PRESIDENT'S HESSAGE
I he Leading Sentiments
McKinley In His Message.
ARHED INTERVENTION IF NECESSARY
President Leaves the Responsibility tv Congress for Future Action
Will Do as it OrdersOpposed to Independence.
Washington, April 11. The presi
dent yesterday sent the following mes
sage to tbe congress of the United
States:
Obedient to the precept of the consti
tution which command the president
to give from time to time tbe congress
informrtion of the state of the onion,
'and to recommend to their considers
tion such measures as he shall judge
necessary and expdient, it becomes my
duty now to address your body with re
gard to the grave crisis that has arisen
in the relations of the United States to
Spain, by reason of tbe warfare that for
more than three years ha? raged in the
neighboring island of Cuba.
I do so because of tbe intimate con
nection of the Cuban question with the
elate of our own union, and the grave
relation the course which is now in
cumbent upon the nation to adop t miiBt
needs bear to the traditional policy of
our government, if it is to accord with
the precept laid iowh by the founders
of the republic and religiously observed
by succeeding administrations to the
present day.
SEE A COUNTRY LAID WA8TR.
Our people have beheld a once pros
perous community reduced to compara
tive want, its commerce virtually
paralyzed, its exceptional productiveness
diminished, iis fields laid waste, its
mills in ruins and its people perishing
by tens of thousands from hunger and
Starvation. We have found ourselves
constrained in the observance of that
strict neutrality which our laws and
which the law of nations enjoins, to
police oar own waters and watch our
own seaports in preventation of any
unlawful act in aid of the Cubans. Our
trade has suffered so the capital invested
by oar ci'izens in Cuba, has been
largely lost and t be forbearance of our
people has been so sorely tried as to
beget a perilous unrest among our own
cititena, which bac inevitably found its
expression from time to time in the
national legislature so that issues wholly
external to our own body politic engrot a
attention and stand in the way of that
close devotion to domestic advancement
that becomes a seif-contented common'
wealth whose primal maxim has been
the troidahce of all foreign'entangle
ments. All this must needs awaken
and has indeed aroused the utmost con
cern on the part of this government, as
well during my predecessor's as my
own.
weyi.er's dkath osmcR
The policy of devastation and con
Mntration, inaugurated by General
Weyler on October 10, ISM, in the prov
ince of 1'inar da Kio, was thence ex
tended to embrace all of the island to
which the power of the Spanish arms
was able to reach by occupation or by
military operations. The peasantry, in
cluding all Swelling in the open agri
cultural interior, were driven into the
garris ,n towns or isolated places held by
the troops. The fields were laid wa to,
dwellings unroofed and fired, mills de
stroyed and, in short, everything that
could desolate the land and render it
unfit for human habitation or support
was commanded to be destroyed, by one
or the other of the ont-iiding parties,
and executed by all thi powers at their
disjiosal.
fcCIiJiKK CHANGE OK FRONT.
The assaination of the prime minis
ter, Canovas, led to a cl.aiigi; of govern
ment in Spain, The former administra
tion, pledged to subjugation without
concession, gave place to that of a more
liberal party, committed long in advanc
to a policy of reform, involving th
wider principle of home rule for Cuba
and l'orto Klco. The overtures of this
government, made through its new en
voy, General Woodford, and looking to
an immediate and effective amelioration
of the condition of the inland, although
not accepted to the extent of admitted
media'ion in any shape were met by
afturancrs ttiat home rule in an ad
vanced phae would be forthwith offer
ed to Cuba without waiting for the war
to end, and that n.ore humane methods
should henceforth prevail in the con
duct of hostilities.
Incidentally with these declarations
the new government of Spain continued
and completed the policy already
begun by its predecessor of testifying
friendly regard for this nation by releas
ing American citizens held under one
charge or another connected with the
insurrection, so that, by the end of No
vember, not a single person jntitlcd in
any way to our national protection re
mained In a Spanish prison.
WAR or HX I RUMINATION.
Tiie war in Cuba is of such a nature
that short of subjugation or extermina
tion a final military victory for either
M.le seems impracticable. The alterna
tive lies in the physical exhaustion of
the one or the other party, or perhaps
of both a condition which in effect
endi'd the ten year's war by the truce o(
7,an j n. The prospect of such a pro
traction and conclusion of the present
strife is a contingency hardly to be con
templated with equanimity by the civ
ilized word, and least of alt by the
United 8ttw, effected and injured as
we are, deeply and intimately by lis
verjr existence.
Realising Ibis, it appears to bs my
duty, in a spirit of tr,.e friend iness, not
bxprtssed by President
and
less to Spain than to the Cubans who
have so much to lose bv the prolongs'
tion of the struggle, to seek to bring
about an immediate termination of tbe
war. To this end, 1 submit, on the 27th
ultimo, m a result of much representa
tion ana correspondence, through the
United Kti'.es minister at Madrid, pro
positions to the Spanish government
looking to an armistice until October 1
for the negoation of peace with the good
otticeg of tbe president. In addition
asked the immediate revocation of the
order of reconcentration, bo as to per
mit the people to return to tbeir arms
and the needy to be relieved with pro
visions and supplies from the United
Staths, co-operating with the Spanish
authorities, so as to afford full relief.
RKI'LY NOT SATISFACTORY.
The reply of tbe Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 31st ultimo.
It offers, as the means to bring about
peace in Cuba, to confide tbe prepara-
tion thereof to the insular department,
inasmuch as the concurrence of that
body would be necessary to reach a final
result, it Icing, however, understood
that tbe powers reserved by the consti
tution to tbe central government are
not lessened or diminished. Ab the
Cuban parliament doei not meet until
the 4th of May next, tbe Spanish gov
ernment would not object for its part,
to accept at once a suspension of hostili
ties, if asked for by the insurgents from
tbe general-in-cheif, to whom it would
pertain, in such case, to determine the
duration and conditions of the armis
tice. The propositions submitted by Gener
al Woodford and the reply of the Span
ish government were both in the form
of brief memoranda, the texts of whicb
are before me, and are substantially in
the language aboye given. The function
of the Cuban parliament'in the matter
of "preaffring" peace and the manner
of its doing so are not expreased in the
Spanish memorandum ; but from Gener
al Woodford's explanatory reports of
preliminary discussions proceeding the
final conference it is understood that
the Spanish government stands ready
to give the insular congress powers to
settle tbe terms of pease with the insur
gents, whether by direct negotion or in
directly by means of legislation does not
appear.
With this last overture in the direc
tion of immediate peace and its disap
pointing reception by Spain, the execu
tive was brought to the end of his effort.
In my annual message of December
last I said : "Of the untried measures
there remain : Recognition of the insur
gents as belligerents; recognition of tbe
independence of Cuba; neutral inter
vention to end the war by imposing a
rational compromise between the con
testants and inte-vention in favor of one
or the other party.
ANNEXATION OUT Of Tn QHXHTION,
I speak notol forcible annexation, for
that cannot be thought of. That, by
our code of morality, would be criminal
aggression. Thereupon, I re"iewed
these alternatives, in the light of Presi
dent Grant's uieas red words, uttered
in lb"5, when alter seven years of
sanguinary, destructive and cruel bar
barities in Cuba hu reached the conclus
ion that the recognition of the indepen
dence of Cuba was impracticable and
iiiiioerisiblu, and that the recognition
of belligerence was not warranted by
tbe fa-ts, according to the tests of public
law. I commented especially upon the
latter aspect of the question, pointing
out the inconveniences and positive
dangers of a recognition, which, while
added to the already onerous burdens of
neutrality within our own jurisdiction,
could not in any way extend our influ
ence or effective offices in the territory
of hostili ies. Nothing has since oc
curred to change my view in this regard,
and I recognize as fully now as then
that tbe issuam-e of a proclamation of
neutrality, by which process the bo
called recognition of lielligercnee is pub
lished, could of it1"-!!, mid unattended
by other notion, a vouiplished nothing
toward the oms end for which we labor,
the instant pacification of Cuba and the
cessation of hostilities,
I.NEI'KNmtM't NOT IMPOSflini.f.
Turning to the question of interven
tion at this time, the independence of
the present insurgent government in
Cuba, w find safe precedents in our
history from Bn early day. They are
well summed up in President Jackson's
message to congress, December 21, lhlili,
on the subject of the recognition of the
independence of Texas. lie Baid :
"In all the contentious that have
arisen out of the revolutions of r ranee,
out of the disputes relating to the crews
of Portugal and Spain, out of the separ
ation of the American iiossessious of
both from the European governments,
and out of the numerous and constantly
occurring struggles for domination in
Spanish America, so wisely consistent
with our just principles has been the
action of our government that we have
under the most critical circumstances
avoided all censure and encountered no
other evil than that produced by a
transient re-estrsngement of good will
In those against whom we have been by
force of evidence compelled to decide."
U has thus been made known to the
I world that the uniform policy and prac-
I tice of the United States is to avoid an
Interference in di'putes of other nations
and eventually to recognize the author
ity of the prevailing party without re
ference to our particular interests and
views or to the merits of the original
controversy, hut on this, as on every
other occasion, safety is to be found in
a rigid adherence to principle.
"In the contest between Spain and
tbe revolted colonies we stood aloof and
waited not only until the ability of tbe
new states to protect themselves was
fully established but until the danger
of their being again subjugated had en
tirely passed away. Then, and not un
til then, were they recognized.
Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate
that should still stand aloof and
maintain our present attitude, if not
until Mexico itself, or one of the great
foreign powers shall recognize the inde
pendence of the new government, at
least until the lapse of time or the
course of events shall have proved be
yond cavil or dispute the ability of the
people of that country to maintain their
separate sovereignty and to uphold the
government constituted by them
neither ol the contending parties can
justly complain of this course. By pur
suing it, we are but carrying out the long
established policy which has secured to
us respect and influence abroad and
inspired confidence at home."
These are the words of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evid
ence that the United States, in addition
to the test imposed by public law as the
condition of the recognition of inde
pendence by a neutral state (to-wit,
that the revolted state shall "constitute
in fact a body politic having a govern
ment in substance as well as name, pos
sessed of the elements of stability and
forming de facto, it left to itself, a state
among the nations reasonably capable
of discharging tbe duties of state); has
imposed for its own governance in deal
ing with cases like these the further
condition that recognition of independ
ent statehood is not due to a revolted
dependency until the danger of its be
ing again subjugated by tbe parent state
has entirely passed away. This extreme
test was in fact applied to tbe case ol
Texas. The congress to whom Presi
dent Jackson referred the question as
one probably leading to war" and
therefore a proper subject for a "previ
ous understanding with that body, by
whom war alone can be declared, and
by whom all the provisions for sustain
ing its perils must be furnished." Left
matter of the recognition of Texas to
tl.e executive providing merely for send
ing a diplomatic agent, when the presi
dent should be satisfied that the repub
lic of Texas had become "an independ
ent state.
It was so recognized by President Van
Buren, who commissioned a charge de
affaire i March 17, 1837, after Mexico
had abandoned an attempt to reconquer
the Texan territory and then there was
at the time no bona fide contest going
on between the insurgents province and
its former sovereign.
HIS MIND UNCBAXGKD.
I said iii my message of December
last: "It is to tie seriously considered
whether the Cuban insurrection pos
sesses beyond dispute the attributes of
statehood, which alone can demand the
recognition of belligerency in its favor."
The same requirement must cei tainly
be no less seriuusly considered when the
graver ishic of recognizing independ
ence is in iiietiot), for no less positive
test can 1 e applied to the greater act
than to the lesser, while On the other
hand the influences and consequences
of the struggle upon the internal policy
of a recognizing state, which form im
portant (ado s when the recognition of
belligerency is concerned, are secondary
if not rightly iliminable factors when
th
re.il cm- ii i is whether the com-
inn, my clan: nig recognition is or is not
independent beyond peradventure.
Nor from the standpoint of expedi
ence do I think it would be wise or
prudent for this government to recog
nize at the present time the independ
ence of the so-called Cuban republic.
Such recognition is not necessary in
order to enable the United Slates to in
tervene and pacify the island. To com
mit this country to the recognition of
any particular government in Cubt
might subject us toemharrasttirtg condi
tions of international obligation toward
the organization so recognized. In case
of intervut on our conduct would be
subjected to the approval or dimpprova.
of such govc anient ai e would lie re
quired to submit to its direction and
.-nine to it tbe mean relation of a friend
ly ally. When it shall appear hereafter
that there is within the island a govern
ment Capable of performing the duties
ttnd discharging tbe functions of a separ
ate nation, and having as a matter of
fin t the proper forms and attributes of
nationality, such government can be
promptly and readily recognized, and
the. relations and interestsof the United
Mates with such nation adjusted.
PLAN Or INTERVENTION.
There remain the alternative forms of
intervention to end the war, either as
an Impartial neutral, or by imposing a
rational compromise between the con
testants, or as an active ally of the one
party or the other.
As to the first, it is not to be forgotten
that during the last few months the
relation of the United Stales bus virtu
ally been ons of friendly Intervention in
many ways, not so conclusive, but all
tending to the exertion of a polen ial
influence toward an ultimate pacific
result, just and honorable to all interests
concerned. The spirit of all our acti
hitherto has been an earnest, unselfish
desire for escd and prosperity in Cuba
untarnished by d.fferences between
and Spain, and unstained by the blood
of American citizens.
The forcible intervention of the United
States as a neutral to stop the war, ac
cording to the dictates of humanity and
following many historical precedents
where neighboring states have inter
fered to check the hopeless sacrifice of
life by internecine conflicts beyond their
borders is justifiable on national I
grounds. It involves, however, hostile
constraint upon both the parties to the
contest, as well to enforce a truce as to
guide the eventual settlement.
GOOD GROUND FOR ACTION.
The grounds for such intervention
may be briefly summarized as follows:
First In the cause of humanity and
to put an end to the barbarities, blood
shed, starvation and horrible miseries
now eiisting there, and which the par
ties to the conflict are either unable or
unwilling to stop or mitigate. It is no
answer to say this is all in another
county, belonging to another nation
and is therefore none of our business.
It is especially our duty for it is right
at our door.
heconu We owe it to our citizens in
Cuba to afford them that p-otection and
indemnity for life and property which
no government there can or will afford,
and to that end to terminate the condi
tions which deprive them of legal pro
tection. Third The right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to
the commerce, trade and business of
our people and by the wanton destruc
tion of property, and devastation of the
island.
Fourth And which is of the utmost
importance. The presant condition of
affairs in Cuba is a constant menace to
our peace and entails upon this govern
ment an enormous expense. With such
conflict waged for years in an island
so near us and with which our people
have such trade and business relations
when the lives and liberty of our
citizens are in constant danger and their
property destroyed and themselves
ruined where our trading vessels are
liable to seizure and are seized at our
very door by warships of a foreign na
tion, the expeditions of filibustering
that we are powerless to prevent alto
gether and the irritating questions and
entanglements thus arising all these
and others that I need not mention
with the resulting strained relations are
constant menace to our peace and
compel us to keep on a semi-war footing
ith a nation with which we are at
peace.
TH R MAINE P18A8TKR.
These elements of danger and disorder
already pointed out have been striking
ly illustrated by a tragic event which
has deeply and justly moved the Ameri-
can people, i nave aireaoy iransniueu
to congress the report of the naval court
of inquiry on the destruction of tbe
battleship, Maine in the harbor of Hava
na during the night of the 15th of Feb
ruary, the aestrucuon oi mai nooie
vessel has filled the national heart with
inexpresslble sorrow. Two hundred
and fifty-eight brave sailors and marines
and two officers of our navy, reposing
the fancied security of a friendly
harbor, have been hurled to death
grief and want brought to their homes
and sorrow to the nation.
Tbe naval court of inquiry, which it
is needless to say, commands the un
qualified condolence of the government,
was unanimous in its conclusion that
the destruction ol the Maine was caused
by an exterior explosion, that was of a
submarine mine. It did not assume to
place the responsibility. That remains
to be fixed.
In any event, the destruction of the
Maine, by whatever exterior force is a
patent and impressive proof of a state
ofthingi in Cuba that is intolerable.
That condition is thus shown to ba such
that tire Spauish government cannot
assure safety and security to a vessel of
the American navy in the habor of
Havana on amission of peace and right
fully there.
PROMISES TO MAKE AMENDS.
Further referring in this connection
to recent diplomatic correspondence, a
dispatch from our minister to Spain of
the 'Jht h uito. contained the statement
that the Spanish minister for foreign
affa.rs HMired him positively that Spain
will do all that the highest honor and
justice n quired in the matter of the
Maine. The reply above referred to of
the 31st. ulto. also contained an expres
sion of the readiness ot Spain to submit
to -.in arbitration all tbe differences
which ("i "ise in this matter, which is
(cib-.-q'iwi'N- explained by the note of
tbe Spanish minister at Washington of
the 10th innt , as follows:
"As to the question of fact which
springs from the diversity of views from
the report of the American and Spanish
hoards Spain proposes that the fact be
ascertained by an investigation by
experts, which decision Spain accepts in
advance."
To this I have male no reply.
The long trial has proved that the ob
ject or which Spain has waged the war
cannot be attained. The fl re of insur
rection may flame or may smoulder with
varying seasons, but it has not been,
and it is plain it cannot bo, extinguished
by present methods. The only means of
relief and repose from a condition which
cannot longer lie endired is the en
forced pacification of Cuba. In the
name of humanity , in the name o( civ
ilization, in behalf of endangered Amer
ican interests, which gives us the right
and duty to speak and to act, the war
in Cuba must stop.
WHAT UKNKKAL GRANT SAID.
President Grant, in 18K5, after discuss
ing the phases ol the contest as it then
appeared and its hopeleas and apparent
indefinite prolongation, said.
"In such event I am of th opinion
that other nations will be compelled to
assume the responsibility which de
volves upon them and to so seriously
consider the only remaining measures
possible, mediation and intervention.
Owing, perhaps to the large expanse of
water separating tbe island from the
peninsula, the contending parties ap
pear to have within themselves no de
pository of common conadence to auk-
jgest wisdom when passion and excite
ment have their sway, and to assume
the part.of peacemakers. In this oaBe,
in the earlier days of he conteet, the
good offices of the United States as a
mediator were tendered in good faitb,
without Belfiuh purpose, in the interest
of humanity and sincere friendship for
both parties, but were at the time d e
clined by Spain with the declaration,
nevertheless, that at a future time thev
would be indispensible. No intimation
has been received that in the opinion
that time has been reached, and yet the
strife continues with all its dread hor
rors and its injuries to the interests of
the United States and of other nations.
"Each party Beems quite capable of
working great injury and damage to the
other, as well as to all the relations and
interests dependent upon the existence
of peace in the island, but they teem
incapable of reaching any adjustment,
and both have thus far failed of achiev
ing any success whereby one par'y shall
possess and control the island to the
exclusion of the other. Under the cir
cumstances the agency of other, either
by mediation or by intervention, seems
to be the only alternative which muBt
sooner or later be invoked for the ter
mination of the strife.''
HKFKR8 IT TO CONGRESS.
In view of these facte and these con
siderations, I ask the congress to au
thorize and empower the president to
take measures to secure a full settle
ment and termination of hostilities
between the government of Spain and
the people of Cuba, and to secure in
the island the establishment of a stable
government capable of maintaining
order and observing its international
obligations, insuring peace and tran
quility and tbe security of its citizens,
as well as our own, and to use the mili
tary and naval forces of the United
States as may be necessary for these
purposes, and in the interest of human
ity and to aid in preserving the lives of
the starving people of the island, I re
commend that the distribution ol food
and supplies be continued and that an
appropriation be made out of the public
treasury to supplement the chsnty of
our citizens.
The issue is now with congress. It is
a solemn responsibility, i nave ex
hausted every effort to relieve the in
tolerable condition of affairs which is at
our doors. Prepared to execute every
obligation imposed upon me by the con
stitution and the laws, I await your ac
tion.
CLKVKLAN D QUOTEO.
In the last annual message of my im
mediate predecessor, during the pend-
ing struggle, it was said:
"When the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrection has
become manifest and it is demonstrated
that its sovereignty is extinct in Cubs
for all purposes of its rightful existence
and when a hopeless struggle for its re
establishment has degenerated into a
strife which means nothing more than
the useless sacrifice of human life and
the litter destruction of tbe very subject
matter of the conflict, a situation will
be presented in which our obligations
to tbe sovereignty of Spain will be su
perseded by higher obligations, which
we can hardly hesitate to recognize and
discharge.
TIME TO ACT IS I1KRK.
In my annual message to congress.
December last, speaking to this question
I Baid :
"Tbe near future will demonstrate
whether the iodispensible condition ol
a lighteous peace, just alike to the
Cubans and to Spain, as well as equit
able to all our interests so intimately
involved in the w elfare of Cuba, is likely
to be attained. If not, the exigency of
further and other action by tbe United
States will remain to be taken. When
tbe time, comes that action will be
determined in the line of indisputable
right and duty. It will be faced with
out misgiving or hesitancy in the light
of the obligation this government owes
to itself, to tbe people who have con
fided to it tbe protection of their inter
ests and honor, and to humanity.
"Sure of the right, keeping free from
all offense ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations,
moved neither by mansion nor selllsh
nes", tbe government will continue its
watchful care over the rights and prop
erty of the American citizens and will
abate none of its efforts to bring about
by peaceful agencies a peace which shall
be honorable and enduring. If it shall
hereafter appear to be a duty imposed
by our obligations to ourselves, to civili
zation and humanity to intervene with
force, it. shall be without fault on our
part and on'y because the necessity for
such action will hu so clear as to com
mend (he support and approval of the
civilized world."
(I RANTING OK AKM1HTICB.
Yestwlay and since the preparation
of the foregoing message, official inform,
ation was received by me that the latest
decree of the queen regent of Spaiu
directs (ieneral Blanco, in order to pre
pare and facilitate peace, to proclaim a
suspension of hostilities, the duration
and details of which have not yet been
communicated to me. This fuel, with
every other pertinentconsideration, will
1 am sure, have your just and careful
attention in the solemn deliberation
upon which you are aboil, to enter. If
this measure attains a successful h-mi!;,
then our aspirations as a Chri-t i.m,
peace-loving people, will lie realized. 1'
it fails it will lie only another juat.ll n
tion ol our contemplated action.
WllXtAM McKini.kv,
Executive Mansion, April 11.
London Truth suggests that as Au
trian princes are called archdukes, Gfl
man princes should henceforth stylo
themselves archangels, to empbaslsfl
the gospel of his sacred majesty's per'
Hon.
Mrs. Annie llurd Dyer is translating
into .Japanese the two novels by Jamea
l.une Allen, entitled "A Kentucky Car
dinal'1' and "Aftermath." Both book
display so fine a feeling for nature and
so delicate a sense of beauty that it ft
thought they will appeal peculiarly f )
the Japanese uiind.
Under the title of "The Revolutiona"
Pictures," a collection bus been madewf
the original paintings and drawings
illustrating Senator Lodge's "Story of
the Revolution" now appearing In
sVrlhner'H Magazine. This collection
of pictures forms an Impressive gallery;
of revolutionary art, worth many thou
sands of dollars. They are now being
exhibited In various cities throughout
the country under the auspices of tho
local patriotic societies.
Jerome K. Jerome, who has relin
quished the editorship of both tbe Idle
and To-Day, has a short humorous nov
el ready for publication early in tbe
year. Literature says that all Mr. Je
rome's books have been translated Iota
Norwegian, and In Germany, Fmage,
Uussla and Scandinavia he Is one l
the very few English writers at all 01
known.
Having successfully carried his new
volume of poems through the press Ed
mund Clarence Stedman proposes ta
devote some laltor to another anthology;
similar in scope to that In which hi
traversed the poetry of the Victorian
era, but dealing with American verse.
Like Its predecessor, the new collection
will serve as a companion to the edi
tor's critical writings on the subject.
In Great Britain 0.244 new books and
1,082 new editions were published dur
ing 1897, according to the Publishers'
Circular. The various classes Into
which these books are divided main
tain their relative proportions to tho
whole with two exceptions: books on
law have decreased In number notice
ably, while tbe proKrtion of books on
political and economical subject has
Increased even more noticeably.
Tbe speech by w hich Gabrielle dr
Annunzlo obtained the suffrages of th
Itoman rustics contained not one single
allusion to any of those vital questions
which make up the essence of modern
Italian politics. The fact that this nov
elty in electioneering oratory should
have gained Its end, and that the authox
of "The Triumph of Death" sits to-dav
In the Representative Chamber al
Rome has caused much chagrin to his
enemies, who have seriously contem
plated lodging a petition against
D'Annunzio's return.
A Generous Uiioliess.
It Is generally agreed that the dom
inant note ot" the churn cter of the late
Duchess of Teck was her amiability,
but that term does inadequate justice,
to the heart from w hich it sprung. She
was charity Itself, and a wonderful or
ganizer of charitable relief on a large
scale.
It is sa.Id that she ra ve out of her own
pocket a good fifth of tho annual
amount granted to her by Parliament,
and a story, vouched for by tbe St.
James' Budget, shows that she knew
how to give on a small scale; to be gen
erous In mind as well as with money.
There were to lx some festivities at
White IxNlgc, the Richmond residence
of the duchess, and an Invitation was
sent to the secretary of a charity in
which the duchess was Interested. By
a later sst the young lady received a
letter from a friend, a-sking her to a
tennis party which was to be held tho
same day.
Next morning lxiili invitations were
ficknowiedgod, but the replies were
carelessly put In the wrong envelopes.
The duchess opened the letter in which
the writer declared to her friend that
she was very sorry she could not come
to tennis, because "Stout Mary" had
asked her to White Lodge, and she
was lxnmd to go.
The day duly arrived, and the frank
young lady was warmly welcomed by
the duchess, who afterward took her
aside and laughing said:
"My dear girl, I know I am stout, but
I cannot help It. Yon should be more
careful In iststing your letters, and
never forget that you do not know who
will remd n hat you write. Don't apolo
gize. I have forgiven you." '
Christy Minstrels.
'Iii)? Toronto Saturday Night tells the
following story of liean Vnughan. Ho
had been preparing som! colored cler
gymen for mission work, and h;ul In
vited them to dine with Lim In the
Temple.
(in that day Mrs. Vaughn n waited an
hour In the dni.wlng room for her
guests, hut none came. At last she
mentioned to the butler that It was odd
that the Invited guests did not appear.
"Yes. ma'ain," he replied, "and what's
odder slill, I've dono nothing all the
evening but turn Christy Minstrels
uvay from the door."
Thunderstorms In Jkhih'ch.
At port Royal, Rnmalca, for six
months In the year thunderstorms are
almost of daily occurrence, and guests
to picnics and garden parties nre usual
ly, Invited to Hsscmi'ble "after tho thttn
difslorni." When actors quarrel they can resort
to the make-up lsx.
Matrimony often tsumsi love's sweet
dream Into a horrid nightmare.
