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SEMI-WEEKI.T^ " ^ l m grists sons. Publisher..} * Jamiig Betrspaper: Jor the promotion of the political. Socialljricultura! and Commercial Interests of the people. ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1910. ^O. 28. i 54 VBY EMERS( ? I !== > CHAPTKR IV. The Baroness Helena. Woman is seldom merciful to the man who is timid.?Edward Bulwer Lyuon. There was one of our dim street I lights at a central corner on old Pennsylvania avenue, and under it. after a long walk, I paused for a glance at the inscription on my sealed document. I had not looked at it before in the confusion of my somewhat hurried mental processes. In addition to the name and street number, in Calhoun's writing, I read this memorandum: "Knock at the third door in the second block beyond M Street." I recalled the nearest cross street: but I must confess the direction still seemed somewhat cryptic. Puzzled, I stood under the lamp, shielding the face of the note under my cloak to keep off the rain, as I studied it. The sound of wheels behind me on the muddy pavements called my atten- | tion, and I looked about. A carriage came swinging up to the curb where I stood. It was driven rapidly, and as it j approached the door swung open. IJ heard a quick word, and the driver pulled up his horses. I saw the light shine through the door on a glimpse of white satin. I looked again. Yes, it was a beckoning hand! The negro driver looked at me inquiringly. Ah, well, I suppose diplomacy under the stars runs much the same in all ages. I have said that I loved Elisa beth. but also sain 1 was nui yn unity. Moreover, I was a gentleman, and here might be a lady in need of help. I need not say that in a moment I was at the side of the carriage. Its occupant made no exclamation of surprise; in fact, she moved back upon the other side of the seat in the darkness, as though to make room for me! A dark framed face, whose outlines I could only dimly see in the faint light of the street lamp, leaned toward me. The same small hand nervously reached out, as though in request. I now very naturally stepped closer. A pair of wide and very dark eyes was * ?* T coo Ho** looking into mine. 1 cuuiu m.? face. There was no smile upon her lips. I had never seen her before, that was sure?nor did I ever think to see her like again: I could say that even then, even in the half light. Just a trifle foreign, the face: somewhat dark, but not too dark: the lips full, the eyes luminous, the forehead beautifully arched, chin and check beautifully rounded, nose clean-cut and straight, thin but not pinched. There was nothing niggard about her. She was magnificent?a magnificent woman. 1 saw that she had splendid jewels at her throat, in her ears?a necklace of diamonds, long hoops of diamonds and emeralds used as ear-rings: a sparkling clasp which caught at her white throat the wrap which she had thrown about her ball gown?for now I saw she was in full evening dress. I guessed she had been an attendant at the great ball, that ball which 1 had missed with so keen a regret myself? the ball where I had hoped to dance with Elisabeth. Without doubt she| had lost her way and was asking the first stranger for instructions to her driver. My lady, whoever she was. seemed pleased with her rapid temporary scrutiny. With a faint murmur, whether of invitation or not 1 scarce could tell, she drew back again to the farther side of the seat. Before I knew how or why, I was at her side. The driver pushed shut the door, and whipped up his team. Personally I am gifted with but small imagination. Iti a very matter of fact way I had got into this carriage with a strange lady. Now in a sober and matter of fact way it appeared to me my duty to tind out the reason for this singular situation. "Madam," I remarked to my companion. "in what manner can I be of service to you this evening?" "I am fortunate that you are a gentleman," she said, in a low and soft finite distinct, ouite musical in quality, and marked with just the faintest trace of some foreign accent, although her Knglish was perfect. I looked again at her. Yes. her hair was dark: that was sure. It swept up in a great roll above her oval brow. Her eyes, too, must be dark, 1 confirmed. Yes?as a passed lamp gave me aid?there were strong dark brows above them. Her nose, too, was patrician; her chin curving just strongly enough, but not too full, and faintly cleft, a sign of power, they say. A third gracious lamp gave me a glimpse of her figure, huddled back among her draperies, and 1 guessed her to be about of medium height. A fourth lamp showed me her hands, small, firm, white; also I could catch a glimpse of her arm. as it lay outstretched. her fingers clasping a fan. So I knew her arms were round and taper, hence all her limbs and figure finely molded, because nature does not do such things by halves, and makes no bungles in her symmetry of contour when she plans a noble specimen of humanity. Here was a noble specimen of what woman may be. I was not in such hurry to ask again how I might be of service. In fact, being somewhat surprised and somewhat pleased. 1 remained silent now for a time, and let matters adjust themselves; which is not a bad course for any one similarly engaged She turned toward me at last, deliberately. her fan against her lips, studying me. And I did as much, taking such advantage as 1 could of the passing street lamps. Then, all at once, without warning or apology, she smiled, showing very even and white teeth She smiled. There came to me from the purple-colored shadows some sort of deep perfume, strange to me. I frown at the description of such things and such emotions, but I swear that as I sat there, a stranger, not four minutes in companionship with this ? A rHT - ^ >JV HOUGH ft t m bbs-Merrill Co. JK \f other stranger, I felt swim up around me some sort of amber shadow, edged with purple?the shadow, as 1 figured : it then, being this perfume, curious and alluring! It was wet, there in the street. Why should I rebel at this stealing charm of color or fragrance?let those name it better who can. At least I sat, smiling < to myself in my purple-amber shadow, now in no very special hurry. At last I could not, in politeness, keep ' this up further. 1 "How may I serve the Baroness?" said I. ! She started back on the seat as far as she could go. , "How did you know?" she asked. ] "And who are you?" I laughed. "I did not know, and did i not guess until almost as I began to < speak; but if it comes to that, I might say I am simply an humble gentleman i of Washington here. I might be privileged to peep In at ambassadors' balls ?through the windows," at least." "But you were not there?you aid not see me? I never saw you in my life until this very moment?how, then, do you know me? Speak! At once!" Her satins rustled. I knew she was tapping a foot on the carriage floor. "Madam," I answered, laughing at ' her; "by this amber purple shadow, with flecks of scarlet and pink; by this perfume which weaves webs for me here in this carriage, I know you. The light is poor, but it is good enough to ' show one who can be no one else but the Raroness von Ritz." I was in the mood to spice an ad- ' venture which had gone thus far. Of course she thought me crazed, and drew back again in the shadow; but when I turned and smiled, she smiled in answer?herself somewhat puzzled. "The Baroness von Ritz can not be ' 1 disguised," I said: "not even if she wore her domino." She looked down at the little mask which hung from the silken cord, and flung it from her. "Oh, then, very well!" she said. "If you know who I am, who are you, and why do you talk in this absurd way with me, a stranger?" "And why, madam, do you take me up. a stranger, in this absurd way, at midnight, on the streets of Washington??I, who am engaged on business for my chief?" She tapped again with her foot on the carriage floor. "Tell me who you are!" she said. "Once a young planter from Maryland yonder; sometime would-be lawyer here in Washington. It is my misfortune not to be so distinguished in fame or beauty that my name is known by all; so I need not tell you my name perhaps, only assuring you that I am at your service if I may be useful." "Your name!" she again demanded. I told her the first one that came to my lips?I do not remember what. It .li.i /loeoluo hop fnr n m<mwnf UIU HUl UUVCI * V IIV? u "Of course that is not your name," she said; "because it does not fit you. You have me still at disadvantage." "And me, madam? You are taking 1 me miles out of my way. How can 1 help you? Do you perhaps wish to hunt mushrooms in the Georgetown woods when morning comes? 1 wish that I might Join you, but 1 fear?" "You mock me," she retorted. "Very I good. Let me tell you it was not your personal charm which attracted me when I saw you on the pavement! 'Twas because you were the only man ' in sight." I bowed my thanks. For a moment ' nothing was heard save the steady patter of hoofs on the ragged pavement. At Imiirth went nn. "I am alone. 1 have been fallowed. I was followed when I called to you?by another carriage. 1 asked help of the first gentleman I saw. having heard ' that Americans all are gentlemen." "True." said 1; "I do not blame you. Neither do I blame the occupant of the other carriage for following you." "I pray you. leave aside such clatter!" she exclaimed. "Very well, then, madam. Perhaps the best way is for us to be more straightforward. If 1 cannot be of service 1 beg you to let me descend, for I have business which I must execute tonight." She dismissed this with an impatient gesture, and continued. "See, I am alone." she said. "Come with me. Show me my way?I will pay?I will pay anything in reason." Actually I saw her fumble at her purse, and the hot blood llew to my forehead. "What you ask of inc. madam, is impossible," said I. with what courtesy I could summon. "You oblige me now in it'll m> imi iiamr. . ...... ...... ...... that I am an American gentleman?Mr. Nicholas Trist. We of this country do not offer our service to ladies for the sake of pay. Rut do not lie troubled over any mistake?it is nothing. Now, you have perhaps had some little adventure in which you do not wish to lie discovered. In any case, you ask me to shake off that carriage which follows us. If that is all. madam, it very easily can be arranged." "Hasten, then." she said. "1 leave it to you. I was sure you knew tlie city." I turned and gazed back through the rear window of the carriage. True, there was another vehicle following us. We were by this time nearly at the end of Washington's limited pavements. It would be simple after that. I leaned out and gave our driver some brief orders. We led our chase across the val ley <'IVrKs on Up llle ?ieoi'Kooiwu oiun. and soon as possible abandoned the last of tlie pavement, and took to the turf, where the sound of our wheels was dulled. Rapidly as we could we passed on up the hill, until we struck a side street where there was no paving. Into this we whipped swiftly, following tile tlank of the hill, our K'dnK, which was all of earth or soft surf, now well wetted by the rain. When at last we reached a point near the summit of the hill. 1 stopped to listen. Hearing nothing, 1 told the driver to pull down the hill by the side street, and to drive slowly. When we finally came into our main street again at the foot of the Georgetown hills, not far from the little creek which divided that settlement from the main city, I could hear nowhere any sound of our pursuer. '"Madam," said I, turning to her; "I think we may safely say we are alone. What, now, is your wish?" "Home!" she said. "And where is home. She looked at me keenly for a time, as though to read some thought which perhaps she saw suggested either in the tone of my voice or in some glimpse she might have caught of my features us light afforded. For the moment she made no answer. "Is it here?" suddenly I asked her, presenting to her inspection the sealed missive which I bore. "I can not see; it is quite dark," she said hurriedly. "Pardon me, then?" I fumbled for my case of iucifers, and made a faint light by which she might read. She pursed her lips and shook her head. '"I do not recognize the address," said she. smiling, as she turned toward me. "Is it this door on M street, as you go beyond this other street?" I asked her. "Come?think!" Then I thought I saw the Hush deepen on her face, even as the match flickered and failed. I leaned out of the door and called to the negro driver. "Home, now, boy ?and drive fast!" She made no protest. CHAPTHF V. One of the Women In the Case. There is a woman at the beginning of all great things.?Lamartine. A quarter of an hour later, we slowed down on a rough brick pavement, which led toward what then was an outlying portion of the town?one not precisely shabby, but by no means fashionable. There was a single lamp stationed at the mouth of the narrow little street. As we advanced, 1 could see outlined upon our right, just beyond a narrow pavement of brick, a low and not more than semi-respecta^1" han I<I iii' 4\f hitnuou * tenements 'or the middle class or poor, 1 might have said. The neighborhood, I knew from my acquaintance with the city, was respectable enough, yet it was remote, and occupied by none of *ny station. Certainly it was not to be considered fit residence for a woman such as this who sat beside me. I admit 1 was puzzled. "This will do," said she softly, at ength. The driver already had pulled jp. So, then I thought, she had been lere before. But why? Could this inleed be her residence? Was she in;ognita here? Was this indeed the covert embassy of England? There was no escape from the situation as it lay before me. I had no time :o ponder. My duty was here. This was my message; here was she for ivnom it was intenueu; ana mis was the place which I was to have sought Rone. I needed only to remember that ny business was not with Helena von Ritz the woman, beautiful, fascinating, perhaps dangerous as they said of her, out with the Baroness von Ritz, in the belief of iny chief the ally and something more than ally of Pakenham, in trharge of England's fortunes on this continent. 1 descended tit the edge of the narrow pavement, and was about to hand her out at the step, but as I glanced jown I saw that the rain had left a puddle of mud between the carriage ind the walk. "Pardon, madam," I said; "allow me to make a light for you?the footing is bad." I lighted another lucifer, just as she hesitated at the step. Site made as though to put out her right foot, and withdrew it. Again she shifted, and extended her left foot. 1 faintly saw pruof that nature had carried out her scheme <>f symmetry, and had not allowed wrist and arm to forswear themselves! 1 saw also that this foot was clad in the daintiest of white slippers, suitable enough as part ?>f her ball costume, as I doubted not was this she wore. She took my hand without hesitation, and rested her weight upon the step?an adorable ankle now more frankly revealed. The briefness of the lucifers was merciful or merciless, as you like. "A wide step, madam; be careful." I suggested. Hut still she hesitated. A laugh, half of annoyance, half of amusement, broke from her lips. As the light dickered down, she made as tii.nurii t,, tin. sti-ic then as luck would have it, a bit of her loose drapery, which was made in the wideskirted and much-hooped fashion of the time, caught at the hinge of the carriage door. It was a chance glance, and not intent on my part, but I saw that her other foot was stockinged, but not shod! "I beg madam's pardon," I said gravely, looking aside, "but she has perhaps not noticed that her other slipper is lost in the carriage." "Nonsense!" she said. "Allow me your hand across to the walk, please It is lost, yes." "Hut lost?where?" I began. "In the other carriage!" site exclaimed. and laughed freely. Half hopping, she was across the walk, through the narrow gate, and up > ? * ? I ..on ff.r til nil.' UWIII unun I vwum, ? an arm or ask for an explanation. Some whim, however, seized her: some feeling that in fairness she ought to tell me now part at least of the reason for her summoning me to her aid. "Sir," she said, even as her hand reached up to the door knocker: "I admit you have acted as a gentleman should. I do not know what your message may be. but 1 doubt not it is meant for me. Since you have this much claim on my hospitality, even at this hour, I think I must ask you to step within. There may he some ansiver needed." "Madam." said I. "there is an answer needed. I am to take bark that answer. I know that this message is t<? tlie Harnness von Hit-/.. I guess it to be important: and 1 know yon are tiie Harnness von Hit/.." "Well, then." said she. pulling about her half-bared shoulders the light wrap she wore; "let me be as free with you. If I have missed one shoe, I have not lost it wholly. | lust the slipper in a way not quite planned on the program. It hurt my foot. I sought to adjust it behind a eurtain. My gentleman of Mexico was in wine. I fled, leaving my escort, and he followed. I called to you. You know the rest. I am glad you are less in wine, and arc more a gentleman." "I do not yet know my answer, madam." "Come!" she said: and at once knocked upon the door. 1 shall not soon forget the surprise which awaited tile when at last the door swung open silently at the hand of a wrinkled and brown old servingwoman?not one of our colored women, but of some dark foreign race. The faintest tract- of surprise showed on I the old woman's face, but she stepped back and swung the door wide, standing submissively, waiting for orders. We stood now facing what ought to have been a nam w and dingy little room in a low row of dingy buildings, each of two stories and so shallow in extent as perhaps not to offer roof space to more than a half dozen rooms. Instead of what should have been, however, there was a wide hall?wide as each building would have been from front to back, but longer than half dozen of them would have been! 1 did not know then, what I learned later, that the partitions throughout this entire row had been removed, the material serving to fill up one of the houses at the farthest extremity of tlie row. There was thus offered a long and narrow room, or series of rooms, which now I saw beyond possibility of doubt constituted the residence of this strange woman whom chance had sent me to address; and whom still stranger chance had thrown in contact with me even before my errand was begun! nU - l/v/tblnw ?. mu O umllo Hit. Ollf BlUUU luunius ill t? .... ting over her features, her stockinged foot extended, toe down, serving to balance her on her high-heeled single shoe. "Pardon, sir," she said, hesitating, as she held the sealed epistle in her hand. "You know me?perhaps you follow me ?I do not know. Tell me, are you a spy of that man Pakenham?" Her words and her tone startled me. I had supposed her bound to Sir Richard by ties of a certain sort. Her bluntness and independence puzzled me as much as her splendid beauty enraptured me. I tried to forget both. "Madam, I am spy of no man, unless I am such at order of my chief, John Calhoun, of the United States senate? perhaps, if madam pleases, soon of Mr. Tyler's cabinet." In answer, she turned, hobbled to a tiny marquetry table, and tossed the note down upon it, unopened. I waited patiently, looked about me meantime.) I discovered that the windows werei barred with narrow slats of Iron within, although covered with heavy draperies of amber silk. There was a double sheet of iron covering the door by J [ which we had entered. "Your cage, madam?" I inquired. "I do not blame England for making it J so secret and strong! If so lovely a "So/ill^' iron. mint. I should double the bars." The swift answer to my presumption came in the tlush of her cheek and her bitten Hp. She caught up the key from the table, and half motioned me to the door. But now I smiled in turn, and pointed to the unopened note on the table. "You will pardon me, madam," I went on. "Surely it is no disgrace to represent either England or America. They are not at war. Why should we be?" We gazed steadily at each other. The old servant had disappeared when at length her mistress chose to pick up my unregarded document. Deliberately she broke the seal and read. An instant later, her anger gone, she was laughing gaily. "See," saiu sue, ouooung over ?iw her mirth; "I pick up a stranger, who should say good-by at my curb: my apartments are forced; and this is what this stranger asks: that I shall go with him, tonight, alone, and otherwise unattended, to see a man, perhaps high in your government, but a stranger to me, at his own rooms?alone! Oh, la! la! Surely these Americans hold me high! "Assuredly we do, madam." I answered. "Will it please you to go in j your own carriage, or shall 1 return with one for you?" She put her hands behind her back, holding in them the opened message from my chief. "I am tired. 1 am bored. Your impudence amuses me; and your errand is not your fault. Come, sit down. You have been good to me. Before you go, 1 shall have some refreshment brought for you." I felt a sudden call upon my resources as I found myself in this singular situation. Here, indeed, more easily reached than I had dared hoped, was ttie woman in tlie case. Hut only half of my errand, the easier half, was done. To be Continued. AS TO CARRYING PISTOLS. Practice May Be Justified Under Certain Circumstances. "An art to regulate the sale and carrying of pistols. "Section 1. He it enacted by the <>*,> ti I anuumlill) ,,f tin. ulnto of SoUth Carolina: That from and after the first day of July. 1910. it shall be unlawful for anyone to carry about the person, whether concealed or not. any pistol less than twenty Inches Ions and three pounds in weight, and it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to manufacture, sell or offer for sale, lease, rent, barter, exchange or transport for sale into the state, any pistol of less length and weight. Any violation of this section shall be punished by a line of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisonment for not more than thirty (3ft) days; and in case of a sale by it person, firm or corporation, the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) shall be forfeited to and for the use of the school fund of the county wherein the vinhitinn hikes olace. to be nvovered as other fines and forfeitures: Provided, this act shall not apply to peace officers in the actual discharge of their duties, or to carrying or keeping of pistols by persons while on their own premises. In ease it shall appear to the satisfaction of the presiding judge or magistrate before whom such offence is tried that the defendant had good reason for fear of injury to his person or property, and carried said weapon to protect himself or property, he may. in his discretion. suspend sentence: Provided, nothing herein contained shall abridge the rights of self defense. "Section 2. That all acts or parts in conflict with this act lie. and the same are hereby, repealed. a >.i.i 11... in i, ,i.... ,.r tp..l.i-ii ary. A. I). X' Norway has a permanent pharmacopoeia commission, consisting of three proprietors of pharmacies and tliree professors of medicine. iUistcUancous ilriulini). ROOSEVELT AND THE POPE. A Big to Do About Not Much of Any thing. Rome, April 5.?The chief mater Is development in the Roosevelt-Vatlea Incident today was Mr. Roosevelt's n pudiation of an attempt of the Methr dist organization here to interpret h action as an indorsement of their worl The repudiation took the form of call I ing I'll a rectfJilUMi III mr iriMun.i . the American colony, which was t have been held tomorrow night at ti: embassy, and it resulted directly froi the issuance of a statement yesterda by the Rev. B. M. Tipple, pastor the American Methodist church i which he severely arraigned the Roma Catholic church. Mr. Roosevelt continues to deprecat in the most vigorous fashion the fierc religious tumult caused by the incider which he regards as personal to him self and continues entirely confider that his countrymen, Catholic as we as Protestant, when tne facts in tli case are clearly and dispassionate! examined, will sustain his position. When the Vatican statement, likenln the situation to what might occur i Germany, if he visited the Polisn Sep aratists after seeing the emperor, wa called to Mr. Roosevelt's attention h said: "If the German emperor should plao as a condition to an audience that should not see the Poles, I should mak a similar reply: 'Upon that conditio I shall be compelled to forego the pleas ure of an audience.' " A phase of the situation which i attracting more and more attentio here is the open disapproval of th Vatican's action expressed by numer ous Catholics. Tills is net confined t l.^men hut extends to the hierarch and even to the sacred college itseli home of the cardinal* have privatei expressed dissent trorn action wnic places the church in a position in an way hostile to Mr. Koosevelt. Catholics dwell oil the many evi dences of his friendsnip while he wa the occupant of the White House an declare emphatically that tile enure is being placed in a lalse position to wards the ex-president and Amerlci Responsibility generally is placed per sonally on the shoulders ot Carditis Merry del V'al, the papal secretary <j state. An eminent ecclesiastic is reporte to have said: "It is not the church, but the privat act of the Spanish secretary of *ftat against the colonel of the Rough Kid ers in Cuba." Merry del Val's father, formerly th Spanish ambassador to the vaticai who is now in Rome and who ofte complained of the haughty and boast ful attitude of the United States in th days of Spain's defeat, said to a friend "It seems providential that my so should be the man to humble a Yan kee president." Mr. Roosevelt has received man messages not only from friends in th United States, indorsing his action, bu from people throughout Europe, man of whom he does not know. Hundred of telegrams from both Catholics an Protestants in America, congratulatin him on his stand relative to the condi tions imposed by the Vatican, hav reached him, and this afternoon whe he returned to his hotel, he found a American priest, now located in Rom* who warmly felicitated him upon wha he had done, saying he believed tha American Catholics would indorse hi action. The ex-president, however, decline to give out any of these telegrams, o the ground that they would only serv to envenom tile controversy he seek to abate. King Victor Emmanuel visited Mi Roosevelt this morning and followin a pleasant social chat, they motored t the barracks of the Cuirassiers, wher they witnessed a series of manoeuvres In the afternoon, in company wit Prof. Jesse 13. Carter, director of th American School of Classical Study a Rome, he spent considerable time ex ploring the capitol forum. He was ex ceedingly enthusiastic, saying: "No man can inspect the institution of classic Rome without feeling that h is visiting the birthplace of civilizfi tion." Returning, he stopped at an antiqu jewelry store, which lie visited forty three years ago as a boy. The proprie tor searched the old register and foun Mr. Roosevelt's name. Signer Ferra, sovereign grand com niander of the supreme council. Ancien Scottish Rite, with a deputation calle at his ajiartnients and conferred upoi him a high Masonic title. Mr. Rouse velt delivered a brief speech, in wliic he expressed gratification at the hono and laid insistence upon the principle of brotherhood, liberty and toleranct which, he said, form the basis of reg ular Free Masonry throughout th world. Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt dined thi evening tit the British embassy as th guests of Sir J. Rentiell Rodd. Tomnr row they will have lunch with (Jug lielmti Ferrero. the historian, and ii the evening Mr. Roosevelt will be th guest of honor at the municipality din ner. The party will leave at inidnigh Wednesday for Spe/.ia. MOUNT ETNA'S ACTIVITIES. Last Important Eruption of the Vol cano Was In 1S07. Mount Etna, the famous volenti which recently broke out again in ; violent state of eruption, is the grand est of European volcanoes and has ; well earned reputation for destruetiv outbursts. More than a hundred erup tions of more or less violence are re corded in its history. It has been bail up by ages of intense activity on i colossal scale, covering a larger are; than Vesuvius and at times exceedinj the latter in the volume of its lav; discharges. In tile long eruption of l.XT>2 and lNii Mount Etna ejected a torrent of lav; six miles long and from one to twi miles broad. On July 27. 1X92, im mense masses oQ rock were projectei out of the volcano to a great heighl and dense clouds overhung the nimin tain, while the subterranean rum blings were intense, and the disturb anee continued to the second week o August, with a steady increase in th flow of lava. Mount Etna's last important eruptioi was in May. 1907, and was coupled with an eruption of Strnmboli. New craters - opened in both mountains, and the ob- Co servatories of Messina and Catania registered earthquakes. Smoke and flames issuing from the main crater be of Mount Etna were visible for a long th< tl distance, and there was great alarm pit n among the people inhabiting the vil- thi lages in the luxuriant zone around the Ta mountain. all ls Mr. Frank A. Perrett, assistant dlrec- re; ^ tor of the Royal observatory on Mount m< I' Vesuvius, visited Mount Etna on this an , occasion and witnessed the eruption, of if ,n which he had predicted for the end of ed je April. There were continued loud ex- De n plosions and earth shocks which were Mi especially severe at the Etna observa- ch ^ tory. This building is situated at an Nc n elevation of 9,000 feet and is only 1.700 foi feet from the crater. eel Mount Etna Is situated close to the ex east coast of Sicily. It is an almost Ali e circular flattened cone and rises to an of (t altitude of 10,7fi0 feet. The mountain Ru is dotted over with large secondary Mi cones. Its lower slopes are exception- of jl ally fertile, well cultivated and dense- Cu _ ly Inhabited, but above 7,000 feet all is Ye black and barren. Eruptions take wa place on an average after intervals of Te four or five years. The most destruc- Ne " five outbreaks were those of 1109, 1069, Lo " 1693, 1792, 1S79, 1886 and 1892. vai Ve s 1 umi/ a rACuinn cta DTcn of p nu? n rnaniwii a i nn lu. Ta e Queen Marie Antoinette and the Oiplo- Ml I matic Hair Dresser. an e At the end of the year 1781 Leon- an n nrd. hairdresser to Queeoi Marie An- stJI i. tionette. was confronted by an alarm- s,a Ing situation; her majesty's hair was * s falling out. and with the fulfillment de n of this dread event would fall his tye credit. But with his native "Gascon on . quickness"?as I^eonard puts it in his th< o Recollections?he proceeded to savp his mf y reputation. r. "Madame." said he one day to the y queen, when he saw that the fall of Be h her hair was imminent, "the high als y headdress Is becoming very common; wl It Is long since the bourgeoisie has cai - taken possession of it and now it Is del o the turn of the common people." be< d "Good gracious. Leonard, what are to n you telling me? Do you know It th< - grieves me to hear it? Those head- trc i. dresses were so becoming to me!" las "And what headdress would not be- De d come your majesty? * * I have in carefully thought olver a total revolu- cai tion In your majesty's headdress. I tlo d have even had your portrait drawn ide with the new arrangement I have In Oh e view, and. as I expected, my august tw e sovereign by adopting my innovation ' . would be made younger by six or sev- pli em years." Go e "Do you mean it Leonard? The do lt headdress you have in mind would lig n make me look younger?" th< "I do not see what your majesty hlr e could gain in that, for many women ha: ; of the court would take on years to ev< n resemble the queen of France." on "Oh. I do not deceive myself, Leon- pi I ard, I shall soon be 27, and at that thi y age, a style which makes one look crc younger is always favorably receiv- wi lt ed." ' Co y "Well, madame," Leonard contlnu- ma s ed quickly, while placing a miniature of j before her majesty's eyes, "see this we g portrait is a striking resemblance, as * * It Is your majesty, but ten years ha, e younger." sqi n "What do I see! The hair cut a few the n inches from the head?" his "Yes, madame, it will be, if you toe ! are pleased to consent to It, a coiffure or a l'enfant, and you will see it taken art 1 up with as much enthusiasm as all , s those that I have created for your majesty." Bu "You are right, Leonard; it is 1st! s charming! In truth I am but 18 with ^Vt n my hair dressed like that. * * *But . e to sacrifice my beautiful hair!" s "Your majesty will have the satis- res faction of seeing all the ladies of the jn court, all the ladies of France, sacrl- so. r. flee theirs." raj g "But if the style changes?" t?e, "Who would dare to adopt a new a ; one without your majesty having doi e first set the example? If some ambi- ing <. tious hairdresser amid the myriad of tht I, weaklings which swarm in Paris should dare undertake such a change , e I would have him reduced to atoms t by the Journal des Dames; he would . be a ruined man." err "But I prize my hair very much," on' said the queen with an air of heslta tion. still looking at the portrait. * * " s Yet 1 am dying to have my hair dressed P?' e a l'enfant." "Well, madame. since T have been so fortunate as to find a style which ca' pleases your majesty I must tell you e all. For the last two weeks my waklng hours haive been devoted to the service of my sovereign in the at- ~u' * tempt to make an agreeable thing of e) d an imperative necessity." ",a "What do you mean, Leonard?" "ul "Your majesty was saying a little Pr< while ago that she prized her hair, 'e1' t and I can easily understand it; but ' d unfortunately her hair does not prize ^01 n her. Before fifteen days it will have entirely fallen out if this very day we do not apply the infallible scish sors." cn< r "What's that you say?" exclaimed c"' the queen with veritable fright. ^ "The least painful of truths, ma ' dame, since what I propose to your " - majesty while forestalling a great t"1*' e misfortune is entirely to her taste." SXVl "Come, Leonard, no more deliber- er atlon: out it. but do not cut it too or" s short." at' e "Just enough, madame, to give back ('if to the roots of the hall* the vigor It ?* was beginning to lose." The queen's beautiful hair fell un- "e' n der Leonard's regenerating scissors p and two weeks afterward all the ladies of the court had their hair dress- fro ed a I'enfant. t Let no one say that there is no di- wjj plomacy outside the king's cabinet: it is at the bottom of all human, com- fo,J binations.?Youth's Companion. . me a h Rice Sown By an Emperor.?The cul- jze: " tivation of rice extends back into the pul dint past, suvs the London Journal of ty". pri o Commerce, and there are no authentic sjr a records as to when it first began. Evi- tail - dence points, however, to the Chinese a having been among tlie earliest people e to cultivate it. and such great value Har - was attached to it that in the annual bet -? ..? i ? oin CTITtMIUUI lit I 111^ Ul lUlll (ilUllin, t inaugurated by the Kmperor Chln-nong re_ 1 so far back in tIn* past as 2800 H. C. Tai a tin- rice had to be sown only by the ir emperor himself, while the four other xv" pre it plants of the ceremony might be sown nrs by tile princes of his family. In In- hir 2 ilia rice has been cultivated from time a immemorial. It was introduced at an ?] a early period into Syria, Kgypt, and pli< - other parts of northern Africa. In Set il more modern times rice has spread into ||? t, Spain, France and Italy, the first cul- rjp - tivation in the last named country bp- Ch; - ing stated to have been near Pisa in ^a< - 146S. The plant is believed to have on f been introduced into America in 1647 the e when Sir William Berkeley raised a the crop of sixteen bushels from half a ,u^ n bushel of seed. Iar THE ELECTIONS OF 1910. nditions That Make THem of Especial Importance to the Public. The fjeneral elections of 1910 will of especial importance because py will furnish the American peoi the first opportunity to pass on e Payne-Aldrich tariff bill and the 111 ituiiiiiuniuuKMi. i>??i <>m> air the members of the house of repMffitatlves to be chosen, but thirty ?mbers of the United States senate d thirty-two governors. In the case ihe senators three halve been electalready?Williams of Mississippi, miel of Virginia and Kayner of dryland. The legislature which ooses a successor to McCumber of irth Dakota also elects a senator r the short term in place of Pur11. The other senators whose terms pi re with the present congress are ilrich of Rhode Island, Reverldge Indiana, Bulkeley of Connecticut, irkett of Nebraska, Burrows of chigan, Cartw of Montana. Clapp Minnesota. Clark of Wyoming, lberson of Texas, Depew of New irk. Dick of Ohio, Du Pont of Delate, Flint of California, Frazler of nnessee. Hale of Maine. Kean of w Jersey, La Follette of Wisconsin, dge of Massachusetts, Nixon of Ne na, unver or Pennsylvania, page or rmont. Files of Washington, Scott West Virginia, Sutherland of Utah, llaferro of Florida and Warner of ssourl. Since three of the senators ? elected already and McCumber d Purcell come from the same it<\ there are only twenty-seven ites to name senators before March next. It Is an Interesting coinclnce that there are also just twenseven states that elect governors Nov. 8, as fih-e of them choose ?lr chief executives a month or >re earlier. First Gun of 1912. rhe storm center will be In Ohio. Ing the president's own state and 10 the home of Governor Harmon, 10, If re-elected, will be a leading adidate for the Democratic preslntial nomination, the Ohio contest lomes the preliminary engagement the general battle of 1912. While i state Is normally Republican by ?m 50,000 to 100,000 plurality, the t two governors It elected wenmocrats, and Harmon had 19,372 a presidential year, although Taft rled the state by 69,591. In addin to the state ticket and the presintal stake In the governorship, ilo also elects one senator and enty-one congressmen, rhe Ohio situation has been concated by the graft exposures. As vernor Harmon has had much to with bringing the crookedness to ht and he has favored economy, } natural effect would be to help n before the people. Of late this s been somewhat neutralized, howjr, by President Taft's Insistence a thorough Investigation. The comcatlon is augmented by the fact at Harmon has opposed the Demo. I mnohino Inat <iq ProaMunt Tnft Hit' iliatillilC, JUOl UU A IV0IUVtlk A ?.? %, lile secretary of war, opposed Boss x of the Clnclnratl Republican ichlne. The result of all this and other things Is that party lines re neiver so loosely drawn in Ohio at this time. The Buckeye state s always had more politics to the lare inch than any other state in i Union, and partisan feeling ran fh. The condition is past. Ohio lay is full of independent voters, at least of nominal party men who i willing to kick out of the traces, rhe importance placed on the ckeye fight by the national adminration Is shown by the fact that ide H. Ellis was sent out to take lrge of the Republican campaign, tigning a well paying Federal job the attorney general's office to do When a man is wiling to sepa:e himself from a lucrative office to nVtaii-man nt nnthine UII1C u aiaic v,uau ii.u.i ?v ? /tsar It is a sign that something is ing. The administration denies hav; sent Ellis; but, anyway, Ellis is ?re, however he got to it. Looking For a Standard Bearer. There are seweral candidates for ; Republican nomination for govlor. The first in the field and the a that has the largest concrete suprt is Former Lieutenant Governor trren G. Harding, who intersperses litics with editing a newspaper. At ; time of an Ohio conference in ishington, A. L. Garford, a Buckeye pitalist, came on and was dined at ; White House. The statement was ?n made that Garford was the adnistration candidate for governor, t since that time little has been ird of him. Representative Nichs Longworth was also mentioned, t he blushingly waved aside the iffered crown, saying that he prered to remain in congress. Recently a new Richmond has '? in tKo no rcnn (if lie IIllO lUC llflU III HI*, nes R. Garfleld. Now, the name Garfield is one to conjure with in io. There are any number of old ips in the state who voted and ?ered for James A. Garfield thiryears ago, and there is an affec11 for the son because of the fathThen the Roosevelt men?and Buckeye woods are full of them? ear by Jimmie Garfield, the formpresident's cabinet officer and bosfriend. It would be a novel situon if the man who is standing by ford Pinchot and who was kept out the Taft cabinet, according to sworn timony, by the AIorgan-Gugifemm Alaska coal interests, should sv be called upon as the one availe man to save the administration m defeat in the president's own te. Yet that would be the light in ich the country at large would intably regard Garfield's nomination governor of Ohio. Personally Governor Harmon is imnsely popular, and that it will take lard fight to beat him nobody reals more keenly than the Ohio Reblicans themselves. Although sixfour years old, Harmon is in the mo of his (vigor and has a virile, aightforward, Democratic way that ;es with the people. The careers Harmon and Taft have been interngled in peculiar ways. They were 11 in the same county, live in the ne city, were judges on the same ich. and both have been cabinet cers. It would be a strange addinal chapter if Harmon should be elected and he and his old friend rt should be the opposing candi Ihn ,.r., alilnrinv In 1(119 Tf I be recalled that Harmon recently >sided over the house of governand that President Taft spoke of n most cordially when that body led to pay its respects at the White use. The Ohio situation is further combated by the senatorial contest. iator Dick is a candidate for rection and Is demanding a primary, rry Daugherty and Myron T. Herk are in the Held against him. and arles P. Taft Is lurking in the 'kground. There is bitter opposite to Dick, and the light is taking an aspect which is encouraging t Democrats to battle not only for governorship, but for the legislate. rhe situation in New York is slmlto that in Ohio, except that there is not so much presidential politics and there Is no Democratic governor. Conditions in the Empire state are complicated by the candidacy of Senator Depew for re-election, against whom there is strong opposition; also by the Allds bribery charges In the state senate and by the refusal of Governor Hughes to be a candidate for re-election. It is generally believed In New York that Democratic chances would be bright this year were it not for the fact that the minority party is torn by factional fights and that In some other ways It is not In the best condition to take adtvantage of the situation. At present the atmosphere is not sufficiently clarified to make a prediction. Senator Beverldge Is fighting for his political life in Indiana, where the governor, the legislature and nearly all the congressmen are at present Democratic, Practically the same situation confronts Senator Burkett in Nebraska. Burkett himself believes that William J. Bryan is a receptive candidate for his seat. The situation of Senator Thomas H. Carter in Montana is a little better, although the state has a Democratic governor and there are but two Republican majority on Joint ballot In the legislature. Another state with a Democratic governor and in which not only one but two senators are at stake is North Dakota. The present North Dakota legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. In Nevada, where the seat of Senator Nixon (Republican) is at stake, the governor and legislature are Democratic. One of the hottest tights of the yeftir will be made in Missouri, where the Democrats will try to regain the seat now held by Senator Warner (Republican). Ex-Governor Francis has announced himself as a candidate for the Democrats, and it is possible that ex-Governor Folk, who ran in the primaries against Senator Stone, may also enter the lists. Governor Hadley has recently charged that Stone beat Folk in the primaries by fraud. The situation in little Delaware, where Senator Du Pont is a candidate for re-election, is unsettled. There is opposition to Du Pont in his own party, it being charged that he used too much money in his last election. Fighting the Senate Machine. One of the marked signs of the year is the appearance of insurgent aspirants against the old stand pat leaders in the senate. No one has yet entered the lists against Senator Aldrich in Rhode Island, but Judge Frederick A. Powers is in the field to beat Eugene Hale of Maine; Repre sciuauvc Duucr axucs xo luuivuig iui the seat of Henry Cabot Lodge in Massachusetts, Representative W. P. Hubbard is after the scalp of Nathan Bay Scott in West Virginia, and Representative Charles E. Townsend has thrown down the glove to Julius Caesar Burrows of Michigan. Aside from Senator Beveridge, two insurgent senators are up for re-election?La Follette of Wisconsin, who will doubtless meet the usual opposition, and Clapp of Minnesota, against whom Frank B. Kellogg, the antitrust attorney, has announced himself a candidate. One of the peculiarities of the senatorial situation is that out of the twenty-seven members of the upper house yet to be elected, or twenty-eight including the successor to Purcell of North Dakota, only four of those to be replaced are Democrats, and all of these, excepting Purcell, are certain to be replaced by men of their own political faith. There is a rumor that one of the number, Frazier of Tennessee, may give way to Secretary of War Dickinson; but, although a member of the Taft cabinet, Dickinson classes himself as a Democrat. The present Republican majority in the senate is twenty-four. A change of thirteen would therefore make the body Democratic, or, granting the loss of Purcell, fourteen. Is there any chance of Democrats defeating fourteen of the twenty-four Republicans who are up for election? As already pointed out, Indiana, Nebraska, Montana, New York, Ohio, Delaware, Nevada and Missouri are uncertain states and each of these has a Republican senator whose seat will be to fill. Even if the Democrats carried all of them, however, they would still be six short of enough. The probability therefore, is that the Republicans will control the next senate, but by a reduced majority, which may give the Insurgents the balance of power. Cannon Out of It. As for the house, the present Re publican majority la nrty-six. At leaai twesity-nine Democratic grains would be necessary to control the body. It Is Impossible to make a house forecast by states and equally hopeless to do It at this time by individual districts. The only way of judging: of the future political complexion of the house must be on the basis of the general drift of the country. The one significant fact Is that the Democrats make confident claims and at least some of the Republicans are pessimistic. This is hardly a safe criterion, however, as past elections, have shown. Sometimes the man who is scared is the one who puts up the beat fight and wins out. The only prediction that can be made with confidence at this time is that Joseph G. Cannon will not be the speaker of the next house. Taken all in all this will be one of the most important off year elections the United States has known. The tariff, high prices, the Taft administration, the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy, the Insurgent movement, Aldrlchism and Cannonism and, in some states, graft exposures will enter into the canvass. Party lines will be faint in spots, but popular interest will not be lews because of that welcome fact.?James A. Edgerton for American Press Association. FRIENDLY ADVICE. Josh Billings' Parting Shot to a Cheeky Drummer. About Christmas time once the some time famous Josh Billings, humorist, was on his way to his old home at Lanesboro, Mass. On the train were three traveling men who wanted a game of whist. One of them pointed to unpretentious and unprepossesing Josn and said: "Let's ask Rube into the game and comb some of the hayseed out of his hair." "My venerable friend," he said as he laid his hand on the shoulder of the old man, "will you join us in a game of whist?" "Ya-as; we will get there in about three hours," replied Josh, putting his hand on nis ear. "You don't seem to understand," said the young fellow in a louder tone. "We want you to take a hand"? "Ya-as; the stand o" corn has been unusual good this year." "My friend," the young fellow then yelled, "will you take a hand in a game?" "Ya-as; I was tellin' Mandy this mornin* how plenty an' how fat the game is this year." "Oh, you go to the devil!" shouted the young fellow as he took his seat, while the other drummers unmercifully pestered him. When Lanesboro was reached the old fellow got up, handed one of his Josh Hillings cards to each one of the trio unci uifii *?iin i?? iii* nut-1 nn uiwi . "Young man, while you are traveling on your cheek don't get any hayseed on your clothes or the other drummers will take you for a Rube and get you into some game and skin you."?Pittsburg Dispatch.