The Fairfield news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1881-1900, March 10, 1883, Image 1
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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.”
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