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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1890)
' The Oregon Scout Jones & Chanoey ..Publishers. UNION, OREGON. SINGULAR SOCIETIES. Amnal Dinners Where tho Empty Clmlrt Increase anil ttio Diners Dccrcne. Thcro was nn informal organization formed nbout half n century ago by 6ovcn gentlemen of St. Louis, who agreed to have a social dinner once a year while any of the members lived; each man's chair was to be at tho table, empty, after his departure from earth; all tho survivors were to attend the obsequies of each dead member, and tho hist survivor was to drink a bottlo of wine, duly preserved, after tho death of all tho rest. Tho idea is not now, and tho narrative of a similar ngreemcnt, somo years older than this, lias been more impressively told. A larger number of hale young Bos toniaus, a dozen or so, were dining to gether, when suddenly somo ono bo thought him of tho incongruous won der what they would all bo doing ono hundred years from then; and another broached a proposal that they all form a club on tho spot for an annual din--ncr,f which should tako place on tho anniversary of that day as long as any member survived. Somewhat wanned as thoy wero with wine, the proposal was adopted with instant acclamation, and tho llnal botllo of wine, to bo un corked and drank on a distant occa sion, which seemed to them all hardly a thing to bo realized, was put away immediately. Tho dinner was followed by a pleas ure party on tho Charles river, and presently tho subject of their agree ment, an hour earlier, drifted again boforo their minds; ono of tho liveliest joked his nearest comrado about tho infirmities of age, and playfully gavo him a thump on tho back. 13oth wero standing in tho boat. Tho sudden stroke caused tho person addressed to loso his balance; ho went overboard and was beyond recall before tho stricken party could recover their senses. Ono by ono tho first gap in their number widened until mora chairs wero empty than occupied, and tho dinner grow more and mora somber as tho heads becamo fewer and whiter. Tho lat survivor, faithful to tho com pact, sat wearily down to tho lust an niversary dinner, surveying cloven empty chairs, and brought out tho memorial bottlo of wine from its dusty hiding. Ilo broke tho seal, drew tho cork, decanted tho contents, and paused in an overpowering rush of emotion. Tho cloven chairs seemed occupied by shadowy forms; tho past yeura rolled back boforo him; ho lived his lifo anow ; his eyes brimmed over and min gled tears with tho wiuo which ho tremblingly held up. Then a fiiilhful attendant who had grown old in his servico, and now stood behind Mr. A 's chair, heard to his amazement his master pledging by namo ovory ono of tho vanished friends who used to fill thoso chairs. If o bowed his head in tokon of recog nition to each name, and concluding "with tho words, "Wo'll soon meet again, friends," drained his glass to tho tlrcgs, and tncii saulc uuclc motionless in his attendant's arms. Tho last man had joined his comrades. This inci dent J real life has formed tho sub ject of many a narrative, and becamo especially popularized by thouil'ecting little drama entitled "Tho Last Man." Unknown. y ,'f rnltliful. ' Tho negro in tho English West India' regiments is remarkable forjiis obo dienco to orders, especially whon a sentry. Lord Wolsoloy tells an amus ing story of a governor of Capo Coast Castle, who was prevented from going out of his own houso by u negro sen try. Tho governor had discovered that his servants were' daily robbing him by carrying away bundles of things from his Kitchen, lie therefore had orders given to tho sentry boforo his door that no ono was to bo allowed to go out carrying any parcel with him. Shortly afterward tho governor, in & hurry to consult tho chief justico, put somo papers into u dispatch box to tako with liim to tho judge's houso. On attempting to go out, ho was stopped by tho sentry, who, with Twyonet at tho charge, refused to lot him pass with the box. Tho governor remonstrated. ITo urged that ho himself hud given tho order. t But tho negro, instead of heed incr him. replied that his "cornral" had told him not to allow any ono -wiin n ounulo to pass, Sral's" order was his ompaniou. and tho"cor- law. Youth's A Pluyn right ut Work. TJlakcly Hall says that ho onco saw David Bolaseo in tho throes of com- Sisition, and that "it was an odd sight pcoplo who huvo preconceived no tions concerning play writing. Mr. Bokisco's hair was tousled over his brow. Ilo was gnawing his nether lip with an air of intense absorption, his cm vat was loosened, his coat cast asido and his legs wero wound around his chair with nervous sinuosity, lhad run in on him unawares and did not know ho was ut work, A largo tablo at which ho sat was littered with all sorts of curious odds and ends. There wiu a hugo sheet of paper boforo him cov ered with cabalistic signs and marks, and ho held a bluo pencil tightly clenched in his right hand. Inkwells, mutch stands, calendars, pons, books, newspaper clippings and half a dozen other small objects wero arrayed on opposing sided of tho table. These. Mr. Bclasoo explained, represented characters in the play, and that ho was trying to group them so as to mako un olreetivo tableau for tho closo of tho third act. Tho idea was subse quently utilized in 'Tho Wife,'" Cur rout Literature. A Lowiston man has invented a do rice for stopping runaway horses. It blinds the nuimal by clapping some thimr over his oyes. Tho inccbanisni mmutw 1-Q4U (hp driver's scat THE POET'S GAIN. WhAt ts It that wo work for, oh, my soulf Why search wo ypt for bongs that may bo sungl To put white milk Into a hollow bowlf To lay brown bread UKo a crimson tonguof What Is It that wo seek for, ob, my brain. From corning forth of sun till dawn of gloomf The rod marsh light of unstable Rain, Or cold rofugo of a famous tombT Kay, theso are not for thin, thou weary one; Nor famo nor wealth shall follow In thy tread. Thy only sold Is yonder beulng sun: And when thou slccpest, nono shall Know thj bed. Why Is It that we work and faint for sleep? Why bring tho scars of ago upon our youth t Lo, wo shall 6tand besldo tho unknown deep. And drink tho waters of eternal truth. niled with tho dreams that no fool's wealth cat buy. Clad In our raps, fed on our cnist of bread, Wo'll sing our songs, nor tell tho reason why, Bless Ood for rhymes, and Journey toward th dead. W. J. Henderson In Onco a Week. JIOMANCE OF THE WAR. Tho hero of Mr. Parkins' story, Lawrenco Bryant, was a civil engineer hi tho south at tho beginning of tho rebellion. Ilo had been thcro about fivo years, and had made many friends; ho liked tho country and its pcoplo, and did not wish to leave it In fact, was determined not to leavo it unless ho took with him Miss Luura Peyton, to whom ho was engaged to bo married. But ho was a northern man a Union man and that fact was certain, as ho knew, to mako his situation very unpleasant. II is asso ciate engineer, Tom Baxter, who was olso from tho north, said to him: "This movement means war misera ble, horriblo, bloody civil war and you'vo got to tako your choice, our sido or tho other; if you remain hero it must bo tho other. Bryant replied that ho should slay, all tho same for what reason his friend well under stood. "1 wish you good luck, my boy," Baxter rejoined; "but sho is a southern girl and you a northern man God help you I Miss Laura's fathcr,Judgo Peyton, doubted lho wisdom of secession, but whon it was onco decided upon ho gavo it his hearty support. His resi dence was near Columbia, S. C. As tho days passed ho saw regiment after regiment march by, en routo to Charleston, tlis son Arthur enlisted, as did most of lho other young men of tho vicinity; and his houso rang with Confederate songs. Under such circumstances, a senso of duty con strained him to refuse his consent to tho marriagoof his daughter and Law renco Bryant. IJo said to Bryant: "You havo my highest personal es teem, but until tho political horizon becomes clear, 1 wish you to forget entirely that Iiura has given you rea son to hopo for her hand." At Liura's instauco ho finally agreed to let tho engagement stand, but insisted that it must not bo announced, and that lho marriago must not tako placo so Ion" as tho ponding troubles lasted, "It will bo all right in a month," Laura glee fully declared to her lover, and ho, maifo foolish by love, believed her words. Tho next month mado things worse instead of bettor, however. It was ovidont that tho strugglo was going to bo n hard and prolonged one. Bryant was oficrod a placo upon tho stall' of Gen. Beauregard, which ho promptly declined. Tins was noted by tho local papers and commented upon in no llattoring terms. Even Laura re marked, with a sigh: "What a pity, Luwronco, that you uro not ono of us ono who loves tno south." "As much as I lovo ono of its maidens," ho ro plied, laughingly; but tho laugh was forced and hollow. Ho know that tho timo was near at hand wheh ho must tnko somo dcliuito action. The Con federate government had decreed that all persons remaining under its pro tection after tho 1st day of July, 1801. should bo regarded as its subjects and not bo permitted to leavo its borders without olllcial permission and that day would soon arrive. After a night spout in warring botween lovo of county and lovo of Laura Poyton, ho decided to return to tho north taking uer wuu nun as uis who, u possioio. When ho umdo known this purpose to her, sho not only declined to go with , him, but forbade him to goalouo if ho ! expected her to boliovo in his lovo. ! Thus it hupponcd that Bryant tarried ! in South Carolina until tho 1st of i July hail passed, and becamo subject , to military laws as a citizen of tho Confederacy. Ho was again oficrcd a ! stall' appointment and again refused : it; but no action was tuuon to forco him into the service, probably because his experience as a railroad engineer ' was ol grant valuo just at that time. Tho Confederacy drifted alonir for two i V rears, 'inou Arthur i'oyton camo homo with an empty sleove. aceoni- inuiied by Maj. Ilarry Walton, a rival of Bryant's tor tho hand of Laura. Miss Bollo, Ilium's sister, said to Bryant with Hashing oyes: "It was your friends who did this to my brother. How can you expect mo over to end ura your sight again I" Laura apologized for her sister as well as sho could, but it was plain that sho, too, was inclined to hold Bryant responsible for her brother's misfor tune "Think, dear Laura," ho said, "in what a cruel position 1 am placed." And sho uuswered: "I will try to roniombor if I can." In tho courso of tho next two months Arthur recovered sufficiently to louugo on tho veranda, but his empty sleeve was n constant reminder to his sisters of what ho had lost, and u stimulus to their hatred of tho north, which foil upou Bryant us its nearest representative. Ilo was no longer re ceived with cordiality, and Laura seemed to grow colder anil colder to him. and to show mora and mora re gard for Maj. "Walton. A crisis was approaching manifestly. It camo tho day Maj. Wiiltou left for tho front again. Ilia parting with Laura was of a kind that made Bryant decidedly jealous. A quarrel ensued, in which Laura said: "You havo umdo mo tit last remember, Mr. Bryant, what my lovo for you mado mo forget that 1 am a southern girl. God knows how I havo loved you, and hoped to win you to our cause that my country wouJd lho your country but you novcr will becomo ono of us; and it is not right that 1 should marry an enemy of my country." Sho took his engagement ring from her finger and dropped it at his feet. Then sho fell fainting in tho arms of her sister Belle, ivho shrieked, "You'vo broken my sister's heartl I'll mako you fight on ono sido or tho other for this, you Yankee I" Thcro was nothing left now to hold Brvant in South Carolina, an alien, eiir-mtiniWI hv miomins T7n flnfnr- mined to leave at once. Ilo once, ilo remem bered Miss Belle's threat. If ho was to fight ho would fight for tho causo that ho loved. lie resolved to go north through the Confederate lines at that timo a very difficult undertak- ! mg. His ueparturo was hastened by tho receipt of an order requiring him to report foractivo servico in tho Con fedcrato army at Charleston within 6cven days. Ho had $1,000 in green backs, one-half of which ho sent to Laura, begging her to accept it as a loan from ono who still thought her to bo tho only woman he would over lovo. Then ho boarded tho cars, os tensibly bound for North Carolina and Virginia on railroad business. Thero wero soveral Confederate oillccrs on tho train, but their suspicions were lulled by tho fact that ho was recog nized by tho conductor as a railroad official. But a certain Confederate detective, PetoBassett, wasnotsocasily satisfied. Ilo kept his eyes on Bryant and followed him wherovcr ho moved in a manner that left no room for doubt that it wasacaso of trailing and shadowing. At tho town of Graham Bryant suc ceeded in eluding tho detective, and was thus enabled to reach Raleigh and securo from tho provost marshal a pass to Richmond, on tho pretext of secur ing somo now rails to repair tho road with which ho had been connected. Tho next day ho reached Cipddsborough and thcro ho ngain encountered Bas sett, who said, frankly: "I havo got instructions to look out for you, and havo a mind to arrest you at once." Bryant produced his permit to go to Richmond, "on military business of importanco to tho Confederate govern ment." Bassett was cowed and aston ished. "But all tho same," said ho, "I will go to Richmond toseo that you oxecuto this important business." But again thodctcctivo was outwitted. A special train bound south suddenly ran into tho station and Bryant contrived to board it without attracting any at tention. His pass was now useless, of courso, as ho was going away from Richmond; but ho got through to Wilmington without ono by telling tho conductor that ho was on his way to Nassau uftcr iron for tho road. Tho passengers on tho train included sev eral captains of blockade runnors. whoso vessels were taking in cotton at Wilmington, and Bryant determined to tako passage with one of them. Ilo induced two negro stevedores to put him insido of a balo of cotton and carry him on board of the Dart, which was soon to leave. Tho balo was stowed in tho hold, and when Bryant , was released ho found barely spaco 1 enough for his body between the cargo and tho ship. Soon after a squad of soldiers camo to search tho vessel for runaways. Thoy forced long poles botween tho bales of cotton, but did not reach Bryant; then they filled tho holo with a denso smoko from burn- , ing rosin, and ho was almost asphyx iated, and ho clambered out upon tho lower deck. Thero wns a heavy whito , fog, and tho blockndo runner was boldly attempting to run unseen through tho federal squadron that barred her passage. Tho experiment failed, and tho vessel was forced to ro-1 turn. As it ran closo to tho federal llagship, Brvant cried out, "Ship ahoy I Stop this blockade runner I" A pattering hail of musket balls began to fall; tho federal marines had opened ilro. Then ono of tho officers struck Bryant with a belaying pin, and ho reoled and foil upon tho deck. Thero was a roaring of waves in his brain, and after that nothing. , When ho recovered his senses ho was in nn umbulanco jolting through tho streets of Wilmington, and Peter Bassett was saying to him, "You nro tho slipperiest customor 1 over tack led." 1' ram Wilmington ho was taken to Charleston and placed in jail. A chance to tako tho oath of allcgianco : and enter tho Confederate servico was offered him, and ho rejected it. Then ho was placed wiili tho criminal pris- . oners on tho forti.icatious. Ho umdo several ofi'orts to escape, but thoy all proved futile. In tho courso of timo ho was sent with others to work on intrenchmeuts in tho rear of tho city, and thcro ono day ho was discovered by Laura I'oyton. Sho was permitted to havo an interview with him. Ilo told her of his adventures, "and sho did pity them," as Othello says. "You must end this martyrdom at onco," sho said. "Yes, by perjuring mysolf and becoming u Confederate soldier," . ho replied. "No, not that way," said sho. "Though 1 am a southern girl, not that way. 1 should not respect you if you took that way now. In somo other way I must savo you in somo way I will savo you." Ho asked her if sho still loved him. Sho hold up hor finger, aud ho saw on it his en gagement ring.. "Yes," sho said, "I lovo you and will savo you." Two days afterward tho former body servant of Bryant, a trusty negro named Caucus, was added to tho gang or worKmou. ilo ami liryant man aged to get away that nigh! by crawl- ing on their hands and 'knees through tho underbrush, across a swamp, to tho river, whoro tho negro had hidden a boat, Tho Federal gunboats wero not far away. "Whero is Miss Lnura?" , Bryant whispored. "A miloor two up daribbcr, at Judgo Elliott's," said tho negro: Ts to go back and 'port to hor i whon 18 got you snfo up do riblier to do Yanks." Brynut replied, "Very well, I must sco her before I go; turn I tho boat upstream." Caucus protested aud entreated, but Bryant forced him tooboy. Thoy reached tho placo in safety. "For God's sako, Lawrence," fn 111 T m cannot savo your lifo if you do not a, "why utuu't j'ou gof i vo your lifo if you do ti leavo SouUrCaroliua." ITo ronlicd. "I will Mover leavo South Caroliuu till you are my wife. JDo tho only thing uuu win uiuko mo wish 10 savo in y life marry mo nowl" Sho pleaded with him to go. "Not unless you promise to bo mine," ho said ; and ut lost sho said "Yes," just in timo to pre vent his capture by a troop of lurking cavalry. Several weeks later Bryant and Laura wero married in a remote part of tho state, in tho shadow of tho Bluo Ridge. Then Belle suddenly appeared to denounce tho procccdi litre. "Un, i how I hnto you 1" sho said to Bryant, i "lOU haVC lured my SIStC inv sister a way from homo and her duty. A man who had not heart cnouch to ficht us, but must destroy our funnl v by makinga woman lovo him, and she my sister. I am going to tho nearest military post to deliver you up as n deserter, that you may bo shot to death. That's what they'll do to you. Then our disgrace i will bo wiped out by your blood?' It : was plain that the girl meant to do l what sho said. So Laura and Bryant drew her into tho houso and securely locked her in ouo of tho upper rooms. "Now, Lawrence, you must hasten to tho other sido of tho line," said Laura. "I will join you in tho north whenever you tell me." Ilo started, and at tho gate met Peter Bassott, whom he shot, for ho had no mercy now. Then ho hurried on, soon to bo overtaken by Caucus with a letter from Laura, urg ing increased speed, as a party was be ing collected to purauo him. "Guard your life," tho letter said, "for it is my life, my husband." Tho journey was a loner, tiresome and perilous one, but at last it ended, ' and Bryant and Caucus safely reached tho federal lines at Kiioxvillc. Four days later they were in Illinois, at Bryant's homo. Ilo immediately wroto , Laura via Bermuda, and waited anx-, iously for six weeks, but received no j reply. It was now April of 1SC1. Tho blockade runners wero often captured I or sunk ; tho letter service of tho Con federacy was very uncertain. His anxiety concerning his wife becamo unbearable and ho went to Nassau, from whenco ho forwarded another letter that he knew did not go astray, for tho vessel camo back safely, and tho captain said ho had placed tho document in tho Wilmington post ofilco. Again ho waited anxiously a month. Still no Icttev. Ho wroto to other parlies and finally received word to tho effect that Laura was alivo and in Columbia, but that was all that could bo ascertained. About tho same timo ho received a letter from his old chum, Tom Baxter, who held a staff position in Sherman's army. It was dated at Atlanta, and told him to come on at once, and Jio could probably soon bo taken very near to his wife. Ilo quickly obeyed tho summons, and as soon as tho trip could bo mado his hand was grasped by Baxter, who took him to tho chief of Sherman's staff. That officer said: "Mr. Bryant, Maj. Baxter tells mo you aro an engi neer and should bo very well ac quainted with most of tho Georgia railroads?" Bryant replied, "Yes, 1 havo assisted in building a good many of them." Tho officer remarked, "Then you should know- how to de stroy them." So ho was assigned to duty as an extra uid-dc-cump to Gen. Wood, commanding tho first division of-Logan's corps. Then followed tho famous inarch to tho sea, and on tho lu"th of February, 1805, looking across tho Saluda river, Bryant saw again tho beautiful capital of South Carolina. He asked for leavo of absence and tho uso of a company of infantry to protect Judgo Peyton's house. Tho general eheorfully granted tho request, and tho guard arrived just in timo to prevent tho sacking of tho promises. But Laura was not there. Tho family had gono into Columbia for protection. Bryant reached tho town in tho evening and sought his wife without success. Suddenly, to his horror, ho saw that a portion of tho plnco was in conflagration. Ilo hastened on, and soon reached the Pickens mansion, which was rapidly consumed. Then lto heard, a shriek, and. looking up, saw a servant girl holding a child and calling for help. Ho rushed into tho flames and brought tho child out. Tho mother soon camo to thank him. At sight of his face sho cried, "Lawrence," and fell faint-1 ing in his arms. Tho mother was Laura tho child was his own. A. C. Guntcr in Globo-Democrat Walter Scott's I'liirb. Illness and intenso bodily pain could no more deter Walter Scott from writ ing than could travol or pleasure. Tho greater part both of "Ivanhoo" and "Tho Brido of Ijtmmermoor" was dictated, and in its composition was punctuated by tho groans of tho suffer ing author. When tho amanuensis, Lntdlaw, besought him to spare him self, Scott replied, "Nay, Willie, only sco that the doors aro fast; 1 would fain keep all tho cry as well as all tho wool to ourselves; but as to giving over work, that can only bo dono when 1 am in woolen." Hero, too, is again displayed that tondcr considera tion for tno comfort of others which built tho littlo stairway at Abbotsford so that hd might not disturb tho rest of any of tho household when ho should happen to linger late at night over his work. Theso excruciating pains which, as ho said ono time, set him "roaring liko n bull calf," had n curious cll'ect; for when "Tho Brido of Lammermoor" was put into his hands in its complete shapo, tho only recollection ho hud of its contents was of tho incidents in tho original story with whicli hp had boon familiar from chililhoou, Ann when ho now read owu creation it was with no mora knowledge- of what ho had written thau if tho novel had been tho work of eomo ono clso; indeed, whilo rcuding it ho was in constant fear that every jcai nu luriieu inigiii ruvcui bumu in consistency or ubsurdity. Scribncr's Magazine, If you havo a lady friend in tho car always kiss her aud ask her to "bo 6iiro aud call" before getting off. This gives tho horses a chauco to rest aud pleases tho conductor. This urbane olllcia.1 wM bp particularly pleased if , you stop to um u cuoico meco oi gos- Bio to your pai-ting.admonition. Toung llotiek-eiM. T mn cur linvvi'V'fl'. tllill It 1' nothing short of positive cruelty lor mothers to allow their daughters to marry without a knowledgo of the most homely details of household man agement, . I can easily rcalizo that my own lot might havo been the too common one of petty dissension and recrimination that has been lho portion of many of my friends, who, taken from a lifo of comparative uselcssness, find them selves compelled to livo with perhaps a mother-in-law who naturally is not disposed to view her son's brido through his partial oyes. Tho outcomo in tho majority of cases is that tho young wifo suddenly awakens to tho fact that tho lover who feigned iudiffereuco to such prosaic mallei's as eating and drinking has suddenly developed what seems to her an absurdly serious interest in all that pertains to his stomach. Too proud to admit her ignorance sho loftily tells him that "Mamma always attended to tho housekeeping. Sho never allowed mo to do anything menial." Then steps in John's well meaning but injudicious mother, or sister per haps, with tho stern resolve that his digestion and comfort shall not bo sacrificed to tho inexperience of a mere chit of a girl. Apresl Tho usual sequel of tears, appeals from both sides to poor John, who loyally try ing to stand by his marriago vows, and protect and cherish tho delicate creaturo who depends only on him; yet finds himself guiltily wondering why Arabella seems to have changed in somo way, docs not look as bewitch ing, viewed across a breakfast of muddy coll'co and fried beefsteak an in her mother's pretty littlo cottage, where everything was so daintily ap pointed. Dear young wives, a littlo foresight somo years before marriage, and train ing not at a fashionablo cooking school, but in your own homo kitchens, would smooth tho inevitable difficulties in your married lifo so effectually that you could face un daunted even the dreaded lot of living with your relations-in-law. Mrs. Ed ward A. Perpall in Good Housekeep ing. Tlio Dangers of Good Snmnritanistn. It would appear that somo littlo timo ago a man was driving a spring cart in the neighborhood of Hexham. On tho road lie met a poor creaturo evi dently very ill und too enfeebled to walk. His appearance did not appeal in vain to tho sympathy of tho kind hearted driver, who generously under took to convey the dying wayfarer to comfortable quarters. Ho assisted tho man into his cart, and was proceeding along tho road, when whom should ho meet but an ollicer of tho inland rev cnuo. And a very lynx eyed officer ho was, too. Tho law was not to bo broken under his noso with impunity. Here was a clear case without a doubt. A passenger was being carried in an unlicensed conveyance, and so our zealous officer hurries oir and lodges a charge For tho ofl'enso tho owner of tho spring cart had to appear at Hex ham petty sessions this week. It was not denied that ho had given a man a "lift" on tho road, but in ex tenuation of this breach of lho law it was stated that tho passenger was in such a sore emergency that lie died on tho very next day after tho incident referred to. Tho magistrates very properly refused to becomo mere auto matic registers of tho law and dis missed tho case. Nobody ever sus pected that tho heart of an inland rovenuo ollicer was suscoptiblo to sen timent. Tho ono who prosecuted in this caso is a man of authority, who will havo no straining of mercy. Liko Shylock, ho claims that tho "law al lows it," and ho is not going to bo sat isfied with anything less than tho full pound of flesh. Ho gavo notico of an appeal to tho next quarter session. Tho owner of tho spring cart, between troublo and expense, is being made to pay a pretty penalty for his compas sion. It should bo an awful warning of tho danger of playing tho good Sa maritan with nn untaxed cart. Dun deo (Scotland) News. I'oor Joncj. Mr. Jones had joined a French class, and was telling his wifo how well ho was getting along. "I nm afraid," sho said, "that it is nothing but a 'spasm.' I'vo known pcoplo beforo who would tacklo a foreign language, expecting to know all about it in a mouth, and by tho timo they could translate, 'Tho son of tho baker has tho loaf of bread of tho daughter of tho gardener, or somo such rank non senso as that, and had bought a fow dollars' worth of foreign books, their enthusiasm would dio away liko tho morning mist." "But that's not tho caso with mo," replied Mr. Jones, con fidently; "I am progressing splen didly. Professor Crapaud says that in a short timo I ought to begin to think in French, and when ono can accomplish that progress is always rapid." "Well." said Mrs. Jones, with a sigh, "I don't want to interposo any objection, of courso, and if you can learn to think in French I shall bo glad of it. It's something you havo never been ablo to do in English." Chicago Journal. Tlio Thirteen Superstition. "Do you know," said Manager Rogers recently, "that of all non sensical superstitions this popular idea that thirteen is n fatal number is tho worst. 1 always count it lucky. It has over been so with ma That re minds mo that Bill Nyo and Whit comb Riloy stopped at tho samo ho tel that wo did at a western city. Tho clerk was going togivo them room 13, but Riloy wouldn't havo it becauso of tlio number, so I took it. But Riloy got room 0 and Nyo room 7, which tlioy occupiod en suilo and gavo them a 13 in snito of all. You ought to havo seen Riloy ; why, ho was as ner vous as a wet liou." Bulfalo Courier. Archdeacon Philpot, of Mlna Lodge, Oak Hill, Surbiton, is tho oldest living clorgyraan in tho Church of EnglaiuC Ho is in his 100th year. Ho graduated as for back as 18l, Encores. Tho problem whether a manager can or cannot compel a vocal artist to ac cept an encore has probably not been seriously considered hitherto. Per formers are, as a rule, only too ready to respond to demands mado upon them by an audienco or portions of it, and it can hardly havo occurred to any ono to conceive that an occasion would ariso in which a vocalist would bo censured by his employer for not con ceding an encore, buch an occasion, however, would seem to havo arisen in connection with an English opera theatre, and lho caso, it is said, is cer tain to come into court, Tho singer has been fined ono night's salary for his alleged irregularity, and. accord ing to his statement, tho fino has been justified by the management on tho basis of a privato regulation, to tho ell'cct that any artist in its employment refusing to tako a "call" shall bo liablo to a fino in question. Wo shall not attempt to anticipato tho decision which may hereafter bo given, but, apparently, much will de pend upon tlio meaning attached by judgo and jury to tho expression "talc ing a call." In ordinary theatrical parlanco a "call" is simply a summons to tho footlights, not a request for tho repetition of a song or verso. It would, however, bo almost a pity if tho prob lem named abovo escaped legal pro nouncement becauso of, tho nicety of meaning hero involved. It would bo interesting to havo it formally declared whether an artist has any choice in tho matter-of encores, or whether ho or sho must concede them willy-nilly. Should tho latter conclusion bo arrived at, somo vocalists will feel that a now hardship has been thrust upon them, and salaries may rise accordingly. Tlio general publicalso would bo more than ever at tho mercy of thoso whose passion for encores is undiscrimin ating. London Globe. Tlio Ilnmlsomo Women of Conncmnrn. Tlio women of Connemara aro pic turesque in attiro and shapely in form to a remarkablo degree. Their limbs aro long and graceful. They aro erect and spirited in carriage, and tho im menso black braideens, or cloaks, with which all shortcomings in clothing aro shrouded, fall in truly classic folds about them. Bare limbed as tho men, atall seasons, you will not infrequently catch glimpses of legs as exquisitely molded as thoso of tho Venus of Cos: whilo the most voluptuous types of southern Europe, or languorous, tropi cal Cuba, furnish no more perfect ex amples of tapering, dimpled arms, beautifully formed shoulders, and full but lengthened neck with dovo liko double curve. The broad, largo faces are still superbly oval. Tho chin has strength, tho full, shapely mouth is red and tenderly, expressively curved; tho regular teeth aro charming in pearl whito glint and dazzle; tho noso is large, well cut, with thin, sensitivo nostrils; tho eyes, under long, heavy lashes, look straight and honestly at you out of clear, largo depths of gray or bluo; tho eyebrows aro marvels of nature's penciling; tho forehead is wido aud fair,, and such heads of hair crown all that wero they unloosed tho Connemara wbman could stand clad in lustrous black immeasurably surpass ing her sloo black braideen. Not a thread is on them besides tho Conne mara flannel. It is spun from tho wool of tho mountain sheep. Irish Letter to Pittsburg Dispatch. Felling Trees by Electricity. Hitherto machines for felling trees havo been driven by steam power, but tins is sometimes inconvenient, espe cially in thick woods, and electric power has been adopted in tho Gali cian forests. Usually in such ma chines tho trunk is sawn, but in this caso it is drilled. When tho wood is of a soft nature tho drill has a sweep ing motion and cuts into tho trunk by means of cutting edges on its sides. Tho drill is actuated by an electric motor mounted on a carriage, which is brought up closo to tho trco and shackled to it. Tho motor is capablo of turning round its vertical axis, and tho drill is geared to it in such a man ner that it can turn through an arc of a circlo and mako a sweeping cut into tho trunk. Tho first cut made, tho drill is advanced a fow inches and an other section of tho wood removed in tho samo way until tho trunk is half severed. It is then clamped to keep tho cut from closing, and tho opera tion continued until it would bo un safe to go on. Tho remainder is fin ished by a hand saw or an ax. Tho current is conveyed to tho motor by insulated leads brought through tho forest from a generator placed in somo convenient site. Loudon Times. Changing Their Heat. Pcoplo often wonder why policemen aro suddonly transferred from ono section of tho city, where thoy may havo walked a beat for years, and know every dark alloy and hiding placo as well as ovory crook in that particu lar locality, to apart of tho city whero thoy havo novcr been savo as n citizen. At first glanco it does look liko an in judicious thing to do, but it is not. Take a patrolman from tho West End or South End and put him down in tho heart of tho city and he's pretty certain to mako n fow good captures. West End or South End crooks feel securo when thoy get away from tho locality where they aro well known, and tho first thing you know thoy will run right into your arms with all tho evidences of guilt upon them. Thcro is another advantago in theso changes, which I believo should bo mora fre qucnt, aud that is that tho policcmeR becomo familiar with all sections of tlio city, and thus aro rendered mora valuablo in any emergency. SL Louis Globo-Democrat. Th I'lrst American Silk Dress. Tlio first silk dres3 mado in America tvos ono presented by Governor Oglo thorpo, tho founder of Georgia, to tho queen of GeorgoIIL Oglethorpo ex pected his colony to becomo rich on silk raising and viniculture, and tho first silk raifed in Georgia was spun ??".wv.en for Ul royal spouse, New York Telegram. J