Evening Star Newspaper, June 26, 1897, Page 16

16 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1897-24 PAGES. AN INVITATION The Expensive Banquet That Was Furnished to His High and Mighty Lordship, Archbishop Baldwin of Treves, BY ROBERT BARR. ——_>+—_——_ (Copyright, 1897, by Robert Barr.) Written for The Evening Star. The proud and warlike Archbishop Bald- win of Treves was well mounted, and, al- though the roid by the margin of the river was in places bad, the august horseman nevertheless made good progress along it. for he had a long distance to travel before the sun went down. The way had been rudely constructed by that great maker of roads, the army, and the troops who had built it did not krow when they labored at it that they were preparing a path for their own retreat, should disaster overtake them. The grim and silent horseman had been the brains, where the troops were the lirbs, this thoroughfare had been of his plarning, and over it, back into Treves, had returned a victorious, not a defeated fhe iron hand of the archbishop bad come down on every truculent noble in the land, and every castle gate that had not opered to him through fear had been battered in by force. Peace now spread her white wings over all the country, and where opposition to his lordship’ ubborn will had been the strongest there was si- | biship. pine ‘ lence as well, with perhaps a thin wreath he countess is most kind,” he said, of blue smoke hovering over the blackened | slowly. “Convey to her my respectful ad- walls. The provinces on each bank of the | miration, and express my deep regret that Mcselle from Treves to the Rhine now ac- | I am unable to accept her hospitality, as knowled ldwin their over-lord, a | 1 ride tonight to my castle at Cochem. suzerain’ claimed by nis lord- | The ieader of the opposing host suddenly but the iron ar hop changed the nominal into the actual, and it had taken some hard knocks to do it. His present journey was well earned, for he was hetaking himself from his more fermal and exacting court at Treves to his summer palace at Cochem, there to rest from the fatigues of a campaign in which he had “d not only his brain, but his good rixht arm as well. The palace, which was to be the end of his journey, was in some respects well suit- ed to its master, for, standing on an emi- tence high above Cochem, with its score of pinnacles glittering in the sun, it seem- ed, to one belo’ a light and airy struc- ture, but it was in reality a fortress, al- most impregnabie, and 300 years later it sent into a less turbulent sphere the souls of 1,600 Frenchmen before its flag was lowered to the enemy. The personal appearance of ha the arch- bishop and the smallness of his escort were+ not, they made no attempt to recover the Practical illustrations of the fact that the Yand was at peace and that he was the mister of it. His attire was neither cler- ical nor warlike, but rather that of a noble- man riding abroad where no enemy could possibly lurk. He was to all appearance un- armed, and had no protection savea light chain mail jacket of bright steel, which was worn over his vesture and not concealed as was the custom. This jacket sparkied in the sun as if it were woven of fine threads strung with small and innumerable dia- tonds. It might ward off a dagger thrust, or turn aside a half-spent arrow, but it Was too light to be of much service against a sword or pike. The archbishop was w: r.ounted on a powerful black charger that had e: h many a hot cor- rer and that now made little of the diffi- culties of the ill-constructed road, put the other horses on their mettle to the pace set to them. The escort consisted of twelve men, all Hghtly armed, for Gottlieb, the mon rede sometimes by the archbishop’: a but m behind him, could hardly be cou rrior should defense be- com ary. W chbishop left Treves his old ad advised his taking an a thousand men at ground that such a ry to uphold the dig- fice, but Baldwin smiled d. id that where he rode the dig- nity of the electorship would be safe, even though none rode bes v dared offersadvice bluff general persisied, and spoke of @anger in riding down the Moselle vailey with so small a following. “Who is there lett to molest me?” asked the archbishop, and the general was forced to admit that there was none. An array builds a road along the line of st resistance, and often when a Promontory thrust its rocky rose into the river, the way led up the hill through the . Setting back into the valley aga’ best it could. During these inland ex- the monk, evidently unused to equestrianism, fell behind, and sometimes its chief until horse's mane, the archbi Gottlieb, clinging to his emerged from the thicket, hop curbing the impatience of his charger and watching wath a cynical smile curling his stern lips the reappear- arce of the good father. * most laborious ascent had encountered that ed for the mouk, h leader, pant- d_ somewhat disheveled, the latter said: “There appears to be a lesson in your tribulations ich hercafter you may re- tail with to your flock, relating how a good man leaving the right and beaten path and following his own devices in the may bring discomfiture upon n he came up y lesson it conveys to me, my lord,” the monk dryly, “is that a man is a fool to lea he stability of good but steut sandals with which he is accustomed, to venture his body on little heed to his wishe : our last detour,” replied ; here are now many miles winding but level, road before us, and you have thus a chance to retrieve your repu- tation as a horseman in the eyes of our troop. “In truth, my lord, I never boasted of it,” horse that pays the fe him or pehind him. | the entrance of our first to the elector, but | gi the whole troop was halted by command of | of | | | | the air. | himself between the Starkenburg men and the prin of the church, but the former made no effort at pursuit, standing where |they had stocd from the first until the rounding promontory hid them from view. Suddenly the he: on which the monk | rode stood stock still, and the worthy man, h a cry of alarm, clinging to the ani- | wish co direct war with a woman. The castle commands the river and holds the district. The widow may give it up peaceably at the altar or forcibly at the point of the sword, which- ever method commends itself to her lady- ship. The castle must be in the command of one whom I can trust.” ‘The conversation here met a startling interruption. The archbishop and his guard were trotting rapidly round a pro- montory,- and following the bend of the river, the nature of the country being such that is was impossible to see many hundred feet ahead of them. Suddenly they came upon a troop of armed and mounted men, standing like statues before them. The troop numbered an even score, and com- pletely filled the way between the precipice on their left and the stream on their right. Although armed, every sword was in its scabbard, with the exception of the long, two-handed weapon of the leader, who stood a few paces in advance of his men, with the point of his sword resting on the ground. The black horse, old in cam- paigns, recognized danger ahead, and stopped instantly, without waiting for the drawing of the rein, planting his two fore- | feet firmly in front, with a suddenness of action that would have unhorsed a less alert rider. Before the archbishop could } question the silent host that barred his way, their leader raised his long sword un- til it stcod perpendicularly in the air above his head, and with a loud voice, in meas- ured tones, as one repeats a lesson he has learned by rote, he cried: “My lord arch- bishop of Treves, the Countess von Lau- © of Starkenburg invites you to sup with her.” 5 In the silence that followed, the leader's sword still remained poised untrembling in Across the narrow gorge from the wooded sides of the opposite moun- tains, came with mocking cadence the echo of the last words of the invitation, clear and distinct, as if spoken again by some one concealed in the forest. A deep frown darkened the brow of the fighting arch- lowe but d his upraised sword, as if in salute, the motion seemed to be a precon- certed signal, for every man behind him instantly whipped blade from scabbard, and stood there with naked weapon dis- played. The leader, raising his sword once more to its former position, repeated in the same lout and monotonous voice, as if the hbishop had not spoken neste lord archbishop of Treves, the Count- ess Laurette von Starkenburg invites you to sup with her.” The Intelligent war horse, who had re- garded the obstructing force with head held high, retreated slowly step by step, until now a considerable distance separated the two companies. The captain of the guard had seen from the first that attack or defense were equally useless, and with his men had also given way gradually as the strange colloquy went on. Whether y of the opposing force noticed this or ground thus almost imperceptibly stolen from them, but stood as if each horse were rooted to the spot. Baldwin, the fighter, whose compressed lips showed how loth he was to turn back upon any fee, nevertheless saw the fu- tility of resistance, and in a quick, clear whisper, he said, hastily, ‘Back! back! If we cannot fight them, we can at least out- race them." The good monk had taken advantage of his privilege as a non-combatant to retreat well to the rear while the invitation was being given and declined, and in the suc- ceeding flight now found himself leading the van. The captain of the guard threw head and came The whole flying for there ahead of al’s mane, shot over hi eavily to the ground. treop came to a halt, them was a band exactly similar in num- bers and appearance to that from which they were galloping. It seemed as if the same troop had been transported by magic across t promontory and placed across the way. The sun shone on the uplifted blade of the leader, reminding the arch- bishop of the flaming sword that barred parents to para- Tre leader, with ringing voice that had a toach of menace in it, crie “My lord archbishop of Treves, the Cou' Lanrette von Starkenburg in- vites you to sup with her.” Trapped!” muttered the elector, be- tween his clenched teeth. His ' eyes sparkled with anger, and the sinister light that shot from them had before now made the emperor quail. He spurred his horse toward the leader, who lowered his sword and howed to the great dignitary approach- ing him. “The Countess of Starkenburg is my vas- I," erie’ the archbishop. “You are her. servant, and in much greater degree, there- fore, are you mine. I command you to let us pass unmolested on our way; refuse at your peril “A servant, id the man slowly, “obeys the one y above him, and leaves that one to answer a still My men obey me; my lady, the c superior authority. ke my orders from if ‘u, my lord, ority which I obey, awaits your pleas- arkenburg.”” your orders, fellow? hbishop, in cal tone. “To convey your loréship without scathe to the gat % my lady. the ure at her castle of 5: Ww are * asked “And if y what then ‘The orders stand, my lord “You will, I irnst, allow this mendicant monk to pass ‘Treves.” “In no castle on the Moselle does cv. f the church recel armer welcome than at Starkenburg. My lady would hold me to blame were she revented. from offering her hospitality to the mendicant.” “Does the same gen-rous impulse extend to each of my followers?” “It includes them all, my lor “Very well. We will do ourselves the peacesbiy oa his way to “THE returned the monk, “but I am right glad to learn that the way will be less moun- To we pene- talnous. trated? “Above us, but unseen from this bank of the river, is the castle of the widow Stark- enburg. Her days of widowhood, however, are nearly past, for I intend to marry her what district have to one of my victorious knights, who wil hold the castie for me.” “The Countess of Starkenburg,” said the menk, “must surcly row be at an age when the thoughts turn towa than toward matrimon : “I have yet to meet the woman,” replied the archbishop, gazing upward, “who pleads old age as an excuse for turni: away from a suitable lover. It is my mis- fortune, Gottleib, that in choosing a wool- en cowl rather than iron head piece, thou shouldst thus have lost a chance of advancement. The castle, I am told, has Nell-filled wine vaults, and old age in’ wine is doubtless more to thy taste than the Same quality in woman. "Tis a pity thou ert not a knight, Gottlieb. “The fault ts not beyond the power of our holy father to remedy by special dis- pensation,” replied the moi Shute e monk, with a ‘he elector laughed silently, and looked down on his comrade in kind! shine non indly fashion, “The wines of castle Starkenburg are not for thy appreciative palate, Bhostly father. I have already selected a mate for the ‘widow. “And what if the selection jumps not with her approval? They tell = that the comntens has 2 will of her own.” matters little to me, and I her the choice merely because I ‘am loath to heaven ra’ COUNTESS INVITES YOU TO SUP WITH HER.” honor of waiting upon this most bountiful hestess.”” By this time the troop which lad first stopped the archbishop’s progress came siowly up, and the little bodyguard of the ctor found themselves kemmed in with ty men in front and twenty at their rear, whiie the rocky precipice rose on one band and the rapid river flowed on the other. The cortege reformed and trotted gently down the road until it came to a by- way leading up the hill. Into this byway the leaders turned, reducing their trot to a walk, because of the steepness of tha as- cent. The archbishop and his men followed, with the second troop of Starkenburg bring- ing up the rear. His lordship rode at first in sulien silence, then with a quick glance of his eye he summoned the captain to his side. He slipped the ring of office from his Hi finger and passed it unperceived into his oiticer’s hand. “There will be some confusion at the gate,” he said, in a low voice. “Escape then, if you can. Ride for Treves as you never rode before. Stop not to fight with any; everything depends on outstripping pursuit. Take what horses you need whcr- ever you find them, and kill them all, if necessary, but stop for nothing. This ring will be warrant for whatever you dv. “Tell my general to Invest this castle in- stantly with 10,000 men, and to press for- werd the siege, regardless of my face. Tell kim to leave not one stone standing upon another, and to hang the widow of Starken- burg from her ewn blazing timbers. Suc- ceed, and a knighthood and the command of a thousand men awaits you.” “I will succeed or die, my lord.” “Succeed &nd live,” said the archbishop, shortly. ; sion takes its place. As the horses slowly labored up the zig- zegging road the view along the silvery Moselie widened and extended, and at last | the strong gray walls of the castle came into sight, with the ample gates wide open. The horsemen in front drew up in two lines ‘on each side of the gates without entering, and thus the archbishop, at the head of his little band, slowly rode first under the arch- way into the courtyard of the castle. On the stone steps that led to the princi- pal entrance of the castle stood a tall, graceful lady with her women behind her. She was robed in black, and the head dress on her snow-white hair gave her the ap- pearance of a dignified abbess at her con- vent door. Her serene and placid face had undoubtedly once been beautiful, and age, which had left her form as straight and slender as one of her own forest pines, for- getting to place its customary burden upon her graceful shoulders, had touched her countenance with a loving hand. With all her womanliness there was, nevertheless, a certain firmness in the finely molded chin that gave evidence of a line of ancestry that had not been any too deferential to those in authority. The stern archbishop reined in his black charger when he reached the middle of the court yard, but made no motion to dis- mount. The lady came slowly down the broad stone steps, followed by her feminine train, and, approaching the elector, placed her white hand upon his stirrup, in mute acknowledgment of her vassalage. “Welcome, prince of the church and pro- tector of our faith. It is 100 years since my poor house has sheltered so august a guest.” The tones were smooth and soothing as the scarcely audible plash of a distant fountain, but the incident she cited struck ominously on the archbishop’s recollection, rousing memory and causing him to dart a quick glance at the countess, in which were blended sharp inquiry and awakened foreboding, but the lady, unconscious of his scrutiny, stood with drooping head and downcast eyes, her shapely hand still on nis stirrup iron. : “If I remember rightly, madam, my au- gust predecessor slept well beneath this r las, murmured the lady sadly; yes,”" The Archbishop Took Her Hand. “we have ever accounted it the greatest misfortune of our line that he should have died mysteriously here, peace be to his jot so mysteriously, madam, but that there were some shrewd guesses concern- ing his malady.” “That is true, my lord,” replied. the coun- tess, simply. “It was supposed that in his camp upon the low lands by the river he contracted a fever from which he died.” ly journey by the Moselle has been of the briefest. I trust, therefore, I have not within me the seeds of his fatal distemper.” “I most devoutly echo that trust, my lord, and pray that God, who watches over us all, may guard your health while sojourn- ing here.” “Forgive me, madam,{f within the shadow of these walls I say ‘Amen’ to your prayer with some emphasis The Countess Laurette contented herself with bowing low and humbly crossing her- self, making no verbal reply to his lord- ship's remark. She then besought the arch- bishop to dismount, saying something of his need of reat and refreshment, begging him to allow her to be his guide to the Ritter Saale. When the archbishop reached the topmost step that led to the castle door, he cast an eye, not devold of anxiety, over the court yard to see how his following had fared. The gates were now fast closed and 40 horses were ranged with their tails to the wail and silent riders on their saddles. Rapid as was his glance, it showed him his guard huddled together in the center of the court, his own black charger with empty saddle the only living thing among them that showed no signs of dismay. Between two of the hostile horsemen stood his captain, with doublet torn and his head- gear awry, evidently a discomfited prisoner. The archbishop entered the gloomy castle with a sense of defeat tugging down his heart to a lower lever than he had ever known it to reach before, for in days gone by, when fate had seemed to press against him, he had been in the thick of battle and had felt an exultation in rallying his half- discouraged followers, who had never fall- ed to respond to the call of a born leader of men. But bere he had to encounter silence, with semi-darkness over his head, cold stone under foot and round him the unaccustomed hiss of women’s skirts. ‘The countess conducted her guest through the lofty knight's hall, in which his lord- ship 2aw preparations for a banquet going forward. An arched passage led them to a small room that seemed to be within a turret hanging over a precipice, as if it were an eagle's nest. This room gave an admirable and extended view over the winding Moselle and much of the surround- ing country. On a table were flagons of wine and empty cups, together with some light refection, upon all of which the arch- bishop looked with suspicious eye. He did not forget the rumored poisoning of his pre- decestor in office. The countess asked him, with deference, to seat himself; then pour- ing out a cup of wine she bowed to him and drank it. Tyrning to rinse the cup in a basin of water which a serving woman held, she was interrupted by her guest, who row, for the first time, showed a trace of gallantry. “I beg of you, madame,” said the arch- bishop, rising and taking the unwashed cup from her hand, he filled it with wine, drinking prosperity to herself and her house. Then, motioning her to a chair, he said, seating himself: “Countess von Starkenburg, I am a man more used to the uncouth rigor of a camp than the dainty etiquette of a lady's boudoir; forgive me, then, if I ask you plainly, as a plain man may, why you hold me prisoner in your castle. “Prisoner, my lord,” echoed the lady with eyebrows raised in amazement, “how ill are we served by our underlings if such a thought has been conveyed to your lord- ship's mind. I asked them to irvite you hither with such deference as a vassal should hold toward an over-lord. { am grievously distressed to learn that my com- mands have been so ill obeyed.”” “Your commauds were faithfully follow- ed, madame, and I make no complaint re- garding lack of deference, but when two score armed men carry a respectful invita- tien to ore having a bare dozen at his back, then all option vanishes and compul- “My lord, a handful of men were fit enough escort for a neighboring baron did he visit us, but for @ prince of the church all my retainers are but scanty acknow- ledgment of a vassal’s regard. I would they had been 20,000 to do you seemly honor.” “Iam easily satisfied, madame, and had they been fewer I might have missed thiz charming outlook. I am to understand then that you have no demands to make of me, and that I am free to depart accom- panied by your good wishes.” “With my good wishes now and always, furely, my lord. I have no demands to make; the word ill befits the lips of a hum- some noe being here—" “Ah! But being here—‘interrupted archbishop, glancing keenly at her, =e “I have a favor to beg of you. I wish to ask permission to build a castle on the heights above Trarbach for my son.’’ ‘The Count Johann, third of the name?" ‘The same, my lord, who is honored by lordship’s remembrance of him.” ‘And you wish to place this stronghold between your castle of Starkenburg and my town of Treves? Were I a suspicious man, I might imagine you had some dis- trust of me.” lord. The ‘Count Johann “Not so, my will hold the castle in your defense.” Be, have =. been oe to look to ‘y own fense,” said archbishop, dryly, adding, as if it were an after- thought, ‘with -the blessing of God upon my poor efforts,’ ‘The faintest suspicion of a smile hovered for an instant on the lips of the countess, that might have been likened to the mo- mentary passing of a gleam of sunshine over the placid ‘waters of the river far be- low, for sHe well krew, as did all others, that it was the habit of the fighting arch- bishop to smite sturdily first and ask whatever blessing might be needed on the blow afterward, “The permission being given, what fol- lows?" “That you will promise not to molest me during the! building, nor afterward.” “A natural corollary. "Twould be little worth to give permisSion and then bring up 10,000 meni to disturb the building. ‘That granted, remains there anything mcre” “I fear Iitrespass on your lordship’s pa- tience, but this is now the end. A strong house is never built with a weak purse. I do entreat your lordship to cause to be sent to me from your treasury in Treves 1,000 pieces of gold, that the castle may be a worthy addition to your province The archbishop arose, with a scowl on dis face, and paced the narrow limits of the room like a caged lion. The hot anger mounted to his brow and reddened it, but he strode up and down until he regained control of himself, then spoke, with a touch of hardness in his voice. “A good fighter, madam, holds his strongest reserves to the last. You have called me a prince of the church, and such I am, but you flatter me, madam, You rate me too high. The founder of our church, when betrayed, was sold for silver, and for a lesser number of pieces than you ask in gold.” The lady, now standing, answered noth- ing to his taunt, but the color flushed her pale cheeks. “I am then a prisoner, and you hold me for ransom, but it wil! avail you little. You may close your gates und prevent my poor dozen of followers from escaping, but the news of this outrage will reach Treves, and then your wails shall smoke for it. Trere will be nene of the Starken- burgs left, either to kidnav or to murder future archbishops.” Still the lady stood silent and motionless as a marble statue. The elector pacec up and down for a time, muttering to himself, and then smote his open palm against a pillar of the balcony and stood gazing on the fair landscape of the river and rounded hill spredd below and around him. Suddenly he turned and looked at the countess, meeting her cli fearless gray eye, noticing for the first time the resolute contour of her finely molded chin. “Madame,” he said, with admiration in his tone, “‘you are a brave woman.” “I am not so brave as you think me, my lord,” she answered, coldly. ‘There is one thing I dare not do. I am not brave enough to alow your lordship to go free if you refuse what I ask.” “And should I not relent at first, there are dungeons in Starkenburg where this proud spirit, with which my enemies say I am cursed, will doubtless be humbled.” “Not so, my lord. You will be treated with that consideration which should be shown to one of your exalted statian.” “Indeed! And melted thus by kindness, how long, think you, will the process take?” “It will be of the shortest, my lord, for if, as you surmise, rumor should get abroad and falsely proclaim that the archbishop lodges here against his will, there's not a g baron or beggared knight in ail the jand but would turn him in his tracks and cry to Starkenburg, ‘In God’s name, hold him, widow, till we get our own again!” Willingly would :hey make the sum I beg of you an annual tribute, so they might be certain your lordship were well housed in this castle.” “Widow, there is truth in what you say, even if a woman hath spoken it,” replied the archbishop, With a grim smile on his lips and untlisgufsed admiration gleaming trem his datk eyes. “This cowardly world is given to taking advantage of a man when opportunity offers. But there Is one pcint you have fot reckoned on. What of my stout army Hiving at Treves? What of the arch when the keystone is withdrawn? What of the sheep when the shepherd dis- appears?” “My lord, you do yourself and your great military gifts a ‘wrong. Through my deep regard for you, I gave strict command that net even the meanest of your train should be allowed ‘to Wander till all were safe within these gates, tor I well knew that did a whisper of'my humble invitation and your graciots acceptance of the same reach Treves, it might »e misconstrued, and al- though somé sturdy fellows would be true, ard beat their stupid heads against the walls, the rést wOuld scatter like a sheaf of arrows suddenly unlooged and seck the strongest arm upraised in the melee sure to follow. Agaihst your army, leaderiess, I weuld myself march out at the head of my two score men without a tremor at my heart; before that leader, alone and army- less, I bow my head with something more akin to fear than I have ever known before, and crave his generous pardon for my bold request.” The archbishop took her unresisting hand, and bending, raised {t to his lips with that dignified courtesy which, despite his dis- claimer, he knew how well, upon occasion, to display: “Madame,” he said, “I ask you to believe that your request was granted even be- fore you marshaled such unanswerable ar- guments to stand, lke armored men, around it. There is a stern and stringent law of our church which forbids its ser- vants suing for a lady's hand. Countess, I never felt the grasp of that iron fetter until new.” Thus came the strong castle above Trar- bech to be builded, and that not at the ex- pense of its owners. A Breakfast With Gomez. 'T. R. Dawley, jr., in Harper’s Weekly. As we conversed one of his asistentes brought an armful of green twigs and leaves, which he spread on the ground in front of us. lt was the preparation for breakfast, and the leaves represented the tablecloth. Four plates, with correspond- ing knives, forks and spoons, were placed on the cover of leaves. In the center was placed a frying pan containing a stew of meat and beans. Then beefsteaks were brought on a plate, with a dish of sweet potatoes, and a bottle of honey. As these preparations were being made the general asked me if I was satisfied with the asistente whom he had assigned me, and if I did not find him to be a good forager; for he had picked out the man whom he thought to be the best hustler for food in the whole camp. “But you,” he said, “being a veteran ac- customed to the hard fare of camp life, can get along with us nicely. ‘We were then joined by the chief clerk, an oldish man, and a youth who had joined Gomez a mere boy, at the beginning of the war, and has been with him ever since. Each one took a plate on his lap, and Gomez served me from the frying pan, while the others served themselves. The chief clerk was a scholarly man, with a peculiarity of speech, as though he talked with his mouth full of water. He spoke of a recent paper containing a dispatch stating that General Roloff had disappeared from New York, jumping his bail, and I said that I had every reason to believe Roloff had sailed for Cuba with a large expedition, and that he was bringing Sreat quantities of dynamite. “But what is the use of that?” exclaimed the general,’ petulantly. “Our friends in the north send us high explosives and ar- tillery, but they do not send us any one who knows how ‘to use them. We have dynamite now, but owing to the fact that we have no one who properly understands its use, we have heen unable to obtain re- sults with jf, except on rare occasions. The junta ovght to send us an expert in igh explosiyes; Tot some fellow such as they pick up/for fothing, but send a man, pay him, giye him $3,000 for his family, with the ginderstanding that he shall do certain work.” a Our preerttar A tiges tas with the sweet potatoes and honty, after which we were treated to céffee as black as tar. Gomez drank his from a,silver mug, and I drank mine out of 4 cup,made from a cow’s horn. Afterward [ still, sat and conversed with the general, and,our conversation drifted upon the civil government. [tr — A Valuable Cow. Some of Sir Wilfrid Lawson's tenants were being entertained one day at dinner, says the Dundee Courier. There was plenty of aerated waters and milk for them, .but nothing stronger. One of the farmers, who knew hy expertence what to expect, had provided himself with a flask of rum, and, unknown to a brother farmer, poured a generous quantity into the glass of milk which his neighbor had elected to drink. In due time the unsuspecting farm. er put the glass to his lips, and seemed to enjoy it so that he never stopped till he had finished it. Then he turned to his friend and remarked: “Hech, man, Tum- mas, what a cco!" “The best” in : “one P, cut Kind (which bears this oe cat deep. on the Doitom “at erecy ! year. FOR BETTER SERVICE! Objects of the Recent International Postal Congress. MANY DELEGATES OF DISTINCTION Gathered From the Four Quarters of the Globe. HOW I'HE WORK WAS DONE Written for The Evening Star. Within three weeks there have been fif- teen postmasters general in Washington. They were irom Hungury, Belgium, Bul- garia, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Cape Colony, Austria, India, Mexico, Norway, Holland, the Transvaal and Sweden. These gentle- men were delegates to the universal postal congress lately in session here. Sixty-two nations were represented in this convention by 104 delegates and attaches. The object was to improve postal facilities throughout the world. ‘This is done by the action of the convention, afterward ratified by the different governments represented. The United States was the first to sug- gest such a convention. The suggestion was made by Postmaster General Mont- gomery Blair in 1863. The first convention, however, was not held until 1874. Only six nations were represented, and they met in Berne. The second was held in Paris in 1878, the third In Lisbon in 1885; the fourth in Vienna in 1391, and the fifth in Wash- ington at the present day. The sixth will be held in Rome in 1:04. The convention met in the old Corcoran Art Gallery. The highly polished mahcg- any desks were arranged in a semi-circle, something like the desks in the United States Senate chamber. The frieze of the room was composed of the coats of arms of the various nations represented, with flags festooned above thei. The walls were draped with heavy velour of a maroon color, so as to confine the sound within the chamber and make it easy for each dele- gate to be heard. All the sessions were secret, like the executive sessions of the Senate. The delegates were practically negotiating a treaty, and treaties are al- Ways negotiated in secrecy. ‘The presiding officer and president of the congress was Gen. George S. Batcheller, an American, and the two secretaries of the convention were Col. Charles Challle-Long and Robert Stockwell Hatcher, both Araer- icans. Col. Long was well known in Egypt long ago, and Mr. Hatcher has been the reading clerk of the House of Representa- tives. All in French. All the proceedings, documents and data of the convention were in French. Even the Germans sanctioned the use of the French language. It is the court language of the worid, and Prussia took the lead in making it so under the reign of Frederick the Great. Lately Russia endeavored to supplant the Freuch language in oriental courts, but failed. The work of the con- vention was filtered through three commit- es. They met at specified times and pre- ented their reports for consideration. The members never resolved themselves into commitiee of the whole, although it was thought that action would be taken in committee of the whole before adjourn- ment, The chairman of each committee called it to order with a hell, after the French method. There was some difficulty in selecting these bells at the beginning of the session. The United States government paid for the bells. All sorts of bells were offered: Old-fashioned dinner bells, cow bells, sleigh bells, spring bells and’ many others. The chairmen of the committees selected exquisite little tinklers. _Some- thing more elaborate was chosen for the presiding officer. General Batcheller, how- ever, never used the bell in opening or closing sessions, or in preserving order. To use the words of one of the delegates, “He brought the convention to order with a club.” This may mean that he used a cane in the place of a gavel. or bell. Two of the desks In the hal? were draped in black. One was in memory of the post- raster general at Berlin, who died from an accident after his selection by the emperor. The other was draped in memory of the delegate from Hawall, who died a few weeks ago. Distinguished Delegates. The prominent men in the discussion were the delegates from Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy. All were perfectly conversant with the subject, and are fluent speakers. Bruno Fritsch, representing the German empire, organized the military pos- tal service of Prussia during the war with France in 1871-72. This work was wonder- ful. Letters reached the German soldiers, whether on picket, or even in the line of battle, with the regularity and precision of a city delivery. Another remarkable dele- gate was Hochi, who has been speaker of the lower house in Japan for three terms. His rulings were made with such vigor and originality as to lead his friends to call him the “Tom Reed of Japan.” Gen. Tyner, an ex-Postmaster General ef the United States, was also a delegate. Capt N. M. Brooks, for thirty years the super intendent of the foreign mails in the Post Office Department here at Washington, also represented the United States. He was a delegate to Vienna, and his long experience made him a valued member. Another delegate of distinction was Spencer Walpole, representing Great Bri- tain. One of the American delegates asked him whether it was his father or his grand- father who wrote the “History of Eng- land.” He smiled and replied, “Neither; I am the man.” Another delegate was the Hon. Emidio Chiaradia, a member of the Italian house of representatives. He is to go to the senate this Yall. He wears five little gold medals strung together. They represent the only compensation received from the government by a member of the Italian parllament. One of these medals is given to each member at the end of each term of scrvice. Among the assoclates of Signor Chiaradia was a brother of the Count Braz- za, the great Italian explorer. He has an American wife. The delegate from Trans- vaal was an honored relative of Oom Paul, its president. While on an excursion with other delegates to Fortress Monroe the other day he asked his associates to drink to the health of his son. This was done. At thet very hour his son lay dead in Pro- teria. The sad information was received a short time afterward. Treaty to Be Ratified. The treaty which these delegates have been engaged in securing will not go into effect until January 1, 1899. Prior to this it will be ratified by the various govern- ments. China, Corea and the Orange Free States are the only nations that have no vote in the convention. Their delegates were there by courtesy only, as their coun- tries are not members of the postal unior. At the next convention, however, these countries will be thoroughly represented. The delegate from Persia brought an au- tograph letter from the new shah to Pres- ident McKinley, annourcing his accession to the throne. The shah, remembering that the convention was to be held in Washington, requested him to represent Persia, and gave him the proper creden- tials. He spoke French like a Parisian. The United States occupies a prominent position in this postal brotherhood. It has 70,000 post offices, twice as many as any other country. Germany comes next with about half this number, while Great Bri- tain has less than a third. There are 185,000 officers and employes in our service. Germany is not far behind us. Germany has the lead in the number of letter boxes for the use of the public, France being second and the United States third. We eccupy the sixth place in the proportion of pest offices to population and the sixteenth of post offices to area. In New South Wales the average of articles of mail mat- ter received by each inhabitant is 92; in the United States, 79. Curiously enough in this respect Hawaii is fourteenth, outrank- ing masy countries supposed to be more advanced, such as Italy, Norway, Sweden,. Chile, Russia and Japan. No other country approaches the United States in its railway routes. It has 170,000 miles of such routes. Germany-is next highest with only 28,000 miles. The United States ranks first in postal income and ex- penditure, Germany being a close second. Our postal service costs about $91,000,000 The revenue is $8,000,000 less. otber countries make a profit out of the $14.00, year nce about $10, American Post Offices.- The Constitution says “Congress shall bave power to establish post offices and Pest roads.” I* early delegated to the Post Cfice Department the establishment of Post offices, but for many years retained the right to establish post roads. The clerk cf the House committee on post offices and Pest roads made up at each session a for- midable bil to establish these roads, and Was passed without question. 7 = Finally Congress got and left it to the dis- cretion of the Postmaster Gencral. 2 ‘he nomenclature of the a Post offices in t United Stotes is interesting. Every =e which fancy, local conditions or patri can suggest seems to have been used. words are frequentl; Atte "eq: ly united bug” in Arizona. post, office at in “Jamboree. is located three states and in the Indian Territory. For a long time there was only one “Tril- by” post office. Lately a Florida village of that name has turned up. It is way down toward the St. Sebastian river. in the pineapple county. It has a Svengali Seige Little Bille and Taffy streets and ian ce Fool’s Gulch” is a station There are seventy-four “Beavers” in the rejoices Union. Michigan has a town na: r med after its governor, Pingree. There are sixteen Grover, one in Cleveland county, N. C. id is a postal station in Californl and Pennsylvania, and “Greenback” is in both North Carolina and Tennessee. There are seven offices named “Silver,” and one | in New Jersey known as “Little Silver.’ The south is represented by such names as . Negro,” “Negroarm,” “Negrohead” and Negrohill.” “Young America” flourishes in Indiana and Minnesota. “Zero” is in Kentucky and Iowa, and not in North Da- kota. “Head of Grassy” is in Kentucky, Head of Barren” in Tennessee and “Head of Island” in Louisiana. Oregon and West Virginia have utilized the name of “Job,” and “Patience” is found only in Pennsyl- | vania. “Eli” “Gip” is in “G’ flour: ets there in seven county, Oklaho es in North Carolina and Wis “Long” and “Short” are post offices in different states. “Hat” is in irwin county. Georgia, and “Coat” Stimpson Mississippi. ‘A. B.C.” appears nessee; “Re” in Texas, in West Vir- gira, “Jolly” in Ohio, “Jollytown” in Pennsylvania, “Girltown” in Alabama and “Goodby” in Indiana. But the fifth postal convention is no more. Its work is done and its delegates are scat- tered over the country in search of infor- mation. Meantime the letter carriers and clerks of United States post offices will re- sume their efforts to induce Congress to give them at least 80 per cent of the pay of an ordinary New York police officer. AMOS J. CUMMINGS. —_—.__ WEIGHTY DRIDEs. The Girls of Morocco Are Fattened for the Matrimonial Market. From the Cincinnati Eaquirer. Throughout the empire of Morocco and in Tunis there are villages where the elder members of the adult population follow professionally the pursuit of fattening young ladies for the matrimonial market of Barbary. The Moors, like the Turks and most other orientals, give a decided preference to “‘moon-faced” wives over lean ones, and are more solicitous as to the number of pounds which their brides weigh than about the stock of accomplishments they possess. A girl is put under the process of fat- tening when she is about twelve years of age. Her hands are tied behind ner and she is seated on a carpet during so many hours every day, whil2 her “papa” stands over her with a matraque, or big stick and her mother at times ‘pops into her mouth a ball of couscoussou, or stiff maize seisdagoal aes up with grease and just large enough to be swallowed wit vatient choking. a If the unfortunate girl declines to be stuffed she is compelled, so that ere long the poorest Tesigns herself to the tor- re and gulps down the boluses lest 5! should be beaten. ria freee In Brazil corpulence is also considered the essential point of female beauty, and the greatest compliment that can be paid to a Brazilian lady is to tell her that she grows fatter and fairer every day. ——+e-+_____ Her Lifelike Statue. From the Chicago Times-Herald. Before her marriage she had been a famous sculptress. She had made several Portrait statues of well-known men, and every one predicted for her a still moro brilliant future, when she suddenly set all Predictions at naught by marrying a weaithy man who disapproved of her keep- ing up her prefessional work. She was very quiet under this restriction, but was sup- posed to rebel inwardly. Therefore, wtien, at a dinner party one evening, she asked her old friend, Gen. Bashar, to come to see ker on the following evening and inspect ker last piece of work, which she thought the best and most lifelike she had ever executed, he supposed he was expected to use his influence to prevail upon her aus- band to permit her to resume her place among the working fraternity of artist: “Iam sure you will like i eneral,” she said, with a winning smile. t fairly lives and breathes. I confess I am in love with it myself.” On the appointed evening the general, with some misgivings over the delicacy of the task intrusted to him, presented him- self. Instead of inviting him to the studio, his hostess, to his surprise, offered to bring her last bit to him. “Oh, it's a statuette, is it?” he asked. “Well, yes, you might call it so,” she an- swered, as she went out of the room. In a few minutes she returned, bearing in her arms—a baby! ——__+«-____ His Eye on United States Senate. Ex-Congressman Samuel Stephenson of Negaunee, Mich., has arnourced his can- yd for the United States Senate in 1 . Disease is like a quick- sand; you sink into it a little at atime. It seems a small matter at first; you don’t think there is anything serious about it until it fast. At the beginni: it is only a Tittle weakness and weariness, oc- casional head- aches or backaches, you don’t feel quite up to the mark. Pretty soon you begin to lose flesh, your appetite gives out. your lungs are tissue. There’s no blood disease it won’t help. 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