10 THE OarAJIA DAILY SUTSTDAY , OCTOBEft 21 , 180-1 ,
The Tennis Balls
A Story from the Memoirs of a Minister of
France ,
JJV STANt.F.l' J. WKTMAN Authnrof "AClriillDiiiaii of Prnncr , " "My T-iuly llotlm , " Kir.
( Copyright. 1891 , by the Author , )
A few weeks before the death of Iho duch-
css ot Beaufort , on Raster ere , 1599 , made ao
preat n change In the relations t > f all at court
that "Sourdls mourning" came to bo a
phrase for grief , genuine because Interested ,
an affair that might have had a serious Is-
uo began , Imperceptibly at the time , In the
rerlost trifle.
Ono day , while tw ! kins waa still absent
from Paris. I had a mind to play tennis , and
lor that purpose summoned La Trape , who
had charge of the ball * , and bomctlmcs ,
In the absence of bettor company , played with
mo. Ofl Into , the balls he brought/ / had
filvsn me small satisfaction , and I bade him
brine me the bag , that I might choose the
best. He did so , and I had not handled half
n dozen before I found one , and later three
others , so much more neatly sewn than the
rest , and In all points so superior , that even
an untrained eye could not fall to detect the
dlflcrencc.
"Look , man ! " I said , holding out one of
these for Inspection. "These are balls ; the
rest are rubbish. Cannot you see the differ
ence ? Where did you. buy these ? At Con
stant's ? "
Ho muttered , "No , my lord , " and looked
confuted.
This rouMd my curiosity , "Where ,
then ? " I said sharply.
"Of a man who was at the gala yester
day , "
"Oh ! " I said. "Selling tennis balls ? "
"Yes , my lord. "
"Somo rogue of a maker , " I exclaimed ,
"from whom you bought fllcded goods ! Who
was It , man ! "
"I don't know his name , " La Traps an
swered. "Ho was a Spaniard. "
"Well ? "
"Who wanted to have an audlenco of your
excellency. "
"Hoi" I said drily. "Now I understand.
Bring mo your book. Or tell me what
Jiavo you charged me for these balls ? "
"Two francs , " ho muttered reluctantly.
"And never gave you a BOH. I'll swear , " I
retorted. You took the poor devil's balls
and left him at the gate ! Ay , It is rog-uas
Jllto you that get me a bad name ! " I contin
ued , affecting more anger than I felt for ,
In truth , I was rather pleased with my .julck-
nesa In discovering the cheat. "You steal
and I bear the blame and pay to boot I Oft
with you and find the fellow , and bring him
to me , or It will bo the worse for you ! "
Glad to escape so easily. La Trape ran to
the Kate , but ho failed to find Ills friend ,
and two or three days elapsed before I
thought again of the matter , such petty
rogueries being Ingrained In a great man's
raletnlllc , and being no more to be re
moved than the Imlrs from a man's '
arm. At the end of that time La Trape
came to me bringing the Spaniard , who
had appeared again nt the gate. The
stranger proved to bo a small , slight man ,
pale and yet brown , with quick-glancing
eyes. His dress was decent , but very poor ,
with , moro than ono rent neatly darned.
Ho made me a profound reverence , and stood
waiting with his cap In his hand , to bo ad
dressed , but with all his humility I did not
fall to detect an uneasiness of deportment
and a propriety that did not seem absolutely
strange since ho was n Spaniard , but which
struck me , nevertheless , as renulrlng some
explanation. I asked him , civilly , who he
was. Ho answered that his name was
Diego.
"You speak French ? "
"I am of Gulpuzcoa , my lord , " ho an
swered , "where wo sometimes speak three
tongues. "
"That Is true , " I aald. ' "And It Is your
tradeito make tennis balls ? "
"No , mylord ; to use them , " he answered
with a certain dignity. '
"You nre ( a player , then ? "
"If It plqase your excellency. "
"Where have you played ? "
. "At Madrid , where I was the keeper of
the duke of Segovia's court ; and at Toledo ,
where I fieriuently had the honor of playing
against M. do Montserrat. "
"You are a good player ? "
' "If your BKcellency , " he answered. Im-
'pulslVely , "wilt give me an opportunity "
"Softly , jidi'lly , " I said , somewhat taken
aback by tils earnestness. "Granted that
you are a player , you ecm to have played
to small purpose. Why are you hero , my
friend , and not In Madrid ? "
Ho drew up his wrist and showed mo that
hlg wrist was deeply scarred.
I shrugged my shoulders. "You have been
In the hands of the Holy Brotherhood ? " I
said.
said."No
"No , my lord , " ho answered bitterly. "Of
the Holy Inquisition. "
"You are a 1'rotestunt ? "
Ho boned.
On tint I foil to considering him with
more alter Hon. but at the sumo time with
some distrust ; reflecting that ha was a
Spaniard , and recalling the numberless plots
against his majesty of which that nation
Uud been guilty. Still , If his tale were true
lie deserved support ; with a view there-
fora u > testing this , I questioned , him far
ther , ami learned that he had for a long
tlmo disguised his opinions , until , opening
them In an easy moment to a fellow servant ,
.ho found himself upon the first occasion of
quarrel betrayed to the fathers. After suf
fering much , and giving himself up for lost
in their dungeons , ho in ado his escape | n
a manner suftlclently remarkable. If I
might bellova his story. In the
prison with him ley * a Moor , for whose
oxchance against a Christian taken by
the Sallee pirates nn order came down. It
arrived In the evening ; the Moor was to be
removed In the morning. An hour after the
arrival of the news , however , and when the
' two had Just been locked up for the night ,
'the Moor , overcome with excess of Joy , sud-
.denlr expired. At first the Spaniard was for
giving the alarm ; but. being an Ingenious
fellow. In n few minutes he summoned all
his wits together and made a plan. Contriv
ing to blacken his face and hands with char
coal , he dunged clothes with the corpse , nnd
inuflllng himself up after the fashion of the
Moors In a-cold climate , ho succeeded In the
oarljr morning In passing out In his place.
Those who "had charge of him had no reason
to eipect an escape , and once on the road
ho bad llttlo diniculty In getting away , and
eventually reached France nfter a succession
oC narrow escapes.
Allithls the man told me so simply that T
knew not which to admire more , the daring
of his device slnco for a white man to pas :
for a brawn Is beyond the common scope o
such disguises or his present modesty in ro
latlng it. However , neither of these thing
seemed to my mind a good reason for dls
belief. As to the one , I considered that an
Impostor would have- put forward Bomethlnj
more simple , and as to the other , I have a !
my Ufa long observed that tlioso who have
strange experiences tell them In a very ordl
lurr way. Besides , I had fresh In my mint
the diverting escapa ot the duke of Nemours
from Lyons , which I have elsewhere related
On Iho other hand , and despite all thesi
things , the story might bo false ; 10 with .
vtovr to testing one part of It at least. I bad
blm coino and play me that afternoon.
"Hf lord , " he said bluntly , "I had rathe :
not. For If I defeat your exce-llcncy. I ma
defeat also your good Intentions. And If .
permit you to win I shall see-in to be an 1m
poster. "
Somewhat surprised by his forethought , ,
reassured him on this point , and his gamp
which proved to bo ono of romarkabli
.strength and finesse , and fairly on an equal
Ity. us It seemed to me > , with that of the bes
French pluycrs , persuaded mo that at an
rate the first part of his tale was true. Ac
cordlngly I ma do htm a present , and , In ad
Ollion , bade Matguati pay him a imall allow
a nee for a while. For this lie allowed hi :
Sratitudo by attaching himself to my house
told ; ami as It was the- fashion at tint Urn
to keep tennis misters tit tills class , I foum
it occasionally amusing to pit Mm agalns
other well known players. In tbo coiirso o
A ftw wacKs he < a.tiicd ins grc.it credit ; an1
though I am not o foolish as to attach Ira
portuica to fuoh trlflii , but , nn the contrary ,
think an old soldier who aloud fust
Ocutru , or even a clerk who has serve
Its king honestlY If such a prodigy thor
b iaor dojorvfnr than these professors
itlll I cV > not err on the other side ; but conn
him i fool who , because he has solid cam
to T lus himself , dUdalni the eclat whlc
attachment of such persona gives him In the
public eye. ,
The man went by the name of Diego , the
Spaniard , and his story , which gradually
became known , together with the excellence
of his play , made him so much the fashion
that more than one tried to detain him from
my service. The king hoard of him , and
would have played with him , but the sudden
death of Mine , de lleaufort , which occurred
soon afterwards , threw the court Into mourn
ing ; and for awhllo. In pursuing the negotia
tions tor the king's divorce , nnd In conduct-
Ins n. correspondence of the most delicate
dial actor with the queen , I lost sight of my
player Insomuch that I scarcely knew
whether he still formed part ot my suite or
not.
not.My
My attention was presently recalled to
him , however , In a rather remarkable man
ner. One morning Don Antonio d'Kvora ,
secretary to the Spanish embassy , and n
brother of that d'Evora who commanded the
Siwnlah fort at Paris In ' 91 , called on me at
thB arsenal , to which 1 had Just removed ,
and desired to see me. I bade them admit
Im , but as my secretaries were at the time
t work with me , I left them and received
ilm In the garden supposing- that he wished
o speak to me , about the affair of Saluces ,
nd preferring , like the king my master , to
alk of matters of state In the open ulr.
However , I was mistaken. Don Antonio
aid nothing about Savoy , but after the
iual preliminaries , which a Spaniard never
mils , plunged Into a long harangue upon
ho comity which , now that peace reigned ,
ihould exist between the two nations. For
mine time I waited patiently to learn what
in would be at , but he seemed to ba lost in
is own eloquence , and at last I took him up.
"All this Is very well , M. d'Evora , " I
laid. "I quite agree with you that the times
ire changed , that amity Is not the same
hlng as war , and that a grain of sand In
lie eye Is unpleasant , " for ho had said all
jf these tilings. "Uut I fail , being a plain
man and no dlplonratlst , to see what you
ivant me to do. "
"It Is the smallest matter , " ho said , wav-
ng his hand gracefully.
"And yet , " I retorted , "you seem to find
a dlfllculty In coming at It. "
"As you do at the grain of sand In the
jye , " ho answered wittily. "After all , how-
ver. In what you say , M. do Rosny , there Is
301110 truth. I feel that I am on delicate
ground ; but I am sure that you will pardon
me You have In your suite a certain
Diego. "
"It may be so , " I said , masking my sur
prise , and. affecting Indifference.
"A tennis player. "
I shrugged my shoulders. "The man Is
known , " I said.
"A Protestant ? "
"It IB not Impossible. "
"And a subject of the king , my master. A
man , " Don Antonio continued , with Increas-
IIIB stiffness , "In fine , M. do Rosny , who ,
nfter committing various offenses , murdered
his comrade in prison , and , escaping in his
clothes , took refuge In this country. "
I shrugged my shoulders again.
" 1 have no knowledge of that , " I said
coldly.
"No , or I am sure that you would not har
bor the fellow , " the secr.tary answered.
'Now that you do know It , however , I take
t for granted that you will dismiss him'
! f you held any but the great place you do
mid , M. do Rosny , It would be different ; but
all the world see who follow you , and this
man's presence stains you , and Is an offense
o my master. "
"Softly , softly , M. d'Kvora. " I said , with a
Ittle warmth. "You go too fast. Let me tell
you first , that , for my honor. I take care of It
myself ; and , secondly , for your master , I
lo not allow even , my own to meddle with
ny household. "
"Ilut , my lord , " ho said pompously , "the
\lng of Spain "
"Is the King of Spain , " I answered , cutting
ilm short without much ceremony. "Dut
: n the arsenal of Paris , which , for the
[ iresent , Is my house. I am king. And I
jruok no usurpers , M. d'Evora. "
He assented to that with a constrained
smile.
"Then I can soy no more , " ho answered
'I ' have warned you that the man Is a rogue ,
[ f you will still entertain him , I wash my
hands of It. Uut I fear the consequences ,
M. do Rosny , and , frankly , it less-ens - my
opinion of your sagacity. "
Thereat I bowed in my turn , and after the
exchange ot some civilities he took his leave.
Considering his application after he was
gone , I found nothing surprising It it ; and
had It conio from a man whom I held In
greater respect I might have complied with
It in an indirect fashion. Uut though It
might have led mo under some circum
stances to discard Diego , naturally , slnco It
confirmed his story In some points , and
proved besides that ho was not a persona
; ratn at the Sj > anlsh embassy. It did not
ead me to value him less. And as ivlthln
the week ho was so fortunate as to defeat
La Varanno's champion In a great match at
tlin Louvre , and : won also a match at M. de
Montpensler's , which put 50 crowns Into my
pocket , I thought less and less of d'Evora's
remonstrance , until the king's return put
It qiilta out of my head. The entanglement
with Madamolselle d'Entragues. which was
destined to ba the most fatal ot all Henry's
attachments , was then in tho'forming , and
the king plunged into every kind ot amuse
ment with fresh zest. The day after his re
turn he matched his marker , a rogue , but
an excellent player , against my man , and
laid mo 20 crowns on the event , the match
to be played on the following Saturday after
a dinner which M. de Ludo was giving in
honor ot the lady.
On the Thursday , however , who should
come In to me while I was slttlntg alone
after supper , but Malgnan , who , closing the
door and dismissing the page who waited
there , told mo with a very long face and an
air of vast Importance , that ho had discov
ered something.
"Something ? " I said , being inclined at
the moment to be merry. "What ? A plot to
reduce your perquisites , you rascal ? "
"No , my lord , " he answered stoutly. "Dut
to tap your excellency's secrets. "
"Indeed , " I Bald pleasantly , not believing
a word of it. "And who Is to hung ? "
"Tho Spaniard , " ha answered In a low
voice.
That sobered mo , by putting the matter In
a now light ; and I- sal a moment , looking at
him and reviewing Diego's story , whlcli
assumed on the Instant an aspect so un
common and almost incredible that 1 won
dered how I had ever allowed It to pass
Dut when I proceeded from this to the sub
stance of Malgnan's charge I found an Im
passe In this direction also , and I smiled.
"So It Is Diego , Is It ? " I said "You think
that ho Is a spy ? "
Malgnan nodded.
"Then , tell mo , " I asked , "what opportu
nlty has ho of learning more than all the
world knowns ? Ho has not been in my
apartments since I engaged him. Ho has
seen none ot my papers , The youngest foot
boy could tell nil he has learned. "
"True , my lord , " Malgnan answered slow
ly ; "but "
"Well ? "
"I saw him this evening talking with i.
priest in the Rue Petlta Pols ; and he calls
himself a Protestant. "
"Ah ! You are sura that the man. was a
priest ? "
"I know him. "
"For whom ? "
"Ona ot the chaplains at the Spanish cm
"
bassy.
It was natural that after this I could talc ,
a more serious view of the matter , and I dli
so. Uut my former diniculty still remained
for. assuming this to be a cunning plot , anu
d'Evora'a application to mo a ruse to throw
me oft my guard , I could not see where
their advantage lay , since the Spaniard's
occupation was not of a nature to give him
the entry to my confidence or the chance of
ransacking my papers. I questioned Malgnan
further , therefore , but without result. He
had seen the two together In a secret kind 11
of way , viewing thorn himself from the- win
dow of a house wherehe hail an assignation.
lie hud not be n near enough to hear what
they said , but he was sure that no quarrel
took place between them , and equally can-
taln that It wan no chauco meeting that
brought them together.
Infected by his assurance , I could still see
no Issue and no object in such an Intrigue.
And In the ml 1 contented myself with bid
ding him watch the Spaniard closely and re
port to me the following evening , adding that
he might confldo Iho matter to La Trap * ,
who wns a supple fellow and of the two the
easier companion.
Accordingly , next evcnlns Malgnnn again
appeared , tnli1 time with a face even longer ,
so that nt first I supposed him to have dis
covered a plot worse than Chastcl's , but It
turned out that he had discovered nothing.
The Spaniard had spent the morning In
lounging nnd the afternoon In practice at
the Louvre , and from first to last had con
ducted himself In the most Innocent manner
possible. On this I rallied Mnlgnan oil his
mare's neat , and was Inclined to dismiss the
matter as such ; still , before doing so , I
thought I would see La Trapo , nnd dismissing
Malgnan I sent for him.
When ho was come , " \Vell \ , " I said , "have
you anything to sny ? "
"One little thing only , your excellency , "
ho answered slyly , "anil of no Importance. "
"Uut you did not toll It to Malgnan ? "
"No , my lord , " he replied , his face relaxing
In a cunning smile.
"Well ? "
"Onco today I saw Diego where ho should
not have been. "
"Where ? "
"In the king's dressing-room at the tennis-
court. "
"You saw him there ? "
"I saw him coming out. " he answered.
It may be Imagined how I felt on hear-
ng this ; for although I might have thought
nothing ot the matter before my suspicions
ivpro aroused slnco any man might visit
uch a place out of curiosity now , my mind
lUiig disturbed. I was quick to conceive the
ivorst , and saw with horror my beloved
naster already destroyed through my care
lessness. I questioned La Trapo In a fury ,
but could learn nothing more. He had
seen the man slip out. and that was all.
"Uut did you not go In yourself ? " I said ,
restraining my Impatience with dlfllculty.
"Afterwards ? Yes , my lord. "
"And inado no discovery ? "
He shook his head.
"Was anything prepared for his majesty ? "
"Thcro was sherbet , and some water. "
"You tried them ? "
La Trapo grinned. "No , my lord , " he
said. "Uut I gave some to Malgnan , "
"Not explaining ? "
"No , my lord. "
'You sacrilegious rascal ! " I cried , amused
n sp to of my anxiety. "And he was none
he worse ? "
"No , my lord. "
Not satisfied yet , I continued to press
ilm , but with so little success that I still
'ound myself unable to decide- whether the
Spaniard had wandered In Innocently or to
explore his ground. In the end , therefore ,
I made up my mind to see things for my
self , and early next morning , at an hour
when I was not likely to be observed , I went
out by a back door , and with my face
muffled and no other attendance than Malg
nnn and La Trape , went to the t-ennls court
and examined the dressing room.
Tills was a small closet on the first floor ,
of a size to hold two or three peisons. and
with a casement through which the King ,
If lie wished to be private , might watch the
game , Its sole- furniture consisted of a
little table with a mirror , : i seat for .his
majesty' and a couple of stools , so that It
offered small scope for investigation. True ,
the stale sherbet and the water were still
there , the carafes standing on the table be
side an empty comfit box , nnd a few toilet
necessaries , and It will be believed that I
lost no time In examining them. Uut I made
no discovery , and when I had passed my
eye over everything else that the room con
tained and noticed nothing that seemed In
the slightest degree suspicious , I found my
self completely at a loss. I went to the
window nnd for a moment looked idly into
tha court.
Uut neither did any light conio thence ,
and I had turned again and was about to
leave when my eye alighted on a certain
thing and I stopped.
"What Is that ? " I s.iid. It was a thin
case , book shaped , of Genoa , velvet , somewhat
Aorn.
"Plalster , " Malgnan , who was waiting at
the door , answered. "His majesty's hand
Is not well yet , and as your excellency knows ,
he "
"Silence , fool ! " I cried , And I st90t
rooted to the spot , overwhelmed by the con
vlctlon that I held the ' .clew to the mystery ,
and so 'shaken by the horror which that con
viction naturally brought with It that I
could not move a linger. A design so fiend
ish and monstrous as that which I suspected
might rouse the dullest sensibilities , in a
case where It threatened the meanest , but
being aimed in this at the king , my master ,
from whom I had received so many benefits
and on whose Ufa the well-being of all de
pended , it goaded me to the warmest re
sentment. I looked round the tennis Court
which , empty , shadowy and silent , seemed a
fit place for such horrors with rage and
repulsion , apprehending In a moment of sad
presage all the accursed strokes of an enemy
whom nothing could propitiate , and who ,
sooner or later , must set all my care at
naught and take from France her greatest
benefactor.
Uut It will be saM I had no proof , only a
conjecture ; and this Is true , but ot it hero-
atfer. Suffice It that as soon as I had
swallowed my Indignation I took all the pre
cautions affection could suggest or duty enJoin -
Join , omitting nothing ; nnd then , confiding
the matter to no one the two men who
were with ma excepted I prepared to ob
serve the Issue with gloomy satisfaction.
The match wns to take place at 3 In the
afternoon. A little after that hour I arrlvi-d
at the tennis court , attended by La Font
and other gentlemen , and M. niullller. the
councilor , who hud dined with mo. L'llull-
ller's business had detained me somewhat
and the men had begun ; but , as I had
anticipated this , I had begged my good
friend Do Vic to have an eye to my Interests.
The king , who was in the gallery , bad with
him M. de Montpensler , the comto de Lude ,
Vltry , Varcnnes and the Florentine am
bassador , with Sancy and some others.
Mllo. d'Entragues ' and two ladles hail taken
posession of his closet , and from the case
ment were pouring forth a perpetual fire of
badinage and bens mots. The tennis court ,
In a word , presented as different nn aspjct
us possible from that which It had worn In
the morning. The sharp track of the ball ,
as It bounded from side to side , was almost
lost In the crisp laughter and babel of
voices ; which as I entered rose Into a perfect
uproar , mademoiselle having flung a whole
lapful of roses across the court In retuin for
some witticism. These , fulling short of the
gallery , had lighted on the head ot the
astonished Diego , causing a temporary ceasa
tlon of play , during which I took my seat.
Mine , do Ludo's saucy eye picked me out
In a moment. "Oh , the grave man ! " she
cried. "Crown him , too , with roses. "
"As they crowned the skull at the feast ,
madame ? " I answered , saluting her gallantly.
"No , but as the man whom the king de-
lltehteth to honor , " she answered , making a
face at me. "Ha ! ha ! I am not afraid !
am not afraid ! I am not afraid ! "
There was a good deal of laughter at this.
"Wlmt shall I do to her , M. de Rosny ? "
mademoiselle cried out , coming to my
rescue.
"If you will have the goodness to kiss her ,
mademoiselle , " I answered , "I will consider
It an advance , and as ono of the council of
the king's finances my credit should be good
for the re "
"Thank you ! " the king cried , nimbly cut
ting me short. "Ilut as my finances-seem
to be the security , faith , I will see to the
repayment myself ! Let them start again ;
but I am afraid that my 20 crowns are
yours , grand master ; your man Is In fine
play. "
I looked Into tbo court. Diego , lithe and
sinewy , -with his cropped black hair , high
color and quick shallow eyes , bounded here
and there , swift'ami active as a panther ,
Seeing him thus , with his heart In tils re
turns , I could not but doubt more ; as the
game proceeded , amid the laughter and jests
and witty sallies of the courtiers , I felt the
doubt grow ; the riddle became each mlnuU
moro abstruse , the man more mysterious
Uut that was of no moment now.
A little after 4 o'clock the match endec
In my favor ; on which the king- , tired of In
action , sprang up , and declaring that hi ,
would try Diego's strength himself , entered
the court. I followed , with Vltry and others
and several strokes which had been mad
were tested and discussed. Presently , th
king going to talk with nudtmiolscllo at he.
window. I remarked the Spaniard and Malg
nan , with ( he king's marker , and one or t i
other * waiting at the further door. Almdi.
at the same moment I observed a sudden
movement among them , and voices ralsei
higher than was decent , and I called ou
sharply lo know what It was ,
"An accident , my lord , " one of the man
Answered respectfully.
"It It nothing , " another muttere-l. "Male-
nan was playing tricks , your excellency , am
cut Dlcjjo'6 hand a little ; that is all. "
"Cut hla band nawl" I exclaimed aneriljr ,
"And the kln . < fljput lo play with him. Let
in * sea It"
Diego sulkily held up his hand , anil I law
cut , ugly , but t no Importance.
"Pooh ! " I said ; "it li nothing. Gel some
laster. Ilerjji-ou , " 1 continued wrathfully , '
urntng to f-BlwJn , "slnco fan have done
he mischief , aBoobfr. you must repair It. Get
iomc plaster.ifMo/iou hear ? Ho cannot play
n that state" , if
IMogo multjfad something , and Malgnan
.hat ho had ntit any ; but before- could
wiswer that. o jbjust get some La Trapo
thrust his wjg f | the front , iind producing
a small piece Tid rr hln pocket proceeded with
a. droll nlr of extreme carefulness to treat
he hand. The other knaves fell Into the
eke , and the Spaniard had no option but to
ubmlt , thouph/Huscowtlng / fnce showed that
he bore MalfenirJJfio good will , and that but
"or my presence/he might not have been BO
complaisant. La. Trapa was bringing his
surgery to an end by demanding a fee. In the
most comical manner possible , when the king
returned to our part of the court. "What la
"t ? " ho said. "Is anything the matter ? "
"No. sire. " I said , "My man has cut his
tand a. little , but It Is nothing. "
"Can ho play ? " Henry askeil with his ac
customed good nature.
"Oh , yes , sire , " I answered. "I have bound
t up with a strip of plaster from the case In
four majesty's closet. "
"He has not lost blood ? "
"No , sire. "
And ho had not. But It wa small
wonder thnt the king asked ; small wonder ,
fgr the man's face had changed In the last
ten seconds tp a strange leaden color ; a
terror llko that'ofin ' wild beast that sees
tself trapped had leaped Into his eyes. He
shot a furtive glance around him , and I
saw him slide his hand behind him. Uut I
was prepared for that , and as the king moved
oft a space-1 slipped to the man's side , as It
ta give him some directions about his game.
"Listen , " I said , In a volco heard only by
him ; "take tin ? dressing off your hand , and
I have you broken on the wheel. You under
stand ? Now , piny. "
Assuring myself that ho did understand ,
and thnt Malgnan and La Trapo were at
hand If ho should attempt anything , I went
back to my place , and sitting down by Do
Vic began to watch , thnt strange game ; whllo
mademoiselle's laughter and Madame do
de's ' gibes floated across the court , and
mingled with the eager applause and-more
dexterous criticisms of the courtiers. The
light was beginning to sink , and for that
reason , perhaps , no one perceived the Span-
lard's pallor ; but Do Vic , after a rally or
two , remarked that he was not playing his
full strength.
"Wise man ! " he "added.
"Ye-s , " I said. "Who plays well against
kings plays 111. "
De Vfc laughed. , "How he sweats ! " ho
said , "and he never turned a hair when he
played Colct. I suppose ho Is nervous. "
"Probably , " I 'said. :
And so they chattered and laughed
chattered and laughed , seeing an ordinary
game between the king and a marker , while
I , for whom the court had grown sombre
as a dungeon , saw a villain struggling In
hla own toils , livid with the fear of death ,
and tortured by horrible apprehensions. Use
and habit were stilt so powerful with the
man that ho played on mechanically with
his hands , but his eyes every tiow and then
sought mine with the look of the trapped
beast , and on the-so occasions I could see
his lips move In prayer or cursing. The
sweat pourcdftiOKTitfilH faceas - he moved to
and fro , and 1 fancied that his features were
beginning to twitch. Presently I have said
that the light ) wasj falling , FO that It wds
not In my Imagination only that the court
was sombre Uie king held his ball. "My
friend , your man' ( s not well , " he said , turn
ing to mo.
"It Is nothing , , sire ; the honor you do
him makes him flsjrvous , " I answered. "Play
up , sirrah , " 1 continued ; you make too
good a courtier. " I
Mademoiselle d'rJEntragucs clapped her
bands and laughed at the hit , and I saw
Diego glare at her with an Indescribable
look. In which hatred and despair and a
horror of reproach were so nicely mingled
with something as exceptional as his posi
tion , that the , whole baffled words. Doubt
less the gibes arid laughter he heard , the
trifling that invent on around hIm , , the
very game in , ivhlch he waa Engaged , and
from 'which hd'Qared not drew Jack , seemed
In his eyes the most appalling mockery , but
Ignorant who were Irt tho- secret , unable to
guess how his diabolical p'ot had been dis
covered , uncertain even whether the whole
were not a concerted piece , he went on playIng -
Ing his part mechanically ; with starting eyes
and laboring chest , with lips that , twitching
and working , lost color each minute. At
length he missed a stroke , and staggering
loaned against the wall , hia face livid and
ghastly. The king took the alarm at that ,
and cried out that Something was wrong.
These who were sitting rose. I nodded to
Malgnan to go to the man.
"It is a fit , " I said. "Ho Is subject to
thorn , and doubtless the excitement but I
am sorry that It has spoiled your majesty's
game. "
" 11 has not , " Henry answered kindly. "The
light Is gone. Hut have him looked to , will
you , my friend ? If La Riviere' were here
he might do something for him. "
While be spoke the.servants had gathered
round the man , bat with the timidity which
characterizes that class In such emergencies ,
they would not touch him. As I crossed the
court , and they made way for me. the Span-
lard , who was still standing , though In a
strange and distorted fashion , turned his
bloodshot eyes on me.
"A priest , " he muttered , framing the words
with dlfllculty , "a priest. "
I directed Malgnan to fetch ono. "And do
you. " I continued to the other servants , "take
him Into a room somewhere. "
They obeyed reluctantly. As they carried
him out the king , content with my statement ,
was giving his hand to modemolsello to de
scend the stairs ; and neither ho nor any ,
save the two men In my confidence , had the
slightest suspicion that aught was the matter
beyond a natural Illness. Uut I shuddered
when I considered how narrow bad been the
king's escape , how trifling the circumstance
which had led to the suspicion , how fortu
itous the Inspiration by which I had chanced
on discovery. The delay of a single day , the
occurrence of the slightest mishap , might
have been fatal not only to him , but to the
best Interests of France , which his death at
the time when he was still childless must
have plunged Into the most melancholy of
wars.
Of the wretched Spaniard I need say llttlo
more. Caught In his own snare , ho was no
sooner withdrawn from the court than he
fell Into violent convulsions , , which held him
until midnight , when ho died with symptons
and under circumstances so nearly resembling
those which had attended the death ot Mine.
de Deaufort at Easter , that I have sev
eral times dwelt on the strange coincidence
and striven to 11 nd the- connecting link. Uut
I never hit on it , and the king's death , and
that unexpected tendency to Imitate great
crimes under which the vulgar labor , pre
vailed with me to keep the matter secret.
Nay , as I belley jl tltat d'Kvora ' had played
the part of an unconscious tool , and as a hint
pressed homo rtfnceM to procure the with
drawal of the chaplain whom Malgnan had
named , I did not think It necessary to dis
close the matter ; ey n7to the king my master ,
No l ) nn"ft > r Mimic.
There Is somcl ln saddening about the
woman who "used 'to play the piano before
she was married1 writes Kate Field. You
feel that you would llko to have known her
before the song went out of her life ; before
the enthusiasm flTSrfnakes the lavlahincnt ol
time upon mere pleasure a possibility lefi
her. She says she has not the leisure to
practice , but It Is often not so much the
lack of half an hgur or moro dally as It Is
the loss of vivacious energy. She has
learned to trudgefrj | n yesterday to tomor
row Instead ot dabclng the days through as
she used to. Tm ? ncd for music Is gone.
A lady who was yipken to by one of her
friends on this subject was candid and opl
grammatlc. "Walt until you get married , '
she said. "Unless you are rich you will do
an I have done. Vou can not devote your
attention to keeping up your music and
keeping down your' expenses at the name
time. "
Hail thn Tunlt.
Indianapolis Journal ; "Yes. I was sitting
on the edge of the folding bed the other
night , " said the Cheerful Idiot , "playing soil
talre , when all of a sudden the blame thing
closed up on me. If It had not been for my
presence of mind I think I should have been
smothered. "
"Had sense enough to call for help , I sup
pose , " asked the dyspeptic Iraarder.
"Didn't do anything-of the kind. I merely
B-elected a pair of Jacks from , the deck and
opened it with thai , "
AMERICAN CAUCUS SYSTEM
It is the Bad Man's Trap Into Which the
Good Man is Enticed.
VIEWS OF HISTORIAN JOHN CLARK RIDPATH
Undemocratic nuit Unhmorlrun Some of lln
IttnultH II Knconilorj Hus lum unit
Munj Other Hint 'IlilngnAStrong
Argument Strongly Put ,
The politician's remedy for the afflictions
of the great American body Is that the good
man dial ) go to the caucus. The good man
doea not urge his fellow good men to go to
the caucus , but the party manager urges
them both. Because they don't go , ho says ,
the country Is sick. As a matter of fact , the
caucus Is : the bad man's trap , and the good
nian Is a fool to get Into 111
Ono of the general phases of human his
tory Is this : Some organization , civil , polit
ical or religious , grows hugo nt the expense
of freedom and progress , and having become
strong enough , puts society under Its heel.
Then the organization begins to build and
contrive , In order to maintain Itself ngalnst
Insurrection and punishment. U usurps and
tyrannizes and abuses until mankind Is
bruised and weakened and diseased under the
oppressions and wrongs done to the liberties
and hopes of humanity. What next ? The
organization , seeing the havoc that Is done ,
turns about to make the existing condition
as respectable as possible ; and to this end
the bad man dresses llko a clergyman and
wants the good man to help hlml
This Is the method of political parlies.
They generally begin In a righteous agitation
against the wrongs and oppressions In society
and end by doing the same things them
selves. When they begin to grow old , when
they have become merely the agents of per
petuating and supporting their own Interests ,
when the Issue * which they defend or antag
onize are no longer real but merely fictitious ,
then they turn about to prove to the world
that they have always been srcat and Rood
and respectable. Henceforth the mission of
such an organization Is to take- the people In.
To do this requires a vast deal of contrivance
ance- . Among the subordinate methods by
which , the political party manages to ke P Its
seat on the breast of the nation , the caucus
Is , perhaps , the most successful and the
most odious.
A HOOK FOR THE MASSES.
Of all agencies , the- caucus Is * the partlcu
lar agency which enablea a political party to
hook ItBolf fast to the masses , and to drag
them on. This touch and fastening of the or
ganization to the people has to bo carefully
managed , and Us nature must be concealed
under the veneer of respectability. Left to
Its own , devices , the caucus becomes disrepu
table , and Is known to be so. It tries to de
fend Itself by saying that It Is a meeting of
the people for the promotion of good causes.
On the contrary , U Is a conspiracy of ft small
part of the people against the rest.
Certainly no act of society Is more salutary
than the- public meeting ; but the claim of the
ca ucus to bo in the nature of a public meetIng -
Ing Is a pretense and nothing more. The sen
slblo patriot knows well what the > caucus is
for. lie understands that it Is meant to pro
mote personal Interests , and really to prevent
the expression ot public opinion. In proportion
tion as the caucus prevails , public opinion
weakens , declines , perishes The newspaper
organ , generally belongs to the caucus If
It does not , then the central committee must
buy that organ , and replace it with another
that better understands the nature and pur
pose ot journalism !
Such a condition In political society we
have ; and the good man. is asked to back It.
The caucus Is as malodorous as the crime ot
Hamlet's step-father , and the good'man Is
wanted for a disinfectant ! The managers of
the cauciu understand well enough the public
estimate that Is placed upon their machine
and themselves. They do not care much for
the estimate. It does not argue that because
somfbody defers to public opinion he 1s ,
therefore. In love with public opinion. In
"fact , the greatest deference If often shown In
the presence of that which Is hated. When
the caucus does obeisance to society It Is for
advantage. The caucus knows well that It Is
not here for the public good. It knows well
that It Is Invented as a political hook to hold
fast the masses to the machine. It also
knows that It Is discovered , found out , pla
carded In the consciences ot men If not in
their public speech.
SALVATION DOESN'T UK THIS WAY.
This IB the Bttuatloii which makes it nec
essary , they say , for the good man to go to
the caucus. He is to be a navcr ot llfo unto
llfo. Thousands perhaps millions , of people
believe that If the good man would go to tin-
caucus we should find salvation. As a matter
ot fact , salvation doea not lie that way. The
good man , following bis instinctive self-
respect , slays awuy ; and the caucus is put
on the defensive , The absence of the good
man discountenances both the thing done and
the method ot doing It. It Is this fact which
has kept the American caucus In a state of
chronic alarm and trepidation for the last
quarter of a century. Knowing that It Is
disparaged , It squats and hides nnd nour
ishes If at all In the dark. The absence
of the good man Is the saving clause. His
of the con-
presence wsuld be the prophecy
Ummnco of that political domination which
has virtually put under foot the noblest en
terprises of our people and suppressed the in
to lectual ire in the Unite I States ; his ab cnre
means the ultimate extinction of the whole
system. If the good man goes to the caucus
ho takes his goodness with him. He takes
his conscience , hla Innocence and his In
experience. When he enters the door the
bad man gives a sigh of relief. Ho Is coun
tenanced by the good man , who now comes
to associate with him and help him Rave the
country. The bad man's assistant , less con
spicuous , winks The chairman , ono of the
bad man's friends , says In his openelng re
marks that the caucus Is pleased , delighted ,
to have present the good man , whose name
and reputation , etc.
It does not require any great degree of
astuteness ta sec that the absence of the
good man from Iho caucus Is one of those In
stinctive facts In society that always make
for good. Nothing Is more certain than that
If tba caucus Is allowed to go Its nwn wa >
with the had man at the helm It will sooner
or later come to naught , go to Its own place
and become an ancient and bad-smelling
reminiscence. On the other hand , If the
good man lends his presence , his Influence
and his character to the caucus ho may be
sure ho will have his labor for his pains
So far as this appearance of the good man
at the caucus may be regarded as a measure
of reform , pah ! What does the bad man
who owns the caucus want with the good
man after the caucus has adjourned ? The
good man finds to his sorrow that the only
visible effect of his presence at the caucus ,
has been , first , the vemluc of his own repu
tation and solf-respect , secondly , the I ruled-
nlto perpetuation of the worst facts In po
litical BQcloly.
THB CAUCUS AND POLITICAL , PAUTICS.
Wlmt then ? says the Interlocutor. Is not
the political party good ? Must not the po
litical party organize ? IB not the republic a
government by means ot party ? And It the
political party finds It ncceusary to make the
caucus Us mudsill , shall we not accord the
right , and even applaud the contrivance ?
Let us answer frankly and without equivo
cation. Let us answer just as the father of
his country answered. Let us answer with
out fear , as the patriot must answer If he
keeps his Integrity and follows the star of
truth. If any political party be good In a
free country , it Is not such as the American
political party has become Such a fact was
not contemplated when the republic was
founded. Such n fact was not allowed to
Influence the administration of the first pres
ident. He perceived that the political party
In a republic would soon come to exist for
Itself , without regard to the interests of the
country or the happiness of mankind.
The sequel has been even so. The political
party looks upon the Interests of the country
and the happiness of mankind with the ul
terior design of profiting by them' ' That
kind of political party which forma Itself for
thu defence of a great principle , the principle
bsliig clearly for the advantage of the nation
and the ultimate gain of humanity , no longer
exists If It ev r did exist In these lands
We have the powerful and compact organlca-
lloni , but tholr alms and ends are not the
alms and ends of the people , and their exist
ence Is not for the public good. The more
thny orgsnUo , therefore , the worne It la.
The caucus Is down In the bottom ot this
political condition. The question Is not how
lo > better the caucus or how to render It tol-
oritblo. but how to got rid ol it. Tito caucus
Is one ot the piles driven deep In the dark ,
on which the parly superstructure , vast as
the ruins of Uara-Uudur , U founded And
reared. If the good man gets Into the caucus
and gives It strength , so much longer will
the superincumbent system continue to flour
ish. It will continue to bo biennially re
paired nnd annually painted. Under It the
millions who ought to bo the greatest frro
people that the sun has smiled upon , will
continue to crouch nnd groan for dollvcrancu.
Thnt kind of party which makes for the nd-
vnnlaco of mankind nnd the promotion ot
freedom Is that which the people themselves
create In the presence of same crisis In
which right principle nnd truth , the pro
motion of free Institutions and the progress
of thu human race am at stake.
USES AND AHUSHS 0V PA11TIES.
A party thus springing Into rxisUnco may
bo ot Immense , utmost Immeasurable , ad
vantage to the country and the people In
which and among whom It makes Its appear
ance. Hut the moment that the party has
accomplished the end for which It came , that
moment ( narks the limit of Us natural nnd
wholesome lite. Left to natural conditions
It would thereupon resolve itself Into Us ele
ments , to bo rccomblned. with the coming
of some new Issuo. Itcyoml Hint date. If It
contluos to survive , It becomes like one of
the Btruldbrugs whom Captain Lemuel
Gulliver met In Lnputal The traveler nays
thnt the struldhrug's faculties had bren re
duced by the abuse of nnluro to the single
passion of getting omethlng for nothing !
"Ha asked me , " said Oulllver , "that I would
give him slumskudask ! " In the United
States the Ptruldbrug Is senile political
party , and the slumskudask IB an appointive
ofllco ! If the good man wants to cultivate
the society and Intercourse of the xtruldbrug
he can do so ; the way to such acquaintance
and comcrco of character ia by the door of
the caucus.
The great evil Is the persistency of party
organization beyond Us natural lifeOt
courao there Is no real life or virtue In such
an organization when Its original principle
In gone and Its existence perpetuated by
factitious means. A party thus surviving
the national limits of Its existence Is a
veritable struldbrug. It Is a political Frank
enstein , nmdo merely of leather and springs
and tubes nnd screw-taps , moved by galvan
ism. In the United States our everlasting
election makes It possible to keep Franken
stein In operation. Ho Is easily turned to
this task and to that , for the benefit of the
rulers and bosses of the American people.
Frankenstein has to be lubricated ; but there
Is oil enough ! Ho has become adjustable
to any question whatsoever At the present
time he Is so arranged that he can run
either way , or both ways , on cither track or
both tracks at the name time. A. political
party thus turned Into the Btruldbruglan con
dition will readily and enthusiastically pro-
fes ? anything , If thereby It can take the
country In ! Great are the spoils of battle.
.Great is the process by which a tree people ,
multiplied millions In strength , are made ,
ovn against their consciences and sense of
right , to divide and fling themselves Into
cor.fllct , with the vast expenditure of their
time and means , without a single essential
question of difference , and for the solo pur
pose of gaining ofllclal seats for the owners
nnd keepers of Frankenstein1
If our perpetual election were abolished It
would be d 1111 cult to keep the monster alive
from one crisis to the next. If the presi
dential ttirm were lengthened to seven years
a struldbrug parly could hardly survive
through the desolation of the septennial
period. A blessed salvation and atrophy
would supervene all the way from the caucus
to the national committee ; enterprise would
riKiimo Its wonted stroke , the Intellectual
llfo would revive , and the resources of the
American people would no longer be con
sumed In an everlasting broil and warfare. In
which the gonfalons of one party are as
false as those of thu other ,
OPEN MEETINGS OF CITIZENS.
With the breaking ot partisan continuity
the caucus Tvould necessarily end. Its place
would be taken by the public and the open
meeting of the citizens. The way to pro
mote such a result Is for thu good man to
hold off until the bad man with Im
mense damage , we sorrowfnllj- confess shall
run his machine Into wreck and dust. Let
the good man continue to follow his unerring
Instincts and lend himself to nothing which
ho docs not approve. Let him not permit
himself to become the tool and Instrument
of mischief by joining himself with the bud
man In his work ; for thereby ho shall put
himself evermore Into a position where he
will .bo reduced on election day to the alter
native of choosing between something bad
and something worse.
The outcry thnt thor good man must # o to
the caucus Is the Interested cry of the
management. The cry Is echoed and dis
seminated by the organs of thu manage
ment ; nnd thousands are dewlved thereby.
The bad man needs the goad man , ami
knows It needs him so much that he Is
willing to stoop and defer to him and then
to beat hlml The good man , if ho is wisp ,
will continue in his present manner , only
more emphatically. He will not only not go to
the bad man's caucus , but ho will tell him
RO to bis face. The report of the good man's
saying that ho will not go will spread con
sternation through the whole political realm ,
and will hasten the day whet , the American
republic shall become again as It is not
now , and has not for long years been a
government of tle people , for the people , nnd
by them. JOEIN CLAHK HIDPATH.
Greencastle , Indiana ,
A single plant of wheat Is capable of pro
ducing 2,000 seoda In ono season.
Green Coats and his wife , who were slaves
before the war , celebrated their golden wed-
dlirg last week , In Moberly. Mo.
.Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ingalls have Issued
Invitations for the marriage of their eldest
daughter , Ethel , and Dr. Edward Giles Illalr
In Atchlson , October 24.
A Toledo patriarch , 76 years of age , has
married a lovely Scotch damsel of 18 , who
figured as one of- the representatives In
the congress of beauties held at Toledo last
autumn ,
In putting the "question of questions , " a
Scotchman took his Inamorlta to his family
burial ground , and said , "Would ye He there ,
Jeanle. by and by ? " She fa Id she would , and
thus the thing was settled.
She Heforo we were married you said U
would give you the greatest pleasure to grutf
Ify my every wish. * 1
He My dear , I said your lightest wish ,
and I'll do It , too. t
The Chicago woman who married for the
second lime because u spiritualist medium
told her that It was her dead husband's do- I
sire. Is now suing her new husband for dlc
rorce. because he hired the medium to give
the message.
He What do you think your father would
say if wo were to run away and get mar
ried ?
She Really , I don't know ; but I Imagine
ho would nay I was a bigger fool than ho
thought. I was.
The city of Richmond has adopted an ordi
nance against flirting on the public Htrcets.
There Is no city In the world whore the- girls
are prettier or moro Inclined to flirt than
they are In Richmond. They will flirt all the
more because of the attempted restriction of
their privileges.
Phillip Stutz , a farmer living near Joffer-
sonvllle. Ind. , and his wife Mary have had a
remarkable matrimonial career. Ueing lov
ers in childhood they were early married ,
but , falling to agree , were divorced. After a | "
few years they camfl together and were rc-
murrlcd. Again were they dlvoiced and re-
mnrrlcd , and even again did they Fceure a
divorce , and lust wok were remarried at
Now Albany , thus being three times di
vorced and remarried. Mr. Stuti is well-to-
do , and , as evidence that his wife can main
tain herself In single blessedness , she was ,
when last married , the owner ct u large
millinery store In New Albany. They de
clare their Intention of separating no more.
Mrs. llaneman , a Chicago widow , recently
rejected the suit of Mr. Jacobson , who Im
mediately hired a German band to play
tunes with suggestive titles under Mrs.
Ilaseman'a window. The lady Blood the
smlle-s of her neighbors and the persistence
of the band until patience ceased to ba the
virtue that It Is supposed to be Then she
pleaded with the leader , who refused to stop
pljylng on the ground that Mr. Jacobson
had paid well for the in us I c , Thereupon the
went to court and secured an Injunction
the disappointed lover , to restrain
him from giving such objectionable expres ' vc
sion to hit woo This shows. Mrs. Ilareman vV
to ba a woman of nerva and action. V
.7IO.VA75r.t4.Vn 1IHKKXK ,
Tying her bonnH under her chin ,
She tied bpr rnven- ringlets In ,
Uut not alone Irv her nllkcn snnrc
Did slio ontrh her lovely floating hnln
For , tying her boiinol under her chin ,
.She tied u young inan'n lieiut within.
They wrro strolling together up the- hilt ,
When the winds came blowing merry and
chill ;
And It blow the curia n. frolicsome race
All over the happy , pencil-colored fnce ,
Till scolding n mi laughing. he tied them lt
Under her beautiful dimpled chin.
O. western wind , do you think It wns fnlr
To piny nucli tricks with her floating hair ?
To gladly , gleefully do your best
To blow her iigulnst the young in mi a
brenst ,
Wliero he had gladly folded her In.
And kissed , her mouth nnd dimpled chin ?
O , Hllery Vnno. you little thought ,
An hour ago , \sboii you besought
This country last to walk \\lth you ,
After tin' sun hint dried the ilow ,
Wlmt terrible iliitigor jou'd bo In
As she tied bur bonnet under her chin ,
C'7JIHHrjAS MIKXCK.
OMAHA. Oct. 18. To the Editor ot ThB
Hoc : A few letters only of Mrs Peattle's
written for the World-Herald hnvo escaped
my attention nnd enjoyment. I am an
ardent admirer of the many useful hints ,
wise suggestions and beautiful thoughts slio
ha-i from tune to time given the public.
Rules , houever , hnvo their exceptions. Most
gifted men must confess there nre times when
they nre not nt their best , when their sub
jects have not been carefully and fairly
dealt with. Our \irlter says she does not
understand Christian Science ; the very be
ginning ot the letter shows thnt without
any honest confess on on her part Slit
says : "It Is a philosophy which claims a
unity for mind and matter , nnd for mind
and spirit , nnd for spirit and God. " And
again , "Uut briefly as the simple unJerst.iiut
the laws of this teaching , spirit and matter
are one , Spirit Is God all Is God. Tha
Christian Scientist refuses to recognUe innU
let. "
If , as stated , spirit nnd matter nro one.
and spirit Is God , and ue- refuse to rccognlzt
matter , then It follows that we must , ac <
cording to correct reasoning , refuse to recojo
nlzo God , a conclusion which Is totally at
variance with the fundamental precept : ! ol
our religion. The talented writer also says
all Is God. Wo do declare the omnipotence
and omnipresence of God , but could never
draw our conclusions from the premises'
laid down In our writer's article. Wo da
not claim the unity of spirit and matter ,
but declare them opposltcs ; the one reulj
the other unreal ; the ono positive , the other
negative ; the one all powerful and destroy'
Ing through a scientific action the falsity o (
the other. We all know that light dispels
darkness. The Christian Scientist know ;
when the light of truth appears the dark :
ness of error disappears. A thought only
have I given , and that for the purpose of
correcting the error In the above statement ;
So great arc the possibilities of Christian
Science , so numerous Its sane and Intelli
gent followers , so wonderful the unfolding
of Its truths , KO dec ] > and Inexhaustible ! Its
subject , I do not feel calle-d upon to adver
tise It through the newspaper columns or to
attempt an explanation of Its profound truth !
through the same channel when I am a be
ginner only at the numeration table of this
science. Yes , wo do try lo make practica
ble the teachings of Jesus. He gave us the
undivided garment. He commanded us to
heal the sick , as well as preach the gospel.
His uork seems miracles to the world , butte
to n student ot Christian Science a natural
fulfillment of the Dlvno law.
With regard to the assertion. "The fact
remains that by the Insistence of the leaders
In this Christ healing upon tho.su who do
not believe , great harm Is Inflicted. " t
beg to say It Is not the custom to thrust our
views upon any one , or to act apart from
common sense and sound judgment. There
are times when we Judiciously offer our
services , but In nearly every Instance the
aid Is sought. Nor do wo ignore the fnlsf
evidence , but earnestly seek to displace If
with the correct that Is' , wo seek to de
stroy the effect of nn unscientific law wltll
the truth of the Eternal law , which pro-
ceedeth from thu ono Parfcc.1 Cauw. j ,
A prize essay of'tho tloylston Medical so
ciety of Harvard university by E. W. Taylor ,
A.U. of Harvard , had' for Its subject "Tho
Mental Element In the Treatment of Dis
ease. " I will quote a few lines from ex
tracts ot the essay I saw not long ago :
"Never In the h'story ' of medical sclenco
has the subject of mental therapeutics n3-
suinml such proportions and excited BO pro
found an Interest as within the last few
years. The mysticism and vagueness of
former theorizing In this field has , in a great
measure , been laid aside , and the time , If
not here , Is apparently coming when the same-
tests of truth and the same fairness of con
sideration will bo applied to facts of tha
mental life as have heretofore with such
brilliant results been applied to facts of the
physical life. The natural tendency In
most minds 1ms been consistently to Ignore
the mental clement and lay stress solely
upon Us physical relative. * In
Its practical aspect , however , on the side of
results the doctrlno demands recognition.
Cures have been and are being effected by
tl oje professing the principles ot Christian
Science. Tills probably no one will now
deny. Physicians In regular practice can
afford neither to deny the fact nor to neglect
Its Investigation. We do not believe such
cures are caused by adherence to unproved
metaphysical notions. Certainly , we must
seek a moro rational explanation , nnd ono
moro in accord with the facts of experience "
With much study , thought , research and
honest and unselfish application of the rules
ot Christian sclenco ono could never for an
Instant be "almost Impelled to pronounce the
whole belief as fraudulent , frantic and In
sane " The Christian Scientist has but one
remedy for both the Imaginary nnd "tho bona
fide disease , " and the latter Is as unreal to
us as the former. The law which sustains
man's being In one case will In the oth9r alBO.
Charcot may see no good In hypnotism ,
Elliott Cones may have found diversion in
theosophy , but the discoverer and founder of
Christian Sclenco Is as firm , steadfast anil
convinced of the Immortal truth today as lit
the beginning twenty-eight years ago A
fair and unbiased consideration of Iho many
cases healed by Christian Science , a search
Into the cause which brings about these ef
fects , an Insight into the motives , and a proof
of certain actions , deemed by the world
"folly and frenzy , " would do away with much
harsh judgment and condemnation. Amid ac
cusations , condemnations and persecutions wo
faint not , but pre&s on blessed assurances
lighten the burden. We are solving the prob
lem with mathematical certainty. A falluro
today causes us to turn our gaze moro stead
ily I to the light tomorrow. If Urn work1 secmj
unsatisfactorily done , does that prove a flaw
in the principle ? We have risen above the
compounds of matrrla medlca ; from the de
coction of reptiles , Spanish flics , mineral and
animal poisons , which were administered 2GS7
II. C. to the present mild remedies ot bread
pellets and pure water to find , what ? Come
and seo. No photograph can picture th
abode ; no phcnogruph can convey the han
monies ; no circuit can transmit the peace an < J
rest , for the abode M In Soul , the action In
Mind , peace and rest in the Real.
A STUDENT OK CHRISTIAN SCIKNCD.
Nmii in.N : or 'ii
Detroit Free Press ; Money Is a powerful
conversationalist.
Necessary evils ore necessary becausi
mankind Is built that way.
It's a long way up the hill If you think
about the hill all the time.
Sarcasm may be right , but It casts A
shadow. '
People talk a lot about marrying b for
they do It ; afterward they think about It.
An ouncn of accomplishment U worth &
ton of Intention.
The sky Is never nil blue at the cnm.
lime.
If everybody was perfect what would th
gosMps do for Interesting material ?
There may be plenty ot room at the ( op ,
but happiness doesn't always get there.
Tim Ulryrla NjKtum.
N w York Weekly : First Citizen It I *
not enough that blcycloi carry bells ; the law
should enforce a regular system of clgriata
that all can understand.
Second Citizen What would yon suggest ?
Flr t Citizen W ll. I don't know axaclly ,
but It might bo Homollilnt ; llko thin ; On *
ring , "Stand , tlltl" ; two ringi , "Podga to lh
right" ; three , rlnc , "Dlv IQ the left" : fouf
rlng , "Jump straight up and I'll run under
you" ; five rings , "Turn a back handspring
and land bihlnd me- , " and ro on. You < * ;
< i folki who vrnlk nro ulvjiyn Bind to he ad >
cominodninjr , but Itm trouble Is to find out
what tha fellow bobli-J : uj naal * ua to do.