DUST AND ASHES
Sho practiced on liim nil her wile?
Till in love's silken ni't sho cnusht lilm,
And showered on liim lipr sweet as t smile
When to her ttetshe enptivo orought
him.
But when he pleaded with tlio nmid
To be re?nrded as her lovor,
She si;hed u little, blushed and said,
"l'leaso wait until the summer's over."
And then began love's golden dream;
To every picnic, every dance ho
Took her," bought her lemon-cream
And other things that maidens fancy.
At bench hotels with her he hopped,
For she was quite nn nrdent dancer
At length the youth the question popped
And waited for the maiden's auswer.
It drew the sweetness from his life.
It burned nndjicorched him likon blister;
Twns this: "I cannot be your wife,
Uut I will bo to you a sister."
Boston Courier.
DESERTED LOVERS.
"Our ship! our ship! See, Henry, sho
is sailing away without us. What can
it mean?"
The speaker, Lucy Morril, was a.
beautiful girl a dark-eyed brunette;
the person whom sho addressed was
her lover Captain Henry Cavendish
a young man of twenty-six.
They had left the vessel inthodingy,
only an hour before, to visit one of,
those isles of the Pacific ocean, near
which the ship was then lying "oftand
on."
The nnmo of the craft was the Swal
low, and sho was the joint property of
Cavendish and of Lucy's brother. Sho
contained a valuable cargo, which tho
two owners expected to dispose of at
Sydney, Australia, at a profit of many
thousands.
His share would, theenptnin hud an
ticipated, afford him the means to com
merce married life with, and ho had
already won a promiso from tho sweet
girl, who had accompanied her brother
on the voyage, to become his wifo as
soon as tho cargo was sold.
Now, at Lucy's exclamation, her
lover, who was in a small valley, gath
ering flowers for her, ran to tho sum
mit of tho hill on which sho stood.
."Aye, what can it mean?" ho cried,
in surprise and dismay. .
Tho ship had madoall said, and, bo.
foro a fair wind, was receding from his
gaze at a rapid rate.
Ho gesticulated waved hat and
kerchief in vain. On went tho vessel,
and at last her hull was invisible, and
only her upper sails could bo seen.
Graduollv these dipped lower and
lower, until every vestige- of tho craft
was lost to view in tho distance
The two looked 'at each other with
blanched faces.
Hero they were, left by themselves
on this far away islo of tho Pacific,
which they knew was out of tho track
of passing vessels.
"Something is wrong," said the cap
tain sadly. "I fear I have lost every
thing. I was in a fair way to bo hap
py and prosperous. Now I am poorer
than abeggar."
Tears rose in Lucy's eyes.
I advised you not to go into partner
ship with my brother," sho said, "but
I dul not beiiove ho was dishonest. I
thought he was only wild and reckless.
Now I do not know what to think."
"It has spoiled our happiness," said
Cavendish. "Probably wo will never
see the craft again, and as I am thus
penniless, I cannot think of obliging
you to fulfil your promise of being my
wifo."
For several moments Lucy's dark
syes were veiled by their long lashes;
then sho throw herself weeping on her
lover's breast.
"Can you beliovo mo to bo mercen
ary?" sho said. "Oh no, Henry; I am
yours tho samo as over."
"But," replied Cavendish, "wo have
no money to live on now, if I should
mako you mine."
"Wo hardly need money here," said
Lucy, smiling.
"That is true; but wo will want
Food."
"We would want that whether we
wero married or not," said Lucy
softly.
"And so you are willing to bo my
bride to marry mo now?"
"I I did not say so," she answered,
shyly. "It is for you to say."
"Who is hero to marry us?"
"Truo enough; but but I don't,
know I have heard that missionaries
are sometimes on theso far away is-;
lands."
"Wo will go and look for one," said
Cavendish, offering his arm.
They had not proceeded far when they
met a native a dusky, wildly-clad
man, with long, black hair. Ho show
ed surprise on seeing them, and asked
them many questions in broken Eng
lish. From him tho lovers learned that
thero wa,s a missionary on tho island.
Hoguided them to that person's house,
a small building, with a thatched roof.
Tho missionary, an aged man, re
ceived thorn kindly and heard their
story.
"It is soldom that vessels pass this
way," ho said. "I am afraid you will
have to stay here for months. You
will have to livo principally on fruit
and fish."
"Qui wo get plenty of that?" inquir
ed Cavendish.
If you havo a boat, you can go out
and catch oil the fish you want. As
to fruit, it grows wild on sonio parts
of tho isle, but to mako sure of gutting
suough, you had better cultivate a
plantation of your own."
Tho young man had no difficulty in
inducing the missionary to perform
the marriage ceremony.
Assisted by the good 'man, tho can
tain thon sot out about erecting a hab
itation. It was finished in a few days,
and the missionary loaned tho young
couple a fow utensil to "commonce
housekeeping' with. For a pockot
knifo and a silver tobacco-box, one of
the female natives sold to the captain
half-a-dozen dresses, which bhehiul ob
tained, in exchange for fruit, from "the
master of an English vessel that had
oneo onchored oil the island. These
dresses, Lucy, who was skillful with
the needle, soon altered to lit her per
son. And now, while Cavendish never
reased to 1 egret the loss of his vessel
and cargo, he and his pretty wife could
not help enjoying their island life.
Thocnptain eventually had a thriving
plantation, on which he cultivated
not only fruit, but also vegetables.
In his boat the Dingy he would
row miles away from the i-land to ob
tain fish, and" often Lucy would ac
company him.
Happy in eachother'ssociety.the two
at last became attached to their snug
little island home, which stood, with
its thntclied roof, perched on a rising
bit of ground above the beach, where
the sea waves came rolling in white
and high. Ono morning, after they
had lived there almost a year, Caven
dish left his wife to goon one of his
usual fishing excursions.
It was a calm, still day, and the
young man, rowing far from the isle,
was soon lost tothegnzeol Lucy who
was watching him in tho misty dis
tance. An hour later a terrific gale sudden
ly came sweeping over the ocenn. The
wind and the sea together roared with
a din that was almost deafening, and
it seemed to Lucy that thegreat waves,
scattering sheets of spray that filled
the air like white clouds, were as high
as mountains.
Terrified and anxious on her hus
band's account, sho watched in vain
for his return.
"Ho is lost! lie is lost!" sho cried,
wringing her hands. "His boat could
not livo in a sea liko that. Oh, Henry!
llenryl"
Tlio old missionary mauo ms ap
pearance. Ho strove to console her,
but ho could give no hone, for he, too,
could not help thinking tho captain
was lost.
Tho spray and tho rack of the storm
:overed tlio raging water tor nines, so
that no object could at present be seen
through the cloud-like curtain.
Straining their eyes to the utmost,
tho two anxious watchers vainly cn
dea'vored to pierce with their gazo rush
ing masses ot vapor.
All at onco Lucv fancied she saw
something liko a black speck tossed
and buried along towardstheisland.
"See! What is it?" she gasped.
"An overturned boat," said tho
missionary, when tho object had drifted
nearer.
"It is his boat!" Lucy cried in agony
Such was indeed tho case.
Broken and battered, the dingy in
which Cavendish had left tlio island,
was at length hurled high upon tho
beach.
Jt seemed as if Lucy would lose her
reason.
With wild eyes sho gazed upon tho
boat.
Not a sound escaped her.
She stood liken statue, staringat tho
broken dingy, as if she could not tear
herself away from the spot.
"Come, child," said the missionary;
"come. It is hard, but you must try
to control yourself.
"I will stav hero. I will watch for
his bodv." sho groaned. "It must
soon come."
But she waited in vain.
The waves refused to give her tho
remains of her husband.
She tottered to tbolittle house, and,
throwing herself down on a rustic
lounge there, she gave way to her grief.
"To think that I will never, never
see him again!" sho cried "Oh; I wish
that I, too, was dead!"
Thero was a bright, hectic color on
each cheek, and a restless gleam in her
eyes.
The words of consolation offered by
tho missionary fell unheeded on her
ears. A delirious fever was fast tak
ing possession of her brain.
Tlio old missionary went outside of
tho house, and walked to and fro, his
mournful gazo turned seaward.
Tho violence of tho galo had now
abated and tho atmosphero had
clcartfd.
Far away tho watcher beheld a largo
ship, apparently headingfor the island.
"Hero comes a vessel!" he called,
hoping thus to turn the young wife's
mind a littlofrom the grief.
Sho was on her feet and out of tho
house in a moment. With eager in
terest did sho gazo on tho approaching
craft.
"I know that ship," sho cried, in a
voice of agony. "It is my husband's
and my brother's tho swallow. But
it has come too late! too late! My
Henry has gone, and I will never leavo
the island. I will dio hero, and when I
dio I must be buried in tho sea, whero
ho lies, and thero woshall meet again."
Wildly fahono her eyes as sho spoke,
and tho missionary feared that her
mind had already begun to wander.
Meanwhile on camo tho ship, until
sho was within a mile of tho beach,
when a boat was lowered and iiulled
shoreward.
As it drew nearer, thoro was a sim
ultaneous cry of joy from Lucy and
tho missionary, for they recognized
Captain Cavendish, standing in the
bow, waving his hat to them.
J'He has been picked up and saved!"
cried Lucy'scompanion.
"Aye, oyo, safe and well!" shouted
the captain, hearing tho words.
Soon titer tho boat's keol grated on
tho beach, and Lucy threw herself into
her husband's arms.
"Have you no greeting for mo?" said
a voico near thorn.
Lucy looked up to see hor brother,
whom sue had not rocognized on ac
count of his thick beard.
As thocaptain released her, he em
braced andk-issod her.
"This is, indeed a happy day for
me," ho said. "Out in tho storm, just
as it commenced, I fell in with
vour husband, struggling in his
littlo boat, and I was fortunate
onoush to pick him up. Tho boat
howevor, drifted away from us beforo
wo could secure it. Now I find my sis
ter, well and happy, still, I hope, hav
ing fuith in her wild scamp of a broth
er." "Why did you desort us?" inquired
Lucy. "Why leavo us on this island?"
"It was not I who deported you, but
the men. They roso in mutiny, which
they had probably been for some time
planning, knocked mo and the two
mates down, tied our hands and feet,
thrust us into the hold liko pig, and
then, clapping on sail, headed away
from the inland.
"Their objet as Infterwardlearned.
was to take the vessel to some South
American port, thero sell the cargo,
pocket the funds, and then make oil
inland, leaving the craft in our posses
sion. They were not good navigators,
and, therefore, tljey were many months
beating about the Pacific Ocean.
"At last they were within some hun
dreds of miles of the South American
coast, but by this tinio half the num
ber concluded that their plan was not
a feasible one. They would, on reach
ing port, bo boarded by the authori
ties, questions would be asked, and
detection, it seemed, would be inevita
ble. They were unanimous for freeing
us and returningto their duty, provid
ed we would promise not to puni-di
them severely for what they bad al
ready done.
"Two others did not liko this propo
sition; the two parties quarreled, and
tho end of it was that they all finally
resolved to desert the vissol in a body,
and mako for an island they saw in
thedistance. They didso, first setting
us at liberty. They took tho launch
tho best boat we had and many
useful things from the ship.
With tho cook and steward, there
now were only five of us to work tho
ship. A few (lays later, howover, we
shipped some Portuguese sailors from
tho Felix Hands, oil which wo then
lay becalmed.
"As these men wanted to go to Syd
ney, and would not ship until I had
promised them I would mako a
'straight wako' for that place, I was
obliged to head in that direction, in
stead of retracing my course to tho
distant short a thousand miles away
on which you and Cavendish had
been left.
"A fair wind favored me, and f final
ly arrived at Sydney, when I disposed
of our cargo to n much better advan
tage than I had even expected. Then
1 shipped another crew, and headed
for this isle, oil' which, it seems, I ar
rived just in time to save your hus
band's life. I havo to add that his
share of our profits is with mine, safe
under leck and key, aboard ship."
A few days later, Captain Cavendish,
now the fortunate possessor of many
thousands, sailed away with his wifo
from the island. In duo time tho hap
py couple reached London, and on tho
outskirts of that city they erected a
comfortable cottage their future
home.
THE 1JLUH GRASS IJI2GT02.
Tlio Cilltlruteil IVojilc) ofTlils Srrtloil iiml
Thulr IIui)iy l'astonil 1.1 To.
Letter in tho New York livening Post.
That one may hear the English lan
guage spoken heroin purity; that tho
best magazines are read; that Ameri
can authors are discussed and intelli
gently liked or disliked; that young
ladies know good music and are as well
dessed as those of New York; in short,
that thero is heroa class of people who,
in all that goes to mako up culture
wealth, travel, manners, morals,
speech, etc. are tho equals of thobest
Americans to be found anywhere, aro
truths unsuspected by many, and
doubtless incrediblo to many others
with whom invinciblo ignorance or in
grained prejudice aro obstacles to faith.
The pastoral life goes on prosperously
and happily year after year in tho
bluograss region. It is necessarv that
discrimination bo made at the outsot
as to locality. Between tho dwellers
in this rich rolling plain and tho in
habitants of thoriverond mountain
counties is all tho difference, as re
spects cultivation and peacefulness,
that ono might reasonably expect to
find between different races. Undoubt
edly by tho stranger who should visit
this country for tho first time, tho
class of peoplo lirst to Do mot and
studied aro tho moro prosperous and
intelligent farmers. Ho need not go
among them armed to tho teeth. In
tho vicinity of tho towns ho will find
that some of them aro men of busi
ness in town bank officers, profes
sors, lawyers, etc. And so they aro
men of ideas. Thoy havo private li
braries, they drive the most beautiful
of horses over the most beautiful of
level whito limestono roads. Tho
grounds and tho woodlands around
thoir homes aro sometimes worthy of
an English park. Of courso you will
expect to sco tho herds of Jerseys and
Durhams grazing over their fertile
meadows. Ono of them may show you
tho stables where famous trotters or
racers aro being groomed. Anoth
er may take you to tho aromatic
shed whero his men aro pressing
tho tobacco which has of lato begun
to bo so largely cultivated in this part
of tho State. Another may open for
you tho bonded warehouse, whoro "old
Bourbon" is stored away, barrel above
barrel, tier after tier, and, of courso, if
you havo a mind to, you can find out
what "old Bourbon"is when you return
to tho shaded veranda. You walk to
some knoll, and from its summit cast
your eye over tho succession of mead
ow, field and forest. Tho negroes aro fol
lowing the ploughs down tho long rows
of tho young Indian corn. Thoshuttlo
of tho reaper is heard in tho wheat field
on the distant hillsido, and tho faint
scream of a locomotive as it rushes
along tho banks of tho winding river.
A cool wind, sweet with tho odor of
wild roso and elder bloom, withthosa-
lubrious smell of frostily cut clovor, or
newly ploughed earth, blows from this
quarter and from that. Above you is
tliedeen, sercno uiuo, with wmtoclouds
drifting over. Under you is the deep
green ot tlio velvet turf. Around you
is an uunospuoro mo most luminous
and crystalline. To you como tho
coo ot building dovos, the notos of tho
specklo breasted lark, the shriek of the
untatcu blue lay, tlio drowsy tattoo
of tho woodpecker, driving his bill
against tho top of ft dy'iig walnut.
i on think of tlio boat and dust and
din and weariness of tho great city,
and thank your stars that you are in
tlio blue grass region 01 Jventuck-y.
A31I2H1CAN (jIIvLS.
An l:i:iinont Divine Snj Tlmy Aro 'ot
.M(M Aiiieuilit:i' to Saratoga Trunk.
Prof. Swing in f hirago Current.
The giil of to-day, with rare excep
tions, is 'ndnstrious and with a breadth
of invention and execution. The ironi
cal and often mean essays on the wom
an of the present often picture her
as good for little except for accom
panying a Saratoga trunk on its wan
derings in summer and for filling fash
ionable engagements in winter. Much
of this sarcasm is deserved by tho few,
but when the millions of girls aro
thought of as they are ornamenting
their mot hers' homes in the villages
and cities, the honest heart cannot
but confess that the word "girl" never
meant more than it does to-day. This
being, when found in her best estate,
can go gracefully from her silk dress
and piano to a "plain garb and to work
among plants, or to tho kitchen, or to
a mission school class. In tho city
she can easily walk three miles. Lan
guor has ceased to be fashionable;
sleep in the day tnno not to bo en
dured. Tho soul is thought to bo
action, not repose.
All can contradict these words of
praise: because nil who think a mo
ment can find exceptions in girls who
are always just dead with a headache,
or as averse as a mummy to onv kind
of conversation or activity; girls who
who are pleased with nothing and no
body. These exceptions aro so disa
greeable that they seem to mar tho
whole world and mako tho beautiful
characters invisible. In matters of
this kind ono can only offer opinions.
One daro not assert with confidence.
At a popular summer resort, whero
quite a number of these Iti-year mor
tals were met and observed daily, it
appeared in evidence and in common
fame that to be full of obedience to
ward parents, of kindness toward all
persons and things, to be industrious,
to be full of inquiry and rational talk
was not the exception, but tho average
of condition.
Why should a few girls of marked
vanity and of giggling tendencies
cast into reproach that multitude
whose hearts are as innocent as tho
.Tune flowers and Juno birds? Much
of the ruin of character comes in tho
later years of woman, when the im
prudence of late dancing, lato suppers
and the mental anxiety, and, perhaps,
sorrows which come from tho vain ef
forts of tho heart to create a paradiso
of pleasure away from duty, mako tho
cheek fade early and the oyo lose its
luster in tho morning, liko sun that
goes behind clouds before noon. As
for noble girls of 10, the Western con
tinent is full of them. They aro in tho
cities, in the villages, in tliefarni'houses.
We meet them on all streets, along all
paths in the lone and lovely country.
They are ready for all duly and hap
piness, and constitute to us older and
lading hearts tho most beautiful and
divine scene on earth.
First CitiiiVtlcM'iitoliatUe Flags.
From Mrs. Burton Harrison's "Reu
olleclions of a Virginia Girl in thoFirst
Year of tho War," the followingis tak
en: "Anotherincident of note, in per
sonal experience during tho autumn of
'01, was that to two of my cousins
and to mo was intrusted tho making
of tho lirst three battle flags of the con
federacy, directly after congress had
decided upon a design for them. They
wero. jaunty squares of scarlet crossed
with dark blue, f hocrossbeoring stars
to indicate tho number of tho seceding
states. Wo set our best stitches upon
them, edged them with golden fringes,
and when they were finished, dispatch
ed ono to .lohnston, another to Beau
regard, and tho third to Karl Van Dorn
tho latter afterward a dashing cav
alry leader, but then commanding in
fantry at Manassas. Tho ban
ners were received with till tho
enthusiasm wo could havo hoped
for; wero toasted feted, cheered
abundantly. After two years,
when Van Dorn had been killed in
Tennessee, mine camo back to me,
tattered and smokestained from long
and honorable service in tho field.
Hut it was only a littlo whilo after it
had been bestowed that thero arrived
ono day at our lodgings in Cullpeper a
hugo, bashful Mississippi scout ono
offtho most, daring in tho army with
the frame of a Hercules and tho face of
a child. 1 To was bidden to como thoro
by his general, he said to ask if I
would not givo him an order to fetch
some cherished object from my dear
old home something that would
prove to mo 'how much thoy thought
of tho maker of that flag!' after somo
hesitation, I acquiesced, although
thinking it a jest; A week later I was
tho astonished recipient of a lamented
hit of finery left 'within tho lines,' a
wrap of whito and azuro brought by
Dillon himself, with a beaming ( face.
Ho had gone through tho Union pickets
mounted on a load of firewood, and,
whilo peddling poultry, had presented
himself at our town houso, whence ho
carried oil his prize in triumph, with a
lotter in its folds, telling us how rel
atives left behind longed to bo sharin.;
tho joys and sorrows of thoso at largo
in tho confederacy."
Allen Thorndyko Rico, tho proprie
tor of tho North American Boviow, is
said to bo tho fortunate possessor of
$5,000,000 a very comfortable sum
to havo at one's command. Mr. II ice
knows how to uso it to his own enjoy
mont and to tho enjoyment of others.
Ho is a voting man, not Hf, it is said,
with ofivo complexion, dark-brown
hair, largo hazel eyes, a good straih'.
noso and a well-brushed, close-cut
beard overhung by a long must ache.
Ho dresses quietly, and, whilo bis
clothes aro all of tho handsomest no
torial, ho seems to havo a fancy for a
top coat that is a littlo worn in ti n
seams, so that hisclothes will not htlvu
the appearance of having just conm
from tho tailor. Mr. Hico is a very btuy
man, for besides taking care of his
monoy ho looks after tho interests of
tho North American llovil-w, engages
contributors, and when ho is in New
York takes ontire charge of thocditor
ial department upon his shoulders.
Til 15 CZAR'S M12TIIOD9.
Gov. Curtin ltotutei Sumo Anei-ilotes of
tlio ltiiilun AiitntM-ut.
In tho house postoflico the other
day, writes tho Washington corre
spondent of The Indianapolis Journal
some statesmen were discussing the
trial of Kiel, tho rebellionist in the
Northwest province, who has been
sentenced to death for conspiracy and
treason against her majesty's govern
ment. Amongthem was representative
Curtin, of Pennsylvania, ex-governor
and ex-minister to numerous foreign
countries.
"I should not caro to have my life,"
said Gov. Curtin, "hang in the balance
of many of tho courts of foreign coun
tries, and especially courts-martial.
The tribunals of Russia aro very
oppressive, and the peoplo who
are called upon to defend them
selves against treason. conspir
acy, or even disrespect to tho gov
ernment, have litl Iechance for life. It
is almost sure death to bo charged
with, anything against tho czar of Hus
sio. I remember an instance which
camo under my notice whilo 1 was
United States minister to Russia,
which shows the oppression. An
American of considerable prominence
ind a good deal of wealth, who was
travelling over tho world, camo to mo
ivith a letter. Ho niado my head
quarters his own, and I showed him all
the courtesies I could. Ho was quito
Independent and American, I found,
however, inhisobservations abouttho
jznrish government, and seemed to
anderstaud tho courtesies required to
ward the ruler and hissubordinntes.
"Ono day, whilo tho American was in
St. Petersburg with me, 'continued Gov.
turtin, "we took a stroll on the leading
thoroughfaro at a time when tho pop
alaco was out in forco for drives and
.valks. It is a cust om st rictly adhorcd
iq that tho head shall bo bared and
She people shall bow in courtesy to tho
v.ar when ho drives through the streets,
IVhen we wero out tho czar passed our
party, who wero on foot. Ho was in
his carriage, accompanied by Humor
ous attendants. Everyono raised his
jiat and bowed except my American
(riend with mo. Tho czar recognized
tno and my friends, and also the ono
who did not salute liim. 1 saw that
tho discourtesy was observed, and
turned to my friend when the caval
cade had passed and said: 'You mado
a great mistake in not saluting tho
czar.' 'Oh,' replied ho, 'I don't caro
anything about that.'
"The next day a noto camo tonio to
appear at tho foreign office. I went."
"'You wero out on the street yester
day when tho czar passed through on
his drive?'
" 'Yes,' I replied.
"'You had some friends with you?"
"'Yes, sir."
'"Ono of them did not saluto tho
czar?'
" 'I beliovo not.'
"'Well, you had better nsk him to
como down hero, and apologize or
explain his action. That will bo satis
factory.' "Of courso, I was greatly embar
rassed, and promised to havo my
friend call and mako tho amend hon
orable if ho would do so. But do you
know that fellow wouldn't do it? No,
his American obstinacy showed it
self, oven to niulishness. Ho said
ho wouldn't do it; hodidn'tpropose to
apologizo for failing. to saluto tneczar;
lie had done nothing wrong, and noth
ing to apoligizo for. This was com
municated to tho foreign ollico, with
my regrets. I could do nothing moro.
Tho verv next dav niv friend camo to
mo with a groat document from tho
Russian government. Ho said ho
wanted it translated. 1 had ic dono
for him. In was a notico to skip.
"'Oh! but I sliallnot doit,' honaivo
ly replied. 'I am guilty of no crimo,
and 1 shall remain hero as long as I
wish.'
"A fow ovomings afterward, I learn
ed, somo officers called at tho hotel
and took my friend away. Ho was
never heard from after that. I do not
know whether ho was sont to Siberia,
to prison, or oxecutcd."
Gov. Curtin related an incident which
illustrates tho perfection of tho Russian
spy ystcm. Whilo minister to Russia
ho went to Paris. It was during tho
Franco-Prussian difficulty.
Tho presidentof Francosent forhim,
and ho went to tho palaco.
"You havo recently had a talk with
tho czar of Bussia about our foreign
troublo?" ho asked.
"I have," ropliod tho governor.
"Would you caro to tell mo what ho
thinks of it."
"Well, as a diplomat representing
tho United States, I must decline," tho
governor answered.
Roturn'mgto Russia thoczar request
ed his presence
"You havo just been over to
Franco?"
"Yes sir." '
"Talked with tho president?"
"Yes."
"Would you caro to tell mo what
was said about tho foreign difficulty?"
Gov. Curtin declined to do bo, in the
samo respectful languago ho had em
ployed in Paris.
"Well, I will tell you what was said
to you, oxactly," said tho czar, and
ho proceeded to repeat tho conversa
tion the governor had had. The in
formation had rouched tho czar
through tho Russian spy system,
which is world-renownod.
A tcmporancospeaker told a Boston
audionco of a saloon-keopor who
sprinkledliquoronthosidowalkin ronfc
of his dram shop for tho purposo of
tempting tho opnotito, through tho
sense of smell, of somo poor victim.
Many accepted tho statement as a
embellishment of a ficticious tale, but
a city missionary who was present
corroborated it. Anothor activo tern
peranco worker related how carefully
it is necessary toguard tanks in which
ico water is kept mplacos for reformed
men, lest whisky bo poured in sur
reptitiously R. U. Cox of Drifton, Pa., is tho
largest hard coal mine proprietor in
the country.
Stormy Xfg-lits In the Lighthouse
l'ockport (MusfO Leetcr to the Philadel
phia Times.
"Yes, wo see and hear somo curious
things," said tho lighthouse keeper,
"and as for monotony, its enough to
drivo one mad. Married men fare bet
ter, as, when women and children aro
around, it isn't quito so lonesome; but
it's bad enough. My station for a
number of years was a rock about two
hundred feet long and ono hundred feet
wide, and in a galo of wind tho houso
stood right in the water, with theseas
rolling all around.
"Yes, it was'shaky. Ono night I call
to mind especially. It had been blow
ing a galo for two days; tho sea was
making a clean breach over tho ledge,
and every time it hit tho houso it
would jump sixty or 100 feet into tho
air and como down on the roof liko
rocks. On tho ledge wero four or five
bowlders that must havo weighed over
two tons, and tho first thing wo knew
ono of them fellows camo at tho door,
burst it in, and in a second wo wero
all a-swhnining. Tho stono couldn't
get in; it just stuck there, so wo took
to tho light and sat on tho stairs, and
nigh froze to death, all night. Mo
and my man took turns in
going tip every half hour,
and d'yo know, tho lighthouso
swung so that you could hardly keep
your feet. I thought moro than onco
that we'd go over, but sho didn't.
Tho feeling is different from most any
thing elso. Thero is a shaking and vi
brating all tho time, and then when
tho big gusts como you can feel tho
whole thing treniblo and quiver, so
tho you'd almost lose your feet.
"One night," continued tho speaker,
"I remember somo fishermen gotblow
ed oft shoro and camo in there, and
what a night it was! About midnight
somo ono sings out 'Tlio lamp's out.'
And so it was. Up wo rushed, half a
dozen of us, scared to death, as ten mit
utcs might costagoodmany lives and
a vessel could como within twenty
feet of our house beforo sho struck.
By tho timo we got up wo found the
place full of snioko and seo something
find fouled tho chimney, and what
d'yo suppose it was? You'd never guess.
It was blowing fit to tako tho buttons
oil your coat; but somo ono had to go
outside and climb up tho rod on to tho
very top of the light and seo what was
tho troublo. It was a close call, and
wo tossed for it. My mate drew and
started. Wo tied a ropo around him
and up ho went and did tho job.
"Ho camo back alivo, but with tho
whitest faco I over sawonolivingman.
Ho said ho wouldn't do it again for
lovo or monoy.
"But what d'yo supposo ho found in
tho chimney, stuck fast? Nothing more
nor less than ono ot those 'ero Mother
Carey's chickens, jammed in as tight
as it could got, and dead of courso.
Wo get regularly pelted with birds in
tho light, and that is tho reason the
glass is mado so thick, as almost
overy night onoortwo birds hit against
it. Sometimes in tho Spring and Fall
hundreds of 'em will striko in course
of a night. You see, at this timo tha
birds aro migrating and flying offshore
along tho coast, and on foggy nights
they only sec tho blazo of tho light.
They mado a break for it, and down
they go, and in tho morning tho rail,
iron and glass will bo all blood and
feathers."
Tlio Jaws of Comic Opera.
Now York Mail and Express.
No other class of peoplo onthostagc
aro so ephemeral as tho comic opora
singers. Thoy como and go in a day.
They tiro tho fashion for a season, like
a hat or a necktio. Thero was Lilian
Hussoll, says a letter writer in this city,
who porhaps was tho handsomest and
tho most successful for a timo of all
who havo been stars in tho Gilbort Sul
livan operas and thoso of tho recent
French school liko "Olivotto." She
rodo on tho top of every high wavo at
ono timo in Now York. Everybody
wont to sco her. All tho managers
wanted hor. Her picturo was in overy
shop, and her salary was whatovor she
might demaud. Sho camo back bore
from London tho other day and ap
peared at tho Bijou Opora Houso one
Sunday night in a concert. Thoro was
a fair houso, not a crush by any means,
Sho appeared again tho Sunday night
following. Tho houso was nearly emp
ty. Sho gavo up tho series, and has
not appeared in public sinco.
Catherino Lowis can't got an en
gagement. Fay Tomploton, a wonder
fully pretty and talented young girl, is
no longer in demand. Louiso Searle
is hero doing nothing. Emma Carson,
who was a great favorite hero twe
years ago, is compelled to tako a sub
ordinate part in a burlesquo, and so it
goes.
Thoro is something in tho lifo of tht
comic opora singer tliat is very wear
ing and that makes rapid and disas
trous chauges. Sho Boon gots toe
stout, losos her voico, or becomes em
broiled in a novel scandal. Anyhow,
she goes, and goes quickly.
McCaull said incidentally that lit
never engaged a girl to go into ono o!
his companies unless bho had been ii
somo other company. Tho manago
knows hotter than any ono elso thai
thero is hardly a door in lifo that
opens quicker and wider to moral one
f hysical.ruin than tho comic opora
ts fascinations and allurements en
trap hundreds of poor girls ovory year.
tiiHl nowhere can ono seo the diro re
suits as plainly as thoy aro to bo seer
hero. It is liko going into tho firo al
Moloch. It don't tako long to accom
plish tho sacrifice, but thoro is alwayi
waiting a long lino of fresh victims
Tho dramatic agencies hero aro con
stantly bescigod by troops of younf
girls wlio wont to got into comic opora
companies, whilo garrots and cohort
and shows ore full of thoso who hav
already been thero. No lifo it
moro full of exterior glitter and
show and inward bitternoss anc
disappointment, and whenever yoi
seo a chorus of pretty girls you moj
always know that there is a sida tc
their lives not revealed in their smil
mg facM and pretty costumed.