18 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY. .TUNE 18 , 1803-TWENTY PAGES.
Everyday Llfo an Untilled Field for
( '
'
i * tbo Novelist ,
PECULIARITIES OF THE COSTER DIALECT
\Tnltomnii T11 About ho Sliort-IIiilroil
J'rntornltj' of London Low llrcil
Orlelimtorn ol SlnnR I'lirinon
Senna Choice Jiirts : | loin.
[ Copj/rt/M / | 1
IyNnox , Juno 5. [ Correspondence of THK
CUE. ] During the somewhat extended
period In which I actually lived tbo dally
llfo of n coalormongcr In London , many In
teresting observations nnd experiences , asldo
from these connected with the immediate
concerns of buying and hawking vegetables ,
flsh , flesh and fowl , were nnturnlly resultant
from my association with "Slutnpsy Jem , "
the coster , and his wife Hccky , and what
may bo regarded as the aristocratic coster
oocloty , to which our signal financial success
speedily gnvo us admittance.
It may not have been an original discovery
on my part , but I was soon convinced of the
correctness of a curious scries of surmises
growing out of much previous oosorvatlon
hnd study of the habits , manners nnd speech
of London folk In general ; a conclusion
which scorns worthy of extended discussion
by others moro able to make exact nnd
nuthoritntlvrjLTomparison. This was. In
brief , thnt tbvgono lo things wo call "cock-
noylsms , " In spootfff and msinncrs.rcallyhavo
their origin chielly among London coster-
mongers.
It is oxceedlmrlvdlflleultto make this clear
to these who have not lived In London nnd
nlso In largo cities of other counttles long
enough to have caught that exceedingly win
some feature of nil great , old nnd'compact
communities which , for n better name , may
bo called "local color. " Observation will
nearly nlxvays disclose it to largely consist of
the rolloxlvo Iniluenco upon higher classes
from unique or outlandish lower classes of
thnt gonlnl diablerie nnd humorous or tragic-
realism of the lowly almost instantly trans
formed into the wit , humor , ropartco nnd
' slang" of these nbovo them , until in degree ,
habit of speech , form of the cominonor
colloquial expressions and oven dis
tinctive mannerisms , become fixed and
characteristic with nnd upon that grade of
folk closest in mind , fooling nnd vocation to
the characterful lowly people whom they
hnvo consciously or unconsciously Imitated.
Thus I hnvo hoard in noted Paris salons
the common jibes of the canalllo and the
'joulovnrdlcrcs , from lips nuito ucconsclous
al ! .hoir origin ; in American clubs and draw
ing rooms , , countless cant and patter expres
sions already long previously discarded in
Now York's ' Bowery slums , where they llrst
took form ; In the llnest Edinburgh homes ,
the wise , curt and droll sayings of Nowhavon
fishwives and the denizens of Cowgato and
Grassmnrketand from London concert halls ,
up through London clubs , p.ist Kngllsh
castles and noblemen's city homos , to the
floor of Parliament itself , the latest , epithet
nnd newest catch-phrase of London coster-4
mongers , coined by my coster friends in mo
ments of "four-ulo" inspiration of free smok
ing-room concerts , at "penny gaffs , " or in
valiant blackguarding battles with Covcnt
Garden porters and the glib-tongued "mob-
bors" or fish carriers of ancient ana odorous
Billingsgate.
As to "cocknoy" London folks high and
low , clear and distinct lines may bo drawn.
The costor is the typical , indeed the genuine
cockney His vernacular which is so out
landish that ono has to hnvo long acquaint
ance with It to understand it at all , is not
slang , because It is original ana unaffected
mode of expression. Ills swagger , his
unctuous oaths , bis terrible objurgations , his
I impulsive generosity , his reckless gambling ,
his fondness for pots , his roving ways within
the great city , his grotesque npparel , his
aversion to n fixed habitation , his suspicion
of anything savoring of religion , his uncon
querable agnosticism , his self reliance , his
fatalism , his fondness for his kind and kin
nnd yet His seeming brutality in all domestic
relations , his bareness and his tenderness ,
acd his almost stern and Spartan loyalty to
bis friends , his race and his traditions , nro
nil inexplicable and tantalizing to ono studj-
ing his character little or long ; but they are
absolutely und inviolably his own. There is
not an iota of pretense , hypocrisy or affecta
tion about him. Because of this millions of
London's lowly.noxt to him in the social scale ,
hnvo In from -100 to 500 years time been un
conscious Imitators of much of his speech ,
Homo of his milliners , n good deal of his
nwaggor and bluster , nnd not a little of his
hardness and brutalltv. All these latter
folk are often generically regarded as "cock
neys , " But their cockneyism is assumed ,
copied , unreal. Consequently it is as olTen-
nivo to the Intelligent Englishman , who
of ton errs in mistaking It for the genuine
article exclusively possessed by the costermongers -
mongers , as It is to the wondering Amori-
caq , who knows nothing whatever about its
origin.
There is another class of folk in London
nnd throughout England immeasurably less
in number and real importance , but inex
pressibly moro omnipresent and offensive ,
who masquerade ns ' 'cockneys' ] and who ,
moro than nil others , bring the true coster
cockney into permanent disroputo. They
ore a sort Of chroma cockneys when the
genuine Turncresquo rods and solemn Millet
( rays of the true cockney coster are brought
r into analytic comparison. They comprise a
mixed and mummied multitude of London
inen-about-town , answeringsomowhat to the
r ttudo Cholly Wobblers of America young
noblemen and other choice aristocrats who
"go In for a long pull and a strong pull , y1
IHICOW. " To these are added a few flash
journalists , I am sorry to say , fellows who
I are on the outskirts of oven the lowest of
London Bohemians ; not many actors , for
London actors are almost invariably London
gentlemen ; some hangor.s-on of clubs ; all
puclllsts , sprinters , horsemen , jockeys nnd
professional sporting men generally ; thou
sands of muslo hall performers nnd the ether
thousands of "Tommy Uots" pulped out of
the free biuoklng-room concerts of the public
houses , who are found every Monday mornIng -
Ing nt their weekly "Poverty Junction" sym
posium at the corner of York and Waterloo
roads , and tuns of thousands moro of Lon
don dories and apprentices vacuous and
vainglorious "Simon Tnpportltu" llllod with
line frenzy and mock heroics thnt they may
over bear the , to them , true British stamp
of tbo cocksure cockneys and beery rulliaus
of the hour.
All of these chromo cockneys never open
their mouths without effort to outdo their
moral und mental superiors , the costor-
mongofs. They occasionally break loose
from their I ondon environment and travel
, in Ireland , in Scotland , on the continent and
m America. Tholr oaths are "Striko mo
lucky ! " "Gor bll mol" nnd other unprinta
ble coster imprecations. Their ejaculations
nro "Gawd's truth 1" and the like. Their
qualifying nnd emphasising adjectives are
"blawstcd , " "bloomln' , " nnd "bloody. " A
Rood man or thing Is "u rum un. " A shilling
Is a "bob ; " a sovereign is u "quid ; " atlonkoy
1s a "inolioj" n cab horse is 'vat's meat ; " to
drink liquor is to "take a wet ; " n glass of
ulo is n "tankard o' bitter ; " every ono tuJ-
irft costod Is "guv-or-nor , " and a woman is a
I "donah" or a "cow. " ThU sort of thing
miiy possess a certain sociological and lltcr-
ury Interest when routined to the character
ful class from which it emanates , but every
ouo of ihcsu pretentious cockneys , whether
met in London or on their ruffianly travels
about the world , should bo sot down for pre
cisely what tboy aro. They uro no moro
representative Englishmen than' a Now
York dude , carrying the manner , oplthots
and clothing of a Bowery boy about the
world , would bo u typical American. They
are simply cads ; a disgrace to intelligent
Kngllsh people nnd an Insulting human par-
ouy upon the Ignorant though sturdy und
genuine costcrmonpcrs they sadly mimic ,
possessing moro than all their vices nnd
totally lacking the Wast of their humble
virtues.
The longer ono studies thcso curious , lowly
folk of London , thu greater is the wonder
that they have uiot proven a moro fruitful
subject for the novelist , or nt least for such
matters of character painting as Thaclccra
Itoado nnd Dickens. They have all been
utilized as thu butt Of quips ana quirks b.r
the penny-a-liner , the wiu of Punch , the
* uowspupor paragruphors. and , In a low sort
of way , to raise the loudest guffaws at the
myriad muslo halls of London. Hut not until
qultb rccoutly bus their character been
seriously studied by a man. cif real genius , or
their wouliiie.ssej , virtues and tnilu apueal- L [
ng to universal human recognition been ;
l > ortrayert by n man of subllo perception and
ardent sympathies.
Tlmt man Is Albert Chevalier. Of French.
Welsh and Irish extraction , ho was destined
by his parents for the priesthood. But In
stead ho became n successful nctor ( if legiti
mate comedy under tha Bancrofts , the Ken
dull and later nt the Court theater under
Manager lluro. In tlmo ha found himself a
popular leading comedian without nn en
gagement. Offers came to him for ciifrago-
mcnts In tmrlcsqtio as second comedian. This
wns going backward ; something u I ndon
nctor cannot afford to do. Some of his work
In comedy had brought him nm/ng tbo costermongers -
termongers for character stt 4y , and ho remembered -
mombored that any song ho hnd sung in his
various characters bearing on these droll
folk hud boon received with peculiar favor.
Ho suddenly resolved to turn music hull
singer , a resolution which carried
out In London ordinarily means complete
social ostracism. Hut from the tlmo thA
determination was reached Chovaller must
bo considered In the light of ( toot , composer
nnd singer. Ho continued his coster studies
with n positive gonlus , u splendid education
nnd n successful Itctor's nlort pen-option of
what Is necessary , us with the painter , tenet
not only reveal by tru < 5 realism , but to reveal -
veal In the subtler power of suggestion , bo-
nlnd them ; and the result wus that slnco
his first singing of "Tho Coster's Serenade"
nt the Ixjmlon Pavilion. In February , 1801 ,
ho bus held the extraordinary position of
being the onlv performer upon any stage , so
unique in his line of rendition nnd so mas
terful In his artistic skill as to prevent the
slightest attempt nt rivalry.
Ho Is but .TO years of ago , yet his income
from his nightly performances at four load
ing London muslo balls nnd from royalties
on his songs is from 5000 to $1,000 per week
nc.irlv equaling the salary of tbo president
of the United Statesandnll ; thls.from merely
discovering the costcrmontrcrs" London
and revealing them to the people of London.
It has been done in a way to roach their
hearts ns well ns their sense of humor last
ingly , ns is shown in the fact that his pres
ent engagements are permanent for u period
of live years. Ho is a quiet , studious fellow ,
and wliilo his Incomparable success has
opened to him the doors of the great and
noble houses In London , where his genuine
scholarship nnd refinement would render
him a social acquisition without the glamor
of success , ho leads a modest llfo In his own
pretty homo alongside the Thames , almost
under the shadow of Windsor Castle , where
his books , his punt and fishing rod are his
chief companions.
This much regarding the man's person-
nitty. To convey to others who nro unac
quainted with costermongers themselves
the peculiar conditions of London llfo and
society which make It possible for a man to
derive n princely income from creating nnd
interpreting for Chovnlior Is moro than a
mere slugor upon the stage two or three
costor songs each year is a dinicult task.
London is almost a great world in itself.
Its costers , distinctive In character , voca
tion , speech , traits , habits and customs , had
previously remained an almost unknown
people to what may bo regarded ns intel
lectual London. If Charles Dickens were
living and had written a great work of Ho-
tlon in which costor llfo ana love hud boon
delineated so powerfully that all London
stood amazed at its own ignorance of its own
lowly , the costor man and woman
could not have been moro firmly sot
upon thn pedestals of sentiment than has
Chevalier placed thorn , through his strong
Hash llt'hts and bold , broad strokes of delin
eation of character representation and song.
Ho has brought to almost universal atten
tion the mirthful and serious sides of costor
charactor. Ho hub shown that thcro nro
coster comedy nnd tragedy like that possible
to your llfo and mino. In ono after another
of his marvelous song impersonations llko
"Tho Coster's Serenade , " "Tho Coster's
Courtship , " "Tho Future Mrs. 'Awklns , "
"Wot Cher , " "Tho Nasty Way " 13 Sez It"
and "Our Little Nipper , " ho has brought
the very heart throbbing ! ) of this uncouth
class , often through pathetic tenderness , so
close to those of his hearers , that the great
London public , from 'prentico boy to prlnco ,
have awakened to the fact that costora are
actually human creatures , possessing at
least some of the common attributes of
humankind.
Chevalier found that the costers really
made love to each other ; that there were
rude Homeos and .luliets among them ; ani
such hints us these are given of the gcntlo
passion between pearl-buttoned Juekcys ant
their 'donnhs : "
"You ain't forgotten yet tlmt nlRlir In May ,
Down at tbo Welsh 'Arp. w'lch Is 'Kndon way ?
You fanclod winkles un' pot o' tea ;
' Four 'alf , " I murmured , " ' 3 good enough for
1110 ;
Otvo mo n word of "opo that I may win"
Yon mods nit ) gently with tliovlnklo pin :
Wo wus us "npny us could bo that day ,
Down uttliu Welsh 'Arp , w'lch Is 'Knclon way.
"Wot Cher" Is an Inimitable delineation of
the coster in his roysterinir , hilarious mood.
"Tho Nasty Way * E Scz It , " which has boon
pirated and put to ignoble use in America ,
though told in the uncouth costor way of a
sneering , fault-finding "pal , " is a most won
derful satire on that omnipresent class of
croakers who descend like harpies upon all
woll-carned comfort and content. Ills latest
creation , "Our Little Nipper , " discloses the
costor parental love for and prMo in the cos-
tor boy , who is assiduously "taught" by his
radiant father.
"Not In books , of cour e , for them 'o can't
abldu
Hut In artful llttlo Ikoy'H little ways
Ab makes tlio people sit up w'oro wo stays. "
Chevalier's inlluciico has been healthful
and good. While , us in I-oniloti parlance ,
roster stock is looking up , tbero is decidedly
less of imitated cockncyism and coster slang
among the lowly , and less everyday buf
foonery among the cockney cads of London.
Defining and revealing costers ns a class
huvo brought them into line for soelnl and
literary contemplation. This of itself grad
ually tends to confine imitator * to u very
low class-of minds whoso influence upon
manners and speech is without woieht , nnd
delineators to a very high order of intellect ,
as with Cnovalier , with painters nnd with
novelists , who wilt do the costers no harm ,
and who will mist the public's eye or touch
the public's heart in a way that always
makes it better for a thrill of mirth or sad
ness.
Cbovalior's costor dialect is admirably
clean ; too clean to bo the real thing ; out ho
uses enough of their original expressions to
place tbo real coster DC fore his great
audiences. From having lived nnd tolled
among them my uoto booics are full of their
curious forms of speech. They cannot be re
produced in print , owing to their terrible
profanity and awful commingling of obscen
ity ; whllo it must be remembered thnt the
coster is absolutely unconscious of either ,
und would Instantly "put up his fivers" to
any ono who would .seriously intimate that
ho was not scrupulously respectful und
polite. They ro all , men and womcii ,
wonderful whistlers , and they have an odd
sprt of call and answer , u monotone ac
centuated thus :
"Ta-ta-tall ta-tal ; ta-ta-talt" I
"Ta-ta-tal ! "
- - ta-tull"
In their greetings they are most effusive.
"Cliy-lltel an1 'ow air yo , ol1 pal ? "
"Cherry rino , Ruv-cr-norl Gor bit mo , an1
'ow docs you fool1' !
"Strlku mo luulcyl clparnot. An' youl"
"Gawd's truth , cul , clwarnot. "
I lnivo tried hard to discover the forbears
of "clh'iiniot " but have far
, no fallod. Its
use is universal among tbo costors , nnd
means superlatively good , correct , pat and
timely.
Here Is n single specimen of coster dialect
pure ns a lllno tassel in comparison with the
ordinary conversation. I overheard It as a
costor was relating to it companion bis dls-
comforturo in un attempt to borrow a
shilling.
"Gawd strike mo lucky , but H'l awskod
'ini for th' loun o' a bob , 'n' "Is bloody boyes
stjiok liout like bluodlu' mussels ; Gar bll mo ,
so they did I"
"Ktrikomo lucky I" "Gawd's truth I" and
"Gor bll mo ! " are the favorite , indued their
endless , imprecations. The latter means ,
"limy God belle , or disown , mol" It Is
needless to .say that they have no idea what
ever of its slznltlcani'o. Hut from thu ngu of
speech to that of upeechlc&sncss , no coster
man or woman over opened mouth without
uttering this aelMniposed anathema ,
Knu.ui U WAKCMAN.
There are three 11111153 wouth saving
Time , Trouble and money and Do Witt's
Little Early lilsors \ > 111 save them for you.
These llttlo pills will save you tmf | , as they
nut promptly. They will save you trouble as
they ivvuio no pain. They will save you
monov us they ooonomlio doctor's bills.
"Ah I" said Benedict , "theso beautiful
summer days make me think of the days bo-
fore I was murriod , when 1 used to rumble
with my sweetheart through tbo park. But
things nro changed now. " "Yos , you've got
tlireo babies to do t1o | cooing , oh I" bald his
companion. "And un army of creditors to
do tlio billing1 added Benedict.
QUAINT AFRICAN LEGENDS
Told by Natives Aront/d / the Oamp FIw of
Stanley.
AND RECOUNTED BY THE EXPLORER
The I'rtto of \Voinnn Who Could Not
Keep n rrnfUnblo Sccrnl Doiliottlo
Ilrntnllty Ailrqnnlcly nnd Kx-
I'niilnbodi
From n number of legends , related by
. „ round the
my trusty dark companions
evening ciuni > flro , I have selected n few
for publication in the Fortnightly -
view , writes Henry M. Stanley.
The nightly custom of entertaining
ono iinothor with stories began In 1875 ,
after Sabj.tlu , a page of King Mtosa ,
uid astonished his hearers with the
cgcnd of the "Blameless Priest. "
The circle was free to all and was
frequently well attended ; for when it
was soon that the moro accomplished
mrrators were suitably rewarded and
, hat there was a great deal of amuse
ment to be derived few could resist the
temptation to approach and listen unless
fatigue ( or Illness prevented them.
Many of the stories related were nat
urally of little value , having neither
novelty nor originality ; and in many
cases , especially where the Zan/.lbaries
were the narrators , the stories were
mere importations fr.om Asia ; others ,
again , were more marks of low Inclina
tions. I therefore had often to sit out a
lengthy tale without a single point
in it.
it.But
But whenever a real aborigine of % the
interior spoke wo were sure to hear
something now and striking ; the
language was moro quaint , and in almost
overv tale there was a distinct moral.
"Kitinda and Her Wise Dog" wad told
mo by Kassim , a Basoko boy , while the
last is by his compatriot Baruti.
The Story of Kltlnda nntl Her Wlio DOR
Kitlnda , a woman of the Basoko , near
the Aruwiml river , possessed a dog , who
was remarkable for his intelligence. It
was fmlu that ho was so clover that stran
gers understood his motions as well as
though ho talked to them ; and that
Kitinda , familiar with his ways and the
tones of his whines , his yelps , and his
harks , could converse with him as easy
as she could with her husband.
One market day the mistress and her
dog agreed to go together , and on the
road she told him all she intended to do
and say in disposing of her produce in
exchange for other articles which she
needed in her homo. Her dog listened
with sympathy , and then , in his own
manner , ho convoyed to her how great
was his attachment to her , and how
there never was such a friend as ho could
bo ; and ho begged her that if
at any time she was in
distress she would toll him
and that ho would servo her with
all his might. "Only , " ho said , "wero
it not that I am afraid of the olTocts of
being too clover I could have served
you oftener and much moro than I have
What do you mean1' asked Kitinda.
"Well , you know , among the Basoko
it is supposed if one is too clover , or too
lucky , or too rich , that it has come
about through dealings in witchcraft ,
and people are burned in consequence.
I do not like the idea of being burned
and therefore I have refrained often
from assisting you because I feared you
could not contain your surpribe and
would chat about it to the villagers.
Then some day , after some remarkable
act of cleverness of mine , people would
gay , Hal this is not a dog ! No dog could
have done that ! Ho must be a demon !
or a witch in a dog's hide ! and of course
they would take mo and burn me. "
"Why , how very unkind of you to
think such things of mo ! When have I
chatted about you ? Indeed I have too
many things to do , my housework , my
planting and marketing bo occupy mo
that I could not find time to go gadding
about my dog. "
"Well , it is already notorious that I
am clover , and I often tremble when
htrangers look at and ndmiro mo for
fear borne muddle-headed fellow will
fancy that ho sees something else in mo
moro than unusual intelligence. What
would they say , however , if they really
know how very sagacious I tun ? The
reputation I have has come through
your atTeetion for mo , but I assure you
that I dread this oxcobs of allection lest
it end fatally for you and for me. "
"But are you so much cleverer than
you have already shown yourself ? If 1
promise that 1 will never speak of you
to any person again , will you help mo
moro than you have done , if I am in dis
tress ? "
"You are a woman and you could not
prevent yourself talking if you tried over
so hard. "
"Now , look you hero , my dog. I vow
to you , tlmt no matter what you do that
is strange , I- wish I may die , that the
first animal I meet may kill mo If I speak
a word. You will see now that Kitinda
\ \ ill bo us good as her word. "
"Well , 1 will take you at your word.
I am to serve you every time you need
help , and if you speak of ray services tea
a soul you are willing to lose your life. "
Thus they made a solemn agreement
as they traveled to market.
Kitinda sold her palm oil and fowls to
great advantage , and in exchange re
ceived sleeping mats , a couple of carved
stools , a bag of cassava Hour , two largo ,
well baked and polished crocks , a bunch
of ripe bananas , u couple of good planta
tion hoes , and a big strong basket.
After the marketing was over she col-
looted her purchases together and tried
to put them into the basket , but the big
crocks and carved stools were
a sore trouble to her , She
could put the ilour and hoes
and the bananas on top with the mats
for a cover very well , but the stools and
the crooks wore a great dilllculty.
Her dog in the meantime had been ab-
Hont , and hud succeeded * in killing a
young antelope , and had drugged it near
her. Ho looked around and savy that the
market was over , and the people had
wended each his own way homeward
while his mistress had been planning
how to pack her property.
Ho heard her complain of her folly in
buying such 'cumbersome and weighty
thingo , and ask herself how she was to
reach home with them ,
Pitying her in her trouble , the dog
galloped away and found a man empty-
handed , before whom ho fawned and
whoso hands ho licked , and being patted
ho clung to his cloth with his teeth and
pulled him gently along , wagging his
tall and looking very amiablot""HU 'con
tinued to do thia until the man. seeing
Kltlnda fretting over Jipr dilllculty.
understood what was wanted and offered
to carry the stools and crocks at each
end of his long stall over his shoulders
for a few ripe bananas and a lodging.
Ills assistance was accepted with pleas
ure , and Kitinda was thus enabled to
reach her home , and pn tho" way was
told by the man how it was ho Itad hap
pened to come to the market place ,
Kltlnda was very much tempted to
dilate upon her dog's cleverness , but
remembered iu tirna her promise m > t tu
boost ; of him. When , however , she
reached the village atul the housewives
came : out of their houses , burning to
hear the news nt tlio market , in her
eagerness to toll this ono ami then the
ether , all that had happened to her , nnd
all that she had soon and hoard , she for
got her vow of the morning and forth
with commenced to rolnto the Inst
we trick of her dog in dragging
n man back to the mnrkot plndo lo help
her when she thought that nil her profit
in trade would bo lost , and was Just
about to smash her nlco crocks in her
rage.
. The dog listened to her narrative , saw
signs of wonder Stealing over the
women's faces , heard them call out to
their husbands , saW the men advancing
eagerly towards thorn , saw them all look
nt him narrowly ' hoard ono man exclaim -
claim , "Thnt cannot bo n dogl It Is a
demon within a dogi's hide. Ho "
13ut the dog had hoiird enough. Ho
turned and ran into the woods and was
never moro scon in that village.
Tlio next markdt'day ' came 'round ' and
Kitinda took some There palm oil and a
few fowls , nnd left'Lor ' homo to dispose
of thorn for some other domestic needs.
When about half way her dog came out
of the woods , and after accusing her of
betraying him to hqr stupid countrymen ,
thus returning evil for good , ho sprang
upon her and toro her to pieces.
Htnry or Mnrmul.i.
"Master , " said Barnti , "I hnvo been
trying to recall some of the legends I
used to hear when I was very small , and
I now rccollect.one , which is not very
long , about Maranda , a wife of onool the
Basoko warriors , called Mafala.
"Marnnda's ' father was named Suklla.
and ho lived in the village of Chief
Busundlyn. Suklla owned n fiuo lafgo
cnnoo and many paddles , which ho had
carved with his own hand. Ho had also
several long nets which ho had also
made , besides spears , knives , a store of
grass cloth , and a few slaves. Ho was
highly respected by his countrymen , and
sat by the chief's ' side iu the council
place.
"As the girl grow fit for marriage ,
Mafnla thought she would suit him as a
wife , and wont aud spoke of it to Sukila ,
who demanded a slave girl , six long paddles -
dlos ornamented with ivory caps , six
goats , as many grass cloths as ho hud
fingers and toes , a now shield , two axes
and two field hoes. Mafala. tried to re
duce the demand , and walked backwards
and forwards many times to smoke pipes
with Sukila and got him to bo loss ox-
acting. But the old man knew his
daughter was worth the price ho had
put upon her , and that if ho refused
Mafala , sho'would not remain long with
out a suitor. For a girl like Maranda is
not often scon among the Basokos. Her
limbs were round and smooth and ended
in thin , small hands and feet. The
young men often spoke about Marunda's
'light , straight feet and quick lifting
stop. A boy's arm could easily inclose
the slim waist , and the manner in which
she carried her head , and the bupplo
neck and the clear look in her eyes , be
longed to Maranda only.
"Mafala. on the ether hand , was curi
ously unlike hor. IIo always seemed bcl
on something , and the lines between the
eyebrows gave him a severe face , nol
pleasant to see , and you always caught
something in his eyes that made you
think of the glitter which is in a ser
pent's.
"Porhans that was ono reason why
Sukila did not care to have him for his
daughter's husband. At any rate , ho
would not abate his price one grass-
cloth , and at last it was paid , and Ma
randa passed over from her father's
houbo into that of her husband.
"Soon after the marriage Maranda
was heard to cry out , and it was whis
pered that she had learned much about
Mafala in a few days' , and that blows ni
from a rod had been heard. Half a moon
passed away , and then all the village
know that Maraiida' had fled to Biibun-
diya's house , because of her husband's
ill-treatment. Npw the custom in such
a cabo is that tha father keeps bib
daughter's dowry/ and if it bo true that
a wife finds life 'with ' her husband too
harsh to bo borne , that she may seek the
chief s protection , and that the chief
may find another , husband for her who
will treat her properly. ' '
"But before the chief had made up
his mind to whom to give her , Mafala
went to a crocodile for it turned out
that ho wab a Mganga , \yitch-man who
had dealings with reptiles , oa land ,
as well us with the monsters of the
river and bargained with it to catch
her as she came to the river to wash.und
carry her up to a certain place on the
river bank where there was a tall tree
with a large hole in it.
' 'Tho crocodile bided his chance , and
one morning , when Maranda vlbited the
water , ho seized her by the hand , and
swept her on his back , and carried her
to the hiding place in the hollow tree.
Ho left her there , and swam
down opposite tlio village , and
signaled to Mufala that ho had per
formed his part of the bargain.
"On being loft , Maranda looked about
the hole , und saw that she was in a itlnd
of pit , but a long way up the hollow nari
rowed , and bho could bee the brunches
and a bit of sky. She determined to
climb np , and though she bcratchod herself -
self very much , she finally managed to
reach the very top , and she crawled Mit-
side into the air. The tree was very
largo and lofty , nnd the branches spread
out fur , and they were laden with the
heavy fruit of which elephants are HO
fond.x-At first she thought that she
could not starve bocaiioo of so many of
those big fruit ; then she had the idea
that they might bo useful to defend hor-
Bolf , and who collected a great number of
them and laid them in a heap over bomo
sticks she hud laid across the branches.
"By-unU-by Mufata came , und , after
jeering at her , began to climb
the tree. But when ho was only
lialf way up. Maranda lifted ono
of the heavy fruit und Hung It on his
head , and ho fell to the ground with his
bones all In a whirl and his hack greatly
bruised. When ho recovered ho begged
the crocodile to help him , and ho tried
to climb up , but when ho had ascended
but a little way Maranda dropped ono of
the elephant fruit fairly on his snout ,
which sent him falling backwards ,
Mufala then bogged two great serpents
to abcend and bring her down , but Mu-
randu mot them with the heavy fruit ono
after another , nnd they were glad to
leave her alone. Then the man departed 1r 1
to seek a leopard , but Muranda from her r
tree saw a canoe on the river with two
young fishermen in it , und screamed 1
loudly for help. The fishermen paddled
close" to find that It was Sukila's
daughter , the wife of Mafala , who was
alone on u tall tree , They waited long
enough to hear her story , and then re
turned to- the village to qbtuln assist
ance
"Busandlya was. 'much astonished to
hoar the fishermen's'news , and forth witli
sent a war canoe full of armed men , led
by Sukila , to ro cu'6' hor. By moans of
rattan climbers they contrived to reach
her and to bring , her down sulely ,
Some of the wur party wont
away to discover Mafala , while the
others watched for the crocodile and the
two serpents. In a short time the cruel
man was seeij and1 caught , and brought
to the riverside ; V ° und with i/reon
withes. They now tied hia logs and
arms together , und. .after they naa made
Maranda repeat her story from the be
ginning , auuSukiltt/iua told the manner
of the marriage , they searched for great
atones , which they fastened to his nock ,
and , lifting him into th war o inoothey
paddled Into the middle of the stream ,
where they sang n death chant ; after
which they dropped Mnfaln overboard ,
and ho was tiovor hoard of moro. That
is all there is of the story of Maraiida. "
ix J"ii ; Tinitfrt.
Kmma A. Oppv in Jwlje- .
Tlmrjroliol I see yo , Jpit
I'ookln' out from thol tlmrliolo
"N under tlirt bla stun , I'm blest
It yo am t the mcikno.it sorter
Oliooky rnscnll Say , d'yo know
1'vo boon hero with tlilt yor polo ,
Ivneo'dcop In tlio crick , Jesse
The hull afternoon ? I'd ortor
Kotched moro wonm ; my pricket's nigh
Kniptlcd . hain't
out.
| \ / Anjyo i bit
Isnry tlmo , yo pesky , sly ,
OlHt'nlt , su3 y , freckled coot , yol
Think , now , yo ro n-foolln' mo ?
Kocknn I'm ii-coln' to quit
Till t'vo got y V Thar yo bo
Uoll 'f 1 hail my gun I'd shoot yo.
I'louinnt bore ; the lilll in sight
Thar an' I hot crab upplo bounb
llntiKln' over bore , Jest white !
An' tlio birds they clioop an' twltlor ,
An' the cows como down to drink.
Come , I'm waltln' hero. 1 it wow I
Thot looked somethln' llko aYe '
Yo oxiispoYutin'eriubri'l ' '
Tlmr , yo orn'ry scampi tlmr RODS
My lust worm , sipilrinln' llko fun ,
.lust fnlrly tlcUtln' yor nose :
An' I ulnl niiikln' n Hound or
Hroathlh' . Tlmr , yo cocked yor eye
Yo'vo whipped out from tlmt tbar stun ,
.letkin' with yor tall Kl , yll
Uotyo , got yet Dull two-ponndorl
London Judy : The Meonislor ( to young
licentiate , who has llllod his pulpit for the
day , ) Yo'H mobbo tak' a woo dr.ipplo
whusky , Mr. McLambktnt
Mr. MoIVimbkln Oh , no , thank you. .1
never touch intoxicants.
The Meonlstcr Nao ? Then mobbo yc'll
come inta ma stoody und ha'e a bit plpo wl'
mot
Mr. HIcLambkln Thanks , no. I never
smoke.
The Mecnlstor uao yo cat gross ?
Mr. MoLambkln Grass ? No. Why ?
The Mconistcr Then gang awa' lioinc. yo
Gomcril. for yo'ro no lit company for cither
man or beast.
*
Chicago Tribnno : " Cvho is to perform the
marriage ceremony for Miss Vyno and Mr.
KllumJ11
"The young Uov. Dr. Newcomo. of course.
Who else ? "
"Of course of course 1 Ho always gels the
marrying Jobs. 1 think it's a shame that
good Pastor Millsap , who was hero twenty
years before that young man came , is always
forgotten when thcro is an affair of this
kind. "
"Why , Brother Mlllsap can't complain.
Ho always gets the tmicrals ! "
Portland Orcgonian : Iu one of tlio Sunday
schools at Olynipla is a little Chinese boy
who takes great interest in all the proceed
ings. When impressed witli the propriety
of bringing a nickel to put In the contribu
tion box , ho promptly responded , but as ho
parted with it bo asked : "Whatfo'J" The
kind teacher replied : "It's for Jesus , my
dear. " The second Sunday thu stino ques
tion nnd the s.iino answer. The third Sunday
the same , but now the little Celestial's eyes
opened with earnestness as he ftirtheraskod :
'Jesus allus bloke ? " The reply of the
teacher Is not recorded.
#
"And now , " said the editor , "lot us bo
thankful for ono day of rest and got ready
for church. " .
"Yes , " said hh wife , "run out and chop
some wood and milk the cows and light the
flro and make the coffee and wash the child
ren , while I bang uiy hair ! "
"Tho Congrcgationallst" says that this is
the season in which some churches examine
the building for sulllciont justlllc.ition to an
nounce : "Churcii closed during the summer
for repairs. "
*
Prtddio Ma , didn't the missionary say
that the savages didn't wear any cluthesf
Mother Yes , my boy.
"Thenrhy did p.v say put a button In the
missionary box ! "
The senior class at Yale this year nuin-
b6rs 185 , fortv-slx coining from Now Yorc. |
thirty from Connecticut , twelve from Massa
chusetts and the rust scattering ,
The building committee of the board of
trustees of Cornell university is busily en
gaged upon plans for the extension of Hibloy
college und for the now dairy building , for
which 6150,000 has been appropriated by the
stutc.
Eighteen hundred girls were gradua ted
from the cooking schools of Boston during
; he past twelve months. This will simplify
; he matrimonial problem.
Justice Henry B. Brown of the United
States supreme court , is delivering n special
course of lectures on admiralty law before
the senior law class at Ann Arbor ,
West Point Is turning out moro oflleors
tliun places can bo found for in the service.
Thib year's butch of graduates number fifty ,
while there uro only forty-live vacancies to
bo filled in the field. Tbo othot live will
1 have to "carry the banner. "
1j The Johns Hopkins university library has
just j received from the Fronoh government
over 1OJO.students'theses and educational
monographs issued under thodircL-tion of the
minister of public education by tbo leading
French universities und government schools.
The graduating class of Carthage college ,
Illinois , this year consists of ono young
woman. Slip bus taken all the honors nnd
is vuledictoriun und sulututorian.
A system of resident fellowship has been
established at Dartmouth. Each fellow ia
to receive * 100 n , yeur. These fellowships
may bo assigned by the faculty for one or
ttvo years each to such students as may
show special protleiency In any ono depart
ment i of study. Tno students appointed may
bo called to act as assistants to professors ,
but uro not expected to toach. The number
of fellowships have been placed at four.
It will bo comforting to school children
and their parents , says the Chicago Post , to
Know that during tbo summer vacation the
walls and ceilings of the public school rooms
are to bo colored with some ugrooablo tint.
To some this may appear a small matter ,
but not to the school children , who know
bettor. Tlio school room walls are at present
grimy with dirt , or. what is even worse ,
staring , glaring whlto plaster. The former
condition Is unsightly and unhealthful ; the
latter is highly injurious to the eyes of cull ,
dreu engaged in study.
And She Did.
A girl in a Maine village who made
her homo with her aunt was often dis
turbed by evidences of the old lady's in
difference to everything but the welfare
of her own material possessions. Ono
day in going down collar for HOIIIO butter ,
she tripped and foil heavily for quite
u distance. The maiden aunt rushed to
the door , and peering down into the
darkness , called out sharply :
"D'yo break the disliV"
"No ! " thundered buck the niece , for
OIIPO thoroughly aroiibcd , "No ! but I
will ! " and she shivered it with a hearty
good will against the cellar wall.
StutlDtlot of licer.
There are 01,000 breweries in the
world. As would naturally bo supposed ,
Germany leads with 20,210. England iu
second with 112,874 , , while the United
States holds third place with t2tOO. : In
the consumption of beer Bavaria leads
the other German provinces with an an
nual average of 221 litres per head.
Berlin averages 101 litres , Belgium 100.
England 143 , Daumurk 'M , Switzerland
and the United States 31 , and Sweden
only 11 , A litro id about one und three
quarter pints , making the American
consumption average about twonty-hoven
quarts per capita. A good many must
bo getting more than their share.
Before breakfast Bromo-SelUer
Acts us a braoer trial bottle 10 cts.
The Chowsuros a race of 7,000'peoplo In
tbo department of Troust , government ol
TII1U , know nothing of the usu of money as
a means of exchange , Tlio unit of value
among those primitive people is the cow. A
borso ia valued at three cows and a stalllot
at six. If a Chowsuro becomes cnragod ant
cracks Ma neighbor's skull ho is obliged tc
pay sixteen cows. If ho breaks a bouo ol
nle neighbors arm flro cows will rehabilitate
iilra iu the eyes of society. A wound lu tbo
forehead calln for tUrco calvoi.
SOME POP REFORMS.
A Mold .Slap nt thn Mlilillftmnn In Knn n .
Ho U tlio linicr.
A novel attempt to strike at middle
men is embodied in a law which has been
enacted In Kansas , and which will go
into effect July 1. The law requires nil
railroad companies doing business in that
stnto to construct truck scales nt every
station where the nggrogato shipments
of grain and seed during the preceding
\Carhuvoamountodto u hundred car-
loads. The object is to enable farmers
who grow grain to deliver it directly to
the railroads , instead of being obliged
USI sell to the proprietors of elevators nt
such terms as they choose to olTor. The
now law requires the railroad company to
give a bill of lading for the o.xnot amount
of the shipment , nnd holds It responsible
for any snortngo exceeding one-fourth
of 1 per cent. The shipper is to pay 115
cents per carload for weighing.
She ( nil heiress ) What made you love mot
I know my face is plain. Ho ( with enthu
siasm ) Perhaps , dearest ; but your llguro Is
mostnttractUo.
T-.VEWTY YEARS
THE LEADER ! ! !
Co ? < r.h , ricnrhjr , Illiontnnttint , BclntUa.
J.nmlinco llark-Aclio , nnd nil External
Ailment * romoTrtl quickly bjr
Which U the only POROUS PLASTER
Hint cnntnlus powerful nnd cnratlvo modern
InRrodlcnts YKT AllSOLUTKLY SAITO and
I'OSITIVK In Its notion.
Hcmon'R Hosiers 1'rrrcnt Pntmnnnln.
It docs not euro chronic ailments In a into-
we , nordorslt create an electric luttcry or
currentlnthogystcm.nor will It euro by merely
rc.idlnir tlio label , all such claims nro rnndo bv
quack * nnil liumliiisi. BHN8ON'8 Is endorsed
byB.OOO 1'liyslclnns nnd UruRBlsta.
CAUTJON-Don'l U , l. , | , l by uiKtnrulooi , Drad-
tfiuwhopftrr rfiMn lno wMrh thfY el lin lljiwl M ertV
orUH.Mh.r , llKSsON'1. Urtlh < : iiulnt. U.ji w
Blfc Kcc tttni tl loin * for mtrcracU * .
SURELY CURED.
To TIIK Enixon 1'lcase inform your rend
ers that I hnvo n positive lomcdy for the
nbovo named disease. ly ! its timely use
thousands of hopeless cases have been per-
inaucntly cured. I shall bo glad to Bern !
two bottles of my remedy free to any of your
readers who have consumption if they will
Bond mo their express and post ollieo address.
T. A. Slocuin , M.O. , 183 Pearl St. , Now York.
u TRIMMED HATS
COST AND LESS
A BEAUTIFUL LINE OF
Leghorn Hats and Plataus ,
2 French Chip Hats
In White and All Tints
Reduced teA
A VnilY 1'KETTV MM5 OK
CHILDREN'S HATS
VERY CHEAP.
BLISS , 1514 Douglas Si
I WAS BIG.
I WAS FAT.
I FELT ME AN. .
I TOOK FILLS.
I TOOK SALTS.
I GOT LEAN.
Handsome * Wo in on Can Lese Wolg'n
Fast. Homely Klon LooX Better
If Thin. Try Dr. Edison's
System. No Dieting.
Band worth Twloo the Nlonoy.
onicoof II. M. lliirtoti , Hardware , Uary Sti-
tlnn. IH..JUII. 11. IdU ,
Jr. Kdlson DoirSlr : ; I am well plo iso.l with
your troatnient of oboltv. Tlio lianil la worth
twlco thu rnonoy UciHt , fur comfort. I h ivo
reduced my wolitlit tun pound * , i weigh 215
now , nna I did wolah m Your l ]
j [ { } 0iV
They Are Doing Mo Good.
UarlTlllo. Ill . .Mar 2.1. ISO ) .
1,0 r I OK & Co : InclosoJ lltul Ji.S'J ( or irlilch plonia
nonrt mo tlio ether two bottlui of llr. KUIum's Uljoi-
Hy I'lll * . lliavo used ono atilthlnk lioy nro Uotiij
tlio work. b. M. 1UI.K v , 1 * . O , lox U
Talk So Much About Your Pills.
I'oorls , 111. Juno 13.1601
Roar Sirs : After he-irluu ono of mr Irlt'iiiU tulle id
Sucknbontyuur Ulieiltr I'ltUnrul tlio hoiiullt lioli
dcrlvlni ; from lliom I llilnk I will trr tbum myuU
l'len o enilmo3tOtllo C , O. I ) . , un.l . ubllua.
J , Mouam. 1OJ 1'orrr Btroot ,
Fool Better andWoIgh 13 Pounds Loss
ttodion , Inrt. , Bopt 18. J3U
Ronllomont Incloiod 1 noml you II , ( or which you
will jilpniu iieml me tliroa botllus of the oOoiltjr pilU ,
Amlukltif tbo fourtb bultlo anil fuul vary much
betUir ntul wolKli 13 pounili Ion ttiau whan I borf&a
taklnv thorn , 1 will contliiuu your troatmunt.
Mils. J. O. MfCONN ,
HoutU bUtb Stroot.
An Individual whose lielulitU
6 feel I lucli thuuia welKli 135 pouaJs
6 foot Slnctioi " " IW "
6 feet ID India * " " 170 "
Dr. E < il on uy : "It ra r t o well to point out
thai In mr exiierlonco , which U noceaiurlly very
conildcrable , luungr troublutomu kln illtuanui > ucli ,
ccoBicrua , azonu. inorlailn , utlcarla , eta. , uro prlnv
arlly caused by olninltjr. uml ft ttia fat undlluili li
reiluced ujr tlio pllli uod Olxxltx Krult bait alii tin )
KCllon of ttia band tliuio ntroutloni liuva aliuuit
niftk'lcolllf OliaiipoarcKl "
'HioOlJCilty Krult Halt Is uied In connection wltn
Ihel'lllior Uandi. ortwth , Ono toiipooufut In 11
tumbler of water initkon a ilollcloui mjda. T toi
llko cUainuulicno. <
Tlio banicoit tJW oioa fornnrl onjlli up to
Incliof. bufor ono lamer tlinn 31 Inctiui add It
coat * extra fur o cu viiaitlonal Inc.'i.
I'rlcoof fruit Halt. 11.09.
Tills II.SO I'cr llattla. or 3 llottlo * lor II01.
bent by Stall or Kjproii
CuttUli outandk t > plt , aud uua far our
coluBinJurtlclaoii obtxlttr.
MENTION AUDKEfeH I3XAOTI.Y AS GIVEN
OKI.UW.
Loring & Company
tlUinlHon ri. Dept. JO , Iloiton , M M , 115 St t
St. , Dept U , Clltctzo , III. , I'JV ' , .Muil HI. , Utyl li ,
Now VorX Cltr.
For sale In Omaha by Snow ,
Lund & Co.
REFRIGERATORS ,
OLID OAK OR ASH , SIX WALLS
CHARCOAL FILLED.
All Styloi , Slioi nuil Prices-
From 80.00 up
NEW PROCESS.
GASOLINE RANGE.Improvod 1803
MANY NEW FEATURES.
THE ORIGINAL THE BEST.
MORE SOLD THAN ALLOTHERS
Milton Rogers & Sons
14th and Famani Streets.
Solo a gents for Nebraska.
Dealers supplied at factory prices.
Send for catalogue and price list.
RAMGE BUILDING.
I3ost of
Superb effects in Modes and
Finishing of various styles will
bo noted in our clothes.
Prank J. ILainge.Tailor
FOR RUNT : Stores and Of
fices in this building , with nil
conveniences. Inquire of
z J. IZnm QO.
The Cclc-
bratcd Non-
Spectiicl cs
and Kyc
( Jlasses for
sulc iu Om
EYE GLASSES- ! ,
aha by
MAX MKVJ5K & IJKO. CO. , ONLY. <
5 Different Grades.
IS M3SOI1S lYmiiuiu
AS LOW AS CAK BE BJIHHt
IN THE CITY.
Mowers
And Hose Reels.
JasJorton&SonCa
Young Cuban Parrots
will nrrlTO about JUDO IHIi and
i moro will bo a big daivand for
tlio u thU ear OJ account ( if thu
World's t-alr.prloci irlll bo rauou
liliiber than muni , Kow , In or
der toglr ) ou euitoir r cliauc
loaecurua vooit I'arrpt Jit tbt
nmu Jon prloaai lent j ar , bo-
" "
Only $8,00
ouch. Wo suruo to bouK all or-
den at ihu prlca. If lame roacb
ui will" Imlr iliu nuiniintluco | > oJ
un orbuforo JunoJOtU
Geislei's ' id Store ,
400 North 10th StrooU