Evening Star Newspaper, February 27, 1897, Page 19

THE EVENING STAR, f SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1897-24 PAGES, 19 wars St acholl } Written for The Evening Star. } His name was Roland, which was very fine, as every one will admit. It was also Perkins, which not so fine; he admitted so keen in fa that himself. He wa: conscious of the disproportion between the two names that he came at last to be known as plain Perkins. Mr. Perkins had been left an orphan at the early age of seven and had passed the of wisdom, as defined by the law. be- fore he learnt aught of the history of his celebrated namesake. ‘ As Mr. Jackworthy’s business improved, s0 also cid the position of his young ap- prentice, till, at twenty-two, behold our Roland the prop of Mr. Jackworthy’s de- clining years and practica! manager of his very lucrative concern. Up to the age of three and twenty, then, Roland lived a happy life. Then there be- fell the one great event of his life—he fell in love. No, not to one of his own station did the great heart of Roland yield, but to the lady Maud Ellanton, the daughter of his grace, the I of Marishire! It wes soon over. this fir: sion of Re in this w behind him a noticing, car After supper nd last pas- ne about stomer left kins room for ety. its pages, where One night a ¢ eld beck, which Mr. Pe to ed his he reat n of th= story of his » type of knightly chival- ry, gne's great paladin, R A fanciful accoun’ no doubt, t one absorbed the reader, and gave to the he bi nd had learned to detest a new interest scination rn more «bout th resser to him: found his way io the the astonished ndant e Hterature whi found for kins in his ory, & to the romance ef old had woven around his y own, his namesake. he walked homeward jn the gathering darkne Rolan stop 5 springy ad was he S shone, and his whole being was aglow with @ new and entirely pleasurable excitement. R drew near Mr. Jackwor use, which adjoined the shop. he estimable man standing at the anxiously up and dow reived his assis dan excl. w he tha - As soon as you ba must go to the Dul s ess Lady Maw Mr. shire a cos Pou! at house, Mr. where he waited eg ance of the lady. en a zuing one for Ro- omed to pore over musty S brain was already tired with the weight krowledg: stra How of its newly-acquired store of which coursed through it in a mble of fact and fancy. ed he never knew, but he sat in a chair before the Mr. Perkins’ head drooped for- ward on his chest, the curling tongs slipped from his hand to the floor, and he dropped heavily asleep. Hie awoke with a start. To his dazed eyes, only half opened, the mirror and his own sordid reflection therein were invisible, and he locked or thought he looked upon an apparition from another world, so ex- quisitely beautiful was the face at which he gazed. so lustrous, so angelic were the soft, kind eyes which looked into his own. In one moment, however, the dream faded and reality took its place, and with many Stammering apologies the sleeper rose tq his feet. But that moment had done its fatal nd Roland Perkins felt bound, meta- ily. hand and foot before the charms y Maud. Feil into love so pas- so wild, so hopeless, that only the A FATAL pathos of it saved it from being ridiculous. + Lady Maud, all ur cio » had wrought. graciously the hairdresser had had a he ck. But Rolanc was mute, a lutely turned from the nm the fair head before De he hav quiring eay's with mirror, and Kim, he went and swiftly on with | his task - Only it reared completion, r and i himself to | instant his n swam, and temporary leave of him. and from his ate sound, so iy Maud in the glass, r a look so wild, so agon- fied at own K face A MODERN ROLAND, LEVON LOONIE OY ack aghast, only moment later and ‘smile this visible effect of her uty. ntly she looked again, and still and, forgetful of everything else, gazed her face in the mirror. But now his ex- pression was anged. Dumb misery, hope- less icnging, patient submission to the In- evitable the lady read there, and more amazed than ever, yet feeling some slight touch of pity for this luckless worshiper, she said softly: “You have done my hair beautifully. I @m so much obliged to you.” Then, rising to her feet and facing him in all her loveliness, she added: “You will iNOW Leet, W AS WN Kee} selse > let me offer you this in recognition of the trouble you have taken.” But Roland recofled from her extend- ed hand. He could not speak; but a hot blvsh over his face, and his eyes were as these of an animal in pain. “I see,” said Lady Maad. “I beg your pardon. But I shall ask Mr. Jackworthy to send you to dress my hair in future. You are so much cleverer than Mr. Poul- ter. Please tell me your name.” But still Roland was dumb. His speech was paralyzed and he vainly essayed to answer. “Perkins,” he would have said, and ah, how hateful it seemed. But not a word would come. Suddenly his tongue Was Icosened, and unable to control him- self, Impelled by a force he could neither feeling about his mouth and throat which he had experienced the night before. All in » moment Lady Maud stood before him, and then the memory of his shame over- came him, and he hung his head in agony. Lady Maud, however, sat down without a werd, and the hairdresser began his task. Only when it was completed and he turned to go, she rose and faced him. “I was very rude to you last night, Mr. ” “Perkins,” he interrupted hurriedly. “And don’t name it, my lady. I made a fool of myself. I had been reading—and I was tired—I forgot—I—I—" he stammered, ard hung his head again. “And I hurt your feelings, Mr. Perkins,” said Lady Maud. “Believe me, I did not mean to do so. Will you forgive me?” Roland cast one swift glance at her love- ly face, lit with a tender smile in which was no suggestion of derision, and then with a grace no oue could have suspected in him, he sank upon his knee, and lifting the hem of her gown to his lips, pressed a passionate kiss upon it, ard before she could recover from her surprise, had hur- ried from the house. For a moment Lady Maud stood perfectly still. Then she smiled; then she laughed a light little laugh. “Poor fellow!’ she said softly to herself, and descended to her carriage. How it came about no one could exactly say, but coachman and footman were flung different ways, and lay stunned and bleed- ing on the road, while the splendid horses, mad with terror, dashed along, dragging behind them the carriage with its light HURLED HIMSELF AT THE i Hi comprehend nor re dempy little form, rst’ the st, he drew up his ile from his aston: words: “Roland de 2 astounded was Lady Maud. For one brief minute she stared at the sorry fig befere her, and then, as she buried her face in her handkerchi after peal of irrepressibie laughter fr her. When she raised her head again alone. Out into the ni hi ht sp ow and rage in his Roland art. shame on His feet intuitively bore him to his home, where. throwing kimsclf upon his bed, he tossed and turned ali through the most miserable he had ever known. Too unlearned to be able y thoughts; too unused to deep emotion: to analyze his to divine his owa 4 he only suffered, suffered as an animal under the torture of an vundeserv A sense of burning sham that he should be as he was, mingled with a fieres longing to be he knew not what. And at last to- ward morning he fell asleep and dreamed. Spread out upon a far extending plain glittered the spear heads of a great army, awaitirg the shuck of battle. Anon it came. Arms clashed, and mailed forms were hurled bleeding and dying to the dust, while myriads of arrows, hurtling thrctgh the air, drark deep of the heart's blocd of knight and squire, with little care for high or low degree. On the one side the fair faces of the Franks; on the other the dark-visaged Mosiem host. Ciristian or Islam, whic will gain the day? The Christians waver—recoil—fly. No. rot yet. Out from among them bursts with sudden fury a knight. Superbly splendid ermor. of giant mounted, in stature and exalted mien, he spurs to the front, his drawn sword dripping blood. It is enough! At mere sight of him the Chris- tans gain new courage, and once again their faces are turned towards the foe. “A Roland! A Roland!” is the cry from a thousand throats, and backward, ever backward, the Moslem torrent is swept, weve rolling back on wave, the dying piled MOMENT. The duchess shrieked, but L: stil, with white set featu pressed, as, leaning forwa waited for the end. it came. Out from dy Maud sat nd lps com- 1a little, she the throng of her- rified onlookers on the pavement dashed m and hurled himself at the horses’ heads. Kicking, plunging, rearing, they bore that clinging figure alorg with them in their wild career. But the man’s arms were strong, and the rt in him big, and re the willing hands that rushed to help could do aught, the horses were checked, and even in the near horse 1. There w 5 brave rescuer fell 1 the danger was past. But, ery moment of victory, the ed out his iron-shod hoofs. ‘Kening crash, and the dlong to the ground just as a couple of stalwart policemen grasped the reins, and forced the trem- s horses to a standstill. en, While the duchess lay moaning on e cushions, Lady Maud opened the car- Tiage door and stepped out. “Who stopped them?" she inquired, then she saw and recognized the prostrate fiz- ure, and rushed wiih a little cry to his side. “He's done for, poor chap,” said a by- stander. But Lady Maud paid no heed to the words, as, kneeling there in the dusty Street, she raised the head of her deliverer and pilloweti it against her breast, her hot teers falling thick and fast upon him. Slowly the eyes of the stricken man open- ed. His face was fat and square and com- morplace, but a smile that transfigured it to the likeness of the knight of his dream played for one instant over it. “My Lady!" was all he said, and in that supreme moment, leaving the transfiguring smile vpon the dead lips, the gpirit of Ro- land Perkins took its flight. —_-+-e-+-___ Reserve Toys, From Harper's Bazar. Each year, with the arrival of Christmas, there rushes into the home in which chil- dren dwell a flood of toys that threatens to inundate the nursery and make all sem- blance of order impossible. The playthings are so numerous that the satiated owners turn from one to the other without deriy- ing thorough enjoyment from any one of them. The novelty soon wears off, and in a few weeks the vretty trifles are more or less broken or marred, and the little ones view them discontentediy, and long aloud for fresh fields and pastures new. To avert this certain reaction from the Yuletide excitement, the judicious mother will select from among the mass of toys a number which are to be laid aside for some future time. {t is not necessary ‘to tell the children of this scheme. A large box in the attic or the upper shelf of some closet may be a storehouse for many of these treasures. There they will rest un- harmed until the playthings in the nursery become an old story, when they in their turn are relegated to the upper shelf, and the new toys appear. These will be hailed with delight by the little ones by whom they have been forgoiten. Or it may be that the children have been confined to the house by a storm, or, more trying still, to the nursery by some ailment that makes life seem dreary to their baby eyes. Then mamma appears with her reserve fund, and outdoor allurements and indoor aliments ar: fergotten in the joy of the new posses- sions. This system keeps tite nursery from being overcrowded with toys, and preserves the toys from the breakages consequent upon such overcrowding. But best ef all, it provides the children with a variety cf amusements through the monotonous win- ter days. ——— Business and Henor. From the Texas Sifter. Said Judge Peterby to Rey. Whangdoo- dle Baxter: “Just think of the deception practiced every day. Why, it is dreadful. Now, if you could make $150 by a ite, your sense of honor wouldn’t allow you to do it, would it, Mr. Baxter?” “Dunno "bout dat ar,” replied Whang- doodle. “Seems ter me dat am a mattah of bisness, wharin honah hain’t got nuffin’ ioe Say, Jedge, who is de man wid de a upon the dead, till over all the banner of the victors waves, and above that scene of hellish hate and carnage rises supreme the peaceful cross of Christ. And now once more the shout is borne upon the air, long and loud. “A Holand A Roland!” and bending before the priest: ly benediction, the knight of Blaives bari his stately head, tossing to his squire his sbattered casyue and dented shield, and tnen, as he lifts his eyes to heaven, won- der of wonde! the dreamer beholds his own face! His own face glorified, trans- figured, ennobled a thousand times, but still his own, and with a shout of mingled terror and triumph he awoke. “Perkins,” said Mr. Jackworthy, as they sat at breakfast, “you must have done uncommonly well last night, for there's a note come this morning asking me to sen@ you back again tonight to dress Lady Maud’s hair.” “It must be Mr. Poulter that's wanted,” answered poor Roland. “Not at all,” said his master; “It’s you. The note says to be very particular to send the game young man who was there yesterday. It's you, right enough. Very well, sir,” replied Mr. Perkins; "il attend to the order.” And pushing away his plate, he rose to begin the busi- ness of the da: At length the weary day came to an end, and Roland set out once more for the duke’s mansion, and presently he stood again in her. ladyship’s room, his heart thumping against his side, and that dry es Tempting. From Fitegende Blatter. “Oh, — hat boys, what are you doing with my we are only playing Aghting CARRYING MAILS How the Star Route Postal Service is Performed, BY SHOW SHOES, ‘BOAT AND CART Long Trips Across Bleak and Dan- inent part in the opening of a new country to settie- the unenviable record of having been the unconscious source of f gerous ‘Lands. pee HUMORS OF THE SERVICE Written for The Evening Star, HAT PART OF the postal service ; I known as the star routes plays a prom- ment. It antedates all other kinds of ™mail-service and has the most notorious Scandal that ever blackened the pages of postal history, the “star route trials.” It has no astronomical significance, however, as its ndme might indicate, although it is said that a route was once established from the Pole to North Star, and afterward, North Star hav- ing been discontinved, it was curtailed to end at White Cloud. It comprehends all mail service perform- ed under contract, except that of rail- Way and sieamboat service, and, of course, that service in cities called covered wagon, Screen wagon and street car service; and is designated generaily as “star service.” It is performcd by carriers on stage coach lines, on horse back, on snow shoes, and with dogs and sledges. There {s now on exaibition in the Post Office Department Museum the wax tigure of a northerner, and three dogs, mounted, harnessed and hitched to a sledge, withe'a mail pouch on it, representing the outfit as it appeared when performing regular star service in northern. Michigan, ertainty, Celerity and Security.” The contracts for star service state that it must be performed with “certaint: ce- lerity and security and the contractors are required to, as nearly as possible, keep the service up to this high standard. It is very remarkable what heavy loads can be carried and what a high rate of speed can be made on snow shoes. It has been re- ported, on good authority, that an expert snow shoer can carry cighty pounds of mail and attain a speed of thirty miles an hour going down a slight general down grade. Prior to 1845 it was the practice of the department in accepting bids for the trans- portation of inland mai on other than railroad and steamboat routes to have re- ard, in some ¢: 3, to the mode of tra portati preference being given to bid- ders who proposed s\ or ¢ servic t of Congress of Maret ished t is and direcic 1 to let all for the transporiation of mail to the lowest bidder tendering s nt guarantees for the faithful performance ef the service, with- cut refe 2 to the mode of conveyance, ept that it be with “certainty, celerity curity.” The clerks in the contract vision, to distinguish such bids from mboat and other bic ignated them the route register: three stars or on y asterisks, and they came to be called “star From this grew the present custom placing three, groups of four stars each r the top of the first page of the con- tracts for star. service hence the appella- tion “star route,” which has been given this service since 1883. The first official reference to the service under this name was in the Postmaster General's report of Difficult Transportation. The mail service on star routes is some- times, though rarely, performed in a boat on a river or across a smal] lake. This was done in early days much more than now, because the roads through the coun- try were impassable and the streams had to be followed. A very amusing incident occurred when the mail was being carried in an open boat on the Ohio river away back in the early thirties. Complaint had been made to the department officials that the carrier did not keep the mail covered; that by frequent rains during his trips the pouches became water soaked in the bot- tom of the boat and the mail ruined. He was reprimanded for such neglect of duty, and to remedy the trouble a department official sagely asked him: “‘Why not adopt the postmaster’s suggestion of boring holes ask for mail service, and with. this im- provement comes more settlers, passenger and freight transportation, increased land sales and general development all along the line. People must communicate with cach other and with their distant friends, bids.”” of r 1859, and the first appropriation for the service under the new name was made in 1879. in the bottom of the boat to let off the water so that it will not be soaked up by letters and newspapers?” ‘The star service can truly be called a pioneer mail service, for it 1s the first to blage its. way into a new country, and {3 an important factor in the development of that country. Just as soon as a few peo- ple settle in a newly-opened territory they and if some means of communica: tion is not furnished them where they set- tle they will soon seek a locatitn where: tt ig afforded them. Many of these star routes teach far into mountain’ fasthesses and across arid plains. In some places the carrier Climbs over cliffs, deséends through gorges and ferries Across.streams where it would seem impossible to one unaccustémed to such a life, There are localities even now in some of the western states and ter- rttories: where the mail carrier risks his life on every trip he makes. If he-rides or ‘drives: but-a few feet, or possibly inches, to one side or the other of the path or road he is ifabte’to go over a precipice and be hurled hundreds of feet over sharp crags to an‘a-vful death in an-almost bottemiesa canyon, or a roaring mountain torrent. If he happens to meet a hostite band ‘of mu< rauding indians, or a party of “road agents,” as certain mountain robbers are called, his chences for seeing home and Icved ones -are exceedingly slim. Many Dangers. There are places where mountain gorges, hundreds of feet deep, are filled with ever- lesting snow. The top of this snow is frozen and the carrier must cross in the early part of the day or not at all, forif the sun shines the snow begins to. get soft and the way impassable by afternoon. However, there are few casualties. com- pared with the number engaged in the star service, for there are nearly. 21,000 routes, embracing 262,575, miles of service, costing five and one-half, millions of dollars annu- ally. Bach of th jutes requires one or more carriers, s safe to say that the number of men, And fit some instances wo- meh, who are enghgelf;in this service equal or exceed the nyshber,of men in our stand- ing army. “Ther are,some ingpresting in- stances where men, have péfformed the service on these Koute# for the past fifteen or twenty. years. hy ‘The longest star route mew in existence is between Juneau and Circle City, Alaska, 900 miles, with ‘servige six times a year. ‘The longest one, ever, in existence was the “pony express’ line,.from Saint Joseph, Mo... to San Francisco, Cal.,.1,900 miles, es- tablished in 1850, Refhys of Indian pontes Were stationed jlong, the line five miles apart, and in this way the riders were en- abled to make an average speed of twelve mies an hour. “Phat was our frontier fast In the early part of the present century the United States mail found its way over mountains ard through dales, along cor- dsroy roads and across pontoon bridges, conveyed on the back of an ancient mule, in an ox cart, or in the tous kets of an Planter. Now and then cer- tain advanced communities Doagied @ stage line, equipped with those -fashioned stage coaches that have shaken the bones lacerated the flesh of many ®. weary transient. - ‘Stages That Beat Ratireads, AS our country developed the mail service Which was later to be known as ster ser- vice - became much sore efficient. In fact, so-much so that during the early years ef railway mail service there was a great deal of rivalry between them, the star service, for a time, getting somewhat the better of the argument. In the early days of rail- reads there were instances where the com- panies refused to bid for mail service un- less the schedule requiring a speed of eleven or twelve miles an hour be reduced; and others where the companies would not un- Gertake to perform the mail service because the department required certain portions of the trips to be made in the night time. In 1833 the contractor for the mail ser- vice between Washington and Baltimore asked permission to carry the mail on the railroad. His request was refused because the Postmaster General thought the train could not make the run in time to make connections with stage line mails at Balti- more and Washington. This objection was overcome, however, by the contractor agreeing to forward by stage all mail that failed to connect with the train. Grave doubts were entertained as to the feasibill- ty of the new railroad scheme, and as to whether the mail service performed on the railroads could ever be made acceptable to the department. It was a dubious matter all the way through. Many complaints were made against thosé contractors who Dermitted the mail to be carried on the railroads when they had contracted to car- ry it horseback, on foot, or on stages. Upon one of these occasions the department notified the contractor that if the remiss- ness complained of occurred again he would be compelled to abandon the transportation of the mails on the railroad and resume the post coaches at once. In another case a department official wrote: “From experience Fad the adaptation of the railroad to the purpose of mail transportation is becoming every day more and more questionabie.” What a nightmare! How ridiculous all this seems to us now; yet it is but a very brief and uncolored mention of what really took place. The Office Work. The United States 1s divided into sec- tions of one or more states each, and two clerks are assigned to each section. These clerks keep the books, conduct the cor- respondence, and make up all orders and cases for changing schedules, increasing, reducing or curtailing the service; all of which are signed by the second a postmaster general or the Postmaster General. Contracts are awarded to the low- est bidder for the performance of the ser- vice for a term of four years; and these sections are grouped into four contract divisions, so that the service in one divis- fon can be awarded in December of each year. Advertisements are issued and post- ed in every post office in the country, and inserted in not to exceed ten newspapers in each state several months before the letting in December, thus as nearly as po: sible every person in the United States may have an opportunity to bid. A man in Maine may bid on service in California, or a man in Texas may bid on service in far away Alaska. The star service, being a branch of the postal service which penetrates sparsely settled and remote parts of the countr not remunerative to the government, utility being almost without eption supply fourth-class post offices, offices t furnish very little revenue to the govern. ment because their income is derived al- most solely from the cancellation of stamps, and most of that goes to the post- masters. In fact, this service is almost a gratuity on the part of the government, for it is not expected that the revenue re- ceived by the department from offices sup- plied by star service wiil more than equal one-fifth the cost of the ice. As t a rural service, it ha character- sand customs entir primitive nature. Humors of the its to som the Service. A postmistress whose husband had b: on forbidden to carry the mail because of his relationship to the postmistress complained very bitterly of e and said that the patrons of her office lived so far ay that when they came after their mail she had to give them their dinner and supger, and sometimes had to keep th and give them their plained that such te up the profits of the aid that since her husband had 1 “fired” from carrying the mail she c t afford it; that his salary “kind a equalized matters,” a with the following plaintive Kind sirlet me out uf thi is a route running across the d of Arizona, not far from uma, the hot- test place on earth in summer time, upon which it is necessary for the carrier to haul water and feed enough with him to supply himself and stock the whole jour- ney, for he can secure none en route. There are many instances reported from mining districts in the west where the camp is so far from a post office that min- ers receive their mail by some frejghter, and it costs them one dollar for each letter, and not a very long letter at that. In the early days of mail service in the west, when trips were made but once a month on some routes, it was one thing to get the department to send the mail to a fron- tier post cfiice, but quite another thing for the people in the surrounding country to get it out of the office. Men were there seeking fortune. They had left wives, little blue-eyed babies, fathers and mothers, and sweethearts behind them somewhere in the far east. They were homesick—Oh, so homesick! and ~ would wiilingly go through any privation and pay almost any amount of money (gold dust) to secure a written message from those loved ones. It is reported on the best of authority that under such circumstances men came from sometimes hundreds of miles away, and camped in line before the post office sey- eral days before mail day, and remained there day and night until their turn came Local speculators .secured positions near the office door, and on mail day sold them to the homesick miners and prospectors for as high as $300 each. Sometimes the mail carriers in the star service meet with very unusual and bur- densome surprises. Some enterprising gold miners recently evoived a scheme to secure cheap transportation for their gold. It cost them a great deal to convey it, guarded, in wagons to the railroad, thence by rail to the mint or place of sale, £0 they made nice little boxes, that when filled with gold dust would not weigh to exceed four pounds each, the limit of weight for fourth-class mall matter, and sent their product to market by mail at merchandise rate—one cent an ounce. Great was the chagrin ef the mail carrier who carried the mail on snow shoes when he learned that he was the unfortunate vic- tim of the miner’s économical plan. An Old Map. The first post route (star service) map ever used in this country was printed in London, England, in 1715, as a “Map of the Dominiors of the King of Great Britain on the Continent of North America.” Later it Was cut up into sections, and one section, a small sheet less than a foot square, now hangs, an interesting relic of postal history, in the office of the chief clerk of the second assistant postmaster general. ‘This section of the map includes the territory bounded on the north by the 45th degree of north latitude, the northern boundary of Vermont ard New Hampshire; on the east by the GSth degree of longitude west from Green- wich, the eastern boundary of Maine: on the south by the 39th degrce of north lati- tude, which crosses the southern point of New Jersey, and on the west by the 76th degree of longitude, which passes through the center of the state of New York. It is very primitive in its appearance and is en- ued “A Map of Part of North America, New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.” The body of water lying Girectly east of this land is designated as the “Western ocean,” and Scotland is shown to be just off the coast of Maine, apparently not more than a stone’s throw. Down in the right-hand lower corner is an explana- tory note or schedule card, which reads as follows: “An account of ye Post of ye Conti- “nent of Nth. America as they were “Regulated by ye Postmasters Gen’l. , “of ye Post House.” “The Western Post setts out from Phila- “delphia every Fryday leaving letters at “Burlington and Perth Amboy, and arrives “at New York on Sunday night; thc dis- “tance between Philadelphia and New 'York being 106 Miles. The Post goes ou: ‘Eastward évery Monday morning from ‘New York. and arrives at Seabrook Thurs- “day noon; being 150 Miles. where the Post “from Boston setts out at the same time. “the New York Post returning with the “Eastern Letters. and the Boston Post with “the Western. Bags are dropt at New “London. Stommington. Rhode Island. and “Bristol. The Post from Boston to Pisca: “away belrig 70 Miles leaves Letters at Ips. “wich. Salem, Marblehead. and Newberry. (Zhere are offices keept at Burlington. (Perth Amboy in New Jersey. New Lon- ‘don and Stommington in Connecticott. at “Rhode Island. Bristol. Ipswich. Salem. ‘‘Marbichead nd Newberry. and the 3 (Great Offices are at Boston. New York “and Philadelphia.” Just now the center of interest seems to be in Ajaska, where the department {s pushing mail service to accommodate the brave souls who have endured severe pri- vations and frequently suffering to open to settlement and civilisation that frigid coun- try. The Post Office Department has be- come interested in these people and their enterprise has determined to do {ts part toward sending civilization to the inland and remote districts. The longest, and I may say the most interesting, star mall route now in operation runs from Juneau down the Yukon river to Circle City, Alas- 900 miles. Circle City is situated tn ut 66 degrees north latitude, Just south of the arctic circle, from which ft takes its name. Just below Circle City the Yukon river is more than fifty miles wide for a distance of 150 miles, and 1s filled with thousands of small islands, very similar to the Thousand Islands in the Saint Law- rence river. made to supply it with mail. It was found that the town contained 1,800 people, and the population was increasing. It is wild and weird, no sort of government exists, and evil runs riot with no restraint what- ever. Whisky is brought over from Can- ada and sold for $10 a small bottle. Town lots sell for $2,000 each. The postmaster is | the only government official in the town. This state of affairs will not long continue, however, and a town or city government will soon be established. Revenue officers were sent there last summer. Soon after a post office was established at Circle City a contract was let toa Chicago man to transport the mail from Juneau to Circle City during the summer for $500 a trip, after the first trip, which cost $1,700, and another contract was let to a Juneau man to perform the service during the win- ter months for $1,700 a trip. On the firet trip last June the contractor took from | Juneau 1,474 letters (these contracts called for the transportation of letter mail only), and on the return trip he brought 685 let- ters. This mail is carried from Seattle by steamer about 900 miles to Juneau, then it is taken by dog train and boat over moun- tains and down through a chain of lakes and the Yukon river to Circle City. The contractor reports his first trip as being hazardous in the extreme. The current of the Yukon is very rapid and turbulent. He refers to Miles Canyon, White Horse Rapids (known as Miner’s Grave), Five Fingers Rapids and Rink Rapids as verit- able death traps. Old Glory in British Territory. A large portion of this route lies in Brit- ish territory, and a very interesting inc! dent occurred when the contractor's party reerossed the Alaska boundary into United States territory. When the party reached the main waters of the Yukon they cut timber and built a boat. in which they traveled the residue of the trip. The con- tractor, being a loyal man, floated old glory at the masthead of his rude craft. and as he floated down the river past a British fort situated on the boundary line between Canada and Alaska, the mn jack was dipped three times to the stars and stripes. uw an eager horde, he found that it would be impossible to return to Juneau by the same reute, owing to the swiftness of the n the upper Yukon. So he procc the river in the direction of Bering sea, as far as Saint Michael's, where he took a steamer for Seattle, Wash., thence by an- cther steamer to Juneau, traveling in all 6.50) miles in addition to his regular trip. Such are s@ne of the exigencies, contin- gencies and hindrances to the Alaskan mail And all the dangers attending this service are greatly aggravated by the it accuracies in the maps and reports of the A gentleman recently from the terian mission at P arrow, the northernmost point of Alaska, stated that thus far Alaskan maps had becn made up largely from conjecture and the fertile imagination of the publishers, Seb eesti DEADLY UPAS. Detailed Version of This Much Quoted Myth With Whiec Are Familiar. Written for The Eve Everybody has heard of the “des tree;” yet few, probably, even of with fine rhetorical ef who the phra: fect, have any very definite conception of | the w ng version, its meaning. Of cour: ole a myth; but the follow ed from a quaint old book, may extract- serve to render our ideas less hazy about it: “The Bohon Upas is situated in the Is- land of Java, between eighteen and twenty leagues from Tinkjoe, which is the resi- dence of the king of that country. It is surrounded on all sides by a circle of high hills and mountains, and the region around it, to the distance of ten or twelve miles from the tree, is entirely barren. Not another tree, nor a shrub, nor even the least blade of grass is to be seen. I have made the tour all around this dangerous spot, and I found the aspect of the country on all sides equally dreary. The easiest as- cent of the hills is from that part where dwells an ancient hermit. “From his house the criminals are sent for the poison, into which the points of all warlike instruments are dipped; it is of high value, and brings a considerable reve- nue to the king. The poison which is pro- cured from this tree is a gum that fssues out between the bark and the tree itself, like camphor. Malefactors, who for their crimes are sentenced to die, are the only persons who fetch the poisons; and this is the only chance they have of saving their lives. After sentence is pronounced upon them by the judge, they are asked in court whether they will die by the hands of the executioner, or whether they will go to the Upas tree for a box of the poiscn. “They commonly prefer the latter propo- sal, as there is not only some chance of preserving their lives, but also the cer- tainty, in case of a safe return, that a pro- vision will be made for them in future by the king. They are also permitted to ask a favor of him, which is generally of a trifling nature, and is commonly granted. They are then provided with a silver or tortoise-shell box in which they are to put the poisonous gum, and are properly in- stru how they are to proceed while they are vpon their dangerous expedition. “They are always told to attend to the direction of the wind; they are to go to- ward the tree before the wind, so that the effuvia from it may be blown from them. They go first to the house cf the old ec- clesiastic, who prepares them by prayers and admonitions for their future fate; he also puts on them a long leather cap with two glasses before their eyes, which comes down*’as far as the breast, and provides them with a pair of leathern gloves. There- upon they are conducted by the priest and their friends and relations about two miles on their journey. “The old ecclesiastic assured me that in ice-bour.d country, and with its accustomed | | A post office was established at Circle | City in the spring of 1896, and an effort | When the contractor arrived | at Circle City and had delivered his mail to | | | Little Less Than a Miracle. | Mr. 8. R. Hunter's Recovery From Scl- | atie Rheamatism—He fs a V eran of the Late War, Having Served in Company K, Ninety-Fourth New York Volunteers, From the Palladium, Oswego, N.Y. Mr. 8. R. Hunter t» a blacksmith, md for ole veers hae resided at South Bertha, N. He woe born In Henderson village, Jefferson county, N. ¥., sixty years ago, and when President Lincoln called for veluntecrs to suppress the rebeltion he quit the forge and was one of the frst men in wrthern New York to enlist as a private in Company K, 4th New York Volunteers. Koetarning at the close of the war he took up bis carly occusation, but the hardships of campaign Ife bad eft him almost @ physical wreck Sciatic rheumatiam developed ani for years he doctored and spent hundreds of dollars without obtatving relief, Three years ago tits Tmhs he- came paralyzed and he wns unable to walk. Piy> sictans gave Lim no relief, and he was unable to | get about except by dmgging himself from place j to place by his arms. He says it was no trick for him to run a common darning neeille fato the muscles of Lis Liwbs without feeling the slightost fensstion, and be believed that he would never be anything but a hopeless invalid. The remainder of the story of this remarkable case is best as told tn his own Janguege to a reporter of the Os wego, N. ¥., Daily Paliadtum: “A copy of your paper was handel me fn the fall of 1896 by a neighbor. Therein I read : count of « case in which Dr. Williams’ Pink Pils for Pale People bad effected a cure that wre to many reepects Uke my own, I had very W money With which to buy medictue, and I tatked the matter over with my wife. The result wae that I purchased a box of Dr. Willl.ms’ Pink Pilla, and before they were half gone I noticed » marked ; improvement in my physical condition I have taken nine boxes fn all and can now welk three miles without exertion. With the condition I have described I am troubled with kidaey complaint. ‘and Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills t# the only medicine that bas ever given me relief from that allment I have the utmost confidence tn Dr. Wililaumes’ Pink Pills for Pale People, appreciating fully what they have done for me. It 1s proper to state, too, that my rheumatic pains have vot troubled me since last winter "’ Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills coutain to a condensed form all the elements’ necemary to give new Life and richness to the Dleod and restore shattered nerves. They are an unfalling spectfie for exch diseases locomotor ataxia, partial puralyst Vitus’ dance, ectatica, neuralgia, che ous headache, the after effect of Ia ¢ tion of the heart, pale a: all forms of weakness, either ia mol or female | Pink Pills are sold by all de be went Post paid on receipt of price, 50 cents a box, or | six boxes (they are sold in tulle jor by the 14 ddressing Wattams’ Medi- cine Company, Schenectady, N. ¥. A cup of comfort, good health and refreshment-- made in a minute-- | | | | | upward of thirty years he sever hundred crim ad, and that reely_two out ad returned. All the Malayans s a holy instrumer: of prophet to punish the sins of mankind; therefore to die by the poison of the Upas is regarded among them as an honorable death. This, however, is certain, that from fifteen to eighteen mil this tree, aot only no human creat exist, but no animal of any kind has been discovered. There are no fish waters, and when any birds fly so nes tree that the effluvia can reach them t drop down dead.” ———_+ee A Sure Sign, From the Chicago Post. “Is there any infallible sign of great wealth?” asked the pretty maid. ‘There is,” replied the sarcastic bachelor, ‘What Is it?” asked the maid “An old man with a young wife, swered the bachelor. She laughed and shook her head “You forget,” she said, “that the old man might have a t “In that case. returned, “the wife would sureiy have the weal rule would still be good.” She pondered this for some tim: more she pondered the m became that there w could make that would a tory from her point of view. = a Monkey’s Mouth. rancisco Examiner. Mike is ihe name of a big monkey at the Chutes. He has a long tail, and until a few days ago had long eye teeth. He | stiN has the tail, but the teeth are gone After having bitten a number of people with those tusks Mike learned their utility and threatened to do more biting, so Ed- ward Raabe, the electrician, decided that the teeth must go. He had already completely won Mike's heart and had taught the monkey to ride on Rover's back, to shake hands and do other things. So the trusting Mike sus- pected nothing when Raabe took him on his knee in the power house, and, taking a pair of nippers used in cutting wire, told him to open his mouth. In a moment thers was a crunch, a snap and a yell, and one cf Mike's tusks was a blunt stump just even with his little incisors. The others quickly followed, alternating with yells an¢ despairing appeals from Mike's eyes, and the prince was disarmed and disgraced. an- he young Dental Work in From the San What is Mrs: Rickett's fea this year? a ees You know she had the appendicitis habiy 4 this year she bas the Reentgen ray habit.”—Life.