ADealiaWildLands
OB, THE
Fiilt for tie Musselshell Millions.
DY LEON LEWIS.
CHAPTER T.
T?n vrU'C TOftW TRT MIT RRKIJFHELLI
Vl AAlljmu Pf "D KAWM ? ? ?
Hiram Skidder, for many years a
' prominent merchant of Chicago, sat in
his private ofiice one afternoon, debating
seriously the question of making an
assignment He was not only pinched
for money, but his credit had been utterly
demolished, as the result of certain*
crooked transactions which had
been widely whispered under cover of
secrecy. It is needless to say that the
frame of mind in which he found himself
was unenviable. His smoothly shaven
face had become rigid in its outlines, and
was Daler than usual. Iiis manner had
become Irritable, forbidding, and at
times evon violent.
At the moment we look in upon him,
he had Just entered upon the examination
of his afternoon's mail?a task he
had found at once irksome, monotonous,
and annoying.
"Duns, threats, and rcpraaches?this
Is the burden of their whole song." he
muttered, suspending operations a moment
"I'll see if I can't get togethor a
few additional thousands and vanish."
Picking np another letter, the mer,
chant opened it The handwriting befog
unfamiliar and singular, ho glanced
at the signature.
"From Col. Harvey Whipsaw, of Rattlesnake
Ranch, Musselshell, Montana,"
he read, smiling Involuntarily.
What could such a man have to say to
him?
He began reading the missive, displaying
an interest which rapidily Increased
to agitation and wonder. By the time
he had reached the signature again the
sheet fairly rustled in his grasp, and he
looked startled and bewildered.
"How strange!" he ejaculated. "Evidently
there is some good in those wild
lanria nn thA Musselshell. after all.
What a pity I sold thorn!"
Ho read the letter a* second time with
keen deliberation, his excitement increasing.
"Yes, the Colonel wants to buy an interest
in those lands and become resident
manager," he muttered. "What can bo
the secrot of his deep and sudden desire
to purchase? Is It another ca;o of
striking it rich?' His language suggests
it, and, on the face of things,
nothing is more likely. The richness of
Montana in all sorts of mineral is proverbial.
"
He secured the letter of Col. Whlpsaw
. carefully in an inner pocket
"It's clear that some great discovery
has been made," he added. "I musn't
Joso a moment in recovering possession
of those lands."
He touched a call-bell on his desk, in
j answer to which a clerk made his ap.
> pearance.
"Send Mr. Wynans here," ordered the
merchant
The clerk withdrew, to be succeeded
promptly by a young gentleman who had
been in the employ of Hiram Skidder a
dozen years, at first as clerk, then as a
bookkeeper, and finally as cashier.
"Sit down, Mr. Wynans," greeted the
merchant affably, Indicating a chair. "I
wish to talk with you about the Musselshell
property I sold you two or three
years ago "
The cashier inclined his handsome fig
ore gracefully, accepting the proffered
chair, while a curious sort of smile
traversed his face.
Ho was about seven-and-twenty years
f age, with a form of the finest proportions.
He had the strength and agflity
of an athlete, without having any especial
consciousness of the fact, so
completely had his thoughts been absorbed
in study and science. He was
uncommonly good-looking, with his
smooth, regular features, his shapely
head and curly hair, his mild blue eyes, |
and his genial, sunny aspect
"Let's see, * resumed the merchant,
with his blandest voice, "do you remember
how I became the owner of the
property in question?"
"Of course," replied Wynans. "Your
only brother, Jeremiah Skidder, went
out there fourteeu years ago and bought
a ranch. Later he wrote you aud your
brother-in-law, the late Charles Tower
of Inglehcim, that he had a grand
chance to invest ?10,000 in land near
him, and you and Tower sent out
the money, taking joint deeds of the
property."
"Exactly. And what then?"
"Why, Jerry Skidder wrote that he
had been deceived, that the acquisition
was practically worthless; and he continued
to write in this strain for years,
until both Tower and yourself grew sick
of the wholo transaction, and finally
sold the property. "
"True again," commented Skidder.
"And you have cared so little about youi
purchase that you have uot yet had the
deeds recorded?"
Wynans assented
"So that Tower and I are still on record
as the owners?"
The cashier nodded again, and, In
fact, as ruuch was shown by the application
the merchant had received from
Colonel Whipsaw, of liattlesanke Ranch.
"Let's see," said Skidder again, after
a thoughtful and siuister pause, "how
much did you Rive me, Perry, for my
half Interest in that Musselshell property?"
"S?ivon hundred dollars, sir."
"You have been at no expense in regard
to it, I presume?"
"At, vfirv sir."
"You havo never even fenced the
lands or paid the taxes?"
"No, sir," acknowledged Wynans.
The fact is, you had left your brother
aforesaid in possession, charging him to
p$Y the ta^eSj and I naturally adjourned
all action until such time as 1 could appear
there in person."
Tho merchant nodded understanding^.
"Well, I'd like to buy that property
back from yon, Perry," he announced,
with assumed carelessness, "and of
courso I'll frankly givo you my reasons."
The cashier again intimated by an inclination
that ho was all attention, and
Hiram Skidder continued:
"1 desire to send my son out there, not
merely to ostablish him in an independent
position but to get him out of the
daugerous path he is now following. As
you may have heard, or even read in the
papers, he has been in a number of dis-|
reputable affairs, and I fear another,
year or two in tho midst of hsa present
surroundings will prove his utter ruin. "
These plausible statements of Skidder s
motives diii not deceive Perry Wynans.
Ho knew them to be untrue.
"I suppose you'll want something for
the use of your money." pursued the
merchant, with an insinuating smiio
"You gave four hundred dollars, 1 believe,
for tho half interest of my lato
brother-in-law, Charles Tower, in. th.s
property?"
"Quite rlirbt, sir. 3ust four hundred."
"Then tho eight thousand acres," continued
the merchant, with a smi!o of
anticipate:! triumph, -have cost you ?ust
even hundred do'lars?"
Perry assented, and Smdder proceeded;
."What shall we say, therefore, for
your entire interest? Will fifteen hundred
dollars be a fair figure?"
The strauge smile of Perry Wynans
deepened.
"Hardly," he answered. "I have
taken the trouble to give those lands a
Dersonal Inspection, and "
"Ton?" exclaimed the merchant, with
a start of astonishment
"Certainly?I."
"When, may I ask?"
I "Almost three years ago "
"What! Before you purchaser! them?"
"Naturally." And Perry smiled again.
"I went out there during one of my
brief vacations."
The merchant lost color. He even
looked startled, and his mien grew reproachful
and injured, as if he had boeD
deoeived.
"And I have also been at the expense
of sending a mining expert to Montana
to report upon the property," added
Wynans.
"And your expert has reported?"
"He has, sir. I may add I am in receipt
of very surprising Information."
Tho merchant stirred uneasily, an intense
flush replacing the pallor which
had mantled his face.
"Such information, in fact," explained
Perry, "that I do not caro to part with
my Musselshell property on any term9
whatever."
He arose quietly, as If he had nothing
more to say on the subject.
"Oh, well, seeing it s you, rerry," declared
the merchant, with a wheedling
sort of tone, "I will be liberal. I want
to give my son a new home far from his
present temptations, and have fully decided
to send him to Montana. Supf.o-e
we say a couple of thousands for the
property?"
"I am very sorry, Mr. Skidder," responded
Perry, "but I have decided not
to sell the lands in question?certainly
not before 1 have again visited Montana
in person."
Hiram Skidder drew his breath hard,
his countenance losing color again.
"Then you won't put a price on them?"
"Not at present?no, sir."
"Can't I tempt you?" queried the merchant,
forcing a smile.
' "I don't believe you can, sir. But you
should remember there are plenty of
wild lands for sale near mine. I expect
to go out that way soon, so that your
son can have me for a neighbor. 1 "
"I will give you S5,000, Perry," interrupted
the merchant, with an abruptness
which attested how eager he was
to carry his point
"indeed? You must have had good
news from the Musselshell!"
"Not a wort!"
"In any case, I must -decline your
offer."
The words seemed to plun?e the merchant
into a veritable consternation.
"You can't mean it," he protested. "I
told my son he should have these lands,
and so I must make you another and
final offer. Let us say $10,000!"
Perry shook his head emphatically.
"Ten thousand dollars or 10 centsit's
all the same to me, Mr. Skidder," he
declared. "Money won't buy them!"
"What! not 820,000, all in cash, within
live minutes?" cried the merchant.
"No, sir!"
"Not fifty thousand?"
"No, nor twice fifty thousand," assured
Perry, with the same quiet smile
as before. "I have no intention of selling
those lands, Mr. Skidder, and must
decline to entertain any proposition looking
to their purchase!"
Hiram Skidder became deathly pale
with the rage and vexation these declarations
caused him. A flood of furious roproaches
and threats trembled upon his
JULkU UC WUVIVIIVU uituwvii)
"I?I am very sorry," he faltered, with
averted face. "I'll have to be content
with sending my son out there to be
your neighbor, as you have suggested.
That's all, sir."
Perry Wynans again inclined his handsome
figure gracefully and vanished.
What a glance of hate and wrath was
that the merchant sent after him!
"The thieving villain!" he ejaculated.
"To talk in that way about a piece of
property I sold him for almost nothing!
But of course he bas received'extraordinary
reports from his special agent.
What can bo the secret?" < I
Springing to his feet, he strode to and
fro excitedly, knitting his brows in an
intense study jis to the ways and means
of recovering possession of the lands
with which he had so lightly parted,
supposing them to be worthless.
"1 see what to do," he finally dccided.
"I must start for the Musselshell this
very night. At the best I'm on the verge
of failure. I am tired of these vain attempts
to get on my feet again. All is
lost here, and I have all to gain there.
If I can get out there ahead of Perry
Wlnans, and catch him in some quiet
corner, with no one looking and with
.those deeds on his person, before they've
been recorded, I'll soon be master of Lho
situation!"
The look upon his face attested that
he meant it, all things evtf being: written
thereon?hate and greed, and even
violence and robbery.
CHAPTER II.
TURNED OCT TO PKUISH.
A knock was heard at the door at tnis
moment, and one of the merchant's
clerks stepped hesitatingly into his presence.
"If you please, Mr. Skiddar," he announced,
"here's a young woman who
wishes to sec you. "
The merchant glared at his dependent
so angrily that he retreated Involuntarily
a step or two
"How dare you come to me with messages
from such creatures?" he demanded.
"The second offense will cost you
your place. If you had been longer in
my service, sir, you would know that I
never see beggars."
He waved his hand Imperatively, but
the cierk stood his ground, with the re;
mark:
"The young woman Is no beggar, sir.
She's your own niece!"
"It's falso!" roared lhe merchant "I
have no niece! She's an impostor! Call
the police!"
The clerk withdrew, but the door had
scarcely closed when it opened again,
and he ^appeared with an agitated
fa< e. Before he couid speatc, however,
>.o onttpf.nra wirfpnort and n. spp.nnd ner
pon entered tho merchant's presence.
The newccmcr was the niece who had
just been so rudely repudiated.
What a rare, witching girl she was!
She had the wild free grace of a fawn;
a slender, swaying figure; a sweets pure,
girlish face, framed in flowing hair, and a
pair of lovely bro?vn eyes, innocent,
truthful and unconciously appealing eyes
from which looked a woman's thoughful
soul that had learned too early the bitterness
of life.
She approached the merchant, extending
her hand, as the clerk hastily retreated.
"Are you my uncle "Hiram?" she asked.
"I am El lie Tower, your sister's only
daughter."
"tliie Tower?" repeated the merchant,
with a stare of surprise. "The daughter
1 of my only sister Mary?"
"The same, uncle."
The merchant shook her hand feebly
a single instant, and invited her by gesture
to te seated.
"This is a great surprise," he said, resuming
his seat "What brings you to
Chicago? Comn on a little visit, eh?
Better have staid in the country."
"I am come to stay, Uncle Hiram,"
announced tiic girl quietly. "J am alow)
in the word "
"Alone? How's-that?"
"My father died last year, as* mother
wrote you," explained Elfie. "Mamma
has followed him," and her voice grew
broken. "She died last week, Uncle
Hiram, and when she was dying she told
me to come to you. She sent you her
dearest love, rejrrettinar keenly "
"Humph!" said the merchant. "Of
course I'm sorry she's dead, but it's
years since I saw her, and the loss
doesn't come on me as keenly as on you.
Mary was a good woman, a little sentimental,
perhaps, and always talking
about affe.-.tion, honor, truthfulness, and
that sort of thing, but she meant well, I
don't doubt How many children did
your parents leave?"
"I was their only child, Undo Hiram,
save the ono who died."
1 "Ah, yes," and the merchant yawned.
"I have lost sight of my sister during the
past few years. It is true, I received a
letter in which she said her husband was
dead, but I never found time to answer
it My business cares have always been
heavy. I visited your parents in Ingleheim
ten years ago, when you were a
mere child. They were very prosperous
in those days?owned a grocery store,
with houses and lots, horses, and so
forth. Your father had few expenses in
that little village. I suppose, Elfie, you
have inherited a handsome property?"
"Quite the contrary, uncle. My father
made some investments which turned
out badly, including his joint purchase
with you of those wild lands on the Musselshell
Kiver, in Montana. He was
also burned out, and failed in business
three months before he died."
"Ah, failed, did he?" said the merchant,
cheerfully. "Was it a bad failure?"
"It swamped us completely, uncle?
left us in poverty."
Hiram Skidder stared amazed.
"What! Eh?" he> gaspGd. "Poverty?"
"When the debts were paid we had no
home and only five hundred dollars in
money."
"The debts paid?"
"Ye>, uncle. Every debt was paid.
My father taken ill, lingered three
months, then died, but when ho dieJ he
owed no man accnt," said Elfie proudly.
"No widow or orphan, no trusting
tradesman, no one whomsoever, can say
that my father every cheated him or her
of their rightful dues."
"But, God bless my soul!" ejaculated
Hiram Skidder. "Was the mau mad?"
Eltie 'toked surprised.
"My ?ohcr was an honest man, sir?
that was all."
"And your mother was left in poverty?"
"Yes, sir; but it was an honorable
Cl.? n 1; 1 ^ loft
puvcriy. OUC iiau o- jibuiv; ujuuc; im i
after father died- VVe hired two rooms,
and I got work to do. I had received a
good education at the village academy?
I mean good for my years." said Effie
modestly?"and I became a clerk in the
village book store. I managed to provide
for my mother while she lived.
After her burial I had only ?20 remaining."
"A beggar!" muttered the merchant
"A regular beggar!"
Effie failed to catch this comment
"The bookseller had no further need
of my services," she resumed, "his son
being about to become a partner with
him. And mother, when dying, told me
to come to you, Uncle Hiram "
"Very convenient for you, no doubt.
But I have a largo and expensive family
of my own?especially a son and daughter
who would bankrupt the biggest
millionaire on earth If left to their own
devices. Poor people have a singular
fondness, I've noticed, for saddling their
offspring upon somebody else. I don't
see that I can do anything for you. It's
absurd for a girl of your size and educa- |
tion to think of settling yourself as a
- -i.if? ... rl I
pauper relation on me. it tau i> ucuuuc,
my dear young woman!"
The girl's face flushed hotly.
"You are mistaken, sir," she sfcid.with
a dignity beyond her years. "I want to
pay my way. I want work. I camc to
ask a situation as a clerk in your store."
"If I took in everybody who a*ks me
for a clerkship," returned the merchant
testily, "I should soon bo i:. the poorhouse.
There is no vacancy in my establishment.
My clerics are used to my
ways, and I can't turn them off even to
make an opening for you."
Tho girl's face looked blank.
"Do you refuse to receive me into \
your services. Uncle Hiram?" she asked, i
'[ do not want any favor, only a chance I
to earn my living. I will work just as I
the others do, and receive the same I
pay."
4*You are very condescending," sneered '
the merchant. "But the long and short j
of the whole matter is, I have no place J
for you!"
"No place for me in your house? No i
place for me in your store?"
"You seem to understand me. I have
no place anywhere for you."
The girl's countenance plainly expressed
her surprise, indignation, and
wounded feeling.
"Wouldn't cousin Hilda like me foi a
AnmriiinliHi')" she asked.
".No: and if she would I couldn't con- !
sent to anything of the kind. She ha?
too many 'companions' already. Be- I
si Jc9, she's going out of town."
"Will /oil at least give me money
enough to take me out to Montana to
my other uncle, Jeremiah Skidder," pursued
El lie.
"No, Elfie; and that would be a very
bad move for you. Your father and I
sold our lands on the Musselshell to !
Perry Wynans, my cashier, for aimnst i
nothing, because they were reported J
worthless, and hcnce you have no re- j
sources in that direction. Your 'other I
uncle' is a lazy, shiftless, lying vaga- !
bona, and one of the meanest men I've 1
ever encountered."
"Then you refuse to interest yourself j
In any way for me, uncle Hiram?" in- !
quired El lie.
"I can't do otherwise," replied the !
merchant. "It was your father's place 1
to provide for you. I don't wish to ;
comment upon his failure in business
and neclerting to provide for his family; j
but that ho could expect me to repair j
his neglect Is incredible "
The girl arose sadly, sternly.
"Wo shall not agree, uncle Hiram, In
regard to my father's course," she said.
"He left his name to me spotless and
honorable?an inheritance a thousand
times more precious than all the money
in the world. I would not exchange his
reputation for all your wealth, ?ir!|>
"You aro impertinent," returned Sklddc-r,
angrily, arising.
"I have obeyed my mother's command,
sir, and asked of you work and protection,"
added Effie, with deep agitation.
"I am all alone in the wor.d. uncle
Hiram?friendless, and, to a very great
extent, helpless, as a girl of seventeen
must necessarily be. If you Wn tna
away I have nowhere to go. I have but
ten dollars remaining."
"Many a man and woman has begun
life on less than that," said Skidder. "I
cannot help you. You ought, to have J
too much pride to thrust yourself upon '
me as a pauper to be cared for "
-I TT_?1? lll.oml T om
Ol/Up tlicru, UlltlU liiiaiuii A, aiu uv |
pauper. I asked for work, not for .
alms." And tho young girl's eyes flashed
fire, and her pale young face grow !
sternly reproachful. You send rao
away as if I were some importunate i
beggar. You revile my parents. You j
taunt me. You have said enough. I'll j
relieve you of my presence!"'
She moved to the door, where she 1
turned and faced him, her great eyes ;
eloquent with her sadness and desoia- !
tion.
".But before I go," she added, "let mo '
Bay a word more. We shall meet (igain^. '
Uncle Hiram, but not. as now! Now I
am a poor, weak girl,' without money or'
friends, but I shall some day be rich and
powerful! Some day, and perhaps at an
early day, I believe as surely as God
lives, we shall meet again upon a
changed footingl Until then, adieu!"
She bowed and withdrew, traversing
the outer store and gaining the street,
where she mingled with the throng.
Rejected by her kinsman, a stranger
in a strange city, what was sho to do,
and whero was she to go?
She wandered on desolately, the world
all before her, the making of her whole
future in her own girlish hands.
She walked barely a block, hardly
conscious of the direction she hadtaken,
?. i 1 a u_,l f[,n
wiien jt nanu iiuiiuucu iiui gciim/ uu ?* ?
arm from behind.
Turning quickly and halting, she
found herself face to face with a man
whoso life was destined to be associated
with her own thenceforward and forever.
That man was, Perry Wynans.
CHAPTER XIX.
WELL WORTHY OP EACH OTHER.
As bad as he was, Hiram Skiddcr felt
ashamed of the meanness and brutality
with which ho had treated his niece.
"Of conrse I should have been ?lad to
give her a night's lodging, or anything
of that sort, under other circumstances,"
he said to himself, when she had vanished.
"But it was her misfortune to
come here at the most awkward moment
possible?just as I am preparing to leave
these scenes forever! Perhaps "
He was interrupted by voices near his
door.
"What! You are Mr. Skidder's brother?"
one of his clerks was saying.
"You jest bet I am?his own and only
brother, all the way from Montany,"
was the reply, "and you jest hustle and
hump, will ye, young man, and let Hiram
know thai Jerry Skiddcr is waiting to
see him!"
The merchant stepped briskly to the
door, not without great surpriso and
curiosity, but also with an intense satisfaction
at the prospect of further infor
million i rum iuc in usacisiicii.
"Ob. it's you. Jerry?" ho cried, with
Ills most affable volco and manner,
grasping the hand of his relativo. "I
am equally astonished and delighted at
seeing jou! Come in!"
Jeremiah Skidder hastened to comply,
and the merchant closed the door behind
him, after a warning frown at several
clerks who were staring after the newcomer.
"How rusged and hearty you look,
Jerry! And how little change-.l for the
worse," he resumed, waving his brother
to a seat near his desk and returning to
his own chair. "How have you been all
these fourteen years since J saw you?"
"Oh, about as usual," answered the
visitor. "You seem a little pale, with
being cooped up here everlastingly, but
you enjoy good health, I hope?"
"Excellent, Jerry. How's your family?"
"I've only Daisy left, Hiram, her
mother having died soverai years ago.
Perhaps you don't remember Daisy?
She's a great girl of one-and-twenty."
"Is she hero with you?"
"Yes. She has long bsen wanting to
comc to town to see the sights, ? nd I
couldn't refuse no longer. No, sho'inot
waiting outside," ho continued, as the
merchant looked from a little "rindo v into
the store. "She's at ou? hotel on
Madison street And how's your wife
and the children?"
"I lost Mrs. Skidder ycaM ago," replied
the merchant, "but tbo children ?
a son of twenty-five aud a gL J of twentythree?are
quite well.
Jerry wagged his jaws nervously upen
a huge quid of tobacco, and bestowed &
keen glance of appreciation upon his
surroundinzs, while Hiram looked him
over with a curious and searching scrutiny.
The contrast between tbo brothers
was rather striking, Jerry being at least
ten years tho oldest, and having a thin,
weazeny frame, a pair of deeply sunken
eyes, and a bony, angular visa#o. The
old man was active and wiry, however,
as became his bronzed and woatherbeaten
aouearancc, and could have
readily "handled" liis younger ana Digger
brother.
"You seem to be well fixed hero,
Hiram,"he remarked, his gaze coming
back to his brother's face. "Must have
made an awful pile of money! How does
it. happen that you've ne^cr been out to
Montany to see me?"
"I couldn'tsret tho time, Jerry."
"I concluded that such was tbc case,"
said the visitor, with increased nervousness,
"and tliat/s why J yielded to Daisy
about coming. Tho fact is, 1 want to
buy those Musselshell lauds of you aud
Tower!"
(10 BE CONTINUED.)
Envelopes Sealed by Heat.
A number of large wholesale houses have
been surprised by having returned to them
by the New York Postofflce for Insufficient
postage, thousands of envelopes containing
printed circulars.
It appears that the flaps of the envelopes
were folded on the inside directly over the
contents. The moisture in the atmosphere
affected the mucilage on the flaps and they
adhered to the circulars. The Postofflce Defmrtment
holds that in such cases the letter
s to all intents and purposes sealed and is
first-class matter, requiring a two-cent
stamp.
As the circulars were sent out with a onecent
stamp they were rejected for insufficient
postage. ^
A Murderous Child.
Ottawa, Canada, has a human monster,
who rivals in blood-thirsty malice Jesse
Pomeroy, the boy murderer of Boston. His
name is Blanchard, and he is but thirteen
years old. A Jew days ago he induced a little
companion, eight years old, to go wading
in a stream with him. Getting his victim
into water deep enough to suit his murderous
purpose, he threw him down and stood
on him with his knees, holding him on the
bottom till life was extinct. When he felt
Bure that the other was dead, he ran away.
He has been arrested and will be put on trial
for murder. No possible motive for the
crime is known, save the mere desire to kill.
"Wheat to Hogs, Corn to Market.
The farmers of Indiana, for the first time,
are feeding wheat to hogs and selling corn.
Wheat brings forty-three cents per bu3hel
wnen delivered at the country stations, and
corn sells readily at from forty-flvo to fortyseven
cents. The farmers say that one
bushel of wheat contains as much nutrimont
as two bushels of corn, and as hogs are
bringing good prices and corn is higher than
wheat, it is economy to feed the latter and
Bell their corn.
Decrease in Natural Gas.
A recent Government report shows that
in Pennsylvania and Ohio there has been a
steady decrease in the efflux of natural gas
since 1888, and that the supply is not sufficient
for the demand. In Indiana, on the
other hand, the supply is undiminished.
The gas fields of that State are about 2500
square miles in extent, producing last year
Kas valued at ?5.,718.000.
Fewer Sunstrokes.
One of the Incidents recorded of the
heated term is that there have been fewer
deaths from sunstroke or the effects of the
intensely hot weather than are usual. Possibly
our people are learning to abstain from
indulgence in those things which tend to
bring on sunstroke, or what passes by that
name.
A Forty-seven-Year-()l<l Debt Paid.
Mrs. Mary H. Sawyer, ol llutland, Vt.. lias
just received a cheek for $500 irom the
United States Treasury Department, being u
balance due her late husband, Major George
F. Sawyer, for services in tne Mexican War,
forty-seven years ago. Major Sawyer died
at sea lu 1852.
"HERMIT KINGDOM."
FACTS ABOUT KOREA, ITS PEOPLE
AND HISTORY,
Americans the First Westerners to
Be Admitted to the Country?
" The King and His Subjects
?A Palace Tragedy.
THE war between China and
Japan over Korea, which, for
centuries, to nse a rather
homely fignre, has been a
/-> f /?/-in+ori+.ir>T> Vioftuopn t.VlA t,Wf>
great Oriental countries, draws attention
to a land which for various reasons
is of interest to Americans. The
United States was the first Western
NATIVE KOREANS.
Power to conclude a treaty with Korea,
and for this reason and by this act
gained in a certain sense the ascendancy
over the representatives of other
Governments at Seoul.
But there are ^ther reasons, too, to
excite tho interest of Americans in
Korea. Americans are treated with
especial respect in that country;
American professors teach Koreans in
tho royal school founded, as the name
indicates, by the King, and American
nfflftpr? "hold reenonsible ulaces in the
Korean army, having been summoned
there to place it on a fighting footing.
Another reason there is, too, rather
frivolous in a way, but with the possibilities
of great advantages to certain
American manufacturers and tradesmen?the
Queen of Korea is, like most
people of her race, an inveterate
smoker, and she prefers American
cigarettes.
Koiea has well earned its name of
the "Hermit Kingdom." Although it
is only two days' sail from Japan and
less than a day's travel from the
harbor of Chefoo, in China, and almost
in the track of the lines of steam*
SEOUL, CAPITAL AND C
fthips which trade with Tientsin, it has
?hut itself off from all other countries
for centuries. To keep out the hordes
from North China and Siberia, a strip
of territory sixty miles wide was devastated,
and is to-day without settlers.
The lands which lie nearest
tbe coast seldom feel the effects of the
Korean peasants' plow or ax, as there
has been, and is to-day, a general desire
to give foreigners tbe impression
that the country is a barren spot.
Koreans in conversation, too. like to
speak of their poverty and the poverty
of their country.
Korea is often spoken of as a peninsula,
though its narrowest part, between
Gensan and Korea Bay, is
nearly two degrees south of its northernmost
point. It juts out from the
coastline much as does Florida. Its
area is estimated to be about 90,000
square miles, or a little more than that
of England, Scotland and Wales, and,
like them, it stretches over rather
more than eight degrees of latitude,
lying between the thirty-fourth and
forty-third parallels. On the east
1 * 11-- -r T x"U
north down to the neck between Gen-1
san a'ud the Yellow Sea is almost a '
mass of mountains. Further toward I
tho south the mountains follow the !
east coast is an almost continuous line, !
and throw out feelers to the west, I
breaking up the country into a series !
of valleys, debouching on the sea.
The chief rivers of Korea empty themselves
into the sea on the north and
west.
These are a few of the features of
Koren, whose population is estimated
fco be about 10,000,000, of whom the
men are in the majority. The ]irepondcrance
of the male sex is said to
bo duo to better treatment in early
youth, as the girls are not looked
upon as so valuable to the country.
A too rapid increase in population is
checked by numerous famines and
pestilences, over 100,000 perishing in
1886 from cholera in the capital alone,
in less than two months.
Korea is one of the oldest Eastern
nations. Although Japan has far outstipped
it in progress, Korean art was
the father, so to speak, of Japanese
art; aDd those Yankees of the East received
many other valuable suggestions
from the land of "the Ten
Thousand Isles." The present King
of Korea belongs to a family which
rnled the country as far back as 1392
?a century before America was even
discovered?and can, therefore, compare
favorably with some of "our
oldest families," so far as blue blood
is concerned. He is a rather stalwart
looking man, considering the little exercise
which he takes and the impure
air which he breathes, for he seldom
leaves his palace, and when he does so
it is on the back of a royal donkey or
in a great sedan chair of etata. He
has aboat 2000 servants to wait upon
him, and these prevent his taking the
least exertion. In going up hill, even,
some of them put their hands to his
back so that he may not lose for a moment
his erect bearing. His Majesty
is now about thirty-seven years old.
He is a clever, intelligent man, considering
his advantages, and he is in
favor of the introduction, so far as
possible, of American methods into
Korea. He is practically an absolute
monarch, choses his Ministers and expels
them at will, and he is not
bothered with a Congress which holds
different views from himself. He is
treated with the greatest consideration
and respect by his cubjects; even hia
Ministers dare not look upon his face.
When thoy are admitted to an audience,
they approach the King, bow
and keep their heads in that position
until they are allowed to retire.
Only foreigners dare raise their eyes
to his. A story is told of the joy of a
high official who was permitted to
look at a photograph of the King in
the possession of a foreigner. It was
the first time he had ever seen his
face.
The Qneen of Korea is an nnneually
clever woman, and although, in accordance
with Korean customs, no
man has ever looked upon her face
save her brothers,' sons and husband,
she has had great influence over the
destinies of her country. She often
attends conferences between His Majesty
and the Ministers, it is said, although,
of course, she does not appear
in the room. But she has had several
holes cut through the thin paper-like
partition separating her apartment
from the audience chamber, and
through these she makes her com
!HIEF CITY OF KOREA.
ments. Some who pretend to know
say that she is the real ruler of Korea.
It was to overthrow her great influence,
at least, that the tragic palace
revolution of 1884 was instituted. To
celebrate the opening of the new postoffice
in the capital, Seoul, a dinner
was given by the Postmaster-General,
Ynntr Sik. at whiflh several of
? "~D O J ?
KOREAN SOLDIEBS.
the leading statesmen were present
and most of the foreign diplomats.
About the close of the dinner an alarm
of fire was sounded, and Min Yonglk,
general in commaud of the right battalion
of the palace guard, had to leave
the table to go to the fire. There he
was pounced upon by conspirators and
almost instantly killed.
The Postmaster-General and two of
his guests, Kim Ok Kinn and Pak
Yong Hio, who, as it turned out, had
planned the assassination of the
general, hastened to the palace and j
persuaded the King to remove to a
smaller building, where he would be,
they deftly said, in greater safety.
Meanwhile, the three generals who,
with Min Yong Ik, commanded the
troops were summoned to the palace
and there murdered in cold blood.
With them also died Min Thai Ho, a
brother of the Queen by adoption.
The King fortunately began to mistrust
his apparent protectors, and departed.
rather unceremoniously for a
person of majestic rank, by a back
door and saved his life. The Queen
was also fortunate, but at the expense j
of the life of one of the fairest daughters
of Korea.
Ono of the Korean noblemeo attached
to the palace had a daughter
whose figure was almost a counterpart
of that of Her Majesty. When the i
conspiracy was at its height and the !
rebels were making for the Queen's
apartments as rapidly as possible, this
nobleman and his daughter cut off
their approach long enough to give
the Queen time to- L'xchange garments j
with the nobleman's daughter, and in j
eiue is xne oeu ui t/upuu , uu tut; ?coi,
the Yellow Sen, and ou the south, the
Channel of Korea, sejjarating it from
the Japanese Archipelago. The eastern
coastline is veil defined ; but it is
almost indistinguishable on the west,
* "? ? 1 * 1 -x - T_ 2 -1.
owing to tne numueriess lsieis wmcu
adjoin the mainland and toward which
there stretch miles of mud, of which
a largo tract is left bare at low tide.
The numerous inlets are hardly avail-!
able except for native boats, owing to
the violence of the tides and the narrowness
of the channels. Few good
harbors are to be found.
Tho climate in winter is unusually
severe, and on the west coast the rivers
are frozen for months. On the east
coast the ports are open throughout
the winter. The advantage which
Korea has in her open ports on this
coast has been the cause of the frequent
reports that Russia intends to
seize one of them, from which base
her fleet in that ocean could be utilivnA
Ah if. thfi fleet iR frozen uu !
for months in her Siberian port of
VJadivostock.
In the interior the whole of the
I
*
this guise leave the palace. The
brave young woman who had put on
the robes of the Queen sat in the
chair of state and calmly awaited th?
approach of the conspirators. They
came eoon and a moment later she
was lying dead at the foot of the
throne, with a dagger in her heart.
There are few more sublime in
stances of self-sacrifice for anothei
than this in recorded history, and i
is a commentary which needs no en
largement on the kind of women bre(
in Korea.
The revolution was a failure, bu
not until over three hundred of th<
best men and women in the countr
had lost their lives. The King am
Queen returned to the palace, and on<
of the first persons to be rewarde<
with a high office was the noblema
whose daughter had died to save th
life of her Queen. He is to-day one o
the most trusted officers at the court
Almost the only official of importanc
left to the country after the revolutio:
was Kim Hong Jip, the Minister o
Foreign Affairs. The others had beei
killed. s
Korea is a poor country despite iti
fertile lands and gold, copper and sil
ver mines. The fortunes of the peo
pie are estimated in "cash," a coppe
coin, about 1600 of which make a
American gold dollar; 25,000,00
cash, therefore, represents abon
$17,300.
Korea is the ideal place for nobl<
men and boys. The noblemen drej
in beautiful gowns, not unlike th
wealthy Chinese, and are as pictm
esaue lookinzmen as you can'findanj
where. They are tall, and from &H
Oriental point of view, good lookintM
They never work?they never carifl
anything?it would be beneath thenfl
Noblemen would lose caste if they diH
they go out of the house, and sever?
servants attend them. It will sufiH
ciently characterize them when it H
said that a large stomach in Korea H
the sign of prosperity. ^The noblem^B
are the officers of the country, huH
the Kin,? chooses from them the 3SH
Governors who reign each for thr^|
years in the 322 districts into whi<fl
the country is divided. At the capitH
alone, there are 3000 nobles. Bg
Korea is one country in which bo^H
are supposed to smoke, and there
no such thing as an "Anti-CigaretH
League" or "Anti-Pipe League" toiB
terfere with his enjoyment He leari^B
to smoke ae soon as he can walk, ai^f
a stroke of real manual work. Wh^B
they start for the capital, they are
tended by a large retinue of servan^H
One even carries the pipe of his
ter, and another his fan. A not^B
pupil will not carry a book or a peH
ciL These Yangbangs usally ride wh^|
he spends nours in the occupati<MJ
-i ?a J i.J.H
until me enu 01 m? uava, auu
Korea a boy is a boy until he is foz^B
years old. nj
Seoul, the capital of this intere^H
ing country, has about 300,000 inhf^H
itants, and from a Korean point
view is a handsome city* It has
street lights of any kinds, and th^H
is practically no life in the thorouaM
fares after sundown, when the c^B
gates are closed. Women and <^H
izens in general?all save
King and his retainers?are forb^E
den, ia fact, to leave their hou^H
after nightfall. His Majesty does
of his work, however, at night tisfl|
beginning his day at 3 o'clock in
afternoon. Korea is a country
an interesting future. fiB
A Marvelous Little Lingnist.
Not until January will little Fan^B
Erdofy reach the mature age of f<^H
years, and yet she is perhaps the m^|
accomplished young lady of her
in Xew Tork. Fannie illustrates
her charming little personality the
resistible law of heredity. She spe^B
fluently four languages, and whdn i^H
explained that her mother speaks
writes six languages and that her fat^H
has a glib acquaintance with ten, HH
sides numerous allied dialects, tbis
traordinary infant is accounted for^H
Arthur Erdofy, who is a regif^B
clerk and interpreter at Ellis IslaHH
was born, thirty-two years ago,^H
Buda-Pesth, Hungary. His wif^H^
also a native of the same ancient c^H
on the Danube. He has the cfa^Bj
acteristic Magyar features
well as that special linguif^^fl
aptitude which distinguishes HH
race. He speaks English
great purity, and lias the furt^^J
polyglot accomplishment of speak^^|
Hungarian, German, French, Itali^Hj
Spanish, Greek (Romanic), Turk^^H
Finnish and that most turgid and
ficult of all tongues, Basque.
Erdofy speaks fluently English, H^^0
garian, German, French and
oniau, aud so little Fannie has
all her life in a philological atn^^M
phere, where tho air was thick
prepositions, adverbs and conju^^H
inns. Slie sneaks German like a
linese, French like a Purisieaue,
garinn as would the daughter
7S^\ I
jSy I
LITTLE FAXNIF. KUDOFT.
Boyar, and English with a Harlen^^H
cent. She is very fond of CecHfiR
Park, and as she lives within
blocks she is a frequent visitor tc^^H
attractions. Her mother has obse^^^J
that after even u short visit to^^H
park Faunie canuot b;> induced tu^HM
any language but English for
hours, but when her lather ret^Hfl
from his duties at Ellis Island
little daughter always greets hia^BK
French. H^9
Mr. Erdofy intends that Fannie
! acquire Italian and Spanish byH^H
time she is five years old. The
culty is not iu teaching her h newl^H
cruaure. but iu preventing this .'na^^Hj
ous child from acquiring one.
Snn (spots, now believoit to
effect ou meteorological pkcnon^^^J
[ were lirst observed iu 1611, IgMj