The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 9, 1898, Page 21

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 1898. 21 Touching Termination of The Most Dramatic Real Love Stor y of the Century. HE death of Lady Millais closes one of extraordinary love ror the century. She was literally Killed by the kisses of the cne she loved best | she knew at s meant certain | in all the wor the that his death to her. It was the time climax to a tale of won- | v of the life of | y of the splendid heroic soul; the and Euphemia drous love, to Jot 1 at eritic, i thirty, ng beauty a Miss Chal- rried but a Ruskin’s im- | stakes that as sad i > the consequences are time John Millais, a young nd at tha f prontise, t time a f k school, which he ok to become the pet of sought Ruskin's acquaint- critic recognized Mil- ame his friend en was his host. about four and twenty Ruskin, and he handsomest men that strong and with the god. as she first appear- also a n of d purity. To his dy- repeated times without in no other woman had he so perfect an incarnation of inter, attracted by the beauty of his precep- | learned all the | which made character too her Scon the realization of his every ideal, and with the keen, unerring eyes of love he divined her unhappiness. Ruskin's temperament and that of his wife were radically opposed. The man, ascetic, introspective, stu- dious and grave far beyond his vears, with the temperament often accompa- nied by great literary genius, but still a temperament to which it is impossi- ble for ncrmal womankind to adapt it- self. The woman, young, childlike of nature, gay, ardent, sympathetic and warm arted, full of emotions that spontaneous to her and absolutely repelled because they were unknown to her husband. The very fact that John Ruskin, the - , never doubted his wife’s happi- 1 until Millais came into his life, and that as soon as he recognized it hy u the teok steps to repair it, speaks vol- s for the innocence and purity of woman concerned. Millais, the artist, saw with a clearer vision, he noted ali these conditions plainly enough, but he was an honest young fellow, and, althcugh his heart almost broke at the thought, he resolved to quit England, where the one woman he could ever love dwelt as the wife of another and that man his friena. 0 Millais told Ruskin of his inten- tion, and Ruskin recklessly defied con- ventionality by insisting that Millais should remain by protesting that his future demanded it, and befcre the half-dazed painter realized what it all must mean he found himself, through his preceptor's commands, daily at Ruskin’s studio, daily his guest at din- ner. The picture of “The Huguenot Lovers” was at this time first contem- plated and afterward executed, with M Ruskin, at her husband’s sugges- posing for the figure of the wom- an Millais to the world at large painted the despair of the Huguenot who will nct let his sweetheart ease his life by the simple device of the handkerchief; the man who looks upon the face of the woman he adores and knows he must relinquish it, knows that his hon- or, his religion, must and shall be DIED FROM A "KISS. stronger than even his boundless pas- ! sion—is John Millais himself as he then looked. | In the woman's face the painter has fixed an expression of purest agoniz- ing and affrighted love. All the world knows the picture as that of the lover who would not consent to save his life by tacitly denying his faith. To those who know the history of the cel- ebrated painting the Huguenot is John Millais, man of honor and, by all the strongest throbs of an honest man’s heart, a man who will die before he will yield to the temptation that so strongly beset him. Millais, with a tortured soul, painted his own agony into the face of the Hu- guenot lover. Despite the fact that an- other man sat for the male figure in the picture, every one who knew the artist thirty odd years back declares it to be his own portrait. | As John Ruskin's wife posed to the artist his secret passion confronted the | other and knew lover | - vainly tried to hide even The om herself. man and woman looked at each that in this there was paradise for them in a won- derful transcendent love; knew were by every law of nature intended for each other, and knew that it could not be. Euphemia tuskin believed her wretched secret safe in her own keep- ing. She was a good woman. knew she lcved John Mil long had known that her marriage to Ruskin was a mistake for which she must suffer a penance that would only end with life itself. She determined to conceal her wretchedness and to do her duty by her husband. The first step toward this end was to banish Millais or at least to avoid seeing him. The picture of the Huguenot lovers was almost ccmpleted. On the morn- ing of the last sitting Mrs. Ruskin, to world they | She | is, and she | | whom Millais had hitherto never spok- en a word of love, stood by the can- vas, looking long and earnestly into the face of the Huguenot lover. Millais and she were alone. The woman raised her searching eyes from the painting to meet those of the painter. In that instant both recognized the love they thought could never know fulfiliment. | Millais opened his arms and took the woman to his heart in a long embrace | mers was married to John Millais. marriage ceremony. the Life of Lady Millais. nor vilified his wife. He neither sus- pected her honor nor that of the man who was her lover, and he did every- thing in his power to make them hap- py. He deliberately sacrificed his own happiness. He gave up his most precious treas- | ure—the woman whcse happiness was dearer to him than his own. Quietly and without heroics Ruskin told his wife that he had divined her secret. He desired, he said, above all things that she should be a happy wife. He could see that the love he had had not been so fortunate as to evoke in her she gaves to the man whose character and attributes he believed honestly were worthy of it. He Insisted upon a divorce, which he himself would under- take to secure, and he was as good as his word. Three months after the de- cree was granted Miss Euphemia Chal- The bride was given to her husband at th altar by John Ruskin. . Stories of love usually end with the John Millais’ love history really began with his bridal day. It continued uninterruptedly un- til the gates of eternity opened to re- ceive his beautiful spirit. For over thirty years Millais and his “Effie,” as he called his wife, lived together in | wedded love and happiness that should make the cynics of the hour bow their heads in confusion. Mrs. Millais was her husband’s idol. He made no secret of his admiration for her, and a quar- ter of a century after “The Huguenot Lovers” was familiar, Millais, in the mean time having achieved immense which he honestly meant as a farewell. For days after Mrs. Ruskin did not | see Millais. She avoided him in every possible way. John Ruskin, silent and taciturn, studied the painting, “The Huguenot Lovers.” What he had not | seen in the eyes of the living man and | | woman he recognized in the eyes of the | painted figures. In the expression nr‘ | the heart-broken faces of the Hugue- | not lovers Ruskin saw the whole truth. Then John perfcrmed an act of su- | premest wisdom, of magnificent cour- age. He neither raved nor shouted wealth and distinction, declared that he sometimes wished he could get away from every one else for the rest of his life, so that he could '“just be alone with Effie, his sweetheart.” Many beautiful children came to the Millais, and each one was or was not in his father's ey cr a fine fellow if a boy, by the one standard of excellence and loveliness a beauty if a girl, | accepted by Millais—a resemblance to | the mother. The beautiful Millais children are supposed to have suggest- ed to Du Maurier the touching refer- | @eatn. ences in “The Martian” about the transcendently lovely family of Barty Josselin. If Millais adored his beautiful wife, she in turn idolized her talented hus- band. For many years the Millais were considered the handsomest couple in England. Millais was a magnificent leoking fellow, six feet tall, with fine, . regular features, a smile of extraordi- nary sweetness, laughing eves and an air of tremendous vitality and enthu- siasm. ‘When death menaced the great paint- er Millais was kept in ignorance of the malignant nature of the cruel malady which was to destroy him. Mrs. Mil- lais was informed, that she might take warning and protect herself from the infection, for Millais was stricken with cancer of the throat in a virulent form. The physicians who attended the painter teld his wife of her peril, and insisted that she should promise not to approach the patient. No sooner had the doctors left after giving her this intelligence than she went to her hus- band’s bedside, bent down and deliber- ately Kkissed him. The wife knew that with her kisses she courted a most agonizing It was the death her beloved must suffer. She had shared his life; they had been one in everything; she resolved that he whom she leved better than life shouid hekp her to the death she chose because it was his. So day after day as Millais lay dying, | his still lovely wife ministered to him. While the attendants were near she did not press her fond lips to her hus- band’s. ‘When they were alone she would kiss him and lay her lovely face by the side of the agonized one, and re- peat over and over again to him the stery of her love. Millais died and the world grieved at its loss. Little was heard of the widow, save that she was broken-hearted. A few days ago the news was receiv- ed that Millais’ widow had entered in- to eternal rest; that she had died of a cancer of the throat contracted delib- erately in caring for her husband. So ended their life’s romance. < HAVE SWORN T 0 DESTROY THE RULERS OE CHINA Continued fr: om Page 17. : Second—That it 1s and has been for | rs most powerful in the Philippine | Islands, Batav Calcutta, Bombay, | Singapore and San Francisco. It poses | : under various disgu s in different parts of the world. an F Locally, T mea it is known as the n Kung Tong. Its alleged objects are benevolence and good-fellowship; its | real ect the overthrow of the present Ching dynasty. Its in | this- direction is materially assisting | the great powers in their present at- tempts to dismember the great Chine: empire. cee 1 found that there was but one way side facts concerning | order ould this be accomplished? ng Join it! rned there were no serious ob- n fact, I know now that they are rather anxious to secure a few Faun Kwei—foreign devils—as it is considered by the more diplomatic members that these devils might be- come most valuable advisers in West- ern matters. The result of my experience with the convinces me that this society, like an insidious drug, has been slowly >ctively destroying the strength Flowery Kingdom and has re- duced the once powerful empire to & inarchy without a stable form of government, a condition of affairs which the acute statesmen of Europe quickly appreciated. first difficulty in joining the so- ciety w encountered in procuring a sponsor. At last I found one in the person of an old criminal outcast, about as tough an appearing specimen to learn my lesson, that I might be | able to make proper responses to the questions asked me during the initia- tion ceremony. This was comparatively casy for me, on account of my having | spent a portion of childhood in China nd thoroughly acquiring the Canton- ese vernacular. After a rehearsal of two or three days I was pronounced competent to face the ordeal and in- structed by my mentor that the date upon which T was to be admitted had been decided upon. When the day arrived I was in- formed by the adept that the night was auspicious for the ceremony. The moon was high and full, and every conjunction of the planet augured suc- ss. We had arranged for a rendez- vous at a certain store about the hour of midnight. Here we were met by two more vicious looking heathens apd I was told that one of them had agreed to assume the responsibility of be- coming my mother, while his com- panion assumed the part of my god- father. We wended our way through the odoriferous Chinese quarter until we arrived at an iron doorway where my companions were obliged to give certain signs and passwords quite un- intelligible to me. We were admitted into a low ceilinged room whose walls were reeking with moisture. I discovered here that we had been preceded by many members of the or- ganization. They squatted on mats scattered about the floor and appar- ently took no motice of anything that was going on. Perfect silence was maintained. Not a smile was visible on any countenance, and the only ex- pression was the dreadful Oriental of the Chinese river pirate as ever es- caped the sword of the headsman. It was necessary, after my entrance fee, or 4yice money,” had ‘been deposited, stoicism. At the western end of the room a sort of improvised altar had been erected for the occasion, This was the only bit of furniture observable. I was led t0 a corner of the room and asked to disrobe. After one of my attendants had carefully serutinized my body in a fruitless seach for birthmarks—I have none—I was informed that I | might resume my, trousers only and prepare to be introduced to the grand master of ceremonies. If my mentor wore the appearance ~f a pirate this last mentioned individual certainly carried the face of a fiend. He was | pockmarked, and by way of addi- tional ornament wore a huge saber scar extending from his forehead to the end of his nose, which gave him a most sinister expression. “Have you carefully considered the step which you are about to take?” asked the grand master. $ | *“Yes, Reverend Scribe,” I responded. “Are you ready to storm the Great Wall?” was his next question. “Quite ready, Reverend Scribe.” “Have you been prepared with wea- pons?” | “Not as yet.” “Have you been born of blood?” “Not as yet.” “How can a child be born without a mother?” “My intended mother accompanies me, Reverend Scribe. She stands upon my left and my godfather stands upon my right.” “Are you ready to become a blecod | brother?” “All ready, Reverend Scribe.” “Then let thy mother proceed to shed the blood of maternity.” At this juncture the yellow-necked scoundrel who was about to take upon himself the serious task of becoming my godfather led us to the altar before mentioned, where I noticed the various insignia of the order. There were sheaves of corn, symbolical of plenty, dishes of sugar, that we might eat thereof and remove all bitterness from our mouths and our hearts as well; a dish of oil, that we might not be with- out light in the future, and a bowl of vinegar, in which our blood might as- similate. The Chinese elected as my godfather stepped to the altar, took a needle from the altar cloth, punctured the end of his second finger and when the blood began to flow quite freely, dipped the bleeding member into the vinegar, stirring it about, after the manner in which one uses a finger-bowl. My mas- culine mother repeated the same per- formance, after which all the brothers in turn present did likewise. Then each returning to the bowl, dipped his wounded finger therein, placed the same in his mouth, and sucking it dry of what fluid may have adhered thereto exclaimed 4in a loud tone, “Thou art my blood brother!"” It was now my turn to go through the performance. I had studied medi- cine in my youth and realized that this was anything but antiseptic treatment. What was to be done? Refusal meant instant expulsion, with possible vio- lence. At this moment my Yankee in- tuition came to my rescue. While my hand was resting idly on the altar cloth my attention was suddenly at- tracted to the bowl of oil. A quick glance assured me that I was unob- served by the brothers, as each head was bowed in deference to the solemn- ity of the occasion. In a moment my finger was in the oil. Another moment and I had performed the disgusting operation. The coating of oil on the finger had precluded any possible chance of the other fluid -clinging thereto. With great fervor I shouted, “I am thy blood brothe; “Ho" (good), exclaimed the brothers, in chorus, raising their heads. Again I was led before the grand master and instructed to “kow tow” three times to that dignitary. I wag next informed by the grand master that my personal courage was about to be severely tested. I had noticed in the interval during our conversation that about twenty of the members had formed themselves into two military lines. Each man grasped a razor-edged Chinese sword of cumbrous pattern. A furtive glance convinced me that these weapons were not mere playthings: they appeared to have been intended for active service. For the first time a feeling of regret for my action crept into my mind. Here was 1 in a noisome cellar, sur- rounded by a horde of the most merci- less of all human beings, confronted yond possible call of Christian aid. T was told that I must walk between these files and that as each member was passed his weapon would fall upon my naked shoulder. This was to prove that disloyalty on my part would be met with summary punishment. It is needless to say that I ran the gauntiet with safety, for as the cutlasses fell the flat sides were turned toward my person. | Facing the grand master for the third time I was informed that I would be instructed as to my duties toward my brothers of the craft. “Should a brother fall by the wayside either through sickness or violence,” spoke the Reverend Scribe, “it shall be yvour duty to assist him, both with your purse and your right hand. The sign of distress is clapping the hands three times above the head. Upon this manifestation you will hesitate and hold yourself in readiness to do battle with the coming enemy. Should the brother exclaim, ‘Ah ga lah!’ (strike him) do not proceed. Should he ex- claim ‘Um, ah! (do not strike) you must assist him with every means at your command. You must interpret each expression the reverse of its actual meaning. “Know you that our society is most potent and its brothers inhabit every quarter of the globe. Wherever your steps may carry you, there you will also find the true heart and the strong arm of the Gee Kung Tong. Bear also in mind that while the Gee Kung Tong protects, it also punishes, and should you prove traitorous to our cause, your blood shall pollute the soil of the land. Be you where you may, the Gee Kung Tong will find you out. “Upon entering a strange residence, or place of business, you shall deport yourself as follows: When asked to drink tea,you must grasp the cup with your index, second and third fingers, allowing the fourth finger to rest be- the use of properties befitting and symbolical of the occasion, were most expressive and significant. Placing my right hand upon the pit of my stomach, where, according to Chinese anatomy, the heart is located, I made oath that I would observe the instructions of my godfather during the term of my natural life and rigidly live up to a hundred and one minor rules for the guidance of blood broth- ers. The grand master reserved his most significant injunction for the last. As- suming that I had been sufficiently impressed by his previous admoni- tions and by the oaths already taken, he declared that my mind was now ready to absorb the fundamental prin- ciple of the order. He solemnly said: “Mark well, these are good words. Can the child instruct the parent? No! Then listen. Open the heart as well as the ears, that my words may sink deep like the rice seed and produce in plenty. “For centuries the central kingdom of the earth (China) has been ruled by the dastard Tartar, he who claims to be the son of the Sun, but his tongue lies ten-fold. Shall we, the children of the great masters, the students of Confu- cius, the oldest of all peoples, born in the cradle of natjons, submit to the rule of these upstarts? “The Ming dynasty, whose memory we venerate, lost its power through treachery. After his cruel war upon our peace loving race, the merciless Khan (conqueror) deceived the great astrologer of China through his lies and sweet talk. When attempting to enter the KEternal City (Peking), he was met at the great gate, of which this altar is symbolical, by the royal as- trologer, a man of great learning, who spoke thus: ** ‘Great general, what do you wish?’ “‘I wish to enter the gates of your fair city,” he replied. “‘And what might be your business | peath the bowl. Without a scrap of parchment or any printed reference the Reverend Scribe continued to outline the objects of the society. Many of his instruc- tions as to diet, deportment, etc., were trivial, but a few of the more import- with theix barbarous weapons and be- | ant gaths, which were emphasized by within the walls of our city 2" “ ‘Mine only desire is to pursue mine enemy. T will not harm your people.’ “‘O Sir General,’ replied the as- trologer, ‘I'read upon thy countenance the lines of the conqueror.” “‘Fear not, O reverend scholar. I come not to conguer, but to punish the traitor of the coward heart who had not the courage to do my bidding ana has sought a refuge within your sub- lime city. T will first make oath, O Sir. My hand is upon my heart. Should my avarice ever induce me to take ad- vantage of thy kindness; should ] ever attempt to rule your people, may they assume the shape of animals, may they wear a badge of disgrace. as a constant minder to the great general of his perfidy. All is spoken; may T pass?” “ ‘Pass, son, and may thy mission be peacefully accomplished.’ “He lied, that conqueror, as all Tar- tars must lie,” continued the grand master, “and within three days he was seated upon the throne where his mangy spawn rule to this day. “Hence the queue worn by our race in semblance of the tail of the animal, and the flowing sleeves of our dress, that when we kneel in worship they fall about our hands and take shape like the Woof of the horse. These badges must we wear till the return of the true rulers of our land. “We of the Gee Kung Tong are the sons of the soil who have sworn to wrest our fair land from the hands of the invader. You are our brother. Again listen well. We reach north, south, east and west. Our member- ship is constantly multiplying. The time may soon come when we must strike this upstart race of rulers on the throne of our country. Hold thy- self in readiness to strike with us.” The finale was most expressive. Standing on a flat stone before the altar, I was handed a small bowl con- taining a gill of chicken’s blood. Rais- ing this with both hands above my head, I repeated after the grand mas- ter the following oath: “Should I prove untrue to my promise, may my life be dashed out of my body as I now dash the blood from this bowl.” ‘At the conclusion of the oath I hurled the bowl to the floor, shattering it to pieces. So it was I learned the secret of the members of this worldwide powerful society that is trying its mightiest to destroy the present rulers of China. Can they do it? R CHURCH WILLIAMS, |