Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

ISSIJ.EI3 SEMI-WEEKL^ ^ ^ ^ * L. K. OSIST'S SOBS, Pibiishen. } ~~ |T<ifamitg fftcspaper: 4?r the gromotion of the political, gotiat, Agricultural, and <Eiimnin;tiat Jnttrests of the gtoplt. {mMi?^0?oiv?S&'2OT.A t ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C.. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21% 19Q4. NO. 85 LITTLE A ROMANCE OF TH GREAT LORD HAWKE" . CYRUS TOW> Lmk, Author of "Commodore Paul Jones,' of the J C! Copyright, 1901, by D. A] CHAPTER IV. THE GARDEN AND THE ROSE. THE Chateau de Josselin, a place not unknown to history, lay hard by the seashore a few miles from the town of Brest toward which it turned Its landward side. It was a building of great antiquity and had been in the possession of the family of de Rohan from feudal times. One face looked eaward over the wild crags, wbere the stormy waves of the Bay of Biscay broke in ceaseless onslaught, beating themselves into the white foam of sea agony upon the stern shores. * * *" * * * * ? * ? ?nol At tne root 01 tne Keep or puuvi^i" tower, which was built upon the sheer edge of a .precipitous headland, there was a deep indentation in the cliffs, which, if one possessed sufficient skill and knowledge to thread the narrow passage twisting between the roaring breakers, afforded a safe harborage for boats and small coasting vessels. It had been long unused, of course, owing to the spacious harbor of Brest close at hand, but in old days it had been a favored haven of the adventurous lords of Rohan?and sometimes of their enemies as well. Landward the main chateau overlooked a singularly pleasant garden filled with ancient fruit and shade trees, the whole inclosed by a high wall from which, and better still from the high tower, a full view of Brest, Its fortifications, its naval station, its harbor and its shipping could be obtained. It was to this castle that Philip Grafton was conducted upon the evening of the arrival of Le Thesee in the harbor. The Marquis de Chabot-Rohan, or, to give him his familiar title, de Chabot, the heir and successor to the dig nities of the de Rohans in those parts, and consequently the master of rich and extensive possessions, kept up a princely estate in the old chateau, and it pleased him still to perpetuate the ancient usages and customs of his house so far as he could. The castle itself seemed to be maintained as a mediaeval fortress might have been. The ditch surrounding it on the landward side, instead of being dry and grass-grown, as was the custom, was kept well filled with water; the drawbridge?the sole means of crossing the moat?was raised and lowered at appointed hours; and close watch and ward were kept by the feudal retainers of the house at the gateway and on the walls. To seaward the walls were so high and so strong that the castle, placed on the very edge of the beetling cliffs, was believed to be impregnable. His only son, the young Comte de Rohan?and save de Kersalnt almost his only relative?had married Mistress Anne Page, of Virginia. The young man had been a naval officer whose ship had been stationed upon the coast of North America, where he had greatly enjoyed the spontaneous and warm-hearted hospitality of the colonists of the famous old dominion. Carried away by her charms of mind and person, and without waiting for the consent of his father, he straightway married this young woman from the new world whose beauty and character had made so deep an impression upon him, and he had brought her to France in his own frigate. His father, at first highly incensed at what he deemed a mesalliance, had rnfnfc/1 POholvo him* llllt OtCtUlJ 1V1UOVU VV (VVV? V M?Ma| ~ . the tales of the beauty of his unwelcome daughter-in-law, which were poured In his ear by those who fell under the sway of her loveliness, and certain substantial evidences of the great estates in the new world belonging to the honorable family from which she sprang, and to which she was sole heiress, which his son had found means to bring to his attention, had first awakened his curiosity and finally mollified his wrath. He had at last consented to an interview, and thereafter had promptly succumbed to the charms of the winsome and beautiful American as completely as had his Ron. Resigning his commission in the French navy the young count and his wife, overjoyed at the reconciliation, had returned to his father's house and, as he fondly hoped, settled down to years of domestic bliss and tranquil my. There a daughter, the first and only child of this strange union, was born; but the life that came was paid for by the life that went, for when the child was but a few days old, the young mother died. The inconsolable young count did not long survive the loss of Ills adored wife. To distract his grief he resumed his service In the French navy, receiving his old rank through his father's Influence, and was shortly after wrecked and lost with his ship on a voyage to the French East Indies. while his daughter was still an Infant. It was a crushing blow to the old man. but with Spartan resolution he , bore up under It and turned to his little granddaughter for comfort and consolation. As the days sped away the child intrenched herself more and more in the old man's heart. He withdrew himself from the world in which he had been so great and gay a figure and devoted himself assiduously to her welfare. Little Anne, Countess de Rohan in her own right, lived alone with her FRANCE f E DAYS WHEN "THE WAS KING OF THE SEA ISEND BRADY "'Reciben'James," "For (he Freedom >e?," fitc. ~' J jpleto.: * Co., New York. graidfather In the old Chateau de Jostelin. Save when unavoidably called away on business connected with the management of his estates he rarely l;ft her. He watched over her with the solicitude of a mother and the devotion of a lover. The withered old mar grew to love her as few children wer > then loved?certainly with such a feeling as few Frenchmen of rank at that day ever exhibited toward a child. She was the sole heiress to all his possessions, the last of that branch of her ancient house, and he lavished upon her a depth of tenderness and a weaitn of affection which surrounded her with an atmosphere of adoration. Loath to part with her, instead of committing her education to one of the great conventual schools, as was the custom among the noblesse of the country, he supervised it himself. Her growing m^nd afforded him new food for wonder daily, her present engrossed his mind, her future filled his dreams. As he was one of the most accomplished gentlemen of his time and had been a man of the world in the highest and best sense of the word, she received such training as had not often been bestowed upon a young demoiselle of France. In but one particular, indeed, the old man's scheme of education, in the carrying out of which he was assisted by tha best masters that money could procure, might have been deemed faulty. The marquis, as he grew old, lived more and more in the past?and as he went backward in time he took the little maid back with him. The same strange fancy which led him to restore mediaeval usages and customs as far as possible, and which made his favorite study the ancient tales of chivalry, the stories of the hardy adventurous knights like the great du Guesclin, some of whose blood indted ran in his veins, gave an unusw 1 turn to the thoughts of his gran ' 'aughter. She, like him, was steeped in the romantic lore of ancient days. The traditions of their ancient house, the deeds of daring, devoti m, and courage which had made the le Rohans illustrious, were as famili .r to her as fairy tales and childish rhy. ies are to other children. Her own maidenly vision dimly comprehended the future through the windows of the past. It was to this ancient chateau with Its suggestion of history, its atmosphere of romance, and its Breton wild rose, scarcely reaching the dignity of a bud yet. but still inclosed in tne soft calyx of innocence and inexperience, that Grafton was brought at the request of de Kersaint through the complaisance of the marquis. It was evening when the two gentlemen, attended by a numerous retinue, rode up to the great gateway. The few miles that intervened between [^Q^rninuTirryfQfl i fib-. THE DRAWBRIDGE. Brest and the Chateau de Josselin had been passed in animated conversation, and the acquaintance which had begun on the decks of Le Thesee under such strange auspices, liaa ripened into a pleasant intimacy. The dashing young American sailor had been attracted by the evidences of culture. the keen but kindly humor, the rich stores of knowledge, possessed by the marquis; and the latter had been touched by the pleasant deference and open frankness, as well as the shrewd common sense and graceful manner, of his young companion. When they arrived before the gate of the castle as the sun had set the drawbridge was raised. As they waited for it to be lowered in answer to the marquis' hail, the young man remarked that it all seemed quite mediaeval, fitting in appropriately with the wild surroundings and the barren shore. "Monsieur," answered the marquis, gravely, as if fearing a covert jest, "I l.-oori sn far n? T can the state of my forefathers. This is my domain," he continued, as they rode through the ranks of the guards who had been paraded underneath the great gateway, and who were dressed in quaint outlandish costumes which reminded Grafton of the pictures in some old book, "this is my castle, these my retainers. Here my will Is law. Within the"e walls I am supreme, saving only the feudal rights of my over-lord and master, His Most Christian Majesty, whom God preserve. While you are here, monsieur the castle Is yours. You are free to come and go where you will within the walls, and should you not attempt to pass the gate, you will find nothing to remind you that you are a prisoner. So securely guarded is my castle, Monsieur Grafton, that I do not even ask you for your parole. You hear, Jean-Renaud?" he added, turning to the sergeant of the guard, "Monsieur Grafton is an American gentleman who honors our poor house by accepting its hospitality. Mark you?and you, too, monsieur, pray give heed?he is free to go anywhere but over the walls or through the gate. See to it, Jean-Renaud, that in no case is he allowed to escape. You will forgive the necessity for these orders, Monsieur Grafton, but I am responsible for you. The chatelaine?" he added, turning again to Jean-Renaud, "where is she?" "She has retired, Monsieur le Marquis," answered Jean-Renaud, "not knowing that you were to be here this evening. Shall I go ?" "ff ?o mv wish thnt nhp h? not. dis turbed, Jean-Renaud. Come, captain, let us enter. Supper and a bottle of wine after our long ride will doubtless be as acceptable to you as to me. Allow me to precede you, monsieur? only to show you the way In these old halls, of course." After partaking of a generous repast in the ancient banqueting hall of the castle, Grafton, now attended by Jean-Renaud, was shown to a huge room, richly and comfortably furnished, the windows of which overlooked the garden. He was Informed that this was to be his own chamber during his sojourn at the castle. Tired out by the trying experiences of the day, and invited thereto by a great old - fashioned, comfortable - looking bed, the young man immediately retired and soon sank to rest CHAPTER V. THE CRADLE SONG. fc.r // m ? OU say we have a vls itor, Josette?" j "Yes, mademoiselle, so Jean-Renaud says." "An English gentleman?" "Jean-Renaud thinks so, because he certainly is not French." "But what did he look like?" "Handsome! Hein! His hair curls, 'tis very blond?and his eyes! Clel! Blue, blue like the sea, mademoiselle, and his cheeks red " "Mon Dieu! Quel beau chevalier! You must be in love with him, Josette!" "No, mademoiselle! Nay, 'tis not for the likes of me " "True, true," said the young chatelaine gravely. "He is a noble knight, doubtless. He had red cheeks, you say?" "Yes, mademoiselle." "Not like my pale ones, I suppose; hut then the English alwavs were gross and red In the cheek." "But, mademoiselle " "That will do, Josette, you weary me with this stranger. Did you bring the new dolls?" "Here they are, mademoiselle," said the faithful Josette, producing two elaborately dressed Parisian dolls from beneath her apron. "They came by special messenger from Paris last night after you had retired." "Oh," exclaimed the young girl, rapturously, "how beautiful they are! I thought I had about done with dolls, but these are so lovely. What grand dames they are! Give them to me, Josette." "How kind of Monsieur le Marquis, mademoiselle," answered the maid, who was also the foster sister and youthful confidante of the countess, as she handed her the two dolls. "Oh, do you know," said the capricious little maiden, "these are beautiful dolls, but I don't believe I like them after all as much as old 'Toto.'" * * * * ?l??? ?? wftfnrn ar\ "I Drougm ner uiuug, iuu, inuiu? Josette, producing her from a pocket in her dress, "I thought you might want her, mademoiselle." "Oh, give her to me!" exclaimed the young mother, extending her hand to take the old rag affair, "I am tired of walking and talking, Josette. You are bo very uninteresting this morning. You can't speak of anything but that Englishman! Let's sit down here under this beech-tree and sing the dolls to sleep. You take the two from Paris. We'll play they're twins, and I will take poor old Toto. She shall not be neglected for the beautiful ladies from the city, shall she? Poor old Toto! I shall never have any more dolls, Josette. I certainly am too old for them. If it were a real baby, now, or a knight," continued this small bundle of inconsistencies, "how I would love it! But that is not to be. Helas, Josette! Come, let us put them to sleep." "But, mademoiselle, 'tis early morning " responded the unimaginative peasant. "Stupid, we can play 'tis night, can't we? Besides, it's always good for children to take a nap. Grandfather says, 'the more sleepy the eye in the daytime the brighter the eye at night.' You sit there and I will sit here. Now, sing." The two children, with that delightful indifference to rank and station which constitutes one of the charms of childhood, sat down on a rustic bench under a handsome old beechtree. Though both were about the same age, just entering their teens, Josette, who was the younger, would moHo inn of her voune mistress. She had already reached her growth, apparently, for she was tall and large, and her splendid physical development was well set off by the picturesque dress of the Breton peasantry. Her mistress, on the contrary, was small, slender, fragile, undeveloped and physically as much behind her maid as mentally she was her superior. A greater contrast between them could not have been imagined. "What shall we sing, mademoi selle?" asked Josette. "Shall It be The Fox Gallant?" "No, we'll sing Toutoule, la, la!" "Very well, will you begin?" "No, you." . "Very well. Are you ready.?" "Yes." "So, then." Humming the air for a moment, the two voices broke Into the plaintive melody of an old Breton cradle song, the refrain of which gave It a title. In default of a rocklng-chalr?not then indigenous to France?the two bodies swayed back and forth In time to the simple lullaby, or berceuse, the wooden sabots on one pair of large though shapely feet patting the ground In time with the dainty jewel-buckled JjOuIs Quinze slippers upon the other. The words were primitive and childish as befits folk song at Its best, and more especially at Its beginning In the cradle song, and the music was equally so; yet the emphatic word was o* the end of each verse with I cpcotvu WV -*? y?? ? a long-drawn cadence, and the Toutoule, la, la! roee above the branches with a caressing Intonation which a mother might have used to a child. The gentle air of the summer morning rustled the leaves of the old beechtree in a not inharmonious accompaniment to the melody and swept the sound into the dull ear of a drowsy man. Philip Qrafton had forgotten himself in the great bed of the large chamber abova the beech-tree. He lazily opened the curtains of the bed as the sound came faintly into the room, and the flood of light which poured upon him completed his awakening. He lay listening a few moments and then rose and leisurely walked to the window. It was a heavenly morning. The breeze, laden with the sweet fragrance of summer, blew softly across his face through the casement. An enchanting garden', which might have boasted the supervision of the famous Le Notre himself,* lay spread before his eyes. Half concealed by the interlacing boughs .of the tree he could detect two figures beneath the window, sitting on a'bench under the shadow of the beech. He watched them. They were singing. That wild, plaintive, yet primitive chant came from the two little girls there. The deeper contralto tones of the peasant girl afforded a sweet accompaniment for the girlish treble of the other. The birds twittered in the trees of the garden, and a gay robin on a branch near the window poured out his brave little soul in brilliant bursts -of song. It was a chorus of nature harmonizing with the natural song of motherhood, which seemed not inappropriate, though issuing from the lips of children. "Toutouie, la, la!" What was the queer little tefralh? He leaned far n-traf tVir. ?r<ni1nis.oll1 onH Mntpnpri to the singers. He was wont to be awakened by the creaking of the timbers of a heaving ship, and the experience of this morning was as novel as it was delightful. It was interrupted, however, by a knock upon the door. CHAPTER VI. EXIT DOLLr-ENTER KNIGHT. AT the sound of Grafton's voice directing him to enter, Sergt Jean?Renaud, who was accompanied by a slender youth in the livery of the house, opened the door. "Monsieur is awake?" asked the sergeant, stepping over the threshold and saluting respectfully. "As you see, sergeant" "Monsieur slept well?" "Very well." "Monsieur wakes early." "Yes, that song there?" pointing to the window, "do you not hear it?" " 'Tis mademoiselle and Josette," answered Jean-Renaud; "she will be annoyed to think sbe nas disturbed " "On no account tell her! Say nothing about It to any one, my good friend. 'Tis delightful! What sing they?" "A cradle song, monsieur," answered the sergeant. "My old mother sang me to sleep with that song, and thousands of other mothers in Brittany have sung it as well. Toutouie, la, la!" He caught up the refrain, and in a deep though not unmusical voice hummed the air. " "Tis a pretty song," said Grafton. "Yes, monsieur, but if you are ready to dress, I have brought Anatole, who is at your service while you are a pris ?while you honor our house," he added, with native politeness. "He | will serve monsieur. And Monsieur le Marquis bids me say when you are ready he will be pleased to attend you at breakfast. Monsieur realizes that he is?is?while he is within the walls he " "I remember everything, my good friend," replied Grafton, "within the walls I am free; outside, a prisoner." "Provided, of course, monsieur gets outside," answered Jean-Renaud, smiling. "Has monsieur any commands for me?" "None," replied Philip as the old soldier withdrew. The deft Anatole, who seemed familiar with the habits of Englishmen, quickly arranged a bath, laid out a uniform from his new master's wardrobe?for his personal baggage had been sent him through the kindness of de Kersaint?and tfcen withdrew. Hastily Philip dressed himself?and yet with unusual care, by the way?and descended to the hall. Finding the door open he entered the garden. The song had ceased and the two maidens, the dolls lying neglected in their laps, were engaged In earnest conversation. "And you think," he heard the smaller say, "that he would be my knight?" "Mademoiselle, he Is there!" _eat claimed Josette, springing to her feet In much confusion, as she observed Grafton's approach. . The other girl turned her head slightly, saw him advancing, and as if to mark the difference between the mistress and the maid, rose slowly and calmly to her feet. In spite of her dignity her little heart was beating furiously. The dolls fell neglected to the ground. The end of their reign began that morning. Grafton bowed profoundly before her, and as she returned his salutation with a sweeping courtesy, be looked curiously at her. So this was tbe Breton rose! sue was a smau, slender, pale little girl, between 13 and 14 years old, and rather delicate In appearance. Too old to be playing with dolls, certainly. Her head was crowned with a mass of hair black as a raven's wing, which fell down her back in a heavy braid tied with a scarlet ribbon. A pair of rather long arms terminating in long slender hands stretched from her immature sloping shoulders. Below the short skirt of her dress two long thin legs dropped into dainty slippers. Phillip was something of a connoisseur and he scanned her carefully and swiftly. Her eye3, he thought, were good, and blue he could see in spite of the downcast lids?a strange combination of black hair, pale face, and blue eyes, unusual but striking. Her hands were small, he noticed, and her feet, even then, charming. As for the rest that would come in time. She was a maiden of much promise be decided. "Mademoiselle," he said respectfully, "have I the pleasure of addressing the Chatelaine of Josselln, the young Countess de Rohan?" "Yes, monsieur," answered the girl simply, lifting her eyes to his as she spoke. He started in surprise before their deep violet splendor?the eyes of a woman in the face of a child. Good heavens! They were glorious?decidedly this was promising. "You are the English milord?" she queried gravely. "Neither the one nor the other, mademoiselle," he answered, smiling at her frank question. "I was born in America." "Ah!" cried the girl brightening, "my mother came from there. 'Tis a great land." "The greatest the sun shines upon, mademoiselle," gravely answered Grafton. "Except France, monsieur." "Except France, little lady, since you are here," he returned gaily. "And monsieur is not a lord?" "There are no lords in America." "Not ev.en a knight?" "Not yet, unless I may be your knight, mademoiselle," "You hear, Josette?" cried the girl, turning delightedly to the other, "we won't have to play any more that you are a knight Monsieur says he will be my knight So few gentlemen come here, monsieur; we see no one," she went on. with a statellness and ease which anite belied the rasreed doll at her feet, the Persian dolls by her side, the short dress, and general air of unformed and undeveloped womanhood about her. "Monsieur le Marquis is here, of course. And Monsieur de Kersalnt, who was a friend of my father's comes sometimes, and the masters of the dance, and the masters of the music, and the masters of the art, and all the other tiresome masters, LAZILY OPENED THE CURTAINS. and Jean-Renaud, so that I am glad to find a gentlemen?Monsieur is gentile. of course?" "I hope so, mademoiselle. I trust mademoiselle may find me so at any rate." "Monsieur looks so. Is it not so, Josette?" frankly continued the child. "Oh, indeed, yes, mademoiselle!" exclaimed the embarrassed but acquiescent maid. "I do not doubt monsieur's breeding, but a maiden, motherless like I, monsieur, must be very careful how she takes a knight without finding out all about him, you see. Monsieur's family is old?" "Very old, mademoiselle," answered the young man, smiling at the little comedy. "Monsieur is an American, and America was only discovered?let me 8ee?118 scarce OW years siukc, 10 u not, Josette?" "Yes, mademoiselle, certainly," answered Josette, still agreeably concurring, although she knew nothing about it. "But my family was English lor.g before that time, mademoiselle," answered Grafton, "and Norman before that" "Oh, you are part French, then?" "My heart is all French, at least since I have met you, mademoiselle." "Now, that is nicely said. You are tres gentile indeed, sir, and your family Is old?not as old as the de Rohans, though." "Mademoiselle, la anything so old or so beautiful .as the.de Rohana?" "As to tbe age, monsieur, there Is no doubt, but as to the other, there are only grandfather and myself left, and I am sure he Is not beautiful, though he's very wise, and so good to me that I think him lovely. As for me," she regarded herself mournfully, looking from her dainty feet at her long bony legs, her flat chest? she even seemed lntrospectlvely to be surveying ber own countenance In the mirror of her memory. She shrugged her shoulders at last, and Philip interrupted her meditations by saying: "Mademoiselle, I think you charming." "But you, monsieur," she responded, "if you are to be my true knight and servitor, must think me beautiful. Knights always do that In the books, you know." '"Tis an easy task your ladyship lays upon me," he replied gallantly. "If I am set to no more difficult undertake ing than that to prove my devotion, I shall be lightly treated." "Oh, of course I shall find you harder things to do than that I can not have a knight who will not do great things for me." "Ah, here comes Jean-Renaud!" he continued. "Well, monsieur sergeant will you break a lance with me in honor of Mademoiselle de Rohan?" "Sir?" cried Jean-Renaud in great surprise. "I maintain that she Is the moet beautiful lady In Brittany." "In the world, Sir Philip, you should say, unless there is some beautiful English lady who has your heart" A shade of anxiety st <pt over the youthful face at this thought, which was at once dispelled by his perfectly truthful answer: "There Is no English or any other lady except you, beauteous princess." "How nice that Is! I think you are the nicest knight I ever dreamed of." "Thank you. Now, Jean-Renaud, shall we repair to the tilt-yard?" "Monsieur mystifies me," answered the old sergeant. "You agree, then, that medemolselle Is the " "Why, monsieur, we are all devoted to mademoiselle," responded Jean-Renaud simply. "Is it a game monsieur plays? If so, we are all her servitors." "No, no, Jean-Renaud, I will have no knight but Sir Philip!" cried mademoiselle. "You seem already to have made the acquaintance of my granddaughter, Capt Grafton," interrupted the marquis, turning the corner of the house at the moment "Acquaintance, Monsieur le Marquis? She has done me the honor to constitute me her royal knight, and I am trying to induce Jean-Renaud to break a spear in her behalf." "Will he not make a proper knight, grandpa, this English gentleman?" asked Anne, fluttering to her grandfather. "Proper knight indeed, my child," answered the old man, humoring her mood as he fondly kissed her, "and I congratulate you. Meanwhile let us descend from the romantic to the material. Breakfast is served. Monsieur Grafton, will you take your little lady and precede me? C'est bien," he soliloquized, taking a pinch of snuff as he calmly surveyed the young man and the little girl walking ceremoniously toward the door. "A pretty piece of play. I shall take* care it stops in sport The thorn watches the rose. Anne de Rohan mates with no roreigner, mucn less who an enemy. TO BE CONTINUED. 8UPER8TITION8 OF THE MALAY8. Peculiar Belief of an Eastern People In Signs and Omons. You can scarcely ever get your money from a Malay on Friday, because they believe that If they pay their creditors on a Friday they will be overtaken with penury. Malays never cut shave or cut their nails on Saturday or Tuesday, because these are unlucky days, and If they do port with their hair or nails on these days they believe that they will always be in trouble or will die quickly. The Malay never sleeps in the afternoon, for such an action shortens life! When a rat bites a Malay's clothes, It signifies ill luck, and usually the rat-bitten clothes are given away to the poor. There la a kind of bird called by the Malays Rowk-rowk which does not build a nest and lives in fields. The Malays say that whoever obtains a Rowk-rowk's nest will become invisible as soon as he puts the nest on his head. Of course, the Malays believe that | there is such a nest, despite the fact that the bird never builds one. If a Malay feels that his right hand [ is Itchy, he is glad because he will receive a large sum of money, and if he feels that his right eye moves, he knows that he will see a foreign friend. J If tears issue from either eye, he understands that a relative of his will die, and If he too 'often forgets his promises to his many friends he is aware that he will die and will shed tears rather proruseiy. When there Is an eclipse of the moon or sun, the Malays abstain from taking food and perform their ablutions, in order that no contagious disease may overtake them. Crows are an ill omen, and whenever a crow caw-caws near a Malay habitation It means death to some one of the Inmates. Supposing a Malay walks along a road and suddenly a black cat crosses before him, he will at once turn back and walk along another path. The crossing of the black cat signifies danger Involving the loss of life. You seldom see Malays bite their nails, because this action is likely to lead the doer into poverty. If a Malay sees a pig or a Chinese funeral be- J fore the sun rises, say at 5.30 a. m., he knows that he is lucky, and whatever he does on this day he Is sure to meet with success. Dreaming of Jumping a brooklet assures the dreamer that death will ensue in a short time, and In this case the unhappy man generally distributes alms to the poor so that his life may be prolonged. To see a monkey In the morning is an III omen and signifies that the seer will lose money heavily in trade.?Penang Straits Echo. THE VOTE POUR YEARS AOO. Tabulated Returns From Every Stat* In tha Union in 1900. There are these daya numerous inquiries by mail, by wire and by phone, which it is found, moot convenient to answer by presenting the following table. Cut It out and paste it up for reference. It will sa ve time for you and others. It la a list of the popular vote four years ago as received by the Democratic and Republican oandldatee for president: States Dt.m. Rep. Plurality. Alabama ... 97.1.31 65,512 41.11* D Arkansas ... 81,142 44,800 S ,242 D California .. 124,085 154,756 21,770 R Colorado ... 122,783 98,072 29.551 D Conn 78,097 102,557 28,670 R ueiaware .... ls.iios zz,&z? J.S71 K Florida 28,007 7,814 20,ft! CI Georgia . .. 81,700 25,035 46,666 D Idaho 29,414 26,997 2,31f D Illinois 508,061 597.986 94.734 R Indiana .... 309.-,84 336,063 26,479 R Iowa 209,179 307,785 98,606 R Kansas 16X001 186,996 2:1454 R Kentucky .. 235,103 237.128 7,976 D Louisiana .. 53.071 14,233 39,428 D Maine 36.822 65,435 28,613 R Maryland .. 122,271 126,212 13,941 R Mass 156,997 238,866 81.869 R Mich 211,986 316,269 104,584 R Minn 112,901 190,461 77,560 R Mlssi 51,706 6,753 46,961 D Missouri ... 351,922 314,092 27,826 D Montana ... 37,1.46 25,372 11,778 D Nebraska ... 114,013 121,835 7,823 R Nevada 6,2147 3,849 3.498 D New. H. ... 35,489 64,802 19.314 R N. Jersey .. 164.,108 221,707 66489 R N. York .... 678,2186 821,992 143,606 R N. C 157,762 138,081 24,671 D N. Da. 20,519 36.891 16.873 R Ohio 474,-82 548.918 60,088 R Ore 33, (85 46,626 1X149 R Penn 424,1132 712,666 288,448 R R. 1 19,312 33,784 1X917 R S. C 47,236 3,570 48,667 D S. Da 39,5.44 64,636 14,986 R Tenn 144,751 121,194 38,657 D Texas 267,il37 12X173 14X164 0 Utah 45.106 <47.189 2.138 R Vermont ... 12,849 42,568 29,719 R Va. 146,080 11X866 30.316 0 Wash 44,2123 57,466 12,622 R W. Va. 98,307 119,829 21,021 R Wis 159,285 266,866 106;681 R Wyo 10.164 14,482 X818 R Totals ..6.358,133 7,207,923 The vote for other candidate* amounted to 398,900 votes, distributed as follows: Wcoley, Prohibitionist, 208,914; Debs, Socialist, 87,814; Maloney, socialist labor, 39,739; Barker, .1,1- iL. UH1' miUUie-Ul-inciuai yvir\Ms*m?t two other candidates received about 7,000. Of th6 popular vote MeKlnley received 849,700 more than hla Democratic opponent, and 459,199 over all. The total popular vote of alt candidates was 11,959,451. It la estimated that the vote this year will be about 16,000,000 There were 470 votes In the Electoral College, and 219 are necessary to a choice for president and vicepresident. These 479 votes are distributed among the states as follows: Ala. Ill Nov. I Ark. 9 N. H. 4 Cal 10 N. J ,...11 Col a. 6 N. T. 19 Conn 7 N. C. 12 Del ? N. IM. ? Fla. 8 Ohio tt ?* . l| Oregon ........ 4 Idaho , Penn. . .14 Illinois . > 37 r. l 4 Indiana 15 a r. v'" Iowa " a Da.'".'',\"" 4 Kansas 10 Tenn. ..........*11 P ll Texas II Da 9 utah I Maine ? Vsrtnont .?... 4 Maryland 8 Virginia ..*...11 Mich 14 WMlL 4 M,a8p J? W. Va. 7 MJnn wis. 18 Ml88 iO rnvn Mo 18 Wy? * Mon 1 ? Neb 8 Total 478 RANGE OF VISION. What Can Ba Distinguished at Variant Platan?*. Do you know: That at thirty yards the white of a man's eye Is plainly seen and the eyes themselves up to eighty yards? That at 100 yards all parts of the bady are seen distinctly, slight movements are perceptible' and the minute details of the uniform can be distinguished? That at 200 yards the outlines of the face are confused and the rows of buttons look like stripes? That at 400 yards the face Is a mere dot, but all movements of the legs and arms are still distinct? That at 400 yards details can no longer be distinguished, though flies of a squad, If the light Is strong, can be counted? That at 800 yarda the men in a squaa cannot be counted: nor their Individual movements distinguished? At 1,000 yards a line of men resembles a broad belt; the direction of their march can, however, be readily determined. At 1,200 yards cavalry can be distinguished from Infantry and at 2,000 yards a mounted man usually appears as a mere speck. Tet In these days of long range weapons battles are fought at a distance of 1,000 yarda and It is desirable fQr marksmen to qpalify at that range. The new rifle, wlith which our troops are to be equipped, has a maximum effective fighting range of 4,781 yards or more than two and one-half mllea In other words, a bullet from this rifle will kill or disable at a greater distance than the man firing it can distinguish an Individual enemy from the surrounding landscape.?War College Bulletin. ?? ^ ? "Po" Li'l." Ram!"?A ram, famous In a West Virginia village for Its propensity to butt, was enraged one morning, says the Philadelphia Press, to discover Uncle Billy, an aged darky, asleep In the pasture. Uncle Billy sat with his head bowed low and his bald spot shining In the sun. The ram eyed It from a distance. Uncle Billy nodded, ard the bald top of his head bade defiance. "he ram stood up and waved a challenge with Its horns. Uncle Billy nodded In accept ance. With a sharp "Ba-a-a-a-a!" the ram charged and launched itself lllce a catapult at the offending pate. A little later It picked itself up from the ground and wandered away to the farthest side of the pasture to ruminate over the collision. Uncle Billy looked up drowsily. "Po' 1IT ram!" he murmured. '.He done wandered 'fom de fold and foun' sorrow and tribulation!"