LIFE.
'A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in ,
'A minute lo 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 is life !
A cnist 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 fines ! of oils for laugh
ter ;
And that is life !
THE WRONG CAfiD.
K attorney was in a reflective
| mood , as he walked from the of-
- " - lice to his home. The afternoon
had developed business of great im- '
porlancc. which would take li'im a"
thousand miles away during the next
fiix months. The lawyer , however , was
in love , ami dreaded to leave the Held
free to his many rivals.
As he walked along , he pictured him
self in a certain pretty home uptown ,
laying his love and lucre at the feet of
: i charming woman , who , long ago , had
come lo be an essential part of his ex
istence.
AVhile ho was thinking over the situ
ation and hurryingjiomeward , he was
hailed Avith a business-like : "Ho. Fa IT ;
I want to Fpeak to you a moment ! ' '
Turning about he faced the speaker ,
Ji friend of his 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.
When the two parted , the one who
had hailed Farr handed the latter a.
-card with a request that he would give
it to Somcrton , the junior partner of
the iirni 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
sUll 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 Somerlou j
desired ; but was , however , quite
blank , save for the engraved name of
1he owner. With a slight smile at the
other's carelessness he tucked the card
in his pocket.
Supper over , he betook himself to
pipe and slippers. Then , lounging com
fortably jn a big armchair before the
study lire , he gave himself up to the in
terrupted reilectious of the afternoon.
AR a result of his cogitations , before he
retired a letter had been written , ad
dressed to "Miss Margaret Lamore. "
In it Miss Lamore was informed that
he would call the following evening on
sin 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 sne-
-cfssful 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
H mechanical way that lie gave her his
card and asked to see Miss Lamore.
A few moments' waiting , and then the
girl returned to say , in a well-bred
voit'e , that Miss Lainoiv had an imme
diate engagement and begged to be ex
cused.
"Somewhat dazed by what he consid
ered a rebuff , Farr left the house.
Once more in his own rooms he con
trived , within an hour or two , by the
aid of his 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 ,
had been all in all to him. Now , how
ever , he thought he 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 suc
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 entlyhauuted him. Sometimes he wear
ied of both himself and the world , but
he 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 mouths
from the day when Margaret Lamore
had made life seem so gloomy to him ,
he 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
I'veniug found him on the way to the
Somertou home.
lie must have forgotten that Mrs.
Somerton imd Miss Lamore were the
most intimate friends , or , perhaps , it
was natural to start when he found
"himself face to face with the latter in
the Soinerton parlor. That he did start
was a fact quickly detected by Miss
Lamore a fact also which naturally
Increased her embarrassment.
"Judging from your appearance , Mr.
Farr , " said she , "your health has not
been much benefited by the Western
trip. "
"I am afraid not , " was his answer ;
" "the work Avas 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-C '
"You look so worn and ill , " she con
tinned , "that I have not the heart to
j scold as you deserve ; yet you must
have known how much I should re
gret not seeing you before you took the
trip. "
The seeming effrontery of this took
the power of speech from Farr , and
the astonishment depicted on his coun
tenance brought a Hush 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. "
Recovering "ivlinself a little at this ,
Farr told her , with as much dignity
as possible , that she must have been
deeply engrossed that summer day to
have forgotten the card he had sent up
to her , and the fact that she had plead
ed an immediate engagement as an ex
cuse for not seeing him.
IMieiufoJloved a period of polite ami
* gen tie coutrii diet ion. Miss Lamore firm
ly insisted that he had not sent up his
card , and Farr as obstinately persisted
in saying that he had. AVheu , for sev
eral minutes , they had accused and
couuteraecitsed each other of forgetfulness -
ness , Farr took matters into his own
hands by breaking out vehemently
Avith :
"Do you know why I wanted so much
to see you that day ? Dp you imagine
that I could be , for a moment , forget
ful of the most trifling incident that
happened then , Avhen I thought you
had treated me with such crushing in
difference V"
They were now seated on a couch ,
and he , with a bitterness born of the
unhappiness he had experienced , told
liox. hij3-whole story from that day to
thispres'enTime when she saw him so
'iH aTurwo * worn , not with toil , but
Avith the hopelessness of his life. He
had no new phrases in Avhich to frame
his thoughts ; but the old , old words
seined to satisfy her ; for when dinner
was announced there Avere at least two
people supremely happy among those
who Avent 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 , arrived in time to join the party
at dinner. AA'heu the meal was well
under Avay Barton , suddenly recollect
ing , desired to know why and wherc-
fore'TaiT Ifad so carelessly neglected
to give his partner the card Avhich had
beenTiitnisted to his care. Farr , in his
uew-foimd happiness , had little mem
ory for such trifles , and forthwith Bar
ton rehearsed the affair. Then , recall
ing the incident , Farr said :
"You are the one guilty of careless
ness in giving me the u rong card. The
one I did receive from you bore no
memoranda whatever ; Avhen 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 I"
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 tleet was operat
ing in Cuban waters foreign men-of-
war occasionally happened along to see
what was going on. It chanced that ,
very soon after the vessels of Sampson
and Schley had destroyed Cervera's
licet , 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.
His countenance betrayed astonish
ment when he came aboard , and r iw
the decks blackened with powder , and
men and officers begrimed and covered
wit' * perspiration ; but he 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
a little out of view , there is the Cristo
bal Colon , " said Taylor , pointing out
first one Spanish wreck and then an
other.
The Austrian , whose sympathies were
undoubtedly with the Spaniards , was
shocked beyond expression at this pic
ture , typical and declaratory of the
ruin of a nation. The Americans re
spected his feelings , and he departed in
silence.
Electric Motor AVajjons.
The Automobile Club and some elec
tric associations in France are occupied
in endeavoring to establish electric
charging stations for electric vehicles.
The idea is to arrange with electric
light and power stations to do the
work , so as to make the use of electri
cally propelled carriages possible all
jver France.
When a man offers you something
'or nothing don't accept it unless you
: an afford to pay at least double its
ralue
4il ! x S5 ix - s3 S jSg52 <
EOIltlE WASHINGTON , the hcio , has always obscured George Washington the man , and yet the sterling qualities -
-ties of the man made the hero. Whenever the two characters have bee.n distinguished they have made separate
studies , with 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 was 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 was the simplicity of genius. Though a man of great dignity he was easily
approached. An aristocrat by lineage he was a man of the people. Extremely modcit he was 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 ami
robust health it did not quench his taste for gay uniforms or fashionable apparel. That he was not free from vanity is
apparent in the thirty odd portraits of himself , a few painted in the effulgent regalia of war and all in the habiliments of
a cavalier. lie was as straight as an Indian , six feet two inches tall , with large bones and broad shoulders , wide at the
hips ; feet large , requiring a No. 11 shoe , and Lafayette said his hands would have been a curiosity for a medical museum.
This may explain why he rarely shook hands. He weighed 210 pounds.
To his clothing Washington devoted much thought and attention , not only as a young man , but all his life. A journal
written when he was sixteen has several long and elaborate entries about how "to have my coats made. " In 1754 he
records having bought a "superfine blue broadcloth coat with silver trimmings , " " 0 prs. of the very neatest s&hoes" and ' 2
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 was clad
"in black velvet ; his hair in full dress , powdered and gathered behind in a large silk bag ; yellow gloves on his hands hold
ing a cocked hat Avith a cockade in it , the edges adorned with a black feather about an inch deep. He wore knee and
shoe buckles , and a long sword with a finely wrought and polished steel hilt ; the scabbard was white polished leather. "
Wherever he happened to be Washington was constantly demanding a washerlady. The bill of his laundress for the
week succeeding his inauguration Avas for "U milled shirts , 2 plain shirts , S stocks , o pair silk hose , 2 white hand. . 2 silk
hand. , 1 pr. Haul , drawers , 1 hair nett. " He drove from his residence to the Senate in a cream-colored chariot with richly
painted panels. His bootblack once failed to polish the general's huge boots all the way up a task performed every morn
ing and the father of his country beat the luckless darky over the head with them.
Washington Avas hot-tempered. He wanted John Marshall , afterward the famous justice , to run for Congress and sent
for him to explain his wishes. Marshall told Washington he was too poor , he could not afford to give up his business and
incur the expense. While thus opposing Washington's wishes Marshall says he never received such a torrent of abuse
in his life. lie feared AA'ashington 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. AVashington was thoroughly upright
and honest in his dealings with men. James Parton said he had a genius for rectitude. Jefferson , who did not like him ,
said his justice was the most inflexible he had ever known and that no motives of friendship or hatred Avere able to bias
his decision. AVashington was a faithful attendant at church and was a A'estryman , 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 to
the skies , ' . . , - ,
As the mail wlio won battles and never tola
lies.
You may tell of his virtues Iu story ami
'
How sifted the right from the
wrong ;
Of his wisdom in counsel , his bravery in
war ;
How he drove the grim British away from
our shore.
You may cherish forever his hat and ms
sword.
And up to the skies our brave Washington
laud.
Long , long may we hold him an example to
youth ,
For honesty , temperance , courage ana
truth.
While we gaze with delight on a structure
so grand.
Let us honor the builder who 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 or
view.
Let us give credit uhere It is ccrtamiy
duo.
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.
Aec Found Him Nobly Generous Dig
nified at All Times.
"You Avill meet , sir , an old gentleman
riding alone , in plain drab clothes , a
broad-brimmed white hat , a hickory
switch in his hand , and carrying an um
brella with a long staff , which is attached
to the saddle-bow. That person , sir , is
Gen. Washington. " This delightful portraiture
traiture of AVashington in his old age ,
when the storms had passed and life ran
in quiet groves by the side of his beloved
Potomac , was drawn by young Custis ,
adopted son of the patriarch , and intend
ed to assist the recognition of Washing
ton by a gentleman who had asked to be
directed to him.
The wish of AVashington Avhen old , "to
move gently down the stream of life""until
I sleep with my fathers , " was granted.
Tlic last years of his life were spent in the
peace and quiet of beautiful Mount Arer-
non , attending to the healthful duties of
the management of his large .estate , and
entertaining with courtly hospitality the
many distinguished personages who came
to do homage to his greatness.
And yet , his latter days at Mount A'er-
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 betAveen twelve and fifteen miles.
Kot 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 vine to entwine the
trunk of some stately forest tree ; of the
clearing away of the underbrush from a
zrove of favorite pines ; of making drills
Cor the sowing of holly-berries , etc.
Each day he gave personal directions to
liis overseers , regulating almost with the
jare of a father the busy life of the negro
world , and sometimes even attending di
rectly to their needs and complaints.
In a field of the richest grass and clover
Mount Vernon could afford , a tall old sorrel
rel horse , with 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
would prick up his ears and run neighing
a greeting , to curve his neck under the
caressing touch of his master's hand. This
was the war horse , "Nelson , " Avhoso
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
commander-in-chief of the American ar-
TUB WASHINGTON COAT.
mies had received the surrender of Lord
Cornwallis. In this active , unostentatious
way passed the last years of the noblest
man of his age perhaps of any age.
Gcii. Washington's Courtesy.
In the Century there is an article by
Martha Littlefield Phillips , giving ' - Recollections
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 December ' morning , a droll-looking
old countryman 'called to sec the Presi
dent. In the midst of their interview
breakfast was announced ; and the Presi
dent invited the visitor , as was 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 snowy damask ,
he laboriously scraped the bottom of bis
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 , always on the alert for occasions
of laughter. AA'e Avere so indiscreet as to
allow our amusement to become obvious.
Gen. AArashington 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 His Country Given a Ulack
Kye by a Virginia Politician.
AVashington was an eminently fiir ; man.
He had a quick temper , but as a rule lie
kept it under control. Sometimes , how
ever , it got the best of him. This was
the case once in Alexandria , A'a. , when
'
AA'ashington was knocked down by Lieut.
'
Payne. Payne was a candidate'for the
Legislature against Fairfax of Alexan
dria. AA'ashiugton supported Fairfax , and
when he met Payne he made a remark
that Payne considered an insult , and
Payne knocked him down. The story
went like lightning through the town that
Col. AA'ashington was killed , and some of
his troops who were stationed at Alexan
dria rushed in and would have made short
work of Payne had Washington not pre
vented them. He 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 AA'ashington asking him to come to
the hotel. He expected a duel , but went.
AVashiugton , however , was in an amiable
mood. He felt that he had been in the
wrong , and said : "Mr. Payne , I was
wrong yesterday , but if you have had suf
ficient satisfaction , let us be friends. "
There was a decanter of wine and two
glasses on the table which AA'ashington
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 AA'ashington's
funeral.
Simple in His Tastes.
George AArashington 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 he
ate very little. His breakfast at Mount
A'ernon was of corn cukes , honc-y and
tea , Avith possibly an egg , and after that
he ate no more till dinner. He kept , how
ever , a good table , and usually had friends
with him. A book written by Maclay
gives his experiences when he was in the
United States Senate at the time AA'ash
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.
A Younjrliad Who l'rn\ed His Urn very
in Difficult KxploitH.
"IJeu Porter" was about l. > years old
U'hen , in IJr. ( > , he wrote from the Naval
Academy at Anapolix. to which he had
recently been appointed. " .lust think of
my being here , going to school , arid the
Government paying ms > SHO a mouth for
my company : Ain't it bunkum ? " It
turned out "bunkum" for the Govern
ment , which "had the worth of its mon
ey-from that schoolboy before it was
done with him. " So writes I Jr. II. Clay
Trumbull in his "AA'ar Memories of a
Chaplain , " in which he sketches the ca
reer of this "wide-awake , enthusiastic
American sailor hoy- for boy he waste
to the hist. "
Immediately after the capture of
Tort Slimier , the Secretary of the Navy
graduated the first class of the Navnl
Academy , and Porter began his active
service as a midshipman on the Roanoke -
eke , then on blockade duty.
In the P.urnside expedition he com
manded six launches , with a battery
oi' Dahlgren howitzers ami one hun
dred and lifty men. In the sharp lighten
on Iloanoke Island Porter's battery
was on land in the advance position ,
and the boy of seventeen did such exe
cution that he was commended by his
superior oliicers as Inn ing "not only
contributed largely to the success of
the day. hut won the admiration of all
who witnesed the display. "
Before he was 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 : ; Admiral Dahlgren selected
him to explore Charleston harbor , and
learn its obstructions and channel
ways.
This diflicult and deliiate task had to
be done at night : sunken torpedoes and
an ever-watchful enemy had lo be
faced. For twenty-four consecutive
nights this 18-year-old boy groped hit
way in the darkness , while during the
day he was on duty on his .ship's gun-
deck she was in action sixteen of
these days.
"He found the passage way of th
blockade runners , passed the enemy's
forts again and again , and actually
skirted the wharves of the city of
Charleston. On one ixasion. when a.
boat from the tleet was run down by
the Confederate steamer Alice , that
daring , chivalrous hey Hashed his
lights and rescued eight of the drown
ing men. although he thereby made
himself the target of guns from land
and sea. The brave young ensign was
at times o exhausted on his return to
his ship that his men had to lift him
from the boat. "
In-the night attack on Fort Sumler
young Porter was taken prisoner , and
sent up to Columbia , Aviiere Captain
Trumbull was his fellow-prisoner for
several months. The boy side of his na
ture showed itself in prison : ho was the.
life of the part3In a room adjoining
ihat 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 was the delight of Porter to put IU'H
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.
Ill-leased from prison. Porter passed
an examination for promotion , was
commissioned lieutenant at 10. and put
in command of the Malvern. the flag
ship of the squadron. AVhile leading an
assaulting party against Fort Fisher ho
fell at the head of his men. "The most
splendid fellow I ever knew. My bean
ideal of an otiicer , " said Admiral Portyr
of this youth , who. in years a boy. had
done a man's work.
THE MOST COSTLY FRUITS
Hothouse Grapes at $5) a Found and
Hothouse reaches at S2.SO Kadi.
Hothouse grapes are the costliest of
fruits. They are never less than 7. >
" cuts a pound , and when they are most
s-ostly , in February and March , they
sell for $ : > a pound , sometimes going as
high as $10 a pound. At prices ranging
up to ? 2 a pound there is a ready salt-
tor them ; at the higher prices they art ;
-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
test of production is great , and thcs
vines may die from exhaustion after a
single season of forcing.
The next most costlj- fruit is the hot
house peach. Hothouse peaches sell in 1
February at.50 each. They are used
mainly by invalids , but such peaches
ire also often sold for gifts. They are
presented as llowers , or as bonbons
would be. Three or four peaches are.
packed in cotton and set off Avith a few
peach leaves in a handsome box. Hot-
liouse peaches run down to about GO
cents each in April and May , when AVO
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 Avire instead of char
acters. The numbers have to be rein
terpreted into characters Avheii receiv
ed. To facilitate the operation , types
are used. On one end oC each type is a
character , on the other end a number.
By reversing and imprinting the types
upon a sheet of paper the change is
readily effected , with a high degree of
accuracy.
The Queen Re ent.
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 she has half an
hour to spare it is usually spent with
her children.
Bellows are not boxes , yet they of tea
come to blows.