Nebraska Newspapers

    AN ARCHITECT'S WIFE.
If It were lawful to add anothor to
tho eight Beatitudes given In tho
catechism, I would add tho follow
ing: "Blessed are thoy that marry
a BcnBible woman, for theirs shall bo
domestio felicity," And If It woro
lawful to illustrate tho Beatitudes
with historical notes, I would append
to tho aforesaid ninth tho following
explanation:
In tho middlo of tho fourteenth
eentury tho Bastard, Don Enriquo
do Trnstomnra, was besieging
Toledo, which offorod a bravo and
tenacious defonso, being loyal to
that king colled by somo "Tho Just"
And by others "Tho Cruel." Many a
tlmo and oft had tho faithful and
courageous Tolcdanos crossod tho
Kiagnificont bridge of San Martin,
no of tho handsomest and most
Bfleful architectural treasures of
that monumental city, and hurl
ing themselves upon tho
camp of Don Enrique, es
tablished In tho Cignrralcs, they
had wrought bloody havoc amid tho
besieging host. To prevent tho re
petition of such sallies Don Enriquo
determined to destroy tho bridge of
San Martin, which, as has already
been said, was the noblest of tho
many that from tho girdlo of tho city
ot martyrs, of councils, and of cava
liers. But what value havo artistic
ov historic monuments in tho oyes of
the ambitious politicians whoso
dream is to bury a dagger In tho
breast of abrothor, that they may
eat thomselvcs in tho throno ho oc
cupies? Well known it is that tho
Cigarrales of Toledo, to whoso famo
o much has boon contributed by
Tirso and other great Spanish poets,
consist of multitudes of villas and
country-houseB, with thoir lovely
gardons and fruitful orchards, all
shut in by hedges.
Ono night tho loafy branches of
theso trees were lopped off by tho
soldiors of Don Enriquo, and piled
upon tho bridge of San Martin. Tho
dawn was beginning to opon, when a
glow of wondrous brilliance lit up tho
devastated gardens, tho waves of tho
Tajo, tho ruins of tho palaco of Don
Itodrigo, nnd tho little Arabian towor
reflected in tho wators of tho river,
at whoso foot, so history hath it, tho
daughter of Don Julian wns bathing
when tho ill-fated king sot eyes upon
her fateful beauty. An immonBO fire
blazod on tho bridgo on San Martin,
and tho cracking of tho massive car
Ten beams, wrought with all tho skill
of tho chisel which created tho mar
vels of the Alhambra, seemed tho
Jtitifai plaint of art crushed by bruto
brce. Tolodanos, awakened "by tho
sinister glow, ran to Bave their bo
loved bridgo from tho imminent ruin
which menaced it, but they
ran futiloly, for a frightful
crash that rcsoundod lugubri-
Susly through tho hollowB of tho
'ajo told thorn thnt tho bridgo stood
no longer.' "Wlion tho rising sun
filded tho domes of tho imperial city
ho girls who went to fill their jars
with tho cool nnd crostallino water
of tho river turned homownrd again
with tho vessels empty and thoir
hoartefull of sorrow and indigna
tion, for the current of tho Tnjornn
turbid and boiling, carrying on its
whirling waves tho ruins of the bridgo
of San Martin, which still were BmoK
ing. This act of vandalism roused to
fury tho indignation of tho Tolo
danos, who saw thus cut off their
only direct possago to tho poradise
liko. Cigarrales, which they hod in
herited from tho Moors, together
with tho Moorish passion for trroves
and gardens. Tho vnlor of tho citi
zens, which had grown feeblo, gained
unexpected vigor, and ero many days
they had blotted out tho camp of
Trastamara, tho blood of whoso
soldiory ran in torrents over tho
Cigarrales.
Many ye,ars had passed since tho
fratricido of Montiel destroyed tho
bridgo of San Martin. Kings and
archbishops hnd exerted all their
powers to have it replaced by an-
otner wnicn snouiu bo its equnl in
strength aud beauty. But tho geni
as and endeavor of tho best architects
Chri8tain and Moorish, hnd not been
able to gratify tho ardent wishes of
tho Toledanos, for tho rapid current
of tho river always swept away foun
dations, piles, and stagings before
tho placing of tho gigantic arches.
Dou Pedro Tenorio, ono of tho great
archbishops to whom Toledo owes
almost as much as to her kings, sent
proclamations to almost every city
and village of Spain, enllingfornrchi
tects to rebuild tho bridgo of San
Martin.
Ono day a man and a woman, en
tirely unknown, entered Toledo by
the Cnmbron gpto, and, after inspect
ing tho ruins of tho bridge, they hired
a houso close by, and shortly there
after the man betook himself to tho
archiepiscopal palace. Tho nrch
lishop, surrounded at tho moment
y cavaliers and prelates, was over
oyed at tho arrival of an architect,
mmediately gave him audionco, and
welcomed tho stranger kindly.
"My lord," Baid the now nrrivnl,
"my name, no doubt unknown to
you, is Juan do Arevalo. I am an
architect, and I am brought hero by
your proclamantion summoning
Blicll
"Do you understand tho difilcultioa
comprlsod In rebuilding tho bridgo of
San Martin, friend?"
"I do, but I bcliovo myBclf capablo
ofovcrcoming thorn."
"Where havo you studied architec
ture?" "At Salamanca."
"And what works testify to your
skill?"
"None whatever." Noting tho
frown on tho f aco of tho archbishop,
tho stranger hastened to add: "I
was a soldier In my youth, my lord;
but leaving tho profession of arms I
dovotod myself to architecture, and
If on firm and woll-proportloned pilo
attests my knowlcdgo,ltls that for
tho sake of bread I havo relinquished
to others the credit of more than
ono edifice of my construction across
tho Tormos and tho Duoro. And for
tho rest, I offer you my lifo In pledge
of my competency."
"How so? you speak in riddles.
You must know that mon are no
longer put to death for failure to
Iierform tho conditions of a prom
so." "Ayo, truo, my lord; but when tho
main arch of tho bridgo should be
completed tho placo of Its architect is
on the koystono, and If the arch prove
falso and fall, its buildor would fall
with It."
"That offer is surely fair," said tho
archbishop, "as a proof of your car
ncstnoss nnd sincerity. Lot the work
bo begun to-morrow."
Juan do Arovalo hastenod to tho
humble dwolHng, in whose cmbrasur
od window sat watching tho woman
who had accompaniod him to Toledo;
a woman still young nnd beautiful,
notwithstanding her faco bore tho
traces of vigils and privations.
"Catnlina! my Catalinnl" exclaimed
tho architect, embracing his wifo
fondly, "among theso monuments
that glorify Toledo there will bo ono
that will transmit to posterity tho
namo of Juan do Arovalo."
No longer could tho Toledanos,
approaching tho Tajo over escarped
rocks and masses of ruins, exclaim,
"Here was tho bridgo of San Martini"
for already tho now bridgo reared
iteolf in shapely proportions upon
tho rent foundations, now inad
solid, of tho nnciont structure. Tho
archbishop and othor wealthy Tol
edanos were showering rich gifts up
on tho fortunate nnd" skillful archi
tect who had succeeded in throwing
tho three groat arches of tho bridgo,
in spite of tho gigantic daring of tho
work and tho furious currents of tho
river.
On tho ovo of tho day of San Yldo
fonso, patron saint of the city, Juan
do Arovalo informod the archbishop
that his task was completed, saving
only tho removing of tho scaffolding
from tho three arches. It was a
porilous test tho taking down
of tho complicated system
Qf heavy iron scaffolding
which braced tho enormous mass of
delicately carved timbers; but tho
calmness with which tho architect
awaited tho issue, which he promised
to meet standing on tho control koy
Btono, filled thoso about him with
confidence. With proclamations and
ponling of bolls wnB announced for
the following day tho solemn bene
diction nnd dedication of tho bridgo,
and tho Toledanos, from tho heights
commanding tho valo of the Tajo,
contemplated with joyous omotion
tho beloved Cignrralols that for years
had been sad, lonely, almost do
sorted, and which wore now to recov
or thoir old-time beauty nnd anima
tion. Toward nightfall Juan do Arevalo
climbed upon tho scaffolding of tho
centrnl arch to see that all was in
readiness for tho morrow's ceremony.
Meanwhilo,ho was goyly singing. All
at onco tho song died on his lips, tho
light faded from his fnco, and sor
rowfully he descended, and
slowly took his way homoward.
His wife Cntalina enmo forth to meet
him, full of love and contentment;
but a frightful pallor overspread her
faco at tho stent of tho despairine:
countennnco of her husband.
"Oh, Father in Heaven!" sho cried;
"what is it, thon, my dear ono? Art
thou ill?"
"Ill no! dead yes in hopo, in
power, in honor! Ayo! in lifo itselfl
for I will not survive tho dishonor
of to-morrow. Nay, tho only shred
of honor I can wrest from fate will bo
mino but in dyingl"
"No! no!" cried Catnlina; "Juan,
thou dreomestl Thy great excess of
labor has doranged thy thought, my
aear ono. Lome hithor, lot mo call
tho leech and honl thee!"
"Not so it is tho truth I tell theo.
When I was tho most sure of success,
most confident of triumph, now on
tho ovo of tho test, I have discovered
an error in my calculation that to
morrow will bury in tho Tujo tho
bridgo and the unfortunate that un
successfully planned it."
Tho bridgo may fall, boloved, but
thou shalt not go with it. On my
knees I will entreat tho archbishop
to exempt theo from that horrible
promise.''
"And if ho yield, then will I not nc
cept tho absolution. I care not for
lifo without honor."
"Now I swear that thou shalt loso
nor life nor honor!" murmured Cnta
lina, softly, yet with infinito resolu
tion. It was already nlmost dawn. Tho
cocks were crowing. Catolinn seemed
to sleep, and her husband, soothed
in spite of himself by hor calm do-
mennor, at last fell into a fitful,
feverish slumbor, that was full of
nightmare horrors. Cntalina arose,
as silent in her motions as the pass
ing of a Bhodow, and, opening a win
dow looked out on the vale of the
Tajo. No sound wns heard but tho
murmuring current of tho river nnd
tho wind that whistled through
the timbers of the scaffolding
at tho bridgo. A dense ana
eombro pnll of cloud over
hung tho city, and from its gloomy
bosom darted, now and thon, light
ning rays of terrible brillianco that
blinded tho boholdor. As yet no rain
was falling; and tho terror of tho im
pending storm seemed concentrated
In tho thick palpablo darkness, tho
ominouB brooding silcnco, and tho
sultry, breathless thickness of tho
closo atmosphere.
Closing tho window the who of the
architect caught up an unextin
guished brand thnt smoldered still
on the hearthstone Out into the
night sho wont, and, for all tho pitchy
blackness that marked that last
black hour before tho day should
quickon sho sought not to guido her
steps by tho light of the flro-brnnd,
but rathor to conceal its gleam with
tho folds of hor raiment, as she hur
ried ovor tho brokon and littered way
to the river, and with pain and
peril climbed upon tho planks of
tho staging. Below hor tho
wind shrieked among tho timbers,
and tho rlvor roared and hollowed as
it hurled itself upon tho opposition
of tho piles, and Catalian shuddered.
Was it for tho solitude and tho dark
ness? for tho danger of losing her
footing and tumblintr headloncr? or
becauso Bho realized that thoso about
her, overlooking the sacrifko of af
fection, would see in her movoments
only tho odious deed of a criminnl?
Sho recovered her calmness with
an effort, shook until it burst into a
blazo in tho blast the t6rch that un
til now sho had hidden, and applied
it to tho lighter braces of tho staging.
The resinous wood caught with a
vigorous flame, and, fanned by tho
wind, leaped abroad, and climbed
with torriblo rapidity up tho scaffold
ing. Not less swiftly, by tho light of tho
spreading fire, Catnlina recrossed tho
dangerouB path sho had trodden, and
reached her homo and hor chamber
whilo her husband wns still sleeping.
By this time tho massive sleopers of
the bridgo of San Martin woro crack
ing. A fittlo latter a dull and. pro
longed murmur was heurd through
out tho cltv. and from a hundred bel
fries tolled tho ominous fire-alarm,
to which lugubrious signal onsued a
crash that called from tho Toledanos
tho samo cry of distress that thoy
had uttorod when tho bridgo succumb
ed to the vandal attack of Don En
riquo tho Bastard.
Juan do Arovalo awoko with a
species of spasm. Catnlina was at
his sido, apparently sleeping. Juan
clothed himsolf hurriedly, and, as ho
reached tho Btrcot, his heart leaped
with joy ns ho realized that tho firo
had obliterated tho proof of his faulty
judgment.
Tha,nrchbi8hop and tho Toledanos
attributed tho firo to a bolt
from heaven, and tho sorrow
thoy felt for their own loss
was tempered by tho sympathy felt
for tho architect, whom thoy deemed
to havo seen tho results of his labor
destroyed oven in the hour of triumph;
and the architect himself, who wns a
pious soul, of a profound faith In tho
protection of heaven, was devout in
tho samo conviction.
As for Cntalina sho assured her
husband that Bho was entirely of the
samo opinion, and, as womon are
rarely guilty of falsehood, surely so
venial a lie may bo forgiven to ono
who had saved tho honor and tho lifo
of her husband.
The conflagration only rotardod
for a year tho triumph of Juan do
Arovnlo, for a twelvemonth later, to
a day, on tho fete of San Yldofonso,
tho Toledanos crossed tho bridgo of
San Mnrtin to their beloved Gigarra
les, nnd tho successful buildor of tho
structure was tho boast of tho occa
sion, nnd tho honored guest nt tho
banquet spread in joyous celebra
tion. The Ago of Speculation.
This isanngeof speculation. Thou
sands crowd nround tho stock-ticker
ovory day; thousands more watch tho
grain gnmbling; all tho pool rooms
are filled with men nnd youths whoso
faces show how often the right horses
do not win. All tho lotteries, nil tho
policy shops, all tho gambling dons
have their victims, and tho supply is
undiminishingly largo. Tho poor
sheep are sheared, and nro sent, pov-orty-Btricken,
to do thobestthoy can;
but othor sheop como tumbling into
tho pitfalls, nnd tho gamblers roll up
thoir bank nccounts nnd drive thoir
fast horses, and wonder why anybody
complains of hard times. The mania
of speculation is ruinous to correct
buBiness methods. It unsettles a
man, makes him inconsitont and va
cillating, injures his usefulness as a
straightforward worker and destroys
his steady principles nnd honest pur
poses. oung mon starting out in
lifo should avoid it as thoy would a
curso. Baltimore American.
Embroidery In Men's Dress.
It is probable that embroidery will
soon play a nroinieut part in men's
dress. Thus far it Iiob only shown
itself in connection with dress vests,
which nro ombroidered with a degreo
of elaboration depending upon tho
tasto and tho pockotbook of tho
wearer. Tho coming fall will, how
over, witness tho introduction of em
broidery coats, vests and trousers.
Thus far none of theso garments havo
been mndo up in Amoricn, but tho
materal has been mndo for them, nnd
considerable quantities of West of
England cloths havo been sent to
Paris to bo embroidered to tho order
of leading Now York tailors, in pat
terns for vest, coat nnd trousers.
Pittsburg Bulletin.
Tho Fear of tho Lord Shows la
Shakespeare.
This "fear of tho L ord" is Incorpo
rated by Shakespenro in tho impres
sion loftuponuB by his greattragedies
In away far more effectual than if ho
were invariably to apportion rewards
and punishments in tho fifth act with
a neat and ready hand to his good
and evil characters. It is enough for
him to engago our loyalty and lovo for
human worth, wherever and however
wo meet with it, and to mako us ro
joico in its presence whothor it find in
this world conditions favorable to
its action or tho rovorso. This wo
might namo tho principlo of faith in
tho provinco of ethics, and thereat
all ovents wo are saved by faith. Tho
innocent suffer in Shakespeare's plays
as they do in real life; but all our
hearts go with them. Which of us
would not chooso to bo Duncan lying
in his blood rather than Macboth up
on tho throno? Which of us would
not chooso rather to suffer wrong
with Dcsdomona than rejoico in ac
complished villainy with logo? But
Macbeth, logo, Edmund, Richard III.,
King Claudius, nnd tho other malefac
tors of Shakespeare's plays do not
indeed triumph in tho final issue.
"Tho conscience of mankind
refuses to beliovo in tho ultimate
impunity of guilt, and looks upon
tho flying criminal as only taking a
circuit to his doom." Shakespeare
hero rightly exhibits things fore
shortened in tho tract of time.
Though tho innocent and tho righte
ous may indeed, if judged from a
merely externnl point of view, ap
pear as losers in tho game of lifo, tho
guilty can never in the long run bo
tho winners. Tho baser types, which
for a time seem to flourish in viola
tion of tho laws of health or tho
spiritual laws of tho inner lifo, inev
itably tend townrd Bterility and ex
tinction. Tho righteous havo not
sot their hearts on worldly success
or prosperity, and they do not attain
it; a dramatic poet may courageous
ly exhibit tho lact; but what is dearer
they attain a serene conscience and
a tranquil assuranco that all must
be well with those supported by tho
eternal laws. But the cuilty ones,
whoso aim has been external success,
and who havo challenged tho dlvino
laws or hoped to evado them,
are represented as failing in tho end
to achieve that poor success on which
their hearts have been set. "I have
seen tho wicked in great power
but I went by, and lo, he was not."
Follow a malefactor far enough,
Shakespeare says, and you will find
that his feet must needs bo caught
in tho toils spread for thoso who
strive against the moral order of the
world. Nor can pleasure ovado thoso
inexorable laws any more than can
crime. A golden mist with magic
inhalations and strango glnmour,
fileasuro may rise for an hour; but
hese are the transitory glories of
sunset vapors, which night presently
strikes inl o sullen quietudo with her
leaden mace. This is what Shake
speare has exhibited in Iub "Antony
and Cleopatra." All tho sensuous
witchery of the East is there display
ed; but behind the gold nnd tho mu
sic, tho spicery und the eager amor
ous fneps rise tho dread forms of ac
tors on whom the players in that
stupendous farce-tragedy had not
reckoned, the forms of the calm
avenging laws. Do wden, in tho Fort
nightly Review.
Ways of tho Manatee.
As a reporter of tho Now York
Telegram was walking along South
street a young fellow with a loud
voico called attention to some sea
cowb tho first ovor exhibited in New
York, ho said. A pleasant looking
man said he had brought tho beasts
from their native haunts nfter a
groat deal of trouble. There wore
throe of thorn, weighing respectively
610, G50 and 815 pounds.
Tho proprietor told the reporter
that ho would show him their re
semblance to tho cow, and, leaning
ovor tho edgo of the tnnk in which
tho two smallest ones were confined,
caught ono by tho jaw and told it to
lift its head up, which it did. Then
tho mon opened tho benBt's mouth,
which is exactly like the cow in shape
and appearance Tho nnimnl's bend
is very much like a cow's head but
for the large, overhanging eyebrows
and tho absence of horns.
"The manatee, or cow," said tho
mun, "is found in all tropical wators,
but chief! in tho Cnribboan sea. It
subsisted entirely on vegetable mat
ter and is never known to touch fish
or nnimal food ; consequently its flesh
is much sought after by natives and
sailors near where it abounds, and in
consequenco tho mnnateo has become
nearly extinct. It is ono of tho most
hnrmless animals of tho sea; yot it
has an enemy in tho shark, who fol
lows it hours m, a tiino hopingto get
a tn8to of its flesh. Tho cow has no
weapon of delense, but is a wonderful
swimmer and is able to outswim the
shark with great ease.
"Tho manateo eats all kinds of vege
tables nnd grasses, nnd in captivity it
eats common meadow gross. The
three I havo here," said tho pro
prietor, "were caught by mo off
tho southern const of Florida.
Thoy nro very hard to catch alive.
Thoy havo such great powor in
their tails, which sometimes measure
5 feet in length, that thoy often brenk
tho strongest nets. They enn't stny
under water longer than seven
minutes, consequently we havo to
bring them to tho surface in that
time to get air, otherwise they would
drown, nnd then lot them drop in the
water until wo can get them aboard
ship, but when onco there thoy will
live for two weeks out of water.
"Thoro's a grass called sea grass
that grows In tho ocean to a height
of about 6 or 7 feet, and whon we boo
It flonting on tho water it is a sign
thatthe manatees uro about, and wo
lay our nets for them accordingly.
Thoy are mostly found in pairs, but
if nttneked by sliarkB they will form
in battle array, surrounding their
young to protect thorn. Tho three
that I havo hero I expect to keep.
ii i
Frank James In tho East.
"There goes Frank James. I won
der what ho Is going to do In New
York?" Tho speaker and his com
panion halted and gnzed at a man
crossing Broadway at twenty-eight
street, New York city.
There was nothing extraordinary
about tho individunl who thuB at
tracted attention. As a matter of
fact ho seemed a vory commonplnco
personage. Ho was between five feet
eight and five feet nine Inches in
height, attired in a badly fitting suit
of dark coarse material. Tho sack
coat and trousers woro evidently tho
hnndiwork of somo other tnil or. On
his head ho wore a black slouch hat
after the manner of tho west.' Ho
was homely a very long, bony noso,
with a very decided inclination to a
hook, was tho prominent feature of a
faco scarcely indicating average in
telligence. Ho carried his head in a
drooping attitude, but boneath tho
rim of his brood brimmed hat peered
forth two dark, small, but restless
eyes. His hands were in his pockets.
"And who is Frank James?"
queried his companion to tho speak
er. "A poor man who might today be
worth $100,000. In fact he is tho
laBt of the bandit kings. Heisaman
with a history the retired and re
spectable train and bank robber."
It was indeed none other thnn tho
ex-outlaw of Missouri, a man upon
whoso head a price had been set by
tho governor of his state, who was
thus parading bo unconcernedly down
Broadway ono afternoon. A business
trip to Connecticut had caused Frank
James' appearance for two davs in
New York city and a short absence
from his quiet little home at Independ
ence, a village 14 miles east of Kan
sas City.
Frank James is, indeed, tho Inst of
tho race of outlaws and bandits. Tho
train robbers of the present day are
mere tyros to this famous criminal,
who, after 15 years ofcrimoand nfter
being hunted year in and year out
for his life, lives quietly nnd peace
fully in the bosom of his fnmily in a
Missouri village.
Frank James is a very reserved nnd
almost taciturn. Ho never speaks of
his robber exploits and nothing
about him indicntes tho shrewdness
and cool daring of tho man. Ho has
ono weakness. He believes ho can
act. He is a great reader of Shake
speare and can quote page afterpago
of the bard of Aron.
But ho is a man of strong common
sense nnd even conquers his pet fail
ing of "spouting." He is a, poor mnn;
does not probably earn 30 a week.
Yet ho might to-day havo been rich.
After his trial responsible parties
wanted to put him upon tho stage in
a drama written to order on his own
career. He was offered $100,000 for
a three year's contract, and finally
125,000 and nil expenses. Ho re
fused. He snid he wanted to with
draw from the public gaze; ho wanted
to end his days quietly with his family.
He presisted, and now nothing dis
tinguishes his from the ordinary west
ern village storekeeper. Ho is about
45 years of ago, and although not
very robust has probably a long
least of life.
Is not this ono of the strongest
careers of the present day? Now
xorK JL'ress.
ii
Tho Minister's Wifo.
"And nro wo to expect nothing
from a minister's wife?" said Miss
Lane in a very subdued voice.
"Nothing more thnn her duty as a
woman. If sho has qualities that
will give her a leadingBocial influence,
and has time to spare from her homo
duties, which are always first, sho
ought to lot these qualities become
active for good. But no more enn,
with justice, bo required of nny other
woman in tho congregation. Your
contract for service is with her hus
band, nnd not with her; and you
have no more clnim upon her time,
nor right to control her freedom,
than you have over tho wifo of your
lawytr, doctor or school-mastor.
"If you think my services nbsolutely
essential to tho prosperity of tho
church, just state tho amount of
snlary you can afford to give, and
if, for tho sum, I can procure nny
person in overy way as compotent
ns myself to assume tho chorgo of my
children nnd household, I will take
into serious cosiderationyour propo
sition. Boyond this, ladies, I can
promise nothing.
"1 could wish," sho continued, in a
lower voice," to number you nil as
my friends. I havo como nmongyou
only as a stranger, seeking no pre
ominenco, but desiring to do my
duty ns a woman. Tho met that my
husbund is your Minister gives mo
of right no position among you, and
gives you no right to demand of mo
any public service. If my husband
mils in his duty, admonish him; but
in the numo of justice and humanity
do not establish any supervision
over me. Let my private lifo bo as
sacred from intrusion as that of any
other woman. This I havo a right
to demand, nnd I will bo satisfied
with nothing less," Woman's Magazine.
Kissing tho Bible.
Tho medical journals nre agitating
tho danger which lurk in tho gronsy
and worn bncks of tho Court Bibles,
Tho practice of "kissing tho book"
comes down from tho days ofcolonlal
custom, but it Is at no timo cornpul.
sory, although tho uninltlatol know
no b&tter, nnd oven some of tho most
Intelligent people, who know that It
is optionnl with them, Beem to loso
their self-possession and at tho com
mand of tho court bailiff, "kiss tho
book" thoy d6 bo.
A New Jersey physician Is reported
to havo refused to "kiss tho book,"
but was compelled to comply with
the requirements. Jersey law munt
bo vory old fashioned and rigid, or
no such ruling would have followod
tho refusal. In tho courts of several
States anyone may refuse to do bo,
but in ninny of tho States thoBlbloIs
not used in tho courts. Tho wltnosB
has only to hold up his right hand
and solemnly swenr thnt he "will toil
the truth, tho whole truth, nnd noth
ing but tho truth," nnd even thon If
ho has any conscientious scruplos
ngainst this form he may "affirm."
The practico of kissing tho book is
rapidly falling into disrepute every
where. First, because tho samo book
that iB kissed by diseased lips is
offerered to the cleanly and solf-ro-spocting,
and often tho witness whose
stomach turns against tho oscilla
tory ordeal merely goes through tho
motion of putting tho book towards
tho lips without actual contact. The
man with tho moustache apparently
submits, but tho book only touches
the capillnry substance and is pnssed
on to the next witness or juror. In
some instances, if the Bible is not by
elastic bands, It is not uncommon
for tho ono taking the oath to open
tho book and kiss somoprinted page.
This is tho Presidential custom, and
lynx-eyed reporters watch closely
and report that passage of Scripture
which tho Presidential lips have
kissed.
The origin of tho oath upon tho
Bible has been traced to tho old Ro
nian law, and tho kissing of the book
is snid to be an imitation of tho
priest's kissing tho rltunl as a sign of
reverence before ho rends it to tho
people. Bouvior's law dictionary
says: '"'Tho commencement of an
oath is made by tho party taking
hold of tho book, after being required
by the officer to do bo, and ends gen
erally with tho words 'So help you
God,' and kissing the book, when the
form is that of swearing on theevan
gelists." The Mohammedans are sworn on
tho Koran and tho Greeks nnd Ro
mans swore by the souls of tho dead,
the ashes of thoir fathers, by their
own lives or the lives of their friends,
by their heads and by thoir right
hands, whilo nmong Scandinavians
and Germans it wns customary to
rest tho hand upon somo objectwhilo
repeating on oath.
When it is considered that the low
est classes, diseased and dirty, kiss
tho Bible in our lower nnd higher court
witharesoundingsmuck,and that by
this contnet diseuso may be dissemi
nated to tho very sensitive organs, the
lips, there is good reason forthemod
ical journals to open wnr on the cus
tom of "kissing tho book."
The Medical Register of a recent
date says: "The kissing of tho Bible
in nny case is a form which might
easily, without the sncriflco of solem
nity or of tho stricture of an oath, bo
sot aside in favor of simply touching
of the book with tho hand or recog
nition of it in tho averrntion. Tho
lips ate most sensitivo receptacles for
the germs of disease, and, from tho
motley throng of dirty nnd diseased
persons who nresummoned inacourt
of justice, what infectious germs mny
not bo disseminated? The person
who kisses a Biblo in court has not
the least surety that his lips do not
como into direct contnet with tho pol
lution left by a predecessor who was
suffering from somo foul skin disease
or taint, not to speak of tho germs of
eruptive fevers and the like."
Keeping a Good Conscience.
The moonlight drifted brokonly
through a rift in tho roof of a negro
cnbin in tho nnnover slashes, and fell
on Gabriel Jones' grey-bearded face.
He was smoking and mediating.
"Hnnnnhl" ho called, presently;
"Hannah!" Silence. "Hannah I
say, Hannah!" atriflolouder. There
was a rustling of straw in the bed in
tho corner, and a sleepy answer:
"Huh?" "Hnnnah, did yon put dat
watermillion I foun' in Mareo Ben
Scott's, patch yistidy in do cool
spring?" "Yes, Iputdot watermillon
in do cool spring," sho answered,de
liberatloy, 'Dat was right." A mo
ment's pause. "Hannah' did you hang
dat coot dat Mister Hcdley listed on
my tnkin,' 'hind do hay-rack, like I
toloyou?" I did dot." "Did you
scall and pick dem chickens I borrow
ed Pom do mnn down on do river
do udr day?" "Yes, I scall dem chick
ens." Well, fry me ono do fust t'ing
in do momin', enso I'se got t go over
t' Mister Chinky Claptin's t'-orrowm
t' lend a prar-meetin' an' keep dem
triflin' niggers in do right rond."
Then bo leaned his grizzled head on
tho chair-back and snored the snore
of tho just, and tho bull frogs in the
marshes echoed it over tho Chick
ahominy low grounds. Richmond
Baton.
To clean pio plates that hove long
been used for baking: Put them in
a largo kottlo of cold woter and
throw on them u few hot ashes or
cinders, and let them boil for an
hour.
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