CLEOPATRA.
Being an Account of the Fall and
Vengeance of Harmachis, the
Royal Egyptian,
AS SET PORTE BY HI8 OWN HAND.
By H. Rider Haggard,
Author or King Solomon's Mlno,"
" She," " Allnn Quntormain,"
" Etc., Etc., Etc.
"So not afraid, " IAnweTea: "ll-rc.Tuce
thou didst see naught but what was in thy
mind. All things are shadows. How caust
thou then know their nature, or what is aud
What only seems to bel But how toes itl
Remember thou, this sport Is played to an
end."
"It goes well," she said. "By to-morrow's
dawn these tales will have gone
round, and thou wilt bo moro feared than
any mau in Alexandria. Follow mc, I pray
thee."
CHAPTER XL
or tub ways or chaiimion; and op the
CIIOWN1NG OP HAIIMACHIS AS THE KINO OF
LOVE.
THE following day I
received the writing
of my appointment
Eir fi H ?J n9 Astrologer and
mWyMm. Magician in-Chief to
fSRjiSL ; tho Queen, with the pay
tiHts5S?i;J L "'id perquisites of that
ra7 oftlce, which were not
Stf small. Also room wcro
wWL HttflF 3 throuBh wliicli I passed
at night to the high watch
tower, wheuco I looked on
. V, .,.. .1 .1 u
t-ll-V ' mu diuis mill uicw mull
talk auguncs. For at this time Cleopa-
ch troubled nbout matters
political And not knowing how tho
great struggle among tho Homan factions
would end, but being very desirous to side
With tho strongest, sho took constant coun
sel with me as to tho warning of tho stars.
Thcsel read to her in such manner as best
seemed to lit the high interest of my ends.
For Antony, tho Roman Triumvir, was now
in Asia Minor, nnd, rumor ran, very wroth
because it had been told to him that Cleo
patra was hostile to tho Triumvii ate, in that
her General, Serapion, hiid nided Cassius.
But Cleopatra protested loudly to me and
others that Serapion had acted against her
will. Yet Charmion told mo that, as with
Allienus, it was because of a prophecy of
Dioscorides, tho unlucky, that '.lie Queen
herself had secretly ordered Serapion so to
do, Nevertheless, this did not save Scrap
ion, for, to provo to Antony that she was in
nc'jent, she dragged tho General from tho
sanctuary and slow him. Woo bo to those
who carry out tho will of tyrants if the scale
should rise against thorn I And so Sorapion
perished.
Meanwhile all things went well with us,
for tho minds of Cleopatra and those about
her wero so set upon affairs abroad that
neither sho nor they thought of revolt at
homo. But day by day our party gathered
strength in tho cities of Egypt, and oven in
Alexandria, which is to Egypt us another
land, all things being foreign tliero. Day
by day those who doubted wero won over
and sworn to tho cause by that oatii which
can not be broken, and our plans of action
more llrtnly laid. And every other day 1
went forth from the palnce to take counsel
with my uncle Sepa, and tliero at his housu
mot tho nobles and tho great priests who
wero lor tho party of Khetn.
Of Cleopatra, tho Queen, I saw much,
and nevor was 1 moro astonished at the
wealth nnd splendor of her mind, that for
richness and variety was as a woven cloth
of go d tin-owing back all lights from its
changing face. Sho feared mo somewhat,
and therefore was fain to make a friend of
me, asking mo many matters that seemed
to bo beyond the province of my ofllce. Of
tho Lady Charmion nlso I saw much
indeed, she was ever at my side, so that I
scarce knew when sho caino and when she
went. For with that t.oft step of hers
would she draw nigh, and I would turn mo
to lind her ut hand nnd watching beneath
tho long lashes of her downcast eyes.
There was no service that was too hard for
her, and no task too long, for day and night
she labored for mo and for our cause. But
when I thanked her for her loyalty and said
it should bo had in mind in that time which
was at hand, she stamped her foot nnd
pouted with her lips like an angry child,
saying that, among all tho things which I
had learned, this had I not learned that
Love's sor-ico asked no payment and was
its own guerdon. And I being innocent in
such matters and foolish that I was, hold
ing the ways of women as of small account,
read her sayinirs in tho sense that her serv
ices to tho cauBO of Khem, which she
loved, brought with them their own reward.
But when I praised so lino a spirit she
burst into angry tears and left mo wonder
ing; for I know naught of the trouble at her
heart. I know not then that, unsought,
this woman had given me ull her love aud
'thit she was rent and torn by pangs of
passion llxed like nrrows in litr breast. 1
did not know how should 1 know it, who
never looked upon her otherwiso than as
an instrument of our joint and holy cause!
Her beauty never stirred me; nay, not even
when she leaned over me and breathed
upon ray hair, I never thought of t other
wise than as a man thinks of tho beauty of
a statue. What had I to do with such do
lights? I who was sworn to Isis and dedi
cated to tho causo of Egypt. O, ye Gods,
bear mo witness that I urn Innocent of this
thing, which was tho source of all my woo
and tho woe of Khem I
How strange is this love of woman, that
Jt is so small in its begaining and in its
end so great I See, at the first it is even as
tho little spring of water welling from a
mountain's heart. And at tho last what is
.itl It is a mighty river that flowoth ar
gosies of joy and makes wide lands to
bmilo. Or, perchance It is a torrent ta wash
In a tlood of ruin across the llelds of Hope,
bursting in tho barriers of design, and
bring to tumbled nothingness tho tenement
of man's purity and tin U'lnples of his
faith. For when tho Invi iblo conceived
tho order of tho universe, io set within its
plan this seed of woman's i'tvo that by its
most unequal growth is d tomed to briug
about equality of law. For tow it lifts tho
low to heights untold, and ic iv it brings tho
noulototho lovel of tho dust. And thus,
whilo woman, tint great surprisoof Nature,
is, Good and Evil can never grow apart.
For still sho stands, and, blind with lovo,
shoots tho shuttle of our fate, and pours
sweet water into the cup of bitterness, and
poisons tho wholesomo breath of life with
the doom of her desire. Turn this way and
turn that, sho Is at hand to meet thee. Her
-weakness is thy strength, her might Is thy
undoing. Of her thou art, to her thou
tjtL She U thy slave, yet holds thee
J-.ntlve; athor touch honor withers, locks
op'en, and barriers fall. Bhe li Infinite at
ocean, she It variable at heaven, and her
name.U the Unforwn. Man. strive not to
escape from woman and the lore of woman;
for, tiy where thou wilt, the It yet thy fate,
and whate'er thou buildett thou bulldtit It
for her I
r
And thus it came to nas that. I. iturmn.
chit, who had put such matters far from
me, was yet doomed to fall by tho thing I
held of no account. For, see, this Char
mion ; sho loves me why, I knew not. Of
her own thought sho learned to lovo mo,
and of her love camo what shall bo told.
But I, knowing naught, treated her even as a
sister, walking as it were hand In hand with
her toward our common end.
And so the time passed on till, at length,
all things were made ready.
It was the night before the night when
tho blow should fall, and there were revel
Ings in tho palace. That very day had I seen
Sepa, nnd with him the captains of a band
of five hundred men, who should burst into
tho palace at midnight on tho morrow,
when I had slain Cleopatra tho Queen, nnd
put the Roman and tho Gallic legionaries
to tho sword. That very day had I sub
orned the Captain Paulus, who, since I drew
him through the gates, was my will'sslave.
Half by fear and half by promises of great
reward 1 had prevniled upon him, for his
was tho watch, at tho signal on tho morrow
night to unbar that small gato which faces
to tho east.
All was made ready the flower of Free
dom that had been live and twenty years
In growth was on tho point of bloom. In
every city, from Abu unto Athuo, armed
companies were gathered, and from their
walls spies looked out, awaiting tho com
ing of tho messenger who should bring
tidings that Cleopatra was no more, and
that Harmachis, tho Egyptian, had seized
tho throne. All was prepared, triumph
hung to my hand as a ripo fruit to tho hand
of tho plucker. Yet, as I sat at tho royal
feast my heart was heavy, hum n shadow of
coming woe lay cold within my mind. 1 sat
thero In a placo of honor, nigh to tho
majesty of Cleopatra, and looked down the
lines of guests, bright with gems and gar
landed with flowers, marking thoso whom
I had doomed to dio. Thero before mo lay
Cleopatra's self, in all her beauty, which
thrilled the beholder us ho is thrilled by tho
rushing of the midnight gale, or by tho
sight of stormy waters. I gazed on her as
sho touched her lips with wine nnd toyed
with the chaplgt of roses on her brow, bo
thinking mo of tho dagger beneath my
robe that I had sworn to bury in her breast.
Again, nnd yet again, I gazed nnd strovo
to hato her, strove to rejoico that sho must
die and could not. There, too, behind
her watching me now, as ovor, with her
deep-fringed eyes was tho lovely Lady
Charmion. Who, to look at her innocent
face, would believe that sho was the setter
of that snare wherein should miserably
perish the Queen who loved her? Who
would dream that locked in hor girlish
breast was the secret of so much death! I
gazed, and grow sick ut heart becauso I
must anoint my throne with blood, and by
evil sweep away tho evil of tho land. At
that hout I wished, indeed, that I was
naught but somo humble husbandman, who
in its suason sows and in its season
garners tho golden grain 1 Alasl tho seed
that I had been doomed to sow was tho red
seed of Death, and now I must reap tho
fruit of tho harvest 1
"Why, Harmachis, what ails thee?" said
Cleopatra, smiling her slow smile. "Has
tho golden ske.n of stars got tangled, my
astronomer? or dost thou plan some new
feat of magic? Say what is it, that thou
dost so poorly grace our feast. Nay, now,
did I not kuow, having made inquiry
thereon, that things so low as wo poor
women are far beneath thy gaze, why, I
should swear ttiat Eros hud found theo
out, Harmachis I"
"Nay, that I am spared, O Queen," I
answered "Tho servant of tho star marks
not tho smaller light of woman's eyes, and
therein ho is happy."
Cleoiitra leaned herself toward mo, look
ing on me long and steadily in such fashion
that despito my will tho blood fluttered at
my heart.
"Boast not, thou proud Egyptian," sho
said in a low voice which nouo but I and
Charmion could hear, "lest perchance thou
dost tempt mo to match my magio against
thlno. What woman can forgive that man
should push us by as things of no account!
'Tis an insult to our sex that Nature's self
abhors," and she leaned back and laughed
most musically. But glancing up, I saw
Charmion, her teeth upon her lip and an
angry frown upon her brow.
"Pardon, Royal Egypt," I answered,
coldly, but with such wit as I could sum
mon, "boforo tho Queen of Heaven even
stars grow pale!" This I said of tho
moon, which is tho sign of tho Holy
Mother whom Cleopatra dared to rival,
naming herself Isis como to earth.
"Happily said," sho answered, clapping
her whi o nands. "Why, hero's an astron
omer who hath wit and can shapo a com
pliment. Nay, such a wonder must not pass
unnoted, lest the Gods resent it. Char
mion, tako thou this chaplct from my hair
nnd set it upon the learned brow of our
Harmachis. King of Love ho shall be
crowned, whether ho will it or will it not."
Charmion lifted the duplet from Cleo
patra's brows and bearing it to whero I
was, with a smile set it upon my head, yet
warm and fragrant from tho Queen's hair,
but so roughly that sho pained me some
what. And this sho did because sho waa
wroth, although she smiled with her Hps
and whispered: "An omen, Royal Har
machis " For though sho was so much a
woman, yet, when she was angered or suf
fered jealousy, Charmion bad a ohildUh
way.
Having thus fixed tho chaplot, sho court
esled low before me, and with the softott
tone of mockery named me, In the Greek
tongue, "Harmachis, King of Love."
Thereon Cleopatra laughed and pledged me
as "King of love," and so did all the com
pany, finding the jest a merry one. For In
Alexandria they lwe not those who live
straightly and turn aside from women.
But I sat thore, a smile upon my Hps and
black anger in my heart. For, knowing
who and what I was, it irked mo to think
myself a jest to tho frivolous nobles and
light beauties of Cleopatra's Court. But
chiefly was I angered against Charmion,
becauso sho laughed tho loudest, and then I
did not know that laughter and bitterness
are often tho vails of a soro heart where
with it wraps its weakness from the world.
"An omen," sho said It was that crown of
flowers and so it proved indeed. For I
was fated to barter tho double diadem of
tho Upper and tho Lower Land for a wreath
of passion's roses that fado even ere they
fully bloom, and Pharaoh's ivory bed of
stato for tho pillow of a faithless woman's
breast.
"King of LoveJ" they crowned me in their
mockory; ayo, and King of Bbnraol And I,
with tho perfumed roses on my brow I, by
descent and ordination the Pharaoh of
Egypt bethought me of the Imperishable
halls of Abouthls and of that other crown
ing which on tho morrow should bo consum
mated. Cut snuismlllng, I pledged them back,
aud answered with a jest. For rising, 1
bowed before Cleopatra and craved leave
to go. "Venus," I said, speaking of the
planet that we know at Donaou in the
morning and Bonou in the evening, "wat
In the ascendant. Therefore aa new
crowned King of Love, I mutt now past to
do my homage to ita Queen." For thete bar
barian name venut yueen oi ivo.
And to amid tbelr lauxhter I withdrew
me to my watch tower, and, dulling that
ibameful chaplct down amid the Inttru-
"an omen, uovai, haumacius."
monts of my craft, in ail o pretense tonotc
the rolling of tho stars. Thero I wnitcd,
thinking on many things that wero to be
until such time ns Charmion should come
with tho list of tho doomed and tho messages
of my undo Sepa, whom sho had that even
ing seen.
At length tho door opened softly, nnd she
camo jeweled and clad in her white robos,
oven as sho had loft tho feast.
CHAPTER XII.
OF THE COMINO OK ci.gopatha TO TUB CHAM-
BEit or haumacius: or tub tiiuowino
ronm or the keuchif.f or chahmion; oi
TUB STAHS, AND Or THE UIFT 11V C BO
PATIIA Or HER FRIENDSHIP TO HEU SrilV
ANT HAKMACHIS.
LENGTH thou art
IWRfti mVt IV V. com. Charmion," 1
SS"SK over
into."
"Yes, my lord; but
by no means could 1
escape Cleopatra. Het
mood is strangely
crossed to-ntght. 1 know
not what I may portocd.
Strango whims aud fancies blow
across it like light and contrary
airs upon a summer sea, and I can
not read her purpose."
"Well, well; enough of Cleopatra. Hast
thou seen our uncle?"
"Yea, Royal Harmachis."
"Aud hast thou tho last lists?"
"Yea, hero they bo," and sho drew tliom
front her bosom. "Hero is tho list of those
who, after the Queen, must certainly be
put to tho sword. Among them thou wilt
noto is tho name of that old Gaul, Brenuus.
1 grievo for him, for wo nro friends; but it
must bo. It is a heavy list."
" 'Tis so," 1 answered; "when men write
out their count they lorget no item, and our
count is long. What must be, must be.
Now for tho next."
"Hero is tho list of thoso to bo spared, as
friendly or uncertain; aud horo that of the
towns that certainly will riso so soon as tho
messenger reaches their gates with tidings
of tho death of Cleopatra."
"Good. And now" aud I paused "and
now as to tlie manner of Cleopatra's death.
How hast thou settled it) Must it be even
by my hand?"
"Yea, my lord," sho answorcd, and once
again I caught that note of bitterness in her
voice. "Doubtless my Lord will rejoice
that his should bo the baud to rid the land
of thitrfulso und wanton woman, and nt one
blow break tho chains which gall the neck
of Khem."
Talk not thus, girl," I said, "well thou
knowest that I rejoico not, being but driven
to tho act by deep necessity and the press
ure of my vows. Can sho not, then, ba
poisoned I Or can no one of tho eunuchs bo
suborned to slay her? My soul turns from
this bloody work 1 Indeed, I marvel, how
ever heavy be hor crimes, that thou canst
talk thus lightly of tho death by treachery
of ono who loves theo!"
"Methinks my Lord is ovor-tendor, for
getting tho greatness of tho moment and
alt that hangs upon this dagger stroke that
shall cut tho thread of Cleopatra's life.
Listen, Hurmarclns. Thou must do the
deed, und thou alone t Myself would I do it,
had my arm the strength; but it has it not.
By poison it can not be done, for every
drop she drinks and every morsel that shall
touch her lips is strictly tasted by three
separate tasters, who can not bo suborned.
Nor may tho eunuchs of the guard bo trust
ed. Two, indeed, nro sworn to us; but the
third can not be como at. Ho must be cut
down afterward; and, indeed, when so
many men must fall, whnt matters a eunuch
moro cr less I Thus shall it be, then. To
morrow night, when Bonou at three hours
before midnight is in tho right ascension,
thou dost cast tho final augury of tho issuo
of tho war. And then thou wilt, as Is
agreed, descend alone with mc, having tho
signet to tho outer chamber of tho Qucou's
apartment. For ths vessel bearing
orders to tho Legions sails from Al
exandria at tho following dawn; and
alono with her, for she willa that the
;hlng be kept secret as the tea, thou wilt
read the message of tin. stars. And as she
pores over tho papyrus, then must thou
itabherintho back, so that sho dies; and
leo thou that thy will and arm fail theo notl
The deed being done and mdeed it will bo
easy thou wilt tako tho signet and pass out
to whero the eunuch is for tho others will
be wanting. If by any chance tliero bo
troublo with him but thero will bo no trou
ble, for ho daro notontor tho private rooms,
and the sounds of death can not reach so
far thou must cut him down. Then will I
meet thee; and, passingon, we will como to
Paulus, and it shall bo my care to sou that
ho is neither drunk nor backward, for 1
know bow to hold him to tho task. And ho
and thoso with him shall throw open tho
lido gate, when Sepa and the five hundred
chosen men who nro In waiting shall pour
In and throw themselves upon the sleeping
legionaries, putting them to the sword.
Why, tho thing is easy, so thou rest true to
thyself, and let no woman's fears croep
into thy heart. What Is this dagger's
thrust? It is nothing, and yet upon it may
bang tho destinies of Egypt and tho world."
"Hush I" I said. "What is that? I hear
a sound."
Charmion ran to the door, and gazing
down the long, dark passage, listened,
in a moment she came back, her finger on
her lips. "It is the Queen," she whlspored,
hurriedly; "the Quoon who mounts tho
ttalr alone. I heard her bid Iris leavo her.
may not bo found thus alono with theo ut
this hour; it hath a strange look, and sho
may suspcot somowbat. What wants sho
here? Where can I hldo me?" I glunced
iround. At the further end of tho chamber
ivas a heavy curtain that hid a little placo
built in tho thlaknest of the wall which I
uted for the storage of rolls and Instru
ments. "Haste thee there!" I tuld, and she
glided behind the curtain, which swung
back and covered her. Then I thrutt the
fatal scroll of death into the bosom of my
robo and bent me o'er the inyttlo chart
Presently I heard the twocp of woman'
robes, and there came a low knock upon tho
door.
'Enter, whoever thou artl" I taid.
The latch lifted, and Cleopatra swept In,
royally arrayed, ber dark hair hanging
tbout her and tba t.acjed make of royalty
Yves
V
r ; i '
glistening orTher'brow.
"Of a truth, Harmachis," sho said, with
a sigh, as she sank into a scat, "tho path
to Heaven is hard to climb I Ah I I am
weary, for those stairs are many. But I
was minded, my astroflomor, to seo theo
in thy haunts."
"I am honored overmuch, O Queen I" I
said, bowing low before her.
"Art thou now! And yet that dark face
of thino hath a somowhat angry look.
Thou art too young and hnudsomo for this
dry trade, Karmachls. Why, I vow, thou
hast ca-st my wreath of roses down amidst
thy rusty tools I Kings would have cher
ished that wreath along with their
choicest diadems, O Harmnchlsl and thou
dost throw It down as a thing of no ac
count I Why, what a man thou art But
stay; what is this? A l.vdy's kerchief, by
Isis 1 Nay, now my Harmachis, how camo
this hero? Aro our poor kerchiefs also in
struments of thy high art? Oh, fie, flol
have I caught theo, then? Art thou, in
deed, a fox I"
"Nay, most Royal Cleopatra, nay I" I
said, turning; for tho kerchief which had
fallen from Chnrmlon's neck had an
awkward look. "I know not, Indeed, how
tho frippery camo hero. Perchnnco somo
of the women who keep the chamber may
hayoJetii fall."
to UK rONTlNtlM).
PITH AND POINT.
A littlo learning Is a dangerous
thing; but tho danger is not in tho
loarning but tho littleness.
Whatever you or your friends do is
never wholly wrong; whatever your
enemy or his friends do is never wholly
right.
Tho man who doesn't know where
his next dollar is to eonio from always
sends it whore his last wont. Phila
phla Times.
When you can induce a man to hold
your horse in the rain, how iritnral it is
to tarry around tho tiro on tho inside.
Atchison Globo.
Pralso never gives us much pleasure
unless it concurs with our own opinion,
and extol us for those qualities in which
wo chielly excel. Iluino.
As I know more of mankind I ex
pect less of them, and am readier to
call a man good on easier terms than I
was formerly. Dr. Johnson.
Common courtesy is quito distinct
from a matter of common curtesy, but
somo pooplo don't seem to know it.
Morohant Traveler.
Ho who bears failure with patlenco
is as much of a philosopher as ho who
succeeds; for to put up with tho world
needs as much wisdom as to control it.
A slight divergence at the outstart
carries the arrow far out of tho way at
tho end, just as a false step in starting
gives lifo a result that is disastrously
wido of tho mark. To begin woll is to
begin truo, and with a sure aim. United
Presbyterian.
Every oifj who sullers punishment,
if tho punishment hasbeen rightly dealt
him by another, must needs either him
self bo made better and thus benefit
thereby, or elso servo as an example to
others, that they, seeing tho suiTorings
which ho endures, may bo made bettor
through dread of them.
The man whose conversation is
habitually chaste and pure, from whoso
lips "no corrupt communication" pro
coeds, and whose words tend to "minis
ter grace unto the hearers," knows how
to talk and what to say. One is always
in good company when in tho company
of such a man. His society is worth
having, and contact with him will tend
to make ono bettor.
A WONDERFUL DOG.
How Ho Saved Four Hoys from Alinunt
Certain Death.
Nit is a big jot-black Newfoundland
dog who lives in the northorn part of
Now York City, and is supposed to bo
jointly owned by Oscar and fioorgo
Smith. Ono Saturday afternoon tho
brothers, with two other boys, tranipod
up to tho Uronk river to a dlsusod mill
dam, determined to havo some fun, and
of courso Nit was along. Presently
they found an old boat, twolvo foot
long, fastened by a rusty chain to a
stake. Thoy climbed In, and woro
amusing themselves by rooking it, whon
tho chain broko and tho boat drifted out
from tho shore. Hardly moro than
fifty yards down tho rivor tho wator runs
ovor tho dam and falls twonty foot on
tho jagged rooks. There woro no oars
in tho boat and nothing to uso as
a substitute. In tho middlo of tho
riv.er tho boat swung lazily around
until tho prow pointed toward tho dam,
and then it began to drift slowly down
stream. Nit had stood on tho shoro with
oars and tail oreot, watching tho boat
drift away, and apparontly considering
it a good joko. Hut whon tho boat bo
gan to movo toward tho dam fJlt bocamo
ill at ease, and ran barking and whining
up and down tho bank. Tho boys woro
thoroughly alarmod by this timo, too.
Thoy cried out for holp, and Nit, tolling
thorn by a sharp, short bark to wait for
him, sprang into tho wator and beat his
way toward tho boat, now dangerously
near tho dam. Nit swam right In front
of the boat, and tried to stop it with his
body, but tho current swung tho stern
around. Finding that this wouldn't do,
Nit swam around the boat twice, think
ing very earnestly all tho time. Having
solved tho dilllculty, as ho thought, ho
sprang up on tho gunwale and seized it
with his tenth. This lifted him so far
out of the water that ho couldn't swim.
Then ho lot go his hold and went around
tho boat onco moro for another Idea. Ho
got it, and then tho question arose how
to convoy it to tho frightened youngs tors.
NitHwam close to the boat, and sticking
his head over tho guuwhale, looked liu
plorlngly into littlo Oscar's face, and
whimpered. Oscar misunderstood, und
thought Nit was tired und wanted to
como in for a rest lie seized tho leath
er strap and tried to lift him in. Hut
Nit instantly dropped back into tho
wator, and pointing his bond toward tho
shore, Logan swimming for all ho was
wortn. Gradually tho downward courso
of tho boat was stopped. It swung
around in answer to Nit's powerful legs,
and slowly drew near tho shore. It
grounded within a fow foot of tho dam,
and tho boy sprang out as happy a lot
of yougstors as lived. Thoy started
homoward on a run, with Nit barking
and frolicking around them. Uoldon
Days.
FOitEIGN GOSSIP.
Disease has ravaged somo of th
grouse preserves in Scotland
alarming extent. On ono moor recently
out of t!0() birds killed all had to bo
buried.
Tho government monopoly articles
of Honduras nro gunpowder, tobacco,
cigars and liquor. It rotalns comploto
and absolute control of tho liquor
tratlle.
Although slavery does not exist,
properly speaking, in China, in tho eyes
of tho law tho largo boating-population
and actors fill the position of slaves.
There is in Windsor castle a gold
punch-bowl and ladle for which George
IV. paid 10.000 guineas, and tho Invest
ment Is wholly profitless because thero
Is never a drop of punch browed in it.
When the construction of a railroad
Is undertaken in China tho natives burn
a temple, and then persuade tho pooplo
that it is a manifestation of tho wrath
of the gods against the road.
London lawyers now employ short
hand in their otlico work. Tho entries,
drafts, affidavits and tho multitude of
other documents they aro called upon to
prepare are now taken down in short
hand at their dictation and aro copied
from that,
In a village In theeantonof Lucerno,
Switzerland, there Is a society of old
maids. It numbers eighty, and, queer
enough, it is under the patronage of tho
St. Catherine .Matrimonial Agency.
They perforin acts of charity, and aro
highly esteemed In their neighborhood.
There are now such a large number
of foreign otllcers studying at lterlin
that the German Government has estab
lished an international military academy
for their accommodation. Thero aro a
great many Turks and also several Chi
nese otllcers.
An association in London, called tho
Sunday Society, occupies itself with
arranging the opening of private col
lections to the public on the Sabbath.
For two Sundays recently the Duke of
Wellington lias opened Apsley house to
those who wished to seo its treasures.
King Humbert, before leaving Na
ples, ordered that a bronze wreath
should as soon as possible bo deposited
on Garibaldi's grave in placo of tho
flowers ho had put there. He said: "Our
country and my house owe so much to
Garibaldi that this island must bear
from myself and my son a tribute of
everlasting gratitude."
Belgium Is an uncoinfortablo coun
try for embezzlers. A cashier employed
by the city of Ghent, who embezzled
lti:i,000 francs of the municipal cash, has
just caught it very hot indeed. He has
been sentenced to forty years' imprison
ment and five years' police supervision
to follow, has been fined 8,450 francs and
ordered to restore the entire sum ho has
embezzled, and will, in addition, lose
ill his civil rights.
The powor of one of tho greatest
political figures of tho day, perhaps of
all time, is said to bo on the wane. The
Empress Dowager of China lias been
shorn of her prestlgo by tho rebellous
inuepondence of tho young Emperor.
Ho refused to see the bride which she
forced upon him, and has been issuing
vigorous decrees on his own account.
Ho has been censuring the old Ministers
right and loft, particularly Chang Chi
THE SULTAN'S POSITION.
I.Ike That of Oilier Oriental Killer It Is
Deelcleclly lIiiMiife.
Ills Majesty, tho ruler, lends by no
moans a happy life, notwithstanding his
incomo of S10,000,000 a year, and that ho
has his wives by tho score. His prede
cessors lived in a great palaco on tho
banks of tho Golden Horn, or rather of
the Rosphorus at tho point whero tho
Horn commences. In front of this pal
ace stands the yacht of tho Sultan, and
thofo is usually a gunboat or two sta
tioned near by to guard It. Tho las t
Sultan woko ono morning to find tho
guns of those ships sighted on tho pal
aco, and a sot of TurklHh robols do
manded his surrondor. Tho prosont
Sultan has a palaco away baok on tho
hills. Tho grounds which surround It
contain many acres, and thero aro watch
towors built hero and thoro among
them. In these guards aro stationed,
who keep tho landscapo over boforo
their eyes, and who would at tho least
hostile demonstration inform His Ma
jesty. Ho has thousands of soldiers con
nected with his own body-guard, but ha
.rusts very fow, and Hko ono of tho
former Sultana, ho places implicit con
fidence only in his mother. Ho has had
a numbor of revolutions during his
rnlgn, and if you look ovor tho history
of Turkoy you will find that ussaBsl-,
nation Is a very common fato for a Sul
tan. 1 saw tho Turkish monarch several
times while I was in Constantinoplo.
Ho is a sallow, nervous little man, with
a Roman nose, with a pair of bright,
black oyos, which sparkle ns thoy look
out under his red foz cap. He wears a
suit of black clothos, much liko thoso of
a preacher, and his coat is buttoned
high ut tho throat. Ho doos not look
liko a healthy man, and thoro is moro
timidity than braggadocio about his
bearing. It is said at Constantinoplo
that ho dares not tyovo about
unattended through tho streets of tho
Turkish quarter, und his homo is on tho
European sldn of tho water. When ho
takes a ride through hiv capital tho
whole army nt Constantinoplo turns out
to guard him. Yellow sand is sprinkled
j ovor the road in order that-4ils royal
bones, be not jolted, and ho bus u couplo
of the'most noted of his Generals in tho
carriage with him. I am told that ho is
really fond of hlssubjoots, notwithstand
ing tho dangers of his situation, and
that ho would do much for tho hot to ring
of his kingdom if it woro not for the
plots and plotters which continually sur
round him. His situation is practically
the same us that of tho other Asiatic
tnonarchs of the courts which I visited.
Not ono of them felt secure and safe
upon his throne, und all of tho countries
of Aslu havo their political factions and
their political Intrigues. F. G, Carpen
ter, in National Tribune,
Tho wife of a bald-heudod man in
constantly shadowed by tho Btiggootion
that sho is not an amiablo woman.
WHERE MAN THRIVES.
A Maryland Town In Which Nmrljr AIlAi
Giant anil Mptlnnctnln.
"Hack in Montgomery County, cloven
miles from Laurel, on tho Baltimore it
Ohio railroad, is tho littlo village of
Sandy Spring, a Quaker sottlomont,
whose population Is but soventy-flvo
persons, yet which Is noted for tho
length of time Its inhabitants llvo and
the stature they attain," said Robert II.
Moran a day or two ago.
"Now, I am not what you would call a
little or a young man. 1 am 77 years
old, six feet tall, and weigh '200 pounds,
yet I can not hold a candlo to somo of
the chaps who llvo thero. Tho old
people there are dying olt, though.
Now, there was the Penn family. Mary
lived to be 100 years old. Edward dlod
at 101. Lizzie was 1011 when sho died,
and Joseph was 101. Joshua lived to
bo 00 and 10 months. Mary No. 'J
was OS, and another .Mary was 80. Will
lain Thompson was ono- of tho
oldest men in town, lie died at
I lit years. The Hell boys were triplets.
They were Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego. Every one of them was ovor
100 years old, and tho smallest of thorn
was (I foot A inches high. Roth tho
others wero 0 feet ft. Then thoro
were two men, ono named Davis and tho
other Thatcher, both of whom woro ovor
100. Isaac Moore lived to be 10J. Mrs.
Russell died at 104. Mrs. Kirk was 101.
Hilly Matthews and Will McCormick
were each 101 when thoy died. Hilly
Simpson was 100, and Mahlon Chandtco
is now living at 100. Cornelius Sullivan
was HI, William Brown was 0J when ho
Jon us, and Jimmy Whltostdo Is still liv
ing, hale and hearty, ntt)0. Now thero
is a raft of men ovor 80 years. Among
those who are dead aro William Thomp
son, Randall Thompson and Joo Thomp
son, Joshua Lewis. Ephralm Murphy,
Henry Stabler and Edward Stabler.
Caleb Stabler, Richard Tucker, Porry
liizo.ir, and JetT Higginsnro still living.
Thero is such a raft of boys ovor 80 that
It isn't worth while to mention them.
"Now for tho big follows: Ed Penn
was (1 foot 4, and Josh was 0- foot 2.
Robert Sullivan was 0 feet ft. Ho liadf
two sons, Will nnd Georgo, who woro (.
feet 4 and 0 feet !! respectively. Mahlon;
and Nelson wero brotliors, and each was-
II feet 4 inches high. Tliero was Richard
Sullivan, whom wo used to call Long
Dick. He was 0 feet 4. Ho had two
sons, Ed and Perrv, who aro still living,
both 11 feet ii. Dr. Artomas Riggs was a
daisy. Ho was tl feet 5 inches tall,
weighing 2110 pounds, without an ounce
of superfluous flesh, and was ono of tho
best men in tho county. Thero woro
three men who woro named William
Krown, and wo had to nickname them
to distinguish them. Thero was Rig Hill
llrown, 0 foot !1. Long Rill Rrown was rt
feet 5, and Littlo Hill llrown wns (l foot.
Isaao Mooro was (1 feet J, but his
son Nathan went him ono hotter and
was (1 feet :t. Perry Llzoar Is still liv
ing. Ho is over 80 years old, Is (I foot
In his stockings, weighs 'HO pounds,
is straight as an arrow, and ono of tho
best men in tho county. I toll you what,
If you havo any children and want them
to live long and grow big, just send thorn
to Sandy Springs." Baltimore Sun.
A KINGLY EXAMPLE.
How Two American lloyn Mittlu tint Ac
quaintance, of Denimirk'H KIiir.
An exchange rolatos a pleasing anec
dote about two American boys traveling
In Europe. They wero skylarking in.
the streets of Copenliagen, and ono boy
tossed the othor's hat into a troo. Whila
tho victim was trying to dlslodgo if,
thoro camo along an old gontloman,.
with umbrolla undor his arm and his
head burled in his hook.
"Please, sir," said tho hatloss boy,
"will you got my hat?" Tho old gon
tloman fished around with his umbrella
for about llvo mlnutos, and falling to
dlslodgo the hat, allowed tho boy to
mount his shouldors; and, with tho um
brella, ho finally captured tho hat. An
the boy dismounted and thanked tho.
old gentleman, another gentleman camo
along, who saluted and called tho ono
with tho umbrolla, "Your Majosty."
Tho boys wero astonished to find that,
thoy had in this unceremonious fashion
made tho acquaintance of tho King of
Donmark, and thoy think tho King de
serves tho kingdom. In fact ho is a
capital fellow. Ho loves to mingle with,
tho pooplo in their amusements, and
thero is no fol-de-rol of royalty about
him.
Now this littlo incident toadies a les
roii that perhaps somo of tho Trovern
haven't learned: Tho King of Don
mark Is not tho only "royal good fol
low" among tho foreign nobility; thoro
aro, In fact, a number of Dukos and
Earls who havo roally a moro demo
cratic spirit than somo of our untitled.
Americans. Thoro aro plonty of pooplo
In this country, who haven't tho rag of a
title, nor much olso to distinguish thorn
except tholr manners, and tho fact
that their fathers havo managed to.
scrape together a fow dollars ahead of'
tholr neighbors yet who imagine that
thoy belong to "tho aristocracy," and
put on nil tho airs of a suporior being.;
Yet wo aro willing to forgivo thorn bo-
cause thoy aro Americans; but roally it
is nastor to forgivo any other kind of o
snob than an Amorlcan snob, ono who
I has had all tho advantages of being born
in this country.
When wo comparo a follow of this sort
with u scion of some titled European
family, who Is at tho same time a gen
tlemantreating all whom ho moots
with courtesy and consideration, show
ing his good brooding ullko to tho.
"noble lord" who dlnos with him and
tho servant who waits on tho tablo
I when wo make this comparison wo seo
that calling a man an aristocrat doesn't
mako him ono.
Tho Trovo boys and girls, in U4r
anxiety to bo strong Amorlcans, must
remember that a man may bo Holt or
titled undor somo forolgn social system,
and still be a simple-minded, domooratlo
gentleman a citizen orodltablo to any
country; nnd another may spend roottof
his time proauhing about tho "rights of
tho poor," yet not bo half bo muoh a.
friend to thorn as tho first man, but a
lowbred, contomptlblo follow. Wfaat
ovor a man's surroundings, "a man's a,
uiua for a' that." Treasure-Trovo.