Newspaper Page Text
k:
?
y
The News-Herald.
WKDNKftBAT. OCIwBBB M. IMC
hillshoro.
OHIO.
OVER THE CROSSIN'.
"Hli'nn shine, hot? Yc see I'm luest dlen'
Tr turn yer two boots Inter glass
Where yo II seeall i.ie sights In tho winders
Ithout lunkm' up as ycr pass
Seen mo before? I've no doubt, sor:
I'm nunctnoal haar, ycr know,
Watfn' nlnnf the croM n'
l'ur a little Mil', name o' Joe;
My brothor, nor, an' a'cutp tin'
lla'ly turned seven an' mall,
nut irettin' hi llvln' irad'oly
Tonitin' a bit uv a stall
Fur Mlllerklnolown the ar'nue:
Ver Mil t et that vming- im' 'R smart
"Worked rlirhl n like n vet' run
Since tho old tin' gin 'im a start.
"Kolk sav bo's a picture o' father,
hce mate o" the I.itsv I.co
loet iihen Joo wor a babr,
Wav off 'n ome furrln' sea.
Tlien mother Itep' us together,
Thomjh nohodv thouirht slip would,
An' worked an slirtednn' froze nil' starved
ITz Ioiir H7 over she onuld
An' since she died an' left us,
A coup'o o' s ears ago,
MVi e kep' r ht on In Crasg- Alley
A houekcopln' I an' .too
I'd Just jrnt mv kli whon sho went, sor.
An' people holped us a bit.
So we raanared to (rot on somehow;
loo wus alius a hrave little chit
An' s neo he's (rot Inter b snos,
Thonwh m don t ape prlnoes n' slch,
Tain t of n we g t right turnery,
An' we loel pretty tolabler eh.
"I used to wait at the corner,
-tp't " er th' othor side,
ltut tho not on o beln' tended
Port o' rnftleJ the youngster's pride.
So now t nnU' watehes
To see that bo's faro across
Sometimes t's a blto' wa tin'.
Hut, liless yer, 'tn'n't no losI
too'! th"re he's now theraskal!
Vhvlir'n' across the street
Tor s'nr se mo an' look I I'm soln'
He's down by tho horses' feet!"
Sudlcnly nil had happened
The look, tho cry. the apr'nT,
The sh eldlncr Joo as n b rd shields
Its jounjr with nshelterinir wlnir:
Then up the full street or tho city
A panso or the coming rush.
And through nil the din and tho tumuli
A pnlnrul minute of hush:
A tumble of scattered brushes.
As they lifted bm up to the walk,
Agath r ni of cur otts faces,.
And nitches or whispered talk;
I.lttlo .too nil trembling bc'ldo him
On the Hsirglnjr with gentle (truce
Push'nir the tnnuled, s -ft brown hair
Awav from th" still, wh te fno.
At his touch the shut lids ItCtod.
And swift over lip And ere
Came a irlow as when the morning
Tlushes tho ens'ern skr;
And a hanl rea-hed out to Ills brother,
As the wor is came low but clear:
"Joe. I reckon ve mind our mother
A m'nute hack sho wor heie.
Smllln' mi' caH'n' me to her!
I tell ve. I'm powerful clal
Ver such a I rave, smirt ynuuestor.
The leavln' 'era n't o hat;
Hold hsrd to le rlalit things she learnt us.
An' alius keep honest an' true;
Good-live Joe-but mind, I'll be watchln'
Just o cr tho crossin' f ur you !"
S)rfnfrflfld liepitbllcem.
A "LITTLE" JEALOUS.
A Very "Ccmmon-Sonao" Gentle
man Surprises Himself.
If I pride mvsolf upon any montal endow,
meut whatever, it is upon that humble one
of common seme. I live what is called by
the intellectual people a conventional life.
I have my pew in the neighboring chuith,
nud bit in it twice every Sunday. I know
one Captain in the army just such a per
son as he should be polhned, and yet
ferocious, gentle to ladies, but rather in
solent to civilian males, boastful of bis
dubs, and giving all his leisure time, which
is consMeisble, to the cultivation of bis
mustaibo; but othorwiso I am ignorant
of tho fashionable world and all its pay
doings. I pay my trademuon weekly. My
best sherry is forty-eight shilling' a dozen ;
and when the Captain talks of vintage
wines, as ho will do by the hour nt my
table I often wondor what be thinks h is
drinking. However, with truo joo t breed
ing, ho imbibos it in cipnt quin titles, as
though it wero the bek I do not keep a
man-servant. Our cook n not cotuxmM
au omelUle oi7;. My wife trims her own
bonnets. Wo have eight children, who all
know tho church catocblsm by heart except
the baby, and the last but one. In ijiort,
a more respectable and unfashionable!
family tliau our own does not exist in all
Bays nter.
Under these clrcnmstuuces, it may be
oaMly imagined that we oro freo from the
icesot the great as we are without their
privileges; and this was, I honestly bo
Hove, the case, until within a very raeeut
iwriod. When I used to read in the pipers
that the Lady Lutstia Day Coltay (of Nor
man ancestry and bluost blood) had left
ber husband's roof, and fled with Maor
Flutterby of the Life Guards, I nel to give
a prolonged whistle, and remark "Here
they are again." in general reference to
the haul ton. I knew that our hereditary
aristocracy were given to these eicipailet,
which in my own rank of life would cer
tainly be crimes, and I perusal such details
as the press could furnish with au avidity
imnlloyed, I am afraid with much ronro
bation. I seemed to be reading of a class
of persons whose way of life a too far
from my own to affect me, ozcept as a
spectator; just as, when I went to tho play,
I found myself in an atmosphere of in
trigue and misunderstanding, and jealousy,
altogether uuroal. and with which I had
not the ghost of an experience in common.
Jealousy! Why, I had bosa married
-sixteen yours without vutertainlng that
Eassion, so that it was not vory likely,
owever well acted, that that pas-dou
ahould entertain me. Misanderstanding!
The thing was Impossible; for whenever
there promisod to be a "row in the
pantry" and erery married man will
-understand me when I m ike use of
that metaphorical expression I broujht it
"to a bead and had it out and off we started
again (speaking for self and Mr. R.) on the
-smooth current of our lives, with the little
fracas buried forever in its depths. As for
-the mother of eight children falling in lore
with another man it is all Tory well in a
stage-play, and, as I havo said, befitting
-enough among persons of quality ; but upon
the Nolting Hill side of Ilayswater imy
such mischance would, I felt, be out of
place and ridiculous a social preemption
as well as a grave domestic crime.
Imagine, therefore, my astonishment
-when ray opposite neighbor, Peabods-,
who also calls himsolf my friend, did me
the honor to call upon me a tew
-weeks ago. to speak in confidence of
the alarming conduct of my wife.
Having demanded and obtained a
private interview, this scandalous old per
son, who was once oa in llgo-morohant, and
yet rotains the trace of bis callingupou bis
noes, sat before me iu dotail a number of
curious circumstances connected with the
'goings on ' as be was pleased to call
them, of my wife, which be was not, in
deed, prepared to say "might not poisibly
be only coincidences, after all." but which
bo felt it bis duty as a fellow-creature, and
one who bad been a husband in bis time
bero his lips made a dumb motion of gratl
tude to let me knoar. Even as a neigh
bor, and an inhabitant of a common
crescent, hitherto remarkable for it Ire.
payability, and which, as I douhtless
remembered, bad declined to permit Mr,
i Jones to put up apartments in her window,
lest we should (mi confounded with tho
lodging-bouie localities; nay, which, by
the mere force of its -public opinion, had
prevented No. 484 from baing let to a play
actor von in this character, slid Pea
body, be would have felt it his duty to
ratal me aware of what was being said,
though doubtless falsely, respecting the
behavior of Mrs. R . Hsrs I should
have locked the door and informed Pea
body that bis last hour was certainly ar
rived, and that be had better make, bis
peace with Providence before I out bis
throat. But, from Ignorance of th proper
conduct to be adopted in such exceptional
circumstances, and perhaps from the
knowledge that there was nothing bat a
paper-knife la the room with which 'to
ffect this righteous punishment, I only
fcnrst ont laughing, and called him a med
stttaf and IrapertiisnteM fool.
''Very true," returned be. fork always
cakes nss of that: form of words, , "very
tra. Bat still shs faeta are worth iaveett-
gatiBf, ores) from their singularity. Do
ya inow, ifor Instance, (hat at slevaa
o'clock, three days it weak, your wife goes
out in a cab by herself It'
"No," said I, "I do not: though. If she
does. It Is surely better than if she had any
Ineligible companion. Asamatterof fact,
however, she does not do so ; for I hare
offered to go shonnlnir with her twice this
I week, and sh hat declined to accompany
me upon me grouna ot navmga oaa sore
throat."
"Upon what days did she give this ex
cuse I-' inquired Peabody, taking out bis
pocket-book.
"Last Monday and last Thursday," re
turned I.
"Well, here's a memorandum : 'Monday,
4th. Saw Mrs R sktrt as usual at
eleven. Thursday, 17th, ditto, ditto.' She
could not be going to n mbrnliig concert,
because she had no white gloves on."
"I will grant that much," quoth t sar
donically, yet not by any means unmovod
by this unoxpected intelllg9nce. "My wife
does not go to morning concerts."
"Very truo," observed Poabody. "Then
the question arises, where dot she go to I
Now, as an inhabitant ot the crescent "
"Peabody," interrupted I, sevaroly, "I
acknowledge the right of no man no, not
ot the man in the moon himsolf to meddle
in my affairs upon that ground. I am
obliged to you for the interest you have
taken in this matter, but tho simple fact is,
that it has been entirely misplaced. 1 have
been perfectly well awaro of my wife's
movements, and they havo had my fullest
permission and approbation. Ionly wanted
to see to what lengths your Impertinence
and love of Interference would carry you.
That Is vour hat, I believe; your umbrella
is the alpaca one. I wish yon a very good
morning." I ushered mv visitor out, and then sat
down In my private parlor with my elbows
upon the table, and both my bands thrust
Into my hair. I had temporarily extin
guished Peabody. but I was on fire with
Jealous apprehensions myself. What could
it all mean I For sixteen yenrs my wife had
never taken any excursion unless in my
company, upon which, she had always given
me to understand, she dotsd; and yet, after
refusing to go out with ma upon Monday
and ThursJay last, on the plea ot sore
throat, she had started, the instant that
my back was turnod. In a hansom oreven
supposing it was a four-wheeler in a cab,
without white gloves on. and Con
found it! here wis a row in the pantry, and
one which my peace of mind demanded to
have cleared up nt once.
"Anna Maria." cried I, huskily, from the
bottom of the stairs, "Anna Maria, I wish
to spoak with yon Imaiodiately."
"Lor' bless mo," answered my wife from
the top story, "it isn't one of tho children,
is it, John! Pray tell me the worst at
once."
"No. madam, it Is I," replied I, stiffly.
"Then it's the kitchen chimney," she ex
claimed, in a dogmatic tone. "And didn't
I tell Mary to hare it swept a week ago;
and now the fire-engines will spoil every
thing, even if we are not burnt out of
houso and home."
Was it possible that this woman could
have deceived me, as Poabody had said,
and yot talk so simply of her children,
and ot the house and homo! By
the titno Anna Marin bad got down
to the drawing-room flight, I began
to be rather ashamed of mysolf.
When the mother of eight reached my
sittlng-nom door, with her honest face
uglow with animation, and ber voice so
earnest about tho soot, I did not dare to
mention what I bad in my mind.
"I called you down, dear, to say that I
was going to give mysolf a holiday to-day.
and to ask you to come with me to Hatnp
stead Heath and dine at Jack Straw's Cas
tlo this afternoon, it being a beautiful
day."
A ray of Joy passed for an instant over
her features, and then, as if recollecting
herself, she hsgau to stammer that she was
very, very sorry, but really she had so
much to do about the house just then; it I
would only wait till Friday week, which
was my birthday, then wa would go some
where, and sho should enjoy it above
measure. This afternoon, however, the
thing was impossible.
"Well," said L gravely, "we have not
many holidays together, and I am sorry.
You bad a sore throat on Monday and on
Thursday, when I offered you a similar op
portunity." i"0, yes," answered sho, shaking her lit
tle head, which Is very nrottllv ennld it
bo too prettily! set upon her shoulders;
"it is quite impossible that I could go out
with that throat."
"Hero," thought I for she could not
have gone without her throat "is some
dreadful falsehood. But Poabody may have
told it, and not she. Perhaps she never
wont out at all. Should I not rather be
lieve the wife of my bosom, than that
scandalous old retired indigo-merchant!
Was it not base even to munnet Anns
Maria of deception! Doubtless it was; but
yet I thought I would just satisfy myself
wun mjr ewn eyes."
"Very well," observed I, quietly; "since
you can not come with me to-day, I shall
go to the city as usual. I don't care for a
holiday by myself."
"Poor, doar fellow." said Anna Marin.
ronxlngly, as sho helped me on with my
greatcoat, "1 am quite grieved to disap
tioltit you. Good-bye, John. Mind you
have a eood luncheon. It's rerv bad for
you, eating those buns and rubbish."
"Ah, what a tamrlcd web wo weave,
When flr.u wo pruciloo to doselve;
Though after but a 1 ttle trrlng
Theros nothlni easier than lying,"
says bomelio iy. I protest I felt like a pick
pocket, as Id-dged and lurked about our
crescent, watching in the distance mv own
door, to see whether my wife would cross
mo inres'ioin,. i suppose i nave uone ot the
attributes necassarv to the Drofesslon of a
detective, for whenever a p.iser-by casthls
eyes on ins, l ion myseit oiusnmg all
over, and hanging my head on oua nlde. I
dared not, ot course, stop in the crescent,
bat ioitersd at the corner of a strest which
commanded it, now tryiug to dig; up the
topi ot the coal-cellarj by iaiertlng the
nozzle ot my umbrella in their circular
holes, and now eliciting mournful music
by dragging it against tho area railings.
Exbamtod with these exorcises, I had bsen
leaning against a lamp-post for about ten
minutes, whon the door ot a house opposite
opened sud Jenly and a widow lady of vast
proportions came swiftly out upon me with
her cap-strings streaming in the wind.
"Now just you goaway. my gentleman,"
said she. in a m niacin j voice, "before the
police makes you. 1 know who you're
a-looklng for, nnd I can toll you she nln't
a-coming, for I've got her locked up in the
coul-cellnr. I know you, although you have
not got your red coat on to-day ; and mind,
if you Ket another .slice of meat in my
bouse I'll prosecute) you as sure as my
name's Mlrins.
"Urasious haavsus, mvlitnl" crioj I,
"do you take ma for a common soldiorl"
"No, sir." answered she malicioudy;
"but for a tuonei'nv-ha'Dsuur lifa-cuanls.
man. who never saw a shot fired In his Ufa ;
and it evor you come after mv Jomhua
again"
I turnoa, ana tied into tne very arm) of
the nbomlnable Peabody.
"Make haste!" exclaimed he. "There is
not a moment to bo lost. No: the o.ih Is
coming this way. You may see tor your
self wnetner i am nit ngnt this time."
And sure enough, who should drive by, at
a rapid rate, but Anna Maria, in a four
wheeled cab, and without her bonnet, and
with a flower in her hair! This blow,
coming so closely upon the attack of the
wiao-.v iaay, was almost more tjau i could
bear.
"Wboro can she ba golnzl" trained I. half
unconsciously, "It's the most extraordi
nary thing I ever beard of."
"1 have hoard of similar things ." retnrnad
Peabody. quietly, "although I never ex
perienced any thing of the sort myself. Ot
course, I don't know wher? she is going to,
but the direction the has taken is towards
St. John's Wood."
I hastened back to mv own house, and
with the air of a man who has forgotten
something, begin to searoa in the pocket i of
a greatcoacnangiug up in tne nan. "Jiy-tuo-by,"
said L as the sarvant who let mi lu
was dlsappoaring, "I think your .m'stress
mut have got it. after all. Just ran up
and tell her that I want to see ber for a
minute."
Emllv Jau3. who had nien In our serrloB
evsrsiuce we were married, turned as scar
let as her cap-ribbous. .
"Sir." said she. bolder than brass, "mis
sis has just stepped out. Hhe has taken two
of the little girls for a morning walk."
"Whloh two!" inquired I, looking this
abandoned young person full in the face.
Her subtle spirit was cowed by this
course of procedure. Shs replied that she
did not know shs didn't recollect she
hadn't paid particular attention, but she
rather thought that it was the two
youngest aliin one breath.
"In that case." rsioined L Dolnting
with withering scorn to the perambu
lator, "how comes this here I Ho, Ksatly
Jna; your mistress mutt hare taken
oat with hat! to-day the asm two children-
that shs took, on Mondav. and
-- r - - . -i . !. J &
wssobad that shs could noi go pot with I
"?2 t
"Yes, sir," replied shs; "It was the same
two."
"Emily Jane," said I, solemnly, "always
tell the truth. I know all. Where Is your
mistress gone to all by herself to-day. with
her hair so neatly arranged, and a flower
stuck in the left-hand slds of her headl
and that after telling me shs was too busy
to more out. Concealment is worse than
useless. Where is she!"
"Wild horses shouldn't do it," returned
the domestic, resolutely. "I told her I
would keep It dark, and I won't betray no
confidence as has bean reposed in mi. You
must And it all out of your own head, sir.
0 dear, oh dear I"
Here, to my contusion, Emily Jane cast
her apron, by a sudden and dexterous
movement, orer her features, and in that
blinded condition rushed down the kitchen
stairs. At that moment the front door
boll rang with a violence such as none of
our rlsitorj, except the Captain, erer
dare to use. My wretched haart seemed
to experience a little throb of joy. He,
at least, then and I confess my
suspicions had baen turned in hisdlroction,
tor it was not his profession to
guard us from foreign foot and to deitroy
our domestic poacai he, at least, I say.
unless there was more than one I dared
not trust myself to finish the reflection,
but opened the front door with my own
hands.
It was somebody in uniform, but not the
'TNslograpb. for Mrs. R ." squeaked
the boy, In his shrill, thin voice. "Please
to sign on the right-'and side."
Then dancing a double shuflb upon the
doorstep In order to keep himself warm,
be broke forth into a ballad:
"There's ssmebodr in the house with Dinah,
There's soraobodr in the house, t know.
There s somebody in the house with
Dmah"
I didn't like his impudence, and I didn't
like his song; but there was nothing for it
but to submit. What could Anna Maria
be doing with telegraphs!
"From Rupert Mcrrlngton, Cup!don
Villas, St. John s Wood.
"Pray be punctual this tlm;. I nm engaged
after twelre I trust oj will bo looking
?our best, not pale, as on Monday and
hursday."
"There's somebody In tho house with Dinah.
There's somebody In the house, I
know"
I rushed out with the receipt in my hand,
and tho boy snatched It and took to flight,
for he saw that I was dangerous, what
could this dreadful message meant Or,
rather, what meaning could It hare but
one! Rupert Merrington! Not at all a
steady-sounding name, to begin with; the
sender, too, was evidently no business
man, or he would not have exceeded his
twenty words so foolishly. It had a mili
tary smack all ovor (and 1 didn't like that
notion a military tmickl) Merrington
was, of course, an assumed name. The
handwriting was good and so far unlike
the Captain's. But then people don't
write their own telegraph messages. I felt
that some immediate action was necessary,
or that I should be suffocated. In a couple
of minutes I was in a hansom bonnd for
Cupidon Villas, in a state ot mind easier
imagined than described; and yet I bad
often read descriptions of It in novels
which professed to describe aristocratic
life, and often had seen upon the stage
(although principally in farces) the hus
band racked by jealous pangs.
"What had there been to laugh at in that,
1 wonderoi nowl Why saould the tender
est emotions of the human heart be made
the subject of buffoonery! But what
a wicked-looking sst of hnusss ware thesi
which I was now passing! It bricks and
mortar and especially stucco can look
vicious, certainly St. John's Wood possesses
a patent for . .
"What number, sir!" shouted my drlrer,
through the little hold in th roof. '-This
is Cupidon Wlllas."
"I am sorry to hear it," groaned I. pass
ing my handkerchief orer my brow. "Don't
mind me, my good mtn" (for his coun
tenance evinced much dismay at my voice
and manner) ; "I know it is not your fault
that I am miserable. Please to pull up at
number six." ,
Of all the wlcked-looklng houses in Cu
pidon Villas, number six was it saamed to
me, the wickedest. The round eye which
formed its staircase window, winked vic
iously in the sunlight, and in the garden
was a. little orratlnr. as though for the pur-
possot reconnolssance before admittance,
which was not a little grating to m). The
drawing-room shutters were close 1. This
latter circumstance gare me some satisfac
tion, since it might signify that Mr. Mer
rington was doad; but a glance at the gay
attire ot the servant-girl who answered my
summons, cut away this ground of conso
lation. "Is Mrs. R within!" inquired I,
with a tone of assumed indifference.
"Well yes, sir; but rou can't see her
just at present. Mr. Merrington has a
great objection to"
"Confound Mr. Merrington!" cried L
pushing my way in. "I want to see my
wife."
"Oh I your wife is it, sir I" replied the
maid, with a gigolo. "Then, of course,
you can go up, If you please, although it's
as much as my place Is worth. You will
find them In the drawing-room."
"What! therol" exclaimed I passion
ately, pointing to the closed windows.
"Yes, ot course, sir! That's the room
they always sit iu."
They always sit in! Then this sort of
thing must bare basn going on for years!
I cleared two little flights' ot stairs iu a
couple ot bounds and burled open the
drawing-room door like a catapult I
found myself in a large apartment
darkened, indeed, upon one side, but wiU
lit by a huge window (inrislble from th
front of the house) at its northern end. In
the center ot the room was a raised struc
ture, hung with purple and rather resem
hllno. a anaff old decorated for the execution
of royalty, and upon the scaffold sat my
IS. !- .- MA Ula AtVSt'flM Al
wne in an uuuumiurirauio smhsb, kiiu
with an exoresslonot countenauce that she
only wears upon thoe ceremonious occa
sions which demand what are called "com
pany manners." Between her and the
window stood a gentleman in a velvet
coat, at an easel, and evidently painting
her portrait. He elevated bis eyebrows at
my peculiar moia of outerlng the room,
and looked towar Is ray wife, as if for an
explanation of the phenomenon.
"It is onlv mr husband, air. Harring
ton," returned she. "Oh, John! I am so
sorry that you found ma out. tor I had
meant ray picture w uj a uiosiauv surjiriao
tn van nnon vonr birthday next week.
This was to be my lastsitting but one; and
nobody knows tua irouoie i nave laxen to
keap you ignorant ot my coming here.
That stupid Emily Jaue must hare let it
out"
"No, my dsar," said I. "I dlscorered the
fact tor mysalf. through the telegram: and
really I I couldn't help coming down
to sae how tha picture wa gattlnfon. It
was si very kind ot you. Aud. char me,
Mr. Marrington, what a charming like
ness!"
"Well, it's not in a rery good light, ye
in." reiolnsd he denrocattnglv. "N
ou
ot
having a room with a sky-light, I'm obliged
to block up those windows and manags
how I oau. It makes the bouse dark, and,
I am afraid, cause! you to stum'ile at the
drawing-room door,"
"Yes," sld I, "that was Juitlt I rery
nearly ram a in htad, first I I only
thought I'd look in on my way to the city,
I won't interrupt yon another moment:
and, indead, I have myself uo time to lose."
1 gare them lid flrashilllngs, and think
ing it would be more likely to insure her
sllonca a chuck under the chin. Then I
wrote to Peabody from Bunhil! Row, where
my plaoa ot business is situated, to tell him
that I would not make a fool of him any
longar; but tha fact was, that durlug the
last tew wsaks, I had been making my wife
sit for har plotura which he was to coins
and pass his j udgment on as soon as It was
finlshe I; them was a question as to wheth
er the flower In her hair was an Improve
ment. But I know that Emily Jane would
tell Anna Maria all about It However,
nothing was said until my birtb.i-.ay1 ar
rived and with it the portrait, for which
the dear creature had saved up hsr pin
mousy und put herself to the greatest in
oonvenieuie.. I declare my haart smoto
me for mv basa susptoions when I looked
upon that honest face, which bad nsrer
worn usinb peiorv. upuu wsu uy, sud
said:
"By-theby, John, when that telegram
arrived tor me from Mr. Merrington, it
didn't make you jealous at all, did it!"
'O, dear, no; ray darling! Jealous ot
you! Imuoniblel Not, of, course, that
you are not baautlfnl enough to make all
the world fall In lore with you; but I never
dreamed of suoh a thing."
"That's all right, John," said she, kiss
ing me. But there was a , wloked twinkle
In her kind eyes, as shs added, drily: "I
am glad to hear you say that, for, do you
know, I almost thought that rou war just
alittlejealom." Ilmrd ffautlUu, in Bat:
lovfi Magiutne.
Nercr iillow froshimest to rma!a
in paper; H absorbs tha Julues. '
0
CHINESE PRINOES.
Th Mental and Physical Kxerclse Thj
Reeelv White Being Educated.
Tho aona of the Manchu Emperors
(hwangtsz) undergo from thetr tender
est youth a system of tho strlotcst edu
cation. Rising about three o'clock iu
the morning, they lint take thoir los
aon in Chinese literature, under the
superintendence of the only tutor who
has the title of thih fu or "master."
The tutor rises from his chair as soon
as the imperial pupils enter, and ro
celvs from the latter a courtesy (ta
cWt'n), which is then returned in the
same form. The tutor takos the seat
of honor, and when the lesson is learned
the pupil brings up his book, deposits
it before his teacher, nnd returns to hts
seat to repeat the tusk by heart If the
lesson is not learned tho tutor requests
a eunuch in attendance to bring tho
ferule (Ming pan), and makes a show
of administering correction. But each
imperial pupil is accompanied by eight
fellow students (tnoan-tub) known in
the Manchu languaeo aiha-ha-chu, who
study the same books as their young
master. When it becomes necessary
to admonish tho latter, more seriously,
the ha-ha-ch't aro beaten with tho ferule
vicariously, but when tho imperial
pupil acquits himself well they are,
on tho other hand, commended or
rewarded. A recalcitcant and ob
stinate Prince is as the last resort
actually himself llogged, though
probably only nominally, by tho
teacher, or taken before tho Emperor,
who directs a eunuch to pinch his
cheeks (ch'ih pa-jon). The late Em
peror T'ung-chlh was frequently
tweaked in this way by order of tho
Empresses. The Chinese lesson occu
pies two hours; after this come the
Manchu and Mongol lessons in compo
sition, given by tho teachers who enjoy
the less honorable title of ttfu, and who
are obliged to meet their pupil at the
door and make the first obeisance.
Then come lessons in rarious spoken
languages Manchu, Mongol, T'angut
and in 'local Chinese dialects. After
these come courses of instruction in
foot and horse archery (ma-pu-ehien),
athletics, fencing, putting the stone,
etc., (kuig-tau-nhih), under the guid
ance of a class of instructors called
au-la. The whole of the young
Princes' day is taken up with mental
or physical exercises, and they retire
to rest at a very early hour. At suit
able Intervals their meals aro weighed
out for thum, and on no account aro
they allowed to indulge in the pleas
ures of the table. At the age of fifteen
they must marry- One year before a
wife issclccted for the heir apparent
ho is provided with a hand-maid taken
from the families of tho inner banners
(nci-ch'i ) of tho imperial household
(nci-uju-fu), who must be ono year
older than .himself, and prepare him
for a husband's duties. Oft his
accession this handmaid (lach iporko
ko) recolves the title of fei, which is
given to her alone among those in
mates of the harem who are selected
from tho inner banners. No one but
the Empress is allowed to pass tho
night with tho Emperor. Tho Em
peror sleeps with eight handmaids
(ch'anrlsai) sitting upon his bod, and
sixteen others (ta-yinq) underneath
the bed, all of them g'rls from the nc-wu-fu.
Their function is to keep wateh
over His Majesty, and they are not al
lowed to sneeze, cough, spit or utter
any sound. The movements of the
Emperor after awakening in the
morning are signalized by a clapping
of hands on the part of the eunuch on
fuard. Once a year on New Year's'
ay tho Emperor and Empress' pro
side at a grand banquet, the Empress
sitting on the Emperor's left hand.
This is the only occasion during the
year on which tho Emperor can see his
wives together and compare their re
spective merits. The Empress presents
articles of food (ke-shih) to tho eunuchs,
who receive it from her Majesty on
their knees, and tho Emperor performs
tho same politeness to tho women.
Hong Kong Daily Press.
m
SCENES IN IRELAND.
A Country Where the Stirs and Stripes
Are Oftener Seen Than the Union Jack.
The country scenes all over Ireland
are far different from those of Ameri
ca. The people have a strong brogue,
and though those of the cities dress the
same as we do, out in the oountry dis
tricts you find some of the quaint knee
breeches peasants whom you see in the
old Irish prints. In the cities, at the
railroad stations and in the hotels there
is a great display of brass buttons and
gaudy liveries. The railroad men all
wear bright colors, and the porters
havo caps with scarlet bands about
them, while their usual suit is of a yel
low velvoteen. Tho guards or the
conductors of the trains aro dressed in
blue and many buttons, and the gov
ernment officials connected with tho
post-oBico'mail service haro a striking
uniform. I met one of them at a sta
tion between the lakes of Killamey
and Dublin. He was a mail-dispatcher,
changing the malls at tho dopot to a
number of trains, examining tho so.Us
of the mail bags, and being responsible
for thorn during their stay at this sta
tion. He had been seventeen years in
the sorvico, and had three gold bands
on his coat, each of which indicated
live years' term of good behavior, and
each of which gave him twenty-live
cents a week extra pay.
Tho British soldiers are another set
of uniformed men whom you will find
everywhere in Ireland. They wear
guady red uniforms and tho cavalry
gallop through the streets of the cities
amid the scowls and curses of the Irish.
South and Central Ireland has no love
for England. The American flag Is
oftenor seen than the union jack, or
the flag of Great Britain, and in the
many processions 1 have seen I havo
yet to seo one British flag, while I find
the stars and stripes everywhere.
In the processions in Dublin bidding
good-by to Lord Aberdoen, there were
over one hundrod American flags car
ried, and not one singlo British ono.
I heard curses against England
frequently, and the Irish I met outside
of Belfast and the north made no bines
of expressing their- sentiments. Eng
land now keeps an, army In Iroland as
large as that of the whole United States,
It numbers, I am told, about thirty
thousand. Glasgow Cor, Cleveland (0.)
Leader.
s
Mrs. Emeriek, a well-known flowor
sellei ot Philadelphia, thinks that she
has good proof that she Is a dlroet de
scendant of John Nicholas Eraorlok, an
East Indian trader, who died years ago,
leaving minions of dollars; but, llko a
'sensible woman, she prefers selling
flowers to investing any of her money
in an effort to secure this mythical
fortune. A society has been formed by
the other hairs, t and ex-Goreruor
Cortln's Jaw partner is to bo asked to
take oharge 6f their interests. fAtfo
efcij&'a trtH.
CALLED HIS HOQS.
Why an Englishman Flaeea Wot the Lrast
Confidence In Arkansaw People.
"I would advise a man," satd an
Englishman who now has an interest
in Arkansaw, "not to place any de
pendence upon getttng directions from
the people of this blooming country,
you know."
"Havo you had any troubleP" some
one asked.
"No troublo at all, you know."
"Then why would you advtse any
ono not to place any confidence in the
people?"
"On account of thoir peculiarities,
don't you know. My brother and I,
having negotiated with a largo syndi
cate, bought an immenso timber tract.
We had never scon It, but we knew by
tho maps furnished us that it was of
great value. Shortly after we arrived
at Coldwood Station we concluded to
go out and look at tho lands which
they oallod by tho beastly name of
'Coon Trot.' After vainly trying to
hire a convoyanco wo started out on
horse-back. For sovnral days, beforo
the romance wore off, liko tho silvor
platincomingoffaspoon we ha la vory
good time, but gradually wo camo to a
part of tho country where tho peoplo
respected not the church nor fcarod
not tho devil. They seemed chnritablo
enough of every thing except Informa
tion. They would givo us anv thing
in the houso corn bread and bacon
but whon we asked the direction to any
place they would become strangely
curious; nnd I may hero remark that
those people, bravo and hospitable,
would rather glvo up their lust ptoce of
hog which is indeed very dear than
to givo up information. I don't know
why this is, and I havo asked sevoral
educated gentleman who were born
and reared in the State nnd none of
them could enlighten me.
"Ono evening, about the time that
tho sun was setting, wo stopped at a
cabin situated at tho foot of a ruggod.
pine-covered hilt. We soon discovered
a man, calling hogs, nt least I presume
so, for lean hogs ran nt the sound of his
melancholy voice. When we ap
nroaohed, tho man, a tall fellow clad
in brown clothes, placed a basket on
tho fence and regarding us curiously,
said:
" 'Helloa.'
"We said 'holloa,' and stopped to
see if ho would say any thing else, but
disregarding us he continued to repeat
his molancholy noise, a sort of sorrow
ful whoop, and would occasionally
throw corn from the basket. I thought
that he would certainly say something
protty soon, and of course quietly
waited, but he paid no attention to us.
I asked him a question, but taking up a
chunk and hitting a savngo-looking hog
that had just run up, he turned away
and addressed himsolf, in a language
which I could not understand, to sumo
pigs that had just rushed, with many
grunts and squeals, from a thicket.
" 'My friend,' said I, 'will you please
give me a few moments of your valu
able time?'
"He balancod an car of corn on the
top rail of the fence, kicked a 'shoat'
that nosed about his heels and replied:
" 'Whut did ycr say?'
" 'Can you give mo a few moments'
timo?'
" 'Reckon so; how much yer want?'
" 'I'll not detain you but a fow mo
ments. I am somewhat interested in
this country and would like to know
the direction to a placo called Wilson's
Ford, you know.'
" 'No, I don't know.'
" 'Yes, but I do,'
" 'That's all right, but you said I
knowed.'
" 'Well, then excuse mo. Do you
know any thing about Wilson's Ford?'
" 'Yas, I know that or follor ken git
ercross thar ef ther water ain't too
high.'
" 'Thank you, but do you know any
thing about tho lay of the land?'
"ins, know that it lays thar. Pig-o-o-o-
wee pig-o-o-weo. '
" 'Which direction shall I take from
here?'
" 'Any yer please. Pig-o-o-o-wee.'
" 'That is certainly very indefinite
My idea is to get there ns soon as pos
sible. Whither docs this road lead?'
" 'Way from hayar. Plg-o-o-o-weo.'
" 'But this other ono, I suppose,
leads somewhere, does it not?'
"'Yas, it does load somewhere."
" 'Where?'
" 'Somowhere elso. Plg-o-o-o-weo
pig-o-o-o '
" 'My friend, you are certainly a very
unsatisfactory man. i havo bought
some land ovor In that district and
would like very much to see it.'
" 'W'y'n't ver look at it, then?'
" 'Because I am not there'
"Then w'y'n't yer go tharP Pig-o-o-o-wee
nlg-o-o-o '
" 'I can t go there unless I know 'the
way. Shall! take this road?'
" 'Yas.'
'Will it lend mo thoro?'
" 'Hain't say as it will. Road kaln't
lead nobody lessen it's got er leadin'
lino, an' I don't b'lievo this 'un has.'
"'O, here, now, no foolishness;
where will this road leave me?'
" 'Loavoyou wharyou leavo lilt.'
" 'Doubtless you aro correct, but can
you not toll me which road to take?'
' 'Ho'pyorso'f. Pig-o-o-oweo pig-o-o-o
'
" I don't beliore you've got good
sense.'
' 'Mor'n you havo, fur you're lost
an' I ain't.'
" 'Are you going to give mo any
" 'PIg-o-o-o-woo pig-o-o-o ' and
I left htm. Now, it makes no difference
how completely I am lost, I never ask
information ot a man who is calling
hogs." Arkansaw Trave'er.
Why They Were Unanimous.
"How aro you and your wlfo coming
on? Do you quarrel as much as ever?"
asked a mutual friend of a Texas hus
band. "Just about the samo."
"Tell me, candidly, did you and your
wife ever agree about any thing? Were
you over a unit ou any subject?"
"Yos. once."
"Whon was that?"
"About three years ago the bouse
caught fire and wo wero unanimous on
getting out of tho houso as noon as pos
sible, but otherwise wo have novor
harmonized." Texas Lampoon.
Small boy to his parontal ancostor
"What is a gunwale, pa?" Parent to
small boy "A guuwale, my sop, is the
upper part of a ship's side." Small boy
"Haveyou'gotagunwale,pa?"rarent
"Certainly not, my child, why do you
asKr email ooy "'ir Deau was nere
last night. He didn't go at ten o'clock,
either. Sis' said she was afraid vou'd
'come home and make it lively for 'em,
out. si- .oeau saw ne guessed you
wouldn't come home and make any
trouble, as he saw you at a tnruiJo'
room" loaded to the gunwales. Wltftt
U4 he moanf"-t Paul Ofefe,
ABOUT ENGAGEMENTS.
Raw True Woman Should Look Ppon
This State or Probation.
Is it due to the lightness with which
so many vows are regarded nowadays,
and to the rlokleness of thoso who
make them, that "engagements" nnd
"engaged people" are so constantly
hold up as endless subjects for jokes of
all kinds? When wo think of a young
lady of our acquaintance who engaged
(?) herself to two young men nt onco
"just for fun" and deserted both for a
third, and of a young man who is en
gaged to a different lady each timo you
meet him, we are certainly amazed at
the facility with which some peoplo
can "get off with tho old lovo and on
with the new" nnd acknowledge that
tho joker have a right to be ns merciless
as they please. But to turn from these
light-hoarted and light-headed lovers
to those who take a more serious view
of the transition stage between tho
freedom of the unougaged anil tho
happy bondage of married love, let us
seo if an engagement is a'l a young
girl, who has romantic inclinations,
Fancios it must be? To begin with,
what a lot of croaking tho newly-engaged
girl has to listen to. After tho
llrst congratulations aro over, some
well-meaning friend remarks in a
dreary tono; "Well, dear, make tho
most of it, nil your troubles nro to come,
its tho happiest timo of your life, so
don't bo in a hurry to bring It to an
end." Perhaps another assures hor, as 1
once heard a young lady assun d,' that
"thoso things often fnll through, you
may break it off yut." Theso
gloomy predictions are no doubt
all eiy satisfactory to thoso
who make them, but to say tho
least thoy are not choering to tin poir
girl wlio'has to listen to them ngaln
and again t'll she begins to wondjr
why peoplo are so afraid that n iy ono
will bo too happy in a world which so
many do their best to make a veritable
"vale of tours." Perhaps hor engage
ment is of necessity a long one, then
she has tho pleasure of being constant
ly reminded of the fact by exclama
tions liko this: "What I nut married
yet? Why, you were cngagod ti year
ago!" Or, still worse, she must listen
to long tirades on tho undeslrability
of long engagements in general, whose
application is plainly meant for her
particular case. But theso little trials,
although real enough at tho time, are
nothing compared with tho greater
ones she may have to bear in the shape
of cold critical looks from hor tlnnce's
family and friends, who probably
think him "far too good for her," and
are apt to look upon her as an intruler,
at least, nt llrst, and who takoi care
that sho shall in some way have a
pretty good idea as to their opinions.
All theso external trials, perhaps
slightly different in different casus,
could bo cheerfully borne by the "hap-,
py girl" if it were not for the unseen
ones she can not speak of; her doubts,
her fears, her hopes, so apt to be dis
appointed, the feeling that is insepara
ble from any transition state of unset
tlodness and anxiety. All these would
fill volumes, which, however, would
not be so interesting to the reader as
the writer, which we are happy to
think no one has yot undertaken.
Enough has been said to show that
sometimes an engaged giri's "lot is
not a happy one," no matter how
much she is envied by her young
friends. But if she has a truo lovo and
respect.for the man into whoso hands
she has' given her happiness she will
be abVo to bear the trial and bo all the
bitter for the probation of "an' en
gagement" before entering on the
greater happiness of tnarriod life.
Cor. Montreal Witness.
LIVING WITHOUT EATING.
The Morel Experiment Becentlr Matte by
an Italian Gentlemen.
Considerable Interest has.been aroused
in the scientific world hero by a gentle
man named Giovanni Sued, who pro
fesses to have discovered a liquor, a
small quantity of which will enable a
man to fast for thirty days or eron'two
months at a timo. Ho has voluntarily
submitted himself to the surveillance
of a committee of vigilance at Milan,
some mombers of which will never
leavo him during the thirty days and
nights of his fast. As a mero feat of
endurance it will not equal that per
formed by tho famous Dr. Tanner, but
the circumstances of the case make it
far more interesting to the medical aud
scientific world, iunsrauch as Signer
Succl says that by the aid of his elixir
any one can do likewise. He lately'
fasted fourteen days under watoh at
Forli, and one of the most singular
points to be observed is that though ho
loses wolght, the ilosh taking ratuor a
mummified appearanco and the skin a
reddish-yellow tinge, while the pupils
of the eyes aro dilated, yet his muscu
lar force does not seoin to bo dimin
ished. Slgnor Succl is forty-fivo years old,
and until ton years ago was "employed
in a bank in Rome. In 1876 ho wont
to Constantinople, and thenco bogan iv
long series of travels in Africa and tho
East, which led, as ho affirm-, to his
discovery. He says ho made important
treaties with some native princes, and
socured concessions amongothers tho
Island of Joannah, which he wished to
code to tho Italian Government on his
return. No notlco was taken of his
repeated application to King and Min
isters, as his acoounts of his African
treaties were always accompanied by
descriptions of the merits of his won
derful elixir and ho was judged to ba
mad.
Ho was In faot, during ax short timo,
shut up in the mad-house in Rome, but
tho doctors were fain to admit that ho
showed no signs of montal aberration
and he was liberated. He has visited
both North and Sonth Africa, Arabia,
Nubia, South America and Mada
gascar. He declares that the herbs
from which his liquor is oxtracted 'grow
in Africa, but that they aro also to be
found in Italy.
A well-known Italian traveler with
whom I spoke on the subject is not dis
posed to pooh-pooh Sucol's pretentions
altogether, having, he said, known the
Poruvian Indians and the Malays (the
latter carrying burdens) to perform a
march of several days without food,
merely chewing and retaining in the
hollow pt the cheek a leaf which ther
gathered, in which they rolled a small
quantity of ashes and salt. At any
rate, it is here determined to sift the
matter thoroughly.
Sued swallowed sixty grammes ot his
liquid at the commencement ot his
fast and is to take nearly as much mo're
abont half way through. He also un
dertakes to swallow an emetlo potion
aad doses of Hunyadl Janos water, la
addition to the spring water whloh be,
will drink. He will also use a very
small quantity of camphorated oil as
an external erabrooatloa, MvmtQtri
London Standard,
THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD.
A union depot, 270 feet long, to
oost 9170,000, is bolng constructed at
Leavenworth.
A not-work of railroads Is to ba
built to conneot tho Blank Soa with tho
Persian Unit.
Government laborors now get
over-pay for all time thoy work over
eight hours a day. Washington Post.
The St. Paul Railroad Company
has let a contract for a cantilever
bridge at Kansas City, 1,800 feet long,
to cost $1,000,000.
A man may read law and bocome
a lawyer; he may study modlolno and
bo called a doctor; but if ho wants to
be a blacksmith ho must work at his
trade. N.O. Picayune.
According to recent experiments,
water of maximum density ovnporated
with steam at atmospheric pressure
(14.7 lbs. per square inch) oocuplos
1,041 times its former bulk.. Y.
Post.
Saratoga has a woman bill-poster,
who handles the broad sheets nnd the
broad paste brush with tho skill of an
export She is the widow of a former
bill-poster and continues It's business
with energy. Troy Times.
Sunday work may seem to bo gain,
bnt In the end it will not be, for in tho
order of nature tho day is assigned to
rest, and if it be not so used a privilege
is lost, and compensation will not bo
found. Chicago Standard.
Tho Southern cotton mills havo in
creased iu number in six years from
161 to 310, and in production from
816,387,598 to $30,76,2.50, or 88 per
cent. Thoy havo wcathorod sever
storms, resulting from a too rapid
growth, have soeured now markets, and
are now exporting goods.
The cotton and woolen mills of
Eastern Connecticut are about tho only
industries in the Stato In whloh opera
tives aro required to labor more than
ton hours a day, and in quito a number
of these the ten-hour system has been
adopted during the past few months.
Hartford Post.
The Industrial World (Chicago)
says that tho Importance of the coal
fields of New Zealand baoomes more
evident as they are opened, for they
appear to bo very extensive The San
Francisco mall steamers use this coal.
It contains 93.20 per cent, combustible
matter, 4.20 per cent water, aad 2.20
por cent. ash.
A new Frcnoh docoration has been
created. "Industrial Medals ot Honor"
aro to be conferred on those deserving
work-people who havo served ovor
thirty years in the same manufactory
or commercial establishment on French
soil. The medals are niado in gold,
silver and bronze, and bear on one sido
the effigy of tho Republic and on the
other tho inscription, "Honor and
Labor," with the recipient's name.
n m
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.
Why will people persist in asking
over and over again that stupid ques
tion, "What's in a name?" Why, let
ters, of course
Charleston certainly keeps a stiff
upper lip, but what it is particularly
anxious to do is to koep a stiff upper
crust Chicago Tribune.
"Faither, hae yo ever read that
poem ca'ed 'Strike tho lyre gently?' "
".no; rve neitner read nor seen it, but
I think whoever wrote It wad hao boon
noarer tho mark If he had said, 'Gi'e
him a guidsoun' thrashing.' " Prairie
Farmer.
Scene in hotel twonty-five years
hence. Guest to porter "Can you tell
mo what timo it is?" Porter "Yes,
sir. It's half-past twolvo. That'll cost
you fifty cents, please." Mereltant
Traveler.
Wise Matron "Yes, my son, I
earnestly hope you and Miss Blank
will make a matoh ot It; I liko her,
exceedingly." Her son "But MIrs
Blank is such a gigglor." "O. she will
get over that after she's married."
Omaha World.
"There are many temptations to
profanity besetting the unwary, and
particularly those of hasty temper. ' 'Do
you ever swear, young man?" "No,
sir, I don't," was tha reply. "I'm a
proof-reader. It's the other fellows
that do the swear'ng." N. T. Mail.
Young Woman "Mr. Algernon,
can you tell me the name of that Bul
garian Prince who has lately had so
much trouble?" Duda "Er let mo
.think." Young Woman "O.pray.don't
let me put you to so mucn trouble. "
Tid-Bits.
If the plural of goose is geese, tha
plural of moose should be moeso but
evory hunter who ever camped in tho
woods of Maine knows that it isn't.
Moose hasn't any plural. A fellow
thinks himself luoky if he sees one.
Cambridge Chronicle.
Tho reason the cranks are crowd
ing the Niagara Falls in suoh a lively
way is because of the statement that
tho falls will entlroly disappear at tho
end of twenty-two centuries. Thoy
want to get In their oxplolts before it is
too late. Detroit Free Press.
Maud "Ma, what kind of a blos
som is a gin-blossom? Is It liko a
daisy?" Materfamilias "What a silly
question! But why do you ask, Maud?"
Maud "'Cause I hoard Mr. Mugs say
to-day that pa had tho largest gin-blossom
in the ward, and it, was a daisy."
The Judge.
Baeloy "What's the matter, Pon
sonby?" Ponsonby "Got a bad cold,
in my head. It surprises me." "You)
mean it exasperates you." "No sur-
J irises. I wonder it didn't go to my
ungs. They say a cold always goes to
th,e weakost part." "So it does. Yet
you are surprised that it went to your
head. Dear me!" Philadelphia Call.
Conductor "Just my luck. Jack
pulled out ahead'of mo with four pairs
of spectacles aboard, and I haven't got
one.' Passenger "What do you want
spectaoled passengers for? Are they
lucky?" Conductor "Don't know
anything about that; but I've got three
plugged quarters to work off this trip,
and it's only near-slghtod people that
is taking 'em nowadays. Chicago Inter
Ocean.
Over the back yard fonoe: "I say,
do you know the bh f tlesses are going
to move tnis spring 1 "floi are tney,
though? Well, I am glad. They have
made the street a by-word." "Yes,
but then Mrs. Shlftloss has fallsn heir
to $45,000, and she has bought nn ole-
ant house." "O, I always liked her;
ut her young ones well, they're real
kind o' cunning after all."'. Y.
Graphic.
At breakfast he began to play with
the oruet stand. I tola him not to do
so, He persisted, and at last upset it
and spilled the rod pepper on the table
cloth. I said: "Now, Allan,, you wore
disobedient and upset the pepper cas
tor, and I should make tha punishmonh
fit tho crime by putting some of tho'
red pepper on your tongue." Ha
looked up like a tosh and askeuj
"Would the punishment be the same,
Sipa. If I upset tlw sugar bowl?",
afrirfftwd. '
(
A.
X
v
