Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, December 15, 1908, Image 1
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m iw m iif in m n? ihw in m nt iw i
'THE it!*
By OPII
Copyrighted 1896, by Wm. h
By Permission of Lai
mm mi in an mil hi mi miiiufciiii
" CHAPTER XII.
L Stuart was buried the next day, and
the mourners passed our house. Mrs.
wF Jucklin was sitting at the window
when the hearse and the buggies came
within sight, and her chin was unsteady
as she reached for her book.
And there she sat, holding the old
leather covered Bible in her lap.
I had thought that Chyd Lundsford
would come, with words of encouragement,
but we saw him not, neither
L that day nor the next. But four days
later I came upon him as I was going
to town. He had a gun, was followed
by a number of squirrel dogs and came
out of the woods near the spot where
& Alf had eased Stuart from his horse
to the ground. I stopped and bluntly
asked him why he had not been over
and he answered that he was busy
preparing for a rigid examination. I
asked if they were going to examine
him on the art of killing game, and he
laughed and replied: "No, on the
r science of killing men. But the way,"
he added, looking up Into the top of a
tree, "how is Alf getting along? Does
Ihe appear to be hopeful?"
"He is more desperate than hopeful,"
I answered.
"Yes, I should think so. Is that a
squirrel's nest I have heard It hinted
that a love affair had something to
do with it?an affair pretty close, at
that. Well. I've got nothing to do with
it. Can't drive out of my mind what
I have had so hard a time driving into
it. Sorry, and all that sort of thing.
That's no squirrel's nest. But if people
persist in being romantic they
f must expect to have trouble. I'm sorry
for the old folks?must take it rather
hard. Good-hearted and simple enough
to worry over it, surely. Well, if you
happen to think of it. give Alf my re
gards."
The coroner's jury had returned an
expected verdict, influenced largely by
fwhat Etheredge had to say. I had
given my testimony, but I could not
make it sound as I wanted it?Alfs
own words were against him, as I repeated
them that day. The preliminary
trial, the mummery before a Justice
of the peace, also went against Alf:
the grand Jury had brought in its finding.
and the next step was the formal
arraignment before the circuit Judge.
And I was now on my way to town to
engage additional legal help, as the
lawyer whom we had retained appeared
to be luke-warm and half-hearted.
I had heard many stories relating to
htmt force and ability of an old
ex-judge named Cor.kwright, and I
called at his office, though I had been
warned that his price was exceedingly
high. He met me gruffly, I thought,
hut 1 soon discovered that he had a
f heart. I told Alf's story, now so familiar
to my own ears that I fancied
that I could give it with effect, and 1
must have touched him, for he said:
^ '"Oh, well, I'll go into it and we'll say
' nothing about the price. I've been
working for nothing all my life, and 1
don't see why I should change now.
Why, of course, he ought to have killed
him," and his old eyes shone as he
said it. "Had to kill him. It strikes
jne that they are rushing things pretty
last, especially as the docket is covered
with murder cases that have been
put over from time to time. That
s?iuart set has lots of influence. Beat
J me tor re-election, I know that. But
we 11 show them a few things that are
W not put down in the books. And you
don t want tne young lady's name men
B tinned. Of course, not. woman i oe
gauant, eh? Well, I'll go down and see
tne young fellow some time today.
Tney'U take it up in about a week
Horn now, that is, if we are ready, anu
we'll be there. Tell old Jucklin not to
fret. He's an old lion-tamer, I tell
you, and if 1 had any interest in that
leliow Etheredge 1 d advise him to
walk pretty straight. But the old man
has quieted down mightily of late
j years."
Alf had undergone no change. He
was glad to know that Conkwright
took an interest in him, but he shook
his head when I told him that we were
v sure to win.
"I don't believe it, Bill; don't believe
jt because I don't feel it. But don't tell
the old folks that I'm not hopeful.
Have you seen Millie?"
"No, and have seen Chyd but once,
and then I came upon him in the road."
"What, hasn't he been at the house?
A tine husband he'll make for Guinea,
'i ell her that I say she must forbid his
coming near her again. No, don't," he
added. "It's better to wait. I wish
y she loved you, Bill, but I'm afarid she
? doesn't."
i know she doesn't." I reDlied.
* "Has she said so?"
"No, but she seems always afraid
\ that I may tell her of my love."
jfc "And I would if I were you, Bill.
No. not yet. Tell father not to come
near me yet a while. He couldn't stand
it."
He had written home, begging his
parents and his sister not to think of
seeing him. had actually commanded
them not to come near the jail.
".Mother can stand more than he can.
for she's more religious. How about
w your .school?"
"<>h. it's all right. The people know
that I couldn't teach now, even if I
should try ever so hard, and they are
very considerate. They say that they
-Jk are willing to wait."
"God bless them for that, any way.
And this reminds me of a preacher
that came in yesterday to prav forme.
I thanked him for his kindness, but
told him that some one was at home
praying, and that one of her words had
more influence in my behalf than all
the prayers he could utter in a lifetime.
I merely mention this to show
1 what sort of an atmosphere I'm in. I
Z didn't like the fellow's look?understand
that he hasn't been a preacher but a
week. Still on suspicion, as they say,
Bill. I was almost crazy, but my mind
j has cooled wonderfully. A fellow's
mind generally does after he's done the
worst he can."
whpwhuwhuwiwiwiwiii mm
CHINS*
S READ.
L Lee?All Rights Reserved. i
rd & Lee, Publishers. ;
"I hope that my reading: of the poem
I didn't start you off."
"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with
it?relieved me, if anything; set me to
thinking that some one else had been
in the same fix. By the way, a telegraph
operator here brings me something
nearly every day. Says that he's
a life-long friend of yours. Told me
to tell you that he was about to pick
up a piece of calico and take it home
with him?said that you would understand.
Now, you go on home and stay
there until the trial. You have almost
worn yourself out. You and the
general are still on good terms, I suppose.
Wish you could slip over there
and see Millie. Do you know what
Chyd's waiting for? He's waiting to
see how the trial goes. Bill, I'm beginning
to feel sorry for Stuart. But
his face doesn't come up before me at
II1?UI v\ mi rt, ucaiu-ivvi\. a *iv*v w
good deal of nonsense about that sort
of thing. When I see him he's always
sitting on his horse, cursing me. And
that's not very pleasant. Go on, Bill.
I have kept you too long. It's nearly
night."
Old man Jucklin was smartly encouraged
when I told him what the exjudge
had said, and he related a number
of anecdotes of the old fellow's
early days on the circuit.
"Oh, help is comin' our way," old
Limuel said, and his wife, pointing to
her book, replied: "It has always been
with us."
"At the stake," he answered.
I did not speak of having seen Chdy. I
I had no right to do so. for I knew
that he was now an additional distress.
But the next morning when Guinea and
I were alone at the breakfast table she I
asked me if I had not met him down
the road?said that she had seen him
crossing the meadows with his dogs. I
began to quibble and she spoke up
spiritedly: "Oh, you shouldn't hesitate
to tell me. It amounts to nothing, I'm
sure."
"I must manage some way to see
Millie," I remarked, determined to say
no more about Chyd lest I should lose
my temper.
"I hope you won't go to the house,"
she replied, her face coloring.
"I won't, but I didn't know but that
I might see her going to a neighbor's
and then "
"No," she broke in, "I hope you
won't even do that. She must know
how we feel, and if she had any interest
in us she would come over here.
No, I won't say that I don't know what
she may have to contend with. But
her brother could come if he wanted
to, but it makes no difference, I'm
sure."
"Suppose I meet Millie in the road;
shall I speak to her?"
"Surely, but don't ask her why she
hasn't been to see us. What did Chyd
say?"
"Not much of anything?said that so
long as people were romantic they must
expect trouble."
She frowned and thus replied: "A
good authority on the evils of romance."
"Why not an expert on the thrills
of romance?" I asked. "Hasn't he
played up and down the brook?"
"So have the ducks," she answered,
with a return of her smile. "But let
us not talk about him?I would rather
not think about him."
I could not play the part of a hero;
I was not of the stock that had stood
at the stake glorifying the deed with
a hymn. I had wanted to drop the
subject, not because it was painful to
* I * ?%??/-ioA/1 o enllra Jntrt
licit UUl UCta U^r U |'l concu cv 0|;mv
my own flesh: but her wish to dismiss
him from her mind urged me to keep
him there, to torture her with him.
Brute? Surely; I have never denied
it. but I loved her, and in love there
i? no generosity. The lover who seeks
to be liberal is a hypocrite, a sneakthief
robbing his own heart.
"But how can you put him out of
your mind if he is worthy of your
love?" I asked. "You did not place
him therein, nor can you take him
away."
She looked at me a long time, looked
at me and read me; she did not
frown, she smiled not, but searched me
with her eyes until I felt that my motive
lay bare under her gaze. "You
would help Alf in his trouble." she said,
"but you would throw a trouble at
me."
How sadly s' sjioke those words,
and my heart fell under them and lay
at her feet in sorrow and in humiliation.
I strove to beg for pardon, but I
stammered and my words were almost
meaningless.
"Oh. you have my forgiveness, jf that
is what you are trying to ask for.
Now, please don't say anything more.
I know you didn't mean to make me
feel bad."
"I think I'd better cut my throat!" I
replied, taking up a table knife.
She laughed at me. "How can a big
man be so silly? Cut your throat, indeed.
Why, what have you done to
deserve it?"
"What have I done?" I cried, leaning
over the table and making a fumble,
as if 1 would take her hand?"what
have 1 done? I have wantonly wounded
the divinest creature?"
She was on her feet in an instant;
she put her hands to her ears and shook
her head at me. "No, you must not
say that. Don't you see I can't hear
what you say? So, what is the use of
saying anything? Think you are a
brute? No. I don't: but you must not
talk like that. I can't hear you?I
won't hear you. Oh. don't worry about
Mr. Iaindsford mo win Kneei at my
foot."
CHAPTER XIII.
The next day I took a "turn" of corn
t<> the water-mill, far down the stream.
The old man had not been off the place
since Alf went to jail, and the office
of attending to all outside affairs was
conferred upon me. Guinea came out
to the corn crib and stood at the door,
looking in upon mo as I tied the mouth
of the bag. The old man was not far
off, calling his hogs; a sad cry at any
time, but growing sadder, it seemed to
me, as the days wore along.
"Old Moll will have a load," the girl
said: "you and that bag."
"Yes, if I were to ride on the bag
like a boy, but I'm going to walk and
lead her."
"Oh, that will be nice," she cried.
"Nice for Moll. I wish I could go with
you. It's beautiful all down that way:
high rocks and pools with fish in them.
It isn't so awfully far. either. I have
walked it many a time."
"Alone?" I asked, tugging at the
string.
"That doesn't matter. It's the distance
I'm talking about. Why, you
haven't asked me to go."
"But I ask you now," I said, dragging
the bag toward the door.
"No, I won't go now," she replied,
making way for me to come out.
"Won't you, please?"
"No, not since I have come to think
about it. I'd have to walk along all
the time with my hands to my ears,
for I just know you'd say something
t rl/-v?-?' n-ont tr\ Konr "Vmi qrp nq ornpl
as you can be, lately."
I had taken up the bap to throw it
across the mare, but I dropped it upon
the log step.
"You'll burst it if you don't mind,
Mr. Hawes."
"But I handle it more tenderly than
you do my heart!" I cried. "You have
thrown my heart down in the dust and
are trying to burst it."
Her hands flew to her ears. "Oh, I
knew you were going to say something
mean. But I can't hear you now. Isn't
it an advantage to say what you please
and not hear a word? You can do this
way if you want to. No, I won't goreally,
I can't. I mustn't leave mother."
She ran away toward the house, and
I stood watching her until she was hidden
behind the old man's "stockade."
Torturer she was, sometimes with her
dignity, but worse with her whimsical,
childish ways, when she seemed to
dance on the outer edge of my life,
daring me to catch her in my arms.
But was it not my size that made her
feel like a child? It must have been,
for whenever she spoke of Chyd she
was deeply serious. I was resentful
as I led the old mare toward the mill.
Oh, I understood it all. She had seen
that I sought to punish her, had read
me as we sat together at the table, and
now she was torturing me. Well, I
would give her no further opportunity;
I would let her lead young Lundsford
into her mind and out again, just as
it suited her fancy.
The coves and nooks and quiet pools
that lay along the stream were dreamful;
there was not a mighty rock nor
bold surprising bluff to startle one
with its grandeur, but at the end of
every view was the promise of a resting
place and never was the fancy led
to disappointment. Now gurgle and
drip, now perfect calm, the elm leaf
motionless, the bird dreaming. And
had history marched down that quiet
vale a thousand years ago and tinged
the water with the blood of man, how
sweetly verse would sing its beauty,
from what distances would come the
poet and the artist, the rich man seeking
rest?all would flock to marvel and
to praise. Ah, we care but little for
what nature has done, until man has
placed his stamp upon it.
I loitered and mused upon going to
the mill and upon returning home. And
when I came within sight of the
house I halted suddenly, wondering
whether I had forgotten something.
Yes, I had. I had forgotten my resolve
to be cool and dignified under the
reading eyes of that girl. I led the
mare to the rear end of the passage and
had taken off the bag of meal when
Guinea came out.
"Mr. Hawes," she said, "I wish you
would forgive me for the way I acted
last night and this morning. Now let
us be good friends, friends in trouble,
and let us hereafter talk with sense and
without restraint. I am going to bel
frank with you, for I don't see why 11
should be cramped. I am not going- to
pretend not to know?know something,
and you must wait; we must all wait
for?for anything that Is to come. I
hardly know what I am saying, but you
understand me."
She held out her hand, and I took it,
tremulously at first, but I held it with
a firm and manly honesty as I looked
into her eyes. "Yes, I understand you,
and it shall be as you say. I have been
strong with every one but you. and I
am going to show you that I can be
vour friend. Wait a moment. You
know what I think, but I will not hint
at it again. It was mean of me?yes.
I must say it?it was mean of me to
jibe you. But I'll not do it again. If
you only knew what my early life was.
I was the victim of size, an awkward
boy, the jest of a neighborhood; and
while I might have outlived some of
my awkwardness, I am still sensitive,
for I carry scars."
"Awkward," she laughed. "Why, I
don't see how you could have been
called awkward. Everybody at the
general's spoke of how graceful you
weiv, and really it would make you
vain if I were to tell you all that was
said."
The old man came round the house,
and Guinea sprang back. I was still
holding her hand. "Hah." he grunted.
"Got home all right, eh? Parker was
over here just now and said that the
trial had been set for next Thursday,
not quite a week from now. you understand.
He seems to think we are
goin' to pull through all right; said
that you've made friends with everybody
in the town. That's good, both
for now and also for after a while,
when you set in as a lawyer. I tell
you. Parker's visit helped us mightily,
and Susan has eat a right smart snack,
and I didn't know how hungry I was
till right then. You better go to town
tomorrow."
I went in early the next morning
and found nothing to serve as a basis
for the hopefulness that Parker had
given the old people. Conkwright was
busy with the case, frowning over his
papers, but he had no words of encouragement,
except to say that lie was
going to do the best he could. But after
a while he Hashed a gleam of hope
by remarking that there was one important
factor in our favor. And eagerly
I asked him what it was.
"It won't do to talk It around." said
he, "but we can count on the Judge
doing the square thing. He is comparatively
new in our district, and the
Stuart Influence hasn't taken hold on
him?has had no cause to. His favor,
or, at least, his lack of a cause to be
directly against us. will mean a good
deal: It will enable us to secure a new
trial at any rate."
As I entered the corridor of the Jail
1 saw Alfs face brighten behind the
bars. "Have you seen Millie?" he asked.
"No. your sister commanded me not
to go near the general's house."
His countenance fell, but he said:
"I reckon she's right. And I didn't
mean that you should make a dead-set
call, you know?didn't know but you
might happen to meet her. That
preacher, the one I told you about, has
been round again, and he declares that
' I must come into his church. They do
pull and haul a fellow when they get
him into a corner, don't they? Well, I
don't see what else can be done now
except to go Into court and have the
thing over with. I know as well as I
know my name that he would
have killed me if I hadn't killed
him; not that night, of course,
but some time. I am sorry, though,
that I stood there in the road, waiting
for him, for that does iook line muraer,
Bill. But look how he had drawn his
sight between my eyes and abused me
for everything he could think of. And
whenever I see him now, there he sits
on his horse, with one eye half shut
and the other one looking down the
barrel of his revolver at me. I can
see his lips moving and can hear every
word he says."
I went home that day earlier than
usual, resolved to keep the old people
in the atmosphere of encouragement
which the deputy sheriff had breathed
about them, and I told them that the
presiding judge was our friend, and
that old woman put her worn hands in
mine and gave me a look of trustful
gratitude. "God rewards the man that
seeks to ease an old mother's heart,"
she said; and the old man, standing
there, with his sleeves rolled up, threw
the droop out of his shoulders, the
droop that had remained with him
since that early morning when he stood
at the gate of his "stockade," fumbling
with the chain. "And, Susan," he
spoke up, "if we've got two judges on
our side we're all right. Let him set
down there now. Let him set down, I
tell you. When a woman gets hold of
a man she never knows when to turn
him loose. I'm tempted now to go and
see him. No," he added, shaking his
head, "can't do it?couldn't bear to see
a son of mine locked up like a thief.
But it won't be for long. That judge
will say, "turn that boy loose," and
then?oh, it's all right, Susan, and a
year from now we'll almost forget that
it ever took place."
T4la n-lfp hpcnn tr? erv. for in this
trouble her heart demanded that he
should lean upon her for support, and
It appeared to me that whenever he
straightened up to stand alone, she felt
that her office was gone.
"Susan, don't take on that way. Jest
as we see our way clear of the woods,
you act like you are lost. Smile, till
you find the path, and then you want
to cry. Act like you want the Lord to
do it all?don't want the circuit Jedge
to do nothln'. That's it, brighten up
there now, and, Guinea, you go out and
tell that nigger woman to cook enough
for a dozen folks. Hawes, I've got
them chickens down to a p'int that
would make your eyes bulge out."
"I believe that Bob came very near
making one of yours bulge out," I replied.
"Ah, didn't he, the old scoundrel.
But Sam pecked a grain of corn out of
my mouth tills mornin' and never teched
a tooth. That's what they call art,
ain't it? Come out with me."
"Limuel, let him stay with me, won't
you?" his wife pleaded.
"Of course, Susan, but don't you
reckon a man wants to unstring himself
once in a while? They can't understand
us, Hawes. Women know all
about the heart, but they are sometimes
off on the soul."
"You think more of those old chickens
than you do of me, anyhow," his
wife whimpered, still resentful that he
was not leaning upon her for support.
"Did you hear that. Hawes? By
jings, sir, you've got to be foolish or a
woman will think you've ceased to love
her. The minute you are strong she
thinks you have forgotten her. About
the happiest woman I ever saw was
one that had to support a bed-ridden
husband. Fact, as sure as I'm standin'
right here. She was the kindest
and sweetest thing you ever saw, but
when the feller got up finally and got
strong enough to go about, blamed if
she didn't jump on him every time he
come in sight."
"Now, Llmuel, you know you are
makln' up every word of that."
"It's the truth. I tell you?knowed the
man well."
"Well, who was he?"
"Oh. he lived away over yonder on
the branch, nut of your range."
"He didn't live anywhere: that's the
truth of it."
"But. Susan, he might have lived
anywhere. His name is man and his
wife's name Is woman. What, you
goin' to cry about It? Now, there, it's
all light. No, there never was such a
man. I'm an old liar, that's what's the
matter with me. Never was a man fitten
to live with a good woman. Why,
bless your life, what would I be without
you. Why, you've been the makln'
of me. And a long time ago, when
I used to drink linker and fight, you'd
set up and wait for me and you never
scolded me. and that very fact turned
me agin linker, for I jest nachully
thought that, it was too much work
for you to keep up a show of good humor
all the time. Yes, It's all right,
and that boy's comin' out of there without
a scar on him, and I'll pay back the
money that I owe the general?" He
hastened out of the room, and we heard
him veiling at his chickens.
To be Continued.
tr:' The Serbian empire, comprising
most of what is now known as the
Balkan States, was the power that
once stood between Turkey and the
rest of Europe, says Van Norden's
Magazine. The armies met on the
field of Kossovo on June 15, 1389,
when one of the most decisive battles
was fought. The Turks won and the
Serbs have never ceased to mourn the
defeat. On each recurring anniversary
of the battle solemn services are
held in all the churches throughout
the Serbian lands. Every born Serb
wears a black band on his cap as the
mourning badge of his race. The
Montenegrins add crimson to represent
the blood shed on the battlefield.
*' ' Every square mile of the ocean
has a population of 120,000,00 fish.
ittis(fllanrous.'i?ratUn().
EMPRESS TSU TSI AN.
Interesting Facts About China's Grand
Old Woman.
The death of the masterful and unscrupulous
woman, who has for so
many years held the reins of power In
China, and so long exerted all her vast
Influence against "foreigners" of every
description, Is an event of great Interest
and significance, says the New
York Evening Post, although the Immediate
consequences are difficult to'
foretell. For more than a generation,
acting as the power behind the throne,
she has continued to monopolize all actual
authority, and although her Influence
has been, until lately, malign and
reactionary, It imparted to the Chinese
government about all the stability
t, v,i?v. u nnaooQQoH This remfLrkable
woman was the daughter of a poor
Manehurian noble, and followed the
fortunes of her family from Pekin to
Canton, until, when she was about seven
years old, she was sold as a slave
into the family of a Canton merchant.
Her beauty even at that time was pronounced.
according to Chinese standards,
and her cleverness notable. Her
opportunity came when she was about
17. At that time the Emperor HIen
Fung, as Is the Chinese custom, Issued
a proclamation calling upon the daughters
of Manchuria to present themselves
at Pekin for a choice to be made
among them for the imperial harem.
Tsu Tsi traveled up to Pekin, triumphantly
passed the ordeal of inspection
by the emperor's officers, and was installed
in the imperial palace among
the emperor's women.
This was in 1848. Beautiful, accomplished
and possessed of consummate
tact, Tsu Tsi soon attracted the attention
of the empress, or "chief wife" of
the emperor, and it is recorded that the
little Manchu princess actually succeeded
in being brought to the notice
of the emperor, largely through the
Interest taken in her by his empress.
When later she presented the emperor
with a son and heir to his throne, and
still managed to preserve the friendship
of the "chief wife," who was
childless, she established her clever
ness beyond cavil.
In 1860, while her boy was still
young:, his father died. At the time
It was only vaguely hinted that his
death was not due to natural causes.
In the light of subsequent events, however,
the opportuneness of his death
becomes significant. Since 1860, at every
difficult crisis In Tsu Tsl's affair
death has removed any person Impeding
her progress. Certain It Is that
her sonr was the next heir, and the
sooner he beg^m to reign the longer
the regency would be. In due course
the small boy was proclaimed emperor
under the title of Tung Chi, with the
dowager empress and mother empress
as co-regents.
Cautious and Strong.
Thing*r moved smoothly for tt ttmeThe
junior regent was cautious, but
hers was the strong hand, and was so
recognized by Prince Kung, brother of
the late emperor and chief adviser of
the two regents. It was towards the
end of the emperor's minority that his
mother noticed certain signs of Independence
in her royal son. Too shrewd
to resent them openly, she allowed
matters to continue their course until
Tung Chi attained his majority, was
duly proclaimed emperor, and the
regency ended.
Apparently her career was closed>
but she was merely watching for an
opening. Presently tnere was a rumor
that the emperor's health was
falling seriously, and what more suitable
than that the regents should be
summoned again to take the reins of
state? Within a month the youthful
emperor became, as his subjects were
piously Informed, "a guest on high."
But the government was saved for the
two empresses were in full authority.
Tung Chi had mahied a young wife
not long before his death, and as she
was about to become a mother, it was
supposed that if she bore a son he
would naturally be proclaimed the heir
of his father. Tsu Tsi did not wait for
any such development, but presented at
once to the Chinese people a new emperor
In the person of Kwang Hsu, a
young son of a brother of the Emperor
Hien Fung. Her choice of the new
boy emperor was a distinct violation
of one of the most sacred traditions of
the country, that of ancestral worship,
but Tsu Tsl had reasons of her own,
and carried her point. In order that
no possible complications should arise,
a mysterious illness fell upon the young
wife of the late Tung Chi, and the
next imperial funeral was that of herself
and her unborn babe.
About 1881, however, It began to be
rumored that there was friction between
the senior and junior regents;
it was not at all extraordinary, therefore,
that the former should develop
heart failure and finally died, leaving
Tsu Tsi dowager empress and sole
ruler.
In due time Kwang Hsu attained his
majority, and Tsu Tsi once more nominally
retired. The peace of the palace
continued unbroken until Kwang
Hsu declared himself strongly In favor
of progressive reform in the Chinese
empire, and failed In health, when Tsu
Tsi once more assumed the regency.
Her son soon rebelled, and in 1898 it
became a question whether the empress
and her friends would have to
fly for their lives or the advisers of the
emperor. In September a decision was
reached by the empress dowager, who,
having first possessed herself of the
military force of the capital, compelled
the emperor to sign a decree ordering
his own deposition. This was dated
September 22, 1898, and, in addition to
the order depaslng himself, the emperor
was made to appoint his aunt regent
of the empire.. It was feared at
the time that she had made away with
her nephew, but she contented herself
with confining him on a small is1
a ~ o I v? Tonnnm- 1 QOO o
IclIlU. WI1 LUC 1.1 in ui uuiiuw.* j , kwv, w
week before the Chinese New Year an
edict was issued announcing the emperor's
abdication of the throne, but
this move had some unexpected results.
Among them was the awakening of a
genuine public opinion in China, and
the filing of protests from all parts of
the empire against the contemplated
act. Before this storm the empress
dowager and her kitchen cabinet at
once yielded, and the emperor kept his
semblance of a throne.
Held the Reins of Government.
But although the weakling emperor
was accepted nominally as the head of
the state, it was the dowager who held
the reins of government, transacted
business with foreign plenipotentiaries
and occupied the highest: seat at public
functions. It was her rigorous
measures of repression and extermination
that compelled the Chinese reformers
to flee to foreign countries if
they would save their heads, and the
Boxer outbreak of 1900, which resulted
in the International expedition to Pekin,
has always been attributed to her
machinations. After the imprisoned
embassies had been rescued by the
European and American forces, the
Chinese caDital Daclfled and terms of
reparation imposed upon the Chinese
government, it was the empress who
was regarded as the most important
factor in the future course of the
country. An English correspondent
furnished a vivid sketch of the return
of the imperial court to Pekin, jvhence
it had fled at the first sign of danger.
He wrote: "The different uniforms?
yellow, red, blue?the variegated banners
that fluttered in the breeze, the
glittering swords and tridents, had a
fine scenic effect as the bright sun began
to shine on the throng. By 7.45
the advance cavalry passed. Then
came the eunuchs in carls, followed by
yellow-jacketed officers with flowing
plumes and prancing ponies.
Then the royal sedans were carried
past, each containing seme important
trophy. Next came the royal mounted
body-guard, ordering the crowds to
kneel, and instantly they flopped on to
their knees. Soon the outriders, pullers,
bearers of the first yellow-dragoned
chair were in view. The emperor
was pulled by twenty and borne by
sixteen men, dressed in decorated silk
gowns. His chair was richly draped
with embroidered satin and decorated
with jade jewels. His majesty sat bolt
upright, with features that were as
fixed as a statue. He looked only
straight ahead, as if unaware of the
lines of his kneeling subjects, or, more
likely, afraid he might not manifest
the self-possession that is the essential
mark of dignity and rank. His chair
was followed by that of the 'Old Buddha'?as
the dowager is familiarly called.
She was dressed (or rather
'drowned') in dragoned yellow satin.
Her face is long and wan, with high
cheek bones, big mouth and thick lips.
Her eyes gleamed like fire. She was as
awake and alert as the emperor seemed
inert and indifferent. Nothing escaped
the sharpness of her vision. The
beggars received tablets of silver and
the curious glances of scorn. Every
one remarked how careworn she looked,
and that she was quite ten years
older since last year,"
T o f ftlif tV>A nlrl Awnrooo Via rl orli/Dn
uaicij liic utu cui^icoo iiau b1 T
many signs of her apprttclatlon of the
changing condition with which China
is confronted. She abandoned her
attitude of determined hostility to all
things new or foreign. She gave receptions,
to the ladles of the diplomatic
corps, granted audiences to western
visitors In the most sacred hall of the
Forbidden City, and encouraged the Introduction
of foreign dress and costumes.
Not long ago she permitted a
foreign artist to paint her portrait, but
strictly according to her own directions.
Europeans who have had opportunities
of observing her have told
of her Imperious temper, her fits of
temper followed instantly by an assumption
of the blandest courtesy, of
the cruel light In her eyes, and her
unfailing suggestion of Intellectual
power. Her whole appearance corresponded
with the conception of her as
a ruthless, treacherous, bigoted and
highly ambitious woman, with the
guile and glitter and grace of an Oriental
serpent, such a woman In short as
she proved herself to be when she Inquired
anxiously about the comfort and
health of the besieged and starving
embassies in Pekln, sending them
ineanwnue presents ui vegsuiuieo,
which were useless as :'ood, and may
have been poisoned.
The personal qualities of the empress
dowager are said to have been
great and such as belong to a gifted
woman. Though whimsical and stubborn
and exacting with her officials,
and often pettish and Jealous with the
women of the court, she had a gift of
humor, and sometimes turned a solemn
audience Into a laughing one, when
provoked to mirth by the awkward
drolleries of some of the old councillors
who had to be helped about in their
courtesies by oftlmes still more Infirm
associates.
In the "Awakening In China," W. A.
P. Martin described her ;hus last year:
"A trifle under the average height of
European ladles, so perfect are her
proportions and so graceful her carriage
that she seems to need nothing to
add to her majesty. Her features are
vivacious and pleasing rather than
beautiful; her complexion not yellow,
but sub-olive, and her face Illuminated
by orbs of jet half hidden by dark
lashes, behind which lurk the smiles of
favor or the lightning of anger. No
one would take her to be over 40. She
carries tablets on which, even during
conversation, she jots down memoranda.
Her pencil Is the support of her
sceptre."
ARCTIC TEMPERATURES.
Zero Weather Is Regarded as Mild
and Agreeable. ,
According to eminent arctic explorers,
physical sensations are relative,
and the mere enumeration of so many
degrees of heat or cold gives no Idea
of their effect upon the system.
One explorer states that he should
have frozen at home In England In a
temperature that he found very comfortable
indeed In Lapland, with his
solid diet of meat and butter and his
garments of reindeer.
The following is a correct scale of
the physical effects of cold, calculated
for the latitude of 65 to 70 degrees
north:
Fifteen degrees above zero?unpleasantly
warm.
Zero?mild and agreeable.
Ten degrees below zero?pleasantly
fresh and bracing.
Twenty degrees below zero?sharp,
but not severely cold. One must keep
one's fingers and toes In motion and
rub one's nose occasionally.
Thirty degrees below zero?very cold.
Particular care must be taken of the
nose and extremities. Plenty of the
fattest food must be eaten.
Forty degrees below zero?intensely
cold. One must keep awake at all hazards,
muffle up to the eyes and test the
circulation frequently, that it may not
stop somewhere before one knows it.
Fifty degrees below zero?a struggle
for life.?Chicago Record-Herald.
CHRISTENSEN ON PROHIBITION.
Broad and Practical View of a Troublesome
Question.
Senator Christensen of Beaufort,
one of the active workers In the state
senate, and who is one of the coming
men of the state, was Invited to attend
the recent caucus of the Prohibitionists
in Columbia, after he had written
the superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League that he was not In full sympathy
with a state-wide prohibition law.
Among the things he said In his letter
to Rev. J. L. Harley Is the following:
"I do not know that you would consider
me a Prohibitionist. I am a local
optlonist. Of course one can be
Kr\t h
"This phase of the liquor question
was not discussed in the campaign In
which I was renominated to the senate,
and I am not pledged or In any
way committed to my constituency as
between local option and state-wide
prohibition. Personally I have always
been a teetotaler and wish to do what
I can to bring the day when liquor
shall no longer be used. So I presume
some would call me a Prohibitionist.
But I believe that we can establish
an enforced prohibition sooner
through local option and through statewide
prohibition.
"I congratulate you and your organization
on the work you did for prohibition
in Union, Clarendon, Chester and
other counties where the question has
come up for decision at the ballot box.
The work of the Anti-Saloon league,
as I have known of it through the
press, seems to me to be one of the
hopeful signs of the times. But I
think that in this state at this time
our common object can be soonest obtained
through county movements.
"It may be possible to pass a state
prohibition bill at the coming session
of the legislature, but you can not secure
at present in many of the counties
an enforcement that will help matters.
The counties are the units and
they should be won over. Spartanburg
makes a success of prohibition because
she has a public sentiment that will
convict a prominent citizen of Illegal
liquor selling In 15 minutes, as was
done last week. But what of us who
will not convict on any evidence? We
don't need more laws, we need a ref
ormatlon. We can not be driven, we
must be convinced. This is a slower
course, but it is, I believe a surer
fee."
Senator Christensen also gave out
the following statement:
"The prohibition leaders point with
pride and satisfaction to the good effects
of prohibition in twenty-one 'dry*
counties in this state. These results
are the results of local option prohibition.
They are the basis of the faith
we local option Prohibitionists have
in reformation as opposed to the proposed
coercion of the state-wide Prohibitionists.
The people of these new
dry counties made up their minds gradually
that it would be best for themselves
to stop legalized liquor selling
in tlifeir counties, and they stopped it
and like the results. But if, before
they had been educated up to that
point, the people of other sections of
the state through the legislature or a
state-wide vote, had forced them to
take that action the results would be
very different.
"Counties In the southern and eastern
portion of the state are being educa
leu up IU piUUlUILIUIi, aiiU UUU.-1 luvai
option will, I believe, vote liquor out
in the next few years. But if it is attempted
to force them through a statewide
law, the growth of prohibition
sentiment will be checked, and Juries
and local officials will not attempt to
enforce the obnoxious measure.
"Prohibition is winning its way
under local option. Every gain is a
healthy gain. Why give it up? Why
is it not wiser for the eloquent, able
and public spirited workers for prohibition
who went into Laurens, Chester
and Clarendon and helped educate
their citizens up to the point where
they reached out and took prohibition?
why is it not wiser for them to continue
this successful fight rather than
turn from that plan of campaign and
begin an attempt to coerce? They
have succeeded in leading, but can they
drive?"?Manning Times.
AUSTRIA AND THE BALKANS.
Good to Provinces, But Failed to Win
the People.
In spite of the unquestioned good
that Austria has done in the material
development of Bosnia and Herzogovina
and the social betterment of the
inhabitants, she failed to win the peothameoltfoQ
cava a wrlfpr \ri Van
Norden's Magazine. There are always
two elements to be considered In the
vexed question of governing the Balkans,
race and religion. Scarcely had
Austria occupied the two provinces
when she set herself to the task of destroying
the Serb nationality. From
churches and official buildings were
removed all statues and pictures of
Serb saints, or persons renowned in
Serb history. Space was refused In
the Sorajevo museum for a collection
of Bosnian coins of the Middle Ages,
because it includes a series of images
of Serb sovereigns. She availed herself
of every opportunity to widen the
divisions which had long and inevitably
been established by differences
of religion.
The Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
are divided into Mussulmen,
members of the Greek orthodox
church and Catholics.' Of these three
churches Austria determined to make
three separate nationalities. The Serb
Mussulmen, she contended, were not
Serbs, but Bosnians; that the Catholics
should be Included with the
liroats, ana mat tne orcnouox lunations
should be allowed the privilege
of speaking the Serb language and of
being styled Serbs.
Restrictions were placed upon Serbian
schools, churches and literature.
The extent to which the censorship
upon books was carried is Instanced
by the case of Count von Kallay, the
Austrian governor, who had actually
to prohibit the entrance into Bosnia
and Herzegovina of a book written by
himself. In this work, a history of
Servla written many years before, he
had been guilty of declaring that in
Bosnia and Herzogovina there were
"three religions, but only one nationality.
the Serbs."
As the majority of the people of the
two provinces are Serbs they bitterly
resent Austria's attempt to uproot
their national spirit, and to crush
their hope of a united Serbian race.
It Is this same spirit, this same racial
ambition, that has drawn Servla and
Montenegro, the strongest of the Serb
states, and with naturally belligerent
people, into the tangle and caused
them to stand ready to make war upon
Austria, rather than permit the
irrevocable loss to the Serbs of Bosnia
and Herzogovina. And If Bosnia
and Herzogovina, why not next Servla
and Montenegro?
THE ALASKA RAVEN. ,
A Scavenger That la Highly Esteemed
By the Natives.
In Alaska the raven Is highly esteemed,
and the natives regard it as a
\ery unfortunate event should one be
killed.
In Alaska ravens fly around the
beach and village unmolested, and were
It not for their scavenger work the flsh
nffo 1 that lino at*Aiin/l t Wa L /> ??
IIVO VUA1U bite ouuio anu
houses would soon engender disease.
The Alaska raven is a fine looking
bird, as large as a turkey and upon
closer acquaintance a real handsome
fellow. His coat Is Indeed black, but
of a black glossier and more rich than
silk and softer than velvet, while fti a
semishade the feathers are tinged with
that peculiar color so often seen on
well preserved blue black bronze.
It Is very funny to see these birds
holding, as It were, a conclave. Ten
or a dozen alight on the ground and
walk to the meeting place with a stately,
erect step, their every movement
cool and assured.
Then an old bird steps gravely Into
the middle, and the meeting begins
with a series of guttural and harsh
croaks, which gradually swell In volume
until the entire lot of birds have
joined In the debate.
Along comes a dog, and for him they
scatter, resuming their positions when
he passes, until the meeting again terminates,
and they fly off to the beach
and hills.
If you examine the bills of these
ravens the peculiar construction Is remarkable.
They are a combination of
a chisel, scissors, dagger and gimlet.
The bill forms an important factor
In the raven 8 existence, for he has to
dig on the beach for clams, bore the
hard shell by repeated chipping, and
again in pure mischief he will tear and
break anything that his bright and unerring
eye lights upon.
Just as soon as the bright sunlight
appears the ravens leave their roosting
places on the hilltops for the beach
line, and over the village and shores
of the bay they fly and wander until
sundown invites them to rest.
The raven is a fine flyer. On the wing
his movements are well under command.
With strong, decided beats he
winnows the air fast or slow, never
seeming In a hurry. But If occasion
requires the raven can travel at express
speed, and, when he sees another
bird feasting on some delicate morsel
or oflfal, down he comes from midair
with his discordant caw, ready to
share or steal the prize.
The same characteristics are 'TMWr"
all along the southern coast of Alaska
to Sitka. The natives from Yahutat
bay through the network of islands as
far as British Columbia have an ancient
legend that the raven was the
bird that brought light from darkness
when the world was created. On this
account they venerate it, and the totem
of a raven is regarded as denoting the
most illustrious descended family.
The raven does not appear to migrate,
as the residents all over that
portion ot Alaska where the birds are
found state that they remain throughout
the winter.?St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
CONGRESSMEN ANGRY.
They Don't Like New Rule For Choosing
Postmasters.
Representatives in congress from
those states affected by President
Roosevelt's order placing fourth class
postmasters under the civil service
umbrella are mad through and through,
says a Washington dispatch. A few
of the congressmen are not angry at
all, but take the view that the president
has relieved them of a lot of
trouble.
Since the foundation of the government
the appointment of country
postmasters has been one of the precious
political assets of the rural congressmen.
In some districts where
the great bulk of the population is
composed of farmers and dwellers in
small towns and villages, political
machines have been constructed with *
fourth-class postmasterships as the
most vital part of the construction. By
the terms of the order issued by the
president recently, all fourth-class
postmasters in states east of the Mississippi
and north of the Ohio river
are "covered into" the classified service,
and the postmasters can now be
removed only upon charges.
Not a few members of congress
have in times past professed to regard
the appointments of small postmasters
as not only a bore but a source of
infinite trouble politically. It frequently
happens that where one man
or woman Is pleased by an appointment
as postmaster a dozen are offended,
and the congressman from the
district reaps a big crop of enemies.
The fact Is, however, that members of
congress generally are not pleased
over the president's order and would
prefer that the status quo In the matter
of fourth-class postmastershlps be
maintained.
Democratic congressmen generally
are mightily tickled over the president's
order. They did not share In
this patronage and they are having
lots of fun with their Republican
brethren in the house. They point
out, incidentally, that no southern
states are Included In the new civil
service order, and this they regard as
significant. In the south the patronage
Is distributed upon the recommendation
of Republican referees.
ts* An ordinary European railway
engine is equal In strength to 900
horses.
tiT in Italy there are more theatres
in proportion to population than In
any other country, there being in Catania
one to every 9,300 inhabitants.
In London there is only one to every
145,000 Inhabitants.
t3" Antwerp claims to have printed
the first of the world's newspapers in
1605, and celebrated the tercentenary
in 1905. The paper was published by
Abraham Verhoeven, and antedated
the first English paper by seventeen
years.