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The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, September 20, 1883, Image 1

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn93067705/1883-09-20/ed-1/seq-1/

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TRI-WEEKLY EDITION. WI ST
- WI~~~~NNSBORO. S. (.. S ,1TEMBER 20, 1883..ETBIHD14
IETTER THINGS. I
Better to smell the violet cool, than sip the ]
glowiug wine;
Better to hark a hidden brook, than watch
a diamond shine.
Better the love of a genial heart than
beauty's favors proud;
Better the rose's living seed than roses in a. I
crowd.
Better to love in loneliness than to bask in
love all dlay'
Better the fountain in the heart than the r
fountain by the way. 1
Better be fed by muother's hand than eat
alone at will;
Better to trust in good and say, "My goods a
my store-house fill." e
Better to be a little wise than in knowledge
to abouhd; 11
Better to teach a child than toil to fill per
fection's round
Better to sit at a master's feet than thrill a
listening state; *
Better to suspect that thou art proud than 1
be sure that thou art great. 1
Better to walk the real unseen than watch t
the hour's event; -
Better the ''Well donel" at the last than the
air with shouting rent. 1
Better to have a quiet grief than a hurrying J
delight;
Better the twilight of the dawn than the
noonday burning bright.
Better a death when work is done than
earth's most favored birth;
Better a child in God's great house than the
king of all the earth.
13
TRYING HER POWER,
(
"1 can hold him against the world." a
The speaker was a tall girl, with
dark face, from which eyes of witchery s
looked out. She had lips which were I
slightly compressed, as she finished the I
sentence.
"I would not be so sure, If I were j
you," was the response from the other i
person, who stood on the path which
led to the road from the country house t
behind them.
The two girls had strolled down the
walk in the crisp winter sunlight, and
they looked as unlike as two people t
could well be.
Julia Stallo turned her head with a 1
quick, imperious movement, as she ex- r
claimed:
"Why,would you not feel sure, since
I am sure? Do you think- I would give
my promise to a man who did not adore e
me?"
"But men may adore at one moment
and be indifferent the next," returned
Miss Branch, stopping to twist more
r
closely about her head the blue, puffy I
mans of wool which protected her from
the cold.
"The man whom T love will not do
so " was the quick reply.
kiss Branch, who was four or five
years older than the magnificent brunette
beside her, looked at her curiously, in I
silence for a time.
Miss Branch was small. One at flrst
would have said she was plain, but one
" might discover that her face possessed
a wonderful power of expression; there
might be a concentrated spark in her
eyes that would possess force in what
ever way she ch-se.
Aflter a pause, she said, quickly:
" I should imagine it might be easy
for a man to be faithful to a creature
like you. Is Mr. North coming to
day?"
"Yes."
"I think-you make a great mistake
in loving a man so much. Ai! what is
t hat?"
The exclamation was caused by the
sound of something rushing through thme
shrubrmberry of thme evergreens at the
right of where the two girls were stand
img.
Julia Stallo shrieked a little and
shrank to one ide, and at the sameI
moment, a huge, dark-colored dog
.dashed out from the cedar hedge. ITis
head was down, his mouth scattered
foam, and his eyes emitted sparks.
While Julia, who had sprung away,
had gone directly in the path of the
infuriatedl animal, Miss Branch, who
had remained where she had beenm
st anding, was several yards from him. t
The brute was going on with that
unfswerving leap which Is so terrible to 1
see, and had passed Miss Branch, who
had not moved, toward Julia Stallo,
who seemed petrified with terror in the
spot where she stood.
"For God's sake, jump out of tihe
way?" cried Miss Biranch, shrilly, "lie <
will not turni"
If Julia heard her she gave no sign;
she was lncap)able of moving.
Miss Branch could not stand quietly I
There was a dash of physical courage
in her which enabled her to sprinig for
ward, slipped off the crimson shawli
from her shoulders as she (lid so, and
t,hen flaunting it futll in the face ofthe]
wild-eyed animal, who moved to one
side, and wavered in confusion, while
Jlulia Stall sank to the ground in a
heap, amid her white face was like the
face of the dead, save for the p)rotrud
ing eyes of horror.
The (dog, baffled for the moment and
uncertain, now turned towaria kliss.
Branch. Useless for her to try to
run. She clasped her hands and stood
still.
Only for a breath of time, however.
The sound of a footstep on the frozen
gravel might have been hoard by the
4girls, If they could have heard any
T1hae footstep was that of some one
running furiously. The figure of a man
appeared, lHe had a pistol In his hand,
and though there was a terrible fear in
his mind that lie might not aim correct
ly, lie could not hesitate.
Thle flash, the report of the pistol,
and time dlog rolled over on hi,s side, withi
a moan, his teeth set fast in the skiirt of
Miss Branch's dress.
It was to Julia Stallo's side the man
sp)rang, hardly glancing at Miss Branch
who coolly drew a penknife from her
pocket, and stooping, cut her dress
away from time gi-lp of the dying dog's
teeth.
"That, I suppose, Is Mr. North,"
she said to herself, looking at him at
tentively, as he bent on one knee over
Julia, whose senses had come back to
her sufficiently to enable her to recog
nize her lover. "Yes, evidently lie
oves her. I wish she had not been so
ure of him. It is such a temptation to
)rove her words false."
This is what the quiet-looking girl
vas thinking, as she again wrapped her
hawl about her and walked slowly
town the path.
In a few momemts, she heard her
niame called, and pausing and looking
>ack, she saw the two coming toward
ter.
When they were a little nearer, the
nan hurried forward and raising his
at, said, in a tone which was not quite
teady:
"I do not know what you will think
f us. I confess I was for the moment
apable of thinking only of Miss Stallo.
(ou will forget that, I know. I can
Lot tell you how grateful I am to you."
"Indeed! Why?" asked Miss Branch.
Although her words were abrupt, the
oice in which she spoke then was far
rom being so. There wai a silky soft
ess in it that Julia Stallo had never
eard before, and which made her look
uickly at the girl who had spoken
hem, while a pain, that was almost like
knife thrust, suddenly went through
er heart.
Miss Branch had only glanced at Mr.
orth as she had replied, and he had
ot given any thought to her, so pro
oundly was he absorbed in the danger
vhich had so recently threatened the
voman he loved.
When the two walked away again,
diss Branch turned into another
fath, and walked rapidly toward the
Louse.
There was a flush on her cheek and a
park in her eye and aspect although
lifferent from that which she had worn
n hour before.
When she reached her own room, she
at down before the fire without renov
ng her own wraps. Looking into the
urning coals with an insane gaze,
ier face gradually changed, tuitil
rulia Stallo would hardly have known
The white hands were held' tightly
ogether until their beauty-and they
vere very beautiful-was marred by the
ude pressure.
"What do I owe to any man among
hem?" she asked, at length, in a half
vhisper. "And as for Julia, she is a
raby in her feelings, and will not suffer
uch."
She rose and walked with a deter
nalied air across the room. At this
noment some one knocked. She open
d the door and Julia stood there.
"May I come in?" asked the girl.
"I was just coming to discover if'
ou were still frightened," responded
Miiss Branch taking Julia's hand in
ier own, and looked with more than
rdinary keenness into the girl's face.
"Don't speak of it," cried the other
vithi a shudder. "I can never be able
o see a dog again without a shudder.
. shall never be able to see a dog again
vithout a fright. Think of what might
iave been, if Luke had not comet He
ays he admires you for your presence
f mind, although you are-but how I
Lo chatterl" catching herself up with
blush. le admires you so much."
"Even though I am plain," calmly
emarked Miss Branch, no flush stain
ng her cheeks as she spcke words dif
icult for a woman to accept.
"But I did not mean to tell you
hat,'' caressingly said Julia.
Miss Branch laughed, not bitterly to
he ear in the least.
"Oh, I don't mind it at all,"she said,
ightly. "I am plain, and I know other
>eople know it."
In her heart, the women was saying:
'le shall pay for those words."
In the days that followed, it would
ave been a curious study for one not
ritally interested to have watched the
hange in Luke North'a manner toward
dIiss Branch.
Gradually, from a polite listener to
ter1 he came to turni with an apparent
y irresistible inclination toward that
mart of the room where she happened to
ae.
lie stood near her chair; lie looked at
ier if lie spoke; lie listened with a pe
auliar vivid look upon his face wheni she
nadie any remark.
T.Lhiis attention was not marked; on
he contrary, it almost seemed as if lie
vere desirous of concealing even from
uis own consciousness the attraction
vhiich Miss Branch held for him, and
which every day lie felt more and more
>owerfully.
Had he ever thought her unprepos
essing? When Julia reminded him
me day that he had said Miss Braiich
vas plain, he uttered an exclamation
>f astonishiment, but made no other
eply. His betrothed, in a troubled
one, persisted, on dweliguo h
ubject.elig1)0 tc
"I suppose she must but be fascina
lng, Is she not?" she asked wistfully.
Teman's face wore a strange smile.
Ile averted his eyes, as lie remarked, in
i harsh voice:
"Fascinating! Yes, 1 think that
nust be the word by which to describe
four' friend--and she is your friend, is
ihie not?" asking the question sudden
y.
Julia Stallo trembled a little, and
~urned pale. Sne seemed to struggle a
nomnent with herself, and then she said,
~aintly:
"Oh, yes! Of course she is my
~riend."
Tihe winter (lays raii on. Miss Branch
inad come to stay with her friend unti
upring.
How did it happen that Mr. North
3ould now sometimes come' to the house
md remain, perhaps, for a couple ol
mours before Julia would come into thme
room? lie alwvays scrupulously called
!or her the moment lie came, but lie ap
L>eared to forget she had not come.
On one of those days when Julia had
rnot come, North had been strolling
shout the room in silence. Though lie
liid not speak, his eyes returned again
ad again to the woman who sat so
guietly on thie sofa~ There was a reck
less resolve in his face, and that look
was mingled with something which
could not be interpreted, which any
woman might do well to fear, even
thoug'h she could not understand it.
North came and leaned over the girl.
[is voice vibrated, as he said:
"Miss Branch!"
She looked up--a light, bewildering
and enthralling, was in her eyes, and
diffused in a lovely glow over the iith
erto unlovely face.
"What would you say to me if I were
to tell 'you that I love you?" he asked
quickly.
There could be no mistaking the ex.
pression In her eyes; there could be but
one reading of the curves about the
mouth, The binding loveliness that
was in the gaze at that Instant made
the man's heart almost stand still. Did
she really love him?
"Need I answer?" she asked, softly.
"Yes, answerl" imperatively.
"Then I should say that I love you,"
was the low spoken reply.
Something in the man's face made
Miss Branch suddenly rise to her feet,
while her face grew palid, and the glow
died from her eyes.
"You are mocking mel" she cried
in a smothered voice. "You do not
really love me?"
VI am thinking of a young man, my
half-brother, whom I love more than
brothers usually love," returned North,
in a stern voice. "You may recall
Morris Loring. Ah, I see you do! You
killed him, that you might be amused.
Perhaps it was not manly of me to re
solve to avenge him in some slight de
gree. But I did not think of so base
an action until I fancied you wished to
play with me. I do not love you, Miss
Branch, but I can understand how a
man might be infatuated with you. It
was beneath me to stoop to such a
course as this. I don't ask you to for
give me."
"No, no," said Miss Branch, her
voice husky and strange. "Do not ask
that for I never could do so."
"And why?"
"Because I love you. At last I love
Do not speak to me. I tell you that
for the first time in my life, I love. Do
you think I am sufficiently punished
for trying my power? Do you pity me,
Mr. North?"
She stood looking at him for an in
stant, then turned and hurried from
the room.
North gazed blankly at the door
which had closed behind her. lie had
not known how much he could despise
himself, and there was a curious pul
sation in his 'heart which made him un
willing to see Julia.
It was-a week before lie returned to
the house. When Julia unformed him
of Miss Branch's departure, lie would
not allow himself to manifest any in
terest. The few weeks that had passed
had formed an episode in his life which
he could not wish to remember.
A Sual in a Sack.
An interesting incident, illustrating
the maternal affection of an animal for
its young, was brought to notice during
the visit of an excursion party to Ana
capa Island. A young seal pup only a
few months old was brought away from
the.island by little Ernest Whitehead,
who desired to take it home for a pet.
The little animal was secured by a rope
around one of its fins and tied within a
small yawl belonring to the sloop.
Shortly before sailing a large seal was
noticed swimming around the sloop an
chored off the cave where the capture
was made, uttering loud barks and at
times howling piteously. No particular
attention was paid to the animal at the
time or to the little captive, which at
times barked in response to the old
dam's plaints. The l7oat sailed away
making for the Ventura shore. When
off San Buenaventura a calm in the
wind decreased the speed of the boat,
when a large seal was noticed near by.
On reaching the wharf at Santa Bar
bara at two o'clock next morning a seal
was again (discovered swinmming about
the boat. It was not supp'osed that this
was the mother of the captive or out of
pity for its misery the pup would have
been thrown overboard. To better
secure the pup until daylight the rope
was taken from its fin and it was tied
up In a jute sack and left loose on the
deck. Soon after coming to anchor the
seal responided to its mother's invitation
by casting itself overboard all tied up as
it was within a sack. It is asserted by
the man on deck that the seal mother
seized the sack and with her sharp teeth
tore open the prison of her offspring.
This, howvever, is a mere conjecture.
If it did the little pup was saved other
wise it would drown tied up in thme
sack.
The incident was the more interest
ing from the fact that the 01(1 seal had
to follow the sloop at least eIghty miles
over the ocean in a hopeful emndeavor to
rescue its young.
The Dead.
. Most everybody Is (lead, says Bill
Arp, that Is, all the old folksi. There
are mighty few left of the old1 stock
that used to move around so lively and
take the lead in business and public
affairs. Some of us are getting lone
some now. The ranks keel) tilling up),
but we don't know the new recruits.
Old Father Time is a conscript officer
and lie won't take any substitutes nor
give anybody a bomb-proof place.
There are no quartermastere nor comn
rmIssaries nor potash getters in this
war, but it is fight, fight, fight all the
time. Fight as they did at Thiermopyla
where there were only 300 against
1,000,000, amid there was no possible
escape. Sooner or later all of us have
to go. We can't desert nor dodge nor
play sick nor shmoot a finger off, and
there are no furloughs and no pensions
and mio discharge. There is not oven
a promotion for good conduct or noble
daring.~ There is nothing but to do and
die. WelI, it's all rigtht I know or it
wouldn't have been so, but it grieves
me to hear thme bell toiling all about aiid
to see the old stock passing away.
-Wurtenberg, Germany, has over
8000 breweries.
-Albany's brick-making industry
has reached a proditction of 1,000,000
bricks a week.
-In Rome a small Egyptian obelisk
has been discovered in an excavation
behind the Church of alanta Maria sopra
Minerva near the site of thme Temple of
Isis and erapis, It lies at a depth of
flfteen feet, and is in good preservation
A sphinx in basalt wps found,- also,
with acartouch on the breast.
"Died Ga '
It is morning on the lrie.
To the east Is the y sunrise and
the dim, far-away outli of a moun
tain range; to the north shadowy line
which may mean hills o, t1iber; to the
west and south a broad, jevel ocean of
green grass which ha:, o limit. It
seems a3 level as a floor tb the eye, but
it is cut up with dry ravhiO and ditches
and there are sharp ridgds;and dips and
sunken spots.
The sun is warm, tlhe air still, and
every blade of grass is loaded with dia
mond dow-drops. There is no bird to
chirp, and no crickets to. call out, but
there is no feeling of lo iness. One
who faces that morning -n .rems
the vastness of the pra last I'quiet
amazement. 'h- is an aWe upon
him aki" . a which man feels when
i sees the ocean lashed to mighty fury.
The one is an exhibition of Divine anger
-the other of Divine peace.
Seel A rough-clad, full-bearded man,
Af iron muscle and fearless courage,
suddenly rises from a hollow, tosses
aside his blanket, and slowly turns his
head in every direction to scan the
green grass sea. At the same moment
his horse emerges from a dip which has
heretofore sheltered him, and, with a
whinny of recognition and pleasure,
advances strught upon his master.
Alonel Man and horse are the only
living creatures in sight. They are as
much lost to the world as two grains of
sand washing to and fro in the Atlantic.
The master's hand steals up until it
rests upon the horse's neck, and the faith
ful animal crowds a bit nearer, Both
are awed by the broad expanse, The
mighty grandeur of Nature steals in
upon the man's soul, and it seems to
pass like an electric current to the horse.
Hle raises his head. His nostrils ex
pand. His eyes grow clearer and larger.
Surely he must see the picture spread
out before him there, and something of
its beauty must be felt.
See that! The man's hand goes up to
his eyes. He is looking straight to the
west. le stands like a rock, and his
eyes are as keen as an eagle's. The
horse is looking in the same direction
ears pricked forward, lips quivering and
every muscle in his legs tightened up as
if for a race. What is it? A flutter on
the surface of the prairie caught the
man's eye for an instant and then dis
appeared. It was two miles away. It
was only a trifle; but on that trifle de
pends his life. A shipwrecked sailor
catches his breath at sight of every
white cloud creeping above the water
line.- The hunter on the prairie feels
his heart pound at the flutter of a
bird's wing-the bark of a coyote-the
hoot of an owl-at sight of a hoof-print
or a broken bush. Thes3 may mean
nothing, or they may muaki an ambush
-a race for life-capture and torture.
"Yil yi! yi!"
The level-seeming prairie is broken
two miles away by a dry ravine deeper
than a man's height. This curves and
bends aiid leads on for miles. Scramb
hug out of its depths, and each one
sounding his war-whoop as he mounts
his pony, are a score of Indians.
For two days the hunter has swept the
horizon in vain. Ie was alone on the
great ocean. Night had been tranquil
and full of sound sleep. Here, now,
rising like specters from the earth be
fore him, is a band of blood-thirsty de
mons raving for his life. The sight
stuns him for a few seconds. Then,
with a growl of chagrin and defiance,
lie flings the saddle upon his horse,
picks up his rifle, and while yet the In
dians are a mile and a half away, he
mounts and heads for the east.
A race for lire has begun.
The hunter's horse strikes into a long,
steady gallop, wvhich would keep him
alongside of a traini of cars. There is a
chorus of yells from the redskins as
they made the first rush. Then the
silence of the prairie is broken only by
the thud!I thud I of horses' feet. The
very silence is ominous, and speaks of a
gim determination to run the victim
dlown.
Steady, now!I The hunter's horse de
vours mile after- mile of the green
prairie, now at the crest of a swell
nowv almost hidden in a dip-for an in
stant out of sight of those who follow.
They gain a little. The hunter plans
that they shall. Every yard they gain
requires an extra speedl that will take
ten minutes off the race after high
noon. At 10 o'clock they have gained
half a mile. Then the pace is even,
and neither loses nor gains.
Tihere is something terribly grimi in
following a mani to his death. Not a
shout-not a call-not a rifle-shot.
Thud! thud! thud! over level aiid ridge
and alwvays to thme east. The sun mounts
higher and higher, and now and then
the hunter glances back with a faint
hope that the pursuit has ieen abandon
ed. No! iIe might as -well exp)ect a
wvolf to quit tihe pursuit of a wounded
deer leaving its life-blood to stain the
grass at every rod.
It is high non,
'rie pursuit began over sixty miles
away, but tile breeze brings to the
hunter's ear-s that same monotony of
hoof-beats and lie glances back to see
that same dark line strung out at his
heels. It has become a question of en
durance. If lie can tire them out lie
will escape. IIe shuts his teeth anew,
reaches forward to caress his horse
iIe is down! A burrow caught a
foot as the horse sped( oniwards and
man and animal roll to the ground.
Tile race is finished. The poor beast
whinnies anl apology for his sfall as he
flounders about with a broken leg, and
the exultant shouts of the redskinis
hardly reach the hunter's ears before lie
Is dlowni alongside tihe crip)pled horse
and his rifle aimed at the approaching
foe.
It is another bright, peaceful day.
IIere are the same pure air, the same
blue sky, the same panorama of grass
and flowers and dimly outlined moun
tains.
A band of hunters are crossing the
prairie at a steady gallop, instead of a
single man riding for his life. A vul
ture rises up with a hoarse scream
a second-a third, and the odor of de
cay reaches the nostrils of ilders and
horses. The band halts, rides to the
left, and presently all look down unon
a sight which tells its own story. The
swollen caaaass of a horse, the scalped
and disfigured body of a hunter-tramp
led body of a hunter-trampled grass
spots of blood-broken airows-the
earth uptorn by hoofs.
One with stouter heart than the rest
dismounts and picks up a dozen flatten
ed bullets and a score of arrows. Then
he circles round tle spot and gathers
up the empty shells thrown out by the
hunter's Winchester. Bullets, arrows
and shells are deposited in a heap by the
corpse, and the man points out one
three-five--seven spots on the prairie
where the trampled grass and stains of
blood show the fall of horse or man.
i_ ,1a voic in which so row and
'Poor Toml But he died game!"
The Unnished Manusoript.
Some time ago the writer visited
Prof. Gailnet of Little Rock, Ark.,
and while sitting in the library, en
gaged in conversation with the enter
taining gentleman, observed a roll of
manuscript tied with a strip of black
cloth. We asked him if it were some
thing designed for publication.
"It will never be published," he
said, and began to unroll it.. "See
how it ends," and glancing at the bot
tom of the last page we read, the fol
lowing: "While he sat alone, deeply
musing, a hearse passed the house, and
-"here the sentence broke off. Re
questihig almost imploring, the Profes
sor to toll us the history of the curious
manuscript, he finally consented.
"I came to Arkansas when I was a
young man. One night I sat in my
library writing a story for a magazine.
I was in good health and had cause to
feel elated over the success I had just
attained by the publication of a small
volume of sketches but still I felt the
heavy weight of melancholy depression.
I arose and walked out, but soon re
turned, not experiencing any change.
I bent myself to the work of writing a
dreary story and worked with surpris
ing rapidity until I wrote, 'A hearse
passed the house and--' Here I stopped.
A strange presentiment told me that I
would never finish the sentence. Next
day I took up my pen to finish it, but
I had not touched the paper with the
pen when a piercing shriek caused me
to spring to my feet and rush from the
room just in time to see a horse, at
tached to a buggy, dashing wildly to
ward my gate. A frightened woman
was in the buggy and I rescued her.
I put the manuscript away and devo
ted myself to my new acquaintance;
our friendship grew into love and fin
ally we married. Then followed ten
years of happiness. I did not tell my
wife of the unfinished manuscript, but
one day she found it and begged me to
finish it. I did not like to confess my
foolish fears and finally I told her that
I would. The next night,, after my
wife had gone to bed, I took down the
story and read it over. I would finish
it for her sake. I took up the pen and
was just in the act of touching the pa
per when my wife called me. I ran to
her and found her in a dying condition,
having been attacked by rheumatism
of the heart.
"Have you ever attempted since to
finish it?"
"Yes. After my wife had been dead
for several years I determined one
night to finish the story. I went to
the desk, but had no sooner dipped my
pen in the ink when a noise in an ad
joining room attracted my attention.
Hurrying in the room I found my son
lying on the floor dead. He had al
ways been in wretched health and md
committed suicide?"
"Do you ever exp)ect to thiish the
story?"
"I expect to try again, It is imipossi
ble for me to remain superstit,ious,
even though I may have a powerful
cause for doing so. Of course, all this
would have happened even if I had not
begun the story. I think that next
Tuesday night, if I feel like it, I shall
devote myself to the completion 'of thme
wvork, for I desire to see it in print.
Conmc up and see me start off."
We were busy when Tuesday night
came, anid-cowardly confession-wvere
not sorry that something kept us away,
Early Wednesday nmorning we hurried
to the house where for years the pro
fessor had hived. The horrible thought
seized us that he had taken up his peni
to uinishi the story aiid had fallen dead.
Sonmc time elapsed before we had the
courage to knocic at the (10or. At last
we rapiped.
No answer.
Another rap.
No answer.
Withi blood almost at freezing point
and with hair standing erct, we shoved
open the door. The old manm sat lean -
ing back in his chair, eating pie.
"Come In," lie sai cheerfully. "You
see I have just finished that story, anid
it gave me an appetite for pie. Pie's a
good tihing to eat after you finish up a
story, but you want to wait until you
are through writing."
"Did you hear any strange noises?"
we asked, "when you began to write."
"Well, yes. A calf over in an ad
joining yard bawvled for a while. Oh,
yes, you are thuiking about that story
I told you sonmc time ago. Well my
dear fellow, you should not have been
so foolish as to have believed me. I
never was married, you know. lIIve
some pie."
-The prince of Waedlihsn
black costumes. ae eihsi
-David O'Connell's birthplace is a
neglected ruin.
.-Several new comic operas have re
cently been brought to Europe.
--The duke of Abercorn ownms 100,000
acres of Tyrone county, Ireland.
-A thorn in the hand is worth several
in the bush, for probing purposes.
-Dininig cars have made their ap
pearance on a French railway line.
-There are fifty-six shops for the
sale of horse-flesh as food in Paris.
-A reaction of public sentiment in
favor of the Eniglish sparrow is observ
able.
-A "mysterious" disease Is reported
to be killing off a great many horses In
Utah.
Bohemian Chiefs.
"There," said Jack Ryder, formerly
Artemus Ward's agent, last evening as
ie produced his scrap book and pointed
)ut a cut of an elderly man with a short
pipe in his mouth-one of these pecu
liar, thick-set pipes that are indigenous
o newspaper ofllces-"there was the
king of the Bohemians, Harry Clapp.
He died in New York, where he had
swung a sharp quill for many years.
He handled the most saucy and fearless
pen of any of the old school of Bohe
mians that used to hang out at Pfaaff's,
Dn Broadway. Clapp made Pfaaff rich,
although he himself died poor. Harry
used to take his meals there, and one
day the coffee and victuals so impressed
the celebrated Bohemian's palate that
he wrote a column about Pfaaff's cara
vansary, True, it was a puff, but
Clapp.could make the rankest kind of a
puff so witty and interesting that it
would be acceptable to any journal.
Clapp's dissertation on Pfaaff and coffee
and articles that the other journalists
subsequently wrote on the same subject,
made Pfaaff famous, and to be famous
As a New Y ork tradesman is to be rich.
[t strikes me that it ought only to be
aecessary for a needy journalist to prove
that lie was one of the fraternity to get
the best that Pfaaff's place affords. It
was a great gang that hung around
Pfaaff's iii the days when Charlie Brown
was delivering his one hundred lectures
it Dodworth hall. One night long,
Lank; hoosiery Josh Billings, then a
poor auctioneer, called on Brown. Bill
ings had written but little then. He
wasn't one of the Bohemians. lIe was
too thrifty.
"A few days ago I met him in New
York for the second time. lie has be
.ome a dignified, almost courtly gentle
man with considerable polish, and all
he evidences of prosperity. He has
grown rich, owns his own housejn New
York and drives his own carriages.
I'he gentleman of them all, however, is
Bret Harte. lie is a man of medium
iight and build, with full beard and
uoustache and a general air of elegance.
[f he takes a fancy to a person and gets
wvarmed up he is one of the most schol
irly and entertaining conversationalists
hat I ever met. If Billings is rich
md, mind you, I don't undertake to
elittle him, for there i, a great deal of
riim intellectually-Ilarte ought to be
colling in wealth; but he is usually hard
up. Such are the freaks fortune plays
literary men . Strange that so many
iumorists who amuse others have so
little themselves to enjoy of this world's
ioods! Bailey, the Danbury News
man, called here once to see me with
reference to Artenmus Ward, who was
his god as a humorist, and told me in
cidentally that he had a friend here
among the journalists who was a hu
inorist and a man of genius and who
had done considerable work for him.
The individual was Leonard. I had
never heard of him, but I believe lie was
on the Leader, The poor fellow died
in the hospital, I think, and Bailey
bought his articles, as long as he was
able to write them. I don't remember
any other humorists besides Brown
Qriswold and this otther man Leonard
then on the Cleveland papers. Yes,
Griswold was a hiumc,rist--when he was
drunk. He was absolutely the funniest
man when lie was in liquor that I ever
saw. Artemus Ward was not always
an amusing man under the same cir
eumstances, although he wuuhl load up
with ideas that would work out in great
shape wlehli he was sober. 'Gris' was
once advance agent for a show, and
while he was at Nashville one night he
was seized with a desire to go on a
drunk. Hie didn't know a soul, but lie
stepp)ed up to the bar andl began talknmg
to himself, as if lie had met a friend.
'Gris, take a dIrink,' said lie to himself
in a changed tone of voice. 'Oh, no;
I've sworn off.'
"TJhe imnaginary man urged 'Gris' to
drink until the latter yielded. The bar
tender, who evidently took 'Gris' for a
lunatic, set out one glass, but the imag
inary man grily ordered him to furnish
another glass. 'Gris' took a glass bu
each hand, clinked them together, aniu
with the 'Hlere's lookin' at ye' of 'E ri.,'
and 'Drink hearty' of the imaginary
man, 'Gris' drained both glasses. Then
the imagiinary man urged '(Gris' to sing
a song, and( after dlemurrinig for some
time '(iris' complied with the request.
'(iris' kept up this circus for more than
an hour. It was a fashionable resort and
some of the bloods1 of the city heard of
it, gathered around and enjoyed the fuun
a while. T1hien they rushed forward, took
'Gris' in hand-well it was one of the
tallest tinies that a gang ever saw in
Nashville. Charles Brown was careless
of money, but of course he aimed to get
allilie could out of his business. That's
how lie came to leave Cleveland. Gray
was payIng him $1,000 a year. lie de
manded an increase of pay. Gray was
unable to grant it, and whieni Vanity
Fair of New York offered hini $1,800 a
year lie accep)ted the position. Vanity
F air died at the end of 18 months.
Ward used to say that lie.killed it, and
then Arteimus brought out his lecture.
I w.as formerly unable to appreciate
Nasby. His letters are not funny to
me, but he has ai little thing in Lotos
Leaves entitled John Upanddownjoh n,
which is really_lIne."_
Oileor than Ho. Looketd.
Coloniel George L. Perkins, of ,.or
wich, Conn., who celebrated his 90th
birthday Sunday, August 6, and is as
hale and hearty as most mn at 50
years, was a witness in the Tilton
Beecher trial in 1875. Wheni his niamo
was called the crowd in the Court-room
saw a good-looking, dignifIed gentle
mani, apparently about~ 60 years old,
step briskly to the stand. Having an
swered the usual questions as to lis
name amid residence, Mr. Evarts pro
pounded the succeeding question:
"Hlow long have you 'lived in Norwich,
Colonel Perkmns ?" " Eighty -seven
years," responded the Colonel with the
utmost gravity. The lawyers drope
their pens, the spectators stared, the
Judge looked puzzled, and the jury
were in evident doubt~ whether there
was a lunatic loose or a new liar had
arrived. A ripple of merriment suc
seeded as Mr. Evarts, with great
seriousness, inquired a moment later:
"Colonel Perkins, may I ask where you
have spent the rest of your lit""
NEWS IN BRIEF
-1l,108 acres in London parks.
-Caterpillars have ruined the fol-=
ge of the "grand old elms"-on Boston
)ommon.
-The oldest grave in the Frankfort
)n-the-Malin Jewish cemetery dates
)ack to 1272.
-From $10,000 to $15,003 It is said,
vill cover the deficit left by the Stenger
Pest in Buffalo.
-The umbrella trade will feel cheered
at the intelligenec that Vennor predicts
x dry August.
-The Nashville iron furnaces have
all been making money, many of them
handsome profits.
-The latest estimate of the corn
crop In Kansas this year puts It at 100,
300,000 bushels.
--There is said to be 90,000,000 acres
f land in California admirably adapted
to grape growing.
-Charlestown, Mass., originated the
iystein of town government in New
England, in 1034.
-The grape yield along the Hudson
Valley will be unprecedentedly large
udging fr)m present indications.
-The stay-at-homes enjoy the rest
ing spells of cool weather much more
han the summer hotel keepers do.
-A soda-water fountain in a Brook
lyn candy store exploded a few days
igo and broke the proprietor's arm.
-Mr. and Mrs. Northcote, noe Fish,
laughter of the ex-Secretary of State
ire in England on their bridal tour.
-The pneumatic plan of clearing the
Paris sewers is said to have been at
lentded with excellent result to health.
-In 1876 there were but 1,870 then.
logical students in Germany; now there
Ire 2,707 Protestants and 758 Oatholics.
-The French press is:animatedly dis
cussing the vivisection question, and
the anti-vivisection side appears to be
paining ground.
-Texas, on whose ranges over $15,
300,000 worth of cattle are running,
has this year 1,00,000 acres planted in
sugar.
-Exclusive of lunatics in asylums
and vagrants London's roster of pau
pers during the last week in June num
bered 85,555.
-Evansville, Ind., is getting rid of
. large number of English sparrows by
virtue of a bounty of a cent for each
:ne killed.
-At the age of 83, the mother of
General Phil. Sheridan is still living in
the house in which the General was
born, at Perry, O.
-Three young men of Utah con
verts from Mormonismn, are cand'dates
for the ministry under the care of the
Presbytery of Utah.
--Th, receipts of the Patent Office
for the current year will exceed 31.
200,000, according to the estimates of
Conuissioner Marble.
-The Duke of Newcastle recently re
turned to his tenants one-fifth of their
rent for the year, in order to relieve the
lepression in agriculture.
-Mr. SergeantBallantine, who visit
3d Utah, is credited with the opinion
that polygamy is an institution emi
nently suited to a new country.
-Arrangements have been made to
bring out Wagner's last opera, "Parsi
fal," for the first time In England next
winter, at the Royal Albert iall.
-A Swede, 40 or 45 years old, has
been sent to the Lazaretto at San Fran
cisco, Cal., suffering witli gbnuine le
prosy. He absorbed the taint in China.
-rhe salaries. of the clergymen of
the United States are about $5,000,000
a year, and the Commission of Agri
culture says it costs $50,000,000 to feed
them.
-A man whose beard is already 271
mnches long and steadily lengthening, is
living in Toedd county, Ky., and has
not yet given tip farming to go with
a side show.
-Valentine Yeske, a Pole, tried to
commit suicide recently in the Colum
bus (0,) jail by partially swallowing a
large- iron spoon, which broke wvhen
being taken out.
M1. Gustave Aimnerd, the wvell
known writer of tales of adventure,
who died recently, was styled the
French Fenimnore Cooper. He had
travelled the world over.
-Trho Sultan has conferred on the
Emperor of Germany the Grand Cor
don of the Order of Chefeat..- Kaiser
Wilhelm will probably have it put on
Ice until cool weather sets In.
-Sir Linthorn Simmons, speaking of
the British army, says: "'l1he non-com
missioned officers have also deteriorated
In the last ten years, the record of cases
of reduction to the ranks and imprison
ment having nearly trebled."
-A cave on the Colorado river, over
one mile in length, and in some places
thirty feet in width, is attracting con
siderable attention at Lampasas,' Txas.
This cave is about 10 miles from the
town, and has two smail streams run
ning Lhrough it, which are about two
feet deep.
-The highest salary paid by the
French Government to any of its Dl
plomatic officers is that of 284,090
francs to the Ambassador at St. Peters
burg. Envoys and ministers of the
second( class, as at Washington, for ex
~iple, receive 40,000 francs, or less
than 510,000 per annuni.
-An agitation for a farthing stamp
for prinited matter under an ounce is
goinig on in Entgland( led by Mr.
Leraves, whio took ant active part in ob,
Lainng the half-penny stamp it 1869.
rte rate it Holland Is one-quarter
ence, In France one-fifth pence, and
in Belgium one-tenth plence.
--The sweeping of the Paris streets,
according to the latest official returns,
30sts 6,234,000 francs. Th'Ie number of
ersons empl6yed in the work is 3010,
including 820 sweepers, 2010 "auxiliary
sweepers 30 centimes per hour. The
total cost of maitaining, cleansing
sud repairing the roadways is 8,402,000
rranos a year, and of the pavements and
irossings 1,265,000 francs, or 9,767,200
francs altogether,

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