Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, February 13, 1904, Page 7

old simple spirit of “Emily present this little trifle to one who she regards.” More than seventy-five years ago Emily took up her quill pen and in dainty characters wrote the dedication on the fly leaf of “Friendship’s Offering.” In spite of her bad grammar a glance at the fad- ed and delicate writing with its quaint flourishes and aristocratic angles is enough to prove that Emily was a fine young lady and that she really meant at least a little more than she said. Poor Emily! Her lilies and roses are long withered, along with the other flowers which bloomed in the reign of King George IV., to whose “Most Excellent Majesty” the little morocco bound volume is dedicated. And “one who she regards” has gone also with the rest. Were they married one day—Emily and “one who she regards”? Or did Emily die early of a broken heart, perhaps? Her handwriting looks as if she might have easily fallen’ a victim to some such old fashioned malady. And did “one who she regards” leave Emily behind and come to the States to seek his fortune? Certainly in some way the book which Emily gave him as a valentine in 1826 found its way to this country and, passing from hand to hand, finally turned up on the stalls of a little second-hand book shop in the French quarter of old New Or- leans. The little book is spotted with brown and yellow now; its morocco cover is badly marked and torn. But for the sake of the unknewn but dear and dainty Emily—as well as for its own—it shall be cherished hereafter and given such care as Emily herself might wish for “the little trifle” which perhaps told a tender secret to the unnamed man who was its original owner. “Friendship’s Offering” is a fat and sturdy little book of nearly 400 pages. it was handsomely and well bound, as is proven by the fact that even to-day it makes a gay show with the gold rosebuds and scrolls stamped on its back. It was one of that great crop of annuals which people of good con- dition were wont to send to their friends on the recurrence of New Year’s and St. Valentine’s days. We do such things differently now. Instead of a volume of 400 pages stuffed with stilted verses and tragic tales written by as many lords and Ladies—nothing less than Esquires being admitted under any circum- stances—we send to our friends a gay eard stamped out of colored paper by a machine. And we pick up this old volume of “Friendship’s Offering” and jaugh as we look over the table of contents. But poor -Emily’s long forgotten love affair is not the only ancient memory revived by a glance at the little book. Buried in its table of con- tents are the names of twenty peo- ple who in their day were famous as literary lights, but who have long since flickered out into oblivion. Who remembers Mona, Eliza, Caro- fine and the rest, whose “Legendary Stanzas,” “Romantic Tales,” and “Lines to a Wreath of Dead Flowers” moved Emily and her sisters of the 1820s to tears? Who’ remembers Ber- nard Barton, the Quaker poet and friend of Lamb? Least of all, what modern reader would follow him as for half a dozen pages or more he “Treads with slow and mournful. steps the loved and lonely shore?” Lord Byron died less than two years before this volume of “Friendship’s Offer- ing” was printed, and it is pretty full of newly found verses by his Lord- ship. Mr. Washington Irving sends some verses by his late Lordship, “extracted by that gentleman from the album of Captain Medwin,” and it only needs a glance at the first line— “Be it so—we part forever”—to recog- nize the true Byronic flavor. Lady Caroline Lamb, who had been separated from her husband the year before, and whose intrigues with Lord Byron were still familiar, “extracted from her album” another set of verses by his late Lordship, the. perusal of which at this date is likely to provoke a smile of amusement—they are so typical of the strained and grandilo- quent poet. In all the emphasis and extrava- gance of italics and capital letters, Lord Byron implores Lady Caroline to let him go and, Lady Caroline appar- ently takes a malicious pleasure in printing the verses by way of showing that the poet was much in love with her. Since still the vulture tears my heart— Let me this agony endure, Not thee—O! dearest as thou art! In mercy, Ciara, let us part! Who is writing poetry of this kind now? And if such poetry were writ- ten, who would read it? There is one paper in “Friendship’s Offering” which might well furnish a text for some one wno is anxious to accuse Dr. Conan Doyle of plagiarism in the creation of Sherlock Holmes. The paper is by the late “Richard Lov- ell Edgeworth Esq.,” father of the better known Maria Edgeworth. It is called “Stage Coach Physiognom- ists” and relates how one of the pas- sengers was able to tell the full life history of all his fellows by simply noticing such bits of gesture, man- ner or apparel as have since guided the famous detective in his amazing discoveries. Sherlock at his best was never moré observing or more aston- ishing than this casual coach passen- ger who traveled the same way more than fifty years before him. L. EB. L.—Letitia Elizabeth Landon —whose pen name is more familiar than her writings, was then in her early twenties, and contributed half a dozen sets of verses ‘In heroic style. Nor was “Friendship’s Offering” with- out names whith are well known even now. Miss Mitford has a sketch, “The Lady of Beachgrove,” full of old-fash- ioned sentiment and ladylike mystery. Perhaps the best remembered things about Miss Mitford is the fact that when she was only ten years old: she drew a prize of $100,000 in a lottery, and that after her father had squan- dered her mowey she supported him for years by the earnings of her pen. Robert Southey, then in nis prime, | has a long poem in the fat, little book, and Miss Jane Porter, whose “Scottish Chiefs” and “Thaddeus of Warsaw,” had already been printed, is represent- ed by a melancholy tale. Mrs. Opie mourns through a couple of “Epitaphs for Friends,” and mod- est T. Hood Esq., has an ode on autumn, quite like the similiar efforts of young poets before and since his time. T. Hood Esq. was not yet thirty years old when “Friendship’s Offer- ing” was printed. He had _ recently left the engraver’s trade for literature and had hardly begun as yet to make a name for himself in his new line. Doubtless if the “Present Editor” could have foreseen that his modest contributor was to write “The Song ot the Shirt” and “The Bridge of Sighs,” and the other poems which have made him famous, “T. Hood Esq.” would have been given more prominence in the table of contents. But the “Present Editor” is not A fashionable shopkeeper insists that the vogue of valentine gifts is largely a matter of evolution, and that for several years they have been grow- ing more general, more personal and more expensive. A young man who usually is satisfied with sending the object of his admiration flowers, bon- bons or books, now selects a gift that will show relations of a more intimate nature. Fiances, especially, tet their imagination and their purse-strings run riot. | KEEPS. UP CUSTOM OF THIRTY YEARS Big valentines and little valentines, fat valentines and thin valentines, white valentines and red valentines, cheap modest little valentines and proud and costly valentines—every old kind of valentine dangled from shelves and lay heaped on counters, while a half dozen clerks were busy attending to the rush of St. Valentine’s day. There was the young man with one hand on money in his pocket buying a white $1.25 valentine, with eyes riveted on a red $3 creation. Clearly, he wish- ed he could afford the red. In a cor- ner, looking uneasy, were two young women discussing animatedly a heap of pink and blue valentines. Unnoticed by the crowd inside the shop, a coach drew up to the curb. It was a most pretentious “turnout,” with coachman and footman in livery, with a pair of restless bays and with shining harness mounted heavily with glistening silver. The- footman “LOVE’S WHISPERS”’—Bouguereau. the only man who has made such.a mistake. Plentifully sprinkled in among the professional poets and literary men and women are my Lords and Ladies. Not for a moment does the “Present Editor” forget that he is editing a volume of the “gentry and nobility,” to whom his work is dedicated. The Rt. Hon., My Lord Dillon, has some bad verses on “Spain” in the syronic manner, and My Lord Dorchester is given several pages for a sad and silly apostrophe to an “Astrologer.” “Friendship’s Offering” is illustrat- ed with three or four ancient steel engravings, representing such classic scenes as “‘Adneas and Dido,” views of Ispahan in Persia, and illustrations for the “Laughing Horseman.” All in all, Emily’s was a valentine well worth having. Since she wrote her quaint dedication on its fiyleat two English kings and one queen have died, and the fourth monarch is now on the throne. ,What valentine of the present year will be as well worth looking over in 1975? = SES SNA SSeS Character of Day Changing. Good St. Valentine is rapidly being transformed from the patron saint of loving hearts into the head of a gift enterprise. If he keeps up the pace established for him this year he will soon rival St. Nicholas. It seems only yesttr-year since the amorous swain gave expression to his feelings in burning words, hidden in the depths of paper lace and. impos- sible cupids. Now the approach of the affectionate old saint’s day finds the young man’s thoughts, if not ms fancy, turning toward violets at ad- vanced prices, bonbons in extravagant L jumped to the sidewalk as quickly as his tight-fitting buckskin breeches per- mitted and opened the coach door. An old man, a very old man, alighted and, resting on his cane, made for the front door of the valentine shop. None noticed the newcomer. Every one was busy with his own affairs. But the owner of the shop saw the customer, greeted him pleasantly and led him to a chair. A valentine the old man wanted. seemed to know his man. A white satin box long and wide, was produced, and within lay what was lfkely the most gorgeous valentine ever sent in New York. It was brilliant crimson, gold mounted and in the centre of the pillow, in oil, was a landscape, an emblem and an inscription which the writer, from afar, could not make out, Evidently the old customer was pleased. For some minutes he gazed admiringly at the costly piece, then closed the box, smiled approval and left the shop,. followed by a clerk car- rying the box to the coach. “What does an old fogy like that do with a valentine?” was asked. The proprietor did not take kindly to the question. “That old fogy has been coming here ever since I opened this store, thirty years ago. The old fogy is one of the wealthiest men in this city. The old fogy regularly orders his valentine three months ahead of time and pays as much for them as many a bank clerk earns in a month. And when a woman has lived faithfully for thirty years beside a man, the old fogy thinks she’s en- titled at least to one valentine a year.” And the questioner knew he had touched a sore spot of the old fogy’s friend—New York Press, « quite out of tho The proprietor | - JAPAN STRIKES FIRST — AND STRIKES HARD Wins First Victory in War in the Far East by Administcring a Crushing Blow to Russia—Bear Is TaKen Completely by Surprise. “Russian Flect at Dort Arthur Is Attacked and Three Warships Are Disabled—Ten Russians Killed and Forty-Four Wounded—Japs Are Unscathed. Two Russian Warships Disabled in Fierce Battle at Chemulpo— Japs Occupy Chicf Korean Ports and Commence March to Scoul—Dussian Advance Begins. 4OKI0, rep. 1U.—It 1s reported here that the Japanese fleet engaged and defeated two Russian warships, whose names have not been learned, at Chemulpo yesterday. It is said the engagement began at 11 a. m. and continued until 3 p. m. The smaller Russian vessel is report- ed to have been sunk, and the larger one fired and hopelessly disabled. A part of the crew is reported to have escaped to the shore and has been captured. The Japanese ships are reported to be slightly damaged. Official confir- mation is unobtainable. Heavy Blow at Port Arthur. St. Petersburg, Feb. 10.—The follow- ing official bulletin has just been is- sued in the form of a telegram from Viceroy Alexieff’s chief of staff, dated Feb. 9: “By order of the viceroy I beg to re- port that this day at about 11 o’clock in the morning a Japanese squadron consisting of about fifteen battleships and cruisers approached Port Arthur and opened fire. The enemy was re- ceived with a cannonade from the shore batteries ond the guns of our squadron, which also participated in the engagement. “At about midday the Japanese squadron, ceased its fire and left, pro- ceeding south. “Our losses in the fleet were two of- ficers wounded, nine men killed and forty-one men wounded. On the shore batteries one man was killed and three were wounded. The battleship Poltava and the cruiser Novik each had a hole knocked in her side below the water line. The forts were slight- ly damaged.” Story of the Attack. London, Feb. 10..— In a dispatch from Chefu a correspondent of the Daily Express says: “The Japanese have dealt the Rus- sians a crushing blow at Port Arthur. An advance squadron of the Japanese fleet, under command of Vice Admiral Togo, and comprising sixteen battle- ships.and cruisers, with a numerous torpedo flotilla, left the main fleet off Shentung peninsula on Sunday, imme- diately that the news of the diplo- matic rupture became known. “The Japanese scouting cruisers had given accurate information of the precarious situation of the Russian fleet outside Port Arthur. The squad- ron steamed slowly, and came in sight of Port Arthur under cover of dark- ness. It cruised slowly outside with- out showing lights. The Russians were lying in the roadstead, apparent- ly feeling secure from attack. Nearly all the Japanese torpedo boats were dispatched on their dangerous and daring task. They rushed full-steam on the enemy, who Were Completely Surprised. A great rattle of small arms greeted the invaders, who, however, escaped unhurt, and the Retvizan, the Czare- vich and the Pallada were almost im- wediately torpedoed. The Japanese dashed along the entire line of the Russians, exposed now to a terrible fire from machine guns and small arms from both the ships and the shore. There was the utmost conster- nation among the Russians, which probably accounts for the Japanese torpedo boats escaping practically un- scathed and rejoining the admiral out- side” “Lin of battle was then formed and the Japanese fleet moved in within a range of two and one-half miles and opened fire on the Russians. The pooming of guns was heard far out to sea by the officers and crew of a Jap- anese ship which has arrived here.” Continued All Night. Chefu, Feb. 10.—The steamer Co- lumbia has arrived from Port Arthur with additional news of the attack by the Japanese fleet upon the Russian fleet in the roads .outside’ of the har- por of Port Arthur. The Columbia was in the roads at the time and felt the first shock of a torpedo explosion at 1fo’clock on Monday night. The attack continued all night and at day- light yesterday morning two Russian battleships and one - first-class Rus- sian cruiser were seen, to have been disabled and beached at the entrance of the harbor. The cruiser was badly listed to one side. Yesterday morning the Russian forts opened fire on the Japanese fleet, which was about three miles distant. The Japanese vessels Returned the Fire, hitting several of the Russian ships, ‘but doing little damage. The Russian cruisers then went, out, and the Jap- nese vessels disappeared. They were , summer. | around the roadstead. seen later going in the direction of Dalny, apparently undamaged. l- though the officers. of the Columbia Say that there were seventeen in the attacking party, only sixteen were seen later in the day by the steamer Foo Chow. The Russians left one cruiser out- side to watch for the Japanese ships. The cruiser was fired upon by the Japanese and other Russian ships took up their anchors and cruised The Japanese fleet came up within three miles and a battle commenced. The Japanese fired on the ships and forts, which re- plied. Two Russian ships were struck by shells, but were only slight- ly damaged. The Russian Fire Fell Short. ‘The Coluthbia steamed @gvay while the battle was in progress, but later saw the Japanese fieet leave. One Japan- ese cruiser, with torpedo boats is re- ported north of Chefu. When seen by the steamer Foo Chow Tuesday morning the fast cruis- ers were circling ina radius of six miles. No torpedo boats were seen and it is probable that they left the vicinity after the torpedo attack of Monday night. The two battleships are the Poltava and the Czarevich. The disabled ar- mored cruiser Boyaim and the ground- ed battleships block the entrance to the harbor, preventing gunboats from going out and battleships and cruisers from going in and getting coal. Be- sides this Japan has the Russian gun- boats Variag and Koretz caught at Chemulpo. They were bound for Vladivostok. March to Seoul Commenced. London, Feb. 10. — In a dispatch from Tien-tsin dated Feb. 9, a corres- pondent of the Daily Mail says it is reported there that the Russian cruis- ers Variag and Koretz hauled down their flags without firing a shot and that 8,000 Japanese immediately landed at Chemulpo and the march to Seoul commenced. It was reported from Pekin, to-day that the Japanese had disembarked at Chemulpo notwithstanding the presence there of two Russian war- ships, and another dispatch from Chefu said Japan had the Variag and Koretz caught at Chemulpo. Japanese troops also landed at all the chief points in Southern and Western Korea. One division of the Japanese guards holds Fusan and Chemulpo, and altogether three divis- ions of the Japanese guards, each of 12,000 men, have been mobilized. Russian Advance Begins. It appears, the correspondent con- tinues, that the Russian warships at Vladivostok are ice-bound. Another correspondent of the Daily Mail telegraphs from Port Arthur un- der date of Feb. 9 that the Russian ad- vance has commenced. Gen. Krastal- insky will leave Liao Yang to-morrow for the Yalu river at the head of the third brigade of artillery, consisting of twenty-four guns and three regiments of infantry. The Third, Fourth and Fifth infantry brigades are intrenched along the railroad at a distance of forty miles from Hai Cheng, and three batteries of the Fifth brigade are in Kin Chou. The greatest activity prevails at Port Arthur, and ammunition is being served out lavishly at an average of 150 cartridges per man. New recruits are being enrolled with feverish haste, drilling being dispensed with in favor of incessant target practice. United States Takes Action. Washington, Feb. 10. — Secretary Hay has addressed an identical note to a number of European powers to ascertain if they are willing to join in a notice to Russia and Japan that dur- ing hostilities, and thereafter, the neu- trality of China must be recognized. Details of the note are not obtainable in advance of the receipt of replies. It is known, however, that exchanges al- ready have taken place which justify the state department in expecting fal vorable responses. The matter has created a great sensation in diplo- matic circles here. GEENA a Lae ne CLUBMEN GO TO JAIL. Convicted of Taking Liquor Into the Indian Territory. Ardmore, Ind. T., Feb. 10.—Sixteen of Holdensville’s prominent men were sentenced to 100 days in jail at Fort Smith and fined $10 each upon the charge of bringing liquor into the ter- ritory by illegitimate means. These men were all members of the HaJ- densville club, which was raided last DEFECTIVE PAGE A WOMAN’S MISERY. 4 a Mrs. John La Rue, of 115 Pater- son avenue, Paterson, N. J., says: “I wastrou- “ bled for - about nine years, and what I suf- fered none will ever ates know. I used about every known remedy that is said to be good for kidney com- plaint, but without deriving perma- nent relief. Often when alone in the house the backache has been so bad that it brought tears to my eyes. The pain at times was so intense that I was compelled to give up my house- hold duties and lie down. There were headaches, dizziness and blood rush- ing to my head to cause bleeding at the nose. The first box of Doan’s Kidney Pills benefited me so much that I continued. the treatment. Tho stinging pain in the small of my back, the rushes of blood to the head, and other symptoms disappeared.” Doan’s Kidney Pills for sale by all dealers. 50 cents per box. Foster- Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Tammany and Princeton. “Was Seth Low ever president of Yale, pa?” “No, of Columbia. What made you think that it was Yale?” “Probably because Mr. Low and Yale have so much in common.” “What do you mean?” “Both beaten by a_ tiger.”—New York Times. How’s This ? ‘We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any th that cannot be cured by Hall's F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 ae. and believe him perfectly hon- orable in all business transactions and financtally ‘ble to carry out any obligations made by his firm. Wa.pine, KInnaNn & M. ‘Wholes: Druggiets Hall’s Catarrh Cure {s taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Testimonials sent free. Price 75 cents per bottle. Sold by all Druggists. ‘Take Hall’s Family Pilis for constipation. Estimated. “Papa, what's the difference between the upper ten and the four hundred?” “Oh, about $68,000,000.”—Life. Teosinte and Billion Dollar Grass. The two greatest fodder plants on earth, one good for 14 tons hay and the other 80 tons green fodder per acre. Grows everywhere, so does Victoria Rape, yielding 60,000 Ibs. swine food per acre. JUST SEND 10c IN STAMPS TO THB John A. Salzer Seed Co., La Crosse, ‘Wis., and receive in return their big catalog and lots of farm seed samples, cw. N. UL) sheep and For Instance. “Yes, my boy,” said the aged ad- viser, “the thing for you to do is to get out and hustle. There is always plenty of room at the top, you know.” “Plenty of room at the top? But where? What business shall I adopt?” “Well, for instance, go into the hair tonic trade.”—Judge. A Great Cure. The Doctor—Yes, I understand what ails you. You can’t sleep. Take this prescription to the druggist. Next day —Good morning! you look better to- day. Have you slept well? Peterson—Like a top. I feel like a new man. Doctor—How many sleeping pow- ders did you take? Peterson—I didn’t take any. a couple of them to the baby. I gave ‘A Match for the Cockney. A story reaches me of a stockbrok- ing “sportsman” who had gone into the Highlands with a shooting party. Thinking, with Cockney assurance, to take a rise out of an old Highland shepherd, he said: “You havea fine view from this mountain, Donald.” “There is, indeed ,a fine view,” re- plied Donald, impassively. “IT am told, Donald, you America from it.” “America?” echoed Donald, “far ayont America! We can see the moon.” The cockney subsided.—London Free Lance. can see WELL POSTED. A California Doctor With 40 Years’ Experience. “In my 40 years’ experience as a teacher and practitioner along hygie- nic lines,” says a Los Angeles phy- sician, “I have never found a food to compare with Grape-Nuts for the bene- fit of the general health of all classes of people. 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Strong indorsements like the above from physicians all over the country have stamped Grape-Nuts the most scientific food in the world. \ There’s a reason. Look in each pkg. for the famous little book, “The Road to Wellville.” .