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. From Sin to Writioi Lbcj Warriili's Sacrifice. |The Story of a Hasty Marriage and Its Tragic SeqneL BY ERNST BRUNCKEN, .Author of "The Bibliomaniac'8 Crime," 0 "A Terrible Secret," etc., etc. CHAPTER XV. TEMPTATIONS. "After all, It Is a very disagreeable entanglement, and I was a fool," sale Count von Hohenfcls to his friend. Lien+ wAn ^i?Q{hai>n ?ftiir Via V*o^ tnlrl WUflUU IVU UJtlVViU, l?W4 UV Ui?U him about the sceno In Singers' HalL "A very disagreeable affair, indeed," <3reibcrn assented. "I'm afraid it maj Interfere with your career." I should not be surprised. For one thing, I cannot go back to America." | "I should think that would not be mnch of a misfortune. It must be a half-exile." "Well, I don't know!" The diplomatist hook his head dubiously. "I had a great deal of fun with those Yankees." "Especially with those of the female persuasion. Eh, old man?" But the Count did not relish his friend's jocularity. He answered not even with a smile. "Ah, those Yankees are a 9et of parvenues," the Lieutenant continued; "democrats, you know?trades people, and all that" There was a world of contempt in the tone of Greibern's word}., uttered with a shrug of the shoulders that clearly signified: "How can a man speak of having fun with such canaille." The Count paid no attention to bl9 friend's manifestation of aristocratic disdain. "I can count upon you, of coarse, to meet Warringhams friend and arrange everything that is necessary," he said. "Of course, dear boy! Waiter, give as another bottle of Ruedesheimer." "Of course," Holienfels went on, "I have no particular desire to harm the Doctor. Therefore, if there should be tny chance of reconciliation, you know " f "Certainly, certainly! He will not fight!" *You are mistaken. That American . will fight There is a good deal of mettle in those Yankees. Besides, he Is in a furious rage." "Well, he has some cause to be furious, Jias he not?" rejoined the Lieutenant, ?U1. - tU Wlbli ft 3IUUO. Hohenfels returned the smilo, but with a half heart "Well, some," he admitted. "It's a bad affair all around. I did not even get much fun out of this liaison." A waiter entered, bearing a card, which he handed to the Count. The latter read the name. Tell the gentleman," said he, "I shall be glad to see him." Addressing the Lieutenant: "It is Dr. Braunfeld. He comes from Warringham, I presume." Dr. Braunfeld entered presently. He ateemed a little annoyed when he didn't find Hohenfels alone. The two gentlemen rose and bowed politely. "I beg your pardon, if I intrude at an Inconvenient time," the Doctor said- "I -*in the bearer of a very important message to the Count." "Whatever it is, speak out, if you please, Doctor. I have no secrets before my friend. The gentlemen are not acquainted? Baron von Greibern ? Dr. braunfeld." The gentlemen so introduced bowed formally and stiffly. "I am the representative of my friend, TVr VVftrrinfrVntm." thft Doctor hfttran. without noticing the motion with which the Count profferod him a seat. "I hope that you will give him the satisfaction to which he is entitled." "I shall be glad to render Dr. Warringham all satisfaction consistent with the honor of myself and the lady who is unfortunately involved in this affair." "Very well, then," Dr. Braunfeld replied. "Will you have the kindness to designate a friend with whom I may make further arrangements?" "Certainly! My friend here will meet yon at any time or place which you prefer." > "Very well, then. Would my chambers be convenient? I sha'l be at home from now until nizht." "Yery well; let it be so." _"I haVe the honor to bid the gentle* mefl good-flay." The Doctor withdrew. When he was gone Hohcnfcls said: ?tVn?l Orpihprn. T think vou had betr ter see him at once. I am anxious to have this thing off my mind." "You are very impatient,* Greibern said, with a smile. "Are you so bloodthirsty?" "Not in the least It is a very bad business all around. I wish I could get out of it in some honorable manner." "I see no way out of it," the Lieutenant replied, seriously. "Even an apology would hardly be accepted. Besides, I don't see what you could possibly apologize for." "Well, we will have to fight it out then. But, bear you in mind, it will not end well." The Count passed his hand over his hrow. "Oh. what fools men do make of themselves." Greibern did not like his friend's mood. "Instead of philosophizing," he said, you had better give some thought to tho matter in hand. Have you any pistols here?" The Count had none with him. That is bad. We will have to buy new ones, and new pistols are a bore. I will get some at once, and you had better go to work and practice with them, so as to becomc used to them." flohenfeis shook his head. "Never mind that," he said; "I don't mean to shoot him." Greibern was disgusted. "You are as centimontal as a girl!" he said. "What in the world does a man go into a duel for if ho intends to miss?" The Count did not discuss the question, but evidently had his own opinion about it. Tho Lieutenant rose, put on his sword, be ns careful that the belt encircled his waist with mathematical accuracy, brushod a few specks of dust from his uniform, cast a critical glance into tha mirror, and, putting on his kid gloves, (aid: "Wtll, I'M go and see this Doctor?ah ?ah?what's his name? I'll bring the pistols on iny way back." With a tuck at his fiercely martial mustache he strode away in that peculiarly stiff but vigorous manner characteristic of the Prussian soldiery. Connt Ilohenfels stood at the window and looked with a melancholy air dowr Into the garden, with its multitude ol guests who were seated around tables, chatting, smoking, drinking. He was frivolous enough, to be sure, bui he was n'ot an obdurate roue. The ser.'ous turn which his love intrigue had taken had aroused his conscience, and he had be^un to think that aftei all his coursj hod been little honor able. His heart bad from the beginning I had little to do with the matter, but hi9 I vanity had been flattered by the love of so handsome a woman, and gradually her beauty had overpowered his senses. Now he would have given much if he had never seen her. The husband was furious, and would no doubt fight to kill. Ilow conld a Hohenfels be a cowardl But life was, after all, too enjoyable an affair to be-risked in such a foolish manner. I There was no help for it, howevor. All I he could do was to risk it and trust to luck. He sat down and wrote several letters, one to his parents, a few more to some of his most intimate friends. It was a most disagreeable task, but he finished it. Then ce tnoug'ni over his financial affairs. That was a far easier matter. , There was not much to think about, for he had little besides his salary. He put a few directions on a paper which he folded into an envelope. Then he wrote the superscription on it: "To | bo opened after my death," and put it I into his lyeast pocket. ! So he had put his house in order and . sat down to wait for the return of hi9 [ friend. Baron von Grelbern found Dr. BraunI feld awaiting him. "Itis ray first duty," he said, after a i courteous greeting, "to inquire whether , an amicable settlement of this disagreeable matter is not possible, and I am i authorized to offer every reparation consistent with the honor of my friend.n i "I am very sorry to state,"1 was the Doctor's reply, "that I cannot see the possibility of a settlement. The offense in this case was so grievous that nothing out a Diuuuy coauiut cau sunsiy us. "Very well. As the challenged party i we ha^ve the right to choose the weapons, but will waive that right I would be pleased to hear a proposition from you." "We would propose pistols." "Agreed." "Ten paces." "Accepted." "Both principals to fire simultaneously at the word 'fire,' and to continue firing until one party drops. Each revolver to contain six shots. If necessary, reloading permitted " This was far more serious than he had expected "But, Doctor, that is vindictive-!" he remarked. The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "My friend lns!sts that it shall be a matter of life and death!" he said. "If you insist upon such a course we will have to agree. But, Doctor, I beseech you to consider the matter. Such a duel will have necessarily a most un iormnate resuiu"That is but too true. I have tried to ' reason with my friend, but without avail. He is determined." "Agreed, then," the Lieutenant said, gloomily. "But I herewith disclaim all responsibility. You have forced us into this." The Doctor bowed in token of assent "Will any further witnesses be necessary on the spot?" he asked. "Not that I can think of," was Grelbern's reply. "Will you act as physician yourself?" . "I may have other duties," the Doctor answered. "I would propose Dr. Albing." "I do not know the gentleman, but if you recommend him, it is agreed. Have you any preference as to time and place?" , "We would like to make an end of this thing as soon as possible. Would the day after to-morrow, at seven o'clock in the morning, be convenient?" "Perfectly convenient, and the place?" "On the opening in the forest south of the castle hi.l. About three hundred paces from the carriage road." "I am not acquainted with the spot Is it secure from intrusion?" "At that hour entirely so." "Very well." Thus all necessary preliminaries of the duel were arranged. The two gentlemen arose and the officer took hie leave. On the way home he bought an excellent pair of pistols of the most approved Dattern. But Count von Hohenfels declined to practice with them, notwithstanding the Lieutenants anger at what he called his friend's stubbornness. CHAPTER XVL FAREWELL TO LIFEl If Count von Hohenfels refused to practice pistol shooting, not so did Ralph Warringham On the morning of the day that intervened between the interview of the seconds and the time set for the fatal affair, he bought a pair of revolvers and with them in his pocket sought the most secluded spot he could find In the forest, far remote from all human habitations. There he improvised a target on the stump of a tree which the ax had cut down and began to practice. He continued a long time, jj?t'l h? knew thoroughly all the characteristics "of the weapons. Theg ]ie threw himself down > oh the moss and Jbogan io think. During his occupation with the pistols his attention had been turned only to the work in hand, but now Jt relaxed. It was a spot of grandiose beauty on urV.i/,Vi v>o fr?nnH himsftlf. From the edze of a high, forest-covered plateau he had a wide view over the country before him. Just beneath his feet he could see the valley, with the carriage road, and wagons, horses, and people on it, sa small that they appeared only as insignificant black specks. Not a sound of the multifarious, bustling life below reachod his solitude. Beyond the valley he saw the Thunngian Mountains rise, chain behind chain, ridge after ridge, all clad in their magnificent mantle of beech and fir. Far away on the horizon rose another and higher mountain ranee, scarcely distinguishable through the faint blue haze that veiled it. Those were the Khoen Mountains, many, many miles away. All this Ralph saw, as he lay on the moss under the gigantic canopy of bepch trees. There was a strange silence all about him. The wind Itself hardly produced a noise as it blew through the soft foliage of the beeches. No birds inhabit these forests, where there is no underbrush for them to hide in. Once in a long while a squirrel darted from tree ta tree high over the solitary man's Head. Presently all was quiet again. The awful silenco of this sylvan wilderness had a soothing effect on the wild uproar of passions and emotions in Ralph's breast. Gradually a softly melancholic mood took the place of ih6 fierce despair and savage desire of revenge that had hitherto animated him. Ah! That was the end of it all. All the enthusiasm and beauty and joy of youth to end only in the bitterness of , disgrace and death! 1 He thought cf the night when he had 1 first seen the woman who had become the ruin of his happiness. How he had seen her among the splendors of the theater, radiant, graceful/ with a smile so sweet and a voice so soft! How he had joined in the rapiurous applause of the audience! How he had longed to be, come acquainted with her,.and, when his wish was ruiniled. how she had appeared to him still more beautiful, more ' admirable than before. And that never> forgotten moment when he was allowed 1 to plant the first rapturous kiss upon her ? fair brow! i Oh, why had she so cruelly betrayed t him! ' And still he loved her! Would to God 1 that he could restore her picture to the purity in which she had first appeared to him! Bu? he would never see her more! Hi# love-dream was all over, and soon bis life would be over also. Then he thought of his home, of his beloved mother. She was dead now! She died before he could see her again, or listen to tlie words 01 iorgiveness from her lips! Yet she had loved him? her last thoughts had been of him, who had left her for one t o utterly unworthyl Oh, cruel fate! All the places he had known in his youth appeared again before the eyes of his imagination, and with them the faces of all the dear friends at home. He la#e them all farewelL His life had reached its goal. But among all those faces there rose one sweeter than all the others. It looked upon hip with soft, blue, pitying eves, so run of Jove, on, so full of love. That oue face filled h;s whole soul. Tho others all disappeared. Was it the face of an angel? He was thinking of his cousin, of Hattie Beckford! Her image appeared to him as the ideal of sweet, loving, heavenly womanhood! Oh, if he had possessed the love of such a one, how different all would have come. But he had been led astray oy falsa glitter and passion. Here was the end! A long, long time Balph lay in the deep shades of the forest, high up in the mountains. At last he rose to return to the valley. He had made his final reckoning and struck the balance. Now all that lay behind him was gone forever. Not with a thought would he return to it. There were but two more things in the world for him to do and to suffer.. Revenge, then death. He did not go to his hotel until night, for he did not want to see his wife again. He called on Dr. Braunfeld Muring the day, and they talked on indifferent matters; as If no terrible ordeal wastoba I gone through in the morning. Thai I night he slept sounder than he had done for a long time. CHAPTER XVIL THE DUEL. It was before sunrise on the following morning, when a hack wa9 seen driving up the broad wagon road which in a wide circle gently leads up to Warv burg castle. The air was filled with a thick mist, which did not permit the eye to penetrate more than ten feet. The drive? could hardly see the ears oi his own horses. The coach went up the gently ascending road with all the speed such public conveyances are capable of developing, j On the southern slope of the castle hill it stopped. Three gentlemen emerged from the carriage and disappeared on the narrow fcotpath that led from the road into the forest. The path led to a small opening, covI ered with a short growth of grass that made as velvety and elastic a lawn as could be found in any garden. This was the place selected by Dr. Braunfeld for the enactment of this tragedy of revenge. It would not be the first time the quiet little forest meadow saw a similar bloody scene. In fact, it I %__. ? i r? nau ueen iur gvuuiituiuua vuc ihwikh i suot for the settlement of affairs of honor, ard had gained quite a reputation as such. It way said that the grass was growing so extraordinarily luxurious there, because every inch of the soil had been manured with human blood. When Ralph, with his second and th? tliird gentleman, who was to act as physician?"if necessary," Dr. Braunfeld had told him; he knew too well it would be necessary?arrived there was as yet no trace of the hostile party. Dr. Braunfeld looked at his watch?it waa only twenty minutes to seven, and seven o'clock was the stipulated hour. So they had to wait patiently. They proceeded to the further end of the opening, where they stood leaning against trees; tho ground was too moist to sit down. There was litt'e conversation. Ralph was nervously impatient. He considered his own death as a foregone conclusion, and was resigned to it with a morbid indifference. The only thought that filled his soul was of revenge. He was fully resolved to kill his adversary by tho first shot, if possible,'and felt vexed at the dense mist, for fear that ho might mis9 the mark. Dr. Braunfield also thought of the i "Put Via u'oc irlaH ftf it. in t.hA hnnfl UilOU. JLJ U V UV If MW ps?Mt? w. w,r. that it might possibly prevent fatal re* . suits. The whole affair was not to hi? taste at all. It was too desperately serious. Dueling was all well enough, the Doctor thought, but people should be content with exchanging a few shots, and perhaps a light scratch that would heal in a week or *wo. But this affair came pretty near being downright murder! Dr. Albing, the official physician, was naturally the most indifferent of the t.rio. He also thought of the mist, and was-an noyed at it because he feared tho moisture might spoil his surgical instruments. All was quiet about them. The mist, which prevented tho eyes from being ol much avail, helped tho ears to extraordinary acuteness. They could hear tha jieighing and stamping of the horses on thi road three hundred paces away, and divided from the opening by a dense wood. After a while they heard the rolling of wheels and the clatter of hoofs. The sound came nearer and nearer, and I- immorffotn vipinlf.r ppasp.fi. Evi dcntly the other party. From their position they could not see the other end of the opening, and Dr. Eraunfeld accordingly went forward to meet them. "We are just in time, I suppose,Doctor,'' Lieutenant Greibero said to the physician. "But shall we be able to proceed? The mist is so awfully thick." "Perhaps we had better wait awhile until the sun has dispersed it a little," Dr. Braunfold replied This was agreed to, and both parties waited nearly another half hour. The sun, as it rose higher, gradually penetrated through the dense veil of moisture and lighted it sufficiently for the parties to see each other, in dim outline, across their respective places. Dr. Braunfeld again stepped forward and spoko to Greibern: "Don't you think it Is light enough now? If we wait much longer we incur the risk of being disturbed." This reason seemed a good one to the soldier, and the two seconds proceeded to measure off the stipulated distance of ten paces. It was agreed that the combatauts, if they chose, support themselves on a thin tree. Then Von Greibern cried out: "Take your positions, gentlemen, If you please." Kalph and the Count advanced to the positions assigned to them respectively. The seconds then loaded the pistols, and lots were ca?t to decide who should give the word of co nmand. The dej cision was for Greibern. "Gentlemen," tho Lieutenant said. "It j has been agreed that each combatant j shall raise his pistol at the word 'Ready.' I I shall then count: 'One?two?three? I fire!' and at the word -lire' both parties will discharge their weapon,". There are six shots in each pistol. J.f necessarv, I reloading is permitted. Firing will bo | continued until either combatant falls. " "Correct!" replied Dr. Biaunfeld, sol! emnly. "Gentlemen," Baron von Greibern con. tinued. "I feel it my duty to ask onco more whether a peaceful and honorable reconciliation cannot be arrived it?" "Impossible!" said Kalph. "If that is the case, we will proceed." continued tho Lieutenant. "Prepare yourselves, getlemen!" I "Are you ready?" Both combatants raised their weapons to a level with their eyes. Ralph took deliberate aim at his adversary's heart, as well as the mist permitted. The Count held his pistol carelessly, as if indifferent whether he should miss or not "Attention! One?two?three?tire! " The cracks of twelve shots were heard in quick succession. But both combatants still stood upright The Count'3 left hand clutched the young beech tree beside him, but the fog prevented the expression in hh features of violent pain to become disce-aible to the others. Ralph Insistec upon being given a new weapon, but both seconds protested vehemently. Ralph Warringham, however, insisted | on adhering strictly to the stipulations. The Count did &jt speak a word. The seconds reloaded the revolvers and handed them back to the combatI ants. "Ready!" "One?two?three!* The weapons were raised. Before the word fire was heard, the right arm of the Count was seen to fall and tne Doctor, turning to his colleague, Clirt : down, his left hand released its grasp of the tree; he staggered and fell. Quickly his sccond and Dr. Albing were by his side. They raised him into a half-recumbent position and discovered a wound in his left breast, about two inches above the heart The physician hastily removed his garments and superficially probed the wound. While be was so occupied with the wounded man, the latter feebly smiled and said, with low voice: "Don't trouble yourself, Doctor! It's fatal?I know it!" "By no means!" the Doctor replied encouragingly. "It is pretty bad?but fatal?pshaw." He prepared to dres9 the wound as host, ho r>rmM lindAr t.hft Hrrntnsl.anpps But while he was so occupied, a stream of blood suddenly broke from the Count's mouth, his muscles relaxed, he gasped? death had come! Dr. Braunfeld had stood a sad, interested spectator while the Lieutenant and Dr. Albing busied themselves with the wounded man. Now they laid the lifeless body softly op the grass, arose. "All hope is past." Braunfeld stepped quickly to War* ringham, who still stood in his position, bis right arm with the weapon hanging by his side, motionless and gazing gloomily on ihe sad group before him. "You had better tiy and save yourself," the second whispered to his principal. "He is dead, and you can save yourself from all trouble by leaving the city at once. Come?quick! We will take the carriage and drive to the station immediately. You may still be in time to catch the half-past eight o'clock train." TV* fVi*CA wVifcnnroH "nrr.rriQ nf advice Ralph answered with a shake of his head. "I don't want to fiy," he said. "I shall give myself up to the authorities. Is he really dead?" ( With these words he put the revolver into his pocket, and prepared to go. As he passed by the body of hif? late enemy he paused a moment and looked intently into his face. Von Greiborn watched the expression of liis features. Perhaps he cxpected to hear a few words of regret, but he was disappoioned. Not a word came over Warriugham's lips, but silently he strode away, followed by his second. Arriving at t'neir carriages they told the coachman to go and assist, the gentlemen. The coachman accordingly went to the meadow. With their assistance, the body of the unfortunate young diplomatist was placed in the carriage, and the cavalcade pi oceodcd toward the city. As Ralph insisted upon it* his frjend went at once with him to thn Judge of Inquiry. That official took down a statement. nf thc fa-ts :inz] rAlnasAfl Tfalnh nn parole. JTO BE coxtxnczd.J TEMPERANCE. TOTAL ABSTAINERS WON. In a recent marching competition In the militia in England, the winning company marched twenty-five miles in six" hours and forty-five minutes. Thore were rain, fog and muddy roads, but tliey stuck to it manfashion, and beat all the rest. The leader was a total abstinence man and he allowed no driniciui.' in the company. TEACHING BY EXAMPLE. At the recent elegant banquet of the Phi Eappa Psi Fraternity, given at the Hotel Savoy in this city, aud attended by the large deputations from numerous colleges, the representatives from Swarthmore College, an attractive group of young men. excited lacorable comment by all promptly turning down, the wine-glasses which had been placed at their plates. This was not only a good thing forthese young men to do on their own account, but they presented a -?1?? * V.? /vUU/>? lupcnn fA tha pnubewuriuj md representatives of other colleges of greater value than they can themselves now (ally realize. In an important sense, in wnnection with the present prevalent injurious social drinking usages, they were effective teachers by example.?New York Temperance Advocate. RAILROAD RULES AOAJNST ALCOHOL. The rules of all railway companies recognize to some extent the fact that alcohol unfits their employes for their responsible duties. It is reported that on fifty-four Xorth American lines total abstinence while on dnty is insisted upon by the railway companies : on fifteen abstinence without restriction to time of duty; on thirteentho companies insist on abstinence as essentia! to promotion, and on one the employe's signature of the abstinence pledge Is reqnlred before engagement. The Rock Island Railway Company lias been enforcing its antidrink rules lately with great vigor. General Prince Kuropatkln recently issued an order to the official staff of the Russian Trans-Caspian Railway, requiring all officials and employes guilty of indulging in Intoxicating drinks to be reported to him. WHAT A MOTHER DID FOR DRINK. The Rev. W. H. Stone. M. A., vicar of St. James's. Hatchman. when speaking at the Public Hall. Beckenham, on the degrading influence which strong drink has upon women, gave the following startling and deplorable incident, which forcibly illustrates how low and utterly devoid of all natural* fenliug the drink curse will bring a parson A child suffering from diphtheria wa9 taken to a hospital where it was found necessary to perform the operatiou of tracheotomy. The silver tube was inserted below the child's throat with satisfactory results, and the doctor had great hopes of the child's recovery. The mother came to the hospital to see het chilil. and. finding it was gettiug on so well. wa<? profuse in her thanks to.the doctor au l nurses, but pleaded hard that she mighttake the child home and nurse it herself. The doctor, who was greatly interested in the cas**. gently requested her to have a Iitt It fatienee. an 1 allow the child to remain about three days longer, when it would he more advanced in its recovery. llat the mother was most persistent in her request, until at last the donor reluctantly gave way, and alter giving her very minute instructions with regard to the treatment of his patieut, sent them home, statiug Iia would call himself the next day au J see how they were getting on. in accordance with his promise, the next day he went to the hous^, aud was shown into a room almost devoiu of iurniiure, and whicii no at first thought was empty, until up in a corner he espied a little be I, on approaching which he was distressed to Hud that it contained the corpse of his little lriend. On making inquiries for the mother i a woman lodging in an upper room shouted I down : "Oil. is it Mrs. you want? Why. i she took that 'ere silver tube out ol the child's throat aud pawned it /or eighteen pence, and is out spending the money ju drink.?"Abstainer's Journal. LIFE IN JAPAN. EVERYTHING IN THAT COUNT! IS VERY CHEAP. One Dollar is Worth Two-Foi Costs Almost Nothing ? Servants Are Cheap and Good -Japanese Houses. TAPAN is doing all she can keep silver in the air, sa ?'rantc U. (Jarpenter in a iett from Tokio to the New Yo Press. She has to pay for the goo she imports from America in gold, a: the silver question is a far more ii portant one hero than it has ever bei in the United States. The country now on a silver basis, and there sure to be a general rise in the pric of everything. At the present writing the exchan is going up every day, and a go' dollar in Tokio looks as big as t cover of a Japanese umbrella. Su foreigners as are here who get the incomes from America are rich throuj the fall of silver, and they now g two dollars for every one that is sei out to them from home. I made o a draft of $100 on my New York lett of credit at the bank this mornin and got $208 for it, and the money havo brought 'with nae has doubled value. Bhis makes traveling coi paratively cheap, and though I hai been paying $1 a day at the Gra] Hotel in Yokohama, it really costs r only two. The treaties with Japan prohibit h from charging more than five per cen duty, and labor is worth so little th one could come across the Pacific ai save the expenses of the trip by layii ? -1- .1 -1 _ Al- .* ? l..* in a stock oi ciuming iur uiiiibcix <*j his family. The tailors are Chinee but they give you good cute, and y< GOING TO A FIRE IN TOKIO. ! do not need to pay if the clothes ( not fit you. You can get a goc business suit of English goods, ma< to order, for about ten Americt dollars. Patent leather shoes, ma< to order, cost 82.50, and a fur-lin< overcoat, with beaver collar and cuff can be bought for about 330 in gol< You could not buy the cloth, to sa nothing of the fur linings, for thi amount in Ame_rica. Ladies' dressi are equally cheap, and you g< wonderfully embroidered gowns < silk crepe for less than the ordinal street dress costs you in the Unite States. This reduction in silver mates wonderful profit for our mi68ionan and diplomats. A missionary who getting a thousand dollars a year hi now two thousand dollars to spenc The American Minister to Japan, wl receives, if my memory serves m $12,000 annually, gets at least $24,0( worth of value out of it, and the sal: ries of all our consuls are practical! doubled by the change. An Amei can family living on a fixed income i home could now come to Japan ar have twice the comforts for half tl money, and I am surprised at tl wonderful cheapness of all sorts of eo ables from cabbage to champagne. I took an interpreter with me to tl A PAIR OF JJ market this morning and spent soir hours in finding out the prices of tl necessaries of life. I found the art cles sold iully as good and in moi cases superior to those you find i America, and the prices were from on twentieth to one-half those we pa; I have reduced them from the silv< to the gold basis and give you a few < them. Meats are very high, as tl Japanese do not use them; they ai chiefly demanded by foreigners, found that fine rib roast of beef coi eight cents per pound, and was show veal and bacon at ten cents. Chickei are worth from seven to twenty cen' apiece. You buy teal ducks for eigl cents each, nud eggs are worth froi six to ten cents a dozen. Quail coi from six to seven cents. Reed bird* sixteen cents a dozen and snipe fi\ cents each. Think of it! A goo snipe for a nickle. All fish are sol when they are alive or still kickin; Lobsters run fiom a half cent tofi\ cents apiece. Fine fresh niacker bring from one to four cents, and so from two to ten. You can get perc as low as two cents each, and tai fish, < the best fish in Japan, at from fiva i ! In r*a-r\ 4-a o/^/trw/3-Jrirr Ia C17D f WUVO WW UikJ VVJUliD) UV/vvl VAiii ?V W*?v? ? tY Oysters are worth twelve cents a gal- i Ion, and eels bring ten cents a ponnd. 1 As to vegetables, they are sold in most \ cases by the ponnd, ranging from half c a cent upward. Cabbages bring from 1 one to three cents each. Lettuce ? about a quarter of a cent a bunch and i and radishes about the same. You i. get a fine cauliflower for from eight to i to ten cents, and fresh mushrooms cost i ys five cents a pound. I ?r Servants are very cheap and very j rk good. The foreign housewife has a ds nothing to do and she lives like a t ad queen. The Japanese cooks are far 1 m- -? zzls? 3(J THE JAPANESE STJBS1 better than ours, and 320 a month will e pay the board and salaries of the help I ' of an eight room house. I have a a friend who lives as well here as many s a millionaire does in the United States t and he does not expend more than s this amount. He pays his cook $5 a t month. His butler gets $2.50 and his t gardener and second girl get about f j the same. These servants all board 1 a themselves and the cook does the t ) marketing. His rent costs him less 1 than $20 a month, though he lives in 1: j one of the best ports of Japan, and he r I could have a coachman at $5 more, t He has no trouble about getting good a ' servants, and he tells me they watch f after his interests and see that he is c not cheated by any one else but them- t | selves. I predict that the time will 1 " come whan many American families r with fixed but comparatively limited c incomes will come to Japan instead of e going to Europe as they are now do- t f ing. t As to the living of the Japanese, i they pay still less, and these forty i _ millions of people could exist well on lo what America wastes. Only a few of a >d the middle classes have more than g ie one servant, and among the poorer f in classes the wife does the cooking and t le the entire work of the household. ;d Some families have a woman to cook 's, and do general housework, and such cl. women are paid from 81 to 32 a month y and are lodged and fed. They generat ally receive a present of a dress from es their mistress at New Year's and in et midsummer, each costing from 31-50 3f to 82, and they expect to get a cent y two or three times a week for bath d money. Every Japanese takes a hot bsthfrom a two to twelve times a week, and where es the family is too poor to own a bathis room they go to the public bathhouses, is The richer people have more servants, 1. and a well-to-do family will generally 10 have a man in addition to the women, e, They pay their men twice as much as )0 the women. Nurses are very cheap in a- Japan, and the common people keep ly the smaller children and the old men i- of the family busy in taking care of at the babies. A child of six often has id her baby brother tied to her back, and ? ie children from nine to sixteeu go about d ie -with babies so fastened upon them, y .t- taking care of them. Such girls, when r employed out9ide of their own famil- ? ie ies, get their board and clothing and c r i <] I a 1 J d lPANESE beauties. le a present now and then. A woman P le who works in a tea factory will often r i- pay a cent a day to have her baby thus st cared for. n Out in the country the wages are e- even lower, and there are parts oE J* p. Japan where the women do not get ;r more than ten cents in silver a day, or fl| >f about a nickel of our money. Women 1( te dig up the ground with long spadelike 0 :e | mattocks, and I visited a tea-firing es- w I | tablishuient yesterday, where I saw P st : about 100 girls bending over hot ovenn | like pans and rubbing the green is leaves of the tea around in them, Sf ts while the perspiration roUed down S( it their cheeks and now and then c< n dropped into the dainty mixture, at which was being prepared for Ameri- a 3, can breakfast tables. I asked as to C( re their hours and their wages, and I was d told that they worked from daybreak g] Id to 6unset, and that they got the enor- j j. mous wages of from thirty to forty re cents a day in silver. al I see men everywhere I go carrying le loads that the ordinary American A :h could not lift, and they do the work a ' ' ' '' I \ )f both horses and men. There are :ew horses used, and many of the carta ire pushed and pulled by women and nen. I saw a woman breaking stones 'or the roads this afternoon, and 1 *>as told that she got about ten of out jents for twelve hours' work. She sat I bareheaded and barefooted on the itones and pounded away with a hamner, breaking the rocks into pieces. !ls I watched her, two Japanese men n blue cotton gowns passed by, car ying a stone weighing about 400 jonnds, which was tied by a rope to a >ole which rested on their shoulders, md a third man pushed past them rith a load of long boards on his jack. J =ggggo| pys: J nTCTE FOR HOHSEfl. There are no such things as stone >oats and lumber wagons in Japan, >nd human labor takes the place- of team and horses. There are no lum>er mills in the country, and logs are awed into boards by hand. A lum>er yard consists of a lot of boards ied up into bundles containing abou? ive or sis boards six inches wide and talf an inch thick, and usually about % 01 ? 1 l1_ J Si. weive ieer m ieugtii, auu ii> is ux suvu . nmber that the most of the Japanese louses are made. The heaviest of the afters of the temples are sawed out >y hand, and it is by men that they .re carried up and put into place. The roof of a Japanese house is put in before the walls are fitted in, and here is a big scaffolding made of the leight of the proposed structure and unning all around it before the work tf putting up the house begins. The caffolding is made of bamboo poles ied together with ropes of straw, and he men who put it up have nothng to do with erecting the building t&elf. Almost all of the Japanese houses jre of wood. They are built close together in the towns and cities, and a ire sometimes sweeps them away by Housands. It is said that Tokio burns A JAPANESE NXBSE. I [own every seven years, and fires- J irhich destroy a thousand houses are-H tot uncommon. There are nowr steam H ire engines in the large cities and all H it the smaller places have fife depart- H aente and hand engines. H The Japanese go wild whenever there H s a fire in the neighborhood They turn H iut en masse, each carrying a paperH antern, upon which is painted the-H tame of his house or his business H dace, and rush toward it. They haveB anterns hung up in their houses, H eady to run out with them to fires, H nd it is a matter of etiquette if you H lave a friend in the neighborhood of H he conflagration to call and leave H 'our card and tell him that you came-H o help him, thinking the house which H ras burning was his, and to leave yourM ard, with congratulations that heH scaped. B The firemen themselves carry^ interns, and they yell as they run. H lach fire company has a leader, whoBB arries a lantern fastened to the top H if a long pole and ornamented with M treamers of paper. He climbs with^B his to the roof of the bnilding whichMj i on fire and directs the men, and he^B 3 expected to stay at his post until^B hese streamers catch fire. The fire-^B len of Yokohama have bine hats, likeHj mtter bowls, and on their backs are^B he characters which mean Yokohamo^B re brigade. The country firemen tie^H handkerchief on their heads, and are^B lore often barefooted than otherwise-^ Until lately there was no such thing^B s a fire insurance company in Japan.^H Tow there are several, and they are^H oing well. There are no foreign^B ompanies, and the insurance com-H^ anies of other countries confine their^H isks here to life. ^B Figures on Longevity In Japan: jgE One of the noteworthy facts of the^B ist census of Japan is the large num-^H er of persons who have attained theH| ge of 100 years and upward. The^H )tal population of the empire is 40, 00,000, and out of that number thereHB as a total of 177 person? who had^H assed the century mile-stone, viz. lighty-one who were 100 years of age, >rty-six of 101, twenty-six of 102,H| jven of 103, six of 104, one of 105, ;ven of 106 and three of 107. The^B jinbined ages of this wonderful "cen-^B lrv commuuity" of 177 persons yield^H grand total of 16,937 years.?Clii-^H igo Tribune. BjH The daily capacity of the eighteeifll aingle mills in British Columbia i^H ,380,000 shingles, with a kiln capac^H :y of 985,000. For 200 years after the discovery o^H merica every ship was equipped witfcflS L'tillery and a force of soldiers. fffl KHB