' The Oregon Scout
Jones & Chanoey ..Publishers.
UNION, OREGON.
SINGULAR SOCIETIES.
Amnal Dinners Where tho Empty Clmlrt
Increase anil ttio Diners Dccrcne.
Thcro was nn informal organization
formed nbout half n century ago by
6ovcn gentlemen of St. Louis, who
agreed to have a social dinner once a
year while any of the members lived;
each man's chair was to be at tho
table, empty, after his departure from
earth; all tho survivors were to attend
the obsequies of each dead member,
and tho hist survivor was to drink a
bottlo of wine, duly preserved, after
tho death of all tho rest. Tho idea is
not now, and tho narrative of a similar
ngreemcnt, somo years older than this,
lias been more impressively told.
A larger number of hale young Bos
toniaus, a dozen or so, were dining to
gether, when suddenly somo ono bo
thought him of tho incongruous won
der what they would all bo doing ono
hundred years from then; and another
broached a proposal that they all form
a club on tho spot for an annual din--ncr,f
which should tako place on tho
anniversary of that day as long as any
member survived. Somewhat wanned
as thoy wero with wine, the proposal
was adopted with instant acclamation,
and tho llnal botllo of wine, to bo un
corked and drank on a distant occa
sion, which seemed to them all hardly
a thing to bo realized, was put away
immediately.
Tho dinner was followed by a pleas
ure party on tho Charles river, and
presently tho subject of their agree
ment, an hour earlier, drifted again
boforo their minds; ono of tho liveliest
joked his nearest comrado about tho
infirmities of age, and playfully gavo
him a thump on tho back. 13oth wero
standing in tho boat. Tho sudden
stroke caused tho person addressed to
loso his balance; ho went overboard
and was beyond recall before tho
stricken party could recover their
senses.
Ono by ono tho first gap in their
number widened until mora chairs
wero empty than occupied, and tho
dinner grow more and mora somber as
tho heads becamo fewer and whiter.
Tho lat survivor, faithful to tho com
pact, sat wearily down to tho lust an
niversary dinner, surveying cloven
empty chairs, and brought out tho
memorial bottlo of wine from its dusty
hiding. Ilo broke tho seal, drew tho
cork, decanted tho contents, and paused
in an overpowering rush of emotion.
Tho cloven chairs seemed occupied by
shadowy forms; tho past yeura rolled
back boforo him; ho lived his lifo
anow ; his eyes brimmed over and min
gled tears with tho wiuo which ho
tremblingly held up.
Then a fiiilhful attendant who had
grown old in his servico, and now
stood behind Mr. A 's chair, heard
to his amazement his master pledging
by namo ovory ono of tho vanished
friends who used to fill thoso chairs.
If o bowed his head in tokon of recog
nition to each name, and concluding
"with tho words, "Wo'll soon meet
again, friends," drained his glass to tho
tlrcgs, and tncii saulc uuclc motionless
in his attendant's arms. Tho last man
had joined his comrades. This inci
dent J real life has formed tho sub
ject of many a narrative, and becamo
especially popularized by thouil'ecting
little drama entitled "Tho Last Man."
Unknown.
y
,'f rnltliful.
' Tho negro in tho English West India'
regiments is remarkable forjiis obo
dienco to orders, especially whon a
sentry. Lord Wolsoloy tells an amus
ing story of a governor of Capo Coast
Castle, who was prevented from going
out of his own houso by u negro sen
try. Tho governor had discovered that
his servants were' daily robbing him
by carrying away bundles of things
from his Kitchen, lie therefore had
orders given to tho sentry boforo his
door that no ono was to bo allowed to
go out carrying any parcel with him.
Shortly afterward tho governor, in
& hurry to consult tho chief justico,
put somo papers into u dispatch box to
tako with liim to tho judge's houso.
On attempting to go out, ho was
stopped by tho sentry, who, with
Twyonet at tho charge, refused to lot
him pass with the box.
Tho governor remonstrated. ITo
urged that ho himself hud given tho
order. t But tho negro, instead of heed
incr him. replied that his "cornral"
had told him not to allow any ono
-wiin n ounulo to pass,
Sral's" order was his
ompaniou.
and tho"cor-
law. Youth's
A Pluyn right ut Work.
TJlakcly Hall says that ho onco saw
David Bolaseo in tho throes of com-
Sisition, and that "it was an odd sight
pcoplo who huvo preconceived no
tions concerning play writing. Mr.
Bokisco's hair was tousled over his
brow. Ilo was gnawing his nether lip
with an air of intense absorption, his
cm vat was loosened, his coat cast asido
and his legs wero wound around his
chair with nervous sinuosity, lhad
run in on him unawares and did not
know ho was ut work, A largo tablo at
which ho sat was littered with all sorts
of curious odds and ends. There wiu
a hugo sheet of paper boforo him cov
ered with cabalistic signs and marks,
and ho held a bluo pencil tightly
clenched in his right hand. Inkwells,
mutch stands, calendars, pons, books,
newspaper clippings and half a dozen
other small objects wero arrayed on
opposing sided of tho table. These.
Mr. Bclasoo explained, represented
characters in the play, and that ho
was trying to group them so as to
mako un olreetivo tableau for tho closo
of tho third act. Tho idea was subse
quently utilized in 'Tho Wife,'" Cur
rout Literature.
A Lowiston man has invented a do
rice for stopping runaway horses. It
blinds the nuimal by clapping some
thimr over his oyes. Tho inccbanisni
mmutw 1-Q4U (hp driver's scat
THE POET'S GAIN.
WhAt ts It that wo work for, oh, my soulf
Why search wo ypt for bongs that may bo sungl
To put white milk Into a hollow bowlf
To lay brown bread UKo a crimson tonguof
What Is It that wo seek for, ob, my brain.
From corning forth of sun till dawn of gloomf
The rod marsh light of unstable Rain,
Or cold rofugo of a famous tombT
Kay, theso are not for thin, thou weary one;
Nor famo nor wealth shall follow In thy tread.
Thy only sold Is yonder beulng sun:
And when thou slccpest, nono shall Know thj
bed.
Why Is It that we work and faint for sleep?
Why bring tho scars of ago upon our youth t
Lo, wo shall 6tand besldo tho unknown deep.
And drink tho waters of eternal truth.
niled with tho dreams that no fool's wealth cat
buy.
Clad In our raps, fed on our cnist of bread,
Wo'll sing our songs, nor tell tho reason why,
Bless Ood for rhymes, and Journey toward th
dead.
W. J. Henderson In Onco a Week.
JIOMANCE OF THE WAR.
Tho hero of Mr. Parkins' story,
Lawrenco Bryant, was a civil engineer
hi tho south at tho beginning of tho
rebellion. Ilo had been thcro about
fivo years, and had made many
friends; ho liked tho country and its
pcoplo, and did not wish to leave it
In fact, was determined not to leavo it
unless ho took with him Miss Luura
Peyton, to whom ho was engaged to
bo married. But ho was a northern
man a Union man and that fact
was certain, as ho knew, to mako his
situation very unpleasant. II is asso
ciate engineer, Tom Baxter, who was
olso from tho north, said to him:
"This movement means war misera
ble, horriblo, bloody civil war and
you'vo got to tako your choice, our
sido or tho other; if you remain hero
it must bo tho other. Bryant replied
that ho should slay, all tho same for
what reason his friend well under
stood. "1 wish you good luck, my
boy," Baxter rejoined; "but sho is a
southern girl and you a northern
man God help you I
Miss Laura's fathcr,Judgo Peyton,
doubted lho wisdom of secession, but
whon it was onco decided upon ho
gavo it his hearty support. His resi
dence was near Columbia, S. C. As
tho days passed ho saw regiment after
regiment march by, en routo to
Charleston, tlis son Arthur enlisted,
as did most of lho other young men
of tho vicinity; and his houso rang
with Confederate songs. Under such
circumstances, a senso of duty con
strained him to refuse his consent to
tho marriagoof his daughter and Law
renco Bryant. IJo said to Bryant:
"You havo my highest personal es
teem, but until tho political horizon
becomes clear, 1 wish you to forget
entirely that Iiura has given you rea
son to hopo for her hand." At Liura's
instauco ho finally agreed to let tho
engagement stand, but insisted that it
must not bo announced, and that lho
marriago must not tako placo so Ion"
as tho ponding troubles lasted, "It will
bo all right in a month," Laura glee
fully declared to her lover, and ho,
maifo foolish by love, believed her
words.
Tho next month mado things worse
instead of bettor, however. It was
ovidont that tho strugglo was going to
bo n hard and prolonged one. Bryant
was oficrod a placo upon tho stall' of
Gen. Beauregard, which ho promptly
declined. Tins was noted by tho local
papers and commented upon in no
llattoring terms. Even Laura re
marked, with a sigh: "What a pity,
Luwronco, that you uro not ono of us
ono who loves tno south." "As much
as I lovo ono of its maidens," ho ro
plied, laughingly; but tho laugh was
forced and hollow. Ho know that tho
timo was near at hand wheh ho must
tnko somo dcliuito action. The Con
federate government had decreed that
all persons remaining under its pro
tection after tho 1st day of July, 1801.
should bo regarded as its subjects and
not bo permitted to leavo its borders
without olllcial permission and that
day would soon arrive. After a night
spout in warring botween lovo of
county and lovo of Laura Poyton, ho
decided to return to tho north taking
uer wuu nun as uis who, u possioio.
When ho umdo known this purpose to
her, sho not only declined to go with ,
him, but forbade him to goalouo if ho !
expected her to boliovo in his lovo. !
Thus it hupponcd that Bryant tarried !
in South Carolina until tho 1st of i
July hail passed, and becamo subject ,
to military laws as a citizen of tho
Confederacy. Ho was again oficrcd a !
stall' appointment and again refused :
it; but no action was tuuon to forco
him into the service, probably because
his experience as a railroad engineer '
was ol grant valuo just at that time.
Tho Confederacy drifted alonir for two i
V
rears, 'inou Arthur i'oyton camo
homo with an empty sleove. aceoni-
inuiied by Maj. Ilarry Walton, a rival
of Bryant's tor tho hand of Laura.
Miss Bollo, Ilium's sister, said to
Bryant with Hashing oyes:
"It was your friends who did this to
my brother. How can you expect mo
over to end ura your sight again I"
Laura apologized for her sister as
well as sho could, but it was plain that
sho, too, was inclined to hold Bryant
responsible for her brother's misfor
tune "Think, dear Laura," ho said, "in
what a cruel position 1 am placed."
And sho uuswered:
"I will try to roniombor if I can."
In tho courso of tho next two
months Arthur recovered sufficiently
to louugo on tho veranda, but his
empty sleeve was n constant reminder
to his sisters of what ho had lost, and
u stimulus to their hatred of tho north,
which foil upou Bryant us its nearest
representative. Ilo was no longer re
ceived with cordiality, and Laura
seemed to grow colder anil colder to
him. and to show mora and mora re
gard for Maj. "Walton. A crisis was
approaching manifestly. It camo tho
day Maj. Wiiltou left for tho front
again. Ilia parting with Laura was
of a kind that made Bryant decidedly
jealous. A quarrel ensued, in which
Laura said: "You havo umdo mo tit
last remember, Mr. Bryant, what my
lovo for you mado mo forget that 1
am a southern girl. God knows how
I havo loved you, and hoped to win
you to our cause that my country
wouJd lho your country but you
novcr will becomo ono of us; and it is
not right that 1 should marry an
enemy of my country." Sho took his
engagement ring from her finger and
dropped it at his feet. Then sho fell
fainting in tho arms of her sister
Belle, ivho shrieked, "You'vo broken
my sister's heartl I'll mako you fight
on ono sido or tho other for this, you
Yankee I"
Thcro was nothing left now to hold
Brvant in South Carolina, an alien,
eiir-mtiniWI hv miomins T7n flnfnr-
mined to leave at once. Ilo
once, ilo remem
bered Miss Belle's threat. If ho was
to fight ho would fight for tho causo
that ho loved. lie resolved to go
north through the Confederate lines
at that timo a very difficult undertak-
! mg. His ueparturo was hastened by
tho receipt of an order requiring him
to report foractivo servico in tho Con
fedcrato army at Charleston within
6cven days. Ho had $1,000 in green
backs, one-half of which ho sent to
Laura, begging her to accept it as a
loan from ono who still thought her
to bo tho only woman he would over
lovo. Then ho boarded tho cars, os
tensibly bound for North Carolina and
Virginia on railroad business. Thero
wero soveral Confederate oillccrs on
tho train, but their suspicions were
lulled by tho fact that ho was recog
nized by tho conductor as a railroad
official. But a certain Confederate
detective, PetoBassett, wasnotsocasily
satisfied. Ilo kept his eyes on Bryant
and followed him wherovcr ho moved
in a manner that left no room for
doubt that it wasacaso of trailing and
shadowing.
At tho town of Graham Bryant suc
ceeded in eluding tho detective, and
was thus enabled to reach Raleigh and
securo from tho provost marshal a pass
to Richmond, on tho pretext of secur
ing somo now rails to repair tho road
with which ho had been connected.
Tho next day ho reached Cipddsborough
and thcro ho ngain encountered Bas
sett, who said, frankly: "I havo got
instructions to look out for you, and
havo a mind to arrest you at once."
Bryant produced his permit to go to
Richmond, "on military business of
importanco to tho Confederate govern
ment." Bassett was cowed and aston
ished. "But all tho same," said ho,
"I will go to Richmond toseo that you
oxecuto this important business." But
again thodctcctivo was outwitted. A
special train bound south suddenly ran
into tho station and Bryant contrived
to board it without attracting any at
tention. His pass was now useless, of
courso, as ho was going away from
Richmond; but ho got through to
Wilmington without ono by telling
tho conductor that ho was on his way
to Nassau uftcr iron for tho road. Tho
passengers on tho train included sev
eral captains of blockade runnors.
whoso vessels were taking in cotton at
Wilmington, and Bryant determined
to tako passage with one of them.
Ilo induced two negro stevedores to
put him insido of a balo of cotton and
carry him on board of the Dart, which
was soon to leave. Tho balo was
stowed in tho hold, and when Bryant ,
was released ho found barely spaco 1
enough for his body between the cargo
and tho ship. Soon after a squad of
soldiers camo to search tho vessel for
runaways. Thoy forced long poles
botween tho bales of cotton, but did
not reach Bryant; then they filled tho
holo with a denso smoko from burn- ,
ing rosin, and ho was almost asphyx
iated, and ho clambered out upon tho
lower deck. Thero wns a heavy whito ,
fog, and tho blockndo runner was
boldly attempting to run unseen
through tho federal squadron that
barred her passage. Tho experiment
failed, and tho vessel was forced to ro-1
turn. As it ran closo to tho federal
llagship, Brvant cried out, "Ship
ahoy I Stop this blockade runner I" A
pattering hail of musket balls began to
fall; tho federal marines had opened
ilro. Then ono of tho officers struck
Bryant with a belaying pin, and ho
reoled and foil upon tho deck. Thero
was a roaring of waves in his brain,
and after that nothing. ,
When ho recovered his senses ho
was in nn umbulanco jolting through
tho streets of Wilmington, and Peter
Bassett was saying to him, "You nro
tho slipperiest customor 1 over tack
led." 1' ram Wilmington ho was taken
to Charleston and placed in jail. A
chance to tako tho oath of allcgianco :
and enter tho Confederate servico was
offered him, and ho rejected it. Then
ho was placed wiili tho criminal pris- .
oners on tho forti.icatious. Ho umdo
several ofi'orts to escape, but thoy all
proved futile. In tho courso of timo
ho was sent with others to work on
intrenchmeuts in tho rear of tho city,
and thcro ono day ho was discovered
by Laura I'oyton. Sho was permitted
to havo an interview with him. Ilo
told her of his adventures, "and sho
did pity them," as Othello says. "You
must end this martyrdom at onco,"
sho said. "Yes, by perjuring mysolf
and becoming u Confederate soldier," .
ho replied. "No, not that way," said
sho. "Though 1 am a southern girl,
not that way. 1 should not respect
you if you took that way now. In
somo other way I must savo you in
somo way I will savo you." Ho asked
her if sho still loved him. Sho hold
up hor finger, aud ho saw on it his en
gagement ring.. "Yes," sho said, "I
lovo you and will savo you."
Two days afterward tho former body
servant of Bryant, a trusty negro
named Caucus, was added to tho gang
or worKmou. ilo ami liryant man
aged to get away that nigh! by crawl-
ing on their hands and 'knees through
tho underbrush, across a swamp, to
tho river, whoro tho negro had hidden
a boat, Tho Federal gunboats wero
not far away. "Whero is Miss Lnura?" ,
Bryant whispored. "A miloor two up
daribbcr, at Judgo Elliott's," said tho
negro: Ts to go back and 'port to hor i
whon 18 got you snfo up do riblier to
do Yanks." Brynut replied, "Very
well, I must sco her before I go; turn I
tho boat upstream." Caucus protested
aud entreated, but Bryant forced him
tooboy. Thoy reached tho placo in
safety. "For God's sako, Lawrence,"
fn 111 T m
cannot savo your lifo if you do not
a, "why utuu't j'ou gof i
vo your lifo if you do ti
leavo SouUrCaroliua." ITo ronlicd.
"I will Mover leavo South Caroliuu till
you are my wife. JDo tho only thing
uuu win uiuko mo wish 10 savo in y
life marry mo nowl" Sho pleaded
with him to go. "Not unless you
promise to bo mine," ho said ; and ut
lost sho said "Yes," just in timo to pre
vent his capture by a troop of lurking
cavalry.
Several weeks later Bryant and
Laura wero married in a remote part
of tho state, in tho shadow of tho Bluo
Ridge. Then Belle suddenly appeared
to denounce tho procccdi litre. "Un,
i how I hnto you 1" sho said to Bryant,
i "lOU haVC lured my SIStC
inv sister a way from
homo and her duty. A man who had
not heart cnouch to ficht us, but must
destroy our funnl v by makinga woman
lovo him, and she my sister. I am
going to tho nearest military post to
deliver you up as n deserter, that you
may bo shot to death. That's what
they'll do to you. Then our disgrace
i will bo wiped out by your blood?' It
: was plain that the girl meant to do
l what sho said. So Laura and Bryant
drew her into tho houso and securely
locked her in ouo of tho upper rooms.
"Now, Lawrence, you must hasten to
tho other sido of tho line," said Laura.
"I will join you in tho north whenever
you tell me." Ilo started, and at tho
gate met Peter Bassott, whom he shot,
for ho had no mercy now. Then ho
hurried on, soon to bo overtaken by
Caucus with a letter from Laura, urg
ing increased speed, as a party was be
ing collected to purauo him. "Guard
your life," tho letter said, "for it is my
life, my husband."
Tho journey was a loner, tiresome
and perilous one, but at last it ended, '
and Bryant and Caucus safely reached
tho federal lines at Kiioxvillc. Four
days later they were in Illinois, at
Bryant's homo. Ilo immediately wroto ,
Laura via Bermuda, and waited anx-,
iously for six weeks, but received no j
reply. It was now April of 1SC1. Tho
blockade runners wero often captured I
or sunk ; tho letter service of tho Con
federacy was very uncertain. His
anxiety concerning his wife becamo
unbearable and ho went to Nassau,
from whenco ho forwarded another
letter that he knew did not go astray,
for tho vessel camo back safely, and
tho captain said ho had placed tho
document in tho Wilmington post
ofilco. Again ho waited anxiously a
month. Still no Icttev. Ho wroto to
other parlies and finally received word
to tho effect that Laura was alivo and
in Columbia, but that was all that
could bo ascertained. About tho same
timo ho received a letter from his old
chum, Tom Baxter, who held a staff
position in Sherman's army. It was
dated at Atlanta, and told him to come
on at once, and Jio could probably soon
bo taken very near to his wife.
Ilo quickly obeyed tho summons,
and as soon as tho trip could bo mado
his hand was grasped by Baxter, who
took him to tho chief of Sherman's
staff. That officer said: "Mr. Bryant,
Maj. Baxter tells mo you aro an engi
neer and should bo very well ac
quainted with most of tho Georgia
railroads?" Bryant replied, "Yes, 1
havo assisted in building a good many
of them." Tho officer remarked,
"Then you should know- how to de
stroy them." So ho was assigned to
duty as an extra uid-dc-cump to Gen.
Wood, commanding tho first division
of-Logan's corps. Then followed tho
famous inarch to tho sea, and on tho
lu"th of February, 1805, looking across
tho Saluda river, Bryant saw again tho
beautiful capital of South Carolina.
He asked for leavo of absence and tho
uso of a company of infantry to protect
Judgo Peyton's house.
Tho general eheorfully granted tho
request, and tho guard arrived just in
timo to prevent tho sacking of tho
promises. But Laura was not there.
Tho family had gono into Columbia
for protection. Bryant reached tho
town in tho evening and sought his
wife without success. Suddenly, to
his horror, ho saw that a portion of
tho plnco was in conflagration. Ilo
hastened on, and soon reached the
Pickens mansion, which was rapidly
consumed. Then lto heard, a shriek,
and. looking up, saw a servant girl
holding a child and calling for help.
Ho rushed into tho flames and brought
tho child out. Tho mother soon camo
to thank him. At sight of his face
sho cried, "Lawrence," and fell faint-1
ing in his arms. Tho mother was
Laura tho child was his own. A. C.
Guntcr in Globo-Democrat
Walter Scott's I'liirb.
Illness and intenso bodily pain could
no more deter Walter Scott from writ
ing than could travol or pleasure.
Tho greater part both of "Ivanhoo"
and "Tho Brido of Ijtmmermoor" was
dictated, and in its composition was
punctuated by tho groans of tho suffer
ing author. When tho amanuensis,
Lntdlaw, besought him to spare him
self, Scott replied, "Nay, Willie, only
sco that the doors aro fast; 1 would
fain keep all tho cry as well as all tho
wool to ourselves; but as to giving
over work, that can only bo dono
when 1 am in woolen." Hero, too, is
again displayed that tondcr considera
tion for tno comfort of others which
built tho littlo stairway at Abbotsford
so that hd might not disturb tho rest
of any of tho household when ho
should happen to linger late at night
over his work. Theso excruciating
pains which, as ho said ono time, set
him "roaring liko n bull calf," had n
curious cll'ect; for when "Tho Brido
of Lammermoor" was put into his
hands in its complete shapo, tho only
recollection ho hud of its contents was
of tho incidents in tho original story
with whicli hp had boon familiar from
chililhoou, Ann when ho now read
owu creation it was with no mora
knowledge- of what ho had written
thau if tho novel had been tho work of
eomo ono clso; indeed, whilo rcuding
it ho was in constant fear that every
jcai nu luriieu inigiii ruvcui bumu in
consistency or ubsurdity. Scribncr's
Magazine,
If you havo a lady friend in tho car
always kiss her aud ask her to "bo
6iiro aud call" before getting off. This
gives tho horses a chauco to rest aud
pleases tho conductor. This urbane
olllcia.1 wM bp particularly pleased if ,
you stop to um u cuoico meco oi gos-
Bio to your pai-ting.admonition.
Toung llotiek-eiM.
T mn cur linvvi'V'fl'. tllill It 1'
nothing short of positive cruelty lor
mothers to allow their daughters to
marry without a knowledgo of the
most homely details of household man
agement, .
I can easily rcalizo that my own lot
might havo been the too common one
of petty dissension and recrimination
that has been lho portion of many of
my friends, who, taken from a lifo of
comparative uselcssness, find them
selves compelled to livo with perhaps
a mother-in-law who naturally is not
disposed to view her son's brido
through his partial oyes.
Tho outcomo in tho majority of
cases is that tho young wifo suddenly
awakens to tho fact that tho lover who
feigned iudiffereuco to such prosaic
mallei's as eating and drinking has
suddenly developed what seems to her
an absurdly serious interest in all that
pertains to his stomach.
Too proud to admit her ignorance sho
loftily tells him that "Mamma always
attended to tho housekeeping. Sho
never allowed mo to do anything
menial."
Then steps in John's well meaning
but injudicious mother, or sister per
haps, with tho stern resolve that his
digestion and comfort shall not bo
sacrificed to tho inexperience of a
mere chit of a girl. Apresl Tho usual
sequel of tears, appeals from both
sides to poor John, who loyally try
ing to stand by his marriago vows,
and protect and cherish tho delicate
creaturo who depends only on him;
yet finds himself guiltily wondering
why Arabella seems to have changed
in somo way, docs not look as bewitch
ing, viewed across a breakfast of
muddy coll'co and fried beefsteak an
in her mother's pretty littlo cottage,
where everything was so daintily ap
pointed. Dear young wives, a littlo foresight
somo years before marriage, and train
ing not at a fashionablo cooking
school, but in your own homo
kitchens, would smooth tho inevitable
difficulties in your married lifo so
effectually that you could face un
daunted even the dreaded lot of living
with your relations-in-law. Mrs. Ed
ward A. Perpall in Good Housekeep
ing. Tlio Dangers of Good Snmnritanistn.
It would appear that somo littlo timo
ago a man was driving a spring cart
in the neighborhood of Hexham. On
tho road lie met a poor creaturo evi
dently very ill und too enfeebled to
walk. His appearance did not appeal
in vain to tho sympathy of tho kind
hearted driver, who generously under
took to convey the dying wayfarer to
comfortable quarters. Ho assisted tho
man into his cart, and was proceeding
along tho road, when whom should ho
meet but an ollicer of tho inland rev
cnuo. And a very lynx eyed officer
ho was, too. Tho law was not to bo
broken under his noso with impunity.
Here was a clear case without a doubt.
A passenger was being carried in an
unlicensed conveyance, and so our
zealous officer hurries oir and lodges a
charge For tho ofl'enso tho owner of
tho spring cart had to appear at Hex
ham petty sessions this week.
It was not denied that ho had given
a man a "lift" on tho road, but in ex
tenuation of this breach of lho law it
was stated that tho passenger was in
such a sore emergency that lie died on
tho very next day after tho incident
referred to. Tho magistrates very
properly refused to becomo mere auto
matic registers of tho law and dis
missed tho case. Nobody ever sus
pected that tho heart of an inland
rovenuo ollicer was suscoptiblo to sen
timent. Tho ono who prosecuted in
this caso is a man of authority, who
will havo no straining of mercy. Liko
Shylock, ho claims that tho "law al
lows it," and ho is not going to bo sat
isfied with anything less than tho full
pound of flesh. Ho gavo notico of an
appeal to tho next quarter session. Tho
owner of tho spring cart, between
troublo and expense, is being made to
pay a pretty penalty for his compas
sion. It should bo an awful warning
of tho danger of playing tho good Sa
maritan with nn untaxed cart. Dun
deo (Scotland) News.
I'oor Joncj.
Mr. Jones had joined a French class,
and was telling his wifo how well ho
was getting along. "I nm afraid,"
sho said, "that it is nothing but a
'spasm.' I'vo known pcoplo beforo
who would tacklo a foreign language,
expecting to know all about it in a
mouth, and by tho timo they could
translate, 'Tho son of tho baker has
tho loaf of bread of tho daughter of
tho gardener, or somo such rank non
senso as that, and had bought a fow
dollars' worth of foreign books, their
enthusiasm would dio away liko tho
morning mist." "But that's not tho
caso with mo," replied Mr. Jones, con
fidently; "I am progressing splen
didly. Professor Crapaud says that
in a short timo I ought to begin to
think in French, and when ono can
accomplish that progress is always
rapid." "Well." said Mrs. Jones, with
a sigh, "I don't want to interposo any
objection, of courso, and if you can
learn to think in French I shall bo
glad of it. It's something you havo
never been ablo to do in English."
Chicago Journal.
Tlio Thirteen Superstition.
"Do you know," said Manager
Rogers recently, "that of all non
sensical superstitions this popular idea
that thirteen is n fatal number is tho
worst. 1 always count it lucky. It
has over been so with ma That re
minds mo that Bill Nyo and Whit
comb Riloy stopped at tho samo ho
tel that wo did at a western city. Tho
clerk was going togivo them room 13,
but Riloy wouldn't havo it becauso of
tlio number, so I took it. But Riloy
got room 0 and Nyo room 7, which
tlioy occupiod en suilo and gavo them
a 13 in snito of all. You ought to
havo seen Riloy ; why, ho was as ner
vous as a wet liou." Bulfalo Courier.
Archdeacon Philpot, of Mlna Lodge,
Oak Hill, Surbiton, is tho oldest living
clorgyraan in tho Church of EnglaiuC
Ho is in his 100th year. Ho graduated
as for back as 18l,
Encores.
Tho problem whether a manager can
or cannot compel a vocal artist to ac
cept an encore has probably not been
seriously considered hitherto. Per
formers are, as a rule, only too ready
to respond to demands mado upon
them by an audienco or portions of it,
and it can hardly havo occurred to any
ono to conceive that an occasion would
ariso in which a vocalist would bo
censured by his employer for not con
ceding an encore, buch an occasion,
however, would seem to havo arisen in
connection with an English opera
theatre, and lho caso, it is said, is cer
tain to come into court, Tho singer
has been fined ono night's salary for
his alleged irregularity, and. accord
ing to his statement, tho fino has been
justified by the management on tho
basis of a privato regulation, to tho
ell'cct that any artist in its employment
refusing to tako a "call" shall bo liablo
to a fino in question.
Wo shall not attempt to anticipato
tho decision which may hereafter bo
given, but, apparently, much will de
pend upon tlio meaning attached by
judgo and jury to tho expression "talc
ing a call." In ordinary theatrical
parlanco a "call" is simply a summons
to tho footlights, not a request for tho
repetition of a song or verso. It would,
however, bo almost a pity if tho prob
lem named abovo escaped legal pro
nouncement becauso of, tho nicety of
meaning hero involved. It would bo
interesting to havo it formally declared
whether an artist has any choice in tho
matter-of encores, or whether ho or sho
must concede them willy-nilly. Should
tho latter conclusion bo arrived at,
somo vocalists will feel that a now
hardship has been thrust upon them,
and salaries may rise accordingly. Tlio
general publicalso would bo more than
ever at tho mercy of thoso whose
passion for encores is undiscrimin
ating. London Globe.
Tlio Ilnmlsomo Women of Conncmnrn.
Tlio women of Connemara aro pic
turesque in attiro and shapely in form
to a remarkablo degree. Their limbs
aro long and graceful. They aro erect
and spirited in carriage, and tho im
menso black braideens, or cloaks, with
which all shortcomings in clothing aro
shrouded, fall in truly classic folds
about them. Bare limbed as tho men,
atall seasons, you will not infrequently
catch glimpses of legs as exquisitely
molded as thoso of tho Venus of Cos:
whilo the most voluptuous types of
southern Europe, or languorous, tropi
cal Cuba, furnish no more perfect ex
amples of tapering, dimpled arms,
beautifully formed shoulders, and full
but lengthened neck with dovo liko
double curve. The broad, largo faces
are still superbly oval. Tho chin has
strength, tho full, shapely mouth is
red and tenderly, expressively curved;
tho regular teeth aro charming in pearl
whito glint and dazzle; tho noso is
large, well cut, with thin, sensitivo
nostrils; tho eyes, under long, heavy
lashes, look straight and honestly at
you out of clear, largo depths of gray
or bluo; tho eyebrows aro marvels of
nature's penciling; tho forehead is
wido aud fair,, and such heads of hair
crown all that wero they unloosed tho
Connemara wbman could stand clad in
lustrous black immeasurably surpass
ing her sloo black braideen. Not a
thread is on them besides tho Conne
mara flannel. It is spun from tho
wool of tho mountain sheep. Irish
Letter to Pittsburg Dispatch.
Felling Trees by Electricity.
Hitherto machines
for felling trees
havo been driven by steam power, but
tins is sometimes inconvenient, espe
cially in thick woods, and electric
power has been adopted in tho Gali
cian forests. Usually in such ma
chines tho trunk is sawn, but in this
caso it is drilled. When tho wood is
of a soft nature tho drill has a sweep
ing motion and cuts into tho trunk by
means of cutting edges on its sides.
Tho drill is actuated by an electric
motor mounted on a carriage, which
is brought up closo to tho trco and
shackled to it. Tho motor is capablo
of turning round its vertical axis, and
tho drill is geared to it in such a man
ner that it can turn through an arc of
a circlo and mako a sweeping cut into
tho trunk. Tho first cut made, tho
drill is advanced a fow inches and an
other section of tho wood removed in
tho samo way until tho trunk is half
severed. It is then clamped to keep
tho cut from closing, and tho opera
tion continued until it would bo un
safe to go on. Tho remainder is fin
ished by a hand saw or an ax. Tho
current is conveyed to tho motor by
insulated leads brought through tho
forest from a generator placed in somo
convenient site. Loudon Times.
Changing Their Heat.
Pcoplo often wonder why policemen
aro suddonly transferred from ono
section of tho city, where thoy may
havo walked a beat for years, and know
every dark alloy and hiding placo
as well as ovory crook in that particu
lar locality, to apart of tho city whero
thoy havo novcr been savo as n citizen.
At first glanco it does look liko an in
judicious thing to do, but it is not.
Take a patrolman from tho West End
or South End and put him down in
tho heart of tho city and he's pretty
certain to mako n fow good captures.
West End or South End crooks feel
securo when thoy get away from tho
locality where they aro well known,
and tho first thing you know thoy will
run right into your arms with all tho
evidences of guilt upon them. Thcro
is another advantago in theso changes,
which I believo should bo mora fre
qucnt, aud that is that tho policcmeR
becomo familiar with all sections of
tlio city, and thus aro rendered mora
valuablo in any emergency. SL Louis
Globo-Democrat.
Th I'lrst American Silk Dress.
Tlio first silk dres3 mado in America
tvos ono presented by Governor Oglo
thorpo, tho founder of Georgia, to tho
queen of GeorgoIIL Oglethorpo ex
pected his colony to becomo rich on
silk raising and viniculture, and tho
first silk raifed in Georgia was spun
??".wv.en for Ul royal spouse, New
York Telegram.
J