Yorkville enquirer. [volume], March 04, 1891, Image 1

About Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006

Image provided by: University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC

                
lewis m. grist, Eioprietoi-. [ 3U Jndcptndcnf Jamily $eirapapcr: this promotion of % political, j^oqiat, ^priniltiiral and dfoinmcrjial Jnlfrcsts of thq ?outh. ' I TERMS?$2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
) . - " . _ .. - ? ' ( . . .1.^-1VOL.
37 YORKYILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1891. NO. 4,
" ? I _;_j ...i. :* wA.no nnluJw ! unnntiuimiig tribot6 nuiH <a ?n?n than
PART II?CHAPTER IL
pptuA irxTpTupTTPn ncrmRft.
The Pierrot stood one instant at "Attention!"
When Mm& Pietro disappeared from
the breakfast party she hastily threw a
veil like wrap about her head and passed
rapidly through the paved court into
the narrow street Not slackening her
pace, she turned several abrupt corners,
and at last paused, breathless, before
a small postern in the rear wall of
one of the oldest houses in that quarter,
?3 Vinf VmltAri
the gate inside after entering. Crossing
the large garden, she passed through the
deserted kitchen and broad, dimly lit
hallway, and ascended the wide stairs.
At their head she encountered a tall,
angular mulatress, erect, but seamed
with age, her head scrupulously tied in
the most flaring of Madras turbans.
To her Mme. Pietro spoke a few words
in gumbo French, and, not pausing for
a reply, passed to the lofty front drawing
room on that upper floor. At the
door she paused.
The room showed what had been
luxurious elegance; but every piece of
furniture, every ornament, the very
pictures on the walls, were of another
age. Scrupulously neat, the ancient
woodwork glistening from recent rubbing
and the faded brocades showing
time, not wear, this salon might have
been transported intact from the Quartier
St Germain and set down in New Orleans
for all that showed it belonging to
America or today. The old wrought
silver sconces held wax candles under
tfoir ffbutR shades: rare Dortraits of sol
diets and diplomats in fall dress, and of
Watteau like ladies in directoire gowns,
gased down oat of forgotten-era frames;
there was no carpet, and the polished
floor, black with age and oil, had its
btttnesa relieved by heavy rags at intervals.
Exquisitely worked wax flowers
stood under glass ovals on the high
mantelpiece, under which the towering
andirons of shining brass, topped by '
hideous griffins resting on their paws,
would have delighted the inmost souls
of les plus nouveaux riches in New
York's most envied coterie.
But while heavy, semi-tropical odors
from the great garden below floated into
the wide windows, not one living flower
broke the archaeological rigor of this
salon. Bouquets are of today; the system
here was of a century gone.
And so was the sole occupant of the
apartment; for madame ? as all the
world, save one, called Mme. d'Auvigne
La tour?had seen fifteen years of it when
the Reign of Terror added the guillotine
to the refinements of civilization. She
was then at school in Paris, and well
she remembered the murder by the mob
of her cousin, the Chevalier Anatole
Marie d'Auvigne, while attempting to
save from insult at their hands his royal
mistress, the Austrian.
Far above the average height, and
with erect, stately carriage of her spare
figure, madame's severely classic face
was scarcely more wrinkled than most
women's?especially most Frenchwomen's?at
half her years. The once black
hair was now worn iu snow white masses,
a la Pompadour, brushed well back
from the broad forehead; but the thin,
arohed eyebrows over the still brilliant
gray-brown eyes were of a jetty black
that gave peculiar power to the calm,
grave face. Aquiline noee, thin, firmly
set lips and long, oval lines of jaw all
aided this characteristic; and strength
of physique, as Well as of character, was
indicated by madame's every movement.
cue sap erect in a carveu dock cnair
reading a comedy of Moliere, audi she
read it without spectacles. Glancing np
from her book to Mme. Pietro she welcomed
her with a slight gesture.
"Enter, my child," she said in a clear,
pleasant voioe that had little echo of
eighty-eight years in its vibrance, and
using the singular personal of familiar
address. "Thou art always welcome to
the old home, although thou dost make
thy visits so rare that one might imagine
I had never forgiven thee for marrying
thy brown wolf and leaving my service."
"Ah, madame, what else was I to do?"
deprecated the lady of the Green Perch.
"One must marry some time, though,
mon Dieu! I did wait somewhat late.
And I well knew that Pietro was not one
to bring into such a household as ours."
And the landlady drew herself up proudly
at the memory of where she had once
belonged. "But madame knows that
her old fille de chambre never forgets
madame's goodness; that Clemence loves
her and hers with a great love forever!"
"And hers!" echoed the grand dame,
more by motion of the lips than by
words. "What of hers is left? Ah! well,
Clemence, I know that well. Thou wast
ever devoted to me and to my boy."
?'Qh, nwl^me," the old servatrice
cried out, hpbbling over with her news,
"J have a surprise for you?a delight!
He?our Adrien?is well! He is?is coming
home! Ah! mon Dieul Madame, do
not excite yourself, but he will be here
before long?perhaps?pray, madame, be
calm|?perhaps to-morrow!"
'He is here," madame answered calmly,
but rising and facing the other with
eyea aglow. "Try not to deceive me,
Clemenoe, Joy never lianas. But why
has he not come? Ho is not ill: thy looks
tell me that. Then why has he not
come to me?"
"There is danger, madame. He has
escaped from Mexico, where his party
was defeated. He fears he is dogged by
spies; but he will come at once. Advantaged
by the carnival, he is disguised,
and I have come to warn you.
The Maison Bartol was full of Yankees,
and one was that General? Mon Dieu!
hear that!"
A loud clanging rap of the ancient
knocker resounded at the street door,
f cutting Mme. Bartol's speech in twain,
ou lips still opened to listen. "No, no,"
she added as the firm tread of the uiulatress
resounded from the hall below; "'tis
not be; for he will come by the postern."
There was a parley at the door below;
then the mulatress came up the stairs
with a card upon her silver salver.
Madame read the card?first silently
and then aloud, accenting strongly both
the title and the name:
|| "Gen. Everett!?read the rest," she
^ added to Mme. Pietro. "It is English!"
The other read, translating as she
went: "commanding first cavalry brigade,
Army of the Mississippi."
"Truly am I honored." madame said.
I 1
? Puritan
By J. <?. DE I^EOJf,
ithor of "Four Years in Rebel Capitals,"
"Juny," "Cross Purposes."
EDICATED TO HON. HENRY WATTERSON,
Memory of Schoolboy Days, Still Unforgotten,
as Our Shadows Lengthen
Toward the Sunset.
lyright, i8ao, by J. B. Lipplncott Company, and
publiabed by arrangement with them.
I coldly. "I have so few Visitors among '
I my own people, yet the Yankee sends
| me his generals of brigade! Listen, Fei
licite." She turned to the servant, a
slight flush rising abont the high cheek
bones. "Say to this person that Mme. j
d'Auvigne Latour has ceased receiving
visitors since a foreign anny occupies
her country."
"Pray, madame, hear me but one moment!"
cried the lady of the inn. "This
is he?the other one?our Adrien's
friend, of whom he speaks always?Dale
1 ?ftonaral Kwrttfct?of WYist Point Uolv- i
; technique, you see? I was just coming
I to tell you that he was at my house, that
he had sought your address. Our boy
would risk entering the cjkfe only to have
sight of him! Ah, madame, this is not j
} the .visit of intrusion, but of respect?of ;
j love! Pray receive this Yankee for
; Adrien's sake!"
"It is all the same," madame replied
after a brief pause. "You will admit
him, Feiicite. I fear nothing of this i
| man, and perhaps my boy will need him
still; but, Feiicite, when you have announced
him remain within call."
The mulatress turned to do her bid- :
ding, and Clemence Bartol seized inadi
ame's hand and pressed her lips devout'
ly upon it.
"Ah, madame, thou hadst ever a grand
! soul!" she cried. "Thou forgettest even
the sins of our enemy in thy great love
for our boy! Heaven, which is good, !
j will reward this grand sacrifice for love!
| And now, madame, adieu! And soon?
; very soon?he will come!"
Then, with an agility surprising for
1 one of her weight, the h<;ad of the Green
! Perch and of its master escaped under a
! portiere tA Dale Everett entered the
: drawing room and bowed low to the
! grandmother of his friend.
Madame stood erect on the panther
skin before the Erard upright that had
not sounded a note in a decade. The rich
folds of a black silk gown fell from her
tall figure in graceful linee, while the
calm, clear face and gnmd head, crown;
ed only with nature's best coronet, j
would have coerced respect from a far
less delicate intuition than her visitor's.
There was a pause. '
"I am much honored," madame be- ;
gan? "But perhaps monsieur the
i American general does not speak the !
; language. In that cast*, Feiicite"
Dale raised his eyes. They chanced to .
catch the reflection in the oval mirror
over the mantel of the molatress keeping
watch and ward in the hall way, i
with all the ease of an artilleryman on
picket.
i "Pray proceed, mada.me," he answered
j in excellent French, emphasizing the
i familiar title. "I hare passable knowl;
edge of your beautiful language. Adrien ,
was my room mate for years."
Madame s face softened to almost
j beauty at the tone in which Everett proj
nounced the name so dear to her.
"I well know that," she answered
! gently. "He has often told me of it.
But I was about to ask"?and the loving
woman became the grande dame once
more?"to what fortunate chance I owe
' it that monsieur the general Bhould
have done me the honor of this visit?"
The perfect courtesy of the speech
Dale could not question, but the intimaI
VnvtAnf-V* if nli n'Vifl \7 /IT
I UUU UCUCOKU AW OUg.&AMJ I
j him. Besides madame still stood erect
before him, and had not suggested that
he be seated. He had heard since boyhood
of the magnificent hospitality of
! the south?of her genial reception of all
bringing credentials. Could it be that
that bitterness of the conquered against
! the conqueror of which he had heard so
much was active in the heart of this
: venerable and evidently loving woman?
| Could she deem it disloyal to take the
hand of the man who had been more
than brother to her only descendant?
All this passed through his mind like
' lightning; for almost without pause he
answered:
"The honor, madaine, is wholly mine; I
yet I had, not dared to claim it without j
two other motives. The first, a selfish j
one, is to ask your latest news of the j
gallant, noble gentleman whom I love as
my own brother. He was wWl and happy
when you last heard?"
j Madame's face glowed as Dale spoke, ;
and the proud eyes softened almost to a
moisture as she answered:
"You are generous and true to speak
such words, monsieur; though my j
Adrien deserves well the love you give j
j him. Yes, he was well?very well,
' and"?suddenly her tone grew cold and j
| proud?"the Maj. Gen. Latour could
! newer be happy while his country is trod
' by the feet of foreign armies."
"But, madamc, all this is in the past, j
i He can return safely?honorably. I my|
self will give him parole. The war is
over."
"Is it 60, indeed?" The old Creole's
eyes glowed, though the voice was calm
and resonant. "It is then in the past
! that our land was laid waste, our loved
: ones slaughtered, cur property wrested
; from us! The war is over when armed
i men sit in the seats of our judges and
bayonets rule the courts!?when Louisi- j
' ana's sons are free to come to their own
homes?on parole! Monsieur le General,
1 you mean kindness, but you cannot com!
prebend the Creole heart! When the
| Maj. Gen. Latour, of the army of the
i Confederacy, walks beneath his own
roof tree, with heu4 erect and eye that
| asks permission of bat one Master?only
then will these old arms open to take
him to this heart. When he comes
otherwise may the good God grant that
this heart shall have ceased to beatl"
There waS no excitement in the tone,
pa suspicion of vannt in tho words. Both
J bore the stamp of the deepest intensity,
of conviction that had become religion.
80 Dale Everett vecognized it, and his
justly balanced nature, from his victors .
standpoint, comprehended in part the
vastness of that sudden collapse of an
idolized cause in its moral no less than
military aspect. And here especially
there was a grandeur about the Btately
old Frenchwoman, whose intense truth
to her race won his respect, even while
it jarred on his stench loyalty.
"I had hoped, madame," he answered,
quietly, "that we might avoid, even were
it impossible to forget, the gulf across
which I sought tho honor of this interview.
It has been a great privilege to
me to hear of the dearly beloved friend
of my boyhood. But my second object
in coming was rather a matter of business."
"Of business?" Madame's tone was
i one of genuine surprise.
"Yes, madame?relative to your river
plantations, which"
"Which were stolen from us last
autumn. Then Monsieur le General
must understand that the agent of our
S family attends to such affairs."
Everett smiled slightly under shelter
of his yellow beard. "Uncompromising
old aristocrat!" vras what he thought;
but he said:
"There were some little points connected
with this case which I thought
your agent might not explain so clearly
| as myself. I therefore took that liberty,
madame, and not to weary you with
I details an order lias been issued by the
general commanding to reinstate your
managing overseer, together with the
| cotton already baled and now in the gin
! houses."
j "Monsieur has truly placed the family
of Latour under deepest obligations,"
the old lady responded with stately simplicity.
"It is not so independent as
once, and the restoration of so much
that was wrongfully taken is indeed important.
Adrien will rejoice at such
fresh proof of your affection, monsieur,
and I shall at once speak with him concerning
it."
"Speak with him!" Dale exclaimed,
surprised into abrupt query. "Is he
here? Do you expect him?"
The grandmother had met a check and
fallen back in confusion, but the grande
dame once more came to the front and
promptly formed to cover her retreat.
"We always expect our loved absent,"
she answered gravely, "so long as they
live. At this moment he is not here, because
he scorns to give his parole, as if
confession of some guilt."
"He need have no fear"
"Pardon me!" madame broke in coldly.
"No La tour has ever known fear!"
"I meant in my awkwardness," the
federal soldier replied, with difficulty restraining
a smile, "to convey that there
would be no difficulty about his return.
^A^MAn tYJO/lomn fhuf T
x:lay r* 111*7 iv avuicu, IU?UWU<V, VM?.. ?
have sufficient influence at headquarters
to guarantee this."
"Again you moke us your debtors,
monsieur. Soon the family of Latour
will bo beggared in expression, though
not in appreciation."
"But you will write to him?" Dale persisted.
"I love him, madame, as you do;
he is the only brother I have ever known.
I would urge nothing unworthy of his
honor or his name."
"Monsieur, I believe you!" The four
words were quietly spoken, but a volume
could have expressed no more than
their tone.
"I thank you, madame," Everett answered
franldy. "Then I will intrude
no longer. Believe me, I realize how
strange it must seem to you to receive a
stranger, uuintroduced, beneath your
roof, especially one in uniform. But now
you understand the intrusion?"
"I do, monsieur," she answered, frankly,
"and thank you from my heart.
Were things different I should? But
adieu, monsieur!" And with genuine
feeling madamo extended the slim, patrician
hand, firm and unwrinkled,
though blue veined with age.
Dale Everett bent his fair head and
lightly pressed his lips upon it, as loyal
vassal might liave touched his suzeraine's.
In the door way he paused.
"Do me the grace to remember, madame,"%he
said, "that if I can ever serve
you, or yours, you have but to command
me. These are uncertain times; and my
quarters are not far away?the old Piggott
residence."
"I think I have heard the name," inadame
answered, doubtfully.
"But you know the house? 'Tis only
only one block beyond Canal street."
"I have never crossed Canal street,"
she said simply. "But, should need
come, Felicite might find it. So, again
I thank you. Adieu, Monsieur le General."
Dale Everett hastened down the stairs
and through the door the mulatress ceremoniously
held open. Once more in
the street he drew a long breath of relief.
"The delicious old bigot!" he muttered.
"Lived here nearly a century and
doesn't know a word of English! Would
start for Europe as I'd go down to dinner,
and has never crossed Canal street!
By Jove! it is sublime!"
Taking the rein from the orderly the
young general lifted himself into the
saddle with the light swing of a perfect
horseman, as he added, with a laugh:
"But I never paid quite so long a visit
before without being offered a seat!"
The chestnut Kentucky thoroughbred
reared and plunged without a check from
the light bridle hand, that could be firm
as steel, and as cruel, at need.
"Steady, Bennie! So?girl! So?o?o!"
And the mare, obedient to word and
knee. came down to a SDrinfirv walk, onlv
the tossing head and foam flecked bit
telling her impatience.
"Cameron," called the general, turning
in saddle to address his orderly,
"have you taken a turn beyond camp
since we got in yesterday?"
"A rather good bit, sir," replied the
brawny young Scot, touching his spur
and moving nearer the left flank of the
other horse.
"Is there any level ground for a good
gallop in easy reach?"
"Yes, sir. One long, level stretch, but
rather rough iu places. Seems like it
had been an old field in parts; and there's
some old rifle pits and ugly ditches."
"Did Jonathan have his exercise after
morning stables?"
"Yes, sir. Finerty led him a good run
over that same field."
"Was he very fresh?"
"Well, sir, kind o' fresh. He tore off
Stable Sergeant Rooney's scales and
kicked in the side of the headquarters
ambulance. But it was only play, sir."
The general reflected a moment, still
half turned in his saddle. Then he
said:
"Saddle him after dinner call. I will
ride the mare out to camp and give him
a gallop myself."
There was a sudden snort of terror; a
wild, squatting shy to the left, almost
across the narrow street. Another rider
had been dashed headlong over the
mare's right shoulder, sitting as Everett
was. But he was a horseman by intuition,
not by rule. The first quiver of
the mare had turned him in the deep
saddle and gripped her with knees of
iron, while a firm hand bore on the
heavy bit.' A second later she was still,
but trembling in every muscle; her forefeet
planted, and her wide eyes and
quivering nostrils turned pitiably toward
a hideous Pierrot, all white flutter and
scarlet bows, who had suddenly emerged
from a narrow court.
"So, girll Steady! So-o-o, now!" And,
patting her arched neck with his right
hand, while the left held firm the tense
head, her rider glanced up and saw the
cause of trouble.
"You should be careful how you
flaunt your foolery before people's
horses!" he said to the Pierrot, with not
unnatural irritation.
The masker took two quick steps forward,
pose and gesture indicating full
intent to retort'in kind. Suddenly he
stopped in midstep, the expressionless
white mask seeming to stare at the
rider, so strained was the tension of
head and neck. Then, drawing himself
up, the Pierrot stood one instant at "attention!"
gave the officers' salute, and
with a quick right about strode back
into the court.
Everett looked after him.
"That man is a soldier und an officer,"
he muttered. "He can't be one of ours;
the orders forbid? By Jove! he's the
same the major ran over in the market.
Well, it is only a coincidence." And
giving the mare her head he never drew
rein until he reached the headquarters
of the department of Louisiana.
He was not long detained in the general's
ante-room before an aid advanced
from the private office and ushered him
into the presence all powerful, at that
moment, for weal or woe to the sovereign
commonwealth. Scarce ten minutes
elapsed before he reappeared, followed
tflis tirno by the general himself.
"I heartily approvo of it," the latter
was saying, and all who came in contact
with the blunt and manly cavalry leader
knew at once that what he said he
meant. Prompt decision in every situation
and emphatic assertion of it?not
always in the choicest language?was
the general's strong point.
"Yes, I heartily approve it," he repeated.
"You not only have my consent,
but my very best wishes with it. Damn
it, general, were I a youngster like you,
I should feel about it as you do."
"I thank you heartily, sir," Everett
answered. "But please understand, I
would not care to have the matter canvassed
until the latest moment possible
under regulations."
"That's all right. Belton shall see to
that," the hi uif veteran replied. "(Joodby
and good luck to vou!" And with a
j warm grasp of the hand the two'parted. I
# # # # !
When the clatter of hoofs died away
from madame's ears s.n unusual smile
visited those proud old lips.
"He is a true man," she said aloud. !
"He recalls my boy, unlike as the two
are. He has the same grand air, the
same frank bravery, the same deference.
Yes, he is a gentleman?gentil tout plain!
And soon he will be here, my boy! my
Adrien! Ah! I shall grow young again >
j seeing him!"
She paced the floor with firm step and
j head erect, the color mantling in her
i cheeks and her eyes flashing toward the
portiere of the back room, as ever and
again she paused to listen. At last a !
light step flew across the hall, the por- I
tiere was brushed aside and Adrian? |
still the Pierrot in all save mask and
cape?folded her in his arms.
"Maman!"
"Adrien!"
Only two little words; but they blended
with a lavish love and tenderness that |
j told the whole long story of waiting?of
suspense?of perfect joy!
At length she released her embrace,
holding him off at "arms' length with j
?? J ? ??Via AViAQITA O T? fl
nan(12* presscu agaiuav uuj uucvaoi hu?*
eager, loving gaze searching for every
thought behind the deep,'tender eyes.
"At last!" she whispered. "Ah, my
boy, it has been so long!"
"And to me, maman! Figure to yourj
self how time must have dragged for the ,
! exile, far from the home he loves, and
j that home the prey of the strangerl"
| "But thou, Adrien, wert busy; hand
and brain and heart were occupied; i
while I, with nothing to do but think? j
! and long for thee! Ah! but this meet- {
i ing pays for a!l! Come, my child, sit
| near and tell me everything that has
i fared with thee."
Dropping on a low stool near the carved
arm chair tho strong soldier folded
his arms across her lap and looked up
j in her eyes with the pure love of child- '
j hood. Rapidly he ran over the details
I and perils of his escape from federal
I scouts, his passage of tho Rio Grande by j
night, and his adhesion to the falling !
fortunes of the weaker Mexican faction, j
; But his narrative omitted all note of
j that personal prowess which had gained j
j him the sobriquet "el Gringo immortal," ;
so reckless liad been his exposure in
scout and skirmish. His party defeated, j
: his troops scattered, and a price set upon
i his head, their leader had made the river
! ? - - * ^ ?-l-i- --1- 1
Dy Q lore(XI Illgui; imu auu liusm.u jiu>
! in time to elude capture.
I "And to what end?" he ended, rising
I and pacing the floor. "I escape enemies
there to meet others here?worse ones
| because of my o\*n race! If I am recog- j
I nized I will bo a prisoner, for I will never
i take their parole."
"So I have just told him?your friend, ,
; Dale Everett," mat Lame answered; and .
she detailed the latter's visit, and did !
justice to his warm words for his friend, j
"Dear old Dale! Ever true as steel!" ;
! Adrieu said feelingly. "Clemence told :
: me he was hero, but I could not guess !
! the reason of his visit. Is he not a grand 1
j fellow, maman? I could not resist risk- !
! ing a look at liim there?perhaps for the j
! last time. And again, just as I came ;
J here, this hideous disguise almost crazed |
: his mare. Ah! had I only known as I ;
j do now I might have made myself known. 1
j I should never have doubted, but these >
; times make one doubt even himself j
j But years and the bitterness of war have ;
i not changed dear old Dale. Before I j
I leave, maman, I mast see him some way. j
! Night and the Carnival will be safeguards j
| enough. And, maman, when I am gone ;
j let him come to you to advise and pro- i
j tect. You will?no?"
Madame hesitated. "With that uni- j
form! Ask the enemy of our country to
sit beneath the roof of the Latours!"
j "But, dear, he is not the enemy; he
has just proved himself our best friend, j
! He has been everything to me for years, j
: and, thinking me far away, he would ;
j now replace me with you. He shall
come?may ho not?"
i "Not because my spoiled child begs it I
so much as because he has forced me to !
confess him worthy," malame replied, j
drawing herself up to full height. "I j
will forget his coat and receive him as !
! the friend of our house."
There is no humility so touching as j
1 ami/nw an/1 oq '
true priue cuuiecciug iw aivi, <*uu w
La tour pressed his lips on his grand- j
mother's brow,, the glow on her face 1
brought back more vividly than ever
before tho beautiful portrait of Adrienne
Constance Latonr, nee d'Auvigne, the
bride of 20, which bore the signature
; "La Roche, Paris, 1798."
When the twain had talked in words
and in that soundless commnnion of ;
kindred souls, sweeter still and equally !
intelligible, until the shades of evening j
1 fell, madame rose. Doors were securely :
locked, heavy shutters closed and cor
tains dropped in the front of the seem- j
ingly deserted and somber house. But ;
within were festival and joy and lighv. :
| The grand old dining room was ablaze [
i with wax tapers in their strange old j
sconces. The best plate?handed down i
for generations and bearing the old crest j
j ?Bhone on the board, while a flask of 1
the rarest in the famous cellar had been .
brought to welcome the heir to his home
| again. j
Madatne, touched with the rejuvenation
of joy, watched every movement of
I her boy with yearning, loving eyes. To ,
i please him she would have fired the j
j house and ull it contained, watched it <
bum with a smile and gone beggared j
into exile with him. And, talking as .
only love famished men talk when back :
; once more amid the joys of home, Adrien j
1 Latour at length said:
"Ah, raamau, this is an hour that
pays for many a bitter day! Only the ;
exile knows the sweetness of the home |
love. At last I am happy, perfectly con- j
tent. So let us drink to my best friend,
maman?to my brother!" j
"Certainly, my child. We will drink
to him." '
Felicite filled the glasses. Adrien
raised his.
"Health and tho happiness he deserves
to Gen. Everett!"
And madame answered cordially as
she touched hers to her lips:
"Health and happiness to Monsieur
Everett!"
PAliT H?CHAPTER III.
IN TIIR LISTS.
To front the judges rode a lithe, erect j
figure.
It was tho morning of the international
race, and the eve of Mardi Gras
as well, and the double excitement made 1
New Orleans busy by early dawn.
No more balmy and delicious day
could l>e remembered, even among the !
many delicious ones that glorify late
winter in the gulf region. Tho soft,
fleecy haze over sunriso was nature's
pledge that noon would be clear, but not;
too warm. The gulf breeze crept lazily
up the river loaded with pilfered sweets ;
of the orange and early jasmines, fan - ;
ning away reminders from those stag- '
nant ditches which make sewerage a satire
in the Crescent city.
At the early restaurants, about hotel <
lobbies, in the chaffer with intolerant
cabmen?even among the working girl*
hurrying to early tasks?the race was '
the absorbing topic of talk.
It was a semi-military affair, being
under the patronage of the commanding '
general, though not in his official capacity.
A noted horseman himself, and
a true lover of tne sport, He had stepped
into the breach left by the failure of the
Orleans Jockey club to reorganize.
Still, as the race was to be run over the
old Metairie course, a small committee
of the older turfmen were overseeing its
details, perhaps to avoid violation of
their track traditions. Bnt they had
refused with courteous firmness to act
as stewiirds of the track. Their spokesman
had said:
"We go little into public now, most of
ub having lost relatives in the war, and
the rest sympathizing with the grief of
our friends. Oar track and our experience
are heartily at the public's
service, general, btit Our inclinations we
must beg to reserve. '1
So the general was fain to be satisfied;
snd so he told them. However, he remarked
to on adjutmt general that ho
didn't understand these Creole fellowB,
anyhow. And the; blunt soldier's statement
was literally true; for had more
commanders understood them better?
liad the present one been nearly so much
of a statesman as hi) had proved himself
a dashing soldier?the 14th of September
liad not been red llettered in the calendar
by the spilling it blood.
Shortly after sunrise the committee
was at the course..' The superintendent
miormeu tueia djuui? juai at uawu a
stranger had ridden in and tried the
jumps. .
'K refused him," the man added, "till
he showed me a permit from Glen. Sheridan,
as the American entry."
No one had heard even a hint of such
an entry; but the opinion of .all was
voiced by Antoine Lamotte.
".Plucky, rather," he said in French.
"But, poor devil! he'll wish himself at
Bull Run again when ChiVrac shows
him the heels of that magnificent stedlion
L'Empereur!"
"Did he give his name and rank?"
asked &fr. Beniston of the club.
"No, sir. He was a young un?a loftenant,
I should say from his age. I got
into the judges' stand with my ghus,
but it was too hazy to tell much about
his chances."
"He has no showing, Beniston," Judge
Laadry said.
"None in the world; he enters too
lata," was the confident answer. "Chaviiac
must beat him."
"It is perhaps not treason to say tbs.t I
shall not be bitterly disappointed if he
do," put in Lamotte.
"Nor I," Beniston added. "He is not
riding for?us!"
But the news of the new element in
the race?and it soon spread over the
cily, as news ever does in public excitement,
none knows how?added fresh zest
to the event. About the camps inqoiry
was universal. But no man knew of
any comrade likely to risk bis neck and
reputation, at onc6, in a siiart without
practice in a race like this.
"I'm a patriot of long standing," remarked
our major of Green Perch restaurant
knowledge as he breakfasted at
Victor's. "My respect for the old flag
is punctuated by an eecopet ball and my
lore for it not dampened by slow jirotnotion
in tho Q. M. D. But IH bet you a
caso of CHquot, Barnes, that our man is
not as good as third in the race."
"Done!" cried Col. Barnes, of the infantry.
"I'm not the horseman you are,
major, but I'm Cape Cod born, and you
can't bluff my belief in Yankee pluck."
1 J.l.? Aofitnafo wna nlvnnf
A11U Lilt? iUAjUi O COUUiRW MMU
that of the public. The Yankee hadn't
a ghost of a show, everybody said, and
for reasons already indicated almost
everybody said sotto voce that he was
deuced glad of it!
By noon about all New Orleans had
turned its face eastward, crossing the
main boulevard'-Canal street?en route
for the old Mefcairie race course, which
lies some two miles beyond the northern
limits of the city. Great crowds of pedestrians
of all classes and both sexes
filled the pavements, and everything
that had wheels, from the butcher's
wagon and' confectioner's cart to the
stylish drag or stately family coach, was
passing into the French quarter.
Spite of a certain reticence?of a real
distaste, or of contempt for the "Yankee
holiday"?which kept many behind closed
shutters it was evident that the race
was vastly popular, and that the stands
would be taxed to fullest measure. And
very gay and pretty looked those stands
when filled, the bright bonnets and gay
dresses of the ladies contrasting 3trongly
with the black coats and very frequent
uniforms, while over all was a flat tering
mass of gaudy parasols, admost every
one knotted with the colors of a favorite
rider. The tricolor predominated largely,
for the sympathies of the city went
with their race, and the count, besides,
was a noted "crack" in gentlemen's
races. The German and British colors,
too, were frequently seen; and La Veoro'a
imwn mill rrnlil Vnof. U'?S shown On
to*"*-"
many sides. Bnt the colors of the Union
were nowhere to be found. Few of the
crowd knew surely the truth of the rumor
they had heard: none knew the
name of the champion of the flag; and
even had they, no time had been given
for even the most loyal to procure his
colors.
Just before 3 o'clock, however, the
omission elsewhere was made more pointed.
A landau dashed rapidly up to the
grand stand, followed by a couple of
carriages. The commanding general, an
aid and several ladies alighted, as the
sentries at the gates presented aims, and
passed into the seats reserved by the
committee. The general wore citizen's
dress, but on the front of the Prince Albert,
struggling with its buttons across
his already burly figure, fluttered a huge
knot of red, white and blue. And still
longer ones floated from the parasols of
the ladies with him.
All eyes were fixed on the general's
party and followed it to its station, but
many a pair of lips curled into a smile,
or something more meaning, and many
a muttered remark, generally in French,
referred to the lonesomenessof the American
rider's backers.
Precisely at 3 o'clock the clear' note of
a bugle cut the air. In. an instant it
stilled the thousand tongues buzzing
like a world of bees in convention to
nominate a queen. A dead hush fell
upon the vast throng in stajids and
quarter stretch; the bookmakers stopped
short, and the maskers jerked off their
false facts to see better. Everv eve was
tamed toward the stable gates, through
which emerged a group of riders, goodly
to Beo as they pranced down the stretch.
Count de Chavirac kept well in hand
a magnificent blood bay, tali and long
coupled and clean limbed, as warranted
by his pedigree. For L'Emperenr's sire
had twico won the Prix de Paris beforo
he was retired to the imperial stables,
and his dam had once made a good third
on Epsom Downs. A triflo too much
daylight showed under liira, but his
springy step and the power spoken in
his deep, flat flanks promised great speed
under pressure. The count's rather pronounced
jockey suit of tricolor satin
shone in the sun, and from the rosette
on his cap flashed nu immense diamond.
But -there was nothing of the fop about
his poso in the saddle, his bridle hand
controlling?a triflo needlessly, perhaps
?every impulse of tho noble brute beneath
him.
In peculiar contrast C'apt. Hoyne-Cecil
rode by his side. A low blue rowing
shirt displayed the fair skin below tho
+ rv?? TWiplr ifu cVinrf.
sleeves showed the play of muscles in
arms fair as a woman's. Buckskin
breeches and riding boots made up the
simple costumo, topped only by a black
skull cap. His mount was a massive
thoroughbred, with keen, small head,
and muscled front and rear like the
horses of Achilles, as he tossed a mane
like theirs from a neck rather heavy for
the fancy of a keen point judge. His
chestnut coat was as shiuing as his
neighbor's, but the impression ho made
was rather of stay and good power over
the hurdles than of peculiar fleetness on
the flat.
But Franco and England, as here represented
before the grandchildreh of
Dotn nations, were a goodly pair to loot |
upon. And the couple following them
were little less attractive in their con- '
trust.
Baron von Schlegen- rode a massive
roan, his great weight demanding even a
heavier horse than the rider for St
George. His broad, bearded face was
surmounted by a plomelesa leather hel;
met; a tight hussar jacket and breeches
of olive green and tasseled boots completed
his dress, and he rode the deep
j military saddle of his service.
Ensign La Vega rode beside the German.
A email, closely knit mare, white
as milk in every hair, jogged along in a
nondescript gait between a single foot
1 and a dog trot. Her clean head, nn- [
hampered by breast band or martingale, j
! stretched easily forward, her rider rest- |
j ing well down in his Mexican tree, ,
i stripped of every ornament and makeweight
| A torero jacket of dark green, tight
black breeches and silk stockings, end;
ing in closely strapped ankle gaiters, :
made up his costume, a pair of cruel !
spurs -with tinkling pendants completing
its characteristic effect.
1 The lithe, wiry Mexican, dwarfed by
i the towering Tenton, only showed close
observers the firm knee grip of his legs
dangling straight down his horse's sides,
and scarcely resting on the light wooden
stirrnpe, just tonched by the ball of the
I foot
As they came well in sight, every eye
; resting on them in -eager scrutiny, Dale
Everett had risen from the general's box
and crossed the stretch into the paddock.
Leaning on the fence, wrapped in his :
long braided overcoat, he carelessly
j watched the group; but his quick eye .
ran over every point of man and beast
J and inventoried their weaknesses with
the intuition of horsemanship.
An old troop captain of Everett's
brigade approached his commander at j
the fence.
"Which is the dangerous one, general?"
; he asked. "The Frenchman is favorite, ,
! seven to four; Capt. Cecil second choice."
j "The Mexican," Everett answered, ;
j never moving his eyes from the horses, j
I "He rides. Chavirac's horse is grand;
the man will beat him."
"Is it known yet who rides for us?" !
the captain asked. "It was a cursed
. shame no one entered sooner, general.
] It warrants the sneer of these Creoles j
I that ull horsemanship followed Jeb Stuart
out of the army."
"The challenge is open until 3," Dale
Everett answered quietly. "I see Cameron
has Jonathan in the paddock.
Would you like to mount him and ride j
. for the First brigade?"
"Do you mean it, general?" The old
! trooper glanced to where the sturdy j
I groom could scarce restrain a plunging j
horse, hidden from muzzle to flank in a
| light cover. "Would you let me steer
that horse fresh from the fields, over {
these hurdles and that stiff water jump?" !
"What chance would he have against \
j those four, trained for weeks?" Dale j
asked.
"Not a ghost of one with me on his
back," the captain answered. "Only |
j your hand could save him a distance."
j "You old fox!" was the laughing re- !
, tort. "You're sure the horse would
! lose, but try to flatter me! Hang it, |
: Mosely, you're after the brigade adju- !
i tant's boots!" And with a laugh Everett :
j turned away, gave a final, steady look at j
j the group of riders, and passed behind |
| the weighing stand.
Again the bugle sounded clear and '
I shrill as the four contestants turned at
; the distance flag and galloped abreast by !
; the crowded stands. Then, as if from |
one impulse in the vast multitude, rang ;
out the wild applause. Shouts, clapping '
of hands and stamping of feet made rude
accompaniment for the musical pat of ;
dainty gloves and the rustle of waving
parasols.
Again the applause rang out as the
four riders passed the general's box with
whips at salate, and the grim soldier j
bin bof Tbnil obO/nct !
ruoo ttllU. xaxocu UiO uav. AUOU
their horses in mid career Chavirac and j
I Von Schlegen wheeled and fronted the :
! judges' stand, dead silence again falling
on the crowd.
For the third time the bugle sounded,
and Col Campbell, the senior judge,
j rose and read the challenge and announced
the conditions of the race:
"We, Philippe Victor, count de Chavirac,
staff captain of the army of ,
j France, and Heros, baron Von Schlegen, j
j of the German lancers, as a friendly
I test of riding, do challenge all comers,
j not professionals, to a race of one and
I one-half miles, over hurdles and water
jumps, as decided; each entry to ride his
own horse; catch weights, no allowI
ances, and no horse to have a record; the
prize to be one lady's riding switch, and
i no rider to wager upon the result; race
to take-place over the Metairie track and
incloeure not later than 3 o'clock on
i Monday, Feb. 8, 1860, and entries to be
i open until that day and hour,"
Crti Pnmnluill folded the document
and added: "I call the challengers:
Capts. Chavirac and Von Schlegen, such
are your challenge and conditions?"
; Both bowed their heads?the German
silently, the Frenchman with the arroj
gant words:
j "I made the challenge; I will ride and
win it fairly!"
j As the challengers turned towards the
| gate Col. Campbell called out:
"Do any riders accept the challenge?"
Hoyne-Cecil rode, up answering cheer!
! "I, Herbert Martindale Hoyne-Cecil,
| captain of her majesty's lifeguards, ac!
cept all conditions, and ride for En!
gland!"
"And I, Manuel Jesus de la Vega y
; Cambral, ensign Tenth Mexican battalion,
accept all conditions!" cried the
j Mexican.
I And the moment after the four rivals
j were about the scales, where a young
j quartermaster took their weights, for
j form'8 sake only.
I "Is there any other accepting this
j challenge? All entries close at 8 pjn.,"
| again called out Col, Campbell. He
! looked uneasily at his watch; it showed
| ono minute loft.
j No answer came, and Chavirac, turn;
ing to the Creole near him, said:
"As I supposed! This Vankee Don
I Quixote who would ride untrained
against mo is Punchinello! Voila!"
i Twenty seconds more of dead silence;
then people began to turn their eyes
j from the judges' stand. It was evident
; that the rumor of an American acceptance
was false.
; Brilliant eyes flashed amused glances
-under long black lashes at the general's
box, where his brilliant ribbons fluttered
i gayly, and then their owners, caressing
. the colors on their parasols, turned to
! their escorts with tflat pretty little moue
that only the Creolo woman can make.
All this for twenty seconds?time
enough, with opportunity, to win a
woman or to lose a world! Then aclear,
j sonorous voice, like the order to charge,
Tang out:
"Hero!"
Round to front tho judges rode a lithe,
i vreet figure, in whito shell jacket, blue
J ilireeclies and red sash; a blue cap, and
y ailing boots fitting like gloves and seemingly
as light, completing thq,dress.
The horse he controlled -with light
iand was a jetty black, his coat shining
i like satin in the sun and his small head
' tossing continually, as though scenting
the contest and eager to begin it.
.Rather long limbed for absolute beauty,
his:sixteen-hnnd height was enhanced by
flatness of forearms that quivered with
elastic muscle; but -his depth of chest
| and long slopel thighs told of power
' and stay equal to the intelligence denoted
by breadth between the eyes.
There wns dead silence on the crowd.
"The Creoles, the Diegoa, even tho Germans
and English?who had so applauded
the known entries?had small sympathy
with the unknown federal soldier:
less with the flag for which lie was
champion.
Aa the rider first appeared a tall PierTot,
standing near the gate, had swung
.his hands together to start applause.
"BaW" growiea ^scarrea bicuwu umu :
him. "You are French, from your drees. ' ,
Why would you cry for the Yankee?" j
"Canaille!" answered the Pierrot,
"have you eyes? Cannot you Bee that
he is a man and a rider?"
Just then the rider spoke a name that ;
had penetrated Confederate lines many '
a time with echoes of gallantry in fight <
and pen tie humanity in conquest.
"Here!" he cried, in calm, ringing
voice that dominated the ear of the
crowd. "I, Dale Everett, commanding |
the .First brigade, Army of the Mississippi,
accept this challenge in all its conditions,
and ride for the United States!" |
As he spoke the generous nature of the
southron overcame popular prejudice,
and applause roared and rattled from
the stands, only to be sent hack from
the thronged stretch. Twice it died
away, then swelled out louder than before,
and the motion of Col. Campbell's
lipe was all the acceptance Everett received.
As he turned toward the scales
the Pierrot wheeled upon his neighbor.
- "Tiens, Diego!" he said, "our people
are only doing themselves justice. By
that scar over your pretty nose you
served the Confeds? So did X. Let us
give him one good old rebel yell!"
The Diego smiled grimly and held out
a horny band to the Pierrot. In two
seconds the famous "rebel yell," started
by the two, echoed in its fierce wildness
from every quarter of the field, and even
around the general on the stand?the
same curdling cry that had swung the
tattered battalion# over many an otherwise
impenetrable breastwork, when
The iron clad hoofs cluttered hack Into hell
From our l>arefooted boys!
[TO DK CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.]
piscrllantous fading.
~ STOPPED THEIR GROWING.'
Next to the dog who amuses himself
by barking all night, a rooster that
persists in exercising his voice is
nature's own nuisance, especially when
the rooster lives in town. A banker
who used to live next door to Dr. Jim
White, in Richmond, Va., owned two
little Bantam roosters, that he had
taught to crow for a grain of corn.
He would take a double handfull of
corn out into the back porch, lift his
hand and the chickens would crow.
Then he would give a grain to each
of them. This would be continued
until all the corn was exhausted and
the roosters were hourse. This sort of
thing annoyed Dr. White. He didn't
mind the quality of the noise, but he
objected to the quantity. One day a
medical student dropped into his oflice
about the time the serenade began.
"I'd give five dollars to shut oft'that
infernal noise," said the doctor.
"You can do it for less than that,"
said the student. "Why don't you
entice them into your back yard some
time when old Rufe is down town,
catch them, and cut their vocal chord ?"
"By Jove! That's the thing. Come
round to-morrow at. eleven o'clock
and assist me in the opemtiou."
The next day at the appointed hour
the student was in the office on time :
so were the roosters.
With in two minutes one vocal chord
of each chicken was cut, and then the
birds were tossed over the fence to
their home. At noon the owner came
on his porch for his daily amusement.
White and the student watched him
through a crack in the fence. He
lifted his hand, and the little squallers
reared back and went through the
motions, but did not utter a sound.
The banker lifted his hand ugain, with
the same result. He went out into the
yard and walked around his pets, but
lie couldn't see anything wrong.
Then he called his wife, and the two
made a critical examination. He
made them go through their pantomine
for an hour, and got disgusted.
He tried it every day for a week, and
then killed the roosters and ate them.
When he found out six months afterward
what White had done, he bought
two large donkey voiced parrots, and
trained them to say " Dr. White"
and "White is an ass," and hung their
cages in his hack porch.
White moved in a week.
A NOVEL SCHEME*FOR PRODUCING RAIN.
Senator Farwell of Illinois, proposes
after his term of ollice expires,
' which will he next March, to devote
himself to the scientific work of trying
| to produce rain by the firing of earti
ridges of gunpowder or nitro-glycerine
K:--' "if Tlitrimr flip lust
! IIJJ 111 IUV 1411 ...0
j session, congress appropriated two
thousand dollars for carrying on ex|
periincnts of the kind, but Senutor
| Farwell does not intend to limit hirai
self to this small sum, and will, if
| necessary, contribute from his own
i pocket such sum as may be necessary
i to complete the trial to his satisfaction.
I The main fact on which the theory of
; the experiments is based, is the eir;
cumstance that heavy cannonading is
i often followed, after a day or two, by j
; rain, Acting on this observation, atj
tempts have been made at intervals,
during the last hundred years, to proi
(luce rain by firing cannon, and proi
ducing concussions of the air in other
m'.ivm hut without much success. Sen
! "MJ"? - ,
| utor Farwell, however, saiys that, du- j
| riujx the construction of the Central i
: Pacific railroad through the arid region j
! east.of the Rocky mountains, where a
| great deal of blasting was necessary, it
! rained every day that there was blast- j
! ing. For this reason he thinks that a
i sharp explosion of nitro-glycerine, pro;
duced high up in theuir, would be more
| effective tban cannon firing near t he
ground, and he proposes to send up
i balloons in the dry portions of westj
ern Kansas and Colorado, furnished
; with torpedoes and slow matches, by
which he hopes to obtain a concussion
! extending for fifty miles in every di!
rection.
! The American Architect thinks that
: while the scheme does not give a very
j great promise of success, it would be
j interesting to see the experiment tried
and even partial success would be of
j great value. If the fanners of Colorado
and western Kansas could get a
I shower once a week by sending up
torpedoes every day, the result would
! be well worth the trouble, and there is
j plenty of reason to suppose that such
artificial showers, by fostering the
| growth of vegetation, would in time
i produce the conditions which lead to
' regular natural showers, and the consequent
permanent establishment of fertility
throughout the region to which
the process is to be applied.
Lanuiauk ok I'mbkki.i.as.?There
is a language of umbrellas as well as
of fIowei*s. For instance, place your
umbrella in a rack, and it will indicate
j that it will change owners. To open it
quickly in the street means that somebody's
eye is going to be put out: to
i shut it, that a hat or two is to be
knocked off. An umbrella carried
j over a woman, when the man is getting
, but the drippings of the rain, signifies
i I'lnii'timr when the man has the um
brella and tin* woman the drippings, it
indicates marriage. To punch your
' nmhrclla into a person and then open
it means "I dislike yon." To swing
your umbrella over your head signi lies
*I am making a nuisance of myself."
To trail your umbrella along the f'oot!
path means that the man behind you
| is thirsting for your blood. To carry
it at right angles under your arm sigI
nifies that an eye is to he lost by the
I man who follows you.
To open an umbrella quickly, it is
said, frightens a mad bull. To put a
j cotton umbrella by the side of a silk
I one signifies Kxchange is no robbery."
To purchase an umbrella means. am
not smart, but honest." To lend an
! umbrella indicates, "1 am a fool!"
; To return an umbrella means well,
IlCVCr I111IH1 YY Iiut It UICUIIO; iivwwmj ; ?
ever does that! To carry your umbrel- 1
la in a case signifies it is a shabby one. i
To carry an umbrella just high enough
to tear out men's eyes and knock off 1
men's hats, signifies "I am a woman." '
To press an umbrella on your friend, f
saying, "0, do take it; I had much i
rather yon would than not!" signifies f
lying. To give a friend half your um- 1
brella means that both of you will get i
wet. To carry it from home in the 1
morning means that."it will clear off." 1
HISTORY OP WEIGHTS* AND MEASURES. ,
The jewelers of the middle ages used j
in their delicate scales the hard brown j
seeds of the Moorish Carob tree (Cera- ]
lOIllU bIU(|UU^ auu me nciguv v? ^uv <
diamonds is still reckoned by carats, <
each carat being equal to 3 1-6 grains j
troy. The earliest attempt to regulate 1
British weights and measures appears
to have been suggested by this example.
In 1266 it was declared by stat- ,
ute that "an English penny, called a
sterling, round and without any clip- j
ping, shall weigh 32 wheat corns in ,
the midst of the ear; and 20 pence do
make an ounce, and 12 ounces one ,
pound; and 8 pounds do make a gallon
of wine, and 8 gallons of wine do
make a London bushel, wbtcUft an
eighth part of a quarter." We have
here the basis of the British system of
reckoning as if survives to-day?the
grain, pennyweight, ounce, pound, gallon,
bushel and ton, and 240 silver
pence equal to a pound sterling. The
British gallon is still used for both dry
and liquid measure; and the traditional
relation between the pound and the
gallon is set forth in the old rhyme,
which declares that
"A pint's a pound
The world wround."
In 1324 the measures of length were ;
defined by a similar statute providing
that "three barleycorns, round and
dry, laid end to end," shall make 1
inch, 12 inches a foot, 8 feet a yard.
The 32 wheat corns, adopted as the
basis of the British system, appear to
have weighed 22J grains troy, so that
the pound of 1266 was equal to 5,400
grains troy. This i9 the old Saxon
pound. The pound troy (pound duroy)
is the Roman pound, and was
doubtless in use simultaneously M'ith
the Saxon pound for hundreds of
years, but is first mentioned in the
statutes of 1414, and was ordained as
the standard weight of gold and silver
in 1527. As 24 g.'ains make a pennyweight
troy, the new pound contained
6,770 grains, exceeding the old weight
by 350 grains, or three-quarters of an
ounce.
The strict pound of 12 ounces was
used only in weighing the precious
metals, and, with different subdivisions,
'for the costly drugs and medicines
dealt out by apothecaries. For heavy
goods (avoirs du poids) a more liberal
measure was given, like the baker's
dozen, and 15 ounces was called a
pound. In the same way 28 pounds
were called a quarter, and 112 pounds
a hundredweight, allowance being
made for waste or wrappings. The increase
of the pennyweight to 24 grains
in 1527 raised the value of the ounce
to 480 grains; and accordingly the
pound of commerce containing 15
ounces was raised to 7,200 grains. As
250 grains of wine were reckoned
equal to a cubic inch, the gallon containing
8 of these pounds, or 57,600
grains, had a capacity of 230.4, or in
even numbers 231 cubic inches. This
is the wine gallon now in use in the
United States. The ale or beer gallon
of 282 cubic inches was originally
a measure containing 8 pounds of
wheat at 204 grains to the cubic inch.
The name avoirdupois was transferred
at a very early date from the
heavy goods, which it indicated, to the j
system by which they were weighed, j
It occurs first in the statutes of 1335 I
and 1353. The early pound of 15 j
ounces of 450 grains each (6,750 grains) i
was raised by law, as has been shown, j
to 7,200 grains, making 16 of the old ;
ounces. In practice, however, the j
pound seems to have fallen below this j
standard to about 7,000 grains, and
this weight was finally declared to be
a pound avoirdupois, the avoirdupois
ounce, or sixteenth of the pound, being
thus reduced to 4371 grains.?Harper's
Magazine.
IV IVnUYMtQ riuucu
n.l l.iuu.i.uo v.. ,
Some years ago the friends of a j
Parisian thief adopted a decidedly j
unique method of carrying on a clan- J
destine correspondence with him while J
he was awaiting trial. One day the
jailer was visited by the prisoner's be- :
trot lied, who asked him to give her j
lover an envelope. This upon being ;
opened was found to contain simply a j
small lock of her hair, around which j
was folded a leaf of a book. The jailer
did not consider it worth his while
to deliver this souvenir to the culprit, j
and therefore threw it aside.
A day or two later a similar inclosure j
was handed in at the prison gate and
shared the fate of its predecessor. In j
the course of a week another was left j
by the same person. This aroused
the suspicion of the governor of the
prison, to whom had been detailed the j
circumstances. He determined to in j
I vestigate the meaning, and according- !
ly first examined the printed leaf. j
This he found was torn from a novel
and contained twenty-six lines on each {
l side. He then turned his attention to '
i the hair, and discovered that there j
i were twenty-six pieces of unequal i
i length. This puzzled him for a while, i
| and then suddenly jumping to the con- '
elusion that there must be some eonj
nection between the number of the j
I printed lines and the number of hairs, i
: lie laid each of the latter, along the i
' - ? iA.11..
, line of the page uiey respecmuiy
{ reached, beginning with the sliortest
j hair at the top of the page.
! After ehnnging them about sevi
eral times he discovered each
hair pointed to a different letter
and the combination thus produced
' a slang sentence. by means of which
the prisoner was given to understand
' that his friends had ascertained the day
on which he was to be taken to court
and were determined to make a bold
[ attempt to rescue him as soon as he
made his appearance.
Taking the cue the governor adopted
every precaution to furstrate the
well-laid plans of the outsiders: the
attempt was made and as a natural
consequence, the conspirators soon
found themselves in the same condition
as the one for whom they had
planned the rescue.
Thk Richkst Max ix Amkrica.?
Men in a position to judge of the fortunes
of the wealthy men of the country
are beginning to agree that Mr.
Rockefeller is the richest man in the
I'nited States, and consequently in
America. The collective wealth oft he
Astors or Vanderbilts is as wealthy.
Jay Could is reckoned many millions
below him in actual riches. Judge
Stevenson Burke, the Cleveland attorney,
capitalist. and railroad man. told
me recently that Mr. Rockefeller was
the richest man in America. The
judge was formerly an attorney of the
Vanderbilts and he had dealings with
Jay Could, so that he is in a position to
judge. He thinks that Mr. Rockefeller's
yearly income is now nearly $1.000.0(H)
per year. It has all been made
out of his Standard Oil Company, of
which great monopoly Mr. Rockefeller
is the principal stockholder.?New
York Star.
W.vsiiixotox's Dkath.?Mr. Ceorge
Ticknor, who wrote "The History of
Spanish Literature," and "The Life of
I'reseott." remembered distinctly the
death of Washington. He says in his
diary :
There never was a more striking or
was paid in Boston, when the news
;>ame of Washington's death.
It was on December 14,1799, a little
before noon, and Mr. Tickn'or says:
'I often heard persons say, a'; the
lime, that one could know how frr the
lews had spread, by the closing of the
jhops. Each man, when he heard that
Washinton was dead, shut his store,
is a matter of course, without consul's
t ion, and in two hours all business
was stopped.
"My father came home/and could
not speak, he was so overcome. My
mother was alarmed to see him hi such
i state, till he recovered enough to tell
her the sad news. For some time
every one, even the children, wore
2rape on the arm. No boy could go
into the street without it. I. wore it,
though only eight year old."
What Fbee Coinage Is.?While
several gentlemen were talking at the
Markham, one of them asked concern- .
ing the meaning of the term "free coinage"
as it is often heard nomadays. An
experienced mining man ex]ilained
as follows: * ' :v
"Free coinage means that the gov- '-.'i
ernment should coin silver as .it coins
glod, free of charge. "There are now
four coinage mints in the United . *
States. They are located at San Francisco,
New Orleans, Carson City and
Philadelphia. Any man who will take
" ' l-i.
gold 10 any 01 mese luiuto way icv??c
the gold in the shape of coin. Silver
is not recognized on the same basis,
and this is what the silver men demand.
"There are two facts I can learn
when I look at $20 gold pieces," continued
the gentleman, "and those are
the mint where the coin was turned
out and the initials of the man who
made the die. If you don't, know,
where to look for the marks it is a
hopeless task, but the person who pen-.
etrates the secret must have a new
coin and a good pair of eyes."
That Monster Tree.?The largest
and most perfect big tree in California,
has been selected for exhibition at the
World's Fair in Chicago. The tree is
from the mammoth forest in Tulare
county, Cal., and measures ninety
feet in circumference at the base. The
height of this monster specimen is 312
feet, being 172 feet to the first limb,
which limb measures three feet in diameter.
The tree is supposed to be
nearly 3,000 years old, taking each
concentric ring to be of one year's
growth. It to be taken from an altitude
of 6,325 feet above the level of
the sea, and thirty-three miles from
the nearest railroad point.
One section of the tree has been cut
out and placed on enormous hinges, so
as to swing open and shut like a door.
TVio interim* has heen hollowed out in
order to accommodate visitors, of which
over 100 will be able to enter and remain
inside of the tree trunk at the
same time.
This unique exhibit will bo fitted up
with 250 incandescent electric lights,
which will be distributed so as to
illuminate the interior as well as the
outside of the tree.
Good Shots at Indians.?The war
has developed some fine shots in the
army, as the large percentage of fatally
wounded Indians shows. The finest
shot I ever saw was made by a little
German who worked a Hotchkiss gun.
A wagon containing three host ilea was
passing a ridge 1,800 yanls distant.
The Dutchman sighted along his piece
and cut loose. The shell struck the
wagon just under the seat and the
whole outfit apparently exhaled. It
was there and it was not. The hostiles
never knew what caused it. Then
I saw a soldier with a Springfield kill
an Indian at 800 yards. The buck
hnrsphardr and was drODDine? bul
lets in among us from a Winchester
quite too frequently to be wholly pleasant.
A private took a sight at him
and knocked him from his horse with
the first shot. The Indian attempted
to rise, and the mqjor who was conducting
the affair, advised the soldier
to try another. The second did the
work, for with a few contortions the
Bruel spread himself out on the prairie,
dead.?Chicago Tribune.
An Indian's Joke.?Two young
women in Dakota were alone one day
when a young Indian brave, whom
they knew, came to see the man of the
house. The man was away, and the
Tuition ant. dnwn to wait for him. Du
ring this interval, the girls, being of
a lively turn, began asking him questions
about his former mode of life;
among other things they asked him to
give a war-whoop and show them how
he scalped people, but he gave no
answer. Some time afterward, when
they were talking of other subjects and
had forgotten all about him, he sprang
up suddenly, gave a war-hoop that
made the housetop ring; then, snatching
a big knife that lay on the table
with one hand, he took the top-knot of
one of the girls in the other, and ran
the back of the knife around her scalp.
They were each scalped in this manner,
and were nearly frightened out of
their wits; but he sat down and began
to laugh, and told them he had only
done what they had asked him to do.
A sallow-faced woman, with a
wealth of freckles on her long nose,
entered an Austin street-car. There
were eight or ten well dressed gentlemen
in the car, but none of them
showed any inclination to give her a
seat. After she had waited a reasonable
time she remarked, with asperity : "Ef
any of you galloots air wuiten for me
to squat in your laps, you are a sucked
in crowd, for 1 want you to understand
I am a lady from the ground up." A
dread that she was not in earnest
about not sitting in their laps, caused
six. of the gentlemen to leave the car,
says Texas Sittings.
tort?' Not long ago in London a preacher
indulged in a little bit of sareasm
over a small collection, and he did it
very neatly; "When I look at the
congregation'" said he, 'T ask where
are the poor? and when I look at the
collection I ask, where are the rich?"
That London preacher must be a distant
relation of Dean Swift, who is
said to have preached the briefest
begging sermon ever heard. He took
for his text these words: "He that
givetli to the poor, lendeth to the
Lord"?and looking round upon his
congregation said: "You have heard
the conditions; if you are satisfied with '
the security, down with the dust.".
Thky <;o Quickly.?The heroes of
the civil war have disappeared much
sooner after its close than did those of
the Revolution. It was half a century
after the Declaration of Independence
before Adams and Jefferson died, and
the year before their death the White
House had been vacated by a president
who had joined the army in 1776. It
is but thirty years now since the firing
on l'orl Sumter, and the great leaders
of that period in both civil and military
life are all gone.
Husbands.?Good husbands cannot
be spoiled by petting. Bad ones will
not be made worse by the process ; they
may be made better. One and all they
like it. Not only fondling and love
words, but to have their home-eomingsat
evening to be accounted events;
they enjoy pretty surprises and favorite
dishes, the flowers laid by the
l plate, the liecoming gown or r'.bbon
put on to please their eyes. It is the
"little by little" that makes up the
1 weal or woe of life.