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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 1885)
THE MORNING OEEGONIAtf. MONDAY, AUGUST 10,1885.. DUBL WITH AILEMISE GIANT BY IIE2.11I DE BOUXXEK. rTraaslatbdlor the Oiesonlaaq TAKT I, He was a charming follow, but possessed oE very little sense. He was 25 years of age, had a luxurious black beard carefully trimmed, a coat cut in the latest fashion, an Income of 15,000 francs, a licentiate of law diploma in his drawer, some wit, no lack of cheek, a little goodness of heart, and a pretty name. He was called Leonce de Verdun. He liad nothing to do, and, consequently, -was good for nothing. No; we are mistaken; let os do him full justice; he was an effi cient mischief maker. He would not do a vrrong set on principle, but out of pure heedlcsBsneeg, on impulse, without premed itationjust for the fun of the thing. Yet, bow wae he to pass away his time? When a man is poor the "blues" hum ble joys and hopos unrealized fill up his thae and crowd out other distractions. It is quite the reverse when he has all his want, but has not means enough to under take great enterprises and great follies. Fifteen thousand francs a year! Not so Lad, after all. Pleasant lodging, a fine dyeuncr.s. ride in the Bois, a dinner at Big non a stall in the gymnasc,but that is all. Ibis enough, bat it is not gay. To begin ike Huneroand every morning, to turn the &ae grindstone, to quarrel with the same friend or the same kind of friends! Not very cheering. Of what good are 15,000 francs spent in this way? One might as wdl be a notary's clerk or a dependent in "Rothschild's houec. One day, as he was wandering mechani cally along the endless arcades of the Rue de Rivoli, he heard two gay and cheerful voices; he looked and saw before him two men, round and solid set, with bright eyes and smiling faces. From their conversa tion he soon learned that they were provin cials. Lucky follows! How they did en joy themselves! They were interested in everything, carriages, harnesses, shops and shop windows. And what projects these jjood provincials formed for that day, for the nest, for the third, and for the following day! Would they ever find time enough to see all, to do all? They had no hopes of it, but they would attempt the iask. An idea flashed upon "Leonce. "I am at a loss what to do with niysolf," thought he. "Suppose I follow these two fellows and do all they do; stick by them the whole day? There might be some fun in it. I am going to become the voluntary slave of two mas ters, who little dream of the power they are going to wield over me.' No eooncr said than done. Leonce fol lowed the two provincials wherever their fancy, thoir tastes, their preferences or their simplicity led them. At the end of the day lie was surprised to find how much he had cnjojedhimsolf ; how the hours had flown awav with a rapidity he had never known till than. He hud seen in Paris itself, his native city, in which he had lived all his life, a, multitude of things he had never dreamed of. Tro incials are the best guides a Pariiisn can have in Paris, This day roomined fixed in Leonce's mem ory as one of the most agreeable in his life, and he resolved to repeat its experience, if such a tiling were possible. The recipe was an easy one. All he had to do was to go every morning about 9 o'clock and loiter along the Hue de Rivoli or the Palais Royal. INb faooner did he discover the cut of the provincial that certain something which lelray6 in suite of every precaution, or even because of precautions the Tourraine laiiaeu unronetors, the IJunrunuian vine - it" im . i.i ii. i l qB-7 :.i A " ' !1 -1 M"Mw- wiumt l iwvfeci oh hit-, vacation tour. Leonee poumvMl upon him as a hunter would uponhis prey, lie surrendered tlie guidance of his destiny for that day into their hands. "What charming little anvenlures! What a study of manners! What a harvest of ridiculous incidents, of pleasantries, of c4servations of every variety"! And what a lot of secrets discovered or guessed at! It meat be confessed that Leonce soon manifested a preference for the provincials of the gentler sex. At first, we suppose, be cause, upo&iijifliTbat we are. a black mantle over a-C3CR for "brown dress exercises a cer tain iujjuencn over us; a sort of irresistible fasohttison.-lThen. again, to Leonce's mind, the prormcUitfi- afforded him far more dis tractions thmt the men. Women, he no ticed, has a grcit sujieriority of imagina tion; bw caprice vary " infinitHm ;tc un expected has a larger place in her existence; she wants to 8oeverything; go everywhere; nothing tires her: she is enterprising, whiuhi(ul, curious; in a word, she is a woiwutf1 tV . LeoiKe acoardiugly selected as his uncon scious gyidtfe for the day such parties as were raq up of women; audi am rather inclined to think that lie did not select the partiesafi wliich the older or more homely sjieciinens abounded. AVe hava.alroady intimated that he was not gifted with a superabundance of pru dence. Urw morning as Loonce was on his iifcual hinting expedition, hunting after provincials, he had good luck from the sUrt, h,' flushed a superb flock, as he $m',' (borrowing tlic" expression from tlw-iimr'x Dirtiomti'y). He came upon a iimp, nfnbout 60 years of age, of medium height, thick &et, square, rubicund, and enveloped in the folds of an ample coat. ThiB person had leaning on his arm a wo man some 50 years of age, tall, thin, with some etiges of former beautv. and wear ing a dress as much too large for her as her wantie was too small. "Do you know, Monsieur Dulaurier." said she, regardless of being lteard by pass ers by. "that thih Rue de Rivoli knock the pt$ out of our Grand Roe de Douai, which is fur ahead of all the streets in Cambrai. whatever Ifadame LecHarc, who is a Caui brddiotuw to the backbone, may say to the contrary. Now, just look down the street; isn't it uoautiful ?" "Yoti are a hundred tfuies right, Madame Dttlsurier! You are a thousand times right! Bui there aw our two girls walking too far ahead of us jwst now." "Hallo! Lomse! Heh! LouiMte!" cried Madame lhthmrier. At this double inter peiiaiioM two young women, who walked a few si in adaiice of their respected itamtls. stopped. Louiae wa protaMy older than LooiseUe. her sktar. thought leonoe. Lotise was at least 25; she was tall like her mother, striaofet- soietrn and imposiagr. She Must have urn a great liking for fine linen: show white napkins and towels arranged with scrupulous neMlness on the oaken shelves of capacious closet: she must be a model of neatness, a master housekeeper, as one weald say, a woman of head ad gonad sense. Her sister ! .i:i4'tte was entirely unlike Iter in iieurMiy. and he gave e ov-i-dtiMM of rVTttibliHr her m disposition. She was easy oing, fair, sleader aud nat urally skfte in pite of Iter ill-StUag dvess; her lttk- fret, lost in a pair of shoes evident! made for the Chicago market, and tied with common strings, wore nothing like her sister " robust feet; her loag, slen der hasds, incused in cotton gloves, sought tho green ribbons of Iter hat as for a toy, with such a coquetish movement that Leonce admired it. instead of the stupid bangs pasted down on the foreheads of her mother and sister, Louit-ette had brushed her blonde locks back in -oils and revealed her broad, intellectual forehead. Somewhere about 10 o'clock the Duiauriors entered a oafo for breakfast. Leonce, who was Ten fnd of surprise, placed hirnsolf at a neighboring table in such a manner as to face Louisette. In a little while he re- turned to catch Mademoiselle Louisette's -eyet which the did cot-turn away. He re solved to go a little further, and put all the magnetism he could command in his look, but this time the young girl blushed slightly, leaned over to speak to her mother and did not raise her eyes again. After breakfast the four strangers started for the Saint-Lazare railroad station, followed by Leonce. He reached the ticket office at the same time they did, and bought a ticket, as they did, for Saint Cloud. He did not get into the same car with them, nor did he, on arriving at Saint Cloud, show himself for quite a while. The Dulauriers wandered through some of the most delightful walks of the park, the mother and father chatting all the while, Louise admiring the beautifully trimmed trees and the long and regular avenues, and Louisette throwing crumbs of bread to the beautiful swans that sported upon the snarklintr waters of the lakes. Ixmisette even loitered in this delightful occupation. She "was throwing kisses with her fingers to a beautiful swan, -which, we must confess, treated her with lamentable indifference, when, on turning her head, she suddenly Eerceived Leonee, who was also amusing iniself with the swans. Louisette uttered a ouicK but stifled err and hastily rejoined her parents. Leonce smiled, watched her as she ran away, and muttered: "Very well; we shall see." After -walking for about an hour through the long avenues of the wood, and under a scorching sun, the old folks began to feel the effects of fatigue, to which was added a burning thirst, for Leonce, who had fol lowed a by-path near the avenue taken by the Dulauries heard the mother exclaim: "Good gracious! are we never coming to a spring? T am ready to drop this moment." Leonce found his opportunity, and draw ing near Madame Dulaurier, he walked up to her, hat in hand, and said: "Madame, 1 should blame myself for the rest of my life if 1 failed to come to your assistance. I am thoroughly acquainted with the grounds, and. if agreeable to you, I shall be delighted to direct you to a refreshing fountain, 'St. Mary's,' famous throughout the country." "A thousand thanks, monsieur," said Madame Dulaurier, surprised and carried away by the offer and by the good grace with -which it was made; "but, monsieur, we are perfect strangers here, and it will be impossible for us to find the fountain unless you give us the most exact directions " "Better than that, niadame, I shall guide you there myself." "Monsieur is really too good," said Dulaurier to his wife, "and it would be abusing ' "Bah! my good fcllow.the young men of our day are, as a usual thing, so disobliging that one should never refuse the kind offers of those who are obliging, so as not to sdoiI them.' "Don't you think," said Louise to her sister, "that this gentleman looks very much like the one we saw at the restaurant?" "No," replied Louisette, "most assuredly not. All Parisians look alike." As she said this Louisette colored a little. The walked continued and quite a con versation sprang up between the elder Dulauriers and Leonce. The young man was in his best behavior and made an im pression. At last they reached the fountain and our friends seated themselves under the trees so often visited by Parisians. Thev were already well acquainted with one an- ,j other and they soon became good mends. "It must be admitted," said Madame Dulaurier toher husband."that life in Paris is very tiresome. As for me I am quite ex hausted ; the distances are so long and the heat is so oppressive. The streets of Paris must be a very furnace at this time." "You are right, my dear," he replied. "But we leave day after to-morrow, and 1 reconcile myself to everything until then. Indeed, after all this npise and confusion, I shall be delighted with our village, our home and peach trees." "Oh! father!" said Louise, "suppose that instead of going back to that horrid Paris we were to stay here till nisrht?" nil menu lhat would be impossible. - mraon't kntfw the roads, and wouldn't know whore to get dinner." "Is that all?" Leonce hastened to say, "but, my friends, I am at your service. 1 shall be "glad to guide you through the woods to Clamart, where I know a good restaurant, abounding in flower beds and water jets, and whore you can got a better dinner than in Paris. I do not know whether my company is agreeable to you. but I assure you, sir, that yours and that of these ladies is so pleasing to me that I should regret exceedingly to leave you so abruptly; indeed, 1 may say, abandon you, for you must admit that you are somewhat out of your bearings." Madame Dulaurier, who was very much pleased with Leonce's knowledge of the sur roundings, immediately replied: "At the risk of infringing upon my hus lmnd's rights, I shall venture to accept your kind offers." "It is proper, then, that I should intro duce myself to you in a more formal man ner. I am the Viscount Leonce de Ver dun." "And I, sir," said Monsieur Dulaurier, "am called Adolphe Dulaurier, a former notary, and here are any wife and children." "What a pity it is, Monsieur Verdun," said Monsieur Dulaurier, after they had reached the restaurant, "that we did not become acquainted sooner! We have to morrow " "Day after to-morrow, father," said Ixmitette. "No matter, there will be no further op portunity of seeing each other " "Bah!" cried Madame Dulaurier, "if Mon bieur de Verdun does not disdain tuch a poor little village as ours, as he is disen gaged, he might pay us a visit and do honor to our real Flemish beer." "What! would Monsieur de Verdun con sent?" EV'Consent, indeed, I accept your invita tion most gratefully." "Don't you think," whispered Louise to her sister, "that father and mother are rather hasty in inviting a stranger to our house?" "Not at all." replied Louisette; "it is quite natural." lwrrr ir. Two months later, on a pleasant autumn evening, Leonce alighted at the railroad sta tion at DonaL and Monsieur Dulaurier stretched out hishaud to him across the barrier. A carriage, to which were attach ed two fine, well-fed horses, soon bore the young man and his host along the dusty roads of old Flanders. The village in which the Dulaurier fam ily lied Wing ouie twelve miles from Pouai, Leonce IhkI an opportunity of appre ciating the almost affectionate kindness of Monsieur Dlaurir, and what seemed very ftraneeto him, but very natural, for all that, the old provincial; who had appeared slightly ridiculous to him in Paris, now ap peured what he really was, a simple, natural, cukk-wilted and gentlemanly man. He was received with the most deuion-t-trathe joy by Madame Dulaurier, a cor dial greeting by Louise and a peculiar smile by IiOuisette. As it was well on to 7 Mock, Dulaurier got up and said: "Since tLat scapegrace of a Van der Velde has not tt returned, let us leave him to his par tridge, and have dinner at once." After a typical Flemish dinner, which ex tended far into the night and which was well navored with beer and wine, Monsieur I'ubuner said to Leonce: "Without further ceremony, old fellow, I'm going to $end jou to bed. After seven hours of rail road travel one's head is apt to be all oat of forts. Now, I'll show you to your room. and good night." Leonce followed Dulaurier. On his waj through the hall leading to his room he caught sight of something moving alone i some distance ahead of him and which seemed to disappear into the wall, down a stairway or through a trap door, he was not certain "which. This something.if it wa? a man, was not like other men; this giant, if it was a giant, was about swen feet high and full three feet and more broad. This seemed impossible, as Leonce thought, and began to imagine himself the victim of some hallucination, or of some of the Bur gundy he had been drinking. When Leonce found himself alone he be gan unpacking his trunks, his portmanteau, and his hatrbox. From the folds of his portfolio he took out a letter neatly folded and scented, and began to read it aloud, or rather to reread it, as we shall see. It ran as follows: "I love you, Louise! Yes, I love you! Gentle and goocl and charming as you are, who could help loving you? If I have left Paris, it was on your account and to prove my love. For the last two months I have thought of nothing but you and those charming locks with which the Kbreezes sported on the day of that eventful walk which decided my future destiny. 0, Louise! Louise! If you could only love me : "Not so bad, not so bad," said Leonce to himself. 1 have never expressed myself better. Now to get this letter to my adored. But how is that to be accomplished? Bah! the easiest way is the best. Slip it under her door. But where is her room? that's the Question. At all events, I shall not have long to wait to find out. I'll just Lts ten as the family passes here on the way to bed. How lucky I wrote my little letter beforehand!" After this brilliant monologue Leonce lit a cigar and began to smoke, listening at the Eaine time for the slightest sound. He did not have long to wait. He soon heard light footsteps in the hall, and the rustling of a dress, and then he could see the light of a lamp through the transom over his door. He rose quickly, opened the door with the greatest skill and silence, and looked out. He saw the outline of Louisette which dis appeared through a door at the lower end of the hall. Our hero waited for a few moments, then with noiseless steps ho hur ried to to the room Louisette had entered, shot his letter under the door into the mid dle of the room, and then hurried back to his own quarters. "Good," thought he, "to-morrow morn ing my letter will be the first thing that will meet her eye when she gets up." Rub bing his hands as if he had performed the greatest feat that had ever been heard of, e threw himself on his "bed to sleep the sleep of the just. Next morning, just as 7 o'clock sounded from the clock of a neighboring brewery, Leonce was aroused by a very strange feel ing in his arm, as if it had been caught in a vise Leonce awoke, but could not con vince himself that he was not still dream ing. He saw standing by his bedside and holding his arm in his mighty grip a giant very much like the giant he thought he had seen the night before in the darkness in the corridor; but this was a veritable giant, in flesh and blood. This orge was not seven feet high, but fully six and as broad as Polyphemus, only that this cyclops had two little gray eyes that shone in his nead.. His voice was hard and guttaral, and he said: "Get up. Sir Parisian! I am Van der Velde!" Leonce, half asleep and completely dazed, made no reply. "I am Van der Velde!" cried the giant, layiner special stress upon each syllable as he uttered it and squeezing the young man's arm more tightly than ever. "All right! If you are Van der Velde," replied Leonce, "what do you want me to do?" Leonce tried to withdraw his arm from the vise-like grip of the formidable Poly phemus Van der Velde. The latter, raising the young man in his arms as if he had been a feather, stood him up in the middle of the floor aud again growled: "I am an der Velde! "What the devil does all this mean?" "It means, Sir Parisian, that I am going to out your throat." "But, look here " "No exolanations!" shouted the giant. "B.ut 1 " "No explanations! Put on your clothes and foUow-me.1 - - Leonce thought it best to obey, especially as he could not help himself, and was ready in a few minutes. "Now, follow me," said the cyclops. "But, monsieur," ventured Leonce. "No explanations!" The giant Van der Velde, seizing Leonce by the arm, dragged him after him down the stairs and through the garden, and then opened a gate which led to the public road. Passing through it, he dragged him along for some distance and then knocked at a door. It opened and he thrust Leonce through it and followed him in. Leonce was now in the presence of four men whom he had never seen before. "Monsier de Verdun," said Van der Velde. "This is Monsieur Loreda, tax col lector, and Monsieur Marcassin, surveyor of highways, who will act as your seconds. These gentleman: Monsieur Groot, for merly captain of carabiniers, my old com rade, and Monsieur Desraazures, late lieutenant of marines. These gentleman are fully informed as to the cause of this duel. No explanations necessary." "This is all very fine, Monsieur, but men don't generally fight in this way, without some reason " "No explanations?" thundred the giant. "But, 1 say yes, we must have explana tions! "Ah! ah! Monsieur le Parisien, perhaps you are one of those who boast " "I am at your service, sir." Leonce was a thoughtless fellow, but he was no coward, and he promptly interrupt ed his burly antagonist. The party left the house and soon arrived at a little wood. One of the seconds carried two swords un der his arm. The ground was soon selected and the young Parisian and the Flemish giant stood face to face and sword in hand. Van der Velde, rolling his eyes, which were growing more and more angry, cut the air with his elastic blade until it whistled again and again, and then growled to Le once: "Guard!" Leonce was an expert swordsman; he had long held his own in the fencing schools of Paris, and he now felt full confidence in his skill. Van der Velde was less skillful in the use of the sword, but he relied greatly upon his gigan tic stature and his long arms. Leonce par ried his first attacks with great ease, and it was not long before the point of his sword scratched the hand of his adversary and drew blood. The cyclops, furious at this mishap, drew back fbr a moment, and then falling upon his adversary with the force of a mad bull, lie ran his weapon through Leonce's arm and pressed it forward until it pierced his breast Leonce stacrgered and fell to the ground, a deathly pallor on liis face. Van de Velde ran up to his fallen foe, bent over him, and examined his wound with hmtow on his face, when, with a movement of anguish and with tremulous voice, lie said to the seconds: "How awkward I have been! I pressed my weapon loo far. I only wanted to scratch his arm and 1 have wounded him in the breast. What an awkward brute 1 am!" Leonce stretched out his hand to him. "What the devil do you write letters to my wife for?" cried Van der Velde. in un disguised sorrow; "men don't write to mar ried women in that style. Besides, what a stupid thing it was o" slip that letter into her room. It was I ,ho picked it uo." "What!" exclaimed Leonce. "Louise your wife! You 4-i years of age the husband of a girl scarcely 17 " "What are you talking about? Louis is 23, if you please." "Impossible!" returned Leonce. "Twenty-eight? Well, monsieur, I congratulate you. You have a mot charming wife, and I assure you that I have never seen a more beautiful Woode " "Blonde? Blonde? Poor fellow! His misd is wandering. Why, my wife is a brunette. He's got her mixed with my sis ter Louisette, who is a blonde verv blonde." "Your sister? Monsieur! Then my let ter was for her. I saw her go into that room, and " "Good! Here's another piece of stupidi ty I've been guilty of! My sister did follow my wife to her room to lass hecgood night, but she remained only a. momenta" - "So, monsieur, you are not thi husband of the beautiful girl she is your' sister I forgive you for these ugly wounds!" "It's those infernal wounds which niost trouble me just now. Let us examine them carefully. I know something about surgery." The wound in the ana was a serious one, but that on the breast was very slight. This discovery relieved Van der Velde of a great load of anxiety, he seemed to breathe more freely; he again leaned over the young man, raised him up in his enormous arms and carried him thus toward the Dulaurier mansion. Leonce had lost a irreat deal of blood, and by the tame he had reached the house he had fainted. "Fool! fool that I was!" muttered poor Van der Velde between his teeth. "To think that I imagined and that my wife no, no; it was ridiculous." "No explanations!" feebly cried Leonce, extending his left hand to the giant, "no explanations." The convalescence was not very long. In a fortnight Leonce could press the broad hand of his brave and good-natured van quisher with both of his. During this forced rest and quietness our rattlebrain had ample time for serious reflection. He realized that up to this time he had been leading a false life, and that if he had been annoyed at everything and amused at nothing, it had simply been because he iiad been cood for nothing. He realized, too, that a simple life, any occupation whatso ever, an interest in work or in the attain ment of some worthy end alone can lead to true happiness and remove all necessity for seeking idle distractions. Being a fellow of good sense, when he chose to u3e it. he admired the honest and industrious life of his host and family. He admired their open frankness in everything; the gentle ness and kindness of the women and the open-hearted cheerfulness of the men. He discovered in Louisette the niost assiduous of nurses, a finesse, a nobility concealed under the most simple virtue and the most modest exterior, and one day he said to Van der Velde: "Mv dear friend, Mademoiselle Louisette if she is willing and if you consent can be" "No explanations!" cried the now smil ing Polyphemus. And this is what may come out of follow ing provincials: A wedding, which I most heartily wish you, my dear reader, if de sirable. Published by Arrangement with Bacheller & Co. Dixon's Colored' Daughter. The will of David Dixon, of Sparta, Georgia, in which he left 8500,000 to his daughter, a mulatto, is creating wide in terest here. The woman, Fannie Eubanks, islivingiii good style in Augusta. Mr. Dixon years ago offered 625,000 to any re spectable white man who would marry her. A young man named Eubanks, a graduate of the University of Georgia, accepted Mr. Dixon's proposition, and took the girl north, and they were married in Boston. He brought a certificate from that place showing that they were legally married. Eubanks brought her home, and was well Srovided for on one of Dixon's plantations. fe lived with his dusky bride several years, raising two children by her. Eubanks died several years ago, and left Fannie a dashing widow. Mr. Dixon took her and her two children back to his home, where they lived until he had a fine house built, for them near his own, and there Fannie Eubanks and her mother 1 ved until Dixon's death. He made his will and then sent for the fam ily to come down to his house, together with other witnesses, and informed them that he had made his will, that no one but his lawyer and himself knew what was in it, and that he wanted them all towitness his aignature."4 After signing thq document and having it properly witnessed; he said that after his death it would bo asserted that he was not of sound mind, and he wanted them to test him and see if his mind was clear. After his death his vault was opened. A package of $25,000 in stocks and bonds was found, with the name of the mother of Fannie Eubanks written on it as its owner. This amount wa3 not mentioned in the will in any manner, and the 25,000 was turned over to the woman by the executors. It is asserted by some that the will ought to be broken on account of Mr. Dixon having ad vanced to his brotner $40,000 and taking a mortgage on his land to secure the money. His brother paid the debt, but failed to have the mortgage cancelled, and died without ever takinir up the paper. As soon as he died Dixon came in with the mortgage and took the land for debt. It is also asserted that Dixon had no right to give this mulatto woman, although she was his child, his landed estate, amounting to 17,000 acres of the best land in middle Georgia, as it will injure those owning lands adjoining. The mother of Fannie Eubanks is a very quiet, inoffensive woman, and when any of Mr. Dixon's friends visited him she would wait on his guests and never put herself forward. She always seemed, to recognize the fact that she was a servant. She would often visit Sparta to trade, and some of Mr. Dixon's friends, to whom she would bring things from the plantation, would in vite her to dinner. She woald always pre fer having her dinner sent to the kitchen, where she would eat with the servants. The loans Princesses. At Sandringhara the life of the daughter of the Prince of Wales is simpler than elsewhere, although there, as in other places where they live or visit, the Princess of Wales is an exacting mother so far as good behavior is concerned. I havr been told an anecdote concerning a little visitor who brought with her a very pretty French doll, and for some action of hers which one of the princesses disliked, the doll was hidden behind a chest of drawers. As .soon as the fact was reported to the Princess of Wales, the offending little princess was obliged to present her visitor with her own best doll, and when the mother of the child tried to remonstrate, the princess said, quietly and firmly, that she did not think examples of extreme politeness to those about them could be too early or severely enforced. The royal doll in question, when last I heard of her, occupied a place of honor in little M J 's school room. It is at Sandringham that the special talents as well as the characteristics of the three prin cesses are best known. Tho Princess Vic toria's remarkable gift for music, the cleverness of the Princess Maud for model ing, the genius fffr elocution of the oldest sister, Loni?e, all being known and ad mired by their Norfolk friends with almost as much pride as though the young girls were not maidens of the highest rank in the country. Harper's Young People. Silk Worms in 31assachnsetts. Ihe multitude of silk-worms which have been feeding for the past few weeks at the Corticelli silk-mills is a sight to behold. Their number was estimated at over seventy five thousand, this mass occupying a wide table that extended almost the entire length of the new mill. Last Sunday the worms had nearly all attained their full size, and thousands of them were preparing to wind themselves in their cocoons. Several hands were kept constantly busv feeding this army of worms or removing tnem to little paper boxes, which are arranged in sections in a large box, each large box holds about a hundred of them. Thu3 each worm ha3 a seperate compartment in, which to spin its cocoon, and they are taken one by one from the table and deposited in these little recep tacles, These thousands upon thousands of worms, however, can not produce a mill ionth part of the silk consumed in making the spool silk here, Hampshire Gazette. THE SPECTATOR Tie Work asd Co3t.of a legislature A. Jteaorial to Congress Edacatioat COXCLUDJXO. PAPKR, I think it worth while to preasut a few facts relating to the work of the territorial legislature of lSi6, so as to show how the wheels of gov ernment moved when there were no United States senators to elect, and no paying offices at all to scramble for. There was but one legislative body in those days, and it was called the house of representa tives. It was composed in 1846 of seventeen members, to-wit: A. L. Lovejoy (the speaker), Hiram Straight and "SV. G. PVault, of Clacka mas county; Angus McDonald, Jesse Looney. Bobert Newell and A. Chamberlain, of Champoeg: Joseph L. Meek, Law rence Hall and I). H. Lownsdale, of Tuality; A. H. Hembree and Thomas Jef freys, of Yamhill; Geoorge Summers, of Clatsop; W. F. Tolniie, of Lewis; H. W. Peers, of Vancouver; and J. D. Boon and J. E. "Williams, of Polk. They sat nineteen days and passed thirty-two acts, besides sundry resolu tions. Their work was well done, and for the most part stood the test of the two great de stroyers time and the courts. They appropri ated for various purposes $5000, making the territorial debt S10.000 in all. Everybody was satisfied, as far as the newspaper indicates, and every thinking man must be satisfied with a legislature that is industrious and honest. The total expenses of the session were 877. The house rejected a motion to declare gold and silver the only legal tenders. They located and established a terrritorial load from Salem to the mouth of Mary's river, in Benton county; rejected an act providing for the erection of a new jail at Oregon City (the first one, which was the only one in Oregon, had been burned I in the spring before) because there had been but two occasions for its uso for the whole year. The liquor question was extremely prominent and was brought before the legislature by the introduction of a resolution by Br. Tolniie to the effect that the legislature deem it inexped ient to legalize the traffic, This was killed, thirteen to three. An act to regulate the niau ufacture and sale of ardent spirits passed by ten votes to five. This was called the license law and was vetoed by Gov. Abernethy, but was passed over his veto by a vote of ten to five. The sceno during the passage was said to have been very impressive. Of other work, the legislature passed a pilotage bill for the Columbia and "Willamette navigation; they abolished the criminal court, established circuit courts and a probate court, abolished the postoffice department, and adopted a memorial to congress, of which we will hereafter speak. The legislature elected several territorial officers, among them Frederick Prigg, secretary; Alonzo Skinner, circuit judge; H. M. Knighton, mar shal; John H. Couch, treasurer; George W. Bell, auditor; and Theophilus McGrader, re corder. In their memorial the legislature endeavor to set forth reasons why Oregon should have American recognition. "We hae," said they, "abundant breadstuffs, thousands of barrels of flour or biscuit, if jou like that better aud enough of Bait beef and pork to go with it. "We can supply your naval vessels in the Pacific There is lumber and pitch when wanted, and flax and hemp if jou wish us to raise them. "We have by our own good laws a square mile of land, rectangular, triangular, or catty-cornered; and we are satisfied with that. If you assume control of our destinies, pray let our farms alone or you will ruin us. We trust to your wisdom to do all you can for the cause of education, and we recommend grants of land. It is difficult for ships to sail up or down our rivers (which are the noblest and most navigable in the world), and would you kindly supply a powerful steam towboat to en able our tired mariners to bid defiance to winds and currents? (Not a word about difficult Co lumbia bar; let congress alone to learn about that). "We are speechless with awe at Com modore "Wilkes' grand project for a railway across the continent, and might have proposed it ourselves had we not been anticipated. (Say, rather, if you had not seen the route with your own unbelieving eyes. A railway to the moon would have seemed just as feasible to you old pioneers). This memorial to congress was a tough nut to crack. The legislature as a whole considered the subject, and thought it pretty hard to get into words, so, distrusting their collective liter ary powers, they handed the job over to a com mittee of ihc, who appointed, ip a fit of des peration, a sub-committee of three T' Vault, Summers and Peers. The committee referred the matter to Mr. Peers, who, zealous for the honor of his committee and the welfare of his state, wiote, revised and built up the memorial, which is by far the oddest mixture of sense and simplicity that can be found in a summer's day. Up to tho time of which lam writing, Oregon had presented an admirable scene of industry and tranquillity, perhaps without a parallel iu the history of new colonies. This peaceful con dition appears to have resulted from a combina tion of causes and circumstances; the settlers had early imLibed, from tho liberal and repub lican institutions under which they had been educated and nurtured, an unconquerable de sire for self-government;but feeling their feeble ness and the insufficiency of the available means for their future security and pro tection, they maintained and husbanded their abilities and resources under a temporary government, with the nroper and reasonable hope of receiving succor and protection from their mother country when a timely opportunity presented itself. The question arose in 1816, on the arrival of the news of the settlement of the boundary question, whether the time had not arrived when the people of Oregon might, with out impairing the dignity and independence of their own government, present themselves be fore congress as desiring an extension of the general government over them. They had rea son to believe that perhaps there would never occur any exigency in which their wants could be brought more effectively before that body. The question of annexation carried with it the question of land grants to states, and a variety of other important considerations on which it was found necessary to tako such an ticipate action as would induce the general government's sanction to already existing cus toms and statutes. The United States congress by its discussions and votes had in some measure manifested its willingness to conform to the set tlers' wishes, and in particular had assumed a satisfactory attitude upon the question of land donations. It was thought advisable in 1816, and the subject had been often moved before, to send "a delegate to congress properly clothed with the authority to represent the government and people of Oregon. The subject was an im portant one, and excited the deepest interest. The Sisectator contains many references to it, editorial and communicated, from which it is easy to gather that public sentiment was favor able to it, but the selection of a proper indi vidual as a delegate was not by any means easy. Public opinion, divided on this matter, was unanimous in nailing the news of the settle ment of the long vexed boundary question, and the democratic party, under whose regime it took place, gained a lasting prestige on the banks of the Columbia and the Willamette. Of private and personal matters the Spectator contains a great deal. I judge that it will not be space thrown away if I refer slightly to some. There was, in the primitive days of 1816, consid erable marrying and giving in marriage. And many of those who, out of pure affection, or from a desire to get title to the 610 acres of land which only a married man could claim, or for other reasons, they entered upon the matrimo nial state. A large number are known or remem bered to this day by not a few peoplo, who would not object to have their memories thus quickened. Here, then, follow the names of sundry eager grooms and blushing brides: Stephen Staats and Miss Forrest, Isaac Staats and Miss "Williams, Alanson HInman and ?Iis3 Gerrisb, CapL Bobert Newell and Miss New man, J. W. Nesmith and Miss Goff, W. C. De ment and Miss Johnson, Sidney Smith and Miss Bayley, Joseph Vatt and Miss Craft, Henry Euxton and Miss "Woolly, John P. Brooks and Miss Thomas, and others. Among the deaths reported for the year, the most notable was that of Dr. John E. Long, sec retary of the territory, who was drowned in the Clackamas river on June 21. He was a native of England and was bred as a physician. Ho came to the United States in 18S3 and to Oregon ten years later. His sympathies were strongly with the American party, and he was permeated with republican institutions, was a valuable citizen and a useful officer, but was the object of jeal ousy on account of hi3 influence with the terri torial government and was termed in derision ,8revisor of the laws." The-'Oregon Bangers," the first military or ganization within this territory was formed near Salem in May, 1818. About forty-five volun teered. The Captain was Charles Bennet, who was afterwards killed in the Yakima war. the lieutenants were A. A. Bobinson, Isaac Hutchins, and Hiram English; sergeants, Thomas Holt, Thomas Howell, S. C. Morris and "Wm. Herren. In educational matters the settlers had not made mora than a beginning. The Oregon in stitute, at Salem, since merged into the Willam ette" university, was, as every one knows, the first school of any sort in Oregon. In 1S16 it still oxisted under the former name, but appears to have existed precariously. Through tho exertions of Alanson Hinnrtn, its principal teacher, It kept open, but Its terms do not appear to have been, regular, as wa meet with a notice in the Spectator that, owing to causes beyond their control, the trustees deem it necessary to close the school Indefinitely. Up in the-BickreaU region, a mile from Col. Nat. Ford's honse, there was a private school called the Jefferson Institute. It began its first session in April, 1816. Tuition, 8 per scholar; teacher. J. E. Lyle. Its advertisement appeared regularly in. the Spectator. As far as 1 can learn, these two schools constituted the whole educational system of Oregon. Public schools did not exist, although there necessity was felt ana the newspaper was a warm advocate of such. The printing association, through benev olence or a desire to speculate in school books, made arrangements to print 2000 copies of "Web ster's Elementary SpellerjSomewhat abridged. I do not know whether these actually were painted or not; but would like to be informed by some one better posted. I was about to re mark that if they appeared they were the first books printed on the coast: but I now recall the case of the Nez Perce and Spokane books or pamphlets printed by Spalding, "Walker and other missionaries previous to the founding of the Spectator. In this connection I wish to re- mane that tne press owned and used by the Printing association was ordered in New York, through their agent, Francis HalL And la memory of this gentleman's care and kindness in makingthe selection of the printing materials, the association ordered their paper to be con stantly sent him as Iong as published. I am the more particular to say this as some people have expressed the opinion that this press is the same as that in use at the Lapwal mission in previous years. If there were no public schools in 1816 there was at least a circulating library, a semi-public concern, called the Multnomah library. There were shareholders, and A. Hood, of Oregon City, was librarian. There were branches iu various counties, as wo learn from an advertise ment, wnerem Kansom Clark, librarian for Yamhill, announces the receipt of his tale of books and will loan them out A rough estimate of the wheat crop of ISIS appears thus in the Spectator: County. Bushels. Champoeg , go.000 Tuality 30.000 Yamhill 20,000 -101K 15.030 Clarke. Vancouer i Clatsop and Lew is t -o,wu Total 150,000 Of this quantity one-third, or 50,000 bushels, might be spared for export. The foregoing rough notes embrace the most important part of the contents of the twenty five numbers issued of the Spectator in 1816. The paper continued to be published for many years to come, and played a very useful and al most indispensible part In the history of the state. It had many changes of management and gave employment to many successive editors. It was a journal of note and influence for the mo3t of its exist ence, and chronicled many striking events; but question if at any period of Its life it deserved better or the public than at the time which we have been considering. On the contrary, I think most readers would recognize more of interest m the spectacle of a solitary semi monthly newspaper, separated by more than a thousand miles of land or water from tho near est of its kind, bravely keeping watch over the destinies of its country and tirelessly working for the advancement of the country's interests, than in the more pretentious and more selfish conduct of the most popular journals of civil ization. THE POETLAIfD PEOHrBITIOff CLUB. Pohtiand, Or., Aug. 7. Dear Friends: One of the weightiest and most sacred responsibilities of an American citizen is the exercise of the elective functions of citizen ship. Party politics and conscience politics are palpably not always identical. To vote in ac cord with party fealty and in accord with con science, or in the feai of God, to elect officials who will legislate for the bast interests of the city or state or nation, frequently involves a serious mental conflict, as existing parties may repudiate or evade moral issues. At the same time it grieves a party adherent to withdraw from those with whom he has acted as a voter for years, nor shall he do so ex cept at the behest of consience and patriotism. "We are driven to this painful severance of party ties under the pressure of these sentiments. "We believe candidly that existing parties are disloyal to tbo convictions of prohibitionists who seek for constitutional prohibition of the manu facture and sale of intoxicating drinke. After a century of political expedients and evasions, by which the efforts of temperance people have been baffled, the conviction rests upon our people that "the saloon has its citadel of power in politics." Consequently in the arena of politics it must be met openly, squarely and uncompromisingly. By this means not long hence a distinctly prohibitory party will obtain the balance of power. Our club, insignificant in its numbers, and without prestige, is one of the many nuclei throughout our nation of like humble propor tions toward which are most surely gravitating purity and riches of the brain and heart of American womanhood and manhood to outlaw the liquor traffic and to protect the home. Political parties are an opportunity a means to an end. Republicans and democrats alike know the end we have in view, but will not consent to be a means to that end; L-e., they refuse to incorporate a prohibitory plank into their platforms. Hence the need of a prohibi tory party, which 6hall seek, and never rest until it secures prohibitory amendments to the constitution of the states and the nation. Believing that a citizen's ballot is a citizen's conscience incarnated, designed to express, in a constitutional way, a citizen's political convic tions in all issues involving principle, we enroll our names in this prohibition club in the inter ests of good government and temperance re form. We believe prohibitionists have rights, as sacred, and at least, equal to those which are so universally accorded to liquor dealers by republicans and democrats in the primaries, caucusses and elections of our fair land of political freedom. If we are mistaken in our course and methods it is very certain the Baloon men are not mistaken in theirs. Political par ties secure to them full immunity to desolate, to despoil and to degrade our fellow citizens, and refuse by constitutional prohibition to crush tho liquor Interests, lest by losing the saloon vote they may lose the ascendency they hold by virtue of that vote; they presume on holding the votes of temperrnce people, and temporize to secure the liquor vote. "Prohibitionists have petitioned, supplicated, remonstrated, even prostrated themselves before the political par ties of this country" m the intensity of their desire to arrest the ravages of the liquor traffic, only to be trifled with, or spurned, or branded as "cranks and fanatics." The republican candidate for the office of governor of Ohio recently made this statement, and I have not seen it repudiated by any repub lican organ: "The principle of taxation and regulation of tho liquor traffic is eternal, and to that, let it be known of all men, the republican party is unalterably committed." .Last -February the New Jersey house of assembly repudi ated prohibition; the house stood thirty-five republicans, twenty-four democrats. The next day a double-leaded editorial appeared in tho Trenton Times, a republican paper. It was headed "Good-Bye Prohibition." The editor congratulated the house on its emphatic disap proval, of. constitutional prohibition, and spoke of it as "one of the most pernicious, hypocriti cal, unreasonable, impracticable measures ever introduced into the legislature. It3 very idea was contrary to the spirit or American liberty and an insult to the individual sovereignty of every American citizen." Of course American liberty ana individual sovereignty, according to this authority, is destroyed it liberty to license liquor-selling is denied. At Springfield, Ohio, the republican state con vention, we are told, elected a liquor dealer as chairman of the convention "with uproarious ap plause! This was doubtless a pleasant sop for the 15,735 liquor sellers of Ohio, and led them to conclude that their interests were perfectly secure in the hands of the republican party. "We believe it will not be disputed that the entire republican press of the United States en dorses Judge Foraker's declaration that "the principle of taxation and regulation of the liquor traffic is eternal." The democratic press is no whit better. In deed, the democratic press and the whisky party have lived in such intimacy, in the same house, for so many years, as to have become almost synonymous terms. "Way do republicans thus coquet and democrats cohabit with this Delilah? Her genealogy is written iu the blood of the centuries. Is it because she wield3 such im mense political Influence? It Is estimated that, on an average, each of the 200,000 saloons of our land directly controls ten votes. If so, the 202,263 brewers, distillers and dealers wield 2,000,000 votes. This liquor oligarchy is organ ized, commands a capital estimated at $1,200, 000,CGQ wlth.wliich to influence legislation,bribe JUOgeS, WIUIKJIU YfllUCSJreo, !; juiica, ouuar dizo papers, ouy votes, influence primaries or whatever they may choose to do to prevent th constitutional prohibition of the liquor traffic. Taxation, or license, or regulation does not decrease intemperance, we are told. The liquor men, therefore, do not greatly object to the "principle of taxation and regulation," nor is the democratic party seriously opposed to 1L The present status of the issue clearly shows that the politicians and liquor men agree in, their opposition to constitutional prohibition: we believe that the only possibility of destroy ing this giant evil is by constitutional prohibi tion. Consequently, wa cannot longer vote for license, or taxation, or regulation. In this view we are sustained by men and women of undoubted loyalty, culture, inteili- Bence and piety who have already created a terature, established a press, delivered ad dresses and formulated a platform of principlea thereby giving a reason for the hope that is within them, and affording an exhibit of our purposes. To ridicule such a body of American citizens is unworthy of dignified journalism. To apply such epithets to them as "cranks" and "fanatics," is to exhibit a partizan spirit of too most odious complexion. Let those who differ from us candidly read "Alcohol and the State," by Judge Pitman; "Common Sense and Prohibition," by President Bascom; "Our Appeal to Casar," by the Na tional Prohibition committee; Joseph Cook's 'Season's for a New Party? or the addresses by Miss Francis "Willard, Hon. J. B. Finch, or the following weekly papers: Ihe Lever, The Voice or the Weekly Witness, and they will be satisfied that we have a cause that should com mend itself to the conscience, and disperse tho ignorance, the prejudices which keep many per sons in the old parties. The Christian and pa triotic sentiments that permeate our literature "With malice toward none, with charity for all," are embodied in the mot to emblazoned on our banner, "For God and Home and Native Land." In these principles we propose to educate our selves and our fellow-citizens by our literature, our press, our lectures and our cluba, and by persistently and consistently voting as wo teach ana pray we shall m due time educate this nation. "We hope to show less anxiety for number and otflceB than for these vital principles, and thus inaugurate the nation's needed emancipa tion from Its subserviency to the liquor oli garchy, a worse bondage than ever fettered the limbs of the 4,000.000 chattels whose emancipa tion cost our people such an ocean of blood and such fabulous treasure. The old slave oligarchy drove the beat ele ments out of tho whig and democratic parties into the liberty, free-soil and republican camp. "In 1810 the liberty party cast 7059 votes. They were branded as cranks,' 'fanatics,' abolition ists,' 'black republicans,' etc. Despite these bard names in 1811 the party cast 62,263 votes, of which New York gave 15,812; and in lSks the liberty men and free-soilers combined and increased the vote to 291,312 for the overthrow of slavery. From such beginnings the republi can party took Its rise. That "grand old party of moral ideas" was willing to keep abreast of the people of. moral ideas; within Its ranks the friends of freedom found a place congenial to then: as pirations, where they could vote against a giant wrong. That party achieved its grand record through its loyalty to freedom and nationality, as against slavery and state sovereignty. "With profound sorrow and inexpressible regrets wa find ourselves compelled to leave its ranks be cause, in our judgment its present course Is that of subserviency to the liquor oligarchy. Abraham Lincoln responded to the heart throbs of this nation In its struggle with slavery and nullification, and became its second Wash ington; while Douglass, the temporizer with, slavery, was left in the race, although his loy alty stands unchallenged and unstained. Grant also, grasping the real Issues involved In our struggle for freedom and nationality, led our battalions to glorious victory and the complete overthrow of our brave, but (we think) mis taken brothers of the Southern Confederacy; while McClellan, who attempted, a con servative policy, passed into permanent eclipse. Gen. Grant is imperlskably enshrined In the hearts of aU freedom-lovine Americans. North and South to-day vie in their expres sions of grief and sorrow over the death of the great champion of freedom and nationality, and to his grave unborn millions will make their reverent pilgrimages, there to kindle and cherish love for freedom, nationality, human ity. With such illuslriou3 examples and such grand iilustrations of the triumphs of truth, and ireedoin we do not despair of the results of tho present struggle between our temperance prin ciples, and this monstrous evil of intemperance. This party of good government and reform is not to be estimated by the votes It has cast, or may cast xor several years to come but by us sublime purpose, viz.. the overthrow offerBflg power; the corrupei of politics, the enemy of ireeaom, me aesoiaier or nome ana tne reproach of the age. Our watchword; are a pure, free ballot for all the son3 and daughters of Amer ica; for "God and home and native land," un til death. CHAPLAIN B. SHEBWOOD STOBBS. A Coaso SlfiTO Pen. Stanley's blood-curdling account of the raid of the slave-catching banditti, who for eleven months have been devastating the region between the Congo and the Lubriaius and reaping a human harvest of helpless captives, are the strongest arguments in hi volumes in favor of the rapid opening of Congo Land to civilized trade. This i3 a sketch of the slave pen itself. There are rows upon rows of nakedness, relieved here and theae by the white dresses of the cap tors. There are lines or groups of naked forms, upright, standing or moving about listlessly; naked bodies are stretched under the sheds in all positions; naked legs innu merable are seen in the perspective of po3 trate sleepers; there are countless naked children, many mere infante, forms of boy hood and cirlhood, and occasionly a drive of absolutely naked old women bending un der a basket of fuel, or cassava tubers, or bananas, who are driven through the mov ing groups by two or three musketeers. On paying more attention to details, I ob sesve that mostly all are fettered; youths with iron rings around their neck, through which a chain, like one of our boat chains, is rove, securing the captives by twenties. The children over ten are secured by three copper rings; each ringed leg brought to the centialring, which accounts for the abparenfc listlessness of movement I observed on first coming in presence of the curious scene. The mothers are secured by shorter chains, around whom their respective progeny o infants are grouped, hiding the cruel iron links that fall in loops or festoons over their mammas' breasts. There is not one adult man captive amongst them. " Lit tle perhaps as my face betrayed my feeling3, other pictures would crowd upon the imag ination; and after realizing the extent and depth of the misery presented to me, I walked about as in a kind of dream, wherein I saw through the darkness of the night the stealthy forms of of the murderers creeping toward" the doomed town; its inmates alL asleep, and no sound issuing from the gloom but the drowsy hum of chirping cicadas or distant frogs when suddenly Hashes the light of brandished torches; the sleeping town is involved in flames, while the volleys of musketry lay low the frightened and as tonished people, sending many through a short minute of agony to that soundless sleep from which there will be no waking. Patti's Precious Yolce. As an instance of the phyiscal care that is bestowed upon Patti, it is related that once when she returned from her daily drive she was exceedingly thirsty, and asked Nicolini to request some one of their long retinue to cause a glass of water to be brought to her by as quick stage3 as the comparatively royal etiquette of the menage would permit. ""Water?" shrieked Nicolini, in high B flat "ma mignonne, you know that you are going to sing to-morrow night, and that water will chill your blood. Oh, no; I forbid any water." "Then give me a taste of wine," pleaded thirsty Patti. 'WineV" roared Nicolini, in his highest C. "Ma mignonne you are going to sing to-morrow night, and you know that wine will heat your blood. No I can not permit wine.' "Please, can't I have something wet," begged Patti, with trembling lip as her palate clicked dryly in her throat. Nicolini pondered long and deeply, and at length, with his own hand3. carefully prepared for the great singer a soothing draught of dissolved magnesia, Argonaut. Because Miss Lulu Hurst has retired from tho stage it does dot follow that she has lost any of her magnetic qualities. Indeed, it Is not un likely that the neat little fortune which she has gathered dnrin?her tour will prove more of an attraction to strong men than the umbrella which they found so hard to let go. Indiana- I polls Journal.