TALM AUK'S SKRMOX.
TALKS OF MEEDS OF THE
CHURCHES.
T«*tr Arte IP. |: -And when tbr
dar uf |KC!'t«*out was f«Jy tkry
were all wrath oat an ord la one place.'*
H« aaad
The bbrnuags of Episcopal Lent
fraa a Proshytertae minister's stand
point I* the thrmo of this sermon. The
grimages. monasteries. juggernauts J
human nr nSrrs end medicine men !
prune that dar* of fasting and supp’i
r*tkm has* been among the sarred cus
lima td ail get loan St. Agsea day,
Candlemas day. St. Blaxe day. Valeo
Ca*e s Cay Hoke day St Patrick's day. 1
Ft George a day. Shrove Tuesday, j
Maypole dar. IWjr Innocents day. AH- 1
haiam C«a. St f'rhan a day. Roy*!
Oak day. St Kk Solas day. St Vitas
day. JriS * within Margaret Bridget, j
Catharine. Andrew. James. Ethriburgh, I
E *«a*bethBarnabas. Simon Jude days,
liaiy Rood day. Martimas day. Car
per t hru*.I day are only a fear of ike
many aa could name m the gleaming
tiastrUsthas of past ho y days. **
•eil as holiday*.
Covenanter* dates ba<h to the time of
Scujdtiih bigotries, when Lord Claver
Souae. like Paul, ‘persecuted them even
•MO strange cities/ As It meant life
or death If an enemy fuersH the
urorshipers they had their take®* or
litCe pieces of leaden metal about the
• ■sa td aa English penny. When these
Covenanters cus* to the door where
the common km urns to he hvld they
presented throe tokens, urhhfc were the
tame as a soldier's countersign So
the modem custom of eating hot cross
hun* on Good Friday Fad* its origin
»«*id bring the sacred bread to lay »
wpoh the alter*. Down to the reign of
Henry VIII the Catholic rfcurca. in or
der to celebrate- the triumphed entry
<f Palm Sunday made s woodea ass
•ad astride this ass they placed the
woodea figure at Jesus Christ, sad the
Would drag It through the
streets before which the worshiper*
towed la holy rapture. As was g igfot- J
■ f rapre»aed e ! U accent p » n»
* A swift a** they tare aad *3Up
* great that co hue rides.
Bet naderersth the ass's feet a tah>
;% broad there .slides.
Brief War oo a heels which ready
drest aad all thiags matte there
•sot.
The asoe is brooch abroad aed set be
fore the chwrrhe's door.
*—•« «f a* Sows.
*"iiot only did the Jeer* tare the
ft-ast of the Pas* over. the feast of the
Tabernacles, the fe**t of the fVetecoct.
the feast of the Nee Mooes, the feast
of Charity, the least at dedna’ion the
***** of trumpets, the feast of the Sab
bath. for these feasts were only an
other a»»* for fast, hut In Zcchanah
we read. The fast of the fourth month
* ad the last of the ftfth and the fast of
the seteoth. aad the fast of the teatb
•ba.i he to the house of Judah Joy aad
gladness aad cheerful fact*.* After the
•sceawoo. whew they were all with oae
acres* la one place, the little band of
12* disorganized followers of Je*us
Chrtat gathered together la aa upper
ttna.be* *a Jerusalem, sad there they
fasted aad prayed day after day nail!
at last the Holy Ghost raate in the
rosad of a aughty raafctag wind aad it
ftlied all th* house a here they were ut- !
tcag sad there appeared unto them
doeea league* of Ire sad it sat upon
the head* of each.
**The am redness ef the Leetee sea
aaa Is the sstaral ootgrowth of heath- >
ea as oell as Christian worship
Though we hold not allegiance to any I
bishop aor rrrerrare the Idew of apus
oigy. let as gather nest hah Wedae*
dsy la the difereat parishes under the
shadow at the crone, sad for forty day*
how the ha*e la worship. side by side
with those aha ore merely sheep of
another fed. at whom Jetus Christ tr
*n ib* pia'e me test honor?
the Eptecopaisa Lenten season br
muse it u * protest against aerial dis
sipations. la order ta dissipate some
|«uf « k. »t» one has to he a drunkard
l.A# IMgir A .*3 Pw a libertine like
Lard Myron or an opium fiend like
Thtmae de Quinrey, who on account
ad his physical infirmities made that
marteiou* mind a» wetrd and unbal
anced that hi dreams he wandered
among the clouds. The star, were tae
shining knobs which opened the dark
doors cd the a:rh? la the strange pa!.
*■ *■* <jt * :eio* at L fj’a' an../!
built. he heard his little 'baby playmate,
the ioeang sister who died in childhood,
sing the sap cd the nursery. As aa
artist he painted kls picture* and a«
n magician wared his wand until vast
rrocenmims passed along in mournful
pomp, friesrs cd never -ending stories,
that «• my tn.ad were aa sad and sol
emn as if they were atones draws from
time* before Oedipus or ITiam before
Tyre, before Memphis And at tbe
ism lime a change took place is my
dream*, a theater seemed suddenly
spewed and lighted within my brain
Which presented nightly epectadea of
more vlakmt than earthly apk-adors.
Psde at !*••
de Q l.li ey »
la of heave* and tbe
of the fields and the
were driven away
wkkh sent
and shrieking through
was a ,a*al*f shivering In
cemeteries
of chatt-rinc
spirit* of
Jetrrtrhiag forth their
a across tke dark
chasms ad horrors into which, he must
flail and they could not c hange the
gflmfltp of his wan
• ftet theta sure SdN different ways of
y«ad ‘And God aaid. Let there be
light, and there was light And God
saw the light that It was good, aad
girt (tit the ight from the dark
mmn A»d Gad called the light day
and the dark**- he alW »***.*
fss SmS UfM
lm other words, those verse* mean
,au u the hag inning God ignited for
dsn those found along
,r. H^fsfi of
liquor and more! weak cess. The de
spised worm destroys the monster
oak as well as the woodman s ax. The
lltlia seed or the froren stream cracks
the solid rock as well as the angry
dynamite. The flowing water* of Ni
agara river dissolve the mountains.
*'ln tbe first chapter of Genesis wa
this planet two suns. The moon It
nothing but a burnt-out sun. But after
the creation God felt too much ligtl
would destroy the human race, so he
practically said: *My children must
have a time to sleep. The flowers close
their petals in slumber. The trees be
come torpid In a winter nap to give
forth tbe spring buds. Even the ma
chinery must have a rest or It will soon
wear ouL The angclus bell without
quiet will cease to chime, so. In order
to have man and woman sleep, I will
show them my will. For ten hours st
b*trt 1 will envelop the earth In total
darkness.* Like our grandmothers
with a candle-snuffer. God reached
down and put out tbe light of that
nni which we cal! the moon. And this
is the reason we ought to go to bed
with the chit kens and answer early to
the tunning call of the crowing cock.
* In the next place, the text honors
tbe Lenten season because it is a pro
t st against human perfection. If
thcie were any people on earth who
tty pby^ al contact were fitted for tho
receiving cf the Holy Spirit on account
of their natural conditions, they were
the llttie band cf 120 Christians, com
posed of Peter, James, John. Martha.
1- - Mary the mother of Christ,
and Mary Magdalene, who had the
seven d» v:is. and the rest of the apos
t es who sat with Christ at the last
supper. They ate cf bis body and drank
cf h.s blood. Many of them knew
Jr - it »l.cn he was In Galilee and made
the wine at the weddiug of Cana. They
saw him crucified. They saw the tomb
st.rli was rifled. They saw him and
taiked to him and touched him when
he was resurrected. Taul said: After
that be was seen of above 500 brethren
at on *, of whom tbe greater part re
c Uns unto this pcntecost. but some
arc fallen asleep.’
M»lir!d I he Ascension.
“They raw Jesus' ascension, when he
mounted higher and higher, until the
trees were under his feet; higher and
L.ghrr. until bis hair was moistened
ty tLe halo of clouds, as the gardens
are bctweat^d by the morning mists;
higher and higher, until other worlds
crowed around him in love; higher
and Lu;her. until his white, flowing
garments 1 ••came as the wings of a
d.ve; higL'r and higher, until earth
!'-• if to li:m must have dwindled into
a star. Yet these disciples, before the
li y Spi.lt n:c, had to gather in one
9 a<e, with one accord, for supplica
tion ard prayer. Cannot you and I
see the tongues of
Are; strain our ears to hear the spirit
m.cds moving among the trees; reach
1 rrh our hands for the gospel heart
<.~>p. and lift cur lips for the kiss of
divine love?
“One day among the arctic iceberg3
a whaling ship sighted a strange craft.
1* rap's wera ropes of Ice. Its sails
and hull an Mf dock were all cov
ered with ice Its rudder chains could
not move, for they were In the grip of
omnipotent ice. When the commander
came near enough to this strange craft
he lifted tie trumpet and called. ‘Ship
ahoy, ship ahoy. Whither bound; from
what port?' There was no answer. A
boat was lowered When the rescuing
pa;ty . imbed over the bulwarks they
found the captain frozen dead In the
cabin; the sailors frozen dead in the
bunk*, the rook frozen dead in the
ibe a; the wheelman frozen dead at
the wheel. For thirteen long years
that -hip had floated helplessly about,
the sport of every current, the play
tt.ng of every wind, and the only fu
neral dirge mas sounded by storm
demons, shriek.ng and hissing in tbs
rigging
So every man at 40 or SO years cC
age ia a dereip-t. a divinely pitied hu
man craft, drifting around with a full
cargo of decayed opportunities, with
; s eorpaes of misapplied Influences.
We nnst first throw overboard our
dead selves before we can let Jesus
Christ step upon the decks.
*c«l1 K»i (onMil Contempt.
* by our actions we try to push our
selves down to the lowest depths of
God s great ocean of contempt Thia
was not the figure of the pentecostal
gathering. Methinks we see them.
There is Mary, the Mother, weak and
old. with her eyes red from weeping.
There is Frter. repulsive Peter, one
mom* at all faith, next all discourage
ment. TLere is doubting Thomas, with
h:« fa«e growing longer every day. He
says: ‘Do you think Jesus will keep
t:s word and mud the Comforter? Do
you believe he will forgive us the way
*• treated him when upon earth?
Why. 1 would not believe him until he
let me probe my finger into his wound
ed side.' They talk on. day after day.
until at 1. ct gentle John says: ‘Breth
ren. let me pray again, and then.
Mol her, remember the Savior told me
to tali you mother—then, Mother, you
fo;.ow with another prayer.* While
the party knelt, suddenly there was a
ncise like a mighty rushing wind, and
some one cried: What is that? A
tornado it coming; listen!* As they
I HIM their blanched faces. John point
ed to Mary tLe Virgin. Over her head
was s tongue of fire, and. like the in
numerable lights of s chandelier which
burt-t into a blaze when one tip Is
tocw bid. the tongue of fire flamed over
• very Lead and they all cried: *It is
the Holy Ghost! It ia the Holy Ghost!'
“1 love my church, my own church,
tbs d*ar oid Presbyterian church. I
was baptized at her altars. As a little
iliiid 1 went to sleep in her pews. As
a boy 1 found my Christ at her mercy
seat Aa a husband there I brought
my bride. As a young minister there
1 rec-ived the holy touch of ordination.
When I lay me down to sleep the last
steep at her pulpit 1 want to have
spoken over me the same words which
1 have said, at the same place where 1
broke the bread of the holy com
munion. But because s minister loves
Lis wife, that is no reason he cannot
j reverence his sister. At the holy altar
at the Episcopalian chancel I have
bowed and wept. 1 have reverently re
peated the prayer: ‘From mil blindness
of heart, from pride, sxln-glory, and
hypocrisy; from every ’satred. malice,
and all uncharitableness, good Lord,
deliver us.'
“And 1 now plead with you. my Pres
byterian people, to answer with zn« ttw
call of Episcopalian Lent and go to the
upper chamber in Jerusalem, tfhers
we can be all with one accord la on«
! 'lace.' "
HERO OF MANY AVARS
HAS SEEN SERVICE UNDER
VARIOUS FLAGS.
—
A Score of Scan and Sixteen Decora
Mona Tratify to Ilia Bravery In Action
—Now Organizing an Army to Help
the Brttlab.
(Chicago Letter.)
There is iu Chicago at the present
lime an interesting figure in the per
son of Gen. Henry Ronald Maclver.
who is planning the organization of an
army of Americans to light in the
| British ranks against the Boers. Mac
lver is truly a soldier of fortune. He
has fought under fourtetli flags in
different parts of the world, and be
side# has taken part in scores of duels
and undergone all kinds of peril by
sea and land. Today he is hearty and
vigorous, and the only traces of his
narrow escapes from death are a score
of scars. He wears sixteen decora
tions which were conferred upon him
for distinguished service in action.
Maclver was a mere boy when he
first began to fight with the sword. He
was born on the Virginia eoast. of
American parents. When eleven years
of age he was sent to an uncle, who
was a retired army officer, in Scot
land. and there was drilled in military
tactics. It was intended that he should
enter West Point when old enough, but
being anxious to see real fighting at
once he was successful in getting an
appointment as ensign iu the East In
dia service of the Sepoys at the time
of the mutiny, and he was an eye
witness of many frightful atrocities
committed by the natives. He saw
some hard fighting in India, and once
had a desperate battle with seven
mounted Sowars, in which his head
was cut open by a tulwar, but he man
aged to pull through after months of
suffering. When he recovered from
his wound the mutiny was over and
he went back to Scotland. Garibaldi
and Lis soldiers were about this time
fighting for Italian independence and
the young soldier's love of adventure
carried him to Italy. Here his reck
less bravery attracted Garibaldi's at
tention and he was made a colonel. He
afterwards went to England and raised
a small company to help tbe revolu
tionists When Garibaldi's foreign
GEN. HENRY R. MACIVER.
legion was disbanded Lieut. Atacivcr
was given a medal and the decoration
of the Cross of Savoy for his bravery
and skill.
When the war between the north
and south broke out Maclver was lead
ing a quiet life in Scotland, but a
strong desire came over him to visit
his native land, and also to satisfy his
thirst for war. His sympathy was
naturally with the south, his parents
being Virginians. He was first thrown
into prison at Alexandria on suspicion
of being a secessionist, and remained
there two months when he escaped.
He was recaptured but escaped hgain
and made his way into the Confederate
lines. When he arrived at the head
quarters of the secessionists he was
arrested as a Unionist, but was releas
ed on giving an outline of his early
career and secured a commission as
lieutenant of cavalry. I^ater he was
detailed on Gen. Stonewall Jackson’s
staff. He organized a body of picked
_ * ___a. j_a__a l ___a
iLCU lUi d« util uutt , uuu mo vumiuuuu
became well known for its dash and
daring. He saw some severe fighting
with Jackson, being wounded several
times, and was captured by the enemy
and exchanged. He also served with
Gens. Stuart and Robert E. Lee, and
performed some dangerous work as a
dispatch bearer. He was sent to Lon
don with dispatches for the Confeder
ate agent there, and in England was
given a commission as agent. When
he returned he made his way to Mo
bile. and the civil war closing shortly
after he saw no more fighting, but
managed to fight a couple of duels, in
one of which he killed his antagonist.
His next fighting was done with
Maximilian in Mexico. With seven
ether ex-Confederate officers he jour
neyed overland to reach Maximilian's
army. During his stay in Mexico he
had many thrilling experiences with
Indians, brigands and Maximilian’s
rebellious subjects. After Maximilian's
death his followers were in great peril.
Maclver, after much difficulty succeed
ed In reaching the coast, where he
took passage on a steamer for Rio
Janeiro.
When Maclver reached South Ameri
ca he found Brazil and Argentina al
lied in a war to crush Paraguay. There
was a number of ex-Confederates in
the Brazilian army, with which he
cast his fortunes, receiving the com
mission of lieutenant colonel. At the
close of this war he returned to Scot
land, where he learned of the revolu
tion of the Cretans against the Turks.
He ran the blockade, reached Crete,
fought with the Cretans and received
a commission as colonel of the rebels,
with permission to organize a regi
ment in Scotland, where there were
many Cretan sympathizers. He had no
trouble in getting together a body of
men. but the Turkish ambassador pre
vented their departure. Maclver and
two others went to Greece, intending
to capture a Turkish gunboat in the
harbor of Piraeus, but on arrival
learned that the revolution had been
crushed.
Col. Maclver now found fighting to
do under the Grecian flag, the govern
ment being engaged in a struggle to
suppress the depredations of brigands
along the Grecian frontier. There
were two months of brigand hunting
and the outlaws fought desperately
before being suppressed. Maclvei led
a quiet life for a while, but this be
came monotonous and he came to New
York in time to join a filibustering ex
pedition for Cuba. He was given charge
of a force of infantry in one of the ten
years’ wars and fought in many bat
tles. guerilla tactics being employed.
He escaped from Cuba in a rowboat
and was picked up in an exhausted
condition seven days later. He eventu
ally wound up in New York.
His next experience was in the
Egyptian army, but his thirst for con
flict was hardly satisfied there and he
went to Europe to join the French,
who were then engaged in war with
Germany. He served on the staff of
Gen. Chanzy, was wounded at the bat
tle of Orleans, and received a commis
sion as colonel of cavalry in the auxili
ary army. After the fall of the com
mune Maclver catered Paris with Mac
Mahon and was an eye-witness of
many terrible scenes which followed.
We next find him fighting in the rank3
of the Carlists, in the efforts to place
Don Carlos on the throne of Spain.
The Carlists were successful for a
while, but met with such a series of re
verses later that their contest was
abandoned. A quiet life of several
months in Paris followed and then
Maclver was sent by an English news
paper to the scene of the conflict of the
Bosnians and Herzegovinians against
the Turks, joining the former, and
with others of the soldiers took part
with the Russians against the Turks
in the Russo-Turkish war. The Servi
ans next enlisted his sympathy and he
was given a colonelcy in the Servian
ranks. He subsequently served in the
Soudan, in Chili, in Nicaragua and in
Cuba.
THE PROPHET’S MANTLE.
Aunual Ceremony Which Is Dreaded
My the Sultan of Turkey.
There is no festival throughout the
entire year in which the sultan stands
in greater dread than that of the
“Prophet's Mantle.” which has just
taken place at Constantinople, for the
route from the Yildiz Kiosque to the
imperial treasury at Gulchane’s is so
far that he is perfectly convinced that
he will meet with his death by assas
sination when either proceeding to or
returning from the annual adoration
of the holy coat. The coat is asserted
to have belonged to Mohammed, is a
kind of “chkra,” or robs with flowing
sleeves, and its color is green, the hue
of all others that is sacred to the pro
phet. The extent to which the gar
ment in question is venerated by all
true believers may be estimated by the
fact that the principal and most highly
cherished title of the sultan is that of
“Hadun u! Haremeen.” or guardian of
the holy relic. According to Moham
medan tradition, the coat in question
was presented by the prophet to a Ye
men dervish of the name of Was el
Karani as a token of gratitude for his
services in first discovering the use
and preparation of coffee. It was
brought to Constantinople by Sultan
Selim I. along with the keys of the holy
cities of Medina and Mecca, from Cairo,
where they had been preserved until
that time in keeping of the Caliphs.
The shrine in which it was placed by
Sultan Selim, and in which it remains
to this day, is composed of massive
gold and is further guarded by a sort
of silver grating or cage, the key to
which is of gold. The coat is wrapped
in no less than 40 outer cloths and the
sultan removes all but the last one on
the occasion of the annual adoration.
But the last one, composed of some
thin, transparent kind of gauze, is left
untouched, for no mortal eye may be
hold nor human lips touch the sacred
relic unshrouded. Reverently and with
every token of the utmost veneration,
the sultan bends and kisses the dingy -
looking bundle, his example being fol
lowed by the Sheik IT Islam, the grand
eunuch, the grand vizier and the vari
ous chief dignitaries of the realm, ac
cording to their rank, verses of the
Koran being meanwhile chanted by the
Ulema. Subsequently the sultan, with
his own hands, wraps up the bundle in
the nine and thirty wrappers, replaces
it in its gold shrine or cupboard and
locks the silver cage or grating.—
Washington Post.
MARVELOUS FEAT.
Of Rnlanclng Coins on Their Edges end
the Way It Was Done.
A young man from a wholesale
house down on the river front pre
sented a check at one of the banks the
other day, and while the money was
being counted out amused himself by
balancing coins on the marble ledge in
front of the paying teller’s window.
Finally he performed an astonishing
feat. He first balanced a silver dollar
so it stood up on edge, then placed a
i nalf-dollar edge to edge on top of it
; and completed the pyramid with a
j bright new quarter. His manipulation
: as he deposited the coins one on the
J other was beautifully delicate, and the
spectacle of all three standing without
support made the teller’s eyes protrude
from their sockets. “Why that’s per
fectly amazing!" he exclaimed. “I
wouldn’t have believed it could be
done!” The other attaches looked and
marveled. “It takes steady nerve to
do it,” said the young man carelessly,
and sweeping up the coins with a dex
terous grab he dropped them into his
pocket, picked up his money and
strolled out. It was not a busy hour,
and after he was gone all hands began
balancing silver, or rather trying to.
The thing was as fascinating as the
old “pigs in the clover” puzzle, because
one could come so near without doing
it. Nearly everybody succeeded in bal
ancing the first dollar and a few man
aged to poise the flfty-cent piece for
an infinitesimal, breathless instaut.
but it always fell down again, and that
was as far along as any one could get.
For an hour or so there was silver all
over the floor, and the bookkeeper had
to make good a dollar that rolled into
a crack. Next day the dexterous young
man sauntered in with another check.
“We were all trying that balancing trick
of yours yesterday,” remarked the tel
ler as he handed over the bills, “but
none of us ceuld do it. You’re right
when you say it takes steady nerves.”
“Y-e-s.” replied the young man, grin
ning, “and it's also facilitated by a
little shoemaker’s wax on the edge of
the coins.” The language used by the
office immediately thereafter was high
ly picturesque, but would not have
sounded well at a Chautauqua meeting.
—New Orleans Times-Democrat.
COUNTESS BRI'ENINGr.
THOUGH DIVORCED SHE REIGNS
SUPREME.
An American Woman Who Is Admired
by the Old World Aristocracy—Tbs
Devotion of ner Ks-Husband Still
llanirested by Princely Presents.
(Washington Letter.)
An American woman. Countess
Adolf von Bruening, is well known in
the social circles in which European
nobility moves, because of her mar
riage to her husband, the count, but
to the American people her name is
familiar chiefly because of the touch
ing devotion of her divorced husband.
Gordon MacKay of Boston and Wash
ington. The countess’ life has been
most romantic. She was the daughter
of Mr. MacKay’s housekeeper and had
grown from childhood to mature
beauty under his eyes. Although twice
her age. Mr. MacKay paid her devoted
attention and she finally became bis
bride. Everything that wealth could
provide was lavished upon the young
wife and for a time theirs was a happy
home. But a season of court life evi
dently gave Mrs. MacKay new ideas
for she made a pronounced sensation
by her beauty and was loth to return
to her native land.
Mr. MacKay's life was always busy
and it came about that while he work
ed the fascinating daughter of his for
mer housekeeper sumptuously enter
tained Washington society. Finally
Mrs. MacKay began suit for divorce
and, in 1S90, was granted a decree with
$25,000 yearly as alimony, the posses
sion of two beautiful hemes and also
the custody of their two sons. Mr.
MacKay made no defense and by many
pit. In their administration the town
council seemed to have acted harmoni
ously with the church authorities down
to the disruption in 1813.—Dundee
journal.
A DREARY OLD WORLD
TtaU Would Bo If Max Xoi-dau** Tropbeej
Should Be Fultillod.
The happy bachelor and the miser
able married man were detailing their
joys and sorrows, respectively, to that
confidant of man’s troubles—the swell
harkeep. says the Washington Star.
“Max Nordeau,’’ said the bachelor,
after he had reiterated the happiness
of the single state, “says that woman,
I at the close of the twentieth century
will be on a par with man in law and
custom; that the role of man as her
ruler and protector will be a thing of
i the past and that he will have to sue—
: mark the word, sue—for her love by
different means than used at present.”
“W hat method do you picture bache
lors will have to adopt to ‘sue’ for a
wife and what will they do to us when
i they get us where they want us; when
the evolution of the sex so unsexes her
that she will become our equal? in
short, what will become of us?" The
miserable married man thought of the
present progress of the evolution and
of its representative at home, as he
gulped in great gaspy gulps the con
tents of the glass the swell liarkeep
had handed him. "Cod knows!” he
answered, faintly. "Thank heaven. I
won't be alive at the close of the cen
tury. that’s all!" ”Ju-*t to think.” said
the bachelor, meditatively, "no more
presents, theaters, operas. Ice cream,
soda water, chewing gum. candies,
flowers, buggy rides, balls, parties,
walks, moonlight strolls, gate swing
| ing. blushes, kisses, squeezes, coquet
' ' FwWwf " ''
COUNTESS ADOLF VON BRUENINK.
was considered too magnanimous be
cause of his quiet acceptance of the
decree.
Six years later Count von Bruening,
then a secretary of the German em
bassy at Washington, came into Mrs.
MacKay’s life. After two years they
became engaged. The marriage took
place in Washington the latter part of
last April, the count and countess sail
ing at once to Constantinople.where the
former was stationed as a member of
the German embassy. The count and
countess are now living in Berlin,
where the beauty and charm of the ac
complished Amerlcsn are greatly ad
mired.
As a wedding gift to the countess,
Mr. MacKay presented her a check for
$1,000,000. He still devotes himself to
business and has amassed an enormous
fortune.
_ -
THE KIRKMASTER.
This Church Dignitary Wns no Impor
tant r«Mona;e In Scotland.
At a recent meeting of the Church of
Scotland Officebearers’ association, J.
A. Rollo, solicitor, delivered a most
interesting lecture on "The Kirkmas
ter of Dundee; His Duties of Old and
Present Sphere of Usefulness.” He
vividly described the duties performed
by the kirkmaster in olden time3. The
penalties to be inflicted upon trans
gressors had to be exacted with all
rigor by him. Among those were the
following: No man to "carry timber,
red stones, or dlcht his malt” in the
kirkyard—penalty, 40 shillings. No
wine or ale sellers to receive any per
son in their homes or keep table to
them “in the morning while prayers
and preaching be done, and likewise
on the Sunday in time of preaching”—
penalty, suspension from business for
one year. No person to “swear blas
phemy"—penalty, for first fault, two
shillings, or two hours in the branks;
for the second, twenty shillings, or 6ix
hours therein, and for the third, ban
ishment of the burgh. No children to
"play, cry. or perturb in the kirkyard.
or break the glass windows in the
kirk”—penalty, parents to pay eight
shillings and mend the skaith. No
merchant or mariner to sail or take
voyage on Sunday, and all inhabitants
to keep "public exercise as precise a3
the ordinary days of preaching"—pen
alty, £10. No person “to bring infanta
and bairns under the age of five years
within the kirk in time of sermon or
prayers," and no person “to rise and
depart forth of the kirk before the end
and conclusion of the sermon and
prayers”—penalty, for the first and
second faults, admonition, and for the
third, forty shillings, or 24 hours' im
prisonment on bread and water, and
declaration of the fault from the pul
I
tish glances, bashful ‘oh! it‘s so sud
den f’ No more crimps, primps, pom
poms. powders, pomades, pads, rouges,
tight shoes, spider waists, soubrette
locklets, silken hoselets. picture hat
lets and a thousand and one of the
component parts which go to make up
the courtship of today. It will be a
forlorn old world from our present
standpoint, eh ” “Max Nordeau.” said
the married man, miserably, “is a
lobster.’*
Nervous Children.
A word about nervous children. Nev
er scold them nor “make fun" of them.
They sufTer enough without your
threats or sarcasm. Pretend not to see
their awkwardness when in company,
nor their grimaces when alone. A case
was reported the other day of a boy of
ten years of age, on being vexed, and
often without any apparent provoca
tion. will clench his hands and make
the most frightful contortions of the
muscles of his face and head till his
poor mother fears he is idiotic. By no
means. He is the brightest boy in his
class at school, fond or reading and of
natural history, but he is of a highly
nervous temperament, and has not
been taught to control the littie wires,
so to speak, on which he is strung.
This is no single case. There are thou
sands of children who give way to their
nerves in similar fashion. Talk to
them about these curious little fellows
that should be their servants, not their
masters. Never whip them. The man
or woman who whips a nervous child
is on a level with brutes that have no
reason. Encourage them. Help them.
Be patient with them. They are the
making of our future successful men
and women, for they will work hard at
whatever they undertake. Brace up
your own nerves first, and then be in
dulgent toward the capers of your over
nervous children.
The Ages of Tree*.
As there has been more or less dis
cussion about the ages of trees, it will
be gratifying to know that a German
forester, who is considered as authori
ty, says that the oldest trees in Ger
many are known to have lived 600
years. The silver fir has flourished for
upward of 400 years, and the evergreen
oak has been known to live 410 years,
while other varieties of oak are from
315 to 320 years old. The larch has
stood the storms and shines of 275
years, the red beech 245, the ash 170,
the birch 200, the aspen 220, the moun
tain maple 225. the elm 130 and the
red alder 145 years.
That few men have self-confidenc*
enough to argue with a pretty woman.
ANEW YORK HEROINE.
EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL BAT
TLES WITH FLAMES.
Site* llln.ite Sw»rt* Honored by the
Mea Sb® Nobly A**i*ted in a rire
That Saved Two Hrc«uen I'rom the
Dcrourin; Element*.
(New York Letter.)
Miss Minnie Swarts. 18 years old.
who lives with her parents at 641 East
Ninth street, is the heroine of New
York firemen. At a recent fire at 308
and 310 West Fifty-ninth street she
saved two firemen from slipping into a
cellar where they might have lost their
lives, and she revived a number who
were overcome with smoke, with 1*^
milk which she secured from a nearby
drug 6tore. She went into the burn
ing building and helped the firemen in
every way that she could. She placed
a handkerchief over the mouth of one
of the firemen who was being over
come with smoke and helped him
from the building. She continued to
help those who were overcome with
smoke until she, too, was overcome
and had to be led away. Since then
Fire Chief Croker and all of his men
have been praising her noble work.
Fir© Commissioner Scannell heard the
praises of the firemen and sent for the
young lady. When she reached the
commissioner’s office Fire Chief Croker
happened to be presenL He immedi
ately recognized her and holding out
his hands said, “Why. here la our
heroine! We are glad to see you. ‘
Commissioner Scannell then said to
her: “It is very unusual for us toi
send for anyone to thank them for a
public service. We are deeply sensible
of the disinterested work you did at
the fire. Every man in the department
is praising your heroic conduct. We
all feel that we are deeply indebted to
you for your kindness and sacrifice.
As for the men you assisted and whose
lives you were instrumental in saving,
nothing we can say or do can reward
you for what you have done for them.”
Commissioner Scannell then opened a
drawer in his desk and took out a
purse that appeared to be stufTed with
bank notes. He handed it to Miss
Swarts. saying: “We hope you will
accept this small token of our regard,
and we wish that it was a good deal
larger.” Tears came to the eyes of
Miss Swarts. Several times she tried
to speak, but failed. She placed her
handkerchief to her eyes, and theu
said, with considerable emotion: “No,
no; I cannot take the money. I sim
ply did what I thought was my duty
to do. I want clerical work, but I can
not take money for that."
Miss Swarts, noticing a look of dis
"V '
MISS MINNIE SWARTS.
appointment on me races or uommis- •
sioner Scannell and Chief Croker, said*
“I beg of you, do not be offended. I
do not mean to be rude in refusing
your kindness, but really I cannot tako~
money for that.”
Miss Swarts was asked if she would
accept an engrossed resolution c.'
thanks, and she signified her willing
ness. A handsome affair will be pre
sented to her. Miss Swarts was offered
a cab to take her home, but she re
fused this and went away In a street
car. The men gave her a cheer as shi
left the building.
Miss Swarts is a brunette and ener
getic in her manner. On the morning
of the fire she was von her way to an
swer an advertisement relative to cler
ical work. She is very modest and de
clined to say anything about herse.y,
farther than that she needed work and
desired a clerical position if she could
get one.
TRANSLATION FOR FILIPINOS
Of the Bible Into Their Dialect Circu
lated In Taxon.
A new method of circulating the
Bible among the natives of the Philip
pine islands is projected by the Amer.
can Bible society. Instead of depend
ing on missionaries from the United
States, a native Tagalog and a native
Pangasinan are employed to go into
the interior of the country. The scrip
tures are now in progress of
translation into the curious dia
lects of the islanders. The Bible
society is pushing the work for
ward with all possible rapidity. The
work already undertaken comprises the
dialects of the Tagalos, Pangasinans
and Viscayans. Scholars are studying
the other dialects. These translators
will be the first to make a written
language of many Filipino vernaculars.
Another plan of work in the Philip
pines which the society has in view i9
a scheme for distributing Bibles among
the ships that come into Manila har
bor. This idea is suggested by the
plan already In effective operation in
Port Said harbor. All this work in
the Philippines is under the control
of the secretaries of the American
Bible society, whose office is in New
York. They have just received the
first report of Rev. Jay C. Goodrich,
who was sent from New York to under
take the distribution of Bibles and
Testaments, and he is already at work.
A Sort Sign.
Jenks—That baby of yours ought 11
be a good tennis player later on. Jones
—What makes you think so? Jenks—
Oh, the way he keeps up his racket.
**I will not be afflicted at men’s not
knowing me (personally). I will be af
flicted when I do not know men."
