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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 18, 1901)
y v Tfc J9Nto MlgANDYsilNto T7 , By Roy Farrcll Greene. Mirandy's voice is gcttin' cracked, a little quaver floats From out her pretty mouth when she attempts the higher notes. An, all in all, though still I love her just as much, I know She cannot warble like she did some thirty wars' ago. But lots o' times, when I'm nt work around the ham, I hear In some old song I'd half forgot, her voice a-ringin' clear, A hdncysuckle of a tune that round my ol' heart clings An fresh with youthful blossoms arc the songs Mirandy sings. It's "Hard Times Come Again No More," "John Anderson My jo, Or where that feller talks to Tom 'bout "Twenty Years Ago," "Ben Bolt," "Lorcna," "Home, Sweet Home," er maybe that ol' tune That makes you walk with Bobby Burns the banks of "Bonny Doon I wouldn't trade a one o' them old melodies we knew For all these new ones writ about a Hannah girl cr Lou, Since we had sweet ol' tunes them days an' not these rag-time things, An, somehow, love jes gushes out the songs Mirandy sings. The one that of some Maggie tells, "When You and I Were Young." It 'pears t' mc's the sweetest thing a mortal ever sung, An better yet than that, a glimpse of heaven I behold, When to my cars comes stealin "Silver Threads Among the Gold' Though modern songs an' opcrays the younger folks may please, I'd rather hear a cracked voice in the old-time melodies Than Patti's throat or Melba's warble hifalutin' things 1 he songs ot thirty years ago, tnc Story of a Boy. BY JULIA TRUITT BISHOP. Author "Deborrah of Lost Creek," etc. (Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Co.) She was listening to tho uniformed graybeard at the window, bending to ward him a. llttlo with an air ot charmod Interest that warmed tho heart under the gold braid. Fluttering down to them tho length of tho draw ing room camo tho hostess, that fool ish llttlo Mrs. Leasing, and they heard her saying to the gentleman besldo her, whllo sho was yet far off: "Oh, I've Just found you In time, and It's awfully awkward, but you know how people aro always disappointing you at tho last moment. You were to have gono down to dinner with Claro Rigdon, and Mrs. Harding with Ray mond Blaine, and neither of them camo so sorry " Tho girl at tho window had not changed her position In tho least. Sho still leaned over tho arm of her chair toward tho uniform, but tho General was suddenly conscious that the lovely young face had lost something of Its color. "Oh, Mrs. Harding," cried Mrs. Less lng, as tho girl stood up and smiled graciously at her hostess; "so awk ward for a husband and wife to go out to dinner together peoplo disappoint ed me but would you let Mr. Harding tako you out, Just to oblige me?" Tho hostess did not wait for n re ply, but took General Blake's arm and led him away. Tho two were left nlone, both standing In the shadow of tho window curtains. She was twist ing tho silken fringe ot the drapery between her fingers. Sho did not look nt him, but she saw that tho hand resting on tho back of the chair from which sho had risen was shaken. "Slnco wo aro within full view of a number of our dearest enemies," sho said with a scornful smllo, still not looking at him, "It might be as well to play tho itorce out and look well say, decently Interested In one another. Peoplo will discuss us soon enough." The hand on tho chair was suddenly steady. ith all my heart," said the gen tleman lightly, as ho placed a chair She took General Blake's arm. for her further back In tho window embrasure and took nnothor, closo at hand. "Wo will disappoint them for once." Sho looked beyond him, at tho throng that danced nnd promenaded and Walked down tho long succession of rooms. Sho looked anywhere but at him. "Whllo It Is really awkward," Bho said with a bitter voice and a charm ing smllo, "for a husband to be forced to tako his wlfo out to dinner, still, one may llvo through It under certain circumstances. One has but to remem ber that It Is the last time he will ever bo afflicted with her presence, and much may be borne. Really I scarce- sal songs Mirandy sings. mLmm ly expected to bio you hero tonight Was I not led to supposo that you were to start for Europo today?" "I start tomorrow Instead," ho re plied, coldly. "The delay was fortu nate. It gives "mo tho opportunity to dofer a nlno days' wonder for yet an other day. Let us do it thoroughly, whllo wo aro doing It. What shall wo discuss that will bring a pleasant ex pression to our faces; that will mako ub seem not merely tolerant of ono another, but absolutely absorbed, do votcd " "Let us talk of Lovo," sho said, with a burst of scorn and despair that sent a crimson over her palo face. "Re membering our desolato homo my "Ned" desolato life wo can surely talk of that" "You aro right," ho said, leaning a llttlo nearer. "Wo will talk of love.' Sho shrank away from him a llttlo, but at tho samo moment she smiled and nodded nt Mrs. Leasing, who passed near. "Love," ho repeated. "What a dlf forenco-lt makes In people's lives! You and I have agreed to say good-bye havo already said It, in fact, and wo can afford to discuss lovo Impersonally, I am afraid you aro not smiling enough. I notice two or threo peoplo looking this way." Hue smiled immouiaiciy; audi a Bmllo ns comes to tho Hps after tho heart Is broken. "Don't bo afraid," she said, "I will play my part I am deeply Interested You may go on with tho one subject in which you may bo considered thor oughly versed." "Thanks," ho said, easily. "Shall I tell you a story, In order to mako it strictly impersonal? I will toll you the story of a Boy." Sho moved a little, enough to drop her cheek to her band. "Of course thcro was a Girl,!' ho went on; "but I will leave her out of the story as far as I can. I will tell you tho story of a Boy, becauso I know his story because I havo seen Into his wild, undisciplined, unformed boy heart, and have watched it mako great mistakes, and repent of them without words, and slowly break. Aro you still smiling? I can't soo your face. but thoso peoplo out yonder can, and wo aro playing tho farco for them." "I am smiling," sho said, without moving. "Tho Boy fell In lovo," ho said. "Ho was very young, and had boon raised without a mother. I am afraid he was a mere selfish brute, and when ho wanted anything ho had to havo It, Ho saw tho Girl, and loved her, nnd would havo waded through blood to win her and won her. I think ho was selfish, oven In winning her, but he was beginning to be unselfish ho was beginning to bo a nobler Boy and there was great need of It You see, ho loved hor ho loved her too much He was unreasonable. I havo looked Into his heart, and I know that now, Ho was half Boy and halt savago, d thought himself a man, whoso Judg ment was always good, and who was always right Ho thought that ho was always good, and who was always right Ho thought that ho was to bo rcgwrded always ho didn't think ot regarding her. And yet, ho loved hor In somo blind, unreasoning way, such as boys have. And becauso ho loved her he kept hastening on to his doom, and dragging her with him. Ho couldn't wako up to tho fact that ho was slowly killing lovo In her. It Is ono ot tho saddest things, that peoplo who lovo ono another truly and ten derly can llvo to bo alienated, isn't it? But that is what happened to tho Boy, Ho was young they woro both young and ho was undisciplined and lovo was hurt with Jar and fret! Over and over again they passed through storms which left them cast ashoro In a desert land. They said bitter, heart breaking things to ono another, nnd it was becauso tho Boy loved her that tho blttor things hurt nnd rankled. And so at last ho roso up and said, This Is enough I will end It I will go nway today and will never troublo you again." He paused, and sho stirred a little, but ho could not sco her face. "And so7 ho went down to tho boat," ho said, steadily; "but even when his foot was upon tho gangplank ho turned back and stood leaning against something in his utter misery, bo- causo ho had all at onco grown to bo a man, and was suffering all a man's ngony. That Is tho cud pf tho story of tho Boy except that tho man looked up and Baw that foolish llttlo Mrs. Lesslng waving hor hand at him from a carriage, and remembered that both of them ho and tho Girl woro to havo boon hor guests tonight And such a hungering came upon him to look upon her fnco again that ho came knowing thnt by tomorrow ho might summon strength to go " "Ned?" Sho rnlscd her faco and looked at him. Hor Hps trembled liko a hurt child's, even whllo sho was smiling nt him. "Ned," Bho murmured, brokenly; "tho .Girl was very young and inexpe rienced. Don't you think sho ought to havo a chanco to try over again? And you didn't know that sho was In tho boat, hidden away and thnt she camo very near being taken to Eu rope very near Indeed when you turned back so suddenly " "Isn't It beautiful to watch Mr. and Mrs. Harding?" asked tho lady at Mrs. Lcsslng's right "They nro llko two young lovers. Do thoy know they aro at tho table? Do they know thcro Is such a thing as food In tho world? They havo dono us all tho honor to forget wo aro living!" But Mrs. Lesslng did not reply aloud. ' She merely looked, and her eyes wero, sparkling and brimming. "I may bo foolish, but I can manage somo things," sho whispered Into her fan. Where the pootou Dlnra. Tno dlnlng-room In Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox's homo, on Long Island sound, Is all windows, which face tho water. Bcforo tho largest of them, a spacious bay window, stands tho dining table. Tho room is filled with memories of peoplo who havo dined there. Their pictures gaze at ono from every side. Thuro aro half a dozen portraits of tho statu esque Julio Opp, there is the droll, mirthful faco of Marshall Wilder; the fair Ellen Terry, lira. Brown Pottor, William Uillotto's inscrutable, coun tenance; that plqeld old lady, Mrs. Jefferson Davis; Iwibel Irving, Kath ryn Kidder, J. E. Dodson, and his pretty wife, Annie Irish. Somo of Mrs. Wilcox's guests hj.vo left autographB on tho cream-pal'ited walls. Ono comes from Edwit Markham. It is printed in fine, largo characters, with splendid vcrmilllon initials. Ho said: "A place whore pnsslng souls can rest On tho way, and be their best" Cannt Telli a Problem, Tho question of tolls on the Isth mlan canal is not so slmplo as It wns in tho case of the Suez, writes a cor respondent of tho New York Post. Wo have a much greater "marginal traffic" to consider one which may bo con trolled by tho rate of toll. The west coast ot South America, In Its dealings with Europo, ought to furnish about ono-thlrd ot the avatlablo trafllc of tho new canal, if opened in 1915, All that trafllc practically could pay a toll of fl a ton. Between tho west coast of South America and tho eastern ports of tho United States tho trafllc could pay a still heavier toll, as tho saving over tho route "round tho Horn" would bo still greater. On tho prlncl plo of charging whatever tho trafllc could bear, certain enrgoes going through tho canal could doubtless af ford to pay $3 or $4 a ton. Ilemiukable Htateiman In Japnn. Mr. Hoahl Toru, minister of com munlcatlonB, is one of modern Jnpan's rcmarkablo men. Having studied law In England 25 years ago, and being called to tho English bar, ho started his llfo as an official In tho Judicial department. Hero his bellicose nature soon brought htm Intocolllslonwlthnls less enlightened nnd more conscrvn tlve colleagues. Tho government then In power removed him to tho Yoko hama customs. Later ho took to pol itics and Identified himself with tho liberals, who overran tho country with stirring speeches, much to the discom fort of tho government Ho was twice arrested and imprisoned for political offenses. Now he is the lender of tho liberals, or Jlyuta, as they aro called In Japan. JAPAN'S Tho part tho llttlo Japaneso took In tho recent war with China, and their present uncertain position In regard to Russia, havo lately brought them very much to tho front, but another matter of a different character from, war or diplomacy Is Just now agitating tho Land of tho Rising Sun. This Is no leas an event than tho birth ot a grandchild to tho mikado. In tho child-loving land of Japan, whoro all chldren aro wolcomcd with rejoicing, tho birth of an heir to tho throno would under any circumstances fill tho hearts ot tho peoplo with Joy, but when a current bollef exists thnt tho emperor 1b ot dlvlno origin and his mission a sacred trust handed down from father to son for almost 3,000 years, thcro is added a personal In terest which separates this nation from all others In tho world. In tho Kwan Po, tho court bulletin, which appears every morning and Is distributed among tho nobles, tho announcement of the birth was couched In tho most formal and flguratlvo language, with poetic allusions to plno tree branches, flying storks, tomplo priestesses nnd other references to anctont customs which to foreign cars soom to sound very mysterious nnd interesting. Thcro Is a prevailing belief that tho whlto storks which nest In tho branches of tho pines in tho palaco grounds never uso tho threo topmost 1 limbs when a girl Is to be born; they build there only In honor of a boy. After tho birth ot tho babo they rise, and with widespread wings fly far into tho bluo eky, carrying tho mcssugo to all Japan that tho hour for congratu lation has arrived. This bollef origi nated tho use for decorativo purposes ot the flying stork on articles intended for New Year or other congratulatory occasions. Today every houso in Japan is doco rated with two Japaneso flags crossed above a whlto lantorn which bears tho motto, "Long Llfo to tho Mikado." Scarlet and purplo tassels ot congratu lation aro swinging at every gateway, and all cites, towns and vllages aro holding public meetings whoro, ngaln and again, the toasts aro proposed ot "Yenno Holka Ban-zall!" "Nippon Ycl- koku Ban-zall" (Long llvo tho mikado! Long llfo to tho land ot tho rising sun!) Always tho response Is enthusiastic and prolonged shouts of "Ban-zal!" which means "Ten thousand years of prosperity to tho mikado!" All schools aro closed and tho streets thronged with happy-faced children In holiday attire, tho clattering clogs and tinkling hairpins forming an accom paniment to tho weird notes ot "Klm Igayo," with which tho wholo land is resounding. "Kimlgayo" is tho national song of Japan. It Is a quaint, minor melody, the words of which woro gathorod with other troubadour songs and put into book form by a mikado who lived about ono thousand years ago. It Is sung at tho present tlmo with moro heartiness than 1ms echoed In Its loyal words for many n day, for this llttlo prlnco Is the first child born of an em press for many generations. Not only tho Japaneso rojolco over this. The missionaries, evor slnco tho marrlago last May of tho Crown Prlnco Hum nnd tho Princess Sodako, havo been offering up earnest prayers, and in tho heayenly roply many of thorn behold a promise of tho final abolition of tho handmaid system. This cuBtom camo Into oxlstonco sev eral hundred years ago for tho purpose of averting a threatened national dis aster, Probably nlno-tonths ot tho Japanese oven today havo an unques tioning faith in the dlvlno origin of tho mikado and elnceroly bollevo that wore his line to perish tho omplro would at HEIR. TO onco dissolve Into nothingness nnd tho peoplo loso forovor tho power to re organize. To avoid this calamity tho handmaid system was originated. In very ancient times tho empresses generally had largo families of chil dren, but after tho Introduction of EaBt Indian civilization tho old-fashioned healthful simplicity of court Ufa was lost, nnd In succeeding generations tho royal family was frequontly so small that tho danger ot Its becoming extinct became a serious consideration to tho onttro nation. On nccount of tho almost universal faith in tho pe culiar Importanco of an unbroken mi kado dynnaty such n cnlamlty would most certainly have been disastrous and Irremediable. At this tlmo a rule was mado, gradu ally coming Into practice, that should an empress bo childless sho might with tho aid of certain court officials select mntdens (usually from ono to threo In number) from cortaln noblo families equal or nearly equal In rank to tho ono from which tho empress Is chosen. This cholco Is lnvnrlably mado from ono of nlno special families whoso rank is next to royalty. Only tho bluest of bluo blood Is allowed to mlnglo with tho dlvlno strain which flows In tho volnB of tho mlkndos. When children aro born they belong entirely to tho empress. Sho guides, InBtructB nnd cares for them with gen uine lovo and prldo. Tho real mothor novor has anything to do with tho chil dren, but sho occupies a position of honor until the death of tho mikado, after which sho retires to some qulot palaco, wbero sho is always looked upon as an honored widow. Nevertheless tho child of an empress brings especial happiness to tho peo ple, and this llttlo ono, tho first for almost 300 years, Is greeted all over tho land with every token of Joy and honor tho peoplo can show. And in tho palaco not only will tho -Japaneso ceremonies ot welcomo bo observed, but all foreign ones as well. E. I. SUGIMOTO. She Slumped the Ilroker. In moro than ono way woman's In terest In stocks Is mnnlfoscd In a sur prising way. A broker who has a brMich offlco near nerald square, Now York, Is telling his friends of an amus ing incident which happened Inst Tues day. Ho looked up from tho ticker suddenly to witness a vision of tho prettiest ot young girls, exquisitely dressed, who, without tho slightest warning, had appeared upon his threshold and demanded, "How's sug ar?" Tho broker's flrst lmpulso was to, say it was Bwoct; suroly Just such a gtrl could have no oilier Interest in tho commodity. But tho girl, with re freshing candor, went on to say: "You soe, I bought somo shares In Sugar tho other day and I Just wanted to sco how It was, I saw you had a tick er and I didn't think you'd mind, you know." I.omlon' American Colony. So fast has tho American colony In London multiplied that an enterpris ing firm of English publishers has do elded to Issue a dlroctory of it. Thoy expect to Incorporate the names ot no less than 35,000 residents ot Yankee extraction whom business or Interna tional marriages havo temporarily or permanently addod to London's popu lation. Tho directory will bo both commercial and social. Renting agents In nil parts of London testify to tho growing number of American resi dents, Ono ofllco building landlord In tho "city" suggests the erection ot n groat forty-storlod sky scraper, whoro all Yankee business may bo huddled together, in order that owners of othor buildings may hear an end of tho in- vnrlablo complaints ot American ten ants With reference to snnll-llko "lifts" and other mcdlovnl conveniences. San Francisco Bulletin. Dog Slopped Rnnntrny. South Bethlehem Correspondent Philadelphia North American: With n dog hanging by his teeth to tho bri dle rein, a runaway horso was brought to a standstill within a few feet ot C. D. Keoner, who lay unconscious on tho road near hero. Keener had fallen from his bicycle. Tho dog was Jlf, beloved by all tho Lehigh University students, a mascot of their alma mater and tho particular property of tho man whoso llfo ho saved. Jlf is tho most wonderful dog In all tho Bothlohems. Ho Is a trick fox terrier, and nlwayB accompanies his master on his bicycle trips. When Keencr's wheel struck n stono nnd ho was thrown, Jlf stood guard over his prostrate form. Ho saw tho runaway horso whon it was half a mllo away, and started up tho road at tho top of his speed. Leaping into the air as ho ran besldo tho frightened horso Jlf grabbed tho brldlo roln nnd hung on no though his llfo dopendod on his grip. Slowly tho dog's weight upon Its mouth brought tho horso to a standstill. It stopped when Kccn er's bend was within a few feet of Its hoofs. Tho occupant of tho team, whoso fright had prevented him from checking tho horse's speed, rcsuBcl-' tated Keener. Apple' It Medicinal. Tho npplo Is such common fruit that , few aro familiar with its rcmarkablo efficacious properties. Everybody ought to know that tho very beat thing thoy can do is to oat npples Just before retiring for tho night. Tho applo Is an excellent brain food, bo causo It has moro phosphoric acid In easily digested shapo than any othor vegetablo known. It excites tho ac tion of tho liver, promotes Bound and healthy sleep, and thoroughly disin fects tho mouth.' That Is not all. Tho applo agglutinates tho surplus acids of tho stomach, helps the kldnoy so cretlons, nnd Is ono of tho best pre ventives known of diseases of tho throat The Little Dog-jrle Fail. Fashions in dogs aro changing, and actresses who display their borlb bonod pets on tho promenados these aftornoons aro canvassing tho canlno market for now specimens. French poodles hnd tho call for a tlmo. Now popular fancy has turned to dlralnu-' tlvo black and tans, tho smallor tho bettor. Julia Marlowo has ono scarce ly bigger than a kitten, and Mlnnio Ashloy appeared In Fifth avenue, Now York, recently, with two of them, tied with ribbons and trotting along tan dom fashion to tho great amusement of tho crowd. Ovarorowdlnsr Medical I'rofeailon. Statistics ot tho country relating to physicians Indicate tho possibility, It not tho nctuallty, of overcrowding in tho medical profession. It was found: In tho census year that thero was ono registered physician to overy 655 peo ple In tho United States. That tho number Is In excess of tho need la ovldenoed by a comparison with Ger many, whoro, In 1898, thoro was only ono phyBlclan to each 2,114 Inhabit ants, or relatively about ono-thlrd na mnny as In tho United States, Now York Post. Tho United States- government gives its sailors only 30 cents a day each to llvo on, but tho American navy Is bet- tcr fed than any othor navy. In tho world. 1 if