The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, July 04, 1894, Image 6
Beanclampe's Double
OB
THE PRIMS DONNA.'
A Story of Mystery, Love and
Devotion.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER II.?(Continued.)
At first Livingston thought Simmons
had made a mistake?there mast be another
house with a similar passageway.
The men he saw were well dressed.
They were young. He remarked their
youthful appearance, then the clean-cut
faces arrested his attention.
They looked like a lot of young clerks.
Then it occurred to him that this lot
of neatly dressed young fellows had faces
sharper and keener than fifty or sixty
average Americans ought to muster. In
one or two instances the loudness of
dress was noteworthy, otherwise the
average taste was unexceptional; certainly
there was nothing to challenge
attention.
Livingston stood looking at the player
nearest him. Apparantly no one deemed
him worthy of a srlance. One or two
looked at Simmons indifferently as he
passed through the room and addressed
a neatly dressed man who stood within a
box-like enclosure.
Simmons leaned towards the proprietor
of the establishment, and talked with
him in low tones.
The conversation was very brief.
unree minuses possioiy were contumed,
then Livingston preceded his
companion through the dark passage,
tnd once more they were on the broad
Pavement Simmons was the first to
peak.
"Our man was there. II we had been
a little quicker?or if I had met you five
minutes earlier, we would have had
him."
"This is B^auchampe now?you are
positive -Simmons?"
"You can make up your own mind. If
the man that got into the row, and hit
the usher in the theater while you were
looking on was your friend Beauchampe,
then the same man changed his hat and
coat in Black Steve's place, and the
same man that changed his hat and
coat in Steve's place came right here.
The proprietor knows him as well as he
knows me?better. He is wearing the
hat he got at Steve's?and the coat
I've made sure of that. But there's
other proofs."
Simmons' deliberate tones produced
an unexpected effect upon Livingston,
who halted suddenly and caught his companion's
arm', saying, "Simmons, I'd
rather lose a thousand dollars?and I
never had five hundred to call my own
at one time?yes. if I had ten thousand
this minute, I'd rather lose it than have
this proved "
Simmons stood looking down on him,
-He thought quickly. There was something
Livingstone bad not revealed;
some powerful motive back of tbe reason
he bad given Simmons for probing the
matter.
"All right," said Simmons. "Just a9
you say. We'll drop it right here. I'm
orry on your account, Mr. Livingston,
and I'm sorry for his relatives, ii be ha9
any.*
He was looking straight into Living ton's
eyes.
"Thank heaveni he has no relativesno
near relatives. At least, I never
heard him refer to them. But it ii
barely possible be may have some relatives,
too. I was not thinking of them."
Simmons' brow cleared on the instant.
"Glad to hear you say it. I was beginning
to think he had a sister or a
cou9jnv"
f "Pooh!" exclaimed Livingston. "There
is no love?no sentiment in this business.
I've told you everything."
"Then we will go right ahead. Whatever
is proved will make no difference
now, except that it will satisfy us. And
to begin, your friend showed Dicky?
that's the proprietor or tne pool-room?
his right thumb, and the knuckles of hi9
hand. He told him the whole story,
same as he told Stone. You see, he
don't care how many of them knows it.
He takes pride in it. Hi9 knuckles
were skinned on the jamb of the door
the second time he struck at the usher.
Then, in wrenching his left hand out of
the handcuffs?he said he hadn't time
to. do it neat?when ho struck the policeman
he bruised the side of his
thumb. He showed it to Dicky and
and laughed. He told Dicky, too, how he
fooled them when he ran across the
street between the wagons. One was a
heavy express wagon. He dodged under
it, caught hold of the ring?you've
noticed how the wagons turn in their own
length?curled his legs up, and held on
until there was a square or more between
him and the theater. Then he let
go. That explains what be didn't tell
Bteve?how his coat got so dirty. "
Livingston's face was a study as he
stood looking at Simmons.
J UU ??
oimmous giuseu 1110 uiuuw muii) auu
looked at Livingston with a quiet composure
that exasperated Livingston,
whose disgust was too great for words
as he pictured Beaochampe curling his
legs up, clutching with strained clasp
the ironwork under the wagon.
It was such an experiment as only a
hardened rogue would resort to. The
action in itself was incredible. That
Beauchampe would relate it and gloat
-over it gleefully was past belief.
"Is that all?"
"No," said Simmons. "It's about as
bad as I thought it at first. Your friend
has done time."
"Wbat!".exclaimed Livingston, sharply.
"Beauchampe a convict!"
"There can't be any mistake about
that," said Simmons, with rare deliberation.
"None whatever. I suspected it
all along. Most of the tricks that surprises
people and throws them off the
scent is learned in prison.""Such
as slipping one's hands out of
handcuffs, eh? They give each prisoner
a pair, Simmons?"
"They might as well. . A man who is
thrown onto himself, if he has any life
In him, is bound to work it out some
way.. They practice all sorts of things
to 'get even' with the world when they
get oat."
"And where did he servo time?did
Dicky tell you that?"
"That was my chief errand, I may
ay. Dicky's record can't b*> questioned.
Its public record. He Just pastes the
sentences in a little book?he's got thirteen
years without a break. Just a fad
of Dicky's."
"But you have not told me where
Beauohatnpe served?what State?and
when."
. "Right here in New York?nearly
three years, when he tells you and other
people he was abroad studying. No
trouble proving that. Dicky says hundreds
will prove it any time I want it
Sone. Dicky isn't at all disobliging about
a matter of public record.
Livingston lifted both hands, then
dropped them to his side with a gesture
that was more eloquent than words.
Then he drew a lopg breath. When he
poke again,it was *?n a low voice. . .
'-i. . . .,. 5. i
"That is the worst thing I ever beard
?the last thing I would have believed.
I can't realize it now."
He stared bard at Simmons, then at
the pavement.
"I suppose we'll go to his lodgings now
?I think that will bo best. Or," Simmons
paused and seemed to be turning
something over in his mind, "if you profer
it you can go alone.' He might take
It into his head to go there. The only
thing that would prevent him would
be "
"I comprehend," said Livingston. "You
think he wouldn't care to have mo drop
In on him just now.".
"That's it, preciaely," said Simmons,
briskly. "But It's the only thing I see
for you to do. Go there, and if you can't
find him, manage some way?some sure
way?to warn him to keep out of the
road for awhile?till he hears from you.
And you can make a 'personal' for him
?that's the idea."
"Where wHl I find you in half an hour
or so?"
Simmons mentioned a well-known
popular resort.
Livingston still stood, hesitating. At
last he blurted out, with a half-apologetic
air, and in tones that appealed
strongly to his companion: "Spite of
everything, Simmons, I've not lost faith
In lteauchampeyet Don't think it is a
weakness; I simply can't give him up
yet There's something more in this?
and there's a terribje?a horrjblejnis*
take somewhere: j 2now you'ir thfnk
Its weakness?but I can't help it"
"I don't think anything of the sort?
that's all right. I don't want to shake
your faith in your friend more than I
can help. Help him all yon can?and
I'll help you all I can. I'll wait till I
hear from you."
"In three-quarters of an hour, at
most," said Livingston, as he strode
away.
Simmons turned about, shook his bead
gravely, and walked in the opposite direction.
CHAPTER IH.
"LIKE AS ANGEL OF Lienor."
Livingston walked rapidly three
squares, was so fortunate as to catch a
car at the corner, and eight minutes
later was talking to the old man who
had charge of the building in which
Beauchampe had located himself upon
bis return from Italy.
"Mr. Beauchampe does not lodge here,
sir."
"But," Interposed Livingston, hastily,
yet mindful of what was due his elder,
"I have a distinct recollection that Mr.
Beauchampe lodged in his studio. That
was scarcely six months ago. I respect
your discretion the more so, sir, because
I am a warm friend ot Mr. Beauchampe.
He would be glad to see me now above
all times, and if you will tell him I am
here "
"I cannot tell him when he is not in
the house, sir," the old man replied,
civilly.
"That is all right*" Livingston said,
impatiently. MI understand all about it.
But I was with him early in the evening,
so if you just say to Mr. Beauchampe
that Mr. Livingston is here "
?T Pttnnnt. sneak t.n him wher he is not
here."
"Come, now?he has given yon orders
to admit no one."
"No, sJr. He has not. Mr. Beauchamp?
does not lodge here."
"Not lodge here!" exclaimed Livingston.
"When did he change his lodgings?"
"I do not remember. It must be about
four or five months. Yes?all of that."
"Can you tell me where I can find
him?" . , .
"I can direct you to his lodgings, sir.
I know very well, sir. You aro his
friend. I believe. At least, I have heard
him speaking of you?he has shown me j
your writing in the Record, sir "
"Yes, yes," said Livingston: "pardon
me, but I must see Mr. Beauchampe as
soon as possible." The old gentleman
was at special pains, lest the visitor and
friend might possibly make a mistake.
At least eight precious minutes were
lost before Llvlnston was on his way to
Rpaii^hamna'slodjrincs. and a ffood ouar
tcr of an hour expired before be found
them.
Beauchampe's lodgings were in the
last place Livingston would have looked
for his friend. They were far removed
from the thoroughfares made brisk by
pedestrians.
The houses were shabby, many of
them falling into decay. Domesticity
prevailed, but the odor was not always
agreeable.
He experienced relief upon noting the
surroundings when ho rang the bell,
where he was assured he would
find the artist He had erred twice, but
the proprietor of a musty little apothecary
shop came to his relief, and pointed
out the way for him.
The house did not look as bad as its
neighbors. The blinds were in good repair,
and the owner had repainted it
within tnree or four years.
What possessed Beauchampe to hide
himself among those little, faded-out
6hops and dingy dwellings? They were
enough to give Livingston the horrors.
The door opened suddenly, and an
elderly female, with her neck muffled in
a towel and wearing a faded wrapper,
looked at the caller curiously.
"When the visitor made his errand
known, the elderly female looked slantingly
on the floor, and without answering
a word, walked up the stairs facing
aim.
Livingston chaffed Inwardly. Wis
che woman dumb?
At the end of a period that exhausted
his patience, now well tried, she descended
the stairs, and said:
"You cau go up now."
Then the mysterious elderly female
entered a door opening on the short hall,
and Livingston realized that ne had a
listener?the .elderly female was on
guard. At any other time Livingston
would have smiled; now he had serious
business on hand.
At the head of the stairway he discovered
a door ajar. Pushing it open, with
a resolve to face the worst, whatever it
might be, Livingston strode into the
rnnm trrookmir V?ia fHonrl
When he was fairly in the room, speech
died on his lips. Instead of meeting a
well-known face, he found himself star
Jng stupidly at a young lady.
The young lady naa laid aside her
work. In her haste a basket was overturned,
and a cascade of colors in
worsted tumbled toward him.
He stooped, lifted the basket and replaced
It on the table. The action gave
hini time to regain his self-possession.
The young lady said, "Thank you" in
an ordinary tone, and stood waiting his
pleasure.
"Was this a wife, Livingston asked
himself. At all events he must be doublv
discreet now. How to broach the
3ubject?or would be give her any inkling
of his real errand.
Livingston's experience as a reporter
in days not so far distant, was worth
something in the emergency. He concluded
he would let matters 'drift,' and
trust to chance. He said the right
thing:
"I thought I would find Mr. Beauchampe
here, or I would not have Intruded.
"
"I thought he sent a message with
you?"
Surprise gave a new charm to her
face. It was a very bright face, more
than pretty. Livingston thought she
was beautiful.
"Has anything happened to him, Mr.
Livingston?*
She advanced to him quickly, and
searched his face in a quick, startled
way that perplexed the visitor.
-I heard him say he was going to hear
Vittoria with you?it was impossible for
me to go with htm so early in the week.
I was sure he was at the theater."
Livingston's mind was made up before
jho concluded. He resolved to lie. If
the truth had to be told, Beauchampa
aimself should tell It He would not.
"It was planned to go to the theater.
Out "
What was it that deterred him?
Her clear eyes seemed to bo reading
his soul. She did not move a finger; she
simply looked In his eyes, waiting untii
lie answered.
Livingston coughed. He could not lie
to this woman. To do so would be sacrilege.
He essayed speech again, this
time more successfully.
"We were at the theater, but at the
end of the first act, which was very
short, we came out, were separated in
the crowd at the entrance, and Mr.
Beauchampe has not shown up since."
L<ivingswm oegan airwy, intending iu
finish with a laugh, but an exclamation
from the young lady changed the current
of his thouehts.
"Leslie! Something has happened?
something very serious. I feel it?I am
?ure of it"
She clasped her hands and paced the
floor twice, then faced her visito:. It
was plain that she was strivinc to nnn.
trol herself. "That was hours ago, Mr.
Livingston; have you come direct from
the theater?"
Livingston stammered something about
time consumed looking for Beauchampe,
then said, forcing a smite:
"1 dare say we are giving ourselves a
world of uneasiness for no cause. He
will be here doubtless in a little while.?
Her searching eyes were riveted upon
his again.
She laid a hand tfghtly on his arm, so
lightly he scarcely felt it, yet he trem?
bled at the touch.
"Mr. Livingston, you are keeping
something back from me. How can
you? Who has a better right to know
than his sister? We two are all alone."
Her manner more than her words convicted
him. Yet he could not summon
sufficient courace to tell her all. All?
She should never know the truth now,
if ho could prevent It
"I will not deceive you, Miss Beauchampe.
I came here hoping to find
Ur rrn*? 1 o ?\/\oo{KIa
yUUI UIUUlCli jjurroroij * w io yxjja iuiv
he is enjoying himself at this moment
with some friend?a student companion,
a foreigner, or brother American."
"That is not like Leslie at all," said
Miss Beauchampe. "He is incapable of
such rudeness, fie would have returned
to you in company with this friend firsl
of all. No, no! I know something has
happened to Leslie. Why, see! it i*
long-after eleven. The theater must t>o
closed I know something has happened,
because?
Here a flood of tears checked her
Bpeech. When she controlled, herself
sufficiently fo resume speech sue added:
"I was going to say I dread something
terrible, because my brother has never
been out after ninfe o'clock since I camo
to the city?not once. He was so particular
in this respect?he Is the very
best brother in the world, Mr. Livingston?that
he cautioned me when he
went out not to be uneasy if he should
be out till twelve."
As she uttered this rapidly between
blinding tears, Livingston experienced
a sickening sensation. Could it be possible
that a wretch such as Beauchampe
? Ka it Of tv* mnn a* ^Jormt/orioc ttrnra
U1UOU LTOj 11 UlUiUiVUO UlOVUTVllVd TVVAVf
any guide, existed.
He could not, would not, believe It
The longer he looked upon this beautiful
girl in tears, the stronger his faith
In his friend grew.
No man living in or breathing the
same atmosphere that this girl breathed
could be guilty of the crimes laid at
Beauchampe's door.
"Miss Beauchampe," he said, In a tone
designed to reassure her, "I will not deny
there is something unusual in this matter,
but it is possible something has prevented
your brother from returning to
me or coming home."
"You cannot; it is impo.-sible for you
or any one to comprehend the half I
feel. We are all the world to each other.
If anything should happen Leslie, I
think it would kill me, Mr. Livingston.
I have no doubt it would bo the same
with him if anything happened me."
She was walking across the floor rapIdly
now, sobbing convulsively.
Livingston was inexpressibly shocked
and erieved.
All his sympathies were aroused. But,
man-like, he stood dumb. He could not
choose words; worda seemed such paltry
things in the presence of the'glrl's grief.
"Miss Beauchampe, will you listen to
me one moment?just a moment"
She turned her swimming eyes upon
him, ciencning her lnceriwinea nn?erj
resolutely.
"Just a moment I will give you m]
solemn promise that I shall not close my
eyes until I learn what has become ol
your brother. We were firm?I hope
true?friends. Rest assured, all thai
can be thought of will be done?that is,
providing your fears are verified. I am,
fortunately, in a position that will en
able me to do much in an emergency.
My connection with the press and t
large acquaintance in police circles wil
help me. Rely upon me."
Miss Beai.champe reached out a hand,
bowing her beautiful head, like and yel
wholly unlike her brother's. Livingston
pressed her hand fervently, walked
to the door, turned, looked at the silent
figure standing there motionless in the
middle of the room, a picture that time
has not effaced from his memory to this
day, then softly closed the door behind
him and hastened away.
CHAPTER IV.
THE MURDER,
ex **** A+ TU
~rveu; Dliumuus giauu>u uy av Uir*
Ingston, and laid the paper be was readIng
aside.
"He is not at home."
"So be is married, then?"
Livingston sat down beside him and
explained the position of affairs just as
he found them.
Simmons was surprised.
He was prepared to hear that Bean*
champe bad a wife?a number of wives
?but the sister Livingston described
puzzled him. He began to doubt for the
tirst time. Possibly what they both saw
and beard were not facts after all. Possibly
Livingston's extraordinary faith in
his friend was well grounded At all
events it was now stronger than ever.
"What do you propose next?" said
Livingston. "I am at tne end of my resources?that
is, I will be when I make
the rounds of the nowspaper offices, or
can get word to my friends?men I can
rely upon in a case of this kind.
Simmons rose, buttoned his coat and
said his course was mapped out.
xlyv wno *?/>?/?? t a r> 11 n nn*-? narfoin
liu wua ivaiu/ iu v?n vw UUMU
friends in police circles; in the morninq
he would communicate with the head ol
the detective force, and Inside of twelve
Lours, possibly Tess time, they would
"get at the truth of this business."
He spoka in the tone of a man who
did not know what failure meant.
"You know just where to reach me at
any time, Mr. Livingston, and all the
world knows where the Rccord office is.
I'll leavo word there for you if I want
you."
"Before we separate, I want a 'stiffened
of some sort, Simmons. This thing
has been trying on me. Besides, it's
past my lunch-time. What will you
have?"
"No 'stiffener' for me. I never drink
anything stronger than milk. Milk's
good enough for me."
Livingston made himself a strong glas9
of whjsky and water, with plenty of sug
ar, nibbled a cracker with it, and then
they separated at the door, each going
his own way. Livingston availed himself
of a cab, while Simmons entered the first
car passing.
He called at three newspaper offices;
[ In one he found his man in, in the others
be left notes that answered all purposes.
It was after two when he entered the
office of the RccordThe
managing editor hailed him.
"Hello, Livingston! Thought you
were off?"
"I am off."
"I see you are. Why is it that newspaper
men when they get a day off
invariably haDg around newspaper
offices?"
*i mignt asii way uues tue uiauugm*
editor voluntarily perform tho duties of
night editor." v
"Well, the fact is, I was at the opera.
You'll allow a managing editor to look
in his own office one night in three years
?that is not counting election nights
and extra occasions. The truth Is,
Baird is out of sorts?I've packed him
off home. Everything Is smooth as butter
here. By the way, going to be about
a few minutes? If you are, there's a
murder you might look over. Another
mystery. Three murders in one day, or
twenty-four hours?same thing?is doing
pretty well. Just skim over it, and see
that tho head is all right. Sparks is out
looking up a matter of his own?playing
night editor, city editor and a little
of everything this morning. Lots of
fun."
The managing editor was perspiring,
but Livingston did not smile. He was
ot in a smiling mood.
"You'll find the proof on Black's table
there?or it ought to be there. Come tc
think of it, I did change the head.
You'll find the head on a separate slip."
Livingston removed his hat, as he
lifted the proof.
Directly his pencil was out. "The
proof-reader hasn't seen this," he said.
"No?he'll run over it after you."
"Why"?Livingston turned to the
managing editor, "you did not tell me
Major Dabney was killed!"
"Not Major Dabney! J. S. Dabney?
U <0 o Kah f t.Kfl T
A 133 ULlOl C Jl 10 1JU V4U UUU UUUUH wuv> ?#
S. But can it be possible it is the J. S.?w
"It must be," said Livingston. "There
is no other J. S. Dabney."
"Sure? That's inexcusable stupidity
on Black's part He ouent to know
where Major Dabney lives. The best
Item?a sensation lying there and nobody
know it! This is the Labney,
Livingston? We must be sure."
"I know both the numbers as well as 1
know this office, Mr. Ward. This is the
man who has helped to make and unmake
Mayors and Postmasters. And
you did not know it?"
"I've got plenty of time left to say all
that is necessary, but Black's days in
this office are numbered. A man who
does not know the difference between an
influential politician and a grain merchant,
manufacturer, or grocer, has no
business fooling around a nowspaper."
The managing editor turned away with
a wrathful countenance, and Livingston
read the account of the murder, correcting
the errors carefully.
Directly the manager was at his elbow
again.
"See here, Livingston. Do you mind
dashing off something describing the
sort of a man the Major was. On second
thought, I won't devote more than a paragraph
to the murder now?I may again.
Time enough. You can do the sort of
thing I want?and I'll relieve you oi
this. Yours will be introductory?
understand?"
So Livingston, who was at home in
his subject, wrote out swiftly the "sort
of thing" that fitted the Rcci>rd.
He described a rich?a very rich man.
Men accounted wealthy were pleased tc
get a nod from him. Men who were
anxious to make money courted his so
ciety; men who had sons to provide for.
and who knew that a hint from Major
Dabney was as Rood as a petition signed
by a thousand merchants, consulted
Major Dabney's pleasure, looking not
to heaven but to the American's Mecca,
Washington, for their sure reward.
The political structure (in a local senso)
was a thing of clay in the Major's hands.
Self-interest and the golden rule that
always-^eoited In his friends' pofikfits
when it did not begin ana* ena" fri hfe
own, was tbe Major's sole guide. A
polit'cal venture that promised no profit
to himself possessed no interest for him.
There were such campaigns, in which
great principles were involved, spite of
all the Major and his colaborers could
do to prevent it, brt when the canvass
was at its hottest, Majoi
Dabnoy was either fishing in foreign
waters, absorbing the atmosphere of
Florida for the benefit of his health, or
sulking in his tent. As for the social,
and especially the mc~al structure, they
were built and maintained in auother
way, without the Major's aid.
I TO OE COJfTISUltD.J
Locusts Held Up a Train.
A swarm of seventeen-year locusts took
possession of a Long Branch train near
Avenel, N. J., a few mornings ago, and for
a time there was 3very prospect of the passengers
having to abandon the coaches and
let the locusts retain them. The train which
experienced this unusual trouble was No.
98/ of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It left
Jersev City at 10 o'clock. The warm
weather tempted hundreds to visit the coast
towns, and the train was heavily loaded.
The heat had caused almost every window
to be opened, and when the train crane to
Avenel tke passengers leaned out to look at
the hundreds of thousands of the losusts on
the ground and in the air. They would have
been satisfied with this, but the locusts were
not. Before the passengers were aware
what was happening, the pests had swarmed
up the sides of the cars, and through the
windows and doors inside.
Women screamed, and stood on the seats
with their skirts drawn up, so as to avoid
Immediate contaot with the crawling objects.
They soon had to let go their skirts and pay
undivided attention to keeping the locusts
from their hats and taoes. The more timid
at fknf
passengers siuncu iui uuun, uu?. i? >u?.
moment the car started. Thu rush of wind
seemed to disconcert the pests. Those on
the outsides of the cars dropped off. and
those inside clung closely to the seats or
floors, and were soon thrown out of the windows
by the train hands who started the
oars.
Selling Football Players.
The 3ale season for professional football
Slayers has just commenced in Eusjlan 1.
ut it is not expected that the business will
be very brisk. It is perh?.ps necessaryto explain
that the English Football League,in order
to prevent unscrupulous clubs from
clandestinely bribing famous players to tiffBert
to them, instituted a system by which do
man can be transferred from one club to another
except by paying according to a
specified scale Ea:h clu.i puts a price
against every one of its men and these lists
are published yearly. This year, for instance.
the celebrated Prastou North End
Club will not part with Jimmy Ross under
$500. but his brother. Jack Ross, may b'j hai
for $100. Newton Heath wants S250 each
for two of its leading men, and so on. Some
ot these clubs are lithe better ttiaa trading
companies. The Everton Club, waich is
typical of the whole, had au income last year
of nearly $50,000 and will commence next
season with a balance in hand of nearlj' $10,000.
Fined for Starving His Wife to Denth.
Isaac Hanks, an aged miser, charged with
having caused the death of his wife by denying.
her sufficient food, has been found
guilty by a jury in Salem, N. Y., where he
was taken for trial. A recommendation to
mercy aocompanied the verdict, and the offender,
who is said to be worth more than
$70,000, was let off on a fine of $1000 and
costs. . .. '
# FIRECRACKERS.
tfO "GLORIOUS FOURTH" IS
COMPLETE WITHOUT THE31.
'i '**? ???
Hott and "Where That Delight of
, the Small Boy Is Made?
; A Visit to a Chinese
Cracker Shop.
"T" "T" f HAT visions are conjured
\ J\ / np by the mere name of
! Y V firecracker? Flags
flying, ffroteacpie processions,
small boys with smoke blackened
faces and blistered fingers that
mamma is tenderly binding, with intermittent
scoldings?that is the sort
of a thing the firecrackers bring to
mind, for is it not an adjnnct to the
glorious Fourth which no patriotio
young American would be without on
that happy day?
Niter, the principal ingredient of
gunpowder, has always been found in
great quantities in China, and the
ancient records of that country prove
that gunpowder was there manufactured
at a time when Europe was a
howling wilderness except in the little
corner where Bome sat on her
seven hills ere she had become the
mighty empress of the world. Fire
works were the earliest form in which
gunpowder was used, as oddly enough,
its entertaining qualities were discovTHE
FIRECRACKEB IDOL.
ered before its destructive powers.
The showers of sparks that fall from
rnnlrp.tq h a<7A Rnarkled in Chinese skies
from time immemorial. The firecracker
is said to be the earliest form
of explosive, and was not so much intended
'or hoys to use in sport as for
an artiolc of heathen worship.
In the mountains of Western China
there is supposed to be a giant devil
of a brilliant red, at the sight of whom
men grow faint with fear. A man who
lived about 3000 years ago by the
name of Leedien found that the banging
of firecrackers would frighten him
away, hence Leedien ie the god of firecrackers.
All the red firecrackers are
intended to be used to frighten away
the red devil, while the green and
yellow ones are offerings to Leedien.
From the simple little firecracker was
gradually evolved the destructive cannon,
which was used by the Chinese
ip their war with the Mongols in A.
D. 1232. It was introduced into
Europe about 1540. Thus we owe to
the Chinese the invention of the most
useful article of warfare in the world.
The most interesting sights of Canton
are the tea factories and the fire
cracker factories, and the most interesting
of the two are the firecracker factories.
These establishments can hardly
be called factories, if we use the word
Sjthe sense of making by machinery,
f all of the work is accomplished by
hand, and they are, therefore, called
by the English residents of that country
"firecracker go-downs."
On approaching the building one is
npt greeted with the usual roar of
furnaces and the many and one
noises that go to make up the din of a
factory, but it is anything but a quiet
place. At a distance it sounded like
the riot of a furious mob compared
with the quiet about Canton, though
Canton seemed noisy enough.
tor a mile around the .factory the
thousands of inhabitants are all employed
in making firecrackers. As
soon as the children are old enough to
be anything but babies they begin to
work, and as soon as their mothers
have finished the housework they turn
their hands to making firecrackers;
but there is no confusion, for no one
knows how to do but a very small part
of the immense amount of work rennimil
in fnvnincr nnt. millions of
these little explosives. One man, fur
instance, make# fuses, another cuts
them in length and another sorts
them in sizes; one man makes the
INTERIOR OF FACTORY.
paper, another rolls the crackers,
while his neighbor fills the ends with
clay. The paper man would not do i
the clay man's work, any more than j
the fusemaker would do the sorter's I
work, and every little firecracker be- I
fore it reaches America has in its construction
passed through over sixty
different pairs of hands. The go-down \
is divided into a dozen long sheds, J
with blue tiled roois; the laborers sit j
on little stools at long bench-like
tables. As soon as one man finishes
his part of the work he passes it on to
his neighbor, the latter follbwing his
example when he has done his share,
and thus it starts at one end of the
table as a little paper and a fuse and
comes out at the other end a finished
firecracker.
The next room I Visited was devoted
to braiding and wrapping the crackers,
and the next to packing them for shipment.
They are packed in boxes much
resembling the common tea box and i
contain thirty packages. A box in
this country brings $1.25, and after
duty and shipment haye been paid it.
v:**u ,y' "
is a wonder any profit is made at alL
The two proprietors of this establishment,
which, by the way, is called
the "yat shing," showed me into the
room where the designer of labels sat
at work. He wts an old man, with
bamboo-bonnd spectacles, and sat at a
desk drawing flowers, gnomes and
~11
I UJLttgUUa 1U ttll LiitJ ^iUlCOtjUCUCDO Ui
| Chinese art. I had some of the characters
on the labels translated. There
were three large characters in the
center, and they conveyed the nsefnl
information of "thousand, blazing,
halL" What does it mean? It is a
word picture and endeavors to convey
the idea that their goods are of such
a superior quality that they are likened
unto a large hall or palace blazing
with splendor. This is as good an explanation
as can be given. If you can
catch the idea you have the principle
of the Chinese language, but until you
do you will never be able to leara the
language of the celestial empire.
After the designer and engravers
have done their work the blocks go to
the printing room, where they are
printed with hand presses, but such
presses. If you would take old Ben
Franklin's press, break it to pieces
and prop it up with rope and bamboo,
you would have a fair sample of a
Chinese press. They are clumsy,
rickety-looking things, and look as if
a breath of air would blow them over,
yet it is wonderful what an amount of
work can be done with them in a day;
besides the Chinese do not want
machinery. Human labor is cheap
for there is so much of it, therefore
anything that will lesson labor is a
curse to the country. A mandarin
wno mxrouuceu a hiik uiucumu mmuujr
by doing so starved to death four hundred
families. We can better understand
the large population of this
country when we learn that the province
of Nganhwui in China contains
34,168,200, while Kiang Su contains
38,843,500, altogether making 72,011,700.
Just think of it, two States in
China contain over 7,000,000 more
people than the whole United States.
As paper forms such an important
part of the firecracker you can imagine
the making of it must be a large
industry in Canton, and so it is. However,
the paper mills are anything but
imposing structure* They are low,
square buildings, with dirty, whiteI
washed sides, the only pretty thing
about them being the large, doubletiled
roofs with turned up corners.
There are no more than 100 workmen
in each mill, for paper being made
more easily than firecrackers it does
not need as many laborers. They are
also men born to the profession, men
whose children will grow up to be
paper makers after them. Every morning
of their lives they wake up with
the one endless routine before them
and they eat and sleep, too, in the
great paper mill. The paper is made
irom xne oars 01 me noon cjjou tret?,
which is known in Amcrica under the
equally incomprehensible name of
"aralia paphyrifeca," ground up with
lime and then baked in a kiln. When
this is done the mass is hammered out
in the form of long rolls and then cut
ap into slices, jast as the confectioner
behind the great glass window cuts up
his long and yielding twist of molasses
candy for the amusement of a crowd
of boys outside and the benefit of those
who come in and buy.
_ - . . r-i
i - i*1
| ^ ^ ^ ^ .
\Wk
DESIGMyq LABELS.
These pieces are put into a curious
little mortar and pounded together
again with a little hammer that comes
very near being worked by machinery,
just as near as anything could in China,
where there are so many hands ready
to work lor a miserable allowance of
rice. At last these slices are made
into a mass again, and this time it
comes out as soft as dough, which is
placed in a large pot of water till it is
completely dissolved, then with something
very like a sieve they lift water
from this pot, allowing it to run back
again through the bottom, which is a
fine net of bamboo thread, and there
is always a thin white sediment left in
the bottom of the sieve. Suddenly
throwing the sieve upside down on the
floor they dislodge the sediment,
folio in a thin white film. A I
thousand of these are left to lie one
upon the other, then the whole is
taken out in the sun to dry, and thus
it becomes paper. The process is always
the same all over China, but the
ingredients differ in almost every
factory. The common ingredients are
bamboo, cotton, the tow of silk, bark
and the leaves of many plants, the
hair and even the intestines of animals.
If you take the inner piece of brown
paper on the wrapping of a pack of
firecrackers and hold it to the light
you will be able to see some of the ingradients
used in making paper.
It is an easy thing to distinguish
the firecrackers made in America
from those of Chinese make. In the
first place, the American crackers are
never small. They are rarely smaller
than four and a half inches in length
and have short cord fuses, while, on
the other hand, the Chinese kind have
paper fuses, are braided into packs i
and have gilt labels. A fireworks firm !
in Chicago once tried to make small i
firecrackers by machinery, but after :
several fruitless attempts gave it up
with a loss of several thousand dol-1
lars. They could reproduce a pack
of firecrackers after the Chinese patx
Koinrr fljaf
It?Ill, IUC wwuwiy ?v
would not explode. This is mainly i
because no machine can be manufac- :
tured to roll the firecrackers and take !
the place of the gentle pressure done
with the human hand. They invariably
roll them too tight and thereby
render them useless.
The large American firecrackers al- i
ways have a notice printed on their
side, "Do not hold in the hand after
lighting." Only an American boy
would be guilty of such a reckless
thing. In China as soon as a child
' :igaM
.
.
lights a cracker he leaves it and does j
not ran back and piok it np to see if:
the fuse is bnrned oat. Bat in Ameri-j
ca it is not so. The glorioas Foarthj
comes bat once a year, and the small
boy in his endeavor to have a goodf
time rashes aboat and does some of
%, i i ?"a ^ mi m ! ^
j
PACKING FIBECBACKEBS.
?' ?1
the most venturesome tilings. . If he;
would follow the Chinese example the
oculists and surgeons would not do
such a thriving business the day following
the celebration of independence.
_
Celebrating Independence Day.
Of the day on which our independence
was declared John Adams said:
"It ought to be commemorated as
the day of deliverance by solemn acts
of devotion to God Almighty. Ifc^
ought to be celebrated with pomp and
parade, with shows, games, bporta,
guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations,
from one end of this continent to the
other, from this time forward forevermnrfl."
These words, says Julia Ward Howe, B
show how comprehensive was the view B
which the old statesman took of a na- H
tion's holiday. He desired that all H
classes and all ages should participate I
in the joy expressed The time which
has elapsed since his memorable utter- H
| ance has brought nothing to diminish H
this joy. It has, however, brought
into being a new society for which H
"pomp and parade, bells, guns and. H
bonfires" are less available for good fl
than pleasures of a more elevatedl fl
character. We now desire a celebra- fl
tion which shall speak less to the B
bodily senses and more to the inner' H
sense. This is because the historic de-j H
velopment of the raoe goes ever for
ward. fl
Abijah'-i Fourth of July,
Abljah Stooe strolled off alone 9|
While yet the morn was hazy; H
The neighbors' boys made suoh a noise, 99
They almost drove him crazy. H
"I love my country well," said he, M
"But think it Is a sin, sir,
To spoil July's sweet jubilee S
By making such a din, sir 1" H
So, in a nook beside a brook, S
Serenely sound asleep, sir, Km
ADJjnn lay toe liveiong aay, em
Curled in a little heap, sir; on
While in the town the brass-bands brayafl* H
And cannon boomed like thunder, > H
Until a very small boy made [H
A most tremendous blunder, Bfl
For, just at dark, he dropped a spark H
Where sparks are very worst, sir; 99
A blinding flash?a frightful crash? B
r:"jn
A powder-keg bad hurst, sir! M
Abijah found but scattered shreds Hj
When he returned to town, sir, IB
And people standing on their heads 9|
Where they had just come down, sir! H
?St. Nicholas. b|
So Daj for the Sisters. H
"Mercy me! what is that noise?" H
cried old Mrs. Bensal, as a huge Hj
cracker exploded beneath her window. IS
"I don't know," said the innocent H|
son and heir, who was responsible for
the explosion, "unless it was sister
Mary's bang you heard." H
A Pinwheel Suggestion. ?
"Well, "Walter," said Walter*#
grandmother, after the fireworks had Hj
all been set off, "how did yon enjoy pB
the pin wheels?" 5M
"They was awful nice," said Walter. HH
"They looked just like a soda water ^B
fountain on fire." gj
He Knew Hl9 Business. Wm
A man was one day making a trip 09 H|
the "flyer" of a Wyoming railroad. BB
Passage on these trains is never taken ^B
except for jourueys of considerable Bp
length; walking is as easy and much ^B
safer for 6hort distanced. On this occasion
the movement was even morj
deliberate than usual and the passen- HS
ger called the conductor to Ids seat^B
and said: flB
' Isn't this motion pretty slow?" BB
"Well, we ain't flying, I admit."
' _ -1- ?i-~i. iv. H
".May JL &B& Vtlinb us buo uuuuiC)
then?" H
"Certainly. We found a fine two-^H
year-old steer stuck in a trestle back Ml
here before you got on, and stopped
and helped it out. You know the rules BH
of the road are in such cases that theH|
animal belongs to the company." HI
"But I don't see why that shouldH|
make you run so slow."
"Why, we're taking that steer toHB
headquarters; got it tied behind, and^B
it ain't used to leadin' and don't walk^Bj
up very well. I'm doin' all I can?
got the brakemau prodding it up withHQ
an umbrel', and an ear of corn tied to^H
the end of the bell rope. If you think^H
I'm going to start up and go howlin'^H
along and yank the horns off as good^H
a steer as there is in this State, why,
you're mistaken, that's all!"?Boston^^fl
Post. H
The Hygiene ol Laughter.
It has been aptly said that there ia^Bj
not the remotest corner of the inletHH
of the minute blood vessels of the hu- aH
man body that does not feed some|n|
wavelet from the convulsions occa- BB
sioned by good, hearty laughter. The^H
lite principle 01 tne cenirai man uap
shaken to its innermost depths, send- IH
ing new tides of life aad strength to^^J
the surface, thus materially tending^H
to insure good health to the persons^^H
who indulge therein. The blood moves^JH
rapidly, and conveys a different iin-^^B
pression to all the organs of the body, HH
as it visits them on that particular^^H
mystic journey when the man
laughing, from what it does at other^wj
times. For this reason every good,^^|
hearty laugh, in whioh a person in-^^H
dulges, tends to lengthen his life, con-^^l
veying as it doe9 new and distinct^^H
stimulus to the vital forces.?Bruok-^^K
lyn Times.
The dining-room of the Campania,
the Cunard steamer, is 100 by sixty-^H|
four feet, aad seats 439 persons. HB