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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1897)
-at , 10 THE OMAHA DAILY BETOl SUNDAY , JUNE 0 , 1807. Iff MIU STORY OF THE of Legends THUNDER AND THE DRAGON - - - Old Japan IIY RIORDAN , KfimiiiiMiiiiiiimiiMMiiiiimimimiimiMi ( r-opyrlRht , 1897 , by B B. Mcnurc ) In tlic tltno of the Tans dv nasty ( COO to 000 A. D. ) a big tree In the province of Tal was struck by lightning and portly rent nnunder , but tbo two liahcs sprung together again and the Thunder was caught In the cleft. There ho spent the day , crylog nnd groaning , but nobody ventured near , until the governor of the province went and "What Is the matter ? " Said the Thunder , "A revolting dragon was Mil In this tree. Heaven ordered mo to Htrlko him , but hero have I been caught nnd cannot canape. If jour excellency will take measures to liberates mo you shall be n-pnld with abundant happiness. " The governor ordered a carpenter to cut open the tree , but It Is not upon record In what manner the Thunder rewarded his de liverers. Nevertheless on another such occasion a i certain scholar , one Yi-p-tchln-tihuon , while standing under a tree to avoid a shower , had the good fortune to perform for the Thunder t similar service. Next day the grateful Thunder paid him a visit nnd pre sented him with a magnificent writing M.t. It Is said that thunder ncvur strikes man except by Inadvcttcncc. Usually ho Is In pursuit of a drugnn and the unfortunate man happens to get In the way. The dragon Is the god of weather , of clouds , rain and water. There Is a feud between him and the thunder. He docs not fc&r to send down rain , because he Is commanded to do so by the superior gods , but , his duty performed , miimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiri I English and Spanish troops , had retreated before the superior French forces ot Marshal Soult , stopping at Iluerta. .Marshal Soult was pursuing. Wellington , who was with Hill's division , a dorcn miles away , no sooner heard of I'lctou's position than he mounted and rode to tlilm , accom panied only by Lord llaglan , who WPB then Lord rftzroy Somerset Hlll'a division fol lowed ai far as It could , but when Welling ton arrived ho saw that the battle would be lost ttnlc.o.1 time could he gained for Hill to como up , but Marshal Poult was aa sure to want to fight before reinforcements had time to arrive as Wellington was anxious for do- la } . How to change Soult's mind was the problem. The armies were In the Imme diate presence of eacli other. The French columns of attack were formed , and only watted the signal to charge. Wellington through his Held gln&s , could see Marshal Soult arranging the onslaught , and know that ho felt sure of victor/ . Hut , sure as he wns , not victory but n bloody repulse awaited him. Why ? Uccause Wellington just then took occasion to gallop up In front of the Thlrty-sKth English regiment and wave hs ! llttlo gliucd cocked hat. Such a demonstration was so Unuaunl In the re served great English guiei.il that It drove the men wild with delltlit ; , and one great cheer after another arose , and was re-echoed along all of I'lctou's line. Wellington then ordered an English regiment to the suppoit of a Spanish corps already smartly engaged , and then snjs aloud , musingly , not particu larly addrcEitlng anybody , but In the hearing of several olMccis : "Soult Is u skillful but cautious com mander ; he'll not attack In forcu till ho has learned the meaning of those cheers ; this 1 THE GOD 0 F THUNDER. ho is at the thunder's mercy and Is fre- qu'cntly reduced to hide himself In the mont extraordinary places. He has been known ! to- run Into a cow's horn , Into a priest's par , and he often takes refuge In the water spout of a house. The priest , Tao-tscn , once saw to his surprise a small white spot lu the shape of a dragon appear on his finger nail. It was thundering heavily at the time and there was but little light In the room. Ho put his hand out the window , the better to observe the strange looking spot which had come so suddenly , and Instantly there was a flash and a crash , and half the finger was taken clear away. More lucky was the old woman , who , during a thunder storm , afraid of a leak In her bedroom , wont In to see. The thunder , who had been pronllng about the house , followed , and I what was the good lady's astonishment to see a dragon emerge from under her pillow and fly out the door , the thunder after him. There was a battle royal between them In the street , but the old woman escaped un injured. It thus appears that the dragon baa by no means an easy time of It. He has other enemies beside the thunder. Tlgersi and lions are his aversion. A tame lion wcs once tied to the post of a well , when a dragon , who had made his home * there , sprang up In a great fright and ascended Into the clouds. The phoenix , too , hunts dragona for thejr brains , which he conaldere a great delicacy. In the annals of the Tang dynasty It appears that two of the breed were once chased by a phoenix. They dropped to the ground at a place called Kwa-ln and became two streams. The water of one of the etrcaniti Is rod In color , because the dragon was scratched by tbo phoenix and blood ran fiom the wound. Harassed In this way. It Is not very sur prising that the dragon should have formed the habit of carrying his llfo outside of his body. He usually put It for safe keeping In a crystal ball or a largo pearl , which ho carries ordinarily between the scales under his chin. Should ho bo attacked he may drop the precloua receptacle Into a oeep pool , and pearl fishers have been known to leave on uncommonly fine pearl where thej found it , Itut the dragon should conic to claim It and do them an Injury. The horn of the dragon Is like that of the deer ; I In head U lllto that of a camel ; It has the eyes of a demon , the neck and tall of a snake , the belly of a clam , the claw of o hawk , the eais of a bull and the scales of fish. Hut there are many varieties , and each has Us appropriate charge. Some mount KUard over prisons , some live In water , some in smoke , and among the dragon progeny nro the patrons of alnglng and music , of literature and justice , ot > war and drinking , and as a brlnger of rain , the dragon Is , of course , Indispensable to the agriculturist , For their services thus rendered to the state dragona aic held In high esteem. Among the rugged mountains of the northwest there It a place called Long-Mucng , In English Dragon-Door. A cataract tumblru down there , between high cliffs , In three separate falls. Above the cataract U a grove of peach trees , and on the fifth day of the fifth month in very joar. when the petals of the peach blossoms drop by myriads Into the river , all the tlslic-s In the lower stream swim up to the foot of the < waterfall. If any can leap up the three falls and reach the still water above , perfumed with the magic piadi bloom , that lively fish IB at once transformed Into a dragon. Few but carp ever perform the feat , and not all of thchc. Many have to retire with acalrs worn off their heads by the force of the water , Hence It Is that students Mho have come victoriously through their examination are said to have ascended Long- Mueng , and at the bojs' fpstlv.il in Japan , which takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month In every houseyard a btmboo pole U set up , with a paper carp filing fiom it , as an emblem of strenuous endeavor. onr.nitsviv ( TIIIJ SIIIH | | Hie I'limu of till- A story of Wellington that rests upon the unimpeachable nuthprlty of Sir William Na pier shows how ho won a battle by a little tint ) of strategy tint is not la the books. It wnp when he WRR fllitlug { the French la In J513. General J'iolou , commanding will give time for the Sixth division to come up , and I shall beat htm. " And It was as Wellington hoped and said. Soult supposed those thunderous cheers meant , must mean , relnfoi cements , and he did not attack till It was too late , { III rein forcements really had come. Illl.VVUIl TIIA. % A UO3IA.V. One of tin * Mont CMIH-IKVOUH DeoilN Itccordi'il In UlNtoi- } , It Is told of a Roman sailor that In trying to climb from a small boat Into a ship he and his companions were struggling to board and capture , ho was c'mglng ' to the ship with his right hand when it was cut off. Ho caught hold again with his left , and that was cut oft , but not till ho had driven his head up to the deck of the boat , and , with both hands gone , ho still hung on with his chin and elbows , and It was not till lib head was struck off that ho fell back into the water. That was old Roman fighting with a vengeance , but In the annals of our own navy there Is a true story of still greater pluck , for our hero used his head und saved others In the midst of bis own awful sufferings. Lieutenant Edward Smith , In 1820 , was In command of a nchooner called the Magpie , and U waa wrecked In waters full of sharks , and the lieutenant and six of his men escaped drowning by clinging to a capsized boat. The lieutenant was the joungCKt ot them all , except a lad named Wilson , but ho was also the coolest and cleverest , as a commanding officer ought to be. He ordered the men to get off the boat and endeavor to right It. They obeyed , all the time they were In the water waving and kicking to scare oft the sharks they could see swimming about. Lieutenant Smith then ordered two of the men Into the boat to ball , while the rest clung lo her Bides. With so much water In her she could not bear up more than two men. Soon , though , EO much water waa baled out that he ordered two more men Into the boat , and the balling was going on fast when ono ot the two beside himself who were still In the water was seized by a shark and with ono cry sank. This so frightened the men that , horrible to tell , they once more capsized the boat. The young commander remained calm , ordered all hands to again right the boat , and when that waa done put two men In It again to ball. < As the > got to work a shark , with ono bite , took off ono of Lieutenant Smltb'H legs , and ho , the more than stoic hcio , made no sigh , lest fright again cause his men to capslzo the boat. They t > * .l not know lui was hurt. In a moment or two the rest wrro ordered Into tbo boat , ho waiting to enter It last himself. Just aa he was teady to ask the men to help him a shark caught his remaining leg. Ho foil back In the water , but his men saved him and lifted him Into the boat to dip. With the last breath ho told the boy Wilson to report to the admlrul that all thq men had douo their duly , Nil u iiy mid , ! nrlr. St. Nicholas. Her uncle jjnve llttlo Nanny A Jack-in-the-box , with n squeak ; Hut the hqueak of the Jack wtu nothing To Nannj'u tcriltlcil Hut soon she conquered her terrors , And spoke , HUe u bruvo little tot. "You think you uro real , " * nld Nanny ; "Cut , truly , you \viiow \ you'io not ! " THU \ LNi iTTn.X , T ilrt hy Fonil l.'u7li < TM ot A reporter without noticing where he was getting found himself the other day In iho company of several futheis of InteiestliiK and witty children , says the Washington Star , "By ( lib way , " eald one of the fathers , in a catutl , ui-offcndlng soil r.f a way , "If > ou want fiomrlblng good to print In your paper I think I can give U to jou. " The reporter's cant braced up und hla sen- I PCI qulckei'ed , "Of course. I want U , " he sail with truth. "Well , It'u about my boy Harry" the re porter .iw where be bad made his fatal mistake , but It was lee late. "Yesterday 1 was telklug about Hut amendment to tlic Dlngley tariff bill , and was saying About ex post f clo legislation. Halt an hour later my son came Into the room where I was rending and epoko to me. I asked him what ho wanted and ho raid : 'I wish you would tell mo what you1 mean by exposed fact of litigation. In it that kind that some body has found out the truth about and given It away ? Now , what do you think of that ? What the reporter may have thought wa * test In the rush by the other fathers to Icl' what their children had raid , "Tho other day , " remarked the next man who got up to the window , "I wag growling abjut pa ) Ing the bill for electricity In mv house and my little boy and girl were plrw- ItiR In the room and at the same time their sharp llttlo cars were not shut. Finally the little girl asked me what wna the difference between electricity and lightning. Ilcalb I would have been staggered at the qucstlcm as parents often arc by the question.of their children , but the boy camp lo my lc- llcf : 'W'y. sister , ' he put In promptly , Mon'l vou know that ? You don't have to pay till } thlnn for lightning. ' " That wasn't so bad nnd the repor'cr .1'- ' nical smiled , but before he had m.tch clunrt to enjoy It another father got the polo nnc1 \vcnt awa > down the track. ' 'Yesterday morning , ' he said , "I vva-j po Ing" out with my little girl for a w.ilk , and could not find my gloves , though I had on ) } i few moments before taken them from mv overcoat pocket. I had lain them dovvi somewhere and forgotten where and I wr provoked. 'It'a odd where you put tht'in said my wife , joining In iho Ec tch.Vh > an't It even , mamma ? ' Inquired the little ; lrl , Innoccnlly , and lha answer lo lint ii.rs- | lion was more difficult to find than thr glovfs were , for we did find the gloves , bul wo havcn'l got the answer jet. " Ill-tiling HIM CriMiiltun. Harper's Hound Tnble. "Come. little boy , " his uinmlnm said , "Upon this chilr you'll sit , And hold the worsted In jour hands , And help your grandma knll. " "Oh , ye . " Ihe little boy replied. And smiled n little bit ; "Theru'fi nothing 1 like more to do Than help my grandma nit ! " That feeling of depression so common Inlet lot weather Is overcome by strengthening the blood with Pill Ancemic Pink. STOUIKS A1IOUT I'UIIMG 3IEX. "Once upon a time , " sa > s the Boston Her aid , "Senator Cameron called upon Prestden Lincoln At the white house In behalf of on ippllcant for a consulate who was a par ticularly pestiferous person to him. 'Where lo jou want to have him sent ? ' asked the president. There was a large globe In thi room. The Pennsylvania senator put on arm around It as far aa bo could reach , am said : 'I do not know wlia my finger Is on but send him there. ' And he was sent. " While a party of senators and represents lives were visiting Monllcello , Ihe old home ot Thomas Jeffcron , the other day , Rcprc sentallve Tongue of Ohio asked a venerable conlraband , who was driving Ihe carriage and pointing out objects of Interest to hl < - mEeenpens' "Were there any battles foughl around here ? " | "Xt > , ah ; no , sah , " was the reply. "Not since the wall , sah. " Representative McClcary of Minnesota , be sides being one of the best exponents of n bound financial system. Is an extremely good itory teller , sajs the Philadelphia Press. He vas entertaining a group of his colleagues he other day with antcdotca of peculiar people ho had met , and told the following on one of his preacher coi-cstlluents : The minister waa Illustrating the omnlpo- cnco of God by ebon Ing that the least as veil as the greatest of things had been created by lilm. "Just think , " said the ninlstcr , "when God made the mountains He made the little rills ; when God made the mighty behemoth He made the sparrow , and vhen God made mo He made a daisy. " Senator Caffcry Is very proud of the lengtb and breadth of the Mississippi river when It confines llself lo lspicture } frame ; and Sena- or Aldrlc-h is fonu 01 ue-icunitng oil tn'e 'great commonwealth and sovereign state" of Rhode Island. The other day , relates the Waahlngtpn Times , Ihe heavy downpour and : he closeness of the almosphcre In 'the. Rhode Island senator's committee room evolved Rome marvelous tales about Iroul. Senalo- Saffeij spoke of a superlative catch In vyhlch lie estimated Ills fish at pounds. Mr. Aldrlrh went him one better by putting' a certain catch of his down at forty-one Inches long. "Wheie did you catch him ? " Inquired Sen ator Caffery , dubiously. "In Rhode Island. " " ' " said "there Isn't "H'm ! Senator Caffery ; a river In the slate long enough to produce sucb a fish. " Governor Drake of Iowa , In a recent gpcc-ch , told a new story of a meeting be tween Lincoln and A. H. Pickering of Chi cago. Mr. Pickering , who is a very tall man was a resident of Iowa at the tlmo of Lin coln's- election nnd was engaged In shipping cattle. He and Mr. Drake came to Chicago on business , and , hearing that Lincoln wai > In the city , thev sent up their cards and were shown to the president-elect's room "When we got to Lincoln's room , " * Jld Governor Drake , in his speech , "he open -d the door , and on seeing Pickering nfkcd- 'How tall are > ou ? ' Pickering sail : 'Six feet four. ' 'Why , ' cried Lincoln , 'that's my height. Let's measure. ' " And then Ihe president of the United States and Ihe fattle shipper stood back to back , while the first lady of the land , Mrs. Lincoln , who Was a little woman , after standing on tip toe and Teaching to the tops of their beads , decided that It was a tie. Colonel Joe Johnston' ; who bin been a post- office Inspector for long > carr , is an nld chum of Dockcry pf Missouri , rays Ihe Washington Post. The olner day after dinner at Wlllard's the two stepped to the cigar stand to get what Is Indlspcnsaole to every true Mlssourlan. "Let's have some of the kind of rigars Dockery always smokes , " said Oolon'jl ' John ston , "Here , Dockery , ttake ono nd put two or three In your pocket , " added the colonel , with much exhibition of conscious liberality. , , Dockery availed hlms9lfnf the treat , but without great enthusiasm , ' "Now , " said the , colonel to the man of cigars and beaming' with comfartabla feel. Ing , "give mo some good clgara for rrself. ' A man of distinction .who came to the postal congress Is Mr. Chant ; Yen Hoon , who was minister plenipotentiary turn China during the Harrison administration , M that time the legation was In Stow.irt ( astlo , re- lales. Ihe Plttsburg Dispatch , and many and elaborate dinners were glv < ? n to the denizens of the- republic by the then ChlncMO mlnlbtcr , who , luincvr , kept the womui of his licute- hald well In the background , Al his flrsi large reccjulon the minister was coached by one of his American frlnds as to the etliiuetto of the oct-as'on , HP was told that thr guests in passing out vvculd all say they had had a very enjoy-jblo evenIng - Ing and ho must hay , "I am very glad , " . - H went very well until a tipsy official came along and varied the order by caylng bolbtcrously , "Well , I must go now , " The mliilFter was ready v.-lth his "i am very glad" and he said It a If he meant it. A Nonconformist mlnUler In England re cently prajcd that "this pparl ; of grace may b watered by the dr-w from on high. " Jones , u profe-tticd religionist , had for years taunted Droun with his nnoithodox doubt- Ingn. At a ceitaln dinner , given by Jones the host became obstrvpeiou&ly tipsy. Ladles were present , am ) after .hoy had withdrawn Jones llung hlmcclf , with n lighted cigar , Into a chair beside his frli'nd , "Ilfire I die , old chap , " he anncunccd , ratlin thick of tongue , "I'm determined to corneit you , " "Ab to thn truth of one dogma , " Eald Brown , " > on'vo certainly done so.Vhlch Is that ? " mumbled Jones. "The elcvntlcii of thD host " Mr. Chatter A certain preacher at Phlla- delphla IB much like the X-ray , He10 cently made an impoitant discovery. Mr. Inquirer What did ho do ? Mr , Chatter Oh , he drclanxl to hU congre. gallon that UK- devil mucle tilE home ( Lore , Mr. Inquirer Did they me ; and have a fight ? Mr , Chatter No , the rciult vvus tint the pieacher bud to flfht tlm cocgfcgatlon then. A steadfast growth cf half a century tells what Cook's Imperial Champagne , extiu dry. 1 . Hold rne-Jal , World's fair. \ Easiest Terms Tomorrow Only 10,000 Window Slmdos , 7 foot ! ever given by boat roller , best cloth , compluto , worth 76c , for any house for28c in the west 28c > < 9 < - < 9 9 < a9 - < * . < Q9 - < s 9 . .n8ta - < $ . , S7.CO $20.00 Bed fie Quick Meal Room Suit , Tumblers O.isnllno S5S5c5 = with Chnvnl for Btnvo drossoi-tlirco " 3C'iV'lJir''sy this Iiicccs , Be 3.65 . weak 14.50 $15,00 - Cooking ' t3fi.no fa uiti- Copper Itoltom f A = fill 3-plcco Bad Stovu WiiOi Holler $20.00 BED LOUNGE Z7j < B. - UOOMI SIUI" - * .jfeg . . y * nntlquo 01 nin- 9,95 Upholstered In m hcuiuiy llnlsli-- $7.60 Whltorimmcl Iron Hodn eft 50c croton , nicely tutted , this week l > ris : trtliimliiiH"tliN we-t-k OiOU \i this wi'ok only ffi3s = ixr 17,50 JIU 00 Mnsslvo Iron Hod , solid brass C Fn , trlmmlngi , very pretty , this \u-ok UiOU SOo Mo I Matting , per Copper liotton ( SPECIAL Tea Kettle , ' yurd FURNITURE AT WHOLESALE PRICES. I4c The nrices suffixed to the articles herewith given are what SALE 24c the average dealer pays to the manufacturer. We are enabled I $1.2.- ; to quote them because we purchase in quantities such as the 2-quurt ' smaller dealers do order in whole As Tea Pots , Antique Dining : not a year. we arc I Iloom Chair , building homes Cor thousinds of families , we are forced to buy , ( Oc 67c often times , the entire output of a factory. Because of this , hnm J1.CO Lnco Netting- Cur- the manufacturer is only too willing to cut his prices. This tnltm , , this new week patterns , lOo cut vvj turn to the mlvintnj'o of our patrons. Those fnots , Important to the homemaker J400 $12.00 Antique maker , tire Ircoly ndmitted by every fumltnro dealer In the country. 79c Urcnd Vans , Double Russia Chiffonier Wo have furnished thousands of homes. Iron Oven , highly polished , $5 00 Tapestry 5c Curtnlns , henv- deep , roomy lly fringed , 2.75 go . drawers , this week for r.oc this week , 2.75 Ref i Igcrntor U.DO 5.75 Pans , Canvas Cots J200 Chcnlllo Ta ble Covers , this 25c i\v eck , 68c $5 GO 3-fold Oak Screen , very 98c nlco Indeed , this lOc 73c week only , Clock Pudding Pans , Shelves , 2.75 JS5 00 solid oak Side , Special 5c bunrd , has nnsslvo 25c $8 00 Hanging curving , ISxffi bevel J22 Mnhocnnv finish J14 00 Hcvvvood Hub } ' Bargains mirror , swell ' plate ' Lump , complete , Ilookcnec nnd Pcsk , Carr'age. hcautlful'y front drawers with beautiful " ImB snunrc Bla"8 ilnnr upholstered In eieton this Instead of ovnl ns In never befoio hns this of Finest decorated cdiade $ H CO solid onk highly polished week . J3.no cut-Hits II K carriage been offered Lunch and prisms , ished nibestOb ami char neck M.lfi-'J thl-3 price , only JG75 Water Coo'ers , this week coal tilled Refrigerators $1'2M ( ) Antliino Oik JIT Bollil oak Oombl- Carpets _ n.iskets. really the lilgjrest bargain. Sideuoard , very nice natlnn Cnsc , on fit ! ( ) U1 Icyxvoud llaby This week only $303. this C'.n rhino go tills week I. 4.75 JT.no Ice Chest , well made ; week .8.50 Jui J5.3Q. this week. 25c this week only ? 205. BEDDING. CROCKERY. CARPETS. 13 ticking 00 Mattresbeo. , well mailo heavy I " 1C $18 00 IDO-nteco English fi5c Heavy Inprnin Dliinui set , uiiolco if , ( $9.50 $ 29C --this vvoelc lilw - - 3 colors , undi-iglarcd Ctu-pct in pretty J2.00 Springs , heavy hard decoration1 ! , for . . . . . elohigns , for wood week fniiiiL's , B.IO I 1C J8.00 12-plcco toilet ot. 75o extra tiimlity all this with beautiful slmpiMl wool " $1000 1s the value of this $3 DO Comforts , ininv dif jar , lovely decoration ; pretty 8-foot Arctlcsue r.\- ferent p it turns i DC this week , Cut-pot , for tension Tnb'eRC ; offer this week I.UU S3 , " 0 Library I.imps , SI 00 Tiipcstiy lliutsc " them.this vvek at 4.93. $350 Antique full . vveinilled , complete > , nliely ( J.ii)0i | , In nu\v and 54c C .50 0-fo > t Antique Kx- size Wood Bed , go 82.00 Pillows . , dec-orated , this $1.15 $ rich colorings , tills enslo n Tuhlo. at tJie rldlc- this . . | f liorpilr. . wcuk week llotii urlco of ? : ) 15. week at 1.1 this weol. BRIIftlSSfCBlEBElEOTRiClAN Character Sketch of the Noted Englishman William Henry Preece. MARKED FOR KNIGHTHOOD AT THE JUBILEE Introduced the TcK'iiltoiic In ami Ilullt Up the Iiiinn-iiNe Telv- SjHti'iu of AVIileli lie IH the IleuU. Conspicuous among the batch of noted Englishmen marked for knighthood at the coming jubilee celebration la William Henry Prcecc. Mr. Preece Is cnlef electrician to the British government. From a compara-1 lively humble position In the civil service he has risen atep by step until he la now the head of the Immense English telegraph system. His fame as a scientific man has meantime become worldwide. His genial personality has Impressed Itself on the people of two continents. His booka on special electrical subjects are authoritative. Ho la , In fact , a nu.n of many parts. Yet hla term of service to the government Is about to expire by limitation and he will shortly be retired. As a partial recompense for the loss of his position he will bo retired on full pay , and as a reward for his zeal In the general quest for scientific truth he will be accorded all the honors of knighthood and possibly , as eomo of his friends fondly hope , those of baronetcy. A COMPOSITE PORTRAIT. William Henry Preece Is one of these rare Engllrhmcn who thoroughly appreciate Amer ica and Americans. There Is no trace of sycophancy underlying his avowal ot this feeling , for he was skeptical enough when ho first visited the United States. It la fiuniclent In proof of the esteem In which he Is held -over here to say that on a recent anniversary , although It was not publicly announced , he received many telegrams of congratulation from his friends In this coun try. Like all men of great versatility , he Is so to speak , a composite of many character istics. Thus , he Is a deeply scientific man who dearly loves a joke , an Imaginative enthusiast and a cautious , pilnataklng In vestigator , an athlete and a deep student , a strict disciplinarian -who la loved for hla kindly disposition , A man of domestic In cllnatlons who mayu be said to set foot In every county In nBngland several times a jcar , an art lovcrtnnd a nhrewd man of affairs , a man of aru essentially retiring dis position who Is ja delightful after-dinner speaker. At all events , a man whose character - actor phasej areii many , varied and well worth studying. Ho comes well byjblH scientific knowledge , ' "I remember , " hei said recently to Herbert Laws Webb his nephew , TV ell known In elec trical circles In Oils' country , "when I wan 11 years old , oun/imilly doctor took mo to hear Taraday lecture at the Royal Institu tion. I was EO Interested In his subjects and so fascinated' vrlth the great scientist himself that I begswi to be and was allowed to attend every leuture Tjraday gave duilng tlio course. At oaix of his subsequent lec tures I acted ca I''aldaj'a assistant , and I was a constant attendant at all his lectures from 1S4C to 1SKT. That was the period of Ills most famou.Mvork. I was yet In my teens , I recollect one memorable occasion when Faraday wa studjlng underground circuits. Iy Unking' together some of the wires on the theu existing lines ho had obtained a complete circuit 1,600 miles long. Galvanometers were Inserted at each 400- mlle length , and the results of the experi ments attracted a great deal of attention In the scientific world. Among those present were Sir George Airy ( then astronomer royal ) and Edwin and Lotlmer Clark. It was my first real Introduction to scientists and scientific men. " THU GROWTH OF A PRODIGY , Truly such a baptlam'was a presage of hit ) future greatness. Ho became a scientific prodigy. At 20 jears of age he was in charge of the nicctrlc and International Telegraph company. He occupied the poit but a brief porlsO , when he was appointed superintend ent of the Southern district and of the London & Southwestern Railway company. He was also engineer of the Channel lo- lands telegraph. Throe were tbo days when auybody who was anybody might ouu a tele. .graph system. In 1870 all the existing tele graph lines In England became the property of the state. Preece became a government official and one of such increasing prom inence that his fame spread to the proverbial four quarters of the globe. He was called upon to lecture and all London went to listen to his version of a fairy tale , which. In ad dition to being as absorbing as anything ever told In the Arabian Nights , had the further merit of truthfulness , for electricity In Its practical application was just then beginning to take hold of the popular mind. He wrote books also. His text book on the telegraph Is the most comprehensive volume on the subject. Other works Included such subjects as "Tho Rise and Piogre&s of Telegraphy la England , " "Fifty Years' Progress In Teleg- raphj , " "Electric Lighting in America" "Domestic Electric Lighting , " "Ther mal Effects of Electric Currents , " "Studies In Acoustics , " "Ihe Block System of WorkIng - Ing on Railroads , " "Tho Conversion of Radiant Energy Into Sonorous Vibrations , " "The Limiting Distance of Speech by Tele phone , " "Long Distance Telephony" and bo on throughout a list which would neces sarily become dry from too detailed a recital. He has been connected as judge , delegate or commissioner with every electrical exhibi tion of any note which has been held In Europe or Ameilca for a quarter of a cen tury past. Ho is consulting engineer to the British colonial office and his position as cnglncer-ln-chlef to the English government Is without doubt the most Important In the electrical world. In the course of his career he has had the honor to be invited to become - como a member of the council of the Royal society and of the Institution of Civil En gineers , the Royal institution , the Physical society , the Meteorological society , the WILLIAM HENRY PREECE. British asBOclallon , the Society of Arln and others less well known. Ho is also a follow and member of the council of King's college. PREECE AND HELL. But his really great achievement was the Introduction of the telephone Into England , There wag a decided opposition to It In Eng land when Its practicality was first demon strated , J'rceco himself was possessed with the idea that it was a well boomed play thing of no extended application , But a royal commission sent him to Hits country In quest of knowledge on the subject , and , naturally seeking out the man best ac quainted with the facts In the case , he came In contact with Alexander Graham Bell. U was Greek meeting Greek. The affability of Bell was In no measure outdone by that of Preece. The skepticism of the Englishman was turned to cnthublasm. He recroEsed the ocean full of his subject and Intent on making his native laud ono of the leading telephone nations on earth. Ills report received the necessary sanction ami ho went ahead with his installations. Wht-n all was ready for a distinguished trial of a long distance line the queen was Invited to talk over the wire. The result was a very funny Incident , I'rfeco'a oun version of the story It suniclcntly amusing : "When the telephone was getting Into work the queen wa * anxious to lest Ita pow ers , and accordingly atrangemenla were made to put Oiborne , Portsmouth and Lon don into telephonic communication with ono another. With this In view I went to Southampton , and it was airanged that a band should play In London at 0 o'clock , BO that her majesty might hear tbo music. Some slight mishap occurred to tbo Osborne section of the wire , and the queen's coming waa del i > cd. The musicians , aflcr plajlfig Bomo time , were dismissed. ' Shortly after , to my consternation , I received a wire from Osborno stating' that the queen had arrived and waa ready to hear the music. What was to be done ? ' " The band had departed and there was no way of getting another. On a hasty Impulse > I decided to see what I could do , and hummed 'God Save the Queen * through the telephone. Then I Inquired If her majesty had recognized the tune. 'Yea , ' was the reply ; 'It was the national anthem , but very badly plajcd. ' HIS POWERS OP PERSUASION. The spirit of the man Is well Illustrated by the above atory. His geniality Is further shown by an anecdote told by W. D. Weaver , editor ot the American Electrician. It also brings him nearer the hearts of Amer icans. "I met Mr. Preece In America when ho was on his way to the World's fair at Chicago. I was then editor of the electrical World and wo were very desirous of obtaining his photograph , to bo published along with the pictures of other Euiopcan scientists then visiting this country. I eaw Mr. Preeco nt hla hotel , and with him waa Alexander Siemens , well known as an electrician , whose family name Is an honored ono In the scien tific world. Preeco's geniality at once prompted him to acquiesce to my desire for n picture , but the modesty of Siemens was proof against It. Not only did he not have a picture of himself , but he refused to allow ono to bo taken. ' 0 , come , como , Sie mens , ' said Preece , 'why not-have It taken ? You are well known over here. ' Wo , no , ' said Siemens , 'It Is my father that Ameri cans know , not I. ' 'On the contrary , ' eald Preece , 'It la you. Why , certainly , wo will go right down tomorrow morning with Mr. Weaver and havo-our pictures taken. ' But Siemens was obdurate and I was compelled to leave without his consent. > As I was about to leave , however , Preeeo assured mo that Siemens would be along with him the next morning. CAPTURED THE PHOTOGRAPHER. "Suro enough bo waa , Into the photog rapher's the two walked together , Siemens perfectly willing to sit /or his photograph. Whatever kind of persuasion Preece used It was certainly all-aurflclcnt. The photog rapher , who. by the way I will call Parker , although It Is not his leal name , was a man who prided himself on the number of celeb rities he bad photogiaphcd. Preeco com pletely captured the heart of the man with his geniality. He spied a photo of Dlalne. 'Why , there Is Blalne ! ' he cried , 'O , yes , ' said the photographer , 'I have taken several of out great men. ' 'Have yon ? ' said Preeco. 'I'll ' bet I can recognize tbo picture of any great American you've got In the place. ' 'Can you ? ' said Parker , throwing down tcv- eral. 'Well , who are . .hey ? " 'Why , ' said Preeco , 'this ono Is Depew ; this Is Cleve land , hero IB Carlisle and Benjamin Har rison. Got any more ? ' Parker was aston ished at the celerity with which Preeco rat tled off the names. Ho hunted up a lot of pictures of men of not quite BO much prom inence. It was uo use , Preeco knew them all , and every time he finished summing up came that quizzical demand , 'Got any more ? ' In ten mlnutca ho appeared to know the photographer nil his life. He had dropped the prefix 'mister' and was calling him plain Parker , and had him busily engaged pulling down long-forgotten celebrities from dusty nooks in a fashion which showed him to bo fairly bubbling over with delight. When wo were on the way out Preeco excused him self as though he had forgotten something and went back. Putting his head In the door he called out : 'I eay , eh ! doodby. Parker ! ' A few dajs afterward I met the photographer , The remembrance still accmed to tickle him. 'Why , ' he oald , 'that man Preece Is ona of the finest men I ever met. ' " TELEGRAPHING WITHOUT WIRES. It is typical of the man that he considers no person or object too insignificant for hla attention. It Is this phase of his character which made him grasp the reln of succeed BO early In life , which hat made him the most progrertlvo man of lib clique , which made him lutaiitly comprehend the possi bilities of the telephone. He has grasped and succeoefully exploited theories which more conservative men have waited to have thrust upon them. Thus he baa been the moat active ) patron of the ) oung Italian , Marconi , who has startled the scientific world with his exploits In telegraphing without wins , and of Dr. lioce , whose efforts In the came direction have attracted attention. Hla assistance given to these luvratlgalorn prove * hli > personal disinterestedness on the side ot Bileine. for he lisa been working for year * on the eame lines , although not with such radical assumption of new theirj and method. In 1892 he made practical trial * acre * * the Engllflh-charnel , between the mainland and. two Islandstthe- Helm nnd the Steerc Helm , the first o\'er three miles and tlio seconl five and one-half miles from the shore. Wires were erected along the main * land shore and along the Island shore , but no wires crossed over or under the water. An alternating current was used and Morao signals were exchanged by means of a Morn a key and a telephone. Quite distinct signals wore received by Mr. Preece from the Flat Helm , on which Island was stationed -Mr. Gavey , engli.cer of the South Wales division of the postal telegraph. The firit meiGaga announced the death of Mr. Graves of th * technical department. A DEFINITION OF GENIUS. \ What might be called the personal life of the scientist is as Interesting as his public life , although the line of demarcation Is- sometimes very difficult to define. In many respects his habits simply prove Dr. John son's definition of genius , 1. e. , a capacity for hard work. Like all men of very actlvi brain he takes but little sleep. He Is atone ono with Thomas A. Edison In partaking of the Napoleonic prescription of five houri a day. Hcrbcit Lavva Webb recently askci him how he managed to accomplish so much- work as he Is known to do In ono day. "Well , " ho replied , " 1 always RO to bed regularly nt 11 o'clock at night , and I alwayi awake regularly at 4 o'clock In the morning. Before I gave up hmoking I was alwayr drowsy on awaking. I stopped smoking seven or eight ycara ago nnd now I wake Instantly and am ready for work I alt up In bed and put In from four to seven hours at whatever I have In hand. It U a nplendlil way of adding 40 per cent to the working : day. " "Whatever he has In hand" may be- the proccffl of a new Invention , a monograph on some scientific subject , or an argument on ocean telephony. Nearly all bin original papers were written In this manner. But when ho goes to the postofllco he endeavors to forget bis early inonilnu work for Iho tlmo being at least. The evening IB gener ally put in In lecturing or nt the meeting of nome scientific roclcty. TOOK A FLYJNG DIVE. "Speaking of his athletic tendencies they were well Illustrated by an affair which toolc place nt Soi-thampton some > cara ago. Preeco arrived late for the twin. It was , In fact , Just moving out of the station In onn of the c < inpayments of a carrlago wcio several of his friends He was not going lo be left behind. The door of the compartment was locked , but tlio window waa open. Ho shouted to his friends lo make ready , nnd running swiftly down the platform ho cal culated his distance and mudi ! aIjInK / dlvii" straight at tbo window. lie palled thiongh the air , cleared the window and landed In the anna of his friend ? . He la quite proud of his athletic feats. But to return tn Gothic lodge , Mr , Preeco claims It to ha\e been the fcccond house In England to bo lighted by electricity. The Installation was Lomplctcil just us he was about to start on one * of bin numerous pilgrimages lo Canada. Ills ulster , who kept houeo for him , begged him not to turn on the current until he returned. She perhaps thought It might explode , or do eomo other thing equally dangerous. I unload of complying with her wishes , ho on the contrary turned off the gas and left the whole Irstollntlon In charge of the gardener. Ho had the satisfaction of learning when ho returned that not n breakdown of any kind had occurred while ho was away , " The remarks of his nephew can bo supple mented by pointing out the fuither entice ments of Gothic ledge. Hero , after all , iiuwt Ms heart bo , for hero dwell his children his glrlu and boys , whoso reverence for their parent rests not only on slmpln love , but also on the substantial belief that ho U the * being who , In their oycs at least , has done and can do all things. Thceo amo children preserve as a sacred relic a large box full of telegrams of congratulation which cajim pouring In from all over Iho world when their father wen made a Companion ot the Bath. The dignity was conveyed In an au tograph letter from Gladstone , wilttcn on the veteran statesman's 84th birthday. Tlio eplrlt of Prceco pervades his home. It IB found In the electric plant out In the gar den , in the photographic ttudlo Installed In an outhouse. In the Ispahan hanglngft , In the curios from Perula , South Africa anil Austialla , but most of all In the geniality , which Ie the principal part of this- Ideal home. Herein the man himself nhlnes out. THEODORE WATERS. IllirU.rii'N Ariilcii snlii- , The bcit Salvn in Iho world for cuts , bruises , eorea , ulcers , call rheum , fever Hoiua. letter , chapped bauds , chllblalni , < oinp , and nil skin fruptloiu. and potlllvely cure * piles , or no pay required. H li guauntottil to give * perfect satisfaction or money refunded. I'rlc * 25 cents per l > i > x. Tor tale by Kuhn c Co. >