The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 27, 1896, Page 28

) THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1896. Making Cabinets for Presidents| There have been twentry-three Presi- dents. There have been 260 members of Presidents’ Cabinets. 1t has been the common ambition of Presidents to main- tain as nearly intact as possible the Cabinets with which their administra- tions began. Franklin Pierce was the only President who attained this am- bition. The seven Secretaries whom Mr. Pierce called to his council remained with him until he went out of office. Internal harmony was, perhaps, the most distin- guishing feature of the Pierce administra- tion. Yet there were men of strong indi- viduality around that long table from 1853 to 1857 and there were great questions before the country. Jefferson Davis was the Secretary of War; William L. Marcy of New York, the chief politician of his day, was Secretary of State; Caleb Cush- ing was Attorney-General. The other members would hardly be recognized by this generation. President Grant accorded to his Secreta- ries more independence than almost any of the later Presidents. James N. Tyner, who was Postmaster-General, says Grant left ail ordinary matters to the members of the Cabinet. - He simply asked to know the recommendations of the Secretaries, and indorsed them as a matter of form. “I want you to look inte such things decide them for me,” he would say. you are sure you are right I will de- {e them as vou say.” 2But netwithstanding this theory of the dignity and importance of the Cabinet of- neral Grant had much trouble in keeping his members together. Twenty- three men held positions of this kind un- der him. In those days there wasoneless member. The Secretary of Agriculture had not been created. e men—Scho- field, Rawiins, Beiknap, Taft and Cam- eron—iilled the office of Secretary of War under Grant. Five men—Hoar, Akerman, Williams, Pierrepont and Taft—were in 1 Attorney-General. The secretary- ip of state under Grant was held practi- caliy by one man through the eight years. Washburne was Secretary, but only for a short time. Hamilton Fish was the Secretary of State practically for the two terms. Presi- dent Grant became so accustomed to Cabinet changes that he had in his mind successors for the Secretaries. Fish fre- quently talked of resigning; he wanted to et back to private life, or thought he did. General Grant selected a man for Secre- tary of State and carried him in his mind fc ars, but without having the oppor- nity to appoint him. That which makes reminiscence worth the tellmg is the fact that the person whom Grant would have appointed Secretary of State, had Fish resigned, is one much talked about for the same place in the McKinley Cabi- net. He is Andrew D. White of New York. Mr. Cieveland has in his Cabinet three men who were not there when the admin- istration came iu four yearsago. He lost nis Secretary of State by death and his Postmaster-General and Secretary of the Interior by resignation. Itis not generally known that before he resigned Hoke Smith made careful inquiries among in- ate friends as to the prospects of the Sryan and Sewall campaign. The Secre- tary of the Interior firmly believed at that time the free-silver Democracy was sing to win. Perhaps ke would have re- signed anyway, but there is no doubt the course of political events was not what he expected when he retired from the office for conscience sake. “‘Say to Mr. McKinley that he will take the lid off of h—il if he gives Whitelaw Reid 2 place in the Cabinet.” This remark is attributed to Thomas C. Piatt. It is said to have been made at the recent meeting between Mr. Platt and Mr. Hanna in New York. It will serve as an illustration that a President-elect must consider more than the wishes ot himself and the acquiescence of the one selected in making up a satisfactory Cabi- net. The late President Hayes had &n ex- perience which is another good example along the same line. He invited John M. Harlan of Kentucky to become his Attor- ney-General. Mr. Harlan accepted, made all of his domestic arrangements to take up his residence in Washington for four vears and actually came bere with his family. But when Mr. Hayes arrived to be inaugurated Senator Morton of In- diana called upon him and said Mr. Harlan must not go into the Cabinet. He added that if the President insisted on sending Harlan’s name to the Senate for Attorney-General he would exert him- self to the utmost to prevent confirma- tion. It would have been an extraordinary thing for the Senate to do, but there was no doubt of Morton’s determination. Mr. Hayes yielded. He did not send in the name of Mr. Harlan, substitating for it that of Mr. Devens of Massachusetts. For two or three days Mr. Hayes was in a good deal of trouble about his Cabinet. He had 10 make several changes because of the withdrawal of Harlan before he was eatisfied with the barmoay of the list. The Hayes Cabinet stood well as finally fixed. There were but three changes made during the four years that followed, which was far better than the average Cabinets. Mortoun’s insuperable objection to Harlan dated back to the war times. Harlan was a Union Democrat. He commanded Ken- tucky troops until 1863, and then became Atiorney - General of Kentucky, being elected by the Union party. After that he was a Republican and in the National convention which nominated Mr. Hayes. Mr. Harlan was chairman of the Ken- tucky delegation. But away back in the McClellan campaign Mr. Harlan had gone over into Indizna and made speeches against Morton. That was what the Indiana Senator could not forget, and that was why he served notice on Mr. Hayes that he must pick anotber Attorney-General. Feeling the injustice that had been done Mr. Harlan, the President tried- 1o make atonement with the offer of oneot the highest of the diplomatic positions. Mr. Harlan had no idea of expatriating him- self. He declined. Before the first year of the Hayes administration was quite half over there camea break in the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Harlan was nominated to be Associate Jusiice. He helas the place still. Besides telling Mr. Hanna of the conse- quences which in his opinion would fol- Jow the selection of Whitelaw Reid, Mr. Platt is reported as having declared that if anything could prompt him to hecome a candidate for the Senate it would be the purpose to fight the confirmation of Mr. Reid. This is an old score which Mr. Platt has with Mr. Reid. It goes back to the beginning of the Garfieid campaign. ‘W. H. Robertson had been seiected by Gartield for Coilector of the Port of New Conkling and Platt, the New York Sen- ators. There was much parleying between the White House and the Senators belore an open rupture occurred and the resigna- tions of Conkling and Platt were sent to New York. Conkling took little partin the negotiations, but Pialt believed he could induce Garfield to recede from the Robertson decision. He still believes that Garfield had at one time made up his mind to yield, and that the situation was spoiled by Whitelaw Reid, who sent a message which is famous in political his- | tory as‘‘the midnight dispatch.” Reid | insisted that Garfield should not give way to the Senators. Platt came from the ‘White House one day with a partial prom- ise that Robertson’s name should be with- drawn. The next aay he received from Garfield an ultimatum that Robertson’s nomination was to stand. When he tried to learn the cause of the change in the President’s attitude Garfield referred im- patiently to a publication in that morn- ing’s New York Tribune about the aego- tiatious, Platt went back to Conkling and said: 2 “I don’t know what you will do, but I know what I am going to do. Iam going to resizn.” A few days later the resignations of Piatt and Conkline reached the Governor of New York. And now, like a sequel to that feud of sixteen years ago, Mr. Piatt serves notice on the new administration that Whitelaw Reid must not be callea to the Cabinet. A President-elect has need of a long memory in making up his list of adyisers, It is courtesy for the Senate to confirm promptly the nominations for members of | the Cabinet. That courtesy has been not | often, but occasionally, honored in the | breach. The theory is that these are the President’s personal appointments, and that his judzment as to qualifications is entitled to more weight than in nomina- tiens for other offices. Presidents have had nominations confirmed for the Cabi- net, and when later thev have nominated the same persons for other positions the nominations have been rejected. Thishas happened notably two or three times when Presidents sought to transfer mem- bersof their Cabinets to places on the Su- preme bench. President Grant saved one of his Cabi- | net nominations from rejection by with- | drawing it. Without excessive respect | for legal abilities General Grant proposed to make his a business Cabinet. He se- lected Alexander 1. Stewart, the mer- chant prince of New York, for his Secre- tary of the Treasury. The Senate recallea the law which bad been in oparation from almost the beginning of this Government making ineligible for that office any one interested in the importing business. Presidents do not like to yield when their minds are set upon anything. Grant tried | to have the law repealed. Failing in that he sent George W. Childs to Mr. Stewart to ask him to qualify by putting his busi- | ness in other hands. The merchant | thought he could not do that and the | President was obliged to withdraw the nomination. T Andrew Jackson had a Cabinet nomina- tion rejected. He appointed Roger B.| Taney of Maryland to be Secretary of the | Treasury in 1833. The President, after election for his second term, proceeded to carry out his determination to smasn the United States Bank. McLean was at the head of the Treasury. He didn’t agree with Jackson’s financial poiicy, and was promutly transferred to the State De- | partment. Duane, the next Secretary of | the Treasury, refused to carry out the | President’s orders to remove the deposits, | and then declined to résign. Jackson re- moved him, and appointed Taney, who immeaiately caused the deposits to be transferred to Siate banks.. Wnen Con- gress convened Taney was nominated for Secretary, ana was rejected. Two years later a vacancy occurred through the death of Chief Justice Marshall, and Taney was noninated and confirmed. He held the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court nearly thirty years. Cabi- net members have been rejected for the bench, but this case of Taney’s presents the only instance in which a man rejected for the Cabinet was confirmed to a place on the Supreme bench. What would be thought if Mr. McKin- ley should send some one selected for his Cabinet to take possession of Secretary Olney’s office at midnight of the 3d of March because of distrust ot the outgoing administration? Yet that is what was ; done far back in the early days of the Re- | public, when politics was supposed to be | purer than it is now. Thomas Jefferson sent his choice for Attorney-General to assume control of the State Department at midnight before inauguration day, to pre- vent the issue of commissions to any ap- pointees of the retiring President. At that time midnightof the 3d of March was considered the end of the administration, instead of midday of the 4th, as is the present interpretation. It was a matter of considerable com- ment at the becinning of Grant’s first term that he had ignored the politicians and filled his Cubinet with business men or with men from private life. Gradually the first Grant Cabinet dissolved, and as the Secretaries went out their places were taken by men of more political experience. Itis an interesting fact that four-fifths of the men who have filled Cabinet places have been lawyers. And it is aiso worthy of note that about the same proportion has never been heard of in public life after leaving the Cabinet. No man who served in any other Cabinet position than- Secretary of State ever became President. Only .seven Secretaries of State outof about forty who have held the office have reached the Presidency. Very rarely has a member of the Cabinet found his way into either branch of Congress afterward. Senator Elkins is oné of the exceptions. He was Secretary of War under Harrison ‘and is uow a Senator. He says that the post of a Cabinet officer is suflicient to gratify any reasonable political ambition, and that the desirability of the place is the prestige which it gives to the holder in subsequent business or professional pursuits. Senator Sherman thinks that the later Presidents have misconceived the true character of the Cabinet position. Cabi- net Ministers, he says, should relieve the President of all drudgery. They should be his assistants in the carrying out of his policy. He should rely upon them to do their work and he should not devote his time and brain to examining the pa- pers of petty postmasters. He has no right to fritter away his vital force on clerical details. Interesting in connection with this criti- cism of Senator Sherman’s isa reminis- cence of ex-Postmaster-General Tyner of the course General Grant pursued toward his Cabinet. One day General Tyner car- ried to the President the papers relating 1o a number of Presidential postoflices. “‘Have you read them?” asked the President. “Certainly I have,” replied the Postmas- ter-General. “Have you considered what is best to do about them 2’ “Yes, Here are my recommendations.” “Well, that is all I want to know. I'll sign the appointments.”’ “But don’t you want to look into the records of the men and see the reasons given for the reccommendations?'’ “No. That is what I have you for. If your judgment 1s not sufficiently strong to pass upon such things I will have to look around for some man to take your place,” Without further comment Grant signed the appointments. Senator Sherman says that Lincoln had the right idea about the province of the Cabinet Minister. He left to his Secreta- ries their work and responsibilities and often laughed at them in ‘their troubles with office-seekers. President There is one thing that politicians find it very difficult to learn. Itis that push- ing seldom carries a man into a Cabinet position. Presidents almost always ig- nore petitions for Cabinet appointments. They repudiate as far as possible bargains or understandings made for them by zeal- ous friends during the campaign. Many a man has lost bis chance for getting into the Cabinet by the mistaken efforts of bis friends. Lincoln recognized some ante- election pledges made by those working in his interests. In the convention which nominated him promises were given that Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania should have Cabinet places. These pledges were given by David Davis and Leonard Swett. It toeka long time to bring Mr. Lincoln around to the fulfiliment of them, but before he got through Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania was made Secretary of War, Caleb Smith of Indiana Secretary of the Interior, and James Speed of Ken- tucky Attorney-Genersl, as bad been agreed when the votes were given to Lin- coln in the National Convention, The lesson of one Cabinet campaign is lost on the politictans before the next comes around. In the list of Mr. Cieve- land’s advisers it is impossible to point to one who owes his place there to the im- portunities of friends. When President Harrison’s Cabinet was made up it was found that he had not been influenced by a number of noisy and much-advertised booms. So it will be, probably, Wwith Mr. McKinley's selections, if precedent can be relied npon., The names pushed with pertinacity will not be found in the nomi- nations for the Cabinet next March. There is one thing which the politicians can do—they can exercise a good deal of influence in the way of veto. Presidents like to choose their advisers without posi- tive assistance, but as a rule they do not overlook the negativeinfluence. Few men have been boosted into a Cabinet place by active influences, but many men have had good chances for appointment killed by the opposition of politicians. A President s0 indepandent as Mr. Cleveland showed that he was susceptible to that kind of negative pressure. He had made up his mind to appoint as Secretary of the In- terior at the beginning of his administra- tion the gentleman who pow holds the position, David R. Francis of Missouri. A telegraphed protest from three prom- inent Democratic politicians of Missouri caused Mr. Cleveland to rub Mr. Francis’ name off the slate. The objection was purely personal. ‘The time came when the President found among those most hostile to him in his party the three poli- ticians who had caused the rejection of Mr. Francis. No President wants to name for his Cabinet men who are opposed by party leaders in their respective States. There is going on at Canton a process of exclu- sion, according to the reports which reach Washington. Some men whom Mr. Mc- Kinley considers as otherwise available for his Cabinet have been removed from further consideration because of the dis- covery that selection. would give offense to factions in their respective States. Mr., Cleveland was once quoted as say- ing that sectional reasons ought not to| enter into the work of making up a Cabi- net. In his two terms Mr. Cleveland has given New York five Cabinet places. He has now got two members from west of the Mississippi. That is the most recog- nition the great valley has received from President Clevelana, save for a few weeks about the end of his first term, when At- torney-Geueral Garland of Arkansas and Secretary of Agriculture Colman of Mis- souri sat at the Cabinet table.—W. B. 8. in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The Rare Story of Little Patsy Quinn It was while on a prowl for the pictur- esque, up one of the City’s highest heights, that I made the acquaintance of my friend Patsey Quinn. A gang of men were at work bulkheading the cliff for the protection of the street below, and about the scene of their operations and around some sheds near the summit that were be- ing newly roofed hovered a throng of boys and girls from the neighboring by-streets and alleys. They were bearing away the old shingles, such bits of building waste as were portable and what inviting stray timbers they could insinuate from beneath the watchful eyes of the gang’s foreman. There were sturdy, ragged, hard-mouthed boys, stazgering along the narrow trails, York, - The choice was very distasieful to | their worn young shoulders piled bigh with spoils until they were bent nearly double and almost hidden from view. There were wee girls, grandmothers in miniatare, with care-lined faces and anx- iouseyes, steadying their burdens and dig- ging their little beelsinto the loose sand as, heavy-laden, they descended the al- most impossivle grade and here and ttiere a woman guided with one hand the foot- steps of some wee toddler, while with the other she poised a huge bundle of shingles upon her own head. As I gazed about the burden of the City’'s sorrow was borne in upon my heart. The cries of the chiidren all,around me smota my brain with a_sense of their bhelpless pain. The anzuish within the gray wooden wails of the phalanxed houses seemed to NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS: 2EESFE 5SS EHSEEH5ES SN ITTLTTTLLETTITTIIIILLLLTERS S ' MEET ME AT HALE BROS. THEY CLOSE AT 6 0’CLOCK. v o0 0 o o - = g« ° o 6 s o o o © o BAZAAR. WONDERFUL ASSORTMENT OF DOLLS, dressed and undressed. The entire line marked at their original prices with 1/4 off when purchased. BOOKS AND GAMES, a good lot to pick from, marked at their original prices with 1/4 off when purchased. TOYS—The ones that areleft are the ones most desirable and the ones we pur- chased the greatest quantity ot Marked at their ori:inal prices with 1/4 off when purchased. SCRAP BOOKS, ALBUMS, ETC.—Goods that were $1 now 67c; $1 50 now 81, etc, The entire linekeeps its Christmas price wih 1/3 off when purchased. TOILET CASES, FTC.—We had an im- mense stock this year, and the onesleft are desirable and pretty. To besold at 1/3 off when parchased. L b b B R R o ke T T T e T G 7, 1P S SN <, o A I S 0l ) A S i b et o et a2 & = TETF L ISR ATl 77 7 s 7 - i N\ OUTER GARMENTS. LADIES' WIDE WALE SKIRTS, in black ouly, 5 vards wide and nma$5.no with rustie percaline. velvet bound,d— one of our leaders. Price.. Ench Why wouldn’t it bs economical to get a cheap Jacket for rainy winter weather? We have some real bar- gains. LADIES’ TAN JACKFETS, slashed col- inlaid with velver, all lignt . This wiil be placed on special sale Monduy morning. Our price..... LADIES PLUSHCA jet and brid, Thibet jar and down front, inches long, 120-inch sweep. Our price .95 e . trimmed with ok r around col- X all sizes 22$10_ Each 50 LADIES’ BLACK BOUCLE JACKETS, buttons up high 10 the neck, sizes 34 10 40, a wonJerful value. Our price LADIES' BLACK BOUCLE CAPE; silk lined, very full sweep, Thibet fur around_collar and down’ iront, 20 inches 10ng. Our pri MAIL ORDER DEPARTMENT. A most, complete Mail Order Department to serve ouf coml:lry friends. Write for Cata- 1ogue and information. g0 Each INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DISCOUNT. All ‘goods will be marked at their former figures and the discount will be taken off the sum total of the checks. 33} per cent will be allowed off all Christmas and New Year’s Cards, Calendars, Booklets, Toilet Cases, Brush and Comb Sets, Etc. 25 per cent will be allowed off all Toys, Dolls, Books and Games. I O O C o0 0 o000 00 CoC OO0 00C 0000000 CCO000CO00C THE PENALTIES WE HAVE INFLICTED ON THE GOODS THAT GOT LEFT. OO 00000000 C000CO0C0000C) DOMESTICS. An After-Christmas List from Bargainapolis. HEMSTITCHED PILLOW CASES. 48x ] 91C 86 inches, an extra grade softfin- l&2 ished muslin. Our pr; R T Y HEAVY FLANNELETI not the 5 light, flimsy kind, buta good heavy grade. OQur price...... . Yard HUCK TOWELS, 18x33 inches, mngad$l.25 is adl— and a fine, clog> weave. sampie value. COMFORTERS, blg size, pure white coz-$] 20 ton filled, dalntily figured covers D1 — medium and light shades. Our price. Each This Qur price......... Dozen We carry the best All=wool Blan- kets in the State. SCARLET WOOL BLANKETS, 10-4 size. Here is an extra heavy bianket qu¢).00 and an exceptional valne.” We ask Q)&— you to Inspect it. Our pric < v Par See our Celebrated Five-dollar All- wool California Blankst. CALIFORNIA WHITE WOOL BLAN- KETS, 66x78 in n extra heavy blanket, a real bargain. Our price.... Each We claim_the Best Linen Values in San Francisco. Visit our department. o % INCORPORATED. 937, 939, 941, 943, 945 Market Street. Eh A B h b EX T & 0,00,00,0.0,000.00000000, DRESSGO0DS, Some Exceptional Values Winter Dress Goods. FANCY CHECK SUITINGS, full 89 inches wide, all new ' cnd b .50 staple colors. Our price for & 7- D O— yard suil........... FANCY BOURETTE SUITING, & $8-inch novelty In all the supla$3.so opular colors. Our price for ae) O— -yard suit.. Suit It would be to your advantage to visit our Lining Department. We are never undersold. Y PR R E PR ERY EF) FANCY ALL-OVER BOUCLE NOVELTIES, a very heavy fabric, in all staple colors, back- ground with black boucle figures @ £ 25 woven over the surface. \)ur$ Fact price for & 7-yard Suit.......cco.. Suig CAMFEL'S-HAIR SUITINGS, an vy 50-inch fabric, all 6:3° oul Sahd ie dark co.ori price for a 7-yard suit i MORE ABOUT THE DISCOUNT. Our great doll army comes under the clutch of the discount. 25 per cent off ihe prices you wondered at before hristmas. The remamder of our Great Bazaar Stock must go. 1t IS expensive to carry this mer chandise another vear. New stocks must come in. Would you take advantage of such inducements? voice itself in my ears, and I found no| comfort nor help in the bright sunlight, the beneficent skv or the gracious gir. I said to myself: **We are all caught in the toils and there is no one to help us. I shall not come to the hill again. Itf I can- not bring one ray ql light iunto the lives of my fellows, at least [ shall not climb up here and contemplate their misery.”” I was very miserable, for like many a phi- losopher I thought, because I did not know definitely to the contrary, that the world was steeped in misery. It was just at this juncture that I first saw my friend Patsey Quinn. An enterprising wight was Patsey, and in the course of his pere- grinations about the cliff he came upon a thick timber lying somewhat apart from the others. It was a tempting stick, nearly twice Patsey’s length, and quite balf tbe thickness of his meager body; smooth, grooved and with one rounded, slightly up-curved end. There was money in that timber if Patsey could but get it off the hill. But it was heavy. He might as well have tried to lift the great bulk- head itself as to carry off unseen that bit of wood. He gave it a sharp push, It moved clumsily, swang around a littleand rested with 1ts rounded end pointing down the hill. The grade here was washed al- most to bedrock by the rains and was diz- zily steep. As he glanced along the pre- cipitous descent there popped into Pat- sey’s brain a masterly strategem whereby he might obtain undetected possession of the coveted timber. Seating himself at the upper end he erasped the grooved sides firmly, pushing vigorously with one foot against the stony ground. Gradually his improvised coaster stirred, slid a little way and began to gain impetus. The motion quickened and at last Patsey, with a sudden turn, lay flat upon his stomach along the descending cyclone. It was coasting that woula have satisfied an Alpine adventurer. The ground seemed to slip away beneath the upturned nose of the curious sled;, aud Patssy clung desperately to the grooved sides, breathless, sightless, lost to every sensation save the wild joy of that reckless rush. 2 Probably no real boy ever thought of danger as anelement in any mad escapade. The agonies of dread experienced by those who witnessed his performances have no partin the consciousness of boyhood, and it was with honest surprise that Patsey, his race with death run to a finish in the soft sand of the street below,; found him- self the center of attraction for a horror- stricken throng of people who had hast- ened to gather up his lifeiess remains. He bad only intended to slide downhill upon his prize and make off with it, but the very brilliancy of his little scheme had drawn alleyesto him. Hehad come down the hill as though shot from a cannon, his queer craft, by some marvelous interposi- tion of that special providence that watches over the bones of boys, gliding fromreek torock in the descent without overttrning. Patsey could not understand why the women looked so scared, and why even the big policeman who leld him by the coat collar still had a startled air, despite the vigor of the shaking he: was adminis- tering, and the emphatic nature of the. language in which he was informing- the | boy what he, the big paliceman, would be. if he didn’t run him 10’ the' next time he caught him at'any sich morkey-shines. ‘What l’nueyv did, however, fully appre- ciate, was the urgent necessity for absent- ing himself when he beheld the foreman of the construction gang nearing the scene. But he was unable to wriggle himself from the grasp of 'steenshundred-and-sixty ere the man was upon” them. He, too, wore an apprehensive mien, until he was assured that Patsey was unharmed, when he fell upon the boy and added a strong, earnest supplement to the policeman’s shaking. He followed this with a mighty cuffing, well administered, as far as I could see from my post upon the hilltop, and then turning him about, sent him, by a scien- tifically directed kick, fairly upon his return trip up the hill. Thus set free, the adventurous naviga- tor turned blithely along the incline until he had nearly reached the plateau where I stood meditating a plausible pretext for addressing him. Then from bzhind a big bowlder another boy appeared. The two were evidently strangers to each other. They halted sharply and stood at defi- ance, after the fashion of two dogs met for the first time. Patsey’s face plainly expressed challenge, question, and a cer- tain “My foot is on my native heath” feeling that was unmistakable. Equslly plain in the countenance of the newcomer were written scorn and measurement. Platnly he thought ne had sized Patsey up, for after an exchange of visual insults bhe said: *I kin thump ye silly.” “Yerlie! Ye can’t do’t!” was the re- ply, and the two clinched. The combat was short, fierce and de- cisive. Itended in the total defeat of the stranger, who, routed foot and horse, fled to the safer region of the plain, The vic- tor remained upon the hill, following the flight of the foe with opprobriousepithets, delivered dancing back and forth along the trail, with one arm raised and the ex- tended tingers of that nand held midway of his ge in a gesture designed to ag- gravate the effect of his parting remarks. Then, with a marked accentuation of the “‘native heath” air he swung around toward the piateau. He saw me now, but deigned no notice of my presence. In- stead he suddenly bent over a new prize. Clinging lovingly to the face of & rocky ledge, where it seemed as if no soil rested, a' poppy was growing. It wassuch a wee plant, and it had put forth two early, wind-tossed, stunted, pale- yellow blos- soms, that set the bare brown cliff aglow with tLeir golden joy. I feltanindignant pang as the boy took them in his clawlike tingers. What was there in his life or sur- roundings through which he might have any appreciation of the wonderful thing he had acquired? His plucking the flower was a bit of van@alism I would have g.ven much to prevent. The pain of it fell heavy upon my heart, already aching with a sense of my own inability to bringany help ur beauty into the livesof my fellows. I resolved to remonstrate with the young vandal. Who knew whether I might not be able to give him some greater thought than had ever'before been his ? He came slowly in my direction, bear- ing the plant in both bands. For the first time 1 saw his face plainly and at rest—a hard, unsympathetic face, pale beneathits tan, stained and begrimed, marked across one chéek with a vicious scar. He had light-colored, shifty eyes, sheded by a tan- gle of straight, thin, sunburned hair, and a wide, inexpressive moutia. The poppies in his dirty fingers seemed more human and so inexpressively lavelier than he. He was passing me, unnoticing, as I stood beside the pathway, so intent was his re- gard of the treasure he carried. I won- dered thereat, thinking to myself that he really seemed to care. More than half ex- pecting a snub, I asked: o, ““What will you do with the flowers?”’ He stopped, looking at me defiantly for an instant, and then, as his gaze fell again u}wn the pop pies, he ssid: “Hu, them? T'm goin’ to give 'em to Mopsie.”” He had not yet recovered from his surprise at being accosted, so I pressed my advantage and inquired, *“Who is Mopsie?* *Mop- sie? aw--she’s me sister,”” with a poorly assumed inaifference, for the faded eyes brightened and the flat mouth took on a sensitive curve. ‘‘She’s lame,’”’ he added. “Aad who are you?'’ I coaxed. “Hu, me —whatcher givin’ us? Me name’s Patsey Quinn,’” and he was turning off, when I espie ! another poppy, lower on the cliff. “There's another one,” Isaid. *Maybe Mopsie would like that. I'll hold these while you climb down for it, if you like.”” He eyed me suspiciously. “Yer won’t sneak 'em?” he ventured. Evi- dently he longed to secure the otner treas- ure. I assured him of the honesty of my intentions, and with another shrewd glance he tinally entrusted his prize to me and swung down the ledge to secure the other one. He was coughing as he came back and paused beside me, breathing slowly. “IUs preity up here, isn’t it?” I asked, as Ilaid the three blossoms to- gether. inder.”” His tone was mid- way between contempt and discontent. I gave him a glance and warmed toward him. “Doesn’t it make you glad to be alive?"’ I said, for the gracious scene was beginning to humanize my own mood. The contempt in his glance was upper- most now. ‘Glad nuthin’! They ain’t no good bein’ alivel” I looked at the small pessimist in surprise, not untem- pered with amusement. *'No?"” I queried. “Naw; what’s ther good? A kid’s got ter shift fer’imseli the minnit he’s borned, an ’e don’t git nothin’ but jawin’ ‘n kicks till 'e’s on ther street, an’ then some cul- 1y’s after 'im all der time ter make 'im go ter school, an’ yer don’t know when grub’s a-comin’, an’ yer’ve got ter lay low all der time er somebody drops on yer. Don’t do ner good ter get insulted, tho’, an’ I never does.” I was somewhat puzzled at this phrase, and said: “Insulted! What do you mean by that!" The contempt deepened. “Whatcher givin’ us—why gittin’ mad of course. That’s what insulted is. Don't do ner good, tho'. I’'m goin’ ter foller the sea when I'm big.”” And the embryo phil- osopher’s weird old countenance took on a shade of cheer. “See here, Patsey,’’ I said, “would you rather be dead or alive?” He was looking at me with a puzzled, half-questioning air. Evidently he was beginning to realize the encounter as unusual. “I don’t know nawthin’ erbout bein’ dead,’’ he said at last, “but they ain’t no good’s I kin see in bein’ alive.”’ I tried again. ‘*Suppose I could give you your choice now between being alive and mnot being, which would you choose? Isn’t there anything that would make you sorry not to be alive? He was very still, and the perpiexity in the small visage grew apace. Unquestionably he was thinking. Then, slowly at first, quicken- ing to a gleam, as his glance fell upon the poppies a light came 1nto his pale eyes and some feeling moved the inexpressive mouth. “*Dere’s Mopsie,” he said. Tnen he left me, taking the poppies, and I walked down the hill. I have not seen my friend Patsey Quinn again. Per- baps I shall not see him again, but I shall always count him a friend, for I learned from bim a lesson in spiritual honesty. —_— President Lincoln was the first Presi- dent to occupy the Whkite House who wore a beard, and Grant was the first to wear a mustache. It was reported at the time that Lincoln, in 1860, was induced to allow his whiskers to grow because a little girl to whom he had, upon request. sent his photograph, wrote him that he would NEW TO-DAY. JUMPING! We are as busy as we can be, because we have what the public wants, and our prices and terms are acceptable to all. We will furnish you a home completely for very, very little money and long credit. LARGEST STOCK. LARGEST STORE. LOWEST PRICES, Oak Sideboards from. Oak Chiffoniers from. Oak Chairs from... Oak Bookcases from Oak China Closets from Oak Bed Sets from..... Oak Hat Racks from WE KEEP EVERYTHING FURNITURE, CARPETS and BEDDING! J. NOON.AXN, 1017-1019-1021-1023 Mission Street. 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