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About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1905)
T-W !! I II !! listress Rosemary Allyri By MILLICENT E. MANN (Vjpyrichu 11. by CHAPTER IX. Continued. "Thai you should Lave 10 prompt -me!" he said and his hand was on his ke&rL The lady was masked, which be tokened that she was a beauty. She -was daintily slight. This I saw from the tight-fitting riding cloak of a Kray shade of grogram. When it Slew open, as it often did as she danced, it showed gray petticoats -with a white laced waistcoat. Cov ering her head was an ample hood. She danced divinely! And the grace ful sallow's b'rd, as he whistled a tunc to their dancing and twirled leg &(Km the green, was not far behind. "Many thanks, milady, I have not wijoyed myself so, since I cannot Cell when," he said. "And my jewels?" she asked insinu atingly. "They are yours," he replied. "They are a3 nothing in comparison to the pleasure you have given me." At this the lady gave way to a pleased laugh, and taking the casket Haiti": "You are indeed my sort. To im part a kiss on the blushing check of tbt fair lady. 1 I have heard it said. is the customary ending to an episode such as this?" "Ah I it would be too much" he ic-gau. -I assure you that you will not die of it," she ironically stopped him in the middle of his sentence. He glanced at her inquiringly. She raised her mask in the slight est way. and dropped it again. What ie F.TX was not what he had expected. "You are disappointed?' she said, and her words cut like a knife "A gallant would not have shown it." There was only a momentary pause ere he said, and strange to relate his words rang true: "I slia consider it the greatest .fconor, if you will permit me?" and I:fting her mask the rascal audacious ly hissed her. The scamp." I muttered. -The fool." Oil hissed from between shut teeth Mill holding a pipe. The highwayman, as be bowed with racc, said simply and with humility: "Maj I help you into your coach?" The high clear voice rang out again, almost petulantly, as if the words would out against her will: "Stay! I would say a word. Tis the old story. I suppose, of a patri mony spent among wine, women and .dice. I am not wont to concern my self or to try to convert highwaymen from their ways indeed. I ofiener laugh when my lords come home , from their trips with pockets as Kever a petticoat ."uttered past me but I thought I saw some resemblance to my mistress. ?mpty as their hairless pates. You Save or had a gentle mother. Stop. ?re it be t(ro late. Tyburn is not '.vhcre s'ac would like to think of her jhiv's ending his days. Only a few Jcagues back there rocks one who Tiiaj have been all that you arc. Young, with the "blood leaping joy ously through his veins, who saw long years reaching before him in which o fight, to feast, to dance, and to en joy himself: handsome, with that rude health which pleases; gallant, maybe among the maids, who e'en now await fcis coming. Behold what manner of tbing he has become! Foul beyond description. Where the tar has left the smallest spot uncovered the daws nave picked clean as a whittle, and the wind and rain have polished so -Rhite that they gleam in the sunlight. There he will hang a menace to men of your kind, a pollution to all who pass alons this fair highway." "Ah. Madame that you should waste eloquence on a thing so con trmptible." he said with a deprecating Trave of his hand. "Let my interest be my excuse If 1 have tired you have you not given aie back my jewels?" There was a coquettish uplifting of her voice. "And you will take heed, may the devil By away with you." He uttered a ringing laugh at this. ridently the lady's change of tone amased him. Nevertheless he said jolitely: "Again I thank you." Gil's horse now whinnying, the play was over for us. The lady flung her hands out. There." she said, "I hear a torse whinnying. Get you gone. I, at least, would not be your undoing." "Madame. I leave you with regret," ac said, "and I promise you at my irst leisure to think upon what you ave said. It is all I can do It Is Eore than I have promised anyone , Ibcse many days." Then he swept her a bow. It wouT 1 lave done honor to Whitehall, and saying, "adieu!" leaped upon his horse, which he sat as a Centaur. .He motioned to his comrades, and they were off. He deigned not to Rlance in our direction or to show the least trepidation at our nearness, which he could not help but be aware .'of, for we came up with a great show 4f speed, Gil even sending one flying oIIet after them. ." We heard the lady say in an under tone to her maid: "Hide the jewels in the boots, quick. Who but they ' .Kay be another band of robbers one 4oes not come off scot free twice in s day." Solely for our benefit she then pro "Jweeded to go off into hysterics. We ' .were near enough now to make them ! effective. Ob, how unfortunate I am! how afortunate!" she wept. "Oh. pentle- :en. had you only arrived more 1 ! I I -- - ' ,, T Tl s M TA'AS LINCOLN CO. speedily I had not lost my jewels worth tPn thousand pounds, if a cent. Oh. the rascals!" Her tears seemed as if they must drench her mask, but I think if tears were there they were tears of thank fulness at the generosity of her gal lant robber. "Had we not better give them a chase for them?" I asked, holding in check a smile. "No, no, stay with me." she cried, "I beg of yu- It would be of no use; they are miles away by now." She laid a detaining hand upon my arm, lest I be after her handsome jail bird. The presence of the fellow had won Milady's heart. "As you say but." I began. "My jewels my jewels." she wailed, like the Jew in the "Merchant cf Venice. "Rest assured I shall notify my lords how their roads are In fested; 'tis time they swept them clean of all such vermin." I felt my eyes twinkle, but I did not give way to my amusement. "Too bad we had not caught them," I said. Methought the lady said, "Thank God!" "All such should swing on Tyburn," I affirmed. "I trust he has not de layed you long?" "Long enough," she replied. She turned to her servant. "Jim. where were your pistols? Still in their hol sters, I'll be sworn." "Milady, I had not time," he pleaded. "Of course not." she returned. "Of course not, no one ever does have time when these gen'Iemen appear. Art going to London?" she inquired of me "Yes. madame," I replied. "And if vou will accept of our services, I promise you safe conduct there." "I accept as freely as It is offered," she said. I he!pd the lady into the lumbering affair, her maid after her. Then Gil taking one side and I the other we star'ed on. So Milady, with her coachman, and iostillion, and two out riders looked not unlike royalty out for an airing. After a time. I was riding near the open glass door on Madam's side, and often gazed idly at her. wondering what lay behind her mask. She sat slightly forward on the edge of the seat as though to attract my atten tion. She raised her hand to take off her mask. Ah! my heart leaped; my curiosity was to be satisfied. I no ticed that her hands were beautiful; slender hands, gleaming like they were made of polished ivory. She Hppgr ss.7-- A it H- V-MkXr. Sfc .ii- vi-v.v f wuy , ,J,,1rW -y i :'?-!jfc:'-i til hsitated. and her hand fell back again into her lap. there to meet and clasp the other one. I withdrew my eyes and let them roam for a few seconds on the fields about, not wish ing to be ill-mannered. They soon came back, drawn like a loadston" When she next felt them on her, she again lifted her hands and this time she did not hesitate. She undid the fastenings of her mask, and turned her face so that the waning light of day should fall full upon it. She was sweetly old! yet I cannot describe the grandeur of this world-worn beauty! You may be sure I let none of my surprise show itself upon my counte nance, as she glanced up at m. The lady leaned back with an innocent look and a plaintive sigh escaped her CHAPTER X. A Bevy of Insolent Youths. At last 1 was in London. Unnum bered the multitude of the good, and the bad. and the lukewarm that have pressed the brown bosom of this old town. Perpetually recurring and re curring were the common griefs and miseries of noble, commoner, and va grant, which have caused their blood and tears to flow. Here Tragedy and comedy have stalked siue by side: a tear to-day a laugh to-morrow. Clamp, clamp, clamp, have sounded the tread of infinite feet along these narrow byways; ambling in sandied shoon. strutting in leather buskin, striding in clouted brogues, since the time the Romans encircled it with a wall entered by its four gates, down to our own King Charges. We put up at the Blue Soar in Hol bom. Gil preferred the Tabard in Southwark as being me Inn best known to him. It suited me. how ever, to be in the midst of the life of the town. Nowhere was there to be found more noise, bustle, excite ment, even wickedness. Than in the vicinity of this old inn. It had this advantage, also, that the fashionable ness of Westminster was not far eff: and the Strand the main artery of London over which a flood of life continually flowed, was equally near Temple Bar separated the Strand from the Fleet, a division of the city, and Westminster; Temple Bar, with its grim and ghastly exterior, where there was always some awful token of the fitful changes of the times here the noble barb, gilded coach, or sedan chair of the rich, rubbed the fustian coat of the apprentice and rags of the beggar. The first few daj"s we stayed quiet ly at the inn. Our rooms became like pandemonium, with the various tradespeople showing their wares. One and another had noTsed it about that I was a man of means; thv H lile a swarm of TJees after the E iMMBWBHHoiHiHiHnMaaBaniiaMnaMHiBBBiaii pi T . TT 1 I ' -HIw i--ljl ml 5k. HSi A m Mi t -ir- 1 i ' -T" -tj'jc i honey. Chairs, beds, tables, every thing the room contained, was lit-te-ed with finery, and I made selec tions for an outfit, which should b? befitting my position, yet not too gaudy. I ordered many suits of uncut vel vet and satin. Waistcoats also of hues as many as Joseph s coat. I Gli, during these proceedings In which I was as fastidious as a fop, strutted back and forth, poohing at my vanity, yet secretly amused at it all. Ke never varied his dress of green worsted with its belted doublet, such an one as Robin Hood no doubt wore when he passed beneath the trees in Sherwood forest. His only ornament was his sword, as indis pensable to him as any member of his body; as an esquire he had the right to bear one. I now began my career as a man of fashion about the town, entering into all its dissipations except the passion of love; there I was held in leash by a pair of blue eyes. Never a petticoat fluttered past me but I thought I saw some resemblance to my mistress, and my heart would leap into my mouth so as to well-nigh choke me. Sometimes it was in the curve of a cheek; the way the curls fell about a dimpled neck; the flicker of tapering fingers in the lifting of a voluminous skirt; the slenderness or an ankle set in a well-made bott; and so I led myself wild goose chases aft er this one and that one all de lusions, which came to naught. (To be continued.) GOOD STORIES TRAVEL1 FAST. Telegraph Operators Largely Respons ible for Their Spread. Persons who wonder at the rapidity with which a popular expression be comes circulated through the country generally ascribe the spreading of the phrase to the actors, but long before the actors begin to use the expression it has been Hashed all over the coun try on the telegraph wires. Chatting over the wire is forbidden, but there comes a slack moment now and then when the operator swaps a 3iory with a man hundreds of miles away, and a story told in New York to-day may reach San Francisco by Wednesday. It frequently happens that an espe cially good story or rhyme is typewrit ten and passed around the room, and in turn this is sent out over half a hundred wires running to all points of the compass. When the Western Union race bu reau was still in existence the wires from this room spread all over the country, direct wires running into the San Francisco poolrooms and giving the results of the races across the bay more quickly than the result could be telephoned by a man at the track. In the . early hours the work was light and the poolroom operators al ways had a lot of new stories to tell the frequenters of the room, who promptly spread them among their friends. In those days the vaudeville jokes on Monday on one coast were laughed at on the other coatt the next afternoon. He Was Good Enough. Francis B. Lee of Trenton, famous 'iiioughout New Jersey as a lawyer and historian, tells a good story of a larky baptism that it was once his pleasure to witness on the banks of the Delaware. The pastor, who had taken part in -oeral similar experiences, waded , bravely out to the requisite depth, but J water evidently was not to the liking of the candidate, for he went hence to have his sins washed away with knocking knees and trembling feet. In living to get him in proper position the pastor in some way missed his hoid. and the candidate, caught in the fast-flowing tide, was carried into the channel. He was a good swimmer, however, and. after making a few sportive splashes, headed for the chore and soon landed dripping on the bank. The pastor, waist deep in the drink, watched the scene to a finish, and then, raising his hands in a supplicat ing sort of a way. announced : "Bruddahs an' sistern, dis yeah bap tism am adjourned. Any man dat can swim like dat Ebenezer Jones hain't gwine to hah any trouble in gettin' over to do uddah side oh de ribah Jordan." Philadelphia Telegraph. A Surprise for Mama. Even to Bobby's uncritical eye breakfast seemed to be served in a very informal fashion that morning. Nurse forgot to tie on his bib before she gave him his oatmeal. Mother had not come down to breakfast at all, and father drank a cup of coffee stand ing and then disappeared. Bobby, left alone with his empty plate, put up a tremblins lip, and, if tears had not been unbecoming to a big boy he would probably have wept. Never before in all his four years had he been so neglected. He had. in fact, ahvas been the center of an admiring circle ready to anticipate his every wish. At last father appeared at the din ing room door and the reason for this disorganized state cf affairs was e:c p'.aired. "Bobby." said father, "you have a little sister." Bobby's eyes grew big with excite ment. "Oh." he exclaimed, climbing own from his high chair in haste, "I must go and tell mama." "Nobuddy" Answered. The average small boy's opinion of himself is none too high, but the reply of a small stable-boy in Chicago may scarcely be taken as the average. A woman whose husband kept the driving horse in one of the many "boarding stables" in the city, tele phoned the other day to have the horse and carriage brought to the house. A strange voice answered the telephone. "Is this So & So's stable?" queried the woman. "Yes." came the answer. "Well, who is this?" "Aw. 'tain't nobuddy. Wait a min nit and I'll call somebuddy,' came the answer. "The Sunday Magazine." Honesty. Congressman J. Adam Bede was consulting with President Roosevelt last spring about a minor federal ap pointment in the Minnesota district which he represented. After makirg several inquiries about the man, the president sharply said: "Is he an hon est man?" "lAn honest man?" re turned ilr. Beue. "Why. see here. Mr. President, that man wouldn't rob a railroad company not if he had the chance." Omaha Bee. Cherokees Seek Hunting Grounds. A committee of four chiefs, repre senting the Cherokee Indians, recent ly visited the City of Mexico, treat ing with President Diaz for a conces sion of lind grant. Tbev wish to r-e to Mexico, if possible. WASHINGTON IN ilr nflr flr In the year 1729 Rev. James Marye. a Huguenot refugee, and his bride landed on Virginia soil. This man was destined to fill a position of great trust and importance. He was to be the spiritual guide and adviser of Mary, the mother of Washington, and her family. After years of research it has lately been proved that it was he that gave to the young George those famous "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversa tion," which bore fruit in the produc tion of that most consummate flower of American manhood, George Wash ington. That these "rules" played a most important part in the formation of Washington's character has been acknowledged by all cf his biograph ers; in fact, the wisest and noblest of these "rules" are familiar in nearly every home in the country, but whence they came: whether they were the product of Washington's own brain, or whether they came from some out side and unknown source, and what this source was, has been for over a century a matter cf dispute and con jecture. This learned clergyman. Rev. James Marye, belonged to a prominent Cath olic family of Rouen. France, and was educated for the priesthood in the Jes uit college cf that city. In 17'2G he renounced the Catholic faith, went to England and was ordained in the Church of England by the bishop cf London. There, in 172S. he married Letitia Maria Anna Ftaige. a sister of Rev. Theodesius Staige. a famous min ister in the early days of Virginia, and who was at thai very time rector of a church in St. George's parish, a few miles from Fredericksburg. On first coming to Virginia Rev. James Marye became the minister of a settlement of Huguenots at Mana can. or Manakinton, in Goochland (now Powhatan county), on the James river, above Richmond, and so excel lent was his reputation that the good people of Fredericksburg desired him for a rector. Accordingly, in 173."), as shown by the early vestry book, the church wardens asked leave of Gov. Gocch, as was the colonial custom, to call Rev. James Marye to their pul pit. This request was granted, and in October of the same year he as sumed charge of St. George's parish, the principal church of which was in Fredericksburg, succeeding Rev. Pat rick Herrv. unc!e cf the famous ora tor of that name. Thus began the long and eventful pastorate of the Marye family over this historic church, the first Rev. James Marye serving for thirty-four years, and being followed by his son, Rev. James Marye. Jr., who ministered until his death, in 17S0. As was the custom of clergy man in those days, the first Rev. James Marye conducted an academy in connection with his church. It was this academy that Washington attend ed. Except the tutors in families, the educational advantages in Virginia in 1745 were extremely limited. It was the custom of the wealthier families to send their sons to England to finish Washington's Br bEBSBI 'BKmk Irs ffl&A V l&HB0w " - Jl '? MR , 1 J iWWmMSBBSmsSk.' -':iK3BLii3ia v"::: ' :ilH HBIHii ' ill mKC'HiL v SKBHHliHr- 4 till H&EMKSSfirs&iHKOTiaSr .tK(SsWwBllH Sw iVnMHlRiHwwiiL. I HH I liSBwwPyir cElUI urTjJJlM.E- -viA9H!aH!S9BMKBw. F COM z&yi I3fe weEyr WW&& vy ?S9H!MBPalHwHBlKlBk. Kim 221 m'i-iW' l - laffsliflSilHBNSKIwftW I Milt Vza M'hMiS k- illPKMnSSiHL Sill TTWJ2&- Wmmlvml t ,iftfn VwftiTVwpwty Gen. Washington never made a speech. In the zenith of his fame he once attempted it. tailed, and gave it up confused and abashed. In framing the Constitution of the United States, the labor was almost wholly per formed in a committee of the whole, of which George Washington was the chairman, but he made only two speeches in the convention, which were of a very few of each. The con vention, however, acknowledged the master spirit, and historians affirm ( that, hsd it not been for his personal j popularity and ihe thirty words of his , first speech, pronouncing it the best that rould be united upon, the Consti tution would have been rejected by the people. Tfae reserve and taciturnity of TjUtmJif CSr''Vw - VW " Jp their studies at seme of the great uni versities. Washington's two elder brothers received this advantage, but the death of his father made a change in the family affairs. A large property was left to them, but there was little ready money and there were several children to educate and provide for. Hence the education ot Washington, to his lifelong regret, was limited. It was under the care of this Huguenot that our great statesman received his mo?t valued instruction. Rev. Jonathan Doucher, teacher of Mrs. George Washington's son. John Curtis, says that George Washington had f.r his first teacher "a convict servant whom his father had bought for a schoolmaster." This convict was most probably one cf a shipload cf convicts brought by Augustine Washington (George Washington's father) from England in 17:57. After the death of his father (April 12. 17-:) George, who was then 11 years old. was sent to live with his half brother at the old homestead of Wakefield, in Westmoreland county, where ho was born. Two years later he returned to live with his mother opposite Fredericksburg. It was then he became a pupil of Rev. James Marye. John Fiske. in his "Old Virginia and Her Neighbors." states that at this time Washington attendee an ex- f "client academy in Fredericksburg. of which Rev. .lames Marye was mas ter. Paul Leicester Ford, in his "The True George Washington," page CC, gives the following in. cresting ac count: "On the death of his father. Washington went to live with his brother Augustine, in order, it is pre sumed, that he might take advantage of a good school nej'r Wakefield, kept by one Williams, but after a time he returned to his mother and attend ed the school kept by Rev. James Marye, in Fre'dericksburg. It has been universal'y asserted by his bi ographers that he studied no foreign language, but direct proof to the con trary exists in a copy of Patrick's Latin translation of Homer, printed in 1742, the flyleaf of which bears in a schoolboy hand the inscription: "Hune mihi quaeso (hove Vir) Lihel I'liii "Redde. si forsau tenues repertum "Cut Seias qui sum sine fraudo scrip turn "Est mihi nomen "George Washington. "It is thus evident that the rever end teacher gave Washington at Ieast the first elements of Latin, but it is equally clear that the boy. like most others, forgot it with the greatest fa cility as soon as he ceased studying." Among the manuscript copies of George Washington preserved in the State archives at Washington, the earliest of which bears the date of 1745. is a large manuscript book, in which in a boyish handwriting are 110 "Rules of Civility and Decent Be havior in Company and Conversa tion." Diffidence Washington were proverbial; but as the one was the result of diffidence and not of austerity or pride, so the other proceeded from his habitual pru dence rather than coldness or want of the sensibility that inspires eloquence. In proof of this, again referring to his public career, it is related of him that when the famous meeting of officers was held at Newburgh to consult vpon measures to b taken in consequence BjwjWfPteijy.lpnj&'hqBMPi?fr L2mp2tf9SnFSBrlStBmM .q 3ACI YOUTH I Wr yflw y 'ifla But these "Rules of Civility." as they are generally called, have been ascribed by the biographers to an ab solutely apocrhypal source. Washing ton Irving. Chief Justice Marshall and Henry Cabot Lodge knew not whence they came. One of the latest of his biographers, Henry Cabot Lodge, has the following to say: "It was reserved for the storms of war to reveal the source ot the 'rules.' A little volume was found in a Virginia library." On the tiyleaf. h? says, was the name ol George Washington, written in a boy ish hand. It was, entitled "Young Man's Companion." It contained gen eral truths and precepts, which, to gether with Hale's "Contemplations," so he says, may have furnished the basis of the "rules." This "Young Man's Companion" was by Math er, written in a plain and easy style, and was printed in 1712, and seemed to contain much varied and useful in formation, such as lessons in arith metic, surveying, the drawing up of legal documents, measuring land and lumber, gardening, etc. But Mr. Lodge is in error. Moncure D. Conway has recently brought to light the true history of the "Rules of Civility." Mr. Conway, after an in vestigation extending through years, with the aid of Dr. Gamett. of the British museum, found in that great institution a volume containing these se.'f-same rules, written in French. One edition of this volume was print ed in Rouen, and was among the text books st.idied by young James Marye when attending the Jesuit college of that city. This proves conclusively that it was be who translated these rules to his pupils in Fredericksburg, since he was the only man there who understood the French tongue, his na tive speech. The variations in the manuscript left by Washington are ex actly such as a joung boy would make in following the oral instruction of his teacher. With those revelations it would seem that the disput of historians and biographers over the history of these famous "iulcs" has at length been settled. Relics Worth Much Money. Relics of Lord Nelson aie worth a small fortune. An cnnme.:M gold tele scope, once in the pose.ssion of the great admiral, was sold recently for .C4Q; the wire flagon of Admiral P.rueys. taken by Nelson, fetched 50 guineas; but a letter written by the gallant hero to Lady Hamilton just before he died realized the huge s,um of JL' 1,030. For Mutual Admiration. "In general, we only praise heartily those who admire us." Just what was said the other day about the mutual admiration society of literary folk who write "Appreciations" of other literary folk. Moral: If you want Jones to give you a good word be hind your back, give him a good word when he is stan'ding just behind you." of the disbandment of the army at Congress without securing the reward due to its services, Washington, who j was known to disapprove of the pro- I ceedings, though he sympathized with the feelings which gave ris" to them, ' resolved to be present. Unwilling to . trust to his powers of extempore speaking, he reduced what he meant to say to writing, and commenced reading it without his spectacles, which at that period he used only occasionally. He found, however, that he could not proceed without them, and exclaimed, "I have grown blind, as well as gray, in the service of my country!" This sudden burs: of nat ural eloquence produced more effect than anything in his premeditated ad dress. "The Sunday M?gaz!n"." l-$tfSpmrJbm0JfcmmfeMa r ? m.T v New Electric Lngine A black iron monster, with re versible front and a corridor extend ing from end to end and communicat ing with the cars it draws such is the general appearance of the famous electric locomotive. In nontechnical language, says a writer in the Review of Reviews, it consists of a ninety-five-ton engine on four driving axles, the motive power being produced directly without inter mediate gearing, from a powerful elec tric motor, developing a capacity of 2.000 horse-power, which can be in creased to 3.000. The method is by the third rail, a section of six miles in the open country west of Schen ectady having been equipped espe cially for this trial by the General Electric company, which also furn ished the power for the tests. The third rail was protected by a wooden hood, so that no one could reach it unless he tried. At crossings or other places where the third rail was interrupted the motive power was supplied by con nection with an overhead wire, a trol ley from the locomotive meeting at these points by means of a pneu matic device controlled by the engi neer. The frame of the locomotive is of steel, which acts also as part Df the magnetic circuit for the motors. In the test at Schenectady the center City Built Mogok, a city in the northern Shan states of Burniah, is literally "built upon rubies." says a writer in the Booklovers Magazine. The earth in the streets and inclosures is of a crystalline limestone formation, con taining numerous veins of gem-bearing gravel. The numerous houses and pagodas represent so many rubies converted into cash. The houses of Mogok are practic ally the dwelling places only of ruby miners and met chants and their fami lies and each pagoda is a votive offer ing to the gods for luck. It is said that a king would be ruling at Man dalay to-day if it had not been for rubies and Mogok would still have been an obscure village with a few icore inhabitants had there been no rubies in the vicinity, whereas now there are about -lo.noo people of "every color and hue the English man. American, the Frenchman and German, the Armenian, pure native and Jew." Mogok is so far removed from the Fog Tied Vp London experienced the worst fog of years on Dec. 22. Some of the scenes were described as follows: "In certain parts of London the authori ties were quickly alert to the danger and endeavored to bring some light into the darkness by erecting 'flares' to guide the tratic. These flaming torches in their iron brackets were both usolul and picturesque. It was strange to stand and watch the little region of welcome light where one of these beacons bhone into the dark ness. For fifty yards around they illuminated the fog with a dull red glare, casting a flickering lirht upon the vehicles :i:d people who thronged toward the torches like moths round a candle flame, while farther off the blackness set this strange picture in a black frame of absolute denseness, as if a great iron wall had been built up in the street. The ordinary street lamps were but cf little avail. I "Most picturesque and perilous I were the scenes on the river. Stand A Great Church Ceremony There is a quaint ceremony of an annual blessing of the waters which may be witnessed in any country where the Greek Church exists. The ceremony occurs during the first two months of the year and is always at tended with great demonstrations and rejoicings, particularly in Roumania, Russia and Bulgaria. Great preparations are made the day before the ceiemony. A route is set apart leading from the church to the spot on the quay which has been selected for the ceremony, a carpet of straw being laid down. It is usually a bitter cold day, but the people are eager and happy. Then- arrive on foot or in sledges, dressed in the pictur esque national attire. All the houses an gayly decorated with worsted fav ors and tassels. On the quay a layman is actively engaged in stirring a barrel ot water to keep it from frcev.ing. At ten The Deathbed of Chopin As the great Chopin Jay dying his soul was ushered out by the song of the beautiful Countess Uelphine Po tocka, who had been his dearest con fidante and friend. The romance of their friendship, one of the sweetest in history, is related by Gustav Kobbe in the Delineator. The last tragic scene in the lite of the composer has often been described, and has been painted by Barrios, but it is m) touch ing that one may well read another version of it. Mr. Kobbe writes: "Then came what is perhaps the most touching scene that has been handed down to us from the lives of the great composers. When Delphine entered what was soon to be the death chamber, Chopin's sister Louise and a few of his most intimate friends were gathered there. She took her place by Louise. When the dying mn opened his eyes and saw her stand ing at the foot of his bed tall, slight, Sung by the In the downhill of Iif . whfn I find I'm di'p'ii.H rf. My m f.ile no l-s fortunate bf Than a '.uk ltow ehair v.ill afford for Ti' limnK. And a t that o"(-rlook the wi.le sea; With an amhlinii pad-pony to pace o er the- lawn. WhH- I carol away idle sorrow. And Mithe as th- lark that, each day Iiails the dawn Look forward with hope for To-rnor-iow. With a porch at my door, both for shel ter and shade, too. As th sunshine or rain may prevail; And a .small spot of ground for the Use of the spade, too. With a barn for the use of the flail: A cow for my dairy, a do for my Karne. And a purse when a friend wants to borrow; I'll envy no nabob his riches or fanv. Or what honors may wait him To-rnor-row. From the bleak northrn blast may my J bu. ut; i;uiMii-rtrij Mfli M j a of the cab was taken up by a set of recording instruments showing speed, voltage, consumption of current, how curves are taken and various other qualities of the locomotive. When in use hauling trains, however, this space will be occupied by a heating apparatus. According to law. there must be two men on the locomotive the master engineer and a helper, who will take the place of the old-time fireman. In designing the locomotive the general features of the steam engine have been kept in mind and valves, whistles, controllers, bells and other devices are within easy reach of the engineer. It was the aim of the designers to se cure in this machine the best mechani cal features of the high-speed steam locomotive, combined with the enor mous power and simplicity in control made possible by the use of the elco trie drive. The elimination of geir and bearing losses permits of a very high efficiency and it is claimed for the new machine that it will pound ami roll much less than the steam locomotive, and thus reduce the expense of maintaining the rails and road-bed. By the use of tho Spraguo General Electric multiple unit system of control two or more locomotives can be coupled together and operated from the leading cable as a single unit. Upon Rubies ordinary tourist's track that few ven ture there who are not on businehS heut. owing to the difficulty of transit in Burma. Fair promise of gain will tempt men to go anywhere in search of it. Some go to burning South Africa for diamonds, and others to frozen Alaska for gold. Een so men go to Burma for rubies. For the ruby ranks next to the diamond among precious stones, and holds a premiership :1I its own among the colored gems with which men and women love to bedeck themselves. It is not strange, therefore, that nniny should seun.li for a stone that is a brother to the amethyst, the sap phire and the topaz, and which not in frequently outranks the diamond in value, being, in fact, the gem of gems of the east. A flawless live-carat ruby will bring twice as much as a diamond of equal weight, while a ten carat ruby will bring three times ai much and cannot be bought for much less than $3,000." Metr o p o 1 i s ing on the Tower bridge and looking down into the pool was like gazing into a cavern of darkness in which one could see only tiny green and red lights gleaming like fireflies at tho bottom. One's ears were thrilled by the screeching of sirens from the larger vessels, the hoarse barking of little tugs, tin' shrill whistle or deep tone'd foghorns of other river craft, in termingling wiih a continual hoarse murmur of many voices, ringing out at times into a sharp staccato shout as a skipper hailed through the dark ness. "As the day wore on carters and errand boys and all whom the busi ness of Christmas" kept oiit in tho streets provided themselves with lan terns and links. It was a strange reminiscence of old-time London to watch these modern 'link boys mak ing their way from street to street and house to house with improvised torches ot rags and sticks soaked iu pa ratlin." o'clock, heralded by the sound of many brass instruments, the prie'sts leave the church, preceded by a troop of cavalry. With them are borne numbers of religious emblems and banners. The priests chant as they march to the quay, where they go through the special form of blessing the waters of the country. No matter how severe' the weather no word at the long service is omitted. The wa ter is distributed among the people, who treasure the few drops which fall to their share as an antidote against the evil eye and other fearsome ills. The straw is evigerly grabbed up after the' ceremony to perform the same of fice for horses and cattle. Until a few years ago it was the custom to cut a nolo in the ice of a stream, and into this hole a cross was cast. The Rou manian men dived for this and the fortunate nlan could carry it for three ilajs and collect money Montreal Herald. draped in white, resembling a beauti ful angel, and mingling her tears with thoM of Lonis his lips moved and those nearest him. bending over to catch his words, heard him ask that she would sing. "Mastering her emotion by a strong effort of the will, she sang in a voice of beJI-Iiko purity the canticle to the Virgin attributed to Stradella sang it so devoutly, so ethereally, that the dying man, "artist and lover of tho beautiful to the very last,' whispered in ecstasy: How exquisite! Again, again!' "Once more she sang this time a psalm by Marcello. It was the haunt ed hour of twilight. The dying day draped the scene in its mysterious shadows. Those at the bedside had sunk nofcelely on their knees. Over the mournful accompaniment of sobs floated the voice of Delphine like a melody from heuven." Philosopher Scoured l. i 'tri.l .tlng hKi; And at night rn. m -t-al up'in rnv iar iweet! . Uv th oued of i mur-r in rliT And whil- jiace ar.d p.-ntv I hint at my board. With a heart free from sic-few .:l sor row With my friends mav I shar- what To day may afford. And let them spiead the table To-morrow. And wh"n I at lost must throw on this frail cov'rinK Which I've woin tor three-siore years and ten. On the brink of t!i" srave I II not seek to keei hov'rine. Vor my thread wish to 5iin o er again; But mv face In the s'ass I'll s-erenely survey. , ... And with smdes count each wrinkle and furrow; As this old worn-out stuff, which la thr-adtMre IViiar, Jtav Lecomc- flve;iaslir.tc To-morrow. John Collins. f J. ? & 'i
