The Madisonian., December 09, 1913, Image 7

About The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914

Image provided by: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

                
THE MADISONIAN
1 kSAJ TE BLAZED TPAL.
' KfP" CQMJUfiOfS ffOUSZETr.ETV.
ItCuSTESATKD BffiCARx&BD$T SMITH.
YNOPSIft.
Pmr Tferrow. a young scientist In
tanarrh of a loh, entera the office of
Bom" McCarthy of New Tork. Mc
Carthy ha Juet been threatened j an
anonymoua mmuiare ordering- him to flea
-to Europe. Ho does not tak tha mrs
wr eerlouety. narrow oes up tha
levator to try for a position with Dr.
Knox. Suddenly the electric apparatus
In tha Atlaa building- m out of buel
neee. Expert are unable to locate tha
trouble. All at once, without apparent
ron, electric connection are reetored.
The next evening- McCarthy Is warned
-that unleat he leavea at once for Europe
- sign will be cent him at tlx. Prompt
ly at that hour the entire electric appara--tua
of New Tork la cut off.
CHAPTER IV.
Darkness and Panle.
Probably tha only men In the whole
-of New Tork who accepted promtly
and unquestlonlngly tha (act that the
-entire electrical apparatui of the city
was paralyzed were those In the news
paper offices. These capable citizens,
accustomed to quick adaptations to
new environments and to wide reaches
-of the Imagination, made two or three
experiments, and accepted the Inevit
able. Within ten minutes the Despatch
had messenger boys on tap Instead of
bells,' bicycles Instead of telephones,
and a variety of lamps and candles In
place of electricity. Everybody else
In town was speculating why in blazes
-this visitation had struck them. The
Despatch was out after news. v
Marsden, city editor, detailed three
men to dig up expert opinion on why
it had all happened.
"And if the scientific men haven't
-any other notions, ask 'em If It's any
thing to do with the earth passing
through the tall of the comet," he told
them.
The rest of the staff he turned out
for stories of the effects. His Imag
ination was struck by the contempla
tion of a modern civilized city depriv
ed of Its nerve system.
After covering the usual police-sta
tion, theater and hotel assignments, he
sent Hallownll to the bridge; -Long
man to the Orand Central; Kennedy,
"Warren and Thomas to the tubes, sub
ways and ferries. The others he told
to go out on the streets.
They saw a city of four million peo
ple stopped short on Its way home to
-dinner! They saw a city, miles In ex
tent, set back without preparation to
a communication by messenger only!
They saw a city, unprepared, blinking
its way by the Inadequate Illumina
tions of a half-century gone by!
Hallowell found a packed mass of
humanity at the bridge. Where ordin
arily Is a crush, even with incessant
outgoing trains sucking away at the
surplus, now was a panic a panic the
more terrible In that it was solid, sul
len. Inert, motionless. Women fainted,
and stood unconscious, erect. Men
sank slowly from sight, agonized,
their faces contorted, but unheard in
-the dull roar of the crowd, and were
iseen no more. Around the edges peo
ple fought frantically to get out; oth
ers, with the blind, unreasoning, home
'instinct, fought as hard to get in.
The police were unavailing. They
"Can't You See How We Need Each
Otherr
' 'Could not penetrate to break the cen
ter. Across the bridge streamed a
procession of bruised and battered
humanity, escaped from or cast forth
by the maelstrom. The daylight was
fading, and within the sheds men
-could not see one another's faces.
Longman Vt the Orand Central ob-
, carved a Urge aud curious crowd that
filled the building and packed the
streets round-about. They waited for
their trains, and the twilight gathered.
Vor ten minutes tralas continued to
ntr the shed. This luxiled Long
man until ha remembered that gravity
would bring In those this side of Har
lan. Nora waut out The waiting
throng waa a feotbed lor rumors. Long
aoaa collected amah human-Interest
UV.ad -was) uUe veil saUafled with
iwjr
w r
his story until he saw what It had
meant elsewhere.
For in the subways and tubes the
stoppage of the trains had automatic
ally discontinued the suction ventila
tion. The underground thousands. In
mortal terror of the non-existent third-
rail danger, groped their way painfully
to the stations. With Inconceivable
swiftness the mephltic vapors gather
ed. Strong men staggered fainting
Into the streets. When revived they
told dreadful talea of stumbling over
windrows of bodies there below.
Through the gathering twilight of
the streets, dusky and shadowy, flitted
bat-like the criminals of the under
world. What thoy saw, that they
took. Growing bolder, they progress
ed from pocket-picking to holdups.
from holdups to looting. The police
reserves were all out; they could do
little. Favored by obscurity, the
thieves plundered. It would have
needed a solid cordon of officers to
have protected adequately the retail
district. Swiftly a guerrilla warfare
sprang up. Bullets whistled. An
archy raised Its snaky locks and peer
ed red-eyed through the darkened
streets of the city.
Here and there fire broke out. Men
on bicycles brought in the alarms;
then, as twilight thickened, men on
foot Chief Croker promptly estab
lished lookouts In all the tall towers,
as watchmen used a hundred years
ago to watch the night
At eight o'clock, two hours after
the inception of the curious phenom
ena, the condition suddenly passed.
Tha intimation came to the various
parts of the city In different ways.
Strangely enough, only gradually did
the lights and transportation facilities
resume their functions. Most of the
dynamos were being Inspected by
puzzled experts. Here and there the
blazing of a group of lights, the ring
ing of a bell, the response of a volt
or ammeter to test, hinted to the mas
ters of the lightnings that their rebel
lious steeds again answered the bit.
Within a half-hour the city'a illum
ination again reflected softly from
the haze of the autumn sky; the clang
of the merry trolley, the wall of the
motor's siren again smote the air.
Malachl McCarthy, having caught
a ride on a friendly dray, arrived home.
At eight ten his telephone bell for the
first time jangled Its summons. Mc
Carthy answered it.
"I'm Simmons, the wireless opera
tor," the small voice told him. "Say!
There's a lot of these fool messages In
the air again. You know what they
said last night about six o'clock, and
what happened."
"Let's have 'em," growled Mc
Carthy. "Here she is: . 'McCarthy, will you
do as I tell you? Answer. Remember
the sign at six o'clock.' It's signed
'M.'"
"Where did that come from?" asked
the boss.
"Can't tell, but sqmewheres a long
ways off."
"How do you know that?
"By the sound."
"How far about?"
"Might be anywhere."
"Can you get an answer back?"
"I think so. Can't tell whether my
spark will reach that far. I can send
out a call for 'M.' "
"Well, send this." said McCarthy.
" 'Go to hell.' "
On the evening of the phenomena
afore mentioned, Percy Darrow had re
turned to his apartments, where he
had dressed unusually early, and by
daylight. This was because he bad
a dinner engagement up-town. It was
an Informal engagement for a family
dinner at seven o'clock, but Percy bad
been requested by one of the mem
bers to come at about six. This was
because the other members would pre
sumably be dressing between six and
seven.
The young man found a fire blazing
on the hearth, although the evening
was warm. A graceful girl sat look
ing Into the flames. She did not rise
as the scientist entered, but held out
her hand with an air of engaging
frankness.
"Sit down," she Invited the guest
"This is a fearful and wonderful time
to aak you to venture abroad In your
dress clothes, but I wanted to see you
most particularly before the rest of
the family comes down."
"You are a singularly beautiful wom
an," observed Darrow In a detached
manner, as he disposed his long form
gracefully in the opposite armchair.
Th girl looked at him sharply.
"That is Intended as an excuse or
explanation not in the least as a com
pliment," Darrow went on.
"You would not be so oblllging. If
I were not beautiful?" shot back the
girl. "That Is Indeed not comple
mentary.'' "I should be exactly as obliging."
amended Darrow lazily, "bat I should
not feel so generally satisfied and
pleased and rewarded la advanee. I
should have more of feeling eg vir
tue, and less of one ot pleasure."
"1 see," said the girt, her brows stm
level. "Then I suppose you are not
Interested In what I might aak yon
as one human being to another!"
'Pardon me, Helen," Interrupted
Darrow, with unusual decision. "That
la Just what I am Interested In yon
as a human being, a delicious, beau
tiful, feminine, human being who could
mean half the created wlverse to a
lucky man."
"Thit not the whole
"No, not the whole," mused Dar
row, relaxing to his old Indolent atti
tude. "You see," he roused himself to
explain, "I am a scientist, for In
stance. Ton could not be a scientist;
you have not the training."
"Nor the brains." Interposed Helen
Warford, a trifle bitterly.
"Nor the kind of brains," amended
Darrow. "I have enough of that sort
myself," he added. Ha leaned forward,
a hunger leaping In the depths of bis
brown eyes. "Helen," be pleaded,
"can't you see how we need each
otherr
But the girl, shut both her eyes, and
shook her head vigorously.
"Unless people can be everything to
each other, they should be nothing
people like us," said she.
Darrow sighed and leaned back.
"I feel that way. hut the devil of It
Is I can't think It," said he. Then after
a pause: "What Is It you want of me,
Helen? I'm ready."
"Its Jack," said she.
"What's the matter with Jack?"
"Everything and nothing. He's just
out of college. This fall he must go
to work. Father wants blm to go Into
an office. Jack doesn't care much, and
will drift Into the office unless some
body stops him:"
"Well?" said Darrow.
"An office will ruin him. He Isn't
in the least interested In the things
they do in offices; and he's too high
spirited to settle down to a grind."
"He's like you In spirit, Helen." said
Darrow. "What Is he interested in?
"He's Interested In you."
"What!" cried Darrow. "Wish It
were a family trait."
"He thinks you are wonderful, and
he knows all about all your adventures
"I Do," He Said, "If You're Game."
and voyages with Doctor Schermer-
horn. He admires the way you look
and act and talk. I suspect blm of
trying to Imitate you." Helen's eyes
gleamed with amusement.
Darrow smiled his slow and languid
smile.
"The last time I saw Jack he stood
six feet and weighed about one hun
dred and eight-five pounds," he pointed
out.
"The Imitation is funny," admitted
Helen, "but based on genuine admira
tion." "Wbat do you want me to do with
him?" drawled Darrow.
"I thought you could take blm In
with you; get him started at some
thing scientific; something that would
Interest and absorb him, and some
thing that would not leave all his real
energies free for mischief."
Darrow leaned his head against the
back of the chair and laughed softly,
So long did his amusement continue
that Helen at length , brought him
rather sharply to account.
"I was merely admiring," then ex
claimed Darrow, "the delicious fem
ininity of the proposal. It displays at
once such really remarkable Insight
Into the psychological needs ot an
other human being, and such abysmal
Ignorance of the demands of wbat we
are pleased to call science.
"You are the most superior and ex
asperating and conceited man I
know!" cried Helen. "I am sorry I
asked you. I'd like to know what there
la so silly in my remarks!"
"Jack is physically very strong; he
Is most courageous; he has a good
disposition, a gentleman's code, and
an eager likable nature. I gather fur
ther that he does me the honor of ad
miring me personally. He has re
ceived a general, not a special, college
education."
"Well!" challenged Helen.
"Barring the last, these are exactly
the qualifications ot a good bull-terrier."
"Ob!" cried the girl Indignantly, and
half rising. "You are Insulting!"
"No," denied Darrow. "Not that
never to you, Helen, and you know It!
I'm merely talking ' sense. Leaving
aside the minor consideration that I
am myself looking for employment,
what use has a scientist for a bull-terrier?
Jack has bo aptitude for selenee;
he has had none of the aseurate train
ing absolutely essential to science.
He probably wouldn't be Interested In
science. At the moment be happens
lo admire me, and I'm mighty glud
ao4 proud that it Is so. But that
doesn't help. If I hsppeued to be
saloon man. Jack would quite as
cheerfully want to bo a barkeeper.
I'd dw anything In the world to help
Jack; but I'm not the man. You want
to bunt np somebody that needs a
good bull terrier. Lots do." .
I hate such a cold-blooded way of
going at things!" cried the girl. "You
show no more Interest In Jack than It
than If"
Darrow smiled whimsically. "In
deed I do, Helen," he said quietly;
"that Is why I don't want to touch his
life, science would ruin him quicker
than an office In the long run. What
he wants Is a job of action something
out West or In the construction of
our great and good city. Now, If I had
a political pull, instead of a scientific
twist, I could land Jack In a minute.
Why don' you try that?"
"Father and McCarthy are enemies,"
she said simply. She arose with an
air of weariness. "How dark It's get
ting1!" she said, and pressed the elec
tric button In the wall.
The light did not respond.
"That's queer," she remarked, and
pulled the chain that controlled the
reading light on the table. That, too,
failed to Illuminate. "Something
must be wrong with those things at
the meter what do you call them?"
"Fusos," suggested Darrow.
"Yes, that's It. I'll ring and have
Blake screw in another."
Darrow was staring at a small ob
ject he had taken from his pocket It
waa the electric flash-light he habitu
ally carried to light his way up the
three dark flights at his lodgings.
"Let me call him for you," he sug
gested, rising.
"I'll ring," said Helen.
But Darrow was already In the ball.
"Blake!" he called down the base
ment stairway. "Bring lamps or can
dles." The man appeared on the word, car
rylng; a lamp.
"I already had this, sir," he explain
ed. "The lights went out some time
ago."
"Did you look at the fuses?" asked
Helen.
"Yes, miss."
"Well, telephone to the electric
company at once. We must have light"
Percy Darrow had taken his place
again in the armchair by the fire.
"It Is useless," said he, quietly.
"Useless!" echoed Helen. "What
do you mean?" Blake stood quietly at
attention.
"You will find your telephone also
out of order."
Helen darted from the room, only
to return after a moment, laughing.
"You are a true wizard," she said
"Tell me, how did you know? What
has happened?"
"A city," stated Percy didactically,
"Is like a mollusk; It depends largely
Htor Its life and health on the arti
ficial shell it has constructed. Unless
am very much mistaken, this par-
cular mollusk is going to get a
banco to try life without Its shell.
I don't understand you," said
flelen.
You will," said Percy Darrow.
.Mr and . Mrs. Warford descended
oon after. They sat down to dinner
y the light of the table candlea only.
arrow hardly joined at all In the
lk, but sat lost In a brown study,
ra which he only roused sufficiently
ta accept or refuse the dishes offered
him. At about eight o'clock the tele
phone bell clicked a single stroke, as
though the circuit had been closed. At
the sound Darrow started, then reach
ed swiftly into his pocket for his little
flash light. He gravely pressed the
button ot this; then abruptly rose.
"I must use your telephone," said
he, without apology.
He was gone barely a minute; then
returned to the table with a clouded
brow. Almost immediately after the
company had risen from the board, he
excused himself and left
After he had assumed his coat, how
ever, he returned for a final word
with Helen.
"Where is Jack this evening?" he
asked.
"Dining out with friends. Why?
"Will you see him tonight?"
"I can If necessary."
"Do Tell him to come down to my
room as near eight o'clock tomorrow
morning as he can. I've changed my
mind."
"Oh!" cried Helen joyously. "Then
you've concluded I'm right after all?"
"No," said Darrow; "but if this thing
carries out to its logical conclusion.
fl!.) VJ aN'
CALLED LOW CLASS OF ART
Sweeping Indictment of Mueie to
Which Song "Horns, Sweet Home"
Has Been Set
Though (he oldest piece ot English
music In existence, "Summer is leu
men in" Is quite modern In compari
son with a score ot the "Orestes" of
Euripides, dating from the fourth cen
tury B. C, which was exhibited at the
International exhibition of music at
Vienna some years ago. Even more
ancient is the chant "The Blessing of
the Priest" which wss sung in the
temple of Jerusalem before the captiv
ity, and la still la use in the Jewish
sysagoguea in Spain and Portugal.
' Home, Sweet Home" the song of a
homeless American once moved Rob
ert Louis Stevenson t an outburst of
passionate protest But it was the
music rather than the words that
rotund his Indignation. You will And
the passage In "Across the Plains":
I have no Idea whether musically thla
air is to be oousidered good or bad;
but It belougs to that class of art
which may beat be described aa a bru
tal assault upon the feelings. Pathos
must be rejleved by dignity of treat
went, declares aa jfingiUa vrltar. If
fm going to need a good buIl-terTlee
up:-
CHAPTER V.
A Scientist In Pink Silk.
The next morning promptly at eight
o'clock Jack Warford, In response to
a muttered Invitation, burst excitedly
Into Percy Harrow's room. He found
the scientist, draped la a pale-ptuk
silk kimono embroidered with light
blue butterflies, scraping methodically
at his face with a safety-razor. At the
sight the young fellow came to an
abrupt stop, as though some one bad
met him with a dash of cold water in
the far.
Hello!" said he. In a constrained
voice. "Just up?"
Darrow cast a glance through bis
long silky lashes at the newcomer.
"Yes, my amiable young canine. Just
up."
Jack looked somewhat puzzled at
the appellation, but seated himself.
"Helen said you wanted to see me,"
he suggested.
Darrow leisurely cleaned the com
ponent parts of his safety-razor, wash
ed and anointed his face, and turned.
"I do," said he. "if you're game."
"Of course I'm game!" cried the boy
Indignantly.
Darrow surveyed his fresh, young,
eager face and the trim taut bulk of
him with dispassionate eyee.
"Are you?" he remarked simply.
"Possibly. But you're not the man to
be sure of It"
"I didn't mean It as bragging." cried
Jack, flushing.
"Surely not" drawled Darrow,
stretching- out his long legs. "But no
man can tell whether or not he's game
until he's tried out. That's no reflec
tion on him, either. I remember once
I went through seeing my best friend
murdered; being shot at a dozen times
myself as I climbed a cliff; seeing a
pirate ship destroyed with all on board,
apparently by the hand of Providence;
escaping from a big volcanic bust-up
Into a cave, and having the cave en
trance drop down shut behind me. I
was as cool as a cucumber all through
It. I remember congratulating my
self that, anyhow, I was going to die
game."
"By Jove!" murmured Jack War
ford, staring at him fascinated. Evi
dently, the super-beautiful garment
had been forgotten.
"Then a war-ship's crew rescued
me; and I broke down completely
and acted like a silly ass. I wasn't
game at all; I'd just managed to post
none finding It out for a while."
"It was Just the reaction!" cried,
Jack.
"Well. If that sort of reaction hap
pens along before the trouble Is all
over, It looks uncommonly like loss ot
nerve," Percy Darrow pointed out
"No mau knows whether or not he's
game." he repeated. "However," he
smiled whimsically, "I imagine you're
likely to postpone your reactions as
well as the next." ,
"What's up? What do you want m
to do?" '
"Stick by me; obey orders," said
Darrow.
"What's up?"
"Did you notice anything In the pa
pers this moroing?"
"They're full of this electrical fail
ure last night. Haven't you seen
them ?"
"Not yet. While I dress, tell me
what they say."
"The worst waa In the tubes '
Warford began, but Darrow Interrupt
ed him.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Pretty Problem.
Saint Gingolph, which Is on the
borders of Lake Geneva, la the cause
ot a pretty little international prob
lem. One part Is In French and the
other in Swiss territory, and a cer
tain area Is owned in conlmon. Since
1600 this communal land has been
the subject of dispute, and pourpar
lers were begun In 1851. These have
not yet been finished, but both the
French and Swiss government are
now taking steps to arrive at some
definite understanding. A local pe
culiarity is that while the French In
habitants cross the Swiss frontier to
go to church, the Swiss residents pro
ceed into French territory to wor-
' ship.
you wallow naked in the pathetic, tike
the author of "Home, Sweet Home,"
you make your hearers weep in an un
manly fashion, and even yet while
they are moved they despise then,
selves and hate the occasion of their
weakness.
Decorates Abandoned Home,
Returning after a day's work aw
baggagemaater on a New Haven
train, a citizen ot Wtnsted. Conn.,
found a bare horn, with only his bed
in it. His wife, children, and house
hold goods were gone.
After learlng that his wife bid rent
ed apartments elsewhere he proceeded
to celebrate. He bought firearms and
flags, and red, white, and blue bunt
ing. His neighbors were aroused dur
ing the nlbht by reports ot pistols,
and when day broke they saw the
house decorated in the national coW
ore. He explained he was celebrating
his wife's retreat
Quick Composition.
Bishop ileber, while on a visit to
his father-in-law, Dean Stanley, wrote
"From Greenland's icy .Mountains," la
fifteen minutes, making only one cor
rection, the change ot "savage for!
"heathen1' In the second vers, I
rTTTTnni I I i in i n
100 TROOPS SLAIN i
IN FIERCE BATTLE
Rebels and Federals Have Hand
to Hand Fight in Mountain
Pass Near Yesca.
BIG MEXICAN BANK CLOSED
Banco Mercantile of Monterey Sus
pends Huerta Hss Bill Drafted to.
Force Increase of Mexican Ar
my Fineness Very Lew.
Mexico City, Dec. 8. Constitutional
ists have Invaded lower California. A
private dispatch received here said
that 350 rebels, mostly Yaqul Indians,
armed with two Hotchklss field guns,
crossed from Sonora to the east coast
of Lower California, where they burn
ed the town of Santa Cartrudla and
killed 25 civilians. They started to
ward San Juan, but met 400 federals,
and In the fight which followed the.
government forces were routed with a
loss of 110 killed and SO wounded.
Mexico City, Dec. 8. Seven hun
dred rebels and federal troops fought
hand to hand In a mountain pass near
Yesca, territory of Teplc. One hun
dred on both sides were killed, ac
cording to reports received here.
Rebel forces are gathering to attack
Agues Calientes. Eighty soldiers of
a detachment sent against them we re
killed. The Banco Mercantile, leading finan
cial institution of Monterey, wan
closed. It had a capital of $2,600,000.
The gold and securities of the bank
were sent to the United States re
cently for safekeeping, as its officer
expect all financial Institutions to be
closed.
Mexicans Flee Rebel Attack.
Laredo, Tex., Dec. 8. Scores of
Mexicans, Including the postmaster
and several municipal officials fled
from Nuevo, Laredo, across the bor
der into this city in anticipation of
an attack by rebels who are marching
on the town. If the federal soldiers
resist the attack, the lives ot Ameri
cans here will be endangered. The
United States cavalry here are pre
paring to guard the border as soon as
the rebels appear.
Conscript Law Evolved. ''4
Mexico City, Dec. 8. Extraordinary
efforts are being made by General
Huerta to Increase his army. A bill
was dratted providing for general con
scription throughout the federal dis
trict and adjacent territory. It orders
recruits to be chosen by lot and all
males of military age are subject to
its provisions.
Hither to, the government has forced
the lower classes to bear the brunt
of the warfare, but hereafter mem
bers of all classes, regardless of their
positions, must take their chances.
This measure is likely to alienate
many of the rich and influential Mexi
cans who have hitherto supported the
dictator, but with the increase of rev
olutionary strength threatening to
crush him he will leave no posBibl
means of strengthening his army un
used. Congress Is expected to pass
the bill immediately.
Government Finances at Low Ebb.
The finances ot the government are
becoming worse daily. Today 2,000
women were thrown out of work by
an order suspending the making of
clothing for the army. There are now
15.000 idle workers in the city and
agents of the constitutionalists are en
deavoring to Incite them to revolt.
The government is endeavoring te
subdue the spirit of unrest, but has
had little success.
General Maure was appointed mili
tary commander of the capital. He
was formerly commander ot the 29th
infantry, trusted troops of Minister of
War Banquet. His appointment shows
that Itlanquet's influence is supreme
in the cabinet ltlanquet is credited
with "effort to force Minister Moheno
out of the cabinet and it is believed
that it Moheno resigns Senors Lozano
and Maranjo respectively minister ot
public works and of instruction will
quit, leaving the war element In com
plete control.
CLEANING UP PORTO RICO
Chief of Insular Affairs Says Sanitary
System There Is Still Very
Crude.
Washington, Dec &. While the san
itary system in I'orto Rico is still in
a very crude state, judged from Amer
ican standards, commendable progress,
has been made towards cleaning up
the island, according to the annual re
port of Drig. Gt'ii. Frank Mclntyre,
chief of the bureau of insular affairs.,
General Mclntyre points out that thw
exports and Imports of both Porto
Rico and the Philippines have in
creased greatly during the past fiscal
year.
Fifteen Hurt in Car Wreck.
Chicago, Dec. 8. Fifteen persons
were Injured here in a collision be
tween an F.lgln, Jollet Eastern rail
road train and a street car in East
Chicago. The car was knocked from
the tracks and partly demolished.
Most of the Injured persons were
street car passengers.
Went Insure Unemployed.
lterlln. Dec. 8. Minister Delbrueck
of the Interior replied to the demand'
of the socialists in regard to Insur
ance against unemployment by saying
that tbe financial burden would be
unbearable.
I