Pidu red
Bulls or Bears
pV r Dr Hbberlorv.
By OSWALD EASTWOOD
rii'iir"
1 , A HOUUANDS of travelers Wife ffW '- f : f f SSl'llSf J ' JHtlA f 1
TKfl hopefully ecclt Vonlco year- j JJTytt, $k -1 f 5 : f W;f gg gf-'Pfflf Jf
A ly their Imaginations long j I f ' if Jf Jg&J
h
And nowwlaya this falling H KiSi KIK;. i.' . U WrmmW&m3ffln
galleries to expect.
uhort pf hln Ideal la 'qcroaBcd by the vulgarizing
effect of the penny Btcnmboat tho vaporotto,
with which tho Venetians ooem bo contented
that BOtB lila gondola rocking as It paBsea, and
utlrB up that In .ho Blooptng canal waters which
had better been let Ho; to say nothing of tho
motor-boat, which 1b threatening to do for tho
gondola what the "taxi" Ib doing for our hansoms
at home.
If uuch a travolor be leaving Vonlco with a
iicnBo of disappointment, let him by no moano
depart till he has visited tho Usher Island of Bu
rano; for, If he but chooso his day and hour woll,
ho will auutrcdly take homo with him a satisfy
lng picture of ouo fipot at least, glowing with
color and teeming with a plcturcsn.ua life, that
hao outrun ills most hopoful imaginings.
There can bo fow inoro ploauant experiences
on n Uno, warm afternoon in spring or uutuiim
In early May or rald-Soptombor for choice than
to takq a gondolu, with two good rowers,, and win
ono'e final sight ot Uura.no,
A gondoja it must bo, not tho vaporotto, that
ono may arrive alono or with a woll-chosen com
paulon, mid not ns ono amongst a crowd ot chat
tering, slght-soolng Bnnpahotteijs,
I Tho way to Durauo takes one through about
six miles ot lagoon htndecnpo to tho eastward of.
Venice. Tho island Is situated about llvo miles
northonst of Vonlco, In northern Italy, Tho chief
industries of tho peoplo aro market gardening,
building of boats and fishing; tho women are om
ujoyod principally in Ince-muklug. Tho island ot
florcclle aluo boloogB to Buriino, -H is located on
;nn adjacent lulu and the principal attractions that
would Interest traokrs aro tho two museums of
antiquities and tho cathedral, which wia built In
tin Bovcntb century and was rebuilt duilng tho
year 1008. This cathedral contalnB many valu
able mosaics.
X Is. n populous little place, with a bujty com
munity' of llBherfolk tuid laco-makcrs. ;In tho
iatruKklo for existence It haa fared hotter than ItW 1
oldjcrhnu ouco more proRporouH hclglibofrB, Maz
iorbp. "and Torcelio; tho former it has, ,In fact,
nntKVipd by means of a long,' arching, w6odon
bridge which, Been from the. low Boat of a gon
dola,, looks Hko that on.n willow-pattern plate.
Approaching, tho la'and, one may find on'o'a
gondola- paflslpE or passod by Increasing number
of flshiug bouts racing each other homo to Jlu-
rano; fluely bronzed, ntntuosquo men Btattd- bend
lng lustily to tholr carni, the.lr hnlf-ctnd forma
showing many a 'ftnb phy and molding onniscle.
The" sails of thceo boat are of dollghtful color-lng-
saffron and sienna, orungo. rod and burnt
umber and nro otten emblazoned with fantastic
dealgtiB, or with stars, flowerB or portraltB of
patron Milnts.
Then the islnnd, with its leantng campanile,
appears before one, ita many-tinted walla basking
la the lato sunlight. Approaohlng it on. Ita west
ward Bide ono glldoa past the opening of a canal
that Intersect tho island, and a flret glancs
It revcala a scene that must llvo long in tho mem
ory ot any lover of movement and color. Tho
quay aldeu are lined with fishing boatd, newly
kowe. many with tholr gorgeous sailB, 811,11 sway,
lug idly ud K'owlug In the level rays of jtho lato
afternoon sun, Hunburnt. oarrlnged mon aro heap
lng piles of glittering fish boforo the oottago
doors, helpod by the women, who add aUU inoro
color to tho scene with th Hhawls, mid kerchiefs
wor over their" beado. Theso moat becoming
jearifi8tfi are, however, not as a rule very brl
"ilanUy huod, but of wauve, fawn color, or a
tawny rod, tho troner colors being reserved for
tho bodicos. Bhualit ot br6wn children laugh nnd
danco about tho shining heaps, thrusting out,
hero and there, llttlo bare foot to touch and make
leap fiomo atrangoly shaped, brilliantly hued fish.
All 1b swift movement, glowing colors nnd vi
vacious Bound, tho wholo plcturo backod by tho
cottage walls, which thoniselvos display many a
soft, weuther-atalned tint, for tho nurauolll aro
fond at washes of pink, light green and primrose
color.
There I first mot. old I'lotro, with hla crisp,
White clirla, rtiddy bi'onze, and merry laugh, do
iipito his ulnoty years and many uouaous of toll
in tho boats, still cheerfully making his dally cast
ot nets. Old Nonna, his wife, was herself only n
fow yoara younger, but poBBossIng a head ot
thick, wavy whlto hair, of -which any woman
each sentenco ends in a sort ot i, toning diminu
endo. Ono is loath to loavo tho llttlo Island and row
homo nt laBt. Dut tho lagoon Is quloting down
to n pearly gray In tho evening light, though still
flushed to westward with a fnlnt roso, which
touches also tho far-away peaks of tho Eugnnoan
hillB. Presently tho moon rlsos behind Murano,
and cro long a-welcoming path of reflected lamp
llghtu shines on the water, from Itlva and Plazot
tu, nnd soon Dunlclll's landing stago rocolvus ono
ngaln. Dut that first gllmpso of the brilliant, viv
id Bceno In tho flshcrman'B canal at Burano, ot
tho healthy, handsome old faces and tho laughing
young oiicb, will haunt a grateful memory for
many a day.
And Adello herself may Btlll bo found there,
only two yoara oldor. and Btlll, ono may hope,
wreathing her'Howors, tending her old folk and her
llttlo frlotfd, working busily at her lace, and at-
fordlnc. In her craclous being, recomnenso for
many n disillusionment of travel.
A NOTE OF SYMPATHY
linnimllutolv on knowing of a death in tho
family of a friend one should show formal recog
nltlon ot tho fact, ovon though tho acquaintance
be slight. Only If ono Is roally an old friend doos
ono Bend a noto or go to tho houso, but unloss
some attention la paid to thq affliction thoso who
aro umlorgomg a navo no way oi Knowing
liavo not
twenty yenr her Junior might have been proud. whcthcP tho othcra from wllom they
(i Atwayu buuy wbb sho, monding. cooking, cloan- , . of u
hie. nnd always, t seemed, happy, with a smiling T . v1bUi , b t
. Vol I for' oviry pastfor-by. . . . ,,c , ann ,., 4ho r
Tliovo, too, dwelt llttlo Adollo, tholr grand
klaughtec; an Inoamutlon of youthful lovoltnoHH
umj 4A"ght in Uto, Merry, gracious, tondor-heart-vd
Adollo, with your great brown eyes, tossing
curie, and flash of tooth, with your dancing foot
and quick, helpful hands, how many pictures and
memories you gave us, little ono! I recall how
when first wo landed from our gondola, nnd, tho
bandit horde ot village children came flying down
the shoro, leaving their games to crowd around us,
with tholr cries ot "Soldi, soldi, slgnorol" you, like
a proud llttlo princess, remained bohlutl, by the
ruined wall, tying your bunch of rosy flowers.
Yet once you did bog; It was when you took
us to see that poor, wasted llttlo friend ot yours,
sitting at hor cottage door, bonding bo frailly
over her pillow lacoj then you took her small,
thin hand and drew It toward me, whispering a
shy "Soldi" in my er, and I felt ptoud ot my
UtUo trlend and her way ot begging,
And again I se you, with your young rogue ot
a brother, Boppo, putting out In tho small, light
gondola sandolu, did you call it T ono May even
ing at moonrlso, to tako tho samo llttlo friend's
bunch of pink Judas-blossom across tho lagoon
, and lay It boforo the Bhrlno ot tho llohcnnan'a
Madonna, that stood up solitary out ot the shad
owy waters, there to offer up your slmplo prayer
for her rocovery.
The Burandolll aro an Independent spirited,
hardy, strongly marked raco, but their dialect Li
one ot a caressing Boftnosg; slurring and half
singing tholr words, they dwoll on tho vowel
souuda till the consonants woll-ntgh disappear, and
better Btlll, to
lcavo it at tho houso In person in the most formal
way ono may do. Something may bo written on
tho card or not, oa ono choosos; but, generally
speaking, It ono writes at all tho form Bbould
take thnt of a noto and not a lino on a card
which may alwayB bo considered casual, saving
tho bother of n note. Tho card, which should bo
accompanied also by that of tho husband when
u woman is married, la addressed to the widow
or widower, as tho caso may be, or to thu parents
when the doath has boon that ot a child.
FlowerB which may be sent aro addrossed to
the head ot tbo houso and visiting cards aro
placod In the box. It is not good form to send
them when funeral notices request tbat'flowors
shall be omitted. If ono la keenly desirous of ox
pressing a sympathy which Is fot, one may wojt
until after the funeral services and send Mowers
to the person most doeply bereaved, as thu wife
or w.tdow. Only at that time aro blousoma ro
cetved by on Individual; that Is, -any sent before
a funoral aro supposed to be for usa at the ner
vices and nro not retained In tho houso. Those
sent Eovornl days afterward nro undoubtedly
moaut tor tho uao of the Individual to whom they
aro addressed.
It Is a very pretty thought to ehow such an
attention a weok or so after a funoral, for thoxo
In aBllctlon nro mora than apt to fool that their
grief la quickly forgotten by their friends, who
are all sympathy at first. It Is not noccasary that
any noto shall accompany tho box, but tho redn
ent la required to ootid a noto of thanks, written
either by horaolt or anothor morobor of tho fam
lly or a menu for her,
Hope Miniver and her father had
not enjoyed tholr breakfast When
two individuals so closoly akin nro
bo wldoly apart In tholr preferences
thoro la small opportunity for the ap
petite to assort Itself. It really took
Bomothlng of Importanco to interfere
with Tom Mlnlvor's appreciation of a
good breakfast, but that something
had occurred. For tho first tlmo in
hor life his daughtor had declared so
positively that ho know sho meant
It that sho wouldn't!
"And why, I Bhould like to know?"
he had demanded tcBtlly. "Oh, rather,
why not?" Tom Miniver was a purist
only when ho was very nrigry.
"BccauBo I can't enduro him," she
had answered promptly, "and I don't
know any good reason why I should
compel myself." Sho was only an
Idealized ropllca of her masterful fa
ther in tho matter of temperament.
All bosh! Itogular penny dreadful
logic!" ho had declared, with a wrath
ful lnslstcnco that was beginning to
interfere perceptibly with hln good
looks.
"How about tho Implacable parent?"
sho had returned, with a llttlo Bmtlo
that emphasized hers.
That brought him to n realization of
his absurdity, but It hadn;t tho slight
est effect on his determination to
hnvo his own way In this business.
Sho had succeeded In spoiling his
breakfast, but sho could not overrulo
him in this matter which concerned
him so vitally. By a strange mental
concldonco Hope arrived nt precisely
tho samo conclusion at tho samo moment.
"I don't bellovo," ho resumed,
that you hnvo given tho actual rea
son.
"If you know a better one, pray
don't koop It a accret on my account,"
Bhc returned autluclously.
"Well, I won't Bob Hober."
She flushed perceptibly and began
to bustle, transferring tho coffoo urn
from the table to the sideboard, an
operation cntlroly unnecessary.
"Have I hit It?" ho persisted ma
liciously. Her back was toward him,
but ho could see her face In tho nldd-
board glass.
"Mr. Homer Is a man," sho said.
"How would you classify Percy Van
Alstlno?"
At which she turned around and
faced him. "Even were I a naturalist
I should hesitate," sho replied, with
distinctness of tone that was al
most convincing.
"Ho could provldo you with luxu
ries that have bocorao necessities to
you. Havo you thought of that? I
ndmlt that Homer Is a fine fellow. I
ought to know I'vo made him. Ho
camo to mo as an ofllco boy and now
he Is practlcnlly my managor. Ho's
a keen business man, none shrewder.
But ho hasn't anything except his sal
ary loss tnnn what you spend tor
glmcrncks. He must bo provided with
plenty of nervo to to "
'You could tako him Into the busi
ness." sno suggesteu nuiveiy. "Uo-
Hldes ho 1b going to mako a lot of
monoy."
How I should Hko to havo you toll
mo?"
"As you do speculate."
"Do you mean to uuy and coll nt a
risk?"
"Certainly just as you do."
"I never risk anything," ho de
clarcd, savagely. "I always spo to It
ileioroiinnu mat tno element oi un
certainty Is eliminated."
"Woll, can't Mr. Homer manago It
tho samo way?"
, Ho groaned and Bhook his hoad
hopelessly, and thon ho rang for his
hat nnd cont. Before ho left her,
however, he fired a parting shot
"I am quite too well bred to say
what I think," he declared with an
air of lofty superiority that appealed
eloquently to IIopo's nenso of humor,
"but I don't mind saying thnt, In
vlow of your opportunities and tho
fact that you aro my daughter, you
show an Ignorance ot men and af
fairs that is colossal elophnnt Inc."
It happened that Van Alstlno had
accoptod an Invitation to lunch with
Mr. Miniver on thnt day. Although
no definite nrrnngoment bad been
mndo to that effect. It was understood
by tho broker and tho young mnn
whose suit ho favored that tho sub
ject of tbo proposed matrimonial nil!
ance would como up for Informal dls
cusslon. As yet Van Alstlne had
mado no direct proposal for tho honor
of becoming tho broker's son-in-law,
but ho mndo no Bocret of the fact
that be admired Miss Miniver KreaUv
oiid would probably become a suitor
for hor hand. Ho bad ovon mentioned
tho matter to several ot his friends
most of whom agrcod that hln family
waa good enough even to HurvlveAnn
alliance with tho Minivers,
To Van Alstlno Justice, It must be
admitted thnt bo was by no means
a flagrant examplo of his type. As
ropreBnnUxtlvn of long transmitted
wealth and family prestige hu really
made a rair snowing. Although ho
waa not averso to tho prospect of
handling some of Tom Miniver's win
nlnga in tno Hiroei, no had a real
admiration for the brokor's daughter,
Ho even luncieu RornoumoM that hu
could bocomo decidedly sentimental
ovor her If tho opportunity presented
ltBOlf.
van Aisuno mono ni nppearanco
at the ofneo of thu broker about mid
day. For him thq region waa nn un
discovered country and ho was not lin
CopjtUhl. i9to, by AwocUted Literary Pre
t
proflsed favorably. Tho minimum or
apace and excess of activity conflicted
with his notion of personal expan
sion, nnd on his passago from his cat1
to tho entrnnco of tho ofllco building
ho had been Jostled unmistakably. It
was a posltlvo relief to reach Mini
ver'3 quarters and bo given a soat In
tho anteroom whllo his card was mak
ing Ita way to tho prosldlng genius ot
tho Spot.
Ho waltod patiently enough
first and then with a growing
taato. All tho doors botwoen
small rooms which comprised
suito wore open and Vnn Alstlno
dismayed to find thnt Borne ot
din and bustlo that had assailed
on tho outsldo had followed
at
tho
was
tho
him
him.
Loud voIcob wero calling In every
direction, messenger boys were run
ning hlthor nnd thither nnd tho in
cessant clicking of tclegrnphls In
struments and ringing of telophono
calls set his nervous systom on edge.
No ono seemed to tako tho slightest
notlco of him, nnd tho forced realiza
tion of hla lack of Importanco wna
not an ngrccablo sensation.
After ho hnd waited for what
seemed to him nn unconscionable
period Miniver mado his appearance.
The broker was in his shirt sloeves,
open at tho wrists, cuff links dan
gling. Ho hnd tho unllghtod stub
of n cigar In his mouth nnd appeared '
to bo in a stnto of lntenso nervous
strain.
Awfully sorry to havo kept you
waiting," ho snld, after they had
shaken hands. "Meant to havo '
phoned you that I'd have to call that
luncheon off, but I forgot nil about '
it. It's an awful day for us. They've
been pounding us llko mad for two
hours and tho end Is not yot. What's
that? D. and It. G. oft "another point!
Homer, got a movo on and buy
everything in sight. Can't you como
down somo other day soon Van
Alstlno? How's that? I'vo sent out
for a sandwich. C. and I. ailing, eh?
Lot's put 'cm to bed. Sell all wo'vo
got. Don't keop enough for soods.
One of tho biggest dnys ' I've ever
seen Binco I camo Into tho street.
Wh.i-wha wha" "
Without a word of npology or ex
planation Miniver made a precipitous
exit from tho room, Somewhere In
tho rear his high-pitched voice con
tinued to reel off orders at a fren
zied rate, but Van AlBtlno saw no
mora of him thnt day. , Just as, ho
had yielded to his not unreasonable)
Indignation and wns about to leave.,
tho uncongenial spot Homer entered
the room.
"Mr. Miniver wishes me to apolo
gize for him," ho said. "This is real
ly one of tho hottest dayB tho street
has Been for many yars."
"Is It so unusual?" qurlod tho
other llstlossly. "I have not been In
tho neighborhood since I was a
child, but I fancied it was Just about
living up to Its reputation."
"It's doing much moro thnn that,"
laughed Homer. "Boforo closing to
day there'll bo moro than ono finan
cial shipwreck that will startlo tho
business community. Do you ovor
deal In futures, Mr. Van Alstlno?"
"So far I havo found tho present
sufficiently engrossing," tho visitor
admitted, with a feoblq nltompt at
pleasantry. Then ho added, soberly
enough: "I suppose Mr. Miniver la
deoply Interested In theso matters.
He seemed to bo very greatly dis
turbed over something."
"Isn't It enough to rattle any mnn
tb find out that he's a million out of
pocket? Wo've been on tho wrong
side of tho market ever sinco tho
oponlng."
"Bulls or benrs?" asked Van Al
Btlno,, who did not, know what elso
to say.
"Either," replied Homer, "as the
emergency demands."
Val Alstlne took IiIb leave. He
was so shaken by his experience In
tho street thnt ho wont abroad al
most Immediately to remain for an
Indefinite period.
About a year later ho camo face to
face with Homer In London. The
young man greeted htm cordially and
Invited him to call at the hotel at
which ho and bin v.'lfo wero stopping.
"She's an old friend of yours Miss
Miniver, you know," explained Bob.
"Como to see us. Plenty of tlmo to
visit with you now "
"How did Miniver como.out of thnt
Wall street affair?" Interrupted Van
Alstlno.
"Oh, a couplo of millions to the
good!"
"Why, I thought I fannied ho was
losing heavily."
"Ho waa In tho morning, but ho
was a big winner In tho afternoon."
Life of Telephone Poles.
Tho nvorago life of an untreated
seasoned polo depends much upon the
kind ot timber, Its condition when
not, tbo condition of tho soil nnd the
climatic conditions, nnd theso are all
no variable that a definite statement
as to tho averago llfo 1b difficult. Most
companies can closely estlmato the
average llfo ot their poles aa con
trolled by their local conditions by re
ferring to tholr polo records. Tho av
orago throughout tho country, how
ever, Ih apparently somowhat aa fol
lows: Cedar, m years; chcBtput. t3
yoara; cypress, nine years; pine, CVi
yvors, Junlpor, 8'i years. - Eloetrical
Record.