Evening Star Newspaper, October 10, 1896, Page 22

22 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10,,1896--TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. Die fi 2, =A MISITOR FR PART I. ‘There was a stir in Wilkesburg when the Pearsons arrived from New York. Wilkes- burg was a small town on a branch rail- road in the hilly.region of Kentacky, and time was never a very important commod- ity there. The people grew to be very large and lived to be very old. The representa- tive of their district in Congress was the greatest man they knew, though they heard much of New York, and their notions of it These dim impressions they derived chiefly from the county newspaper, that fearless and vigorous opponent of the trusts and monopolists, of which New York was the home, it is said, and from theft Congressman, who delivered valiant and terrible blows at the plutoerats of the east when he spoke in the little court house square at Wilkesburg. So, without any direct attempt at an enalysis of their feelings, they thought of New York as a great but distant shadow, a place where most of the people were en- tirely given over to unholy greed and to all phases of wickedness. The idea was firmly imbedded in the minds of evezy man and weman in Wilkesburg that Wilkesburs and the thousands of other little places like it scattered between the Atlantic and the Pacific were the true salvation of the coun- try and its rock of hope in a muddy sea. But the one name that conjured up horrors for them was Wall street. it was the abode of burnt-in sin, a kind of witch’s spot in which wi brewed all the evil plans agairst the peace and welfare of the honest rural population. They were convinced that New York was rich a magnificent at their expense, and the subject was often ed, though not In a very bitter way, a thing that it seemed must be, at vlar Saturday afternoon half holi- when the n gathered around the stove In the general store. But their nable feeling of hostility did not blunt their ap- on. Jim was one rous Kentuckian Pears w York twenty years that he was as smart of the Yan- At interv ose long s reporta of Jim’s success would . No one else in Wilkes viding country had ever 5 New York, and at the caucu ove expressions of admiration daring were given with warmth thout reserve. It was a matter of nal pride to every one that a Ken- ive of their own Wiikes- shculd Invade New York and do so They heard that Jim had married In I York a few years after his arrival there, and they wondered how many chil- Gren he had and what he intended to make of them. did not suppose he would ever co: d to visit Kentucky again. t when Tom Crockett, who was Jim's t cousin on his mother’s side, received om Jim saying that Jim and his wi ere coming to pay him a visit, the news was known all over Wiikesburg in less than three hours. Mr. Crockett was a helor, but he kept house, or, rather, an able colored woman kept it for him, in a low but roomy old place that his graud- and had wn father, who was of th t settlers, ilt. Mr. Crockett somewha .” as he described it, at the un- honor, but the ties of kinship and ty are very strong in Kentucky. Kentuckian of the true a host than a guest, may do for the others, aud Mr. was delighted. There was a y in his house, and it was soon in fit condition to recerve a kinsman who, a vi rs to visit his birthplace of his youth. At least, that 1 as The circle around topic. The silver q the m he stove had a new ion, the chances of xt presidency and the relative brav- ery of the northern and southern troops in the civil war were retire temporarily in the presence of Jim Pearson. There were many opinions as to the effect uf New York upon Jim. Young Sol Haselrigg, who was clerk in the store and had aspirations ef his own, eckored that Mr. Pearson would be stuck up” and would think him- self too good for the Wiikesbu people. As for himself, young Mr. E elzigg de- clared he would not take airs from any man, even if he did live in New York. But Mr. ‘Crockett, who was a_chi an, Bto up stoutly for Cousin Jim. He re- membered him well. He was a “right peart” boy, but he was genuine Kentucky stock, and ne didn’t think New York would corrupt him. Mr. Pearson and his wife arrived one sun- shiny Saturday morning, and Mr. Crockett Was at the train to meet them. He recog- nized Cousin Jim at once, despite his New York clothes and the twenty years that had passed. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were in traveling garb, and Wilkesburg did not have much chance to pass judgment on them just then, for Mr. Crockett bore them off hastily to his heus He “reckoned they might be right smart tired, having come such a long journey, and he guessed a go snack and a rest would pearten "em up a Reap.” Mr. Crockett was much worried be they did not bring the children aloug Wanted to have the whole family wit! but Cous: to impose ¢ ‘ause as he h him, Jim explained that he disliked good nature, and he nad ieft d only two children, and they were both voys—at home with friends. The Pearsons reappeared the next day at the Methodist Church with Mr. Crocketi, and were subjected to a mirute examina- tion by the whole population cf W ilkes- burg. It was decided after servi that their clothes were of very advanced type and were the acme of fashion. Young Mr. Haselrigg himself was convinced of tha for he noted with great care ever detail of Mr. Pearson's att The verdict upox thes manners was reserved for further acquaintance, as that was not a matter upon which Wilkesburg would pass lightly acd without mature knowledge. There Mr. Crockett W at the Meet Them. were many who thought that the Pearsons would be “stuck up,” but if the evidence indicated to the contrary they were quite willing to che nge their opinions, Mr. Crockett was over at the store on Monday merning, and he told the half Gozen people who were gossiping there that Cousin Jim and his wife were all right. They had New York ways, it was true, but he guessed they couldn’t help that, as Cousin Jim had lived in the big city twenty ears, and Mrs. Pearson hed lived there all ker life. “But they were taking right kind- ly to Wilkesburg, and weren't trying to Behave topliftical.” This announcement created @ distinct feeling in faver of the Pearsons, for Mr, Crockett was a man of @ubstance and standing in Wilkesburg, and what he said wes to received with re- gpect and belief, - The, Pearsons themseives in their own Train to bloog would | in order | ant clime, was returning | OM KENTUCKY, BY JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER. (Copyright, 1896, by the Bachelier Syndigtte.) ! Proper persons soon became better known to Wilkesburg, and were received with considerable favor. They were rather fond of talking about the greatness of New York, and Cousin Jim showed how he had expanded, but Wilkesburg folks didn’t mind that. Cousin Jim was one of them, and they were glad to hear of his achieve- ment in the metropolis. He was admitted to the Saturday afternoon circle in the store on terms of amity and equality. It was soon discove:ed there that he had very little knowledge of politics, and the least expert among them could “corner him in an argyfication.” But as they knew he had been engrossed for mcre than twenty years in important business affairs they did not lay this up against him. In fact, they were rather glad of it, for while they were willing to confess that Mr. Pearson had beaten them badly in the race for wealth, there wes consolation in knowing that they Were better politicians than he, for in Wilkesburg religion alone takes precedence of politics, and every man is a red-hot partisan. After Wilkesburg had decided that the Pearsons were not “stuck up" despite their worldly prosperity and the fashionable cut of their clothes, the people saw that the visitors had a good time, in so far as the resources of the village went. Mr. Crock- ett, of course, was especially careful to ad- minister to the wants and pleasures of his guests. He always remembered that Cousin Jim was Kentucky born and would overlook in Wilkesburg the absence of the luxuries and splendors to which he was accustomed in New York. When the time came for them to return to New York he was sincerely sorry, but he knew the busy season was coming on and Jim's presence in the great store there Was necessary. So he reluctantly assisted them in the prepa- rations for their departure, urging them many times to come and see him and Wil- kesburg again. We want you to visit us in New York,” said Cousin Jim, “but I don’t suppose you'll ever be traveling that far. To you it would look like going to the end of the werid, wouldn't it? “I reckon tt would,” said Mr. Crockett. “New York's been gettin’ along without me for a long time, an’ I guess it'll have to keep on doin’ it.” . Mr. Pearson laughed. Then they shook hands with Mr. Crockett and his friex and were off for New York, leaving Wu burg to discuss their sayings and doings for many months. Mr. Crockett was proud of the impression that Mr. Pearson and his wife had made. There was an unexpected and heavy ad- vance the following autumn in the price of White Burley tobacco on the Louisville market. Mr. Crockett was an expert raiser of White Burley, and that season it had been his luck to put in an unusually large crop. When winter came and his tobacco was sold he found that he had a very pretty sum of money to his credit in the bank. It was so much that he felt rich and able to take a holid ‘There would be very little work to do until spring about the farm, which was in trim and tidy fix, and when he gave ihe matter further thought he was unable to see ary good reason why he should not indulge bis inclination. Although he soon decided the first point Mr. Crockett was in a state of perplexity fcr some time over other points, equally important. Where and how should he take | his holiday? Such a thing as a set hoiiday had no part ip the life of the five hun- dred people who constituted the population | of Wilkesburg, the only organized amusement ever known in the village was the debating society which met every Fri- day in the cold season, in the school house, and tried very earnestly to decide whether the Indian had suffered more wrongs than the negro, or whether war or whisky had done the greater injury to man. He migat go hunting, but there was no novelty in | that. and, besides, the game was becom- ing very scarce in the region around Wilkesburg. ‘The right idea came to him one evening when he wes locking the barn door after two days of doubt and indecision. He would go to New York and see the Pear- sens. Such a thing as going to New York had never occurred to him before. New Yerk was so far away, and although it | must be real he had never persuaded him- i self that it was. Yet now that he thought of it there seem- ed to be nothing impossible in the idea. He had plenty of money in the bank and no kin to look revroachfully at aim if he | should spend it. ‘There was no reason why he should not take the trip. There was much surprise in Wilkesburg when it became known that Mr. Crockett was going to New York. It had never ner him in an argyfication.” been expected of him, and most of the people doubted his prudence. They argued that Mr. and Mrs. Pearson in Wilkesburg would come down to the Wilkesburg level, but in New York they would stay on the New York level,to which Mr. Crockett could not aspire. Consequently his feelings would get hurt. They gave him much good ad- vice. But, though he trembled a little at his own audacity in going so far, Mr. Crock- ett refvsed to change his mind. In order to provide against any possible interference he wrote immediately to Cousin Jim that he was coming, and the next day followed the letter. As he boarded the train the friendly sta- tion agent advised him to hold his chin mighty high or he would make his New York kinfolks ashamed of him and Wilkes- burg. But Mr. Crockett told him not to be seared, that Cousin Jim was not stuck up and “‘weuld take his Kentucky ways kinder easy.” PART I. The journey to Louisville was 4 trifling matter. Mr. Crockett had made it more than once before, and he knew what to do. Bnt when he changed cars there and took a through train for New York. h2 began to Icse some of the high confidence with which he had left Wilkesburg. This was the first time he had seen the interior of a sleeping car, and when the porter prepared his kerth he approached {it with fear and hesitation. At home he was considered a tall man in a tall community, and when sleep found him long after midnight, he lay with his knees against the top of his berth. Mr. Crockett triumphed over all the diffi- culties of the journey, but when he left the train at Jersey City and found Cousin Jim waiting for him, his New York rela- tive was as welcome as the sight of water in a thirsty land. TI just received your letter this morn- ing,” said Cousin Jim, “It was a big sur- rise. I never thought you'd come this ‘ar. I would have telegraphed you, but it was too late, as I knew you were already on the way, So I told Mary to make ready for you while I came over to meet you.” “Oh, ‘twasn't worth while to spend money on the telegraph company, I man- aged the trip all right,” said Mr, Crockett, heartily, “I knew you'd be powerful glad to see me, ‘causa I recoileet how pressin’ you was for me to pay back that visit you made me, How's Mary and the 8 “Oh, they're very weli,” said Cousin Ji: aid Me” Crockett, looking aridoaliy at said Mr, tically at hig companion. Cousin Jim was a this, rather small man, with nervous and uncer- tain manners. There was no color in his cheeks, and his flesh looked flabby. Mr. Crockett could have crushed him in one hand. But he was all brain, Mr. Crockett had explained on the occasion of his visit to Wilkesburg. It was these thin, nervous little men who did great things. Jay Gould had been a thin, little man. Mr. Pearson wore black clothes somewhat faded. “I’m glad to see you're not puttin’ on style an’ takin’ the shine out of me,” sald Mr. Crockett. “Oh, no,” said Cousin Jim, with a little smile; “I’m not much of a follower of the fashions here in New York. I like to be | and I stick to my working clothes ere. “You do credit to your Kentucky raisin’, Cousin Jim,” said Mr. Crockett, “and, be- sides, people in big business don’t have much time to bother with fashions, I guess, ‘less they’re on a holiday.” Mr. Crockett's train had arrived in the night, and the trip on the ferry over the river was one of interest and delight. Be- fore him, sparkling with many lights, lay the great city, long and narrow, .like a gleaming sword blade thrust out into the sea. Mr. Crockett was glad that he had come to New York. “I hope Cousin Mary hasn’t put herself out for me,” he said. “'"Tain’'t worth while to make any fuss and bustle over me. Just let a servant fix a bed for me tonight, and tomorrow when I've played around on the grass awhile with the children I'll go down to the store and see how you boss things.” ‘We have no yard,” said Cousin Jim with seme haste. “This is New York, you know. It's not like Kentucky. Even the Vander- bilts and Astors don't have yards.” Mr. Crockett was taken aback somewhat. Land must be mighty dear in New York, he said. When they reached the New York side they walked to the elevated road and entered a train that carried them several miles uptown. Leaving the train they turned into a Street which Mr. Crockett thought the preety city of New York ought to light bet- er. “You mustn’t expect much of us,” said Cousin Jim, deprecatingly. “We don’t ZO im for any great style. You know I’m only a plain man from Kentucky, and Mary looks at things just as I do.” “That’s right! That's right!” said Mr. Crockett, with great heartiness. “A man oughtn’t to be better’n his raisin’, no mat- ter how well he gets along. New York hasn’t spoiled you, Cousin Jim, an’ I’m mighty glad to see that it hasn't.” They came to a large building with a plain brick front. Some ill-kept children were playing in the street and one of them raised the cry: ‘Country! Country!” when the long-legged Kentuckian, towering more than a head above Cousin Jim, stalked up. But Mr. Crockett did not know that the cry was aimed at him, and his peace of mind was not disturbed. Mr. Pearson stepped Into the doorway. There were rows of tin tubes on either side of the narrow entrance. He pressed some- thing fixed in a brass plate under one of the tubes. Mr. Crockett watched him with great curiosity, but the experience he had acquired on his journey, added to his na- tive shrewdness, made him too cautious to ask questions. Nevertheless he was sur- prised when the door flew open, and he came very near to making some comment. But he restrained himself and followed Cousin Jim inside. Mr. Pearson led the way up a narrow staircase. There was no carpet on the steps, and a close, heavy odor, as of air that had been breathed more than once, filled the hall. A lamp glimmered feebly at a turning in the staircase. One of Them Raised the “Country! Country!” Cry: “Cousin Jim is a little more savin’ than I reckoned he was,” thought Mr. Crockett, “put it’s just as well, I'm a keerful man myself.” They climbed up and up, and it seemed to Mr. Crockett that they would never come to the end of those steps. He was a muscular man and could have thrown Cousin Jim over his shoulder and carried him a quarter of a mile without feeling any overwhelming exhaustion, but he was not accustomed to climbing steps. “You live pretty high up, "pears to me, Cousin Jim,” he risked at last. yes,” said Mr. Pearson, with a faint smile it’s healthier, you know. The higher you go the better the air.” Mr. Crockett had not thought of that. But the end of those steps came at last ard they knocked at a door five flights from the grcund. They were welcomed by Mrs. Pearson, a small woman, who was pallid and flabby like her husband. Mr. Crockett was a gallant man and he did not forget the ties of Kinship. He opened his arms and gave Mrs. Pearson a hearty embrace. Tien he kissed her on the cheek. A little color came into her pale face. “Powerful glad to see you, Cousin Mary,” said Mr. Crockett, ‘and it perked me up mightily to see Cousin Jim, too, standin’ there on the platform when the train came up. I'd a had a pesky hard time findin’ you all by myself in this great city. Now don’t you tucker yourself out foolin’ with my valise and overcoat. Just let your servant take ‘em and throw ‘em into the corner anywheres.” “The fact is,” said Mr. Pearson, “our servants left us yesterday and we haven't been able to get others that suited us yet. Haven't you read in the papers about the trouble we have in the cities with servants? Always dissatisfied, always striking. There's no getting along with them. I really believe it's easier sometimes to let them go entirely and do one’s own work.” “That's so! That's so!” assented fr. Crockett, cheerfully. “I wouldn't have no slouchin’ servants foolin’ around me. I like doin’ my own work, but it might be different with Cousin Mary. She don't "pear to be real strong. “Oh, yes, I am strong, “My looks deceive you.” In proof of her words she snatched up the valise and overcoat and disappeared with them down a dark and pinched little hall. Mr. Crockett was taken presently into the front room, where he struck twice against chairs and once against the wail. An oil lamp stood on the dresser, and Cousin Jim apologized for the dimness of its light. “It's bad, I know,” he said, “‘but the gas company is such a robber. Every month they'll send in a bill for two or three times the amount of gas you really use. It’s not so much the money we mind, but 1! the principle of the thing. That's the reason we had our meter taken out. It’s the only way you can fight these grasping corpora- tions. Lots of millionaires on 5th avenue have done the same thing.” Mr. Crockett admired Cousin Jim's stand for principle. He had a great horror of all corporations, which he was convinced were ruining the country, and he was heart and soul with Cousin Jim in his fight against the gas company. But this did not drive away the sense of physical uneasiness which had seized him when he entered the room. He did not know where to put him- self. The chairs scemed too small for his bulky frame, and he was afraid that if he stretched out his legs they would reach from one wall to the other. Mr. Crockett was accustomed to wide areas, and he felt suffocated, Mrs. Pearson spread a white cloth on a small table and brought in some coffee and cold meat and bread and butter. Mr. Crockett was hungry, hungrier than he Isked to say, and he pulled up his chair with alacrity when Cousin Jim invited him to attack the food. But he was surprised to see that Mr. and Mrs, Pearson took no hend at the knife and fork, He asked them to join him. He said he didn’t think it was manners for him to eat alone. But Cousin Jim shook hie head, “We ate dinner,” he said, with the same faint little smile, “before I went down to the train to meet you. We ate so heartily that we really have no appetite now for anything more.” Mrs. Pearson nodded assent. said Cousin Mary. Mr. Crockett turned.-to-the meat and coffee again with a relieved conscience. He was surprised to find how extremely hun- gry he was. He was a very large man and required plenty of food. Slice after slice of the meat and the bread@@pd butter disap- Peared, and Mr. C ett became con- scious, presently, that usin Mary was watching him with kggn, apprehensive eyes. He reached tae it slice of meat and wondered why Co Mary did not bring more. But she mo movement. Mr. Crockett was sorely ftempted to eat that one remaining stlice,/but he had been taught in Kentucky tl it was not good manners to take the last plece of food from the plate, and so, after g@gruggle, he let it alone. When he pushed chair back, and while Consin Mary wag ‘purriedly taking us things away, he juired about the joys. morning, and I make thei after dark.” 5 “Schocl must take ug‘:powerful early here,” said Mr. Crockett;“if boys have to tumble out of bed that way. They must be m‘ghty smart boys livin’ here in New York all their lives. Know Greek and Latin and all them things, don’t they?” “I've taken them away from school,” said Cousin Jim, exchanging glances with his wife. I’m a practical man, you know. This ts a workaday age. Boys can study books so much that they become unfit for real life; so I have put mine to work. I want to give them a training that will make them keen, hard-headed business men.” e There was sense in that, Mr. Crockett said, and nobody ought*to know better than Cousin Jim. Still, it seemed a pity to make boys fend for themselves when so young. But, as Cousin Jim stood up stout- iy for his theory, and Cousin Mary sup- ported him in it, he did not press the point. He said he was sorry he couldn't see the boys until morning, but he reckoned he go to bed soon “When I lie down, shall I stick my head or my feet out of the window?” oughin’t to disturb them. As it was late and he was tired, he hinted that he would like te go to bed also. Cousin Jim took him to his bed room, and, setting a lamp on the little dresser, left him. Mr. Crockett looked at the room and the bed, and then cogitated deeply. “When I lie down. shall I stick my head or my feet out of the window?” was the question. While giving jt time to turn itself over in his mind he looked out at the interminable roofs and concluded once again that land must he’mighty dear in New York. : PART If. Mr. Crockett was awakéned early in the morning by a rasping of.nopes and jangling of bells. He thought at fret it was a fire, and leaped from the bed if alarm, striking his head against a prdjegting corner of the wall. But ne socn degided that it was no fire. He could hear voices as if some cne were shuuting up a Jong chimney. The voices were distinét enough for him’ to un- derstand many of the wotds “that were said. Thre was a threat’ tiboiit never send- ing up any more meat tmless the last month's bill was settie®! and then a’ dif- ferent voice was hear@''in éxpostulation and entreaty. Mr. Crockétt did not catch the end of the discusston: ~ : Mr. Crockett did riot Steep “any more, and was called to breakfast at hour later. The boys were there, small and sharp-faced like their parents. Mr. Crovkett ‘greeted them with affection, for he was a warm- hearted man, but-he coum not say that he took to them ver¥ much. They seemed too old for their years. Jim ought to have let them stay at school longer. There was such a thing as crowding & boy teo-much. The breakfast consisted of coffze, bread and butter, ard some thin slices of bacon. “We've grown out of that old Kentucky way of eating a big meal at breakfast,” said Cousin Jim. “It’s a very }ad habit. Awful on the digestion. The Europeans, who know much “more about the art of eating than we do, have only bread and butter and coffee or tea at breakfast. You country people suffer terribly from dys- pepsia, and it's all caused by overeating.’ Mr. Crockett admitted that Cousin Jim might be right. Nevertheless, he was very hungry when the breakfast was over. The boys slid away So quietly that he did not notice their absence until they had been gone several minutes. “I spose you have ‘em in the business with you, so they can take charge of it when you feel like retirin’,” hazarded Mr. Crockett. Cousin Jim did not deny the correctness of his supposition. The breakfast being finished, it was suggested that Mr. Crock- ett go down to Central Park and spend the morning there. His host and hostess were sorry they cowld not go with him, but one was compelled to look after the business, and the latter, owing to the tem- porary lack of servants, could not neglect her household duties. But Mr. Crockett demurred. Central Park could wait. He be- lieved he would go down with Cousin Jim and see how a big dry goods store was run. Cousin Jim, with rather more vigor than he had shown at any time before, sought to get this notion cut of Mr. Crockett's head. Business was suclt a commonplace thing, he said, that a mere looker-on was bound to be bored. But Mr. Crockett did not think so. He could see grass and trees every day in Kentucky as good as any they had in Central Park, and the dry goods store would interest him much more. He was not to be dissuaded. They went down together on the elevated road and entered the big dry goods store in the heart of the shopping district, just as the clerks were gathering for their work. Back i the rear of the great room Mr. Crockett covll see the high brass rail- ing that surrounded the offices. But Cous- in Jim did not go back there. He hung hit hat in a niche and stationed himself like a soldier beside a table that stood in front of shelves loaded with rolls of cloth. “Don't you go back every mornin’ to see The Large Man Tapped Him on the ‘ | Shoulder. the other partners?” asked Mr. Crockett. “No,” said Cousin Jim,,a flush coming into his sallow cheeks. ‘{We've had some trouble with salesmien at this counter and I'm looking after it myself today. I think you had better walk around the store and see the things.” Mr. Crockett took his advice and strolled up and down the aisles, wondering if New York had enough pedpie to buy all the goods in that big building. There were many girls behind the counters, and Mr. Crockett spoke gallantly to one of them, saying that he hoped that Cousin Jim treated her well in the store. “Cousin Jim,” she asked, in surprise. “Who is that?” “Why, Mr. Pearson; don’t you see him over there?” “Oh, yes, he treats me all right,” said the — dryly. “We clerks don’t complain of 4m."* By and by a large man, almost as large “Why did you not sell her some goods?” as Mr. Crockett, but much more pom- pous, approached him. He displayed so much expanse of shirt bosom, and carried himself with so much haughtiness, that Mr. Crockett concluded this must be the senior partner at least. The large man tapped him on the shoul- der and asked him if he wanted to buy anything. Mr. Crockett explained that he was a relative of Mr. Pearson, and had come to see how he managed the establish- ment. “Oh!” said the man, giving a ris- ing Inflection to the word. But he walked on, and presently when he passed Cousin Jim he said something to him that made his face flush again. The store soon filled with customers, and there was such a great hurly burly that it made Mr. Crockett’s head swim. He be- came tangled up two or three times in crowds of customers and clerks, and it seemed to him that he got in the way of everybody. He wanted air, but ie would not leave the store, for the sight was in- teresting to him. Shriil voiced little boys and girls shrieked “Cash! Cash!” until his ears rang, and as one of the boys dashed past him he caught a glimpse of the face of Cousin Jim's eldest son. After awhile he wandered back toward the counter at which he had left Cousin Jim and found him still there. But Cousin Jim was so busy that Mr. Crock=tt would not disturb him just then. A woman was sitting cn the stool in front of the counter and Cousin Jim was showing her the rolls of cloth. He had almost covered the coun- ter with them, but she insisted on seeing more. He dragged them down from the shelves for her until the heap rose so high that orly his head showed behind it. But still she was not satisfied, and she spoke very sharply to Cousin Jim, decrying the quality of his goods and asking him why he showed her such stuff. Mr. Crockett wondered how Cousin Jim stood it so pa- tiently, and was rather proud of his for- bearance. The woman looked at the goods some time longer, but she took nothing, and, express- ing her dissatisfactign in blunt terms, rose up ard left. Mr. Crockett was about to ask Cousin Jim if all the women in New York were like that, but he saw the large man with expansive shirt bosom approach- ing he held back. “Why did you not sell her some goods?” asked the large man, angrily, of Cousin Jim. “You should never iet any one who comes to your counter go away without makirg u purciase.” “But we did not have anything that she wanied,” said Cousin Jim, deprecatingly. “Then you should have sold her some- thing that she didn’t want,” said the man, with incréasing temper. He sald other things in a lower tone that Mr. Creckett didn’t catch, and when he turned away Cousin Jim’s countenance was very downcast. Mr. Crockett watched him for a moment or two and then drew near. “I heard what that man said to you, he said. “Down in my part of Kentucky if a man talked to me that way I'd draw a gun on hiin.” 3 And Mr. Crockett’s hand fell significant- ly on his hip pocket. “But this is in New York,” said Cousin Jim, sadly, “and you can’t shoot everybody who treats you badly. Mr. Crockett made no further remark. He left the store presently and spent the remainder of the day strolling along Broadway. He had intended to make a week's visit, but he stayed only two days. Cousin Jim feebly asked him to remain longer with him, but he wouldn't be per- suaded. (The End.) coe CATCHING A DEER BY THE TAIL. It Can Be Done, but It is Not Without Its Disadvantages. From the Milwaukec Sentinel. ‘The process of grabbing deer by the tail is full of difficulty, but it is not to be com- pared, in that respect, with hanging on after getting a grab on the tail. The deer is wary. The deer is fleet, and its tail is short, but, in spite of al! difficulty, a man who is not 100 feet from me as I write caught a young deer by the tail a few days ago, and remained a sort of tail attach- ment over windfall and slough and stump for a considerable distance. The man was out in the forest on his big farm looking for wildcats with an especial eagerness on account of the bounty of $6 a cat offered by the authorities. As he was wading up the creek with a pair of old shoes protecting his feet from the rocky bottom he espied a fawn at a lick. While he was looking at the little spotted beauty it lay down beside a log and the hunter re- solved to get the little animal alive. He knew that if he could get hold of one or both of the fawn’s hind-legs he would suc- ceed. Luckily, the cows of the farm appeared at that moment, on the way to the creck, for a drink, and the fawn, evidently a fre. quenter of the pasture, seemed to be un- concerned after a quick glance at the vows. Seizing the opportunity, the hunter, while the cows were coming and cracking branch- es and sticks, stole up to the log. A mo- ment later the fawn passed ‘directly in front of him, and the hunter made a auick thrust of h's arms to catch the deer by the hind legs. He partly succeeded, but in the struggle that followed, with the star- ing cows and yearlings as spectators, the delicate limbs of the fawn began to slip out of the vise of the human hands, and somehow or other, in desperation, the man grabbed the fawn’s tail. The little animal began ‘o run, and the hunter, who is a very stroag man, held desperately to the tail. Down an old log- ging road they went a little way, and then the fawn turned In. It could not run very fast with a man attached to its tail, but the first quarter of a mile was done in good time nevertheless. About the begin- ning of the second the fawn went over a log and headed for a thicket. In spite of all, the little beauty reached the brush and plunged in. ‘The hunter -vas scraped off and had the pleasure of seeing the fawn join its mother on the other side of the thicket and dart off with her into the depths of the forest. + 0+ ____ ADVENTURES OF TELEGRAPHERS. A Newfoundland That Kept Watch— Value of Broiled Muskrat. Fron the New York Sun. Telegraph operators have queer expe- riences at times, especially at the lonely railroad stations where travel is light, hours long and the work is done at night. An experience meeting of sailors, so far as the yarn spinning is concerned, is as mild compared to a telegraphers’ social session as milk is to a tar’s shore leave. Several knights of the key were sitting about a table down town after hours re- cently when the tongues began to wag abcut experiences. Gil Bradley started H. as sent one night to sub on the ‘Texas and Pacific at a little station called Gordon,” he said. “There was one hotel of four rooms a mile from the telegraph station, and two or three cabins about the same distance off. The regular oper- ator had his rooms over the station and freight house, where supplies were received for the coal mines several miles away. It was the loneliest place I ever struck, but I had to work. After fixing things I lay down on a bench to wait for the next freight. I suppose I dozed, for I jumped up with a start at feeling a cold wet nose shcved into my face. There was a big Newfoundland dog wagging his tail as merrily as a buzz saw cuts through soft wood. * Well, that dog ran first to the light- ed lantern on the floor, then back to me, and then pretty soon'I began to think sumething was wrong. Up I got and he led me all through the freight house, up to the operator’s rooms, and back to the office, then calmly went to sleep with one eye open and one ear pricked up. I waited tor the train, but befcre I heard it he began te bark. “The next night the same performance. Well, after that I used to go to sleep, und for the week I was there that dog kept watch. You see, the regular was fond of sleep at night so he could play poker all day. I never told on him, but that was a well-trained dog.” “That's no experience,” said Billy Mar- shall. “There was only half a thrill in that. | Why, in 1888, during the blizzard, I was holding down a night job in New Jersey. It was the dreariest spot that a railroad official could pick out for a sta- tion. It was so quiet in the daytime that you could hear the sunlight glint and at night the shadows fall. It was snowing when I went on at night and all trains were blocked, and by morning I was almost buried. My lunch was long ago gone, and I felt like grinding my teeth into some breakfast. Dinner time came and went, supper hour passed, and no relief arrived. I chewed on lead pencils and rubber bands until I felt like a girl bookkeeper. I pulled in my belt and nearly cut myself in two, but the old hunger was there just the same. So I tried to sleep, but there was ne sleep in me with that gnawing at my stcmach. “All at once I saw three muskrats come up through a hole in the floor, Muskrat Was better than starvation, so I made for them with a poker, killed one, and the others got away to freeze to death. Skin- ning that fellow and dressing bim didn’t take long, and with wire I rigged a broiler. You bet your life the smell of that cook- ing rat was just great joy, and I'm no chink, either. " It just tickled me so that I fell asleep and only woke up when he was so burnt that the odor nearly choked me. ‘The snow plow came along soon, how- ever, and when I got filled up egain'I was sort of glad I hadn't put down the old muskrat after He might not have agreed with me.” AS TO FERRY BOAT SUICIDES. New Light From Wechawken Upon the Curious Ways of Women Fron the New York Sun. # It is one thing to get an assignment to write a story. It is another thing to find a man who will tell a story that will be readable. A Sun reporter had an assignment to in- terview some man at a ferry, and ask him hew many people he had seen jump from ferry boats Into the river; how many were women and how many were men; how many more jumped in the afternoon than in the morning, how many more jumped in the evening; and why those who did jump always made the leap from ike crowded end of the boat, where the chances of rescue were greater than they would be aft, where no one is present. If Mr. Depew were a ferryman he would have had data at hand that would have made an interesting story. But your aver- age ferryman is not a Depew. The reporter had to do the best he could with the matcrial at hand. He went to a half dozen ferries and asked these ques- icns, but the responses were not encour- aging. The only one who showed a dispo- sition to be accommodating was one who is ch waich on the Weenawken line. A fel- low of infinite jest, he dces not know It. “How many people have you seen jump from the ferries on this line?” he was asked. “This year?” “Yes, this year will do as well as any.” “Lemme see, I don’t believe I’ve seen any jump this yea ‘Well, Jast year.” ‘I_ wasn’t here last year.” “Where were you—if you were at any ferry “Fulton street.” “How many did you see jump from Ful- ten street ferries?” Never saw any. ‘Please state, from any ferries where you have worked, how many you ever saw jump “Well, I never counted "em. “Did you ever sce any? “Oh, yes. I've seen some. I never counted 'em.” “Have you seen more men than women jump?” “Wimmen’s more on the jump than men, as far as I can recollect. Are you inter- viewin’ me for the papers?” “Yes.” “Well, make it wimmen, then. I think I have seen more wimmen jump than men. I don’t think I ever see but one man jump, come to think of it, and he didn’t jump. Only tried to.” “Well, let that one go. Now about the women. Do they jump mostly in the after- noon, the morning or the evening.” “Oh, you can’t tell anything about that. You never can tell when a woman {fs going to jump overboard. She is just as likely to jump in the middle of the day.” “From the forward end of the boat, gen- erally?” “Generally, yes. Where the crowd is. They like to hear people holler, and get up excitement.” “Then you think it is for effect—that they do not really want to drown? “Sure. Why, we fished out a woman enct that had life preservers on her. Not cn this line, though. I reckon somebody's been stringin’ you. S’pose you think that most anybody’d ruther jump in the river thar to get off at Weehawken. But that ain't so. Weehawken ain’t a bad town to live in when you're onct acquainted there. Purty sood society in Weehawken. “How many women have you rescued, of those who have jumped overboard? “Only that one I told you about. ‘he others were lost?” “Oh, I don’t know. You never can tell. Now, if a man jumps over and goes down, and you don’t see him come up, the chances is that he’s a goner. But a woman'll jump over, and stay under, and get her name and picter in the papers, and make a lot of trouble in the family, and get up a mystery, and about the time the flowers Is bought for the funeral she’ll turn up all right, and get the rake off.” “The what?” “The rake off—the flowers and the em- blims of mournin’, and the kiss and the make-up. Reckon you don’t know much about wimmen. You'd better write up scmethin’ else. There ain’t nothin’ in this business you've been askin’ about. a ee EXPENSIVE HORSE TRAPPINGS. But, as I said, Sets of Harness That Cost Many Thousands of Dollars. From London Tid-Bits. “J have—not once, but many times— krown thousands of dollars to be spent on a single set of harness, and I may te]l you that at least two orders given in Lon- don--for a great part of the first-class har- ness of the world is made in England—in respect of the coronation of the czar of Russia came to quite $10,000 each,” said the marager of one gant — fashionable makers in England. hatthore are few articles which admit of more luxurious mounting than harness, and from $500 to $3,000 is by no means an uncommon price to pay for any sort of ceremonial harness, where many sets are uired. veaBut there are several historical sets of harness which have cost $50,000 for the set. The former sum was paid for the harness of the first Napoleon, and that of Napoleon III, which 1 remember well, in- clude in the making no fewer than 170 dozen morocco skins, besides magnificent gold work of every description. I have heard of small parts of this harness being sold at all sorts of places, and a year or two back. I was offered a portion, with gold work upon it, for a few pounds. “Lord Lonsdale—who has whips, histori- cally interesting and magnificently mount- ed, alone in the value of some thousands of dollars—bought this same piece. But I cculd go on for a long time telling you of magnificent harness. I call to mind one specimen, given by a Russian to a French actress, which had precious stones as well as gold work upon it. “Quite recently the khedive of Egypt placed a $10,000 order for harness in Lon- don, chased gold buckles and gold em- broidered pad cloths being features in this, but, to my knowledge, both the late Ma- harajah Dhulcep Singh and the present gackwar of Bareda have paid much larger sums for similar articles made here. “A portion of the czar’s coronation har- ness order was placed in England, and the many sets of harness cost thousands. Be- sides gold, morocco skins and jeweled coats of arms, a huge quantity of ostrich feath- ers was required, for each of 148 horses sported a splendid plume. Our ambassa- dor, Sir Nicholas O'Connor, ordered new harness, costing a very large sum, and the Italians placed a very large order here in connection with their representative's ap- pearance at the coronation.” Struck In The Back. The Curious Accident Which Befell an Aged Lady. From the Press, Utica, N. ¥. Mrs. Nancy Lappeus, the widow of the late Mr. John Lappeus of Eden, Brie county, New York, and now residing with her son, Rev. Daniel P. Lappeus, the pastor of the Baptist Church of Brookfield, New York, is an old lady nearly seventy-seven years of age, well known in the locality where she now resides, and in Erie county, ber husband hay- ing been one of the *forty-niners,” or °aliforuia pioneers. Several years ago she accidentally re- ceived an injury to ber spine, which resulted im creeping paralysis or palsy of both hasds and wrists, from which she has beea cured. Her case being a remarkable one on accouvt of her great age, Mrs. Lappeus’ own statement of ber cure is ven: an “BROOKFIELD, New York, July 21, 2596. “My name is Nancy Lappeus. I am seventy-seven years old, and- the wide Lappeus, deceased, who died some three ye at Eden, New York, which time I Sided with my eon, Kev, Daniel P. Lappous, @ clergyman of the Baptist Church, and living Low at this place, nearly of Jobn “About five years ago I was overtaken we curious accident, through some boys who were peaying on the street wath boxing gloves at Eden, New York. By some means, while guing into the post oltice, I was struck in the back by one of the boys, the blow resulting so seriously (hat for mouths I was unable to lie down, but had to take my rest in a chair, and suffered great pain from fujury to the spine. I was gradually affected by creeping palsy in both hauds, which would become deadly white, beginning at the finger ends, the pails being blue, apd the sense of touch or feeling in the affected parts suspended. “The physicians, when these attacks appeared, would order me to immerse my hands in ter, aud this generally gave temporary relief, the attacks became more frequent, and I xnew if they were not stayed I should entirely Jose ibe use of my hands, if not my arms. The doctor said they could do no more for me, but I determined not to leave any stone unturned that could afford me possible relief. “At this time I learned through the mrwspapers some of the extraordinary cures that had been ef- fected in all manner of diseascs by Dr. Willa: Pink Pills, and with my husba full consent began to take them. I ent began in my condition almost immediately, and in a few all symploins of the palsy left me, and returned since. Iam a firm believer sprove) form, all the elements necessary to give and richness to the blood and restore nerves, They are an unfailing specifi diseases as locomotor ataxia, part St. Vitus’ dance, sciatica, neuralgia, Bervous headache, the © effect palpitation of the heart, pale and sallow com fons, all forms of weakness either In male or fe- male. Tink Pills are sold by all dealer, or will ve sent post paid on receipt of price, sa box, or six boxes for are 1 4 in bulk or by ssing Dr. Williams? WORSE THAN INDIANS. An Old Pioncer's Estimate of Prices of Modern City Life. From the Buffalo E: s “So you were a pi of the west?” answered the graybeard. cu lived among the hostile Indi Yes.’ “Lived with a rife in your hands and in hourly expectation of being the mark for a hidden enemy's ouli “It was something like that.” Do you know, I often think that a life like that must be terrible. I should think eer in the early days the mere strain on the nerves would kill a man in a short time—holding your iife in your hand all the time, always conscious that a moment's relaxation of vigilance I don’t know,” replied the gray- “When I came from the west I ixty years old and did not have a gray hair. I got off the railroad and Started to walk across the street. Half way over I heard the dingedest clanging and yelling right at my heels I ever heard and somebody gave me a push that sent me clear to the curb. Then, when I looked arovrd, I saw I'd come within an ace of being run over by a trolley. Never had so rarrew an escape from Indians. “I went into a saloon close by drink and settle my nerves. While I was standing at the bar a couple of fellows got into a scrap and one of them threw a heavy beer mug. Didn't hit the other fel- low, but it came w:thin a sixteenth of an inch of my right temple. “I started to walk up town and tho first crossing I came to a policeman grabbed me by the shoulder and jerked me across so quick it made my head swim. I looked to see what was the matter, for there were no car tracks on that street, and I saw I had just escaped being run down by @ hack-nan hurrying to catch a train to get a “Up-street a little further, somebody yelled ‘Look out!” at me, and when I jumped a big icicle fell and struck where I had been standing. “I got to my hotel an the door when so: y esked me if I wanied to be killed. Thay Were hoisting a safe into a second-story windew over where I'd been trying to go and I hadn't more than got out of the Way before a rope broke and it dre “I went to bed and about midnight I was called up by a bell ringing over my head and found the place was on fire, and I had to slide down a rope to escape. Be- ing a sound sleeper, they'd had hard work to wake me, and I had barely touched the grocrd when the roof feli in. “When I looked in the glass I first streaks of gray that had eve ow- ed themselves in my hair. Oh, there's dan- gers in civilized life as well as out on the ploins!” was heading for grabbed me and y the ——__+«-+-____ Electric Lights and the Eyes. From the American Journal of Photography. The question of injury to the eyes from electric light is being prominently discussed by scientists, oculists and laymen through- out the country. While opinion widely dif- fers as to the ultimate injury likely to result from the rapidly increasing* use of electricity, the consensus of opinion is that light from uncovered or uncolored globes is working damage to the eyesight of human- ity. In a discussion of the subject a Lon- don electric light journal, in defending its trade, feels called upon to make some im- portant admissions. It says: “It is not cus- tomary to look at the sun, and not even the saost enthusiastic electrician would sug- gest that naked ares and incandescent fila- ments were objects to be gazed at without limit. But naked are lights are not usually placed so as to come within the line of sight, and when they do accidentally,what- ever ray result, the injury to the eye is quite perceptible. The filament of a glow- lamp, on the other hand, is most likely to meet the eye, but a frosted bulb is an ex- tremely simple and common way of en- tirely getting over that difficult The whole trouble can be easily remedied by the use of properly frosted or colored glass globes. In any case, however, the actual permanent injury to the eye by the <low- ing flament is no greater than that due to en ordinary gas flame.” w streaky, BLEACHED o GRAY K may be. Tt is clean, odorless, insting, It does not contain an atom of Polscnous matter. Baths do Bot affect it, either doas carling or crimping. Incom- parable for the BEARD on Account of its durability snd cleanl ness. No. 1, Black. No. 2, Dark Brown. No. 8. Medium Imperial Chemical In Washingt Mertz. Appl leat! No. 1110 G st. aw. Mg. Go, 202 Sth ave.. X. ¥ sold’ by ‘Palais Royal, EA. P. made at Marlborough Perlora, 008,10817