The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, March 18, 1900, Page 32, Image 32

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    32
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, IS, 1900.
UP-TO-DATE JOURNALISM
DISCLOSURES OP "AGONY COLUMX"
TO SISTER JAXE.
j "Young gentleman, age 2S, head book
SiTamped Among: the Plan to Marry ' keeper for a mill; height. 5 feet 8 Inches.
Unman Auction Sales and the
Various Other Miseries.
There Isn't a newspaper man In the
country who Isn't prepared to take a sol
emn oath that the American papers are
the best, the fairest, the cleanest and the
most reliable in the world. Of course.
we know that foreigners have their papers.
too, but most of them are mistakes, wasted
jobs things that have gone wrong In the
w ! ti,, nnK- tMnr that mh ho
making, and the only thing that can be
said in favor of them Is that they do
their best, poor sheets, to look as much
like an up-to-date newspaper as they can,
which Isn't much, considering the way
thpv handle their news and the manner ,
ln -which they "make up" their dally and
weekly publication, Yet it Is always right
to give other folks a chance, and not to
believe that all that's good and right Is I
fenced ln by your own gang. But 'the j
foreign newspapers! Ah, well, they are,
indeed, as a whole, to be pitied!
Well, the other day a friend of mine, a !
newspaper man. called on me.
onH l .
started In to tell me a tale of woe, as
usual. Finally he said: "Jane, do you
know what the agony column is?"
"Agony column? Yes; but I never read
it. Church news, marriages, tea parties"
"Why, what are you talking about?
But you are right about the marriage list.
It should be called the agony column."
"It seems agony enough to me," said L
"But go on; I don't want to dwell on the
6ubject."
The Real Thing:.
"Well," said my newspaper friend, "the
real agony column has to do with mar
riages) disappearances and the 'come-nack-and-all-will-be-forglven'
sort of business."
And, taking a New York paper, he began
reading from the "agony" column an "ad."
Here it Is:
"Madeline: Oh, how I miss you! The
glow of they beauteous cheek, the touch
of thy silken hair, the love-light in thine
eyes! Ah, Madeline!"
"What do you think of that?"
"Increase of lunacy."
"Not a bit of it. If it had come for
answers to correspondents, the editor
would have told him to try vinegar and
milk mixed, to give him something to
think about; or to get a bicycle. But let
us get on."
"Now, look at this one, and think what
a splendid chance there would have been,
if you had not put your foot in it, years
ago," and he read:
"A young nobleman, able to furnish
highest credentials, here and abroad, as
to title and respectability; speaking faev
eral languages and moving in the best
society, wishes to meet lady of means and
refinement, matrimonially inclined. This
is not a financial scheme, as the adver
tiser haa great prospective wealth; no tri
Xlers need answer; all communications
strictly confidential and letters returned.
Address H. H."
"It sounds good business, doesn't It?
And the only funny thing is that some one
in the good society he moves ln does not
jump at him with both feet. Of course,
lt'G a mere man schemer In this case, but
let us see what the women have to say
for themselves. Here is one who is busi
ness up to the eyes, and gets her points in
like an auctioneer's catalogue:
" 'A young widow of integrity, whose
personality and environments are alluring,
would like to become acquainted with a
man of probity, who has reached the au-
tumn of life in good health, and who is i
sufficiently opulent to easily and con&lst
enly provide appropriately for a woman
whose loyal devotion he desires; object,
matrimony. Address Astral.'
Xo Flics on Them.
"Now, Jane, no one but an American
girl would say she was young and wished
to meet a man in the autumn of life. Most
any other girl or woman of any other na
tion would want to meet him at the box
office ln the opera-house. Of course. It's
all right; for I do say that there are no
files on the young American girl or wom
an of today. They are the nicest, pret
tiest, most bewitching and soul-entrancing
girls In the whole world, and I don't want
a bouquet or car ticket for saying so,
either
"But here," interrupting himself, "is a
fine young lady who knows what she is,
and knows what she want Our Madeline
idiot should read this. Now, Incline thine
ear toward me and listen:
" 'A tall, slender, graceful, thorough
bred young brunette beauty, of stunning
appearance and fascinating personality,
desirct? to meet a millionaire; others please
not answer: no agents; object, matrimony.
Exclusive.' "
I was speechless, but when I came to
myself I told him that I d'd not believe
for a moment that any American girl
would put such an advertisement in a pa
per. Nothing but a million for her! Stuff!
"It's up-to-date journalism," said my
friend, the newspaper man.
"Well." I repl.ed, "I dare say the girl Is
worth It. for a woman who takes nine j
adjectives to describe nerself must be
cheap at a million dollars. That 'ad' 's
the gem of the column. But It's a pity
that we cannot manage things Just as
neatly here in Oregon as they do ln the
Eastern states. It would save a lot of cs
pense In visiting, traveling, ball-going,
theaters, etc. Every one knows what P.
T. Barnum said, "The "road to fortune is
through printer's ink.' "
Business and Pleasure.
".Here is another 'ad,' " said my friend.
"Now, this woman Is strictly on the look
out for a man that has business qualifica
tions, as well as a stock of love, affection
and kisses. And this chance should be
called to the attention of a number of
Portland people who are looking around
for a grubtake. Listen to the notice:
" 'A man wanted to manage a large. J
well-stocked farm: If the man satisfies and j
it is mutual, am willing to marry. Ad-
dress Lonely, Kansas.' j
"Now, many a man would, no doubt
like to have the qualifications necefsaT
to obtain this position, yet a great mam
men have a dislike of the state whero
grasshoppers and sockless Simpsons vege
tate. Yet this woman resides there and
Vin! mnnnp-pd to Kourfi a 'well-Ktneked I
farm.' I
"Here Jane, Is a chance for a man who
Is going to Cape Nome, and has money
enough to purchase two tickets: 'Young
lady wishes to make acquaintance with
party going to Cape Nome to start hotel.
Address Etta.'
"And here is," continued my journalistic
friend, "an exceedingly pretty widow. IS.
who seeks acquaintance with a wealthy,
elderly gentleman: view, matrimony: re
ply. Elite.' If a woman polishes off No.
1 by the time she Is IS. No. 2 must have
pluck,-If he Is found, and all the more
so. as she has hope of a third. But who
ever found a woman with a conscience?"
"Whoever found a man with any sense
at all?" said I. "What are you talking
about, anyway? You have picked out
all the worst ones; Just to show what
nome women are like; but I don't believe
there's another one In the paper."
"Pnnur," a Blonde.
"Don't you? Well, read this: 'Beautiful
blonde; perfect figure; sweet disposition;
like to meet wealthy gentleman; object,
matrimony. Address Pansy.' You would
never get a man to cry out his wares ln
that fashion."
"Oh. he will cry thpm for all they are
worth." said L "and. In most cases, for
a great deal more. And I bet you there
arc just the same things from men in the
paper. Let me look at It."
The first line I read took my breath
away. Oh, mercy, what are we comlnc
to? He makes the most of .what beauty
he has, and talks about his age and
weight like a prizefighter. Here Is what
I he says:
153 pounds, dark complexion; wishes cor
respondence with young lady, with a view
to early marriage. Address Faithful."
But here Js another, ivno steps into the
ring to put himself up for sale:
"Gentleman, fairly circumstanced; en
treats confidential correspondence with
amiable, handsome. Intelligent widow; re
ligious, of searchable record, and some
means; object, matrimony. Charles."
"There," said my friends, "Is a man
after my own heart. I would take him to
be a knowing bird. If he had not prefered
a widow; but-religious, some means and
searchable record hum! hum! He knows
something, for if every woman's record
was searched well, Jane, we needn't say
what would happen."
"Here Is a doctor," I replied. "Let us
see what he says." I read
T ".-."- -i .. . . .
"Kiysician. . wen eaucaieo , nones,
true ana competent; aesires acquunuuii.-
tSnSTSS nSaZ
happy nome. agentg &nd not no
Confidential."
He knows something," said I. "Just
notice the nice way he wants to start a
happy home and a good business, on the
soman's money. Trust a man for know-
" ",n "" .
'Which is more than you can say of a
woman," replied by newspaper friend, as
ho took the paper from me and read oft
a lot more extracts from the "agony col
umn" of much the same general import as
the others. Finally I got tired and begged
him to stop.
Yes, this is no doubt up-to-date journal
ism. LOU VERNON.
MYSTERIOUS GINSENG.
American Root Product Greatly
In
Demand by Chinese.
An ugly-looking little yellow root, called
by the Chinese "ginseng," Is exported
from this country to the Flowery King
dom. Its utility Is a mystery to Ameri
can merchants who deal in it. The root Is
bought by representatives of Chicago
houses in New York, says the Herald, of
that city, who pay as high as $7 a pound
for It. Last year the quantity sent to
China was appraised at $4,000,000. Many of
the Chinese merchants forward It home in
settlement of thfilr bills. In China the root
Is said to bring as high as $12 and ?15 a
pound. No American has ever found out
to what use the root Is put. It has a very
bitter taste, but so far as can be ascer
tained, possesses no medicinal virtues.
The root Is found along the banks of
mountain brooks in the upper part of New
York Stale, and also in Tennessee. A
singular feature of Its growth is that it
Is only found on the east banks of brooks,
and almost a foot and a half from the
surface of the ground. Inhabitants of the
mountain districts in the two states have
for years been diligently unearthing the
precious root, which yields them im
mense profits, many earning a lucrative
income from it. The root was discovered
about 10 years ago by trappers in the
mountains. They had no conception of
its value. The Chinese accidentally heard
of the finding of the root. Ever since
there has been a paying traffic in It. The
root is packed as carefully as If it were
valuable glassware, and shipped home in
cases.
Several large fur houses do an exten
sive "outside" business in ginseng, their
trappers utilizing spare time in digging
for the root It is suspected that it is
used ln the preparation of opium. Chi
nese merchants In this city, when ques
tioned about It,
strenuously deny this:
J nevertheless American merchants selline
them the mysterious root are convinced
mat it is usea ior mis purpose.
"You buy our tea." said one Chinese
mercnant of this city to a dealer, "and
we buy j-our ginseng. We make tea of
it and use It for malaria."
American merchants laugh at this as-
sertlon. They have made it Into tea, but
It is unpalatable. It has been tried In
cases of malaria, but It proved value-
less. Chemists have examined It, but
cannot find anything, medicinally or oth-
erwlse. valuable ln It. Y'et the Chinaman
Is Willing to pay 57 a POUnd for the root.
When he is asked why It is so valuable
to mm, ne onnKs nis aimonu eyes wisely
and smiles: "Chlneeman slckee; Chlnee
man needee it." The Chinaman fixes the
price of the root according to the supply.
Sometimes he is willing to pay $7 a pound
for it, which price now prevails, and
sometimes only J6. It has never gone
below $5. The wealthy Chinese merchants
of the city, through whom the roots are
shipped, maintain a mysterious silence re
garding its exact virtues. This convinces
MAY HeAD WOMAN
Ai S"7rT- -ilEiiCSrsrcct--tf
JIRS. LILLIE DEVEREtTX BLAKE, OF XEW Y'ORK.
M iill.. Devereux Blake, who, with her friends, threatens to displace Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Catt as the leader of the woman eufCrasista, la regarded as la many respects a more
capable woman than the recently elected president of the SufTrace Association. Mrs. Catt. It
Is charged, has ner accomplished anything worth talking about for women, whereas Mm.
Blake has devoted 30 of her CO jeara of life to the cause. Besides, Mrs. Blake haa been
prominent ln every moement halng for its object the amelioration of woman's condition,
without reference to the franchise. She la a capable lecturer and writer, and her pen haa
never been Idle. Mrs. Catt. on the other hand, has. It la alleged, spent more of her time
reading poetry and raising nowers than ln helping her ftatera. Mrs. Blake Is a native of
Ncrth Carolina. In 1855 she married Frank G. Umsted, who left her a widow, with two chil
dren dependent on her. For 10 years she earned her own living and educated her children
with the money she made out of her literary work. In 1SG0 she married Grennll Blake, of New
York, and since then ha lived ln New York City. The threatened secession from the old as
sociation and the organlratlon of an opposition society, with Mrs. Blake as Its president,
find favor among many of the moat progressive of the suffragists ln New York.
dealers that it is used for opium. It Is It backward. She has been shut between
thought to be mixed with the latter to
Improve it. It Is said the root does not
grow In China.
a
Refreshing; Her Memory.
"What Is your waist measure?" asked
her dearest friend.
"Really, I've forgotten." replied the de
mure little maiden. For a moment she
was buried ln thought Then, turning to
her escort, she asked:
"Harold, how long Is a man's arm, any
way?" Chicago Post.
PROMPTING THE SINGERS
IMPORTANT PART PLAYED BY UX
SEEX "MAX IX THE BOX."
Slernor Sanonl, Prompter of Metro-
polltan Opera, Tells of Great
Artists He Has Known.
Slgnor Sanonl, the prompter in Italian
and French opera at the Metropolitan
Opera-house, New York, is an all-round
musician, and, incidentally, a bit of a
philosopher.
"The public does not know the man In
the box," he says, with an expressive
shrug No the slngers have all tne
, t , m
glory; but every one cannot sing. If
every one did, who would prompt the
singers when they fall? For me, I should
prefer the singing, yes; but I am old. I
!.. ! "?"r J.rrV - ..:
i.uuuiu wnB unuijr. uui i um jui ciwucni
prompter. So I sit In the box. The singers
lrT, , TVia nonA lrrisvtta wia TVia .
r" """ . .r'V""""w """". .. t.
puo c-weii. tnere are many tnings tne
public does not know."
"You did sing, once, Slgnor?" asks a re
porter of the New Y'ork Sun.
"At first I sang, yes. I was 19, and I
had a good baritone voice. I made my
debut in "Trovatore," at the Paganlnl, ln
Genoa. Ah, the youth; how good It is!
I dreamed wonderful dreams then, but
they did not come true. I turned lmpres
sario, but I am glad that I sang, first.
No one can be a good prompter who
has not sung; and it Is something to be
a good prompter, though at 19 I would
have laughed at that idea. I have been
stage manager, too. I have led the or
chestra. Then I was prompter at Covent
Garden from 1873 to 1SS7.
"Those were the days of great opera;
and even to be in the prompter's box
was heaven to a man who loved music.
There are great singers here now; yes.
slnger3 who are very great; but the best
of them were ln the first freshness of
their genius in those Convent Garden days,
and there were Pattl and Albanl, and
ScalchI and Nllsson, all ln full flower,
' Now I admire the great singers. They
I are superb. The world Is at their feet;
i but I I have seen them "born. I have
1 heard them sing, night after night, at their
jbest. One may still sing like an angel,
( but one loses something with the years
' n. PPrtnln trM;t hlnnm thnt Trill Tint tnm
'back, no matter how great the art that
summons it.
Prompter Most Etcntlnl.
"You know It is with the great artists
that a prompter is most e:sentlal. Why?
Because they can afford to be careless,
and they know how to make use of a
prompter without being confused. A de
butante or a young artist Is so serious.
She has studied Tier role until she knows
SUFFRAGE REVOLT.
rf
the leaves of the music until she steps
on the stage. Unless she Is utterly para
lysed by stage fright, which seldom hap
pens, she will not forget.
"With a great artist it is different. The
opera is changed at the last minute.
'Mme. Patti, will you sing tonight?'
'What Is the opera? 'II Barblere.' 'Ah,
certainly. I can sing it in my sleep.' She
doesn't bother her head about It again
until the curtain goes up that night. Then
something slips her memory; but she does
not make a fiasco. She relies upon the
leader of the orchestra and the prompter.
No one else knows she was at a loss.
"I spoke of Patti, but that would never
have happened with Pattl. Her repertoire
was not large, but she was sure. Yet she
would not sing unless the prompter was in
the box. , J
" 'Ah, mon cher,' she would say to me. '
'When you are In the box I do not see ,
you I do not know that you exist.
You
are of no use to me. But If I should look
tnat way, and you were not there, I
should be lost. The thought of what
might happen would make it happen.'
"A singer who has the certainty of; Pattl
can carry an opera on her shoulders. She
lends some of her confidence to every one
alcn nnH Vir!nr.a t-Vn Vincf mf nf Tnr nm.
rades. She gives a certain precision and
spirit to the whole opera. Mine. Sem-
brich Is another who has that quality.
No one could sing with Sembrlch and
fall. She is an inspiration and so fault
less, so unerring. That Is art and nature
as well.
"Ttth TjViTnTiT o irinrlnng !n nnnthpr
arnv 3h m ,.. .nwhinr thmimh
trlumohantlv. and what a renertolre she
has I h.w .soon ctnr, like those lead
such forlorn hopes, Sly such broken
ranks, and win victory out of imminent
,. r U i...j tL .1-.),!. M
."-VIf "r.V -V,.' L" "" "A."
rr1f5i nnrl ia1t nnf ctumVillntr rnrrTnril t
. - . "-o "
wKh. theirs, a high note here, a trill
there, the note for attack given In a dlf-
ficult phrase, blunders covered up, weak
ness supported, timidity routed. When I
sit ln my box and see a thing llko that.
It is as If I saw Balaklava.
"Ah! the brave heart! the great artist!
UNTYING THE KNOT.
IIRITISH LIOX "THAT'S A GOOD FELLOW, 'BOBS,' TAKE
1 would like to cheer, but I, too, am busy.
I am seconding the artist's efforts. So la
the leader of the orchestra. He. too. Is in
spired. We brace, we smooth, we cover
up, we dash ahead. The curtain goes
aown. The audience, with a few excep-
tions. aoes not Know mat anytning nas
iiappcia-u, uwi Biciii uuiiu: u uce square-Jawed face, at the fearless gray
fought before their eyes. ScalchI was . blue evp, POnld nnht either h hnm.s
superb in such scenes as that. She would
QVia Tvrn7rl
sing a whole duet a quartet, I verily
believe If the emergency demanded.
"A good prompter must know every
note, every word of each opera. He must
understand the orchestra as well as he
understands the singers. He must be
steeped In music I can start at the be
ginning of any Italian or French opera
on the Metropolitan bills and give you
every word, very note, from start to nn
Ish. When I "am in my box. I sing every
role In my mind. I know every soprano,
contralto, basso, baritone, tenor note. 1
"watch always. It Is not enough to help
when the need comes. I must try to pre
vent the need: I must foresee the hesita
tion and ward It off.
"I feel that' a singer Is uncertain. He
has a difficult entry ln a duet. He may
not be sure. I fix my eyes on him. He
glances at me and at the orchestra leader.
The difficult moment comes. I nod my
head. I whisper the opening phrases in
such time that the last sound will leave my
lips just as the Instant of his attack
comes. The chef d'orchestre emphasizes
the note of entry. Le volla! He attacks
surely. He Is afloat safely. No one
knows, there was danger.
"Now, then the contralto 13 needed. 1
whisper her phrase. I nod to her. She is
in. The baritone follows. They are all
going: but the quartette Is difficult. They
are alf a trifle -uncerfaln. Then I am
busy. It is like the man who Juggles with
many balls ln the air at one time. I shoot
the phrases at the singers. Tra-la-la!'
j'ta the tenor. 'You, monsieur.' 'De dum
' de to the baritone. 'You 'Tra-la-la to
tho soprano. 'Now. madam.' 'Do re ml!'
to the contralto. 'You.' "
Slgnor Sanonl ' has sprung from his
chair, and Is giving, with fine dramatic
effect, a syncopated version of a "Don
Juan" quartette. Like ScalchI. he could
sing a quartette In an emergency." His
baritone voice may have been better at
19. but it is not bad now. and the fire In
his eyes belles his assertion
that he Is old. He has the
mobile face, the gesticulating hands, thft
unsnuffable flame of his race and of his
profession. He drops back into hl chair,
laughing good naturedly at his own en
thusiasm. n t
To Sofia ScalchI.
H. F. Rodney.
There's many a charming bird who loves to
sing.
And artlrts of all ports on the Rtnlto;
A few enjoy the Nlebelungen Ring:
But give me eongs sung by a grand contralto.
Here's to your art, Sofia,
And your fine contralto voice;
"We ne'er expect to see a
Mezzo nearer to our choice.
May your Intonations seem a
Sweet, perennial refrain.
An we gaze upon our prima
ScalchI. In her mlse en scene!
She carols a If to the manner born;
Loud bravos greet her climaxes and quavers;
Her tempo laughs the metronome to scorn.
While reeling oft her rapid vocal favors.
Here's to a voice that's sturdy
And tempestlc to our heart.
As It thrills us with old Verdi
And the brio In her art.
We have heard some song purveyors.
But aweet airs don't wing their tails.
For, aside, they're merely players.
And not soaring nightingales.
Come vocalize your florid roles again
And vitalize the lyrics Verdi fathered;
Revive the Jigs of funny, sunny Spain,
Nor leae us by Wagnerian cakewalks both
ered. Here's to orchestral echoes
Of the century that's past;
And the Diva will protect those
Softened melodies that last;
For their rhapsodies are freighted
i From Italla's sun-kissed main.
And our ScalchI will be feted
In her perfect miss en scene.
i e
His Pastime.
"We are now ln the 20th century," said
the emperor sternly.
"But, your majesty, there Is almost a
year yet"
"Bother the year! I'm a very hard
working emperor, am I not?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Well, when I feel like killing a little
time now and then I don't want to be in-
terfered with." Washington Star.
ON ENSLiN'S GORY FIELD
M0DER,V "IRONSIDES" EXHORTS HIS
FIGHTIXG COJIRADES.
"Prepare ter Meet Yer Goal" Is the
Burden of the English Sol
dier Lad's Appeal.
Much has been written of the religious
sPlrit ln whIch tne Boers do battle. That
the Boer has no monopoly of this spirit
is shown by the following sketch, written
at Enslln (Gras Pan) battlefield, by a
correspondent of the Dally News:
"He was standing at eventide, facing
thi roujrh nnd nitrired helshts of Enslln
rm. i ij i..j . w.
, .." -Z ""J Z I.". ZZlZ"
J ". ..
hIs head and face' making him appear like
one of those ancient martyrs one is apt
t . ,ln.H. -nrlnrtrvnrc In nirl
:X "V . ".r" '""Z '".;", .:
ttt a.i v.nl-.Af i t ---. VanlnA
1TV4AU WIUIWIK? AAA AVUUAC ui T ,,-,
His
,Mt were firmlv Dlanted c,ose to the
" " " " . ' ' ,. , MM
graves of the British soldiers and sailors
fallen when we beat the Boers and drove
them back upon Modder River.
"In one hand he held a little, well-worn
Bible; his other hand was raised high
'EM ALL OUT."
Philadelphia Inquirer.
above his close-cropped head, while hl3
voice rang out on the sultry, storm-laden
aid, like the clang of steel on steel:
" 'Prepare ter meet yer God!'
"No one who looked at the neat, strong
figure arrayed In the p'aln khaki unifprm
i of a priVate soldier; at the clean-shaven
.
or earnestness, courage was imprinted
Dy natures never-erring hand in every
lineament of his Saxon featurea. So
might one of Cromwell's stern-browed
warriors have stood on the eve of Mar
ston Moor.
" 'Prepare ter meet yer God!'
ImpreHnlve Seene.
"To the right of him. the long lines of
tents spread upward toward the kopje;
to the left the veldt, with Its wealth of
gray-green grass, sown by the bounteous
hand of the Great Harvester; all around
him. excepting where the graves raised
their red-brown furrows, rows of soldiers
lounged, listing to the old, old story of
man's weakness and eternal shame, and
Christ's love and everlasting pity. On
the soldier preacher's breast a long row
of decorations gleamed, telling of honor
able service to Queen and country. Before
a man could wear those ribbons, he must
have faced death as brave men face it
on many a battlefield. He must havo
known the agonies of thirst, the dull,
dead pain of sleepless nights and midnight
OREGON'S LARGEST FUCHSIA PLANT.
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fTiMlAv C'r'A
fc?l-
The above cut represents a fuchsia plant which for the past five summers has been growing
ln the garden of Mr. Robert Foulkes, 821 Front street, this city, and which is, without doubt,
the largest plant of the kind ln the state. It la tt feet 10 Inches In height, measures 10 inches
around the stem, and the circumference of the branches of the plant is 23 feet. The name of
the variety is not known, but the flowers which it produces ln thousands are large and very
beautiful. The plant Is hardy, as it has received no other attention than to be placed ln the
cellar every winter and pat out ln the garden every spring.
marches; the tireless watching at the sen
try's post, and the onward rush of armed
men up heights almo3t unscalable.
"On Egypt's sun-scorched plains he must
have faced the mad onslaughts of the
Dervish hosts, and rallied with the men
who held the lines at Abou Klea Wells,
where gallant Burnaby was slain. The
hills of Afghanistan must have re-echoed
to his tread, else why the green and crim
son ribbon that mingled with the rest?
His eyes had flashed along the advancing
lines of charging lmpi, led by Zulu chiefs.
Yet never had they flashed with braver
light than now, when, facing that half
mocking, half-reckless crowd, he cried:
" 'Prepare ter meet yer God!"
"Rough as the thrust of a broken bayo
net was his speech, unskilled In rhetoric
his tongue, his periods unrounded as fly-,
lng fragments of shrapnel shell: yet all
rwho listened knew that every word came
from the speaker's soul, from the maga
zine of truth. Some London slum had
been his cradle, the gutters of the great
city the only university his feet had ever
known. The coster's dialect was native to
h!3 tongue, yet no smug churchman
crowned with the laureis of the schools
could so have stirred the blood of those
wild lads, fresh from the boundless bush
and lawless mining camps beneath Austra
lian suns.
" 'Prepare ter meet yer God!'
"And even as he spoke, we, who lis
tened, plainly heard the rolling thunder
of our guns, as they spoke ln sterner tones
to the nation's foes from Modder River.
It was no new figure that the soldier-
i preacher placed before ua. It was the
preacher placed before us.
! ? Indignant Christ that swept the rab-
ble Irom tne temple; tne same great
Christ who calmly faced the seething mob
u luukc o juussiuuiik iiixii. iiic auuie sweet
Christ who took the babes upon his knee,
the same divine Christ who. with hyssop
and gall, and mingled blood and tears,
passed death's dread portals on the dark
brow of Calvary. The same grand figure.
but quaintly dressed in words that sa
vored of the London slums, and of the
soldlera' camp and yet eo hedged around
with earnest love and childlike faith that
all Its grossest trappings fell away and
left us nothing but the Ideal Christ.
"Once more we heard the distant bat
teries speak to those whose hands had
rudely grasped the empire's flag, and ev
ery rock, and hill, and crag, and stony
height took up the echo, like a lion's roar,
until the whispering wind was tremulous
with sound. Then all wa3 hushed except
the preacher's voice.
Xo Rebels There?.
" "Prepare ter meet yer God! I've come
ter tell yer all abart a General whose
armies hold ther City of Eternal Life. If
yer are wounded, throw yer rifles down,
nd 'e will tend the "ambulance of 'Is love,
with Red Cross angels, and His Adjutant,
whose name Is Mercy, to dress yer
wounds. Throw down yer rlflea 'nd sur
render. No rebels can enter the City of
Eternal Life. You can't storm ther walls,
or take ther gates at ther point of their
baynlt. for ther ramparts are guarded 'nd
ther sentries never sleep. When ther bu
gles sound ther larst revllle you will ever
'ear, 'nd ther Colonel, whose name la
Death, gives the order ter march, you'll
have nothlnk to fear abart, if yer bando
liers are full o faith 'nd yer rifles are
sighted with good works.
" 'Yer uniforms may be ragged, and you
may not even havo a corporal's stripe to
show: but If yer can pass ther sentries
fearlessly, you'll And a General's commls
s'on waitin' for yer Just Inside ther gate.
But yer can't fool with my General. Re
member this: Ther password Is, 'Repent
ance,' 'nd nothlnk else will do. This sen
try on duty will see vou comln' and will
challenge you. "Who goes there?"
"Friend!" "Advance, friend, 'nd give
ther countersign !" If you say "Good
works." you'll And 'a baynlt up against yer
chest. If yer say you've forgot to get It,
you'll be In ther clink In 'ell ln ther twink
Hn of an eye; but if you say loud 'nd
clear, "Repentance," e will lower his bay
nlt 'nd say. "Pass, friend. All's welll" ' "
ONE SENSIBLE FAD.
'Theater Books" Give Mnch Satisfac
tion to Clever Women.
"Theater books" are among the latest
fads, and, according to a programme of
recent date, Sembrlch, the opera singer,
Is their sponsor. It tells of the fad thus
wise: "Marcella Sembrlch has a book in
which every performance at which she
sings Is recorded. Many women keep
books ln which they record every per
formance they witness. There was a time
when just any old book, a ledger or a
scrapbook, was thought quite good
enough for the preservation of pro
grammes of operas, concert and theater,
but that Is no longer the case. A spe
cial theater book Is now considered a
necessary possession by every theater
going woman."
The theater book may be a thing of
beauty, and. If carefully and properly
kept, should prove a joy forever and ln
years to come valuable ln a family. Each
left-hand page has spaces, which, when
filled In, tell to what place of amusement
the owner went on a certain date, with
whom she went, what the performance
was, who were the leading performers,
and then there Is room for her to criticise
the play and players. Space is also pro
vided ln which the comments of profes
sional critics may be inserted. The oppo
site page Is left blank, and there the pro
gramme and pictures of the stars are
pasted In. Some of the books Inside and
out are elaborately designed in white and
gold.
"Nothing ha3 given me more pleasure
Wtf
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tfJW.'2-.v ".,?
than my theater book," said a young
woman to "Daisy May," of the Denver
Republican, recently. "I've always kept
my programmes, of course; every right
minded woman does. But, as I was about
to say. I never kept my programmes
carefully until I fell heir to this book. I
just put them into a scrapbook hlggledy
plggledy, without criticism or comment,
and, as a result, when I came to look
over them on a rainy day I found fre
quently that I could not recall this, that
or the other point about a performance.
The theater book bolsters up the memory
i wonderfully.'
S5
t2?
SPRING STYLES FOR MEN
LATEST COXCETTS FOR THOSE WHO
WOTJLD FOLLOW FASHIOX.
Qalet Effects Will Dominate Among
the Xevr York Beau Monde, Who
Set the American Vogrue.
In ths spring a livelier Iris
Changes on the burnished dove;
In the spring the young man's fancy
Lightly turns to thoughts of love.
Notwithstanding the truth ln Tenny
son's famous lines, there are practical
very praotlcal thoughts which come to
tho "young man" when Spring's mild
breath first flows upon the buds and tells
the world that winter has finally gone to
rest.
The average New York young man's
first thought as mild weather approaches
Is an outfit, says the Mall and Express of
that city. A Spring outfit. It continues,
may mean little, or It may mean a great
deal, but to the well-dressed man It in
volves sundry trips to the tailor's, tha
haberdasher's and the hatter's.
There is little change in sack suits for
the coming season. Natty Imported ma
terials, rough cheviots, worsteds and
homespuns are being shown by the bet
ter tailors. The man-of-many-sults may
have these in lighter colors but he of fesr
would best adhere to simple mixtures of
dark effect, or straight colorings in blues,
grays or browns. Tho herring-bone
weave, so popular last season, will not ba
worn this year to such a great extent,
though It is still shown by some. Smart
diamond weaves may be seen in many of
the best establishments.. These form a
pleasing effect, and will be much worn
In sack and English walking suits.
Frock coats for Spring will vary very
little from the present style. They will
be neither long nor short, reaching within
an Inch or two of the knees. The "nobby'I.
tie for afternoon wear Is the soft white
Bilk sailor Ascot, ln basket effect,
though colors may be worn with perfect
propriety in both Ascots and four-ln-handB.
Bow ties may under no circum
stances be worn with the full frock or
Prince Albert coat.
Covert Coat Still In. Vogue.
The covert coat still remains popular,
and will be worn short Just long enough
to cover the sack coat, or short walking
coat. This coat, properly worn, is a
strictly undress overcoat, never to bo.
worn on dress or semi-dress occasalons.
The outfitters are showing a new shirt
to be worn with the tuxedo coat. This
garment partakes of the nature of a
white negligee.. The bosom Is heavily
pleated, and the material Is of watered
or striped pique. In pattern it follows the
negligee, having three pearl buttons ln
front. The cuffs which are. of course,
attached are of plain white linen. For
Summer this shirt may make a hit, but
it Is such a decidedly striking Innova
tion that It may or may notbs a success.
A turn-down collar and black silk bat's-
wing tie should be worn with it
Spring shirts ln stripes will be worn a
great deal. The materials are the same aa
used in th eengligee. Stripes are vertical,
and variegated patterns are shown by out
fitters. Fine black stripes on white are
ln good taste, but almost all colors are ln
order. Stltchings are being run three
sixteenths of an inch from the edges of
bosom and cuffs, while the other edges;
may be done In the French stitch.
Flannels for golf shirts are shown la
light-colored Scotch plaids, to bo mada
with cuffs of the same material, and sill?
bands for white collars.
The bat's-wlng tie Is the proper thing
with the tuxedo. It may be in plain, or
self-figured silk. Though tho outfitters
talk bat's-wlng ties in white, soft-finished
piques, linens and lawns for full dress, and
the same shape ln taffetas (plain and self
figured) for semi-dress, the old straight
string ties rather narrow and of such
length to form a small bow are still worn
by many propeny dressed men.
Scarfs and Gloves.
A new scarf is the English Rumchunda
Culros. It may be tied In four-in-hand or
Ascot, and is made in bright colors and
pleasing patterns. The Kalos string tie
Is a popular effect with sack and walking
suits. The tie has just been Introduced.
Gloves for full dress are being made
with two pearl buttons. White stitching
Is best. Afternoon gloves should only
have one fastening a button preferably
and gray suede and the lighter shades of
tan are the most stylish colors. Tbese
gloves should be heavy and loose-fitting,
while dress gloves must fit snugly.
Though the loudest colored hosiery haa
seen -Its day, thin stripes and polka dots
will be worn this season. Black and white
vertical embroidered stripes will bo
"nobby," and silk hose for evening dress
ln mild slates, mauves, heliotropes with
combination embroidered fronts, black,
white and self colors, are likely to bo
popular.
In hats there is more leeway than for
merly. Many New Yorkers are following
the English custom and having their hats
made on the block which most becomes
them, with what slight alteration the sea
son's style demands. After all, this plan
seems the more sensible, for an unbe
coming hat is a great drawback to a man's
appearance.
WILL THEY XEVER PASS AWAYt
Must the want, and woe. and crime.
That we see on eery hand,
Ne'er be banished from the earth,
Ne'er be driven from the land?
Must wrong endure forever,
"Whilst truth, goodness, shall decay T
Are these evils then eternal?
Will they never pass away?
These are questions men are asking.
With their heart, and with their bralnt
Has the golden age departed?
Will It never come again?
Shall e through the coming ages
Groan beneath a Jingo sway?
Are these hateful things Immortal?
Will they never pass away?
O great nations, can you tell me.
When your wars and strife shall ceasef
With your fighting men disbanded.
All our race would live in peace.
Or Bhall this go on forever?
Are we simply beasts of prey.
Filled with such a thirst for bloodshed.
It can never pass away?
Yet. methlnks, that wrong shall perish.
War, the demon war. shall cease;
And the various tribes and nations
Shall, like brothers, live at peace.
Yes. the despot's power shall crumble.
Freedom yet shall win the day;
God and goodness are eternal.
And each wrong shall pass away.
Then have courage, men of labor,
ln whatever land ye be;
And the eternal God shall aid you
In your struggles to be free.
Every evil thing shall perish;
Every tyrant's power decay;
God still lives and Is Almighty
And each wrong shall pass away.
'Lou Vernon.
Q fc
Made Him Uneasy.
Miss Matilda Snowflake sat at the piano
and sang, "All I Want Is Ma Chicken."
Zeke Darkleigh, who had paid a noc
turnal visit to Miss Snowflake's papa'4
hen roost the week before, squirmed un
easily in his seat, and finally asked, in
serious tones:
"Is Is dey anything pussonal intendsd
ln dat song, Miss Matilda?" Baltimore
American.
Xerv Breed.
WIckwIre Look here. This Is the fourth
time this morning you have been ln hera
asking for the price of a meal.
Dismal Dawson Yep. I am the absent
minded beggar, don't ye know. Indianap
olis Press.