Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, December 15, 1886, Image 1
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______ YORKYILLE, S. C.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 15, 1886. 3STO. 5Q.
? ferial ftotg.
BEAUTY'S SECRET.
BY ALAN MUIR.
CHAPTER VI.
A SLEEPING WOMAN KISSING A PICTURE.
And now, the field being clear for her
operations, oar little Agamemnon in' petti'
coats prepared for her part of the affair. She
was fully determined to root out of her
daughter's mind the memory of Percival
Brent, and to marry Sophia brilliantly before
many months were out No sooner had
the young lover departed than she perceived
how much she had furthered her own ends
by her indulgence to her daughter these last
few days, especially at the parting hour.
Sophia was quite tender with her when they
met kissed her, fondled her, and was all the
evening so affectionate amid her hardly-repressed
grief, that the little plotting woman
began to discover a soft place in her own
stony heart She was gentle with Sophia,
and took no direct notice of the poor girl's
tears, which would come once or twice
during the evening, only, as she passed,
stroked her head softly, intending to signify
that she sympathized with her, which she
really (lid. To-morrow she would turn over
her new leaf.
. "Sophy," she said at breakfast, 'It is ten
years .this month since we were in Paris. I
have a fancy to go over there before the
weather gets too hot. Would you like it?"
"Anywhere with you, dear," Sophy replied,
cheerfully. She .was determined not to mope,
and to begin early.
"That's pleasant," the mother answered,
with a beaming look. "We shall start this
day week."
Dreesee had to be ordered, hotels bad to be
chosen, a hundred preparations had to be
made, and Mrs. Temple saw with exultation
that Sophia entered into all the plans with
great spirit The mother read in this a sign
alr-oadv Pn-rn'-cal wna fadinir out of mind.
"I was sure be would," the little woman said
to herself. "Of course he must as time goes
on."
They stayed a month in Paris, and the
whole of the time she managed to keep Sophia
entertained in the most diverting way.
They had friends there, and the days were
/ passed in a set of choice little pleasures; and
whatever that inexhaustible purse of Mrs.
Temple's could do to burnish the hours was
done with her own taste and tact,
"I shall show 3ophia what the world is!"
the world's worshiper said to herself; "add
the Australian boy will soon vanish from her
mind, and love in h cottage with him. Cottage,
indeed! not if you can get a house; and
not a house if you can get a mansion! O,
it is wonderful how slow Sophia is to see the
value of life! But she is beginning, and with
her good sense she will soon be able to teach
instead of being taught"
And now, to Mrs. Temple's unspeakable
gratification, there appeared on the scene a '
man who was plainly t.hinVing of making
Sophia an offer. Had the little woman been
choosing a suitor she could not?so she said
afterward?have made a more promising selection.
I must not say much about him. He
was ten years Sophia's senior, sedate but not
gloomy in his manner, his fortune was ample,
his birth high, and his. appearance was considered
prepossessing. * He had long been resident
in the neighborhood of Kettlewell, but
in Paris they were first introduced. He met
the mother and daughter at dinner. Mrs.
Barbara Temple, hearing of him before, had
already wished inly that he might be struck
with Sophia. She marked him as he walked
into the room, and at sight of him her wishes
redoubled. During dinner she watched him
narrowly. For a time he did not seem to
have even noticed Sophia, but at last he
looked at her. The little mothor saw his gaze
, arrested in pleasurable surprise, and for the
rest of the evening he managed to look at the
young girl as often as possible.
The next day the stranger, whose name
was Prendergast, made some excuse for calling
upon them, and you may be sure he
was graciously received. His conversation
pleased Sophia, that was plain; and Mrs.
'Temple, watching him, saw in his manner
that which delighted her beyond expression
Next day a fresh invitation came from the
friend at whose house they had first met?just
a hasty party, the note said.
"Aha," little Mrs. Temple said to herself,
4C* Veefw if 1 ruf tin of-. f-V?o infffiiTflfinn ftf
Prendergast, I dare swear. Sherwood and
he are such friends. If Prendergast does not
take Sophia down to dinner, I am much mistaken."
He did. And he proved a genial companion,
with plenty of talk of the quietei
sort He could interest cultivated women,
being artistic and literary, without being a
- pedant or a bore?that, at least, was his
friends' opinion of him.
"Don't you think Mr. Prendergast very
entertaining?" the mother asked as they
drove home.
"Very," Sophia replied, emphatically.
The little woman nearly skipped off her seat
for triumph.
During these early days Mrs. Temple could
never quite make out whether or not Sophia
perceived that this promising Mr. Prendergast
was.'in love with her. In love he clearly was,
but his manner was so unobtrusive, and his
general conversation so lively, that even
Sophia might not have detected what wa.
plain to the watching eyes of her mother. I
was a nice point for Mrs. Temple to settle.
Sophia evidently enjoyed their new friend'?
society, and as she was no coquette?not at
much as she ought to be, her mother used ta
say?she must either have forgotten one lover
or not recognized the other. Which was th?
fact Mrs. Temple longed to know. Sometimes
she thought Sophia was in reality preoccupied,
and only assumed a vivacity to
cover her want of interest At other times,
and more frequently, Mrs. Temple felt con
vinced that she was truly pleased with Prendergast,
and would, after a decent interval,
confess her "satisfaction.
At last an evening came when Prendergast,
calling in upon the Temples, found the
mother and daughter at home, and, after a
ittle conversation, music happened to be
mentioned, at which Mrs. Barbara made the
most casual remark about Sophia having
sung a particular song the night before.
Prendergast asked if he might hear it, and
Sophia, consenting, with a listless air sat
down to the piano and sang. Prendergast
praised the song, asked for another and another,
and Sophia complied in the same list less
way. She sang well, but her eyes had a
kind of far-off look, very suggestive of
Australia. The little mother, however,
could not see Sophia's face; Prendergast's she
saw, and it told her a great deal. At last
Sophia began, "Oft in the Stilly Night," and
now (no doubt because the theme touched
her) she sang with great expression and tenderness,
and her admirer stood over her,
radiant with love and admiration.
"O, that I could see her!" murmured Mrs.
Barbara. She scanned Sophia eagerly when
the song was finished, but her expression said
neither "yes" nor "no." Shortly after,
iknm nrA/vl nirrKf. nn?l pa.
rrcuuci^tui/ urn uivui 6wx? wivi .w
strained, as his manner usually was, he now,
either through accident or with design, let
Sophia know the state of his heart Mrs.
Barbara Temple saw a flush come out on her
daughter's pale face as she withdrew her
hand from his.
"Now we shall see," thought the little
woman. "Very prettily he managed it, too?
I observed nothing."
She resolved not to ask Sophia any question
until next morning;' but after she had
retired a little while, curiosity got the better
of her, and in her dainty dressing gown she
crossed over to her daughter's room, and
tapping gently at the door stepped in.
She saw?not what she expected. Sophia
was not at her glass, nor chatting to her
maid, nor gone to sleep. The poor girl was
at her prayers, and had not heard her mother
enter. The little woman stood a moment
irresolute, then vanished from the room with
a kind of hop; she scarcely liked the prospect
of confronting the serious face which she
knew wouia rise to greet oer irum
those uplifted hands.
"I shall go to bed," she said, when she regained
her own room, "and I shall talk to
Sophia in the morning."
She sat down, however, and fell into a
muse, and a look of unwonted gravity ruled
her face and features for a time. Probably
she was recalling past scenes; for two or three
times she shook her head with a kind of reflective
sadness, until she was rousea by the
second chime which had sounded since she
last sat down. *
"I wonder if Soph}' is up now?" she murmured.
She can't be at that so long."
And changing her mind she again stepped
over, and, finding the door ajar as she left it,
sue entered the room once more. The lamp
was still burning, but Sophia was in bed, ana,
her silence indicated, sleeping. The mother
walked softly across and looked at her
daughter.
She was fast asleep. The night was warm,
and she had thrown back the quilt a little,
and her arm, her brown hair, and a glimpse
of her white and innocent breast, together
with the repose of her expression, made up a
picture which many an artist would have given
a year's income to paint She looked the
very image of purity and peace, and even
little Mrs. Barbara, who was shot-proof
against most forms of emotion, felt moisture
stealing into her ayes as she gazed. She bent
a little down, and then she saw that the face,
now so calm, had been traversed by recent
tears. Yes, Sophia had been crying since
she lay down, and she had fallen asleep with
wetted cheeks.
Something in her hand caught the mother's
eye, and she looked closer stilL Her hand was
beside her face, and the little article she held
was placed so that--her sleeping lips just
touched it. With great caution and stillness,
Mrs. Barbara Temple lowered her eyes, and,
stoooine and stretching, she managed to see
what her daughter was holding. It was a
miniature of Percival Brent
BOOK FOUB.
LADY BEAUTY'S CHOICE
CHAPTER L
"THE SPIDER AND THE FLY."
[In one of the passages of his narrative, Ay
old friend, when speaking of "Prendergast,"
uttered the pronoun "I." As this escaped his
lips, he tried to catch back his word, and reddened
a little. The secret was out, of course;
but seeing his confusion, I affected not to
have noticed anything. This artifice, however,
did not deceive him, and heiminediately
told me that he wets himself the Prendergast
of the story, and an old lover of Sophia
Temple. I have thought it well to inform my
reader of this fact; but, for convenience of
narration, I shall continue to describe "Prendergast"
as he originally appeared in the tale.
To introduce him afresh, speaking in the first
person singular, would, I find, embarrass
both writer and reader.]
Greatly was Mrs. Barbara Temple disappointed
when the day came for leaving Paris,
and still Prendergast had made no further
sign. What could it mean? He was the last
man in the world to play the coquette masculine;
and it was plain that he had assumed
the flirtation posture toward Sophia in his
sober sort of way. WThy advance so far, and
then stapd still? Mrs. Barbara Temple pondered.
: Then cries she to herself: "I have hit
it!" Her explanation was this: Sophia had
quietly signified to Prendergast, by one of
those tokens with which love's intercourse
abounds, that she loved him not And he,
retiring, and even aixnuenc, naa tanen me
hint submissively.
"Very provoking of Sophy!" the little
woman said. "Very provoking, indeed! If
it would do any good I should lose my temper
with her. But it would not do good?not yet
Prendergast was just the man for her. I am
angry; but I will keep my temper."
And she had her reward- To her great joy,
no sooner had they returned to Kettle well
than Prendergast appeared on the scene
again, and his attitude toward Sophia had
not shifted by a hair's breadth. Evidently,
then, Sophia had not repulsed him after all.
"How fortunate I did not get into a passion!"
the ruler of her spirit remarked to
herself. "It is a good maxim: Never be
really angry; dont even seem to be angry
often. I should have had Sophy crying, and
set her against Prendergast for life, and all
on account of my own hasty judgment."
Prendergast's coming to Kettle well was in
a marked way. He did not stay with anybody,
but put up at the hotel; find, when he
called on the Temples, he said that he had
run over for a few days, in the hope of increasing
the pleasant acquaintance with
themselves. '
Mrs. Barbara Temple beamed onr him one
of her brightest looks.
"You speak of your pleasure in renewing
the acquaintance," she said. "You say
nothing about ours. I can never forget all
your attention to us in Paris. And what a
pleasant time that was!"
"Part of my visit to Paris," he remarked
significantly, "I enjoyed more than anything
in my life."
MR. PRENDERGAST.
He spoke quietly; and Mrs. Temple, glancing
at her daughter, saw her bend over her
little morsel of lacework with a crimson
cheek.
"She knows now, at all events," the mother
said triumphantly.
And when Prendergast took his leave, Mrs.
Temple resolved fairly to open her mind to
Sophia.
"I have never, Sophy," she began, "never
in my life seen a man who more takes my
fancy." The door was hai-dly shut upon him.
"At first I thought him rather dull and,
well?sanctified." Here our little vivacious
sinner made the smallest and genteelest face
of sco^n. "But that soon wears off; and I
declare that, in spite of my first impression,
I find him the most truly lively, entertaining,
accomplished man I have ever met. What
do you think, Sophy?"
"He is very agreeable,'' Sophia said seriously.
"Polite without affectation, witty without
coarseness, serious without cant," Mrs. Temple
went on, in true Eighteenth century high
style. "He is a specimen of moderation in
all things; and moderation, Sophia, next to
repose of manner, is the great mark of a gentleman.
A gentleman should be a little of
everything, and not too much of anything.
Have you ever met so accomplished a man?"
"Yes," Sophia replied, dexterously affecting
not to hear the last part of her mother's
speech, "he is all you say. 1 like him greatly."
"I am going to ask him to dinner," Mrs.
Temple said.
"What, mamma!" exclaimed Sophia. "Company
so soon! Wait a little."
"Not company, child," the mother answered.
"All alone. He will like it better than a
party."
"And spoil one of our little snug evenings,"
Sophia murmured. "Don't, mamma."
"Now what is there in our evenings you so
enjoy, Sophia?"
"Oh," that dear hypocrite answered, "I enjoy
the quiet?and?and our music?and?
and your talk, mamma, and all your funny,
lively stories. You are the best comp&ny in
the world!"
She put her hands caressingly round her
mother's neck, and the mother, who always
showed herself pleased with every mark of
affection from her daughters, drew one round
white arm along her lips, giving it a succession
of tiny kisses.
"Poor Prendergast will find it terribly dull
at the hotel, Sophy. Really, it would be quite
barbarous to leave him there alone."
"Well, if you must have him, mamma,
have some people to meet him."
"I don't think he would care for that"
"If he wants society, it is just what he
would care for mamma."
"But he does not want society," the mother
replied; "only a little friendly chat and
music. Yes," she added, resolved to carry
her point at once, "I shall sit down and
write a note to him this moment."
The note was sent that evening, but no answer
came. Mrs. Temple began to think she
nmst be altogether out in her surmises. But
at twelve o'clock next morning, when Sophia
was walking in the town, the name of Mr.
Prendergast was announced, and he stepped
into the room with an apology for the early
call on his lips, and yet with an air which
plainly said: "My business is my excuse."
Mrs. Barbara Temple assured her visitor that
his call was not inopportune.
"In fact," she said, with one of her engaging
laughs, "I am famished for a little scandal.
Scandal, if you please!"
"My call," Prendergast remarked quietly,
"is not of that character. The fact is," he
continued, opening his business at once, "I
have been greatly struck by your daughter,
I wish to use no flattering language, but 1
assure you that never, never have I se n anj
young lady who seemed to possess half hoi
attractions. She is a lovely girl!"
He stopped, and a slight moisture in hu
eyes signified that he was speaking from hi
heart Mrs. Temple made a graceful incliua
tion of her head.
"It is always agreeable to a motner to hcai
her daughter praised," she said. "You kav<
not overrated Sophia, as I, who have watche.';
her from her cradle, can tell you."
"I came to see you this morning partly or
your account," Prendergast continued. "1
know the responsibilities and anxieties of e
mother, left in solo charge of so attractive e
girl. I do not wish to add to them, and the
least intimation of disapproval of my suit or
your part will be sufficient to make me
abandon it at once, and finally."
Possibly this grave gentleman, having eyes
in his .head, may have known that the little
mother was dying to call him son-in-law
and this noble speech may have had a trace
Of hum Dug Ul II. DUt .lurs. utu uaia icyoi
enced this sort of humbug. It was mon
spicy than reality. She would not hav<
liked Prendergast for really meaning all this
civil consideration; but for pretending tc
mean it, and for uttering the pretense witt
an air so perfectly pharisaic, she could hav*
kissed him there and then. So, Pharisee
feminine against Pharisee masculine, she
looked at him with a small and pensive sigh.
"How few men show such consideration."
"I came also," said he, "on my own account
If Mi*s Temple is engaged, or if she
is not likely to look with favor upon me, 1
had rather know it At least you might perhaps
give me your?your?advice."
Mr*. Temple liked him better than ever.
' Sly fellow." she said to herself. "If h<
dances as neatly as he plays demure he musl
make a good figure at a ball."
Aloud she remarked:
"In these matters I always like to speal
with the greatest possible frankness. Wean
not driving a bargain across a counter.
Your offer is to me, so far as I know you al
present," the defenseless woman inserted thii
attorney clause with the sweetest smile
"most gratifying. I believe you would trj
to make Sophia happy, and would succeed.'
It was Prendergast's turn to incline his
head now, and he did it
"As to Sophia," continued the mother
joining the tips of her fingers in a pondering
sort of way, "that is a much more intricate
matter."
"She is not engaged, is she?" the suitoi
cried hastily. .
"She is not. She is perfectly unfettered.
But there has been a sort of attachment; hei
affections have been "
"I understand," Prendergast said with a
grave face. "You wish to break it gently t<
me. I can assure you I should never try it
the remotest way to take from another mar
affections I should so treasure if they were
my own."
He was speaking his real mind now, anc
Mrs. Temple looked at him, hovering betweer
admiration and amusement She had lived
in a world of honor, but not quite honor ol
this sort; however, she nlw-s made her bow
to virtue when it was well dressed and expressed
itself genteelly.
"A most high-minded feeling," she said,
"Just as I should feel myself. But in th(
present case such scruples would be out ol
place. This is only a boy and a girl affair
there is no money, no prospect, no hope. 3
have said myself?kindly, but firmly?that e
marriage, or even an engagement, is out ol
the question."
"And you do not think Miss Temple's hearl
irrevocably given away?"
It was a lesson in posture and grimace tc
see the little worldling's pantomimic answer.
She disjoined the finger tips, and her white
hands with upward palm, her gently raised
eyebrows, her shoulders quivering with a
scarcely perceptible shrug, her quick significant
smile, were each members of an unbroken
sentence. The meaning was, "The
female heart?our heart?is seldom given irrevocably.
Try for yourself." It was perfectly
Parisian.
"In that case," Prendergast said, reading
her like print and with rising spirits, "I am
full of hope."
"You ntay be," 6he answered; "but still
my daughter is not an ordinary girl. Then
must be gi-eat care. Every step must be
taken with thought, and with an end in view.
In a word, Mr. Prendergast, I think you
had better be guided by me from first to last.'
"I shall most thankfully," he said; and
| tnen ne composed mmseu u> jisu.'h iu ui& munr
| tress.
CHAPTER II.
j "HONOR YOUR PARENT" AND "SERVE YOUR
SELF."
Mrs. Barbara Temple was in her glory,
For a less complicated or a mora immediately
hopeful undertaking she would scarcely have
cared. Sophia, she well knew, was not ar
easy woman to turn, and sti 1 less was she
easy to beguile. Percival Brent had really
taken the girl's fancy. He was more prepossessing,
with his youth and his generoui
ways, than this grave, rerious stranger, verg
ing on middle life. Ard the mother hac
found by experience that affection witl
Sophia was not mere wbim or fancy, mucl
less self-interest or passion. Its roots struci
deep. For Mrs. Temple's present purpose the
mere vulgar bril?es of wealth and ease wen
not enough; all kinds of motives must be en
gaged, auxiliaries from innumerable quarters
must be united; the campaign mast be care
fully planned, the advance made neither toe
early nor too late, just at the moment ol
fate; and then the kingdom of Sophia's hearl
would be won. But all this only kindlec;
Mrs. Barbara Temple into excitement Mar
rying Car and Sibyl had been child's play
here was a game for a mistress. She felt the
same exultation which a chess player feels
who, long used to engage with adversaries tc
whom he can give a castle and win easily,
sits at last facing an enemy who would wir
if he got a pawn or a move.
"Everything "must be done at the righl
tune," she said. "Everything must be done
in the right way. Whom can I trust foi
that? Whom? Nobody except myself!"
First of all she talked to Prendergast her
self. Mingling a certain deference for hii
opinion with unconcealed reliance on her own
she told him that for the present he had bet
ter not make any advances to Sophia.
"Rather the opposite," she said. "Seem t<
retreat Sophia has already noticed you]
liking for her. Now, if you withdraw for ?
while, you will puzzle her. She will say
'Did he admire me alter all, or not? Has he
on coming to know me better, found me less
attractive?1 You will excite her curiosity
which, let me tell you, is a great thing for i
lover to do. Besides, although Sophia ma]
not care for you, having once secured youi
admiration, she will not like to lose it N<
woman wishes that a man who once admirec
her should cease to admire her. She ma]
not care for him?she may even have ai
aversion to hhn?but she likes him to can
for her. And, I say, if Sophia finds thatyoi
grow cooler, she will wonder, question witl
liovc-olf fool n Utt.lfl "nimipfl * niul thpn. i
you turn round again and confess her ]K>wei
?well?well?she will be rather more dis
posed to give you some slight encouragement
Am I letting you into too many of oui
secrets, Mr. Prendergastt"
"With j our knowledge of the heart," hi
answered, "I could have vanquished Cleo
patra."
Sh bowed, but scarcely took time to tasti
the flavor of the compliment. No sooner wa
luncheon over than, making some excuse foi
dropping Sophia at a friend's house at one en<
of the town, she drove out to see Sybil, the firs
ally whose co-operation she meant to secure
Sibyl was alone in her drawing room, an<
certainly all around were abundant signs o
the magnitude of the price she* had fetchec
in the matrimonial exchange. She lookec
very handsome, quite superb, Mrs. Tempi
thought, as she rose to meet her mother Bu
there was discontent in her face.
"Sibyl, dear," the mother said, "your tast
is nothing short of perfect. This drawinj
room grows lovelier every day. Where die
you pick up that little picture?"
"In Boncl street," she answered, listlesslj'.
"You paid a price for it, I can guess?"
"I know nothing about prices," Sibyl an
swered haughtily.
"And never need," replied her mother
quicklj'. "Happy girl!"
Sibyl made no answer.
"I have come, dear," her mother now said
"to ask j-our assistance in a very delicat
matter. Prendergast wants to maiTy Sc
phia."
"Sophia will not marry at present," Siby
remai kefl.
"Not unless we are very judicious. Bu
with management she will. Prendergast is i
man after her own heart, just the sort o
man she would have fallen in love with i
[ this ridiculous affair with Mr. Brent's son did
not stop the way. Now Sophia must not pass
, this offer by. I am determined she shall
j not Prendergast is very rich, and he is willing
to settle down here."
"And what of that?" Sibyl asked.
"What of that? Why, here you three
girls will be in the one neighborhood, and
that a pleasant one. Each will have a handsome
establishment; and think how you will
be able to put yourselves at the head of
everything. You will soon be the leaders of
the county; with your looks and your
cleverness and your taste you ought to be.
Yon can have your London houses, you and
Sophia immediately, and Car when those old
people die. You can have your trips to the
continent, your entertainments at home?0,
Sibyl, why had I never such a choice when I
i was your age? How I should have enjoyed
the world!"
"You did enjoy it, mamma."
< ".now, oiDyi," me mouier went uu, nut
> noticing this remark, "there is one thing
which I wish you to impress upon Sophia;
> that is the comfort of riches. You can sp< ak
> from experience; tell her how fine a thing
i wealth is. Impress it upon her. You might
> even say, foryou'know Sophy's turn of mind,
i that you find yourself able to do much good
> j ?to help the poor?charitable work?
? j churches?anything can be done with money.
> That is my special charge to you, Sibyl; the
next time you and Sophy meet tell her something
of your experience of riches. Now
where is Archibald ?"
? "He went into the library after lunch,"
Sibyl said rather sulkily. "He wanted to
read The Times."
Two minutes later Mrs. Barbara Temple
was confronting her son-in-law Goldmore,
> who, with his newspaper laid across his
S knee, waited to hear what it was of which
her shrewd face was full.
"Sophia has had an offer?at least it has
t been made to me?from Mr. Prendergast"
> Goldmore bowed his head in a way which
signified approval of Mr. Prendergast. Then
i he said:
?- "It would have been a good connection
if "
' "If what?"
' "If Sophia had not fallen in love with
? Brent"
"Now, my dear Archibald," cried Mrs.
i Temple, slapping her hands together slightly
; in her vexation, "surely you know better
> than that Sophia has not given her heart
away; it is a girlish whim, and we might
safely leave it to cure itself; only time
| presses. Sophia must rnarry Prendergast
I should die of chagrin if I saw another woman's
daughter get him now. In this matter
you can help me. You have weight and digl
nity, and you speak in a commanding way.
) Now, I want you to press this marriage upon
i Sophia, from the point of obedience, duty
i and prudence. You can tell her how much
i my heart is fixed upon it; and you might say
something about the blessing attached to
1 | those who obey the fifth commandment"
i I Here our little mother coughed slightly, blessl
, ing being rather a foreign expression to her
1 j organs of speech. "Sophia is a serious girl,
' i and will think of that."
I "Put Mrs Tpmnle." Goldmore renlied. "I
fcardly like to use such nn argument with Soj
phia. From what I have seen of her, I
> should not for a moment doubt that her con
scientiousness is much greater than my own;
; and it seems rather hypocritical, and even op[
pressive, to urge upon the girl an obligation
t for which, as a matter of fact, she has a
J greater regard than I should have had myj
self. Besides, if she really loves this young
i ' fellow "
| "A lad without a sixpence, and without a
? prospect! 0, Archibald, you are not giving
your mind to the subject! Tell me now"?the
i little woman faced him like some warrior of
1' argument?"ought not both men and women
i. to regulate their lives with an eye to prudence,
common sense and the main chance?"
Poor Goldmore! Prudence, common sensp,
) and an eye to the main chance had been his
laws of life; prudence, common sense, and an
eye to the main chance bad made him a two
'hundred and fifty thousand pound man. His
[ own deities were before him, and he must do
i , them reverence.
I "You are a wise woman," he said; "I will
I do as you desire. I will talk over the matter
s with Sophia."
? "Now," Mrs. Barbara Temple said, as her
trim little chestnuts whisked her along to the
i residence of Egerton Doolittle, "I have se1
cured,Sibyl and her husband."
I ; She checked off two fingers.
"I want thfee more. I shall get them; and
i then, Sophy, dear, I think your future will
I be safe; and in years to come you will thank
your poor old worldly mother!"
CHAPTER in.
, ; EGERTON DOOLITTLE GIVES HIS VOICE FOR
' j SEVERE MEASURES.
! 1 When Mrs. Barbara Temple was ushered
1 into Cai-oline's drawing room, she caught
* sight of the young husband and wife sitting
r ' side by side on a sofa. Her coming was evi*
dently unexpected, and Egerton, ejaculating
} j "My gracious!" dashed out into a conservatory
adjoining the drawing room, while
I Caroline, composing herself, met her mother
l i with just the smallest signs of momentary con1
; fusion. The little woman glanced at two
* love birds perched side by side in a cage
> which hung: over the conservatory threshold,
> and then she retailed Sibyl, sitting in her
lonely splendor.
' "For some things," our little Filpay remarked
privately, "for some things a young
> fool is better than an old sage. But these are
t only the etceteras of life; Sibyl has secured
t the grand thing, after all, and more of it
1 than Car. Life is pretty equal."
"Caroline, my dear girl," she said after a
; few casual w ords, "I have come this morning
i to consult you on a matter of the greatest ims
portance. I know your good sense, and the
) energy with which you can act when you
have decided what is right to be done. If it
i was not for you, Caroline, and your tact and
judgment I should be in despair."
t ; With this insinuating preface she told the
> ; story of Prendergast's proposal; and after
(xpanding in the most glowing style in praises
of his person, character and estate, she turned
i to the dismal topic of Sophia's infatuation for
> i that penniless Australian boy.
, l "For this whim, this caprice, this idea,
- , which is not worthy to be called an idea, she
| will actually sacrifice a man who is not only
) a man of family and fortune, but whose character
is of the very pattern she most professes
i to admire. I protest, Caroline, it will drive
, : me wild."
. | "It certainly is unfortunate," Car said,
s "And unless you co-operate with me, work
, with me, and work hard and wisely, too,
i Sophia will lose the best chance in life she
r ever t an have. I can do nothing without
r your assistance, dear."
) "I shall do all in my power, mamma," Carl
oline replied; "but you must tell me what
T you wish."
l "It was on my tongue, dear girl. You
s must have a conversation with Sophia?let it
l seem accidental?and say you have heard
l about Prendergast. Praise him a little; but
f that is not your particular point. Set before
r Sophy my delight at the idea of the marriage;
the happiness it will give me; how
miserable I shall be if it goes off. Sophia is
r an affectionate girl, and I believe would do
a very great deal simply to show her love
a to me. Now, you mast put before her
strongly my feelings and hopes; for, indeed,
dear, if Prendergast does not marry her I
a shall die of vexation. Now go over and over
s this matter with Sophia. You know, Car,
r she is not like you?clear-headed, of sound
l judgment, seeing wnat is rigut at a glance,
t and firm to carry out her ideas. She is soft,
yielding, tender-hearted. If I were you I
1 should coax her a little, kiss her, he tender
f vith her; all that will tell with Sophia. Now
i I know, my love, I have given you a dif1
fieult task to perform, and nothing but
b my knowledge of your tact would have
t encouraged rue to ask you to undertake
it. But you will do it, and do it well.
0 Sophia will marry Prendergrast, and the
y ! praise of the affair will be yours."
J ! The little mother had not said one syllable
about Car's cleverness which was
j unmerited ; but however astute that
! young lady might he, she was like an
osier wand in the skilled hands of her
" mother. With wonderful enthusiasm
j Car took up the scheme, and not less
w mderful was the simple obedience with
. which she resolved to follow out the dij
rections that were given her. Iudepend|,
ent aVid inventive as she was in herself,
e she yet learned her mother's words by
h heart as faithfully as if she bad been getting
up a scene in a play. Khe did not
j insert a word of her own ; and the more
j she showed her readiness to follow her
. 1 mother's infractions implicitly, the more
did that unrivaled student of human na*
turo laud her quickness, her resources,
* her capacity for maneuver and benevtt
. lent stratagem.
Presently Egerton looked in from the
conservatory giggling and blushing.
' 'I have heard all you have been saying
to Carry," he said. "Twasn't listening,
I hope. Could't help it if it was, the
other door being locked. O, Mrs. Temple,
do you know I really think you
must be a clever woman ; i really ttiink
you must be. You seem to know everything
and to manage everybody. I quite
agree with you about instilling things
intoSophia's mind. Impress upon her"?
here Egerton teapottod himself and with
outstretched hand began fluently?"impress
upon her the tremendous importance
ot' marriage. Tell her that marrinorpv
la Mi? anrt nf t hiiic t hnt must t>o dnnn
v"* - pi - w..v,
you know. You ran assure her from
me that it is tremendously important.
And you can tell her that my experience
is that it isn't so much matter whom you
marry as the thing itself. Do that, and
the rest will follow. Of course I was not
speaking of myself quite, you know,
not altogether; for Carry is such a tremendously
nice girl that I don't hardly
know" that I could have found another
wife who would have made me so happy?at
least, not without a great deal of
trouble, you know. But I mean you are
to impress on Sophia that, in a general
way-, it does not much mattor whom you
marry. And then, if she won't see itwell,
I scarcely know what to advise."
The stream now became intermittent,
and Egerton began to show symptoms of
wandering in his mind. "I was reading
some book lately about a girl that would
not marry somebody ; and what her parents
did was, they shut her up in some
tower somewere, and kept her on bread
and water. But you see you have no
tower at the Beeches. Still, you might
try the bread and water. It is wonderful
what diet does." ,
Off flew our elderly little Venus once
more, charioted hither and thither on the
errands and the mischief of love. She
knitted her brows, she made her little
glove finger tips meet, she set a reflective
mouth, and thus she conned over the
state of her plans.
"Sibyl is to place before her the comforts
and the advantages of wealth;
Sibyl will do it well. Archibald Goldmore
is to press duty upon her and take
her on the ground of the fifth commandment.
I can see him now?slow, solemn,
parsonic. 0, if I had time to laugh over
it, I should. And Caroline will work on
her feelings; that will come best from
Car, who has not much feeling of her
own, because Sophia will reason: 'Well,
if Car thinks so, there must be something
in it.' Interest, obedience, affection. Yet,
it is not bad. And there is more to come.
Sophia, I shall marry you, without a
tower, or bread and water, either! Simply
by tact, dear?by tact."
[to he continued next week.]
RICHARD A. ARNOLD.
It looks very much as if the Washington
Police Department would
have to be thoroughly re-organized,
or else become an object of so much
resentment on the part of Congressmen,
as to make it difficult to secure
decent consideration from that body.
Major Walker, the Superintendent
of Police, has instucted his Lieutenants
to watch the movements of Congressmen,
and Major Walker himself
has promptly preferred charges
before theJ)istrict Commissioners of
"conduct unbecoming an officer"
against Lieutenant Richard A. Arnold.
The trial of several charges
were begun in November, 1880, and
there is'consequently no little stir
among political circles at Washington.
Numerous witnesses were called
upon to testify and Lieutenant
Arnold set the report, about the proposed
surveillance of Congressmen,
in motion, but it is assumed that
there will be no attempt made to
disprove any of the testimony so far
given. A statement made by Major
Walker has apologized for circulating
the report, and had asked to be
reduced to tne ranns, is regarueu as
damaging, but the general opinion
seemsto be that the Lieutenants were
given to understand that there was
to be watching and reports, and that
some sort of control over Congress
was to be exercised in that way.
Should the - trial Board consider it
wise to whitewash the Superintendent
and punish Lieutenant Richard
Arnold, it is not probable that this
course will prevents Congressional
investigation or a general re-organization
of the police depatment.
TUB EATERS OF OLIVES.
The extent to which the olive is
used varies greatly in different countries.
In northern countries it is
used chiefly as a relish eaten by itself,
or as a sauce, seasoning or stuffing
for meats, fowls or game. It is on
the tables of the rich what the French
call a hors dVeuvre?that is, a side
dish or table superfluity. But it is
far otherwise with the poor in the
south of Europe to whom it is an important
article of diet. In ancient
times the poor made an entire meal
of bread and olives. It is still the
same in some parts of Europe, where
a peasant thinks himself prepared for
a journey with a piece of bread under
his arm and a handful of olives in
his pocket. In southern Italy no
meal is made without olives. The
olive merchants pass regularly at
supper time through the poorer quarters
of the city.
It is the Spanish habit to eat olives
at the end of a meal, but not too
many. Three or four are usually
thought enough, or if they are very
good one may eat a dozen. An Italian
author recommends the preserving
of Spanish olives?that is, of
those grown on Italian soil?but prefers
those called St. Francis, which
is common at Ascoli, where it attains
the size of a walnut. It is, however,
generally ageed among gourments
that the smaller olives are best for
eating. The manner of treatment
has, nevertheless, perhaps something
to do with the coarse quality of the
Spanish olive when found in the peninsula.
Olives are preserved in
Italy, as elsewhere, in weak lye or
brine. They are also bruised, stuffed
in the Bordeaux manner or
dried.
In eastern countries, wnence trie
olive came, the fruit forms still an
important article of diet. A traveler
relates that he found delicious a meal
of eggs, olives and grapes offered,
him by the monks of the monastery
of Mount Libanus. It is traditional
in theCatholic church that the monks
living in the desert fed principally
on olives. Throughout Turkey, Asia
Minor, Greece and other countries
about the Mediterranean the olive
has remained, as in most ancient
times, a substantial article of food
| and a necessary means of existence
to the toiling millions.?Cor. Mm
I I
Miscellaneous grading. |
BILL NYE AT THE PLAY.
Last evening I went to hear Mr. Edwin .
Booth in "Hamlet." I had read the play
before, but it was better as he gave it, I
think. The play of "Hamlet" is not ,
catchy, and there is a noticeable lack of
local gags in it. There is considerable dis- ,
cussion among critics as to whether Ham- ,
let was really insane or not, but I think
that he assumed it in order to throw the ;
prosecution off the track, for he was a '
very smart man, and when his uncle tried
to work off some of his Danish prevarications
on him I fully expected him to ,
pull a card out of his pocket and present (
it to his royal tallness, on which might be j
seen the legend, j
* * j
i I AM SOMETHING OF A LIAR MYSELF!! 1
* * !
But I am glad he did not, for it would
have seemed out of character in a play
like that. ;
Mr. Booth wore a dark waterproof cloak
all the evening, and a sword with which
he frequently killed people. He was dress- |
ed in black throughout, with hair of the |
same shade. He is using the same hair j
in "Hamlet" that he did twenty years '
ago though he uses less of it. He wears
black knickerbockeis and long, black, (
clock less stockings.
Mr. Booth is doing well in the acting
business, frequently getting as high as $2 ,
apiece for tickets to his performances. He '
was encored by the audience several times
last night, but refrained from repeating
the play, fearing that it would make it
late for those who had to go back to Belladonna,
0., after the close of the entertainment.
Toward the end of the play a little rough !
on rats gets into the elderberry wine and ,
the royal family drink it, after which ,
there is considerable excitement, and a ;
man with a good, reliable stomach pump, |
would have all he could do. Several of
the royal family curl up and perish.
They do not die in the house.
During an interview between Hamlet ;
and his mother an old gentleman who has !
the honor to be Ophelia's father hides
behind a picket fence, so as to overhear
the conversation. He gets excited and
says something in a low, guttural tone of
voice, whereupon Hamlet runs his sword '
through the picket fence in such a way ,
as to borea large hole into the old man, ;
who then dies.
I have heard a great many people speak
the piece beginning:
To be or not to be,
but Mr. Booth does it better than any one
I have ever heard. I once heard an elocutionist?kind
of a smart Alickutionist,
as my friend the Hoosier Poet would say.
This man recited "To be or not to be" 1
in a manner which, he said, had frequently
brought tears to eyes unused to weep. 1
He recited it with his right hand socked
into his bosom up to the elbow and his I
fair hair tossed about over his brow. His
teeming brain, which claimed to be a kind 1
of a four-horse teaming brain as it were,
seemed to be on fire, mid to all appearances
he was indeed mad. So were the
people who listened to him. He hissed
it through his clinched teeth and snorted
it through his ripe, red nose, wailed it
up into the ceiling, and bleated it down
the aisles, rolled iloveragainst the rafters
of his reverberating mouth, handed it out
in big capsules, or hissed it through his
puckered atomizer of a mouth, wailed and
bellowed like a wild and maddened tailless
steer in fly time, darted across the
stage like a headless hen, ripped the gentle
atmosphere into shreds with his guinea
hen voluntary, and bowed to us and teetered
off the stage.
Mr. Booth does not hoist his shoulders
and settle back on his "pastern jints" like
a man who is about to set a refractory
brake on a coal car, neither does he immerse
his right arm in his bosom up to
the second joint. He seems to have the
idea that Hamlet spoke these lines mostly
because he felt like saying something, instead
of doi ng i t to i ntrod uce.a setof healthlift
gestures and a hoarse, baritone snort.
A head of dank hair, a low, mellow,
union depot tone of voice, and a dark
blue, three-sheet poster; will not make a
successful Hamlet, and blessed be the man
who knows this without experimenting
on the people till he has bunions on his
immortal soul.
IN A DEAD MAN'S POCKET.
Stephen Allen Price was a man who
was liked and looked up to by all who
knew him. He was honest, kind and
true, a warm friend and a good neighbor.
The boys and girls all liked him because
ho novor forcrot. thnf ho hud hppn votinir .
once himself. He was never stiff and
cross and bossy with them, but was their
good friend. He became rich, was made
mayor of New York city, and lived to be
very old. He lost his life in a steamboat
disaster. Those who found his dead body
found a scrap of printed paper in his pocketbook.
It was so worn with oft reading
that they could scarcely make out the
words, but this is what was upon the
paper:
Keep good company or none. Never
be idle.
If your hands cannot be usefully employed
attend to the cultivation of your
mind.
Always speak the truth. Make few
promises.
Live up to your engagements.
Keep your own secrets, if you have any.
When you speak to a person, look him
in the face.
Good company and good conversation
are the very sinews of virtue.
Good character is above all things else.
Your character cannot be essentially injured
except by your own acts.
If any one speaks evil of you, let your
life be so that none will believe him.
Drink no kind of intoxicating liquors.
Ever liye (misfortune excepted) within
yur income.
When you retire to bed, think over
what you have been doing during the day.
Make no haste to be rich, if you would
prosper.
Small and steady gainsgive competency
with tranquility of mind.
Never play at any game of chance.
Avoid temptation through fear you may
not withstand it.
Earn money before you spend it.
Never run into debt, unless you see
plainly your way to get out again.
Never borrow, if you can possibly avoid
doing so.
I)o not marry until you are able to support
a wife.
Never speak eyil of any one. Be just
before you are generous.
Keep yourself innocent if you would be
happy- _ ,
save wnen are young to spenu wnen
you are old.
Ilead over the above maxims, at least,
once a week. 1
AN ALASKA FOREST.
Wandering around near a camp I was <
struck with astonishment at the great size
of the trees of the forest into which we 1
had crept. Within twenty feet of our \
camp-fire were two trees, one of which
measured twelve feet, seven inches and c
the other seventeen feet in circumference (
at the height of a person's arm from the t
ground. The latter had its thick, shaggy i
bark stripped off nearly to the ground, {
being a dead tree, and thus losing much i
in its measurement. About thirty yards
from camp was a tree that gave twenty- s
one feet in circumference at about six feet
from the ground. The most astonishing
part was that such a forest should be c
found actually surrounded by ice ten to
twenty miles across in every direction, c
Of course it is reasonable to suppose that c
trees were here before the ice, and that
this forest probably once connected with
the forests of the great flat lands. Here
was undoubted evidence that this small
forest was being obliterated rapidly by
the advancing front of the Guyot glacier,
the foot-ice grinding the huge trees into
pulp and splinters as surely as a quartzcrusher
grinds the rock into powder,
rrees five and six feet through were bent
:>verand splintered as if they were brush,
while some of the fallen trunks were split
longitudinally into perfect kindling-wood.
It was the mills of the gods grinding
slowly, etc. Nor were they grinding so
very slowly, either, as one could see by
comparing them with other glacial action
near by. But a little way off, probably a
half-mile to a mile away, was a small
clump of woods, into which the glacier
in the past had protruded, as shown by
the fallen shattered trunks that lay near
the edge of a small moraine, from which
the glacier had now retreated a great
number of rods. Out from the bristling
line of shattered tree trunks piled over
each other for nearly or fully a hundred
yards all the spruce trees were dead but
still standing, their whitened trunks and
long, gaunt limbs contrasting strangely
and conspicuously with the trees still covered
with foliage that formed their background.
These dead evergreens had been
actually killed by the proximity of the
ice without its touching them, and either
by its chilling influence, kept ujj throughout
the year for probably centuries, or the
constant application of the ice-water about
their roots preventing their growth, for
along this loot-ice there was always a
marshy stream of ice-water draining off
to the nearest muddy creek or rill. This
was true of the glacier foot not over fifty
yards from our camp in the forest, for here
we cht nnr water for onnkintr nnrnnses.
but here, also, the ice of the glacier had
evidently come forward so fast that the
trees were rather killed by thedirect crushing
of their trunks and limbsthan by the
3lower one of the influence of great masses
of ice near by, and it was possible to sit
clown on this foot-ice of the Guyot glacier,
probably ten to twenty feet thick at that
point and at the same time be under the
shade of a huge evergreen tree, if a person
desired two such cooling influences at
the same time. Thus I came to the conclusion
that the front of this great glacier
was like the fingers of some huge radiati
nganimal prolongi ng themselves outward
and retracting again at long intervals, that
would require many human lives, one
after the o her, to measure a single stride
and its backward flow.?FrederickSchwatkci,
in N. Y. Times.
THE IRISH*ALPHABET.
Our alphabet came to us from the Irish
missionaries and professors of religion and
wisdom, who taught Christianity to the
heathen Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Goths,
Germans, Danes, and Swedes, several centuries
after the death of our Lord. Instead
of using the Latin names for the letters
taken from the Christian Romans, they
gave them names of their own. Their
wise and pious men had been members of
or were the pupils of a class of learned
heathens called the Druids. In ancient
Ireland a Druid was a prophet, priest,
doctor, and magician and the name seems
t.v Ww. ..,Uk A (4t-rsr* 99 T4
i'j uc luuiictiru v>itu uui wuiu ucc. it
was against the rule of the Druids to write
things down. They were in the habit of
retiring to the deepest woods for meditation
and study, sometimes attended by
pupils. That is probably the reason why
the Irish, among whom the Druidsretained
their power the longest?because Ireland
was the hardest to reach of all the
great islands thereabout and the last to
feel the changes takiug place elsewhere
in Europe?chose this pretty system of
naming the letters of the Latin alphabet
when it became common. Instead of
calling A alpha, as the Latins usually did,
they said A, ailm, th6 word which stood
in their language for palm-tree, and came,
in sound nearest to alpha, and began with
an A. Instead of beta they said beith,
the word for birch-tree, almost the same
in sound as the Phenician, but quite different
in meaning. And so with tne other
letters: Coll, hazel; duir, oak; eadha,
aspen; fearan, alder; gort, ivy; liuath,
whitehorn; iogha, yew; luis, mountain
ash; tnuin vine; num; ash; oir, broom;
peith, dwarf elder; suil, willow; tein,
furz; ur, heath. They called this alphabet
"bethuisnion," choosing out the letters
B, L. N, instead of the letters A. and
B, to form a name.?St. Nicholas.
Value of Education.?In urging upon
workingmen the value of learning, the following
among other considerations have
been averted to. If we compare an educated
with an uneducated man in regard
to their ability to make a living and get
on in the world, we find :
1. An educated man is more easily instructed
in any industrial pursuit.
Both mental and bodily exertion are
necessary in all kinds of work. An educated
man comprehends better the principles
of his trade and acquires a mastery
of it sooner than an ignorant one. Mental
activity leads directly to increased dexterity,
and gives greater power of concentration
upon a given purpose.
2. An educated man can adapt himself
to change of circumstances or new employments
more easily than one not educated.
An educated man is more self-directed,
not so much the creature of circumstance
and accident as the uneducated. The introduction
of new machinery, changes in
the fashion, the failure of mines, opening
of new fields to the agriculturist?these
and many other things produce great
fluctuations and employments and render
a change of work or of its place, or of both,
on the part of large numbers of workingmen.
imnerativelv necessary. Here it is
that the trained intelligence of the educated,
well informed man comes in play
and enables him to look about him intelligently
and judiciously.
3. Education has a tendency to elevate
the thoughts of the workingman, to give
him more self respect, and well founded
self-confidence.
These all tend toward the development
of the highest style of manhood. They
tend to make a man more industrious and
more saving, and give him a taste for a
higher and more rational class of amusements.
Such a man is a man more satisfactory
to employ, and when work is
scarce, is among the first to find employment.
An intelligent man rarely becomes
a pauper. His intelligence begets forethought
which in turn becomes the parent
of thrift and economy. It is such as he
who builds the happiest homes in this
favored land, where cheerful saving and
intelligent industry drive away the fear
of want.?Kwhanqe.
Problem for Atheists.?If you meet
with an atheist, do not let him entangle
you into the discussion of side issues. As
to many points which he raises, you must
learn to make the Rabbi's answer, "I do
not know." But ask him these seven
questions:
First ask him, Where did matter come
from ? Can a dead thing create itself?
Second ask him, Where did motion
lome from ?
Third, ask him, Where did life come
from save from the finger-tip of Oranipo;ence
?
Fourth, ask him. Whence came the ex
juisite order and design in nature? If
)ne told you that millions of printer's
;y pes should fortuitously shape themselves
nto the divine comedy of Dante or the
days of Shakespeare, would you not think
lim a madman ?
Fifth, ask him, From whence cameconiciousness?
Sixth, ask him, Who gave you free will?
Seventh and last, ask him, Whence
:ame conscience?"
He who says there is no God in the face
>f these questions talks simply stupend>us
nonsense.?Cannon Farrcir.
Six Suicides.?The Bible gives
an account of six suicides:
1. Samson, the giant judge of Israel,
for twenty years without a spot
on his judicial proceedings, fell In
bad society, was captured by his
enemies and to free himself from
disgrace and the cruel sport of his
enemies, killed himself by his own
strength. Judges xv. 9-19
2. Saul, King of Israel, lost the
battle of Gilboa, afterward threw
himself on the point of his sword
and ended his life. 1 Sam. xxxi.
3. Saul's armor bearer suicided as
did his master, with no name recorded
in the Bible.
4. Ahithophel, the most astute politician
of the age in which he lived.
He joined with Absolom in the conspiracy
against David. His counsel
against David being defeated,
and seeing his own destruction,
hanged himself. 2 Sam. xvii, 23.
5. Zimri murdered Elah, king of
Israel, and usurped the throne, destroyed
the house of Baasha, reigned
7 days and went into the palace of
the king's house, and burnt it with
himsfilf in it. to nrevent his caDture
by Omri. 1 Kings xvi.
G. Judas the traitor, betrayed his
Master, and sold him for thirty
pieces of silver, near $15 of our money.
He brought the money back
and cast it into the temple saying,
"I have sinned in that I have betrayed
the innocent blood," repented
himself. Matt, xxvii. He had
some honest traits about him. Jesus
prayed for worse men than Judas.
Iron in Old Times.?The supply
of iron in India, as far back as 1,500
years seemS to have been well nigh
! unlimited. The iron pillar of* Delhi
! is a single piece of wrought-iron
measuring fifty feet in length, and
weighing not less than seventeen
tons, ana is a most remarkable work
for such a country as India at so early
a period. How so large a mass of
iron was forged we cannot tell, and
one is almost forced to the conclusion,
when brought face to face with great
works of this character, that the ancients,
in iron and steel manufacture,
and in engineering must have known
and practiced much that we know
and practice now. Inventions possibly
have been found, and have been
lost, and have been found again, and
we are practicing now, thousands of
years later, what our predecessors
actually accomplished thousands of
years earlier. Be that as it may, the
influence of the discovery of iron on
the progress of art and science cannot
be overestimated. India has
very much more than repaid any advantage
which she may have derived
from the early civilized communities
of the West, in being the first to
annnlw thocp QnmP WpstPm COmmU
nitses with iron and steel. China,
also, had probably as early a knowledge
of the use of iron as India, and
had a very special advantage over
the latter empire.
? ?> - -? The
Night Life of Young Men.
One night often destroys a whole
life. The leakage of the night keeps
the day forever empty. Night is
sin's harvest time. More sin and
crime are. committed in one night,
than in all the days of the week. This
is more emphatically true of the city
than of the country. The street
lamps, like a file of soldiers, with
torch in hand, stretch away in long
lines on either sidewalk; the gay
colored transparencies are ablaze with
attractions; the saloon and billiard
halls are brilliantly illuminated;
music sends forth its enchantment;
the gay company begins to gather to
the haunts and houses of pleasure;
the theatres are wide open, the mills
of destruction are grinding health,
honor, happiness, hope out of a thousand
lives. The city under the gaslight
is not the same under God's
sunlight. The allurements and perils
and pitfalls of night are a hundred
fold deeper ana darker and
more destructive. Night life in our
cities is a dark problem, whose
depths and abyssqg and whirlpools
make us start back with horror.?Exchange.
The Terms Men and Women.?
A singular change in the use of the
words designating men and women
has come about within the last fifty
years. In the middle of the present
century it was common to speak of
a man's wife as "his lady." To-day
such a use of the word would be regarded
by many as an insult.
Neither the word gentleman nor
lady is used as frequently as formerly.
It used to be common for a
young girl to speak of her male
friends as gentleman. Now, she
would say a man had called on her,
or four men were presented 10 ner
during the evening. One is more
likely to hear his barber spoken of as
the gentleman who shaves him than
hear the president of the United
States called the gentleman who occupies
the White House. It wquld
be the man who is president.
The terms gentleman and lady
were originally used to designate a
class in England with special privileges.
There is no distinction in
the United States, and people are all
men and women alike.
t&r The mere lapse of years is not
life; to eat and drink and sleep; to
be exposed to the darkness and the
light; to pace round in the mill of
habit, ana turn the wheel of wealth,
to make reason for our book-keeper,
and turn thought into an impliraent
of trade?this is not life. In all this,
but a poor fraction of the concious- ,
ness of humanity is awakened; and
the sanctities still slumber which
makes it most worth while to be.
Knowledge, truth, love, beauty,
goodness, faith, alone give vitality
to the mechanism of existence. The
laugh of mirth that vibrates through
the heart; the tears that freshen
the dry wastes within, the music
that brings childhood back, the
prayer that calls the future near,
the doubt that makes us meditate,
the death that startles us with mystery,
the hardship which forces us to
struggle, the anxiety that ends in
trust?are the true nourishment of
our natural being.
BSF No one who has a home of his
own need ever be idle. There is always
something to be done to pro-'
mote the convenience or the comfort
of the home, and, in the absence
of work giving money remun
i! ? fKn hnmn
cniuuil^ liic uvuio iuviv
pleasant and comfortable is the best
paying job which any man can undertake.
It is a sign of shiftltfssness,
if not worse, to see a man idle
when a day's work might be well
expended in battening doors and
windows against winter's rude
blasts, or in providing some simple
conveniences long needed by the
good housewife to lighten her work.
Industry always finds work to do.?
Western Rural.
BSF Let whatsoever you say be
clean. The organic law of decency
in human intercourse is clean speech.
One whose mouth is foul is the tainted
wether that infects the flock.
J8ST Man believes that to be a lie
which contradicts testimony ot his
own ignorance.
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