Evening Star Newspaper, January 8, 1898, Page 23

eensntle THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1898-24 PAGES. AUTHOR OF FESTUS He Still Lives, Enjoying a Hearty Old Age. A POEM WHICH STIRRED THE WORLD Most of the Original Text Has Been Rewritten. A JUBILEE EDITION From Ly on Sketeb. “Festus” is so old a volume to the stu- dent of literature, and so deeply rooted in a former generation is its fame, that it may slightly surprise some -to learn that its gifted author, Philip James Bailey, is still with us in the flesh. It has been given to few to achieve a literary reputa- tion so early in life as Mr. Bailey estab- lished his right to be regarded as one of the greatest poets of the century. ‘Festus’ appeared in 1889, and was greeted with uni- versal praise. the then anorymous author being hailed as the fellow of Milton and Goethe. Such famous literary men as Ten- aiyson, Thackeray, Bulwer-Lytton, Prof. ‘Aytoun and George Gilfillan were unstint- ed in their commendation of the young poet's work, the late Laureate saying, “I can scarcely trust myself to say how much J admire it, for fear of falling into extrav- agance.” The poem soon ran into many editions, at least eleven having appeared in this country up till 1889, when the jubi- ition was published, and twenty s ago the Publishers’ Catalogue (Ame an) showed that at that time no fewer than thirty editions had been called for in America. This is quite a remarkable achievement for any work of poetry, and more especially for such a poem as “Fes- tus," which requires serious study from one who would understand it, and is no stopgap for idle moments. Still, the knowl- edge of this ennobling book was more general thirty or forty years ago than it is today—a fact which is greatly to be re- gretted, but scarcely to be wondered at in these days of scrappy literature. There is arother reason, perhaps, which will appear later on. Mr. Philip James Bailey was born at Nottingham on April 22, 1816, his bi place having stood unaitered until just a few weeks before these lines were written, ‘when the inroads of a new railway swept i ny another old dwelling house aw: s father, the late Thomas 5 a native cf the Midland having been a local author and poet of some reputation, and for a time the editor- Proprietor of the Nottingham Mercury. A Literary Bent. Young Bailey early manifesting a liter- ary bent, it is easy to understand that his father, with such tastes, would seek by all me in his power to cultivate the peetic gifts of hisson. After going through the usual classical course with the best local masters, Phihp was sent to GL gow, where he matriculated in his teenth year; but the course of Scot Presbyterian theology having no att tions for him, he did not comp curriculum, and left the college # Gezree in 1855, to become a member the Honourable ‘Society of Lincoln's uring these years he bh to uterfere with the great object of hi, tion of his poetical facuiti he retired to his father’s housc , then a rur but now ai part of the out hes conceptions ¢ its first publica -at part rewr: it to be his rs of hi from the docuvre later life have the be been devoted to polishing, sometimes amplifying the inspired work of his early mz thoush it is a question for criticism wheth €r these subsequent ¢ dations have ail been by way of improvement. The pres- ent writer may be prejudiced; but one of the clear recollections of his youth is the maj. idea of the universe which magn passage f. scriptive of the end 6 ed to iis young mind. To tnd t ly rewritten and somew ex: ed in the jubilee edition was indec: :ppointment. I have argued the point ailey, and must conf S out a good ¢ ; but no argument will shake my fection for the first rendering. Some of the extent to w idea h the poem has been t may be gained from the fact that ninth edition, published in is no fewer than 74 pages, larger and closer set than the former. Other Poems. In many respects the author's alterations have been largely to the advantage of the work as a symmetrical whole, the theme being ene which, in a sense, could not be treated too fully. The glory crowned fight of F ainst all temptations, up to heaven ige to wisdom, but with an ever-strengthening faith, is one of the grandest conceptions in the whole range of English poetry. Mr. Bailey has published from time to time several minor poetical works, a con- siderable portion of which has subsequently been absorbed in “Festus,” on whic fame must rest. From 1864 to 1876 the lived mainly in Jersey, finding the isiand convenient for making frequent continental excursions. Returning to England, he re- sided at Lee, near lfracombe, until 1885, and he speaks with a wistful look in his eye of the dear days spent at this poc haven, « photograph of which hangs on ining room wall. In the year mentioned he took up his residence at Blackheath, where four years la he prepared the jubilee edition of his great poem. In his old age he has returned to his native town having n resident in Nottingham sinc Is, znd is passing the evening of his days among his relatives and friends. A great sorrow has recently darkened his life by the d about a year ago, of his accom- plished wife, an amiable lady, who inspired most of his poetry, and who, like her hus- band, also belonged to an old and much- respected Nottingham family. But Mr. B rs up surprisingly under his greut weight of years; he is still a delight- * ful companion at tea or over a cigar in the secluded garden behind his residence in the Ropewalk, Nottingham’s most exclusive residential quarter. He enjoys excellent health, and every faculty remains unim- paired. Of a retiring disposition, the poet has always endeavored to avoid’ publicity, so that he is personally but little knowi beyond bis immediate circle of friends; still he has always a kindly welcome for one who has studied and understood the “Festus -————_ + e+____ OAK WOOD GETTING SCARCE. The Danger of Using Up the’ Visible Sapp! From the St. Louis Lumberman. Ne one who is at all familiar with exist- {ng conditions in the lumber trade can fail to note that there is already considerable compila of a dearth of desirable oak. Both in quartered and plain stock fairly good lots of dry oak are notably scarce. The leading jobbers have had their buyers out for months picking up anything good they could tind, and the result is that a very lucxe proportion of the oak on sticks ready passed into second hands and is held by the present owners for distribu- tion to consumers. Mill men in the south are cutting it all the time, but they do not have to wait until it is dry, or even partly Gry, before selling. If they choose to do 80, they can usually negotiate for it in yance of the sawing, and on terms that a few years ago would have been regarded &s extremely liberal. Oak is, perhaps, the nost readily salable of any saw mill prod- uct, which fact fndicates that it is now, and is believed likely to be hereafter, rela- tively a scarce article. While there is no occasion for alarm as to the present adequacy of the oak supply, it is a question ff the time has not come ‘when serious consideration should be given to the possibility, not to say probability, that in the not distant future oak may be- ome one of the scarce woods. Considering the wide distribution of oak, this may strike many lumber men as a remote con- but that it is not an impossible it, or so distant in point of time as to be removed from present consideration, is suggested at least by the existing condi- tions of demand and supply. Oak has been called for steadily during most of the hard times period. The consumption has been large, and has even increased, while that of other woods has fallen below the normal quantity. This shows an increasing popu- larity and a growing requirement which, it is obvious, must be met from the constantly lessening ‘supply. The growth of oak is too slow to count much in adding to our stock. Practically we are restricted for supplies to the wood already grown and ready for the saw. That there is of this no inexhaustible stock is readily proved by the difficulty, which has increased rapidly within the last five or ten years, of buying the standing timber in bunches large enough to make them the basis of a lum- bering operation. If oak cannot be bought in quantities now, there is no reason to suppose that it is ever going to be any more plentiful. If tt cannot be found now, it never can be, and within a comparatively short time the lumber trade and the users of oak must face the fact that it does not exist in sufficient quantity to warrant the liberal and even wasteful use that is now made of it. It is the conviction of those who have given the closest study to oak that its present market value is based upon an in- correct idea of what is left, and that we shall wake up some morning to find that we have sold almost for a song the most valuable of our timber possessions. Oak, except in the finest grades of quartered stock, is still'a cheap wood. Is it not too cheap for a variety that is in universal de- mand and in only limited supply? ———_-e-__ ‘WEST POINT. Visiting Englishmen Think It a Great Institutio: From the Army and Navy Journal. Whenever I talk with an average Eng- lishman who has traveled in America, sooner or later it leaks out that he has been impressed mainly by two sights—one Niagara Falls, the other our Military Acad- emy at West Point. We are so accustomed to West Point as a national institution that we are apt to regard it as quite natural to us. But this is by no mears the case. It was the re- markzble foresight of George Washington that gave us this institution, and it is due to a most fortunate combination of circum- stazces following upon its foundation that we have today a training school for officers free from political influence, and producing better results over a given period of time than any military school in the world, not even excepting the schools of Germany. This train of thought was brought home me while conversing with an eminent war official of the English government who knew America well and was deeply inter- ested in military education. From him I learned that a special commission had been sent over to us for the purpose of making a study of West Point, with a view to the reorganizatiog of the English military col- lege at Sandhurst. This college was found- ed in i799, and must rot be confounded with the so-called staff college, where post- graduate instruction is given. gland proposes to improve Sandhurst and pays us the delicate compiiment of modeling upen our designs. It is not likely that she will wholly sueceed because young Englishmen of today are too accustomed to luxury and would as socn go into a mon- stery as submit to the hard work and confinement of the United States Military Academ, Tre only practical means I can see for fngiand in this matter is that she should send annually by special arrangement with our Secretary of War, half a dozen young men West Point, who. for four years tk it to after, should go to Sandhurst as _mil- instructcrs, They would then have rarned to ajpreciate all that is good in the i tem and their knowledge of i enable them to modify it in to the needs of their wou anner suitable countrymen. Ir return for this international court England a = States might request that six t Point annually be al- ff coll = to the German War College jemie), where officers of specia nt to perfect then nehes of their calling, particu- in military history and staff duties. would be particularly valuable train- ing for such of our officers as contemplate becoming attached to embassies in a mili- tary capacity. They would here see great mies handled as though in actual war- fare, and in case of necessity would be fit- ted to command large bodies of troops. A young Amvrican officer at the English staff the U graduai college, for instance, would be taken each year a round of battlefields, such as Water- Metz, and would have the situation explained to him en th ot in a manner to make a lasting impression. ——+e*.-____ MONKS OF HIGH DEGREE. In a ‘man Monastery There Are Deveices Born in the Purple. From the Pall Mall Gazette. The pope has received in private audi- the abbe of the famous Abbey of nzon, at Seckau, in Germany, one of the best known and celebrated monasteries, because of the high station of monks who are gatrered there. The abbe spoke separately and in detail of each ef his deepndent brother monks, and Leo X1IL heard with interest of their welfare. The monks of the abbey Include Princ Philip of Hekenlohe, who has bidden definite adicu to the world; Father Charles, under which name is concealed the-identity ef a brilliant ex-cavairy officer, belonging to un illustrious house; Prince Edward lartensiein, and Father Bene- Sebastian, once a major in the bearirg the name of Baron yon Oer; Father John, who was Baron yon Drais, and ran away from the court of Baden to embrace this career; Father Nich- eias, who was Baron von Salis-Soglio; Fa- ther Hildebrand, who before assuming the cowl and gown was a brave captain, by name of Count-de Memptinne, and many others too numerous to mention. ‘The Abbey Seckau is situated among the mountains of Steiermark, in a thick, wild forest, and in thirty years has united to- gether Benedictine monks belonging to the best-known families, celebrated for nobil- ity or riches or distinguished in the arts. This moncsiery, where the rules are most rigorous, was founded over thirty years ago by two brothers, Maurus and Placidus Wolter of Cologne, two learned monks sent by Pius IX to Prussia to reorganize the mo ies there, which were degener- ating. The pious Princess Catherine of Hohenzollern offered them the ancient Ab- y of Benzon to estat h came into existenc two brothers there so erary men and artists, especially from Dus- seldorf, in love with ‘the splendors of the Black ‘Forest, who there continued their a new house, n 1863. Around gathered li! work, so that there is now an artistic school of Benzon, which may be said to rival the famous one of the Italian Abbey of Monte “assino, But at Benzon they not only go in for the higker arts, but they make and provide everything for them- selves. ——_—_-e+_____ Weighted Silk, From Chambx:s' Journal. At the present day the practice of weight- ing silks by means of astringent extracts, salts of tin, silicate and phosphate of soda, and a variety of other substances, alt more or less injurious to the wear of the fiber, has reached such a height that it is serious- ly affecting the trade. This is especially the case as regards black silk, but fabrics of other colors suffer in the same manner. It used to be remarked that a silk dress or a siik handkerchief would last a lifetime; nd this is almost true for absolutely pure silk. But in much of the fabric sold at the present day there is not more than 10 or 12 per cent of real silk, all the rest being ex- traneous matter applied to the fiber in the ss of “weighting.” ik, when burned, leaves a quantity of ash which is always considerably less than one per cent; but the ash left by some weighted silks has been found to amount to 3 much as 48 per cent of the weight of the fabric. ‘The extraneous substances to which we have alluded are caused to adhere to the fiber by passirg the skeins through hot baths of tannin extracts, tin sults, salts of iron, antimony, potash, &c., and it has been found that when a silk much charged with such substances fs heated it will not burn with flame, but will only smolder away, leaving a very large amount of ash behind. But these weighted silks are, however, of so combustible a nature that some have been known to take fire spontaneously, a result due to the gradual decomposition of the substances used for weighting, and dis- astrous fires have been traced to this cause. Spontaneous combustion is Hable to break out more especially in black sliks that are stored in warm, dry places. AGAINST OVERHEAD WIRES The Underground System Urged for Greater New York. Under the New Charter for the Me- tropelis the Effort Will Be Made . to Bar the Trolley. From the New York Tribune. In the granting of privileges to street car ccmpenies New York and Brooklyn have been exceedingly lavish in the last half- century. In recent years the opportunities for prefit on the part of these cerpora- ticns have. been -mmensely lucrative. Be- fere cables and electricity were used in connection with s‘reet travel some of the cempanies which ran horse cars on either side of the East river were managed with little ability, and the revenues of such ccmpanies were somewhat scanty. Fre- quently the managers in those days were appointed on account of kinship to the large holders of stock or for other rea- sons than the possession of marked ex- ecutive ability. The service of the horse car lines in Nev York and Brooklyn 2 quarter of a century ago was wretched, and the management of the majority of the lines was slow, unenterprising, unpro- gressive and actually stupid. Poor as was the class of the most of the horses, the companies paid prices for them far high- er than the market prices of today. The cest of the cars and the outlay for sup- plies in the sixties and in the early sev- enties were by no means moderate. For these reasons—inefficient management, high prices for horses, for hay and for cars—some of the street car lines failed to gratify the stockholders by paying big dividends. A marvelous revolution in street travel has been accomplished within twenty-five years, and radic*l changes on a vast scale are even now in progress. In a few years herse cars will be wellnigh unknown with- in the territory of the present city of New Yerk and the present city of Brooklyn. Kings county is covered with a network of trolley lines, and almost every avenue, almost every street and almost every space that can be made use of with profit is afflicted with overhead wires. In this city it is evident from the work already begun and from the plans which have been made public’ that the underground electric sys- tems are likely to drive out almost all the remaining horsecars and to take the place of most of the cables. The Metropoli- tan Traction Company has found that the underground electricity is a more satis- factory motive power than the cable. The 3d avenue company has had better fortune with its cables than the Metropolitan has bad in Broadway, and the 3d avenue is making so much money with its existing machinery that it may not do away with its cables for a considerable period. Not many years have passed since the horses in the Bowery and in #d avenue gave way to the cables, but the 3d avenue company, although it has been compelled to expena large sums in the changes which it has made, is now paying handsome dividends, and is likely to pay still larger ones in the future. In fact it is obvious that the trans- portation companies which run cars on the surface anywhere on Manhattan Island and almost anywhere in Brooklyn are sure to have years and decades of splendid pros- perity before them. All this part of the United States is increasing steadily and even rapidly in population, while the num- ber of visitors from every point‘of the com- pass is expanding !mpressively every year. Most unfortunate it is for the taxpayers of w York and Brooklyn that the corpora- tions which are certain to amass prodigious riches by carrying people through our ave- nues and streets are not required to con- tribute more generously to the public fund. It would be difficult to diseover anywhere within this county and anywhere in Kings county, a corporation using the streets which gives to the community an adequate return for the privileges which it e The people of these great cities have been surrendered to the untender mercies of these corporations, and the men in control of these companies show no disposition to_pay to the cities what they ought to pay. Mis- takes of the worst Kind have been made in the past in bestowing so much upon these corporations and getting so little in return. Under the new charier new enterprises in surface transportation will be required to do more for the public than the existing companies have been doing. Something will be gained in that w. although the various lines have already laid hold upon all the richest areas and the most valuable franchises in the several counties which will ake up the Greater New York. It will be the duty of the municipal officials and in fact of all who have the public in- terest in charge, to compel new corpora- tions hereafter to give as much as possibly can be secured from them in return for the use of the streets and the avenues. more overhead electric wires should No be strung anywhere, from the furthest verge of Staten Island to the Yonkers line, or from the North river on the west to the castern extremity of the Greater New York. Every company which now uses electricity and every new company which intends to use electricity should be required to use the underground system rather than the overhead system. It is not necessary here and now to dwell upon the many dangers which the use of the overhead elec- tric wires involves. It has been found in every city in which trolleys are numerous that the fire departments are hampered and embarrassed by the poles and ihe wires. The number of accidents and disasters of various sorts which have occurred in con- sequence of the overhead wires is appal- ling. No public-spirited official, no one oc cupying a place of trust who honestly de- sires to serve his fellow citizens, will re- frain from opposing the addition of new overhead wires to the frightful excess of these wires which does so much mischief in Brooklyn and in some other parts of the Greater New York. When the new charter goes into effect the vigilance of all office- holders and of all bodies which have any power of restraint upon the corporations which use the streets should be carried out to the utmost. New York and Brooklyn have been far too generous and too prodi- gal to these corporations. They should be kept rigorously within bounds hereafter. Remarkable Cred- ulity. From the London Mail. In the western districts of the Cherson province of Russia there recently occurred a strike of peasants, who resolutely de- clined to do any more work for the local landowner. The police investigated the matter, and, according to our St. Peters- burg correspondent, give the following ex- traordinary reasons for the outbreak: A picture of the present czar was recent- ly sent to all communal councils in Rus- sia, including, of course, those in Cherson. As the picture only presented a side view of the czar, only one ear was visible. This led the peasants to believe that the czar really possessed only one ear, and the loss of the other they thus account for: When Alexander III died (say these peas- ants), his widow and old advisers began to confer together, afterward inviting Nich- olas IL to jointhem. As soon as Czar Nich- olas entered the room he declared that all land in Russia must be equally divided among the peasants. One of his council- lors replied: “As sure as you cannot see your own ear you won't divide the land.” ‘The czar thereupon cut off one ear, and re- marked, “As surely as I now see my ear I will divide the land.” ‘The peasants in Cherson were so con- vinced of the truth of this legend that they believed a strike against the landowners would be followed by the intervention of the czar and the division of the land among themselves. ——_+ o+—____ Gone for a Chinese Bride. From the Indianapolis News. Long Jim, as he is known, a Chinese laundryman and merchant of Fort Wayne, is en route for the Pacific slope, there to take passage for Hong Kong, China. Then will follow a journey to a village in the interior, where he will wed a girl who has been selected for him by his parents, and whom he has never seen. Long Jim will remain abroad one year, after which he will return here with his bride and settle down to can plan. His wife be the first Chi- nese weman ever venturing within the corporate limits of this city. ReNDOM VERSE. AO. iff Were You. If I were you, T'd see-my path of duty So plain and 5 without a curve or bend, And walk apon ie ritant owerrs ee falter rom life's to é I'd be so strong, O fathead and so true; I would, if 1 wege you, If I were you, IW'livé npon’a pittance, And save ap monéy fees raiey aay, And never aipretty’ gown or jewel Or take a bit of pleasute by the way: And I'd be > chiterful—never biue, T would, if I werg*you. ! If I were you an@ friends that knew you longest. Would burt and!'weutd, advice unasked would give: I'd still forbear and cherish all their virtues, And ever with them in contentment live; I'd be so faithful: constant through and throagh; 1 would, if I were you. If I were you, and found some gentle woman. Who gave you sweetness, trust and sympathy, I would not turn to them for consolation, But seck alone the barren friendship tree; Nor try to find a broader mental view; * Ab, no; I would not, net if I were yon. And if 2 man should help yon with bis liking, To stronger purpose or to braver deed, I'd do without his presence and incentive, Lest all the gossips’ t thereby should speed; Although it take from life its pleasures few, I would, if I were you. It T were you, I'd stay in old inclosures And be consistent all the way, along, No matter what-the stress and strain of life is, Tenptations, trials, sorrows, loss among; ‘All this and more I'd do, T would, if I were you. But for myself, as 1 am just a woman, Tl take what help anit gladness I can And Nor make a pledge to absolnte perfection And all my way to hard heroics bind; Content to think with kindly deeds as leaven While here I dwell, I lose no hope of heaven, And so, withal, at last I way not rue Not doing as—i would if I were you. —ANNA OLCOTT COMMELIN, ——+- e+ ___ Helen Keller. Mute, sightless visitant From what uncharted world Hast voyaged into Life's rude sea, With guidance scant: As if some bark mysteriously Should hither glide, with spars aslant ‘And sails all furled? In what perpetual dawn, Child of the spotless brow, Hast kept thy spirit far withdrawn— ‘Thy birthright undefiled? What views to thy sealed eyes appear? What voices mayst thou hear Speak as we know not how? Of grief and win hast thou, © radiant child. Even thon, a share? Can mortal taint ‘Have po'rer on thee unfearing ‘The woes our sight, our hearing, Learn from Earth's crime and plaint? Not as we see Earth, sky, insensate forms, ourselves, ‘Thou seest, bat viston-free Thy fancy soars and delves, Albeit no sounds to us relate ‘arry night create, Pity thy unconfined Clear spirit, whose enfranchised eyes Use not thelr grorser rense? Ah, no! thy bright intelligence Hath its own Paradise, : A realm wherein to hear and see ‘Things hidden from our kind, Not thou, not thon—'t is we Are deaf, are dumb, are blind. —EDMUND C. STEDMAN, —_—__+e- _____ Spain, Ay. this fs Spain: Europe's last lund ‘Twill e’er remain; Last in the progress of the earth; ‘The last in Mberty: ‘The Iaat Ia, weal ‘The last in bigotry. ‘Festug’™_Phitip ht 08 ‘The Mirror. Margaret F. Mauro in MeClure’s Magazine. My mirror tells me that my fac And ean I doubt Dut that it tel! My mirror says that T Have goldei And cheeks ke! the Wild rose, and ¢ 5 T indeed these charms possi rusty glass?" My ntrror answers, and worth; ames Bailey (1839). is fair, me true? When lovers’ tales this heart all free from c Have surfeited with flattery’s: eloying swee! Unto my mirror do T straight repa And ery, “O mirtor, fs this all deceit? do T merit praise und fond caress? ‘Then doth my trusty musror answer, “Yes,” Deem me not vain, T pray; for well I know ‘That when life's skies faye lost thelr rosy bue Lnitst one day ahty mi mirror go And say, “0 tell frror. bs 1t trie That every day ‘ms grow Tess? Then must my trusty mirror answer, And OT trust thet tn that later day, ‘The time of silvered hair and fading sight, When T unto my looking glass shall say, “O mirror, with my beauty’s waning light 1 honor ‘also fail and virtue go ‘Then may mine truthful mirror answer, ‘No."? toe The Baby's Name. From the Chieago Reeord. “Mordaunt,” she called him. In a novel book His mother found the name she give to bim; I didn’t like it, fer I'd kinder wok A sort of notion fayer’ble to “Jim.” looked up at me from the bed, Half dead, but happy, an’ she sald: “I want ‘That you shall name him, after all,” I said: “Why, blame it all, of course, ft is Mordaunt.”” She knew the way I felt about such names An” that thix was a sacrifice, fer she ‘Had often heard me say that honest ‘James’ Had Just about the proper ring ‘fer_m But though “twas disapp'intment, still I’ thought She was the one that had the right to choose, An’ I—there wasn't any questlon—ought ‘To reconcile my wishes to her views. He was so delicate—so teeny small, But smarter than the cracker of a whip; I don’t believe he ever cried at all— Sometimes he'd pucker up his little Hp An’ look at you until you was ashamed Of all the sins you Knew he knew y: I often thought he grieved because w By such a name a helpless little one. An’ thinking that, whe I called him by ‘the His mother would ‘a gri But neither Jim norm would ever tell. and crow to hear to him; boy, when mother's pear; iy me about, it's Jim.” name's 3 But when thi We never told our little seeret, and. We never will—-we never, never will; Somewhere nder, in a flow'ry land A ttle baby’s toddlin’, toddlin’ still, A-seekiug in the sunshine all alone The God that give an’ then that sent fer him— Mordaunt’s the name carved on the little stone, But in my heart the name is always Jim. 100 The Mitten. Harold MacGrath in the Yellow Book. There was the ring of steel-shod feet, ‘There was the winter sun's lust glow That lighted up the happy fleet Of skaters flitting to und tro; ‘There was the sound of voices low, I heard Dan Cupid laugh In glee— I, victim ‘of his dert and bow— When Betty gave the mitt to me! Ah, mc! she was so small and sweet, Her lips like roseleaves o'er a row Of pearls, her hair like ripened wheat, Her voice that seemed to me as ‘though Some far-off organ’s note did blow, ‘That I fell straightway on my knee, With pulses at fortissimo, When Betty gave the mitt to me! A naugnty, ful, ‘Nov We lingered’ ’tYinight's portico Fell wide: wha mist your wonder be, That I should stey. py with her so, When Betty ase Abe amitt to me! Ah, Prince, *tis vainto hide, I know, What eyes ayikeen as yours must sce: Her hand was ;there, jnside—(oho!)— ‘When Betty gave ithe mitt to me! ———1 46. Persintent (Advertiser. From Tit-pits, *: ~ ‘The constayt grop of water Wears awy ‘the hardest. stone; ‘The constant, gusw of Towser Masticates the toughest bone; The coustant, lover Carries off the ushing maid; And the constant ndyertiser Is the caw ts the trade. The Empty Hearth. As I sit beside the empty hearth, there's silence all around, But I hear the rocking measure of a cradle on 23 IF WAR SHOULD BREAK OUT The Agony That Would Tear the Heart- strings of the English. In Danger of Knocking « Few Holes Into Their Own Fortunes— An Alarming Idea. From the Chicago Evening Post. ven the remote possibility of a war is a terrible thing to contemplate,” said the thoughtful man who is always making trouble for himself by thinking. “There is something about that observa- tion that has a chestnutty flavor,” return- ed the man who makes it a point never to do any more thinking than is absolutely necessary to live. “Ah, but the thought is peculiarly lor- rible at this time,” explained the thought- ful man. “The conditions are such that the result of a war—particularly a war with England—would be simply awful. You see, in considerir-g these things the average man does not go far enough. He thinks of the loss of life and the loss of trade and the pecuniary loss that would naturally follow, but he overiooks entirely the most appalling features. He fails to dwel! suffi- ciently on the terrible conflict that would wage in the breast of many an English- man when he should be thinking only of kis duty to his country. ‘Picture to yourself the young Duke of Marlborough on a gunboat just outside of New York harbor,” went on the thoughtful man, warming up to his work. “Duty says he must shell the town. Puff! A boom and a wreath of smoke, and what happens? He has blown the roof off his father-in- law’s house or made serious inroads “into the art treasures of his wife’s uncle. Shall he fire again? Think of the torture of try- ing to answer that question! Another shot may jeopardize a million or two that he has hopes of getting later, or it may have @ serious effect upon some of his wife's in- vestments. In addition to this he has the fortune of the Dowager Duchess of Marl- borough to think of, which amounted to about $7,000,000 when the late duke got his hands on It, and for all he knows some fool gunner may lop a cipher off of it without knowing what he’s doing. “And while these thoughts are flitting through the head of the young duke some- body in the next boat ts very likely worry- ing for fear he may knock the spots out of a section of the $12,000,000 that Mrs. Marshall O. Roberts is id to have brought Col. Ralph Vivian, while Hon. A. H. Paget, who got a little something witi Miss Pauline Wlitney, is trying to figure out how he can avoid hitting the stock market, and the Right Honorable Joseph Chamberlain is shooting blank cartridges to avoid doing any harm to the securities that he got with Miss Mary Endicott. “At the same time L. Z. Lieter is on top of the statue of Liberty signaling to Hon. George N. Curzon for heaven’s sake to spare him and his fortune, if only to show his appreciation of the $5,000,000 that he got with Miss Mary Leiter. Then there is the $2,000,000 that Miss Cornelia Martin brought to the Earl of Craven and—But why continue? Why harrow up the soul by picturing the awful struggles that would come with such a war? Why bring home to Engiand the fearful thought that some of her most promising young men would be sorely tempted to turn back from the war and tell her to chase herself down to India or the Soudan, where there 1s money to be made and not money to be lost—where there are no wealthy relatives to anger or financially disable? “T tell you, st and the thoughtful man became more emphatic, “there is no limit to the terrors of a war between this coun- try and any of the Europeun nations that ‘e old enough to have titles to sell. ‘Think of Prince Hatzfeldt storming the stock ex- change with a Gatling gun! Think of the Count de Castellane bombarding railroads and smashing dividends! In the old day possible to go to rand kill pe: and burn towns without doing any ous injury to one’s sclf or one’s rela- but it isn’t so now. Any shot is hkely to be a boomerang, and there are relatives everywhere. It is worthy of note, too, that although t sa young country ccmparatively, it is rapidly becoming the papa-in-law of all the he man who makes it a point neve do any more thinking than is necessary ob- served the worried look of the man who is always making trouble for himself, yawned and replied carelessly: ‘A war wouid be sort of tough, wouldn't it ——__+e+- WHAT A WOMAN DID. ‘To Europe Six Times in Twelve Years and Learned Six Languages. From the Philadelphia Times. A plucky American woman, who began to support herself at eighteen, has shown how & poor school teacher can see Europe to the best advantage in twelve years. Earning a small salary in a public school, she has taken private pupils and lived frugally and has been able to go to Europe every other year for a two months’ holiday. Her first journey was made to Engiand and Scotland, and was enjoyed so keenly that she planned another one, and saved money for it during the next two years. The second tour was through France, Bel- gium and Holland, and in order to travel comfortably she learned French during ner leisure hours. Returning to her school work, she began to study German, and at the end of two years was ready for a journey up the Rhine and to Vienna, and thence through Dresden and Berlin to Bremen. With renewed ardor she plunged into the study of Italian, and at the end of two years she started for Rome. She made the round of the Italian cities, and spent a fortnight in Switzer- Jand. Two years afterward she was in Spain, and was able to speak the language. During the last_year she has made her sixth journey to Europe, traveling through Denmark, Norway and ‘Sweden to Russia, and spending a fortnight in Moscow. She carried with her a fair knowledge of Swed- ish and not only knew the Russian alpha- bet so as to read the street signs, but could make her own bargains with drosky drivers and go about without a guide. In the course of twelve years she has made six Journeys to Europe and learned to speak six modern languages, and she has supported herself entirely by her earnings as a school teacher, and has paid every penny of her traveling expenses. Starting with a painstaking study of the language of the country which she was to visit, and also preparing herself by a course of read- ing, she has made the best possible use of her time abroad. i The reward for all this energy and perse- verance has come in her thirtieth year. Her knowledge of foreign languages has fitted her for broader work as # teacher, and she has left the public schoois to take a position as instructor in French, German and Italian in a high school for young women. There may be higher aims than those or- dinarily involved in foreign travel, but the persistency or this American girl in carry- ing out her plans is worthy of praise. It is a great gain in any human Hfe, if it is gov- erned by a definite purpose and keeps that purpose steadily in mind. —re+—_____ CATACLYSMAL INVENTIONS. Their Effect is Always Slowly Felt and Distributed, From the London Spectator. The most cataclysmal of all inventions— that of gunpowder (which, by the way, was probably invented twice, for Greek fire must have been the same thing, used with an imperfect knowledge of its propelling power)—and the one which most affected the organization of society by destroying the value of armor and equalizing the power of men of different sizes, took a gen- eration to spread abroad, and when it did spread hardly affected the relative strength of the nations. If such an inventjon were blessed fealds.” The discovery of the way to harness lightning, which excites the im- agination even of poets, is one of the great- €st man has made; but it has upset nothing except newspaper arrangements, and be- yend enabling nations to talk together as individuals do, it has produced no conse- quences. It is, we suppose, possible that somebody may discover a way of destroy- ing a fleet from a balloon, and thus deprive the richest nation of its maritime advan- tages; but a mode of counteracting that discovery would probably be found at the same time, and the balance of maritime Rower would remain unchanged. There never can be an elixir of life, because ail men are sentenced to capital punishment, but a preparation which would destroy or neutralize all hostile bacteria, germs,spores, or whatever they call the injurious atoms, is, at all events, conceivable; but it would be years before it greatly influenced the Permanent health even of races bright enough to believe in the physician's opin- ions. Remember the savage opposition to vaccination in the teeth of evidence really as strong as that which demonstrates any arithmetical proposition. From all that what deduction? Simply this: that the readiness to take alarm, which is one mainspring of modern credul— ity, is not justified, either by experience or theory, and that men should receive all an- nouncements of cataclysmal discovery or Invention with a willingness to inquire, and LIFE WITHOUT WATER —_->___ How Animals Can Endure the Thirst of the Desert. RABBITS DO BETTER THAN CAMELS The Instinct of Many Game Birds ‘and Beasts. Sel mca FOUR OR FIVE DAYs’ THIRST eae Se From the London Spect Among the questions asked in relation to the difficuities of the Indian frontier war is the reason why the difficulty of obtai ing water blocks our advance but does not or. a qulet conviction that if fale (eo wed | hamper the hilimen. The answer is that matter, and if true they will affect things | OU" troops had in one camp upward of very slowly, and will develop countervail- | 25.000 baggage animals. There were oxen, ing and restraining influences. According | mules, donkeys and camels. The form: to science a meteorite big enough to shat-| are alway y ct ys thirsty creatures, and e tee ee OTM might atthe Dt aed MIRE | eS ook, are iageetthh with eaure even labor troubles or the German em- : : Deror’s experiments to an end; but the unt- | Powers of sustaining thirst than they pos- Lense is governed by powers before which | sess. Maj. A. G. Leonard, after seventeen ven science is very ignorant, and judging | years’ experience as a transport officer, is from all experience the meteorite wiil 7 ’ i either ieclerniece convinced that camels should, if possible, oor ine Or SOs Palin as DS watenbh avery BLY, ihat thi count be in its course through space. trained to do without water, and tha so. STAGE KIss. thorgh they can retain one and a half gal- lors of water in the cells of the stomach, four or five days’ abstinence is as much as they can stand, in heat and with dry food, without permanent injury. The record of the sufferings of the un- fortunate animals which accompanied an ill-arranged expedition in the Kashgar des- ert is a timely comment on this opinion. It is very doubtful whether the majority of the varlous “desert animals” willingly go without water, or, in fact, do so to any great extent. They drink ‘sparingly, and can, probably by habit and practice, go for longer periods without drinking than spe- cies living in well-watered districts. But the absence of any special provision for the internal storing of water, except in the camels and some tortoises, seems to indi- cate that this power of temporary abstt nence is only an acquired capacity. Nor is it often possible to be certain that stor of water do not exist in “deserts;" stores perfectly well known to the animals, though not to travelers. This is especially the case in rocky deserts such yuda desert and that bet Berber, en larger It Ha to Be Given Even at the Risk of Bloodshed. From the Chicago Record. It was a home talent show and we sat patiently waiting for the unexpected to happen. The unexpected always happens with a home talent show, and an inner mountain village is not proof against this long accepted stage fact. We strangers from the unregenerate east who were there in the mountains for our healths’ sake, felt assured, therefore, of an experience be- fore the ht should be over. “It was ‘The Mikado’ which was to be presented, tattered and torn by its transit from first-class theaters in the east to the town hall of Teton City. We had heard Nanki-Poo as he had sung about being a thing of shreds and patches, and we had heard Ko-Ko's announcement of his theories and ideas, and Were getting along fairly well in our listening when the kiss- ing SOne ras. reached. Then Red Pete Pr, Wi S sin) N. ? - vanced to the footlights © \a"K! Poo, ad ‘Ladies and gentlemen,” pea this is a mighty show to interrupt the proceed a speech, but as certain things are Aponte happen, I think it fs only fair that you be In Seha Some of the correspondents of the Lon- don daily papers whe recently mate t Journey from the advanced posts on the Nile to Suakin noted as remarkable that ’ the tenor singer poor place in the put on. I have heard that Holy Moses Per, | tough they were in a desert and making kins, who is known and generally hailed | forced marches from want of water, which, gnd greeted as the eventual husband of | when found, was as black as ink and al, Miss Betty Hoyler, who is taking the part | mest. undrinkable, hares “and « eS a announced to all con- | swarmed. noted tame “ges out the directions | This is an wlmost certain sign t and insist on kiss- | desert is not waterless. Count ¢ will be five different ing the lady, there mm When recrossing the Bayuda desert f Kinds of trouble. I hereby announce th . = . e e at I] Metemmeh, is of te a eoing to begin kissing the young lady in many ara about three minutes and shall keep right on rt bird, which, like the ¢ issing her through the whole blamed song, es, Jerboas and sand lizards, has ev: and I further announce that I shall do th kissing in full view of the audience. arore over, it may be of interest to you to know that I have secreted in these long and flow- ing robes two first-rate six-shooters right | -n its color from its environmen sand grouse. Yet Mr. Bryden st the daily flight of the sand cies of exceedingly swift an: flight, to the water is o the veldt in the dry si chine-like punctuality and the displays afforded by their enormous flights at the t pools” form the subject one of Mr. Bryden’s ct rs in his r work cn South Africa. “The watering y ecss is gone through with perfect order and without overcrowding. From 8 o'clock to clese on 19 this wonderful flight continue as birds drank and departed others stantly arriving to take their should judge that the average t each bird at and around th haif an hour.” A curious in mal knowledge ef the pre unsuspected places had Helland. The water for The Hag at the being constructed. marked that there bilis; that the har ready for business. I am also armed with the fact that Holy M s is si ting in seat No. 16 s in plain vi from the stage. ene about to be presented is a cros: delicious love song and a hom I shall caress eye on her b harms and the other on seat No. 167, I hope you will overlook any Uttle shortcomings in the affair. I hate to mention such low, coarse things, but the gun which I shall use first is a self- cocker and has been recently oile ing you for your kind attention, will now go on. We listened to the rendition of the kiss- kiss song with great interest, espe those who were in range of seat No. 16 Nothing happened, however, Mr. Perkins remaining statuesquely mute. But when the applause continued on its demand for an encore, Mr. Barker appeared once more at the stage front: which deser |. Thank- the show practical res fon of a supply « » was under e North Sea of those pre in the its and partr: “Thank you,” he said, “for this vindica- | Which swarm in sand hills di tion, but if you want some more of it lam |c°™e to the wet “polders” to drink, but compelled to say you can't have it. 1 r-.| Kiew of some supply in the “dunes” them- selves; and that he could name one or two places where he had seen water. This idea was laughed at, but one of the local engineers present took the hint. The dunes were carefully explored, and the result is the cutting of a long reservoir in the cen- ter of the sand hills, which fills with water naturally and supplies the town, Total Abstin It is believed that rabbits can exist in this climate without a permanent water supply. Where they are kept in inclosed warrens without water this must be ac- cepted as a fact. The writer has seen only one such warren, where there are always plenty of drinking troughs for the young spect Mr. Perkins’ claims on the Thank you one and all, and espec Perkins, who has this night saer’ feelin; 1 ed_his for the advancement of art. The 1 now proceed.” We then leaned back and listened re- spectfully while Pooh-Bah told about his troubles and his expectations. ce. DISINFECTION OF SLEEPING ROOMS. Vaporized Corrosive Subl Salphur Do the Wor! From the Philadelphia Reccrd. Prof. Konig of Gottingen, in a recent article on this subject, says that at one time, while he was practicing medicine in Hanau, he suddenly discovered that his pheasants in summer,” though = winter 5 % the rabbits can only find rain water and bed room was thickly inhabited by obnox- | dew. Those in this warren are very, poor ious insects. A friend assured him that he could easily get rid of the pests, and proceeded to fumigate the apartment with corrosive sublimate. The success of this and small. Tame rabbits are commonly kept without water, but they may be seen licking the bars of their hutch after a shower, and drink eagerly when they h the chance. Most other rodents, includ measure was most gratifying, and when , are thirsty creatures. ‘The only an the rcom was opened the deud bodies of | mals living in y which soem various kinds of insects were seen strewn | able to do entirely without drink a about the floor. This Incident led the pro- | *vakes and reptiles. | In the cold desert of shifting sand in Kashgar there were no reptiles and not even a fly. But the Af- ghan boundary commission found swarms of lizards and a new and venomous s: cies of adder in astonishing numbers in the awful desert of hot, shifting sand at the corner where Persia, Baloochistan and Afghanistan meet. We must note one ex- ception, the giraffe, which Mr. Bryden bs lieves exists for three-quarters of the year in the north Kalahari without water. But this cannot be proved until the desert has been explored and the total absence of water confirmed. There is known to be water beneath the surface, and if the gi- raffe does live waterless he must imbit kis liquid nutriment at second hand in th juices of the leaves of the trees which have their roots in the moisture. Seals do not apparently drink, neither do cor- morants and penguins; but there can be little more evaporation from their bodies than from those of fish, and their food is wet and moist. A more difficult question is that of the water supply of arctic animals in winter. Possibly they eat snow. There is abundant evidence that though many ani- mals can exist without water for long pe- ricds, this abstinence is not voluntar: when unduly protracted causes suffé and loss of health. ———_+e-+—___. Too Much Salt. From the Journal of Hygiene. The use of salt as a condiment is so cen- eral and so universally believed in as neces- sary that we rarely hear a“word against its excessive use, but there are a multi- tude of persons who eat far too much salt; eat it on everything—on meat, fish, pota- toes, melons, in butter, on tomatoes, tur- nips and squashes, in bread, and on a host of foods, too numerous to mention. To so great an extent is it used, that no food is relished which has not a salty taste, and this hides more or less the real taste, which is often very delicate. Now. the amount of salt required in the system is comparatively smail, and if the diet has been rightly compounded, very little is necessary. Some go so far as to discard its use altogether, but whether this is wise or not, we will not here consider. What are some of the evils of the exces- sive use of salt? They are to paralyze the nerves of taste, or to pervert them 50 that they cannot enjoy anything which has not a salty flavor, and in addition, there is a direct tax on both the skin and the kidneys in removing it from the blood. Whether the skin is harmed by this tax we do not know. Possibly it is not great- ly injured, yet we eee 4 few people possess a healthy skin; but it is now pre*\: settled nt excessive of salt fessor to hope that the same means would be effectual in destroying the infectious elements of contagious diseases, and a trial in private houses after scarlet fever or measles, and in hospitals after erysipe- las or pyaemia, gave most satisfactory results. Since adopting this method he has never seen a second case of a contagious disease which could be attributed to in- on remaining in the room in which the at had been confined. The mode of procedure is very simple. From one and a half to two ounces of corrosive subli- mate are put on a plate over a chafing dish, and then the windows and doors of the room are closed. At the expiration of three or four hours the windows are open- ed and the apartment is thoroughly aired. The person entering the room should take the precaution to hold a sponge or cluth over the mouth and nose in order not to iuhaie the vapor. The following day the windows are again closed, and some sul- phur is burned in order to neutralize any of the mercurial fumes which may linger about the furniture and other articles. The room should then be again aired and cleaned, when it will be ready for occu- pancy. So The Money-Making Game. John Ruskin. The first of all English games is making money. That is au ali-absorbing game; and we knock each other down oftener in play- ing at that than at foot ball, Or any other rougher sport; and it is absolutely without purpose; no one who engages heartily in that game ever knows why. Ask a great money-maker what he wants to do with his money—he never knows. He doesn’t make it to do anything with it. He gets it only that he may get it “What will you make of what you have got?” you ask. “Weil, I'll get more,” he says. Just as at cricket you get more runs. There’s no use in the runs, but to get more of them than other pecple is the game. And there's no use in the money, but to have more of it than other people is the game. So all that great foul city of London there—rattling, growl- ing, smoking, stinking—a ghastiy heap of fermenting brickwork, pouring out poison at every pore—you fancy it is a city of work? Not a street of it! It is a great city of play; very nasty play, and very hard play, but still play. It is only Lord’s crick- et ground without the turf—a huge billiard table without the vioth, and with pockets