Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, December 22, 1908, Image 1
i ISSUED SEMI-WEEKLY.
i m. GRIST'S SONS. Publishers. ] %<|ami!g Jetusgaper: ^or the promotion of the political, Social. Agricultural and (Commercial Interests of the people. . {Tg ?L? wpV w iBN?VA'WK
ESTABLISHED 1855. "* ~ YORKV LLLt'l, 8. P., TUESDAY. DECEMBER 22, 1908. JSTO." 102.
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By OPIJ
Copyrighted 1896, by Wm. I
By Permission of La
MMIAAMJaiMMBMttiHiaiAfekAfeftMIMMi
R" CHAPTER XV.
1 L?ong we sat there in a calm, after
tlie general left us; and the two girls,
on a bench in a corner, whispered to
each other. How wild had been my
guessing at the character of Millie!
IF How could one so shy, so gentle, so
fond of showing her dimples, cast off
all timidity and set herself in opposition
to her father's authority and pride?
I could but argue that she was wrong,
that she had forgotten her duty, thus
to stand out and violently defy him,
P and yet I admired her for the spirit
she had shown. And I believed that
Guinea was just as determined, Just aS
nnssionate. But she was wiser.
fl told the old man what Alf had
requested me to tell him, that he must
sell his farm and go away, and he replied
that he would. "I don't
think, though, that I can get very
much for it. Parker's lands join
mine, and may be I can strike a trade
with him. Of course, I don't want to
w
(live here any longer, for no matter what
may come now we've got the name.
Susan, I never saw a woman behave
better than you have tonight. The old
stock?and I'm with the book from kiver
to klver. And now, Millie, let me
sny a word to you. Of course, I know
exactly how you feel, and all that?
how that you couldn't help yourself?
but tomorrow mornin' after breakfast I
would, if I was in your place, go right
home and ask your father's forgiveness.
I say if I was in your place,
for if you do you won't have half so
much to be sorry for, and in this life
1 hold that we're doln' our best when
we do the fewest things to regret.
What do you think?"
* "I'm sorry I talked that way, and
he's getting old. too. But 1 had a
cause. He made me stay in the house,
. and he ought to remember thnt I am
of the same blood he is and that it's
awful to be humiliated. But there's
one thing I'm going to do. When Alfs
'ried again, I'm going to tell them what
Stuart said. I would have done it
this time, but I was ashamed to say
anything about it. I have been nearly
crazy, but I'm awfully sorry that I
U talked that way. And, oh, suppose he
were to die tonight? I never eould forgive
myself. I must go home now, Mr.
j .Tucklln. Yes, I can't stay another minute.
You'll go with me. won't you, Mr.
JHawes?"
"I will gladly do so," I answered?
"And I will go, too," said Guinea.
We took a lantern, but the night was
so dark that we went round by the
road, rather than over the meadows.
Millie said that she scarcely remembered
how she had come, but she thought that
she had run the most of the way. And
over and over as we walked along she
repeated: "I'm awfully sorry."
W As we came out of the woods, where
the road bent in toward the big gate,
we saw a light burning in the library.
? Millie stopped suddenly and clutched
W my arm. "Suppose he won't let me
come back?" she said. "I don't know
in what sort of a humor I may find
him. Mr. Hawes, you go on and see
him first, please?"
"And I will wait out here," Guinea
spoke up. and her voice trembled. "Of
course. I can't go into the house after
what has happened. N'obodv must knowthat
I am here."
kl left them standing in the dark, and
when I stepped upon the porch I heard
rtno wniktne- heavily and slowly I
V - ? -
up and down the library. On the door
was a brass knocker, and when 1 raisM
ed it and let it fall, the foot-steps came
V hastily to the door. A hanging lamp
was burning in the hall, and I saw
that the old general himself had opened
the door.
"Oh. it's you Mr. Hawes. I couldn't
tell at first. My old eyes are getting
Hat. sir. Step into the library."
"No, I thank you. I have but a moment
to stay.
"Step in, sir," he insisted, almost commanded,
and I obeyed. Chyd was un^
der a lamp, reading a sheep-skin cov
ered book. He looked up as I entered,
nodded, and then resumed his reading.
? "Sit down," said the general.
"No, I thank you. for, as I say. I have
but a moment to remain. Your daughter
is exceedingly sorry that she acted
"
"Where is she, sir?"
"She has come with me. but fearing
that your resentment "
"What, is she out there waiting in
the dark? What, my child out there
waiting to know whether she can come
into her father's house? 1 will go to
her. sir. Come. Chyd. let us both go."
fl stepped to the door and stood confronting
the old man and his son.
* "You can go, general, if you will,
but your son must remain where he is."
What. I don't understand you. sir.
V * -
m How flare you?what do you mean,
\ sir?"
"Your son must not come with us.
That is what I mean."
"Not go to welcome his sister home.
(Jet out of my way, sir!"
Wait, general. He should not go
out there, for the reason that some one
else, out of kindness, has accompanied
your daughter and me."
"Ah. I beg your pardon," said the
? old man, bowing. "Chyd. stay where
W you are."
Millie was inside the yard, but CJuinea
was In the road, standing at the
? gate. "Come, my child!" the old man
IB called. Millie ran to him and he took
her in his arms. And he lifted her off
the ground, slight creature that she
was, and carried her up the steps.
Cuinea took my arm and homeward
we went, and not a word was spoken
until we entered the dark woods.
"You saw Chyd?" she said.
"Yes. and the old gentleman wanted
him to come out."
"To kneel at my feet so soon?"
f "No, to welcome his sister. Are you
- so anxious for the time to come?"
"Yes," she answered, without hesitant
tion.
j "And is It because you love him?" I
asked bitterly.
"You and I are to be the best of
ciuIFT
E READ.
I I
H. Lee?All Rights Reserved.
ird & Lee, Publishers. j
" mi an in hi mi ti> 1 irrr rv 1
friends, Mr. Hawes, and you must not
reproach me."
"Forgive me if I have hurt you," I
said, stupidly.
"But you must not keep on wounding
me merely to be forgiven. I said that
he would kneel at my feet, and this
may sound foolish to you, but he will.
How do I know? I feel It; I don't
know why, but I do. And we are
to leave the old home if father can
sell the land. It's better to go, but it
will be still better to come back, and
we will. Do you think that I am merely
a simple girl without ambition? I
am not; I dream."
"I know that you are a noble woman."
"Oh, don't flatter me now. It's first
reproach, and tnen natiery. dui nave
you thought of the real nobility of
some one else?yourself?'
I strove to laugh, but I know that
it must have been a miserable croak.
"I have done nothing to merit that
opinion," I replied.
"Oh, it is a part of your nature to
suppress yourself. Do you know that
I expect great things of you? I do."
"I know one thing that I'm going to
do?I am going to buy the old house
and a narrow strip of land?the path
and the spring. That's all I want?the
house, the path and the spring, with
just a little strip running a short distance
down the brook where the moss
is so thick. I have the promise of
money from Perdue, and I think that
I can borrow some of Conkwright.
Yes, I must have the house and tne
path and the spring and the strip of
mossland that lies along the branch.
It will be merely a poetic possession,
but such possessions are the richest
to one who has a soul; and no one with
a soul will bid against me. It is a
mean man that would bid against a
sentiment."
"You must be nearly worn out," she
said, when for some distance we had
walked in silence.
"I may be, but I don't know it yet.
And so long as I don't know it. why,
of course, I don't care."
For a long time we said nothing.
Her hand was on my arm, but I scarcely
felt its weight, except when we came
upon places where the road was rough;
and I wished that the way were rougher,
that I might feel her dependence
upon me. Once she stepped into a
deep rut, and I caught her about the
"wawf^fjut when I had lifted her out,
I she gently released herself. She said
that the road was rougher than she had
ever found it, and I was ready to swear
that it was the most delightful highway
that my feet had trod; indeed, I
did swear it. but she warned me not
tn nsf> snoh xtromr laneuaire when I
meant to convey but a weak compliment.
"Let us walk faster," she said. "It
is away past midnight. I do believe
it's nearly day. . Can you see your
watch?"
"Yes, but I can't see the time."
"Nobody can see time, Mr. Teacher
of Children."
"But I could not tell the time even if
I were to hold the lantern to the
watch."
"Oh. of course you could. Why do
dr. you talk that way?"
"I am moved to talk that way because
I know that the watch, being in
sympathy with me, refuses to record
time when I am with you?it frightens
off the minutes in an ecstasy."
"Nonsense, Mr. Hawes. I do believe
daylight is coming. What a night we
have passed, and here I am unable to
realize it. and mother is heart-DroKen
over our disgrace But I suppose it will
j fall upon me and crush me when we
have gone away. My brother sentenced
t*> the penitentiary! To myself I have
repeated these words over and over
and yet they don't strike me."
"Perhaps it is because your mind is
| on some one else." I replied, with a return
of my feelings of bitterness.
With a pressure gentle and yet forgetful
her hand had been resting on
my arm. but in an instant the pressure
was gone like a bird fluttering from a
bough, and out in the road she was
walking alone.
"I earnestly beg your pardon. I
scarcely knew what I was saying.
Won't you please take my arm?"
"To be compelled to drop it again
before we have gone a hundred yards?"
"No, to drop it when we have reached
the gate. Won't you. please? I
don't deny that I am a fool. I have
always been a fool. My father said
so and he was right. Everybody made
fun of me because I was so easily
cheated; and you ought to be willing
to forgive a man who was born a failure.
Whenever there has been a mistake
to be made I have made it. Once
I was caught in a storm and when I
came in dripping, my father said that
I hadn't sense enough to come in out
of the rain. But I am stronger with
every one else than I am with you.
and?"
She was laughing at me; but it was
a laugh uf sympathy, of forgiveness,
and I caught her hand and placed it
upon my arm. And so we walked along
in silence, she pressing my arm when
the road was rough. Daylight was
coming and we could see the house,
dark and lonesome beyond the black
ravine.
"What a peculiar man the general
Is," 1 said, feeling the growing heaviness
of the silence. "I can hardly place
him; but I believe he has a kind heart."
"Yes," she replied, "he Is kind and
brave and generous, but over it all is
a weakness."
"And he is of a type that is fast
disappearing." said I. "A few years
more and his class will be but a memory.
and then will come almost a forgetfulness,
but later on he will reappear
as a caricature from the pen of
some careless and unsympathetic writer."
We had crossed the ravine and were
now at the gate, and here I halted.
"What, aren't you going in?" she asked,
looking up at me. and in the dim light
I could see her face, pale and sad.
"No," I answered, "I am going to
town."
"At this hour, and when you are so
tired?"
"The horse is rested, and as for myself,
my duty must give me vigor."
"I don't understand you. What can
you do in town?"
"I can bear the divinest of tidings?I
can tell Alf that Millie loves him."
She stood looking down, and, bending
over her, I kissed her hair, and oh, the
heaven of that moment, at the gate, in
the dawn; and oh, the thrilling perfume
of her hair, damp with the dew brushed
from the vine and the leaf of the
spice-wood bush. And there, without
a word. I left her, her white hands
clasped on her bosom; and over the
roadway I galloped with a message on
my lips and incense in my soul.
CHAPTER XVI.
The sun was an hour above the treetops
when r rode up to Ihe livery stable,
and the town was lazily astir.
Merchants were sprinkling the brick
pavemerits in front of their stores, and
on the public square was a bon-flre of
trash swept from the court house. I
hastened to the jail, and for the first
time the jailer hesitated when I applied
for admission. My eagerness, apparent
to every one, appeared to be mistrusted
by him, and he shook his head. I told
him that he might go in with me, that
my mission was simply to deliver a
message.
"The man has been sentenced," said
he, "and I don't know what good a
message can do him. I am ordered to
be very strict. Some time ago a man
was in this jail, sentenced to the penitentiary,
but he didn't go?a friend
came in and left him some pizen. And
are you sure you ain't got no pizen
about you."
"You may search me."
"But I don't know pizen when I see
it. Man's got a right to kill himself,
I reckon, but he ain't got no right to
rob me of my position as jailer, and
that's what it would do. Write down
your message and I'll take it to him."
"That would take too long. The
judge has granted him a new trial and
surely he wouldn't want to kill himself
now."
"Well, I reckon you're right, but still
we have to be mighty particular. I
don't know, either but you might be
taking him some whisky. Man's got a
right to drink whisky, it's true, but it
don't speak well for the morals and
religious standin' of a jailer if he's got
a lot of drunken prisoners on hand; so,
if you've got a bottle about you anywhere
you'd better let me take it."
"I've got no bottle."
"That so? Didn't know but you
might have one. Prohibition has
struck this town putty hard, you know.
Search yourself and see if you hain't
got a bottle."
"Don't you suppose I know whether
I've got one or not? But if you want
one you shall have it."
'^-h-ed?J .Don't talk so loud. There's
nothin' that sharpens a man's ears liko
prohibition. Say," he whispered, "a
good bottle costs about a dollar.
"Here's your dollar. It's my last
cent, but you shall have it."
"Oh. it ain't my principle to rob a
man " he said as he took the money.
"Hut I do need a little licker this
mornin'. Why, I'm so dry I couldn't
whistle to a dog. No plzen, you understand,"
he added, with a wink, as
he opened the door.
The drawing of the bolts must have
aroused Alf from sleep, for when I
stepped into the corridor he was sitting
on the edge of his bed. rubbing his
eyes.
"Helloa, is that you, Bill? What are
you doing here this time of day? Why,
I haven't had breakfast yet."
"I have come to tell you something,
and I want you to be quiet while I
tell it."
"That's all right, old man. CJo ahead.
I can stand anything now."
I told him of the scene in the sitting
room, of the walk to the general's
house?told him all except that kiss at
the gate. He uttered not a word; he
had taken hold of the bars and was
stnndintr with his head resting upon
his arms?had gradually found this
position, and now I could not sec his
face. Long I stood there, waiting but
ho spoke not. Suddenly ho wheeled
about, foil upon his bed and sobbed
aloud. And so I left him, and ere I
reached the door I knew that his sobbing
was a prayer, that his heart had
found peace and rest. Upon a pardon
from the governor he could have looked
with cool indifference, for without
that girl's love ho cared not to live; but
now to know that through the dark she
had fled front her home, rebellious
against her father's pride, wild with
love?it was a mercy granted by the
governor of governors.
I went to see Conkwright and told
him of the threat that Stuart had
made, and the old man's eyes glistened.
"We ought to have had that girl
on the stand in the first place," he said.
"Hut it was a delicate matter and, of
course, we didn't know that she could
bear so strongly upon the case. It's all
right?better as it is, and that boy
will get off as sure as you are sitting
there. That threat was worse than his
standing in the road, waiting. Yes, sir,
it's all right, and you may take up your
school again and go ahead with your
work."
"I don't want to go ahead with it.
Mr. Conkwright. I want to study law
with you. The school was only a
' t-'** ? V,mi rrnl t Infr
maKesnm, any i "u .w. *,*
old and you need some one to do the
drudgery of your office. I will come
in and work faithfully."
"Don't know but you aro right, Hilly."
"1 wish, sir. that you wouldn't call
me Hilly."
"All right, Colonel."
"And I don't care to he called Colonel.
You may call me Hill, if you
want to, but Hilly "
"A little too soft, eh? All right. I
don't know but you are tho very man
1 want. You are faithful and you've
got a good head. Call again in a day
or two. It has been a long time since
I had a partner. Yes, tfomo in again,
and I think we can arrange it."
"There is something else that I want
to speak about, and to me it is of more
importance than "
"Love!" the old man broke in. winking
at me.
"I'll tell you, if you'll wait a moment.
Then you may place your own estimate
upon it."
I told him of tho broken engagement,
of Chyd's indifference, of the old couple's
plan to leave the community, and
I unfolded my sentimental resolve to
I buy the old house. "And now I must
[ask a favor," I continued. "Od man
Perdue told me that he would pay me
for the time?time I have not taught,
but as I am not going to fill out the
term it wouldn't he right to take the
money."
"Ah. and it is law you want to study?"
"Why, of course. Didn't I make that
plain?"
"Oh. yes. And you don't think it
would be right to take the money? Go
ahead, though."
"I know it wouldn't be right. And
what I want to ask of you is this:
The investment will require about two
hundred dollars. Won't you lend me
that amount?"
He scratched his head, scratched his
| chin, iiit off a chew of tobacco, stretch
ed nimseii ana said: " wen, i nave
been lending- money all my life, and I
don't see why I should stop now. Did
you ever hear of anybody paying back
borrowed money except in a poker
game? I never did. Do people really
pay back? I don't know that the custom
is over in that part of the country
you came from, but the rules are very
strict here, and they are not violated
very often?they rarely pay back. And
they never violate the rule with me."
"My dear sir, I will pay you "
"Yes, I know. Oh, you've got the
formula down pretty fine. Make a
good lawyer. I've got some money in
that safe, that is, if nobody has robbed
me. Let me see if I've been robbed."
He opened the safe and took out a
package of bank notes. "Don't believe
I've been robbed. Rather singular,
too." he went on, counting the money.
"Two hundred, you say. Better take
two-fifty?you need some clothes. Pardon
me for being so keen an observer.
It really escaped my notice until this
moment. But what you want with the
old house is more than I can understand.
No, Billy?Bill, I mean?no,
I understand it and it is a noble quality."
He rolled up' the money, handed it
to me and continued to talk. "After all,
sentiment is the only thing in life, but
you'd better not tell this about town?
I'd never get another case. Yes, sir,
and the poet is the only man who
really lives. Now go on and buy your
acre of sentiment, and when you have
closed the bargain, lie down upon your
possessions and go to sleep. Tell the
old man that he is a fool for going
away, but tell him also that I don't
blame him for being a fool. Yes, sir,
I love a fool, for it's the wise man that
puts me to trouble. Give my warmest
regards to that old woman. Let me
tell you something: Many years ago
I was a poor young fellow working
about the court house. And the clothes
you've got on now are wedding garments
compared with what mine were.
Well, one day I stopped at Jucklin's
house to get out of the rain?he hadn't
been married long?and soon after I
went into me Huung-roum, mo ?urbegun
to whisper to the husband, and
when she went out, which she did a
moment later, Jucklin turned to me
and said: 'Go up stairs, take off your
britches and throw 'em down here, and
I'll bring 'em back to you after a while.'
I was actually out at the knees, sir,
and I did as he told me, and when he
brought my trousers back they were
neatly patched. Yes, sir, give my
warmest regards to that old woman,
for if she isn't a Christian there never
was one. Well, what are you hanging
arounci here for? Trying to thank me?
Is that it? Well, just go on, my boy,
and we'll attend to that some other
time."
"You know what I feel, Mr. Conkwright,
and I will not attempt to thank
you, but I must say that I was never
more surprised in a man. I was told
that you were hard and unsympathetic."
"Sorry you found me out. sir. Let a
lawyer get the name of being kind and
they say that he is emotional, but has
no logic. Rlackstone had to give up
poetry. Well, good-day. I'm busy."
To be Continued
SOME QUEER SENTENCES.
Administrators of Justice Sometimes
Are Unconsciously Funny.
"To make the punishment fit the
crime," as Gilbert wrote, should be the
ambition of all those In whose hands
rests the administration of Justice, says
a writer in Pearson's Weekly.
Law, unfortunately, interferes sadly
with the desires of just-minded people,
but now and then one hears of an individual
with sufficient good sense or
strength of mind to decree a fit and
appropriate punishment.
For instance, at Geneva, two small
boys were charged with stealing from
a shop, and were found guilty.
Said the magistrate: "I am not going
to send you to prison. I decree
that you shall attend Sunday school
every Sunday for the next fifty-two
Sundays, and I make your parents responsible
for the sentence being duly
carried out."
At Denver, Col., when a tipsy man
is brought into the police station, he
is propped up against the wall and at
once photographed. Next morning,
when he is sober, he is shown the picture,
and they say It is quite surprising
how many absolute cures have been
effected by this simple proceeding.
An Italian swindler, Lupo Salvatore
by name, was recently found guilty
upon no fewer than sixty-three separate
charges, and received n sentence of
three years' imprisonment on each. He
is hardly likely to survive 189 years in
an Italian prison.
A railway company, the Northeastern,
took an odd method of punishing
a passenger who refused to leave a saloon
carriage when he had only an ordinary
third-class ticket. They took
tlm enrHnp-e off hacked it into a siding
and left It there.
The passenger sued for damages for
loss of time, but, though he failed to
recover, the judge refused to give the
company costs. He said they should
have locked the carriage If it was to
be reserved.
A punishment which got the perpetrators
into serious trouble concerned a
boy of 12 and a pot of green paint.
The hoy, who ran errands for a Battersea
grocer, did something which annoyed
his employer, who stripped him
and painted him green. The boy nearly
died, and the grocer was very heavily
fined.
tw What is that which occurs twice
in a moment and not once In a thousand
years? The letter "m."
ittisccllanrouo iJcutlini).
CHRISTMAS AND WHISKY.
Stirring Appeal Against Greatest Evil
of the Holidays.
Anderson Intelligencer.
I have been grossly insulted and in
the very heart of your city, and I ask
you who Is due me an apology. I am
an old lady and respect Is due the aged.
But the grandest insult of my life was
forced upon me one day last week in
one of your big dry goods houses. Yes,
I was standing by the counter, making
some little purchases of one of the
clerks, when a man walked in, and
without any hesitation, asked the clerk
if he could sell him his Christmas
booze. 1 felt at first that I must strike
him, as I would a dog that had bitten
me, but, alas it was a man und I could
not strike, and my next thought was
to tar and feather him and ride him
through the streets on a rail, and give
every woman and child a chance to
stone him, and then if it were in my
power I would tie a mill-stone around
his neck and cast him into the sen.
The Idea of selling Christmas whisky!
I tremble as I link the two names
together. It is well that I tremble. O,
God! How many of my sex are trembling
today, as they think of the Christmas
whisky that is being ordered. O,
if I could, I would go to every man, and
on bended knees, I would beg him, for
Christ's sake, don't make that order.
But of these whisky agents, why are
they allowed to walk the very pavement
that the feet of a good woman must
trod? It is dangerous, for a man that
will sell whisky, will do anything.
Nothing is too low for him to do. Ah!
Let the women fear him. for he will do
them all the harm he can. How many
poor old mothers and grief-stricken
wives are suffering from his blows. I
am an old mother, and I can truthfully
say, Ilhnd rather this agent would fell
me to^the earth with a blow from his
brutish fist, than to know he had sold
my son whisky. Ah! How many mothers
are felled, not to the earth, but to
a bed of suffering, what suffering is
worse than a broken heart.
Ho\t? many wives will moan and
groaii In agony this Christmas by this
agenifs work? Yes, he Is selling their
husbands their Christmas whisky, and
they 'must suffer for it. In how many
ways..must they suffer; the husband begins
his Christmas debauch Christmas
eve, and the poor wife sits at home all
alone, waiting for some one to bring
the agent's victim. That is only the
beginning. She must wait on him all
Christmas while he is drunk. Then
several days after because he is sick.
But what is the use to say anything
about the drunkard? He will not listen
until he hears the groans in hell. He
will stop and listen then because he
has reached the end.
I \Vish every drunkard could be locked
tog??her In a den Christmas eve and
' 41 * ?* - Anhf
Kepi mere umii i>e? irai. vmj
terday I heard a poor woman say, she
wished she could die Christmas eve
and come to life again New Year. She
said her husband had ordered his
Christmas whisky and also one of her
sons. That there would be nothing for i
her Christmas but tears. How many j
little children will hardly know It Is ,
Christmas, yet their fathers can make
a big order for Christmas whisky.
One of my neighbors went to Anderson
last week and his wife sent four
hens by him to buy their little girl a
pair of shoes. I happened to be In the .
store near him when he bought the .
shoes. The clerk handed him a pair
worth one dollar, but the man said he i
had only seventy-five cents, so the
clerk gave him a very coarse pair and ]
they were wrapped up. That man's j
wife told me that the hens were sold
for $1.25 and he had spent fifty cents
for whisky, but what is the use to
mention this one little instance. Ain't
the world running over with such men?
v*.u t oin mart I ran't helD it. when i
I think of all the sorrow that is In store i
for the poor women and children, i
caused by the Christmas whisky.
I reckon the country is full of the ,
devil's agents booming up their whisky
houses. 1 would like to make their
uniforms. I would make them of crownless
hats, tattered rags, ragged trousers
and heelless shoes, and I would
have their morning's bath in the tears |
of some poor old mother crying for her ]
lost boy, and I would have their evening's
bath in the blood of one of their (
murdered victims, and their food would ,
be the crusts and bones that are given
the drunkard's child, and I would have ,
him spend his Christmas in the drunk- ,
ard's home. Let him see his own .
works; the tireless grate, the empty
cupboard, the ragged children, and I .
would let him feel the invisible. i
Yes, I would crush his heart, as he |
has that poor drunkard's wife. I would |
let him know what it Is to link our Sa- j
viour's name with whisky. Ah! He i
will never know what he has done un- |
til he reaches the bottomless pit, where |
he will roll and writhe in the burning
lava, and raise his blood-shot eye toward
heaven, and ask God how much
longer must he endure this awful
agony. Ah! The answer must be a 1
thousand years longer.
Let us all pray that God will be
merciful to the man who sells Christ- '
mas whisky.
"An Old Country Lady."
< i
THE SEMINOLE AFFAIR.
Careful Editor Points Out Some of the
Lessons.
m?ia r.vrj'inatinnu that have been
made about the Seminole Securities
company do not explain.
It Is stated that the concern was
formed for the purpose of buying a
life Insurance company and a casualty
company. Why was that? Why were
not the stocks of the life insurance
company and the casualty company
offered to the public direct? Why the
secondary ownership?
It stated that three Columbia bankers
were "trustees" of the Seminole
company, but that they had nothing to
do with the management, nothing to
do with the sales of stock?in fact had
nothing to do with the company and
knew nothing about Its affairs. Is that
a reasonable explanation? Are people
with common sense going to believe
that statement?
But those who have got stuck on the
swindle?for It appears to have been
a swindle?do not deserve sympathy.
They put their money into something
they knew nothing about, expecting to
get enormous profits. Shrewd, smooth
men played upon the cupidity and
greed of the people?and won.
It has been an interesting game of
high finance all the way through. It
is known now that those who bought
the stock paid much more than it was
worth, but it is doubtful if they will
ever be able to get back the difference
between what they paid for the stock
and what it is really worth.
Hut they have learned that a "getrh
..-quick" scheme must always be a
swindle, they hnve learned how worthless
is the term "trustee," they have
also learned how unsafe it Is to bank
on the strength of another man's reputation,
and these things may be worth
a good deal in the long run. Looking
at it in this light it may be that instead
of throwing their money away
they have invested it to good advanbim,
Anrloronn Tin 11 v \TnH
HOUSE ASKS FOR PROOF.
Resolution Puts Issue Up to the President.
Following Is the resolution adopted
by the house last Thursday in regard
to that part of the message referring
to the secret service:
"Resolved, That the president be requested
to transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his
statements that the 'chief argument in
favor of the provision was that the
congressmen did not themselves wish
to be investigated by secret service
men,' and also to transmit to the
house any evidence connecting any
member of the house of representatives
of the 6?tth congress with corrupt action
in his official capacity and to inform
the house whether he has instituted
proceedings for the punishment
of any such individual by the courts
or has reported any such alleged delinquencies
to the house of representatives."
Mr. Perkins of New York, chairman
of the special committee, charged to
investigate the allegations made in the
president's message and John Sharp
Williams of Mississippi, both stated on
the floor that it was the desire of the
special committee to be just toward
the president in allowing him to submit
any evidence he may have and both
declared that the committee would give
it full and impartial consideration. Mr.
Perkins said the committee would continue
in session during the Christmas
holidays so that it might receive such
evidence from the president and proceed
to consider it.
Both the resolution and all of the
preamble, except that part of the latter
Interpreting the meaning of the
president's message in relation to the
secret service were adopted unanimously
by a viva voce vote. Mr. Bennct
of New York demanded a division
on the preamble provision stating the
committee's Interpretation of the president's
strictures upon congress, but
before tTie division was entered upon
endeavored to withdraw his motion.
Mr. Williams insisted that this could
not be done and the vote being taken,
270 members voted aye, and 14 no, on
this part of the preamble.
In reporting the resolution Mr. Perkins
said it had been recommended
unanimously by the special committee
and added that as soon as the president
should send in any information
In his possession the committee would
make another report for the consideration
of the house.
"So far as the committee knows,"
said Mr. Williams, "there is not a
scintilla of evidence to support that
statement by the president. The committee
has thought it would be fair
to the president to give him further
opportunity to produce testimony If
he has any. Tne American people have
a right to know if the American congress
be corrupt."
Mr. Keifer of Ohio, wanted to know
whether the words "if not incompatible
with the public service" should not be
Inserted In the resolution as usual in
calling on the president for information.
This suggestion called forth
laughter and Mr. Perkins declared tnai
the resolution as worded was a "request"
for information and was imperative
in Its wording.
"I understand," insisted Mr. Keifer,
"that these words were purposely omitted
from the resolution."
"The matter must of course, rest with
the chief executive," replied Mr. Perkins.
Mr. Perkins then cut off further discussions
by demanding the previous
riuestion. and Speaker Cannon calling
for a viva voce vote, there was a
chorus of "ayes" favoring the passage
if tliis resolution, followed by a dead
silence when the noes were called for.
Mr. Perkins again securing the floor
lent to the speaker's desk another
resolution and the house was on tiptoe
of expectation to know what further
action was to be proposed.' It
proved to be an offer of congratulations
to the newly formed Turkish parliament.
and amid laughter the resolution
was adopted.
Great Things In the World.
What is the greatest thing in the '
vorld ?
Ask the scholar and he gravely tells
rou that learning is, for that comprehends
and promotes all.
Ask the preacher and he solemnly 1
rssures you that religion is. because
t is a light from heaven.
Ask the artist, and he cries: "Art. 1
'or It combines mntter and spirit both
it their best." '
The lawyer declares: "Justice, for 1
t is the soul of peace and progress."
"Money," says the banker. "It is
he spring of all action."
Ask the young man full of hope
ind spirit, and he cries, "Ambition." 1
Ask the weary old toiler, and he (
ells you: "Rest and content."
The pair of lovers, hand in hand,
inswer as one: "Love."
The mother with her baby at her
Dreast says: "Sacrifice." 1
The wild roisterer cries: "Pleas- (
ire."
The wan invalid whispers: "Health."
Then meet a shambling, grinning
:ool and put to him the question. He
dmpers and says: "I don't know."
And which, think you, is the wiser
){ them all, from the scholar to the
Tool?
i'' The average length of life of the
Icelander is a little over 61 years.
The deepest hole in the world has
seen bored In Silesia. It has reached a
lepth of about 7,000 feet, and passes
through 83 beds of coal.
SCIENCE AND THE FARM.
Investigators Doing Much to Help the
Modern Agriculturist.
The most Important and the most
fascinating of all Professor Blffen's
experiments in the laboratories of
Cambridge University, England, concern
production of varieties of wheat
Immune to prevalent pests, says a
writer In Harper's Magazine. In all
countries the most serious enemy of
the wheat farmer is the rust. Early
in their growth the plants are attacked
by a parasitic fungus whose presence
Is rendered conspicuous by an
abundant outbreak of reddish-yellow
postules all over the foliage. In certain
seasons and with certain varle
lies me ouioreuK may ue su severe aa
to very greatly diminish the yield of
grain. In the bad rust year of 1891
the loss due to this cause In Prussia
alone was calculated at more than
?20,000,000, while a well-known authority
estimates that the average loss
from rust to the wheat crops of the
world would not be covered by ?100,000,000.
Xo prophylactic against the
disease has been discovered, and it is
recognized that the only way to avoid
it is to make use of varieties which
are naturally immune. Unfortunately
the few such varieties which are
naturally immune that exist are in
other respects poor and unprofitable
to grow.
Professor Biffen began his experiments
by crossing a variety peculiarly
subject to the attacks of yellow
rust with an immune variety. The
hybrids produced were all severely
attacked by rust. In the following
year such seed as could be collected
from these plants was sown. The
greater number of the resulting plants
were much rusted, but some were entirely
free from the disease, though
growing up in the closest contact with
their rusty brethren. It was found on
counting that the Immune plants
formed almost exactly a quarter of
the total number. In other words,
the experiment proved susceptibility
and immunity to be a pair of Mendelian
characters, and consequently
within the control of the breeder to
combine with other characters according
as he pleased. The fact that
resistance to yellow rust is a unit
character exhibiting Mendellan inheritance
makes It a simple matter to
transfer it to wheats which are in
every way desirable except for their
susceptibility to rust. From the
knowledge gained through his experiments
Professor Biffen has been able
to build up wheats combining the
large yield and excellent straw of the
best English varieties with the
strength of the foreign grain, and at
the same time quite Immune to yellow
rust. During the present year several
acres of such wheat coming true
to type were grown on the Cambridge
University experimental farm, and
when the quantity is sufficient to be
Mit.uoon the market there is no Tea
son to doubt its exerting a considerable
influence on the agricultural outlook.
NEPTUNE AT THE "LINE."
Admiral Evans Tells About Initiation
Ceremonies on Board the Fleet at the
Equator.
Of all the old customs of the navy
the only one that will probably survive
and last for all time Is the'initiation
of landsmen who cross the "line,"
as the equator is called, for the first
time. The ceremonies, like the custom
itself, are practically the same in all
the navies of the world but do not,
so far as I know, obtain In the merchant
sendee. In an age of change
when all precedents are disregarded
and old customs and traditions forgotten,
it is pleasant to know that this
one, so long observed and which gives
pleasure to so many, may still hold its
place.
As the fleet approached the equator
on the evening of January 4, a messenger
from Neptunus Rex boarded
each vessel, Interviewed the captain,
and, having received his permission
for his majesty to visit him on the
morrow, took his leave. During the
night of January 4, each ship was flted
with a large canvas tank near the
forward turret, so arranged that from
a tilting barber's chair on the rim of
the turret, the one to be initiated could
be tumbled head over heels into the
water which, as it leaked out, was being
constantly renewed by several lines
of hose. All those to face Father
Nepture were sure of a good, cool
bath if nothing more.
When the position of no latitude was
reached on January 5 the flag of the
monarch of the sea was broken out at
the signal yardarm on every vessel of
the fleet, and King Neptune, followed
by his suite, boarded each ship over
the bows and marched aft to the quarterdeck
In the presence of the assembled
crew to make his call on the admirals
and captains, and obtain their
permission to conduct his ceremonies.
Great ingenuity had been shown by
the "old hands" in preparing the many
costumes necessary for the occasion,
and the "march aft," as it is called,
produced much laughter and applause
from those who saw it for the first
time but there were many serious faces
among the young recruits who looked
forward with some anxiety to the time
when they should fall into the hands
of these fearful looking monsters of
the deep who were constantly threatening
dire things to those "landlubbers"
and "haymakers" who ventured to invade
their domain without permission.
Father Neptune in every case knew
the officers and men whom he had
met before, .and he welcomed them with
a few kind words, mentioning the name
of the ship in which each had sailed,
and wishing them a fair wind for all
time. So perfect were the costumes of
the king and his court on board that
flagsnlp that I failed to recognize a single
man of the more than fifty who
constituted the suite. I presented them
with cigars enough to keep them going,
wished them a successful day, and
the frolic began. Seats had been arranged
on the forward bridge for the
officers who had cross, d the line before,
and from this point we observed
the ceremonies. The day was exceedingly
hot and we were all dressed in
our thinnest white uniforms. After I
nuu D?eil WUICI1III? UIC lull 1U1 ctc*cio.4
hours I felt a peculiar cold wind blowing:
on my hack, which so chilled me
that T was forced to retire to my cabin,
where In the evening: I found myself
helpless with an attack of Inflammatory
rheumatism, which caused me In
tense suffering often recurred, and
eventually compelled me to give up the
command of the Atlantic fleet?a misfortune
which might well break the
heart of any officer who loved his profession
as I have always done.
Before leaving the United States the
"old hands" had provided the certificates
for Neptune, to sign. They were
handsomely printed on seagreen paper
and made very pretty souvenirs for the
recruits to preserve. Indeed, I should
not say "recruits," for there were many
men, and officers as well, who had been
around the world several times, men
of many years' service who had never
crossed the equator. This may be easily
understood after a glance at the
map, where It will be seen how oneleaving
Sau Francisco can cross the
Pacific, proceed through the Mediterranean,
and so across the Atlantic to
New York, without once crossing the
equator, and this many officers and men
had done. When once the Panama
canal Is completed the equatorial ocean
regions will be much more lonely, even
than they are now. King Neptune always
offers the officers the privilege of
paying their fottlng; that Is, contributing
so many cigars or so many bottles
of beer Instead of being regularly Initiated;
but on this occasion the midshipmen
decided that they would take
their medicine with the rest, and they
were the first to receive the rites; that
is to say, be shaved by the barber with
a long wooden razor and then "tumbled
into the bath," where the "mermaids,"
"sharks," and "porpoises" sawthat
they were thoroughly and properly
ducked. The ward room preferred
to pay.
As each man of the crew received
his ducking he became an energetic recruit
In the ranks of Neptune and Joined
the sea policemen, who with stuffed
clubs were searching the ship for those
who attempted to escape the ordeal.
This was particularly the case with
many of the colored men on board
who were serving In the capacity of
messmen. None were allowed to escape,
and as I looked on I could tell
very easily the men, both black and
white who had in any way made themselves
offensive to the crew. Such persons
came out of the tank pretty full
of soapsuds and salt water. But In no
case was any man maltreated or Injured.
It was a form of harmless hazing
to which I gave my hearty approval.
BROTHERS IN CRIME.
A Fraternity of Rogues That Swallows
up the Individual.
When a man becomes a "Yegg" he
Inooa fhn noma that hnlnnca
I UV.HVUU J lVO?? WtiV ?MM?IV VI* 1* v WVIVIIQM
to him, says a writer in the Bohemian.
If there comes into a "Yegg" camp a
stranger who proves by his dialect that
he Is entitled to membership, "Yegg"
etiquette does not permit any one to
ask his name. "Where d'ye hail
from?" is the question. If he replies
that he fs X Plttsburger, they call him
"Pitts Slim" or "Pitts Fat," or some
other name suggested by his physical
characteristics. There is a degree of
cleverness, sometimes, in these names.
A young man with a patch of gray
hairs is known as "The Aged Kid." A
hunchback with a wooden leg acquires
the appellation of "The Pegged Hump."
The word "Yegg" has been attributed
to gypsy origin. When a thief showed
special aptitude the gipsies elected
him a "Yegg chief." Gradually the ordinary
tramp, or "hobo," if he grew to
be a skillful thief, came into the title
of "Johnny Yegg," and finally the name
was acquired exclusively by the wandering
nltro-glycerin expert of today.
This outcast appears to embody what
is worst in the gypsy and the "hobo"
with the craft of one and the barbarity
of the other added to a reckless daring
of his own.
One of the most interesting phrases
of the fraternity of the "Yeggs" is
found in those rare exceptions, the
"Yegg" with a family and the "Yegg"
with a longing ror nome. wnue most
of them have no ties, it happens now
and then that one boasts a wife and
children. In that event, if he is arrested,
other "Yeggs" invariably provide
for the family. The "Yegg" with the
longing for home occasionally gratifies
his ambition by saving a competence,
with which he returns to his native
place. He then settles down in some
business, and "Yegg" know him no
more. If there is an inquiry as to what
has happened to the absent one, the
reply is, "He's gone home." All "Yeggs"
know what that means.
THE DOCTOR AND HIS FEE.
Ability to Pay Defended as the Limit
of Charge.
Said Satan in the course of his remarks
on the probable vulnerability of
Job: "Skin for skin, yea, all that a
man hath will he give for his life."
This was an early contribution to the
literature of debate over the proper
size of the doctor's fee. Its latest product
is a chapter in the North American
Review by Dr. Arthur C. Heffenger,
who argues that the fee may be
fixed Justly by considering what life or
limb may be worth to a particular patient.
Another authority has stated the
case in epigram: "Medical and surgical
services have no value, in that
they are invaluable."
Once a New York polo player paid 11,000
for having a broken finger set.
He was rich and he wanted to be sure
of the finger. In the case of Loiita Armour
Dr. Adolf Lorens, coming from
Austria to Chicago, received $76,000?
a small price for the physical well-being
of the petted child of a multi-mllllonatre.
A Boston man jald gladly
$10,000 for laparotomy performed on
his wife. There are men like James R.
Keene and the late Cornelius Vanderbilt
who think nothing of engaging
while traveling, the exclusive services
of a doctor who can earn $25,000 a year
In practice.
On the other hand, it Js stated that
practically 33 per cent of the practice
of New York city is charity?and In
at least a third of such cases the doctor
Is imposed upon!
There are about 200,000 doctors In
the United Btates, or one to every 400
of population. The average yearly Income
in the profession is estimated at
$750. A few doctors make princely Incomes;
many approach the other extreme.
There are great and good physicians
who are not famous nor rich
and there are charlatans who are notorious
and wealthy.?New York
World.