Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (March 27, 1880)
YEARS 15D YEARS. 1 .,-Urlwind of duBt, rushing sound, J Sown my feet lay the. heavy box i innUew letters and papers streamed nJ Hnto the floor. I was standing on ElSP iadder, "houso-clean ng 41,6 i i.t and now stood motionless, JgSf daw-Pn th. wk I ijjiniule. . , Lave done it Well. Juiw v - , lit " W old Janet, privileged sor st"81: . , .. luxmn to scold me for for mo pint thai sue "-o DirSrmind,nursieHutholP .' ..i noimnce: I soe a li long o" u . jui, mmninff out before me 0 , .one T clean daft! You 1 "... inr tn read all of those fnstvold lettsFs?" for down I sat JJ floor and gathered them up . jlnet, you good old thing, iust g ... n.-iirA von t)leose. and don S me hear a sight or sound till supper ..i,on1iirv was getting a littlo mited I perceived, so I tossed off my koloth and ashes, otherwise called . Ltinv cap and apron, and leaning gainst the despisod step-ladder, began qf I could be allowed to speuk," sar csstieally remarked Janet, "what shall 'Say say oh!" and I absently .iwrd no the contents of the box, "you nay say that I am digging up old Bii'ir.af u-nj ton nniph for old nurso Md with an indignant "Humph!" she depart; nil vfidrs fto these letters were fresh and new; now, they were nearly all yellow, musty, aim uuiuueu. iuot, u-u -.i. i,nt. nuol to he (laintv blue ribbon. were from dear, tried friends; loving nf inflection anu piaviuinoss. xma I'au rnse-nink. as brisrht as. the jjyg were then, and ah! just as faded mvself. I 'dare not trust myself a sight of thoso rages, though fifteen, almost twenty years have passed since each arrival used to call up the red flush to my face and make my heart bound with joy. Put them aside gently, it is all over now. One little envolope raniains tiod with wbite; ah! who does not know the shape of wedding-cards? and there are en twined initials, L. and M. I cannot koin it, nld maid of almost forty that I am, the hot tears are coming just as fast is they used to in tno oiu, sail uays. Not another lector will I look at. Cor tainly I have found something now that till not call up those old memories. Nothing but a sheet of music, with one little verse on the outside: "I love my love, I love my love, Beouuie I know my love loves me." Back years and years, and I remember mold, long, low parlor, with bright fire light glancing over and up and down a lmghing group of girls at the piano, and i quiet figure by the fireplace. "Sula will sing it; she's always ready to sing that, and she brought it to-night on purpose." "Hush, yon provoking bell! when will you ever know how to ring?" A laughing, saucy face was raised to mine, as I stood angry and embarrassed at the unkind speech. It was my sworn friend and ally, Rosamond Kivers, who had thus spoken in my defence, and now the other girls chimed in. "Do, Sula. Belle Avery would give her precious head, I believe, to bo able losing as you do." "Of course Sula will Bing it, now that sho knows Mr. Meredith admires it," and the girl walked scornfully away to the table. "That's enough, girls," and my usually calm blood rose indignantly, "I certainly shall not sing it now." , "Oh, that hateful little bell-clapper!" whispered Rosamond, "I wish I could tie it up. Jennie Andrews, do play that enchanting waltz of yours, and by that time my sultana's blood will have cooled down," and giving my shoulder a gentle little pat, she joined the girls who hail gathered closely about the player. "Sula, sweetheart," and a soft hand caught my wrist, "what makes those theeks flame so? I thought I was going to hear my favorite song." "Oh, auntie, it is nothing. I will sing it if you want me to," and 1 kissed the dear, pale face that all through my life had taken the place of mother, sister, friend, to me. Dear old father half the time couldn't understand me, and auntie, as half the neighborhood called her, had taken me right into her heart and kept me there. She drew down my face now to hers, and softly kissing me she told me "to be agood child and run to the piano." "Miss James, who is that very sweet girl?" and the dark-haired, quiet man who had never stirred from auntie's side all that evening, leaned over to hear the reply. "That is my especial child Heart Les ter, or 'Sulaas her friends call her; to me she is 'Sweetheart' always. She is very shy and proud, Mr. Meredith; per hajs yon would not like her." "Ah! perhaps not," and he smiled Twely, and leaned back again. I was greeted with shouts of triumph I reached the piano. Rosamond gave eher arm to conduct me to the seat, dthe others very officiously offered to I me in any way. Belle smiled bu tnely from the sofa, and vouchsafed J i word. It was only a simple song, words by Tennyson, and I generally git well, for it was auntie's favorite. Encore!" shouted my audiencewhen ul finished ; and Rosamond chanted rme "Because I know my love love me' irg with a comical little sigh, "I le did." ')L, girls, auntie has actually gone to ,leV I think it is high time we were J01 lome," and Jennie Andrews came o'n$ back from her tour of investiga na she called it, in high glee. -t little witch!" laughed auntie, jynnst not think of going yet ;" but Jfe sleigh was at the door, and good-natured driver though he "M rid not wait all the night. So 1(ktnd shawls, and bewitching little ?odsw5re donned, and the laughing J? f'fded out into the porch. Ohhen shall we Lave such another J001 dear Auntie James? Your "ia Palace Beautiful." , -J"ctre, you slippery ones," seream- Kosaiond, "this walk is glare ice." laid len, it was Belle who was be I , - pviucmuig gare me pasu, iuu ell doi the step on the little terrace, Tna .V : - i. I down, down. I oould not stop myself ; it was only a step or two, but all snow and ice, and the prancing, spirited hors es were so close. A blind, frightened ciuiening xor support, men a dull blow, and it grew strangely dark and still. I don't know how long I lay so, but I opened my eyes on auntie's bright, cheory room, and I heard her give one little sob of thankfulness as sho sank down by the side of the bed. "Have I kept you all waitinir. irirls ? I should think t it was time to go home," and my poor, bewildered brain tried to take in the surroundings, and my latner s paie, anxious (ace. "Sula, you have been very sick, dar ling," he said ; "sick for weeks, but you are better now. Will von try not to talk for a littlo whilo?" " Sick? How very strange it seemed; that was tho reason I was lying in auntie's bed, ana everything was so stiil. " Just tell me what was the matter," I murmured, "and I will be very good." My father stroked the hair from my face, as he said, "You fell under the horses' feet that night that you were at auntio's, and you havo been sick ever since. I tried to bear it all patiently the dull headaches, and tho rustling, bewildering feelings in my head, and finally auntie said that I might go down to the little sitting-room and look interesting on tho sala. "Now, auntie, I have a thousand ques tions for your answer," for they had per sistently refused to tell mo anything about my accident. " First, darling, you must toll me if you can remember, now you toll Irom the steps," and she looked at me intently while I tried to gather up my scattered wits. "Why of course I do," I exclaimed at last. "Belle Avery fell against me or pushed me" here I stoppod, frightenod at what that implied. "Yes, dear," I thought so," said auntie, sadly. "Belle has been here day after day inquiring for you, and a more wretched being, I never saw. She would not tell me anything, but seomed nearly wild with fear, lest you would never get well." "Oh, she was angry with mo that night, auntie, but she didn't, she could not mean to do it." "Hush, hush, dear! Don't cry." So I lay there quietly, day after day, growing gradually stronger; kind friends sent me fruit and flowers, and Rosa mond's bright fuce and chatter made the siok-room cheerful. Still I did not ask the question that I longod to ask, and that 1 turnod over and over in my mind every minute. "Who saved me from those dreadful horses? Who saved me from being crushed to death ?" I dreaded, and yet hoped what the answer would be, and longed for some ono to tell me. " What a little humbug you are!" burst out Rosamond one day; "you proud heart, you would die before you would ask, and I believe you are dying now to know." "What do yon mean? I stammored. 'You are very silly." "Doesn't she want to know who sprang the whole length of the steps and snatched her from under the plunging horses, and w ho carried her into tho par lor, and who dashed off through tho snow all thoso five long miles for the doctor, and who has been hore day after day to see how she is, and who brings all these flowers and grapes ?" "Why you do, don t you ? "Oh. you littlo simpleton!" a d Rosa laughed teazingly. I lay quiet after that, trying to Jteep back the joyful glad heart-throbs and the crowds of happy thoughts. I saw him every day after that, and al most sighed when I grew well enough to go home. But that didn't frighten him away, and I grew to love more every glance of his grey eyes, and every one of his sometimes merry, somotimes sad tones and words. At last, it was in the summer, I sat in auntie's parlor again, thinking how very happy the world had grown, when my face was taken between two hands and bent back till I gazed up into the eyes so full of love I could not bear it, and struggled for very shame to free myself." "Dear little neart, sweei nine neari Lester, does sho belong to mo?" Oh. it was more than I deserved, moro than I could bear, and I -stole out of the room by and by to wonder and think. Dear auntie, how sho rejoiced, and Rosa mond laughed and kissed me, and dear old father was positively unhappy till I told him I should take mm wnerever i went. So I began tlie pretty, dainty clothes that brides have, and dreamed all day, and planned our little homo with Rolert, for so I had learned to call him. Just two weeks from the day, m.y day, he had to go away, but he was coming back two days before .the Thursday, the fifth of June. Rosamond came to stay with me, and take his place, as she said, and the days Hew very quickly. The nrpttv weddincr cards were out, and Tuesday arrived. He is coming this morning, ami I ran to the window time and again. The day past; he will cer tainly be here on 'W ednesday. Evening came, and auntie and Rosa stayed with me all night. Father went up to the city to see if he was sick; and still they didn't come. . Thursday morning dawned so, bright and sunny. I hastily threw on my dressing-gown and ran to auntie's room. "Did he come?" but she gently put her arm around me and kissed me not one word, only that kiss, and my heart sank down like lead. Package after package was brought to the door; lovely flowers, presents, cake, and the last of my pretty clothes came home, but auntie took them all, and hurried them away. Rosa was a kind angel to me then, comforting, hopeful, keeping away intruding friends and servants. Only old Janet came to me, and she could but softly cry and say. "Poor little child!" Gradually night came on, and at last I heard my lather's well-Known siep sounding weary and slow on the path. I could not wait a minute, but ran quickly to him. "Father, he is dead: you needn t tell me. Yon will have to keep your little girl always, now." Then they say I fainted. There is little more to tell. He was last seen, my Robert, stepping into European steamer just ready to sail, and nobody knew anything further. The steamer was watched and telegraphed, but no one answering his description M be found And that was eighteen years ago. Heart do not always break. and Heart Lester lived on; but no ono calls her that now, nothing but "Miss Ursula." "Miss Ursula, are you asleep?" and dear old Janet stood beside me. "I have been knocking here for five minutes; it is tea-time now, and there is somo one down stairs asking for you." "Who is it?" and I trot ni wearily. "Gather theso all up, Janet, and throw thorn away, I shall never care for them agaiu," and mechanically I went down stairs, regardless of my dusty, crazy ap pearanco. It was a tall, foreign-looking ngure tnat was standing by my piano, turning over the looso music, and as I entered lie came toward me hastily. "Sula, ure you waiting for mo still, my little Heart ? And so I was rested at last, eighteen years of waiting and watching, and his arms were around mo once moro. I did not ask how, then, then it was enough to feel him near me. At last Janet appeared at tho door, and 1 came back to every-day life, and to tho realization of tea-time. Dear old Janet, she knew him at once, and when she came to call mo, was wondering how she could break the glad news to me. How ho laughed when he took that roll of mnsio from my hand, which I had beon grasping frantically all that long afternoon, llien in the evening the long, long story was told. How he went to bid good-by to a sick friend, and in stay ing to help and comfort him tho steamer sailed before thoy know it. lhen tho long, stormy passage, the arrival in Eng land, the fever that attacked him there ; the long, anxious waiting for lotters that never came ; the disappointment, when obliged to stay away month after month, compelled by the doctor's stern decree. Then the news of his darling's death yes, he thought that I was dead ; was it father's name that got so strangely twist ed when it reached him? After that tho reckless longing for change, change, any thing to drown dear, past memories. At last, when years had gone by, came an intense desiro to see the old places, and hear all that was possiblo of his old friends. Was it not a kind Provideuco that led him hero first, and that Janet should see him before strango voices had sent him away carelessly? It is all strange and happy to me, and once more I have promised to be his wifo, and next Thurs day is to be my wedding day. Rosamond is with me now as I write, and Bhe laughs as she points to her gray hairs, and then to my own shining brown braids, and I am glad for Robert's sake that they are the same that ho loved years and years ago. " Pompcllii Relics. There, in the museum, I sought the exhumed proofs of the existence that was choked so long ago as scarcely to have a lineal connection with our world. I found eight human bodies perfectly petrified in their ashen sheaths; in theso I read the encouraging lesson that Cicero,. Pompey or Marcus Antoninus, Glaucus or Clodins, were not men of great physical stature than our present poets, statesmen and orators. The skeleton of a dog, a bird, a bone of roast beef, a loaf of bread, a dish of barley, a napkin (the warp still preserved) bronze lamps, household luxuries, ear rings, bracelets and necklaces, teach us that the work of creation, the human appetite, the preparation of food, the the habits and carvings of women for gewgaws, were the same in tho classic ages as they are to-day. It is a cold, stern fact that the life we found in tho streets of Naples is very much the life that was stilled in the streets of Tombs eighteen centuries ago, where the front and lower story of the palaces were let to merchants, while theiedile supped in the atrium with his lordly guests, upon lampreys, pistachio, figs and Vesuvio wine. We faw that the baths, the theater, tho temple and tho forum were the loadstairs of men and women then as now. Luxurious as these Sabarites lived in their houses, sparkling with all the glory of fresco, mosaic, statuary ,rich in their retinues of slaves, lulled by the fall of fountains, charmed by tho beauty of Greek female loveliness, still the most opulent homes were comparatively small, while vast spaces were devoted to public buildings, where the populace met to discuss statecraft in tho forum, social scandal at the baths, to worship the falso gods, and be duped by the charlatanry of such false priests as Arbaces in the temples, and, enjoy the bestial sports of the amphitheater. Here the masterpieces of Greek and Roman princes of the chisel and tho brush were exhibited; here the song of tho poet and voice of the declaimer rang through column and archway, from foundation to capital; here the patricians felicitated in transport of oil and aromatic ointment; here the contrite matron and maid re paired to solicit pardon for the old sin, and Bign a contract with her absolver for a now ono. The streets are narrow, the carriage way scarcely broad enough to admit of one or two-wheeled vehicles of to-day, sinking more than a foot below the side walk, in the center of which are stepping- stones, retaining the prints of torsos' hoofs. The ruts of wheels and the worn and rounded curbs are evidences of tho superannuation of tho city before its. destruction, or, as I have heard it termed, its preservation. Would we have Pompeii in so perfect a state of converntion to-day had not the ashes from Vesuvius embalmed it, and pro tected it from decay and corruption of es? The fountain -basins at the street corners are worn into hollows by the press of human hands upon the brim, while the watei filled tho pail, or by lazy indolent hands that lolled here while their owners chatted the hours away. The stone steps are worn into grooves by the tramp of many feet, but the word of welcome, mire or ctt ce canem (beware of the dog) are still in perfect black and white mosaic in the pavements. Shafts are gone, columns broken, and altars de filed, but the colors and forms of the frescoes are marvelously unmarreu. Walking the streets, we exclaimed at the limited dimensions of the town. How much still Bleeps under yonder hills of pumice-stone?. W. Forney. The conversation appeared to be dying out, when a bilious man suddenly ob served to a young lady on his right: "I don't think they make pills as largo as they used to." After this the conversa tion went on. How Far BelU May be Heard. In a hilly locality, gay the Scientific American, a bell may not be heard half as fur as if the hunl wore level, or nearly so. A bell will be heard a great deal further lengthways of a valley than ovor the hill sides. It is frequently the caso that bell rooms are lower than the sur rounding buildings and trees, and theso obstructions break tho sound and pre veut its passage to a distance. It is frequently the case, too, that towers have small windows or oponings, with tho lower boards so close together as to almost box up the sound. In cities the noise of steam and horse caw, manu facturing establishments, carriages and carts rattling over the pavement, cto., is so great that bells are not expocted to bo heard at any considerable distaneo, and this is tho reasou why, in all cities, several belis are used for fire-alarm purposes, it being impossible tor ono bell, no matter how largo it may bo, to bo heard above tho thousand and one noises incident to every largo place. The largest bell ever made in this country weighed 22.0(H) pounds, and, before it was fractured, hung in the city hall of New York. On ono or two occasions this boll was heard up tho Hudson river thir teen miles, in the night, when the city was comparatively quiet. Water is a good conductor of sound, and aided ma terially in making tho bell heard as above mentioned. It is a great mistake to sup poso that bells can lo heard in propor tion to their weight; that is, to supposo thut a bell of two thousand pounds can bo heard twice as far as a bell of one thousand pounds. This is not so, for tho reason that tho larger bell does not pos sess twice the resonant of the' smaller ono. What is gaiuod and admired in the larger bell, is the deep, majestic, digni fied tono, which it is impossible to so cure in the smaller ono, tho weight of a bell invariably gov?rning its forco. A bell of one hundred or- two hundred pounds, in an open belfry, on a school liouso or factory in tho country, is frequently heard at a long distance out of all proportion apparently, to ono of a thousand pounds in a church tower near by, and instances of this kind frequently cause no littlo comment in the way of comparison. The reason for this is, that tho small bell has a sharp, shrill, pene trating sound, that must, of necessity, bo heard a great deal farther, in proportion to its weight, than the low, mellow, "church-going" sound of the church bell. The same principle applies to tho whistle of a locomotivo, and it is heard a long distance simply because its tono is shrill and penetrating. When hung stationary and struck, or tolled, bells will not be heard, as a rule, half as far as when hung. The swinging motion throws the mouth of tho bell up, and not only carries the sound off. but imparts to it a richness that is absent when tho bell is at rest and struck. A great deal is to be gainod by ringing a boll properly, throwing the month well up, and not lazily jingling it. It is not physical strength that is required in ringing a bell, so much as "getting the knack" of catching the rope just right, particularly on tho second "down pull." The win dows in the tower should be us open as possible, and tho towor should be ceiled just above the windows. How (ilrls go fo Sleep: We had wandered out in the moonlit larchos, and wo talkod and laughed at nothing, in that silly, happy way young people, have. We told riddles and sung tho old college songs till finally sleep, with his bright-colored mantle of dreams, called us, and we finally retired to what we fondly supposed would bo repose. But if you have ever occupied a room with six girls you will know that sloep is not always to be obtained at onco. Ono young lady was an hour and a half by the clock in brushing and braiding her hair, in putting up nor crimps, and in polishing her finger nails, in running a pieoe of silk floss bo tween each pair of her thirty-two teoth, in polishing each ono with a littlo stick and some powder, in giving them a vigorous brushing with some soap and water, in washing her hands and in applying glycerino to them, in putting on a wash good for tho complexion, in reading her Bible, in kissing everybody good-night, and in getting into her hanyuock, which everybody who has ever tried it knows is a work of time. Just as we thought we were almost asleep she recollected that she bad not taken her nux vomica, and she argued a long time with another young lady to try to cot her to tako nux vomica, quoting at great length from Dr. Pulte and other eminent homu'pathic physicians to prove that she and everybody need nux vomica occasionally. hen, to got peace, the poor erirl swallowed tho globules, we thought we had earned reposo, but when another young woman remarked in a cheerful tone that she was cold, and one of tho windows must como down. This occasioned what seemed to the ones an endless controversy, as somebody else was "burning up with heat" and wanted another opened. This was finally settled. Everything was quiet for at least five minutes, aud we were all at length given to "tired nature's sweet restorer" when suddenly an awful sound wus heare. A great weight fell violently upon tho bare floor, the shriek of a woman leaped upon tho midnight air, quick questions and exchimutions were heard. A light w as struck and it was discovered, not that murderers and robbers were upon us, but that some body s hammock hud broken down, lhis was leconstructed, and again we ad dressed ourselves to persuading Mor pheus to knit np our sleeve of care, which by this time was very much raveled indeed. Ten minutes of utter quiet passed away; nothing was heard out tho gentle breathing of the sleepers, when one atlectionate girl, turning over, called out: "Well, I'm going to sleep, good-night everybody." LippincotCi Father Hvacinthe is quoted as saying the other day, in referring to his church, which has now leen ojened twelve months, that the collections at the ser vices had amounted to COtX) francs, and the remainder of the income had been derived from voluntary contributions, chiefly from his English and American friet,ds. "Our foreign friends," he re marked, "have their various national and religious undertakings to attend to, and, however grateful we may be, our self re ect cannot allow the present state of things to continue." The Kussluu Cxar. Tho threats made- by tho Nihilists to burn St. Petersburg may simply bo bravado, but tho iuct that hereto fore they have mado tho most des- porute efforts to carry out their tromises, induces many people to cliovo that tho effort at least will bo mado to carry out the last ono. Anything rolating to tho Emperor just now is interesting, and tho fol lowing from tho London Iruth, by ono who evidently knows his subject, will bo found worth reading. Tho tooling which comes upper most in tho mind of any ono who sees tho Czar for the first tinio is that of sincoro pity. Ho is tt largo, ox-oyod man, evidently of good in tentions, but with a look of sadness and perplexity iu him. His voico is as harsh as tho grinding of a coflbo mill out of ordor, for an affection of tho throat, under which ho has long suffered, rendors speech painful to him. lie would havo mado a very amiable private gentleman, and could havo got far moro ease and amusement out of lifo if ho had handed all tho bothcratiou of gov. eminent over to his brother Cou stuntino, who has a tnsto for that sort of nonsense. Ho himself eouhl hardly havo wanted to reign. It wus tho Shouvalotl's, tho Lamberts, tho Bariatiuskys, tho Alderbcrgs, tho Dologourouks, and some others who desired ho should bo a finn ruler of men. Thoy wcro forever goading and coaxing him by turns, us beet is driven to market tor thoso who wish to rcast it. They must often havo had a dillicult task, for his ponderous Majesty (good, easy man) is slothful and heavy wittod by uaturo. Ho must havo boon fre quently unable to understand oven what was wantod by him. Ho is subject to molaucholy periods of hypochondriasis, during 'which, cxistonco seems but a dreary blank to him. Ho is hauntod by fears of sudden death, and by tho dread of assassination. At theso times ho movos about on ap parently solitary walks with a largo dog, but tlioro is always a policeman handy to keep tho sacrilegious from approaching him. Whon well, ho devotes much of his timo to tailoring, changing his costumo with much stolid pcrsoveranco, and ho likes to bo attondod by u humpbacked Privy Councillor, who nuts as a foil to bis fino figure, and sots it off, for bo is a well-built man, tall and straight, though rather too German in tho ro tundity of certain of his curves. His lather Nicholas, who was in many respects n notable sovoroign, hud him very carefully brought up, and foreseeing that ho would want support, perhaps devotion, in after lito, to counteract his apathy, sur rounded him with some select young men, who could bo relied upon. This littlo band of cronios havo hung together over sinco ; they havo lived with and on tlio Emperor without in terruption from the timo of his acces sion until now ho provides for thoir wants ; they dip their tingors into his pockets whenever they aro so minded. Ho is a loosely hung Emporor, moro like tho good fellow of a frco. and-casy than tho despotic master of millions, when in tho midst of theso his familiars. Ho has boon known to sit in his shirt sleeves, astraddlo on a chair, hobnobbing with thorn. Tho lato Count StrogonofF, who was a )reux chevalier,, and a very high pacing person generally, onco broke in upon tho party thus em ployed. Tho Emperor looked at bim with thoso unutterably mournful eyes of his, and hold out a champugno glass to bo refilled from a bottle which stood by. Tho old soldier drew him self up and answered sternly: ''Lot those who Iovo you less than I do perform that servico." Tho Czar showed no sign of displeasure but within a few months Strogonoff was deprived of his ofliccs, though he was noarly connected with tho Imperial family, his son having married tho Grand Duchess Mario. Odd Dinner Customs In Sweden. The Swedes have a queer way of loco motion at their meals. Thoy often flit about like flies, from' one table to an other, and sometimes seem to turn the menu topsy turvy when thoy order a ro past. It is no rare thing to see them begin with cheese and biscuit, next pro coed to ham and salad, with a slice of meat to follow, and then suddenly start up in the middle of their dinner to swallow, whilo thoy walk about, a plute ful of pea soup. A habit which they have of beginning each repast with what they call a "smorgos," not merely leads to much untidiness at meal-time, but makes them seem contented to live on bits and scraps. The Smorgos consists of littl dishes, such as slices of smoked reindeer, and caviar, and sardines, with pickles, cheese, and other whets provo cative of thirst. These are Jished out with a fork of general utility, and laid on thumb pieces of rye cake, thickly smeared with butter, which serve by way of plate. Then they are bitten into, re gardless of the fragments which may fall on other dainties (for your true smorgos eater seldom sits to his repast) and they are finally washed down with a glass or two of spirits w hich stand handy by their side. Such s prelude to a meal is not merely uncleanly, but must vitiate the 1alate, and injure the digestion. Indeed, ! feel convinced that, were the smorgos bord abolished, not merely would the cookery in Sweden soon improve, but very many of the people would be gradually weaned from their weakness for strong drink. All the Year Hound. , No matter how honest an auctioneer mar try to be, he cannot make a living without knocking down. A Financier and Ills Dogs. Tho guardian of the sourco of Englund's greatness is not only an enthusiast in the causo of his human friends, but in that of thoso dolight ful animals specially described us the frionds of man. Aftor descanting on tho pleasures of his enforced periodi cal visit to Paris to assist at a meet ing ot tho Disectors of tbo Suoz Canal, ho rogrcts that the mobile ex istenco which deprives bim of any flvnd hntiitiitinu hns reduced his establishment of dogs. According to his view, there is no comparison do t wnnn n hulldo" and other doirs. not only in courage, but sagacity and tenderness. A bulldog is not gener ally known as a water dog, yet lew dogs known for their aquatic in sUncts can swim with anvthintr ap proaching his spood and power. Long colobralod for his poculiar choice strain of buljdogs, Mr. lovers-v nson was originally ono of their most vio lent opponents, and from his list of ennino frionds excluded John Bull's cherished companion. Perhaps an intimate acquaintance with the French languago and manners may have beon responsible for tho abhor- renco of tho bouledogue, but, bo this ns it may, tho aversion oxistod. It chanced, however, thnt an intimato friend was a gicat brooder of bull dogs, and beggod to present ono oi his lavorito strain to Mr. Kivors-Wil-son. Tho gift was refused, but the luillilnir fancier, tilled with tho true prosolyting spirit, would not bo do med, and brougut ono uay a Binaii ninkish. lined nuiinv out of his coat- pockot. In that condition it could hardly bo described as a thing of terror. Its orthodox patches of briudlo had not yet devolopod; its under tin hardlv nnnoarod to protect: it had not yet acquired tho almost hairless look peculiar to ovory nign brood. Finally, it was "a very littlo ono. Tho auimai was introauooa into tho family, and gradually grow upon its members as they declare only ft bulldog can grow. It in creased in weight somo forty-five or fifty pounds; but this rate of in ernas'o was bIow coniparod with that of tho favor it found in tho eyes of . . . . i bohoidors. It is true mo ncau grow bii-trn. and tho u liner tin fell buck, not exactly Uko an arc de Cupidon, and tnat tno ioro legs ussumvu a Chippondalo contour; but thoso points soomod marks of boauty to tho puppy's now owners. Tho animal became tho darling of tho houso.and tho ancostross ot u raco wnicu suou lnat.rn on her OWOOrS. At d02 sllOW after dog show, tho scions of this eclobrated creaturo iook prizes uniu her strain waxod famous in tho land, tho suffrages of all truo rmnnniHHilllill nf tllO CenuillO bulldoif. Thinnod out at last by repeated gifts, tho kennel was rouueeu w oue mum ber, and tho ownor dotorminod that his affection for this perfect dog almnM remain untouchod bv rivalry; and whon tho animal wont down, full of yoars and honor, to tho grave, gave up bulldogs forovor as a "fancy." Now ho has a low fox-torriors, good ,mra nnd true as fur as thov L'O. but not bulldogs. Speaking of his pros ont konnol, ho confesses somowhat sorrowfully that ho has "como down . to fox-torriors," much as "old Bill George" somo years ago, before the brood was in fashion, declined to pro euro a collio, on tho ground that ho l.n.l tint ilr.nmn llnwn to hIiOOD dOL'B UHU IIU. " " o yet." London World, Nov. l'Jtk. Princely Pennrlousuess. Unmo f ilmun wVin nrnrA linnnrnrl bv an invitation to meet the Priuco of Wales fit TIiiD'linndnu have not scrupled to affirm that thoir host is failing as much . i t ' l mentally as ho is known to uo puysicauy. Lord Beacousflold is said to bo far from tho man he was even a year ago, and lifo at his country neat is describod as "portentously slow and pompously dull." The wittv mot aud sparkling repartee woro conspicuous by their absence, jjoru jjcaconsuuiu, n is wu, spoke but seldom, and whon ho did venturo to a remark it partook more of ... t i . i. l- tho nature oi a tunny uisguiseu piauiuao than of thoso brilliant epigrams which used to drop spontaneously from his lips whonover ho opened his mouth. Taken all round Hnghondon visit was rntlmr ft fnilnrH. If. R. If. is fond of high play, and Lord Beaconsfield's face is said to have grown mdocrousiy long w lit: 11 uiQiujui guciu .... . points at whist. A fondnoss for cards prevails among tno royai iamuy, i am tli1 but t)pv do not all loso their money so gracefully as does their heir apparent, Tho Duke of Edinburgh's meanness has passed into a proverb, and has done far more to mako liim un popular than the fact of his marrying a Itussian wile. tie gew so savago at . lnsinfr that ho is the source of immense fun to those with whom he plays. I heard a good, weu-auuienueaieu story apropos of this weak sido of the Duke s character a yoar or iwc ago. juib Iioyal Highness had accompanied some ladles to tho theater or opera. If I re mnmW ricrhtlv. it was the Criterion. After the performance the party ad- journed to supper. ine waiiera oi KmruA rwncni(iil H. It. II.. and ex pected a handsome gratuity. After the refreshments had been partaken oi tne Duke called for his bill. The half dozen lackeys flew around moro ex- . mi 1 1 peetant.'y than ever. ine wisneu-ior document was produced, handed to the Tlnlia in ft nilvpr ulavnr in the orthodox fashion and found to amount to 9, 17s. Gd. His lwyal Highness mrew ciown a 10 "flimsy,' saying at the same time, with the royal air of a man who is giving away a small fortune, "Waitahs, keep keep the change, ah," and the disgusted waiters, who had looked for a half aovereigh piece, had to content them selves with the munificent sum of about fifty centa among six of them Phila delphia Telegraph.