The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, September 02, 1896, Image 2
:V -i 1
i?? J
I
j CHAPTER H?Continued.
' One hour went by?two. The 6upper
l>ell rang, but Beatriee never left ner |
task. Sne was writing now. A singu- I
lar feature of chirography, hers, it
eems. for she wrote with a coarse pen, I
in a bold, masculine hand, and then
Vith a fine one in delicate Italian
characters. 1
} She manipulated the two letters, 80
dissimilar in appearance, folded them, 1
placed them in an envelope, carefully I ?
added the superscriptions, cad then,
stamping the' envelopes, put on her E
?loak and hat and stole from her room, i
i Down the dark hall, through the front *
portals, out Into the road, and town- ?
wards she sped. At the village post*
J bfflce she paused to drop the letter into i
. i the box thce> and a faint gleam of a E
pamp near by showed the address
plainly?"Mr. Raymond Marshall." g
"Done!" she murmured, breathlessly,
WJr as she hurried homewards. "Circum- j
' stances, accident, all are in my favor.
I could not have endured the confidences
that broke my heart, much longer. ,
Hdna will never write, her father's letter
tells me why. She will never 6e? (
her old friends again. Raymond Marshall
will forget her in time?I will be (
his friend, his consoler, and then " f
I The dark eyes glistened, the fair face J
as sentient with vivid emotion. Then! t
Ah! balm for the hungry heart, love for
tne Btarved soul, peace for the self-tor- j
ture, for word and feature betrayed the ;
eecret of a woman who could suffer, '
conceal, and plot as well, to consummate
the hopes dictated by hatred, jeal* j
ousy and love!
CHAPTER III.
TWO LETTERS. , I
; "Two letters, Mr. Marshall."
Baymond Marshall took the tendered c
missives from the hands of the anti- i
tjuated postmaster of Hopedale, thrust j
one, an ordinary business missive, intc t
His pooKet careiessiy, uui, luu uLtivi? i i
his eye brightened and his pulses came ]
quicker. t
"From Edna," he murmured, recognizing
the handwriting on the envelope.
"Something alout the reception to- j
night. I hope that tiresome Mr. Brins- j
ley is not to be her escort. It is toe (j
precious, too sacred to read hero."
He reaened home and went to hie
room with a gay song on his lips. The j
memory of the girl he loved was al- j
ways with him, the possession of a
Bhy, dainty epistle from her enhanced c
its' sweetness. t
"Kather bulky," ho commented, a9 he t
carefully cut open tho envelope, as if
every scrap of paper her hands had
touched was precions. ".Mr. Marshallwhy!
what is this? Oh, Edna! a joke,
a cruel hoax, surely." (
The words died in a gasp. With star- t
lng eyes Marshall surveyed the letter
before him. Then staggering to a seat, j
be sat glaring at it with colorless fact c
and chilled heart.
A formal dismissal, a cold, precise {
disavowal of all the past, the cruel \
words seemed icy fingers reaching for t
his heart, to blight all the faith and
love of his nature with a single touch.
Ede*i had written it?her slanting, ,
Italian style showed in the chirography. i
?AnlJ V.a r\r\ rlrtliVit- nf thnt hilt
? IIUI C WVUIU UK, UV uv??vw V* ? J
the language!?oh! what did it mean?
Briefly it addressed him as might one
a stranger. Circumstances, the latter (
feaid, had in an hour changed her des- j
tiny. All was over between them. It
was better so, since fate ordained it.
Rememter her as a friend, their brief j
"flirtation" as a wayward caprice for
passing the summer months away! ,
"False! Deceitful! I will never be- j
lleve it," panted the petrified Marshall. ?
"Why! yesterday?the ring I gave her, i
the pledges we made?oh! this is some
farce, some hidden dream! What is ,
this?" ,
Mechanically turning the wretched
missive over and over in his nerveless
hands. Raymond Marshall observed foi ]
the first time that it was comprised o! ,
twcj sheets of paper.
And striving to separate them, he as- |
certained that stray patches of mucilage ,
held the lower page to the other. In e
lew minutes he discerned that it could !
cot have been the intention of the
sender to inclose the second sheet.
That was accidental. It had stuck tc j
tne top sneet anu nau uccu juiuuu iu .
with it by a hasty, careless hand. '
It bore writing?not Edna's writing. ]
A dagger seemed driven to Iiay Marshall's
heart as he tore it fre^, and the ,
bold, masculine chirography danced be- ,
fore his vision.
If he had been startled before, every ,
{ ulse stirred with fierce fire now. The |
etter had evidently bien received by
Edna the day previous, and was signed
Vith the name or the only rival in her
affection to whom he had ever given
a thought, Mi86 Chandler's cousin,
Edna's announced escort of that evening?Barton
Brinsley.
The letter of an accepted lover to the
woman he loved, it betrayed decided
en-ouragement from Edna. It even
bore a sliaht ridicule of Marshall's pretensions.
Edna had endured this! Edna I
had played him false, and while her shy
lips were responding to his ardent e.\Eressions
of devotion her hypocritical
eart was thinking of Barton Brinsley.
Thf. i-mnnlieation was maddening.
With eve? da?he<l with the insanity oi
despair the tortured artist looked up.
clenched the tell-tale sheets in his
hand as it' they were the false heart of
the g;rl who had jilted him, and that of
the man who had stolen away her love.
"I?I will kill him! "he choked out, his
bo ui a Maze.
Ai:d then, realizing the folly of such
a sentiment,- the right of any man to
honorably strive for a woman's preference,
with the bitterness of death comprehending
that the woman was the
deceiver, remembering iiis motner s
taunt once made that he had better
many some one besides "a nameless,
homeless, nobody," he eainled down,
put on his hat, and walked from the
hou^o liko one in a dream, his lips
firmly set. but si -k at heart.
Ho went straight to the seminary.
There was that in his heart so manly,
bo straightforward, so inclined to doubt
the falsity of tho woman he had ic
blindly trusted, despite the terrible evidence
in his hanus, that, though the
meeting killed him, he was determined
to have tho matter .settled now anc
finally.
He would demand to see F.dna?he
would show her the letters. His philanthropic
friends had more than onc e told
him that ail womankind were changing
butti-rll.es of sentiment. If she had
indeed only played with his heart Ik |
would leave her presence and the plaee J
forever; w.thout a word accept the bitter
lesson as a warning against trusting
,3^El2
all humanity, and in snence and distance
wait for the end of a life blighted,
profitless, unendurable.
A servant admitted him and took his
card to the lady principal. Miss Chandler
lookeci serious as she entered the
room, but greeted mm witn me geniality
phe always bestowed on Edna's friends.
Bhe started at the sight of his wretched
face, however.
"Miss Chandler,"he spoke, In his misery
and agitation neglecting to take her
proffered hand, "I wish to see Edna?
Miss Deane."
"Edna?" ejaculated the lady principal,
wonderingly. "Why! did you not
inow *
"Know what?" he demanded, sharply,
iiis heart taking a new alarm.
"That she is gone'/"
"Gone!" he repeated,blankly. "Gone?
n ilea, were, wiiu nnuuii
"She left us last evening. Poor, dear
Sdna; her happy school life is over,
md?why, Mr. Marshall!"
He had arisen to his feet at her first
itartling words. He felt his senses reelng
now, and swayed where he stood,
rhe sight of such vivid emotion in a
(trong paan alarmed the gentle lady.
"Go on!" he choked out, waving his
land agitatedly. "It is nothing. The
ihoek, the suddenness "
"Surely she wrote you that she wae
joing?"
"No. That is You say 6he went
ast evening?"
"Yes."
"Alone? Why did she leave so abuptly?"
His heart hung on the reply. Mi6s
Chandler's face fell.
"Mr. Marshall," she said, in a low,
subdued tone, "you must not ask me. i
lave pledged myself to make no explalations.
In fact, I know very little,
she left in safe hands, of that I am assured,
and she will never return to
UnncHaln, It has deoressed us all: but
? ~r ~?? ?a
rarely she will soon write to you and
jxplain."
"Miss Chandler, I must know where
Edna Deane has gone. You must tell
ne more!"
His voiee was husky, but it bore a
ing of sharp, lacerating anguish.
"I cannot. I never break a promise
>nce made, Mr. Marshall," spoke the '
ady, with dignity. "You may 6ee Miss
fiercer, if you choose. She was Edna's
nost intimate friend. She may have
he right to tell you, but I cannot.
?dna may have left a message with
icr."
"Allow me to speak with her, please."
How strained and unnatural wore his
ones! How like a man marching tc
lis doom ho followed Miss Chandler
lown the broad hall and to the door oi
he oiTlce of the seminary.
"Miss Mercer is in there alone, I
hink," spoke Miss Chandler. "Yes.
Jeatrice, Mr. Marshall."
And the principal opened the door and
ilcsed it upon JKaymona jiar^uuu turn
he woman he so disliked and disrusted.
CHAPTER IV.
TIIE TRUTH REVEALED.
Beatrice Mercer was seated at a desk
sorrecting some exercises of the pupils,
ler own portfolio spread out before her.
I'he color died from h.-r face as she
ecognized her visitor, then it turned
leep-red with reactionary emotion.
His thoughts were too full of Edna to
illow of his reading, aright the tremuous
emotion, the half-repressed fright
hat his hostess betrayed
"Miss Mercer," he spoke, hoarsely,
'I have come to ask of you the irfor- 1
nation that Miss Chandler refuses.
iVhy did Edna Deane leave the semilary?
"Where has she gone?"
"I cannot tell you."
thr pvp<; flnshod excitedlv. He
lenched his hands in an excess of 6ufering
and suspense.
"You musl!" he gasped, frantically.
'Do you understand what I am endurng?
0oubt?anguish?heart-breaking!"
From beneath her veiled eyelids the
jirl studied his working face. Crafti- '
less was there, but Wv.ll masked. A
sinister triumph in her heart gave her
strength to simulate.
"I pity you," she said, softly. "I
vould be glad to tell you all, but It is
iseless."
-Useless?"
"Yes. She has left the seminary,
FTopedale, her friends, forever. She has
;one to her relatives under a vow never
jo reveal her true identity, Happy in
icr new life, with golden promises of
ivealth, you must not blame her im
petuous nature If she finds new friends i
who make her forget the o;d."
How well the shalt went home! The
blank despair, the settled conviction of
faithlessness in the man's face was
pitiable to witness.
"She left no word for me?" he forced
himself to ask.
"No. She wrote a letter to Mr. BarIon
Brinsley, but it is unmanly for you
to have me betray my friend."
"Speak'" ordered Marshall, fiercely.
"Do you not see that this suspense it
killing me?"
"Then know the worst," answered
Beatrice, bulking all her fancied powei
[>n a final venture. "She wrote to Bnrton
Brinsley. This morning he lefl
Hopedale. Miss Chandler sav6 he ha*
gone away on business. I think it is tc
see Edna's new relatives arid ] ress hit
suit there. Mr. Marshall, oh, why will
vou force me to tell these bitter truths':
Forget her?she is unworthy of you
She never knew her own mind. There
are truer hearts, hearts longing lor a
love they would cherish and never betray."
His head had sunk on his breast. He
beiieved now. and his heart was broken.
Beatrice had drawn nearer to him.
Her eves atrlow. her chocks throbbinir.
her hand upon his arm, heart and soul
breathed forth the secret that had made
her life one great void of misery since
she had first seen his handsome, earnest
face. j
w ltn jl SHOCK i1c iookgu up. ? UllUtil * i
merit, intelligence in his glance, it drove
her back abashed.
Her face betrayed hor secret, she
loved him! llis face told unmistakably
that he read that secret aryjht.
"Oh! how could I.' But 1 jiity you so!
Think me unwomanly, but if your heart
is breaking so is mine. Go, Mr. Marshall?Baymond?go!
and leave me to
the wretchedness of the fecrct your
suffering has wrung from my lips."
She was sobbing, shrinking, now. In
consternation her companion regarded
her. She loved him! This had been
the secret of her wayward moods.
Despite himself a great wave of pity
swept his chivalrous heart,
"i am sorry," he said brokenly. "A
true woman's regaru is ueuer uuu a.
false friend's treachery. Misr Mercer,
when I leave you, it is never to know
happiness again, but I may know the
- . ? .1 <-.,11 T
peace 01 navmg uuhv my inn uuij u *
trace this all'air down to the last. I
must see Edna?she shall tell me from
her own lips what I already know!
Then I am content to cherish my misery
in silence. Speak! Win my gratitude,
at least, by telling mo whither uhe ha9
gooe-1 - - *
There waB no reply. Only th? subdued
sobs broke the waiting silence.
"You know whore Edna is?" persisted
Marshall.
"Yes, I know!" cried Botrlce, lifting \
her face, flashing with jealousy and
emotion; "but do you thins'I will tell
you?send you to beg at the feet of a
woman unworthy of you? Leave mel j
If you are suffering, I am tortured.
Oh! cruel! cruel! cruel!"
Her frantic hands swept the open
portfolio across the desk as 6he shrank
kiHtnrr li?>r hnrhiliofinn hpr
liUili X1WJJ, ..UM.WiUWVW, ? |
jealousy, her love in hot, burning tears.
About to speak reassuriagly to her, to j
plead with her anew for the- knowledge
he so craved, Haymond Marshall started
as if dealt a sudden blow.
His eyes happened to fall to the open <
portfolio. He recoiled, stared closer, i
and then sprang to his feet with a wild, j ;
intelligent, hopeful cry.
For upon a sheet of paper, written :
there indubitably by the woman who [
had iust so shame-facedly confessed her
love, was the record of hatred and ]
treachery that had so nearly blighted . i
his life. i
There were the first experiments of i ,
the clever forger to simulate Edna
Deane's handwriting. There was a
copy of the missive he had received that '
morning. There, too, was the draft ot '
the more masculine epistle that had accompanied
it.
Beatrice Mercer had looked up at his
strange cry. Her eyes met his, follow?
ing their glance to the portfolio, and
then, shrinking back, her guilty face
told the truth.
"You wrote that?you wrote those letters!"
fairly shouted Marshall. "Oh,
blind, wicked that I was, to doubt my
true-hearted darling! It was a cruel
forgery?a plot Speak, Beatrice Mcr
cer! All you have told me, ail tnoso
letters told, was a falsehood."
Beatrice had snatched up the portfolio.
Defiance in her face, she panted
like a tigress at lay.
"If I did," she cried wildly, "It waa
only to save you a fruitless chase. I
alone know where Edna Deane has
gone. I know that she will never dare
write to you or see you again. You
hate me, you spurn me?you, for whom
I would have given a lifetime of devotion.
Then find the pale-faced child
you dote over, but never with my help."
A great, joyful glow sprang to the
face of Marshall.
"So be it!" he cried. "Knowing her to
be true, knowing all this forgery to be
a lie, love will iind a way. Revealed in
your true colors at last, I know what to
expect of you; but, as I live, I vow :
never to rest till I find the woman I '
love, the victim of some dark plot, if I , :
pursue her half the world over!" | .
He strode from the room and the I
presence of the woman of whom he had i
made a relentless enemy as he spoke, j
strong in the consciousness of love's
inighty power. j
Yes, be would find the woman he
loved, though peril, privation, death ,
barred his way, and cruel schemers l
wrought dangerous pitfalls for his eager
feet at every step he took!
All these might be evaded. Festi- | '
lence might pass him bv, perils graze
Viim imar>nth?rl death itself be warded 1
back by the love that knew no obstacles,
but. more weird, more tortuous than he
ever dreamed was the path that was |
lending him to ihnt far day when, once ,
again, standing face to face with Edna,
he should shrink before a mystery and 1
a plot that would daunt, appall, and '
batl'.e even his bold courage and t-ry his 1
loyal soul a- by an ordeal of firo! I
Izo BE CONTINUED.! j |
- .
TEMPERANCE.
? I
A BARBEL OF WBISKT.
A drayman rolled fortn Irom his cart to the
.street i
A. red-headed barrel well bound and complete,
And on it red letters, like forked tongues ol ,
flame.
Emblazoned the grade, number, quality, i
fame,
Of his world-renowned whisky from some- I
body's still,
Who arn;sted the grain on the way to th<
mill.
So there stood the barrel, delivered, but I
Could see that a shadow was hovering
nigh?
A sulphurous shadow that grew as I gazed
To th^ form of Menhisto. Though sorelj
amazed.
"I ventured to question this imp of the realm
Where Vice is the pilot, with Crime at the
helm,
Aud asked him polittSy his mission to name, j
And if he was licensed"to retail the same
Identical barrel of whisky which he
Was fondly surveying with demoniac glee'i
' Oh. I never handle the stuff." he replied.
' My partners, mortal, are trusty and tried.
IL.yhap, peradventure, you might wish tc
look
At the invoice complete I will read from thie
book.
You will find that this barrel contains something
more
Than forty-two gallons of whisky, galore.'
And ?re I could'slip but another word In
He checked it off gaily, this cargo of sin:
oarroi oi neauacnes, ot nearcacnes, uj
woes;
A. barrel of curses, a barrel ot blows:
A barrel of tears from a world-weary wife;
A. barrel of sorrow, a i arrel of strife;
A liarrel of all unavailing regret;
A barrel of cares ana a barrel ol' debt;
A l>arrel of crime and a barrel of pain;
A bax-rel of hopes ever blasted and vain;
A barrel of falsehood, a barrel of cries
That full from the maniac's lips as he dies.
A barrel of agony, heavy aud dull,
A barrel of poison?of this nearly full;
A. barrel of poverty, ruin, and blight;
A. barrel of terrors that grow with the night,
A barrel of hunger, a barrel of groans;
A. barrel of orphans' most pitiful moans;
A barrel of serpents that hiss as they puss
?rom the bead on the liquor that glows in
the giais?
My barrel, my treasure, I bid thee farewell.
5cv/ ye the foul seed. I will reap it in hell!"
?Trestleboard.
alcohol and hot weather.
Onn of tlie lessons which the falal hoi
weather teaches most impressively is the
danger in alcoholic stimulants. A very considerable
number of the deaths reported
from sunstroke were occasioned by too free
indulgence in ardent spirits.
The first impulse of every human being
wheii suffering from the heat is to drink.
Sensible people drink sparingly oT iion-alcohrilifi
beverages. 1'eonle who are a litlle less
sensible drink great quantities of mild
drinks. Only suieu'al fools rush to the barroom.
Alcohol causes cerebral congestion, which
is soon aggravated by high temperature.
The alcoholic is always a fair mark forsunstrok?.
The cases reported in the newspapers
of men falling dead from their chairs
when they have not engaged in violent exercise
or subjected themselves to exposure
are usually found to have been caused by
liquor drinking.
Then why do men drink in hot weather?
That is a question which ama/.us physicians,
who sec more reeling drunkards in the
?tr?!ets during a period of hiKh temperature,
when a man must be in the finest health to
resist <l'-.ith, than at any other time. But it
is n:>t rnor? difficult to answer than the
question: Why do men driuk at all??Chicago
Times-Herald.
srr.Ars from jons plowman's almanac.
Fools' mouths and tavern doors aro best
closed.
Where the devil does not go he sends his
agent, drink.
In the "Mantrap Arms" they catch foois.
Blue ribbon and blue sky make many evils
lie.
The cup of devils should be put away by a
shild of God.
A gin shop is a bad spot to find good
A drinking dame is a special shame.
Grog blossoms are not pretty flowers.
Which is more loolisb, wasliiDg swino or
Jrinking wine? r _
?
: >tL.
I
LOVELY CARACAS. ?
o
VENEZUELA'S CAPITAL AND ii
SOME OF ITS ATTRACTIONS. b
' G
e
[lomes of the Inhabitants?An 1mpreseive
Capitol?A Famous Co flee c
Region ? Statues of Wash- c
ington and Bolivar. r
8
/~~Jr ARACAS, for three hundred 1
I / years the oapital of Venezuela. I
Vjy presents itself to view -with en- *
chanting dramatic effect, 8
writes Almont Barnes in the Washing- I
ton Star. One goes by rail or other 6
road up from the edge of the sea at
La Guayra, winding among the curves ^
and lifts of the mountains until he is c
five thousand feet above that city, be- c
yond which the Caribbean looks like <
a mill pond, and its fleets like ' 'painted 1
Bhipeon a painted ocean," but five or i
Bix miles away. The peak of Naiguita i
and La Silla Mountains tower above 1
tii.nii tVinntand feet.
UXUbiaCUCO VUiGW HUWM?*?
Bat he winds along through the di- ]
vide, amid shrubbery and forests of ^
the univebsit:
perfect growth and loveliness, and a i
bewildering profusion of wild flowers,
in* view of a plantation, protected on
one side bv a sheer declivity of 1500
feet, and with flocks of swift parrots !
and more brilliant birds above his
bead, and all at once at his feet, a
thousand feet below, lies Caracas,
spread out in a basin of which all i
* "* i.-:
Bides are apparently muuuitnuB iu tuo
south, hazy, golden, f^r-away, as in
dreams, bnt hold and dominantjwhere
you are passing and along to the nine- i
mile distant coast. What a city that i
is for a new world?a mosflio of white
walls and red roofs, with patches of !
trees in the plazas, palms beyond the
city edges, and outlined against the
clearest of skies the spires and towers i
of public buildings and churches, and
then agaiD, beyond the city, cofiee i
grows on the mountain side and
emerald green crops of alfalfa and cane <
pon the plain?the city antique as
the crusades, its setting new and fresh i
as the youDgest babe of time.
Santiago de Leon de Caracas (St.
James of the Lion of Caracas) has its
last name worthily from an Indian
chief. It is a city of romantic history.
THE CAPITOL.
While the buccaneers swept the Southern
seas it never had a carriage road
to it from the coast, yet it was captured
and sacked by Sir Francis
Drake. Then, in 1811, on tl|e 5th of ;
July, the revolutionary assembly there :
passed its declaration of independence
of Spain.
There Bolivar was born, liberated 1
his slaves, was President, Dictator and 1
after achieving the independence of
Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
and Peru, and dying in exile and
poverty, there his bones are gathered
-'ho Poritlionn and liis hronze statue I
adornesthe principal plaza. Above
and extending down into the newer
city are the ruins of the old one, destroyed
in 1812 in an earthquake of a
few moments' duration, with twelve
thonsand or more of its people. 1'he
earthquake delayed independence, as
the people were taught that thus deity
manifested Hie displeasure.
The importation of the Spanish
method of domestic architecture into
tropical America was manifestly wise.
No style of dwellings can be more
comfortable and healthy outside a
snowy zone. High and commodious',
rooms built around a large open cen-l
//- - * '*J
-a *
A STKEET i:
tral court or patio secure privacy,
shade, open air and light, with room
for plants and flowers, where women
nnrl ohildrPTl are at home out of doors.
Caracas is full of such homes, usually j
neatly plain outside, but elegant and j
invitiDg within. They are eminently |
social homes, suited to the inhab- |
itants.
The capitol js a maEsive building of |
;one and stucco, the legislative part xr
eing one grand story, the part for ii
ffiues of two, and all the building, p
aclosing a large open square, of equal w
eight. The style of architecture iB C<
rrecian. From the impressive front p
ntrance, or from an immense salon p
o its left, which contains portraits in iil
of all the most distinguished
itizene of the country, mostly by
lative artists, you may look out upon
> statue of Washington, while still
arther to the lei*; in the beautiful
)laz3 fronting the Casa Amarilla (yelow
house) of the President, on one
ide, and public offices of large pro)ortions
on another, you may see the ennpfltrian
statue of Bolivar.
"1
The 5th of July is celebrated in
7enezuela officially in each city with
>rations in the legislative or municipal
hambers, processions headed by the
ihief officials and foreign representa/ivee,
to the churches, ending with a
nass and fireworks. The writer can
lever forget one such celebration, in
which the orator, as i& usual, lauded
SVaehington and Bolivar as the great
liberators, and in which, side by side
fiorornl f!ftr?hftno. he aided in '
nlvxA ~ I
, I
|M ; "<\N 0, VIL '
V OF CARACAS.
officially representing the two Bepublios.
We of the older Republic
do not sufficiently appreciate how the
best people of the new ones love the
liberties they have and the ancient
difficulties they have to combat 'in
sustaining them.
On the western edgejjof^.the city of
Caracas is a round hill of considerable
extent, upon 'whioh is looated the dis-*
tributing reservoir of the city water
works, and a fine public garden,
adorned with flowers and shrubbery
along open and shaded walks, centering
at a hcroic statue of Guzman
Blanco, the self-styled and to some extent
real "illustre Americano" and
"regenerador" of his country. He
certainly gave it a vigorous forward
impulse, and took his pay as he went
along. From the hill, which is reached
by beautiful carriage ways and walks,
one may study at leisure nearly the
whole city spread below, the greater
+Vio nlmn on/1 t.lio ciiTrnnnd
CAbCiiV U1 CUO W? VMW >. v..
ing mountain masses. The view is one
of mingled loveliness and grandeur,
and when the bells from the numerous
churches ring out their chimes and
the music comes back in Boftened
eohoee, repeated from the mountains,
until the air is saturated with softest
and almost saddest melody, the unreality
of it a>l becomes intense. And
then, beneath it all, sleeps the earthquake
and the possible ruin. This
thought returns and makes paradise
iraperlect.
Toward the capitol is the splendid
ohurch of Santa Ana, and the faoe of
its pictured Virgin is as the face of the
wife of Guzman Blanco. Nearer is
the new theater, the finest in South
America, Far to the front is the
Masonic Temole. with its twisted and
ungraceful columns, and on ground
near the foothills of La Silla (the
saddle) where the earthquake made
havoc, stands the Pantheon, where the
bones ol heroes of the independence
are enshrined. In removals there of
the remains of General Paez, once
President, and Admiral Brion, compatriots
of Bolivar, the writer was
privileged to take part and to hear
noble orations in honor of liberty and
republican institutions, worthy of any
land. If Washington City knew
Caracas as Caracas does Washington
City, the latter would be always a
more interested and willing neighbor.
* a I * ?
uaracas nas street car uueo iur its
80,000 people; railways reaching inland,
and to its seaport at La Guaira
and its bathing resort at Macnto;
electric light and telephone service,
and the telegraph, of course. Its public
and National schools, inoluding the
University of Caracas, are of well
known excellence. It has a large public
library, and its book stores and
current publications are well patronized.
Its people are highly cultivated,
intelligent, active, honorable, hospitable
and have a genius and destiny
of their own.
Caracas is flanked and backed by a
famous coffee and cacao region, and as
these products are the principal ones
ol the country's uo called agriculture, I
the city becomes the only point of j
I
S CARACAS. j
convergence for them before they are
shot down the seaward side of the
mountain, through La Guaira, into
the export steamers. Caracas cacao is
Feconu objy to mat or rjcuauor iu iue .
foreigu market, though tho Mexican i
is perhaps as ^'ooil; and "La Guaira" t
coflee was famous before it became'
simply false Mocha and Java.
In 1877 coffee was so cheap in all
*
isrketa?four cents and leea perpound
1 La Guaira? that large numbers of
lantations were destroyed and reset
ith cacao trees. But since the use of
offee now increases faster than the
roduction, coffee raising has become
rofitable beyond most products, and
GENEBAL BOLIVAB's STATUE.
Venezuela is gaining greatly in pros*
perity, and Caracas planters in easily
earned wealth, many citizens having
country plantations, and taking life
more without care than the old cotton
planters.
The enchanting Venezuelan capital
would be, with the sanitary care ol
tbis capita] city, one of the healthiest
cities of the world. At present it ia
one of the safest of Sontb American
cities, seldom being tronbled even
with yellow fever, and then in mild
form. Latterly more care has beeD
given to sanitation, with obvions benefit.
Bnt usually it is a safe as well as
a delightful city to visit, where "Eng?
lish is spoke" as well as Spanish, and
an American mav ohance to meet several
of his countrywomen married and
happy there, among them Mrs. Santana,
a daughter of Josh Billings,
who, with her family, sometimes
makes a visit "home."
Another Mammoth Care.
Another mammoth cave has been
discovered in Kentucky. James Hoar*
ino, E. N. Ingram and John H. Hurst
made an exploration of a cave at the
limestone quarry near Pineville. They
report going into\he earth half a mile
and finding a small lake some eighteen
or twentv feet square, of ice
water. They brought out with them
some stalactites aud other peculiar
formations. It is at present wet and
muddy, and after leaving the entrance
and going back about one hundred
feet, one comes to a precipice about
twenty-five or thirty feet high, and
down which people must let themselves
with a rope or ladder. It is not
yet known how far back the cave extends,
nor if it will become popular as
a place of resort.?Atlanta Constitution.
.
A Great Chinese Beauty,
Here is a curious and quite authentic
portrait of one of the most celebrated
actresses in China. In Pekin
ji^i His
CONSIDERED A BEAUTY Df CHINA.
she is considered to be very beautiful.
It would seem that Eastern and Western
notions as to what constitutes
beauty differ even more widely than
one would have thought.
The Red Man and the lJicycle.
"The noble red man may yet be civilized
by means of bioycles," said A.
L. Bartlett, of Beatrice, Neb., at the
Regent. "The Otoe tribe have steadily
resisted all efforts to induce them to
become citizens, and their- numbers
1?- ''-inJio/i nr?m Vinf. few of them
JiUVC Uniuuicu uuv**
remain. In fact, there are few more
Indians in Nebraska now than in New
York and Indiana. A few days ago
one of the chiefs of the Otoe tiibe visited
Beatrice and became much interested
in bicycles. The owner thought
it would be fun to let the old Indian
learn to ride, and it was not long before
the chief had mastered the art.
Then he must have a wheel of his own,
and not having any money he traded
four ponies for one. He rode it to
the reservation and nest day half e
dozen Indians came to town, bringing
pcnies to trade for bicycles. 'Bide
taster. No feed,' they say, and when
the bicycle manufacturers learn thif
new field it is probable that they will
reap n harvest, und the Inaitfns tih
lay asule their primitive customs ant1
join the L. A. W. in a body."?Washington
Star.
What the Father Said.
Pnoxsutawnoy vonng men are o!
careless speech, according to a Joca'
paper, which says that ono of them
faking his sweerheart home said tc
her on reaching the gate, "Just, one,"
und was painfully surprised to hem
her father's voice through a lattice,
saying, "Your watch is an hour fast:
it isn't more than 12, but it's time you
were taking your sneak."?New Yorh
Stiri.
A Station Indicator.
The introduction of advertisements
rvn tl-io n-nllo nf tliA railroad stations
in London has made it necessary foi
the Metropolitan Rnilway to introduce
a station indicator to announce to the
passengers the name of the statioD
which the train he is riding in is approaching.
AN OCEAN FREAK.
The Deep Sea Fish Known as
"Black Swallower."
Tbe chiasmodon is one of the r
creatures known to science,
three specimens of it have ever
seen, so far as naturalists have
record. And of these none was 1
alive. The chiasmodon is gene
known as the "black swallower."
is not understood that he has any
sion on earth except to swallow,
the only reason he ever comes to d
that he does his work too well,
"black swallower" is a deep sea
dwelling, when he is at home, in a
iROfi fathoms of water. The
specimens that have been-obtafl
have all been picked ap in the Nfl
Atlantic, not far from the NewfcH
land coast. They are built for H
business. In color they are H
black, as the name indicates, sa\S
the stomach. The body is lonf^J
of almost nniform thiokness.
taper of the tail is very abrupt, fl
are devoid of soales. The skin ieH
fectly smooth. A scaly coat
lnieriere wim perxeuu <u??vi.;n
that is the "black swallower'a"
earily strong point He must st9|
or bis job is gone. H
Of course, this fish, swallowing?
monsters that he does, must hifl
month constructed eSDeoially foifl
purpose.. His head is subcon
shape, narrowing forward, and
egregious, all swallowing mod
deeply cleft. It runs away ba
his eyes and is filled with teeth, i
are long and movable so as to b<
ten out pf the way if need be. '
therm ore, they point baekward,
the teeth of a snake, so that once
THE CHUSMODON "WHEN G0B3E1
ing seized the tail of another fit
Aan lof rrr\ T7n rmnof r?A
l/OU JJCYC1 tcv gUi AXO uiuov gv
whole figure, engorge his victic
fail and be trailed along opon-mou
until he dies.
When dinner time oomes ant
chiasmodon is very hungry he se
a fish about twice his own length
of almost any bulb. He approj
his prey cautiously from behinc
seizes him firmly in that giant m(
After the first brief flight and stri
are over the real job of swallowin
gins. The jaws are nnbipged
steadily the swallower climbs ove
victim. This is the time whei
elastic skin is called into play. I
this stage of the proceeding the c
modon has been a long, lean fish
xt_ a - "L 1
as ine prey uiBappeara niuu vy
within those horrid jaws it is cro'
down into the stomaoh, which dial
to accommodate it.
What Tapioca Is.
Tapioca is not a grain, but a kit
starch made from the roots of a j
known as Janipha manihot, w
grows in South America in the to
zone, it is, in fact, a similar pro
to the starch of the potato, and
any nearer than that of being a at
grain. The fleshy roots are gr
and washed in water jnst the san
potatoes are, and the starch settW
the bottom, the water is drawn off
xv. -A 1. ?i,
me Biarou is ueuteu uu uuu
when it swells np into the shap
which it is kept for sale in the sti
A curious property of this root, w
is also called cassava, is that in
stage of this process the starch
tains a virulent poison, of w
twenty drops will kill a man in a
minutes; this, however, ia drivei
by the'heat. Of the two ophr
<-?net.Vint. taninfia. in n, crrain and anc
wMvrM?. ? r ~ O . that
it is a mixture of rice and caai
neither is right.?New York Time
Bat Hunting in Washington.
"Bat hunting is our favorite at
ment and occupation these %
nights," said a resident of MoPlie
Square, "for all of a sudden and
out any previous notice we hav<
visitors in profusion every n
Their headquarters seems to be i
KTove of trees in McPherson Sq
though their visits are by no i
limited to our immediate neig
hood, for I have heard of their
to houses four or five blooks di
I from us. Though the bats are u
! ally large they do not seem be
1 any harm and after annoying a
j some cases frightening those
visit they depart only to returi^H
ebort time, probably the next ni^|
?Washington Star. fl|
Noble Charities. flj
The -will of the late Xatha^B
Graves, of Syracuse, N. Y.f prcB
for the erection of a home in theflj
for indigent aged people. Mr.
estate is estimated at SoOO.OOC^B
about $100,000 of this is bequ^H
to the home. The will also
Svrucnse University a beneficial
I the amount of $10,000, the incoH|
which is to be applied to a lectn^H
on missions, anil which will perp^H
the course to which Mr. Graves^H
ally for some years had given
New Orleans Picayune.
In Storms Take to tlie TroI^B
"There are some people wb^H
mortally afraid during a th^H
storm," said Vice-President Hut^J
of the Citizens' Company, the
-3 NTkrt^ rtrtnnnf fi n rl CL QO.T?tt^^H
UUV. IIJCIAIIUUUI UUV
ad jwhere than on board of an e^H
car. Lightuing cannot-strike
because they are absolutely prq^H
against such danger. If they we^Hj
and the electric fluid should stril^H
it would go to the power hou^H
burn out the whole plant."?I^B
Free Pres9.
Is Young Tct.
A four-year-old girl id CalifoMB
said to be able to repeat from
I anything she lifts ever oenru.^M
will improve in time. When^H
old enough to join a chnrch
circle ehe will doubtless be abl^H
peat things she never heard.?
Express. mgM