Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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' I ? ? ? ? lewis m. grist, propr ietor. | gin Jndrpcndcnt J^uuilij Jftni'spapcr: Jfor (he ffromotion of the ?oIiliraI, Social, Agricultural and (Commercial JntfitHts of the ^oiith. | terms?$2.00 a year in adyance. VOL. 85. YOEKY1LLE, S. O., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1889. NO. 40. TAKEN B ~NS==0i*i The Story of a Young enees in fi Copyright by J. B. Lippincott Company Special Arrangement throngh the fvt A lyrrt) r | 1 uimi i uxv JU ^ seven and eight; c when he was ten | the mature age of Hfteen his friends were young men and * maidens of eighteen and twenty. It was e not surprising, therefore, to those who c knew him best, to find him at twenty in 6 Jove with a woman of twenty-five. Yet, with all his fondness for older people, r Rush Uurlstone was not a particularly serious young man. No one enjoyed life v more than he; and he enjoyed the gaye- ^ ties of life, too?so well, in fact, that at one time his family had fears that he 1 might fall into fast ways and not realize the brilliant expectations they had form- E ed for him. His father dying at the c close of the civil war, and neither of his 5 brothers seeming to realize the situation. a though both of them were older than he, F he left college and went to work at once E t0 6ettle up his father's affairs Capt. ? Hurlstone had nothing but his pay to E live upon, and when ho died that source ? of revenue was cut off. The mother owned the house sho lived ' In at Farmsted, an old fashioned New * York village; but there were five chil- v dren, including Rush, two older boys, F John and Philip, and two girls, who ^ were younger than he, Marion and Rosalind. John was in the army with his e father as a volunteer. He was an amia- E ble, popular, selfish fellow, who founJ his lieutenant's pay hardly sufficient to f cover his own expenses, and quite inade- l. quato to do anything towards meeting J those of the family. John came home j with a negro servant and two horses after i c ho was mustered out of service, and set- a tied down to wait for something to turn c up. Philip was studying law in Judge v Ounn's office in Farmsted, and he in- e tended to finish his course let come what [ would. There were still two years before j him. and some one must pay hi3 ex- ! c penses?he didn't know who, and ho c didn't care, so long as they were paid. I ) The girls, 12 and 15 years of age respectively. had their education yet to get I * If Rush remained at college (he was in tho junior class), he realized that he v would not only be putting no money in r tho family purse, but would be depleting : 1 that Bmall treasury; so he came home, I e fully determined to take advantage of j ? the first opportimity that should offer it- i ? self. I c Of all professions in the world he pre- j u ferred that of journalism, and, The j 0 Farmsted Free Lance being in want of a j 1 general utility man?one who could do - all the necessary reporting for a weekly 11 paper, write the minor editorials and the ^ New York letter and think himself well paid on a salary of $500 a year?he applied for the situation and got it. There ^ was no competition to speak of. A crack ^ brained auctioneer with a weakness for j ^ Shakespeare made a formal application i ^ for the i>ost, but Editor Dwyer said that i ^ the lovo of poetry was the root of all ! ^ evil, and he didn't want any one spout- j ^ ing Shakespeare about his establishment j So the auctioneer returned to his block j . and Rush Hurlstone entered upon the j discharge of hi3 duties in the office of [ , The Free Lance with energy and enthu- * siasm. Tho journalistic sense?the news _ sense?was fully developed in him at an ^ early age, and he easily filled the col- a umns of his journal with original ac- v counts of the sayings and doings of the ^ good people of Farmsted. Before long t; his local stories began to bo largely copied by tho state papers, and The Free 6 Lance got a reputation that it had never ^ had before: the column of "Glittering {j Generalities" glittered for tho first timoin its history. As for the New York letter, t it would have astonished the New York- j at?o Lo/1 flmrr if c vi ?j a tuu viivj iviiu av? At the end of a year Rush thought he liad learned all of his profession that was to l>e learned on The Free Lance. Thero was not a department of the paper to which ho had not contributed; and ho had even learned to "stick type," that he might say that he had done as much in tho way of newspaper work as Franklin did. Benjamin Franklin was his hero, and ho sincerely wished that his father had named him Franklin, instead of after that other distinguished Philadelphian, Benjamin Rush. New York was tho goal towards which his mind turned, and lie determined to try his luck at getting on a paper in that city. He had fully determined to succeed in his profession, and he could see nothing to prevent success. How to get his foot on the first step was tho serious question. That onco accomplished, he feared nothing, for ho had a sublime ( faith in the efficacy of hard work sup- j ported by enthusiasm. j Judge Gunn, who for a country law- j yer had quite an extensive acquaintance i in New York, knew a man on ono of tho j great dailies. The Dawn, and gavo Rush : a letter of introduction to him. Ho ! didn't know in exactly what department | his friend belonged, but was suro that ho was an editor of some sort. This surmise proved correct. Mr. James Spar was tho shipping news editor, and had about as much idea of tho wants and management of the other departments as Judge Gunn himself. However, ho ' was a kind hearted man, and, being ' struck by the handsomo young faco of i Rush Hurlstone, ho determined to put himself out, if necessary, to aid him. In the first place, ho talked over tho chances of journalism^ with tho young man. and did his best to discourage him. "A journalist's lifo is a dog's life," j said he. "You are always somebody's slave; i you must go where you are bid and do i as you arc told. You must turn night i into day and work fourteen hours out of tho twenty-four. You may do your best and get no thanks for it, and though j what you write may make people talk, | they will never know who it was that | wrote it. All the credit goes to the I paper, or to John Gasper Plummett, the i proprietor. And what are the rewards J of journalism? Perhaps you will make j ?30 a week after a while if you aro clever; and you may nope some time, when j you are a middle aged man, to work up : to an editorial position at ?60 a week. I j have been here five-and-twenty years I and my salary is ?45 a week. I havo a ! wifo and four children, three of whom ! take care of themselves, for which I 1 thank heaven, as it's not much that I j could do for them. Tho youngest, poor : girl, is homo with two fatherless little ' ones; but she is welcome; I don't complain. I only tell you what this profession is that looks so attractive to you j and to other young fellows." "But look at Horace Greeley, James Gordon Bennett, Henry J. Raymond, Charles A. Dana and half a dozen others: what of them? They havo found better rewards than thoso you mention," replied Rush, still undaunted. "To bo sure, journalism rewarded them well; but they aro tho exceptions." "And why shouldn't I bo an exception? Y SIEGE [ Journalist's Experileto York. , Philadelphia, Fa., and Published bj > American Press Association. \t any rate, I am eager for the fray and villing to take the chances." "I see you are not to be discouraged. ! suppose you know that there is no oyal road to journalistic success?that :ou will have to begin at the bottom?" "There is no royal road to any success hat I have ever heard of. I am ready o break the ground, as better men have lone before me." And Rush buttoned lis coat and straightened himself up to lis full height, as though it were manual abor with a crowbar and pickax that ay before him, rather than brain work KJa aa! villi *? pen OO Ilia vwu "Come along, then," said kind old Mr. ipar, "I will introduce you to the city ditor. Every one has to go through his uilL It is like that of the gods: it grinds lowly, and it grinds exceedingly small." "I follow," said Rusli. "Show me the niller." The place in which this conversation vas held was a gloomy ante-room at the lead of a flight of winding iron 6tairs. 'here were half a dozen people sitting here, 6ome writing at a rickety round able; others looking over the files of lewspapers on the racks; others still oming and going on errands of various orts; telegraph boys, people with griev,nces they wanted to air, cranks with latent flying machines they insisted tpon exhibiting and indignant politiians who wanted to know if the managng editor was in. To all of these the old ioorkeeper was most polite. He never or a moment lost his temper, though he vas sorely tried at times. He seemed to mow his business thoroughly, yet he vas always in doubt as to whether the >erson asked for was in or not. Ho was [uito willing, however, to go and see, if ho gentleman would only bo good nough to tell him his name and busiiess. Fifty times an hour he had to unlock he glass door that led to the mysteries nside and closed with a spring behind lim; and as often when he returned he lad to extract the keys from the depths if his pocket (an operation which ho dways performed with the air of a disoverer) and unlock the portaL There vas a sort of pitying i&xpression in his yes as ho ushered Mr. Spar and Rush hrough that little door; and he shook lis head doubtfully and spat a moutturn if tobacco juico on the mat as the door licked behind them. The narrow way, ras lighted through glass partitions^but t was only a step to the city editor's oom?the city editor's den would best [escribe it. The place was only big nough to hold a desk, a chair and a eporter. It was lighted with gas, hough the time was high noon. The ditor sat at his desk and was busily enaged talking with somebody at the ther end of a rubber tube: "All the Ireat Jones street fire copy has gone ip," ho shouted. "Put a display head ver it and 6end down galley proof. Be ure and kill The Widow Mulligan's taby." Then, after a moment's Iistenlg, "All right; good-by." Turning J t_ 1- 1 siTTTVII C3 3una, ue eicuuuitxi, ituj, ma. op<u, 'liat can I do for yon? JLa.jrth.mg Tong at quarantine?" "No, Mr. Musgrave; it's all quiet c'own lero at present, though there ought to e 6omo news. The Catalopia is overdu \ lut I camo here on other business thu lorning. I want to introduce my young riend, Mr. Rush Hurlstone, of FarmLed, who wishes to enter the ranks of lew York journalists." "Another victim," said Mr. Musgrave, lughing good naturedly. "I'm afraid ou'll lose that healthy coloring before ou have been at this work long." * Rush looked at the slight iigure and ale face of the city editor, made paler y a dark beard and mustache, and then t tho whiter rims around his eyes, and . ondered whether journalism would avo that effect upon his robust constituion. "I'm pretty tough. It would take omething harder than reporting to :nock me out," ho replied, with the conidence of youth. "I'm pretty tough myself, or I shouldn't <5 alive today. So you want to boa ournalist, and you are a friend of Mr. Ipar? We're pretty full just now, and here doesn't seem to be much going on."" 'he best I can do i3 to give you a chance f one occurs. You may report hero tonorrow at half-past 11. Send in your :ard, and if there is anything I can givo ou to do I will do bo with pleasure, lopo you'll like your new profession. Jood morning, Mr. Hurlstone; Mr. Spar, tdieu. Now, O'Brien, what is it? You :ouldn't see Senator Miggins? Nonsensel fou must see Senator Miggins and make lim talk If the man at the front door von't let you in go in through the area; >ut see him you must." "That was soon settled, thanks to you, ifr. Spar," 6aid Rush, as they passed out. 'And now for work. I wish Mr. Musjravo had said to begin today. I am so sager to begin that it seems like an eterlity till to-morrow. In tho meantime I'll ook for lodgings. The Astor house is ather expensive for a reporter. I thank ou very much for your kindness, and lopo you 11 never have reason to repent t." "I'm sure I never shall," said Mr. Spar, baking the young man by the hand. 'Let mo know how you are getting along, food luck to you." The old doorkeeper fumbled for his joys, and let Rush out into the ante oom again; and again he shook his head leprecatingly as the young man ran ightly down the winding stairs. Before iinner time he had found a very comortable room with a French family in .Vest Eleventh street. Everything about he place was neat as wax, and he bargained for a third story room looking >ut into a pretty front yard?one of the ew in New York. The landlady, who vas pleased with his frank manner and unused by his broken French, made a ;ood arrangement with him, which included a cup of cafe au lait and a roll in :ho morning. His lunch and dinner he ivould get wherever ho happened to be. A. newspaper man's lunch is virtually his breakfast, for if he does not get to bed before half past 2 or 3 in tho morning be is not likely to be up and out much before noon. After writing a few lines home to tell his mother of his good luck Rush strolled out into the street, crossed over to Union square and 6at down upon one of the benches there to think over the situation, ro bo sure, he had been at collego for two years, and had worked as an independent man on The Farmsted Free Lance, but he had never felt tho perfect jmancipation from all restraint that ho realized at this moment. At college he was little more than a school boy, and on Tho Free Lance he had lived at homo, but now ho had cut adrift and was about to set up for himself. With all his elation a touch of homo sickness came over liim, and for a moment he felt a wild desire to tako a late train and surpriso the folks at Farmsted. Not, of course, that ho wanted to see them so much, but they would bo so delighted to seo liim! However, ho gavo up that idea and became interested in looking at tho peoplo around him until his country appetite warned him that it wastimo toget something to eat He knew tho principal streets and hotels of Now York, but ho had only a general idea of tho plan of tho city, and of anything off tho beaten track ho knew absolutely nothing. Setting out in quest of a restaurant, ho walked down Fourth avenuo from Fourteenth street until ho came to a place where a sign at the door announced "French and Italian Restaurant. Tablc-d'iiote dinner, with wine, 75 cents. Macaroni a specialty." Going up a flight of stairs, ho entered a room at ono end of which a black eyed, curly haired Italian Kit at a desk making change. On either side were rows of little tables, between which dexterous waiters bearing aloft dishes of smoking viands hurried to and iro. Rush Hurlstone was not a man to bo daunted by a new experience. When ho was unfamiliar with the ways of a place, he took in tho habits of its frequenters at a glance, and did as they did. It troubled him for a moment to know whether any languago except Italian was spoken, but, remembering that many Italians speak French, ho was just about to hail a waiter in tho latter language, when the man called out to him, in excellent English: 'TViic wnv Rir. if von nlfiflSfi." Rush seated himself at one of the little tables and took up a bill of fare, still firmly believing that he would have to give his orders in French; but before lie had made up his mind what he would have a dish of. steaming soup was laid before him. This was followed by fish and meat, and then a heaped up plate of macaroni with its savory sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese. The only macaroni Rush had ever eaten before was the sort best known in American country towns, which is covered with slices of cheese and baked in an oven. The English call it "cheeso pudding," and 6ervo it after the salad. The Italian spaghetti was new to him; but ho saw an Italian eating it at an opposite table and followed his example with something of the sensations of Sir Walter Raleigh when ho first lighted a pipe of tobacco. Ho wound the slippery ropes around his fork and finally ate them with as much enjoyment as if seventy-five cent dinners in Italian restaurants had made a part of his every day life. Birds, salad, cheese, fruit and coffee followed in easy succession. Everything tasted good except tho wine, which was of the watered California variety; and when he lighted liis cigar?young men did not 6moko cigarettes in those days as they do now ?he felt that ho had dined well. Having plenty of time on his hands he called for The Evening Post, and when he had read all the news he looked at his watch and found that it was half past 7. He had thought it must be at least 0. What could lie do to kill time? Go to the theatre, or, better, to the opera, if it was an opera night, for if there was one * 1- - ? J -1 U tiling no iovou uuuvu unubiici n ntu music. Turning to the advertising columns of The Post ho found that it was evidently a gala night, for he read: ENGAGEMENT EXTRAORDINARY 1 Mr. Max Maxmann baa the honor to announce that he has secured the services of the distinguished American prima donna, ^ miss helen knowlton, for a few nights only, previous to her departure for Europe. This, Wednesday evening, "La Trariata." Miss Knowlton In her great role of Violetta. Seats may be secured at the box office. " 'Traviata,' the story of Dumas' 'Dame aux Camellias,'" said Rush to himself, "and Miss Knowlton as Violetta. Just the thing! I have never heard her, and they say she is fine." So he walked around to the academy, bought a good 6eat for two dollars and settled down for an evening of solid pleasure. Every note of tho overture was a treat to him. He knew enough of music to appreciate the beauties of that now despised opera, and ho wondered how the people who had the boxes could find it in their hearts to come so late. But he enjoyed seeing them come in, and he was quite enchanted with the pretty girls who graced the Tront rows, rne scene 13 beautiful enough even to old opera goers, for there is no theatre in the world that shows off an audience as does the Academy if Music, and it must have been simply cUzzling to an impressionable young mau to whom it was all new. The last notes of the overture died away and tho great curtain rolled up, showing the room in Violetta's house. It is not neccessary to follow the story of the opera: enough to say that Rush Hurlstone could scarcely believe his eyes and ears. The music entranced him, and tho prima donna turned his brain. Before the opera was over ho was madly in love. He had been more or less susceptible to tho charms of the gentler sex ever since he left off petticoats, but this was something new. He had never felt this sensation before. He wanted to kill tho tenor?a mild eyed Signor Messalini ?and tear the divine Violetta from his arms. Altogether, lie was beside himself. It was an extreme case of love at first sight. Do you believe such a fire is certain to die out as quickly as it is kindled? Read tho following pages, and you will know better. If the departing audience had not begun to walk over his feet and to express itself rather vigorously at the 6tupid manner in which he sat in his seat after the curtain was rung down, Rush Hurlstone would probably have remained in tho Academy of Music till morning. After having nearly upset a tall, near sighted young man, and having held a stout elderly lady on his instep for half a minute, Rush collected his scattered wits, and soon found himself under tho calm ovening 6ky that hung over Irving place. The one thought uppermost in his mind was the prima donna I10 had just seen, and whom ho must seo again before ho could return to his lodgings in West Eleventh street. But how was he to seo a person so hedged about? Tho stage door! Sho must come through that passage to take her carriage, and as sho passed him ho could catch one more glance of her bewitching face. A few words of inquiry brought him to tho spot. A coach was drawn up by tho sidewalk?her coach! lie knew it instinctively, and there was a largo street lamp burning right at its door! Ho would mako believe that he was getting a light for his cigar, and would bo standing in front of the coach as sho put her dainty foot upon tho step. Leaning against the iron fence at tho entrance to tho stage door were two dark browed men conversing in Italian. A couple of fashionably dressed young fellows stood on the opposito side. Half a dozen passers by stopped when they saw tho coach. "Knowlton will bo coming out in a minute," said one of them; "let us wait." "Knowlton," ho called her, without any Miss or Mademoiselle. Rush's fingers closed over his walking stick; ho had half a mind to rap the speaker across the face for his insolence. There was a creaking of tho stago door, and by tho wind blown light a female figure was seen emerging. The heart of tho country boy stood still. But tho figuro stopped, and, after exchanging a few words in Italian with tho two dark browed men, took tho arm of ono of them and set off in tho direction of Third avenue. It was only ono of tho chorus girls going homo with her husband, who kept a littlo cigar store around tho corner. More chorus girls, wun little oags m uieir hands, carno tlirougli the door and disappeared in the samo direction, somo with chorus men by their sides, others alone. After standing out in tho chilly night air for three-quarters of an hour Rush was rewarded by seeing the stage door flung wide open. The fashionably dressed young men straightened their neckties; tho others leaned eagerly forward; the remaining dark browed Italian cuffed a street Arab who stood in tho way; there was a sudden perfume of roses; ahandsomo young man in evening dress, with a light overcoat hanging J gracefully over his arm and two enormous bouquets in his hand, stepped out into Fourteenth street, immediately followed by something completely enveloped in whito fur and laco, which hurried to tho carriage, followed by an elderly lady in black, attended by a French maid carrying a black bag in her hand. Tho stago doorkeeper ran after them, hat in hand. "What shall bo dono with tho flowers, the baskets and tho stands?" ho inquired of tho elderly lady. "Send them around to tho houso in a cart; wo can't tako them with us." Bang! slam! What was that loud report? Nothing, only tho quick shutting of tho carriage door. Tho coachman snapped his whip, tho horses sprang forward, and in a second tho carriago had disappeared around tho corner of Irving place, and Rush had not caught as much as a glimpso of the beautiful face. His first impulse was to run after it at full 6peed, but ho remembered that he was in New York and not in Farmsted, and that ho might bo arrested as a lunatic at tho very outset of his career. "By Jove, Harry," said ono of tho well dressed young men to tho other, "she didn't see us at all." "I didn't suppose she would, Bob," said tho other; "but I thought we might havo seen her." "That isn't tiio worst of it; our flowers 8 aro going round to tho houso in a cart ' with tho rest of them. What fools we arel Well, come along, old boy; let's go ^ to Del'8 and bo happy." And Bob took Harry's arm and tho two sauntered off in tho direction of Union square. "I'm one of tho fools," said Rush to c himself, and he, too, turned his faco in tho same direction. 1 There was a sharp wind blowing up S Fourteenth street, and ho raised his hat s that it might cool his throbbing brow. , Tho very thought of tho room in West Eleventh street 6tifled him. lie must J move about out under tho 6turs; perhaps ho could walk off his excitement. 1 Around and around Union square ho went, at a rat9 that would havo astonisheda professional walker. His legs . were trying to keep pace with hi9 ' thoughts, and it put their agility to tho test After ha had circumnavigated the v squaro for nearly two hours, a policeman ? hailed him with, "I say, young feller, J you must have walked 'em off by this time. Don't you think you'd better move on?" ~ "t The sound of a vol :e speaking directly j. to him aroused Rush from tlio 6pell that seemed to bo upon him. Ho looked at j( his watch by the light of the moon, and ^ saw that it was just half-past 2, "You'ro quite right," said he to the ? policeman: "I think it's about timo for mo to turn in." And then ho added to himself, "Well, I liavo begun to keep t newspaper hours with a vengeance!" In a few moment 6ho was at his lodgings, \and by 4 o'clock was sleeping as soundly v and sweetly as a child. 8 CHAPTER II. e ~.?J 11 III/If LI ' jWH I IT III* UllU lU uvau *~^T?ssl 'n to Mr- Mus- E ^vT rw grave. In a mo- e | ment the old man c returned. I "Will you please bo seated, sir?" Mr. t Musgravo says. v So Rush sat down at the round table c and toyed with one of the red handled S penholders that lay tliere, impatient to h get his first assignment. He was so sure that he would hear from Mr. Musgrave 0 immediately that he would not sit full a nn Ho r>h?iir hnt hnrorpH nr? thp 0 edge of it, ready to jump the moment lie 11 heard his name called. Half an hour r passed by, and the edge of the hard chair d began to feel uncomfortable, so ho seated himself well against the back. Another 8 half hour, and ho thought, "There are 0 probably a number ahead of me; my v turn is sure to come before long." So r ho took a copy of The Dawn from his '' pocket and began to read all the long v local 6tories. He had been in such a b hurry to get to the office in time that he v had read only the head lines before. * After reading several columns carefully ^ through, he began to fidget and to wonder v what it all meant. Ho looked at his d watch. It was half past 1. Calling the I doorkeeper to him, he asked him if ho f would bo kind enough to remind Mr. c Musgravo that ho was there. The old man told him that Mr. Musgravo had just gone to luncheon and would not re- f turn beforo half past 2. | E Rush had eaten a late breakfast, so he ^ was not hungry; but ho was very nervous and tired. He had been unusually h excited tho night before, and had slept d but a few hours, and this waiting was very tedious. However, ho was there, ^ and there ho meant to 6tay till ho got v some word from Mr. Musgrave. Ho read all tho editorials, and was half 1 through tho advertising columns by half past 2. Still no word from inside. Every stroko of the bell on tho city editor's desk mado him start, and ho could J not believo that ho did not hear his namo mentioned. Finally, nearly stifled by 6 tho bad air, and worn out by sitting so ^ long, Rush mado a bold push and sent in word again, to which tho reply came n that there was "nothing for Mr. Ilurl- a stone today." It was then about 5 o'clock and raining hard; so Rush may ^ bo pardoned if ho felt rather blue. He thought of tho dear ones at home, and 6 knew that just at that time they were sitting around a crackling wood firo in b tho library, waiting for Sarah to an- * nounco that tea was 6erved. This re- ^ minded him that ho had not broken his fast in several long hours; 60 ho jumped a on the front platform of a Fourth avenue r car, that ho might get tho fresh air (ho * did not mind tho rain) and rodo up to 0 tho Italian restaurant where ho had 0 dined tho night before. h Liko many a man beforo him, ho felt & better aftT ho had dined, and ho thought ho would go to tho opera again. To his v disgust, ho found that opera was given c only every other night. If ho could not a go to tho opera, ho could at least go * around to Irving placo and look at the a building which only tho night before had P been so glorified in his eyes. So lie 61 walked around to tho historic pilo of yel- 6 low brick, and sat down under tho portico ^ and smoked his after dinner cigar in tho * cool night air, out of tho rain. Ho do- * rived a great deal of satisfaction from c this indulgence, but thought that a visit IU UIV DlU^U uwi ?VU*U MVW ?sw Mtvtivuv j its attractions. Through that mysterious | portal ho saw a light gleaming. "How ! very jolly it would bo to seo insido of I that place! I wonder how I could manago it," ho thought, and stood for a mo- | ment looking at the door. To his surprise, it opened with a bang, and a man shouted at him, "Whatare you standing out there for? Why don't you como in?" This seemed like fate; so, somewhat mystified, ho walked boldly inside. The place was dimly lighted and the man was not to bo 6een. "Small loss," thought Rush, as he fcl t his way cautiously among t he scenery. Tho first thing ho knew hio hat was knocked off. 'Halloo!" ho exclaimed. "Who threw Iffit brick?" Before ho had timo to look for his hat a young lady in very scanty clothing picked it up and handed it to him. "I knocked it off with tho too of my slipper. I'm very sorry. I did not 6eo you," 6aid she. Rush took tho hat, thanked her, and told her it wa3 all right, and at tho same timo ho wondered if tho Academy stago was given over to a "Jardin Mabillo" pcrformanco on the nights when tliero was no opera. "Miglit I ask what is going on?" ho said to tho scantily dressed young woman, who ho discovered was a very pretty Italian ballet girl. "It is tho rehearsal for tho new ballet," she answered, in slightly broken Eng lsIi. "and I was just practicing my new Wltl as when your hat got in my way. It is he-r , V6ry pretty ballet?'The Water Sprite.' c^r lave you been to the rehearsals before?" "No; I have not had that pleasure. Are bac ou rehearsing alone?" up. "No, indeed! don't you hear them on the ho stage? The music hasn't begun yet; r0P( hey are just exercising. Do you dance?" ?f 1' "I might pull through ^ Virginia reel an<J pith a good partner," answered Rush. enti "I don't know that dance. Is it for n?t he ballet?" 6aid she, passing her foot the >ver her head just for practice. hre< "No; it's not a ballet. Take care! orcl 'ou'll fall," said Rush, who had never w'ir een a woman stand on ope leg so long, had Hitting out his hand to steady her. waa She poked him playfully in the ribs dire vith her slippered toe. "You don't 8?t :now much about the ballet or you hou vould not think that anything. I can 60111 )ut my leg straight up in the air and c011^ :omo down the stage on one foot. I get aT1<^ k call for that every night. Haven't wer rou ever seen me do it?" Bom "That is a pleasure still in store for ^ ne," answered Rush, with a gallant ww. " "Hark!" said the dancer, leaning forvard. "Didn't you hear old Narini rap not, >n his violin? I must fly." j1"1' *-* ? ? i in tl ueioro you go p.uj.jci, iiju uuu? tuo lame of tho charmingyoung lady whose igility was tho occasion of this pleasant mar Lcquaiutancc." not "You don't know ine? VVJiat a strange *'ier ellowl I am Lconi! Come, follow mo me' f you want to see tho rehearsal." And, am' aking his liand, she led him in and out eno1 imong the dusty scenes, and finally 6ta- , ioned him in tho wings in full view of he stage, which was dimly lighted by wo large gas jets in the center. A queer ooking old man in a 6wallow tail coat, w.:us mttoned up to tho chin, stood ready 8 vith his violin under his arm. By his 'J3 a ide was an eminently respectable look- an ng woman in a plain stuff gown and m,a >onnet. ca" "Now, ladies, aro you ready?" said she, ar01 jid, touching the old man gently, "Sig- p50 ior Narini, begin if you please." Then, ? e >eating time vigorously with her foot, c ho sang, "One, two, three." A row of Pr?' egs was lifted towards Rush, who began . o feel very much as though ho were Gm laying the role of Peeping Tom. "Seeaw" went the violin in the most marked ' imo, followed by the voice of tho worn- w Y .n and the sharp beating of her foot on ^Ult he bare boards. narT Rush had seen ballet dancing before, mot iut never in such queer costumes. There C0IT1 vere no two alike. All tho dancers wore "on hort skirts, but from the waist up they vere covered with dressing sacques of am very conceivable style, except one who too? lad on an ordinary black body and a ^ap ilack bonn^f with a long crepe veil, vhich float^out behind her as siie came 'ier' ripping dowiijthe stage. Some had on ma^ Id tights, others their usual stockings. .'he woman who was rehearing them ^ vas the most energetio person Rush had ^10 ver seen. She not only sang all the 6at. ausic, but she beat time with her hands wr<'1 nd feet, and whenever a particularly^ P?lr lifficult step occurred she picked up he * letticoats and danced it with the blac ;irls?"ladies" she called them. If ^av hey showed the slightest hesitation, they ?ou iad to dance itall over again. Rush had but lever had such a treat in his life. He njoyed every note of Signor Narini's blur ausic, and every step of tho coryphees. '*ko Jut where was his agile friend? Ah, hero she stood in tho opposite wings, ami patching tho trainer intently. The ue' oryphees made a backward movement, 10 ' lignor Narini played a flourish,and Leoni 'iea; ounded to the front of the stage. out Away flew Signor Narini's fingers "Ia ver the strings, and away flew Leoni *-?0 round the stage;,thep the music slowed bett iD, and the daucer-^vjp down tfifl stage y?u i a series or couTTtwes; tncn o>?Tp!.- ?? ouetted around on her toes and finally mo1 rew up in tho center, and, placing one oot as high over her bead as she could et it, wriggled down to the foot lights ac^ r> ?1,a ton r\t tVin nthpr filinner. It hav ?. -v.. ? ?ft ? . cas a difficult task well done. Narini ,lon apped on the back of his violin with ~7" lis bow, and Mme. Kathi Lanner?for it ^illi >*as no less a personage training tho " allot?clapped her hands delightedly, ^0U( chile Rush joined in tho applauso from maJ ho wings. Lconi made him a graceful ow, and then, crossing over to him ^ cith the ungraceful walk of tho ballet ^un ancer. said, "I told you I could do ft 8aH never did it so well at a rehearsal bo- 2-111 ore; but I wanted to 6how you what I 11101 ould do." 6061 "Thank you very much," said Rush. ou' You did beautifully. You aro as grace- raei ul as a swan and as light as a fairy. I *? iover saw anything more exquisite; that ma. ist bit was tho very poetry of motion." an,. Leoni looked at him as though sho had ,. icard that expression before, but she 1 . id not say so. c "Ladies of tho demon ballet!" shouted Ime. Lanner; and in a moment the air cas filled with tho clanging of cymbals. "Do youdanco again?" said Rush, amid s re ho din. ac0* "Oh, yes; I lead tho demons." ra "As an angel of light?" 0UT "Oh, no; I'm tho head devil. Wait till ou see mo in my red tights, with my 0 .. ace covered with phosphorus and a .Ja old pitchfork in my hand. We give the allet on Fridav nirrht. Will you be here?" There was no coquetry in the girl's liyju aanner, 6ho was proud of her perform- , nee, and sho wanted every one to see it. . .r "I shall certainly try to get here." said lm Lush. "It will be grand," she continued. "We . ivo 'Tho Water Sprite' first, then comes ho now opera, 'Helen of Troy,' composed y M. Gounod expressly for Mile. Knowlon, who will appear as Helen for tho rsttime. You had better conio." .? "I shall do so, or perish in tho attempt," , " nswered Rush, with an emphasis that . ather surprised tho girl, who began to hink that sho had made un impression n tho young man's heart. "You 6poko co^ f Miss Knowlton; does sho como to re- . learsals?" ho inquired. "Will sho be here , o-night?" "Of course she comes to rehearsals? rhat a stupid question!?but she doesn't ' ome to ballet rehearsals. She was hero you 11 tho morning rehearsing'Helen.1 Mile. P?? Unowlton works hard, and she is just as. . . nxious for tho singer of the smallest .00 art to mako a hit as to mako ono her-, n elf; but she always does that, and she is n01. oing to have a grand triumph as Helen.1 an rou ought to seo her costumes. They are ; u/"! ovefy. Sho let her dresser show tliem 1 y o all of us ladies of tho ballet and tho j |10 ihorus tho other day." j "She must bo very amiable and good, i " %v fou can tell that by looking at her," said ; a J lush. B? f "Good? I should think sho was good! r*1?1 5ho is not liko somo prime donno I have lanced with. People talk about ballet iU" jirls"?with a shrug; "I could tell them an omethlng about prime donno if I would, j a * >ut I'm not a gossip. I liavo enough to i *ie lo to look after my own affairs, without *ta. roubling myself about other people's, i f you come to know us you will find . hat wo aro not as black as we are paint- j id. Some of the hardest working and I 6 jest women I have over known have I aP >een ballet dancera Because some one ~:CI las given us a bad name wo aro the tar- j ' 0 jet for all tho simplo headed fops and i er. jald headed rakes in tho country; but j ^ hese wicked men find themselves mis- | aken sometimes, and learn that a ballet t:10 lancer can tako care of herself and that i | ho lias others to tako care of her. You | av ihould have heard my father tell how lie J ai?; hraslied Lord Bellflower on tho stago 1 it Covent Garden ono night for chuck- j ng my mother under the chin. My j notlier was a dancer?one of tho most P. amous fairies in tho pantomime, though , rou wouldn't think so to see her now? i md very beautiful. Old Bellflower ad- ? nired her across tho footlights, and | bought tho only thing ho need do to | ^ Snake her acquaintance was to speak to deP ler. lie was well known behind tho icenes of tho theatre; my mother was f lot?sho had just come from Italy; and Pan 10 sauntered across tho stago to tho vings where sho was standing, and, ilic Ii an insolent leer, put out his big inged hand and caught her by the 1. Oli, dear me! I have to laugli :never I think of it. My mother drew k in affright as ray father stepped My father was a famous athletechampion cannon ball tosser of Eu5. He took his lordship by the seat is trousers and the collar of his coat ran him tho lengtli of the stage, the re company looking on and trying to laugh; and when ho got him to drop curtain he kicked it aside and ] my Lord Bellflower clear over tho lestra into the pit You can imagine it a sensation this made. My mother to leave the theatre, as his lordship a large stockholder and ono of the ctors; but both she and my father a splendid engagement at another sc. If my father had intended doing : ething to mako himself popular, ho Id not have hit upon a better device; I can tell you that ballet dancers e better treated by the swells for e time after that." nd Leoni raised herself on her toes laughed. A. capital story, capitally told," said ! h; "and I shall have a care in futuro ! UaIIa^ 01 wlr? fIia aIiim LL? uhiaw f-j 11 AO uiiuui tuu v/iixii il I find out if there are any athletes lie family." [ don't believe you are that sort of a l," said Leoni. "If I did, I would have stood hero talking to you; but o is somothing about you that tells that you aro an honest young fellow have not been in tho city long ugh to bo spoiled by its wicked ways, there is my cue." usli was young enough not to feel al thcr flattered by Leoni's estimato of , but ho took it as it was meant He very much pleased with the girl; was very handsome, her manner was ttractive as it was frank, and she ceil like a sylph. Ho made up his d that ho would ask permission to upon her, and when she pirouetted ind his way again, ho said, "Mile, ni, sinco you havo been kind enough xpress such a good opinion of my meter, perhaps you would not mind ring what you say by allowing me to upon you at your homo." And he led a most winning smile, eoni looked him straight in the eyes; 1 she said: "If you would really care all at my humble apartment you are e welcome; but first give mo your le, that I may introduce you to my her; she is hero waiting for me. She ies for mo every night and wo go 10 together." My name is Rush Hurlstonc, and I a journalist?fresh from the country, as you surmised. I shall bo most py to meet tho mother of so charma daughter, if you will tabo mo to " said Rush, in his most convincing iner. This way, then, please." ush followed her across tho back of stage, and there in a remote corner a tall, thin Italian woman, with a nkled, sallow skin, largo nose, sharp ited chin (the very chin Lord Bell er had touched to his cost), and coal :k eyes with heavy lids. They must 0 been handsome eyes when sho was ng?not so many years ago, either; Italian women fade rapidly. Mother, I want to introduce Mr. Rush lstone, from the country, who would to call on us 6ome day," said LeonL lie way she pronounced his name lsed Rush very much, but ho was too 1 bred to smile. Ho bowed politely :he mother and shook her hand 60 rtily that he knocked her knitting of her lap as she attempted to rise, ini very glad to meet you, Signora ni," 6aid he, "and I hope for a er acquaintance with both you and r daughter." <A Jig? it my name is Cella." Leoni is my stage name, you know," ed the daughter. "You have to o a fancy name in the ballet. At le I am Lisa Cella; hero I am Leoni ho nnlv F^ni.' as tliev 6av on the 3." labile they wero talking there were i cries for "Meester White," tho gas x Mme. Lanner wanted to try some the colored light effects and Mr. lite could not bo found. "It's very ny," said tho back door man. "I ' White standing out in tho rain over liour ago and called him in. What's re, I saw him come in; but I haven't i him since. Ho couldn't have gone , for I haven't left tho door for a moat." Rush felt a guilty flush steal up his cheeks, but as it would not help ters for him to explain that it was he, not tho gas man, who had been ed to entor tho academy, ho said ling. It being impossible to try the >red lights without Mr. White, Mme. ner said that 6he would expect to it them all tho next morning at 0. ni and her mother got ready for tho et. and Rush asked if ho might not ampany them to their door, as it was icr late for unprotected women to bo hey smiled at tho idea of tho lateness ho hour; it was then not moro than ? ^ ? ?%*/! fitatt lm/1 crnrto . fJtASU IV/y auu uibcu cixv/j imu f-j 10 alone as lato as 1 o'clock; but if Hurlstono was going in their direci they would bo pleased to havo his ipany. They lived in East Tenth et, which was quite convenient for i. The rain had ceased, and the moon i shining brightly, as tho three stepped into Fourteenth 6treet. Rush thought ho one he had 6een coming through t doorway the night before, as ho o his arm to Signora Cella. Tho consation turned from tho stars of heaven he stars of tho stago, as they walked n to East Tenth street; and when j reached the modest house whero ballet dancer and her mother lived, aora Cella insisted that ho should 10 in. We always have a little supper after theatre," said she, "and it would tse us very much to havo you eat a of bread and drink a glass of wine 11 us. Giuseppe will be glad to see , too; ho sees very little company, r man." eoni added her invitation. Rush ced at her handsome eyes, glistening | the moonlight, and accepted. Siga Cella's night key admitted them, they were soon in a comfortably aished room in the second story. A lo spread with a snowy cloth stood in middle of the lloor. and. bv the mel light of an oil lamp. Rush saw that as set for the late supper of which people connected with tho stago arc ond, and which is really necessary to ir health, as they can eat very littlo arc the performance. After tho pernanco is over their minds are at rest, they can sit down quietly and enjoy olerably hearty meal. A stick of nch bread, a cut of that delightful ian sausage, salami, and a bottlo of anti wine stood upon tho table. Rush iced this at a glance, and at tho samo 0 he saw a largo man, with a faco wing signs of great suffering, propped with pillows in a big chair by tho lire, ni ran lightly across tho room, kissed invalid's hand and laid it gently upon brown curls, as though its touch car1 a blessing with it ho man leaned over and kissed her on forehead, saying something in Italian t Rush did not hear, and would not c understood if lie had. Then Leoni 30 and introduced Rush to her father. 3 poor sufferer was tho famous cannon i tosser. IIo had tossed ono ball too ay, for tho last time ho appeared in ilic tho biggest and heaviest ono hit i on a tender point of tho spine, and i had been his condition ever since, would never get well; ho know it; . tho knowledgo added to his suffer"Ilcro I sit, a great, useless hulk, endent on my poor littlo Lisa forsupt," was the burden of his thoughts. I could only work I could bear tho i; but I must sit hero calmly as I may, h mind and body both on tho rack." xo had been moro or less of tho animal in Cella's appearance when ho was a young man, but lie was always handsome, and, now that suffering had refined his face and whitened his hair, ho was really aristocratic looking. Ho shook Rush cordially by tho hand, but ho said only a few words, as his English was very imperfect. Signora Cella disappeared in another room and left Leoni to entertain Rush. In a few moments 6ho returned with a bowl of smoking soun and a golden hued omelet. They wheeled tho ex-cannon ball tosser up to tho table. IIo opened the bottle dexterously, took tho oil out of the neck with a littlo wad of cotton, and then all drank tho health of tho guest. So merry a meal Rush had seldom sat down to. Tho old man was not in as much pain as usual, and ho told some amusing anecdotes of his athletic days. Leoni was all excitement, owing to tho new ballet, and good humor reigned. When the clock struck 12 Rush bado his kind entertainers good night, and thanked them for one of the pleas antest evenings of his life. It was all so unconventional; Leoni was so beautiful and had bo much common sense, and lie was astonished at tho refinement of the family. He had always imagined that ballet dancers were a rather ignorant lot, and fast withal; yet hero was a girl who. while she appeared before the public in skirts abovo her knees and earned a larger salary than her companions becauso she could kick her legs higher,was yet as modest and refined by nature as most ladies, though the associations of her life mado her freer in her manner with strangers than if she had been born in more exclusive circles. Thero was nothing coarse about either of her parents, tliough her father had been a professional athlete and her mother a dancer; and they were evidently very careful of their daughter. As Rush walked across town to his lodgings, he wondered if ho was the same Rush Hurlstone who three days ago was an unfledged country bov. Only two nights had passed, and here lie was in love with a prima donna and supping with a bal1 ,1 ? 1UL UUHL'Ul'i TO HE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. JttisffUuncous Reading. DEXTEROUS DANCERS. SIiiuouh Siamese Girls Who Pick Up Straws with Their Eyelids. Foiscd on tiptoe, bending their arms and limbs back as far as they will reach and picking up bits of straw with their eyelids, the dancing girls of Bangkok are always exercising in tho royal gymnasium. Tho new volume in the Zigzag series, "Journeys in the Antipodes, gives a very graphic description of the wonderful physical training of these girls, whose ages vary from 5 to 20 years. The curious and subtle feat of picking up a bit of straw with tho eyelids can be learned only by the youngest of them, who are made to practice it in order to render them flexible iu every part of the body. There are two long rows of benches, one a little higher than tho other. On the lower is a row of little girls, and on the upper bench are laid fine, polished bits of straw. At tho sound of the drum tho little girls all together bend back the head and neck until they touch the bits of straw, which, with wonderful dexterity, they secure between tho corners of the eyelids. Tho cup dance is the most graceful and poetic of their dances. A row of young; women, with a tier of cups on their neads, take their places in tho center of the gymnasium. A burst of joyous music follows. On hearing this they simultaneously, with military precision, kneel down, fold their hands and bow their heads until their foreheads almost touch tho polished on Ihel? ^eallSH&j? 3$^ jerk of tho neck; then, suddenly springing to their feet, tliey describe a succession of rapid and intricate circles, keeping timo to tho music with their arms, head and feet. Next follows a miracle of art such as may bo found only among people of tho highest physical training. The music swells into a rapturous tumult. Tho dancers raise their delicate feet, curve their arms and fingers in seeming impossible flexures, sway to and fro liko withes of willow, agitato all tho musles of tho body liko tho flutter of leaves in a soft evening breeze, but still keep tho tier of cups on their heads. At other times a cup full of somo liquid is placed on tho floor in the center of tne hall. A girl will spring to her feet and danco about it in round wild eddies, and, suddenly laying herself down, keeping her arms folded tight on her breast, will tako up .1 i u? 1 100 CUp Willi iicr upa uuu uiaui wt. liquid without spilling a drop.?New York Star. A Furious Combat. Tho hawk is a vicious and dangerous bird when wounded, and will fight a dog or even a man until it is killed, but it is not often that we hear of ono attacking a man without provocation. Such a case occurred up in tho state, however. A man who was driving a team of horses along a country road saw a largo hawk circling around in tho air abovo him, apparently looking for prey. Being interested in tho movements of tno bird, ho stopped his horses and sat watching it Suddenlv ho was astonished to see the nawk swooping down directly towards him. It struck him in tho back and nearly knocked him out of tho wagon, and then flew to tho sido of tho road, taking with it a big piece of the man's coat which it had torn out with its talons. Tho man jumped from his wagon with tho intention of killing tho hawk, but as ho touched tho ground the bird sprang at 111m furiously. Ho kicked it in the breast, but this had no effect, except to increase its fury. It rushed at him again, and picking up a stick of wood, | tbo man attempted to give it a finishing blow, but tbo hawk was too strong ! and too quick, and it soon bad tbo man's clothing in shreds and great I gashes torn in nis breast and legs with I its terriblo talons. It attempted time ! and again to strike tbo man's eyes with J its beak, but in this it was foiled, and j finally a lucky blow with tbo stick stunned it so that bo soon dispatched J it. He was so much exhausted by the I furious fight that ho had to lio down to recover his strength. The hawk measured six feet from tip to tip.? Philadelphia Times. Wlllness of the Peanut. Experience and daily observation, however, prove that tbo lovo of the peanut is not confined solely to tho small boy. Its fascination has a broader sweep. Fashion may taboo it at tho table, but it takes sweet revengo in all sorts of other places and upon all sorts of humanity. Its wiliness, too, is Machiavellian. No other uut has half its cunning, and none other can boast the half its power of insinuation. Its omnipresence is unescapablo. Every street corner fumes with its roasted fragrance, at GVo cents a quart, measured out by the leather colored merchant who nas left his homo beneath the sunny skies of Italy to set his trap for fortune in our favored land, temptingly baited with peanuts and pink lemonado. Prudence may tako a sniff at the bait and pass on. Who hesitates is lost Ono nitbio?ono tiny end of tho parched kernel in contact with his palato and good-by to all his disdain for tho peanut The trap springs and sends mm munching down tho street with a auart dangling in his coat tail pocket Tho Australian Tloomerung. Tho boomerang of tho Australians is made of hard wood and has tho curvo of a parabola; is about two feet long, two and a half inches broad, and onethird of an inch through. In throwing it tho hunter takes it by ono end, holding it so that tho convex cdgo is forward and tho flat sido uppermost When thrown it ascends gradually with a rotary motion, and finally begins to retrograde. The natives of some tribes call the boomerang wangno or kilie, and tlio wood known to botanists as acacia pendula is generally selected by the boomerang makers. If possible they choose a limb that is bent to form an angle of about 100 to 130degrees. The weapon returns to the thrower best when thrown against the wind, but never returns wnen it has fairly hit the object at which it was aimed. Those who are expert can place it whero they wish, and in warfaro it is most effective, striking where it is least expected, and in hunting it can bo used at a distance of 200 paces.? New York Commercial Advertiser. A PERILOUS VOYAGE. Capt. Andrew* Relates His Experience of Crossing the Ocean in a I)oiy. Perhaps few among the audiences that nigntly attend tne performance of "A Dark Secret" know tnat the Capt. Andrews who appears during tno fourth act is the plucky sailor who attempted to cross the Atlantic in his dory the Dark SscreL A Mail reporter had a very interesting conversation with the captain and asked him for a brief account of his attempt to cross the ocean blue. "I started," he said, "in the little dory from Point of Pines beach near Boston, Monday, June 18. This is the boat in which I made my journey. It measures, keel 12 feet, beam 5 feet, depth 2 feet. It was built under my direction and supervision. Yes, I started all alone, not even a dog or cat on board. When I crossed the Atlantic in 1878 in the little dory Nautilus my brothter Walter accompanied me. That boat was four feet longer than the Dark Secret. We made the voyage in the Nautilus in forty-five days from land to land, but wo had better weather than I experienced on the last trip. "Tho rigging and sail are very simple. I had only ono sail, what is usually called a lateen, or tnree cornered soil nnd fho rirrfrinrr f>r>nsistpd nf hist three pieces of rope. Yes, the Dark Secret is an excellent sea boat She behaved beautifully in the terribly bad weather I encountered. I made a mistake in starting from Boston. The weather at Georges bank was awful, and it was a month before I got out of the bay and into the northern current After that I did not have quite so hard a time of it The longest time I went without rest was forty-eight hours during a gale, and I didn't eat much during that time, either. In fact, all I diu eat during the voyage was crackers and canned provisions. I had an alcohol stove with me, but it became useless after the Erst day out Living on crackers and drinking as little water as possible evidently didn't agree with me, for I weighed 208 pounds the day I started. When picked up I tipped the beam at 125, after eating a nearty dinner at that. ' Tlio Norwegian bark Nor picked me up about 1,555 miles from my starting point Aug. 21, after I had been just sixty-two days out I was indeed in a sorry plight I had lost my drag, with wnich I held the boat's nose to the sea when I turned in, my oiled clothing was completely worn out, my provisions and water were running snort, and the boat was in bad condition. "How did I sleep? I put the craft to, threw out my drag, and turned in for brief periods only. My mattress got wet during the first gale and was not a very comfortable bed, but it did not keep mo from sleeping like a top when I got a chance. Some nights the boat drifted back so far that it took me from one to three days to make up lost ground. During neavv gales I used oil on the water. You have read in the good book about putting 'oil on first rate. I let it trickle oul ?at'tnor&teof ten drops a minute. It has a won derful effect in reducing the waves. "What started me on such a trip? Well, I have always been an enthusiast on boating, and believe that small boats can bo built, if correctly modeled, that will live through storms that would sink an ocean steamer, and my ambition has been to cross in the smallest boat alone. 1 think it is a mistake to go alone, as one man can steer or cook while the other is sleeping."?Chicago Mail. A Providential Rat. A woman in West Tennessee went homo from church one Sunday Impressed by a moving appeal whicn her pastor had made in henalf of a minister's widow recently left in want with six children. What could she give to relievo this case of suffering? She was herself a widow and poor. She thought intensely over the matter, and that night sho prayed over it, but no way of raising tno money occurred to her. The next morning when she went out to sweep off Tier doorstep sho noticed that tuo earth on one side had been freshly thrown up, and something glittering lay in the dirt. It was a f5 gold piece. During the night a rat had taken it into his nead to dig a hole under the step, and one result of his labor was the resurrection of that coin. The woman knew that during the war her husband had buried his savings, all in gold corn, under thoso steps, but ho had dug up tho money after tho war was over, and evidently supposed ho had recovered tho whole. It seemed that he was mistaken. And now his widow was not slow to follow the hint given her by the burrowing rat. Sho moved tho steps and after a thorough search succeeded in finding$20. Kegarding this money as a direct gift from heaven she sent it all to tho suffering family.? Boston Transcript. A King's Ears. Ono night shortly before tho taking of Maillezais, while d'Aubigne, as was apparently his custom, was sleeping with 11. do la Force in a room opening out of Henry's bedroom, ho said to his companion, "La Force, our master is a skinflint and the most ungrateful man on tho face of tho earth." La Force, who was half asleep, did not hear, and muttered, "What do you 6ay, d'Aubigne?" upon which tho king, who was noted for his quickness of hearing, quietly 6aid, "Ho says I am a skinflint and the most ungrateful man on tho face of tho earth." D'Aubigne felt rather sheepish, but Henry was not in tho least annoyed. The story is unfortunately not quite authentic, for it is only given in tho notes of tho early editions of tho memoirs and .li ?n,,+ (toes not appear in mo mauunviipu uu> in liis history d'Aubigno relates a similar 6tory in which when his bedfellow did not hear his remark, the king chimed in with "How deaf you are; don't you hear that ho says I want to marry my sister to several brothers-in-law at once?" "Go ! to sleep," coolly replied d'Aubigne, "we havo plenty more things to say about: you."?Macmillan's Magazine. Tito Curiosity of Women. Some time ago there appeared in a local paper an item to the eifect that if a woman saw a paragraph cut from a newspaper in her house she would not rest until she procured another paper to j seo what had been cut out. A young married man, ogg?d on by his brother, j cut out tho paragraph referred to, and ! he had tho satisfaction of seeing his wife ' hustle for another copy of tho same edi-1 tion. That is woman's curiosity. If any man cuts out this paragraph and gives his wife tho paper sho will certainly go to the nearest news stand and buy another copy to seo what the scissors havo done.?Chicago Herald. Testing Homes' Feet. J. (J. Ilenry, of San Diego, Cal., through tho columns of Tho Scientilic American, suggests a novel means of testing tho condition of horses' feet. Tako a battery or magnetic machine, one that gives a light current, say sucli as can only be felt with moist hands. Attach ono terminal to tho animal's bit, tho other to tho shoe. If tho horso suffers from the shoe or nails, ho will squirm under tbo test. If there be no irritation, he will pay no attention to it. A little electrical science in the blacksmith 6hops would locate much suffering.?'True Flag. Copper Becoming Fashionable. Copper is coming into fashion. What do I mean? Well, look at this lot of canes and umbrellas that I have just imported. You will notice that each one of them has a piece of ordinary copper wire around the handle. Gold anu silver has become so common as heads for these articles that people demand something new for a change, and you see the result beforo you. Just now great simplicity is affected in this respect, but I haven't the slightest doubt that when this metal becomes popular, as I believe it will, we shall see very elaborate personal ornaments made of it. Indeed,I have often wondered why copper was not more generally used as a material for ornaments. Its peculiar color harmonizes perfectly with dark materials and complexions, and it is comparatively free from oxidization. Barbarous? Not a bit of it. True, tho aborigines make use of copper to adorn their persons, and in that they show excellent iudgment. In matters of taste wo might frequently take lessons from tho savages. ? Jewelers' Weekly. Charley McCarthy and 111* Gum. Charley McCarthy, tho bantam weight champion of America, is a philosopher as well as a fighter. As a rule, no fights with a big lump of chewing gum in hi" mouth, and this practice has caused a good deal of fun to be poked at him by fellows who think they know it all. The other night ho told his reason for this habit Ho said: "I generally put a double dose of gum in my mouth when I begin to prepare for the ring, and by tho time 1 am called on to fight I have it pretty well masticated. When in action I keep my eyes fixed on my opponent, and if I see that he is about to land, say on my left jaw, I quickly work tho gum between my teeth and that siHa r\t mv fn/?A And it forms ft cushion that serves to greatly break the force of the blow. 1 have got to be so expert in shifting the gum from one jowl to the other that half the blows I get on either side of my faco are robbed of most of their percussive force."?Buffalo News. Ttao Naval Attache. A naval attache is one of the most interesting persons you can meet His bush ess is apparently to survey the seen) of human activities in a broad and noble spirit, taking a large and disinterested view of the progress of civilisation. He shines in the parlor and bubbles over at the banquet. He is tho most candid, open hearted and childlike man in every company. Men and women envy him. He never seems to be burdened with work?an elegant charming idler sent among foreigners out of pure good nature. As a matter of fact a naval attache is the eyes and ears of the military branch of tho government His midnights are spent in writing down the processes of foreign nations, jno detail is too small to escape his watchful mind if it be new and vital. He never must forget, even for a moment, that he is moving among the possible future enemies of his country.?New York Herald. The Onondaga Indian Tribe. A good picture of the state of affairs reprooatea by the recent Indian council is seen in the case of the Onondaga tribe. This tribe owns a reservation of 6,000 acres on the site of the old council fires of the Six Nations. These 6.000 acres are uniformly of the cnoicest farming lands, and include their lands nor work their quarries. There are twenty-six chiefs for 400 members of the tribe. The old Indian languago is still in common use. The state or morals is absolutely indescribable in decent English. The tenure of land is tribal. The renunciation of Christianity is a requisite to election as a sachem; but nominal Christianity is professed by about half the tribe. The Feast of tho Whito Dog is celebrated with indecent ceremonies. Tho auestion of what to do with the Indians is now necessarily to be reconsidered. It is not enough to hold them on reservations and feed them.?GlobeDemocrat. Tho Cost of Grand Opera. The difference between tho outlay and tho returns at the Metropolitan Opera house, New York, averages $1,000 nightly. In other words, there is a dead loss of between $60,000 and $70,000 on a four months'season. This is not excessive, if compared with the figures shown by some other great onera houses. The profits in Paris, for example, are purely nominal, and against them must be set the annual subsidy of $160,000 granted by the state. A New York opera season in German costs $200,000. This includes $105,000 for artists' salaries and $40,000 for the magnificent orchestra. The rest is spent on scenery, costumes, chorus, supes and ballet?The Stage. "Nobody's Son." A case of mistaken identity recently caused great amusement in a western court A colored prisoner, about 16 years old, appeared before the judge, charged with stealing a pie. "Take oil' your cap," said the judge. "What for?" asked the prisoner, without obeying. "What for? You are in court Take off your hat" "I jess don't have to," replied the prisoner, calmly. Whereupon the * judge, turning to the father of the prisoner, asked angrily: "Is that your son?" "No," replied the man, with an appreciative grin. "I guess she ahrt nobody's son."?Youths Companion. The Fortnightcrs. The reformation in the way of earlier hours for social events is spreading eastward from that cradle of liberty, Philadelphia. An organization of society leaders of Elizabeth, N. J., known as tne fortnighters, has pronounced in favor of beginning its entertainments at 8 p. m., and ending the same at midnight Elizabeth being tributary to tho metropolis, should, in its way, serve to scatter the good seed of early hours in tho great city -where fashion is tyrannical, and where tho headquarters is established of tho army of trio unemancipated.?Pittsburg Bulletin. A WooUy Horse. James Carroll, of No. 2Sfr Willowavenue, between Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets, is the possessor of a horse whose hide is covered with a thick mass of curly whito hair, about * three inches in length. When seen from a short distance, tho hide presents a woolly appearance, and tho animal looks as though nature had given him tho skin of a sheep through mistake. Although tho horse is more than unusually attractive, owing to his peculiarity, he is daily hauling a milk wagon.?San Francisco Examiner. Tho Last Bird to Retire. Apart from tho birds which rest during tho day and seek their food at nighty as tho night jar and tho various kinds of owls, and putting aside *rVk?S?V? M?VntV?AM UtoU uiuau uuitii xuouuiuigi u sing all the night through, as the nigntingale, the woodlark and the seago warbler, it seems that the robin is the last bird to seek reposo. It may be often heard singing until nearly midnight in tho early summer, and in winter is to be seen hopping about long after other birds have gone to rest?New York Telegram. That is the happiest conversation whero there is no competition, no' vanity, but only a calm, quiet inter-! change of sentiment?I)r. S. Johnson.' j