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About The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1901)
o o o o o ? THE OTHER M AN. i. i Sis E stood on tlie brink of the precl ude pud looked over. Three bun- urei reel ueiow mm iue sea ui . . . . ii . i. i. . . i ou tUu Bomber rocks. The man's muscles tensloned aad be drew a deep breath. What an easy way to end It all! Just one little stop those rook below were no bunglers; they would make no mistake over their work, ami the sea would tell no tales and then-then he would be away from It all, and would never have to bear the agony of hearing that she was married to Everett. Married to Everett married to Ever ett! The words clanged In his ears. He groaned aloud and bent hastily over the edge. A mist eame before his eyes and his breath rose In a choking heave to his throat; the ground rocked slekeulngly beneath him, aud for oue dizzy second he thought he was falling-falling down that Interminable space. Then the mist passed, the ground stopped rocking aud he gasped with relief to Bud himself still standing safe aud sound on firm earth. He turned away with a scornful laugh at his own weakness. Home again, he flung himself Into an rasy-chalr aud lit his pipe, resolved to give way no longer to morbid Imag ining. He, picked up a magazine, but his thoughts Uew off at a tangent to the dance which was to take place that very evening, to which be had been Invited. He had vowed not to see her again till he could settle once for all the dem on of unrest within him, and a crowded ballroom was the last pla e for Impas aloned avowals. He thought how cool and beautiful she would look In ber white muslin, with her fluffy golden hair framing ber sweet little flower-like face. Perhaps he would go, after all. Then a second figure rose up to spoil the picture handsome, happy-go-lucky Everett, with a merry word for everyone, dancing untiring attendance on the fas cinating hostess aud never leaving her side for a moment. How dared he take possession of her In that way! And how could she put up with It, unless Ills pipe mankind's universal baby bottle for ouce failed utterly In Its mission of soothing. He tossed it an grily across the table aud buried his face in his hands, lost In a whirl of mis erable conjectures. His thoughts flew back to that dance one week ago one week so crowded with hopes and fears that it seemed a lifetime. I He remembered those two dances, ' the music, the scent of flowers in the conservatory, aud, mote distinctly than all, the laughing face of Dolly. Then those few overheard words rushed through his brain. He clinched his lists and his face flushed at the rec ollection. He hud drifted from the ball room to the conservatory. Would she consent? That was the question that throbbed In his brain. Should he say the words that would decide his future life aud hers? He had puffed at a ci garette, and stared at the thin wisps of blue smoke. Would his hopes fade Into nothingness as that, fragrant smoke faded aud vanished Into air? And then he heard people talking. He recognized the voice of Everett, and then Dolly's. They were seated on the opposite side of the conservatory, and had not seen him as he sat almost con cealed behind a tangle of p':n loaves. "Dolly," Everett was paying, "you must say 'Yes.' My whole life depends upon It. We have been chums so long. Say you will and make me the happiest man In England not to speak of Scot land, Ireland and Wales. Say 'Yes!' 1 know what you want to say that we ought to be getting back again. And there are all those loathsome people who want dances. Confound 'em. You will? I knew you would " Eraser had sat there, almost unable to move. He did not know how long. The music from the ballroom floated out Into the conservatory, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the guests. AH hope, all Interest In life was gone snatched from him by those few overheard words. People were asking for him. What did It matter; nothing mattered now. A voice aroused him. He looked up, and saw Everett before bim Everett, who was his friend: who was now bis rival his eenniy! "Hallo, Eraser, old man, you seem to z ten fathoms deep in the blue dumps What's the matter now? Come and have a smoke with me. I've been look ing for you half the evening." And that all happened a week ago! A week the most miserable In his life. And now he was trying to forget ber. What a fool he wasl II. The thought of that steep drop down to the sea kept recurring to his mind again and again with a fatal fascina tion put It away from his as he would. Throngh all his broodiugs Its somber Invitation stood out clear and distinct. He could see even now the Jagged rocks lurking below, dipping with spray, looking for their prey. At last be got up. It was no good staying In. Inaction was torture to him In his preseut frame of mind. He would try and walk It off. He started ff rapidly, without any definite aim or Intention, but uncon sciously his steps turned toward the coast, and presently he found himself once more ascending the steep little path be bad traversed that morning. As he neared the summit he per ceived that there was a man's flgure before him, stooping perilously over the dangerous edge, evidently gathering some plant from the cliff below. It was a foolhardy thing to do, and evidently bespoke a strong brain. A little nearer, and he stopped short abruptly. The stooping tlgure was Everett. All his love and hate surged up with in him. Everett, the man who bad stolen his love from bim the man who had made his life a blank and barren waste. A thousand devils seemed let loose within him. How very uear that stooping tlgure was to death so near that one touch Just one little motion of the foot aud he would loso bis bal ance and go speeding, speeding down those smiling cliffs and be hurled to pieces ou those cruel rocks beneath! Ills breath came quickly.' Suppose It had happened accidental ly? Even as he thought he knew he was a coward. Even then he was thinking of bis own skin. Suppose a sudden noise made the man start? Al most unconsciously he opened his lips, and a harsh "Hallo!" broke from hint Everett's nerves were steel. He turned his sunny face aud smiled over his shoulder. "Hallo, old man!" he responded amia bly. Eraser came and stood dumbly beside bim, holding his hands tightly together behind him to hide their shaking. He had forgotten Everett was a sailor. He watched him furtively leaning down further aud further, till It seemed Impossible he could retain his balance; and the waves below reached up hun gry white arms to catch bim, andJll back again with a murmuring thunder of anger at their failure. A little further. Eraser caught bis breath. "You'll be over In a minute!" he said grullly. Everett laughed easily. "Not I!" he said confidently. "But. I say, old chap, you might Just hang on to my legs for a minute, will you? 1 want to reach that great bit Just there, aud It's Just beyond me." The waving pink bloom nodded Im pudently up at them' Just out of reach. Eraser stood motionless, moistening his dry lips. Everett looked around. "D'you miud, old man?" he said. And mechanically the other stretched out his hand and obeyed. Now now! one movement of bis An gers Just the opeuing of his hand He fought the thought back, gasping for breath. Everett leaned still farther. He half glanced back. "They're for Dolly, you know," he said, "to wear this evening." The Augers opened as If by some sud denly pressed spring. There was a sud den cry, aud then then something went rolling, rolling, striking ami bounding sickeningly down that steep side. Eor an Instant the white face was up turned. "All right, old chap I know acci dent!" floated up brokenly, and then there was a last hideous thud, and the waves clutched greedily at their unrec ognizable prey and drew It under. And the swooping seagulls shrieked wildly and circled upward. Eraser stood as If turned to stone. gazing with distended eyeballs at the gurgling eddies where that that thing had disappeared. Murderer! Murderer! Murderer! The waves lashed It at him, the sea gulls shrieked it, the whole living and Inanimate world flung the awful word t him. He stood paralyzed, nad he done It he? What had he done? He held his hands vaguely and piteously out before bim, asking them mutely. Murderer! Murderer! Murderer! Yes, It was true true! Ills hands told him his hands that he had opened. (Jod! They were blood-red stained with blood! The grass was red the sky the very sea was blood! He flung up his hands with an awful cry and sprang blindly over that fatal edge. "I say, old fellow, do wake up and stop having the horrors! You don't know how beastly awful you look" Eraser opened his eyes slowly and stared In blank terror at the handsome tanned face looking down at him. He wondered vaguely whether he was dreaming now or had just awoke from a red nightmare. The voice went ou: "I only looked In to say ta-ta. I've had a telegram calling me back to Ire land Immediately. Old Chris Murdoch has relented and consented to our be ing publicly engaged. And all through Dolly, too bless her little heart! She's Meg's dearest friend, you know, and she's been moving heaven and earth to soften the old chap's heart." He waived an airy good-by. "Ta-ta!" he said merrily. Fraser gazed speechlessly at him, the tears still standing thick on his white face. Everett turned back, half-laughing. "1 wish you wouldn't look at me as though 1 were a ghost!" he protested "So long!" Archbishop'a Apt Retort. The archbishop of Dublin recently performed a marriage In the family ot a wealthy Irish distiller. After the breakfast the distiller thanked the archbishop effusively for his share of the proceedings and said to him as he took his leave, "The Lord be with you." "And with thy spirit," Is report ed to have been the rejoinder. HUMOlt OF THE WEEK STORIES TCLD BY FUNNY MEN OF THE vPREaS. Odd, Curious and Laughable Phases of Uuaian Nature Graphically Por trayed by Eminent Word Artlata of Oar Owe lnj-A Budnet of Fun, Mr. Crlpps Can you Induce the cook to have one of her ftit"wW come aud take dinner with her to-night? Mrs. Crfpps-The Idea! What for? Mr. Crlpps I expect to bring Jones and Smith burnt with me, and I'd like to have a nice dinner for them. Phila delphia Record. It Theiitrlc I'nrlance. Amateur What does It mean In theatric circles when they say the "ghost walks?" Vetera; Actor-It means that the rest of us don't have to. Detroit Free Tress. Inherent Talent. V Deacon Shanghai Dat loy certainly Is full oil music, Mrs. Jackson. Mrs. Jackson Yes, Deacon; hit conies nachel toe dat chile; bis pap war run ovah by oue o' dem street plan ners. Taking the Htlnit it of It. - "Have I got a blight future?" anx iously Inquired the sweet young gradu ate, who was chock-full of ambition. "Well, It Isn't as blight as It might be," answered the antique clairvoyant, who was taking a lbng look Into It; "but," she added with a girlish titter, "perhaps the gas Is turned down." Puck. Proved Hi Point. "Opportunity comes once to every man." "That's right; and any man Is bound to become famous If he only lives loug enough." "Oh, I don't quite believe that." "You don't? Suppose a inau lives to be 150 years old; wouldn't that make bim famous?" Philadelphia Record, Trrliiu to Follow the Inj unction, "And now, continued his angry spouse, thoroughly aroused. "1 am go ing to give you another piece of my mind what are you doing?" "I am turning the other ear," patient ly responded Mr. Meeker. Chicago Tribune. The Mystery of Motive. "Why," asked the young wife, naive ly, "do you always whistle when you get my millinery bills?" . To raise the wind!" replied the man. Detroit Journal. In 1 Uputabl . Mamma Oh, Ethel, you never- saw me behave like that. Ethel (aged 4) Well. I haven't know ed you so very long. Tit-Bits. Compulsory Proiortinn. You're not half so stout as you were, Billy." "No; we've moved Into a flat, and I Just had to get thin." Indianapolis Journal. She Was Willing to Help. Beggar Plane, yer honor, do help a poor old body. Irritable Old Chap Don't bother me. woman. Cau t you see that I couldn't possibly get a hand into my pockets? Beggar Ab, but perhaps I could, yer honor. His Grnapinor Disposition. "They say," remarked the mother thoughtfully, referring to the young mau who had called the previous even ing, "that he is of a grasping disposi tion." "Well, I should say he was!" ex claimed the small boy. "Willie!" cautioned his sister, but It was too late. "You Just ought to have seen the way he grasped Lou when she said she'd marry him," persisted the youngster. Chicago Evening Post. Crowded t'nt. "Have you called on Penelope since she got back?" "Yes, but I'll have to go again." "Why?" "She got started first In telling her summer experiences and I didn't get a word In edgewise about what I'd been doing all summer." Chicago Record. Piscoorasrlne. "You are the first girl 1 ever loved," said Mr. Simper to Miss Kittlsh. "In that case you may cease loving me. I do not care to be practiced on." Correct. "Johnny," queried the teacher of the new pupil, "do you know your alpha bet?" "Yes'm," answered Johnny. "Well, then," continued the teacher, "what letter comes after A?" "All the rest of them!" was the trl ompbant reply. m v i i v v -aaaw ! a For Ppoone. "Ilere's a girl," remarked the Query Editor, "who writes to know 'what U the popular spoonboldr of this sea son.' " "Evidently," replied the Snake Edi tor, "she's never had any beaux." "Why?" "Because If she had she'd know that the most popular oue Is the parlor sofa.'-Philadelphla Press. Heavy Incidentals. She-Is the writing of poetry very lu crative? He-Well. It would be If one dldn t have to lay out 50 cents or so every week on paper and stamps! Puck. J era ry. Husband (angrily) - Ion't forget. uiadame, that you are my wife. Wife-Oh. never fear. 'I here, are sniiie things one can't forget. Detroit Free Press. Affir'ed Her Pletanre. He-1 urn afraid you don't like uiy dancing. She-On the contrary, I think It is very amusing. Nominated. 'What does Mildred mean when she . - ... says that she Is writing uer ieuei acceptance to Theodore." ueuver News. Htuhly KnJ yable. Bugglns-I hear Smltklus Is learning golf. Does he enjoy It? Muggins-Says It s great. He has al ready put three caddies In the hospi talPhiladelphia Record. 1 errihle. Scene: A railway car. First Artist Children don't seem to me to sen now as they usVd. Second Artist (in a hoarse whlsper) Well, I was at Stodge's yesterday; be had Just knocked off three little girls' heads, horrid raw things, when a deal er came in. sir; be bought 'em directly, took 'em away, wet as they were, on a stretcher, and wanted Stodge to let him have some more next week. Old Lady (putting ber head out of window and shrieking) Conductor, stop the train and let me out, or I'll be murdered! Intervals In r scltemen. "Ma, when I get big I'm golu' 'way off to be a pirate." "Are you, Bobby?" "Yes, but don't you be seared; I'll come home at night to sleep." Chicago Record. Plain Kvllence of Art. She I came to study art. Artist I knew you could paint the moment I looked Into your face. They All Came Hack. , "Half a dozen of us fellows," said the struggling young author, "held a com petition In short story writing. My story won the prize." "Conceded to be the best, eh?" "Well, we sent them all to the sam magazine, anil the editor kept mint longer than auy of the others." Phila delphla Press. Most Itnf lshion ible. "My gracious!" suddenly exclaimed little Mabel Blugore, who had been day-dreaming, "I suppose there's m help for It," - "What are you thinking of, dear?" asked her mamma. "Why, I was just thinking when we die we'll have to wear ready-made heavenly robes for a few days till wt can be titted." Philadelphia Press. 1 he Only l oailillty. He Nothing could ever come between us, could It, dear? She I can't think of a single thing, unless I should happen to become en gaged to some other man. Harper's Bazar. IWd to It. Mr. Lurker Excuse uie. Miss Snap per, but I have long sought this oppor tunity Miss Snapper Never mind the pre amble, Mr. Lurker. Run along In and ask pa. He's been expecting this would come for the last two years. Tit-Bits. A Courteou Offer. "Couldn't I be squeezed In there some how?" asked the pretty girl, as she vaiuly sought entrance to the crowded car. "If you can get In, I have one arm free," exclaimed a young man In the center of the car. Baltimore American No Birds. "I am told that Miss Frocks is a vege tarlan," said Mrs. Fosdick. "She is," replied Mrs. Keedick, "even lu her millinery." Pepper In Olden Times. Dr. Adolph Miller, of Philadelphia, President of the Pennsylvania My cological Club, in a dissertation on the pepper plant, says that during the Middle Ages In Europe pepper was the most esteemed and most Important of all the spices. Genoa, Venice and oth er commercial cities of central Europe were Indebted to their traffic in pepper for a large part of their wealth. Its Importance as a means of promoting commercial activity and civilization during the Middle Ages can hardly be overrated. Tribute was levied In pepper, and donations were made lu this spice, which was frequently also used as a medium of exchange in place of money. When the Imperial city of Rome was besieged by Alarlc, the King of the Goths, In 408 A. D., the ransom demanded Included 5,000 pounds of gold, 30,000 pounds of silver and 3,000 pounds'of pepier, illustrating the Importance of this spice at that time. Fifty miles from the town where a man dies, the papers. If tbey mendon his death at all tell the truth about bim. II ANDLESS BUT HANDY ARMLESS PEOPLE HAVE ACCOM PLISHED DIFFICULT FEATS. Individuals Minos Upper Limbs Have Become Famous Artist, Uestrous Peauien, hip rt Musicians and Ar tUana, That success In art Is not the monop oly of such us are dowered with the normal number of limbs Is conclusive ly proved by tue skill of Mile. Haplu, a Swiss artist, who, though without arms, has made a nauie for bersilf With her portraits aud bas-reliefs, and of the Belgian painter, recently di ceas ed, whom many of us have doubtless seen at work in the Antwerp picture gallery copying the wo-4cs of the old masters there on view. Other armless artists, too, have ac quired fame, among whom may be mentioned the celebrated Miss Blffeti, who earned a living us a miniature painter. Originally on exhibition at Bartholomew fair, she was seen by the Earl of Morton, who took ber under his patrouage and paid for her artistic ed ucation. She was a favorite of George IV. aud William IV., the latter' of whom allowed her a small pension. Turning to earlier armless celebrities, mention must be made of John Vale rius, born In Germany In W7, who was caimblu of erforiii!ng many sur prising feats. He could shave himself, play ou the drum, fence with much kill, and, In short, use his toes with as much adroitness as most men can their hands. He possessed, however. modern rival In the person of Herr I'nthan, whom many will reuiemlwr as exhibiting himself a few years ago In Ixmdon, where he surprised large audi ences with his marvelous feats. Matthew Bucklnger, who was born at Nuivmlterg seven years later than Valerius, was but a mere trunk, pos sessing neither arms nor legs. Despite his natural disadvantages, however, he Is said to have beeu an excellent per former ou the flute, bagpipe and trum pet, while his sketches landscape, fig ures and coats of arms which were executed with a pen, were equal to the most finished engravings. His call graphy, of which examples are still ex tant, would have done credit to the most expert writing master, and, ln- ded, he was able to make no Incon siderable IncOme by the sale of these specimens of his skill. He figured likewise In the not very Invidious role of wife beater, for on one occasion when one of his wives- he was married four times Insulted Iiltn, he sprang upon her, got her down, and buffeted her so severely with his stumps that she was glad to escape further chastisement by promising amendment In the future a promise Mint she faithfully kept. Equally marvelous were the feats of William Kingston, who at the com mencement of the present century re sided at Dltcheat, near Bristol, where he cultivated a small farm. He could, without other aid than that of bis toes, saddle and bridle his horse, milk his own cows, cut his own hay, bind It up In bundles, and carry It about the field for his cattle. He was an excellent carpenter, too. and had acquired no little renown as a hammer thrower, being able with his feet to cast a heavy sledge hammer as far as most men could with their hand's. Very expert, too, Is Caleb Orton, an American, though In his case his skill has brought him within the dutches of the law, for though without hands lie contrived to forge a postal money order. For that nefarious purpose he employed his mouth, and although the authorities were at first Incredulous and doubted the truth of his confes sion, he soon put the matter beyond doubt by ocular demonstration. Gripping the pen between his teeth, he, by means of a series of rapid move ments of his head, executed one of those elaborate designs of birds, beasts and scroll work In which writing ex perts delight, and proved to the satis faction of everylwdy present his un doubted culpability. AT THE END OF 2000 A. D. What One Writer I'rejicts vVill Hap pen a Centnry Hence. The twentieth centu.y Is to be the century of change; science, which Is going at the trot, will then go at the gallop, says a writer In London Truth. We think we know much; those who will live 100 years hence will wonder we knew so little. The folowlng Is prematurely quoted from the Daily Cinematograph of Dec. 31. 2000: "On the eve of the twenty-first cen tury it will be In the minds of many to contrast the present with the past. All are aware that gigantic strides have been made recently lu the direction of progress, but few realize that only a hundred years ago meu traveled In trains over the land and In ships over the water; that they communicated with each other by telegraph; that their streets and houses were lit with gas or with an early adaptation of electricity; that coal was used In almost every household; that hundred of millions were spent In taking Instead of In sav ing life; that the soldier was more honored than the surgeon; that well dressed women wore furs in the day while the sun was shining and half stripped themselves In the evening and that It was not generally acknowledged that one of the most Important of du ties Is to enjoy the legitimate pleasures of this exquisitely designed world! "Only a century ago selfishness and superstition still bound our predeces sors, but science has remSved these bonds from us. As we walk In the silent streets and look upon the smoke less sky, where thousands of aerial carts,' cabs and carriages hurry hither and thither, we wonder how man can have lived without flying. Even yet we are surrounded by a decaying past. Underground London Is said to be honeycombed with tunnels In which trains ran up to fifty years ago! In many parts of the country telegraph and telephone poles still stand with dangling wires, though wireless tele phony has long since superseded those older methods of communication. Builders occasionally come upon leaden piping through which gas was conduct ed when gai was an llltrminanL At Plymouth the government retains from a seutluiental motive a fleet of Iron clads, though electricity long ago made warfare on the water Impossible. "Fsrbaps the mot striking feature ! of modern civilization Is that there are no ugly women. The Improved condi tions of life, the place which legitimate enjoymeut has In the modern scheme of existence, the extirpation of many forms of disease, and the rational atti tude of mind of the average woman have worked wonders. No modern playwrller would think of elaborating a plot In which married life was pre sented as having a dark side, for the woman of to-day Is a Joy In her own house, and not only In the bouses of others, as there Is reason to Itelleve i was the case a hundred years ago. Ev try where we see peace, prosperity, progress, aud It Is therefore with feel ings of the utmost gratitude that we watch the departing hours of the twen tieth century' Jr L " ' " - R t. o. .i t,i ....... Dr. Stubbs, the Bishop of Oxford, w as u,c Ul""u"n' 7 " . ' . I Knowing ins experience oi nv jiuij Land, kept on asking him what places she ought to visit, as she was starting on a trip to Palestine. After answer- lug topographical questions without number, he was again asked: "But. really, what place would you advise me to go to? I'o Jericho, madam," said the bishop, sweetly. A London newsboy, who is accus tomed to shout "Extras" every even ing, recently bad a very bad cold aud became hoarse. Feeling himself at a disadvantage, he carried a large card In front of him, on which ho had roughly written: "Hush! Noise Is a nuisance! I can't shout my extras, but I have them all the same!" It Idld not take the lioy long to sell out bis stock of pa pers to the grateful passers-by. In her book on "Some Players,"' Amy Leslie says that Edwin Booth's detesta tion of "Richard III." was frank and incurable. Oue night, when In the uiost magnificent instant of Richard, a super fell In a writhing, squirming at- tack, which set the country audience laughing, Booth said, quietly, after the fall of the curtain, amid shouts of mis- guided laughs. "What was the matter. captain?" The trembling enptaiu owned reluctantly that one of his twen-ty-flve-cent 'men had been seized In a lit. "Please pay thirty cents next time, aud employ one whose tits may uot In terfere with Richard. Richard Is tin endurable enough without the addition of rented fits." The desire of the inhabitants of Sing Slug to change the name of the town recalls a somewhat similar desire on the part of the Inhabitants of the town of Rugeley, England, to a correspon dent of the New York Times. A man named Palmer had made Rugeley no torious by an atrocious murder, and a deputation of the Inhabitants waited on the h une secretary with a petition for leave to change the name. The min ister hesitated, aud asked what unme they proposed to substitute. They re plied that they bad not decided. "What do you say," said he, "to taking my name?" They expressed their unquali fied delight, and obtained the home sec retary's consent to this method of ob- I llterating the memory of the obnoxious Palmer. The home secretary in ques tion was Lord Palmerston. The town Is still known as Rugeley. When George Sand, the famous French novelist, was living at Nahaut, near the close of her life, she was fairly caught on ber own grounds by a de termined British journalist, of her own sex, who opened a formidable note book and demanded: "At what hour do you work, madame?" "I never work," replied George Sand, gayly. "Ho! But your books? When do you mnke them'" "They make themselves, morning, evening, and night." This was baffling, but the British lady, al though deficient In grace, did not lack grit, aud said: "What Is your own fa vorite, may I ask, auioug your novels?" " 'Olympla,' " returned George Sand, with a beaming smile. " 'Olympla?' I do , not know that one." Perhaps I have not yet written It!" and the vic timized author beat a hasty retreat, much amused as she looked back aud saw that her nonsense was being duly Jotted down In the formidable note book. Dr. Johnson's Regard Tor Truth It was said of Dr. Johnson that he j always talked as though he were tak ing an oath. He detested the habit of i lying or prevaricating In the slightest degree, and would not allow his ser- j vants to say he was not at home If he I was. "A servant's strict regard for the truth," said he, "must be weakened by such a practice. If I accustomed my servant to tell a lie for me have I not reason to apprehend that he will tell them for himself?" A strict adher- euce to the truth the doctor considered as a sacred obligation, aud In relating the smallest anecdote he would not al- low himself the mluutest addition to embellish his story. Mistaken Identity. Attorney You say you had called to see Miss Billings and was at the house at the time the burglary was commit ted? Witness Yes, sir. "Then how did It happen that when the prisoner dashed Into the room and assaulted you you leaped through the window and went home, making no attempt-to. defend the lady or give the alarm?" "I thought It was her father." Hart ford Times. a . i . . -v . m by - - . rii wr n.r1 n -f - & jom. t-J-i-v r ! aboil Bootblacka In Berlin. otner chP' name to help It to a start. Bootblacks are seldom seen on the yn wI11 Set all the whacks that the streets of Berlin, owing to the fact other chaP wol,I(1 hav Bot lf h ''! that It Is one of the duties of German written the book, in addition to a few servant girls to shine shoes in the ; whacks on your own merits." household, and of porters to attend to ; it in hotels. There are bootblacks at 11 Is fc!,7 ,0 attempt to t)leae erery the principal railway depots, but they body. It matters not In whicV iTcc find more patrons among women than t!on man face8 he must f necesspy among men. turn his back on half the world, What a failure most of ui make of life. DEVIL DANCERS OF CEYLON. Kara a Good l.lvloa by Kiorclslng Da nous from the Mali. The real Singhalese devil dancers la Ceylon are uiot ferocious and savage fellows. Their dances are revottiug and horrible. But their profession Is popular and affords a royal living for ! the men who go Into It. I There Is a superstition among the j Singhalese that when a man falls sick j be Is supposed to be afflicted with a devil. In order to rid him of the 'disease the devil dancers are called lu I to propitiate the demou. Two or more of them go by night to ; the sick man's house, In front of which a small, sauare Inclosure. about six ffH?t n,jU( lms lu,(in ,Iia,ie 0f grasses and palm leaves. This answers the purpose of the green r.iotr. at a thea ter. The men appear at first without masks and with long yellow grass streamers hanging from their heads and waists. The only light cast ou the scene Is by torches made of sticks, round which pieces of cloth are wrap ped, dipped in oil. To the music of torn toni, kept up on one note, the dancers slug a peculiar, wild, fuueral dirge, In which the spectators often The dancers begin by slowly moving t. stretchinir the right foot and 0 bringing the left up to It, and appear 'f they were searching ror some- , m M g like crying. They are then asking the devil to appear. There are twenty-four I different sorts of devils, and after the first part, the dancers are constantly ! changing their clothes to represent the ! entire sjiecles; some wear masks, some i don Jaws and terrible teeth reaching , to the ears; the Jaws open and close In a very realistic manner. A dance lasts over two nights, as the whole twenty-four devils have all to be personated before the particular de mon who is afflicting the sick man Is pitched on. When he gives signs of his presence the dancers go Into a sort 3f frenzy, which increases as he takes possession of them; the tom-tom beats faster and faster, the chanting grows Into yells, the men whirl and stamp, the bells fastened by bracelets on to their ankles Jingle and dash. At this stage the dancers appear to be looking for some object to give the devil In sacrifice, and Into which he may pass. A chicken Is usually offered by the friend of the sick man, and this unfortunate bird is seized iqion, twlst- i p(l nn, tormeutei amj l.nten between , thp (aUe tpe(h untl, ie (lnni.erS( Worn I t move anJ 8)mvpri alui the cllt.k(!n Illks Int0 a Kort 0f trance, j iv,.(.h ,H . tlmt th(l ,levil ,ia8 ae. ,'eepted the sacrifice, and Is willing to pass from the man Into the bird. Now i and then the bird Is revived by some I jhanned water being thrown on Its i head, aud then the torture of It begins j again. After this the men don sbeep jskln petticoats and capes, and in the torchlight look more and more diabol ical aud frenzied In their thanks to tne flevn for consenting to leave the sick man. When the bird dies It Is a sign that the devil has left the man, and he will be cured. The bird Is then thrown into the river, to be carried to the sea. It Is never killed, and never eaten after dy ing. About an hour of this sort of thing Is quite enough; It Is really hor rible and revolting, and one Is thank ful when the men leave off to go to drink the toddy prepared for them, and make a night of It. New York Journal. -.Jm "April's Sowing" Is Miss Gertrude Hall's first long story. The title Is taken from Browning's "Pippa Passes." Two weeks after Its publication, 40,- 000 copies of "Alice in Old Muceiines" were sold. It Is a story of American life by Maurice Thouipsou. Win. Dean Howells, the foremost fig ure In American letters to-day, Is to be one of the literary advisers to the reorganized house of Harper & Bros. Annie Russell Marble has written a book with a suggestive title, "Books That Nourish L's," published by T. J. Crowell & Co. It Is certain that year ly come from the press hooks that give us neither temporary nor lasting nour ishment, and the necessity arises for a wise choice. Here is a story told In "Notes and Queries": A lady asked the novelist what her duty was In certain difficult circumstances, and received a clear re ply. "But," she objected, "If I did that 1 should die." "Surely that has noth ing to do with you doing your duty," answered ueorge i-.not. j "The Biography of a Baby" is the : title of an unusual volume by Miss j Mllllcent W. Shlnn. Miss Shlnn Is a j Californlan and still lives there. She has always been Interested in babies, and has made a careful study of them Ibo'h as teacher and friend. Published by the Century Company. j Apropos of prefaces-something that few care t0 praise Mr. Kipling gives the following good advice, given when he was asked to write a preface: "Some rather Interesting experiences have taught me that the test way of making a man hate me for life Is to meddle In any way with his work. If the book Is good. It will go. and If not, nothing will make it stir. All the men who want to stick a knife Into me would stick it Into you as soon as they saw my name pre facing your booji. Bitter experience has taught that that kind of thing doesn't pay. If a book stands by Itself, It will stand by Itself; but if you use an- j Women either love or hate; there Is bo happy medium In their affection.