The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, June 03, 1885, Image 6

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    ADROITLY FOILED. -
3ncinnati.Inriairer.
On the morning of August 29 , 1868
3enorLaBarrieran immensely wealthy
Spaniard , died suddenly at his home in
3t. Thomas. , Jus young and beautiful
wifeacted as though demented when
me learned that her husband had passed
iway , and her intense grief and pro
longed hysteria gave rise to tho belief
Jiat tho unfortunate woman would her-
lelf soon follow the husband whose loss
jhe seemed to feel such poignant grief
{ or. When Senor La Barrier's will was
probated it was found that ho had be
queathed his entire fortune to his wife ,
ind as no one disputed the testament ,
she young wife decided to turn the for
tune left her into ready casli and leave
3t. Thomas.
Shortly after senora's departure , tho
lervant who had been employed in the
family of Senor La Barrier informed
ihe chief of police that he had occasion
Jo believe that his late master had been
ooisoned , and that no less a personage
ihan La Barrier's wife had committed
he crime. He handed the chief a vial
Df prussic a'cid , which he said he saw
Irop from senora's pocket , wrapped in
i handkerchief , a conplo of nights be
fore his master's death , and though a
doctor's certificate declared that death
was occasioned by peritonitis , he was
morally certain that the man had been
poisoned. The body of La .Barrier was
rabsequently exumed , and a post-mor
tem revealed the fact that death was
occasioned by prussic acid.
Suspicion pointed to the wife as the
murderess , and steps were at once ia-
stituted by the murdered man's sister-
in-law to discover tho whereabouts of
*
Senora La Barrier.
"Black Pedro , " tho detective , was at
the time we speak of probably better
known to the criminal class of Cuba
and Mexico than any other man living.
To him was intrusted the finding of
Senora La Barrier , and it was under
peculiar difficulties that the officer start
ed out to find the woman. His ability
hi such cases was never doubted , and
his daring and bravery were bywords
with every one.
"Black Pedro" had reached Yera
Cruz in his search for the missing
woman , and one day he imparted the
object of his visit to a fellow-officer.
After explaining all the ciscumstances
which had come to his knowledge con
cerning the young and beautiful widow ,
he said that there was no doubt in his
mind whatever but that sho had mur
dered her husband and fled to a place
of safety with all his wealth. The
friend became silent for a few moments ,
and then brightening up said he
thought he could put his friend on the
track ofthe party he was in search
of. That evening , the two visiied the
theatre , and seated in a box , resplen
dent in jewels1 and silks , sat a woman
whom "Black Pedro" recognized by the
description and portraits given him , as
the party he was in search of. When
"Black Pedro" and his friend parted
that night , tho latter said :
"Be careful , Pedro , or that hand
some creature will trick you and make
her escape. " x
On tho following morning Pedro
stood in an ante-room adjoining the ele-
caut apartments of Seuorita Lapuerta ,
awaiting that lady's presence * . As she
appeared in answer to his card tho de
tective quietly said :
"Seuora , it is my duty to arrest vou ! "
"You dare not ! "
The woman's lips were white with
passion , rather than fear , and she stood
before the detective like a lioness at
bay.He
He himself could not help but note
tho striking beauty of the woman. Tall
and slender , eyes black and flashing ,
almost lurid at the time , the spectacle
she presented standing there in thamid-
dle ol the room was more the appear-
an.ce of a queen than a hunted crimi
nal.
nal."I
"I must , " replied "Black Pedro. " "I
do not doubt your innocence. Looking
in your face , it is strange that any one
could couple it with guilt. But11 am
constrained to do my duty , senora , how
ever unpleasant it may be to my feel
ings. "
"Will you allow me to change my
dress ? " she said , in a tone almost pleas
ant.The hard lines around the laouth
3md relaxed and the passionate glow on
the face gave way to a pleasant smile.
"Certainly. I will wait for you
here. "
"I also wish to send a messenger for
a friend. Will you permit him to pass ? "
"Certainly. "
As the woman left the room. "Black
Pedro" stepped to the window and said
to his mate , who was waiting at the
street door :
"Senora desires to send a messenger
for a friend ; permit iim to pass. "
Almost the same instant the door of
the apartment that senora had entered ,
opened , and a youth apparently a
mulatto boy came out and passed hur
riedly through the room into the hall ,
and from thence into the street. It was
no doubt the messenger , Pedro thought
and he picked up a book and began
reading.-
Nearly an hour passed , and still seno-
ra did not make her appearancq , nor
did the boy return. The friend she had
sent for must have lived at somo dis
tance. "Black Pedrd" thought , or se-
Bora was unusually careful about her
toilet , and BO another hour went by.
At last the detective grew impatient ,
vf and knocked at the door.
f > . "Senora I can wait nojpnger. "
There was no reply , .tie knocked re
peatedly , and at last determined to ef
fect an entrance. Strange fear harassed
him ; he began to suspect he knew not
what. It took but a moment to drive
in the door , and , once in the apartment ,
the mystery was revealed. Senora's
robes lav upon the floor , and scattered ,
"
over the"room were suits of boya' wear
ing apparel , similar to the one worn
by tho mulatto boy. On a'tablo " was a
cosmetic that would stain tlie" skin to a
light delicate brown. "Black Pedro"
iras foiled for a certainty.
Senora had escaped in the guise of a
messenger. Why had he not detected ,
the ruso ? He felt humiliated and de
termined to redress his error. He
know sue would not remain in tho city
an instant longer than she could help.
He hurried to her banker's , but found
that she had drawn the amount due her
an hour before.
"Who presented the check ? " asked
tho detective.
"A mulatto boy it was made paya
ble to bearer. "
There was yet a clyince. A steamer
left within an hour fo'r America ; it was
possible she would seek that means of
escape. "Black Pedro" jumped into a
carriage and arrived at tho wharf ten
minutes before the vessel left just in
time to assist an aged and decrepit ,
gentleman into the cabin. There were
few passengers ; none of them answered
the discription of the person the detec
tive sought. He stood on the wharf
watching the receding vessel until it
disappeared. Ho was in tho act of
turning away , when a driver of one of
the carriages at the landing , and who
was personally acquainted with "Black
Pedro , " approached the officer with
the remark :
Pedro , did you seo that old man on
board ; he had along white beard and
hair that fell on his shoulders ? "
"Yes. "
"Well , sir , there's something curious
about him. "
"Why ? "
"Why , when he got into my carriage
he was a mulatto boy , and when he got
out ho was an old man ! "
"Black Pedro" uttered an exclama
tion that could hardly be used in type
when he heard this announcement , for
he knew the vessel would be far out at
sea before she could be overtaken. He
was foiled by a woman. Nor could ha
help rejoicing , now that the chase was
over that the woman had escaped. '
Innocent or guilty , there was a charm
about this woman that none could resist.
The spell or her wondrous beauty af
fected all who approached her.
"It lingered for years after in my-
memory , " said "Black Pedro" one day
while narrating the incidents of the
case , "and I could not have the sin of
her blood upon my conscience. "
On the morning of January 23 , 1875 ,
tha City of Mexico was startled by the
announcement that a murder , the
most brutal and fiendish that
had ever reddened the criminal
annals of the dark side of Mexican
life , had been committed , and that the'
victim , a stranger in the community ,
was a woman who , when alive , was of
surpassing beauty. She had arrived at
the house where tho murder had been ,
committed on the day before , and was
accompanied by a handsome gentleman ,
who introduced her as hiswife. . He
had been seen to leave tho house about
10 o'clock the same night , and that was'
the last ever heard of him. The follow
ing morning a servant , by mistake , en
tered a side d < 3or leading to the apart
ment where the murdered woman lay
on a bed , and the sight that met her
gaze froze the blood in her veins. Sha
gave the alarm and the police were im
mediately notified. The woman lay
cross-wise on the bed with only her
chemise upon her , and her head , which
hung by a few sinews to her body , was
within a few inches of the floor. "Black
Pedro's" friend , of the detective force
of Vera Cruz , and the one who pointed
out the widow of Senor La Barrier in
the theatre to Pedro , recognized in the
murdered woman ihe one and the same
person. Her murderer was never appre-
liended , and immediately after the in
quest was held the body was buried in
the public graveyard , a frightful ex
ample of the wages of sin.
Population of the Soudan.
It is estimated that there are 10,000-
000 or 12,000,000 of inhabitants in. tho
Egyptian Soudan , which has an area of
2,500,000 square miles , and comprises
a vast amount of fertile land along the
Sile and its tributaries. Three mill-
Ions of these people are Arabs and ,
; heir kindred , wnilo the remaning 9-
000,000 are of the negro race. All
the Arabs and Moslems , and many of
; he negro tribes have adopted the relig
ion of Mecca , and are faitfnl followers
of the Prophet. The Pagan negroes
iave united with the Arabs in the effort
; o drive out the Egyptians , and , though
; heir religions are unlike , they have a
common interestr in ridding themselves
of oppression. Most of the Arab tribes
are on the eastern side of the Nile ,
while most of the negroes are on'thetost -
ern. Between the Nile and the Red
Sea are the tribes whence come the men
of Osman Digna's army , now in front c
of the Suakim , while along the valley
and to the west are the people who
Jock to the Mahdi's standard. Out of
a population of 12,000,000 of people ,
animated by religiouszeal , and smarting
under the cruelties of their recent mas-
; ers , it is easily possible for the Mahdi
to raise an army of 200,000 men. The
wonder is not that Khartoum fell so
soon , but that it was able to hold out
so long. The theory is certainly very
plausible that the Mahdi could have
kptured it long ago if he wisiied , but
he refrained from doing so until the
British army had como.loo far into the
Soudan to be able to retreat.
Carrying Concealed Weapons.
Judge Cothran , in a recent charge to
the grand jury at Spartanburg , S. 0. ,
indulged in the following vigorous lan
guage on the subject of carrying con
cealed deadly weapons :
Can you imagine any usa in the world
to which a pistol can be put except to
take human life ? Can you mend a
plow stock with a pistol ? Can you
make a hoe helve with a pistol ? Can
you repair any piece of your machinery
that is broken with a pistol ? Can you
write letters or keep a merchant's books
with a pistol ? What"can you do with
it except to take human life ? You can
not shoot game with it ; you cannot
catch fish with it. For what purpose ,
then , Mr. Foreman , is it carried ? You
know for what it is carried you know
very well the uses to which it has been
put you know that this country has
flowed Tvith blood for the last ten years
and vou know how much of it is due to
the fact that the pistol , the ready and
convenient pistol was at hand.
TO PLEASE THEMSJGLVES.
"To-morrow ? "
"To-morrow , Nonie. They've tele/
graphed mefrom home , and there's no
help for it. I must go to-morrow .morn
ing. "
He sighs as he says it , and polls
gloomily at his moustache , watching
the girl before him. Is she turning
pale , or is it the moonlight on her dark ,
uncovered hair which touches her young
face so tenderly , and makes her look
quite white ?
"You might say aword or two , you
know , " he says at last , rather impatient
ly ; "you might even say you were a lit
lie sorry to see me go. "
Then the young girl lifts her head u
trifle proudly , and looks straight into
his moody eyes.
"Should I ? " she asks , slowly. "Yon
are going , and you have not said it.
Why should I , whom you are leaving
here whom you will forget in a fort
night ? "
I'll never forget you , " ho sajs , a
shade more gloomily then before ; and
then he suddenly puts out his hands
and takes both of hers , drawing her
towards him impetuously. "I'll never
forget you , " he says again. "How can
I when I love you so ? I will come
back , Nonie , just as soon as I can.
Will you be true to me ? will you think
of me while I am away ? will you will
you m.arry me when I return ? "
The girl does not shrink from him ;
she lets him hold her hands , and smiles
a little as he spoaks.
"But you can't marry me , you know , "
sho says , slowly. "You're to wed Miss
Leonora Leestone. "
"I wish you wouldn't say such things , "
he says , irritatedly. "I have never even
seen Miss Leestone. I wouldn't marry
her to to save my life I I'll come back
in a month. Will you marry me then ,
Nonie ? If you really love me , you will
say yes. "
"But I am poor and obscure. I can
bring you only my love , Harry ; Mis3
Leestone "
"Oh , bother Miss Leestone ! " the
young man exclaims , drawing his com
panion toward him. "That's all my
mother's affairs , not mine. I'm not
going to sacrifice my happiness to
please my mother and the mother of
Miss Leestone , am I ? If they want to
make bargains , let them make them for
themselves. So you'll marry me , my
pet ? "
She looks up at him earnestly , affec
tionately , then slips her hand in his.
"I'll promise to answer that question
when you ask it of me if you do in
a month from this , " she says , slowly.
"If you love me truly , " her voice
falters a little - " you do love me Har
ry ? "
"My darling ! " is all he answers.
But he holds her to him closely , and
lays his lips on her forehead.
"Then obey me in this , " she says ,
softly , lifting an arm nnd laying it about
bis neck. "Go to your mother and say
nothing to her of me. She expects a
visit from this girl , whom she intends
you to many. Wait till you see hor
before you say you will not before you
bind yourself to me.
"If that's the way you are going to
talk " he commences.
But she lays her hand lightly on his
[ ips."See
"See her , at least , " she says , earn
estly. ' 'She may be a fair , sweat girl ,
who will win your love from me. You
may find her more worthy than you
think. If vou love her , Harry "
"I'll not. How can I ? 1 love you ! "
"Iknow now ! But you may not
when you see her. Then , let me say
ihis , dear. If you love her best , and
wish to forget me , I will not blame you ,
ETarry. I will not have a single reproach
x > r you , if you never come again to me
here. "
"If I don't come , you can pray for me ,
knowing that I have died , " he says ,
solemnly ; "for you will see me in a
month , if I am living. "
So they talked for another hour , there
in the moonlighted garden , hard by the
old farm-house in which this youth
ETafry Bland had spent his summer ,
where he had found the old couple and
iheir beautiful , graceful , dainty niece ,
with whom he had fallen desperately ,
passionately in love.
But for her presence , he would have
turned his back on the solitud in a
week solitude he had sought because
the young girl who , although he had
never seen her since her childhood , was
a perfect horror to him his mother's
choice of a wife for him the heiress ,
Miss Leonora Leestone.
Well , it is arranged at last , and , in
the moonlight , there is a close embrace ,
a kiss or two , a quiver on the girl's red ,
lips , a pallor on the young man's fine
face , and the good-by is said.
He goes early in the morning , and
she is not down to see him off , but
waves a trembling hand to him from her
window , as he springs into the light
buggy beside the farm-hand , who is to
drive him to the station for the early
train.
* * * * * > > *
The guest of Mrs. Bland has arrived ,
and been ushered to her room.
Harry has not yet seen her , _ and is
most unwilling to see her , despite the
fact that her mother and his mother
have arranged that he shall marry her.
He is very much annoyed when a'ser-
vant brings him a tiny note _ from her'
requesting him to be in the library ten
minutes after the first dressing bell haa
rung.
'The coolest thing ! " he tells hi rnself ,
after he has read the pretty little note a
second time. "To make an appoint-
without even having seen me ! I won
der what her object may be ? Will she
will she ask me to marry her ? "
At this thought he starts , and looks
decidedly uncomfortable , but he hur
ries his dressing for' all that , and de
scends to the library precisely after the
first dressing-bell has ceased to ring.
He finds the lights low , and turns
them into a full blaze. Then he goes
to a table and begins looking over the
volumes in a very restless manner.
It is not until a soft rustle of silken
drapery sounds beside him that he
knows he is not alone. Then , witti a
\
V
I
flushing , uncomfortable feeling upon !
him he turns around.
The uncomfortable feeling gives place
to one of unbounded astonishment , de
lighted rapture , intensest joy.
Ah , well ! who can wonder ?
Tho girl before him , who has passed
under tho full light , is fair enough to
turn even a better-balanced head than
his.
his.She
She is smiling , too a heavenly smilo
and her dark head is drooping a very
little , her dusky eyes alight , and she is
holding out to 'him a beautiful , slender
hand , sparkling with jewels , and white
as a snow-flake.
He grasps it , holding it to his bosom ,
while she still smiles on him.
"Nonie , " he says , wonderingly , "how
in the world did you come here ? "
She laughs , a low little laugh , that is
like exquisite music.
"Your mother invited me , " she says ,
easily. "Yen were not expecting me ,
Harry ? "
"I was expecting" he hesitated a lit
tle "I was expecting Miss Leestone ,
who desired me to await her here. " .
"Oh , Harry ! and I thought you would
be true to me. " This quite reproach
fully.He
He begins to feel guilty.
"I hadn't the least desire to see her
on my honorlhadn't ! " he says , eagerly.
"But she sent me a note , and what
could I do ? "
"Is is she nice ? " the girl asks , slow-
iyI
I haven't seen her , because she only
came to-day , and fsn't yet visible , " he'
says. "But I know she isn't nice I
feel sure of it. "
Nonie laughs again , softly and sweet-
Jy"Do
"Do you recognize the rustic ? " she
asks , stepping back.
He surveys her closely , from the flow
er in 'her dark hair to the hem of her
white-satin dress. Surely she is a fair
and gracious vision , with that light in
her eyes and that smile on her lips.
"I wish you'd tell mo how it all comes
about , " he says. "I'm all at sea. When
did you leave the farm ? and where did
you meet my mother ? I am awfully
confused , Nonio , but Won't you kiss
me , dear ? I am so glad to see you ! "
"Suppose Miss Leestone should
come in ? she would be surprised. "
"Not when I introduced you to her
as my future wife. "
"But you may not care for me when
you have seen her. "
"I'll care for you while I live , Nonie. "
And then she allows him to put his
arms about her and kiss her , as he does
very tenderly.
"I scarcely know you in this finory , "
he says , touching the jewels on her arm
and the folds of her white dress. "You
are quiet changed , my darling ! "
"For the better ? " she asks , archly ,
touching his cheek lightly with her
white fingers.
"I don't know , " he says softly. "I
loved you as an humble farmer's niece ,
and I cannot love you more dearly as
as you are now. "
"An heiress"she says sweetly. "Yes ,
my love , I have been masquerading. I
am Leonora Leestone , not Nonie Lee ,
although my intimates call me Nonie.
Your mother told me of your projected
trip to Valley Farm , and I remembered
that it belonged to an old servant of
my mother's ; so I went there for the
summer , too just to see what sort of
person the } ' had chosen for my future
husband. I wasn't going to fulfill the
contract , mind , " she says , with a laugh.
"I disliked the idea as much as I found
you did ; so I thought I'd meet you as a
stranger and have a little amusement.
The Lees adopted me willingly , and
you were told I was their niece ; and
you you told me you loved me , Har
ry ! " faltering a little.
"And you said you loved me , Nome , "
Harry says , slowly. "Was that part of
your amusement , or did you really
leain to care for me a little ? "
"Oh , Harry , a little ! when I learned
to love you with my whole heart I when
I think there is nobody in the world
like you I and when you don't don't
love mo a bit , or you'd not speak to mo
like that- ! '
And in the eyes uplifted to his , Har
ry sees two big tears dimming.
So , because ho loves her too well to
let them fall , he takes her in his arms
and kisses them away.
"Don't love you ! " he says , softly. "I
would give my life for you ! And what
do I care who you are , or what plans
others have made , so long as we love
each other ? You will be my wife , my
dearest ? "
"Yes , " very softly.
"And our Brothers have arranged
things entirely to our satisfaction , " he
laughs , presently. "How obedient we
are eh , Nonie ? We will marry each
other , just to please them. "
"I am very much afraid'it will be to
please ourselves , " says Nonie , Avith a
low , happy laugh.
And then they go out to join the fami
ly at dinner , where they explain the
situation , and astonish everybody ; but
they are very happy , nevertheless.
Cyclones and Tornadoes.
A scientific writer who has studied
cyclones says "they always originate hi
equatorial regionsbut never occur with
in eight or ten degrees of that line. "
Another thing that id peculiar , he says ,
is "the whirl is from right to left in the
northern and from left to right in the
southern hemisphere , " and that "mas
ters of sailing vessels caught in one of
these cyclones , by knowing its laws of
direction , can easily sail out of its
course. " The same writer , speaking of
tornadoes , remarks they follow much
the same laws. "Those occurring in
the central part of the United States
originate in the Bocky Mountains or
the Pacific Ocean and travel eastward.
Those in the Atlantic coast usually start
in the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean Sea
t nd follow the path of regular cyclones. "
"A storm which starts in the Eocky
Mountains sometimes can be traced !
half way around the earth. " Those of
the Pacific .usually pass southeastward
along the Mexican coast. The study
of cyclones and tornadoes is one little
understood and yet of abounding in
terest.
THE SCUDBEBBY CASH
How a SOB Tranolsco Doctor aad His Wifo
Pell Oat.
San Francisco Post
It seems that Dr. Scudberry , of the
United States navy , was married aboui
three years ago to a lovely young Oak
land girl , to whom he had been engaged
for a long time. Shortly after he was
ordered to join the Asiatic squadron
and only returned to his bride a shorl
time ago. Daring his absence his wife
determined to employ her time in the
study of medicine , which she hopec
would prove a delightful surprise to her
husband on his return. Unfortunate
ly , she entered a homeopathic college ,
her worser half being of the allopathic
persuasion. Tho doctor was on his
way home from the train , upon his ar
rival , when he saw a crowd around
drug store and was informed that a man
had just fallen down in an epileptic fit.
Forgetting his eagerness at the call oi
humanity , tho doctor rushed into tho
store , where he was astonished to be
hold his wife engaged in consulting tho
patient's pulse.
"What does this mean ? " exclaimed
the astonished surgeon.
"Why , I have a surprise for you , dar
ling , " said Mrs. Scudberry. "You see
I am a regularly qualified homeopathic
physician. "
"Homeopathic ? " sneered the astonish
ed husband.
"Yes , pet , " said Mrs. S. , sweetly , as
she got out her pilules ; "this dosing
people with buckets full of slop is get-
ging out of of date , precious. "
"And so you have been actually roped
in by that gang of pellet-peddling igno
ramuses , have you ? "
"Don't be rude , my dear , " said tho
female practitioner. ' 'You can't expect
to keep up with the march of science in
Asia. Just stand back and let me save
the patient. " "
"Save fiddlesticks ! " snapped the al
lopath. "Woman , go home and cease
trifling with human life or perhaps
you had better mix a mustard plaster
while I resuscitate the patient. "
"Why don't you two quit fighting and
go to work ? " asked tho victim's wife ,
who had just decided that she wouldn't
look well in black.
"When this female person is removed
I shall proceed in the regular way , "
said Dr. S. , stiffly.
"I will not be answerable for the *
consequences unless that old fogy with
draws ! " rejoined Doctress S. , haugh
tily."You're
"You're a quack ! " roared the husband.
"You're a butcher ! " screamed his
wife.
wife.And
And in this style they went on until
somebody announced that the patient
liad picked himself up and walked off ,
lie being tho only person who escaped ,
as the police arrested the whole crowd
tor creating a disturbance.
The divorce suit of Scudberry vs.
Scudberry is set for the fall term.
Charming Iffrs. Iffadison.
JessieBcnton Fremont in "Wide Awake.
I have heard many tilings , too long
; o tell here , of Mrs. Madison's way of
receiving in the White House. While
aho was talking with the more distin
guished people her quick eye would
mark some shy young man or nervous-
ooking woman , not yet used to the so
ciety in which she was so naturally at
lome ; after the first part of the recep
tion she always moved * about the rooms
as a lady would in her own house , and in
ler own bright , natural way , said some-
; hing to any one , especially to those shy
and nervous people , which made them
low with tho pleased feeling that they
vere welcome and made to be part of
ler reception.
Mrs. Madison's considerate happy
manner outlasted time and change and
nany troubles , and made her house in
Washington a place where strangers
and residents went with pleasure a
shabby house , and the tall handsome
old lady in shabby old gowns of velvet
or brocade nowise altered from the
ashion of her days of power. But sho
was Mrs. Madison. And in the Wash-
ngton of my younger day name
and character outranked appearance. No
one questioned her wearing these short-
waisted , puff-sleeved , gored velvet
gowns , with a muslin neckerchief tucked
nto ihe low waist cf the gown , and ft
ittle India scarf of lovely faded tones
ever it. A wide and stiff quilling of
net rose high around her throat al
ways and , I fear me , a little rouge and
jowder were also in use to cover time's
botsteps ; the bad taste of the day dis
couraged gray hair , and Mrs. Madison's
dark row of curls was always surmount
ed by a turban. And with all this she
was handsome , majestic simply digni-
ied. And very agreable with a mem
ory and kind words for every one.
She dined out often and was thn chief
> erson always ; and on New Year's -day
.ier rooms were crowded , for every ono
who was any one went there across from
; he President's.
A great niece of Mrs. Madison Adele
Cutts was fully the equal of her fa
mous aunt in beauty and sweetness of
nature , while every charm that pol
ished training and associations can give
ehe has gathered. She would have
graced the White House had her first
lusband , Senator Douglass , of Illinois ,
reached the presidency.
Seeing her again , but a few years
ago , her freshness and added charm
surprised me into asking her how she
iad kept the clock back , and suffered
no change only increase of beauty. "Be
cause I am happy , I suppose , " she
laughed with a lovely blush.
One of a party who went through the
Maine State prison not long ago tells a
friend of mina a very funny story , il
lustrating the depths to which the word a
"lady" has fallen" At the time there
were but three female prisoners present ,
and a visitor askeJ one of them if they
were all the female inmates. * ' 'Yes , "
said she , "there are only three of us
ladios here now , but Ave'are expecting
ano'Uer lady before long. "
BARRIOS AT HOME ,
She Bearing1 , Personal Appearance , Man
ners and Family of the Guatcmalaa
leader.
An American lady , who lived for somo
' time in Guatemala , writes the Now York
Tribune the following sketch of thejhome
life of President Barrios. Sho says :
In appearance he is of medium height ,
stout and broad-shouldered , dark com-
plexioned , with black eyes , gray hair
and whiskers , combined with an ex
ceedingly agreeable expression and a
countenance as open as his heart. Ho
is of .firm character , constant , enter
prising and ambitious , is a noblo friend ,
bestowing kindness on all , which not
unfrequently id repaid by treachery ;
loving and affectionate in his family ,
kind and generous to the poor and .con
siderate to all prisoners. He leads a
very regular life , rises at 5 in the morn
ing , takes'his coffee or chocolate , pro
ceeds to his office and there remains but
a short time , when ho goes to tho ar
tillery park , situated on tho plains
of Tocotenango , for tho purpose
of reviewing his troops , which are' '
kept in perfect drill , and in caso of
an emergency can be summoned at a
moment's notice. Ho returns precisely
at 10 , when he takes his breakfast , after
which business occupieshim until 4 >
o'clock , when ho rests , surrounded by
a loving and devoted family. He dines *
at 6 , and then goes to his office again ,
whore he remains until 8 , at which hour ;
it is his custom to retire. So day suc
ceeds day with nothing to relieve the
monotony and constant strain of gov-r
ernmental duty , save an occasional'
evening spent at the theatre , or a drive
to his cositas , littlo country-houses in ;
tho suburbs of tho city.
His wife is a young and very hand
some woman , amiable , kind affection
ate and her manners are as charming as
her beauty. Sho is very agreeable in
society , which sho occasionally enters
wifch her relatives , to tho delight of her
husband. Sho is intelligent and ac
complished , as she speaks French , Eng
lish and Spanish , draws and paints , and'
plays the jiiano and harp excellently.
She is gentle and modest , and is beloved
by all who know her. Her children ,
seven in number , are bright and in
teresting , and are brought up to bo ( A
thoughtful of others and kind and gener
ous to those of lower condition of life
than they. One day tho eldest daugh
ter , 8 years old , and who greatly resem
bles her mother in appearance and dis
position , said in English , while I was
driving with her in her little pony
phietou : "Oh ! seo those people laugh
ing at that poor little Indian girl , be
cause her dress is thin and worn ! I think
they ought to bo ashamed to do such a
thing. I am going to ask mamma if I
can give her some of my clothes as soon
as I go home. " I could not help think
ing how different were her sentiments
from those of most American children
of her ago and position. The youngest
boy was born in this country on the 4th
of July 1882 , to tho great delight of his
father , who is particularly fond of the
United States , its customs and its peo
ple.The
The president's palace is only ono
story high , as are the majority of the
houses therefon account of the earth
quakes ) . It is aiiy and roomy , opening
into a court in the centre of which is a
fountain surrounded with choice flowers
and tropical plants. A lamp post is
placed in each corner of the yard , and
when these are lighted and the house \
illuminated by large glass candelabra , . , . ' ,
holding hundreds of candles , there is t
presented a scene of great brilliancy.
The palace is handsomely and comforta
bly but not extravagantly fnrnished.
Twice a week a band , composed of
Guatemalan musicians , plays one hour ,
from.7 to 8 in the evening , in front of
the house. The street is then crowded
with people listening to tho music ,
which is really very fine. President
Barrios entertains but little , and when
he does it is generally in the form of
dinner-parties , which he giyes in mag
nificent style , and he entertains his
guests by excellent powers of conversaJt
tion , his eloquence being enriched with '
thought and his pleasantry full of
grace. The inhabitants all seem to
love their president , and many of them
have remarked to me that he tries to
do all he can for the benefit and im
provement of his people. I believe
that in making the present political
move for the consolidation of the Cen
tral American stales his only object ia
for the welfare and advancement of the
country ; and should he be president of
the union , judging from , past manage
ment , none could be more fitted to fill
the position than he ; for all of the five
states , Guatemala is the only one that
has made rapid steps forward in tho
path of civilization.
The lame-Kiln Club.
Detroit Free Press.
"If Ancestor Jinkins am in do hall to
night he will please step dis way , " said
3rother Gardner as the meeting opened
with fourteen kerosene lamps going at
full blast.
Ancestor was in , and as soon as he
could get his feet clear of tho benches
ho waddled up the isle and stood at "at-
tention" with his toes turned in.
"Brudder Jinkins , " continued the
President , ' I was told to-day dat your
wife was bar'fut an' your chill'en cryin *
fur bread. "
"Well , sah , it's bin hard times. "
"I suppose so. lundqrstim' dat you
hasn't done a day's work dis winter. "
"Work has bin skeerce , sah. "
"Exactly. You had work in a found-
dry last fall , didn't you ? "
"Yes , sah. "
"You was gittin ten shilling a day , an *
vou struck for twelve ? "
"Yes , sah. "
* An' bekase de man didn' iigger dat
your sarvices war worth twelve shillin.\
day to him you frew yerself out of a *
steady job , an' hev come as nighdepooj
house as " vou kin git widout enterin' de
doah. "
"I orter had mo' pay , sah. "
' 'Dat may be , but as long as you
couldn't git it yon was an idiot to frow
away do wages you could gi $ . What