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VESTERM KANSAS VGIILD H. 8. GIVLER, Publisher. WA-KEENEY, KANSAS A good epitaph Is all right la Its place, out n comes so uue. The woman with a past Is often the most eager to tackle a future. In a year Minister Wa will be able to continue his Interrogatory by cable. " The English language is to be taught In Mexican schools. Make way for Mexico. - . World-wide sympathy is expressed for Soukhobors In their efforts to Chris tianize Canada. " .That French movement for unlversa1 peace might first try its hand on tn chamber of deputies. " Exercise is great .to keep people warm. And It doesn't cost any more than it did last winter. It was indeed a brilliant society event in London when Capt. Tew and Miss Ward were made one. George Gould walks to and from his office every day. We always knew we resembled . George in our nabits. Lord Curzon has found King Solo mon's throne, and flatters himseli that it will prove to be a good fit. Mr. Carnegie's digestion Is reported to be impaired. Evidently he has been eating something besides Scotch oats. . Some men manage to consider them selves great by bequeathing their brains to certain Institutions of learn ing. But then, it is possible to lead a too strenuous life. A New York boy has played truant from school 108 times. Apostle Smoot is said to be very susceptible to the blandishments of the fair sex. Smoot is easily smitten no doubt. The Ohio man who advertises for a wife with money enough to offset his brains should apply at the nearest almshouse. But after all Sir Hiram Maxim is not the only foreign celebrity who has come to this country with the inten tion of flying high. King Alfonso has a cabinet crisis on his bands, but it will take some thing worse than that to , spoil his taste for cigarettes. The Britons whipped the Boers, but the ljtter are getting a terrible re venge They're all writing books and selling them to the English. I Newport has established an asylum for dogs and cats, and it is now in order for the dogs and cats to estab lish an asylum for some of their own ers. Payne Whitney has bought fifty ores at Manhanset, Long Island, as a site for a country seat. He evidently doesn't believe that ten acras is enough. May Yohe and Captain ' Strong are preparing to go upon the vaudeville stage. The vaudeville stage has much to answer for, but really it doesn't de serve this. Sunday newspapers may have to re fiuce their size on account of the scarcity of paper. If this is a blow at the comic supplement, let the fam Ina do its worst. A fire in a large Chicago brewery is said to have "damaged the stock." If this means that the beer was badly smoked it might be bottled and sold ja Scotch whisky. ' - A University of Michigan professor has discovered seven new poisons. This should put additional life into the growing infant industry of dis tributing candy by mail. The man who built the first apart ment house in New York in 1853 died this week. He lived to see 75 per cent of the people of the island living in apartments and swearing at the jan itor. If some of the stories told before the anthracite strike commission by the miners are true, the Almighty must have .forgotten something when he made out President Baer's divine commission. , If Brother Smoot Is already having a hard time dodging the brickbats of the purity league and bands of hope tt is evident that he will have to go to Washington in an armor-clad car if he is actually elected to the; senate. A German critic has, been compelled to pay J25 for the . luxury of saying that a certain actress moves as grace fully as a hippopotamus." We have known cases where the hippopotamus would have been the propor one to bring action. Great improvements are talked about in France; A, law abolishing all titles of nobility has been drawn up and now the fashionable ladies of Paris are proposing' to do away witt "the soup course at dinners because it makes their faces red. SOMK HI We outer and w wonder WhiI'B ahead; . -r. What well see, and bow we'll see When we're dead: It, . If It's worth the while, or worthless. Foul or fair; And we wonder how we'll know it.' When we're there. . ' , We ponder and we ponder What's to come; And of all the good about us We are dumb. Wiien we all might be enjoying What is here. We are guessing if the future's Full of fear. THE DEATH By CHAKLES (Copyright, 1903, tj Dally "The model who posed for that pic ture expired under the . finishing touches of the painter's -brush. ' No one ever imagined so realistic a death agony." The trained eye of the artist saw more in the painting than any of the crowd that stood spellbound before it. There was an indefatigable something about it which comp'elled a sensation of reverential awe in the breast of the average spectator, but the art in stinct immediately detected the cause. "It represents a tragedy," "he said half aloud as he shifted his position to one more favorable for a further and more critical inspection. It was the portrait of a beautiful woman in a semi-reclining pose against a mass of faintly outlined cushions. There was nothing in her shapely, well-rounded limbs to indi cate disease, nothing in the surround ings to manifest the approach of death, yet it was apparent, even to a novice, that the woman was dying. Her left arm. In the dark back ground, was pressed close along her body, while the right arm, in the fore ground, was flung out listlessly, the hand clutched tight as if to nerve her self up to the consummation of some supreme act which her will was bent upon committing. . The lower limbs appeared cold in the pallor of death, and one could al most see the dread shadows slowly creeping up toward the seat of life. Masses of raven hair, tumbling in dis order around her head, were dank with perspiration, and upon a clammy brow stood drops of sweat like clus ters of beads. The lips of a half-open mouth were colorless and cold, and through the film gathering over her eyes shone the flickering brightness of a soul about to leave its mortal tenement. The gaze of the eyes was on the line of vision ana ionowea the spectator whichever way he turned, with so pathetic a look of con centrated entreaty that more than one strong man turned away In de spairing helplessness, and feminine eyes filled with tears of sympathy. : Overspreading her pallid, death- shadowed countenance was a smile of ineffable content, as pure and joyous as that of a martyr who sees the heavens opening to receive her racked spirit and relieve her body from earth ly torture. Turning mechanically to his cata logue, the artist read: "The Death of Venus. P. Metcalf." "Can that be our little American, Put Metcalf?" he queried aloud in his surprise. "Our little Put and no other," whis pered a friend at his elbow, who add ed: "What do you now think of American genius, Paul?" "I take off my hat to it," replied Landelle, suiting the action to the words; "but I see a fearful sacrifice in its awakening." "You have interpreted the painting correctly," said Chavanne, "do you know tie story?" "How can I when I have been sketching in the land of the midnight sun for the past six months?" "Julie Coomans was ue model who posed for that painting, Paul," began Chavanne. "You remember her?" "Ah!" ejaculated Landelle, "I noticed something familiar, in the 'Do you love her so very much?" per sisted the girl, with dry lips. face, but the features ere . so glori fied that I could not realize its iden tity." "Shortly after you went away, Julie would not. pose for any of .us; the American Was the only one,, - you know. He- was particular about his iodels. By and by he wouldn't have anybody--but Julie. No--there was no attachment? at least on his part. Ha was engaged to a young lady in New York it seems, though - we did not know it at the time, and he was cold LOSOPHY. We worry and we worry Over fate. When we'll answer -that conundrum f Soon or late. What's the good to guess if It be Smooth or rough? What's the use? We'll ow the answer Boon enough. ....- We wonder and we wonder In the -dark. . - . And we can't, with all our guessing, Raise a spark. Let us. then, enjoy our living. Ere We flit And the future, let us make the ' Best of It. . Baltimore American.' OF VENUS. H. BOBINSON. Story Publishing Co.) I to every other woman. He wanted to become famous for her sake to make a bold stroke with a new subject." "Yes, I remember," interrupted Landelle, "it was the death of Venus, the title of this painting." " T will paint that subject or no oth er," he kept saying. 'Where will you get a model?' he was asked, but he did not know; he knew only one thing, which was, that he was going to rest his fame on that subject alone. Every day for two months, Julie posed for him, but he got no farther along than when he began his Venus wouldn't die, you know. He was more Kneeling before rubbing her face than kind to his model who could not come up to his concept; he sympa thized with her for her failure to re spond to his brush. , . He was so kind and gentle ah, yes, that is where models make a mistake. "Late one afternoon, Julie went home woebegone, and throwing her self upon a couch began to sob hysterically.- Her roommate drew the cause of the trouble out of her piecemeal. From her we learned it but after ward, Paul, after the the - sacrifice you have suspected." "It seems that the American, that afternoon, had thrown down his brush in despair, " 'It's no use, child, I can never paint my ideal with you for a model. You are growing lovelier every day. Instead of posing for the death of Venus, jou are . glorious model for the birth of love. See for yourself." " 'But can you not put in the proper colors to represent death?" she asked, with a timid look into his face, but he was unconscious of her gaze. " "Pshaw ! You do not comprehend, child?" he replied. 'The reality must be before the artist, or exist in his mind. , Looking at you destroys the reality, the concept. No, I must give it up and then give up all. " 'Does failure mean much to you?' queried the girl. "'Much?' echoed Metcalf. "it means everything I hold dear on earth. It means the loss of her I love, my promised wife, who expects me to suc ceed." : "'The woman you love your prom ised wife?" repeated-Julie, in a trem bling voice and paling lips, scarce comprehending. " "Certainly, my Charlotte. She lives in "New Ycrrk City, and we are to be married as soon as I shall have finished this picture. I have prom ised to complete it and she Is wait ing for me to keep my word." " 'Do you love her so very much?" persisted the girl with dry lips. " 'Child I would die for her sake. A. love weaker than that is nothing.' "Then you ' will be very unhappy should you fall? she said gently. , - " 'My whole life will be blighted.' answered Metcalf. , " 'Well, then, you shall be happy, said the girl, with a bright smile, and choking back a sob In her throat. 'You shall paint the death pf Venua from the reality. Nay do not look bo doubtful. - I have a plan. ' I am Inter ested in your success, for am I not the model? I never told you I was an actress. Yes, indeed, I hare studied many parts. Now, my plan is this: I will come to-morrow prepared to enact the role of a dying Venus, but yon will have to paint very fast, my friend. You will promise me that, for it will be a terrible strain upon me, you un derstand." ; "During that night Julie's compan ion awoke to 'find the girl kneeling by the window, gazing up at the bright stars. She was praying. This also, we learned afterward, Paul, always afterward, you notice. Her accents were broken, but this much - was heard: " 'Dear God, forgive me for what I mean to do. It is for his sake, and for the take of her across the water. - She Julie, lores him a&J he la I J L....4, .Za I he said tnat a love not worth dying for was nothing dear God, forgive me. . . ' "The next morning. Julie was eaSm and smiling. ' She made light of her trouble of the night before, and her roommate thought she had forgotten the cause of it This was the reason why we were not told, Paul. "Well, Julie posed, - and Metcalf painted fast, for the painting w completed as yon see it, about three in the afternoon. At that hour there was a commotion in the American's studio, and frantic calls for help.; We rushed In, and there was the Ameri can kneeling before Julie, ruboing ner face and trying to revive her from an apparent faint. We all thought, at first, that fatigue had overcome her, but I laid my hand upon her forehead and it was so cold I suspected worse. A quick examination and I arose with the remark: " 'This 3 a case for the police, mon sieur. And so it turned out to be. ."Julie had opened an artery in her' left arm, carefully concealing it In the heavy drapery, and . while the artist was painting her 'acting, she was slowly dying. Metcalf was so ab sorbed in painting her changing ex pressions, that he was not aware of anything extraordinary until he 'laid down his brush and danced for joy before the completed picture. "An American millionaire paid him half a million francs for the painting, agreeing to leave it on exhibition at the Salon for a reasonable time, and Put left immediately for the United States to marry his betrothed." - "THE DEAR OLD SLAVES." But Few of the Old Style, Faithful Negroes Now Left in Virginia. ' That is a very touching story which comes from Radford concerning ex Gov. Tyler's old servant, Lewis Armis- stead. When notified that he was free he went about his business though . nothing had happened. He was at home as a slave, and he did not propose to leave because he was free. He was a member of the fam ily and remained a member until death removed him to . his home up yonder. He was devoted to "Marse Jimmie" and his wife and children, and they in turn were devoted to him. In his strentgh he-served them faith fully and affectionately, and in his declining years they took care of him and made his life sweet. We said in Sunday's paper that there was never such humane slav ery as negro slavery in the South, and here is a beautiful illustration. There was very little slavery about it. It was a family service that the slaves rendered and they received for their service not only food and raiment and shelter, but protection and the kind est attention in health and sickness. There are few of the dear old slaves left, and it grieves us as we see them pass away. Gov. Tyler's Lewis was a type of the -old Virginia negro gentleman. It was a noble type; the old Virginia negro gentleman was every inch a man. He had a strong physique; he had a stout heart; his impulses were generous; his disposi tion was amiable; his manners were perfect. God bless his memory. We only wish that the type were pre served in the new generation of negroes. Richmond (Va.) Times. REVERSED ORDER OF THINGS. Son's Pants Are Confiscated to Fit the Father. State Senator Bernard F. Martin was reminded by the story of The Man in the Street last Sunday about the boy of twelve, with pants marked sixteen, of the following: "I had a constituent, Wi'egand by name, a little, thin, wisp of mankind, who was the father of four big girls and one small boy. Wiegand's in come was small, and to make ends meet the father's trousers had to be cut down to fit his boy. This work the lad's sisters did,although they did not relish the task. When the boy grew so tall as to have reached the long-trousers stage, the -event was celebrated by the purchase of a brand new pair with money the lad had earned. After awhile the boy bought Another pair for himself. At this pe riod his sisters- noticed the father's only trousers were shabby, so they confiscated the boy's first long-legged pair and gave" them to Wiegacd, senior. When the old man appeared In. them, one of the girls said to the others: "'Ain't it nice? We won't 'have to do any altering for awhile, for Benny's pants will now fit papa." " New York Times. ' - - ' - The Stream of Life. O stream descending to the sea. Thy mossy banks between, . The flow'rets blow, the grasses grow. The leafy trees are green. In garden plots the children play. The fields the" laborers till. And houses stand on either hand. And thou descend est still. O life descending into death, Our waking eyes behold ; 1 Parent and friend, thy lapse attend, -- Companions young and old. " Strong purposes our minds possess. Our hearts' affections fill; We toil and earn : we seek .and learn. And thou descendest still. O end to which our currents tend. . Inevitable sea, -To -which we flow, what do we know, - What shall we gaese of thee? - ' ' A. roar we hear upon thy shore, ". As we our course fulfill; t-- - : Scarce We divine a sun Will shine' ' . And be above us still. -. . i - Arthur Hugh Clough. A girl is justifiable in lying about her age; but not in lying about the house while her mother does the disher Tree J hat Foretells Death Superstition Connects Old Yew with For tunes of the Ancient English House of Car narvon Now Bound with Chains. - (Special Correspondence.) N Bretby ,Park, one of the seats of the English Earls of Carnarvon, an old yew stands - in chains. Never , was criminal ironed like this tree. - Its limbs are bound round with great links s and cables, and links and cables bind its trunk as well. Hence it gives forth, when the wind blows, the strangest and most dismal clanking. - The tree is called the Carnarvon yew, and it is in credulous submission to an old superstitition that a Carnar von . lately enchained it. The super stition is that when a limb of the tree falls to the ground a member of the Carnarvon family dies, and at" Carnar von castle, in Carnarvon, Wales; at Highclere castle, in Newbury; at Pis ton Park, in Dulverton, and at Bretby Park, In Burton-on-Trent these are Carnarvon estates the superstition is believed The Carnarvon s and their people tell of seven authenticated cases where the old legend was borne out by fact, and that Is why they have now chained their, yew tree's limbs to its trunk chained them very cunningly, so that the stout trunk carries nearly all their weight, and it will be scarce ly possible in the future for a branch either" to fall or to be blown down. Thus the Earls of Carnarvon think they will cheat death. Thus is a me dieval superstition revived in modern England. , The Carnarvons are a rich, an an cient, and a noted family. George Ed ward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, the present earl, owns 3,000 acres, is the patron of thirteen livings, and has five country seats besides his town house at No. 13 Berkeley square, Lon don. . The name Carnarvon means "Fort opposite Mona," and Carnarvon cas tle, begun by Edward II., in 1223, is the oldest and most, imposing fortress in Wales: It occupies the entire west end of the old town of Carnarvon; it is built throughout of cut stone; Its walls are eight feet thick, and here, in the Eagle tower, the first Prince of Wales was born. CARNARVON The1 Karl of Carnarvon who chained the linibs of the Carnarvon yew was a scholar, a poet and a statesman. He it was who created the Dominion of Canada, carrying through the Cana dian bill in 1867, when he was colonial minister. His name was Henry Howard Moly neux Herbert. He was born in 183L and he died in 1890. Educated at Eton and at Oxford, he entered the House .of Lords, on' attaining his majority, and he was under, secretary of state for the colonies from 1857 to 1859, sec retary of state from 1866 to 1867 and from 1874 to 1878, and lord lieutenant of Ireland from 1885 to 1887. He made admirable translations of the "Aga memnon" of Aeschylus and of the "Odyssey" of Homer; he edited the "Letters of Lord Chesterfield" (his an cestor), and he was the author of a number of brilliant essays on histori cal subjects. Such a man as this, it if evident, must have put a great deal of faith in The Old Yew Tree. a superstition before he would so far yield to it as- to chain np the limbs of t tree. -What, then. were the facts which made this superstition seem trurt to Lord Carnarvon's Intelligent and cultivated mind? What tradition says they were, the following narra tive tells briefly: . - j.- In October, 1806, Henry Herbert, Earl of Carnarvon, drove in his coach - ', " ' ' ' . ' " 1 . 1, . - i . with his family - from London to his seat at Bretby Park, Burton-on-Trent. On the night of his arrival he retired early, a little tired from .the long 'jour ney, but -otherwise In quite good L health. . There was a great storm that night, with hail, and a strong wind blowing out of the west: In the morning, the earl did not ring at the usual time for his man servant. An hour passed, and still he did not ring. They knocked at his door. He did not answer. They- burst open the door. The Earl of Car narvon lay dead in his bed. He had been dead, the physician said, eight hours, and, eight hours be fore, precisely, a keeper, pacing the park for poachers, had seen a limb blow down from the Carnarvon yew. Henry George Herbert, the next earl, died at Highclere castle, in Newbury, in 1833. He had been ill for some weeks of a fever, but his illness was not thought to be serious. His old nurse, Mary Shaw, a woman of 69 years, was housekeeper, at this time, of Bretby Park, and on the morning of June 19 she saw one of the heaviest boughs of the Carnarvon yew bend slowly and fall with a crash to the ground.- "The master," she said, "is .dead. CASTLE. Something tells me that ne died when that limb fell." And there came, a day. later,; a let ter t to the servants at Bretby Park: which said that Lord Carnarvon's ill ness had taken a turn for the worse on June 18, and on the morning of June 19 he had died. One of the most - beautiful of the -Countesses of Carnarvon was a daugh ter of Lord Henry Howard, and a granddaughter of the Duke of Norfolk. Her death wa3 sudden. It was thought that she died of heart trouble, brought on by shock. But the story is that on an August evening In 1876 she stood at one of the drawing room windows of Bretby Park, watching the passage of a violent rain and thunder storm, when there came a blinding flash of" lightning, and Lady " Carnarvon shrieked and fell dead to the floor. That same lightning flash tore from the Carnarvon vew one nf ita tnnmnsr-. branches.' Besides these, there are four other- Carnarvon that are said to have been coincident with the falling or branches from the Carnarvon yew, but -they are neither such well authenti cated nor- such striking cases as the three recounted here. , , . These three may have been mere chance medley, perhaps they might all be proved, on careful scientific investi gation, to have not .a leg to stand on; but the fact remains- that the Carnar von yew in Bretby Park has all its limbs held up, with iron chains and cables, and it was so intelligent a man as the late earl the -translator of the "Odyssey," the creatorof the Dominion of" Canada who- put these chains and cables there. A Patriotic Mexican. Pedro Alvarado of Parrai, Mexico, said to be wprth $40,000,000," has offer- -ed his entire fortune to the poern ment of the republic, the money to be used in liquidating a nart of h national, debt, which now amounts-to aoout tour times the amount named. ' Senor . Alvaraoo' pmbins ttm wealth came ' from mines title to which was given Mm by the govern ment and that therefort he can well afford to gratify his desire. The gov ernment has declined his offer.