Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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k drkaji A.\l) its UONSEtyUBNCBS. By Rev. charles M. sheldon. Author uf "In liu Step*," "The VtvcijUion o/ Hli'Mp Strxnm." "yialcom ICUrlh" ?.1?. ?&>Vjrigh>. 1900. by Advnue* I'obltshUtf Co.] en xv l un i\. Mr. Hardy looked at his son sternly, standing at Hie little distance off he hud recoiled after that liest reeogui tiou uf the boy. It would he difficult describe his emotions, lie hud nev er been an affectionate father to his buys, lie had generally given them money when limy asked for it and had not questioned IIU'Ui tt ho lit Its use. lie was not familiar with ins older sou's luihlts ami onlj wit hin the last few days had he UtlOWll that he was what the age popularly designates as "fast." lie bad never made a eom panlon of his sou Me had not grown up With hi in, so thai now as ho faced hiii: uinler the strange circumstances that had brought them together he was actually at a loss to know what to do or s: y. The thougbt that his son was guilty of a crime which might put him be hind prison bars did n >t yet occur to his mind. He was only conscious of a great longing to get back home and there have a thorough talk with his hoy In the hope uf winning him to bet ter things. Hut he must say something to Qeorge. The police officer stared lu wonder after the Urst startled cry of "Father!" on the part of the young man, hut he did not loosen his hold on him. lie took tin extra twist in the coat collar of his captive and looked sharply at Mr. Hardy as ninth as to say, "Ho may be your son. but he's my victim, and I mean to keep u good clutch uu him." George was the first to speak: "Father, you know I wouldn't do Stich n thing really. We were only out for a little fun. We didn't know you. of course. We dldu't mean any real harm. We were onl- fooliug." "It was dangerous fooling," replied his father. He still stood apart from the hoy and spoke quietly, but his face was pale, and his heart was wrung with torturo for his firstborn. Ah, how careless of him ho had been! How little companionship the two had had! How very little help the boy had received from the man! Now, believing that only four more, days lay before him to use to the glory of God, Robert Hardy felt the sting of that bitterest of all bitter feelings, use less regret, the regret 'hat does not car ry with it any hope of redeeming a self lull past. After his father had spoken George sullenly remained silent. Mr. Hardy bowed his head ami seemed thinking. The ofllecr. who bad In en waiting for another move on the part of the older loan, said: "Well. WC must bo moving ou. It's wanner In the lockup than our here. .So come along, young fellow, and do your talking tomorrow morning with the rest of the drunks and disorder lies." ".Stop!" cried Robert Hardy. ??This ja my son! l>o you understand? What are you going to do?" "Well, governor, that's a pretty ques tion at this time of day. Do! I'm go lug to Jug him for assault with intent to commit highway robbery. It's an affair for the ?pen,' I can tell you.'" "But you heard him say it was all a Joke." "A pretty Joke to try to hold a man up on the highway ami demand his money! Oil, no! That's carrying n Joke too far. I'm bound to obey or ders. We've been after this gang of young chaps for a month now." "But, officer, you don't understand! This Is my son!" "Well, what of that? Don't, we Jug sons every day for some deviltry or other? Do you suppose you are the only father whose son is going to the devil?" "O God, no!" cried Mr. Hardy, with midden passion. "But this is my older boy. It would kill his mother to have 111 in arrested and put in jail for trying to rob his own father. Yet he was once innocent ? What am I saying? He might he now If I had done my duty." Mr, Hardy confronted the officer with a certain sorrowful dlpnlty which even that hardened defender of the law understood. "Officer, let the boy go. I will answer for It If any Name falls on you for it.' my ton!" He was not at fault In this mailer. He was not the one who assaulted me. Ho did not touch me. You could not get a particle of testimony against him. And. besides that, ll Is necessary that ho re turn with 100. This is a case for the law of God. This belongs to a higher' court." The officer hesitated] Mr. Hardy step ped nearer his son. "George," ho said uh if forgetting for a moment that the officer wan presen? "did you know that Clara und Bess and Will were lu the accident last night?" George turned palo and troinillnjdy replied: "No, fatlier. Were they hurt? Whs Bess"- - / The boy seemed movod as hiy father lia<l not J et seen hint. "No; they were not- that %, Bess was not hurt at all. But Will was se verely bruised, and Clara sllfl lies iU a siate of stupor or uuconsciousuess, and we 'I" 00( know what the end will be. I was on my way just n,,w to yet some needed articles from the doctor's house. You must come hack with me. The law has nr> hold on you.'; "Maybe the law hasn't adv hold on him, but Michael Flnnerty blas. 1 don't just like the Idea, mister tkan, <>f lot tin;; the boy go yet," repllefi flu- stub born and unusually dutiful officer. Mr. Hardy began to appeal to tho man's love of his own children. It did not seem to move him lu the least until be mentioned the fact that It was cruelty to keep the suffering girl at home waiting for her fader's return. Flnnerty dually loosened his hold on George and said slowly and painfully: ' \\ul it' I lose me job 111 be knowing Avho was to blame for it. I always told Michnel Flnnerty that ho was too noft hearted to go on thi> force!" "Yon won't sillier, oflloer. Many tbanksl Come, George." And father and son moved off to gether, while dir? defender of the law stooil Irresolute, watering them disap pear through die storm and muttering to himself: "I'm n g?jft hearted fool. 1 ought to 'a' been bdjrn a female hos pital nurse, t had." During that walk Hardy had gone tor's with Georg? chanted. The stor The two walked a I when George walk home he turned an. s face for he that was fat he heart soul. Mr. Hardy had experience. No o heart had he bad endured Gi.'ll of It w:;< stain face, and he km it to his grave Mrs. Hardy BtOll'S as tin George turned out her arms, "My hey: \ so anxious ah What, ihm i rebuke, of on been doing ail had boon sufl Ah. mothel derful thing of ?iod for for 1; is i!i.' self throng temple (if i! <!eorg< going up tf against in nho'ir hire no QUestH lencc h of Borrow and she explanat\ of the lome, after Mr. hid by the doe a woi'd was ex was increasing. In silence, but Into the hall at a look on Ids him to the C a hardened [?/oars In that ll tell how his by what he but the mark ?ideally on his he would bear running down line in. ami as ? d her she held We hnVC been i. of li.nl moil i<i re prone ..? w ha i b< ? Unit the family UOt one word. Is the most won lioxl to the lovo 11 Is even that, id expressing it w ho Is 1he It WOI lng befr to the lng neri,ss he had ROn the night li| throughout Influcnfce i tear and then, mother, laid bis cheek d she folded her arms ?vi-?'? r? Pttlo nitd asked id after s moment's sl icred out n few words invlug caused her jiain, Uy nceopted his broken how In' had no! known t to Clara and tho others, he had gone out tho evon llly intending to go down f the nccldom; i?it. eom nie of his old companions, Off with them and spent a disgraceful carouse and the day had been under the liquor more or less, dimly conscious /that a great disaster had happe110d ' down the road, but not sober/enoAigh to realize its details or Its pojssllJle connection with those of his oivn Home. Tbfc BUflden meeting with his father bad btar?ed hi in out of the drowsy lu tOXl?ati(/n he had fallen into as tho day I progressed. Now, as he felt his mot tier'H arms around hi 111 and tcall/ed n bltle what the family had been call ed Jiipon to endure, be felt the shame and disgrace of his own conduct. Mir. Hardy went up stairs and con suited with the doctor, who wondered at I his protracted absence. There was nol change In Clara yet. She lay In a colnditiou which could not bo called a trjance nor a sleep. She <lid not seem t?l be In any great pain, but she was Ujnconsclous of all outside conditions. I After a little talk with his mother (Jleorgo came up and Inquired after ytCSS and Will. They were both sleep ?ln>;, and after the doctor had gone out Ahe father and mother and son nat ?down together in the room where Clara U Mr. Hardy did not say a word to ? George about the Incident of the even I ing. The shame of it was too great I yet. When men of Mr. Hardy's aclf U contalnod, repressed, proud nature are l pained, It Is with an Intens? Inward ?gbA^. of passion that cannot bear to ?k out into words. PPHFL ge bad sense to offer to frolieM j,|s parents of the burden of wat?.ing during the night, and dining (hdl)xcliange of watchers along toward in?Bliing, as Mrs. Hardy slipped Into 1 bfWt'ooiu to rollOVC the lioy, she found ?'JMi kneeling down at a couch with >m face burled In tho cushions. She flsed her face in thanksgiving to (Jod ?d went softly out. ?The morning dawned gray with snow I'hlcJi still whirled In wreaths about fho borrowing homes of Barton, but Itobevt Hardy thought of the merciful covering It would make for tho ghast ly pllt s of ruin down tinder the bridge and aiong tho banks of the river. iid to himself: "This is my How can I best spend It? shall I do?" He kneeled and nnd rose somewhat refreshed, forenoon went rapldlj by, nnd le knew It noon was nenr. Tho id passed In watching Clara, with Bess and Will and dolug cessary work for the company ttle otlloe down stairs. He did like saying anything to Georgo Ho fourth', da What praye The before time 1 vlsitln some n In his 1 not tffil yet. James first thl his own before, it, and a for his o touch hin' to the lig A little up, and It tho shops CftXton had been In, nnd the g ho had mentioned bad been net In the meeting the night Mr. Hardy thanked God for prayer went out of his heart n sou, that the Spirit might In his sin nnd bring him In? t of Christ, after noon the storm cleared bcrt prepared to go down to Clara had not yot come out Tho doctor bad called about l o'clock und entered bis office at the shop, hoping us he wont lu that ho would have n<> trouble with the tuen. Mr. Burns reported everything nulet, and the manager, with a sigh or relief, proceeded with the routine duties ot the business. Nothing of any speclnl interest occurred through the after noon. The storm had ceased entirely, and the sun had come out clear and warm. People were clearing off the walke, and the ringing of sleigh hells was distinct In the office, even over the Incessant hum of the big engine. Toward 3 o'clock one of Mr. Hardy's old friends, officer of the road, camo In and said there was a general move ment on foot through Barton to hold a monster muss meeting in the town hall for the benefit of the sufferers, both In the raiiroad accident and In the explo sion of the Sunday before In the shops. It was true the company would settlo for damages, but in many eases through Barton the adjustment of claims would not be made until much suffering and hardship had been en dured. There was n common feeling on the part of the townspeople that n moot ing for public conference would result In much good, and there was also, as has been the ease in other largo hor rors, a craving to relieve tin? strain of feeling by public gathering and con sultation. "Can you come out to the meeting, Hardy?" asked bis friend. Mr. Hardy thought a minute and re plied, "Yes; I think 1 can." Already an Idea hud taken shape In bis mind which he could not help feeling was Inspired by God. "Might be a good thing If you could come prepared to make some remarks. I find there is a disposition on the part of the public to charge the road with carelessness and mismanagement." "I'll say a word or two," replied Mr. Hardy, and after a brief talk on busi ness matters his frlcud wont out. Hubert limned lately sai down to his desk, and for no hour. Interrupted on ly by an occasional Item of business bronchi to him by his scerelnry, be Jot ted down copious notes. The thought which had come to him when his friend suggested Hie meeting was this: He would go and utter a message that burned \\ .>'\[u him. a message which the events of the past few days made Imperative should he uttered. Ho went homo absorbed In Hie great idea. He had once lu his younger days beim fa mous for his skill iu Achate. He had no fear of his power to deliver a mes sage of lift} at the present crisis in his own. He at once spoke of the moot ing to his wife. "Mary, what do you say? I know ev ery minute Is precious. I owe to you and these dear ones at homo a very sacred duty, but no less, it seems to me. is my duty to the society where 1 have lived all those years, doing literal ly nothing for its uplift toward God, who gave us all life and power, I feel as if he Would put n message into my mouth that would prove a blessing to this community. It seems to me this special opportunity Is providential." "Robert," replied his wife, smiling at hiin through happy tears, "It is the will of God. Do your duty as ho makes it clear to yon." It hail been an agitating week to the wife, she anticipated its close with a feeling akin to tenor. What would the end be? She was compelled to say to herself that her husband was not insane, but the thought that he was really to he called out of the world iu some mysterious manner at the end of the rapidly approaching Sunday had several times come over her with a power that threatened her own reason. Nevertheless the week so fur, iu spite of its terror and agitation, had a sweel Joy for her. Her husband hud come bind; to her, the lover as he once had been, only with the added tender ness of all the years of their compan ionship. She thanked the Father for It, and when the hour camo for Hoh eit to go down to the meeting she blessed him and prayed heaven to make his words to the people h*. words of < iod. "rather, what do you want mo to do? Shall I slay here?" asked George, who had not stirred out of the house all day. lie h:ul watched by Clara faithfully. She was still iu that mys terious condition of unconsciousness which made her ease so jm/./.ling to the doctor. Mr. Hardy hesitated a moment, theu said: "No, George. I would like to have you go with me. Alice can do all that Is necessary Hut let us all pray together now before we go out Tho Lord Is leading us mysteriously, but we shall some lime know the reason wbj." So in the room where Clara lay they all kneeled down except Will, who lay upon a lounge near his unconscious sister. Mr. Hardy as he clasped his wife's hand In bis owu poured out his soul in Ibis petition: "Dear Lord, we know thou dost love us, even thong' WO cannot always know why thou ?lost allow suffering and trouble, and we would thank theo for the things that cannot bo destroy ed, for the loves that cannot suffer death, for the wonderful promises of the life to come. Only wo have been so careless of the things that belong to thy kingdom. We have been so selfish and forgetful of the great needs and sufferings and sins of earth. Pardon us, gracious Redeemer. Pardon me, for 1 a in the chief offender. Yea, Ix>rd, even as the robber on the cross was welcotuod Into paradise, welcome thou me. Hut we pray for our dear ones. May they recover. Make this beloved one who now lies unknowing among us to come back Into the universe of sense and sound, to know us and smile upon us again. "We say, 'Thy will be done.' Grand wisdom, for thou knowest best. Only our hearts will cry out for help, and thou knowest our hearts bettor than any one else. I Hess me this night as I stand before the people. This is no selfish prayer, dear Lord. I desire only thy glory; I piny only for thy kingdom. Rut thou hast appointed my days to live. Thou host sent me the message, and I cnunot help feeling the solemn burden and J03' of It. "I will say to tho people that thou art most Important of all in this habi tation of the flesh. And now bless ns all. Give ns new hearts. Make ns to ?teel the true meaning of oxittsnee give all (lie past and make Impossible 1 In tbe children tho mistakes of the par rnt. Deliver us from evil, and thine Khali be tho kingdom forever. Amen." When Mr. Hardy and George reach ed tho town hall, they found a large crowd gathering. They had some dllll culty lu gaining Ctltrnuce. Mr. Hardy at once passed up to the platform, where the chairman of the meeting greeted him and said he would expect him to make some remarks during tho evening. Robert sal down at one end of the platform and watched the hall till with people, nearly all well kuown to him. There was an unusually largo crowd of boys and young men. besides a huge gathering of his own men from the shops, together with a great number of citizens and business men, a repre sentative audience for the place, brought together under the Influence of the disaster and feeling .somewhat the breaking down of artificial social distinctions in the presence of the grim leveler Death, who bail come so near to til em the last few days. There were the usual opening exer cises common to such public gather lugs. Several well known business men and two or three of the ministers, including Mr. Jones, made appropriate addresses. Tho attention of the great audience was not labored for, the oc casion Itself being enough to throw j over the people the spell of subdued I quiet. When the chairman announced that "Mr. Robert Hardy, our well known railroad manager, will now address us," there was a movement of curlosi- \ ty and some surprise, and many a man leaned forward and wondered In his heart what the wealthy railroad man would have to say on such an occasion. Ho had never appeared as a speaker In public, and he passed generally In Barton for tho cold, selfish, haughty man he bail always been. [to be co is tin uid. f WtUATHKK AND CHOI' HKPOIIT. Wei kly Bulletin of tho Weather liu ruau for South Carolina. The wet k en.lie;,' Monday, May 7th, was slightly cooler than tiie previous oi.i!. with low night temperatures after bho 3d, causing light frosts in portions of Greenville auil Spartanburg coun ties, but without doing any percoptible damage except to young cotton, mid slightly checking the growth of tender vege atlon. There were numerous light,scattered showers, generally eon flood to the. middle und lower Savannah valley, and along the immediate coast. These shower? were bonetlolal, und a warm rala is needed over the eutlro State to soften the ground, which in cluy lands is becoming baked and hard, to hasten tho germination of recently planted set ds, and to supply moisture to wheat and oat.- while heading and blooming. Damaging ball occurred In Abbeville County. Planted fields Aro becoming grassy, and stand in ueoo ?>' cultivation, which ha< begun where corn anil cotton are largo euough. Bottom lands aro just becoming dry enough to begin it; pre pare tbem for planting. Cu e is coming to generally good stands, ami cultivation has muii? con siderable progress. Ower tho western portions ol the Statu vory little corn has been planted, be Inj; defo.rud until cotton is an planted. Cot worms .on! crows are very troublesome on bottom lat da. necessitating much replanting. Cotton planting made rapid progress due ig the week, ami. where least ad var ed Is rrom ban to two thirds ii.i i:. d. ICarly plantings are up to fair stands, but the recent cool nights aro very Injurious, causing some cotton to die. Lands are not all prepared for COttOU. Chopping out la woll unih r way. li^st on wheat has become quite gen* oral and is spreading. The crop is iu many places less promising than here tofore, having been apparently Injured by tho excessive rainfall of April. Oats have unproved. Both crops are. head ing. i'bo bulk of il.t: tobacco crop has been transplanted, and the work Is nearly finished. The.ro was do scar city of plants, < xcepl at a few points. K'-'o wus badly damaged In the George town dlstriol?, by high water, out to what extent cannot now bo estimated. Appie and near trees are blighting ?mo'y; some peaches dropped) hut trough remain !o mukc a full crop; wild berries are abundant. Sugarcane, sorghum and melons have come, up to good stand.-;, tho latter beginning to run to vine. Swift potato slips plentiful in beds, but few bave been transplanted. White potatoes doing well, but bugs am very numerous. Large truck sblpmonto being made. a stkan?k Story.?-Howard a. Sav.iie. who disappeared from Glon C< rJter, Mass.. sixteen years ago and who Is now notlilcd thwt a fortune of $20,000 awaits him III his native State, ha'.t been located In K uishs City. Since his de tarturo from Gloucester his wife collected his insurance and remarried, and ho has takoo another wife. Com menting on hi., strange story, be said : "1 left, Glouciotrr sixteen years ago and went to Cincinnati, whore a severe operation was performed upon mo for C-iUCer, I '.hen wont to Arkan sas b'or eieve.n years I w.ts postmaster at Simpson, A>*k.. In Bradley county. I have bet n iu Itigors only about two yeats and I ant in business then'. I suppose that the operatioo started the report that i was dead. A* to my first wife'.- h Hairs I am wholly I-/nor ant. ns I out loose untirc'y when I left Mas saohusetts and bave novot bad any communication with her since. I did not even know that she was alive. I am going back there." OUR G BEAT AST SPECIALIST, For 20 years Dr J. Newton Kathawaj has so i. in.!, treated chronic diseas es ibat he is acknowledged today to stand at the head of bis profession in this line. His exclusive method of treatment .or Vor.cooelo and Stricture, without ine nid of knife or cautery cures In 00 per cent, of ail oases. In the treatment of the loss of Vital PorC6S< Nervous Disorders, Kidney ami Urinary Complaints, ParalysiSi Blood Poisoning, Pboumni.c.n, ('atnrrli, and dis eases peeu'iar to women, be is eipinlly successful. Dr. llathnway's practice is moro than douhlo that of any other spec ipost. cases pronounced helpless by other physicians readily yield to bis treatment. Write him today lully about your case. He makes no c.hargo for consultation or advice, either at bis olllon or by mail. J. Newton Hathaway, M. D? '11)4 South Mrond street, Atlanta, ns. O ?. 0TO9LZUWt dears the jO 1 tlB ^ YflU H.".Y6 Alwa/S BlUght FACTS ABOUT AN IiCLIPSIS. I A UK!: A V A8TKONOMICAL K\ KMX. Total Uolar I'clinso Visible in dial (Jutted suicm May 28?Tho Auu I Will Look hike ??? Burning Candle. New York Coinmeruinl Advertiser. On May 2$ of the present year we shall have an oppoitunity to see an uncommon astronomical ocourronce. The -un will be totally eelipsed, and the event will be visible in parts of the United Slater. Occasionally, a^ wo know, the mnuu nasses betweeu us and the sun, cutting oil' the tatter's light completely. Tois we iv-uI u solar eolipso. Luna eolipses, on tbo other bund, are caused by the moon's reaching such a position that tho earth is directly between it and the rim. The. niOOn hast no inherent brilliancy like, tin son; it shines only iiy fttlooiiog solar light; and when that light is cut oil', the moon simply '?goer out." Hut the sun in solf-illuim noo;, and ?? in reality shining just tho tr&mo when under eclipse ai> at any Other time. In thy former, the moon having suddenly censed to receive o?* rcllect light, the eulipso is observable* wherever the moon, ii uneolipsed, Woulu i;e. visible, liut at any given fViomeut wo can usually see the moon from ono'ball the earth's surfaoe. Consequently, if a lumar eclipse, takes place u majority of tho earth's inhabi tants have an opportunity loobsorvi, it and thus a lunar eclipse is som hing that almost auy person can remou>ber to have seen. But it is very different with the sun. As wo have said, he uontitiues to give light when eclipsed, 8?! that it is only in places where tbo sun is actually covered up hy the moon that ho will seem to be oollpaod. The iihi ii under eclipse is like, a caudle that qas boon extinguished : it is dark from whatever side we look at it. But the eclipsed sun is like a burring candle, which will be invisible, to ulna only wnose view is obstructed by the interposition of some opuquo object. That opaque object Is the moon. But sue is comparatively small and cannot render the Sun to'ally invisible from more than a tiny circular or oval epot on the earth's surface. In the ellipse of May 2S that little spot will hj only about 7"> miles wide; and if the moon were, not in mol on the total pi yse of the eclipse could be seen no where else. But tho moon is travel* lng nil the time through spaoo in its orbit around tho earth. So the litt.lo spot i? moving, tC >, and changing Its position gradually upon the earth's surface. Thus, instead of a spot, we shall have i long strip or baud aoout 7'? lulled wide : and by waiting for the rlgut moment, it will be possible to see totality from any point within this band. The whole, thing is much as though there were a huge pencil, wilh its point touching the earth, and hav ing it.> other end pivoted to the sun. if the moving moon wc.-e then also at tached to this pencil suniewhore noar the point, bhe would draw tho pencil ah>:ig, and tho point WOUld trace out thn-eolipso path on our oarth. Any ohefstatming in that path could then )JbSp alOQ.fi toe pencil, and at the prc per moment s?e the uioon'covering who sou and obscuring the light, in places situated near this path of totality, as il, ia called, we shall he able to sec the eclipse, but not as a total one. Kor such places the moon will cover the sun only in part so that some of his brilliant surface will remain in sight. The amount of obscuration always de pends upon the observer's nearness to the totality line.. Tho nearer he Is, the more nearly total tho eolipso will be. On May 28th the path of totality be gins lu the Pacific ocean just west of Mexico. There tho point of tho huge pencil wo have Imaginod first louohos our earth, it then passes eastward across Mexico, and entering the United Slates near New Orleans, proceeds in a northeasterly direction until it leaves the em iine.ni, close, to Norfolk, Va. Then itoroseoe the Atlantic, touches Portu (al, and afterward passes across .Northern Africa, leaving the earth linally near the northern end of tho lied sea. In this country the cities of New Orleans, La., Mobile, Ala., Mont gomery. Ala., Kiluigh, N. C., and Nor folk. Vu . are all on tho totality path. At New Orleans the sun will bo com pletely covered at 7:."10 a, ni., while at Norfolk this will not happen until ?:;'?.'{ a. m. In the former city totality will last 7i; seconds, and in the latter 102 seconds. At intermediate places botn the time and duration of totality will fait between these extreme values. f'\>r places neater to New Orleans than to Norfolk the numbers will bo near er those given for New Orleans, and vice versa. Having thus explained the circum stances of this eclipse, we shall r.ow touch upon some of ihe interestiug j things that will be noon if tbo sky is I clear. Total BOlar eclipses appeal >((|iially to the general public and to i the professional astronomer. On the I one-, band, thoy present the most su j perb spectacle within the whole rungo I of astronomy', and on too other, they j Offer the beat opportunity to study the mysterious structure and composition I of our nun. One of the tilings to which [ astronomers attach importance is tho I accurate observation of tbo times of beginning and ending of the eclipse, it is cu?y to see that the mathematical consideration upon Wb'ch are bused our theories of lunur inotiou will bo ' (nit to it very severe test in pr edicting I the exact instant when the sun will bo covered up by the moon. If ohscrva ? tlon agrees with prediction, wo have ! the strongest corroborative evidenoe j of the correctness of our theory and of jour numerical oaloulatlons. On the ! other hand, if it be found that tue pre dictions are slight ly in ei rur, the ! amount of that error can bo determined ' hy observation, and mathematical I theory thus corrected for tho benefit of I future predlotions. Although our I knowledge in this department of as tronomy has reached a very higii state j of perfection, it is a fact that we. can ' not predict tho times of eclipse today j without a possibility ol error amount ! lng to several seconds. Part of tbi& I error is due no doubt to insutliclont knowledge of tbo moou'esize, or to the possibility that contact between sun and moon may occur al a very Irregu lar or ip talnous part ol the lunar r iirfacc. x each eclipse tends to im i prove out formation and make our ? mathematical theories more perfect. The greatOS* Interest, however, cen ters a! out- tho phyhlcal observations possible during u total eclipse. Our sun is not merely the blazing, brilliant, luminous globe we seo every day in the heavens. Tho liery center ball I has a vast outor appendage, stretch ing millions of miles into space?tho delica'oly tintod, tenuous, filmy, un 1 explained corona. It Is tho corona i that makes a total oclipse so beautiful, j regarded merely as a spectacle to bo ' Hoon and oojoyed. Its light Is much fainter than that of tho sou ; we can see it only when the later is complete ly obscured. At all other times the I bright light of ilf! central ball llluinl? nates the ?ir surrounding our earth m> as iu make it far superior in bright iittis to the faint oorona : and observers look lug perforce through this illumi nated air cannot distinguish thede.l eate tracery of tho oorona Itself. Hut when the advancing odgo of the moon slowly covers too suna central dlao, until ui last ouly u narrow sickle shaped piece is left, tho waiting as tronomera have a fow moments of in tensoexpectation. The sieklu narrows gradually : but a mere thread is left; yet even that Is qu;to autlloient to mask the corona. Thou, suddenly, all is covered. On the instant, as though at the touob of a magician's wand, out bursve the'splon.Hd oorona Into view. "Pis a sight of beauty Indescribable, Impressive beyond comparison. Men that have been privileged to boo it, ever after tell of its having given one of life's most exciting moments, never to bo forgotten. Hut the quiet solontdio investigator tries to make u.-e of these rave oppor tunities to obtain souk knowledge of tho truj constitution of our sun. I>j fore tiiu corona's appearance, just as tho brilliant central disc is being totally obscured, there aro a very fo.w brief important seconds when wo re ceive light direct from the outer layer, of the solar globe, and these luotni uts oiler the only chance to examine directly the glowing gases that make up the sun's outs d envelope. Much of our solar knowledge has bor*n thus gathered painfully in tho fe/ (looting miuutui of observation mado poi Iblo by successive totai eclipses. Then it is that we see great red flames dishing hundreds of thousands of miles out into space Curling, Interlacing, ever changing, veritable cloudbursts of living lire, th< Be aro proof-, of tho power and violence of nature's hidden forces. blollpsf.s of tho San mm Viewed in Former Titties. Chicago 'rimes-Herald. A total eclipse of the sun is an nounced as thi! must important celes tial phenouu eon of 1000, and although the frequency with ?vhioh solar totality occurs und our present solon title know ledge have robbed it of the mystery ami even the terror which fjrmorly accompanied itgroat value in as ronom loal oiroles la given to its recurrence. Unfortuuately there is a doubt as t;; the totality being visible in America, the leading astronomers locating ii in Spain, and naming isrj? as tho dote of a total solar eclipse. In tho United Stales. lie this as It may, elaborate preparations are to be mado for the oo ourrcnoe on May 28tb, when tho South ern railway will run an eolipse train from New Orleans to Norfolk, and. another epoch will bo accentuated byi progression in Science. Among the elegant modern distinctions of railway travel smoked glass will be a loading fouture, and tho only drawback anti cipated wiii be a cloudy sky or a total absence of the expected eclipse. Tho ea.:st records of solar eclipses are. ascribed to Confucius, ar.u of tie three wero total, und they are. not mentioned as scientific facts, bu' as bad omens. He recorded that the total eolipse wai greeted as i uoh phenomena are? received i,;. the oroscnt thrte Oy the. Chinese, people, with theUfeuung of gongs, wild cries and a eavat'o up roar, all of is hieb is Bupposcd to oriv^i oil the evil monster v/ho is " eating up the friendly sun." One of the eollpses of antiquity was famous for two events. < >no w as t but it was foretold by an astrologer of tho philosophical ?ohool of the time, .'iS.> H. C, and its alarming appearance stopped a battle between the Lydluns and the Medes. The. sudden darkness convinced the combatants that the gods wire wroth and they at once eoased lighting. The. prophets took advantago Of their own ignorance and tho terrort of the pooplo to predict direful things, which, in many oases ? bel?g the result, of unfortunate condi tions?took place, adding to their terror of the sun and inspiring a m w reverence for this powersof the prophet. Two famous eclipses occurred In l?uropa during the ninth century. A total eclipse in A. D. vl() frightened tjmporor Louis of ?avaria to death and destroyed his kingdom. Other eclipses bad the same effect on rulers, which was so disastrous that sumo wiso men among these in power gave out the death of the king as au event of such moment, that the heavens, shocked at the suddennoss of tho fatality, wont into mourning. In I7I?, in M.?y, an eclipse of tin* sun was predicted in London by a pamphlot. "The Black Day, or tho Prospect of Doomsday." Great pre paration was made for 'he unwelcome shadow, and it. was rotated afterwards that in spite of the " awosome dark, 1 no ono of prominence died, nor did any public disaster overtake the country An eclipse of especial interest to America was that of October 27, 1180, when the lirst American eclipse OX' pedltion was fitted out. destined to be folio wol i>y many and greatly im proved solar institutions, scouring re sults of wonderful scientific accuracy ami developing much valuable astro nomic material. Several eclipses of minor scientific importance were re corded between 1883 and I8IM). but in tho latter year t vo appeared. The Ural ushered in the new year and was visible from California lu Manitoba. The woatber wa* f ivorabio at all points along the line, and many photo graphs were made. Tee second eclipse of toe year occurred In Decombi r and was visible In South America. On more than one occa-dou in hin tory there is a record of toe special darkness winch accompanies an eclipse, disclosing too presence of a c ?met. but tho eclipse of Is*- was the Uot Umc that a comet was photograhed by the astronomers. The eclipse wm nbs 'rv ed by astronomers representing ICog laud, Kninco and Italy. Tho it d eclipso of May, 1883, had sorno special dramatic features about it. To begin with, tho duration w,\s unusually long : nearly live, and a hnl' minutes. Tho greatest duration of totality was six and u half minutes, re corded in Great Britain \npust 20, 1880. Another pecul ar feature wiw that this eolipse was only vislhlo in tho middle of the I'aeitic ocean, fortu nately for the cause of science, a group of coral island" lay In it-i neighbor hood. America, Kagiand, I'YttPCO, Italy and Australia wore represented. During the total eclipse of the sun, August 7, IHtii), which was visible in Alacka, the Indium of iho Chllkat river whm greatly alarUtOd. Pro fessor Bsnjftuiln Prlco of the United States coast survey, had gone, with a party to Alaska to observe and report the eolipse and .had ivarnod the In dians, hut they had refuted to believe him until tho BUn was half obscured. Thou they all disappeared and not a sound was heard throughout their village. They had made, up their abo riginal minds that t-hO scientists woro taking care, of matters?that the sun was " very sick " and they ha.I " put it to sleep." Educated and iatelligent people do not hott I lain to express a dread of that solemn darkness which).*, unlike any other atmosphere, and in which ail nature appears ovi rxhadowed with ap proach lng doom. < >nc who has wit n< ssed a total eclipse (fives this graphic description i " As much a.> live minutes before the total obscurity it may bo possible to detect strange waverlug Hues ol light and shade drawing across the landscape. Tben, with (rightful velo city, the shadow of tbo moou is seen approaohlng, a tangible darkness ad* vanning 1 itec* a wab, swift an imagina tion, silent us doom. The Immensity of nature never comes ?d near as then, aud strong must ho tho nerves not to quiver as the bine black shadow rushes upon (he spectator with incredible speed. A vast palpitating prosooco seems overwhelming the world. Halt? OfUergH stealthily. Sensitive (lowers eloso. An assembled crowd is awe.; it.to absolute silence. It becomes curi ously old and the chill is mental as v.e!l as phj Sioal." GOVKUN MUNT WX IM N DU l< ltl<:s. W. Jasper Talberi Rxpoacu the Iteok lens Extravagance With Which the People's Money is Voted tor Sal art pr. The Wushlttgtou correspondent of the N.)\'.p and Courier says that Con* gressatuu Talbert's tpeeoh, which he 'lelivert .i a few . ays ago, is occasion ing a gt\iut deal ?favorable comment among bis colleagues in tho House. The House being ill committee of the whole on the statt! of lee Uuiou, und having uu?er consideration the bill making appropriations for the service of th pnstrfti :<? department for the Us uai year eudiuv June :>0, 1901, Mr. Xal hart made a sp>." oh against raising sal aries of tho postoillco employees and thus increasing taxes, lie said in part: "In considering tl >s appropriation bill for tne support of the postoftico de partmeot, however iurgo it may ho, wo must admit that it is more geueral In it^ application than many others which have been mu le by Hits Congress, and I have sat here and listened very pa tiently to appeal after appeal in the in terests ol those- who are employed by the government of the Untied States not only in tois department, but in all Hie others. The. geutloman from Illi nois (Mr. Mann) made an earnest up peai, almost who tears in, his eyes, a whim ago to raise the salaries ol the letter-oarrlera in the large cities and towns, and ho says o!?ut 'tis a pity thai they sliou i b . in uhu employ of the government for twenty yeara und then ut the end ot tbo twenty years draw the Same salary they did at the start, yet you rarely ev r hear of one ol them re signing, nor IS it often the ca-so Hi any ol the departments of the government. They hold on eternally, still crying for more pay, never satisfied, like unto tho 1 orstS leach. "Why, my friend, here arc Congress men, some of whom have boon here for forty year;-, like my friend from Illi nois, Mr. Cannon, ?nd is it. a pity that lie is getting no more than $5,000 a year now or ought his p.iy to be increased ? I say no. Now, my l'riond, 1 want to say thai these men In the employ of the govorhuxcut, ail of tru.' from the Pre aid at of tne United States down to the humblest cmployo'iol the government, are the best paid people in the world, and yet they a,-e all crying out for an increase of salary, with but few excep tions. Why, it scikp to me t here it. no body upon the il >or hero except the rep resentatives ol the tax consumers, and th?y uush tv?,jir claims earnestly. | wi.nt to to k . ku-i '|uestion in all candor. Has nobody a representative upon ihie Ii >or except the orlluc homer and gov ernment employee ! Have WO all been elected here to advocate tne claims of tho salaried class? Important query aid more important the answer. Lot us see if wu cimnot find some Kopro*eu t.ilivt- bee who >vili stand up aud rep resent the taxpayers, the men who have t.> pay these enormous sums : am I 10 statu! aldno In this case a- in pen sion frauds "* I hope not. ?? I want to find bOtno man who will Stand up hero anu represent the men WHO follow t1;- p.Ottgh down in tho t.ot lo i rows and H" com ficlda of the South. (Applaus.;.) I want to lind some man who will stand up hero and represent tho men who raise wheat and corn so the West, and I want to lind pome Ueprosontative, some mauon this Boor, who will represent the black smith at the forge, the laborers in the factory, thp men in the coal mines anJ Iron mines, anu the oarponter at the 0,. uch, vel. as tin. LAX consumer and the tax uater-J?-tho?olarled class?who are all getting more than they ought to now when you consider tho ability of the taxpayer to meet those enormous demands. Why, Mr. Chairman, I have never yet known a warrant to bo is sued to force a man into the govern ment service, Where you "ay be has to work so bard and gel- SO iiulo pay for his sorvleo. (Laughter and applause.) ?? Why, nir, no corporation or busi ness institution in the world can aflord to pay mch Salaried as is paid by this great government to ile employees, with no many privileges and so ilttlo labor, '? No. sir thoro are always niot moro standing at tho dour trying to get in for every 0u0 already in ttierO arc bun drods and thousands <>f them outside anxious add eager to get in whero these men are serving sti h a laboi lout! term of service f VC SO little wagOS. (.Jo to the deportnii ni ? ol this government to-day and yen will find them ruoulng over each otiter. < i ? aoh other's way, and .f you .? ant to do jo mo service to the tax payers, Introduce ft bill that would turn out one-third and makt> the other two thirds do tii i won., and then < on can redact tlio expenses, and mayb raise t be -loA ?!".- a lit .1 .? ? it, but in the n true of conscience stop tills indecent huste in Increasing salaries, wbeu In many instances they are already too high. " I want to say mat 1 have no gen eral orUloisru to in iko of t he bill that has been bi'OOfi t i i by the postolllce OOinmitteO, except as to one or two Heins i/i connection with amounts to be paid railroad?, '?ad one or two others. I believe it is jus?, I buliovo it h right, because i? Is asov-i- rendered ?il the people. Kou tuen mlllioos seems to bo a large sum for frt 0 delivery in cities and towns, i?.it wlioil you extend til J same privilege to the people in tbo country I make no objection. I took the position in the 53.1 Congress that the people in tbo country had as muon right to froo delivery ol mall as tne people iu tbo cities, for they are the bone and sinew ol the country. I then l)ftgan a war to that end, and with Otbei'8 in the House, notably Mr. Wil liam-, of Mississippi, am) Mr. Mosen, Of Georgia, succeed id in that Congress in getting an appropriation of Sim uuu for free delivery in tho country to the 'iien who work on the farms and in the work ?hops, in too fields and at the forgo, and thlB was tho beginning of the free rural delivery of any practical kind, whioh ha? already resulted In dissemi nating knowledge loto the backwoods of the oountry honw' in A I i i lAllliK t <)\ i 11 iicM The Horrors of katuinc Strlo! India Aro Complicated by Appearance of t liolr-ra. Tho i oport thai cholera is strength lug its deadly bold oo famlne-strlo] India bringe tho pitiful condition that country inoro than over toil public view. About 03 500,000 per?*] for tills is tho population of tl trieis a (Tooted, aro sweltering tlj equaled existence-: away amid p lento ami misery thai show uo s of abating. Hundreds ol tuousatu pounds in good British gold, good man marks anil American corn been thrown into tho country, judging from the latest adv. this charity is merely a drop oci Too famine und its attopdai plications appear to exceed ii lonoe any previous visitations, viceroy. Lord (Jui'koii of ? Kedt ami the government arc maki >g less cxertioro to moot lie; lorrll urgency, hut the stupendous if ties confronting thorn provoul it fcut supplying of relief to knot 5,000,000. in tue meantime tho i States are dolled with heaps of and dy'ng and the toads aro ort with ghastly bands seeking to est from the stricken territories, hut w" for lack of food and water mostly i cuiuo iu toe attempt. One of the in hopeless features of tho whole affah contained in the statement of a epoch correspondent at Sliula, who write "Ten times tho total relief could I laid out iu a singlo district wltbo fully relieving its distress. All can liooe lor is a succession of f years to put tho people on their again." Viio British districts are reported to bo SO fur escaping tho large starva tion and mortality that mark the native States. Mat that their condi tion is not enviable Is evident from the following description sont i<y a Bom bay correspondent, of the .cone at Ahraedabad, a ei:y In tho presidency of Bombay : ?'In an open epaoo upwards of 200 were seated^ old and young, being faminu pershuiti ad. Toe smril arising from their 111 thy rags was sdekoriing and had attractod myriads ol lliusje] Some, CSp^Oially tho Old men. wciv bony frameworks, a girl suckling two children, was ghastly to look at, but till! little (Ulis, ?vith hollow tcni ples, Blinken eyes and cheek;, and the napes of their ueoks, falling In under their skulls, which seemed to over, balance thoir cmaclaud bodies, an with wisplike arms and legs, wen] more dica.iful still. Uluuv woro ;.i faring from disease and numbers h tho lever. Those wl ?> could woiTT were sent on where Lanka wore being dug. Othors were given a meal ami passed on to the poor house." This picture is from a less seriously afTeoted part of the country. The suf ferings iu the remoter districts, where the famine is severe, whoi'o all the cattle have loug since died, where thu water is precious and Where cholera lias now added its dread scourge, can well be imagined. a Trust Fobordto i Iruuok i 'kick ?Oao of the boot prospects of roll trom th-.'. extortion of trusts is that i their greed they will overdo the thlug and bring retribution upon thomselvos by their own action. When they be come sure of their absolute control of an article they arc. apt to count an Oil ormous prolit and by advertising this prospect they SUCCOUd in selling vr 1 quantities of waterod stock, tho pro ceeds of which art. pocketed by the originators of the trust. Besides over capitalizing tho trust often pushes the price of its product up and up until il roaches a point at which even the power of a trust cnunot hold it. Tho trust tinds that tho demand for its* output ceases, it.- stock on hand in creases rapidly and at last accumulates to such an extent that a reduction of prices becomes necessary. The Steel and Wire trust bus r contly given an illustration In point. The Iron Ago says: 11 If two weeks ago the hc-t informed room hers of the lroh*?aod steel trades had been thoroughly canvassed for an expres sion of opinion as to tho branch In which a severe break iu prices was most likely to occur, t;.. chances aro that but a small minority would have. designated wire." Tho trust bad lixed Its prices bo high that people ceased to buy. it bad to do BOmott ing to got ride, of part of i Is enor mous surplus product. Firsi it closed u number of it.-, mills, aid thou It made a heavy reduction of p ices. Wire nail, have been cut$1 a k >g, barbed wire 1 cent a pound, ooamcod wire *?'? cents per 100 pound.-. j 1 ?Miss Helen Gould rides In an automobile which she manages horsolf. It was made especially for h?r cost of 13,000. >r ali^ i ^^piotu It is scientifically affirmed, tlo thirty years which roll? w the chang th<-K>il to (hi woman, beginning :ii fiTteou and ending at forty five, (lie average woman spends leu yens of thai line in physical suffering caused by irregular periods, disagreeable drains, fe male troubles, or other derange ments of the functions of the delicate female organs. Think of it! One-third of the best years of a woman's life spent in a struggle with pain. f -I h twCSfl :t.i.-f It is no wonder that wottu n everywhere are full of unbounded praise and gratitude for Dr. Pierce's Pavorilo Prescription. It does awaj with all suffering due u> the dfs eases iA the organs peculiarly fciniuiuc, it regulates the p rioos, stops the disagreeable drains heals Inflamed ami ulcerated con ditions, and cures female weakness. It brings ill delicate female organs into natural, healthy and harmonious action. There is no opium .ihei narcotic, and no idooliol, whUky or other alcoholic stimulant in " Pnvoritc Prescription." Sick women an invited t<> consult Dr. In letter, without charge. Write ltvcry l. tiei is treated as strictly and sacredly confidential m V. t.onr.. o( l.o I.oup, t'rsrtklln o>, wi i??^- '"words cnnnol express how grateful i on fur vom kind advice aud K?od medicines, I hnv< >?<?? n In p i health niofd^r iihs .til my life in tie- past nine years ?rew worse, ami two vests ago i was so poorly could hardly dra? nr?uml t consulted n specialist, ami he snid I had nlcei ,ii and thai an opera lion would have lo !?? p ' form? d. This did not seen necessary to nie, ??? lime wenl l>y, and i ?t last wrote to Dr, Pierce le-t;imr advice. I IkjiikIiI two bottle* of 1 PAVOtltC PfCSCI IptiOtl.' two of Ihe ' Discovery1 and t w<> vials i>f Ihc 'Pel fata' as advised When commencing i weighed H9<^ pounds, and alter inking one bottle of encu i ?ras likes ocw woman, in one month i caiueU eight pounds. After taking two bottles euch of the medicines named, i began lo luok like * womioi and nol like n wasted skeleton, Thsi weary tired testing All left mr. and il dtd seem as thou^ii life was wuoii living." Dr. Pierce's Pellets cleanse tke *kiu. Pierci freely, privat? Mrs. Kam .