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ASSASS] Copyright In the T'nlted State* awl Great Britain by Curtis* Ilrown. All High Strictly Reserved. WARSAW. Poland, September 28. 1906. F late the prevailing distress in U Russia and the fact that the revolutionary parties all employ ruffians to perform deeds of violence have Increased to an alarming extent ti e league of thugs and terrorists that has become known far Rnd wide as the "Black Hundred." No one is safe from Its members, and their success recently has toecome Almost phenomenal. Not only are these wretches employed by the Russian authorities in different localities to begin the Jewish massacres, which from time to time horrify the civilized World, but they also break Into private houses ati 1 under the name of some political party ioot the rooms of any valuables and money they may tlnd there. These attacks e neraUy happen In broad daylight, us shooting Is then an easier matter, and if the police should by any chance interfere the large open gateways of the houses make escape almost a crrtainty, whereas the "Brami," as tins, gateways are called, are closed at 10 o'clock at night. The news columns of the Russian papers are full of such attacks, of which twenty, thirty and sometimes even forty and fifty take place daily in the large towns. So confident have these bands of ruffians grown. so rarely arc any of them arrested, tint they literally hold the large centers under their rule. Nohodv tries to resist t' em. nobody refuses to open the door when they ring. for they have cast the worst sjit.ll of all over the quiet citizens of Russia?the spell of terror. Sometimes two of the "Black Hundred" manage to terrorize a whole house. They go up to t! e front door, ring the hell and ask to see the master on "business." The master comes and is startled by having a ] revolver phe J against his head, with the | request to give up the keys of his Safe. If | he protests or struggles to free himself | lie i- promptly shot; If be comes into their presence wth a revolver in his band he is Si ot at before lie gets up to them, for one of the characteristics of the Blank Hundred is that they never hesitate about t.ikint; a human life, be it man's, woman's or child's. Their victims, on the contrary, Jiesitate: thus the advantage of. the bandit over the ordinary citizen. n * * The "Black Hundred" lately have turned I their attention to the people who send money to the banks. A couple of men will enter the courtyard of a house In which wrap large office or shop is situated, cliat with the house guardian or tlie servants, treat them t<> some vodka and learn when the money is taken and by whom. The per^ in to whom the task is Intrusted Is then clos.ly watched, and on going Into the street lie Is followed. If he happens to have the money with him the suspicion that he Is being shadowed may cross his mind, but he has no other choice but to go on. Within a short distance of the bank pome ten or twelve people fall upon him. fine pins his hands behind his back, while the others, drawing out their revolvers, cry "Silence!" and rifle his pockets till they find the money. If he happens to shout for 1 elp he will probably get killed, for nobody will go to the rescue. On the contrary, the pagsersby who see his plight hastily cross to the other side of the street and make off from the scene of the outrage as fast as their legs can carry them. There will be a sentry at the bank, but none of the spectators will dare to tell them of what is happening a few yards away for fear of "revenge" at the hands of the Black Hundred. Another habit of these ruffians Is to go JEROME HAS HIS ] WAGNERISTIC ! i Copvrieht, 190?5. by Jerome K. Jerome.) THE argument of the late Herr Wagner was that grand opera? the mu^le-drama, as he called It?Included and therefore did away with the necessity for all oUi-v arts. Music In all its brancliea, of Course, It provides. So much I will concede to the late Herr Wagner. There are times. 1 confess, when my musical yearnings might shock the late Herr Wagner?times when I feel unequal to following three distinct themes at one and the same instant. "Liaten," whispers the Wagnerian enthusiast to me, "the cornet has now the Brunehild motive." It seems to me in my then State of depravity as if the cornet had even more than this the matter with him. "The eoond violins," continues the Wagnerian enthusiast, "are carrying on the Wotan theme." That they are "carrying on" goea without saying; the players' faces are streaming with perspiration. "The brass." explains my friend?his object Is to cultivate my ear?"is accompanying the singers." I should have said drowning them. * ? There are occasions when I can rave about Wagner with the b?wt of tbem. Hlghclass moods come to all of us. The difference between the really class man and us commonplace workaday men Is the difference between, say, the eagle and the barnyard chicken. I am the barnyard chicken. I have my wings. There are ecstatic moments when I feel I want to ttptirn the sordid earth and soar into the realms of art. I do fly a little, but my body Is heavy, and 1 only get as far as Ihe fence. After awhile I find it lonesome Bitting on the fence, and I 1iop down again ttmong my fellows. Listening to Wagner during such temporary dlistinic mood my sense of fair play Is outraged. A lone, | lorn woman stands upon the stage trying i to make herself heard. She has to do this I sort of thing for her living?maybe an in- | valid mother, younger brothers and sisters ore dependent upon her. One 'hundred and forty men. all armed with powerful Instruments, well organized and most of them looking well fed, combine to make it Impossible for a single note of that poor woman'* voice to be heard above their din. * * * I sec her standing there, opening and hutting her mouth, getting redder and redder in the face. She is singing, one feels sure of it. One could hear her if only those 140 men would ease up for a minute. She makes one mighty, supreme effort; above the banging of the drums, the blare of tho trumpets, the shrieking of the strings, that last despairing note is distinctly heard. She has won, but the gsfr&i YOU DON'T WANT A HEAVY WOMAN HANGING ON YOUR NECK. victory has cost her dear. She sinks down fainting on the stage and Is carried off by supers. Chivalrous Indignation has made It difficult for me to keep my seat watching the unequal contest. My Instinct was to leap the barrier, hurl the bald-headed cliief of her enemies from his high chair and lay about me with the trombone or the clarionet?whichever might have come the easier to my snatch. ''You cowardly [NATIOI ?* '^''***^ ^^B2hk M^yu - ._ jgfcfiL * v*-S^ ePaST* pSSaBfflgfe^'^^^^WW^ *??? ' ?gR6$$ c^^E^^ERSQHBBuqS^HK WSSBBUK^^m' ' ^ss^)iisr?5 up to a man or woman In the street represent themselves as artisans out of work, a.sk for money, and when It is refused take purse and watch by force. The victims in such cases think themselves lucky if they do not get a knife run Into their bodies into the bargain, as the younger members of the Hundreds are fond of practicing with stilettoes In this way. In fact, there is now a tendency to substitute the knife for the revolver in street attacks, as no noise is made and the victim does not feel the cut at first: thus the assailant is given time to escape. Another favorite way of killing a man in the street is for the assassin to catch hold of the first woman who falls in his way, link liis right arm through her left and fire at his victim. The woman, who has not had time to realize what has happened, runs off screaming o 11 ? _ a n j i j| or laus; a crowa cuuecm ruuuu xiei auu the asu.issin's victim, while the perpetrator of the crime escapes scot free. * * * Banks are closely watched Inside as well as out and when a woman Is seen to take out a large sum of money a man follows her Into the street and says, "Allow me to take you home, madam. The times are so troublous that you should not walk about alone." If she agrees, ha will walk a little way with her, and be joined by another friend at a short distance, when both will enter the house with her and rob her of her money. If she refuse? to be "taken home," a knife thrust Is the result, after which the money Is snatched from her. It rarely happens that a thief of this kind Is caught, for most people prefer to give him a wide berth when they see him running, for fear he should Are off a revolver on his way. But the Black Hundred does not stop here; It can be "engaged." as It were, for acts of revenge. In some of the large towns In Russia there are offices In which _ . FLING AT STAGE MANNERS lot of bullies," I have wanted to cry, "are you not ashamed of yourselves? A 140 of you against one, and that one a still beautiful and. comparatively speaking, youngish lady. Be quiet for a moment, can't you, and give the poor girl a cfoance." m * * A lady of my acquaintance says that Bitting out a Wagnerian opera seems to her like listening to a singer accompanied by four orchestras playing different tunes at the same time. As I have said, there are times -when Wagner carries me along with lilm, when I exult in the crash and whirl of fils contending harmonies, but, alas, there are thoee other moods?those afterdinner moods?when my desire Is for something; distinctly resembling a tune! Still, there are other composers of grand opera besides Wagner. X grant, with the late Herr Wagner, that so far as music la concerned opera can supply us with all we can need. * * But It was also Wagner's argument that grand opera could supply us with acting, and there I am compelled to disagree with him. Wagner thought that the etrt? of acting and singing could be combined. X have seen artists the great man had trained himself. As singers they left nothing to be desired, but the acting in grand opera has liCYCi /cv 1UIIIICMCU inc. ?t aglici HCV?51 i succeeded in avoiding the operatic convention. and nobody else ever will. When the operatic lover meets his sweetheart lie puts her In a corner and, turning his back upon her, comes down to the footlights ftnd tells the audience how he adores her. When he has finished he, in ills turn, retires into the corner, and she comes down and tells the audience that she Is simply mad about him. Overcome with Joy at finding she really cares for htm. lie comes down "right" and says that this is the happiest moment of his left, and she stands "left." twelve feet away from him. and has the presentiment that all this sort of thing is much too good to last. They go off together backward, side by side. If there is any lovemaklng, such as I understand by the term, It Is done "off." * * * rnis is not my idea or acting, but I do not see how you are going; to substitute for It anything more natural. When you are singing at the top of your voice you don't want a heavy woman hanging around your neck. When you are killing a man and warbling about It at the same time you don't want him fooling around you defending himself. You want him to have a little reasonable patience and to wait in his proper place till you have finished telling him. or, rather, telling the crowd, how much you hate and despise him. When the proper time comes?and if he Is where you expect to Had him while thinking of your upper C?you will hit him lightly on the shoulder with your sword, and then he can die to his own particular tune. If you have been severely wounded in battle or In any sort of a row and have got to sing a long ballad before you finally expire, you don't want to have to think how a man would really behave who knew he had only a few minutes to live and was feeling had about It. The chances are that he would not want to sing at all. The woman who really lived him would not encourage him to sing. She would want him to keep qul?t while she moved herself about a bit. In case there was anything that could be done for him. If a bloodthirsty mob Is climbing the stalrg after you. you do not want to stand upright with your arms stretched out a good eighteen inches from that door while you gu over at some length the varied Incidents leading up to the annoyance. If your desire were to act naturally you would push against that door for all you were worth and yell for somebody to bring you a chest of drawers and a bedstead?things like that, to pile up against It. If you were a kins and were giving a party you would not want your guests to fix you up at the other end of the room and leave you there, with nobody to talk to but your own wife, while they turned their backs upon you and had a long and complicated dance all to themselves. You would want to be In It; you would want to let them know that you were king. In acting all these little points have to be considered. In opera everything is rightly sacrificed to musical necessity. I have seen the young, enthusiastic opora singer who thought that he or she could act and sing at the ttuna time. The experienced artist takes the center of th? stage and husbands MS BY jM . <* "^' * s?<Y; ^i'' ! J ?: :?;' ^JMKSairi'^ .in nWi 'iMffl BBS one can. by paying various sums, according to tne difficulty of the deed, hire men to kill or Injure any person he may name. It Is, In fact, only necessary to enter any of the pot-houses In the lower quarters of the towns to find an unlimited number of ruffians, armed with knives or revolvers, and ready for any deed of violence for a fixed sum of money or a share of the booty. Suppose a man does not pay his rent for ma resources. v> nemer no is supposed 10 be Indignant because somebody has killed his mother or cheerful because he Is going out to fight his country's foes, who are only waiting till he has finished singing before attacking the town, he leaves it to the composer to make clear. * * Also it was Herr Wagner's Idea that the back cloth would leave the opera goer indifferent to the picture gallery. The castle on the rock, accessible only by balloon, In which every window llghta up simultaneously and instantaneously one minute after sunset, while the full moon is rushing up the sky at the pace of a champion comet, that wonderful sea that suddenly opens and swallows up the ship, those snow-clad mountains, over which the shadow of the hero passes like a threatened^ it y-v*tn AATTT T\ TTC A D XT TT"T> TP f urtt wui~au niuin iluav . ? MEN WOULD EASE UP. lng cloud, the grand old chateau, trembling In the wind?what need, will ask the operagoer of the future, of your Turners and your Corota, when for prices ranging from a shilling upward we can have a dozen pictures such as these rolled up and down before us every evening? But perhaps the most daring hope of all was the dream that came to Herr Wagner that his opera singers, his grouped choruses, would eventually satisfy the craving of the public for high-class statuary. * * * I am not Quite sure the general public does care much for statuary. I do not know whether the Idea has ever occurred to the anarchist, but ^vere I myself organizing secret committee meetings for unholy nnrnoses I should Invite my comrades to meet in that section of the local museum devoted to statuary. I can conceive of no place where we should be freer from prying eyes and listening ears. A select few, however, do appreciate statuary, and such, I am Inclined to think, will not be weaned from their passion by the contemplation of the opera singer in his or her various quaint costumes. And even if the tenor always satisfied our ideal of Apollo and ine soprano were always a* sylph like as she is described in the libretto, eren then I should doubt the average operatic chorus being regarded by the connoisseur as a cheap and pleasant substitute for a bas-relief from the Elgin marbles. The great thing required of the operatic chorus Is experience. The young and giddy pated the chorus master has no use for. The sober, honest, Industrious lady or gentleman with ? knowledge of music Is very properly hi* ideal. ? * * The chorus always fascinate* me. I watch It while It is on the stage In preference to following the principals. What I admire about it chiefly is Its unity. The whole village dresses alike. In wicked worldly villages there Is a rivalry, a competition, leading to heartburn and jealousy. One lady comes out suddenly on, say, a bank holiday in a fetching blue that conquers every mala heart. Next holiday her rival cuts her out with a green hat. In the operatic village It muat be that the girls gather together beforehand to arrange this thing. There is probably a meeting called. "The dear count's wedding," announces tho chairwoman, "you will be all pleased to hear, has been tlxed for the 11th, at 11 o'clock in the morning. The entire village will be assembled at 10:80 to await the return of the bridal cortege from the church and offer its felicitations. Married ladles wit', of course, oome accompanied by their husbands. Unmarried ladies must each bring a male partner as near their own height as possible. Fortunately In RUSSIA flfl H - m: y t?^jK|M?SB m ^9 H ttPy^B&^B&KfsBti^^w^^^^^^B tm vSB^:;' wHBIy?i. a year or two and his landlord threatens to eviot him, he will, If he la unscrupulous, engage five or six ruffians to go to the landlord with revolvers cocked and make him promise not to send his troublesome tenant away. This kind of terrorism is now practiced to such an extent, especially In the Polish towns, that the landlord is lucky Indeed who gets even a small part of his rents or can evict a tenant without having his property damaged. The i thlg Tillage the number of males is exactly equal to that of females, so that uniformity can be maintained. The children will organize themselves Into an Independent body and will group themselves picturesquely. * * * "It has been thought advisable," continues the chairwoman, "for reasons that I need not enter Into here, that the village should meet the dear count and his bride at some spot not too far removed from the local ale house. The costume to be worn , by the ladies will oonslst of a short pink skirt terminating at the knee and ornamented with festoons of flowers; above will be worn a bolero In mauve silk, without sleeves, and cut decollete. The shoes should be of yellow satin over flesh colored stockings. Ladles who are 'out' will wear pearl necklaces and a slmplp device in emeralds to decorate the hair. Thank God, we can all of us afford It, and provided the weather , holds up and nothing unexpected happens? he Is not what I call a lucky man, our uuuni, ana 11 is always as well to be prepared for possibilities?well, I think we may look forward to a really pleasant day." | It cannot be done, Herr Wagner, believe ] me. You cannot substitute the music j drama for all the arts combined. The ob- < ject to be aimed at by the wise composer shouid be to make us. while listening to his music, forgetful of all remaining artls- , tic considerations. JEROME K. JEROME. Astonishing Story Of Stolen Millions Special Correspondence of The 8t?r. BERNE, Switzerland, September 29, 1906. EVER since the star of Madame Humbert rose and set an undeniable glamour has attached to the fabulous "heritage," and to Its mythical "hundred , millions." The notorious Therese has found numerous Imitators, and now there has arisen In Switzerland a case which, in some of its features, is scarcely less puzzling than that of the once irresistible "coffre fort." In one respect th? Swiss Inventor, either by dint of finer quality or better luck, has altogether outclassed madame, seeing that his fable?if fable it be?has by long persistence come to acquire some of the status , of "romance founded on fact," and has become almost venerable by a tradition of , sixty-six years of litigation. Viewed with thft pva r>f misnfoinn nna mav wonder whether this amaalng story from Switzerland does not really throw some light upon the Humbert fraud, reducing It ) to the grade of a merely clever adaptation, j The case has just been heard before the civil tribunal of first Instance of the city of Basle, of which the municipality was sued by a certain Herr Weber of Munchensteln 1 for the sum of twenty million dollars. 1 His case Is that In 1832 one Johann Peter Thomann, a planter In I^ujan, South America, died, leaving a fortune of the immense i sum named. By a will properly drawn and ] executed he lefP the whole amount, in the absence of direct descendants, to collateral relatives In the two half cantons of Basle. < This will-. It 1b alleged, was duly forwarded ] by the South American authorities to Basle, i aa also was the money?all In gold, and ] packed In thirteen huge chests, which are ] stated to have been stored in the cellars of i the municipal buildings. Herr Weber claims that his wife Is the direct descendant of on* < a# Via At>!oHna!i '*An11o*aw>la '' v? kttv vttQiiiai v> i v t u t o \ * I * * i It U at this point that the marvelous begin* to appear. Without mincing matters ' the astounding charge Is made, not only that the councillors of the 1832 period suppressed the will and divided among themselves the whole of the treasure, which became the bases upon which were built some of the largest fortunes In the canton, but that poison and other forms of murder were used for getting rid of persons capable of throwing light upon the facts. As might be expected, the case of the municipal council Is that the story is a fable from beginning to end; that after palnBtaklng inquiry nothing can be found to show tllit Herr Thomann ever existed; that there us absolutely no trace or record of his will, and still ;?sk, If less be possible, of the thirteen chests filled with treasure. xu?) I'uiuu; aiuiuveo am a. uim.uk as lo tlie 1 case, which dates back to the conflict which ended In the separation of the urban from the rural part of the canton. For Herr Weber It was complained that ' he had not been aHowed to cite a witness who would have testified to the somewhat i N BLA |9H||^H9MKj^H. JHHHH scenes which have been and still are be Ing enacted in warsaw aione unaer sucn circumstances appear Incredible to those who have not seen them. These scenes are not confined to the slums of the town, for perhaps the most daring act of revenge perpetrated during the current year took place In the best street In Warsaw, and In a good restaurant. The keeper of this place had not paid any rent since he came Into the house. At nebulous fact that he had once met an American who was familiar with th? particulars of the Thom&nn bequest. Brushing these and similar pleas aside, the court, taking note of the damaging circumstance that Herr Weber had two years ago been declared Irresponsible for his actions, found that there was no case to give judgment upon, and awarded costs to the municipalIty. * * But this by no means puis an ena to tne story or to Its complications, which promise yet to afford much entertainment. Though Sectored a lunatic by one court, Herr WebeT appears to be under no disability for appealing to another. Indeed, counsel for the city seemed to point out the way to further litigation by suggestion that the ground of action, if any exists, is against the rural canton. ^ Anyway, Herr Weber has already taken steps for keeping the ball rolling In the higher courts, even to the federal tribunal If necessary. He announces his Intention of producing, among other witnesses, the grandson of a man who was coachman to sne of the cantonal councillors of 1832. This witness will swear that his grandfather, on his deathbed, revealed to him, as a deep secret, Chat he had once seen some employes of the cantonal council of state deposit In his master'* granary a large chest which waa later found; to be fuil of American gold, and that for a sum of money he was sworn to secrecy which until at the point of death he had never violated. But perhaps the strangest part of this extraordinary history, and one which proves, at least, that a legal fable can die as hard a death In the Alps as elsewhere, la that It has already been made the subject of three actions at law. The first of these was as long since as 1841, when a certain Herr Kolr*en, claiming to be a "collateral," sued the municipality for his Share of the "fortune." He was non4tuited, and thereupon began such a campaign of defamation against the authorities, whom he denounced as brigands and assassins, that a criminal prosecution resulted in his being sentenced to a term of Imprisonment. Another claimant appeared in 1830, and a third in 1860. To Judge by present Indications, there Is considerable life In the story yet. The Paris Boulevards. From tbe London Standard. When a Parisian talks of walking up or flown the boulevards he does not mean any boulevard; he means those which ile In a continuous line from the Madeleine, or perhaps only from the Cafe de la Palx to, say, the Taverne Brebant?that Is, less than a mile and a half through the heart of Paris, past the terraces of countless cafes and the gleaming windows of shops. It must not be supposed because the boulevards have changed, because the true boulevardler oo longer exists, that therefore they mean nothing to Paris. Very likely they mean more; ror certainly they are more crowded than ever, only they mean something different. The cafes were cluba, although club life was unknown In France, and Is still very little known. A man nearly always went to the same cafe, where he was sure 3f meeting his friends; he might leave his | pipe there and it was hung on the wal> like i private billiard cue; he would have his letters sent there, and In time he would procure a prescriptive right to a particular seat. Naturally, people of common interests foregathered at the same cafe, and thus it same about that there was a cafe for men ?f letters, another for poMtlclans, another for threatrlcal people, another for soldiers, mother for sailors But a boulevard which no longer knows rortonl has Indeed ceased to be a club in srder to be an international highway. It was at Tortont that that type of the boulevardier, Aurellan SchoH, used to Invent the mots which the next day would be all over Paris. Offenbach, Mellhac, Alfred Stevens, the painter, who has Just died, were of the sompany; men like Gounod and Dumas file If they did not take a turn up and down the t>oulevards at least once a day felt Hke in Englishman who has missed his bath. rhe Cafe de Huade was used by aotors and ictresses. No one went to the theater la evening clothes except to the opera and the b'rancals on subscription nights. There are two reasons probably for the change in all theso practices. One Is the Increase In wealth, and therefore In the outward and visible expression of It, and the other is the .mprovement in the means and speed of runaport. _j? Judges and Criticism. S"rom tlie Uwidon L?w Clerk. No body of men needs a more unsparing criticism than does the Judiciary. CK HU g jj J the end of a year and a half the landlord determined to have his furniture seized, and called In the bailiffs for the purpose The tenant wrote several threatening letters, of which, however, the landlord took no notice. Before the date tlxed for the sale of his tenant's effects he was obliged to go abroad, but left the case In charge of a young lawyer wno had his power of attorney. When the day arrived a band of ruffians called upon the lawyer, telling him that he would be shot if the sale took Elace; the bailiff was also threateneu and oth gave in, satisfying themselves with getting an eviction order out against the restaurant keeper. The evening had begun to close in before the order was forthcoming. and the tenant spent the day in threatening the lawyer and the bailiff. When the order was ready the bailiff, accompanied by the lawyer, went to the restaurant to shut up the premises and turn out the tenant. Both had revolvers put to their heads as soon as they reached the threshold, for the res taurant was crowded with ruffians who had been brought there to terrify them. The la-wyer made his escape, however and the bailiff also, though the latter staved till a policeman and some soldiers arrived. But the policeman gave the keys of the restaurant back to the tenant and went away. Being now master of the situation, the tenant, after treating his ruffians to unlimited supplies of vodka, began to take away his furniture, regardless of the fact that It had been sealed by the bailiff. Crowds of riff-raff had now collected, and. spurred on by the promise of more drink, took the furniture into vans, which they requisitioned by terror from a neighboring: furniture remover. When this was done they began to destroy the premises, led by the restaurant keeper, who told them to ruin the man who had sucked the blood from his veins and had grown rich upon the work of the proletariat. In a short time the kitchen ranges were pulled down and the hermetically THE STAR OF FORTUNE A POPULAR form of entertainment during fall and winter evenings la fortune-telling, which always proves of fascinating Interest to the young folk and the grown-ups as well, although th? latter are sometime* loath to admit It. One of the cleverest systems of those who read the future by cards is called "The Star of Fortune." A description of this method of reading the future Is as follows: In the first place, shuffle the cards well, leaving out the one representing the consulting person. (Queen or king of hearts, ' diamonds, clubs or spades, depending on the complexion of the person.) Lay this face card in the center of the table. After shuffling let the consulting person or sitter cut twice, separating the pack Into onff Ino- +Via tntror<1 IU1 CO |7UJ uutw, vumiiB VKW wu.uw w ? * %> him or her. Lay the first cut In front of the pack, and jump the next cut over It toward the one consulting. Then the fortune teller should look at the bottom card of each cut, taking them up In regular order as they lie, face down. As the cards run In this cut, good or bad, so will run the general luck of ttie sitter. Then take up the pack and begin to deal, with the face card In the center of the table, discard each card from the pack In your hand until you come to a seven spot. Lay the next card after the seven at the right of the face card. /HcnnH^lto* an/I nalnor Via AO ril V/Uailltuc UI21 atutiig attu uoi?b miv v?> w next after a seven, laying the second card obtained directly under the face card, the third to the left, and the fourth above. If two sevens come together, place the second seven next to the last card In the pack and continue. Should three sevens appear In succession, shuffle and begin again on the round, counting it most lucky?seven being the mystic number. After the four cards are laid shuffle the pack and go around again, this time laying the cards found after each seven at angles. The third round, being careful to shuffle again, the cards are laid as in the first round. The fourth time at angles, as In the second round, the Mfth as In the first, and the sixth as in the second. Now twenty-four cards have been laid about the face card, forming the "Star of Fortune." How to Bead the Cards. Taking the red cards?the ac? of diamonds means a letter containing: happy news, the duece or two-spot of diamonds Is the largest sum of money In the pa^lc. representing a fortune running Into millions. The three of diamonds means a small sum of money, the four a wealthy house. Five of diamonds means a money letter, | and the nearest face card meSins the on* ! from whom it eomes. Six of this suit rtg! nlflles money won toy very hard' work. Seven of diamonds always means general ! good fortune and a comfortable state of affairs. Eight le the only unlucky one of this suit, Indicating loss of money, and If persistent in returning means downright poverty. The nine of diamond* is the card of the speculator, and always signifies a speculative disposition?if surrounded by cards of evil Import, such as the two, nine or six of spaaes, in? miwr buvimu vwuiuuii : speculation. The ten of diamonds signlflea plenty of money. ? The ace of hearts mean* love pure and simple. Two of hearts a ring or a kissthree of hearts brings happiest thoughts. Four of this suit always means a proposal of marriage (to a single person)?and when followed by the two of hearts It foretells speedy wooing and wedlock. The fivespot of hearts Indicates a gift; six, very high honors. The seven of hearts la a mystic symbol designating a religious temperament. It also means the leading of higher powers toward success. The eight of hearts predicts a loving united family. Nine of this red suit Is termed the luck card, par excellence, for It Is the "wish card." If It faces you In the deal the wish will be speedily realized. Ten of hearts means hosts of friends, the powers to give great happiness, also signifying loyal friendships to the end. Spades, generally considered of evil import, are not always so. The aoe of spades Is not, by Itself, the harbinger of woe, for when It appears with the handle up It Is of good Import, and accompanied by two red cards has pleasant meaning. Thus, It signifies marriage at the churoh. and a congenial, happy union. If the nine or two of spade* follows the ace, or lie near it, the ace is then the an NDRED sealed stove in the dtnlngr room Th? flooring's were next ripped up and th? wall papers pulled down !>> a hundred destructive hands The plate glnss windows hampered the crowd, so they wer? smashed to the accompaniment of shriek* of joy that the property of a "bourgreols" was belns destroyed Some friends yt the absent landlord, aghast at the rulna? Hon they saw, tried to get the police to Interfere, hut the police said It was no buelnoss of theirs and refused. At last somebody who knew th? Inspector on duty at the nearest police station managed to K?t him to seiul a policeman nn<I some soldiers to the s -ene of the nrgie; but they were soon bought over with basins of vodka, got drunk and helped to pull down the walls with their bayonets. The orgie terminated In the cellar, where the mob repaired to take the vat? of Pllsener beer up Into the street; but, finding them too heavy, thev hacked the n into pieces, let the beer flood the cellar, drank it till they could drink no morean.1 finally lav down to sleep. On awaking late in the evening they asked the restaurant keeper for more drink, and as all had been pilfered or consumed the night before were uncommonly angry und demanded payment for their "work " Tt'it by this time the authorities, see ng that the remains of the restaurant were onen to the four winds of heaven, sent a strong detachment of soldiers, who turned tue mob off the premises, using the butts of their rifles, and ordered the window frames to be boarded up. * * x iic mvi mat un innocent man lost property worth two or three thousand dollars because one of his tenants did not choose to pay his rent would In any ot' or country be snfl\clent to send the guilt? ones to the nearest police station, ltut under the Kusslnn government the^n things are allowed to pass unpunished, and. though the landlord would like to see his old tenant in the dock, he receives letters threatening to kill him and his family If he dares to do so. and. therefore, satisfies himself with having his damnged property repaired as soon as possible. Occurrences like this one are too frequent to surprise anybody, and the Inhabitants think themselves lucky If they manage to keep their money away from t Vi p Til.'ifk HiinHrp.1 :ind tha rpvnliu tlonaries. for the chances are that if they escape ttie first they will fall Into ths hands of the second. The Hlack Hundred of Warsaw hav* formed a "Debt Collecting Society." This consists of a hand of men who ro Into the less respectable shops, ask If there are any book debts, and when the answer is in the affirmative offer to collect tlvn for a certain percentage On receiving permission and a list of the debtors they ?i> to their house and say that they are authorized by Messrs. So-and-So to take the money owing: to them When the debtor makes some excuse the inevitable revolvers are produced, with a threat to use them if the money is not forthcoming'. Of course, reputable firms are above "collecting" money In this way. Aa already stated, the most extraordl UtXl y fell l Vk xuilrtSfB 13 lliai ni^-jr Invariably take place In broad daylight. In the presence of a large number of spectators and within a stone's throw of a patrol or a military guard. Unfortunately for the peace of the empire, their numbers are Increasing rather than diminishing, and, barbarous as the Idea Is, many are of the same mind as one Russian general, who expressed the opinion that the only way of fretting rid of tho Black Hundred Is to drive them Into on* quarter of the towns, keep them there by means of strong outposts with bayonets fixed, and burn the whole lot by pouring barrels of pitch onto the houses an* setting Are to th*m. B. C. BASKERVILLH. nouncer of woe, even unto death, the relationship determined by the nearness of the cards to the face card of the inquirer. The two of spades signifies false-hood, treachery and trouble from deceitful people. The three of spades predicts a short Jour ney, or tears, occoramg 10 me npignoonnn cards. If the latter are red the little trip will be enjoyed. If dark then come sorrow's tears. Four of spades means a prison or a tomb, Sometimes It means widowhood?that ll when hearts are near, and when followed by the four of hearts Indicates that mourning will soon be laid aside for a gown of second brldehood. Five of spades foretells a shock?If red cards He near It. brightness and good luck follow; If d-ark one. It means disaster. Six of spades means illness In one'* family, and If nine or ace follows it la serious. Seven of spades, the mystic number, signiiies a tendency to mysticism and means spirituality. Eight of spades is an uncanny card, that meaua trouble, woe and disaster. Nine signifies a broken heart. Alono It means bitter disappointment, but if near the ace or two-spot It indicates sorrow by death. If the nine, two and ace rang* out at 'he left of the face card In the center the deatli of the sitter is near. When red cards follow the black it means that there ia merely a danger that may be averted. Clubs mean business. The nc? is a business document, needing a signature?such as a will or deed. Stocks, bonds, mortgages, contracts and not.n of hand come under this head. The ace of cluba also indicates a package by express If folio we J by a red card. To the theatrical person tho a.:a of clubs promises a contract, as it d i<t? to a singer or speaker. Two ot clubs promises rew clothing. The three" of clubs moans good tidings from afar, and tne arfvmt of this card is followed by u.T.xpect'id good news. If it falls on the floor at your fe?t. even If you have been In the -lcpths of despair, expect good news. The four of clubs means a comfortable home. Five Indicates a nice Investment for or by you. The six of clubs is a most welcome card. and when it appears expect a fine business offer. Seven always indicate* changes of various kinds and means that one must exercise great caution, as new business opportunities are about to open up. Eight of clubs signifies certain marriage based on business reasons. Nine Is termed the "booze" card?meaning good-fellowship, wine, woman and song; If next to the nir.o of hearts it also means remarkable success, but if next to the eight of diamonds, loss of money. Ten of clubs signifies many good, prosperous times near at iiand; it also means a large crowd of people, but if next to the death card, mourners. When four aces appear in the fortune it signifies luck extraordinary, long life and Joy to the end. Four kings pertend certain marriage, but If the person is already wedded there will ho n ?A/*nnrl nnrtn#?r Four queens Indicate a love of sociability; also hick at games. When four Jacks appear hurtful gossip is abroad. > Whan the ten of diamonds Is beside the two the fioodtide of fortune Is at hand. FOB TWITCHING HAND. It's Said That the Grapple Swing Will Cure the Trouble. From Health Culture. Hand trembling, an affliction akin to "writers' cramp," Is apt to result from the long continued exercise of certain muscles and the neglect of others. The worst feature of the trouble Is Its trick of coming on at the very time when steadiness of hand would be most desirable. The twitch of a map-flulsher's muscles may throw a national frontier 100 miles out of | treaty lines; type words may get glued to | gether like the nouns of the Volapuk erase. Hot baths afford only temporary relief; drugs might as well be prescribed to a stutterer; but there is one never falling mechanical specific?the grapple swing cure. Procure a couple of Iron rings?say, Ave Inches In diameter?and fasten them high enough to keep an experimenter's feet off the ground when he attempts to dangle by one hand for a second or two. Practice will raise his score to half a minute, und by that time the tremors will have v^-n'shed for the next half year. Not Her Style. From the Baltimore American. "Darling, do you lovs me still?" "How ean I tell, dearestT I have never seen you that way."