. t
:
I
1 1
0
b
w
c
0
cmiTffiyiFiFE mm
Copyright, 1300, by Cutcllje llvne.
0
0O-.0A(,-O1,Om-0-Oi.t
,11 im.- tun ui iiiiu uour inu tnnn
plare who tiad been 6cnt out with the
li 4V... .... .1 ..
message re-entered the room and de
livered his tidings. Had el Moussa, In
his turn, passed It on. Murray was
even then waiting In the Justice cham
ber, so he said, at the farther Bide of
the house, and could be taken away nt
once untie rose to his feet, and the
Ai i stoou iii in nun wim ooweu
dia l and folded anus.
i aptuiU ! nlr hcgiiu to feel nsham
ed for haMU pressed this iiian too
hard It sooi.ied that he had Intended
to a t honc-Uy all along, mid the sus
nirioune.,s nt his behavior doubtless
a '-.I' ti'om sonic tiimi'iiiiy in custom or
(..uguage Sn tb" villor took Itad's
!m ii J in bis own and shook II
oi l ally nnl at the same time made n
liatidsoin apology for his own share
of me misunderstanding. "Your wor
ship must co-use me. he said, but rtu
always apt lo be a bit suspicious about
Inn, Hi's What dealings I vc had with
Mil in haw in'iiil.v always turned out
fur me iinfiirtunately. And now, If
yi.i Hon i muni, we ii go unci youi
c i iiioiiM-. mid you can hand lue
ovi i r v mate, and I'll take him back
i.i tl i snip Enough time's been wasl
etl ii'ii aily ry iiotli of us.
flu ial Mill bowed and subtuls
sni' iistn ii toward tne uoorway, ami
K. nlr umrrhed briskly out along the
iiarrm .inn passage neyomi, with
lt.-n! sni,i;ii shulllltig In escort chxe
at . - n ii I be house seemed n large
.in. .i i ! i i Milling Three limes Hail's
i in i ii iM lingers on Ills visitor's sleeve
si.'.i' il I .ii; a change of route. The
.on d i's. too. as Is the custom In Ara
bin "lute I'onliiess Is the llrst oonslil
. r.if in Mere dimly lit. and with the
iim "ii uim-li nun crown to ne ins see
end ii. n mi' Kettle Instinctively kept nil
i, s ,.,,,, .. tin alert for Incoinciilcnt
Ilr had no desire that Had
el l in -. i limilil forget his sulnuls
sit i ii ' l ."tab 1 1 1 ti) suddenly from
In ! i.i neither d.d he especially wish
to in u.in-i il or knifed from round any
of t . dusky sudden corners.
!! fa't. ii' was as uiueii on (he ipil
vl' e n . lie ever had lieen 111 nil Ills
Ion-- iMld iidveuturous life, and yet
Un I I loi:ssa. who tneaut treachery
ml along, took lilm captive by the most
ular of time worn stratagems. Of a
sudden (lie boarding of the floor sank
beneath Ketlle's feet. He turned and
ito a desp rate effort tried to throw
Lin - If line kward whence he had come.
but Die boarding behind reared up ami
hit I k 1 in a violent blow on the hands
K iiml in ad. ami he fell Into a pit below
I an Instant lie saw through the
gi i the face of Kail el Moussa slid
il. i.i; turned Indent, spitting at hlui
n iiaie. and then the swing Moor slam
i n' l up Into place again, mid all view
if nothing but Inky blackness was
.i d tely shut away.
Now the fall Into the pit, where Ibid
el Moussa had caught Captain Kettle,
1" - les being disconcerting, was toler
:ii u deep, iiu I. but for tlie fact that
tin mail blow from the flooring had
k'i"' him against the opposite side of
t unit so broken his descent at
' tl'!
iM"'tsi- l his elbows and heels.
lie
i "''
' ill
tl'
I ,
t
t'
It'
; i'
, i.
i
t.
t my ill have landed awk
i .ui'l I. nil. en a limb or Ills back
pi nee -s lint I'aptaln Owen Ket
is not the man to waste time over
s laini-iitiitiou or rubbing of
s He was on lire with fury at
;i be bad been tricked and
'ig to gel loose and be revelig"d.
.ad his pistol still In Its proper
' and on 1, imaged, and If the wily
.niil shown himself anywhere
i. t,ii.,i just i hen It Is a certain
. thai In would hnve been shot
. o up:. i iv the account.
I' lib as. as I have said, wedg
' "iili il.iikness. and for the pres
w tige (oiist alt till he could see
to be anted lo shoot at lie
li 'I in his feet and fumbled In
t b r a match He found mn
ii ' ii Hie sole of hU lilm white
i i iiuiioliereil quickly
place he was In was round and
i-'i.ipi'd. measuring some ten feet
t.s Moor and tapering to a small
win i,. the trap gave It entrance
1 1 vwis u prison clearly, and
.is i idi nee that It had been re
-I It was clear also that the
' .il way of removing a prison
- t" g' t hlui up by ladder or rope
( small opening to which
converged ovelhead. More
ill common seeming, the place
unbreakable, at least to
ii n i ho bad not either wings
, .J. r of crawling up the under
i i.uit like a fly
' i'l II:. things flashed through
s I i a ii In far less time than it
- ' u ul them here. lie had only
' ' i s in Ins possession, and he
' i 1 m.il.r all possible tike of the
" in ket p the second for etner
Mid o he made his survey
in'st of his Intelligence and
ui. ,
r
' 1 1
'..1:- !! this bottle shapi'd prison
f t" ' k. built Without Visible
I I.i Id together (It keeined
. i' the weight of enrth pres
le tlieui, but Just us the mnuli
i.i i tigers and dropped to the
n promptly expired, his
1 1 u in opening In the mason
- 1 Mere silt, barely thr"'
1' 1 mining vertically up ami
s "ii e sjx courses of the brick.
v s about chlu high above the
Uo marked this when the
t ut and promptly went to It
! it with his arm The silt
1' the other side, nnd there
''.'! a chamber Iteyond. II
' ' hands against the lip of the
' vi t ti -s feet against the wall
.' .1 w ith tlie utmost of but
'f ,,!,,-e he could widen the
'iily to clamber through,
i v tuyonJ. Hut from tin?
I prcbslug down above he
' ' m a sijiule brick by to
v .
t.
I'
I .
I
f
it 1
I v
C 1
1 1.
I"
much ns a hand's hrea.iih nn.t
had t( elvii m. ti,i 1 1 . "
uau tt. cue up this Idea and. stewing
with raze. .t nh,.. .... .1
The itn i'It,.. c
ine (inn.ness put h u nni nf no.
Hnn Ion hn i- t ....
tlon, but he had st eft hi immi.
nnil font .l I
ll 1 , W.Cm1 aro,m'1 W"1'
Presen til or carefully.
n ls ,1, rarc,11 "'as rewarded,
Opposite the opening Uo had discovered
before was another silt In tl,n mr.
hnnslng wall of this bottle shaped pris
on, aim mis aiso he attacked In the
uuijo o.- wreucuing free some of the
bricks. He strained and panted until
t seemed ns though all the tendons of
"".v ""'si urenk, but the wall re
mnlned whole and the silt
And then he gave way. almost childish
ly, i i ins lassion f rnKl. ml s,outeil
Insults and threats at Had el Moussa
In the vain hope that onie one would
hear and carry them.
And some one did hear, though not
the persons lie expected.
A voice, niuilled and foggy, as though
It came from a long dlstnuee. snld In
surprise, "Why. captain, have they cot
you here too'"
Under cover of the darkness ICnttl..
blushed for shame at his outcry. "That
yon, Murray? I didn't know you were
nerc. now tun you guess It was me?'
the distant voice chuckled focrllv
I've heard you giving voitr blesslni?
to the hands on board, sir, onco or
twice, and I recognized some of the
words. What have they collared you
ior; iou (ion i pnotogranh. Have von
been mcsslug around with some
girl 7"
Curse your Impudence. Just von re
memiier your position and mine. I'll
have respect from my otllcers even If
l am In a bit of a fix."
I!cg pardon, sir. Sorry I forcot mt
self. It shan't occur again."
You'll go to your room for three
Hays when we get back on board."
Aye. aye. sir."
I decided that before I left the shin.
I can't have my otllcers staying away
from duty without leave on any ex
cuse. And if they have such low tastes
is to bring themselves on the level of
common, mop headed portrait painters
and photographers they must pay for
ii.
'Aye. aye, sir!"
'What were you run in for''
"Oh, photographing."
There you are, then! And did they
tiring you straight along here?
les. sir. and lowered me down In a
bowline to this cellar
Ah," said Kettle, "then you doti't
want so much change out of them?
riiey dropped me, and some one will
have a heavy bill to square up for over
that. Do you know whose house this
Is?"
"Haven't a notion. After I'd been
here an hour or so some heathen sneak
ed round to a peephole In the wall and
offered to take off a message to the
ship on payment. 1 hadn't any money,
so 1 had to give up my watch, and be
fore I'd written half the letter he got
Interrupted and had to clear oft with
what there was. Old he brlug off the
message, sir '
He did, and I came ashore at once.
You remember Itad el Moussa?'
The man that consigned all that
parcel of figs for London?"
1 lint man. I considered that, as
he'd been doing business with tho
steamer, he was the best person to
make Inquiries of ashore. So I came to
ti I id and asked where I could llud the
adl to ball you out. He shullled a bit
mid after some talk admitted ho was
the cadi and took palm oil from me In
the usual way, and then I'll not deny
that we had a trifle of a disagreement.
Hut lie seemed to simmer down all
Ight, snld he'd send along for you nnd
after a bit of time said you'd come and
wouldn't 1 walk through the house nnd
see Joti myself. The crafty old fox
had got his booby trap rigged In the
muintline. and then I walked straight
Into It, like the softest specimen of
limine fool you can imagine.
"Had el Moussa, came tne foggy
comment "Hy Jove, captain. I believo
we're In an awkward place. He's tho
biggest man In this town far and away
and about the biggest blackguard also,
from what I've heard. He's n mer
chant In every line that conies handy,
from sluves and palm flber to horses
and dates. lie runs most of those
pearling dhows that we saw swelterlug
about at the anchorage, aim lies goi a
little army of his own. with which he
raids tho other coast towns nnu tne
ciiravaus up country when ho hears
they've got any truck worth looting. I
say. this Is scaring. I've been taking
things pretty easily up to now. thinking
It would all come right 111 time, nut ir
I'd known It was old Had who naq
grabbed me I tell you I should hnve
sat sweating.
"It takes a lot more than a mere nig-
ger with his bond In clouts to scare
me." said Kettle truculently, "and I
don't care tuppence what he may do uy
trade. He's got a down on me nt pres-
cat. I'll grant but I'm trolng to give
Mr. Had el Moussa tits a little lator on.
and you may Maud by and look ou If
you nrcn t frightened to ue near nun
"I'm not a funk in the open, grum-
bled Murray, "and you kuow It. You've
seen me handle a crew. Hut m in a
kind of cellar here ami can t get out
and If anybody chooses they can drop L
bricks on mc. and I cant siop 1111m.
Have they been at you about those
rifles, sir?"
"What rifles? No, nohouy s aiu
lies' to mo nshoro here." .
"It seems wo vo got some cases 01 I
.irtnt on bo.inl for one of those little
ports up the const. I didn't know It."
"Xor did I." said Kettle, "and you
.. into it from me that we haven t. I
IRM " " - . - - 1 l
Ptnuggling rifles ashore Is a Dig oueusc
here In the Terslan gulf, anu 1 m um
going to put myself in uie way ui
law If I know It."
XTV.,11 I tllltlV VOIlTO WrOUK, I
said the mate "I believe they re iu
11 v... ........ - ,
K)iue cases that nre down ou tne roaui-
fet as 'machinery.1 I saw them sion (.mion moved for sentence General
ed down No. 3 hold, and I remember u(jur p,,!,,! out a fatal flaw, muni
one of the stevedores In Loudon feg, t0 (,y(.r). ono wjW) Mtteutlon was
about them when tney were iuv
luw."
Suiinoslug they were nncs. '
hen 7" .
Kiimi u-nnts them. He say lneJ
ai"ni to some of Ids neighbor up
...... tvim'ii raid him as soon as
ew.i. , , v... rt.n't
they're properly arraeu. nun """
like the hliJn. What raiding'. . dont be
likes to do hlmbeir. anu u
ww " Z . 1 rronmoogefi
1... nuinli MrKTitrH U'Umj w I
niSgl'UI I'""
msg
bluudtrbusses.
"cll. said Kettle, "I m
tnar
what be thought fu cvu"
h.im.i. .... ..
'e noes, supposing mey were on
board."
"Oh, he expected me to broach cargo
uiiug lima uere asuore 10 mm
.. .i. i. , ..
I " oiuiuie iuiuucu savaKc.
.n i ... , .. ... ....
l, uuuivs, 531U IvCllIC, IUC DIID S
mad' JJ be think 1 should be
doing while one of my mates was
scolllng cargo under my blessed nose?"
"Ah. you see." said the focirv voice
with sly malice, "he did not know you
so well then, sir. That was before hr
had perstindcd you to come Into his
house to stay with 111111:
It Is probable that Captain Kettl
would have found occasion to maki
acid comment ou this repartee from hi
Inferior olllcer, but nt that moment on
other voice nddres-ied him from the
silt at tlir oilier side of his prison, and
he turned sbaip'j round To Ids sur
prise tins new peron spoke In very
tolerable KliglMi
"Cnp'n. I want to uiuke contraek wld
you."
"The d 'uee you do And who in Ight
you be, anyway?"
"I cullud geii'lem'n, sur. P.oon 7.au
zlbar. Used to be fireman on I'. nn O
I want nrsk you'
"Is this the Arabian Nlglit? How
the mischief did you get here, any
way?
Went on burst in Aden, sar. Tin
ole chief tired me out. Went Yemen
Carglit lor slave. Taken carnviin
Hrouglit here. Hut I'm very clcvei
geu'lem'11. sar. an soon bought mysell
free, lint slave of my own now an
three wles Untight "nother wife yes
terday."
Oh. yon lieastl" said Kettle.
Sar. you Insult me. N l bally Chris
tlnu any longer. Hard shell Moham
inedan now. sar. an can marry as man
w les as I ran buy
'I'm sure the prophet's welcome to
you Look here, my man. I'assdov. n
a rope's end from aloft there, and let
me get on deck, and I'll give you
soM-reign itisii iiown nnd a berth In
my steamboat's stokehold if you want
one I'm not asking you lo belli me
mine. I guess I'm quite competent to
find my own way on board and to wipe
this house tolerably clean before It':
quit of me."
Nothln of the kind, sar." said the
man behlud the silt. "You Insult me,
sar. I very big gcn'lein'n here, sar
1111 a sovetelgn's no use to me. He
sides, I pa 1 tner to ole man Had, an h
say lie want ilein rules you got on
your ole tramp."
Does he. Indeed I lien you cmi
tell him, Mr. Nlgger-run-away-drunken
llremmi, that I'll see you mid hlui
somewhere a big sight hotter than
Arabia before lie gets them. I dldn'
know they were lilies. If 1 had knuM 11
I'd not have planned to put tlieui
ashore, hut us things are now. I'll land
tlii'i.- Into the hands of those that or
uereii tliein. ami 1 nope tney come
around to this town of yours nnd gle
you iits. And see here, you talk more
respectful atiout my steamlioat or
you'll get your shins kicked, daddy.
"An ole tramp," said the man relish
Ingly. "I served on l'. 1111 O., sur. an
on 1'. 1111 O. we don't care to 'sociate
wld tramps' sailors."
'You Impudent black cannibal. You'll
be one of the milmals those passenger
Hues entry along to eat the dead babies,
to save the trouble of heaving them
overboard."
to iik CONTINUKI).
A l.i'urni of the bull- Ni-ll.
Tlieie are hundreds 1 I' queer mylhs
and tradiilii: given to an mint for tho
fact that 1! sea Is salt. The Arabs
say that when tho first pair sinned they
were living In 11 beautiful garden on a
tract of laud Joined to n mainland by a
narrow neck or Isthmus. When It be
came I. noun to the Holy One that I1I9
people had sinned, he went to the gar
deu for the purpose of driving them out
mid across the narrow neck of laud
hnto the patch of thorns and brambles
the other side. Anticipating what
would be the consequence of their hel
nnus crime, they had prepared to leave
their beiiullful garden and had nctuallr
,.m. w, fr l() M.n,i the children and
goats in hiss Into tho thicket.
When the Holy One appeared on tho
1-1'ene. the first pair started to run, but
the woman looked back. For this the
mM cursed her and for such a crime
was almost Immedlntelv turned Into n
,uc.; or sat. CotnparewlthCencsIs xix,
-n,,. woman, more forgiving than
la,r husband, stooped to pick up tho
shanelcss mass of knit, when lintno-
,n,,teiy the narrow neck of land begnn
t0 t.ra. k and break. As she touched
,al itlla ,,1 1 n her companion she.
t00r . turned lo salt Just ns the neck
0f the la d sank and tho waters rush-
ed through. From that day to this, the
Arabs say, all the waters of the ocean
have rushed through that narrow chan
nel nt least once a year, constantly
Hearing away the alt of what was
0nce our first parents, yet the bulk of
t. two nlty objects Is not diminished
)tl t,e least.
Him lirnrrnl llntlrr I'rrril n Mnn.
('eucral liutler'u gift for springing
out and taking advantage of every
fm. Imlfvillt I- uiiu ftlllf llloutrnf ...1 !i tin
fll,..011(i t.nl(t, of ., r(.inW'tablv connected
, itnston. who. being affected
trln, (m f()V m(.tmi.lltHi c'eneral
lutt,r waH t, ,,r80ner' counsel. If
(ho prlRmu,r mxH oonvlctftl on all four
indictments, ho would bo llnblo to
i,iirlsonment for 00 vears. As the
court was assembling fienernl Butler
agree with the counsel for the prono-
cutloii that threu Indictments should be
,,u,illM on condition that the prisoner
i,011i,i ..i.,,! ,.uiitv (n .i. ,, which
.,,,... i ,i, ,1,..,, ,.,.. ,
..Ml Hill
nIIluUllt.
Tno 1)rSOor( to ,s utniuemout. was
ordered by Ids couusel to plead guilty,
"Pay guilty, sir," said the general
jl,,... .I,- Tl,.. ..,.. ,.l.,..-.l ml Ihn
(,ti.r three ludlctuienui were not prees'
a.rii.i, . .- t,n.i uvj i-ii, ......
, ltu, ,h(J tH)UUSOj for iro.
called to It. In ten minutes-the aston
Isbts! prisoner was n free man. It Is
nuUl that the court laughed at the ruse.
'he cleverueaa of wtuch it was ihiikis-
slide not to admire.
Ilrr lllat.
Stout Man (whoso appetite has lMn
the envy of his fellow boardwm-l do-
dare I have three bullous off my vet.
(.art, i,av(. Inree bullous off my vet. I
III. t 0 I. ir..., lina liiujfi
" . ' ' . . , v ... "
niUUlK ID mm .-'- "
probably find thtin In the dining room,
sir -.' umili
FIGHTING A WILDCAT
AN ADVENTURE THAT MADE ONE
MAN $HY OF THAT KIND OF BEAST
He t WlllliiK t l-ii OK W'ht
Vroiuiil to An.'il IVrnrloua Ant
ninN, 1:1, -n Tliotiuli selt-iier Sn
Tlirj Will l-'lrc nl Jtnli'n Apprmu'h
"1 have read In the papers certain
iclentlflc assertions that no wild aul
rial will voluntarily attack or pursue
1 huiiimi being, but that, on the con
trary, the liercest of them, as tradition
nnd the talcs of woodsmen classify
them, will make haste to escape the
possible sight of man, unless. In des
perate cases, hunger may urge It to np
proach him. Its inot dreaded foe, such
eases being extremely rare," said n
matter of fact and veracious New York
business man.
"If Hint Is so, I had a little expert-
lice once with a wild nnlmal that must
have been the most desperately hungry
beast that ever longed for food, The
occurrence was In northwestern I'cnu
sylvanla, where one winter I had some
business that called me ten tulles from
the county town to one of the back
woods districts. It was lato In tho nft
cmoon when I started on my return to
the village. Tho way was over a lone
ly, narrow, crooked mountain road, bor
dered by deep woods much of the dis
tance. Toward dusk, as I was round
ing a short turn In tho road, my horse,
which had u good deal of spirit, shied
suddenly and sprang forward on a
furious run.
At the saiuo Instant an animal with
glaring eyes plumped down from some
where and lauded In the sleigh nt my
feet. It had evidently leaped from n
tree at tho horse, the quick movements
of which nervous animal had defeated
that purpose, and the attacking nnlmal
had alighted with Its foro feet on tho
robo that lay across my lap. It glared
furiously nt me, with Its face not more
than two feet away, as It clung to tho
robe with Its sharp claws, growling
fiercely. 1 had never seen a wildcat,
but 1 knew Instantly nnd Instinctively
that I had one to deal with here, nnd
It seemed to bo n very largo and sav
age one nt that. I had no weapon, but
fortunately the whip that stood In Its
socket on tho dashboard was loaded nt
the butt.
Clinging to the reins with my left
bund the horse was running nway I
illicitly drew the whip from tho socket
and struck the wildcat on the bend
with the heavy butt. That caused the
nnlmal to loosen Its hold on the robe
mid drop Into the snow at tho side of
the sleigh, but the agile nnd furious
beast was up In the fraction of a see-
mid and with one bound sprang on the
back of the sleigh, which bad a low
body.
Although (be horse was running
mildly away along the narrow and
crooked roiuU throwing the sleigh from
side to side and threatening It con
stantly with destruction against some
rock or stump, I was obliged to drop
the reins and leave the result of the
runaway to chance, for tho wildcat
was struggling desperately to gain a
foothold In the sleigh and light me at
close quarters. I knew that If the
sleigh should happen to come Into col
lision with any obstacle heavy enough
to wreck It I would be no match for
the catamount, now wrought to the ut
most ferocity, fighting It on the slip
ping snow, even If I were unharmed by
the collision, so I strained every nervo
to conquer the determined beast while
still possessed the advantage of foot
hold In the sleigh.
Once I thought It was nil up with
me. for ns the sleigh was curried
abruptly round 11 shott turn In the road
by the speeding horse one runner
struck a stone or a root, and the sleigh
careened mid ran at least Ml feet on the
other runner alone. I mechanically
threw the weight of my body toward
the upper side of the sleigh, all the
time raining rapid blows on tho head
of the wildcat with the butt of tho
whip, nnd forced the sleigh down to Its
balance ou both runners again. A few
more blows nfter that, mid I was re
joiced to see the determined and teun
clous beast first loosen one claw, hang
for a second or so by the other, while It
tried to seize tho top of the back of tho
sleigh again with Its teeth, nnd then
tumble lo the road mid He motionless
In the snow
I dropped back oil the scat limp
nnd weak and too much unnerved lo
make the least effort to obtain control
of the runaway, which was still rush
ing wildly along (he uncertain road,
minlc still more uncertain by the gath
ering darkness. Tho horse ran at least
three miles farther nnd then began to
slow up and at last stopped half way
up a lung and steep hill from sheer
exhaustion. 1 bad by this time recov
ered sulllclently to take charge of the
horse again and drive the rest of the
way to the town, which wusu't far,
ami where I arrived with the horse
covered with foam, a sleigh splintered
and covered deep with scars mid
bcratclics made by tho desperate wild
cat nnd myself so badly used up by
nervous shock that It was three days
before 1 was able to get about again
In anything like good condition. 1
never heard whether tho wildcat was
killed by my blows or not, but 1 have
an nlen he wa. I hope so, Kclcuco
may be all rlcrlit In declaring that wild
animals will huMon to flee at the very
kiispn inn it muu's approach, but If
ewi 1 ,i- toing anywhere and hear
ui- .1 1 Mi an 111 that direction I'll
1 o 1 oine other way," New
ok I
IWk uf i ; rest Britain have the right
lo be Imugi'd with silken cords Instead
of heuiHu ropes, I'ow aval) them
solves uf (lit) privilege.
Mgnum vltif la the toughest wood
known. It cauuot bo worked by split
ting.
A Wtlr AntiTrr,
The shah of Persia onco nsked a
group of his courtiers whom they
thought the greater man, himself or
bis father. At llrst he could get no re
ply to so dangerous a question, the an
swer to which might oot tho courtiers
their heads.
At last a v,:y aid courtier said,
"Your father, lire, for although vou
. - . 1 . .. . .
ou ra uer " owier re-
MM'IIS 111 IlllS I.' IS UIKTIOr 10 yOU.
that he bai n gt.i.t.rsou than any you
uaie.
THE BLACK VENUS.
An Tiilr Stone Tlictirr Worht)cd iy
Penanntk of llrlttnnj-
nven false religions die hard, ami
there are reminders of all extinct
faiths still existing In the world. One
of the molt curious relics of paganism
which are still worshiped In a Chris
tian country Is tho gigantic black
stone figure uf u woman which la to be
found In n forest of tho district of
Morblhan, In Ilrlttauy.
It Is known as the "Black Venus,"
but probably dates Tar back of tho
time when the Greeks and Homans
worshiped that goddess. Antiquarians
asset t that this Ugly Idol belongs to
the nge of the serpent worshipers, one,
of whoso subterranean temples Is In
the neighborhood, lids would make
the figure far older than the Christian
era.
Tlie statue is tiint or a huge, un
couth womnii, with a sulleu, angry
countenance, her form enveloped In a
loose mantle.
The superstitious Bretons have al
ways worshiped the llgure, asserting
that It has power over the weather and
the crops. If the Idol Is neglected, they
declare that the grain dies on the car,
and If the nnger of the black woman Is
further roused 11 tidal wave sweeps
over Morblhan.
Twice the stone was cast Into the sen
by pious folk who hoped thereby to put
an end to this Idolatry, and twice the
peasants dragged It back and set up an
iiltnr before It.
About two centuries ago Count l'lerre
de t.annlou, on whose estate the figure
stood. In order lo save tho statue from
both friends and enemies, dragged It
by -10 yoke of oxen to his own chateau
and set It up In the courtyard, lie cut
on Inscription on the base of the pedes
tal, declaring the llgure to be n Venus
carved by Civsar's soldiers.
The count nud his chateau are both
gone, but the huge black woman, over
grown with moss, still stands In tho
forest, and the peasants still beseech
her to bless their crops.
TEACHING A YOUNG LARK.
lloti ll llmlirr CoiirlH-n II In llnti
linilt nml l''ly.
I. M. Barrio, the noted Scottish story-
writer, In Serlbner's Magazine told
bow a young lark got Its llrst lesson.
A baby lark had got out of Its nest
sideways, a fall of a foot only, but a
dreadful drop for a baby.
1011 can get back this way," Its
mot her said, and showed It the way.
But when the baby tried to leap It fell
on Us back. Then the mother marked
nut lines on the ground ou which It
wns to practice hopping, and It got
along beautifully so long as the mother
was there eery moment to say, "How
wondeifully you hop!"
Now teach mo to hop up," snld tho
little lark, meaning that It wanted to
fly. and the mother tried to do It In
vain. Sho could soar up, up, very
bravely, but she could not explain bow
she did it.
"Walt till the sun comes out nfter
the rain," she said, half remembering.
What Is sun? What Is ralnV" the
little bird asked. "If you cannot teach
me In fly. teach me to sing."
When the sun comes out nfter rain,"
the mother replied, "then you will
now how to sing."
The rain eauie and glued the little
I tl 1 (I'm wings together.
1 shall never be able to fly or slug,'
It walled.
Then of 11 sudden It began to blink
Its eyes, for 11 glorious light hnd spread
over the world, catching every leaf
and twig ami blade of grass In tears
mid putting a smile In every tear. The
baby bird's breast hwcIIisI, It did not
know why. It lluttered from the
ground. It did not know why.
"The suit bus come out nfter the
rain!" It trilled. "Thank you. sun!
Thank you! Thank you! Oh, mother.
did you hear me? I can sing."
Then It filiated up, up, culling,
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
to the sun. "Oh, mother, do you
sen 1110? I am llylug!"
A (iimil Memory
A bad memory In most cases tnlghl
be more properly described as one rust
lng from sheer want of use. The fact
Is our brain cells nre always "ready lo
oblige." but we do not give Ihem Nlilll-
eleiit rucuurugemeut In their well
uieiiut e II ii its. Naturally (he Individ
ual may cultivate 11 memory for cer-
lain details more readily than for nth
its, hut tlie general basis of nil recol
led lie acts Is the same, and there Is uo
department of human mental activity
in which the motto (lint "practice
makes perfect" holds more truly than
In the science of mnemonics. The
view may be expressed. Indeed, (hat
we never forget anything presented lo
our brnln cells When we say wo have
forgotten, we really ineun thai we can
not Iiml the menial photographic uega
live whence we can print oh u Misltlve
reproduction. London Chronicle.
I'runi m Author' .Notebook,
The following Is 1111 extract from the
diary of an le'Vccunloiis author: "Kose
at ft and had a sonnet and 11 glass of
cold water for breakfast. I retired ear
ly In die evening without supper, as I
feared (he neighbors would be annoyed
by the nulling of the knives mid
forks "-Atlanta Constitution.
Trlmiiiliiu Ilrr Snlla III).
Niiiinle- Oh. dear; my face Is so frec
kled! It's Just awfull
Aunt llannnli-l wouldn't fret, Nan
nie. Of course the freckles ere not
very becoming, but, then, you know,
(hey serve to cover up your fcuturea.
Bostou Transcript.
fillk worms and their eggs were first
brought 10 Lurope In the sixth century
of our em A couple of monks who
had (raided In China ns missionaries
brought away a quantity of the co
coons concfBh'd In their wr " lng sticks.
i:rl Silk Wroirri,
Among the encouragements offered In
silk weavers during the llrst century uf
the existence of ibis Industry In Lyons
was exemption from military service
nud taxation So rapid was lis devel
opment that 'n 1U.V) the wearers num
bered IS.H0O. or 'Ki.ooo with etUllated
pursuits.
The most vicious looking weapon on
record has been unearthed In New Or-
'
enrn(, ,t , n combination of a re-
rnlrnp rntv of lo.lv I, .,b I,.-
Bn(j a',nrk ku)fe. 0, )u mi am, cacu
hull! for ll.it Ir.iNsn lion nt l.iiuli...u.
pi Qreain Java Coffee jjj
Tl r -r ...
TI Aot aittilicnted olsowhoro.
litiilicnted elsewhere.
Iii
St!
ii U 80 W ",'on,"""(4il"l,Lv ilflicious otto of tho strong lenders.
tho ltrst on tho Const. Keops Coffuo nw fresh as when packed
until opened. Wo will pay froight ou your lira I order of lfi !J
pounds or 111010 if you encloso this ndvortisoinciit. If you caro
for good Coffeo it's worth while to try it. M
St!
" llonst llorry Jura Coffee."
S-lt), HI), or li-lbtlin,
M els. per lb. Hulk .11 cN II)
Sf Hi lx)x nt'SM ceiil.
St!
l
1 II J lit- i.ni ujiiirr. iiiiir
Tin Willi,.., 1 ll,,li.,ilu In l,l ll. ,,.. 1
lng lectures on the digestive ferincnt'i
writes: "Our practice In regard to the
,. ........ a ..... ...... ... .,.- .,!,l,a
oysier is (pine oxccpiioiuu mm iiirmsii-
es 11 striking example of the general
correctness of the popular Judgment ou
dietetic iiuestlotis. The oyster Is al
most the only mutual substance which
we eat habitually and by preference In
the raw or uncooked state, and It Is In
teresting to know that there Is 11 Round
physiological reason nt the bottom of
this preference.
The fawn colored mass which con
stitutes the dainty of the oyster Is Us
liver, mid this Is little less than 11 heap
of glycogen. Associated with the gly
cogen, but withhold from actual con
tact with It during life, Is Its appropri
ate digestive ferment, the hepatic dins
tase. The more crushing of tho dainty
between the teeth brings these two
bodies together, nnd tho glycogen Is at
once digested wltho it other help by Its
own diastase.
"The oyster In the uncooked stnle or
merely warmed Is, In fact, self digest
ive. But the advantage of this provi
sion Is wholly Isst by cooking, for the
heat Immediately destroys the associ
ated ferment, nnd a cooked oyster has
to be digested, like any other food, by
the enler's own digestive powers"
tlni'iilii nn n l.lfn r.mrr.
William A. Newell, who had the rare
distinction of being governor of two
stales-New Jersey nud Washington -told
In Success of his romantic experi
ences us a congressman In IS IP. when
he originated the life saving sen Ice by
olterlug 11 resolution lit the bouse of
representatives lo appropriate money
lo save lives Imperiled by the sen. I'el
low members of congress nt that ses
slon weie John Oiilnoy Adams nml
Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Newell snld
Various objections were made to my
nnmou, tne strongest of which was
that the scheme was Impracticable.
laid the mutter before, a great many
senators mid members, speaking to
them In person. Kx-I'resldeiit John
(Juincy Adams occupied 11 seat Just be
hind mine and afler the reading of the
resolution clerk leaned forward mid
said to me, 'I would like to see that res
olutlon.' I scut for It and handed It to
hlui. He lead It over carefully and
handing It lo me, snld, with n suillc: 'It
Is good. I hope It will prevail.' Ahrn
ham Lincoln also read It ami said
'Newell, that Is 11 good measure. I will
help you. 1 am something of a life
saver myself, for I Invented a scow
that righted Itself 011 the Mississippi
sand bars. "
.HIiuiuVrlnK I lie Cook.
neri; .is something that a woman
who knows says Is a suro diagnosis
of tho status of tho cook. If you have
a good cook, you may bo moro or
less sure Unit sho will look too fre
quently upon the wlno when It Is red.
It Is an uuforttiuato fact, but If the
cook Is less than a $10 cook us
little iinnoyauce as possible may bo
expcctisl from this weakness. Possi
bly It will never make Itself manifest
enough to be known above stairs. But
If tho cook has risen higher In Unso
cial scale of cooks than $10, then look
out. A cook who Is rated at over J 10
may bo ipected to smash things.
If 0110 chances to make 11 morning
call at the house of a friend and ills-
eovers the servants crowded up stairs,
frightened nnd trembling, v. Idle from
below coiuo tho hounds of Ironware
skating across the kitchen and pottery
crashing against the wall ami be
tween times tho voice of the masculine
head of the family gently expostulat
ing or fouiiuiiiiillng In would be stern
tones, then It may bo known that that
household hiiM reaclntl tho dignity of n
f.0 or !0 cook.-N'ew York Times.
Huxley it ml the Clrrurinan,
A rash clergyman once, without fur
ther equipment In natural history lliun
some desultory reading, attacknl tho
Diirwlulmi theory In some sundry mag
azine 111 tides In which ho mndo him
self uncommonly merry at Huxley's
expense. This wns Intended to draw
(he great man's lire, and as the batter
ies remained silent the author proceed
ed to write lo Huxley, calling his at-
leiillon lo the articles nud at the same
time, with mock modesty, asking nil-
vice as o the further sludy of those
deep questions
Huxley's answer was brief nml to
the point. "Take a cockroach and dis
sect It." Argonaut.
( u II 1 11 u Hit- Doctor.
A good story Is told of Dr. X., who Is
(ho physician In charge of (ho female
wards of one of our best known chari
table Institutions. One evening about
0 o'clock Mary, u new Irish servant
girl, knocked ut (he door, saying:
"Doctor, the head nurse wants you
to come down to supper."
The doctor, swelling In his pride of
superiority above the nurses, sent the
Irish girl iiMiiy with a curt message.
Half an hour later the bend nurse came
lo Ids loom looking very mtIoii.
Doctor, she said. "No. H Is very bad
Indeed. I think you ought U so her at
once."
Why did you not lei tne know bo-
fore V" una the reply.
Why, doctor, Mild the 11111110, "I
sont you word by Mury half 1111 hour
ago."
The fool.'" said the duel nr. "Sho
told me to come down (o supper!"
by, said the nurse, "I sent you
word lo fume down 10 eight!"
An Inquiry made the whole thing
clear. Mary (bought It more polite to
say "Come down to supper" than lo
say "Come iluyvu to ate."-Pearson's
Packe
Packed in Patent Vacuum Tins
5mitirs uasii Store,
Mnrkct St., Sim I'rnnclHco, Oil.
QROCinr DEPARTMENT.
Orlflliml .Mull Order llotiso.
Orlalnol .Mull Or.lor limine
BLAKE,
Importers una LK'HIcm n
I r 1- -w.
took, Nw,
WrUIno: mid
Wrapping...
PAPERS
"lUrrl I I
& TOWNE
OAIID 8TO0K
STUAW AND MNDKItS' UOAUD
on-nr-f u-n . fii-m st.
Tu main tBB. SI SAX KltANCISCO.
SAM MARTIN
l-irS.'lyenrs Ith
C. 11. Whitney Co
CHAt CAMM
For .1 yfiirs with
0 K. Whltucy AOo.
NUW COMMISSION UOUSU
MARTIN, CAMM & CO.
tlM-HM Davis Mt., sin I'l'iiiielseo.
(icncriil Commission nnd
Produce.
Spei'Inlty, Butter, K'ggs ami Olieece.
Your couslKuinonts solicited.
Most
Healthful Coffee
In the World.
All the world knows that eollee'lii
excessive use Is Injurious. And yet
thocoU'eo lover cannot stnnd taste
less cereals. There lias to tills time
been no happy medium between
Cafe. Bland fills the void with the
best elements of both. Ills richer
than straight col Ice, mid many will
not Isj easily convinced tlmt It is
not all collce. But wo guarantee
that Cnfo lilmiil contains less than
llfty Percent collce, which Is scien
tifically blended with nutritious
fruits mid grains, thus not only
displacing; over II fly per cenl of the
calielu, but neutralizing that which
remains nnd still retaining the rich
collce llavor. To those who suller
wllh the heart, to dyspeptics nml
to nervous people (Wo lllnliil Is
especiall y recommended uh a health
ful and ilelleloiis bevernge, so satis
fying that only tho memlierof the
family making tho change lu the
coll'eo knows there has been one.
More healthful, richer nml less ex
pensive tlinii straight collce. Better
In every respect. 'St cents per lb.
Vour grocer will get It for you.
Ask for
l'ruuiniiiciHl out I.i 1' itccul 011 lust syllulilo'
I'lilKritniA In li'tolliiu.
I alwnys piny that 1 may novel out
live my Illusions or my front teeth,
though till else may fall me.
Admiration Is like porridge awfully
stodging, but you get hungry again al
most uh Koirti us you've eaten It.
A good nose Is an abiding resting
phice for vanity. Vou know (hut It will
outlast your time ami that age cannot
wither nor custom stale Us satisfactory
proportions.
Tlie quality of mercy should not be
measured out by tcnspooiifulH In a
medicine glass, but should be sent
round hi 11 watering carl by tho county
council.
They've 110 sense, men haven't. The
very best of thein don't properly know
the difference lietweeti their souls and
their stomachs, mid they fancy that
(hey aru 11-wrestling with their doubts
when really It Is their dinners that aru
a-wreslllng with (hem.
It Is the duty of all women to look
happy the married ones lo show that
they don't wish they weren't married
mid the unmarried ones to show that
(hey don't wish they were. Now York
Telegram.
Tlir ylnllrr o( a Nt-lillcolon.
A Itusshin military paper (ells of
a lieutenant who overheard a sergeant
giving n rtsrult it short lecture upon
his duties- "Tho military service."
said the sergeant, "requires little pray
er to fi'od and a strict attention to tlie
orders of a superior." Somewhat as
tonished at (his singular definition of
military duty, the olllcer ventured to
ask the sergeant for his authority,
whereupon tho sergeant produced an
undent volume containing tho follow
ing: "The military duty requires lit
tle; prayer to Cod, and strict attention
to the orders of a superior," Army
ami Navy Journal.
A I'rrcniilloii,
Husband (going to his rich uncle's
funeral) Put a couple of large hand
kerchiefs Into my pocket, dear. The
old gentleman promised to leave me
f lO.tXHi. nml I ahull want lo shed some
appropriate tears.
Wlfo-.But suppose when I lie will Is
read you find he hasn't left you any
thing Huslimid-lii that case you had bet
ter put lu three. London Pun
tialr it Hit- I, unit tit I'riiitil,
No one can watch 11 load of Immi
grants bind without being struck by
tho astonishing signs of hope and con
fidence about them all. There has
never been uny exaggeration of this.
Incredible as It may seem to one who
knows how grim Is the struggle for
life among the musses In America, It
Is evident that this is still the laud of
promise to the poor of lCurope. -Bcrlb-
I tier's,