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DECORATION DAY. All the fHh Is UoocAm, Beautiful sod ncea AO the sides are smiSoe. Tender and Violets ere flaming ?la a purple ma, 4 DM JPEACIE. AMI WAJEL A REAUNLSCILNGE^ ff/TLEA/ ?VERESar/3W7Tf TELL you. Bro ther Carruthers," exclaimed Uncle James, "the thing i 8 impossible. The South can not really mean war. No. no! There are too many strong ties between the North and South, too much real love, too many mutual Interests, too many mon of brains and sense." Uncle James Llnllth, thus standing with his back to the tire, his six feet four Inches of manly grace towering high above the low mantel, bis benev olent and powerful face surmounted by Its halo of thick and wavy silver hair, dominated all others in the room, as cathedrals dominute the cottages at their feet, yet there were several per sona present whose future deeds were to show them to be men and women of far more than usual strength in the times that "tried men's souls to prove what manner of men they were." The little gathering on this special evening occupied the large back parlor of a broad red brick and white marble bouse on St. Mark's Place, a quarter of New York City which had long held Its own among the most fashion able, butsinto which the blight of the boarding-house was Just beginning to make Insidious Inroads. The tiiue was early perhaps in January; I do not quite remember, but 1 know that it was shortly after the meeting of the futile so called Peace Commission, whereby well-meaning men of both sides had thought to plant olive trees, and only succeeded in sowing heavier crops of thistles. At least two of the men present had been members of that Commission, and had returned from Washington oppressed by the con sciousness that matters were in a much more serious condition thau the others were willing to admit. The little assembly of line-looking men and women before the speaker was just now very grave. There were friends from north and south of Mason and Dixon's line,? honest, whole-souled persons, all of them, though their sen timents differed as widely as their faces. Home were young, .and some there were that we, the youthful ones, thought were very old Indeed. I be lieve that one of them must have been almost sixty years old, and was treated with reverence by all save Uncle James, who lioastcd nearly as many years and had a far more venerable appearance, by dint of wearing his own beautiful white hair, while the older man felt himself compelled to disport a shiny, dark brown wig. This gentleman, I'ncle Carruthers, had Just risen to make some reply to his tall brother-in-law's remarks, when the persistent and shrill calliug of ??Kxtray! Kxtray!" penetrated the closed doors and windows. "Kxtras" at that time commanded an attention which they seldom receive to-day. For an Instant all maintained the attitudes In which they had been caught by the newsman's cry. Then thare was a break, a dash for doors and windows. Alas! there was no mistake. The words were plain aud each syllable was Hke a bullet: "The flag Is fled upon ?t Fort Sumter." The next morning proved this to bar* been a false alarm, but the effect ?a the peaceful little group of old aud young was the same that It might iHtvt l>eeu later when the sad tidings were true. Among I hose present were North anil South Carolinians, citizens of Connecticut anil New York, Vlrglu la ns and people from Massachusetts, one from i/ouisiana and one from Ohio: and with tlie exception of two or three who were iu feeble health. I believe there was not one who did not, in the sad days to come, take a credit* able part on the one side or the other In differing but active ways. In one corner stood Bessie Calvert from Charleston and Philip Schuyler from Albany. The high back of the old-fashioned sofa had shielded the hands while sitting which they had forgotten to unclasp as they uncon sciously rose and gazed at each other with blanched faces. Near them stood Wallace (iruham, of Beaufort. N. C.. who had Involuntarily flung his arm around Nina Suydaui, as if he would defy and rending of the betrothal ties which had so lately united tlieiu. The i old men stared at each other, white to the lips with unspoken grief, while unnoticed tears stole down their strong fuces; the young men glared at each utner with a tierce amaze, and the women, whether old or young, sobbed with a grief that could not be uttered. For a few moments this smothered sobbing was the only sound in the lately so animated room; but soon there was commotion enough for a revolutionary assembly, during which every one talks and no one hearkens. I hardly remember how the party broke up. but I know that It proved to be the last meeting on earth for some who had loved each other well, anil the last for many months or years of others. The next morning beheld a parting that was stormy on the one side and tearful 011 the other between Wallace tiraham and Nina Suydaui In the same old parlor. Wallace was hot-headed, a furious States' Rights- partisan, and Nina was a loyal daughter of llie I'll ion. looking upon war only as a last resort. True, It had not yet been declared, but all felt that it soon would be, and Wallace (Sraham left New York that niglit to "go with his State," whatever action she might take. Be fore that week was out not one of the evening's group of friends who was born south of Washington City was to be found In New York. New Yorkers of thirty-live years ago will remember the line but sadly un sanitary old City Hospital set tlfty feet or more back from Broadway on the west side, opposite the head of I'earl Street. A day or two after the news of the llrst terrible "Seven Days I before Hlchinoiid," It was rumored tlmt this old hospital was to receive some of the wounded who had been deemed able to travel so far from the lleld where they were stricken. This was work for women, and nt home. 80 fiir there had not boon many women engaged in hospital work, al though In the labor of preparing hospi tal supplies they hail been Incessant and tireless. Among the flrst iu New York City to ask admittance to the hospital an a nurse was Nina Kuydatn. She was "too young and pretty." said gruff old Surgeon Dally, a good man und kind. But In spite of the old surgeon's ob jections Nina obtained a pass, "for one day only, to walk about, cry, and get sick of It," said the good-hearted old chnstnut burr, as he signed the puper. Tlmt very day Nina happened to be passing the door of the operating room Just as a fainting attendant was being carried forth, and the old surgeon, without raising his eyes from his work, was crying out*. "Somebouy coma and take this sp?ng?t and be quick about It I" ? Nina's father was also a surgeon (?ow at tit* front), and shs had been taight by him how to make litrwlf useful la emergencies. This day's work proved her eUdency, sad wss the beginning of a long and arduous service la hospltsl wards. Young, pretty, and endowed with a nameless attraction which Is more ponent thsn youth or beauty, and continues to exert Its force when these are gone, Nina soon found her way to "the front,"? the ssd, terlble, magnificent "frout," where all the virtues and all the vices fought side by side In the same great cause, and so learned lessons from each other; for even vices? so long ss they are not lnhumsn? have sspects which ar* not sll bad, and can some time* support the virtues with an un expected strength. At the "front" was much evil, but also much good. Weskness wss msde strong, sud hsrshness wss softened. Desth snd hardship sre stern masters, but good metal is welded under their blows. Msldenly and sweet young woman tended In hospitals where the rough and the gentle of those who had worn the blue or the gray lay aide by side, and never by word, deed, or look were harmed by aoy. Hun dreds are still living who will willingly testify to this. There hsd been a terrible day In the hospital at Fortress Monroe. It was after fatal Fredericksburg, snd the wounded had been slmost piled In the wsrOs. filling the floors so closely that pssslng between the lines of pro* trate men was a difficult matter. There were not nearly enough mat tresses and cots to provide for all. for by one of these blunders which are always being msde by do one knows whom, a big shipment of these essen tials which had b?n forwarded to Fortress Monroe by the ever-to-l>e blessed Sanitary Commission, had been sent back to Baltimore. He who had a mattress had not a cut, and he who had a cot had not a mattress, and yet. even so divided, the supply was so far short of the need that hare floors were thankfully accepted, if in uny place where the wounded could be under shelter. Overworked surgeons, hurrying or derlies, deft-handed colored assistants. provided ? Quick -eyed orderly, springing forward, caught the pitcher and it* bearer. Another Instant and Nina was kneel ing on the floor, the oandsged and bloody head preaaed close to her bosom, her whole being thrilling to her low; "Thank God! Thank God! Oh. my Wallace, my awn, my own!" Orer fort, camp, and hospital, snd far out orer the heaving black see. ? Drawn by W. B. Brown. "aXOTHX* INSTAKT 1XO KINA WAS KlfKILIKQ OX THK FLOUR." lightning and thunders flushed and roared, and the rains dashed with un heeded fury; but the heavy air grew lighter and sweeter beneath thera all. and a quickening pulse of life ran from man to man, aud from ward to ward. Iu the bright dawn of the morning It was a radlunt face that bowed al>ove the battered soldier who had worn the gray. The surgeon was just going to snatch an hour or two of the heavy slumber which comes only to those who are "tired almost to death." He paused a moment to look down at the two. "Yes, my bruve ?'irl." he said, in response to her joyful eyes, "yes. he w:lll live now." As the weary sur geon went on, the girl bent over her lover, and.kissed almost the only uii bandaged spot, sin eyelid closed In sav ing sleep. ? Woman's Home Compan ion. Al m By Thoa. ball. EMANCIPATION MONUMENT. Lincoln Park. and light-stepping women in short, cool gowns of linen or gingham which might huve heen clean In the morning, but were anything else by now, were getting abont between the parallel rows* of suffering or unconsciousness men as best they might. Words were few, but voices were not hushed. The grievously wounded have not keenly sensitive nerves to anything external to themselves; It Is only convalescents who possess these Incumbrances. One l>oor fellow who had been removed from his comfortable cot to make room for another In a worse pllski than himself, raised his voice In complaint against the "racket." A cheery voice exclaimed, "Is that you. Johnny (illdcr? I'm glad to hear that grumble! It's a sign you're get ting better." The speaker passed lightly onward, carrying a big pitcher of beef tea lit one hand, and .1 small tin cup lu the other, administering the pitcher's con tents Impartially to those who seemed most In need of it, for those days were too hurried to make out the usual hos pital lists and keep records. The beef tea went around to all alike, "every hour if possible, and every two hours If possible." according to the custom ary and lucid, if somewhat Illhcrian phraseology of the wards. At the sound of the nurse's cheery voice, a sorely wounded man opened his one unbandHged eye, and gave a faint cry of, "Nina! O Nina!" She stopped and turned. The woman, trained by mouths of service to meet and minister to all forms of suffering without a tremor, swayed and almost lost her precious burden; for beef tea was precious In those 111 The Unknown <1 r?v?i. The nimclcsK grave! The rent is just as HWffft As if 'twere pillowed on an honored name. A citizen lies there, although to fame Unknown, perhaps, like many you inay meet I'pon the highwavs or the public street. A soldier dead, with dumb, unceasing prayer, Pleaded a little dirt to hide the bare. Cold limbs. Ah, more, indeed; one called to meet The death-tide as it welled from battle | Held. And valiantly in the line of duty fell. iStiU more, if the truth must fully tell: lie looks the hero which he was, ?and sealed Km claim, by his life's blood. The un known grave 1j known to be a brother's that was brave. ? - L. 0. Little, llushville, III. "* ' 9?mrs of the So|<ll?rs. Comrades known in marches many, Comrades tried in dangers many. Comrades bound by memories many, Brothers ever let us be! Wounds or sickness may divide us, Marching orders may divide us, | Hut whatever fate betide us, Brothers of the heart are we. Comrades known by faith the dearest, Tried when death was near and nearest. Hound we are by ties the dearest, Brothers evermore to be. Ami if spared, ami growing older, shoulder still in line with shoulder, And with hearts no thrill the colder. Brothers ever we shall be. By communion of the banner, Battle scarred but victor banner, By the bnntism of the banner, Brothers of one church are we! Creed nor faction can divide us, Hace nor language can divide us, Still, whatever fate betide us, Children of thf flag art.- we! - Miles O'HejJIy. FOK DECORATION DAY. Hattlc Hymn of the Republic. Mine eyes hath seen the glory of the com ing of the Lord; He U> trampling out the vintage where the grape* of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible, swift sword; His truth is me .'lung on. I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling ca.nps; They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and dumps; I have read Mis righteous sentence by the dim and daring lamps; His day is marcnii.g on. I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: ''As ye deal with Mv contemners, so with you My grace shall deal; Let the Hero, horn of woman, crusn the serpent ? itli His heel. Since CSod is marching on." He ha-* sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is lifting out the hearts of men before H is judgment seat ; Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet! Our Ood is marching on. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in His bosom that transfig ures you and me. As He died to uiaki* men holy, let >is die to make men free. While (Jod is inarching on. ? Mrs. .lulia Ward Howe. Memorial Day. The highways teem with wanton bloom; The gardens, wrapped in rich perfume, Dream out the latest days of May? Lo, 'tis the land's Memorial Day; And where the pines, intoning, stand Beside low graves, or where the bland, Soft Southern breezes stir the leaves Of the , a I met to ? each receives. Sleeper in Blue, or Cray, his crown. Oyer the dark and the terrible road, \\ here war's dread rivers once ceaselesly flowed, Fluttered the gentle, immaculate dove, Kmblem of peace, of re-union and love, OjI of the martyrs' t'.-rk, battle-hewn graves, Springeth the Heart's ease in glorified waves And through the land, for the Blue and the (Jrr.v Shrined in the hearts of the people for ave, Tears fall alike, this Memorial Day. May 30th. It seemed to be but chance, yet who shall say That 'twas not part of Nature's own sweet way. That on the field where once t. e cannon's breath Lay many a hero cold and stark in death, Some little children, in the after-years, Had come to play among the brassy spears. And, all unheeding, when their romp was done. Had left a wreath of wild (low'rs over one Who fought to save his country, ar.d whose lot It was lo die unknown and rest forgot? ? John Kendrick Bangs. Tile Holtllrr'a ()?*?. How sleep 'I"* l>rnve. who sink to rest, liy nil their country's wishes blest; When spring, with dewy lingers cold, Hetjrns to deck their hallowed mold, She there shall dress u sweeter sod Than fancy's feet have ever trod. By fairy hands their knell is rung; By forms unseen their dirge is sung; There honor comes, a pilgrim gray, To bless the turf that wraps their clay; And freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell u weeping hermit there. ? William Collins. Strew Flowers Above the Nation l>eml. Strew flowers above the Nation's dead! Oh, gather tenderly around; With garlands deck their lowly bed. Tread lightlv o'er this hallowed ground, For us they died? the brave, the true; In gratitude we linger here, And thus our offerings renew, With flowers of each returning year. Pence hover o'er each honored bed; Strew flowers above the Nation's dead! Their mem'rics dwell in every heart; Oh, keep them ever fondly pure! From hill and plain, and crowded mart, Here gather while the years end re. Can we forget the gifts they gave ? The lives that yielded at our needs? O'er all the land, from wave to wave, Thus honored be their noble deed*. Peace hover o'er each lowty bed. Strew flowers above the Nations dead! A Flng D?y. Weave your "arlands bright. Before the May-time closes: Pansies blue ami white And blushing buds of rows. ^ '0. 0 ^ af Blue and white and red, The lonely graves they'll cover; And o'er each grassy bed The stars utid strij>es shall hover. T/et this work be wrought Before the May-time close*. And bring your loving thought, More precious than the roses. ~K. 8. B. fLAH DftlU, AT SCHOOL. PWNTERS* UNCO IN ENGLAND. la many rsspscf the technical terai of the printer's trade are the same la as in the United State*, yet there are several radical dlfferencea of nomenclature which sound peculiar to the Ameclcan ear. Over there a press man Is a machine minder, or simply a minder. What we call a press proof here Is there called a machine proof, while they give to press proof another meaning, that of a proof which la pre sumed to be the last before going to press. With us. of course, a press proof means j* proof takeu on th? press, and implying that the impres sion Is more or leas made ready, so a? to give a result equal to the tlnsl job. Composition done by the week in Eng land is "on 'stab" ax opposed to "ou piece.** An office correction with theiu is a "house mark." They do uot use the word "ringer." although such cor rections are encircled by the proof reader. as with us. A proofreader'? room or compartment is called a closet, and the meauing of the word Is ex tended to .cover the proofreading fra ternlty. which is spoken of as "tli# closet.** Just as we refer to the busi ness department as the couuting house The copyholder is usually denominated the "reading boy" while the foreman is the "overseer." A man's salary 01 wage* Is his "screw," while a battered letter is a batter. The sizes of the printing machines are Indicated by the papers they will take on. a double demy, crown and small crown ma chines. The word press is reserved fot the handpress. all the others worthy of the name being called machines. A paper cutter is a "guillotine." and a stone Is an "imposing surface." Quo tations with them nre "hollow quads." A press-clipping bureau Is a "press cutting agency." Lithograph aud li thographing are almost universally abrevlated to "lltbo." and a deter gent. or other substitute for lye, is a "type wash." WORDS OP WISDOM. BT B. J. KBRDEmrSS. In nny relation of life avoid the man wlio whines when he talks. The pull of a politician is as re morseless as the pull of a dentist. You can estimate a man pretty cor rectly by the meu whom he does not know. We hear a great deal about the Ir revenenee of children toward their pa rents. I am not sure that the children are altogether to blame. As soon as girls learn that there is neither romance nor logic in making n mystery about honorable relations with young men, we can hope for the future. A young mair who docs not keep his word is not only a liar, but a poor sort of fool. He deceives only himself, and is no better than the fellow who makes faces at himself in the mirror. If a young man thinks enough of a woman to ask her to become his wife, he should insist upon letting the whole world know it. If he does not mean to act lionorabiy with her there is every reason why he should want to befuddle his and h<r relatives and friends with secrecy and mystery. To keep an en gagement "on the quiet" has resulted disastrously for many a woman. Why shouldn't a young inan consult his father and mother about the mat ter of his marrying V Does he know more about huiuau nature than his pa rents? If he gets Into trouble or be comes sick lie bawls for help In the loudest maimer. Y ?t h? does not know that these things are as nothing com pared with t lie troubles of au unhay* py married life. Two You iik CuvtiUnri. During a heavy thaw, when the crossings were running brooks, a lady making her way tip a quiet street found herself confronted by a small lagoon. Coing bark to a corner, she crossed tile street, only to tiiul an other barrier between her and the side walk. Doubtful, she stood still, ex amining hummocks of snow which ?night serve as stepping-stones. Two small boys saw her difficulty, and with eager words and gestures pointed out u crossing place. "Step here and step there." said one, while the other, with the gallantry of Sir Walter UalHuh, seized a large block of ice and deposited it in the gutter for a causeway. Delighted with such unusual atten tion, the lady bowed cordially, say ing "Thank you, my younj; cavaliers." Then, as she passed on to meditate on the charms of youthful chivalry, one of the gallant knights cried out, "Say. ain't you goiu' to give us a cent?'* String* nl Nimm. Iu a paper reatl by Miss Adule M. Fieide before the section of biology of the New York Academy of Sciences, the Joints composing the antennae of ants were described as u series of noses, each having a special function. The ttrst Joint distinguishes the ant's native nest from the nest of an en emy; the second discriminates between the odor of ants of different colonies, but of the same species; the third dis ferns the scent of the truck left by the ant's own feet and enables It to return over Its route; the four t li and fifth Joints discover the distinctive odor of the larvae and if removed disable the nut from caring for thv young in a nest; the sixth and seventh Joints make known the presence of an ant of different species. Oni.v after these Joints ure developed will ants of different species light one another* I>oubt About Artificial Diamond*. Everybody lias heard of the artificial diamonds which the French chemist, H?'url Molssan, produced several year* ago by fusing In an electric furnace n mass of Iron rich In carbon and then suddenly cooling It. The minute crys tals formed In the cooled muss were regarded as true diamonds. Hut now another Frenchman. Monsieur Combes, attacks Molssan's conclusions and de clares that the crystals in question ur*? not diamonds, from which they differ In their refractive properties. .Mon sieur Combes also urgues that natur* forms diamonds at a comparatively low temperature, und In support of this position he quotes a statement which tvlll be new to most readers, namely; that Messrs. Uoeppert and I Friedel have found plant remains in Uianiouds.? Youth's Companion. ? - _ Humor of Xodcxv Mary'* Walcb. Mary had a tinv watch. And swallowed it one day. Per hap* to save a little time. That's what the neighbors say. She would have been a happy girl, Except for this bad mix: That watch could beat ber iiUle muL, It had so many ticks. ?Wheeling (\\. v a.) Telegraph. His Ottspstlss. First Little Girl? "My father I ? to editor; what doe* yours ilo ?" Second Little Ulrl ? "Whatever maui mu tells hiui.*'? Glasgow Eveuiug Tlmea. Surprised. The Fiance? "Why, yes. at times I thought you might not accept me." The Fiancee? "Is it possible? 1 iluln't think low could be as bliud a* that."? I'uck. Willie's l'ltllosoptty Mamma? "Stop that. Willie! Do you expect me to speak to you every tlve minutes about that?" Willie? "Oh. no! You'll get tired after awhile.** Comfort. Mr. Gotrox? "What! Would you t*ke my daughter from nieV Why. slo i? all 1 have to comfort me lu my old age!" l*onl Xotnsent? "Cad! 1 tlioucht you had $V*XMXH>."? I'uck. Ciutlil ller. Jessie? "How in the world did you discover lier age?" Bessie? "I asked her at what ago she thought a girl should marry, and she said promptly not before she's twenty -seven."? Philadelphia Ledger. I'apa Was Busy. His Da uk liter's Swcethcart( at the telephone)? "I called you up to er -er ? er you er -er " Her Father ? "Take her ami make Jut happy. You'll have to excuse me; this is my busy day." A Definition. "You don't know what n skeleton Is, oiul I do," said the elder boy. "Don't I, though!" replied the younger. "Well, what is It?" "It's the bones with the people off." ? PiithlludiT. Kveu In AliMlilln'n Day. Aladdin was rubbing his wonderful la nip. "Isn't it lovely?" iiiey "No." he returned. "I'd mueh rallicv skin the gas company." With a heavy si^u lie paid the bill.? New York Sun. F.ttKy KiioiirIi. "He pretends to be a philosopher.** "Yes; but 1 notice one peculiar thing about his philosophy." "What's that';" "It's only other people's hard IucU that he is able to accept philosophi cally."? Chicago Post. The Kxplorei-'* Appientlcenlilp. Stanley was penetrating darkest Af rica. "Bui." t'ny faltered, "do you think you can tiud the way?" '?< Vrlainly." rcplic<l the intrepid ex plor.r: "I mice got to Brooklyn all by myself."? New York Sun. Tlie llinprriicr. ".Vow*. Mr. Bumble," said the pro fessor. "you may tell us the difference between the cellar and the cclluiJr forms of life." Mr. Itamble thought for a moment. "Oil" lives in a bouse," he ventured, "and the other lives in u flat." ? Judge. I'owlbl* (explanation. "f il-v.j't see what I ever married yoo for. anyway,' angrily exclaimed the ex -widow. "I'm sure I don'l know." calmly re joined the other end of the combine, "unless it was to get even with the late lamented for quitting the game." -Chicago News. Knot* In the Cunt*. Muggins? "Fellow called me a bloom in' idiot tills morning. What du you think of that?" Wiggins -"Well, I think It's up to h i in to consult an oculist." M u ggi 11 s ? " Beca u *e why?" Wiggins? "Because you look soeilj Instead of blooming."? Chicago News. A Detailed Kxplnnritlon. "The city of l*assa Is high up in the hills, isn't it?" "I dunno." "I was going to say that the British Invading force might suffer from tlw altitude." "In what way?" "Why the altitude might bring on T.assatude. And the? hold on there. What's your hurry V"? Cleveland IMala Dealer. On* Thing In Common. Towne- "lie was at one time quite prominent In Wall street financiering, wasn't lie?" Brown? "Yes. but lie's Rettled down now as a gentelman fnrtner; raising line cattle and tiiat sort of thing." Towne ?"Well, well! How entirely different from his old work." Browne "Oh. not entirely. He waters his stock, of course."? Phila delphia Press. ? . ? ? ,