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? (ROYAL RANGER RALPH; : ob : 'Tie W of the Western Prairies. BY WELDON J. COBB. CHATTER V?Continued. "I am glad the poor animal has escaped," breathed Inez. "It means danger to us." Danger to us?" "Yes. Despard will see the horse and think we are here." Inez looked distressed. "We dare not return to the main canyon, and we will be found if he and bis men come this way." "What shall we do?" Darrel surveyed their situation critically. He observed that across the little stream the canyon seemed to afford a large number of secure hiding-places. "Beyond the quicksands yonder we might cross the river," he said. Will not Despard follow ns there?" , "No; the river will be a birrier." "And he may think we have perished In the quicksands." "Yes; we can at least conceal ourselves for a time." fTM*/\ +V?a la/lfTfl 4a tVift A. uuy HOY Ci ctu bUV Itugv w lUV *w?v ?{the stream. It was shallow at one place, and lifting the girl in his arms Darrel forded it iu safety. Just as they reached the opposite hore an ominous shout echoed down the valley. Do you hear that?" asked Inez in a terrified tone. "Yes." I "It is Despard and his men." "Probably. We will go farther down the stream. Seel there seems to be tome kind of a cave yonder." A few minutes later they reached a large cavern-liko aperture in the rocks. Here they stood silently for some minutes, watching the stream and the quicksands beyond and awaiting developments. They came a few minutes later. Suddenly, some distance away, several forms came into view. "Despard and his men," murmured Darrel. "They will discover us." "No. Retreat into the cave where they will not see you." Inez did so and Darrel, observing that the outlaws were nearing the spot, followed her. The cave seemed to have been occupied by some human being at some time, for it bore marks of habitation in the ashes of a fire and several broken Indian arrows. Darrel looked back from its shadows toward the quicksands. He could observe .the outlaws without being seen, and saw them pause as they reached the quicksands. Despard seemed to converse in an ominous manner with his associates. Then the quartette retreated from the spot, uarrei oreainea easier. "We are safe," he spoke to Inez. Undiscovered; supposed to be enguJfed In the quicksands." A sadden cry of alarm from Inez Interrupted him. "We are lest!" she cried, wildly. Darrel Grey turned to face a new and terrible peril. Glowering upon them 1th ravenous, fiery eyes, there appeared at the entrance of the cave three enormous panthers. CHAPTER VI 1 OH THE CAT*. The truth came to the mind of Darrel Grey In a moment of time, as he faced the new foes which so strangely confronted him. "A panther's den," he muttered grimly. Quick, Inez! Miss Tracey, get behind me." * Avith a low cry of dismay and dread the girl glided to the s'ide of the cave. The panthers had advancea so as to cover the entire exit from the cave, and crouching there, they glared ferociously at .the startled intruders. Darrel saw that a terrific combat with the infuriated brutes was imminent, and qnickly drew his knife and placed himself on the defensive. Inez, shuddering and shrinking be hind him, stood fascinated at tne terrible pose of their new foes. For the next few moments the scene was one of intense int -rest and silence, broken only by the low, ominous growling of the panthers. Slowly, steadily they "began to circle toward their inter. led victims, their fangs showing hideously, their eyes glaring with horrible ferocity. Suddenly one of them made a spring. It wa3 only to receive a shot from the revolver which Darrel had drawn. The weapon contained but one cartridge. As he noticed that the bullet had barely wounded the beast, but driven it to a temporary retreat, Darrel flung the revolver to tne ground. Then, alone and armed only with the knife, he stood at bay. Again the fierce brutes crouched for a spring. This time one of them sprang boldly upon DarreL ' The others circled around close at the side of the large animal, while Darrel plied the knife vigorously. Inez had recoiled in terror as she wit nessed the attack of the - panther. As her foot stumbled ever some object on the ground she seized it "An ax," she murmured, "left here by some hunter or Indian. I can help him now." She summoned all her courage as she saw that Darrel Grey was engaged in a terrible struggle with the Danther. The ax in her hand, the intrepid girl hastened to the aid of her imperiled friend. , The three panthers now entirely surrounded Darrel, harassing him on every aide. Inez lifted the ax. It descended with all the force of her frail arm upon the head of one of the attacking auijpal.9. That strength, however, was sufficient to send me paaiber to ftie ground with a howl ot pain. Sho followed up the attack. One of the panthers had already been dispatched by Darrel and lay dying on the floor of the cave. A second blow of the ax killed one of the remaining ones, but the larger ani mal clung to Darrel, endeavoring to tear bis face and hands The knife descended at last in a vital spot of the panther's frame, and it fell dying at barrel's feet It was all he could do to stagger to the open air, weak with the loss of blood and exhausted from the terrible struggle In the cave. in.-z bent over Mm w:ra anslotis, solicitous eyes. "You are not seriously injured?* sh? asked, in>a t/emulous tone "No; only a few trifling bruises." Wiihin half an hour Darrel was fully recuperated. "We will try to lcavo the gully,* ' he said. "By the way we came?" Inquired Ine'~ , ' *Ko; I fear our enemies might be in the vicinity of the canyon." "But there seems to be uo outlet this way." "Then we will remain here until night." _Jt was late jn the afternoon when i | they cained a narrow gulch wiiicn they found led into the main canyon. Two hours later, just at dusk, after traveling cautiously for some miles, they came out on a plateau. A milo beyond them the lights of a village showed plainly. 'Minor's Gulch, at last!* remarked Darrel. They descended toward the settlement, but paused as at thfc edge of aft intervening thicket they heard human voices in the distance. "Remain here for a few minutes," spoke Darrel. "It may be our enemies yonder." He penetrated the thicket by a wido detour and reconnoitered for some time. Despard and Dantoji were conversing near a large tree, while their two comrades were at some distance. Sheltered by the darkness and the dense foliage, j Barrel could distinctly overhear their conversation. "We had better leave here at once," Despard was saying. "We lost two of our men at the train, but the girl's fate is settled." "Yes, that is certain." "We have learned one disastrous fact, however, our worst enemy has escaped." "Ranger Ralph?" "Etactly. He is at the village yonder, wounded but ready to give us trouble as soon as he recovers. We will get the * a i mt? HA Dorses a.Liu jcave. iu?u iui tuo iuivuuu which T am naw on la Wo aro Ranger Rube's two horses ahead anyway." Darrel crept from the spot at these words. He reached a place a minute later where six horses were tied. Two of them he recognized as the same ones that had borne Inez and himself to safety. The bandits had evidently ! found them in the canyon. Darrel se: cured them and began to lead them ! toward the spot where he had left Inez by a circuitous route. Suddenly . he started. A wild scream of a arm echoed through the silence of the scene. "Her voice! She is in trouble again. Oh, why did I leave her!" ejaculated Darrel, wildly. He urged forward the horses, having lost much time in endeavoring to evade the outlaws. He reached the spot where he had left Inez. She wa9 gone! His eye swept the scene beyond tho thicket. Some distance away ho mado out a body of horsemen driving rapidly toward th^ hills. + VkSt{M mirlcf a QartAnrl onuao vr\ frt? riuiu IUUU miuou at o&wuu ovioaiu ivi help confirmed Darrel's worst fears. Inez Tracey was again a prisoner in the hands of her enemies. For a moment he determined to start in immediate pursuit As he realized his unarmed condition, however, he saw the folly of such an undertaking. "I will hasten to the villaje yonder," he decided; "secure help, and start in immediate pursuit of those scoundrels." Leading one horse and riding the other, Darrel Grey hastened towards the settlement. He did not pause until ho had reached a tavern before which stood a dozen men excitedly discussing some event, evidently of recent occurrence. He caught the words "train wreckers" and "Ranger Ralph" several times. "Hello, there!" he cried, without dismounting. "Can I speak to somp of you?" His Intention was to arouse the men to instant pursuit of Despard. Before he could speak, however, one of the men sprang to the head of the horses and seized the bridle. "Where did you get those horses?" he demanded, gruffly. "I found them." "You did, eh? Boys, our game has come into camp oy misiaKe. "What do you mean?" demanded the. astonished DarreL "You know well enough. Down with him, boys. Here's a case for Judge Lynch, ;for these are Ranger Ralph's . horses, and this man is one of the train wreckers." Without being able to speak a word In defense amid the angry, excited crowd, Darrel Grey was dragged to the nearest tree. "A rope! A rope!" shouted the leader of the throng "One moment! You are making a terrible mistake. I am no thief or train wrecker." . "Oh, no, of course not!" Jeered the crowd. "Send for Ranger Ralph. He is here. Ask him if he knows rae." "He is wounded?dying, for all we know. He's one of them, boys. Ho's the very man the depot agent described. " Amid that mad, unreasonable crowd Darrel Grey struggled vainlv- It seemed all some terrible dream aS the rope encircled his neck and was thrown over the limb of a tree. "Up with him, boys!" shouted the leader of the men. The next moment with a choking," blinded sensation, Darrel Grey felt himself dangling between heaven and earth. CHAPTER VII. AT MISERS' GULCH. "Hold!" Amid the confusion and horror of hi9 supreme moment of peril, Darrel Grey was dimly conscious that this word was pronounced in a tone that thrilled him with familiar accents. Then, too, In tho flare of a torch carried Jt>y a man n?ar the tree from which he hung suspended, the form of a newcomer on the scene was vaguely visible. "Cut him down!" "He's a boss thief, Ranger Ralph." "Cut him down, I say!" "An' a train-wrecker. He answers the very description " "Of the depot agent, who thought this one was in with the outlaws. Tbis man wasn't; I know him." The rope was quickly slacked. Darrel fell'in a heap to the ground, living, but Insensible. The man who had saved his onnlrA nor?/Annfrvi?(lo fn tho 1 unohnro iiio pviuui**J wv wuv "Now get him to my cabin and take care of him, and don't make any mistakes next time," ho remarked. It was Ranger Ralph who thus interposed in so timely a manner in behalf of his acquaintance of the Ten Spot depot. He had returned to Miners' Gulch thai afternoon, still suffering from the wound in the head the cowardly Dyke Despard had dealt him. Several times its effects had driven him to his couch, and it was only by the merest accident tbat, in a moment of temporary recuperation, he had wandered to the scene of the hanging. Thus it was thbt, in less than an hour after the recapture of Inez Tracey by the bandits, Earrel Grey awoke to find himself an innaato of Ranger Ralph's cabin. His senses were bewildered, his brow fevered, his neck and body in pain from his rough experience with the lynchers. Gradually, however, he realized it all, and recognized the man who sat by bis side holding a cup of liquor in his hand. "Drink it, lad. It's got some roots and herbs in it that have made a new man of me already." "Darrel obeyed him, and then sat np oii the couch of skins, staring mutely at the scout. "The man I saw at the depot?" "The same." "Who told me about the train wreckers?" "Yes, stranger; Ranger Ralph, that's me, and lucky for you I strolled down to the tavern a little while ago." Darrel's hand went involuntarily to his neck and he shuddered. "They tried to hang me," he said huskIll^. - '""Yes, and almost succeeded." "And you-saved me?" "In the nick of time, lad. There, you're getting back your coldr already. It was all a miserable mistake." "The lynching?" "Yes. The people are so excited over the train robbery that they act impulsively." "The train robberyl" ejaculated Darrel. "Tell me about it." "They beat off the robbers and killed two of the outlaws. They pursued the others to the north, and the vigilantes are after them now." "To the north?" repeated Daxrel, disappointedly. "They have gone in the wrong direction." "ilow do you know?" "I Just left their trail." "You!" exclaimed the scout, In tonw of the deepest amazement and interest. "Not two hours since. It was to warn the people here to hasten in pursuit of t.hp.tn that. T name to the tavern." Ranger Ralph's facc became serious. "It's too late now," he muttered. "Which way did they go?" "To the east." "Toward their Indian allies. The trail will be lost among the hills. See here, stranger?let me see; what Is youf name?" "Darrel Grey." "Well, friend Darrel?for you've acted the friend to me in bringing back my horses?I've a Question to ask you." "What fs It?" "There was a deep motive for wrecking the railroad train at Ten Spot." "I know It" The scout started- "You do?" "Yea " "What was It?" "First, robbery; next, to secure possesslonof a beautiful orphan heiress, a distant relative to the leader of the band, Dyke Despard?Inez Tracey." ; Ranger Ralph regarded Darrel In profound bewilderment His face became intensely anxious and excited. "Then you saw the girl?" ho asked. j. Qia. IjCX, me ten my siory, ana you will know all about It." Briefly, graphically, Darrel related all that bad happened to him since he bad left the scout at the railroad station. He found an interested listener in Ranger Ralph, and when he had concluded his recital, the latter grasped his band heartily. "Darrel Grey," he said, in tones husky with emotion, "you have done me a great service in protecting the poor orphan child fate threw in your way. She was the object of my coming to the depot I am her father's oldest friend, and her own; while her enemies!?they are numerous and desperata There's a fortune beyond it, and Dyke Despard is determined to secure it" "He shall not if I can Drevent him!" cried Darrel, with flashing, determined eyes. "Ha!" cried the scout, as he read the enthusiasm of courage and the promptings of love in Darrel's handsome face. "I think I understand you; Inez Tracey has captured your heart as she did mine when she was a baby girl. What is it, friend Darrel? Do we abandon the fortune and the girl to that renegade and assassin, Dyke Despard?" "Neverl" "No, never!" cried the ranger, "until his blood has washed oat the cowardly blow he gave me last night. T don't know you, except that you are a true, earnest man; but I'd rather have you aid me In hunting down Despard and recovering the girl Inez than all tha vigilantes In the settlement" "Then It is a compact?" asked Darre) eagerly "Yea." ' [TO BE COSXUrUKD.1 TEMPERANCE. QUEBH, IS*'* IT? ("The saloon barns up 928.000,000 of our national- resources apery week?and yet we are exelted over a few forest fires."?Editorial note in the Voice.] Lo, a Northern forest burns, And the Startled nation turns. Viewe with wonder and with fear Desolation far and near; See the homeless people flee. Counts the loss of property. uuuuudo aw iuc iuui tuo) Sad bewails the loss of life; Then toward the stricken land Stretches prompt and helpful hand. There's a wilder, hotter flre, Sweeping farther, leaping higher, Bound the nation, through the land, Each saloon a burning brand. Loss of life there is, and home; Women, children, hopeless roam^ Lo! there follow in the glare, Buln, madness, grim despair. She may count, if loss she seek, Twenty million every week^ But the nation only sighs, Folds her hands and shuts her eyes! ?Hattie Horner Louthan, in the Voice. STRONG DBINK IN OEBMANT, Dr. Bode, of Heldesheim, declares that the manufacture of intoxicating liquors in'Germany robs the country yearly of 4,500,000 acres, it plunges 32.000 into such poverty that they must be supported by the State or by friends, it sends 4250 into compulsory confinement in labor colonies, it has robbed 30,000 of their reason, and it has raised an army of criminals 159.000 strong. BEHEDT FOB INTEOTEBANCE. Bev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, in the second of Mo r>na G.rmmg Alio lauiuuo 31A piVUOCl IQUi^OlOUW JV*IUWU?, says: "There Is no remedy for Intemperance but the cessation of it. Nature must be released from the unnatural war which is made upon her, and be allowed to rest, and then nutrition and sleep and exercise will perform the work of restoration." This was a wise utterance in the very early day in which Dr. Beecher sent it forth, and it remains equally true for to-day. LED BY A CHILD. A remarkable case of child influence is reported by an exchange to have recently occurred in London. A lecturer in the course of his remarks said: "Everybody has influence, even that child," pointing to a little girl who sat beside her father. "That's true," cried the man. At the close, he said to the lecturer : "I beg your pardon, sir, but I could not help speaking. I was once a drunkard. I | used 10 carry this child with me to the public bouse sometimes. As I approached it ' one night, hearing a great noise inside, she I said: i " 'Don't go, father!' " 'Please, father, don't gij!' " 'Hold your tongue,' I said. , "Presently a big tear fell on my chceb?I could not get a step farther. I turned and went homo and have never been in a barroom since. Thank God for it! I am now a happy man, and this little girl has led me ; iuii; uuu wnen you saiu mai even sne uaa I Influence, I could not help saying, That's | true!'" ? AS AWFUL AMIAIGN1IENT. I believe that strou^ drink is abhorred by God. and the main curse of the earth on | which we live; that pauperism and crime, and disease and insanity are its natural offj spring ; that it Is an invention of tho devil; that it is tostc-red by the depravity of man ; I that it leads to untold suffering, sorrow, 1 want and woe ; that it depos 'S the reason ; that it crushes noble affections ; that it sears the conscience and perverts the judgment; that it leads to a quick descent into a drunknrd's grave and a drunkard's hell. But when manhood once comes under its power, it seldom has any resurrection, or knows the powers of a bettor life ; and that when Jesus Chris: comes in glory,; He will judge and condemn the drink trafficand the drink habit. I believe that strong drink is the direct foe of the influence of the 1 Spirit of Gol ;thnt it is a fruitful source of 1 contention and strife in society, and even in the Church of God ;that it promotes the , 1 most crievous sins ; and that the drunkard, ehall never enterthe kingdom of heaven, but will be consigned to everlasting death.?Dr. A. T. Pierson. WITE KOREA'S KING. MINISTER SILL'S FIRST VISIT TO HIS ROYAL MAJESTY. Our Representative Refused to Enter the Palace by the Back Door ?The King and His Surroundings. * ONE of the most interesting men in the world to-day is the King of Korea. The war between Japan and China is being fought over him, and the future nf Acia io inTr/ilrro/l in tVio at.PTI ortrl P. The King is the absolute raler of 12,000,000 people. The land of Korea belongs practically to him, and the development of its immense natural resources in gold and coal, "which is sure to occur after the war is over, may make him one of the richest kings in the world. I had an audience with him six years ago, and I met him in one of his palaces in Seoul just before the outbreak of the present rebellion, writes Frank G. Carpenter. He received me with the highest of honors, and I am, I believe, the only strictly private American who has ever gone through the imperial door of the great gate which leads into his palace city. The King's palaces cover nearly one thousand acres. They lie at the foot of a ragged gray mountain, and a thick wall of stone as high as a two-story house runs around them. This wall is entered by a half dozen great gates, at which, day and night, soldiers are ntatinned to see that onlv the ttroper people go in. Each gate has its own rank, and there are special entrances for 6Qrvante and low nobles. The great central gate is reserved for the highest. It has three doors, and the middle of them is kept for royalty alone, and only kings and princes are supposed to go through it. I see that the papers state that General Clarence Greathouse, the King's foreign adviser, is the only American who ever entered the palace city through this door. This is not true. The same honor was accorded last May to Minister Sill, Dr. H. N. Allen and also to me. This is how it happened: The Korean officials, who put on great airs, have been trying to lessen the rank of foreigners in the eyes of the peomi 1 J~ pie. JLuey nave uiaue t? uau& cuuaubo to the palace for them, and they proposed to inaugurate this by thus letting in our new Minister, Mr. Sill, who had arrived in Korea during my stay. Minister Sill, however, refused to accept their proposition. He said he represented the President of the United States, and that oar President was as big as any king on the globe. If there was a gate for kings he thought he ought to go through it, and he sent word to the department that he would come at the time appointed to this big gate, and if he was ON THE WAT TO THE KINO. not admitted there he would return to his legation. This message made the faces of the King's officials turn from the color of Jersey cream to that of skimmed milk. They saw that there would be trouble and they referred the matter to the King. Now, his Majesty has more brains than all of his ministers. He is packed full of common sense, and he at once became very angry. He not only said that the Minister should go through the chief gate, but he sent his own chair and servants in order that he might ride there in state. I don't know that he remembered me from my past interview, but he was told I wanted to I i _ .. .1 1_ _ _ I Xl-l 1 1J meet mm ana ne saia xnai ne wouia give me a special audience after tbat of the Minister was over. I wish I could show you how we marched through the city on our way to the King. Our procession of soldiers and servants was at least one hundred feet long, and we rode in chairs borne by big-hatted coolies. The King's chair shone like gold in its brass trimmings, and it had mahogany panels. My chair was covered with navy blue silk, and Dr. Allen rode in a gorgeous sedan of green. We had a couple of Korean noblss to go with us as interpreters, and these were gorgeously dressed. The Minister, Dr. Allen and myself had on plug hats, boiled shirts and Bwallow-tail coats. The servants who came from the palace were dressed in white gowns, belted in at the waist, with ashes of green, me somiers -wore Diue coais and plum-colored pants, and ont of the back of their black fur batB -were tassels of the brightest vermillion, each of which was as big as a fly brush. Oh, it was gay! In this way we went down the Pennsylvania avenue of Seoul. Our kesos ran in front and howled out to the common people to get out of the way W THR KING'S GATE, THIW..]: .. for the great men who came. Men and women were crowded up to the walls. Bullock carts were driven down the side streets with a ruBh. The people who smoked took their pipes out of their mouths aud held them behind them, Women with gTeen coats over their heads scampered into their houses, and the eyes of all were so stretched out at the sight that they lost their almond shape and became circular in wonder. It was 60 till we reached the gate of the palace. Here our soldiers put down the chairs, aud, accompanied by our pompous Korean interpreters, we walked toward the gate. Midway on the platform we were met by one of the high officials of the King, clad in a gorgeous green gown, with a stork of white silk embroidered on a background of gold a foot square upon his breast. He had a similar square of embroidery upon his back, and as I looked at him it struck me that with a good revolver a man could kill both of these embroidered birds at the same time. He had about his waist a hoop of what seemed to be shell or horn, studded j UNITED STATES IiEGAl with precious stones, and he was accompanied by servants, who held up his arms and sort of lifted him along the way. This was not because he could not walk, but it better showed his rank and style. He bowed low. "We bowed, and after a short interval of diplomatic taffy-giving he led the way up to the centra* gate of the palace and motioned the Minister to walk through the main entrance. He then went through one of the Bide gates, and our interpreters followed him. Dr. Allen and myself were walking with the Minister. Said the doctor, "He seems to intend that I shall go through the main fgate, too." "Well, doctor," said I, "I think I will stick to the party, and though I have no official rank, I'll see how it feels to walk the path that has only been trodden by the feet of kings." I had hot forgotten that I was an American prince. And so we three representatives of the royalty of the United States marched through the templeliko entrance. The act in itself seems little in America, but it was a great thing in Korea, and everywhere I went after that it was mentioned in connection with my introductions to other Koreans. In our march through the city of the Kincr this crorcreous Prime Minis ? V w w ter stalked along in front of as, leading as throagh great courts till we came to another gate, throagh the center arch of which we passed. Then we went on throagh other coarts walled with palaces, past servants clad in brown and red, and by officials wearing all sorts of hats and gowns. There were soldiers everywhere, and Gatling guns stood near some of the entrances. We passed throagh street after Btreet, walled with (he buildings in which live the King and his servants, until we came to a great gate, the side door of which alone was opened. The central door was closed. The Secretary of the Home Office stepped through the side gate and expected us to follow. We had gotten used, however, to the arch of honor, and we stopped and waited for the main gate to be opened. The Secretary thereupon changed his mind. He came back and was practically lifted by his servants to the top of a hill where there was a * * 11 n 1. xv:. new gate, ana ne aea us inrougu iui?. This brought us into the vestibule built for the foreigners. It was a magnificent corrider, so long that you could not see the end as you stood at the top and looked down it. It was lighted at the top and on both sides by beautiful lattices of white paper. The woodwork was papered with this wonderful Korean paper, which is us smooth as ivory and as strong as leather. The floor was covered with matticg as fine as the web of a Panama hat, and so thick that our feet sank as softly into it as they would have done had it been Brussels carpet. This corridor had many landings. We descended from one to another by easy steps, and after a walk of perhaps a quarter of a mile, we came out of it into an open hall, which looked out upon the gardens of the King, and gave a view of the new palace in the distance. This room was furnished in foreign style, and the highest officials of the King and a number of great nobles of the court were eathered within. Each noble had his servant with him. Tall, broad-shouldered men, clad in brown gowns and gorgeous hats, stood about as guards. These are known as the brown-coated kesos. They are the body-guard of the Kjng and, like the fumed soldiers of Peter the Great, have been picked out for their height and strength. Nearly every one of them is over six feet-, and their long gowns make them look like giants. In addition to these, there were servants iu red caps, servants in caps of purple \ ( -?1/ Otyl! >!LX. ENTERED THE PALACE. ( and servants with gorgeous headdrese[ ings of blue. The officials were clad in their court dresses, and the head of cach showed a topknot shining through its fino Korean cap of horse-hair, which, with its great wings flapping out at the Bides, forms the official headdress. These wings are oval in shape, and they stand out like ears, i denoting that their owners are ever listening for the commands of the King. The gowns of these officials were of the finest silk, made very fall. They fell from their necko to their feet, and nearly covered the great official cloth bo,pts, which made each man look as though he had the gout and was nursing his feet for the occasion. The gowns were of dark green, embroidered with gold on the breast and back, and containing white storks or tigers, according 'as the man | belonged to the civil or military rank. These men are all very dignified. We were introduced all around by the Cabinet Minister who conducted us into the room, and we then sat down table upon which were plates filled with assorted cookies about the size of macaroons.' At each man's seat if ^ gJSL:' ION AX HJSOUIj, iiUKiSA. there were champagne glasses, and the servants opened a half dozen or so of cold bottles -while we chatted and waited. The American Minister had his presentation first. He spent about half an hour With his Majesty, and then one of the English-speaking officials came into this room and told me that the King was ready to see me. Taking off my hat and my eyeglasses 1 walked with this man through long passageways, walled with stone, by red-capped, red-gowned servants, and past soldiers in gdrgeous uniforms to the gate of a large courtyard. ' As we neared this my interpreter, who was a high official noble, bent hi6 head over, and his face looked like that of a man in pain at a funeral. As we entered the court he bent half double, and as 1 looked across it, I saw that there wat. a large open hall facing us. This hall had a massive roof of heavy tiles, and at the front of it there were a number of big round pillars pairfted red. There were three entrances to it, reachcd by crranitA atAns crnardfld bv stone doCTS. O WT? O ? *1 w ' aiid the floor was, I judge, about six feet from the ground. Within the hall, in front of a Korean screen, stood the King, with two eunuchs on each side of him holding up his arms. Aud about him were a number of officials, who bent over half double. and dared not look at him for reverence. All of these officials had these gorgeous storks, or tigers, on their breasts, and they looked at me out of the tails of their eyes as I came up. My interpreter I m i A KOREAN STATESMAN. got down on bis knees as he got to the steps. He crawled along the floor to the front of the King and bumped his head upon the carpet. He then bent himself over half double and remained in that position during the whole of A"? 1 in fnnoa nf me interview, nmo^uuig .Umw awe his Majesty's sentences to me and my questions to liim. The King was dressed in a gown of crimson silk, cut high at the neck, and embroidered witb gold medallions as big aroupd as a tea plate. There was one of these medallions on each of his shoulders, and one covered each side of the gown at about where I the fifth rib is supposed to be located. This gown reached to his feet. It was gorgeous beyond description and it harmonized with his cre:.m-colored complexion. The sleeves of the gown were very full, and out of them a pair of delicate shapely hands came from time to time, and clas])ed each other nervously. On one of his fingers I noticed a magnificent diamond ring, and it seemed tj me as though the great solitaire must cut his fingers, as he clasped and unclasped his hands, now folding them together, and now pulling one finger after the other, as though he would crack the joints. He shook his own hands at me in Chinese fashion as I came up. I bowed, and I looked him straight in the eye while we talked together. I was not more than five leet away iroin mm, anil there was a little table between us. Above us shone the incandescent globes of the Ellison electric light, ami there was a European carpet on the iloor. The audience was largely given up to the passing of compliments, and it lasted, I judge, about twenty minutes. During it I had a good opportunity to study the King, and I photographed, as it were, his form and features upon ray brain. He is about live feet six inches in height. He is well built, but not heavy. He has beautiful bright black almond ejes, a complexion the color of rich Jersey cream, and teeth as white as the tusks of an African elephant. His face is full, | and it shines with intelligence. He , has a thia mustache and a few n&iis of; black whiskers. He smiled frequently^ and now and then he langhed melodi* onsly. He seemed to have a stone of about the size of a boy's lucky stona in his month while he talked, and this from time to time got between hifl teeth while he listened. When he ? spoke it sunk back into his mouth, taking the place of an old maid'* plumper, or the tobacco quid of one of our Congressmen. I' don't know why he uses this stone, and I am not altogether sure that it was a stone. It seemed too hard for wax, and chewing gum has not yet been introduced into Korea. The King of Korea i* now forty-two years old, and he is in good physical condition. He is one of the ablest rulers Korea has ever had, and there is no harder-worked monarch on the face of the globe. ? His troubles to-day come from hifi officials. He had been so bound round by them that he did not know the conat>/3 v* o vioa UlLlUli Ul liiO |JCU??iCj ctuu uo vwM hedged in as -was the Mikado of JapaD a generation ago. Yoa cannot imagine the pomp of this King. No o ie can go in front of him. He never move* about the palac9 without there ara eunuchs at his side to hold up hit arms, and the officials must get dows . on all fours and bump their heads on the floor whenever he comes into theii presence. He spends his nights ia working and he sleeps in the daytime. He goes to bed at 8 o'clock every morning and no one dare wr^e him? About his rooms guards are stationed, and all the conversation that is carried on near him must be in a whisper. He usually remains in bed until halfpast five in the afternoon and in quiet times he begins his work in the palace when the watch fires are lighted on the mountains about Seoul. These notify him that all is well throughout the country, or the reverse. These., signal fires take the place of the telegraph, and from hill to hill all over the kingdom the character of the fire J flashes dispatches describing the con- I dition of the people, it is tne teie- >1 graph system of the middle ages, and has been in daily use in Korea till the Japanese took possession of the land a few months ago. * Two Strange Animals. 1 A correspondent has secured excellent photographs of two strange animals that have but recently been placed in the Dresden Royal "Zoo," the one the viverridse cat is an importation from Africa, the other, the raccoon dog, hails from Asia. Both are related to the marter family. A professor of Leipzig University, QUEEREST BOG ON RECORD. who has been instructed to report on the animals, gave the correspondent the following information regarding them: The cat seems to be a cross between i the wild genet cat and a marter. It has a silky, yellowish coat, dotted black, and is a dangerous foe to all animals on fonr legs, and birds, smaller tban itself. When hunting for game the genet cat executes snakelike movements, often creeping along on its stomach. It kills seemingly for the pleasure of killing as mach as for the purpose of obtaining food. No animal compares with this cat in quickness of action, suddenness of attack and bloodthirstiness. Its zoological name is viveira genetta, genetta senegalensis. Tn fVio nsnfiviiv nf t.liA* 7,no the new *** comer has so far behaved very well. All day long it lies asleep, the face almost hidden under its bushy tail; at dusk, however, it becomes exceedingly lively and excitable; a small bird flying past its cage is liable to arouso its ferocious nature to such an extent as to render it dangerous to man and beast to enter the cage. The raccoon dog is a native of East Asia, known to science as cauis procyonoides. He is supposed to be the "missing link" between the dog and the marter families. His head showa the characteristics of the latter, the body and legs are similar to those of a young wolf. The legs appear to be too weak for the body. AN EXTRAORDINARY CAT. The raccoon dog, like the genet cat, is eminently a beast of the night. He sleeps as long as the snn shines, but all night paces up antl down the cage trying for a loophole of escape and becoming excited when domesticatei animals, such as dogs or cats, pass. Revenge is Sweet. r-~W^nrv Willin?':Tlint. farmer noflT kilt yer, when lie t'umped ye over tr bead." Lonesome Tommy?"I wish I had died, so I'd see the bloorain' villain hung!"?Browning's Monthly. Every passenger landed in a French port from a steam vessel coming from a European port, by a decree just issued, is to pay n tux of fifty centimes (ten cents); from any other port in. the world he payB twenty cents.