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V >. -I k-i~w ■7 J - ml-. -Wr?^.K r '“T^ zTt? ■■ i ..< y H I TRI-WEEKLY EDITION. WINNSBORO. S. k\. MARCH 10. 1883. ESTABLISHED 1848 UKEAU1NV IN TUK THKNCUE4. I picture her there in the quaint old room, Where the lading tire-llgbt starts and falls; Alone In the twilight’s tender gloom, With the shadows that dance on the dim-Ut walls. Alone; while those faces look silently down From their antique frames in a grim repose— Slight, scholarly Kalph In his Oxford gown. And staunch Sir Allan, who died for Montrose. mere are gal ants gay in crimson and gold; There are smiling beauties wltn powdered hair; fiat she sits there, fairer a thousand fold, Leaning dreamily back In her low arm-chair. And the roseate shadows of fading light, Softly clear, steal o’er the fair young face Where a woman’s tenderness blends to-night Wita the guileless pride of her kn’ghtly race. Her small hand* tie clasiied in a listless way" On the old romance, which she holds on her knee, Of Trlstam,"the bravest of knights In the fray, And ’•Iseult,” who waits by the sounding sea. And the proud, dark eyes wear a softened look, As she watches the dying embers fall; Perhaps she dreams of the knlgtts In the book, Perhaps of the pictures that smile oh the wall I What fancies, I wonder, are thronging her brain, For her cheeks flush warn with a crimson glow; Perhaps—ah 1 me, how foolish and vain! But I’d give my life to believe it to. Well, whether I ever march home again. To offer my love and a stainless name, Or whether I die at the head of my men, I’ll be true to the end all the same 1 CUPID’S JUDGMENT. Dear old grandma Wellington looked over her gold-rimmed glasses at Jack, with a world of loving anxiety in her bine eyes—sweet tranquil old eyes that were as blue as when she was a girl of sweet sixteen. “Are you sure you have considered the matter well—thoroughly, my boy?’' Her voice was sweet and quiet, and she herself was the daintiest imaginable ideal of a darling old grandma; slim, tnm, always dressed in black silk and a white Spanish lace half-handkerchief in winter-time, and queen’s grey silk and a dotted Swiss half-handkerchief in summer, with puffs of grey hair, on which lay a tiny little cap, and a string of solid gold beads around her neck. And Jack, lounging on the sofa at the opposite side of the ro m, was her special pet—handsome, happy Jack, who never failed to make grandma do exactly what he wished her to do. And just at the present moment the highest object of his ambition was to reconcile grandma Wellington to his engagement with Viva Morris, and in return for his lover-like enthusiasm ou the subject, grandma had laid down the sacque she was knitting for little Florie, the latest grand-baby, and looked over her glasses and put the question; “Are you sure you have' considered the matter well—thoroughly, my boy?’’ Jack laughed. “I have never considered it at all, when it comes to that,’’ he said. “I have a tirm conviction that such thiegs are settled by a destiny too high for poor mortality to consider.” “But ‘poor mortality’ is expected to suffer if experience proves ‘destiny’ made a mistake,” she said, with a little laughing twinkle in her eygs. Then a grave troubled look spread all over her face. Bhe shook her head. “It would break my heart. Jack, if you didn’t marry a wife every way worthy of you.” “And you mean you consider my little Viva is unworthy. “What do you call then a ‘good wife,’ grandma? “I mean one goed enough for me, you know—a first-class A 1, no mistake.” His splendid blonde head laey laaily on his folded arms, and he looked with a mischievous glance at the old lady, who resumed her knitting serenely. “I mean a sweet pretty good-temper ed girl, who will be content in her hus band’s love, and who can sett.e down restfuliy to a quiet country life, and not pine herself away, and torment her husband for the follies of city dissipa tion; a girl who is sensible, economical, not ashamed to do her own work. “If needs b«, who will save what you earn, and think herself happy, because she is crowned with your love. ” “And you do not believe Viva pos sesses those qualifications?’' “How could she, unless jou take exception to the first essentials? “iShe is sweet and pretty; but what’b that by itself? “She is her mother’s own child, and Grace Moore the girl, and Grace Mor ris, the woman, was yaiu, extravagant, idle, and a spend-thrift. “Like parent like child, if they look alike as much as Viva and her mother, “If you must get married, why don’t you marry Betta? “She’s the stay and support of the Morrises, and as good as gold. Jack could not restrain a little sign of disgust. “Marry Betta Storms?” “Not if she were au angel! “I don’t like her; grandma. “No ma’am; love goes where it is sent, and it’s little black-eyed Viva or nobody, and I don’t think it’ll be no body.” Grandma laid her knitting down again, and looked anxiously, thoughtfully, out of the window at the gorgeous clusters of wisteria blooms, twining m ound the piazza trellis. “I am sorry, Jack—soory—even if the Morrises are your poor dear grandpa's relatives.’' “I am afraid you ore prejudiced,” Jack said gently, in his irresistible pleading way. “Viva is as industrjous as a little bee, grandma. '*She gives music-lessons, and teaches in the night-school at odd moments. “Aud spends every halfpenny she earns onjdress, and makes poor Betta work over the ironing table to laundry her bwias suits aud lawn wrappers. •Tve no patience with her.” You are prejudiced, grandma,” he reiterated convincingly. « “I know Viva wears out all the old garments there, and because she is tasty and stylish yon accuse her of extrava gance. “She’d wear anything respectable to save a shilling, arid I honor her for it. “And it’s more than Betta would do; she’d stay at home forever first. ” Grandmother smiled—a bright sud den soule. “You’ve put a brilliant idea in my old head, Jack. “I shall make it my business to prove the assertion you have made. “You say Viva would do one thing. “I say she wouldn’t. “You say Betta would do one thing; I am sure to the contrary. I’ll send them each a dress—respect able, sensible dresses, old fashioned and pretty—that I wore fifteen years ago. “They can be remaae. and although not in the fashion of to-day, no girl with good sense would refuse to wear either to the lawn-party at the rectory to which Viva and Betta are invited. “You’ll see who is right, Jack or his old grandmother.” She nodded her head sagely, and Jack laughed, his face flushing warmly. “I’ll stake my life on Viva. “I'll go further. “I’ll concede all you had said, in case I am not right, ’ he declared positively. “Well, we’ll see,” grandma Welling ton said wisely. “Only think of it! “Was there ever such luck, mamma —Betta? “Actually a dress apiece for us from papa’s people. “Isn’t it superb? “And in time for the lawn party, too.” Viva Morris certainly was sweet and pretty enough to have won Jack Well ington’s head:. She was petite, with lovely dark eyes, and luxurious brown hair, and a rare pale complexion, like a roseleaf, with no hint of color on its pure pallor, and a little passionate mouth, as red and luscious as ripe strawberries. Mrs. Morris, in the easiest chair the little cottage afforded, laid her novel down and looked at Viva interestedly. “A new dress apiece?” Betta Storms, tall, aristocratic-looking arranging her fair, massive braids more to her notion before the sitting-room glass, turned languidly around. “Do not make such a sensation over an express parcel, Viva. “Undo it, and we will see the con tents.” Viva hastily brought the scissors and snipped the thick string, while Betta read the letter accompanying it aloud. 4 My dear great grandnieces,” it said, “I take the liberty and pleasure of send ing you each a dress for the rectory lawn party, hoping yov will be pleased with them and wear them.” It was signed in full: “Mary Augusta Wellington. ” Just as Viva reached the inner tissue paper Betta said enthusiastically: “Oh, I do hope mine’s a summer silk —changeable blue and gold!” “H mine only is a delicious grey)” Viva said. And then the inner paper was remov ed, and Mrs Morris gave a shriek of lorror that would have done justice to the occasion if the parcel had contained human bones. Her old worn-out dresses!” she gasped hysterically. “Second-hand, horrid old things that a beggar wouldn’t wear!” Betta cried, in vexation. While Viva, keen disappointment on ler pietty face, lifted up the quaint garments, so full and voluminous, and shook them out “They are old-fashioned ns the hills, lint they’re pretty, anyhow,” she said, Dhe dismay in her voice almost conceal ed by her brave determination to make the best of it. “Bsally, if there was to be a masquer ade, this funny plaid silk wouldn’t bo so bad.” remarked Betta. But there is to be no masquerade; and old Mrs. Wellington needn’t think I’d make a guy of myself by wearing the cast-off clothes. ‘I’d rather do np your suits all the week, at the dollar apiece you pay me, than be disgraced by such a toilet as that would make!” Betta was bitterly indignant, and Mrs. Morris scarcely less so. “It’s old grandmother Wellington over again,” she said, with what she supposed was fine centempt. “Rich and stingy 1 “l wouldn’t marry into that family again—no, not for all they’re worth. And you’ll be sorry for it, some day, when Jack develops the family mean ness.” “I’ll risk all Jack’s meanness” said Viva coolly; “and in the meantime I think I see a very pretty dress for my self in this lovely pink and silver-thread ed barege. “It’s so awfully old-fashioned, I shall make believe it’s n§w—just out. “I’ll rip it up and make it over, and put some pink satin bows upon it, and tnm my rustic straw gipsy with a wreath of wild brier to match in color.” Betta elevated her nose haughtily. “And be an old-fashioned looking thing, after tJL “Mrs. Judge Mivart and old Miss Bxienoer are sure to be at the lawn party, and they’ll recognise the dress, for the old lady Wellington and they were girls together. ‘Faney Algernon Mivart hearing his grandmother say I was in one of her oast-off dresses. ^‘Til sell the horrid old thing to the second-hand woman, and bay enough lace bunting for a new polonaise.” Viva held her little dusky head on one side, like a reflective bird, and scanned the objectionable silk. “I wouldn’t if I were you, Betta. “Let me fix it up for you, when I do mine. “A little of the lovely lace on mam ma’s black silk, and a new blue sash the lustrous silver thread cries crossing all through its soft fabric. Aud at length, on the afternoon of the famous lawn-party in the rectory grounds Viva outshone Batta and every one else in the pure. $weet, girlish simplicity aud becoming loveliness of her toilet, that brought out to its highest perfec tion the rich, creamy tint of her skin, and the dusky shadows in her eyes and hair. “How do you like my new dress?” she asked Jack, after he had escaped from duty to grandma Wellington, the aristo cratic guest of the occasion. “I like it better than anything else in the world,” he said, looking straight in her eyes with a look that made her heart thrill with delight. While grandma Wellington, and state ly old Mrs. Judge Mivart aud Miis Spencer, sitting in state in the red-aud. blue stripped marquee, near the foun tain, talked the little matter of Mrs. Wellington’s scheme gravely over. Air. Algernon Mivart was on accidental listener. “I admit I was altogether wrong, and I shall leave Jack and Viva fifteen hun dred dollars just because that pretty little brown-eyed girl has displayed such good sense.” “I really quite envy Jack his good luck; especially on little Miss Viva’s account.” Air. Mivart drawled languid ly- “I never took much fancy to the other one—don’t like the stjle—too washed out, you know. ” “And I’ve heard, on good authority, that Miss Storms actually charges Miss Morris for iranirg for her, and that, too, when Miss Morris supports the family entirely. But, dear me, what a set of old gossips we are. Go, bring us ices, Algie, a lemon aud au orange and a pineapple.” An Actor's Tragrrty. ] Boars in a I,< dicing Houte. Warming Hearts And Hands. NEWS LN BRIEF TUe State Dlmor. “Don't talk such nonsense! “I tell you I wouldn't have Al Mivart good, know it for all the world.” Now would she be persuaded. The very same day Jie sent for the only “only clothes” woman in the place, The table in the State dining-room iu the White House will seat, by close crowding, thirty-six people. This, then, is the number invited, and usually there are not less than thnty on these occas ions. Where it is convenient to do so, as many ladies as gentlemen are invited, though at diplomatic dinners, when all the foreign Ministers here are to be present, it is found impossible to seat as many at the table as this plau would require, so that the rule is not always followed. The table is usually very handsomely ornamented with flowers, a huge floral design ol some sort appear ing as a center piece, and smaller ones near the ends. Two large golden can delabra, or branching candlesticks, holding perhaps a dozen candles apiece occupy places on the table, one at ei- tuer end otthc-tloialcentrepiece. These contain the finest of wax candles, which are lighted just before the dinner be gins. Near the ends of the table are smaller candelabra, with perhaps a naif dozen candles apiece, each having a little pink lined shade at the top sup ported bf a silver rod which clasps the candle near the bottom. The plates are placed “right side up with care” about thirty inches apart around the table. On each plate the napkin is laid, and on the napkin a bouquet, for the ladies a flat corsage bouquet of rose buds and sometimes liilies of the valley; for the gentlemen usually a single half- opened rose bud. Besides these is laid a card, one on each plate, and on it the name of the person who is to sit at this place. The head of the table, on these occasions, is not at the end, but in the middle. The seat occupied by the President is half way up the side of the table, at the side next the door at which the guests eater. The lady whom he escorts to dinuer sits at his right; aud the honored guest on the occasion sits directly opposite the President, with his lady on his right. Those who ar range the table and the order in which the guests sit, of course arrange so that gentleman aud wife do not sit side by side under any circumstances. When the arrangement for sea ting is completed, and each person has been assigned to his place, a card is prepared for each gentleman and placed in an en velope bearing his name. On one side of this card is a plan of the table with each seat numbered. On the other side is the name of the lady whom he is to escort to the table and the numbers of the seats they are to occupy. These envelopes are handed to the gentlemen as they enter by a gentlemanly usher named Allen, and as soon os the gentle man has “shed” hia outer garments he examines his card, dttses or blesses the fates which have consigned him to an uncongenial partner fer the evening, and hies him to the East Boom, when, aiter paying his respects to the Presi dent, he hunts up his lady and prepares for tiie evening. Meantime, the famous Marine Band has taken its place in the vestibule. After a half hour spent in conversation in the East Boom, the President gives the signal to an attend ant, who passes it ou tothe band, which strikes up some appropriate selection, and the President, giving his right arm to the lady whom he is to escort to din ner, leads the way to the dining-room. The others follow, each gentleman giv ing his arm to the lady designated by his card. I'be President usually takes to the table the wife of the Secretary of State. The promenade down the long hail to the dining-room is very slow, and is a striking and beautiful spectacle. The ladies, of course, are in evening costume, the handsomest that money and ingenuity can provide, and the gentlemen in dress suits, the lights brilliant, the hall lined with flowers and tropical plants, and the music entrancing. Arriving at the table, the guests a?e seated in their or der, and the dinner, which is usually in twelve or fourteen courses, with a half dezeh different wines, occupies fully three hours, and, it may be added, is Mr. Arthur E. Miller,’.the well-known theatrical agent, waa in the city last night, and as he was in the ill-fated Newhall House, and intimately acquain ted with Gilbert, the actor, a reporter had a talk with him about the tragedy. The story of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert’s mairied life, as he narrated it, is a touch ing one, made more so from the remarka ble devotion tney displayed for each other. “I have known Gilbert long and intimately,” Mr. Miller said, “and if I were to live a thousand years I would never forget the occurrence of that dreadful night in connection with him. He was formely a minstrel man, and was with Stanly’s Allied Shows. He hod only been u member jof tivo Minnie Palmer Troupe a few weelis but in that time nail fully mastered his part, and was a remarkably clever actor. His wife was not on the stage, as many sup pose, but lived with hkr parents at Blood Station, N. York. Gilbert had met her a couple ot years before, and bad been her sweetheart (or a long time, they having been engaged several months, although he never breathed a word of it to any one. The week be fore the fire the company was playing in Chicago, aud by a strange coincidence she happened to be visiting some of her relations there at the same time. It was during that week that the young couple agreed to be married quietly, aud it was arranged that the should ac company the troupe to Milwaukee, re main during the week and then return to her home, until they could be onoe more united. The day before they left for Milwaukee the marriage took place, and he never mentioned it until alter the ceremony, when he told the rest of the company. Tha night of the lire the Palmer company, played at the Grand Opera House, and during the performance I walked carelessly into the theatre and took a seat in the dress circle. “I naturally looked all around, and soon observed a lady sitting several rows across from me whose appearance I was at once attracted by. Tuere was no one sitting close beside her, so 1 could get a good look at her face and figure, and 1 rarely ever saw a more beautiful woman, “She was dressed in black silk, aud her round, well-made features were sha ded by a broad-rimmed scarlet hat with a long leather which drooped down low over her shoulder. Her hair which peeped out on either side of it was black as jet, and when she partially turned her face I saw that her eyes were of the same beautiful color. Iu a few moments Gilbert came on the stage, and sbe immediately was all attention. She leaned forward, and resting her el bow on the seat in front of hsr, placed her hand against ber neck, and remain ed in that position until he made his exit, her eyes following his every mo tion. “As soon as the curtain fell on the act I walked behind the scenes, and met Gilbert standing near the entrance. As soon as the curtain rose he took me around to the second wing and said : ‘I want to show you something.' He led me close to the edge, so we could look out upon the audience, and, point ing to the beautiful woman I had so much admired, said : That is her—my wife.’ “She had been watching closely, as if to catch a glimps of him, and soon her eye rested on the spot where we stood, and I could see that he was rec ognized by the slight nod which he gave his head. Whenever he was off the stage he took his stand there and watched her almost continually. When the curtain fell on the closeiug scene we walked out together, and sue wa waiting for him at the door. “They talked for some time in the of- fico with seveial friends, dwelling par ticularly on the splendid time they would have in Europe, as he intended to accompany Miss Palmer. About 11,30 o'clock they entered their room in the hotel, and at 4.80 o’clock she was lying dead in the Morgue. “Her body was fouud, bruised aud crushed, on the pavement, while he was partially in the gutter, half sub merged in ice aud water, crushed, burnt and nearly frozen. 1 watched by his bedside for several days, and he gave no signs of returning consciousness, except for a moment the day after. His mother came up to see him, aud wheu she leaned over the bed he raised him self on his elbow with a groan of pain and threw his left arm around her neck. Oh the fourth day after the fire he was conscious for a short while, aud the first words that passed his bps was an inquiry for his wife. He was assured that sue was safe, aud with a satisfied sir he fell asleep. “He has improved considerably since then, but has not yet heard that his wife is dead. Wheu the news is broken to him, and it will be done gently by his mother, the critical moment will have arrived, and if he survives the shook he will recover. Although he is a man of strong will-power, I confident ly believe that his mind will be com pletely k st when the full sense of his desolation breaks upon him. I have thought over that scene in the theatre a thousand times since, and it will never pass from my mind.” Two Italian brothers, with red scarfs round their necks, encamped one night, recently, in a boarding house of their nationality on Spofford street, Philadel phia. The names of the men were Lorenzo and Michael Pepitto and they looked as if they had not recently in dulged in a shave. A couple of brown bears, who could dance a polka for a biscuit or on the presentation of a coin elevate themselves unto a waltz, togeth er with the brothers, made up the trav eling firm. Mrs. Luceariui grew very angry when told that she would have to tike Bruin as boarders. Alter a great deal of talk shn was inveigled into believing that by accommo ’ating them she was performing a patriotic duty. She put them in a woodshed back of the house. Next morning not being very early risers, the brothers sauntered out at about ten o’clock with others of their kin, with whom the neighborhood is fairly stocked. They somewhat cruelly left their shaggy companions in the uninteresting woodshed to shift for themselves. These commenced doing the latter thing by getting loose in the outhouse and chewing coal and licking logs. Evening came on and they did not get more substantial nourishment, nor did their owners come back. A trifle before eight o’clock Airs. Luce at- ini took a shovel and weut to get some coal. She opened the shed door noise lessly and began t cooping the darkness with the metal implement. It struck bearsteak. In oue minute Mrs, Luccar- iui was olasped iu impetuous arms aud yelling for dear life. The bear held ou aud she yelled on till a horde of men appeared in the yard. In a short while, however, she was rescued, but the knights forgot to shut the door. A roar, a flourish of bear claws aud paws, a fierce bonud and the animals had possession of the field. The terri fied boarders rushed out of the house iuto the street and listened in groups on the sidewalk. Every now and then an awful bellow echoed from the desert ed place aud the Italians, shuddered as they distinctly heard the smacking of lips and the grinding of teeth through soft flesh. “Boss, Bosa, where is my Bosa?” cried a miserable woman; “they are eating her.” She grew frantic as she looked around for her child and would have thrown herself against the door had she not been prevented. The munching of meat grew more distinct, until the crashing iu of a window frame and the appearance of two large hairy arms caused a geueral scatter. The bears were trying to get out. Just Ihen the Pepitto brothers were sighted in the crowd, enjoying the fun. They weut into the house, captured their pets aud replaced them in the shed. It was found that they had eaten a whole pile of cold meat. Bosa was all right and Mrs. Luc- carini was furious. A Land slide. The cable not long ago reported that there had been a great land slide in Switzerland, but gave no particulars regardiug the harm done. It appears that the circumstances were peculiar. The disasters occurred near Fort de ’Eoluse, where the Bhone flows through a narrow, rocky gorge, bounded on one side by a lofty spur of the Jura and on the other by the' precipice of Mh Yuache. Along a ledge just above the stream runs a railway, which tunnels several jutting spurs that rise abruptly from the water’s brink. One morning early this month a great mass of earth fell from the mountain directly over a tunnel, while later the tunnel itself caved in. The consequence waa a com plete damming of the narrow defile. A great volume of water gathered behind the obstraotiou. For several hours a panic prevailed among the people below, but they had time to escape the flood, and when finally the barrier gave way, the lake drained off gradually and no great harm was done. If the dam had held a few hoars longer, the entire val ley as far down as Lyons would have been inundated. Covciloa An ear*. —A Japanese newspaper states that according to a recent census there ax?. m ^ ^ p in the Empire of Japan 113 newspapers, and drove the sharpest bargain possible, one of which has a circulation of 19,- • 1 . . 1 *_ rTUw.Ihot receiving enough to buy a cheap showy 000 daily. The laws require that the cream laoe banting, while Viva set to 1 publisher be Japanese, and that the work, ripping and sponging and press-1 hief editor be held pecuniarily respon- mg the old-fashioned pink barege, with iUa for slanderous publications. There died a few weens ago an old man who may be mentioned here as Uncle Beube. For thirty years he sold his vote as often as there was an elec tion, making no bones about it and ao cepting the market price without a murmur. One fall, teu or twelve yeai-s ago, he went to the man who had gen- eially bought him, and said: Mr, Blank, 1 guess I won’t self my vote this time.” “You won’t Why, what on earth ails yon, Uncle Beube?” “Well, I want to see how it seems to cant a free ballot once.” “You’d better take the usual two dollars.” “No, I guess not; I’ll try it the other way once, even if it kills me.” . He kept to his resolution and cast a free ballot, but he didn’t feel right over it, and the next election he insis ted on having four dohars to cover ar rears. A Wnndsiful Party at WlncDor Caatle. The following good story comes from a quarter where we are assured “its cor rectness can be vouched for.” Many yean ago, at the time of a great cere mony, Windsor Castle was honored with the presence of three sovereigns, After breakfast the three potentates walked and talked on the celebrated “Slopes,” and were, of course, in “mufti.” They were delighted with the grounds, and presently entered into conversation with a gardener, who evidently took them for a party of “gentlemen’s gentlemen” out for a stroll. After some little affable talk he could not resist the query : “Now who may you gents be?” “Weil,’ said the spokesman, “this gentleman here happens to be the King of Prussia; that oue standing by your side is tne Emperor of Austria ; and as for myself, I am the Emperor of Bussia.” Thin was carying the joke too far, thought the gardener. I’ve seen a lot of queer fur-* rir gents here lately, but this beats me:’ so he burst out in a rather rude guffaw. “Well, my friend,” said the Emperor Nicholas, ‘-you seem amused : perhaps you will tell us who you are,” “Oh, certainly; so taking up the skirt of his coat with the action of a great eagle spreading out his wings, and spinning round on his heels, he taid : 4 If you are all whahyousayjcuare—tcAy lam the Great Mogul !'% ..he three majes ties roared with laughter, and, return ing to the castle, told the story at (he luncheon-table to the immense amuse ment of the Queen and Vriace Albert. borne time since, a beautiful young girl made her first appearerce ou the stage in one of the minor theaters of Paris. Her grace and loveliness attracted admiration, which her rising talent promised to secure. She concluded a long engagement with the manager, giving her services for a moderate rem uneration, but which suffioid for her wants and those of an invalid mother, who was totally dependent upon her exertions. According to the usual custom a clause in the contract stipula ted that a forfeit of 10,000 francs should be paid in case of its non-fulfillment by Sither party. One day the young actress entered the manager’s room, and announced to him that she wished to leave ” ‘ How!” he cried. “You arc the last person from whom I would have expect ed such caprice.” “Indeed, sir, it is not caprice.” “It is, then, the offer of another en gagement?” “It is, sir, and oae which I cannot refuse. It is from an excellent young man, who wishes to marry me.” “My dear girl, 1 shall want you also to study your part in a new afterpiece which I have just received.” “Then, sir you refuse to set me free?” “I must think about it. At all events you have it in your power to break the agreement by paying the forfeit." “Ten thousand francs!tis very dear.” “It was very dear wheu you signed your name; but now your services are worth more than that.” “Alas, it will prevent our marriage!,’ said the unhappy girl, in a voice choked with tears; and with a despairing heart she left the room. Two days afterward the manager was seated close to the grate in his apart ment, trying with all his skill to kindle a fire. The cashier entered with a visage woefully elongated. The affairs of the theater were iu a critical state; the receipts had diminished; and the pay day at the fend of the month approach ed. “Yes,” said the manager, “our sit uation is embarrassing. And this plaguy fire that won’t light!” Astonished that he could be so in different under the circumstances, the cashier retired, As ho was leaving the room the youug actress entered. ‘Ah! is it you?” said the manager; “you are coming from rehearsal?” “No, sir, I have come to return the part you gave me to study.” ‘So it seems you think of quitting the stage?” “1 have brought you the foifoit.” “The ten thousand fraucs?” “Here they are.” “And how have you procured this large sum?” “My intended husband gave it to me. “Is he, then, so rich?” “These ten thousand fnucs are uear- ly all he possessed. ‘But,’ he said, “what does it signify? We shall ouly have to defer setting up iu business, or p^naps I may succeed in borrowing the money.” “Going in debt! That's a fine prospect for young housekeepers! bo the dowry you mean to bring your husband is want and ruin; you take from him the hard-earned fruits of his industry, and you oblidge him to renounce the pros pect of honorable independence!” “Pray, sir—pray, dont’t speak so cruelly!” sobbed the young girl “Have you considered that such a union cauuct fail to be unhappy! Listen to reason—take back this money and return it to him who gave it to you; and if you are absolutely resolved to leave the theatre, I’ll show you a simple way of doing it that won’t cost you any thing. Take this piece of paper and have the kindness to put it iu the grate.” So saying he handed her a sheet of paper careiul’y folded, which she threw in among the smouldering sticks. The manager watched it as the lan guid flame gradually curled round it, and then shot up in a bright flame, “Do you know,” said he “what that paper was? It was your signed agree ment. And new I have no longer any claims on your services, and consequent ly can demand no forfeit. Go, my girl, and enjoy your little capital well, and be happy.” Deeply affected by this generous deed, this young actress expressed her gratitude as fervently ns her tears per mitted. New FiYe-pent Piece*. The dies for the new five-cent pieces, designed by Colonel A. Loudon Snow den, Superintendent of the Mint, at Pniladelpbia, are being prepared, and the first issue of the coin will be com menced on the 1st of FeWary. In the meanwhile the old fivo-oent coin will be issued at the rate of £5,000 per day. The new nickel will be smaller in size, but the same weight of the coin now in use. It will bo much mere artistic in device and finish. A classical head of the Goddess of Liberty, with the in scription of -‘Liberty” on the tiara and surrounded by the thirteeq stars, will adorn one side. On the reverse slide is a Hunan numeral, indicating the de nomination of the coin, in the centre of a wreath composed of cotton, wheat and corn, the priucipal products of thei country. Tnis is surrounded with the motto, “E Pluribua Unum,” and United States of America. ” —British statistics lately compiled prove that the danger of travel by sea is increasing. —Atlanta claims to have a young lady with the finest and prettiest hair iu the United States. —“Less choir mnsic and more con gregational singing 1” cries a Western religions newspaper. —Several high-rooming Harvard stu dents have provided themselves with ropes for a case of fire. —The population of Syria and Pales tine is estimated at 2,076,321. Of these only 6000 are Protestants. —Miss Alary Dickens, eldest grand-, clii 1 ot Charles Dickens, age nineteen, is about to become au actress. —The new regulation snare drum adopted for the use of the United States Army is to be 16 inches iu diameter and 8 iuches long. —The total exports of breadstuff from the United States during the year 1882 amounted in value to $182,682,734, against $221,124,832 during 1881. —From obseryations made in the Zoological Gardens, London, it seems probable that the extreme lease of life of the hippopotamus is thirty years. —Silk production is said to be in ths follow mg proportions : Italy, 3/ per cent. ; China, 36 ; France, 8 ; East In dia (Bengal), 7 ; Japan, 2; Persia and the Levant, 4. —Factory operatives in NewEugland are unitedly asking for weekly piymeuts of their wages, while their employers are as unanimously in favor of the monthly system. —The rag business in New York amounts ‘to $30,000,000 per annum. There are 5,000 rag-pickers in the city. Last year there was over $10,000 worth of rags imported. —Of the 11.000 grain mills in Hol land, 10,000 are driven by wind. The bulk of wheat meal is consumed by the public without passing through* any flour-dresing machine. —Beef cows are now selling at $28 and three-year-old steers at $35 to $45 at Austin, Texas. Stock raisers are happy and consumers of boot' corres pondingly miserable. —The sugar crop of Louisiana proves to be much larger than had been antici pated. It is alleged that of the portion of the crop received at Morgan City two-thirds of it go to Texas. —The English Postmaster-General is totally blind, and Mr. George Richard son, who-hasjust been appointed Re ceiver and Accountant-General to tUe Post Office, is totally deaf. —The old mansion built by Gen. Philip Schuyler in 1780, upon Clinton street, Albany, is offered for sale in the expectation that it will be replaced by a building for business .purposes, —The American Peace Society has now invested funds to the amount of about $60,000, having lately come into possession of a legacy of $10,000 from the late Rev. Dr. George O. Beckwith. —Recent tests of yarn made from different hemps gave the following re lative average strengths : Manila, 245 ; Italian, 221 ; Neflr Zealand, 143 : Rus sian, 128. Manila is evidently the yam to be hanged with. —Near Piclon, Ontario, is a remarka ble freak of nature. Two elm trees stand about twenty feet apart, and one, at the height of twenty.five feet, bends over and joins the other, forming a per fect and magnificent tree. It is then perfectly round, and extends upward about twentyffive feet. —Daring the past year 1471 new companies were registered in London under the limited liability acts, with au aggregate capital of £216,561,926 ; in 1881 the number waa 1385, with a capi tal of £167,892,941. — England pays Lord Lyons, her Am bassador to France,$50,000 a year, and makes no fuss about it. If the salary of the President of the United States were fixed according to English notions, it would be a million a year, at least. —Au Australian Tom Thumb has been on exhibition in England. His real name is David John Armstrong. He was born in 1851. He is 3 feet 2 inches in height, and weighs 70 pounds. His limbs ore in perfect proportion. He is very intelligent. —The annual report of the Supervis. lug Inspector General of U. S. shows that the number of accidents to steam vessels during the year past was forty- one, involving a loss of 205 liyes, being an average of one life lost to each 1,- 727,172 passengers carried. —Hamburg Lake, near Lake City, Fla,, a sheet of water of about forty aoaee, is being drained by an under ground outlet. The water rises again in a stream six miles from the lake. Another lake near by ran dry in 1852, but has since filled up agaiu. —The ice bridge at Niagara Falls is commonly supposed, by those who have not seen it, to add much to the beauty of the winter scenes there. Butit does not. Instead of a great arch of glitter ing crystal spanning the stream above the falls, it is an expanse of rough ice across the river at their foot. —AU the Prussian Barons, on or be fore the 1st day of April next, will be required, says a German newspaper, to vindicate their right to their titles, for the reason that within the past two esn- tures many abuses have grown up. It is said to have been proved that, in a numb Q r of oases, second, and even younger sons and daughters of baronial titles, have assumed the titles when it belonged only to a father or a brother. —Herman F. Staus, the brave Mil waukee fireman who rescued several lives at the burning of the Newhall House, was presented with a gold watch by the Chamber of Commerce of that city, and recently was married to Miss Amelia Schneider, of Milwaukee. He has declined a proposed testimonial fioxn admiring citizens of Dubuque, magnanimously wntLg: “If you do anything, do it for the poor unfortunates —especially the servant girls—who lost thiir aU in that fire.” i||i| .Wjm ■ ....v.i-, 1 I- ■ MM ' . m - . .V .< , s l