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THE COUNTRY FAIR Charles Yon Kalck • Your tale is very good ; still, of course, it It a Hall story. But I will tell you a real adventure 1 had in Hamburg on my lust nip through Germany, "You all know that the old women who sell Bah in that city have the worldwide reputation of being blessed with a Won derful amount of temper and volubility, tnd when once excited will display a knowledge of invectives that is most as ion tab ing. Pure curiosity brought me one morning down to the fish row. and as I wanted lo heat one of those celebrities , in |be full glory ol her language, I design I edly stumbled over a basket belonging ] to one of the matrons, upsetting it and i completely scattering the Hsh in every I direction. At onco a shower oi all the | possible and impossible attributes, names and comparisons fell upon me, and I I stood waiting for tho fill ale, as an idea popped into my head that I made use of ut once. Tho old woman had stopped for an instant in the torrent of ber abuse, and 1 Smarted to say the Russian alpha bet: Az, Buky, Vedy. Glogel, Dobro, etc. With her nioutn wide open sho looked at me. and before I was half through she called: 'For God's sake, stop! put I hem down! put them down. I thought 1 knew tbem all. hut those I never heard before; they are just lovely, l'ut them down !' " Tho story was atisuvred by tho gene ral laughter of all present, a company of young and old men. sitting in the gen tleman's room of the tavern in BeresOWka. who had conic to attend the annual fair and were cither members of the nobility, owning the neighboring estates, or tneir representatives. .... .., The annual fair of a Russian village is an event of the greatest importance to all classes living in the vicinity. I'heowner of* the large estate sells all bis old stock and buys younger animals. The peasant here disposes ot horses and cattle of his own raising. The wife of the laborer brings her geese, ducks or chickens to the fair and finds a ready market. The city merchant offers his out-of-date goods at low prices anil finds among tlx; laboring classes and tho peasantry willing buyers. The country fair is a necessity iv Rus sia,, as much so as arc stock yards in an American community. Beresowka bad changed its appearance; the generally quiet, unassuming little vil lage had become tho scene of busy life. On one side of tho thoroughfare was erected a long row of roughly constructed sheds, in which the city merchants had a largo display of cotton and woolen goods. Before each was posted v young man as v caller. This youth.displaying a wonderful flow of language, is dressed in high boots, the pantaloons tucked into the legs and bang ing over them, similar to a now fashion able "leg of mutton" sleeve turned up side down; in a rod silk shirt, falling over the top of the trousers and held around the waist by a green or blue silk rope with large tassels; a kaftun or coat, with tight-fitting waist, ornamented on both s ties with small bright buttons and the lower part that nearly reaches to the an kles, attached to it in the manner of a woman's skirt, but open in the front; a black cap and the hair hanging down nearly to tl.e neck and cut off in v fault less straight line. "You can buy here everything your heart wishes," he screeches; "we have calico and silks; Turkish tobacco and pickled cucumbers: gowns, boots, crack nels and fur coats; harness, tea, pipes, candies and handkerchiefs: come in! it costs you nothing to look at our goods you get ricli by buying from us; do not go to the fellow next door, his shelves are but till' ' 1 ; n the front; and his goods are stale, w ,d ours are breaking down Un der tbii weight that is piled upon tbem; and the goods as fresh as thoy can be. Here beauty,''addressing a young lass passing by, "you must bave a pair of earrings, come in, we have dandies. — Say old man, your pipe is falling to pieces, come in, we will sell you one tor ")0 kopecks that will hist long enough for your grandson to sniolrT?. Ah! Barishna!" lie tui ns, using tno title of an unmarried lady, to a chambermaid dressed in the general European style, "lean sell you the finest gloves for a mere song, ami a pair of shoes that will make your little feet appear still smaller; just come in alio bless our goods with a look from your beautiful eyes." And so ho keeps on from the early morning until late at nlgbt, ilio incarnation of a 'perpetuum mobile.' Joining the lowof sheds are tents where old women sell "bliny," buckwheat pan cakes, fried in the oil of sunflower seed: some oripplea offer "utky" whistles in the shape of ducks, the tail forming the mouthpiece, and by closing witb the first linger either of the two holes on the sides, where tbe imagination may pic ture the beginning of the wings, differ ent sounds arc produced only appreciated by a Russian child. Then follow the dealers in woodenware. having always a great demand for their goods, as the peas ant, with tbo excepting for tea, uses no cbinaware at all, offering large stacks of big and little dishes holding from ten quarts to a quarter of a pint, nearly all of the same sbap . similar to the Ameri can soup bowl, turned from willow wood, painted brown, decorated in a Turkish pattern of bright colors and covered with a varnish that is even able to withstand the attack of heat from the Quid victuals served in it. Hig piles of wooden spoons attract the attention of the passer-by. They are all of one size, the shape of a hollow ball cut in two, witli short round Dandle ending in a little knob, painted nnd decorated in the same style as the dishes. Scattered among all those she Is, fonts and open places are a great many stands for sweetmeats, laden wilh candy made of Hour, water and a little sugar, orna mented with small pictures in glaring colors: stick candy broken into equal parts and wrapped in colored and fringed paper, containing each a motto of ques tionable value; dried carob beans; nuts, and the inevitable sunflower seed, which children, women and men consume hy the quart, sitting for hours, breaking the seed with their front teeth, extract ing by an ingenious twist of the tongue tiie. kernel, and Diowillg the hulls out with a celerity that might awaken envy in a squirrel. Near those .stands is gen erally a beggar, exposing some horrible deformity of his limbs, singing a monot onous tune. Often they aru but children used by gypsies to impose upon the kindly feelings of the public; stolen offspring of some poor peasant woman, maimer l be yond recognition and condemned to live this horrible life for the purpose on/y of tilling the pockets of these laay and worthless wild beasts of humanity. On the other side of the thoroughfnro is lirst v long row of wagons laden with apples, poultry, bore and there a couple of sheep, a calf or a pig, a roll of home spun cloth or linen, tubs of melted butter for the kitchen use during winter time; honey, eggs und whatever men thut till the soil can produce Then fojlows a row of cattle, milk cows, young and old steers for use In harness, or waiting for v buyer to bo stall-fed and killed the coming spring; and at last, the liveliest place of the whole pair, the string of horses, tied to wagons, posts or fences, joining a big open space used for examination and trial. First came tho young stock—some lino specimens, well groomed and under blankets, restlessly stamping the ground with iheir well-formed hoofs, with liery eyes in shapely heads, showing plainly that noble blood was coursing through their veins. Then followed older animals, and at last the poor creatures that had served faithfully until old age had come and were sold now to the wealthy men by the dozens to bo fattened with soft food, then killed, the carcasses thrown to the hounds, or poisoned und used as bait for wolves; the hides sold to the tanner ies, making the leather for the celebrated Russian waterproof boots. This i» the part of the fair that would make a good Christian's heart tremble, who believes men have to account for overy falsehood they tell: for it would keep St. Peter and nil his clerks busy to put nil those hap penings down that are entered into tho big books marked with fiery letters, "lies:" Peasants, gypsies, commoners from the city an 1 the ever wandering Jew, are try ing to get the best of each otlter; assert in- under oath what nobody believes. "Ah. good morning. Mikita Jaruslav, " remarked a foul-looking Jew, well per fumed with o odeur de fa Neur de garlic addressing a young peasant dressed 111 his best. This best was a low black hat, tbe rim turned straight up and two brleht peacock feathers standing proudly In the air; a brown kaftan," a calico shirt of small flowered pattern, black vel veteen trousers and the boots dripping and shining from Ihe free application of wooil tar, boiled with sheeps' tallow. "How do you like my mare?" continued the Jew, "isn't she a beauty? Gentle as a lamb, true as steel; how will you trade for your little horse? Too small for you," oh?" "Go to the devil, you smooth-tongued luir!" answered Mikita; "thut old plug! I wouldn't hays it for a gift." "Gott der Gerechterl exclaimed the Jew; "calls this man my marc a plug? Have I ever put. my eyes on a better 'klatske?' No, Mikita, your temper is bad this morning. Let's go and have a 'vodka;' that settles your stomach, makes you feel better. Just have I refused 126 rubles for the animal, and you call it a plug. Rut I see you are only joking; come, let us take a 'vodka.' " "I don't mind to drink," said Nikita, "hut I won't trade horses." "All right, all right, we will drink to warm our friendship up. If make any 'mascm atten 1 today we" may do it tomorrow; you know me, I am an honest Jew." "Yes. honest!" sneered Nikita, "your face looks as if you had it stolen from the picture gallery of the devil's grandmoth er. The idea, to trade for my horse. Small, what, of it? Hut he can go Ilk* a cannon ball. When my wife and I go Sun days to church the people all stop to look at us as we pass." "Well, well, no trade is no trade, but we go and have v drink." the Jew philosophsied, and turning to an individ ual of his own race, he said something In the peculiar Jewish jargon, a mixture of Hebrew, German and Russian, and walked off with Nikita to the tavern. The other Jew rushed off as soon as he saw his friend enter witli the peasant, and quickly had a strong hair. tukon from the tail of the animal, tied around the ankle of Nikita' horse; then ex changed a few words with a gypsy and a ma" who looked like an escaped jailbird, ami returned with a diabolic grin on his artful face. Nikita and the Jew were talking and drinking as a gypsy and another man en tered the place, am! ordering some ''vodka," the latter said: "A devilish fine horse, that mare of Moses Weiss mann; he asks 150 rubles; it is not too much, but I shall try to get her for 135." "Hush up!" answered the gypsy, pre tending to speak low but still loud enough or Nikita to hear him. "The old fox is standing right behind us. If he finds out that you want the horse he never will sell it for any such money." Both emptied their glasses and walked out. Soon the Jew and Nikita followed, walking slowly along the road, taking bere and there a look at the display of | merchandise, Tbey passed the stand of the money changer, who is kept by the government under bonds, so as not to circulate counterfeit money, and has the right to charge 1 per cent lor exchanging currency for silver and oopper and vice versa, arriving at last at Nikita's horse and wagon tied to the fence of a peasant's yard. "The horse is small," said the Jew. "but well built; looks as if he can travel. I never have seen him go iv full speed. If you wish to put him into my hands, 1 ' may get you a good price.'' "No, I told you tlic horse not for sale." answered Nikita, "hut jump in; I will show you what he can do." The Jew climbed in the wagon and ! Nikita untie 1 the horse, patted the neck I of his pride and started; but, lo! the uni- I mal was lame—it could hardly walk. The i Jew laughed and accused Nikita of boa-t --ing with a crippled horse. Soon there gathered a crowd, and a big man in city clothes stepped forward and declared, claiming to be a veterinary surgeon, that I the horse had its shoulder dislocated, I rendering it useless, as It was an incur able case. Nikita felt as if a mountain [ had fallen upon him and believing bis horse to be unlit for future use he asked the Jew the price of the mare, lie bad a short time ago called a plug. , "One hundred and li ft y rubles is my price, "islid the Jew, "but I see you ire In bad luck. To show you that I am your 1 friend and an honest Jew. I will take 101 j rubles and your horse and Will try my I best to cure him. If I Succeed, you can I buy bim from mo for 50 rubles ana if I ] don't 1 am the loser." This proposition seemed to Nikita too ! good to refuse and ho accepted, paid the ! money and soon drove off with his new horse" ' As soon as Nikita got out of sight the | Jew went to work. A quick cut liberated | the suffering animal from the tightly | drawn horsehair ; v little liniment relieved the inflammation and in half an hour the horse was as active ns ever. Now the Jew went to the tavern, rapped at the door of the gentlemen's room, and put his head inside asking for Andrea Michaelowitoll Kostjakow. "Come in. you old sinner," I said 'the young man, our old acquaint ! ance. who told us of his adventure with j the lisher woman at the beginning of our l story, "anything new?" "Your honor," answered the Jew, "I ; have your brown marc traded off. (lot a line, very tine, extra 'me horse, but 50 rubles I nad to pay to hoot; I give your honor 10'J rubles if your honor don't like it wie balstl I can't do any better.' "Wait a minute; I will take a look at the line horse you have. I suppose it is a plug as bad as the mare and you are trying to work mo for the money" said kostjakow rising slowly from his seat and thrusting in his pocket a few rubles ho had won in a game of cards. lie was a tall, muscularly built man of nearly lit) years of age, light complexioned anil with an extremely kind expression in his intelligent face. As he entered tho mar ket place the peasants all lifted their bats. They knew him; ho was the baron or landlord of Rerosowka. Arriving at the Jew's stand ho thoroughly examined the horse and asked: "With whom have you been trading. Weissmann? I told you not to cheat il peasant." "A city merchant your honor it was; he hid loaded too heavy with 'vodka' " was the prompt answer of the lying Jew. "But how in the world did you make ! the bucking brute even start.' inquired tiie young "burin." "Oh ! your honor, we aro fools, but some times we know something more than an evorv day fool," explained tho Jew. "A rouble spent for opium and brandy is well placed; but now, your honor, have the tine horso taken to your barn. I think the man will soon return afoot, and may want hack the horse, by this time the 'alatske' is sure dead." "You are a rogue, Weissmann; here arc your 50 rubles, now send the animal over to the stable, but if I find out that you have cheated a peasant I will turn the hounds on you and chase you from here to Moscow," threatened Kostjakow. start ing back to the tavern to join the com pany of his joking, smoking and drink ing friends. He had reached nearly the center of the village as a woman of about 35 years of age. careworn and in rags,stopped bim,by falling before him on her knees and touching the ground with her lorcbcnd. "Oct up. woman," said he, "what is it you want?" "Oh! Catushka!" (little father) ex claimed the wretched being, still remain ing on her knees, "fivo years ago my lit tle girl, then only .1 years old, disappeared, and as at that time some gypsies had a camp close by, 1 linve always suspected thoy stole my child. For live years I have been looking for her at ail the fairs, but have not found her. I may not know her again. as she must, have gro"wn np, but if you will help nio I possibly may lind my child, as she has two moles between her shoulder blades, one below the other right on the spine. Now. if you let me LOS AXGELES HERALD: SUXDAT MORNTN"Gr, MAT 5, 1895. SHOWING HOW THE CHINESE CONCESSIONS TO JAPAN ENCROACH ON RUSSIA The Shading In the nap of Manchuria Shows the Ceded Portion examine all tho begging children here I will pray lor you ail mv life." "I will do it," Bald tlic young "barm without hesitating, moved by the story of tho kneeling woman, and Dlowing a short whistle ho bad at once the six mounted fair policemen surrounding him, "You will see that no beggar child is removed from its place until I tell you thai lam through," and the men went off to sou that his commund was obeyed to the letter. Andres Miehaelowitch Kostjakow. be ing tho "barm" of Beresowfca, had the highest police authority of that estate, and making use of his power, ho fol lowed the impulse of his kind heart, which prompted htm to give the unfor tunate mother a helping hand in the search for her lost girl. Starting from one end of tho village, each boy or girl that was asking alms crippled or not was closely examined by the woman under the protection of Kostja kow, followed by a large crowd that knew her and considered her insane in tho hope to lind her child. Fifteen little Welches had been inspect ed but none had the marks for which the poor mother was so eagerly seeking. Only a few more remained und her hope was almost extinguished as she approached a little boy of about eight years. Lack of care and proper food had made almost a skeleton of the child, and sitting in a little wagon the logs and arms und a part of the chest exposed to view showed sores of most repulsive character, making the impression as if the whole body of the child was covered with them. The woman carefully pulled the little soiled shirt of coarse linen tar enough back from the neck to permit a glimpse at the spot between the shoulder blades where her gtrl'had those two little moles. | She looked, she looked again : then turn ing the face of the boy to permit a full view of it she screamed out: "Madia, my child!" and fell senseless to tho ground. Helping bends took her and the little boy at ouco to the nearest house and summoned the doctor of the district. Kostjakow gave the order to arrest the gypsy family the child belonged to, but they had tfed us soon as they saw the way the search for the child was going on. ami having fully two hours' start were by this time out of the reach of justi c Olid under the protecting shade of the forest some feu versts (six miles) away. As the young"barm" entered the liouse where the mot her and her child bad found temporary shelter nnd were made THE PLIGHT OF THE NATIONS-Will They Kill Our Asiatic Trade? THE JAPANESE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT NEAR TOKIO comfortable, he was informed by the doc tor that the woman bud recovered and that the boy who had proven to be a girl in boy's clothes, was not wholly coveied | by tliose horrible sores. Only, on those ] piirts of the body which were exposed lo j view WAS a superficial ulceration, formed j by some poisonous salve. Tho news of What had happened in the last few hours was the talk of the fair, and as Kostja kow appealed to the merchants, vis itors and tho public in general for material help, placing a police man with a box near tho stand of the money changer, for the purpose of j receiving contributions, und making the lirst deposit of a 100 ruble bill himself; tho offerings came pouring in, and as the evening spread its darkening shadows over the busy little place, Andres Mlchael- OWlch was happy, being able to give the poor womun the pretty sum of 1000 rubles ($500.) On her knees sho thanked him,fully believing that he was a special messenger of God, sent by Him to restore to her the beloved child and make her. in her own estimation, a rich woman. The people that attend the fair in Be rosowku now have long forgotten the in cident thut created such an excitement twenty years ago. but it had brought its fruit. Andres Michaelowitch Kostjakow had not only stopped the begging of crippled children ut the fair on his estate, but through the influence of his friends in St. Petersburg, steps were taken to overcome this evil, und the fairs piesent the same appearance today ns they did years ago, except that one feature is taken from it, tiie "crippled child-beggar;" and as a natural consequencce the gypsies do not steal so many children, as it has be- . come unprofitable. The leading railroad in Connecticut baa applied to the legislature to prohibit the construction of electric roads between towns now connected by stenin linos. A tabic is submitted snowing that the sub urban truttic of the steam rouls in some cases bus been nlmost entirely lost. The points urged are that the legitimate busi ness of the old roads are disregarded und that the electric roads is infringing on the general highways belonging to the public. Stockings are first mentioned in litera ture as being worn .11 Italy about the yeuvlluO. They ure alluded to as v great invention and far superior to tho foimer practice of Wrapping the feet in cloth bandages. showing; the territory ceded by CHINA TO JAPAN HOUSE IN WHiCH THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN JAPAN AND CHINA WAS SIGNED Never Touched Him John Pnyn tells this story ol the "Amer -131111 plan of dueling, wherein tha two duelists, with one second, meet within doors and draw lots for who shall shoot himself. On a r»»cpnt. occasion A anil II having had a "dittlculty," A was Ihe Un lucky man, and retired for the purpose of self destruction Into the next apartment. H and tiie second, boil) very much moved by tlic tragedy of the sittuitio . remained in listening attitudes. At lust the pislol was hoard; they shuddered with emotion an I remorse, when suddenly in rushtd the supposed dead man. triumphantly exclaiming, "Missed 1 Except in winter, when water should ho given simrinply. palms shonld never be allowed" lo get dry! or the tips of the leaves will become yellow and brown, and the appearance of the plant will he greatly marred. When making new growth tbey need a moist atmosphere, which il is dif- Itcult to give them in a window. 15