Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, November 25, 1894, Page 20

' THE HAPPY THANKSGIVING OF THE BURGLAR AND PLUMBER. By Octave Thanet, (Copyright, 184, by Miss Elinor Merryweather went to bed Mhanksgiving evening in a graceless frame 6f mind, at least in a frame of mind that may pass for graceless In a woman of such kindly nature as Miss Merryweather. “‘You may g0, Robbins,” she eald to her faithful faid, “and you and Harrlet (Harriet was the cook) and Matilda (Matilda was the waltress) may all go to that party at James' (James was the gardener), I shall not need any of you." “I hate to leave you alone, Miss Elinor," ®ald Robbins, and hesitated, knowing Miss | Merryweather well enough not to ask her would she be afraid. She did not do much better to blurt out: “They do say there's burglars in town, ma'am.” “Very well,"? responded Miss Merryweather avith unshaken calm—whatever her faults timidity never was charged to her—"be sure you lock all the doors and windows securely. And ybu may as ‘well see the galvanic battery works all right and that the silver is all in the safe. Good night, a pleasant time to you. Robbins knew when her mistress used this tone that argument would be vain, so, dis- comfited and with more than one wistful glance backward in the hall, she retired. Miss Morryweather began to walk up and .down the room. It was an attractive room, with the soft, ivory gleam of the paint and the sprangly old fashioned flowers on the creamy walls. These walls were thickly hung with water color sketches and pen and ink and wash drawings, which gave one an ‘eerio sensation of familiarity, like faces seen in a dream, and sometimes by some clever people of long memories were traced to a favorite illustrator, being, in fact, by famous their original drawings for well known magazines. One percelved also an old fashioned air that came from the presence of certain ehairs and tables luxuriantly carved in dull hued oak or tinted in old' marqueterie. In one corner of the room a cabinet showed all the dazzling hues of rare, old china, the sumptuous gilding of Satsuma, the delicate forms of old Severes, the dainty fancles in Melssen and the soldier opulence of color and shape by the great English makers, A davenport in one corner, a lounge with many pillows in another and a tea table, with its shining equipage, hinted the room to be Miss Merryweather's ‘own speclal sitting room. Sho never called it a boudoir, and nothing made her more indignant than to hear the name from any one else. Do I look like a woman who would have a boudoir?" she had been known to demand, almost with flerceness. A boudoir is a place where girls with sloopy hair read poetry and write notes on scented paper, and make poor tea, that they sip with souvenir spoons. Look at my spoons, they are truly apostles; and fsn’t ‘that Eve sprawling by that ridiculous river on that Capo di Monti teapot delicious? Taste my tea—a friend brought it to me from Russia; did you ever taste such tea in a boudoir? ' T think nof” Miss Merry- weather's tea was celebrated by who were o fortunate as to drink it, but it was mot the tea table to which the eye of a new: comer instinctively turned, it was a heavy Italian chest, the 1id adorned by two curl- ously wrought iron handles, the chest itself of age-stained oak, having divers vague and grisly traditions connecting 1t with the treas- ure of a convent and the murder of faithful | guardians by vandal robbers in the eighth Bnglish Henry's time. By a natural divaga- tion of the mind the chest had become Miss Merryweather's safe, and contained, it was id, a bona fide safe, wherein was deposited e famous Merryweather plate, some d scended from colonial Merryweathers, some presented by brother officers to the late Gen- eral Merryweather. Alco therein sparkled the jewels of Miss Merryweather, which would not have been despised in a large city and were regarded with awe in an Iowa town. Miss Merryweather, though a spinster and no longer young, was fond of magnificence in dress, on proper occasions. In general, she wore simple costumes, always of black, which recognized but did not slavishly defer to fashion. But for high toilels she had satins and velvets and lace as ancient as her china. In person Miss Merryweather was tall and thin, but she had a mantua maker that understood her business. When 8he was young and her hair was black Miss Merryweather's Roman features might have seemed large, however finely chiseled. Now, framed in softest iron gray, they were com- monly deséribed as “so distinguished.” She was of a fine carriage, a figure to notice on the streets, especially as she was a_trifle ab- gent minded, and when she walked had the habit of swaying her shapely right hand from side to side, as if addressing an in visible audience In inaudible words. She had a warm heart and a quick temper, and she had been known to arrest (with the aid of sympathetic bystanders) at least haif a dozen oppressors of dumb brutes o did not keep a single cat in the house. In pussy’s place she petted a mafestic St. Bernard, who sometimes accompanied her in lieu of the body guard. Whatever her eccentricities—I must grant her some—she was greatly beloved by her fellow townsmen and those who knew her "best loved her most strongly. She bad, how- ever, a will of her own. And she was one ‘who, in the language of holy writ, kept her promise to her hurt. Thus, sometimes, an impetuous temper led her into imprudent declarations ont of which she could not al- ways ‘extract herself without great exercise of her wits. Her latest dilemma engrossed her tonight. Having the plumbing of her dwelling repaired, in an unlucky moment she had a quarrel with the plumbers union over a bill and the resu't was that she sent away “every man swindler of them all”—I would not be understood to endorse her w.rds-- and was left with the water service of the . house cut oft and water hauled from the olsterns and a single faucet in (he garden, | while friends sniffed apprehensively when- ever they entered the house, and asked was she not afrald of sewer gas? and her niece (who was as a daughter to her) did not dare 10 bring the baby to epend Thanksgiving, be- cause the child might catch diphtheria through the deadly, leaking pipes. “Stuff!" said Miss Merryweather, who used strong expressions sometimes, being by birth and breeding quite too great a lady to dis- turb herself about the minor conventions, “stuff and nonsense! There are no leaks, but I'm not golng to argue with you, Helen; I shall get a plumber and have you come Thanksgiving." Then, discerning a peculiar smile on the amiable features of Helen's husband, she added gravely: “He will not belong to the union. 1f 1 have to wait to hire a union plumber I shall wait until the pipes tumble to pleces!" But the imported plumber who was to put the forces of crganized labor to rout did not come, although, such is the extraordinary working of the feminine logic, he was oftered as high wages as the erring and grasping unien plumbers had been refused. Miss Merryweather was sure he had either been bought off or assassinated by the union; she paid no heed to the theory submissively tendered by Helon's husband, to- that, knowing the man's habits, he had cause to suspect he was simply celebrating Thanks- iving In an unholy manner on his own ac- count. 'No, poor fellow,” she murmured, likely he Is lying dead in some alleyway with ail his ribs broken. They do such things.” It was with a_gloomy mind she bebeld the night before Thanksgiving. never was so little thankful in my lite, myrmured, “and I was so bent on having that plumbing done in time to have Helen and show that Vance that [ am a mateh for the plumbers union if I am a lone woman,"” Miss Merryweather was not used to be beuten; it galled; she had mailed letters to different plumbers asking for bids by. tele- weaph; but, peer as’ she might, she could not soe a loophole of escape for her this time, She went to bed early, but for a long while she could not sleep; she thought of the plumbers union and her own defeat and raged anew, And when at last she was just slipping off into the shadows of peace she heard the softest of footfalls. Surely she had closed the door on Dicgenes, the dog! Hadn't she clpsed the door? Her mind drove her back- “oyer that hasty journey through the stalrs. Diogenes had a mat in o laundry and the range of the kitehen, ost | room which adjoined the chamber. | his | the slices of bread and pla | curlosity to se | come to ladling out Octave Thanet.) she certainly had closed one of the kitchen doors, didn’t ghe close the kitchen door up- stairs? She did—at least she had seen that the door to the celiar was fast and she thought she had bolted the door upstairs— how did people ever feel certain about any- thing enough to swear that it happened? The footsteps were nearer, in the sitting thought was for the safety of the tea table with its precious freight; she was sure if she called to the dog kindly he would begin wagging his tail, that tremendous brush which with one sweep might hurl her idols into irredeemable, smashing, crashing ru Sternness was the only chance! “Down, charge, Die!” she commanded, “bad dog! Down! A particularly “It ain't a do oy et “Wel Of course It was Merryweather did not meaning of words. “Yes, ma'am,” the voice repeated, be alarmed; I'm a man, a burglar!” Miss Merryweather showed no signs of alarm; in the first place she had a fear- kss soul, in the second place, the voice was 80 mild, so almost apologetic, that it aroused her sense of humor. “I don’t know but that you are less of a nuisance than the dog would be,” said she. “You stay right where you are and I will turn on the electric lights as soon as I get on a few things. Don't move or you'll hit something. “All right, ma'am,” sald the burglar, “only no pulling out a pop, you know, and firing it off at me in the dark, hit or miss.” ertainly not, at least not untill can see you,” said Miss Merryweather. All the while she wis hastily donning a wrapper and slippers. Then she turned on the lights. The burglar stood dirbetly under the blaze. He did not look like a burglar; there was nothing much in his pale face except the look of recent sickness and hopelessness, His clothes were like any workman's, a pair of blue, soiled overalls with something like a bib front, and a patched, check shirt. His hat (it was a hat and not the cap in which artists, for reasons best known to themselves, delight to depict the burglar) was a_very battered, soft felt, and it was not pulled down over his biaci brows, it was pushed back from dark, brown locks. He lcoked like a workman out of a job. His hands, one of which held a pistol, were cal- loused and stained, a workingman’s hands. When Miss Merryweather loomed upon him—one may say darted, since that was the effect of the springing of the light upon her image—he lifted his empty hand to his hat. “I don't want to disturb you, ma'am,” he repeated, “but I've got to have some money “Why?" said Miss Merryweather. was quite at her ease and had taken a rock- ing _chai “Why?' the man echoed bitterly, ‘be- auss 1 prefer to steal to seeing my wife dying for want of things done for her and my children without shoes to their feet, and never a bite amongst us all this day, by ——; I beg your pardon, lady, I wasn't meaning to swear, but I'm worn out.” ‘Haven't you had anything to eat today?” said Miss Merryweather. He shook his head. A stift 1 brown hair which stood ups on the head ggled at the moti him a grotesque look. He frightfully thin: “Humph!” said Miss Merryweather, sit down in_that rocking chair and there until I come up again. Don’t burgle any until I come back; then seo what we can do.” 4. yolce answered her: . mifs, 1's a man!" repeated Miss Merryweather, not well; think but Miss of the mnicer 'don’t it rtainly was “You stay ou “You ain't going to telephone to the police to nab me?" i Miss Merryweather waved her hand toward the 1 at a telephone. “It isn't customary in houses of people who are not millionaires to have two tel phones,” said she. *I'm going to bring you something to cat.” “I won't touch a thing, lady,” promlsed the burglar, “I've been druv to this; I truly bave.” Miss Merryweather encouraged him by a nod and departed, lighted candle in hand, Never, it scemed to her, had she $0 many sinister noises at night as pricked her ears while her eandle flitted from pantry to sideboard. Boards creaked under her tread as they never creaked in the day time, and every door she touched sent up a long shriek of remonstranc But Diogenes slept Miss Merryweather carried a olver aid on the tray. sort of submerged her meditations while tray—"but he may be wicked and run after me down stairs. If ho does, Di and the gun will have to hurt him.” “And T won't telephone. She thought of waking the sleaping dog and taking him up stairs, but the peril to the china of Diogenes' clumsy bulk seemed so much greater to her in- trepid soul than any personal danger from the mild mannered burglar, that she dis- missed tho suggestion as soon as it ap- peared. And when she entered her sitting room again and saw how starved and tired her burglar looked, she was glad of her de- cision. He was leaning back in . his chair, his plstol still in one limp hand, his head laid back, showing his miserably thin neck, and the white glare full on the haggard pallor of Lis face. His eye brightened at Miss Merryweather, making no com- lighted the lamp under the silver chafing dish, and as it burned, she buttered ed beef between Imly in the shook her h her hand, seems like a dec laundry. ad. in ‘“He ant she provisioned the sight of the them. “I am afrald tle beef is a liitle underdone for your taste,” observed she Kindly, “and I hope you don't care for mustard, for I for- got it; but I've put on salt and pepper, and they were the best done pieces I could find. The soup will be warm in a minute. Now you drink this glass of wine. The man drank it, keeping his eyes on her. Then he laid the pistol on the table, *I ain't & to use it,” he said Much better not,” replicd Miss Merry- weather. “The truth is I have long had a a burgler and I rather have planned things that way: but I didn't expect he would be so decent as you seem. How do you like that wine? It's old Jacques port.” The burglar looked rather bewildered, but answered that, it was the best winc he had ever tasted. ife added ingenuously that he had not tasted much wine. You are not at all like a professional burglar,” remarked the lady, who had now the steaming soup. *I think you must be an gmateur. “I never touchied.a{thing 'wasn't my own before, lady, %o hefp me+" “Well, you haven't touched anything yet, now,” interrupted Miss Merryweather, who had a mania for accuracy. She continued: “I suppose you are putting that sandwich into your pocket for your family—don't do it! Il make you up a basket for them. Tell me what brought you, such a decent man, to this pass?"”’ The man smeared his eyes with his hand before he begas T never seen a lady like you,” said he. “I'm just going to tell you the honest truth. I was working in Chicago. I belonged to the junior plumbers—'" “Oh, it you were a plumber, it must have come natural to you to rob!" The burglar acknowledged the sally by a faint smile. “We ain't so bad as they make us out, Well, hard times come and work fell off and the union wouldn't let us work below wages, 50 I left the union; fact is, I couldn't keep up my dues— “Do you mean to tell me," cried Miss Mer- ryweather, springhug from her ehalr in strong agitation, “do you mean to tell me you are not a union man? Don't think of burgling me! 1 can give you a great deal better job, and I will adyance you money on it, too. This house is only about hulf plumbed; it you will take hold and get this plumbing done by 6 o'clock tomorrow I'll pay you well! And you shall have two men to help you who aren't plumbers, but have some sense! And a boy to run to the shop to get the tools. Are you a good plumber?’ “Yes'm, L was; but you see I went to Her first | She of top of gave heard She which she unfortunate”—thus ran the talk to him away from the THE OMAHA DAILY BEK: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, Pullman and worksd there il the strike came. 1 didn't strike, but 1 jolned the A R. U. afferwards, 5o as to get the rellel The strike lasted 5o long I used up all my savings; and then I didn’t get back, after all 8o I'm a little out of practice. But I guess I can satisty you. I'll try hard.” ““You shall have a chance, anyhow. went to Pullman? And why dfdn't back there when the strike ended?” “They didn't take all the men, ma‘am, and 1 heard of a job in Chicago, o I moved there; and I got it sure enough, but it enly lasted a little while; and then I wrote to the new factory they was starting here, the glucose works, and 1 got a job, but the first week I come done with typhoid fever and worked with the fever on me, and I did take whisky to kinder hold me up, for I was wild to think of losing my job; but I wasn't drunk, though somebody said so. So I lost it and another foller got it—well, I guess he needed it bad, too. But ‘hat's how it was. I went and was sick awful bad for six weeks, and when I got up again, there was nothing I could get, and the baby come just then, God forgive it! and I guess he knowed he was none too welcome, for he's been hollering ever since. Doctor says he needs some kinder food, Nestling food, or some sich name, and 1 wanted to git it, for I some way don't jest want him to die if he is mean! Then I wanted to git my woman things; she's an awful nice woman, I'll say that, and about all we've got she's earned washing. I have been out a week, walking about 100 miles I guess, begging for a job everywhere I heard jobs were to be had; but you see we are strangers and there ain’t enough work to go ‘round ‘mong the old men. Today, as I went back from the shoe factory 'cross the river, and seen all the turkeys In the winders, and remembered how there wasn’t a bite in our house for today nor for tomorrow, and looked at the rich folks that don’t love their families a mite better'n I love mine, T got kinder wild, I guess. I never had 'gredged rich folks their money before. I was willing to work hard, and not to have very much; but now it seems as if there wasn’t an inch of room fr me and my family on this earth! We'd pawned every last thing we could pawn and there we was, a-starving!” “But goodness gracious!” exclaimed Miss Merryweather, who had with difficulty re- frained from interrupting him before, *“‘why aldn’'t you go to the Assoclated Charities or to the Industrial Aid?" “You see, lady, we ain't used to being poor; we didn’'t know about. them places. Lady, T tell you, It aln’t the poverty poor that gits squeezed the hardest when there's hard times; bless you, no! They're used to leanin’ on other folke, and they just lop over a leetle heavier; but it's the decent folks that never knew the way to the poor overseer's office before, or even to the pawn shop, that catch it. They suffen and don't holler about it “I gee,” sald Miss Merryweather; “go on.” “There ain’t much more,” said the man, very neatly folding the napkin. “I told my wife T had got a job and I would have the money for a turkey for tomorrow; not to fret, I'd git some advanced. I went straight out, meaning to enter somebody’s house and git ‘enough to buy a Thanksgiving dinner. I prowled about for a long time, first deciding on one house and then on another. Bye and bye I saw all the folks in your kitchen going out and the light up stairs, and says I, “Phat lady is all alone by herself, and I can git some money easy.' S “But how did you get in? The windows are barred down stairs—" “Yes'm, they look like good winders. But I come in by the door, the Kitchen door. I | reasoned like the girls would have some place where they hid the kitchen key and I could hunt it up. Most like it would be under the door mat. That's where it was, too.” “They shall have a latch key, every one bf them. Of course you got in. But didn’t you wake the dog?” “No, ma'am; he jest Them big dogs is jest | ing, they sleep so sound.” “But when you came up the stairs, what id you do about the mat at the foot of the stalrs? The lights ought to have sprung up and the bells rung the instant your foot touched the mat.” “Why, you see, 8o you you get slept like the dead. e men about sleep- lady,” said the burglar, apologetically—he scemed to fear lest she should be hurt by the failure of her carefully planned burglar traps—‘you see, I naturally struck a match, now and then, to see my way, and when I come on that plain, common mat in that beautiful hall with the hand- some rugs about, I knowed it to be a burglar mat, so I jest stepped over it. I've no doubt all the things would have happened if I had stepped on it, right.” “T don't know,” said Miss Merryweather, gloomily; “may be the plumbers got it out of order. But, come here, open that chest.” She pointed fo the nuns’ chest agaivst the wall and the burglar obediently laid his pistol down to do her bidding. An inner chest of iron was disclosed, having two profecting handles. “Lift the cover,” commanded Miss Merry- weather. A smile of grim expectation parted her firm 1ips; now approached her triumph. The burglar laid his hands on the knobs, and pen- sively nodded his head, screwing up his mouth, like a man recognizing a familiar flavor. Yes'm,” said he it? Kinder prickly. “I'll weaken the current,” sald Miss Mer- ryweather. ‘“You must be a perfect Spartan not to call out.” ““Well, you see I ruther suspicioned what it was,” the burglar replied, letting his hands drop. “How can you get your hands cried Miss Merryweather. “Hain't you weakened the current?’ dep- recated the burglar. “Pshaw! 1 thought you bad, or I wouldn't a-taken them down. I'm real sorry."” Miss Merryweather laughed is a failure, then,” said she. “You ought to be held a prisoner, with your shoulders hunched up. It's all wrong. “Oh, no it ain’t, ma’am—" the burglar tried to reassure her. “I ain’t no manner of doubt that them mats down stairs would worl splendid. Wo kin try, going down. But these here galvanic batteries are mighty un- rellable. Never mind; I kin fix it all right for you. I'm glad I came, though.” o am 1, said Miss Merryweather, “do you think something is the matter with this, too?" displaying her revolver. It was a big revolver of glossy and fri- descent black, not minine frippery about it, no pearl, no sflver; a revolver that meant business and showed Its Intentions, honorably “No, it's all right,” said the burglar, a ingly, “you could 'a plugged me, sure,” Inless you shot me first.” Humph! that would ‘s been dificult, seein’ mine ain’t loaded and there's something the matter with the trigger so it can't go off, else it would 'a been in the pawnshop tead of here.” Well,”” sighed Miss Merryweather, “it's a mercy you tried to burgle me with that useless thing, instead of some one olse. Now, for goodness sake, come down stairs and lel me give you that basket and get you off be- fore the servants come.' Miss Merryweather had very much the sen- sations of a burglar in her own house, as she despolled the larder, the friendly burglar hold- ing the candle. They hurried at every glimpse of the clock, they trembled at all the creakings of the floor. “Robbins never did stay out before later than 12 or 1, IU's a quar— Great heavens Miss Merryweather jumped. Suddenly she was bathed in a flood of light and bells seemed to be ringing all over the house! “I guess the mats is straight goods,” said the burglar, “‘you trod on one by mistake, ma'am. Say, what's that? They're a lering in the yard. I'll try this door— “No, you will not," said Miss Merryweather, all herself again, “you will stay just where you are while I open the door. She was at the hall door before she ended, calling loudly to the shrieking maids, who came in timidly (except Robbins), in the rear of the two men, who wére none too valorous. Nothing s the matter,” said Miss Merry- | weather, I stepped on the mat myself. It works perfectly. Harrlet, I've engaged a plumber; he s to work all night and the plumbing will be done by tomorrow after- moon. If you need those extra tools you better go home and get them now (turning upon the bewildered burglar) and you don't need that candle any more; put it dewn. Don't forget the basket.' “No, ma'm; thaok you, ma'am,” the bur- glar responded meekly. nd I'll be back—" ‘As 00D a5 Yo can, there's no time to los: sald Miss Merryweather. “He is a good plumber,” she announced calmly (o her “galvanic battery, ain’t away?" “Everything m home | duzed domestic s ‘and I was lucky to get him. I have sent a basket of things to his family. @6t him a good breakfast tomor- row morning, nd 1 hope we shall have a thanksgiving, after all. I sha'n't forget how €00d you all are in these emergoncies.’ The household kiew too well Miss Merry- weather's generosity, for these special efforts, to be happy; but Robbins summed up the general mixture of disapprobation acd ad- miration: she satd: “Did you ever see the like! T belleve Miss Elinor would git her will if she had to tear the world up by the roots.” The plumbing was done, and well done, by 4 of the next afternoon. The burglar's fam- ily, as well as the Merryweather gathering, dined lata that Thanksgiving. 1 cannot find any good moral In this tale unless it be contained fu Miss Merryweather's own subsequent reflections.. “Now, aren't the ways of Providence queert Here's my bur- glar got a good plumbing shop and lots of custom, simply by anuunbuccessful attempt to rob.” But then, it i#a mrerciful thing that as cur best intentions/are liable to bring harm and misfortune, ssolour bad ones run oft the track, somettmesi too. And, any- how, it wasn't becausarherwas a burglar he was lucky, but because b was such a re markably gentle and opropitiating burglar! 1t he hadn't been, T should have had to shoot him or sick Diogenes an him. T hope it will be a lesson 1o us both thateit is better far to rule by love than feary and kind words can never dio and all that &ind of thing! And it was certainly a mercy te me that 1 feel truly thankful for. 1 don't know how I could have beaten the plumbers without him." PRATTLE OF THE YOUNGSTERS. A small New York girl, who is only 7 years old, one day last week gave tit for tat in a very neat way. She was trudging to school, carrying her luncheon in a little covered basket, when a schoolmate, a boy of 9, overtook her. ~He must have been in rather a bad humor, for his very first re- mark was: “Say, 1.wouldn't carry my lunch in a fish-basket, anyway.” The little miss turned and looked at him. He had his sandwiches and cake in a tin box under his arm. “Well,” she said quickly, carry mine in a balt bex. had “nothing to sa: “I wouldn't And the boy The little girl had been fibbing and been caught in the act. Discipline was neces- sary, and her father, a prominent West Side politician, took her into the nursery, gave her a lecturs on the sin - of lylng, and scrubbed her mrouth out tnoroughly with soap and water. “Now, Winifred,” he said, with fatherly firmness, as he wiped away her tears, “yon will never do the like again, will you, dear?" “‘No, papa,” answered Winifred, checking a sob. “Have y—you soaped your mouth out since the 'lection, papa?'’ Tommy—You don't know nothin® about how folks ought to be baptized. does St. Paul say about it?" Sammy (with much flerceness) doesn’t say nothin' about it. He brother Bob, at all What St. Paul dead. The Young brother—I say lend me a quarter, will you? The Lover—What do you mean by calling me brother Bob? The Young Brother—Well, your name's Bob, ain’t it? And sis says she's decided to be a sister to you. And I'm her brother, ain't 17 Teacher—Now, Robbie, if T gave you one pair of skates and Katie gave you two more pairs, what would you have? Robbie—A pienic. -— RELIGIOUS. All told there are about 400 missionaries engaged in.work on the continent of South America, with its population of 37,000,000 people. 1t is stated that in France scarcely 5,000,- 000 of the 40,000,000 reputed Roman Catholi are worthy of the name, the rest being non- churchgocrs, unbelievers, atheists and anarch- ists. General Bootn, n<¥ed by a newspaper in- terviewer, “Do you think i ernfum will come if the whole world is converted to the Salvation army?” replied: “It would be very near at hand. If the newspaper men were converted ‘it would be a very long step in that direction.” A novel method of eyangelization has been inaugurated by the IKpiscopal church at Tacoma. A gospel ship will be fully equipped for mission work along the shore line in Puget Sound. Of 210,863 men In the British army 143,- 129 belorg to the Church.of England, 36,878 are Roman Catholics,, 15,190 Presbyterians, 11,433 Wesleyans, 1,802 Protestants of other denominations, and 2,07 Mohammedans, Hindoos, etc. According to statistios from a trustworthy source Corea contains (00,000 Catholics, 180,- 000 of whom are male, adults, and the rest women and children, and; 700,000 Protestants and Greek Christians, half of them adult males.. Thus more than a quarter of the population is already Christian, so that the present war has in the eyes of the Buropean powers a character of which account has not hitherto been ‘taken. In view of the pitiless persecution of Jews, Stundists, Lutherans and Catholics under the late czar of Russla, the remark attributed to the young czar Nicholas is one which all will hope may prove to be well founded: “I am a Christian; but my belief in the Savior does not entitle me to persecute others on account of their faith." e e AS HIS MOTHER USED TO DO. Rehobath Herald. He criticised her puddings and he found fault with her cake; He wished she'd make such biscuits as his mother used (o make; She dldn’t wash the dishes and she didn’t make a stew, Nor even mend his stockings, as his mother used to do. His mother had six children, but by night her work was done; His wife scemed drudging always, yet she only had the one His mother always was well wife would be so, too, It only fhe could manage as his mother used to do. dressed, his Ah, well! She was not perfect, though she . tried to do her best. Until_at length she thought come to take a rest; when one day he went rigmarole through She turned and boxed his ears, just as his mother used to do, A FAMOUS LIBRARY. Its Hunareds of Volumes Wood, In a retired street of Cassel stands an old- tashloned, roomy house, the depository of the Natural History Museum of Hesse. The most unique and interesting of the varlo collections 18 the so-called “‘Holzbibliothel,"” or library of wood, consisting of 546 yolumes in follo, octavo and duodecimo, made from trees growing in Wilhelmshire park, and rep- resenting 120 genera and 441 specles. On the back of esch volume is a red morocco shield, bearing the common and scientific name of the tree, the class and species to which it belongs according to Linnaeus, spec- imens of the moss and lichen peculiar to it, a bit of the rind or bark, and, If it is resin- ous, & drop or two of the resin. The upper edge shows the young wood cut crosswise to exhibit the rings and pith, while the under edge is of old wood, cut in the same manner, to il- lustrate the changes which take place in the texture as the tree gains In age and size, The top cover is of unripe wood in the rough; the front edge shows a polished grain, and also the fungl to which the tree is liable when in the stages of decay or disease. At- tached to the front edge ‘is a cubic inoh of mature wood, on which is noted its specific weight when the sap s flowing in the early spring, again in midsumgier, and still again when thoroughly dry. Under this is given the degree of heat obtatnable from a cubic inch of dry wood In a cubic inch of space, that given out by the same quantity when It becomes a glowing coal) its diminished size and weight when charred und the properties of the tree, together with a description of the soill In which it flourishes best. The interlor of the book or box contalns a com- plete history of the tree. especially of the orgaoe of nourlshment ‘and frucification. ‘There are capsules witli skeds, the germ bud, with rootlets and first Ipaves, a branch with leaves in various stages of development, the flower from the tiny bud fo the perteot blos- som, the frult from the embryo (o its full maturity, and, last of' all, & skeletonized her time had 8o the same old Are Made of a 1894. HOW IMPORTANT — When buying a carpet to have one that is satisfactory both in style and quality. The best makes cost but little more, they are worth the difference—Dbetter wool, better dyes, better work, gives better satisfaction, We are offering in our Drop Pattern Sale some of the very best makes of goods at about 2 Drop Patterns Best Ingrains Why “ “‘drop patterns,” ' begause { price: Tapestry Brussels Body Brussels manufacturers 45¢ yard 700 5 8s5¢ “ have dropped them from their line and we cannot duplicate them=-= you may find some better patterns in our stock, but no better goods. See these as early as you can, it may save you something, Orchard & Wilhelm CARPET 141 [ Comple CO. 4-16-18 Douglas St. te Drapery Dept. 2nd Floor, PROGRESS|VE DENTJIST. A Large.nental Practice Built up by doing the best work Finest Office in the West. ORSYTH'S PROUD RECORD Sketch of the Fighting Colonel of the Famous Seventh Cavalry, leat. COOLLY BLUFFED THE BRITISH MARINES Distinguished In the Civil War, e Adds to s His Laurels on the Western Plains— Deserved Promotion to a De- partment Command The departure of Brigadier General James W. Forsyth from Fort Riley, Kan., to take command of the Department of California, removes from the mid-west one of the most distinguished Indian fighters now living. He has been identified with the development of the west for twenty years, the scourge of savage outlawry, the promoter of peace by fighting for it. He has seen during the war and on the plains, and promotion is a distinct reward of merit. Colonel, now General Forsyth, was born at Maumee, 0., and graduated at West Point in 1856. The year after his graduation he was his 36, married to a daughter of William Dennison, Ohio's war governor, and immediately went to the far northwest, where the difficulties over the British boundary line ‘were at their height. To Forsyth came a unique honor that told better than could anything else how highly he is esteemed. His military career dates back to the San Juan island incident of our government's history, an episode which grew out of the “Fifty-four forty or fight" controversy with Great Britain of ten years before. In the settlement of the disputed boundary line of the northwest in 1846-47 the United States did not get the line fixed at 54 degrees 40 minutes, neither did it fight, but there was left dispute San Juan island, situated in the straits midway between Vancouver island, which had been awarded wholly to Great Britain, and the mainland of the United States, and it was while he was stationed as a sccond lieutenant on this island that young Forsyth exhibited tne soldierly quali- ties of dignity, courage and audacity which afterward distinguished him in the war of the rebellion. PICKETT AND Forsyth graduated from West Point Mil- itary academy two years after his friend, George Edward Plckett, afterward a famous nfederate general, had graduated, Forsyth t his own request was assigned to duty at Fort Bellingham, Washington territory, where Pickett was in command as captain. 0ld General Harney, who was in command of the Army of the Coast one day visited Bellingham, and ordered Caplain Pickett to take his little company of fifty-five men and selze San Juan island. The order was a wel- come one, and before the sun had set Camp Pickett had been pitched on the fsland and the American flag unfurled above it. General Harney sailed away to Monterey, Cal., where his headquarters were, In due time Sir James Douglas, governor of British Columbia, recessed information of the occupancy of the island by American troops and sent three vessels of war to dis- possesss them. The approach of the els was the signal for Captain Plckett to pre- pare to repulse (he British marines should they attempt to land, and Lieutenant For- syth was sent to the beach with a detail of soldiers to warn off the visitors, RETIRE OR FIGHT. Sure enough a boat put out from the ips and an officer rowed toward the isl- FORSYTH. “You must not undertake to land, Forsyth. “But I will,” replled the British officer. “Then I will order my men to fire upon you,” shouted Forsyth. Thus the two officers bandied words, until more boats containing marines came, and Forsyth and his men were threatened with slaughter. But he maintained his position, refusing to give his consent for the marines to land, and finally pointed to the flag flylng above the camp, and sald that the American government was In possession of the island and he would fire unless the boats departed. This wes more than the British offcer in command had expected, and he withdrew to obtain additional instructions from the offl- cor n command of the expedition. He was sent back with a message that a force of marines would be landed, and it the Americans resisted the ships would open fire upon the camp. It was a desperate case, and Forsyth fully looked for a fight hard service | | national cavalry training school for cavalry at Reasonable Prices. Dr. Bailey’s Name has become a household word—the first that is suggested when one wante den- tistry done. Don’t be misled by advertisers who offer too much for the money. be eheap. It must poor work or it could not be done so Go to a reliable man whose word is good; place your teeth in his care and he will be responsible for vat 4 their pressre ion, Consult Dr. ROWLAND W.BAILEY 30 FLOOR PAXTON BLK-, 16T H AND FARNAM. Lady Attend, Telephone 1085, Cerman Spoken unless he weakened, but ha had been detailed to keep off the British and not to treat with them, and he told the officer to go back and tell his commander to fire and be damned, The message was literally conveyed, and the ships were preparing for action when the British admiral happened along in his flag- ahip, and, realizing that the discharge of a single gun at the American camp would mean war between the two countries, ordered a change of tacties. Instead of a fight he pro- posed a conference, which Captain Pickett agreed to. The admiral suggested a joint occupancy of the island until the dispute could be settled by the two governments. Pickett refused, but the admiral was patient, He remained in the straits several months, exchanging visits with Pickett almost daily, regularly renewing his proposition. Finally General Winfield Scott, the com- mander-in-chief of the American armies, came along and agreed to a joint occupancy of the island, which was continued until the question was settled and the United States awarded an undisputed title, THE WAR PARTED FRIENDS. Early in 1861 Pickett resigned and returned to the east to join his fortunes with the confederacy. He wrote to his friend Forsyth advising him that, as he was comfortably situated on the coast, he would better remain there and Keep out of the war. At the breaking out of the war he went to the front and was ranked first lieutenant of cavalry. He was in Sheridan’s division, and took part in more than fifty battles, without recelving a scratch. For services of merit at Chickamauga he was promoted to major, and was again commended by his superiors, Sheridan was so pleased with him that he made him his military secretary, and in that capacity he served for six years, accompany- ing the general to Hurope and witnessing Sedan, Beaumont and Gravelotte. When they returned he was sent to the northwest. The Bannock Indians in Montana were becoming unruly ard Forsyth was sent to quiet them. With eight companies of cavalry he attacked their war party and completely vanquished them, driving them back on the reservation and putting an end to the troubles in that section. A number of minor battles were fought with the red- skins in the northwest on this expedition. WHIPPING THE CHEYENNES, Forsyth's most distinguished service to Kansas, however, was at the time of the famous Cheyenne raid, when the tribe brok out of Wyoming and came on a tour of devastation down across Nebraska into north- west Kansas, and threatened to sweep 58 the state. Many families as far east as Topeka had their household goods loaded on wagons, prepared for flight across the or into Missourl. Forsyth was on staff duty in western Kansas, and gathered on short notice a small company of troops from Fort Wallace, and not waiting for reinforcements started out after the marauders. He ov took the Cheyennes on the bank of the R publican fork of the Smoky Hill river, and a | fearful battle ensued. Over 900 redskins came howling about the band of soldiers, less than a third as numerous. All day the battle waged, and it seemed as though an- other Custer massacre was at hand. But finally the soldiers won, and punished the Indians until all surrendered. This battle is often called “‘the last charge of the Che: ennes,” so determimed was it and so con plete was the victory. The tribe has never since made the government ‘serious trouble. In 1886 Forsyth was made Inspector cavalry and colonel of the Seventh regimen with headquarters at Fort Riley, where h has since been stationed. Five years ago the of was located at the fort and the government began its large expenditures on the reserva- tion, AT WOUNDED KNEE. In 1891, at dead of winter, Forsyth took the Seventh to Pine Ridge to put down the trouble among the Sloux. The battles of Wounded Knee and the surrounding region | aro recent history. Here occurred the treach- erous attack of the young bucks on the soldiers in which seventeen Fort Riley men | were killed, and af command of Forsyth the troops made the fearful slaughter of the Indians to put & balt to the uprising. For this he was suspended by General Miles, and an {nquiry as to the needfulness of the order ordering the troops to fire was made. Porsyth made no defense, but was found e: tirely warranted in his cou and was rein- stated as commander of Fort Riley and re- celved high praise from the secretary of war. The largest crowd Fort Riley has seen in years was when twelve months ago a monu- ment to those who fell in that contest was unvelled. All the state was represented, and the handsome memorial, built of Kansas e t Butlington ' Route | \ l | \ | NEW SIITQHT LINE HELENA 3. FRANCIS, Gen’l Pass’r Agent, OMAHA, NEI GONSUMPTION SURELY CURED. To tur. Epiron—Plenso inform your reads ers that T have o positivo remedy for the above named disease. By its timely use thousands of hopeless cases have been per- manently cured. I shall be glad to send two bottles of my remedy free to any of your readers who Lave consumption if they will send mo their oxpressand post office T. A, Blocum, M. C., 183 Pearl St., New York. DOCTOR = ) SEARLES & SEARLES SPECIALISTS, Special Diseases Treatmentby Mail, Consultation Frey Catarrh, all diseases of the nose, Throat. Chest,Stomach, Liver, Blood in and Kidney diseasss, Lost —Manhood and all Private Dis~ eases of Men, alloa or address, Dr. Searles & Scarles, LitiFarnam Stresy Omubu. Nob. died at his post in 1866, the honors of the visitors. For a decade he has had command-of the Seventh cavalry, Cus old regiment, and of Fort Riley, and has been the most noted cavalry officer in the Department of the Mis- sourl. The chief characteristic of his ad- ministration has been his hospitality and his unvarylng courtesy to the people of the state, which has made the reservation the most popular pienic ground that could be selected, In addition to these frequent visits, which brought him close to the people, there were great crowds on Decoration day, Fourth of July, and the special occasions which fort Me brought fnto existence; so it Is little wonder that the people throughout Kansas are at once sorry to see him leave the fort and glad that Lo has recelved his merited promotion. In appearance Forsyth is an ideal soldier, with snow white beard and hair. He is striet disciplinarian, yet is beloved by Rl men and many a soldier boy of the old Sevs enth cavalry will have a big lump in by throat when ‘‘the colonel” (akes the eas! bound express at tho little statlon @ the trees for his new home, As head of tl training school for cavalry, for which large riding hall was built, he has stone, 18 one of the atiractions of the res vatlon, It stands on an eminence overlook: lng a wide stretch of prairls, and shares with the monument to Major Ogden, who the mounted service much good, and Riley itself owes much of the uf adornment which make It oge o:»& tion"s best equipped posts to