Nebraska Newspapers

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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"?