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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1899)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEEs FRIDAY , JUNE U , 1890. HIS flRST PENITENT. y KA'l'HLKEN MATIIEW. ( Copyright , ISM , by Kathleen Mathcw. ) I'AIIT I. Mnly YK , JitHflec. Midnight rang out from the belfry of St. Sebastian's Catholic church , the most fash ionable church of that denomination In New York City. It was a hot , oppressive August night. The air -was heavy with electricity that would not burst and sweep eomo of the awful humidity from the atmosphere. In the rectory adjoining the church the pastor and his two domestics , an old house keeper and a man servant , had , In accord ance with their usual custom , gone to bed qullo early. Dut Father d'Arcy , the young curate , still sat at his study window , looking out at the night , or seeming to do so. Ho was a very handsome man , with the kind of face that men trust and women Tove. The kind of face that haunts ono who has once seen It , because of something strangely prophetic In .tho eyes. This something It Is hard to define , but most people have felt It at times. There are eyes with nothing behind them. You feel that tomorrow they will go out forever. But these other eyes , the prophetic ones , seem to foretell on Immortal futurity , here or In other worMs. Who knows ? Only , with or without reason , you feel sure that somo- whcro , forever , they will continue -to see. Father d'Arcy's eyes were of this order. In color they were gray and deep set , with heavy dark brows and lashes. The nose was etralght and strong , with crean-cut nostrils. The mouth , largo nnd full , might have been sensuous , had not years of ascetic training drawn nnd changed Its lines. The head was superbly shaped nnd built on the shoulders. It was covered with heavy masses of dark curling hair , worn close cropped almost to tonsorlal severity. But any ono -who could have gazed Into ths young priest's face on this particular night would have noticed nothing .but Us expression , which denoted Intense'mental agony. Horror , fear , resolve , doubt , despair , an swept over the features In turn. Ono chased the other 'but ' to return again , Hko the spokes of an over-revolving wheel. Two months before Henry 'Arthur d'Arcy had completed his long clerical course , nnd amidst the Imposing ceremonies of the Catholic church had boon solemnly or dained a , priest. On the day of Ills ordination , as he lay prostrate at the foot of the altar before uttering the last vows of consecration , what hopes , ambitions and resolutions wcro reflected on the camera of his mind ! The good ho would do ! The wonders ho would accomplish In the world. Like another Savonarola ho would wage war against the superstition that made a serfdom of God's service. Single-handed and alone he would sweep from the eyes of the multitude the cob webs of credulity which Impeded their prog ress. Ho had found the light , and ho wanted all the world to enter Into the grand curve of Its orbit. ! And perhaps Eotno day Involuntarily his eyes wandered to the oplBcopal throne , where his grace the archbishop sat la mitred and regal dignity. FA * D'AItCY ADVANCED AND DROPPED ON ONE KNEC BEFORE HIS SUPERIOR Henry Arthur d'Arcywas an ambitious man , with a power-loving and powerful na ture. Immediately after his ordination ho Was appointed to the curacy of St. Sebastian's church. Ho bad entered on his duties there with much ardor and enthusiasm. Dut before one week bad seen him at his post on extraordinary change took place In the young priest. This change dated from a Saturday after noon In June , when for thd first time ho took his acat In the confessional , to exor cise the enormous power of his ministry , to hold or retain the elns of his fellow man. man.Ho had entered the tribunal with the courage and aanctlty of ti young Ignatius , hut after having heard the confession of his first penitent ho had immediately left the confessional and cent word that ho would hear no moro confessions that after noon. From that moment hoas an al tered man. Ho grow silent nnd performed hla priestly duties with a dull apathy , strangely contrary to his former ardor. On this hot ( August night , as ho sat at his window looking out with unseeing gaze , could the brush of some artist have seized the expression on his face , that paltater's fame nnd fortune were assured. In It lay a drama euob as no Hugo or Lardon has over yet told , It looked as If it had lived through the tragedy of each human life , "since man was born to sorrow as the sparks fly up- < whrd , " and each had loft its trace , not In sear or wrinkle , but in the fathomless agony of the eyes and tensity of the lines aroutod tbo mouth. For the monotonous agony of mind which for two long months had racked the young priest there seemed to bo no respite. Day and night the same thoughts were nl- wayfl recurring and giving .birth to the earao arguments. A certain apathetic heavi ness seemed to hang around his brain , paralyzing it to all Ideas that did inot bear on the awful problem which was cre ating a schism In his mind between duty and Justice. Two o'clock struck , and < hen 3 , and presently a sickly gray dawn light stole Into the room and gave form and palpa bility to tbo objects it touched. The Man of Sorrows looked flow la from the ebony crucifix ever the mantel , Did he know of the agony In his dis ciple's heartT Perhaps , but ho gave no sign. On the wall over the bed Ouldo's beautiful Madonna looked eternally up ward , with her hearts-broken , tear-fllled eye * . As the light grow stronger tbo young priest looked up and into those eyes. Ho thought : "If they would but look down Into mine' they might give nig coun sel , tell me how to act , whether to keep still , and true to my oath of eternal silence and perhaps go mad beneath the burden of my ffcrct. Or 'would they counsel me to scatter vows of holy church to the winds oud fco Justice rldo triumphant through dark , Places ? " | Perhaps the Virgin understood , and the woraa'a In her throbbed to his uf- ' ferlng , for presently a gleam of light the first In weeks shot through his mind. | Why not go and seek counsel of higher powers in this dark hour of struggle and un certainty ? Why not seek out his bishop , a man of ripe experience , most noble char acter and cool , righteous judgment ? Why , not ask him to disentangle this mysterious woof of duty and Justice , nnd obido by his decision ? No sooner had this Idea presented Itself to' ' Father d'Arcy than ho resolved to act on It. For the first time. In many weeks ho seemed to have grasped a something ho could lean on. Ho wondered that he had not thought of going lo the archbishop before. | 0 , the relief at reaching a decision after such a long , miserable period of mental un rest and uncertainty ; the comfort of sharing thn burdening responsibility with other strong shoulders ! 'Already ho felt better. He undressed and went to bed and was soon sound asleep. When he a\\oko It was 8 o'clock. He felt refreshed and courageous and much moro like himself than he had done for a long time. Four hours' heavy sloop had done him good. He immediately remembered his resolve of the previous , night , and he determined to act on It at once , for he feared some impulse might make him change his intention and pursue , instead , on his own responsibility , ono or other of the courses he had so often almost decided on during the mental torture of the last two weeks. Twenty years ago the Catholic archbishop of Now York did not occupy the handsome whlto stone residence on Madison avenue and Fiftieth street , where that dignitary now resides , to the rear of St. Patrick's cathedral. sHe Ho lived further down In a less Imposing but comfortable and commodious bishopric. The archbishop was a tall , dignified , hut benevolent looking man , with masses of snow-whlto hair , and very penetrating dark eyes that invariably gave ono the impres sion of reading him through and through. People rarely lied to his grace , owing to the tradition that It'was useless -to do BO , as ho always could see to the bottom of the well. well.Ho Ho was a profound scholar , know all the languages , living and dead , and more over had the reputation of being more liberal - oral In matters pertaining to church and state than most of his brethren. When Father d'Arcy was announced he had Just finished 'breakfast ' , and was scan ning the morning papers. Ho TV < i3 rather surprised at this matutinal visit from the young priest , but his ready ponotratlvo powers , sharpened toy long and constant practice , at once told him that the business which bad brought him there was of moro than ordinary Importance. Father d'Arcy advanced and dropped on one knee 'beforo his superior , and respect fully kissed the episcopal ring , a largo and magnificent ruby , the gift of his hollnesa , the pope , which the bishop always were on the third finger of his loft hand , at the eame time asking a bleeslng and the privi lege of a private Interview. "My son , both are readily accorded , " eald his grace , and rising slowly he led the way into his private eanotum. After they had heen closeted together about ten minutes the archbishop touched the boll beside his chair. It was Immedi ately answered by his private secretary , the only member of the household who had the privilege of approaching his grace in his private quarters. "George , " said the bishop , "It Is now 9 o'clock. For the next two hours I doalro to bo entirely undisturbed. Say to all in quirers that I am engaged on important matters , and must not be interrupted. " George bowed respectfully and loft the room , carefully closing the door after him. "Now , my son , continue your atory , " said the bishop , fixing his penetrating eyes on the pale , agitated face of the priest. "Con- i coal nothing of the mental struggle through which It has been His will that you should pass. Then , In the capacity of your un worthy superior , I will counsel you what course to pursue. " "However faulty this advice may seem to you , remember that your vow of obedience obliged you , In the interests of our holy mother , the church , to submit to the dic tates of those in whom she has vested the episcopal power. Obedience Is the noblest and first duty of a priest. In fulfilling It all further responsibility Is swept from your soul. " Two hours later Father d'Arcy walked up the avenue toward St. Sebastian's church with the lithe , swinging , upright gait of ono who has suddenly thrown off a great load , I'.VIIT II. T v > ty Yrnri I.uter Delmontco'B nt Ellilit , That the world has gone well with Arthur Van Doran , banker , none can deny. In Wall street , where his banking house stands , his luck Is proverbial. His every surmise seems nn Inspiration. Everything ho touches turns Into gold. These who know him well say that the integrity of , his character can only bo equalled by the phe nomenal success of his enterprises. And , strange to say , he has no enemies , which is a highly exceptional state of affairs with a man who , by his own labors , has attained so much prominence and prosperity. Ho is adored by his employes , for his success Is proportionately theirs. All tbo men In New York best worth knowing are hie friends and to a man they speak of Van Doran as the prince of good fellows. A year ago , in the spring of 1895 , Mr. Van Doran made up hU mind to go abroad for three months and knock leisurely about Europe , returning in August to Newport , where he owns a superb country home. For the voyage ho engaged the handsomest deck suite on board the etaamshlp Campania , as ho was to bo accompanied on the trip by his wife , a very charming woman and a very prominent member of New York's exclusive set. set.The The evening before Balling Mr. Van Doran gave a stag dinner to sit of his most Intlmato friends. As his handsome home on Fifth avenue was practically shut up and enveloped In Its annual gauze draperies and summer silence , ho decided to give this dinner at Delmonlco's , In ono of the private dining rooms upstairs. > HlR wife had suggested the Waldorf , but Van Doran , like a great many other New Yorkoro of his age and set , preferred dear old Dcl's , where be and his chums had merrily wined and dined long before an Astor - tor thought of putting up the big red hotel. So Delmontco got the order , which con sisted of two words , "carte blanche , " with the additional proviso that every luxury , both In and out of season , should be served up to his guests. The evening eot for this dinner wna.Frl- day , April 24 , nt 8 o'clock , as the Van Dorans sailed on the Campania the follow ing day at noon. The Invitations were limited to six old and Intimate friends of the hcaL There was his lawyer , 'Mr. Smytho Brown , a man about Van Doran'a own age , and a ohlnlng luminary in the legal world of Now York. For many years he had transacted all the legal business of the Van Doran banking house , and was consequently on terms of great intimacy with Its head. "GENTLEMEN , I WAS FR. D'ARCY'S FIRST PENITENT. " Another of the guests was Dr. Bloomfield - field Hunter , -who had long had the privilege of exercising hla curative power In the Van Doran household , where ho was treated as a tried and trusted friend. Then there was Rev. Arthur d'Arcy , pas tor of St. Sebastian's Catholic church , of which Mr. Van Doran was an honored mem ber and generous benefactor. Twenty years have elapsed since that hot August night when we first made Father d'Arcy's acquaintance , and in their passage they had left more than average trace on the countenance of this remarkable man. Though still in the prime of manhood his hair was almost silver whlto. But this pe culiarity only served as an admirable foil to the dark gray eyes with their heavy black brow * and lashes. These eyes were like two heavily charged magnetic 'batteries , which flashed powerful currents through all they touched. But it was only on rare occasions that their owner turned on the full flow of their magnetism , and then he swayed men's souls as the -wind sways fields of corn. Men said Father d'Arcy looked a disap pointed man. Women said ho looked inter esting , which was certainly true. Twice every Sunday they flocked to his church and sat enthralled beneath the influ ence of an intense personality and a superb delivery , as the fearless man of God pro claimed from the pulpit his views on all matters pertaining to church and state. These views , if at "times " declared un orthodox by narrower minds , rang true as they touched "tho target of the hearer's mind with the steelnbrlght arrow of conviction. It had been rumored at times that Father d'Aroy was not as popular as might be with the higher powers of his cloth , owing to the cxitreme liberality of his views and the fear less loandor with which ho gave voice to thorn. There are certain characters that inspire intense feelings in all who come in contact with them. Owing to an indefinable some thing in their nature , one must either hate or love them. They permit none of that mawkish middle feeling , which wo so gen erously 'bestow on mankind at largo , and which , during the penitential season , actu ates benevolent sowing societies to make chest protectors for the Zulus. Father d'Arcy rwas one of those lucky or unlucky Individuals. Ho Bad bitter enemies and stanch friends. People always spoke enthusiastically of him one way or the other. The remaining gentlemen who wcro in vited to Mr. Van Doran's dinner d'au revolr were all old and Intlmato friends he had known for years. At 8 o'clock on the evening appointed the six guests assembled in the private- room at Delmonlco's , where dinner was to be served. Their host was not there to receive them , but , as ho was going abroad the next day , they could roadtty understand that some Im portant business had unavoidably detained him. him.Tho The dinner table , which was a round one , stood In the center of the room. It presented a very dazzling and Inviting appearance , nvlth its load of silver , crystal and snow-whlto damask , and it was pro fusely and tastefully decorated with flowers. Half-past eight arrived , nnd Mr. Van Doran 'had not ydt appeared. However , as all those present were well acquainted , and had many interests in common , none of them seemed bored nt the delay. But when It struck 9 certain yearning glancon toward the door proved that some of them had suddenly begun to discover a void In certain parts of their anatomy. Just then Mr. Sraytho Brown , the legal light of the party , proposed that they should alt down and begin on the oysters , as It was evident that some unavoidable business had detained their host , who would probably arrive In the meantime. Thla suggestion was unanimously seconded ended by the other gentlemen and very soon the wco fish were being Joyously and appreciatively discussed. Though Into In the season , the oysters were delicate and briny , and with the. aid of the preparatory cocktail , they gave a funful flip to the conversation , which grew brilliant and entertaining. The ball was wittily tossed from ono tongue tip to the other , but finally some thing led up to the dlscusfclon of the re lation borne by the different professions to the family. The lawyer , Mr. Smythe- Brown , whose opinion on most matters carried great weight , seemed to think that the profession which he represented , from the fact of the confidences which it necessitate , got nearer to the family hearthstone than any of the others. As a proof of his argument , ho explained how often the husband and father Is compelled to reveal to his lawyer certain matters which he strenuously con ceals from wife and children. Some of the gentlemen present were In clined to agree with the lawyer , when Dr. Bloomfleld Hunter began to plead the cause of the medical profession. He said be quite agreed with bis legal friend that the law , as a profession , was very closely interwoven with the interests of the family , but at the same time ho thought ho was Justified In asetrtlng that the family doctor's position placed him on a still more intimate footing In the. house hold. "You e , gentlemen , " said he"your physi cian la the first person to extend to you the hand of welcome when you kick and scream your little person onto this gay old cnrth. And all through your days his eollcllous care helps you to fight the Ills I that flesh Is heir to. Many a time , when ( other worlds eccm perilously near , when the great something which U the beyond j seems eager to nnp that thread called life , the doctor , single hnnded , baffles Its deslro and coaxes you back to the 'here1 that we know , fo much moro comfortable for most of us than the 'there' that we know noth ing of. And the confidences ! Ol but these are confidences , the things wo somptlvnes hear ! If the way of the transgressor la bard , whnt is It to that of the falthlers , erring wife , who Is compelled to confide1 to her physician th.it which she scarce dares whisper to her God ? Up to this tlmo Father d'Arcy , though he had listened with deep interest to the clover arguments of 'both his friends , had taken no part in the discussion. Now , raising his eyes , calm and dark , like pools so deep that no emotion in their depths can ever reach the surface , he said as be looked around the table at his fellow guests : As a Catholic prlcet , gentlemen , I feel compelled to put In a plea for my profes sion , and the position it occupies In the family , which Is the foundation of all so ciety. But first let me state that I thoroughly appreciate the clover arguments advanced by my two friends. Between them It is difficult to decide. To my mind the ono vocation Is as es sential nnd Intlmato In the particular con nection which wo are discussing as the other , and both are Indispensable. But there Is a calling that is nearer than cither , moro intlmato than both , and It Is that of the Catholic priest , when in his sacerdotal capacity ho enters the family , for then ho makes his cntreo as the representative of Christ. To the believing Catholic , ho holds in his hand the omnipotent powers of aGed God , not the least of which Is the power to hold or retain the sins of his fellow man. 'My ' esteemed friend , Dr. Bloomfleld Hunter - tor , told us Just now of the solemn secrets of which the physician's car oftentimes becomes - comes the receptacle. Pain , that mighty leveler , wrings from its writhing victim the story of his or her frailty. Ah , the usurer , who trades in sweet , forbidden fruits , gota his Interest back ten thousand fold ten thousand fold. But there are sins , .black crimes nnd omls- slona that leave no outward scar. After years of commission nnd revelry therein the cyo gleams as bright nnd sparkling , the lip is still carmine and humid and the blood still bounds with Joyous , healthful eplurgo from heart to lung. Hero the aid of the physician can well bo dispensed with. No need is there to pour humiliating confession In his ear. But the soul is black with the leprosy of sin. To the believing Catholic there exists hut ono way In which it can bo cleansed. The sin-steeped soul must bo saved nnd purified again by the holy sacrament of penitence. "Whose sins yo shall forgive they are for given , whoso sins yo shall retain they are retained. " In the solemn tribunal of the confessional the priest as a man exists no longer. Ho is thtro as the fleshly representative of Christ , whoso mouthpiece ho becomes when ho pronounces the mighty words , "ab solve , " etc. Imagine then , ray friends , the magnitude and the multitude of the terrible confidences which pass each day through that middle man , the priest , to the car of the all-suffer ing Christ. There Is no dissimulation in the confes sion as it flows from the remorse-wrung soul of the repentant elnner to the car of his all-merciful God. Gentlemen , I shall now tell you the story of my first penitent It Is the one episode of my life which in all the worlds to como , I bcllevo I shall never forget. , , Ho poured into my ar the particulars of a crime ao atrocious , a murder so Inhuman and appalling in the unnatural and treacher ous circumstances of Us committal that for weeks after I had hoard it I suffered the agonlea of the damned. In fact , I was on the eve of leaving the church in order to bo able to dlvulgo the secret. It seemed to me so torrlhlo that my eolomn oath and duty as a priest should prevent mo from deliver ing to Justice the perpetrator of so hor- rlblo a murder. For days and weeks an awful struggle went on In my EOU ! ( between my binding duty of silence as the minister of God , ana" what I believed to bo my duty as a man to the stato. There were times when I al most resolved to leave the church and give the man up to Justice. Finally , ono hot August night , when almost on the verge of Insanity from the agony of the prolonged mental struggle , as I sat at my window feverishly turning the thing over and over again in my mind , a dlvlno inspiration touched my soul with its balm. It said : "Why not go to your bishop , and without mentioning names or 'betraying ' con fidences , explain all to him. "Shift the responsibility of decision from your young , inexperienced soul to the calm , clear Judgment and ripe experience of his. " Obey him that Is all. Next morning I hastened to the bishop and in a long private Interview I explained everything to him , dwelling particularly on the great temptation and deslro which seemed urging mo on to expose the criminal. After hearing all the bishop tofd mo , there could be no release from my duty as the con secrated priest of God. That duty bound mo solemnly to keep forever the secret of the confessional. Should I break my vow of silence , that moment I fell from the high estate of God's ministry and would bo ex communicated from the membership of the church. In conclusion tbo bishop said to mo : "Leave the sinner in the bands of Him who has said , 'Justice is mine. ' " Gentlemen , I obeyed , and every day of my life I thank God that I did so. Just then the dining room door swung open and Mr. Van Doran , the long-detained host , appeared on the threshold. As ho stood there a moment , beaming on bis guests , be presented a picture of perfect manhood. Six feet , broad shouldered and magnificently bulft , handsome , well groomed and well pre served , bo looked Just wbat he was < th j prosperous , happy , contented man of the world. Hastening toward bis old friends , bo passed around tbo table and warmly grasped and wrung each proffered hand , meanwhile apologizing profusely for bis unavoidable delay in Joining them. Finally he reached Father d'Arcy's chair , which was beside bis own , and throwing his arm with affectionate abandon around the priest's shoulders , ho said : "You will for give me , father , I know you will , for you bavo forgiven me many things. Gentlemen , I was Father d'Arcy's first penitent. " Vote a Bee coupon for tbo girls' summer vacations. 1'OIITO ItlCU'S I > IIINOII > At7 CITIES. Sct-noM nml CIiarnrtcrUtlcN of Sail Jiinn , I'onue anil Ma > aKuec , San Juan , as the seat of the Island govern ment , has always been the leading city In population , and also as regards the con gested condition of Us populace , writes a correspondent of Harper's Weekly. It boasts naturally , as the pact home of the Spanish governor general , the principal military , naval and high civil functionaries , the finest public buildings , and there have been ap propriated and expended moro moneys for general local Improvements than In any other city , It has undoubtedly the best harbor on tbo Island , in that it Is completely land locked , though at present It Is sadly In need of dredging , so that ships may have suffi cient depth of water and room to maneuver In the basin , The city Is entirely clrcum- valleted by an Immense sea-wall , and guarded on the north and east by the pic- A Game With a A Kingdom for the Winning. > * WSXWW\XSX/W/WN * * * * * \ the Strlklpg IVIo5 5 tif of a Brtlllapt rew > A cnuop ip tnc ornafta > L Serial Story cptitled | \ Sujiday Bcc , duiic JO. ) l S/N/N' > 'S'\/'WNSSVWSV Modern Mercenary By E. & H. HERON , Authors of "Tammer's Duel , " Etc. A STORY that gallops from the first line to the last , that tolls a chiv- * * alricand intensely dramatic lovu story , that follows the intricate plottings of master diplomats. "The plot is fresh , the intrigue ingenious , the portraiture vivid and the treatment unhackneyed. . . Altogether this is a fierce and vivid romance. " London Spectator. Cnrionnl } ' eiiniiRlt the oolluliorntorH Iicnr the uiniNiinl rclntlnii of inollior nml won. 12 , t II. Ilcrnii IM tin ; noiit tic plump ( or K. fc IIcMketli 1'rlcliuril. They lin\c iilronily iiublltilicil Bcvenil Iinncrful nlturt ntorlcN mill Mcrlnln , lint "A Modern Mercenary" In their Iiont nml Intent novel , a Marjr vrhlch IN nttrnctliiR nlilc-nnrcn < l Intercut III England. The players of this Game with a King , the prize of which is the win ning of a kingdom , are Count Sagan , agruff , unscrupulous , reckless giant , the commander of the guards of Maasau. He plays as a tool in the hands of Selpdorf , Chancellor to the King , the "man of the hour. " And behind these two , old Major Counsellor , representing England , the shrewdest diplomat of Europe , and Baron vpn Elmer of Germany , play the intricate keys of diplomacy. The King of Maasau , who is weak , wornout and sus picious , is a mere puppet in the hands of these master players. The pawns of the game are John Rallywood , the Modern Mercenary , a straight back , fearless young Englishman who fights a duel as cheerfully as ho makes love to a nobleman's daughter ; Valeria , the heroine , and the Countess Sagan , who loves the hero and appears as Valeria's bitter rival. All this takes place in the independent state of Maasau , which is so small that it is hardly noticeable even on the largest sized map of Europe. The Omaha Sunday Bee , BUY IT ! READ IT ! turesque , antiquated and massive forts of Morro and San Cristobal. The population of the city and suburbs Is estimated at about 30,000 and probably within the narrow confines of the town Itself , which Is compressed Into a very lim ited space between the great forts on the seaward sldo and the 'battlements ' of the harbor , live over 20,000 souls. The prin cipal house portion of the town consists of well constructed so far as the walls go double-storied buildingswith now and then one rising to three floors. In the more squalid portions of the city ( ono can walk all ever the town In an hour ) the houses nro but a story high , and In a single room an entire family and more eke out an existence In the semi-darkness of the one- wlndowod , Ill-ventilated apartment. The storekeepers and business men who do not live outside the city , In the pretty little suburban towns of IJayamon , San Turco and Rio Pledras , usually live over their stores , on the second floor. A town residence with a front yard Is unknown , and the only bits of green to > be seen ore In the gardens of the governor general's palace , the Casa Blanca , or In the Inner courtyards , measur ing a few square yards , of some of the more prosperous merchants. Pence claims , by Its last census , a popula tion of 49,000 people In Its urban and rural districts of the province. In the town pioper , however , the population Is 15,000 era a llttlo ever , though , by Including the vil lages of Cantera , Canas and Playa , which are closely connected together , and HP on the highway leading to the water front two miles away , the number may be raised to 24,600 , or quite as many people as In San Juan proper. An Important factor to men contemplating a permanent residence In some town on the I Island is the possibility of extension of the ( corporate limits. Pence has none of the natural barriers to expansion existing at San Juan , as It Is built upon a level surface , under the edges of the rolling foothills and at a considerable elevation above the sea. It can grow readily In almost any direction with equal facility , and it has not at Its threshold and of the miasmatic , fetid marshes EO common to the coast. There are three hospital's , Including the military ; a homo for the Indigent poor ; a few fair schools ; several clubs , at which Americans are very graciously received ; a very pretty little theater ; several hotels and cafes , which are the best on the Uland ; a library , with a few rare books and many worthless ones ; gas , electric light , and Ice plants all too small and defective ; water works , supplying an abundance of good potable water ; thermal baths , of which few seem to avail themselves ; and , lastly , the only Protestant church In Porto nico. Mayaguez Is the prettiest town of thn three large centers , In the lightness and grace of Its architecture , which In Spanloh towns Is apt to be very heavy. It also has the broadest streets and the widest foot pavements , and Is situated upon rounded rising ground , which will permit of easy drainage. The population Is estimated at about 12,000 , and It Is said that there is a greater percentage cf white inhabitants than In any other town. There Is not , In the town of Mayaguez , the same visible evidence of poverty In the hordes of ragged , tattered natives upon the streets , and the citizens claim that there are leas distress and want ; there are cer tainly , in the outskirts , fewer huts and hovels of the poor. This can be explained , to some extent , by the fact that Mayaguez IB off the main artery of travel , and does not as readily catch the negroei from the little Islands of the Lester Antilles , who are each year drifting ID greater numbero from their forlorn sea homes to Porto nice , JOBBERS AND MANUFACTURERS OR OMAHA. HAKNESS-SADDLERY. J * H. Haney ft Co. 31'fr * HARNESS , OADDLKA AND COI.LARO Jobber ! of Leather , SadJltt'i/ Hardware , Eta We solicit your orders. 313-315-317 S. 13th. BOILER AND SHEET IRON WORKS IVlUon A DruUc. Manufacturers boilers , amok * stacks and eroechlngs , vresauro , rendering , sheep dip. lard nnd water tanks , bollor tub s con- Untly on hand , second hand boilers bought and sold. Sprclal nnd prompt to repairs In city or country. 19th and Pierce BOOTS-SHOES-RUBBERS , n merican Hand 1 V Sewed Shoe Go M'frs | Jobbers of Foot Wear Xh Joseph Banigan Rubber Oo. CHICORY The American \ Chicory Go. Urow n ud manurictureri of all fornu of Chicory Omahi-lTremont-O'NelL DRY GOODS. M. E. Smith & Co. V lapvrltri and Jobber * of Dry Goods , Furnishing Goods AND NOTIONS. In the tope that It holds out moro material promUo. 'Also ' , the great coffco districts , which reach almost to the city's edge , de mand laborera for longer periods of the year , and lastly , the rate of wages has been , for the past few years , slightly higher than elsewhere ; a few centavos a day , where the usual wage is low , means a marvelous amelioration In the condition of tbo laborIng - Ing man. While Mayaguez ranks third commercially , and Aupppllra very llttlo territory with im ported mercbandiaj , Industrially or In the manufacturing of products it leads tb ? other cities and gives steady employment to many men. There are four big coffee mills , which i convert the eun-drled coffee , brought over the trails from Mayaguez , Utuado and I arcs districts , Into a fine export article by removing the second hull , bluing and polish- lee , In exportation of this product it is DRUGS. V.E. Bruce . & Co. Druggists and Stationers , "Qu a Bto" OpecUItlea. Cljurz , Wlnca and O mwlOtli tj lUrnty _ ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES. U/@sfern Electrical vv Company Electrical Supplies. John T. Burke , CONTKAOTOH POH ELECTRIC LIGHT and POWER PLANTS South 15th St. HARDWARE. L oe-Glass-Andreesen Hardware Co. Wholesale Hardware. Bicycles and Sportlnr Good * , liim-13 ney Street. SAFE AND IRON WORKS. 'he ' Omaha Safe and Iron Works , V G. ANDKKEfs , Prop. Makes a specialty ofT TrPr ? ESCAPES. * * * ' - - HUlJTTI'ItS And DurffUr Proof Safes n,1l , ( Vnult iJoors , etc , fllO 8 , 14th S * . , Ouahn , Neb , , second only to Ponce. This town also leadi In the shipment of fruit abroad , principal ! ! . to the United States. Ilnril nil ( lie Doi-lor , ho.ha. . . " Just dlcd in Dublin , 1"sl , of the rnld.contury Jrloli lnnSmw.,0irttI V5IU blr ttnd " > out him innumerable , Ono lie used to t ll himsplf apropos Q' his own n"ern < * > n a. crowd was staml- " "ulIc | JIOUBO before the , moment arrived. Pr Nedlfy ? FnP ? ia0 ChV as "cognlzf d * > y Homo of th crowd , which opened out to let him page , ° Ll m parking : . "Lot the doctor pass , boy * 0irp hi has k lit more noils than all the Invlnciblea put together. " W. M. Gallagher of Bryan , I-a. , aaya' "For forty yearn I have tried various cough medi cines. One Minute Cough Cure Is best of all. " It relieves Instantly and cur s all throi * and lung troubles.