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About Hemingford herald. (Hemingford, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1895-190? | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1896)
hi : HOWARD'S DECEIT. And What it Coat Mlrrv-A 8tor for Boys. WANTED An honest, nctlve, Intelligent Ik? about sixteen jean old, ns clerk In a prorcrr store. No one uslnr tobacco need apply. JJ. P. JONKS A, Co. This advertisement appeared in tho villago paper, And was tbo first thttitt that mot Mrs. Bent's eyes as she took it up to rend tho nows. "Just the place- foe Howard," Bhe said as she finished reading it for tho oecond time. "Sixteen that's just his ago. Ho's honest, active, intelli gent and don't use tobacco. Ho has often said ho would liko a position in sonio store. 1 will run down and sco Mr. Jones at Alice, for fear somo ono may get ahead of him." Mrs. Bent was nlono in her houso when sho uttored these words, and ad dressed thorn to no ono snvo herself. Sho was a widow, and the boy sho re ferred to was her only child. Ho was absent on this day visiting an uncle, and would not return till night. Sho thought she would sco about tho posi tion in tho store, and perhaps have eonio good nows for her boy on his ro turn. Sho lived near tho odgo of tho villago a half mile from Jones's store, as it was commonly called. An hour later found her In tho office of Jones & Co., reciting a fow of the many vir tues which in tho blindness of a dovot' ed mother she beliovcd her hoy pos sessed. "Thero is ono poiut on which wo are very particular," said Mr. Jones. "Our Jirm has decided to havo no ono in our employ who uses tobacco." "You needn't fear that Howard will over do that. Ho would no soon er uso tobacco than poison. 1 have taken great pains in teaching him to shun tno ovil ways so many boys of his ago fall into, and feel proud of him on account of lib freedom lrom bad habits." "I havo noticed that your Bon seems to bo nn active, intelligent sort of a boy, and I havo no doubt of his honesty. If ho will call hero this after noon at -1 " "Ho is absont to-day and will not bo homo till ovoning." "Very well, to-morrotv morning at 10 will do. I would liko to havo a Bhort interview with him, and will como to somo decision during tho day." Mrs. Bent returned homo, olated with the prospect that seomed open ing before her son. Sho alroady saw him installed as clerk, pictured him gaining in popularity, and in tho es teem of his employers, until ho bo como a member of the firm and was able to furnish her a homo of comforc and easo. Howard camo homo a littlo beforo tho time set for his rocurn, but his mother was watching for him and met him nt tho door. "0, Howard, 1 havo good news for you," wore tho first words as ho open ed the gato and camo up tho walk. "Thoy want a clerk at Jones's store, and 1 think you can get tlio position if you try. I saw Air. Jones and ho Bays you may call on him to-morrow at 10 o'clock, "Tho very thing uncle told mo about, and I camo homo a little early on purposo to talk with you about it. Undo says it is a splendid chanco for the right kind of a boy. And ho said ho would do all ho could to help mo get tho place; but it seems you nro ahead ot him. If I could only net a plnco in a storo and bo earning some thing I shall bo clad." "One thing they are very particular about," said the mother. "Thoy will not employ anyone who smokes, or uses tobacco in nnv form. I felt proud that I could tell'thom that you aro free from such a filthy habit." A slight color came to Howard's face, but his mother noticed nothing as sho proceeded: "I don't know why they insist so strongly on this point, unless it is on account of tho fire that came so near destroying their store. You know thoy thought tho firo started from tho cigar of ono of tho clerks. I know thev discharged him tho next day, ond I 'don't think they havo had a clerk who smokes sinco then. On the next day, precisely at 10 o'cJock. Howard Bent stepped into tho office of Jones it Co. During tho brief interview he veiy creditably impressed himself upon the members of the firm, and arrangements were made for him to enter their employ at once. Tho pay would bo Bmafl at first, but tho promise was given that it should bo increased just as fast as he would make his services more valuable. He was to board at home and was to have two ovenings each week to him self. On his first ovoning at homo his mother had a long talk with him in relerenco to his manner of conducting himself, not only at tho store, but on the street and everywhere. "I am so desirous that you may succeed in this, "she said, "and it is very important that you commonco right, and win the full confidence of your employers. To do this means more than the observance of pleas ant manners in their presence. It means thorough honesty in all things, and that you shall really be what you would have them think you are. This kind of reputa tion is the only one that is lasting or worth having." "There is one thing in particular," ehe continued, "which 1 wish to speak to you about. I fear you are too careless in selecting your associates. You have never been as cnrelul as I would like, and thore are reasons why you should be more particular now than over before. That Dick Bray who often walks home with you as fa'r nB the gate, has never appeared to ine like a fit companion tor you; I would Booneryou would keep" away from him as much as possible. And let mo beg oi you not to yeield to the evil in fluences of such as he." "Never fear, mother," replied How ard hurriedly and in a rather nervous manner. "lam getting alone splen- V didly at the store. Mr. Jones gave me quito a compliment to-day and I feel sure that I shall work my way into a good position thete before many months." Dick was not 6een for several days after this, and the mother began to feel more easy. "Hello, Bent," said a rough voico as a coarse looking fellow of 18 joined Howard on his way to tho store. "You must bo feolin' pretty big of lato, you hardly speak to a follor when you meet him. What's tho mat ter with ye?" "Nothing the matter that I know of," said Hownrd. "Well, why the dickens didn't you come 'round to Bill Sharp's last night and havo a cigar with us? We'd a pay old time an' lots o' fun, I toll yo. You half promised to go, an' there's one time ycr missed it in not keep in ver word sure." "Hush Dick." Said Howard in an undertone "I wish you wouldn't speak of my smoking right hero on tho street. I should lose my position if Jones should find it out. You promised to keop quiet when you fool ed me into it. I wished I had novor touched a cigar. And 1 never would if I had known about getting this place at the store." "What business p' their'n, I'd liko r bnnw " until Hint.- mif ...t. .! ter know," said Dick, contemptously, "iu ue nououv s Slave, l can toll yor that. I'd bo independent 'bout my own affairs if I had to paddlo in that gutter for a livin'. So long as you don't Bnioko tinder their nose its just nono of their business." "Well, I don't know about that," said Howard slowly. "They havo their rules, and so long as I " am in thoir employ I shall havo to respect them or seem to do so at least." "Don't they keep cigars to sell?" asked Dick. "Yes." "Well, what's the diflerenco. I'd liko ter know; aintit ns bad to sell a thing as tor uso it yerseli?" "What I wish is that I had your chanco an' tho han'lin' o' them cigars," ho continued, with a furtivo glnnco at Howard. "But you've sech squeamish notions as jest spiles you for a chum. You'll bo a, splendid fel ler when you git over them." Here thoy parted, and Howard en tered tho Btore where ho was employ ed. Through tho influence of Dick and ono or two of his companions Howard had learned to smnko about two months previous. Ho had now got so as to enjoy his cigar, but ho would gladly have quit it if it had not boon for tho continued inllttenco ot thoso associates. Tho country villago in which tho storo of Jones it Co. stood did not havo thoso safeguards against fire and burglary which aro lound in larger towns. This store had barely es caped a terrible fire, and burglars had attempted sovoral times to enter it. To guard against these asmall room at the rear of the store had been fit ted up for a sleeping room, to bo occu pied by ono of tlieir most trustworthy clerks. This room had a system of alarm bells ho connected with tho front of the store that no ono could enter at night without arousing its occupant. It was also connected by toleplioiie with tho rooms of each pro prietor, so that immediate notice could bo given ol any disturbance. About six months after tho opening of our story tho clerk who had occu pied this room for several years was taken sick, and some ono must take his place. Aftor somo hesitation on account of his youth, it was decided to let How ard Uent nil his place. In doing this tho proprietors spoko with hnn of its responsibility, and of tho confidence they "placed in him. They took this occasion to raise his wages to well re pay him for oxtra efforts in faithfully carrying out their wishes. Howard was highly elated as ho took this news to his mother.and sho was iairly overjoyed at the success her boy was achieving. She felt that indeed, her hopes were to bo realized, and that she would have but a short time to wait for their fulfillment. About this time Howard was begin ning to feel moro than ever tho an noying influences of Dick Bray and His companions. His success made them all tho more eager to hold him among their numbers. "That young Bent is feelin' too big of late to 'sociato with us fellers." Dick said one evening to his chums. "But I'll bring him ter time; seo'fl don't. I'll blow on him 't 'o don't look out. 1 know enough 'bout him to send him a-kitin' from that btoro any day o' tho week." "But then," ho continued, "I don't know as I care for him ter leave tho Btore; I've got use for him thete. it ho'll only bo a little more social. But I'll scare him a little all ttie same." It was nob long before he hinted such threats to Howard, and saw that he had a strong power over him. He now began to visit tho Btore often, and annoyed the young clerk a great deal by the familiarity shown there under tho eyes of his employers. On sovcral occasions Howard hinted quite plainly that tliese visits were unwelcome, but to no purpose. Ho then resorted to plans, an-1 even to compromises which he would not for tho world have had known to his mother or employers. In spite of himself he could not help enjoying Dick's society when they wcro uy tnemseives. iie was taenia ted by nrecklessneiia of speech and act ion of which he co jld by no means ap prove. When away from this influence he often wished that he might never see Dick Bray again. But he had not the courage to shake him oil. He was afraid of him -atriad of the threats he had mado. So, instead ol taking tho one manly, open course, ho drifted on.getting more and more into Dick's power. Ond evening Mr. Jones had been away, and on'his return had occasion to pass the store some two hours af ter closing time. To shorten the dis tance he went through an alley leading past tho rear ot his place of business. As ho neared the Btore a coarse laugh fell upon his ears. He stopped and listened, but could hear nothing more. As he was about to go on his eye caught ft small ray of light coming from Howard's window. Tlio shutters were closed, but this light found its way through a small crovico at tho top. Mr. Jones stepped softly to the window and listened. Ho could hear low voices within, showing plainly that his clerk was not alone. Slaking uso oi n box near by ho then climbed up bo that his eye was closo to the crack at tho top of tho shutter. Whathosaw within surprised him beyond measure. There sat Howard Bent and Dick Bray at tho table. Each had a cigar in his mouth,and a game ot cards was in progress. Mr. Jones could hardly believe that the scene beioro him was real. Such a breach of trust by a boy who had seemed so full of honor and worthy of confidencel Tho plan which ho thought would add so much to tho security of his property was being treacherously used to double its dan ger. His surprise und perploxity wore giving way to anger. Ho dropped to tho ground, took a key from his pocket and tlio next moment stood beforo tho astonished couple. "This is the way you keep faith with your employors, is it?" said Mr. Jones, looking straight at his clork without noticing tho presence of Dick Bray. Howard could not spoak. His com pan'on had slipped out at tho door and fled. "It seems you havo nothing to say," continued Mr. Jones, "and it is just ns well. Words would be useless. Your chosen companion is probably skulking about tho alley waiting for you. You can join him as Boon as you please. To-morrow we will settle with you, and-will havo tio further uso for your services." Howard passed out without a word. All tno finer qualities of his nature- roso in judgment against him. His conscience was unhardened and nctive. The distressed face which he hastened to hide in tho darkness boro signs of tho deepest humiliation, shame and regret. In the Btern, practical eyes of tho man of business the boy had commit tsd an unpardonnblo otlcnse. He saw no reason why human figures should not act with the Bamo mathematical precision as thoso on tlio pagos of his icuger. Tlio success ot ins business de manded such, and he had neither use nor excuse for any other. In simple iustice to tho boy and without a word for excuso for tlie wrong committed, let it bo said that Iih was not a3 bad as the man bus pocted him to bo. When he left tho store Howard went directly to his home, Ho had no do Bire to see Dick Bray. His thoughts were with his mother now. Ho must tako to her tlio shameful ruins of her bright hopes and plans. He must tell her tho whole story of his folly and wicked deceit. He" felt that it would almost kill her, but ho had deceived her longenough, sho must know every thing now. It was a sad blow to Mrs. Bent as sho listened to tho full confession from her boy's lips. Her grief in tho disap pointment of her plans was great; but it was tho discovery of tho blem ish in her son's character that gave the keenest pain. Tho next day she saved him the mortification of seeing Mr. Jones by calling on that gentleman herself. Mr. Jones met her very coolly and placed tho amount of her son's wages in her hand. In answer to her inquiry lie assured her that nothing had been missed from tho store, and that he had no suspicions that her son con templated theft. He added, however, that the deceit practiced was nearly or quite as bad as stealing, and would havo undoubtedly led to that in tho companionship of such low charac ters as Dick Bray. Poor Howard! IIo hnd learned something of tho evil tendencies of bad associate.!. The lessen was a hard one, and would not bo forgotten. Dick's power over him was now brok en, and ho resolved to bo free. Ho had smoked his Inst cigar. Ho had had his last associato whom ho could not take beforo his mother without fear of her disapproval. But how hard It was to regain what he had lost. Every ono was suspic ious of him. The story oi his dis charge was scattered over tho village in a Badly distorted shape. Tlio other merchants were unwilling to trust him. It took a long time to convince them that tho open, honest ways of the boy were really genuine, and tnat he now possessed strength of character. Many a hard battle was fought and many disappointments endured. Pour long yen re were thus spent be fore Howard Bent stood in another position as good as tlio ono ho lost through the influence of an evil com panion. Western Plowman. Preserving Grasses. A young girl who attends a school where botany and floriculture are branches of study, tells how sho manages with tho grasses. The others press them, and clasity each one, but sho makes large water color drawings, bold, yet careful and delicate, and the number attached to each ono refer to pages where they nr clasified. When she leaves school sho says she intends, to use them for a dado in her farm house. Sho thinks they can be mounted on the wall and varnished eo ns to last for a long time. This original idea might be ucted upon as a hint to any one with artistic talents! and the ability to draw boldly and gracefully. The sheets of paper need not be white, but some deiicnto dull tint of terracotta, pink, blue or green, and the grasses, many of which have very ihowy heads, sketched in a bold, free style, would make a very beauti ful frieze or dado. Simple wild flowers might also be used. Tho square of- paper could be joined by a band ot beading of gilt paper, and squares painted with some conventional de sign, might alternate with the others. The painting upon separate sheets ot paper is suggested, as it is less trouble to have around than the large strip, and can be taken up at odd times, whenever the artist chances to come across a pretty spray ot grasses or blossoms, and done in this "way does not look the formidable undertaking that the work all in one piece would TRICK OF A CASHI&R. Hlddon Millions In tho Crook Troasury. London Dally Mows; Athena letter. It is not an Arabian Night's ta' am going to relate, but a real incident (alroady announced to you by wire). Our nowepapers are full of it, and per haps you may feel sufficiently interes ted in this extraordinary and, 'I should think, unprecedented event, Jo find room for a more detailed account.- You know our Primo Minis ter. Ho has lived several years in London, and you havo published many an article about him. But you do not know that "Primo Minister" is not half expressive enough of what Mr. Tricoupis 5b to us. Ho is Prime Minister, leader of our Parliament, Minister of War, Minister of Finance, avowedly, moreover ho is, do facto, Minister of Marino, Minister of For eign Affairs, and of almost everything elce. Mr. Tricoupis lias, from tho day ho camo into office, given up ten out of his nineteen hours' daily work to the Ministry of Finance, which needed it. The fruits of his work were not long ripening. Tho country's resources in increased, the taxes yielded more, and for tho first timo after many years tlio National balance sheet hade fair to show on the right side. Neverthe less, tho public treasury seemed to benefit nothing. Mr. Tricoupis could not mako it out. Ho asked the "Chief Central Cashier" to lay before him every evening a balance-sheet of the cash in hand. The balance-sheet was produced regularly as clock-work, only tho item "Payments in Suspense" seemed to swell and the balance in hard cash to become Ies3. Mr. Tri coupis could not understand it. Simultaneously with this dwindling of the cash balance in the public treas ury, tho Opposition press indulged in long articles lamenting tho country's coming disappointment in the expect, tation of a balance. At tho same time the militant part of tlu opposi tion took tho lead and there were threats of a revolution. Thero was a procession in tno streets, ana in a central thoroughfare a volley of re volver shots was filed, with the result of killing an unlucky young tailor who was looking on. Tho very next day the Chief Central Cashier brought in his daily balanco sheet, showing a bnlanco of 25 francs! Tho Minister stared and wondered at the coinci dence of the maximum heat of the op position with the minimum ebb of the cash balance. He said nothing, but a suspicion crossed his mind, and ho set about sifting and comparing the balance-sheets, which had been handed him. Very ooon ho found discrepan cies with the general statements in the accountant's department. His doubts grow stronger, until one morning ho made his appearanco in the Ministry at the unusual hour of 7 o'clock, sent for three of the highest officials, and had all tho needed documents drawn up and signed thero and then, ap Tiointing them "a committee, for ex amining and ascertaining the exact stato of the treasury," or something to that effect. Shortly afterward this committee were standing at the door of the Treasury Department, and when the Chief Central Cashier made his ap pearance he was politely called on to deliver ins books and the keys of his strong rooni3 and safes. Ho appear ed greatly surprised, but there was no help for it, and the keys were deliver ed. The examination begun straight way. And what did the committee discover? A deficit? No, no deficit; on tho contrary a surplus, and a good, round surplus plump and liv ing. Tho balance sheet submitted to tho Minister on tho previous evening showed a cash balanco of 115,000 francs, and you may judge the sur prise of the committee when they laid hands on a largo bundle of bank notes, and counted 10, 20, IIO. 10, 50, GO. 100, 200 thousand tranrs. You can picture how they rubbed tlieir hands with joy, and plunged them in to the sales once more. Another bundle, another counting a total of 100,000 francs. More plunges into tlio safes and strong roonis, moro bundles of bank-notes, moro parcels of Napoleons, moro bags of dollars, and when the counting was over the sum total of the surplus reached six millions odd thousand francs! The news spread like wildfire, and the whole Ministry of Finance, lrom the Minister down to tho clerks and com missionaires, wero soon dancing about in glee. Passers-by looked in, were told the news, caught the epedemic, and rushed out into tho street also rubbing their hands at express speed. An hour later half Athens was excitedly walk ing the streets talk, talk, talking about the news. After tho first sur prise everybody began wondering and speculating why Mr. Chief Central Cashier had laid the nest-egg by. "What wa? ho going to do with it? Annex it? No; lie is known all over the country as a scrupulously honest fellow in mouev matters, what was his object then? He says it was out of pure love and kindness to Mr. Tricoupi3,as ho (the cashier) intended to increase the six millions into a a dozen, and then at the end of the financial year to surprise his superior by enabling him to snow off brilliant ly in his budget. I am sorry to say the Athenians were incredulous and suddenly it was remembered that the Opposition had predicted the calcu lations of Mr. Tricoupis would prove wroug by ten or twelve million trance, just tho amount Mr. ex-Chief Central Cashier was so desirous of saving up. Then camo the thought how wonder fully effective the missing of the said millions would be in helping to upset the Government; how handy these millions would have been.gently taken out oi their hiding places, and shown ns the result of the superior policy of the new administrationl As to this I cannot give my opinion. I think we had better wait until the Cashier and Public Prosecutor havo quito eluci dated the matter between them. P. S. Evening. 1 have just heard that three moro millions were found in.another corner ot thestrongroomsl eripatetic News Vender. Brookly Kngls. It is the fashion in society to abuse the newspapers. At receptions, lunch eons, teas, dinners, nfternoon calls, when other topics fail, the mendacity, vulgar curiosity, and general repre hensiblenees of tho press como to fill up the gap, and the same people who scheme for newspaper mention and send for a reporter whenever they contemplate doing anything in a so cial way never fail to lament tho in vasion of private life by tho prying press. At the same time they find it necessary to keep up with the topics of the time and many of them havo not tho time or energy to wade through the vast mass or reading that must bo ollered every morning to a varied constituency. AcleverBos ton woman who recognized that fact has turned it to good account. Sho rises at 0 o'clock.flits hastily through all tho leading journals, and" about 10 puts on her hat and begins her rounds. It is all done in the quietest and most dignified way possible. She is a person of breeding and fitted to be on pleasant terms with her pa trons.and is generally received by them as an informal caller.finding tho callee in a morning gown in her boudoir. They begin after this fashion: "How is tho weather this morning?'' "Charming, but the probabilities say we will havo a falling barometer, and so I shouldn't at all wonder if thero was rain to-night." "You don't say so. What a nuisance! I thought of going to see 's now play this even- ing.but I have such a cold I am afraid to go out if it's wet. By the way, what do tho papers say about the play?" Then she gets a resume of the criti cisms with any telling phrase that may have been used. Adds, apropos, an anecdote about one of the actors that-appeared in ono ol the morning papers, and drifts on to musical events, advertisements of picture ex hibitions, personal gossip about soci ety people. "littlo condensations of the political situation and the high lights m tho European dispatches. In half an hour she lias given nil the salient points of the news she was four hours In acquiring an departs for another customer, leaving her pupil crammed with condensed knowledge of the world's affairs. This woman declares that the average lemale ignorance, even among clever women of the world's doing is past belief. She has not only to be news vender, but a walking encyclopedia as well. Forex ample.one day last week she dropped in at luncheon time, and her pupil, ns they sipped tlieir tea, snid, "Well, what is the news to-day?" "Nothing much," sho answered." "Only that Conkling is ill." After a few minutes tho young woman said frankly, "Would you mind telling me who Conkling is? I have heard his name so often and yet do you know I haven't tho smallest idea what ho does or why people should be interest ed in him." Another woman, when she was giving her an abstract of the European nowsandtold of Bismarck's threatened resignation, because of tho Battenberg match, declared she had never heard of Alexander of Batten berg before, and had to have the whole Bulgarian situation explained toher. Besides these heads of fami lies and young women in society that the Boston woman keeps posted as to tho worlu's-doings, she has classes in several fashionable schools for girls, the Principals ol which consider a knowledge ot the events of the day desirable information for tlieir pupils. They hesitate to put the newspapers themselves into the hands of these girls, and find the digest of news fur nished by this enterprising person the best substitute possible, sihe comes every Friday afternoon and gives them an abstract of her reading throughout tho Inst seven dnx'n, ommitting of course all the scandals and crimes and telling of all events of importance which it is proper for them to be familiar with. In this case also, and more naturally, sho is asked endless questions, arid the girls in her class are thoroughly instructed in the meaning of the word tariff or the effect of tho President's message and what congress is doing about it. They know who are the probable candidates for the next election and the process by which nomination is reached. In short, she is a professor of contemporary history and is paid liberally for her instruction. m Jolly Old Von Moltke. Von Moltko'ance looks as though the natural skin had been replaced by a stretch of ancient and yellow parch ment. The lines aro innumerable and they radiate regularly from the corners of the mouth when he smiles ns ripples from a stone that is drop, ped through the surface ot a placid pool. The smiles of the grizzled and wrinkled old field marshal are frequent enough, too, when he is abroad. The small army of little children who nre taken to tho war oflico every day by their nurses to see the old commander stump about as though a man hnd iust about reached his prime when well along in ins buth year, wavetneir hnndsdelightfullyatCountvonMoltke. None of them has a more genial winning, and child-like smilo that tlio head of the greatest army in the world. Military critics assert that not one of the countless and masterly documents on army affairs that Von Moltke has given to the world during Ins long life compares in force, clear ness, cogency and power with his re port of the present year. Berlin Letter. The Dress of the Dead From the Philadelphia Times. In the past five years the shroud In. dustry in this city has grown to enor mous proportions, and this dress ot the dead, while it has become unpopu lar with some, has grown steadily in favor with others. The reason for tho great increase of the bueiness is on ac count of the steady growth of tho population, and because the bigger the population the bigger the death rate. It used to bo that shrouds wore made almost entirely by layers-out of the dead and poor women, who made a regular business of it and worked early and lato, according to tho num ber of orders thoy had. Shrouds were then made at short notice, because after tho person died there wasn't much timo to design and mako the shroud, fnd women worked all night to fill their orders. Nowadays thero are very fow professional shroud-makers in this city. Those few nre mostly women who work regularly for some particular undertaker, but they don't make much. A shroud-maker said that she used to have a nice income from her business, but that tho big undertak ers' supply stores had mined the busi ness for tho sliroud-ninkers about toWn, because they can make tho shrouds for a great deal les money. The woman was stitchin? away at'a, shroud at tho time. 'This is 'for an ojd Quaker lady," she said, "who died yesterday. I must finish it be fore I go to sleep. What business I cot now is almost entirely for dressing old persons, principally women. It used to be that nearly everybody was buried in shrouds, "and that isn't more than half a doen years ago." A prominent undertaker, who, has what is known in the business ns a "tony trade." said: "I don't suppose I have used moro than half a dozen shrouds in a year. With my class of trade tho custom is dying out. The people I bury are nearly all cared for m tlieir sickness by professional nurs es, who have become as thick as hops in this city. Nearly every physician has a list of a dozen men or women he can recommend. Well, the profes sional nurses in the past five years havo got to preparing the dead for burial, and thoy can dress a corps just ns well as they can di ess alive person. My customers prefer to have their relatives buried in either tho clothes they wore in life or a similar suit. A great many people I bury now are buried in tlieir dress suits that they have worn to weddings, recep tions balls or banquets. It takes two persons to dress a body, but it is done easily nowadays. Five or six years ago it was looked upon as al most an impossibility, and up to that time nearly everybody was buried in shrouds. For my part. I liko to see a person prepared for the grave to look as natural as they did in life, and they certainly don't look like them selves if they are attired in a shroud." -- O" tT Russian Railways. In Russia the minister of railways regulates the working of the lines to the smallest detail, oven in the case of thoso in the hands of public compan ies, and not belonging to the state. No innovation can bo made without his sanction, and if, for instance, a railway were to ordain station mas ters to wear white caps instead of red, or to only allow the passengers at the buffet stations twenty-nine minutes instead of thirty, tho directors would bo looked upon ns conspirators against the state, and officials armed with the fullest autocratic power would start off from St. Petersburg to suppress tho alteration at a stroke. All refonns.therefore can only proceed from the ministry ot railways which is now engaged on the weighty question as to whether the speed of mail trains in the Russian empire can not be increased from its present average rate, including stoppages, of twenty miles an hour to twenty-tiireo miles. This will n ot strike the reader nt a very daring innovation, but it has consumed tho energies of n special commission for somo weeks, and it is likely to do so several weeks longer. On some lines the speed ot tho mail trains does not average more than sixteen miles an hour, after which it will not be surprising to learn that the speed ol the ordinary passenger train is not more than fifteen miles an hour. So numerous and long nro the stoppages that the energetic passen ger has not only plenty of time to feed, but even to tako a walk in tho country now and again. Tlio lastest train in Kussia is tne courier train between St. Petersburg and Moscow, whicli travels, including stoppages, at about twenty-eight miles an hour. This carries no mails and consists only of a few first-class carriages. As for tho slowest, exam ples can bo found on ono or two branch lines of a train going only ten miles an hour, and oven then regular ly arriving lato. On tho Tsaritzin Don railway there used to be a tra dition that two express trains had collided without doing each other any harm. In general the speed of trains in Russia is extremely slow, the halts at the stations far too long and the trams too few and too heavy for the traffic. Where Silence Was Safety. Boston Courier. Jepson I notice that you always speak well of mo to my face, Jobson, and while I have no reason to believe that vou do otherwise behind my back," think it does not harm a man to bo criticised by his friends to bo to'.d his ljttle faults. I know I'm not perfect, and I would be glad to have you remind me oitho fact sometimes. Jobson Tell you of your faults? Jepson You criticise me. 'fell me what your honest private opinion of me is. That's what I want. Jobson Jepson, you are six feet two. and I am five feet four, and you want mo to give you my honest pri vate opinion of you? No, sir-ee, Job son, my boy, I'm no fool' rf"?
