•ffle MINISTER I
y POLICE
By HENRY MONTJOY
Bit Thm Bobto'M«rriH Cotnfmj.
8ynop*is.
"THE MINISTER OF POLICE." by
Henry Mountjoy, la a romance of Faria
during the Louis XV reign, a period when
Europe was In a condition ot foment and
unrest; when Voltaire was breaking to
pieces the shackles of religion; when
Rousseau at the Cafe de Regenance was
preaching the right to think; and when a.
thousand rnen. some In the gutter, some
near the throne, were prep .-lng the great
explosion of the revolution.
Madame Linden, an Austrian lady,
after completing a simple mission to tne
French county, lingers on In Paris, enjoy
ing the gay life there. De Sartlnes, the
minister of police, thinks she has some
other motive than pleasure In delaying
her departure and surrounds her with
spies to discover. If possible, whether she
Is dabbling In state plots.
De Lussac Is a noble of exceptional
character of that period. Handsome, with
all the elegance of a man of the court,
there Is still about him something that
stamps him as a man apart, something of
the visionary, the enthusiast and the poet,
rare In that age of animal lust, chilling
wit and embroidered brutality, lie la. In
fact, steeped In the. philosophy or Rous
seau and Is trying to put this philosophy
Into practice through his connection with
a secret society that Is plotting the down
fall of the state. Before he has gone far
enough to Incriminate himself he falls In
love with the beautiful Austrian, who
persuades him his method of righting the
Wrongs of humanity Is Impracticable, and
ends by promising to go to Vienna with
her to live.
As he leaves her house a fellow con
spirator, his chief, Joins him, says several
of their members are arrested, and en
trusts the secret articles of the association
to him. He then explains to De Lussac
that their only hope Is to Intimidate the
minister of police. This can be accom
plished only by obtaining an Incriminat
ing contract signed by the minister of po
lice and In tho possession and safe keep
ing of De Richelieu, De Lussac’s cousin.
With this contract In their possession they
can dictate terms to the minister of po
lice, obtain the release of the memoers
already Imprisoned and be safe them
D i Lussac goes home, buries the papers
he has Just received, writes Madame Lin
den that he Is attempting one last mission
for the society, and also writes an asso
ciate telling him where the papers may
bo found In case of his death. Then he
enters Richelieu’s home and almost suc
ceeds In getting the document, but Is sur
prised and leaves It in a drawer which he
has unlocked. Before he can make an
other attempt he 1s arrested anti taken to
the Bastlle hut not before he has told
Madame Linden how nearly he succeeded
In getting tho document. She, realizing
how desperate her lover's position is, vis
its Richelieu's home and succeeeda where
her lover has failed.
CHAPTER XI (Continued.)
"Poor mirror!" murmured Madame
Linden as If to herself. "It seems to
me It Is having a very absurd reflec
tion cast upon It. Now, see, I have no
water for my flowers unless someone
fetches It for me, Dear Monsieur de
Joyeuse. would you like to be usefully
employed ?”
"No, madame.”
At this moment a tap came to the
door and Roslne entered with a ewer
Of water.
"I have brought you the water for
the flowers, madame.”
"Thank you," replied the baroness.
"You have saved Monsieur de Joyeuse
from disturbing his reflection In the
mirror. Place the ewer on the table.”
De Joyeuse ogled Roslne as Hhe
obeyed the baroness' order and with
drew, Then he rose from his chair.
"My reflections are finished, madame.
May I assist you with your flowers'."
"Thank you,” said she, “If It will not
Incommode your color effect, you may
hold this rose," She handed him a
rose, just as a person hands a child
•ome trifle to keep it quiet, continuing
her plan against Do Sartlnes with one
aide Of her mind while the other side
Occupied Itself with the flowers and De
Joyeuse.
She could not imagine why he had
chosen to pay her this visit, nor did
she particularly try. This fashion
plate that was still able to speak and
walk almost amused her; she scarcely
placed hint In the category of men. Yet
the fashion-plate, holding the rose to
Its nostrils, stood, watching her every,
movement, studying the grueeful lines'
of her figure, approving her.
"Your occupation reminds me of the
latest ballad on the Du Harry, Ma
dame. It is being circulated all over
Parts; the whole court is convulsed and
the king Is furious.
“At the convulsions of the court?”
"No, madame, at the confusion of
the Du Harry."
"Repeat me the ballad."
"Madame, It is unprintable,"
"Ma fol! I did not ask you to print
it. And Blnce when, monsieur, ha* It
been the custom of gullant Frenchmen
t-> turn women to Jest In ribald bal
lad* 1114 glory in the fact? 1 am an
Austrian, ai perhaps you know, and
your customs t\» »irange to me."
“I know nothing ot ballad writers,
madnme. They live, I believe, in IU«
Rue du Truand und die In the ditches
of the temple—if they are lucky enough
to escape the hangman of Monsieur de
Sartlnes."
"Ah!"
"What is the matter, madame?"
“A thorn pricked me. Are you ac
quainted with Monsieur de Sartlnes?"
"He Is one of my friends. Rut It ts
not of Monsieur de Sartlnes that I
came today to speak, but of myself."
"Of yourself?" cried Madame Lin
den, laughing and drying her hands on
her handkerchief. "Ma fol. monsieur,
what strange subjects you chooso for
conversation. ’
"Madame," said De Joyeuse, quite
unmoved. "I am your friend."
"Indeed? I am glad to hear that."
"You have many enemies."
"Who has not?"
"Bitter enemies.”
“Are there such things as sweet
ones?"
"Knemles who speak evil of you.
These are dangerous times, Madame,
and I have come to offer you—"
Yes?"
"My protection."
"Your protection?"
"Yes. Madame." replied the fashion
plate, utterly deceived by the manner
of his vis-a-vts. "My heart and, if need
be, my purse."
"Your purse?" said she. ignoring his
heart.
"Why, yes. Madame; and a well filled
purse at that. I am direct, you see."
"You are. indeed," replied she with a
sweet smile. "Go on."
"You have charmed me. Another
man would have come to you and said,
‘Madame, you have charmed me; al
low me to offer you my services and
my purse,' whereas I—"
“Whereas you have paid me the in
sult first and the compliment after.
One moment! You have heard people
speaking, you have heard me called an I
adventuress, you have heard this and
that, and you have said to yourself.
'Here is an adventuress. without
friends, he pleases me and I will make
her my mistress.’ One moment! You
pride yourself on your directness, do
you not? Well, so do I.”
She filled the half-filled ewer of wa
ter from the table and discharged It
full In his face. Then seizing It by
the handle, she raised It with the In
tention of breaking It on his head; but
he was already at the door, and the
next moment had vanished. She heard
his footsteps on the stairs and knowing
it was hapeless to reach him there, she
ran to the window and opened It.
Next moment she saw him crossing
the courtyard, half drenched, half run
ning. half bent It was loathsome,
though to an unthinking mind laugh
able, to see how that dash of cold water
had tvashed away the dandy and
brought the cur to light. He was not
perhaps a coward as the times went
but he was entirely dominated for the
moment by the woman with the ewer.
As he crossed the courtyard she
called at him as one calls after a dog,
threatening It. Then she shut the win
dow, replaced the ewer on the table and
gave a last touch to the bowl of flow
ers. She was disturbed In her mind.
Her reputation must have gone very
much to the bad in the last few days,
else De Joyeouse would never have
dared an Insult like that. She began
to perceive for the first time, fally, how
deeply she was hated In this society
dominated by women (Aid that odious
woman worship which makes a
Frenchman the puppet of his mistress,
and degrades the worshiped and the
worshipper alike.
'‘Well,” she murmured as she rang
the bell for Rosine to remove the ewer
and to wipe up the water on the floor,
"what do I care for their hate as long
as I have his lovel”
She spoke quite unconscious of the
fact that De Lussac was at that mo
ment being driven to the Baatlle In the
safe custody of Monsieur Beauregard.
CHAPTER XII.
MADAME ASSERTS HER DIGNITY.
Placlde answered the bell.
"Ah!” said the baroness. "So you
have returned! See, I have spilled
some water. I have been washing a
dog. Fetch a cloth to wipe ft up, and
you can take the ewer away. No par
cels have come for me, I suppose?”
"No, Madame.”
The old man went off with the ewer
and returned fn a moment with a cloth.
She took It from him. went fl«rwn on
her knees and mopped up the water on
the parquet.
"My legs are younger than yours,"
said she. “Here, take the cloth. I am
going out, and should any patcela ar
rive for me, tell Roslne to place them
In my bedroom.”
"Yes, Madame."
"Stay," said the baroness. "What Is
that?"
VolceB sounded from belo\* stairs,
and in a moment Roslne came running
up.
"Monsieur Boehmer has called, ma
dame."
"Boelimer, the Jeweler?"
"Yes, madame."
"Ah, he hns brought my necklace.
Run down and show him up."
Roslne disappeared, and In a moment
returned, ushering in Boehmer, Placlde
left the room, and madame found her
self alone with the Jeweler. Boehmer
was a Hebrew, a German Hebrew, very
stout, soberly yet richly dressed, with
a blazing diamond on the middle finger
of Ills left hand, and a most Seductive
smile presided over by a command
ing nose. He was very well to do.
Jeweler to the court, be held a good
many secrets In bis keeping. Losses at
cards brought many of the nobility to
Monsieur Boehmer; he lent money on
good security and sometimes even on
had. Ho was gracious to every one
without pretense, for he had a good
heart; he was charitable out of busi
ness and had been known to give money
to those to whom he had refused a
loan. But In business be had no heart
at all.
"Good day, Monsieur Boehmer."
"Good day, madame.”
"You have called about the dia
monds?"
"Madame.” said Boehmer, taking a
parcel from ids pocket, “I have brought
them. The necklace la complete."
He took from the parcel a velvet cov
ered box, opened It. and exposed to
view a superb necklace of pure white
stones, each a fountain of lire.
"Oh, men Dleu; how beautiful!"
cried the baroness.
"Is not it sweet?” said Boehmer,
moving the casket so that tho gems
shdne and flashed and leaped before
the fascinated eyes of the purchaser.
“Quite. Excellent workmanship! I
must congratulate you, Monsieur Boeh.
mer."
"Thank you, madame."
Ulie held out her hand to take It.
"Ami the MU. madame?" said Boeh
n.er, without lelliiqitlBhlng the stones.
"Ah! the bill. 60,000 lianca I think
you said the price would be?”
"Yes, madame."
“Well, I will pay you before I leave
for Vienna. You said It would not be
necessary to pay on delivery."
"Unfortunately, madame, when I said
that I spoke without the consent of
my partner, Monsieur Bostgng, and
since then we have had some very
heavy liabilities to meet."
“Oh," said the baroness. "You have
had some very heavy liabilities to
meet?”
Before Boehmer could reply, a knock
came at the door and Placlde entered.
"Madame," said Placlde, “Monsieur
Behrens has called and wishes to see
you.
"Behrens, tho haberdasher?"
''Yes. madame.”
“Show him up.” Then, turning to
Boehmer, "You mistrust me. Take your
Jewels away and keep them till you
hear from me."
“Oh, madame, you are-■”
“I am the Baroness Sophie Linden,
a woman of her word. Good day, Mon
sieur Boehmer."
"Madame, If you will but listen to
me-"
"Good day, Monsieur Boehmer. Ah,
Monster Behrens, come in.”
Behrens entered, bowing, while
Boehmer, astonished, half-angry, half
filled with admiration for the woman
who had treated him so cavalierly,
bowed himself out. A woman of the
court would have raved or wheedled,
promised, threatened. As he descended
the stairs his acute mind told
him he had been misled by the
rumors he had heard: that this
woman was to be trusted; but it
was too late now to rectify mattters,
so he took his 'way back to Ids
shop, nearly certain that the Jewlels
would be taken and paid l’or In the end.
“Well, Monsieur Behrens." said the
barone.sa. "and my gowns?”
“They are finished, nvdame,"
"And my hats?"
“Oh, madame, they are not hats—
they are creations.”
"And my bill, la that, too, a crea
tion?"
“Your bill is 40,000 franca, madame."
"A large sum. Monsieur Behrens.”
"Oh, madame 40,000 francs! What
are they to the conquest of Paris?”
"So you think my hats will conquer
Paris?”
"Madame, the rose flamingo hat,
alone, would conquer Europe."
“Well, these conquerors of youra—
have you brought them with you?”
"Oh, madame, so many hats and
gowns! One can not carry those in
one’s pocket. They shall be sent to
night.”
"That is well. And see that they are
packed properly for traveling. -Good
day. Monsieur Behrens.”
“But. madame, there is my bill.”
"Ah, true; your bill. I
thought we had - spoken of
that. You told me it would be unne
cessary to pay on delivery and that I
could arrange with you before I left
Paris.”
"When did I say that, madame?"
“When! When I ordered the things”
“When you ordered the things?”
“Certainly.”
“Madame, there must have been somo
mistake. As for myself, I am entirely
at madame’s disposal, but I have a
partner. Monsieur Bompard—”
“X know. You mistrust me. Well,
return to Monsieur Bompard and tell
him to keep the hats and gowns till
I send for them.”
Behrens, inarticulate for a moment,
seemed endeavoring to tie himself into
knots.
“If madame will excuse me—”
"With pleasure,” said she, opening
the door. “Good day, Monsieur Beh
renB.”
“Ah, but, madame—”
“I have nothing more to say to you
on this subject at present. Later on I
shall communicate my wishes to you.”
Behrens, for once In his life, dumb,
retreated, bowing. He had noth
ing to say. Rumor had been
talking to hlm^about Madame Linden,
and he was quite determined not to
deliver over the exquisite dresses, some
at 3,000 francs apiece the marvelous hats
for which house house was so famous^
without payment on delivery.
Madame Linden, having closed the
door, whent to the window and looked
out across the courtyard at the street
and the passersby.
Outwardly quite calm, she was rag
ing Inwardly. She had more than suf
ficient money to pay Boehmer and Beh
rens; absolutely honest In her dealings
with tradespeople, she would have paid
the Jeweler had the haberdasher at once
had they not come with their claims
Immediately after the conduct of De
Sartlnes and the Insult of De Joyeuse;
she felt that Paris was falling on her,
that the tradespeople were only fol
lowing the example of their masters
a'nd that the fountain or origin of all
this was De Sartlnes.
She was all the more bitter, as she
had Intended wearing the necklace that
evening at a reception to which she had
been Invited by Madame de Stenlls.
While she was standing thus a knock
came at the door, and Placide entered
with a note.
“From Madame de Stenlls, madame,”
She opened It, read It, and gave a cry
as though some one had wounded her.
“Madame de Stenlls regrets that, ow
ing to sudden Indisposition, she will not
be at home tonight.”
Then, a little farther down:
"To Madame la Baronne Linden.”
All the other vexations and Insults
she had received that day Jiajed before
this. The form of the thing was so
abominable; spurious politeness cover
ing deathly Insult.
“Placide,” said hls mistress, crum
ping the paper up and casting It ihto
a corner of the room, “you can tell
Rosine that she need not trouble to
arrange my toilet for Madame de Sten
lls’ reception.”
“Yes, madame.”
“Then go to Vaudrin and order my
carriage to be sent round at a quarter
to eight.”
Left alone, she took the handkerchief
of De Sartines from her pocket and
glanced at It as a soldier glances at hls
weapon.
PART II.
CHAPTER I.
THE MINISTER MAKES LOVE.
In the time of his majesty King
Louis the XV the nobility dined at 4
o’clock and supped at 8 eight; the king
dined at 6 and his snpper was served
at 9; the common people, when they
dined at all, sat down to table at 2.
Monsieur de Sartines, to mark his
position beneath the king, but closer
to him, by virtue of his office, even
than the Due de Choisuel, dined at
4:30 and supped half an hour later than
the nobility—that is to say at 8:30.
At 7:30 on the day of De Lussac's
imprisonment Monsieur de Sartines.
who had dined badly, owing to business
preoccupations, was seated before his
bureau in that octagon chamber of the
Hotel de Sartines where we have seen
him interviewing the agent, Lavenne,
while beside him stood Monslur Beau
regard. \
(Continued Next Week.)
Dirigible Craft Not Profitable.
From the Boston Transcript.
Although we hear considerable about
the remarkable air voyages of the di
rigibles of the German Airship com
pany—the concern which runs the Zep
pelin passenger-carriers—there has been
very little given out with regard to
their success In a commercial way. The
new* of the week, however, showing
the tremendous losses incurred by the
German company le by po means sur
prising to those who ate aware of the
situation. As has been frequently stated
In these columns, there is little pros
pect that the gas filled dirigible will
ever become of commercial utility. The
expense of operation, even with the
great reductions made In the cost of
hydrogen gas, Is exceedingly high, and
when we add to this the losses suffered
in the disasters to one after another of
the airships themselves, we can realize
why It Is that the concern Is losing
money. In round figures a Zeppelin
costs $200,000, and when one is burned,
wrecked, or explodes, the salvage is
negligible.
The official report of the German
'Company shows that for 1912 there was
a loss of roughly 1,500,000 marks on
capital of 3,000,000 marks. It received
500.000 marks as price of tickets, and
with subventions, etc., showed re
ceipts of 827.000 marks, but expenses
came to 737,000 marks, and net was only
90.000 marks. The company was bur
dened with an enormous loss from the!
preceding year, and in addition the de
struction of the “Schwaben,” last sum
mer—since not fully covered by insur
ance with English companies—involved
additional loss of 260,000 marks. Fur
ther sums are to be asked from patri
otic shareholders.
The Farmer as a Mechanic.
From the Christian Herald.
Farmers as a rule make better auto
niobillsts than city or town people, be
cause they have had more experience
with machinery. The*small stationary
farm engine now, so generally used has
been one of the best educators in this
line. In general priryiples, it is identi
cal with the auto engine, and the man
who understands his little one-cylinder
general utility engine has little dif
ficulty In manag'~» hl» auto
NOTABLE ORTHODOXY
MARKS BIG MEETINGS
Presbyterians of All Branches
Resist Theological
Laxity.
CLEAR GAINS FOR UNION
Southern Baptists Even Withdraw
From International Sunday School
Association—Y. M. C. A. Also
For Old Creed.
From the Religious Rambler.
The "May meetings,” as the great de
nominational gatherings are called in
England, have this year registered a
notable development in the religious
life of America. They mark this as
orthodoxy’s year. In the face of an
apparent widespread tendency toward
theological laxity, three representative
meetings have revealed a resolution
to stand fast by the fundamentals of
the evangelical faith.
The pan-Presbyterian gathering in
Atlanta took first rank in public in
terest. The northern, southern and uni
ted Presbyterian churches met at the
same time and in the same place. That
these circumstances should beget much
talk of union was but natural. Even
more conspicuous in the deliberations
of these paradoxical Presbyterians was
their steadfast orthodoxy. “The most
orthodox assembly for a generation.”
is the way one man characterized the
gathering of the northern church.
No Heresies Here.
Of course nobody expected heresies
in the southern and united Presbyter
ian assemblies; their conservatism in
things doctrinal is the strongest of
the ties that insure their early amalga
mation. Scepticism prevailed, especial
ly in the south, concerning the north
ern assembly. Heresy hunters have
long been busy in this denomination,
although it is one of the Ironies of
fate that Prof. C. A. Briggs, of
Union seminary, who was expelled for
heresy a few years ago is now deemed
one of the bulwarks in the realm of
scholarship of the orthodox position.
Union seminary was made an issue
at Atlanta. A proposition was pending
to re-establish relationships between it
and the Presbyterian church. The de
bate waxed hot, but from the first 10
minutes it was clear that the delegates
were ultra conservative in their think
ing. The question got ihto a parlia
mentary snarl that made a clearcut
vote on the issue Impossible, so it had
to go over a year; but had a ballot been
taken the result would manifestly have
shown an overwhelming sentiment
against anything that seemed like
compromise with a “liberal” position.
In other matters the same rigid spir
it of orthodoxy cropped out. Thus, in
discussing the proposed world confer
ence on faith and order the assembly
stipulated that only churches subscrib
ing to the diety of Jesus Christ could
be admitted.
Some New Creeds.
Paradoxically, both the northern and
southern Presbyterian general assem
blies, ultra-conservative though they
were, adopted new anir modernized ex
pressions of their faith. The larger
body adopted what it called an “Inter
mediate Catechism,” more popular in
expression than the “Shorter Cate
chism,” and covering the phases of re
ligion that are stressed at the present
time. This is avowedly a move to re
store the practice of studying the cate
chism.
In the southern assembly the most
liberal step for years was taken when
a “Brief Statement” of belief was
adopted. This was radical action. It
meant the shelving of the Westminister
confession, so far as the public is con
cerned. For that matter it is extreme
ly unlikely that the general public has
the remotest idea of what the West
minister confession of faith looks like
or contains. The “Brief Statement" Is
but a restatement, in compact, presen t
dav form, of the old creed, but the di
vines of the Westminister assembly
would have hard work recognizing it.
Although the southern Presbyterian
church sent her most conservative
leaders to the Atlanta assembly, yet
the assembly voted to remain in the
federal council of churches, despite the
charges of heresv against the latter.
Y. M. C. A. For Old Faith.
Next in importance to the striking
fidelity of the Presbyterian assemblies
to the old beliefs, or even exceeding it,
was the action of the Y. M. C. A. lead
ers in Cincinnati, re-affirming the as
sociation's loyalty to the evangelical
standards. This was done, too, by over
riding a majority committee report, so
that in fullest, most unequivocal action
the association has declared itself loy
al to its earliest religious standards and
mission.
This determines that the Y. M. C.
A. is not to become merely a compre
hensive social agency, without specific
religious beliefs. Instead, there is new
stress being laid upon the evangelistic
mission of the movement. The far
reaching consequences of this become
apparent when the world-wide rarnitl
cations of the association are consid
ered.
Union Makes Strides.
Despite the action of the southern
Baptist convention in withdrawing
from the International Sunday school
lessons, a move meant to be in the in
terest of Baptist doctrinal integrity,
the May meeting showed Exceptional
progress toward church union. The
United Brethren general convention
took definite action looking toward un
ion with Methodist Protestant church.
The Southern Presbyterians and the
United Presbyterians by concurrent ac
tion. advanced their prospective union,
with rno dissenting voice. That there
may be no haste, the basis of union
which was adopted will be before the
Presbyteries for a year. This docu
ment steers clear of the legal obsta
cles to union by continuing the existing
institutions of both bodies until a mer
ger can be effected without question or
opposition. The troublesome question of
the United Presbyterian conscience con
cerning the use of psalms is solved by
permitting each congregation to sing
either psalms or hyinns, at its discre
tion.
The historic Atlanta meeting put the
northern and southern Presbyterians
on terms of familiar acquaintanceship.
Of design, no formal action was taken
by both bodies Jointly looking toward
union. But all tlfe same, everybody
present knows that the reunion of all
Presbyterians is now Inevitable and
near.
When ail these kindred groups of
churches get together, then the union
of all will be withia sight. In that day,
the month of May, 191", will be remem
bered as a historic date contributing
largely to the event. /
Thirsty Must Work.
From the Woodstock, Minn., News.
Hereafter when the “drys” of our town
T;ant a drink they will either have to send
their money with the order or go after it
themselves. The recently adjourned leg
islature passed a law that no person could
receive orders, carry or solicit order* for
any kind of intoxicating: liquor*.
HIRAM’S SHARE OF
THE FAMILY INCOME
From the New York Post.
“Hiram," saiu Mrs. Potheringham sud
denly from the other side of the evening
lamp.
Mr. Potheringham. safe in the com
puter’s heaven, beside his own open fire,
bis tired feet stretched luxuriously toward
Its blaze, his favorite cigar alight, and
the evening paper open before him, made
kn inarticulate murmur in reply, such as
liege lords use to indicate that they are
Btill alive and know' they are being ad
dressed but don’t propose to come out
further from their abstraction unless
forced to do so.
Mrs. Potheringham understood and con
tinued briskly: "Hiram, I've just been
reading this article on the economic de
pendence of women. What it says is so.
Marriage is an equal partnership, and the
wife is entitled to half the income and
ought to have it."
There was a decided note in his wife’s
voice that waked Mr. Potheringham up.
He lowered his paper, removed his cigar, !
and listened. When she had finished he
bent his head and eyed her quizzically
over the rims of his reading glasses and
In his quiet voice mildly expostulated:
"Oh, my dear! Do you really think
they would be satisfied with half?"
Mrs. Potheringham w'heeled around side
wise, planted her elbows on the table and
looked severely at her husband. Her eyes
♦napped and her lips opened quickly to
reply. Then, she didn’t reply. In a flash
Ihe saw it all—the Innumerable home exJ
ponses, the bills for the children’s school
find college, the clothing, the gifts, the
I pending money, the amusements* and the
philanthropies of all the family, hei^ Own
Hubs and teas, and charities and vanities;
.find this quiet, strong, uncomplaining
breadwinner for them all, with his mere
bod and board, his chair, his cigar, his
few suits of clothes, his one club, his
loutine life, back and forth, back and
forth—Hiram, the base of the entire fam
ily pyramid, and she talking about "half"
the income! Nay, they absorbed it all.
Mrs. Potheringham's lips closed slowly,
having uttered no W’ord. She removed her
elbows from the table, relaxed into her
chair and took! up her magazine. Then a
little ripple of laughter crept into her
eyej-L and she said softly:
"Hiram, you are simply delicious!”
BAGDAD IS NEGLECTED
TERRITORY FOR TRADE
The Bureau of Foreign.and Domestic
commerce, of the department of com
merce, has just completed part III of
a report on the cotton goods trade of
Turkey, and therein it is shown that
more than $7,000,000 x worth of cotton
goods is imported into Bagdad each
year, of which the United States sup
plies practically none.
Practically all of the yarn and about
three-fourths of the thread are now
imported from British India. Under the
heading of piece goods are included all
the different kinds of cotton cloth im
ported—sheetings, shirtings, prints,
ginghams, duck, khaki, etc. The prin
cipal source of cotton goods imports
has always been England, but in re
cent years British India has made a
considerable gain in this market. The
United States has been shipping cot
ton goods to points on the Persian gulf,
but did not export any to Bagdad un
til 1912, when a Bagdad importer placed
a small order for drills and ducks with
a New York exporter.
Gray and whim sheetings and shirt
ings constitute about three-fourths of
the imports of cotton goods, and it has
been said that the United States can
not compete in this market for the sale
of these goods. All Bagdad importers
who have received samples from Amer
ican exporters are impressed with the
superior quality of tne goods offered,
but they state that the price is too high
and the terms too rigid. The masses
of the people are poor working classes
whose incomes are extremely small.
Cheapness is' with them the principal
consideration and, generally speaking
they probably do not feel that super
ior and more durable material, though
higher in price, is cheaper in the end.
The general imports of cotto# goods
into Bagdad in 1908 were valued at $5,
207,233; in 1909, at $6,478,511; in 19L0, at
$6,253,650: and in 1911, at $7,022,851.
Cut Out the Crime Pictures.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
A boy burglar in Trenton says that
he had been taught to steal by watch
ing the comparative ease with which
robbers operated in the moving picture
shows. This calls attention to an evil
which has been apparent to most level
headed persons for a long time past.
The moving pictures, like many other
modern devices for our amusement and
instruction, can be made either a
source of good or of ill, depending en
tirely upon the point of view of the
inanagers or promoters of these shows.
They are patronized largely by boys
fcnd girls who have a perfectly normal
and childish liking for exciting pictures
hnd plays. But there are many legiti
mate ways of satisfying this juvenile
craving without teaching the young
sters how to steal and to commit crime
in general.
A little consideration on the part of
the managers of these shows should
convince them that their own interests,
lio less than those of the public, call
for the elimination of the crime films.
There is already a sort of censorship
over moving pictures, but this relates
to immoral or frankly objectionable
scenes and has no bearing on the nar
ratives which explain how easily and
cleverly criminals may outwit honest
people. Let the managers cut out the
crime teaching pictures, and if they
will not do it voluntarily, then let the
authorities do it for them.
Income Taxes Comoared.
From the Boston Globe.
While the democratic leaders are try
ing to decide upon an arbitrary figure
below which incomes will not be taxed,
with $4,000 as the limit most often
mentioned, it may be worth while to
consider the limits fixed by other na
tions. In England the exemption is
$750, in Prussia it is $225. in Austria
$112, and in Italy $77.20.
These figures reveal how hard press
ed foreign powers are to secure rev
enue. They also signify that only the
very poorest people escape making a
Contribution lrom their slender fund.
Our own lawmakers do not approach
the problem in any such spirit as that
exhibited by European powers. It is
evidently their intention not to disturb
the people of moderate means, but to
require those who. in their opinion, are
best able to aid the government, to
bear the burden.
Therefore in theory, at least, our pro
posed income tax is class legislation,
because it applies to only a limited
number of our citizens.
New Job Is Safe So Far.
From the Philadelphia Record.
A mail who goes up to Maine each year
for the hunting was quite surprised this
season upon arriving at the village ho
tel to And one of the old and best known
guides loaAng about idle.
"Well. Lafe." asked the visitor, "don't
you guide hunting parties any more?"
"No; I gave it up.” slowly answered
Lafe. "Got tired of being mistook for a
deer."
“I don't blame you. How do you earn
your living new?"
"Guide Ashing parties now. So fer no
body ain't mistook me fer a Ash.”
GERMANS ENCOURAGE
ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT
Following the English Associa
tion By Means of “Ef
ficiency” Medals.
Following the footsteps of the Eng
lish association, the German athlet.o
authorities have adopted a plan to en
courage all round athletic development
by means of "efficiency" medals. The
Imperial committee of the Olympic
games has worked out a system tor tne
awarding of gold, silver and bronze
medal3 for athletes who perform above
a set standard In any one of five
groups of athletic games and sports.
The first group consists of swim
ming and gymnastics, the second of
high jump and broad jump, the third
of running 100 yards or a quarter of
a mile, the fourth of fencing, discus
throwing, rowing, lawn tennis, wrest
ling, hockey and golf, and the fifth
group Includes long distance running,
swimming, skating, skiing and cycling.
The idea is that moderate efficiency In
five of these things shall be rewarded
by a bronze medal. A sliver medal
will be given if the performances are
repeated in each of four years, and a
gold medal if the performances are re
peated In each of eight years. A com
petitor of more than 32 years of age
will obtain the gold medal if he satis
fies the tests only once. The schedule.
Which is confined to Germans, is no
doubt well adapted to German tastes
and to present German conditions.
The First Hole.
Scholar. Well, Master, here I am
upon the tee and there lies the hall.
How shall I strike it?
Golfator. As you will, sir. There are
as many ways to drive a ball as to
kill a cat, and these ways we shall
consider, but for this first stroke X
would have you assail the ball in any
fashion that may please you; for it wilt
be a great time hence when you please
yourself again, before which way you
shall be slave to this dogma and that,
and a great grief to your friends.
Schol. Shall I stand in this fashion?
Golf. Nay, bestride not the ball like
the Colossus which was at Rhodes, for
in such stiff and ungraceful posture
you cannot put your hips and shoul
ders into the blow. There be many
strange golfers that spread themselves
in this fashion, and play with elbows,
to the great detriment of the land
scape, so that when I walk over the
links I could wish for binders, that
horses wear. Let your feet be more
neighborly, so, and have at it.
Schol. The ball is gone, yet I saw
ft not.
Golf. Well bit, Scholar: as true a
ball as ever left wood, and as far as
most.
Schol. Why, sir. it was nought: I
did but swing the club, and felt not
the blow.
Golf. A brave shot, Scholar, which
you shall have sweet remembrance of
these many months to come. Marry',
Is, if you take my advice you will rest
content, and sell these tools of wobd
and Iron, to your great peace of mind
and the continued esteem of such
friends as now you have.
Schol. Sir, I take not your mean
ing. Let us to the ball, that 1 may
strike it again, for my impatience is
not to be described.
Golf. Come then; for compared with
the task of staying you, it were a
profitable employ to discourse to the
deaf or to show pictures to the blind
A sparrow, new come from the south
land, sings for a mate in yonder ma
ple tree, yet I warrant you hear him
not; there are patches of springing
green in the grown carpet of the links
yet this pleasing tapestry serves but
as background for your ball. Here it
lies, well up. Take now this brassie
and whilst you fall upon the ball I do
desire to look another way.
Conditions in Hungary.
From Consular Reports.
Hungary experienced a year of
great prosperity in 1911. The adverse
trade balance, far from being an un
favorable sign, indicates Hungary's
ability to buy foreign goods. Com
mercial activity was never greater—
the banks report substantial gains in
deposits, the railways earned more
money and handled more freight and ■
passengers, and the factories, with few
exceptions, worked full time through
out the year.
That such conditions exist In spite
of Hungary’s unfortunate geographical
position, and in spite of the keen com
petition of Austrian industry, is a sign
of its inherent strength and a guaranty
of its future postlon among the im
portant industrial nations. Hungary’s
per capita foreign trade is nearly as
great as that of the United States This
is the more striking when it is remem
bered that Hungary's imports always
exceed its exports in value.
The minister of the interior places
the number of emigrants from Hun
gary to the United States during 1911
at 70,000, compared with 137,000 In
1910. This decrease is regarded in
Hungary with much satisfaction and
is attributed in part to the better con
ditions of life which are beginning to .
obtain among the emigrant class. It
is doubtless-true that conditions have
improved during the last few years,
but there has not been a sufficient
improvement in the ratio of wages to
the cost of living to account for a 50
per cent decrease in emigration, and
the real reason must be sought in the
fluctuations of the American labor
market.
Meat of Nuts That Wise Men Crack.
By Marshall Cushing.
Old Ben was right about the differ
ence between good printing and bad
printing—which is all the difference in
the world. Good printing succeeds
bad, fails. Bad printing is worse than
failure; it is one of those things, like
certain kinds of virtue, which one—no
tice the nice use of the word “one”_
is entitled to shrug his shoulders at
or turn up his nose at, and thus effect
ively condemn.
Good printing need not necessarily
cost very much more than bad print
ing—indeed. it need not cost any more.
Actually, it never costs so much. And
this is for the simple reason that what
you pay for that produces what you
have to have is cheap; and no matter
how cheap anything is, it is dear at the
price if it doesn’t serve the purpose.
William E. Irons in Ad-League Bulletin.
When you want printing make up
your mind what you want, go to some
one who has demonstrated he can give
you what you want, when you want it,
and at a fair price. Don’t shop
around, get a lot of estimates, then
think the lowest is the cheapest. Pa
per is a staple article; a printer of
known ability commands a fair price
for his service, and gives you value
received, Five good printers will figure
on a specified job and not vary more
than 3 per cent. If five estimates run
in the neighborhood of $500 and the
sixth is $375. hesitate before you give
the work to the $375 man. The chances
are that you will be out more than the
difference in the end.
A Little Nonsense.
Wigg—Success has turned many a
man’s head.
Wagg—Yes, it’s a long head Utat has
no turning.—exchange.
