutton, eves. Was sent and ju got 2 messa from the justice, explain- ing that you were released. I'm glad to hear it. I supposed you'd come off all “He's gone on the | right. And I've heard all about Elsie, too; fo you needn’t explain. How is the stranger getting on?” “I'm feeling much Letter, doctor,” said Dutton, looking up. “You look it,” and the dector felt his pulse and tested his temperature. “Not going to play sick much longer, are you?” he asked abruptly. Dutton ovened his eyes wider. “Play sick?” he repeated, in a grieved tone. “Yes; it gives the physician a good deal of onnoyance, vou know, though, of course, you can’t fool him long. I should say that if you think you've waited long enough, you're pretty nearly able to get up.” “You're rough on a fellow, doctor. I thought I'd been a preity sick man.” “Oh, yes; you haven't been well; but you put on a good deal of delirium, you know. I don’t mind if my friends here don’t; but 1. thought I'd speak of it, so that you'd understand me. The medicine you need is exercise."" With that the doctor went into the sitting room, where he chatted a while with Elsie and Will. When he went away he said in an undertone to Mr. Warren: ‘You must get that man out of your house for your wife's sake. She endures wonderfully, but it isn’t the physical strain I fear. His presence weighs on her for some reason that perhaps you under- stand. Get him aw: “Suppose, doctor,’”’ returned Mr. Warren, “that I was certain Martha would feel the strain of his absence more than that of his presence The doctor shrugged his shoulders. “You must decide for yourself, then. I only know that your wife Is in danger of nervous prostration, and not all the ter- rible anxiety about you and Elsie has af- fected her so much as this man. I suggest that mething ought to be done, and that mething beyond the province of a jan.” 5 Mr. Warren felt very gloomy after this conversation. He went to the barn, and in the shert time that intervened before din- ner he tried to distract his mind with farm duties. He could not succeed. How zhould he when all the excitement of arrest for murder and the disappearance of his daugh- ter had not availed wholly to banish the trouble that had come into his life with the coming of Dutton? Will stayed to dinner, and everybody ex- cept Gran'pa Kirk assumed an air of cheerfulness. With the young people the atmosphere was more real than assumed, perhaps, though both were beginning to suffer from the reaction of the previous day and night’s adventures. Elsic, too, felt again, now that the immediate transports of joy over her rescue had subsided, that chilling sense of unknown, undefined trou- ble that had been the first step to all the Like all old peo- had his fits of restless peevishuess, ple he and though they were not so frequent as to make kim at all troublesome to those who | understood him and loved him, they were | reeegnized with patient smiles and general- ly ignored. The Warrens naturally attrib- uted his present temper to the breaking cf by the confusion attendant on return, but after dinner he told the way solemrly to the tree in the jorehard, where he spent the afternoons when the days were hot and sunny. He turned with a scowl when he had j come to his tree and said: ick, what is he doing here?" ‘The question surprised Mr. Warren, al- wife had prepared him for some ion from Gran'’pa on the subject of | Dutton’s presence. “Gran'pa,” he replied, addressing him by j the affectionate title that everybody used in speaking to or of him, “I don’t know “Wei were led to suppose he was dend.” why he is here It wouldn't be fair to an- swer you by saying that he was hurt and we took him in out of kindness.” o, and ‘twouldn’t be the truth, Nick," “I suppose he's , or something’s happened to make but that’s only a part of it. What > come here for?” I tell you I don't know.” What dees he say about it?" “He won't say @ word.” Nick, I've a right to ask all this. We wera led to suppose that he was dead years ago.” “Yes.” responded Warren huskily, “I thought he was dead. Don't you suppose I'm suffering from this?” he asked almost flercely. e old man crossl The old man frowned and sat down, shift- his chair to get it into the shade. ‘You’d better send him away,” he snap- ped. Mr. Warren sighed despairingly and re- turned to the house, leaving the old man seated with both hands on the head of his cane, his head sunk down upon his shoul- ders until he seemed to have no neck. He was hinlelrig in his own way, or was he dreaming? very old, infirm peopie think? Or are the operations of their brains more like the dreams of the younger? Be that as it may as the old gentleman sat there the scowl upon his wrinkled face gradually softened and disappeared, giv- ing place to a quaint smile of amusement that deepened and broadened until his rickety frame shook with laughter. Between the doctor and his father-in-law Mr. Warren was painfully disturbed. It did not seem, after the way the doctor had talked to Dutton, that any dictates of hu- raanity should prevent him from demand- ing that his unwelcome guest should ex- plain himself. Mr. Warren walked into the spare room, therefore, and closed the door between it and the kitchen. “Nick,” said Dutton, before Mr. Warren could begin, “I think I'll try to get up.” “I should say it was about time,” re- sponded Mr. Warren, rdther roughly. “I see you believe what that fool doctor says.” “He's no fool, Dut. He saw your game yesterday forenoon, and informed us of it. It was when Goiding was her “Oh, yes.- I didn’t want anything to say to Golding. “And the result was he promptly went off and had me arrested for attempting to murder you.” “Yes, I know—' “And then Elsie was taken away and Martha was left alone—heavens, man, isn't our account against you enough?” “Nick, you do me some injustice, on m; word. ycu do!” : Dutton spoke with evidently sincere ear- nestness, and his face was bathed in pro- fuse perspiration, as he slowly sat up in bed and Jeaned on one arm toward War- ren. ve been awfully sick, Nick; it’s true I played it on Golding, and at times when you or Martha pressed me with questions that I wasn’t ready to answer I've pretend- ed to be uncons us, but I've ben genu- inely ill, Nick, and I'm still feeble. Why, man alive, car you think that if I'd been able to get up when Elsle disappeared and I knew that Wanga had taken her, can you imagine that I would have lain here like a log’ 'No,” replied Mr, Warren, “I must admit that any man would have done what he could under such circumstances, any man but Golding. 5 except him, and yet he was a good fellow before he got the diamond fever.” “Well, let that pass," said Mr. Warren. “Aren't you about ready to answer ques- tions now Dutton lay down again with a sigh. “Pretty near, Nick, pretty near. Give me a chance, please. Remember, ‘tisn’t so very long that I've been here recovering from the attack of Wanga and Sam. Let Grandpa Kirk. me get up and see if I can take a turn around the yard. Just as soon as I'm a little stronger, so that I can quit you, I'll talk.” “All right, then. We'll wait. Were both Wanga and the other fellow in it?” “Oh, yes. They took me by surprise, as of course Wanga would. I foolishly sup- posed that J had eluded them by footing it most of the way from New York like a common tramp. We had a short, sharp fight of it, during which I did for Sam, I guess. I know that as soon as they got me down Wanga picked Sam up and car- ried him out, and the next thing I knew I looked up at ycu and Martha and saw the cabin afire.” Dutton was indeed feeble. exhausting him, and his speedy recov the scene to an end. Later in the afternoon Dutton crawled from the house by the aid of Elsie and her mother,-and sat for a time in the open air. He seemed quietly to enjoy the change and especially the company of the girl, whom he questioned so persistently on her ad- ventures that it would have been clear to anyone who listened that he delighted simply in hearing her talk. Will, at this time, had gone home for needed rest, and Mr. Warren was at work in the neglected fields. From his place under the tree Gran’pa Kirk appeared to watch Dutton and Elsie, though it is very doubtful if his failing eyes couki distin- guish them at the distance. Yet on his face there appeared varying expressions, now a scowl and again an amused smile. It was a little while before supper time. Dutton had been helped back to the spare room, where he lay fully dressed on the bed. Mrs. Warren was busy at the stove and Mr. Warren in the garden, Gran'pa Kirk had dragged his chair to the side of the house, the declining sun sending its rays with uncomfortable directness under the branches of the orchard. Elsie had been flitting uneasily from room to room, trying to busy herself steadily at one task and another, and failing to free her mind from the perplexing question: that were ever present respecting the mys- tery that had come upon the house. At length she slipped quietly out by the front door and went around the house to the spot where gran'pa was sitting. “Gran’pa,” she sald, her voice husky with the Intense interest attaching to her question, “you know something about this Mr. Dutton. Tell me, gran'pa?” “Eh?" exclaimed the old man, surprised and querulous, “what's that, child?” “Mr. Dutton, gran’pa, you know all about him. Tell me, please Gran’pa Kirk looked at her sharpl; = at do you want to know for? This talk was doubly anxious for Mr. Warren brought he asked. “Because everything Is so mysterious about him. Don’t you remember how vex- ed you were when I came home this morn- ing, because mamma and papa hadn't told you he was here? Don't you suppose I feel the same way, gran'pa?” and she put her arms about his neck, and her young cheek close against his wrinkled face. “Elsie,” said her mother’s pained voice. The girl looked up, startled, saw her mother standing in the kitchen doorway, whither she had been attracted by their voices, saw her eyes sadder than she had ever seen them before, and, shamed and sorrowful, she turned from the old man and went to her own room. (fo be continued tomorrow.) — A New Mystery Story. The mystery story now running in The Star having proved so popular, arrange- ments have been made to follow it with an- other. The new one is “Before They Were Married,” by Henry C. Parker. It is of com- manding interest, and those who read the first chapters will follow it eagerly to the end of the absorbing mystery. The first in- stallment will be published on Saturday, vember 9. Two hundred and fifty dollars in gold will be given for a correct solution of the mystery by a woman reader, according to the conditions printed elsewhere. a A Paradox in Numbers. From Chambers’ Journal. ‘ Put down ary sum of pounds, shillings and pence under £11, taking care that the number of pence is less than the number of pounds. Reverse this sum, putting pounds in the place of pence, and subtract from original amount. Again reverse this re- mainder and add. The result in all cases will be £12 183 11d, neither more nor less, whatever the amount with which we start. £s. d. 68 11 4 18 Example.. Reverse and subtract. Remainder.. Reverse remainder and add..... 12 18 11 Now, as Artemus Ward would say, why is this thus? The rationale of this seeming paradox may be left to be discovered by the reader's ingenuity. PARDON .FOR DAVIS joie ee An Historic Docamest in the Records of the War Department, BIERCISE OF EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY How the President Uses the Par- doning Powar Vested in Him. DOCKET OF THE YEAR —— A few months ago all the records in cases of applications for amnesty under the proc- lamations issued during and after the war were, by direction of the Attorney General, transferred to the record and pension office of the War Department. This mass of papers has been properly recorded and in- dexed. Araong them are many of great historical interest, chief of which is the petition for the pardon of Jeff Davis, the head and front of the “lost cause.” It bere the signatures of over 14,40 persons and was contained in a beautiful sack of pure white silk. Another celebrated case was that of Dr. Mudd, who was sent to the Dry Tortugas for alleged complicity in the conspiracy against the Mfe of President Lincoln. It is roughly estimated that 7,000 convicts have been pardoned by the various Presi- dents since the founding of the republic, and that in all about 15,000 persons have received the benefits of presidential am- nesty. The first President to grant many pardors was Monroe. He has 432 to his credit. Prior to that time, throughout the administrations of Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison, the total number of pardons was 351. After Monroe pardons were few up to the time of Andrew Jack- son, who has a record of 339. Coming down to more modern times, Lincoln par- doned 855, Grant, 1412; Hayes, 005; Arthur, 284; Cleveland, ‘first ‘administration, 470; Harrison, about 550; and Cleveland, second administration, to date, about 400. Until_a comparatively recent date the State Department has had charge of the business of pardons. All petitions for ex- ecutive clemency were filed there and were investigated by its officers, who prepared a brief in each case and submitted it to the President for his action. A change occurred in 1851, however, when Secretary Webster transferred the entire business to the De- partment of Justice, where it has remained ever since. Even after this transfer, how- ever, while the cases were investigated at the Department of Justice, in case the Pres- ident granted a pardon it was necessary for the Attorney General to write to the Secre- tary of State asking that he issue a warrant in accordance with the President's action. These warrants recited the reasons for the pardon or commutation of sentence, which- ever it might be, and were first signed by the President and then countersigned by the Secretary of State. They also bore the great seal of the United States. President Cleveland's Order. This practice w4§ fdilowed until June, 1893, when President Cleveland issued an execu- tive order directing that all warrants of pardon heretofore prepared at the Depart- ment of State be prepdred in the Department of Justice, and that the duties heretofore performed in suclt ca#es by the Secretary of State be performed by the Attorney Gen- eral. This order {s still in force, so that now warrants for pardon’are countersigned by the Attorney General, instead of the Sec- retary of State, and bear the seal of the Department of Justi¢e instead of the seal of the United States. Under the present system all applications for pardons received at the Department of Justice are at once forwarded to the United States district attorney for the district where the trial téok place, with the request that he make a répért'thereon and obtain. if possible, the oplition of the judge before whom the convict was tried. Except in capital-cases, if the report made by both the district attomey and the trial judge is adverse to the granting of the par- don, the papers are not sent to the President for his consideration; but in all cases where the district attorney and judge do not agree as to the expediency of extending executive clemency the papers are forwarded to the President for his action. Restoration to Citizenship. Under another rule applications made merely for restoration to citizenship will not be considered by the President prior to the expiration of the sentence. After the con- vict has been released for a considerable period, and his good conduct is certified to by the people among whom he lives, the President then will consider the application. When a case is decided, the applicant for executive clemency or his attorney is noti- fied of the fact. If pardon is granted, a war- rant is forwarded at once to the applicant, either through the United States marshal or the warden of the jail where the convict 1s ccnfined. If the pardon is denied, the in- dorsement made by the President upon the papers during the application is forwarded to the applicant or his attorney. The majority of offenses against the Unit- ed States, in which the President is called upon to exercise clemency, are violations of the postal and internal revenue laws, horse stealing, pension frauds, counterfeiting, de- faleations and election frauds. The reasons urged in most cases for pardon are ill health, unjust conviction and the privations of the convict’s family because of the loss of his services, Under the Constitution, the pardoning power of the President in all United States cases is absolutely unlimited, except in cases of impeachment. At least, a Star reporter in search of information on the subject was so informed at the Department of Justice, where Mr. Endicott, the federal pardon clerk, who prepares all applications for par- don for the President's consideration, has his official abode. According to that official, the President has the rjght to pardon a United States prisoner before he is indic:ed, after indictment and before trial, after con. viction and before sentence and after sen- tence, and for the purpose of restoring his rights of citizenship he can pardon a con- vict even after the expiration of his sen- tence. The power to pardon before con- viction and sentence is one, however, ta has seldom been exercised. President Cleve- land has invariably refused to pardon a prisoner before the imposition of sentence, and in cages where appeals are taken to the United States Supreme Court he has invarlably declined to even consider appli- cations for pardon until after the apreal shall have been decided. Prior to Presitent Cleveland’s administration no President has exercised the power of pardoning con- viets after they have completed their ierm of imprisonment in order to restore their citizenship. Preceding Presidents took such action only during the convict's imy ment, usually just before the time for rothe P: id President also has the pow: $ mit fines, penalties end costs in all case: where the money h hot been paid into the treasury by a covering warrant. When so turned into the treasury, however, it can be refunded only by a Spo 7 Congress. Furthermore, the President can grant conditional pardons imposing certain restrictions of good behavior, and there are many cases of this kind. The Pardoning Power. son- his Prior to the adoption of the articles of confederation there wes no general rule as to the exercise of the pardoning power, and there was nothing in these articles as to how it should be exercised, although it was tacitly agreed, at that time, that it was vested in the President. It had been pre- viously exercise? entirely by the governo! of the states. The power was vested in the President of the United States at the con- stitutional convention after a long and in- teresting debate. There has always been more or less dls- cussion as to the President's authority to grant amnesty in the absence of specitic legislation. Such power, however, was recog- nized and exercised by Washington, Madi- son and Adams. Washington issued a proclamation granting amnesty to the per- sons implicated in what is known ay the “whisky insurrection” in Pennsylvania in 1794. Adams issued an amnesty proclama- tion for the pardon of the men who took part in the so-called “House tax” insurrec: tion in the same state in 1798. In 1815 a body of desperate men established them- selves on an island in Lake Barataria, near the mouth of the Mississipp!, and commit- ted various depredations in violation of the “non-intercourse act” of 1815. They were known as the “Baratavia pirates.” Madi- son issued an amnesty proclamation for lof her life in Burmah certainly b i the palm for conciseness and sweet simplic- their pardon without recourse to Congress, aticasts that body was in session at the ime. : The power of general amnesty was not again exercised by any President up to the time of the civil war. On the 17th of July, 1862, Congress passed an act authorizing the President to grant amnesty, under certain cenditions, to persons who had taken up arms against the government. In accord- ance with this act, President Lincoln issued an amnesty proclamation September 8, 1863, and subsequently, in March, 1864, he issued another similar proclamation, stating more specifically the class of persons entitled to the privileges of the act. Four amnesty Proclamations, each more liberal in its pro- visions than its predecessor, were issued by President Johnson, and since then there has been no occasion for such action. a NURSE TO A BABY RAT. California Has a Cat That Has Lost Its Mousing Instinct. From the San Franelsco Examiner. Four miles from Farmington, in this state, resides 2 well-to-do rancher named Morrow. He has a little four-year-old son, Vernie, who usually has about everything he takes a fancy to. Among the things he fancies and which he has is a large, ma- trenly cat that has been brought up to make due provisions for herself and her progeny. Jet is this cat’s name and jet her color. Jet and Vernie are great friends, and they are frequently seen roaming around the premises together when Jet's time is not taken up with her own private affairs. Jet has always borne the reputation of being “sure death” to any rats or ground squirrels. A short time ago, in exploring the barns, granaries and barn yard, Vernie came upon a nest of young rats, which he immediately took up and carried to the house and placed carefully in a drawer of his mother’s sewing machine. Mrs. Morrow objected to the nest of rats being in the drawer, and took them out to drown them, when Vernie insisted he must keep one, and begged so hard for it, his ™mother give it to him. In a short time he laid it down and forgot about ft. Then Jet came along and took up the young rat and carried it to ber bed as a companion for her one kitten and a solace to her own mind. Strange as it may appear, the young rat made himself at home, derived his sus- tenance from the same source as the Kit- ten," received the same maternal attention from Jet, who seemed to forget that she was nursing her legitimate prey, to the great delight of Vernie and the surprise of older heads about the neighborhood. This strange state of affairs continued for two or three weeks, when the baby rat strayed from Jet's protection, and met his death at the claws of another cat not so merciful as Jet. Strange as this may appear, it is a fact, and can be verified by several per- sons who witnessed this peculiar and happy family. eee PAID THE CHURCH DEBT. How a Band of Statesmen Responded to a Colored Pastor's Appeal. From John Sherman's Recollections. We arrived at Beaufort on Sunday morn- ing. The town then was full of contra- bands. We remained there that day, and received an invitation from a negro preach- er to attend religious services at his new meeting house. About fifteen or twenty of the party went to the “meeting house,” a new unfinished skeleton-frame house of considerable size, without any plastering—a mere shell. We were shown to ceats that had been reserved for us. The res* of the congregation were negroes in every kind of dress and of every shade of color. The scene was very interestins, but the sermon of the preacher was little better than gib- herish. He was a quaiat oid man, wearing gcegles and speaking a ‘ialect we vould understand. At the close of his ser- mon he narrated how the inceting house had been built; that Joh1 had hauled the legs, Tom, Dick and Harry, naming them, had ‘contributed their labor, but they were in debt something over £200, and, with a significant glance at our Hitle party, he thought this was a good time to take up a collection. No sooner was this said than Cameron, whispering t9 us, «ard: “Let's pay it; I'll give And ‘when the hat came around, instead of the usual dimes and quarters in razged currency, it re- ceived greenbacks uf good denominations. In the meaniime the old preacher, highly elated, called upon the audience ‘to sing “John Brown's ody.’ A feeple, piping voice from an old negro w arted the singing, and the rest of ‘he negroes, with loud melodious voices, joined in, and, be- fore it was through, the rest of us joined in. The hat, whea returned to the preach- er, was found to contain more than $50 in excess of the amount necessary to pay off the debt. Then, with many thanks to us by the preacher, the andience was uest- be to remain standing until their visitors left. ———__+ e+ ____ A BLOW FROM A DEAD HAND. Graecsome Experience as Related by the Engincer of a Flyer. From the Atlanta Journal. ng the picture of that dead man in yesterday’s Journal reminded me of an ex- perience of my own which I will never for- get,” said Henry Billups, a retired engineer of Denver, Col., at the Kimball. “Why it should do so I cannot tell, as there Is .oth- ing similar in the two cases; but It does and I will relate the incident. It occurred when I_was running a night train on the nta Fe road, back in the '70s. This par- ticular night had been stormy and threaten- ing, and the flashes of lightning were fre- quent and intense. We were running ahead of our schedule, in order to make a siding in time to allow an extra to pass us, and were traveling, I suppose, at the rate of about thirty or thirty-five miles an hour. I was sitting with my face close to the forward window of the cab, gazing stra ahead, when in a brilliant blaze of electricity a man’s arm and head suddenly burst with great force through the glass and the open hand struck me squarely in the 1 I was dazed for an instant by : blindly to the side of the cab. My fi thought was that some tramp was try to hold up my train to rob the passengers, and acting on this idea I seized my wrench from its place and dealt the head of the in- truder a blow with all my might. The fireman, thinking I had killed the man, shut off steam and we slowed down and took our lanterns to examine the strange visitor. I could riot describe the feeling that crept over me when I climbed upoa the engine and looked at the man whom I believed had attacked me. His entire body below the arms was gone. It was easy to understand what had happened. He had peen struck by the rapidly moving engine ani his body severed as with a knife, the lower half fall- ing to one side and the head and arms flying straight through the cab window. ——— — THE CANDY MARRIAGE. A Ceremony That Has at Least the Merit of Simplicity. From Household Word But of all marriage rites of which we have ever heard, that described to us the other day by a lady who has passed many years ars away ity. Here it would appear to be upon the dusky lady that the pleasing duties of court- ship devolve. She sees a youth whom she deems calculated to make her happy, and forthwith offers him a stick of candy. If he accepts her proposal, he promptly eats the token of affection, and they are thereby made man and wife. There is no further ceremony, and no witnesses are necessary. In the act of eating alone this most primi- tive marriage rite consists—so we are as- sured! But, if, on the contrary, the youth has no mind to enter the estate of matri- mony with the proprietor of the proffered stick, he merely assures her—with a fine consideration for her feelings not always hown in more civilized countries—that that particular kind of candy is not to his taste; and with that the whole matter is at an end. | She, presumably, goes contentedly away to offer her rejected candy and affections to some more appreciative youth, by whom, let us hope, it may be speedily devoured; and everybody must feel satisfied that no un- necessary time or trouble has been wasted over these unsuccessful matrimonial ncgo- tiations. Yes, the simplicity of these un- sophisticated people has much to iecom- mend it! ——_ —- +00 Something to Live For. From Puck. The Minister—“My dear madam, let this thought console you for your husband’s death. Remember that other and better men than he have gone the same way.” Bereaved Widow—"They haven't all gone, have they?” MARRIAGE LICENSES Clerk Young Discourses Interest- ingly on the Present Law. PLENTY OF RESTRICTIONS IN FORCE Marriages Can Be Prevented if an Impediment to Them Exists. CARELESSNESS OF CLERGY —— “I have been somewhat interested in the representation that has been made that the ministers of Washington are about to make an effort that will seriously affect the present system of marriage licenses and the restrictions now existing,” said Mr. John R. Young, clerk of the Supreme Court of the District, to a Star reporter this morning. ‘Under the present: law,” he continued, “the clerk of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia issues the license to parties applying in the following form: To Any Minister of the Gospel Authorized to celebrate marriages in the District of Columbia, Greeting: You are hereby licensed to solemnize the rites of marriage between of And ——— of , if you find no lawful impediment thereto; and having so dene, you are commanded to appear in the clerk's office of the Supreme Court of said District and certify the same. Witness my hand and the seal of said court this —— day of , Asst. Clerk. “Booke of record are kept, in which the officiating minister writes and signs his certificate, which then becomes competent evidence of the marriage in all the courts of the country. “In addition to this,” said Mr. Young, “the health officer, upon the minister's. ap- plication, furnishes to him the following Wank and official envelope, gratuitously, which ts to be filled out and returncd, as the law requires: No. Certificate of Marriage. To the health officer,District of Columbi: 1. Date of marriage—H——189. 2. Full namé of husband: Age 4. Color 5. Place of residenee—_— . Occupation ——__—____—.. 7. Husband's birthplace —_—_— Number of husband's marriage— Maiden name of wife——— years 10. Age —---years- 11. Color ais 12. Place of residence——_—___-—__ Wife's birthplace ——__—_ 14. Number of wife's marriage ——H¥— We, the contracting parties, do certify that the foregoing information is correct. Signatures: This certifies, that on the—day of—---—— 18)—., I joined in holy matrimony the pariies above described. Name Official station. Residence “With these precautions what more can be done by the government to prevent im- proper marriages?” inquired the court offi- cer. “To impose upon the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia the task of inquiring into the legality or propriety of marriage upon every application for a license would be entirely impracticable. The Clergy Favored a Clas: “The law has favored the clergy as a class with the monopoly of marriage cere- monies, securing to them alone whatever fees or perquisites may result therefrom,” Mr. Young went on, “and at the same time it has laid upon them the responsibility of ascertaining the legal and proper quali- fications for marriage of the parties who come to them for their services and, so far as it can, it has furnished them with the methods of doing this. “When the blank from the health officer is filled up and signed by the parties apvly- ing for marriage, the minister has an op- portunity to scrutinize and question both the parties and to satisfy himself as far as possible of their fitness for the marriage ceremony. If upon their statement he discovers impediment from age or other disqualification, all that remains to him is simply to refuse to marry them. | No mjhister is compelled by law to marry /jpar- t when he even suspects falsehood or deception, which no law can entirely pre- vent, if parties are base enough to resort to it. Where the Trouble Lies. “The licenee is primarily for the benefit of the minister, and he should have the re- sponsibility of the scrutiny,” he continued. “If, as the ministers believe, unlawful mar- vlages have been contracted here, it has been thrcugh the carelessness of the clergy themselves or from causes which no addi- tional legislation can remedy. The duty of the clergy is clear and simpie. If they can- rot dissuade people from wrongdoing, how can it be expected of the clerk of the court. If people are determined to go wrong no- body can prevent it, and they must take the consequences, But even in such cases is it pot better to protect them by the shield of marriage within certain limits than to let them rove at will like a premiscuous herd of animals? : Agitation Not Desirable. “There is one feature of the existing law which can be improved, that which requires the officlating minister personally to certify in the office of the clerk. To improve this feature a bill was introduced in the last Congress, but failed to become a law. It will be renewed in the coming Congress. “If the clergy, instead of going blindly at work in their own organizations, would ap- point a committee to confer with the judges and officers of the court, it is far more likely that satisfactory results would follow. But if agitation is to be kept up, the effect will most likely be to defeat any measure that may be proposed.” —— FROM OCEAN DEPTHS. A New Kind of Fish Found by the Scientists of the Albatross. From the San Francisco Examiner. One of the most imporiant and interesting cruises ever made by the United States ship Albatross has just been complet+d. The famous ship arrived here a few days azo, and now Hes in the stream at Mare Island. Since leaving here in May last she cruised in far northwestern waters, engaged in deep-sea fishing, and the fish she has take are now being packed away in boxes for shipment to the Smithsonian Institution. Some of the crustaceans taken are from a depth of a mile or more, and one fish of a kind never before known to exist ts from the great depth of 1,70) fathoms, or almost two miles. It resem! crurus, or the family known but is ‘yet so curiou app is evidently a new thing. There in the books like {t. He told of the trip of the A tross in a very inter xpla‘ning the my: ies “We took them,” he s n the dredge that went to the flour of the and ped up the denizens of The dredge is a eat roy x teen feet lorg and vleven feet wide, The sack is made ot twine, the meshes on t inches long, two incne Outside of thi t with me! two inches long. “In order to fish at an: dredge was attached tc yih desired, t ntie reel cc taining four miles of elghths-inch steel wire. When we let the dredge down and scraped the bottom of the ocean we | would bring up as much of mud, sta worms $s and shells of various i ‘e would have two or different kinds of fish in the dr “The queer fish that we got, the I} which has never been en before, twenty-six inches long and hed be! eight and nine pounds. it w ken at point about one hundred miles southwest a ton in weight lish, Often- ee dozen ——[—[—[———EEE___= of the Pribilof Islands, at a depth of 1,700 fathoms. It resembled the oa kagwh as the macrurus, but still was essentially dif- ferent from anything before discovered. Its head was peculiarly flat in appearance, its eyes very large and its tail dwindling to a point and being curled in action, something like that of a snake. “It was physically constructed so that it could oniy live at this great depth in the ocean, where the weight of the water was So great that it would kill all other animal life. When the fish was drawn up its siom- ach was crushed up out of its mouth, and its eyes were puffed out. It could not live in the upper waters. In its native cepths the darkness was so dense that no other fish could see anything. It was also as cold as in the arctic regions. “When the Albatross reached the Pribi- lof Islands, I stopped and spent some time there looking after the seals. I took many Photographs of them. This the government requires every year. The islands are photo- gtaphed in sections, and the sections are afterward put together, so that an entire view is reproduced. In this way the photo- graphs can be compared with those of pre- vious years. By aid of a glass in Washing- ton the seals may be counted, and by this means we can tell whether they are decreas< ing or not.” e+ —___ A VANDERBILT MANSION. Some of the Striking Features of the New House in Newport. From the New York Herald After passing through the porte cochere at the main entrance of “The Breakers,” Cornelius Vanderbilt's new mansion in New- port, R. L, one comes to the great hall,which is so spacious that it can be utilized for al- most any purpose. From the floor, which is tiled and finished with mosaic designs, it rises straight to the roof, sixty-five feet above. The roof is paneled with dark wood, and is finished in gold. Bronze figures, sup- porting electric lamps, are stationed about the hall, which opens on the loggia at the south end of the mansion, facing the ocean, A grand staircase starts from the hallway, and, at the landing, a few steps up, divides to the left and right. Underneath this stair- way is a fountain which is not visible from the hallway, and could not be seen at all, except that the dining room, which faces it, instead of having a solid wall, has a great glass window, through which the fountain can be seen playing. The first room on the right coming from the north entrance is the HNbrary, which is finished in dark wood. Nearest the grand hall is an exceedingly beautiful and massive fireplace. Within the open space, handsome- jy tiled and finished, is room enough for a man to stand. Above all is a massive mar= ble mantel, the marble having come from Pompeli, it is said, and being valued at $75,000. The ceiling of the ibrary is paneled and finished in dark oak and gold, and the frieze, which is similarly finished, is orna- mented with medallions. The heavy book- cases are set deep into the walls. Adjoining the library, on the west side of the house, is the morning room, a bright, cheerful apartment, finished in white and gold, making it exceedingly cheerful as con- trasted with the library. ‘The parlor is at the southern corner of the house, and from the windows there is a leautiful view of the ocean. This is also finished in light colors, and with its high ceiling and beautiful furniture is a charming apartment. The first room to the left of the main en- trance is a small reception room, finished in blue and gold. There is an open fireplace, surmounted by a heavy mirrer, on one side of which is a gold palmetto tree, in relief, containing a clock. On the other side is a laurel tree, in which is a barometer. Next to this room Is the breakfast room, furnished in white and gold and with an open fireplace. On the other side of the pantry, which leads from the breakfast room, is the large dining room, with its quota of heavy side- boards and china closets. It is from this room that, through the immense glass win- dow, the fountain may be seen. At the southeast corner, with windows facing in the rear, is the billiard room, with woodwork of a rich dark color; the floor and the ceiling are of mosaic. One artistic piece of work here is a picture of a woman, draped. It was originally painted nude, but was changed at Mrs. Vanderbilt's sugges- tion. This room has space enough for four billiard tables, and, with its cheery fire and big, easy chairs, is a most agreeable loung- ing room. For the guests there are thirty-three chambers, some arranged in suites upstai a handsome little elevator being provid for those who do not care to walk. ss MILLERS TOO THIOK. A Comedy of Errors Results From » Coincidence of Hotel Arrivals. From the St. Louls Republic. Three men, each bearing the name of J. J. Miller, registered at the Planters’ yesterday and confusion came with them. One is a Chicago capitalist, another a New Yorker traveling for a linen house, and the third a Vandalia conductor whose home is in In- dianapolis. The first man to register was the conductor, and he got a batch of mail and telegrams that almost put him in a trance, He opened a letter containing a preposition from a firm of New York bank- ers for the purchase of a batch of bonds amounting to several thousand dollars. and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. Then he read a letter protesting against the ity of a batch of linen from a Kansas City merchant, and followed It_up by open- ing a letter addressed to “My Darling Joe,” izned, “Your affectionate wife, Min- * Then he took a tumble that he was against the wrong correspondence and turned it in. Then the capitalist registered and the clerk handed him all the mail and telegrams addressed to J. J. Miller. He opened a letter which should have been given to the con- ductor—which the conductor overlooked— and a telegram to the traveling man. Then he turned in the mail and the third J. J. Miller arrived. He sorted out what was his and the rest was sent to the capitalist, who had the pleasure of reading the letter to the conductor a second time, after which it reached its rightful owner. All day long people came to the hotel to call on one or the other of the Millers, and by a singular fatality the clerks directed the callers wrong. Men who wanted to buy linens were steered to the banker or to the ccnductor’s apartment, where he was t ing to sleep, and people who came to talk about investments were sent to the travel- ing man. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon the climax came, when the traveling man was handed a note signed by a well-known citizen, informing him that the well-known en, with his wife and daughter, extend- ed thanks for the invitation, and would be at the Planters’ for dinner at 6 o'clock. The New Yorker scratched his head. Here,” he called to Clerk Fields, “what is this? IT never landed in such a nervy town, Here is a total stranger and his family In- viting themselves to dinner with me. I did k anybody to dinner. I've been both- M day by people running up to me and talking about things I don't know anything about, then saying, ‘Oh, I beg your pardon,’ and skipping away again. It’s enough to drive a man to drink.” Mr. Fields looked the matter up and dis- covered that the Planters’ was entertaining a triumvirate of Millers. Thereupon the traveling man wrote two notes, one of which he directed to be placed in the box of each of his double’s name. The notes r Mr. J. J. Miller: Hereafter please enter your first name in full on the register of 2 hotel, and oblige, yours truly, “JOSEPH JAMES MILLER.” — = ——.— TWO HOURS FOR PRAYER. Even the Saloon Keepers Closed Their Places of Business. An unvsual witnessed in Kala- mazoo, Mic? At the request of angelists Whittle and Burke are ucting revival meetings, on the day Jas the day of prayer in the city all the business houses were asked to ciose from 2 to 4 o'clock, and the great maj agreed to do so, that their employes | have an opportunity to attend the pr j meet mebor sted t th | ioon rs also ked to clos. } places during thes and a cc j Went around to secure their consent. sommitice was sur s saloon Kecper after saloon keeper se to allow | bis employ ttend the meeting if they y prominent sa- d the two hours doors was posted As far kno the first thme in the state that liquer rsh with the , vhants, closed to help out evangelists. ng was crowded. The best und purest 16 ourht by all, Be sure to \ order Huyler's Cocoa aud Chocolates fom your | grocer.