L P Fisher
. ' '
VOLUMK VI.
Sol's nnrrir.
&ne A Cabin.
A letter from home!
And out of luck,
Too, tliey say.
Let' see t'Ten years since
I left. Kentucky,
To a day.
The old 19a.11 is dead,
Ami mother, loo bad !
Stic so old,
To lie working out
And earning her bread ;
Our farm sold. J1?"'1
Wliat's that? Sal's married?
And thro wed off on me!
That's queer !
Long time since I wrote
And she's married, let's see,
Ten year!
And our ore give out
In the winze, yesterday,
Luck's old game !
And the lower east driit
Well ! It may run tlmt way
Looks bad again.
Guess there's a load.
Won't Hank feel bad
And stare,
To And nie dead.
Rail through my dead,
Lying here?
Never thought it woidd conic ;
They say it's soon done ;
Never tear !
Hoie Sal' well mated !
Good gal ! she waited
Ten year.
Ilceitc River Reveille.
A Contest with Foil.
Some thirty years ago I arrived
In Saint Petersburg, with the intea-
tio:: of establishing myself as a fenc
ing master in the capital. Intro
ductions from distinguished individ
uals of my own country enabled me
to make a friend of Count Alexis
W.; and that hobleman interested
himself greatly in my success. Not
content with procuring me several
pupils, he urged me to petition the
Emperor for the valuable and hon.
orable appointment of fencing mas
ter to a regiment ; and toward that
end gave me a letter of recommen
dation to an aid -de-camp of the
Ciarwitsch Constantine,, who was
then at the Castle of Strelna, near
8t. Petersburg.
The morning after, I hired a
drcshki and set out for Streina,
armed with my credentials. I
reached the Convent of St Serguis,
the saint most venerated in Russ'a
after St. Alexander Nieuski. A
tew minutes afterwards I arrived at
the castle, and was soon ushered
into the apartments ot the Emper
or's brother. In one of these I dis
covered him standing with his back
to a large tire, and distinguished by
the most forbidding countenance I
ver beheld He was tapping his
boot with his riding whip, and the
Qndtied splash of mud on his panta
loons indicated that & had but
recently returned from a ride or a
review. At a table near him was
e&ted General Kodna, pen in hand
nd apparently writing under the
Prince's dictation.
Tin door was scarcely closed
when the Czarwitsch, fixing on me
his piercing eyes abruptly said :
"Viia$kyotr aqe?"
"Six and twenty."
"N'ame?"
J
" You want to be a fencing-master
ot a regiment ??'
"May it please yonr highness,
each is the object of my ambition.''
"Are' yu a first-rate swords
man?" "I have fenced in public sevoral
times since rty arrival in St. Peters
burg, and your highness can easily
ascertain the opinion of those who
were preseut"
bad only rttaU! leucors to con
feud pifei"i .'. ,i'ioh'.ii)A-w
'Vhich g ive1 them just claims
nj)on my forbearance,- your higb
ness." " Forbearance !'' he repeated with
-Hashing eyes, and a scornful curl
on his lips ; "but if less considerate,
what then V"
"I should lave buttoned thorn
ten times for every twice that they
touched mo, your highness."
"Ha, and could you do that with
me
Ml
That would depend on how
1 ilii I -"lf
youi imperial highness might Wish
to be treated. Jf as a Prince, it is
probable your higbnesswould t ucb
me ten times and tie touched I wice.
Bift if your highness desired to be
treated like any other pcrsrti, the
ten hits would be achieved f me;
and the two by your highness."
"Lubenski!" wared the Czar
witsch, rubbing, his hands; J'Lu
benski, bring the toils. We shall
see Sir Braggadocio."
"It is possible your highness
would condescend
"My highness orders you to touch
me ten times if you can. Do you
want to back out ahead ? Now
take this foil an mask. Guard!"
"Is it your highness' s absolute
command !"
"Yes, yesP'
. "I am ready."
"Ten times,'' repeated the Prince,
as tie attacked me "ten times,
mind yon, less won't do. Ha! ha!"
Notwithstanding; this encourage
ment, I kept merely on the defen
sive, contenting myself with parry
ing his thrusts, without returning
them.
"Now, then!"1 cried he angrily,
"what are you about? You are
playiug the fool with me. Why
don't you thrust?"
"Your highness! the respect "
"Confound .your respect, sir.
Thrust! thrust'!
Observing. through his mask that
his cheeks were flushed and his eyes
bloodshot, I took, advantage of the
permission granted, .and touched
him three times running.
"Bravo!" crted ha "My turn
now. Ha A hit! ft liit!"
He, had toitcjied, me. I then
touched him four times in rapid
succession, and was then touched
once.
"Hurrah !' he cried, exnltingty.
"Rodna, did you sec that? Twice
to his seven !" , r
"Twice to ten, your highness,"
replied I, pressing him very hardl
"Eight, nine, ten ! Now we are
quits." ., , , ,
"Good, good !" cried Ciarwitsch,
approvingly. " Very ' good, but
that's not alL The small swqfd,
not enough, no use to the cavalry ;
want the saber. Now, could you
defend yourself, on foot, against a
mounted lancertf'- Party a lance
thrust, eh?"
"I think I ctJuld.your highness!"
ifflSMol iNot ftfre, qfi?"
"Pardon me, your highness, I
have no doubt of ft fj
"Lubenski!" again-shouted the
Prince
The officer appeared.
"A lance and home. 1 Quick !'
"But you lagliuiB&s- l interl
posed.
"Ha! You are afraid?"
'1 am not afraid ; but with your
highness I should experience equal
reluctance to be the victor or the
vanquished.'
.."AH nonsense and flattery ! TJiq
first trial was capital. Now for the
second."
At this moment the officer ap
peared before,, the windows of the
palace leading a magnificent horse,
afid bearing a lance In his hand.
.M$0, ttan,UaipMMd pPpsttto
tine, as he dashed' out of the room,
and made a sign for me to follow
him. "Give hinl good salr,
spUfedJ
mi
Lubeim tuc. now, my Euglish-
m we 01 100 roaas m
ALBANY, QRHQON, APRIL 26,
mmmmmsmgmmi
Summer Louse. The last lived
three days; Hodnla," added he, turn
ing to that (ienenaj, "with a nail
through his belly."
So saying, the Prince sprang up
on his steed. Wiih great fkill he
put tho animal through the most
difficult evolutions at the same
time executing suairy panics and
thursts with his !a,nce,
"AH ready?'' he cried, riding up
to itie. '
"Ready, your, highness," was the
reply, and hei settnig; spurs to his
horse, galloped, pp to the further
end of the avenue.
"Surely this is all i joke?'' I
said to General Rodna.
; "I'y no means!" ias the .reply.
"You will either lose your .life or
gain your appoiiitmeut ! 'Defend
yoilrself as if you were on a battle
field."
Matters had taken much more
serious turn than I had anticipated.
Had I considered myself at liberty
to return blow. for Now, I could
have taken, my .change without un
easiness, but finding' myself bound
to control, as well as to use, a keen
ei'ged saber, while exposed to the
sharpened lance of a reckless antag
onist, the chances ot ifa diversion
were decidedly against me. It was
too late, however, to draw back.
I summoned to my aid all the
coolness and address. I possessed,
and prepared to face the ( zarwitsch,
who had already passed the end ot
the advance, and turned his horse
about. The animal ' advanced at
full speed, Constantino being couch
ed down upon his neck in such a
mam er that he was netrly concealed
by the abundant man.
When he reached me he made a
point at my breast, but I parried
his thrust, and bounding to one
side, horse and rider carried away
by their, impetuosity, passed bv
without doing f fie slightest injury.
"Very good, tery good!" he
said, "try again." 1
Without giving me time for ob
jection, or (remark, he took space tor
fas career, and after asking me it 1
was ready, returned to the charge
with great fury. As before, I kept
my eyes fixed on his, and not one of
his motions escaped me. At the
decisive moment i parried en parle,
and by a, spring to the right, made
his second attack as harmless as the
first.
Uttering a howl of disappoint
ment, the Czarvritsch entered into
the spirit ot our match as ardently,
as if it had been a real combat, and
hadmoreover made up his mmd
that it should terminate 'in his fa
vor, but when I saw him retracing
the ground for the thud, assault, I
resolved that it should be Die .last
Again he advanced toward me
with whirl-Wind speed ; this time,
however, without contenting my
self with a mere parry, I dealt a
violent back-handed blow on the
poll of the lance, which was severed
by the stroke, and Constantino felt
himself disarmed. Then, quick as
thought, 1 seized the bridle of the
horse, and by a violent jerk- threw
him " his hauuehos, at the same
time placing the point of my saber
oil the breast of the rider.
General Rodna uttered a cry of
alarm ; he thought I was going to
kill the Prince. CoDstantine also
had the same impression, for the
color left his cheek for an instant,
Stepping a pace backward and bow
ing to tho Grand Duke: -
"Your highness," I said, "has
now seen what I am able to teach
to Russian soldiers, and whether 1
am worthy to become their Profes
sor."; h
"Yes, by my soul you are! Nev
er saw a braver fellow; and a regi
ment you shall have, if I can get it
for you. Now fallow roe," be
added, as he threw himself from the
iaBBnVaod led the triytb bu
apartments. Wb
-ilJ...liil-lL
1874.
u
up a pen and wrote ai the foot of
the petition to the Emperor, which
I had fortunately in readiness :
"I humbly recommend thepeti
Cioner to your imperial majesty, be
lieving him in every Way worthy of
the favor he wficitte 0 i 1
It js only ncfifsar,y to .add.tha
after some short delay, I was fortu
nate enough in procuring the post I
so anxiously sought.
The Two Rttmun.
The following tikeii from Fri
day's Pprthnd Jiufteiin, is a
graphic description of the trials and
tribulations meted out to the pray
ing bands of women of that city,
who are earnestly striving to sup
press' the traffic' in intoxicating
liquors: Although the ladies' praying
band have been visiting the saloons
during the present week, as usual,
until yesterday their presence creat
ed but little excitement, and they
passed from place to place, attract
ing but little attention from out
siders Yesterday afternoon, as if
by magic the whole thing changed,
and the streets became thronged
with an excited crowd. Some
twelve or fourteen ladies appeared
in front of the "Webfoot" saloon,
owned by Walter Moffett, and com
menced praying and singing. It
was a signal tor the gathering of a
crowd, which came' t1oxkpjg in from
every direction, and in a short time
the sidewalk in front of the estab
lishment was completely blockaded,
and pedestrians were either obliged
to Content themselves with the mid
dle of4 the street or cross to the
other side. As soon as the singing
commenced the proprietor appeared,
followed by a largo hand organ,
which Was placed in the door, and
a man named Fritz commenced
turning the crank, the instrument
in itself creating bqt. little disturb
ance. Very soon, however, two
little boys appeared, beating gongs,
and creating a din easier imagined
than described. The ladies, how
ever, seemed determined to brave
it out, and continue thejr exercises
without abatement. Song after
song, and prayer after prayer were
offered, the crowd meanwhile in
creasing very fast, crowding and
jamming forward, anxious to seo
all that was going on. Omnibuses,
express and baggage wagons, haoks
and drays, blockaded tin street,
while men and boys acted in the
same capacity on the sidewalks.
The proprietor blew his whistle
time and again, without response.
At for keeping the sidewalks clear,
it seemed an utter impossibility, a
passage way when' opened, . closing
in an instant by the surging of the
crowd. The ladies bad probably
beeh there about an hour when
James Good the bar-tender, stepped
out of the side door, and without
further ceremony turned the water
on from a near hydrant, and with
the stream drove the crowd in front
of it, wetting the sidewalk down
most thoroughly. Tho ladies, how
ever, were in front of the building,
while the hydrant was on the south
side, and none of the water touched
them, except what was thrown over
the corner of the buildiqg, from
thence running dawo the -a wiling;
and dripping on the ladies bendtbV
NO. M.
The water also ran along the Bide'
walk, compelling tin Wlies to stand
in in it. This did not have the, de
sired effect, tlx, ladies still maintain
iug their ground. The noises still
continued, abetted by the occasional
firing off of tire-crackers, thrown
from the side entrance of the saloon.
The gong-beaters were relieved
from time to time necessitating no
cessation of hostilities. There were
plenty of young hoodlums in . the(
crowd, who' were only too willing
to take a' hand, ifnd the noise was
fearful, completely drowning tie
voices of the singers and the "raet
ody" of the hand organ. The pro
prietor was constantly on land-urging
forward tlie opposition, wbfle
the bartenders saw to it that none
of the older performers remained
thirsty very long1 tit a'titne. LlqUdr
was furnished them and drank bp
fore the, ladies in order to tantalize,
them. Tlie proprietor at length"
secured a seat, and his example was
soon followed by the ladies tfiera.
selves, who bad been, furnished scats'
chairs, camp-stools, etc., by
friei.ds on the ontside. Thus in
Other hour passed. Tin boys lia'
become exhausted in beating the'
gongs and men were engaged ttr
take their places, and the 'etcit'
merit momentarily increased. On
lady, in endeavoring to gain ptfc
session of a gong beaten in rloae
proximity, had been shown a re
volver and warned to desist. Abn
sive epithets bad been showered,
upon them without stint' Conttoy'
ned drinking inflamed the passioba'
of miny, and trouble was imminent.
It had commenced several time,'
but timely interference had prevenU
ed any 6crions results. Other en
trances to the saloon were thrown
open, and "Tripe -Fritz" appea'red,
dressed in caricature, and made
himself ari object of general disgust
to every one piesent; jumping and
curveting around in the crowd. At
length James tiood, the bar.
tender, mounted one of the chairs,
andj being Under the influence of
liquor, used ' some1 very abusive
epithets toward the crowd, and
calling upon them to shoot him if
they dared, and using language
foul-mouthed in the extreme. It'
was hot resented for some time,
but it Very Boon became monotonous
and tlie ti 1st thing the man knew
he was lying on the floor, having
been knocked flat by a blow from
the clenched fist of Mr. Grooms,
whiob'lit between Good's eyes wftb
astounding force. The blow was
no sooner struck than the crowd
rushed forward pell-mell, blows
falling thick and fast tor a few
seconds. Good and hit. friends re
treated in the-saloon, where he
drew a reyolver, whioh, however,
was replaced, while. trying to dodge
a chair thrown at him, Mr. Moffett
meanwhile getting out of the 1 war 1
Ot. another that was coming toward)
his head. The excitement was in
tense, and meu's faces paled for au
instant as they imagined what
might be tlie result. The praying
band, meanwhile, retained their
seats, and tho appearance
seyejal .police officers, quelled the
disturbance at once, the only
damages being a few swelled faces
and one man receiving a slight1
flesh wound in the right thigh.
During the melee one of the gongs
had been secured and broken be
neath the feet of some enraged man.
This little fracas added zest to jtbe
scene, and the crowd awaited
another of like nature. Tin, cam
at once took the place of the gongs,
and the contusion continued, tue
performers, however, confining
their, entertainmont to the interior
ot the saloon. rival saloon
keeper soon appeared, beating a
baa? drum, but be wa at onceV'
tacked by ; an otacwde party, aa4
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