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About Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1899)
LIFE. 'A crust of broad and a corner to sloop in , 'A minute to smile and an hour to weep in , A pint of joy to a peck of trouble , And never to laugh but the moans come double ; And that in life ! A crust and a corner that love makes ' precious , .With the smile to warm and the tear to refresh us ; And joys seem sweeter when cares come after ; And a moan is the finest of oils for laugh ter ; And that is life ! THE WRONG GAUD. attorney was in : i reflective THE , ns hewalked from the of- lice to his home. The afternoon 'Jia < l developed business of grealf im portance , which would take Tffni a thousand miles away during thy next -six months. The lawyer , however , was an love , aid : dreaded to leave the field free to his 111:1113' rivals. As he walked along , he pictured him- elf in a certain pretty home uptown , laying his love and lucre at the feet of -n charming woman , who , long ago , had come to be au essential part of his ex istence. While ho was thinking over the situ ation and hurrying JiomcAvard , he was hailed with a business-like : "Ho , Fa IT ; I want to Sr'neak to you a moment ! ' ' Turning about ho faced the speaker , -a. friend of bis junior partner ; and in a few minutes they were deeply engaged in a discussion of some abstruse qu&- tion , concerning a case which was then interesting a great many lawyers. e When the two parted , the one who had hailed Farr banded the latter a card with a request that he would give it to Somcrton , the junior partner of the iirm of "Farr & Somerton. " In the hurry of parting Farr took the card -without looking at it , and only after he had reached his residence his mind still full of the matter they had discussed - -cussed , did he think to glance at the "bit of pasteboard. It should have borne certain memoranda which Somertou desired : but was , however , quite blank , save for the engraved name of the owner. With u slight smile at the -other's carelessness be tucked the card in his pocket. Supper over , he betook himself to pipe and slippers. Then , lounging com fortably jn n big armchair before the study lire , lie gave himself up to the in terrupted reilectious of the afternoon. As a result of his cogitations , before he retired a letter bad been written , addressed - -dressed to "Miss Margaret Lamore. ' ' In it Miss Lamore was informed that be would call the following evening on -un urgent matter. The letter , perhaps , was a trille stiff and business-like , but surely could not help being clear to a woman. So , at least , thought Farr , and he went to sleep that night to dream of a gracious woman and a successful - -cessful suit. The business of the next day put an end to any further air castles for the time being , but when evening came he lost no time in hurrying whither the letter had gone. Arriving there , a ring brought the maid to the door a new maid Farr noticed. "With his thoughts on the coming interview , it was only in n mechanical way that he gave her his card and asked to see Miss Laniore. A few moments' waiting , and then the girl returned to say , in a well-bred vou'e , that Miss Lamoro had an imme diate engagement and begged to be ex- -cuscd. "Somewhat dazed by what he consid ered a rebuff , Farr left the bowse. Once more in his own rooms he con trived , within au hour or tAvo , by the .aid of bis pipe , to put himself in a mood which played havoc with senti ment. An early train the next day carried him rapidly away from his home and the woman who , a few hours earlier , bad been all in all to him. Now. however - ever , he thought ho had convinced him self that she was not worth the woo- ing. Yet every single day of the next half year had its full measure of bit terness , souring even the great successes - cesses he met with. Not a single night but found him wearily praying for sleep , to drive away the vision of a proud , sweet woman who so persist r ently haunted him. Sometimes he wear- Jed of both himself and the world , but lie was obliged to live and meet his fellowmen low-men , even if a woman had scorned his love. Time p.issed , and the conclusion of his mission allowed him to return home. But little more than six months from the day when Margaret Lamore had made life seem so gloomy to him , lie was once again in his native town. On the day of his return Somertou in sisted that he should dine with him at the earliest possible opportunity , and , of course , tired though he was , and de sirous of nothing beyond peace and melancholy quiet , he was compelled to acept the invitation so warmly pressed upon him. Accordingly that -evening found him on the way to the Somertou home. lie must have forgotten that Mrs. Somertonnud Miss Lamore were the most intimate friends , or , perhaps , it was natural to start when he found liimself face to face with the latter in the Somertou parlor. That he did start was a fact quickly detected by Miss Laniore a fact also which naturally increased her embarrassment. "Judging from your appearance , Mr. Farr , " said she , "your health has not lyccii much benefited by the Western trip. " "I am afraid not , " was his answer ; "the work was hard , and I did not go to it in the best of spirits. " This last with a glance intended to be full of meaning. She saw the look , and , wondering at It , , colored ' "You look so worn and ill , " she con- I tinned , "that I have not the heart to I scold as 3'on deserve ; yet 3rou must have known IIOAV much I should re gret not seeing 3-011 before you took the trip. " The seeming effrontery of this took the pOATcr of speech from Farr. and the astonishment depicted on his coun tenance brought a flush once more to the face of his fair companion. Seeing that he was not disposed to speak , she resumed : "You promised to call and then left without a word. I certainly did not ex pect it of you.- " Ilecoycrhighjipself a little at this , Farr told her , \vith as much dignity as possible , that she must have been deeply engrossed that summer day to have forgotten the card ho had sent up to her , and the fact that she had pleaded - ! ed an immediate engagement as an ex cuse for not seeing him. QMieiufonQ ved a period of polite ami gentlecoiikvuliction. Miss Laniore firm ly insisted that he had not sent up his card , and Farr as obstiiu'telj' persisted in saying that he had. AVheu , for seA'- eral minutes , they had accused and eounteraccused each other of forgetfulness - ness , Farr took matters into his OAVH hands by breaking out vehemently Avith : "Do 3'ou know why I Avantcd so much to see 3'ou that day ? Uo 3-011 imagine that I could be. for a moment , forget ful of the most trifling incident that happened then , Avhen I thought 3011 had treated me with such crushing in difference ? " They were now seated on a couch , and he , Avith a bitterness born of the uuhappiness he had experienced , told heL'.hisAviiole stoiy from that day to 'this prosonTtime when she saw him so ill-muHwom Avorn , not with toil , but with the hopelessness of his life. He bad no HOAV phrases in which to frame his thoughts ; but the old , old words seined to satisfy her ; for AA'heu dinner AA\ts announced there wore at least tAvo people supremely happy among those AA'ho went arm in arm to the dining- room. Somerton's friend. Barton , with whom Farr had held such a profound discussion on the day when the story opens , arriA'cd in time to join the party at dinner. AA'heu the meal was Avell under way Barton , suddenly recollect ing , desired to ICUOAV wli3' and wherc- foreTarr had so carelessl3' neglected to give his partner the card which had been Tntnisfed to bis care. Farr , in his uew-fouud happiness , had little mein- oiy for such trifles , and fortlnvith Bar ton rehearsed the affair. Then , recall ing the incident , Farr said : "You are the one guilt3' of careless ness in giving me the AArong card. The one I did receive from 3-011 bore no memoranda Avhatever ; when I discov ered that fact I put the card in my pocket , and have not scon it since. " "I have , " interposed Miss Lamore. "The idea of your calling upon me and sending up Mr. Barton's card ! " A gleam of intelligence came , into Farr's eyes and a quick smile passed between him and the charming girl be side him. Then , with almost unseemly haste , they turned the conversation into safer channels. Exchange. LEARNED OF THE BATTLE. News of the Santiago Naval Battle Astonished the Austrian , When the American fleet was operat ing in Cuban waters foreign men-of- war occasionally happened along to sec what was going on. It chanced that , very soon after the vessels of Sampson and Schley had destroyed Cervera's fleet , an Austrian ironclad hove in sight. The Indiana steamed out to meet it , and soon a boat , with a lieutenant , left the Austrian to visit the Indiana. The Washington Star tells the story : The Austrians had heard nothing but a distant cannonading , which might have been salutes. The lieutenant's visit was merely one of ceremony. Ilis countenance betrayed astonish ment when he came aboard , and HAW the decks blackened with powder , and men and officers begrimed and covered Avit'i perspiration ; but bo asked no questions until he was conducted to the Captain's room , and found it filled with the stifling smoke of gunpowder. Then the Austrian officer asked Captain Tay lor what such a state of things indi cated. " "It indicates , " answered the Captain , "that we have just engaged the ene my. " "What ? Cervera ? " "The same.- " "But what were your losses ? " "None. " "But where is the Spanish fleet ? " The Austrian was now thoroughly ex cited. "Come up on the poop and I will show you , " said Captain Taylor. They steamed in the direction of the shore , and the Austrian officer had his glasses leveled. "There is one , and there another , and t little out of view , there is the Cristo bal Colon , " said Taylor , pointing out Irst one Spanish wreck and then an- jther. The Austrian , whose sympathies were undoubtedly with the Spaniards , was shocked beyond expression at this pic- ; ure , typical and declaratory of the uin of a nation. The Americans re spected his feelings , and he departed in silence. Electric Motor Wagons. The Automobile Club and some elec- ricassociations in France are occupied n endeavoring to establish electric : harging stations for electric vehicles. Hie idea is to arrange with electric ight and power stations to do the vorlv , so as to make the use of electri- lally propelled carriages possible all ver France. When a man offers you something or nothing don't accept it unless you inn afford to pay at least double its 'fllue \ KOIIGE WASHINGTON , the hero , has always obscured George Washington the man , and yet the sterling quali- tics of the man made the hero. Whenever the two characters have bee.n distinguished they have made separate studies , Avith the result that one class of writers make him a sublime genius and the other a commonplace man made great by circumstances. Washington was as great in wisdom and foresight and as unerring in judgment as a statesman as he Avas as a soldier. His physical endowments , his qualities of mind , his habits , education and training all tended to round him out and develop him into a perfectly balanced man. No one faculty being developed above another gave his life a simplicity that appeared commonplace , but it Avas the simplicity of genius. Though a man of great dignity he was easily approached. An aristocrat by lineage he Avas a man of the people. Extremely modest he AVJIS fond of state and of cere mony. Though his outdoor life as a surveyor , a soldier and a farmer gave him a rough exterior , a rugged physique and robust health it did not quench his taste for gay uniforms or fashionable apparel. That he AVJIS not free from vanity is apparent in the thirty odd portraits of himself , a few painted in the effulgent regalia of Avar and all in the habiliments of a cavalier. He Avas as straight as an Indian , six feet two indies tall , Avith large bones and broad shoulders , Avide at the hips ; feet large , requiring a No. 11 shoe , and Lafayette said his hands Avould have been a. curiosity for a medical museum. This may explain Avhy he rarely shook hands. lie Aveighed 210 pounds. To his clothing Washington devoted much thought and attention , not only as a young man , but all his life. A journal written Avhen he Avas sixteen has several long and elaborate entries about hoAv "to haA'e my coats made. " In 1754 he records having bought a "superfine blue broadcloth coat AA'ith silver trimmings , " " 0 prs. of the very neatest shoes" and " - prs. of fashionable mix'd or marble color'd silk hose. " It is evident that he always strove to be in the fashion. During Washington's presidency a caller describes him as being dressed in purple satin , and at one of his levees , he ATUS clad "in black velvet ; his hair in full dress , powdered and gathered behind in a large silk bag ; yelloAV gloves on his hands , hold ing a cocked hat Avith a cockade in it , the edges adorned Avith a black feather about an inch deep , lie Avore knee and shoe buckles , and a long sword Avith a finely Avrought and polished steel hilt ; the scabbard Avns Avhite polished leather. " Wherever he happened to be Washington Avas constantly demanding a washerhuly. The bill of his laundress for the Aveek succeeding his inauguration Avas for "G ruffled shirts , 2 plain shirts , 8 stocks , o pair silk hose , 2 Avhite hand. . 2 silk hand. , 1 pr. Jlnul. dnnvers , 1 hair uett. " He drove from his residence to the Senate in a cream-colored chariot with richly painted panels. Ilis bootblack once failed to polish the general's huge boots all the Avay up a task performed every morn ing and the father of his country bent the luckless darky OA'or the head AA'ith them. Washington AVMS hot-tempered. lie wanted John Marshall , aftcnvard the famous justice , to run for Congress and sent for him to explain his wishes. Marshall told Washington he Avas too poor , he could not afford to give up his business and incur the expense. While thus opposing Washington's Avishes Marshall says he never received such a torrent of abuse in his life. He feared AYashington would jump on him from across the table , but the row ended in Marshall remaining Washington's guest for a Aveek , and then running for Congress and being elected. Washington Avas thoroughly upright and honest in his dealings with men. .Tames Parton said he had a genius for rectitude. Jefferson , Avho did not like him , said his justice Avas the most inflexible he had over knoAvn and that no motiA-es of friendship or hatred Avere able to bias his decision. Washington Avas a faithful attendant at church and Avas a A'estryuian , but he took no active part in church affairs outside its business relations. WHERE HONOR IS DUE. If you please , you may laud George up tc the skies , As the man \A'ho won battles and never told lies. You may tell of his virtues in story anil song ; How lie carefully sifted the right from tuc wrong ; Of his wisdom in counsel , his bravery in war ; How he drove the grim British aAvay from our shore. You may cherish forever his hat and his sword. And up to the skies our brave Washington laud. , Long , long may we hold him an example to youth , For honesty , temperance , courage and truth. While we gaze Avith delight on a structure so grand. Let us honor the builder Avho drew out the plan , And added , through years of Infinite care , Small stone upon stone , firmly fixing them there ; And though this may be but a girl's point of A'icw. Let us give credit where it Is ccrtamiy due. And pluck from his laurels one leaf for an other. So three cheers for our George , and four for his mother. Youth's Companion. WASHINGTON AS AN OLD MAN. Age Found Him Nobly Generous Dig nified at All Times. "You Avill meet , sir , an old gentleman riding alone , in plain drub clothes , a broad-brimmed Avhite hat , a hickory SAvitch in his hand , and carrying an um brella with a long staff , Avhich is attached to the saddle-boAA' . That person , sir , is Gen. Washington. " This delightful portraiture traiture of Washington in his old ago , Avhen the storms had passed and life ran in quiet groA'CS by the side of his beloved Potomac , Avas drawn by young Custis , adopted son of the patriarch , and intend ed to assist the recognition of Washing ton by a gentleman Avho had asked to be directed to him. The wish of Washington Avhen old . "to moA-e gently down the stream of life'tinti ! I sloop Avith my fathers , " was granted. Tfie last years of his life were spent in the peace and quiet of beautiful Mount Yer- non , attending to the healthful duties of the management of his largeestate , and entertaining with courtly hospitality the many distinguished personages who came to do homage to his greatness. And yet , his latter days at Mount Tor- non were busy days ; for , every morning , rain or shine , he" would mount his horse and make the circuit of his farms , a dis tance of betAvecn tAvelve and fifteen miles. Not a field or orchard , barn or cabin , wood or clearing , but what passed daily beneath his watchful eyes. His journal tells of a morning spent in teaching a rebellious coral honeysuckle A'ine to entAvine the trunk of some stately forest tree ; of the clearing away of the underbrush from a grove of favorite pines ; of making drills for the sowing of holly-berries , etc. Each day he gaA'e porsoual directions to his overseers , regulating almost with the care of a father the busy life of the negro Avorld , and sometimes oven attending di rectly to their needs and complaints. In a field of the richest grass and clover Mount Yernon could afford , a tall old sorrel rel horse , Avith white face and legs , crop ped , in its season , the luxuriant herbage or stood meditatively , in the shade , doubt less dreaming of passed glories. Every day while making his round of the farms , Washington never failed to stop before this field , lean over the fence and call , "Nelson. " At the sound of his voice the old steed Avould prick up his ears and run neighing a greeting , to curve his neck under the caressing touch of his master's hand. This AA'as the Avar horse , "Nelson , " Avhose strong limbs had borne his master safely through the carnage and tumult of many a bloody battle to the crowning honor at Yorktown , where , sitting on his back , the coinmander-in-chief of the American ar- TIIE WASHINGTON COAT. inios had receiA-ed the surrender of Lord CornAA'allis. In this active , unostentatious way passed the last years of the noblest man of his age perhaps of any age. Gen. Washington's Courtesy. In the Century there is an article by Martha Littlofield Phillips , giving "Recol lections of Washington and His Friends. " The author is a granddaughter of the youngest daughter of Gen. Nathaniel Greene , and she tells the following story in the words of her grandmother , concern ing a visit of the latter to Washington at Philadelphia : "One incident which occurred during that visit was so comical in itself , and so characteristic of Washington , that I re call it for your entertainment. Early in a bright Decembermorning ' , a droll-looking old countryman 'called to see the Presi dent. In the midst of their interview breakfast Avas announced ; and the Presi dent invited the visitor , as Avas his hos pitable wont on such occasions , to a seat beside him at the table. The visitor drank his coffee from his saucer ; but lest any grief should come to the snoAvy damask , he laboriously scraped the bottom of his cup on the saucer's edge before setting it down on the tablecloth. He did it Avith such audible vigor that it attracted my at tention , and that of several young people present , ahvays on the alert for occasions of laughter. We Avere so indiscreet as to allow our amusement to become obvious. Gen. Washington took in the situation , and immediately adopted his visitor's method of drinking his coffee , making the scrape even more pronounced than the one he reproduced. Our disposition to laugh was quenched at once. " KNOCKED WASHINGTON DOWN. Father of Ifig Country Given a Black Eye by a Virginia Politician. Washington Avas an eminently fair man He had a quick temper , but as a rule he kept it under control. Sometimes , how ever , it got the best of him. This was the case once in Alexandria , Va. , when Washington Avas knocked down by Lieut. Payne. Payne Avas a candidate'for the Legislature against Fairfax of Alexan dria. Washington supported Fairfax , and Avhen he met Payne he made a remark that Payne considered an insult , and Payne knocked him doAvn. The story went like lightning through the town that Col. Washington Avas killed , and some of his troops Avho Avoro stationed at Alexan dria rushed in and Avould haA'o made short work of Payne had Washington not pre vented them. Ho pointed to his black eye and told them that this was a personal matter and that he knew how to handle it. Every one thought that this meant a duel. The next day Payne got a note from Washington asking him to come to the hotel. He expected a duel , but Avont. AVashington , however , Avas in an amiable mood. He felt that he had boon in the wrong , and said : "Mr. Payne , I was wrong yesterday , but if you hare had suf ficient satisfaction , let us be friends. " There was a decanter of wine and two glasses on the table Avhich Washington had ordered to smooth over the quarrel. The two drank together and became such strong friends after that that Payne was one of the pall-bearers at Washington's funeral. Simple in His Tastes. George AVashington Avas simple in his tastes , and during his youth he was a hearty eater , but was not particular as to what he had. He wanted plain food and plenty of it. During his later years ho ate very little. His breakfast at Mount Yernon was of corn cakes , honey and tea , with possibly an egg. and after that he ate no more till dinner. Ho kept , how ever , a good table , and usually had friends AA'ith him. A book written by Ma clay gives his experiences when he was in the United States Senate at the time AYash ington was President. Maclay dined with Washington a number of times , and scat tered through his diary are bits of gossip about Washington. AN AMERICAN SAILOR BOY. I A YonnjrLad Who Proved His Urn very in Difficult KxploitH. . "Ben Porter" was about ] > years old when , in liMO , he wrote from the Naval Academy at Anapolis , to Avhich he had recently been appointed. " .lust think of my being bore , going to school , and the Government paying me SKO a month for my company : Ain't it bunkum ? " It turned out "bunkum" for the Govern ment , which "had the Avorth of its mon ey-from that schoolboy before it AVMH done Avirh him. " So writes I Jr. II. Clay Trumbull in his "War Memories of : i Chaplain , " in which he sketches the ca reer of this " \vide-aAvakf , enthusiastic American sailor boy- for boy he wns to The last. " Immediately after the capture of Tort Sumter. the Secretary of the Navy graduated the first class of the Naval Academy , ami Porter began his active service as a midshipman on the Iloan- eke , then on blockade duty. In the Burnside expedition he com manded six launches , Avith a battery ot Daldgrcn howii ! > rs ami one hun dred ami iifty mon. In the sharp lighten on Iloanoke Island Porter's battery was on land in the advance position , and the by of seventeen did such exe cution that he was commended by his superior oliifor : ? as having "not only contributed largely to the success of the day , but AVOU the admiration of all who Avitnesed the display. " Before he AA'as eighteen young Porter was in command of the gunboat Ellis , and took an active pan in the reduction of Fort Mason. lie became an ensign , and in ISO:1 : Admiral Dahlgren selected him to explore Charleston harbor , and learn its obstructions and channel ways. This difficult and deluate task had to be done at night ; sunken torpedoes and an eA'er-Avatchfi'.l enemy had to ba faced. For tAventy-four consecutive nights this IS-year-old boy groped his Avay in the darkness. Avhile during the. day he Avas on duty on his siiip's gun- deck she was in action sixteen of these days. "He found the passageAvay of the. blockade runners , passed the enemy's forts again and again , and actually skirted the wharves of the city of Charleston. On one ocasion , when a. boat from the fleet Avas run down by the Confederate steamer Alice , that daring , chivalrous boy Hashed his lights and rescued eight of the droAvn- ing men , although he thereby made himself the target of guns from land and sea. The brave young ensign Avas at times so exhausted on bis return to bis ship that his men had to lift him from the boat. " In-the night attack on Fort Sumter young Porter Avas taken prisoner , and sent up to Columbia , Avbere Captain Trumbull was bis felloAA'-prisoner for several months. The boy side of bis na ture shoAA-ed itself in prison ; ho AA'as the life of the part3In a room adjoining that of the naval officers there was con- lined in irons a Captain Harris , of Ten nessee , held as a hostage for some Con federate prisoner under special charges. It Avas the delight of Porter to put bin mouth to the keyhole of the door and whistle a lively tune , while the Captain danced to it with the accompanying clanking of his chains. lie-leased from prison. Porter passed an examination for promotion , AA-UH commissioned lieutenant at 10. and put in command of the Malvern , the flag ship of the squadron. AA'hile leading an assaulting party against Fort Fisher he fell at the bead of his men. "The most splendid felloAV I ever kneAV. My beau ideal of an officer , " said Admiral Porter of this youth , who. in years a boy. had done a man's Avork. THE MOST COSTLY FRUITS Hothouse Grapes at $5) a Pound and Hothouse PcacLcs at Sr'-J.cO Kadi. Hothouse grapes are the costliest of fruits. They are never less than ? . " > ' cuts a pound , and Avhen they are most i-ostly. in February and March , they sell for ? ' . ) a pound , sometimes going as high as S10 a pound. At prices ranging up to $2 a pound there is a ready sale for them ; at the higher prices they are -old almost exclusively for the use or. invalid * ' . There is a sale for all that are produced , but the production at the season of highest prices is small. The cost of production is great , and the. vines may die from exhaustion after a single season of forcing. The next most costly fruit is the hot house peach. Hothouse peaches sell in February at $2.50 each. They are used mainly by invalids , but such peaches ire also often sold for gifts. They are presented as floAvers , or as bonbons would be. Three or four peaches are packed in cotton and set off with a feAv peach leaves in a handsome box. Hol- tiouse peaches run doAvn to about t'O cents each in April and Ma3 % when AAX- begin to get the first of the peaches from the South. New York Sun. Chinese Telegraphy. The Chinese , owing to the multiplic ity of the characters in their written language , have solved the problem of telegraphy by using numbers for trans mission over the wire instead of char acters. The numbers have to be rein terpreted into characters Avheu receiv ed. To facilitate the operation , types are used. On one end o- ' . each type is a character , on the other end a number. r By reversing and imprinting the types upon a sheet of paper the chauge is readily effected , Avith a high degree of accuracy. The Queen Regent. The Queen Regent of Spain leads an extremely simple life , rising at 7 and retiring to rest at 11. She sees little of society. Most of her time is taken up in anxious consultations with her ministers , and Avhen 5he has half an hour to spare it is usually spent with her children. BelloAVS are not boxes , yet they of teu couie to blows.