Nebraska Newspapers

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OI? FIMSHHHM© Atr<& M jLOdDR
^ fiy CHARLES MORRIS BUTLER.
jfof/for of Gerenpe of f¥(*nr<>~ yf 7enemen/ 7h3£edj/Ts'f/tffa,
Copyright 1905. by Charles Morris Butler.
CHAPTER XIX.
First Night In the Haunted House.
The interior of the “Haunted
House," with the exception of the
front room, was in fair order. There
were six rooms in all, quite comfort
ably furtiished; and the kitchen was
well stocked with utensils and pro
visions. Upon entering the place the
first thing to do was to light the lamps
In ever}- room; then to open up the
prison door and allow Dr. Huntington
and his daughter to remain a while in
conversation. While these two were
consoling. Lang and Wilson explored
the house.
“Wilson," said Lang, after satisfy
ing himself that there was no one
within hearing. “You understand why
I married Pearl Huntington. I mar
ried her because I wished to keep
her from the hands of Schiller, and to
protect her from insult. Have I acted
the man?"
iou certainly have. Lang,” said
Wilson.
“If I have done right. I want your
help to continue to do so. In order to
enlist your sympathies with me I am
going to make a confidant of you. I
am going to place my life in your
keeping.”
“You can trust me.” simply replied
Wilson, and he meant it.
In as few words as possible Lang
enlightened Wilson on the fact that
there was a tunnel ‘under the house,
besides telling him. by way of settling
any fears he might have on the sub
ject, that the house was not haunted,
but that its reputation had been given
It by Golden as a means of hiding the
entrance.
“What,” cried Wilson, “a tunnel?
I have been here for years, and have
sounded every part of the ground, and
have never discovered it!”
“Such is the truth, however. I
could escape from the city, walk from '
here to sub-station No. 1, obtain a
relay of horses and be well on my way
to civilization before missed.”
“As to that, Lang, I can well believe
I could believe anything of you.”
“You are acquainted with my his
tory,” replied Louis. “The only thing
you don't know is that my robbery of
Jim Denver was a ‘put up job.’ ”
“Oh. ho!” exclaimed Wilson. “Then
you are-”
“Never mind the term.” interrupted
Louis. “I have my suspicions about
you also. I presume I can rely upon
you?”
“Your suspicious are correct. You
can depend upon me. I am here for
yours! I married her. Dot because I
loved her, but because her case ap
pealed to my sense of honor, and be
cause I wished to protect her from the
violence of an unscrupulous scoun
drel!”
“What are your intentions concern
ing my daughter?” the doctor asked.
“My intentions are honorable ones.
She can bear my name—it is not an
honorable one in the sight of such as
you—but in this case, it is a protec
tion against insult; and while I live
you can rest content that I will
avenge her honor.”
“You speak manly enough,” replied
the doctor, “but I cannot quite under
stand why you do this. If you were
actuated by emotions akin to love or
revenge, for instance, l could see
through it.”
iou forget, pity, Dr. Huntington.
I feel for you and your daughter. You
do not know me. but I heard of your
case before I saw you. I have been a
hard man—I have done many things
to be ashamed of in my time; but I
have resolved to atone for my sins,
and I do not mean to see you and
yours creatures in the hands of such
a man as Schiller. I could explain
my motive satisfactorily to you. if I
chose, but at this time I do not think
it best.”
“I thank you.” replied the doctor,
“and will try to look upon the matter
as the act of a true gentleman.
“How can I ever sufficiently thank
you for your kind interest?” said
Pearl, who perhaps understood Lang's
motive better than her father.
“Simply by never mentioning the
fact again. Miss Huntington, and by
following out any plans I may give
you which I shall think for your bene
fit.” was the gallant reply of Louis.
Then to change the conversation.
Louis said: “Schiller said something
about your being compelled to live
here in seclusion until you complied
with some law that he had framed for
your especial benefit. What decree
did he enter against you?”
“Until I would consent to practice
in Paradise.”
“This house is supposed to be
haunted,” said Louis. He could see
Pearl shudder. “And Schiller is of
the opinion that he is inflicting untold
torture on us by compelling us to re
main here. Your case has been put
in my hands, and I am made respon
sible for your safe keeping. Such be
ing the case. I am of the opinion that
you had better promise.”
“Well, if you put it in a personal
light, I'll do it. My poor wife, I am
“I have my suscpicions about you, also.”
the purpose of robbing the colony.”
“I presume you have made some
headway while here toward enlisting
the services of others besides your
self?”
“Yes. I have tapped about twenty
an the subject, and formed a society
■for that purpose. These are all des
perate criminals now working 1n
the mines. As you and I are
condemned there also, but have the
privilege of sleeping here nights, we
aught to be able to smuggle into the
miners the necessary arms and ammu
nition to make an outbreak success
ful.”
“I think this can be done.” said
Lang. “Holden is attached to me. and
aas promised me his aid. Rogers is a
little incensed against Schiller, and
Golden is sure he can get his co-opera
tion.” I
“If you have won over Rogers.” re
plied Wilson, elated, “the task should
be easy. All the military stores are in
* his keeping.”
The two friends conversed on the
subject for quite a time. Then after
a hasty lunch, Wilson, complaining of
being tired, and realizing far better
than Lang what labor would be ex
pected of him on the morrow, retired.
Lang, before retiring, went down to
the front room. After attending to
the locking of all the doors and patch
ing up the windows as much as pos
sible, not to overbear Dr. Huntington
and Pearl engaged in conversation,
he knocked upon the parlor door anu
was bid “Come in,” by the doctor.
Dr. Huntington had aged consider
ably in the last few weeks. His hair,
which up to this time was naturally
black, was now streaked with gray.
His eyes, usually so brilliant, were
now dull and watery and surrounded
by heavy rings of black. The strong
man was trembling as if in the throes
of ague. He was sitting by the win
dow, and Pearl was kneeling at his
feet. The doctor-rose to his feet when
Loui6 entered the room.
“You are the husband of my daugh
ter?" the doctor asked in an agitated
voice,
“I am that man,” said Louis, re
- spectfully. He was struck by the
Bight of so much misery, and pity lent
tenderness to his tone. “But do not
misunderstand my motive," he added, j
to reassure the hapless prisoner. “I
did not marry your daughter to take
advantage of her weakness nor of |
afraid that she will go crazy about
Pearl and myself."
“I will undertake to notify her that
you are safe.” said Louis.
"You, how?”
"I am not helpless,” said Louis, “I
can do much that would seem quite
impossible at this time.”
A sigh of relief escaped the closed
lips of the doctor. “I will trust you!”
he said.
"And I. too. will trust you. and pray
for you. my husband!" said Pearl.
“You seem an honest man. though
your history as read ofT by Golden, in
the eyes of honest and simple-minded
people is anything but a good one.”
“You do me too much honor, under
the circumstances,” said Louis, bow
ing. He felt like making a clean
breast of it and telling these two peo
ple the truth, but he refrained. It was
well that he did so. for every word
that was being spoken now was being
overheard. "Time will tell whether
I deserve your respest or not. The
time is short for me to rest. I will
bid you good night.”
“Good night, and pleasant dreams!”
said Pearl.
* • •
Dr. Schiller, though appearing to
submit gracefully to the will of the
people, was far from intending to let
the matter drop and foregoing his re
venge. Dr. Huntington, in the opinion
of Schiller, had inflicted a wrong upon
him that could not be wiped out in an
easy manner. Now that Schiller had
Huntington in his power, it is reason
able to suppose that he would not be
content with simply inflicting bodily
harm upon his victim. Huntington
must pay the penalty in the same
manner that he himself had paid it—
the brain must suffer as well as the
body.
Lang had made many friends
through Golden's recital of his history.
Louis had roused admiration for him
self by defending Wilson, who was a
general favorite, and in marrying
Pearl in the face of the king's threat,
he had shown himself almost uevoid
of fear. Schiller could not understand
Lang—a conundrum—and the king
meant to bring some charge against
him. in which, in inflicting extreme
punishment upon him, he would seem
justified.
Before retiring for the night, while
the stigma of disgrace and sting oi
defeat was strong upon him, Schiller
set his wits to work to concoct some
scheme by which his purpose could be
carried out. The most plausible plan
that presented itself was to accuse
our hero of being a spy. To have, j
done so right at this moment would
have been to bring ridicule upon him
self. Apparently that would be too
much like petty revenge, and whether
true or not, it would not be believed.
As a means of accomplishing his de
signs. however, and give a semblance
of truth to the rumor, he detailed an
aide to spy upon the group.
This spy, who had earned the sobri
quet of ‘•Satan," by being employed
in just such cases as this before, had
no trouble in getting within earshot of
Pearl and her father; but Wilson and
Lang, being guarded in their conver
sation, he was unable to overhear. If
he had heard them planning the de
struction of Paradise, nothing could
have saved them from being strung
up immediately.
Satan, of course, overheard the con
versation between Lang and Dr. Hunt
ington. This conversation was re
ported verbatim to Schiller, which en
couraged him greatly. At this stage
of the game he would have been satis
fied to marry Pearl—truly, honorably.
One week's sojourn in her comjiany
had shown him that he loved. or
thought he did, this innocent girl. Be
sides revenge, there were other things
that actuated Schiller. He had learned
that Dr. Huntington, by a strange
course of circumstances, was now the
eldest son, and consequently the heir
to the English estates of his father.
If Schiller could have compromised
with Huntington, and had been al
lowed to marry Pearl—he w'ould have
done so, accepting the father's fortune
for his bond. But this last was im
possible, and he knew it.
The thing possible, then, was to dis
pose of Lang, now the husband; mar
ry Pearl, and if necessary, dispose of
the doctor, and inherit the property
through the girl, who was, as far as
he knew, the only living descendant.
One way to trap Lang would be to
catch him sending a letter to Mrs.
Huntington, notifying her of the
safety of her husband. As Satan had
notified Schiller of the intention of
Lang to do so, this seemed an easy
matter to accomplish. If Lang could
be caught in the act, his doom would
be certain.
(To be continued.)
THE LETTER OF THE BOND.
Not Horse Trader's Fault if Other
Misunderstood Him.
In the ordinary way bluff old John
Hopkins is as honest as the sunlight,
but it is difficult for a man to rigid
ly adhere to a righteous upbringing
and deal in horses at one and the
same time.
At a horse fair recently a fine old ,
crusted farmer approached him.
“Will that owd nag pull, sir?” he
queried, n
“My friend,” said John quietly and
sincerely, “I assure you that it would
do you good to see that horse pull.”
John was as well trusted as known,
and the horse changed hands at his
price.
As ill-luck would have it, he met the
purchaser a week later, and the latter
pounced upon him.
“What d’ye mean.” he roared, in a
voice of thunder—“what d’ye mean by
telling me that horse would pull?
Why. that spavined brute won't pull
an empty dray!”
“My friend.” said old John, “if you
will reflect a moment you will remem
ber that I said it would do you good
to see that horse draw. And so it
will, my friend—so it will.”
Elastic Schedule.
Mark Twain was once the best pilot
on the Mississippi and he never tires
of river stories and steamboat yarns.
At dinner on the Prinz Oscar, from
Genoa to New York, he said one night
apropos of a fog:
“The worst boat on the Mississippi
—the only bad boat on the Mississippi
in my time—was the Stephen J. Hill.
This boat's untidiness was only
equaled by her«slowness. Only strang
ers, only the tenderfoot, used her.
“A cousin of mine took the Stephen
J. Hill to come to see me at Hannibal.
In the afternoon a thick fog drifted
down, and the Stephen J Hill had to
heave to for the night. As she lay
there, swathed in gray, my sousin
said to the captain:
“ ‘It is too bad we're going to be
late, captain.’
“ ‘We ain’t goin’ to be late,’ the
captain answered.
“ ‘But I thought.’ said my cousin,
‘that we had to lie up to this bank
here all night.’
“ ‘So we do.’ said the captain, ‘but
that ain’t goin’ to make us late. We
don’t run so close to time as all
that.’ ”
“Getting Him.”
On the other hand, the actress is
apt to receive some of her prettiest
compliments across the counter. I
was buying gloves from a sweet faced
girl, and as she fitted them exception
ally well I stopped for a word of
thanks. She blushed, then said, shy
ly. “Oh, don’t mention it, but—but
would you mind giving me a few
hints?”
“Hints?” I echoed in wonder.
“Yes.” This with more blushes,
but eyes a-dancing. “I saw you last
night in ‘How to Win a Husband.* And
—and I don't wonder you get them.”
Do you wopder thht I told her to
keep the change?—Lillian Burkhart
in Woman’s Home Companion.
If Not There, Where?
The publisher had reached his office
late, and there were signs upon his
face that he had just passed through a
strenuous experience.
“The trouble is,” he said peevishly
to the waiting author, “that you don’t
make the marriages in your novels
happy ones.”
He sighed. •
“And the Lord knows,” he contin
ued, “that we’ve got to have happy
marriages somewhere!”—Smart Set.
Not Knocking.
Miss Hygee—I saw you at the con
cert last night. Did you notice how
my voice completely filled the hall?
Miss Jellers—Yes, dear; it undoubt
edly had much to do with drawing the
crowd, though there was a good deal
of public curiosity to hear the new or
chestra and Miss Dearly, the wonder
ful harpist, you know
Lackaye’s Simple Life.
By fits and starts Wilton Lackaye
lives the simple life, according to Kate
MasterBon. Recently he divested him
self of all but essential clothing and
fell upon his back fence to paint it.
Mrs. Lackaye, discovering her broad
shouldered spouse, much decollete and
wearing appallingly ragged trousers
that had been waiting for the next
visit from the “old does” man, cov
ering the fence and adjacent territory
with drab paint, while thirty-five
heads projected from as many neigh
boring windows, called upon him to
desist.
“You don’t know how you look,”
argued Mrs. Lackaye.
“I don’t care,” returned Mr. Lack
aye.
“I don’t want the neighbors to think
I am married to a tramp.”
The great Svengali's reply was the
splash, splash, daub, daub of the paint
hrush
“The neighbors don't understand
that you are doing that for exercise.
They will say you are mean, that-”
“D—n the neighbors!”
Wilton’s roar w^as as startling as
the laughter of Svengali, and thirty
five heads hastily withdrew into as
many windows, while thirty-five win
dow shades were precipitately drawn.
“Why”—splash, splash—“order our
lives”—daub, daub—“by the opinions”
—drip, drip—“of people whose opin
ions we care nothing about?” Splash!
“It is true"—a finger stroke of drab
paint across his cheek—“we spend our
lives trying to live up to the opinion
of people whose opinion we care noth
ing about."
Personal Mention.
Billy B. Van has begun rehearsals
of “The Errand Boy.”
E. R. Maw son of “A Fair Rebel”
fame will be in “Faith Mather.”
Frank Worthing has been engaged
for the support of Margaret Anglin in
“Zira.”
Fritzi Scheff's new opera, by Victor
Herbert and Henry Blossom, will be
called “Mile. Modiste.”
Joseph Cawthorne is to star this
season in a musical piece by John J.
McNally called “In Tammany Hall.”
Nella Bergen made her first appear
ance in vaudeville at Proctor’s Twen
enne who made such a good impres
sion in “Fantana,” will go into vaude
ville at one of the Proctor theaters in
New York. She has never before ap
peared in vaudeville.
Miss Nellie Lynch of Chicago has
been engaged for the principal sou
brette role in “The Gingerbread Man,"
the work of Fred Ranki . and*A. Bald
win Sloane. The piece is to be pro
duced shortly in New York city.
Frances Ring, who plays the title
role in “The College Widow,” is of a
theatrical family. Her father was a
member of the old Boston Museum
company, and her sisters, Blanche and
Julia, are prominent on the stage.
Word has been received from Mar
ienbad, Bohemia, that Mme. Lillian
Nordica and Mr. and Mrs. Nahan
Franko, who are spending the summer
together at that resort, have received
many flattering attentions from the
other guests.
Edwin Arden appeared in New York
at Proctor’s Fifth Avenue theater last
week in the play written by himself,
entitled “Zorah.” The play was first
presented at Chicago, by Mr. Arden
some four or five years ago. It deals
with conditions in Russia.
Ethel Barrymore has decided to try
her new- J. M. Barrie play, “Alice Sit
by-the Fire,” on western audiences be
fore taking it to New York. She is an
nounced to open the Broadway the
ater in Denver Sept. 11 with the play.
She begins her season in California.
James Lee. manager of the West
and Vokes and Margaret Daly-Yokes
“Pair of Pinks” company, and Harry
Stewart, who plays the part of the
Jew, were once partners in vaudeville,
and played their first engagement for
B. F. Keith the first week he opened a
vaudeville show in Boston.
Alice Neilson. through with her sea
son in London, has gone to Paris for a
month of play before beginning work
in America. Miss Neilson’s forthcom
| ing tour of this country is to be prac
| tically a concert tour, although the
star and a small company will appear
in a number of standard operas.
Will Arche, a comedian scarcely
four feet in height, has been especially
engaged for one of the name parts in
“Babes in the Wood.” Mr. Arche is a
man of rather extraordinary talent,
and his salary’ is quoted at $250 per
V
CQtfQ&
*
Principal Comedian in the Most Successful of the Summer Comedies, “Mrs.
Temple's Telegram.
ty-third Street theater, New York, last
week.
Fay Templeton is now rehearsing in
her new vehicle, “Forty-five Minutes
From Broadway,” written by George
M. Cohan.
Orrin Johnson has been engaged for
the all-star cast of “The Heart of
Maryland.” revival to be made by
David Belasco.
E. S. Willard for his American tour
will revive "The Fool’s Revenge.” a
tragedy once familiar in the repertory
of Edwin Booth.
Corinne has a song with “The Rog
ers Brothers in Ireland” this year in
which she will give the refrain in six
different languages.
Viola Gillette and Mabel Hite, a
prima donna and a soubrette, are to
be starred jointly by Frank L. Perley
in "The Girl and the Bandit.”
George Evans has forsaken the
vaudeville ranks. He will enter musi
cal comedy as the leading player in
"The Runaways” this season.
Louis Massen is to have an impor
tant character role in support of Rob
ert Lorraine in "Mian and Superman.”
Fay Davis is to be the leading woman.
After playing six weeks in Chicago,
“The Geezer of Geek” will play two
weeks each in St. Louis, Pittsburg
and Philadelphia, and will then be
seen in New York.
Lawrance D’Orsay will have another
comedy by Augustus Thomas this sea
son. It will be called “The Embassy
Ball.” Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walcott
will be in the company.
Henry Irving Marshall, last season
with "The Runaways” and “The Earl
and the Girl,” has returned to New
York after a brief vacation to accept
a position with one of the Shubert or
ganizations.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Stone are
at Bath Beach, Me., caring for their
baby daughter, who is now 2 months
old. Mr. Stone was the Scarecrow of
the “Wizard of Oz” and his wife was
Miss Craven.
Cecelia Loftus is giving drawing
room entertainments at Bar Harbor,
Narragansett Pier and Newport She
Is assisted by Beatrice Hereford and a
young pianist whom she brought with
her from London.
Katie Barry, the English comedi
week. It might be said, therefore,
that this is a case of “being short for
money.”
Ada Rehan has recovered from her
recent attack of appendicitis, but is so
; weak still that she has given up the
idea of returning to America in Sep
tember. Miss Rehan expects to leave
London early in the course of the fol
lowing month and to make her debut
in “Captain Brassbound’s Conversion”
in November.
Miss Ida Conquest has sailed for Eu
rope to appear with William Collier in
London. She will have the leading
feminine role in “On the Quiet,” in
which Mr. Collier will open his season
at the Comedy theater in September.
Miss Conquest appeared in London
several years ago with William Gil
lette in “Too Much Johnson.”
The name of Clyde Fitch’s play for
Viola Allen’s- use next season has been
changed to “The Toast of the Town.”
The name as first announced was
“The Comedy Mask.” As the new title
Indicates, the play is not a modern
society comedy. The story is sup
posed to have occurred in England and
during the time of George IV.
The Shuberts have not yet decided
who will take Lillian Russell’s place
in the cast of “Lady Teazle.” Mabelle
Gilman, who has been abroad since
she starred here in “The Mocking
Bird,” has been mentioned in this con
nection, but it is probable that an ac
tress better known in America will be
chosen to succeed Miss Russell.
Jan Kubelik will come to these
shores again this season. A tour of
100 concerts has been arranged, begin
ning at Carnegie hall. New York, on
Dec. 1. Kubelik this time will play in
many cities where he has not yet ap
peared. Besides making the east and
the middle west as before, he will go
to the Pacific coast, through the south
ern states and to the City of Mexico.
George Cohan says: “Elsie Janis
is giving Imitations of me on the New
York roof. Elsie is the best photog
rapher I ever had.” Miss Janis was
“discovered” in Chicago a year ago
this summer when her success was
predicted. She has been one of the
acknowledged “hits” of the New York
season, and is yet to see her 18th
birthday.
»
With Uncle Sam’s Regular Soldiers
—1 3
Some Facts About Army Life
and the Treatment, Prospects
and Facilities for Education
ef the Men.
It must be borne in mind, says a
writer, that one essential for leading a
happy life in the United States army
is good behavior, and if any voice
from the ranks tells a tale of unneces
sary hardships endured, or other
grievances, it is certain to be merely
the natural result of bad conduct, and
of leading a lazy and dissolute life,
and the same man would have fared
equally bad in any other walk of life,
or that he is inexperienced and does
not know how to care for himself or
fails to attend to the directions re
ceived.
The army is necessarily governed
by intelligent regulations, and strict
obedience is required of all, for with
out this nothing could be done, and
what is cow viewed by the world as a
magnificent fighting force would be
come of no more use than an armed
mob.
While the ordinary citizen may view
with some contempt the proffer of $13
a month for his daily work, still how
many to-day toiling eight, ten, and
sometimes sixteen hours, are making
on an average of $60 a month, or an
income of $720 a year? This is what
the average soldier in the United
States army is getting to-day, when
all clothing, medical attention, medi
cines, baths, free gymnasium, librar
ies, with books of all sorts, magazines,
periodicals, post exchanges exclusive
ly for the soldier's use where he may
purchase at cost such soft drinks and
articles as may be deemed necessary
for his comfort, and where may be
found billiard and pool tables and a
good supply of games, such as chess,
checkers, dominoes and cards, can be
taken into consideration.
In addition to this, if the soldier be
a good tradesman, carpenter, mason,
teamster or any kind of workman or a
man with a fair education, or it may
he mentioned that even when a man
enlists, if he Is not up to his work, he j
K..—-—
may, by little application, and by tak
ing advantage of the chances to in
form himself, soon become a good
scholar or improve in his trade.
As in the case first cited he will
receive in addition to the regular sol
dier’s pay, 35 or 50 cents a day by be
ing detailed for duty in some of the
places in which extra duty is paid at
these rates.
From this it may be seen that an
industrious man can earn from $10
to $15 a month in addition to his pay.
Any money saved can be deposited in
the treasury in sums not less than $5
at 4 per cent interest and cannot be
I forfeited except by desertion, thus
giving the enlisted man a bank and
a surety for saving, such as no citi
zen in the United States can boast.
a private soldier with a fair educa
tion, who proves himself, by his con
duct, his duty well done, his efficiency,
and aptitude, will always sooner or
later get the first step upward—that
of a corporal, from where, if he is am
bitious and shows fitness, he can be
sure that his wrork and talents will
be noted and rewarded by further pro
motion. For it may be truly said
that while we have no field marshal
in our service and we cannot literally
repeat Napoleon’s assertion, that
every soldier carries a marshal's
baton in his knapsack, still the high
est rank in our army to-day is held by
a lieutenant general, who was at one
time a recruit. He succeeded a man,
Lieut.-Gen. Young, who also started
as a private, and when Gen. Young re
linquished the highest rank in our
army, he sent to his successor a pair
T>f lieutenant-general's shoulder straps
with the note: “From Private Young,
12th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
to Private ChafTee, Troop'K, U. S.
Cavalry.” Of course these men en
listed during the civil war, when mo
tives for enlisting were different,
while those who enlist at present with
commissions in view, mostly do so
from love of a soldier’s life. To say
that a man loves the life is simply
saying that be is a born soldier, and
his success in the army is assured.
BRACELET EMBLEM OF POWER.
Afterward It Was a Reward of Brav
ery Shown in Battle.
In the most ancient period of his
tory, the bracelet was an ensign of
royalty. In later times it has been
used in the East as a badge of
pow'er.
The bracelet of Rebecca (mentioned
in Genesis) weighed 10 shekels, or
about five ounces.
Among the ancient Romans the men
as well as the women wore bracelets,
but the latter never wore them till
they were betrothed.
Bracelets were at first properly mili
tary ornaments, or rewards, frequent
ly conferred among the ancients, by
generals and princes, on those who be
haved gallantly in fight They became
afterward arbitrary decorations, as
sumed at pleasure.
“The emblems,” says Fosbroke. “of
supreme authority among the British
kings were golden bands worn around
the neck, arms and knees. Ornament
ed bracelets of brass have been found
round the arms 01 skeletons in British
barrows.”
The northern people used to swear
on their bracelets to render contracts
more inviolable.—Exchange.
“Firedamp.”
“Firedamp” and “afterdamp,”
words brought into terrible promin
ence in many disasters in mines, pre
serve the older English sense of
“damp”—vapor, and especially nox
ious vapor. Precisely where the word
came from philology does not know,
but the earliest existence of its use
quoted by Dr. Murray’s dictionary is
Caxton’s (1840)—“after the dragon
shal come a goot and ther shal come
out of his nostrel a domp that shal
betoken honger and grete deth of
peple.” Bacon is one of the writers
of his time who speak of the “damps”
of mines. “Damp” gradually came to
be applied to visible vapors, such as
evening mists, and the transition to
the sense of moisture is obvious.
But in “damping down” a furnace one
finds a relic of the very “damp” in
the sense of “suffocate.”
READY WITH HIS EXCUSE.
Clerk Justified Mean Trick by Scrip
tural Quotation.
A certain tailor of very strict prin
ciples was in the habit of excusing
the faults of his assistants only if
they could justify themselves by
Scripture. One day a woman entered
his shop and asked to see some ma
terial, but refused to buy it because
it was too cheap. After showing her
some other goods the assistant
brought back the same material, this
time asking a higher price, whereupon
the customer bought it. Afterward,
the proprietor, who had witnessed the
transaction, reproved his assistant se
verely. The latter, remembering the
rules of the establishment, replied,
“Oh, it’s according to Scripture all
right. She was a stranger and I took
her in.”—Harper's Weekly.
Made American Rifle Famous.
The American rifle became famous
all over Europe after the battle of New
Orleans, January 8, 1815, where, with
the deadly American weapon in the
hands of Kentuckians and Tennessee
ans the English lost 2,117—two-thirds
of these killed—out of 6,000 men en
gaged, and the Americans lost six kill
ed and seven wounded. The English
were all shot at from forty to sixty
yards distance. No wonder Welling
ton did not believe the story of Eng
land’s awful loss when he heard it.
Hours of Sleep.
Our ancestors had an adage that six
hours’ sleep was the proper quantity
for a man, seven for a woman, and
eight for a fool, says the Lancet.
Whether it is that the strenuous life
of the present day is akin to foolish
ness, or whether it is a simple phe
nomenon of evolution, it is certain
that many of our busiest men find
the last-mentioned allowance none too
long for them. The quality of a
man’s work soon deteriorates if he
takes insufficient rest
How Foolscap Got Its Name.
Every one probably has wondered
why a certain size paper, familiar to
all who write, is called foolscap. As
early as the year 1301 water marks
were employed by paper manufactur
ers to distinguish their products,
ne grade of paper much in demand
during the middle ages, resembling
what we call foolscap and known by
that name, had for its water mark a
fool’s head wearing a cap and bells.
The mark appeared on this grade of
paper until the middle of the seven
teenth century, when the figure of
Britannia was substituted by the
English manufacturers, and other
marks by other paper makers. No
one has, however, changed the name
of the paper, so we have to this day
the foolscap paper.
The Good Mixer.
“He’s a good mixer,” or “He isn’t
a good mixer,” are expressions yon
often hear. A “good mixer” is sup
posed to be a man who can associate
with people and make business. A
poor mixer is one who makes friends
slowly, who minds his own business
and is not much of a rounder. A man
who gives his business close attention
is the best “mixer.” When people are
in need of a certain article they buy
where they can get the best and
cheapest—where conditions suit them.
When people are buying articles they
need they do not care whether the
dealer is a "goodfellow’ ’or not We
have never thought much of the
“good-mixer” idea.—Atchison Globe.
Cure for Insomnia.
A writer in a medical journal ad
vises people troubled with sleepless
ness to have a list of words, so asso
ciated that each one suggests the next
—for instance, ice, slippery, smooth,
rough, ruffian, tramp, etc.—and when
sleep is coy to recite the list mentally.
This is said to be an infallible cure for
insomnia, the secret being concentra
tion of the mind on each word so sug
gested by the preceding one, not al
lowing the attention to lapse for an
instant. The plan is certainly a bet
ter one than counting those intermin
able sheep.
Make Fuel from Foliage.
In Paris a company has contracted
with the municipal authorities for all
the foliage to be derived from the
trees of the public squares, gardens,
streets and wodos within the limits of -
the city. These leaves are to be com
pressed under high pressure and will
then be converted into a fuel, which,
it is claimed, will have far greater
calorific capacity than coal or any
other fuel known.
Scientist on Hypnotism.
A Boston scientist says that hyp
notis mean develop only natural in
stincts and that the best hypnotist in
the world cannot make a really moral
person do wrong. From experiments
he has made he believes that 75 pei
cent of the human race, if unre
strained by family pride and other
like considerations, would steal.
When a Pet Dies in China.
When a favorite dog, cat or other
domestic pet belonging to a person
of royal rank dies in China its sor
rowing owner has its body inclosed in
a coffin of polish oak. elaborately
carved, and buried in the animal
cemetery behind the summer palace
at Peking.
Complete Set of Chopin.
Herbert L. Jenks has presented the
Fitchburg (Mass.) library with the
only complete set of Chopin’s compo
sitions.
“Fog Eye.”
Many of the officers of steamships
running to this port are afflicted with
a new eye disease which, for want of
a better name, some of them call the
“fog eye.’’ It is an inflammation
caused by peering into the fog, and,
while painful, it passes away .—Boston
Transcript.
Ages for Marriage.
Aristotle fixed the proper age for
marriage at 37 for the man, 18 for the
owman; Plato made the ages 30 and
20.