i
PERSONAL "AND LlTERARYr
-General Loir Wallace took Mb
other as the modol for the noble
other of "Hen Hur."
Elijah II. Kalford, who Is to In
President Harrison's privato secre
tary, is a printc by trado and a jour
nalist by profession.
Mark Twain, who owns nine
tenths of tho stock In tha house tbcl
published General Grant's memoir,
3ays that Mrs. Grant will shortly re
ceive over $250,000 ns tho profits thus
far fcora tho salo of her husband's
book.
Miss Juno Harrison, noted ns a
Hcllonio scholar nnd r-s a lecturer on
Greek art, is n candidate for tho chair
of archaeology in London University,
made vacant by tho retirement of Sir
Charles Nowton. This is tho first tune
any woman over sought a chair in this
institution.
Miss Whoolock, of Milwaukee,
founder of tho first purchasing agency
of tho West, is among tho busiest of
women. For now her business is such
that each day she and her agents buy
and ship tons of goods, and in addition
she tenches a whist class, and lias hud
in two years or loss l'J'J pupils.
Mr. Uhnrlos A. Dana began his
Journalistic career as editor of a lit
erary weoklv. oi which five hundred
copies wcro worftfcd oil on. a hand
press In tho courso of a day. There Is
a contrast between this old-fashioned
printing and tho modern presses used
in tho Sun ofllco, which run off an cdi
tion at tho ralo of "a milo a minute
Tho wifo of Talleyrand's privato
secretary, Mine. Colmachc, is an En
slish woman by birth and author of
no mean roputo. Sho has a numbor
of Talleyrand's papers and Is per
fecHy familiar with the stato sccrots of
his time. Sho is said to bo now writ
Ig hor memoirs, which will contain a
sorios of pen pictures, faithful lilc?
nosaos of tho men and women of that
day.
Hldor Haggard is a hearty lover
of field sports. So is that most suc
cessful modorn writer of sporting
novols, Captain Ilawloy Smart. Tho
latter, however, is so weak in hcaltl
that ho is unable to take any share in
tho sconos ho describes. Ho lives in
Cheltenham, and is a great favorite In
society, although for months at a tlmo
It is impossible for him to leave tho
house.
Tho fivo houses in which Haw-
thorno lived in Salom aro still stand
ing and aro said by ono who has re
cently visited them to bo in a good
stato of preservation. Tho ono which
Is of groatost Intoioit to visitors is, of
course, tho romancer's birthplace,
which Is sought out by hundreds of
pooplo ovory year. It is occupied by
tho family of a mechanic, who, being
a Now England mechanic, Is probably
well road in Hawthorne s writings.
HUMOROUS.
Aunt "Jt scorns you visit, me
only when you want nioiioy." Nuphow
'Hut, my dear aunt, 1 surely
couldn t call more frequently.
"Our rudder Is broken, sir," said
the first mato to tho captain. " Non
sonso! That's only imagination!"
" Reg your pardon, sir, but It's stern
1 reality."
, Cleveland's privato socrotary Is
!, ntuned Daniel uaJ Harrison's was
ft christened Elijah. There appears to
J bo more or loss prophet in the privato
5 secretary buslnois. Norristuwn Jlcr
1 aid.
I, Whon tho small boy stands in
j front of a st iro, mo liliitlvoly gazing
i on a sign which roads, "Slippers
ti Cheap," his puerile mind instinctively
$ grasps the scope and purport of a boy
" eott. I'ltck:
Hnrtondor "Scoins to mo you aro
j! pouring out a protty big drink for that
dlino." J ramp "I drink, sir, bo
causo tho weather is cold. 1 want to
fj got warm, and you know it is a woll-
uscortalned scientific fact that onu
swallow does not make a summer."
If. V. WieUy.
In Kentucky "First Citizen
'No, sir; wo can not account for tho
' suddon death of Colonel Gore." Sec
ond Citizen "Had ho boon drinking
' nny thlngP" First Cltlzon " Nothing
to hurt. Let's boo! I bollovo ho did
, tako n glass of milk yostonlay." Soo-
iond Cltlzon "That explains it! Tho
)l In I trill, wl Ml,, " )...,.'. l,,.
i h.ui ... w .. vi ....... -r l . rv v ...
tine.
j "Well, William," said Mr. Hard
i lioad to ills now confidential clerk,
I "you aro in a tlrsUclass position now
at a good salary, I shall expect you
to bo faithful -and diligent; in fact, to
:j make all my interests your own. It
won't bo necessary, howover, for you
(I to inako lovo to tlio typo-writer, I'll
j$ attend to hor myself." Terra Haute
It' Express.
I Policeman "Como, young woin
U an, you must not loiter hero aitur the
laudlonco has dispersed." Young
)( Woman "Plouso, sir, I have business
j.lioro." rollcoman "Well, what is
itP" Young Woman (blushing) "I
(am tlio tho young lady that's en
gaged to the automaton chess-player,
and I'm waiting for him to take me
homo." America.
I I'm a traveling man, nnd away
from homo a good deal of tho tlmo,
Sand I toll you I appreciate the com-
fnrU of homo when I strike them on
He road," ho said to tho hotel pro
prietor. "If you will btop back with
mo I'll tako groat ploasuro in Intro
Iduclng you to my wlfo and hor mother.
'My wlfo wants a sonl-skln Hacquo, tho
houso pitporod, a now sot of furs for
her mother and a pug dog," was tho
'response. Ah, thl-i is a country of
jhuppy homos," ho replied, ad hu fel
low! tho holol tuuu. Judge.
PERSfA AND RUSSIA. "
Tho Inevitable Fate l the Shah nnd IU
Fertile Dominion.
Itmnybothat tho tlmo has notyot
como for tho absorption or i'ersln by
Russia, but thcro is no earthly power
that can long postpono it. Unless tho
land of Iran goes down beneath tlio
sen, it will surely become Russian by
tho moro forco of gravitation. oth
Ing can long hold back the Increasing
weight of tho great omp ro pressing
towards the Persian Gujf nnd the
Arabian Sea. Since Fetor tlio Great
first displayed tho Husslan flag on tho
Casnun Sea. In 1722. tho advance hns
been incessant around its shores, un
til to-day only tho southern coast is
IVr-dun, and not a Persian vessel floats
on tho sea. Tho nominal independ
i .. . j of tho Shah is alternate subjec
tio.i to England or to Russlu, according
to tho ability or tho incapacity of the
Envov from tho ono or tho other of tho
two Powers. At tho present time En
gland sceun to possess a temporary
superiority, hor Envoy, Sir Driimmond
Wolff, having succeeded in installing an
English commercial agent at Meshed,
t. o capital of tho northeastern prov
luce, Khorassan, nnd in persuading tho
Shah to refine the satno privilege to
Russia. Meshed is less than ono hun
drcd and fifty miles from Merv, now a
Russian fortified city, to which arms
and men and munitions of war can be
sent in any quantity and in perfect
safety over Russian territory. If the
Shah calls on England for military
suppoit, against Russia, tho advance
of tho English must bo mado across
tho doubtful and more than half hos
tile Afghan country, without any base
of supplies nearer than tho Arabian
Sea or tho Himalayas. Russia has the
game in hor own hands in Persia, nnd
nothing but the fear of complications
In Europo can restrain her from work
ing her will in Asia.
in a general European war, wnoro
her navy could make itself felt, En
gland would fight with equal ehanccs;
but some such diversion Is absolutely
necessary to save her from Irremedia
bio defeat In Porsia; nor could oven a
successful coalition against Russia do
moro than prolong tho agony of tho
Shah. He Is doomed, either himself
to bo a vassal of tho Czar, or to leavo
tho actual submission to his successor;
and England must stand by and seo all
hor plans and hor Intrigues como to
untight.- J.cslin's Illustrated Widely,
FEDERAL CLERKSHIPS.
Why No AiJihillout Young .111111 Should
Act'iipl Olio.
Govorninont clerkships have blasted
tho prospects of many a bright young
man. I lie man in ollice is tlio creat
ure of political caprice. In spite of
tho Chil-Servlco law, it is still a fact
which no one will dispute that neither
independence nor solf-rospoet of tho
highest order aro usually found among
office-holders. The tenure Is too un
certain, too much subject to tho viols
situdes of party supremacy.
l a young man has fair capabilities.
and will bo reasonably energetic and
industrious, he is much more likely to
have a homo of his own and a neat re-
servo in bank by tho tlmo ho Is fifty
by sticking to his present employ
ment, oven If It Is only moderately re
munerative, than by seeking nnd ac
cepting a Government clerkship. It
not Infrequently happens that men
who have hold such clerkships for
years are turned out, only to litul
themselves without tho fitness or ex
porlonco that would qualify thorn for
any other business position.
Resides, thero Is little chanco for
advancement in tho great depart
ments, and as a usual thing those who
hold such places savo vory llttlo
money. All thoso aro roasous why it
not prudent for young mon who
liavo fair prospects of winning suc
cess ty tneir own pinole ami push, to
give them up and accept a place un
der tho Federal Government, with its
uncertainties, unxletles nnd vexatious.
An active interest in polities Is one
tliinu,-thut is ovory young man's
duty Fedoral oflleo-holding is anoth
er nnd a much less desirable matter,
as those who try it usually discover to
their rogrot. Cleveland Leader.
A Nlno-Yoar-Old Girl Official.
Tho city of Trou ton can claim tho
brightest and youngest city olllcor in
tlio Mate. Miss llaltlo Uwons, very
cute nnd clover for a girl of nine, has
boon mado second assistant city clerk,
and can now bo seen on duty at cer
tain Hours tiling away in tlielr proper
order the ofilclal documents of tho
city elork's olfieo. When Colonel
Owens, tho city olork, took possession
of his new quarters tho public docu
ments appeared to bo considerably
disarranged, umL on complaining, ho
found a cheerful volunteer In tho per
son of his young daughter, Miss
Hattie, wlio Is very small, but sharp
ami methodical. Sho was assigned
tho work of reasserting, and is doing
it well. Sho is rntlior nnnoyed on ac
count of being a girl and announces
that, as second assistant clerk, sho
doslroH to bo called "Harry," and ns
such sho Is saluted by all tho city
otllcluls. Miss Harry Owens is a
pretty girl of pleasant address, and
with the manner of one twice her ago.
Trenton (Y. J.) Tim&.
Mr. Gladstone's omnlvorousnoss as
a readur Is indicated by his orders from
a well-known denier In Rlrinlnghuin.
Tho list Includes works on literature,
theology, areluuology, mythology, ed
ucation, metaphysics and music, and
biographical and autobiographical
books. His friends wonder where ho
la going to put tho books ho is coitin
ually buying, for Hnwardun Cnstlo Is
already lluud with thorn from base
ment to utile.
IMPERSONAL.
Mr. Healy, M. P., In 188G called
unptain Ubhea a "rotten Whig.' a
"pledge-breaker and traitor," a "mon
strous impostor," and a "political
caterpillar."
President Harrison tho First mado
his journey to Washington to bo hum
gurated drosed In a common gray
suit nnd a black slouch lint. His
whole outfit could not havo cost moro
than $20.
I'ho money shark hns his homo
everywhere. Cliong Kco is tho richest
Lhiuaman in San Jose. Cat. Ho has
made a largo fortuno by charging his
countrymen fivo per cent, per month on
unquestionable collateral.
Chief Justice Georgo W. Stone, of
tho Supremo Court of Alab.ima, cole
brated his birthday a short timo ago,
and was surrounded by over soventy
children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren. Ho danced a jig with
me of h's great-grandsons.
The Congrogationnl Church of
Washburn Wis., has a pastor who is
catcher of tho Washburn Raso-bnll
Club, a fine example of "muscular
Christianity." His prcsenco on tho
bnsc-bnll grounds is said to exercise a
great restraining influence, nnd an
oatli or profnno word is scarcely over
heard.
Miss Jennio Dunphy, of San Fran
cisco, is considered tlio most fearless
horsowoman on the Pacific coast.
Sho has been accustomed to rido from
childhood, and is perfectly at homo in
tho saddle, rising easily and gracoful
ly. Her pet horse, Jim, is of blooded
Kentucky stock and is valued at
18, 000.
Muncinitsu Mutsu, Japancso Min
istor at Washington, io a most ab
stcmious man as regards stimulants,
but being a scholar and philosopher
lie has sIiowji an inclination to tasto
of American mixed drinks as an ex
poiimental process. Ho doos not like
our fancy tipples, liowovcr. A few
days ago ho tneklod a gin-fizz for tho
first time. "Ha !" ho exclaimed, in an
Oriental way, "it buzzes like a fly nnd
stings liko a wasp." Ho will here
after conllno himself to tea drinking
Tlio Row James Raiuo, tho archae
ologist, who had just been appointed
to a stall at York Minster, was engaged
ono day in researches in tho Minster
library whon two young olllcers of the
garriMin. on a sight-seoing expedition,
lounged in. Mistaking him and not
unreasonably for a vorgor. they no
costed him thus: "I say, old follow.
what havo you gut to show us?" Thoy
felt sorry, however, a inomont later
when tlio supposed vorgor reply: "Sir,
to gentlemen wo show tho library; to
others tho door."
Tho Archbishop of Chcrson and
Odessa cherishes a moro ardent war
spirit than RIshop Clovoland Coxe.
Addressing tho Czar at Elisabothgrad
on the occasion of tho army maneuvers
that took place thoro recently, his
Grneo said: "Tho aim of lifo is peaeo
but war is tho unavoidable instrument
of peaeo, and ono which is blessed by
tno Almighty when usoil in the cause
of truth. Tho continued preparation
for war is a hard but inevitable duty
for a sovereign, imposed upon him by
Providence. God himself guides tho
bund of tho monarch in battle; and
inasmuch as thou propnrest thy sub
jects for war thou doost a divine
work."
"A LITTLE
NONSENSE.'.'
Ono of tho diversions of tho Nia
gara Falls people is to gather at the
railroad depot and seo the tied come
in. ltoehctfcr Post.
At tho restaurant " Waiter, I seo
hero you havo wine at o0e a bottle and
somo at 1. What is tlio dilTeronco
botweon thomP" Walter "50o.
Boston Transcript.
Mrs. Ilockstoln "It was Abol's
birthday, Aaron. Vat vo glf hlmP'
Mr. Ilockstoln "Wash ohf a vindow
pane, unt lot him loogk out unt seo dor
boss cars go by!" I'uck.
Sontlmental lady "This world is
a valo of toars. Even tho beautiful
roso has thorns." Prosaic visitor "1
wouldn't mind that so mucL. 'out that
shad aro so full of bonn; is an outrngo
on tho human race." Texas Sittings.
1 hu young woman who can not
sing tlio old songs, should look for n
young man who can not toll tho old
jokes, and marry him. It might bo
rough on thorn, but it would do tlio
gonoral public good. Merchant Trav
eler.
"See hero, Grlpps, I understand
you havo a suporlor way of curing
hams. I should liko to learn it.
Well, yes: I know vory well how to
cure thorn; but tho trouble with mo,
just now, Is to find a way to iroeuro
them."
.lust loo "You say that your slstor
was bitten by tho horsifetiud you want
damages?" Plaintiff "Yes, sir; I
havo witnesses to prove that the horso
bit her." Defendant "1 can explain,
Judge. Tho woman Is a grass widow.
Tho horso Is not to blaino." Detroit
Free lress.
"Wait for mo a moment," said ono
traveling man to nnothor. "What
forP" "I want to go in hero for a sec
ond." "Why you uro not going to
fight a duel, aro JouP" "No; certainly
noL" "Then what do you want of a
second." Tho patrol wagon arrived
in just fivo minutes after the call was
turned In. Merchant Traveler.
Old gentleman "What's tho tnat-
tor, CTuuluctor? i ou seem nervous."
Conductor (on Southern road)-r-"Woll,
yes, I am a llttlo women. win gen-
tloniun "Any thing wrong uhoad?"
Condu(itoi "No, It's nil right ahead,
but there's a 'wUd-cat' behind us,
and" Old gentlemen "Why don't
you shoot tho varmint und bo dune
with It? A. 1'. I,cdjtr.
PERSONAL AND
A QUEEN'S HOUSEHOLD.
DlKiiltnrir nml I'urnft'.trft Who DrnirSat
hHp Without Doing Any Work.
Queen Victoria's household has
neariy a thousand olllcers, subordi
nates nnd attendants. The Lord Stow
ard is at the head of all with a salary
of $10,000 a year. All officers and ser
vants, exept thoso connected with tho
Queen's chamber, stable and chapel,
aro subject to his orders. Tho active
duties of this otllcer aro performed by
the Master of tho Household, who gets
?.r,790 a year. Tho Lord Treasurer
ranks next to tlio Lord Storrnrd nnd
nets for him in case ho is absent, while
to assist him lie has tho Comptroller
of the Household, who likewise does
nothing. The Hoard of Green Cloth,
composed of tho four above named offi
cials, adjudicates on ollenses commit
ted in certain parts of tlio palace, and
has clerks and secretary. The clerk
of tho kitchen und his clerks keep ac
counts, cheek goods, and givo orders
to tradespeople.
Thero is a chef and mnny cooks, a
head of tho confectionory department.
l tho "owor" or linen department, a
chief butler, tablo deckers, men in
charge of tho plate, pantry nnd of the
coal, nnd lump lighters and dispensers
of nlms. Tho Lord Stownrd is judge
of tho Court of Marshalsen, with power
to dispense justico among the Queen's
domestic servants, nnd tho court has a
Knight Marshal. Tho Lord Cham-
borlain gets $10,000 a year and.
ivith tho Vico Chamberlain, superin
tends all tlio ollieers and sorvnnts of the
Queen's chambers, except tho bed
chambers, theso being under the
Groom of tho State, as well as tho olll
cers of tho wardrobe. Tho Keeper ol
Her Majesty's Privy Purse is her finan
cial secretary at a salary of .$10,000.
Thoro aro tho Mistress of the Robes,
tho Groom of tho Robes, Ladies of the
Red Chamber, Maids of Honor, bed
chamber women. Lords in Waiting,
Grooms in Waiting; Gentlemen Ushers
of tlio Privy Chamber, Daily Waiters.
Quarterly Waiters, Grooms of the
Privy Chambers. Grooms of tho Groat
Chamber and Gentlomon of tho Privy
Chamber. Tho Marshal of Coiemon-
ies must havo an absolute knowledge
of Court etiquette.
'I'ho ollicial places many of them
call for no performance of duty, be
causo with tho chango of customs the
duties have becomo obsolete. Thr
Mustor of the Tennis Court does noth
ing. Thoro uroaMaster of tho House,
burgomaster, keeper of tho swans, and
hundreds of assistants to tlio olllcers
mentioned. All this looks liko keep
ing house under dillicultics, and Queen
Victoria ought to bo well paid for it
Good llonsdcecpinq.
THE TSIEN-TANG BORE.
X Orrut Wuve Thut Hushr Into IIiiiikcIiow
lliy Twleo ii Day.
Captain W. U. Moore. R. N., of her
Majesty's surveying vessel Rambler,
has lately boon engaged in observing
tho celebrated bore of Tsion-tang
river. Captain Mooro regards this as
one of tho sights ot tho world, which
no resident in or visitor to China
should miss Boeing. It occurs twice in
ovory twenty-four hours, being most
eniarkablo at spring tides. Captain
Mooro favored us with tlio following
notes:
"The best place to seo tho phenom
enon is from tho sea-wall at Haining,
about two miles cast of tho Rhota
pagoda, whoro thoro is a violont re
bound of tho Hood stream, and conse
quent upraising , of tho water behind
tlio front of tho boro. Tho bore can be
seen approaching from tho upper gal
lery of tho pagoda about ten or
twolvo miles distant; and heard on a
still night, one hour bofore it strikes,
whon it is twelve or thirteen miles
distant, it is highest as a whole and
most regular In form opposite the
pagoda, which it passos at full chango
of tho moon at a spood of twolvo to
thtrteon knots an hour; preeisoly
as the moon crosses tlio meridian
of that spot. It lias its origin
off Chi-san. a capo about oighteon
miles east by south of Haining,
nnd travels to six miles nbovo tho city
of Hnngehovv, a total distanco of forty-
two miles. Under certain combina
tions of wind, sprlng-tldo nnd rains up
country, it commences as far east as
Chapoo, and rotains its distinctive
charactor to about thirty miles above
tho city, a total distanco of over ninety
milos. Tlio gonoral hoight of tho boro.
that is tho crown of tho cascade, varies
at spring-tldo from sovon to oloven
feet. It lias boon seen much higher
on tho approach of a typhoon and con
sequent banking up of tho water in
Chapoo bay. Tho wator raised by the
robounds from tho sen-wall, especially
thut mentioned in tho foregoing re
marks, mounts to a height of twenty
foot or moro nbovo tho level of the
river in the samo spot fivo minutes
boforo.
At neap tides tho boro sometimes
doos not attain a height of over three
feet, but tho spood of its progress still
renders it too formidable to bo en
countered by tho largest boaL Navi
gation for ships in tho Tsiou-tnng Is
not practicable, though tho depth ol
water is sulllclont If timo or tldo is
regarded to reach Haining from the
ocean in vessels of tlftoon feet draught
nnd to anchor oil tho pagoda." S'orth
China ews.
First Kontuekian "Say, Colonel,
thoro's a Mormon oldor down tho road
proaohiu' to a crowd o' women an'
singin' 'Would 1 Wore a Hlrd!'" Sec
ond Kentucklan "Well, 1 kin furnish
tho fouthors. You git somo tar to
stick 'om on " Philadelphia llccord.
I.
Lord Luonii, who recently died in
Loudon, was tho man who guvo tho
order fur tho famous uhar:o at Haiak
lava the ohargo of Urn light brigade.
i WHAT IS NEWS?
The rnnclful nnit Truo Derivations of th
Woril.
This word is dorived from tho initial
lottcrs of tho four points of tho com
pass arranged In a devico in tho form
of a cross, nnd nlnced at tho top ol
somo of the earlier news-sheets to in
dicato that their contents were derived
from all ouarters. Rut it is easy to
show that this is purely fanciful. Firs
tho earliest newspaper dates from 1CG2.
nnd wo find tho word news, exnetly in
its modern sense, in Shakespeare, who
died nearly fifty years earlier, namely
in 1C1C. Thus wo havo
both" 1. 7), "How
("Mac
now?
Tale,
What news?"
("Winter's
4, Cho.) "Rut lot time's
bo brought!" ("King John").
new
"Even
at that nows ho dies." This list
which might bo extended indeli
nitely, from Shakespearo and other old
writer.-, would ulono bo sufficient to
dispose of tho north, east, west, south
theory; but a reference to tho equivu
lent words in tlio tonguo to which En
gland Is most nearly ullied will furthe
show its fallacy. In Gorman the ini
tiais of tho points of tho compass rca
in this order: O., W.. S.." whil
the word for new is neuigkeiton. ob
vlously Impossible of derivation from
these four lottcrs, whilo it is derived
from tho word now. Again, in the
French tho initials aro N., E., O., S
whilo tlio word for news is nouvelles
once more simply tlio plural form oi
now.
J ho truo derivation does not seem
difficult to trace. Somo tako it direct
ly from tho German "das nciie," which
is an abstract noun signifying "the
now" and equivalent to our news. The
gonitivo is neuco, nnd tho phrase
"Was giobts noues?" renders the exact
sense of our "What's tlio nows?" More
over, the old Gorman spelling is now
gonith'o ncwes. Yot this, plausiblo as
it looks, is not tho origin of the word
When wo find in Anglo-Saxon such
phrase as hwrct niwes? (what nows)
wo can bo at no loss to dctermino that
tlio word is of puro low German or na
tivo English origin, although the
French nouvelles may have influenced
its uso. The fact that tlio word is ofton
used in tlio singular confirms this,
Thus wo havo in John Florio's "World
of Words" (lo98), "Novella, a Tale, i
Nowcs." In the "Wit's Recreation,1
published in IG 10, wo havo tho follow
ing opigram:
When newsiloth coinc, If nny would discuss
Tlio loiter ot the word, resolved It thus:
N.'ws is conveyed by lettor, word or mouth,
And come to us from north, east, west nnd
south.
mo llttlo corps of tho nowspnpor
fraternity wero then beginning work in
England, and being tickled bv the
nbovo epigram, had it put at tlio head
of their paper as above stated.
Skeat says that nows is not older
than lf00. and cites Heritor's transla
tion of rroissart, "Desyrous to hear
nowcs," and Surrey's translation of
Virgil, "What nows ho brought." Hut
at least ono earlier instance is to be
found in tho "Siego of Rhodes," trans
lated by John Kay and printed by Cax
ton about 1190.
Hoforo closing wo may stato that
some contend thut tho German noues is
not a genitive, but t-ho neuter nomi
uativo or accusative. o incline to
think that it is a genitive, and tho
phrase: "Was giobts newes?" un exact
equivalent of the Latin "Ecquid Novi?"
In dianapo lis Ne ws.
JOHN JACOB ASTOR.
As lie Appears Among UN I.rst I'ortu
n.itn I'olloir-AIortaU.
No figuro is more familiar on Uroad
way than that of John Jacob Astor
Stripped of his wealth, an ordinary
factor in affairs, his personality would
attract attention. Uo stands tall, com
manding in figure, portly-looking, rath
cr liko a prosperous English manu
facturer than any thing olso. IIo walks
with a steady, sturdy, solf-possessed
manner, is recognized by hundreds
ovory day, interchanges courteous rec
ognition with all ho knows in a gni'
clous and comrndie mnunor.convorsing
freely, pleasantly nnd with an uttor
absenco of ceremony or protonso, and
Is open in no singlo direction, that I
over heard of, to tho charge of purse
prido or solf-concoit. Tho story of
tho Astors is trito nnd familiar.
Thoro aro just so many lots on Man
hattan Island, nnd tho man who had
pro-scionco sufficient to understand
that, sooner or lator, ovory lot would
bo occupied, and that a groat physical
embarrassniont would confront pooplo
thon living, and had pluck and cour
age onough to indoxso his conviction
by his action, was 'obviously on the
high road to unbounded prosperity.
That man was John Jacob Astor, Sr.
Ho impressed upon his sons tho neces
sity, as well as tho desirability, of ad
boring to a programmo onco laid down.
Holding on with virilo tenacity to
property then owned, rarely if over
parting with any, constantly adding to
its area, tho Astors havo, by nor
mal growth of proporty values, be
como tlio wealthiest family in the
country. As "go tho rentals of tho
Astors. of necessity follow tho rentals
of every othor landlord in tlio city. A
fortunate mnn is tho prosont John Ja
cob Astor. Horn to nn inhoritnnco,
tho hlthor vorgo of which, his mind,
tho mind of nny living man, can not
begin to understand, his shoulders
oarly laden with vast financial and so
cial responsibilities, ho, by a simple
honost adherence to tho programme
laid down by his grandfather, followed
conscientiously by his fathor, seos his
enormous properties Increase nnd mul
tiply us the years roll on, so that If
moro aggi-ogatlon of woaltli is all thoro
Is to bedoirod, ho, moro than any liv
ing man, has his wish completely tiHirxl.
Jwcpi Howard's L.tUr.
A SENSIBLE DUCHESS,
How Hor Oraco or Sutherland Shocked
the London Swell.
Tho lato Duchess of Sutherland was,
during tho nctivo period of hor lifo,
tho causo of no littlo bewilderment
and disquietude among thorank-rovor-tng-
denizens of that aristocratic sec
tion of St Jiimos' whoro Stafford
Houso stands in gloomy grandeur.
Her common-sense mothods of secur
ing convenience, without regard to
ceremonious formalities, often startled
tho devotees of conventionality and
'thrilled tho observers with anxiety
lot Ilor Graco bo led astray by the
?samplo of her husband, whoso "fad"
it was to ralnglo with tho populaco on
axciting occasions, such as midnight
fires and riots liko that of Hydo
I'ark, somo jwenty years ago.
Ridictilou. as it may seom to
republican readers, tho Duchess was
soveroly criticised for hor habit of
walking forth alono from her somber
mansion and calling a cab whon in a
flurry, instead of letting a half hour
?o to wasto whilo tho enmborsomo
vehicle appropriate to hor station
should bo made ready. Tho entiro
precinct was onco thrown into a flutter
by tho report, doubtless correct, that
alio had personally entered the little
bakery in St. James1 street, in which a
postal agency was established, and had
there purchased stamps and affixed
them to her letters, precisely as ono of
tho untitled multitude might havo
ione.
In tho winter of 18G9 tho sontinel
who mounts guard ov' tho palaco
wall of Cleveland Row had tho op
portunity of relieving his dreary
routine by saving a child from being
-un over a radical cab-horso from
i'all Mall having so forgotton the pro
prieties as to break loose and endanger
human lifo, as well as tlio drowsy tran
quility of that solemn region. A day
or two later tho Duchess was seen to
3top and speak to the guardsman, who
was so overcome by agitation that ho
30iild hardly hold hisrillo steady, lie
would havo faced the cannon's mouth
.villi less trepidation than exchange
ton words with tho exalted peeress.
I'ho presumption was that Her Graco
lesired simply to say a kind word in
:omnicndation of tho man's bohavior;
but tho proceeding was regarded witli
my tiling but approval by the resident
spectators. I ho verdict of tho austere
middle class, throughout tho neighbor
hood, was that tho Duchess had beon
roprehensibly unmindful of tho dignity
of her position, and that sho would
havo dono better to sond tho soldier half
i crown by her footman. Fortius and
nnilar reasons sho was not admired
by the bourgeoisie of London. And
cot thero aro people on both sides of
tho Atlantic who profess to wondor
that the social sensibilities of Amer
icans and Englishmen can not at all
points bo brought into sympathetic and
symmetrical accord. Ar. Y. Tribune.
ANCIENT WATER WORKS. !
Groat Knxliirfrliig IVals Priiforined .Manjr
C'enturli-K Avo.
Tho very first thing dono by every
omniunity, savage or civilized, is to
provido for a water supply. Savages
simplify mattors by placing thoir tene
ments within easy reach of a river or
lake. Civilized peoplo havo thoir
wator brought to them. This is not of
easy accomplishment, and somo of tlio
greatest feats of enginooring havo been
performed in supplying wator to
ancient and modorn cities.
When tho Hritish captured India,
they found, in all parts of tho country,
tanks and rosorvoirs on an enormous
scale, and somo of thorn a thousand
years old.
Tho wator works of Pom wcro oven
oldor. Tho incas built aqueducts from
tho slope of tho Andes, for a distanco
of moro than ono hundrod miles, to tho
capital. Tho wator was carriod part
ly through tunnolscut in tlio rocks and
partly on arcades on supporting pillars
of mason work to span valleys, tho
channols boing composed of cut stono
without comont. From theso groat
aqueducts a number of branch canals
and conduits wore laid laterally for
irrigation purposos.
Tho ancient wator works at Jerusa
lem conslstod first of wolls in the llmo
stono ridges on which tho city was
built; but as tho population incronsod,
tanks and clstorns for rain water woro
placed In secure inclosures and within
tho walls of the temple. An aquoduct
of stono laid in comont was construet-
d to bring wntor from tho pools of
Hothlohom, about six miles distant.
Strabo montions that it was a voryraro
occurrence for Jerusalem to sutler from
wator famine
About tho yonr COO H. C, Polycratcs.
King of Samos, built an nquedtict to
supply his capital, bringing wnter
through a tunnel cut through limestone
rock for a distanco of six thousand
yards. About the same tlmo, tho poo
plo of Lyciu. in Asia Minor, carried
wator across tlio valo of Potrea through
a stono syphon.
Curthago brought wator from the hill
ranges on tho south, over sovonty miles
distant, and tho ruins of an ancient
aqueduct may still bo seen.
i ho water works of Athens wero be
gun about AGO H. C, and consisted of
tono aqueducts lined with baked clav.
and carried almost wholly on tho sur
face ot the ground.
Tho nnctont city of Mexico wns sun-
plied with wntor through a wooden
aquoduct, built by Montezuma, carried
across a cansoway. In Egypt and
Chlnn. glgantio works for convovinir
water havo been in oxisteuco from ro-
moto nntlnuity. Takon all in all. tho
olTorts of the modorns aro yot liislgnifl.
am compared with thoso of tho
undents Goiiten Days.