Nebraska Newspapers

    For Boys and Girls.
THE LOST OPAL OF MYSO E , OE THE
SECRET OF THE GHANTB.
lly vrilllnm Murrny Ornjtlon.
( Copyright , 1S3I , by William Murray Orajnlon. )
CHAPTER III ,
UNWELCOME VISITORS.
\ The fugitives realized at once that they
had entered a part of the rajah's menagerie.
The cell was really the den of some wild
beast. Again the angry snarl was heard ,
blended with a queer , clanking noise.
"Wer must get out of this , " exclaimed
Myles , In trembling tones. "You'ro In the
way. Jack , Move aside , quick ! "
"Slop , lad , " I'lnk sternly whlsporoi. "Don't
open the door , the creature Is chained. Our
lives depend on silence. "
Mylea obeyed , and a few seconds of fearful
suspense slipped by. The dungeon was twelve
feet long , and far up In the rear wall was a
grating that probably opened on the back
garden of the palace. Through the bars fil
tered a dusky beam of light , showing the un
couth form of the beast squatted In the middle -
dlo of the floor. Its eyes were two bolls ol
flre.
flre.Nearer
Nearer and nearer came 'thq noisy tread
ot the rajah's soldiers. The animal snarled
Incessantly , as though bent on betraying the
Intruders.
"If this keeps up wo are lost , " muttered
Jack.
"I'll fix ' 1m , " replied Pink. "There's time
enough. "
Ha stepped forward , and the beast sprang
to the end of Its chain to meet him. Then ,
by the dim light , Pink drove the spear deer
Into the tawny breast , and the animal rolled
over In the throes of death. Before It could
utter more than a wall or two Jack's tulwai
nearly severed Ita head from Its body.
"Well struck , lad , " whispered Pink. "Ah
"ore they come. Not a sound for your lives. '
The danger had been averted just In time
Already the gleam of torches was flashing
under the cell door. With boisterous speccl
and tread the guards went by. The soum
came from farther and farther away until I
was only a dim echo.
"Now Is our chance , " whispered Myles
"no time to lose- . "
"Walt a lilt , " said Pink , stepping towarc
the rear of the cell. "No , we can't get ou
by the grating , " he added. "It's too narrow
Bay , this 'un's the biggest leopard 1 eve :
saw. "
"It's a good thing It was chained , " repllei
Jack. "Corue on , quick. "
An Instant later the fugitives wcro In thi
corridor , and moving through the darknes
toward the staircase. For fear of missing th
way they presently ventured to relight th
lamp.
"There's only a minute or so to sparo,1
warned Pink. "It won't take those 'eathci
rascals long to crawl over the rubbish Int
my cell and find It empty. Then won't the ;
kick up a rumpus ? "
"Hark ! they are pulling the stones down,1
whispered Jack.
"Hero's the stairway Just ahead , " cheer
fully replied Myles. "If we can't find th
spring we'll kick the panel to splinters am
dash through the "
His voice ended In a gasp of fright , fo
just then the burly flguro of Moteo Mn
stalked out of a cross corridor. The Hlndo
Instantly recognized the party , and the horro
depleted on his face was something awful ,
Pink lifted his spear for a deadly thrust
but Paltu caught the weapon just In time.
"Spare my father , sahib , " he Implored.
"Your father ? " gasped Pink , seeing ,
gleam of hope In tha discovery.
"On my head bo misfortune , " walled Mote
Mai , tossing up his arms In despair. "Sahlbi
you are all lost. Alasl that my first bor
should perish by the tulwar. "
"Plead with ' 1m , lad , " Pink whispered t
Mylea. There's some chance if V don't kno-
of this private affair ot the rajah's ; otherwl :
'tt'Jl , bo torn apart before 'e'll let mecscapi
Quick , or I'll 'ave to use the spear. "
"Tho tall jsahlb Is the prisoner ot his hlgt
ness , " resumed the Hindoo. "Him I inu ;
seize , but the others I will aid It there I
"
power
' " "Never , " exclaimed Jack , fiercely. "Sat
all or none. Wo won't escape without Pink.
"Help us , Moteo Mai , for Paltu's sake ,
Implored Myles. "Have you no fear of tt
resident ? De quick , or the guards wl
come. "
Paltu threw himself beseechingly at h
parent's feet , and Just then a burst of angi
voices was heard In the distance.
Moteo Mai tore his hair In a frenzy of r
morse. "Brahma , forgive me ! " ho cried. '
am accursed among men. Yet surely I mu
bo faithful to my vow ot gratitude , even ;
the risk of my head. "
He glanced at Myles and Paltu , Indlcattr
that the latter's rescue from the tank was
his mind.
"Swear by the holy Ganges , sahibs , " 1
added , quickly , "that ye let no word of wh
I am about to do como to the rajah's ears. "
Without 'hesitation the fugitives took 11
required oath. Motee Mai scanned each fac
and was apparently satisfied ot their si
cerlty.
"This way , " ho muttered , snatching tl
lamp -from Pink and dashing Into the si
corridor from which he had como. He n
at such a pace and turned so many angi
THE RAJAH DISCOVERED AN OLD DOC
MBNT.
that It was difficult to stick at his he <
Far to the rear the clamor of the soldi
rose and fell and died away In silence.
But Moteo Mat did not lessen his ape
He pushed on through a maze ot nan
corridors , wbero the .walls were damp i
alliny and the air was tainted with i
smells.
His knowledge of the labyrinth was
firing , and finally he paused before'a rut
Iron door. Ha pressed 'a knob and the d
pened slowly on creeklnc hinges. Pi
lh black darkness beyond a hoane tun
was berne in on a wave of fresh air.
"Yonder lies the garden , " whispered M (
Mai. ' , ' ' CQU * W y ° u no further. II
ra quick ye can slip through the forti
gntM bolora the Alarm U given , lloniem
your oath , eahlbi , and may Urahma gt
you , "
The door grated shut and the fugltl
were on the outer side amid a dense copi
ot shrubbery. Crawling through this t
teed erect and found themselves near
Iqwror end ot the tank.
The flre was under control , but
treamt were still playing on the imoli
Ing ruins of the explosion. A noisy en
looked curiously on.
"There goes an engine , " salt ] Pink. ' '
muit allp out behind It. Come on , I n
land the chances off being recognized ,
another mlnuto It may be too late. "
They hurried across the garden and 0' '
took the engln * just as It wu rolling thro
tk mala gale , The s atrlca paid no
tentlon , and a moment later the fugitives
were oul In the street ,
"Where , now ? " asked Pink. "Uefore
we're flvo minutes older the rajah will 'ave
'Is spies 'untlng the town for me. "
"This will let us Into the rear garden of
the residency , " replied Myles holding1 up the
key.
key."Just the place" exclaimed Pink. "Move
faster lads and don't run against any one
If you can 'elp It. "
The latter precaution was difficult since
many people were astir. Slowever the
fugitives gained the English church without
attracting attention and a llttlo later they
entered the residency grounds and locked
the wicket gate behind them ,
Pink made his companions sit down In a
nook alongside the wall , screened by thick
shrubbery. He began by questioning Myles
about thu affair of the residency and quickly
learned that Pershad Jung was In charge
during the absence of Colonel Toversham
and his secretary.
"That makes this 'ero mission of mine a
llttlo easier , " ho declared. The night's
young yet , so I'll 'av tlmo to tpln the yarn
If I niako It stiort. What would you say
If I told you a. revolution was ready to burst
on Mysore ? "
Myles and Jack fairly gasped for breath ,
and Paltu opened eyes and mouth wldo.
"Impossible ! " cried Myles. "I can't be-
llovo It. You must be "
"Crazy , ch ? " Interrupted Pink. "But
spies report that I'm not to bo found , ami
that no alarm 'as been given at the canton
ments. Then they'll gobble up some Eng
lishman In my place and send 'Im with a
party to get the magic opal , and by the
tlmo the stone could bo brought back they'd
eve the mlno all ready to flre. But they
' ' the treasure because -
shan't 'ave the opal or ,
cause I'm going to get them myself. "
"Youl" exclaimed Jack and Myles , In
credulously.
"Exactly , " asserted Pink. "That's the
only sure way to knock the plot on the
'cad. It's about midnight now , and I'll start
In an hour or two. The rajah's party will
'ardly leave before morning. As llko as not
the guards are still 'untlng for us In the
dungeons , olnco. no one saw us como out
except Motce Mai , and Vlt bo mum as on
oyster. "
The boys drew a long breath. Pink's
logic seemed flawless to them , and they
realized that his perilous mission would
probably avert the * threatened bloodshed and
revolt. Older and wiser heads might have
reached the name conclusion , for the situ
ation was Indeed full of critical complica
tions.
"How far away Is the opnl ? " asked Mylos.
"Eighty or ninety miles to the northwest , "
answered Pink , "In the 'cart of the Chants.
I can got to the spot easy enough , but I'll not
deny that It's a stiff task nt the end. You
! "YONDER LIES THE GARDEN. "
I'm not , lad. This 'ere statement Is gospel
truth and I'll prove It. In the flrst place ,
you'll bellevo mo when I say that a couple
of the rajah's ugly soldiers kidnaped me
Vrom the cantonment gate the other night.
You've 'ad evidence of that. "
The boys nodded. Already they were be
coming credulous.
"Well , " resumed Pink , "the rascals
drugged mo. and the next thing I know I
was In a magnificent loom In the palace ,
and there was the rajah and a lot ot Hindoo
traitors , mostly officers of the Mysore regi
ment. The rajah talked to mo In good Eng
lish. First 'e begged my pardon for carry
ing mo off. Then 'o said I was a brave
follow and 'e'd taken a Bhlno to mo because
I saved 'Is life. 'E asked me would I
like to command 'Is army and 'ave lots of
money and jewels. Well , I sort of let on
I was willing , because I wanted to discover
what 'o was driving at. So pretty soon I
ooked 'Ira. and the whole plot come out.
I tell you I was scared. I 'ad 'ard work
to keep cool "
"And what was the plot ? " Interrupted
Myles.
"As near as I can remember. It was llko
this , " replied Pink. "It starts a couple of
'undred years back. In these days the
Hindoo rulers of Mysore the ancestors ol
this 'ero rejah 'ad a big family jewel. They
called It the magic opal , and as long as the
rajah were It on his turban no enemy could
overthrow ' 1m. In 17CO a Mahometan
named Hyder All got hold of the opal some
how or other and became the ruler of My
sore. 'Is son , Tlppoo Sahib , came after Mm ,
and as the opal was no good for Mahome
tans Tlppoo was knocked out by the Eng
lish In 1799. " .
„
"That was the battle of Serlngapatam ,
o.
"Kxactly. " assented Pink , "and before the
battle Tlppo Sahib 'Id the opal and a lot ol
treasure In some secret place. Tlppoo was
killed , and the old Hindoo family went back
to the throne under a British protectorate.
Ever since the people of Mysore 'uve been
looking for that opal , and 'oping It would
como back to put on end to the. British rule.
Mind you , the English 'know nothing about
it , and never did. But the tradition 'an
been 'anded down among the natives to this
day , and every man Jack of them Is ready for
revolt as soon as they know the opal Is In
the rajah's turban. The rajah would never
'avo told me the secret If I 'adn't fooled Mm
Into It. 'E said that Mysore would 'ave
mutinied In 1857 llko the other native states
It the opal 'ad been found then "
"And you don't mean to say It's beer
found now ? cried Myles , excitedly.
"As good as found , " declared Pink. "A
day or two ago the rajah discovered an old
document under the palace. It was wrltter
by Tlppoo Sahib , and tells the 'Idlng place ol
the treasure and the opal stone. It's miles
off , though , and they 'aven't gene after II
yet But the rajah'a spies are spreading the
news among the people and telling them tr
be ready. "
The boys were by this tlmo thoroughlj
convinced that Pink's story was true , an < !
their horror and amazement can be bottei
Imagined than described. Even Paltt
seemed Impressed by the wonderful news
"Do you know where the stone Is hidden ? '
asked Jack , after a pause.
"Walt a bit till I flnlsh my story , " repllcc
Pink. "You see there was a clause to thli
letter of Tlppoo Sahib's saying that the epa
must be dug up 'by an Englishman , or It !
power would be gone. To cut matters short
that's what the rajah wanted with me.
ought to 'ave parleyed with Mm , but Insteai
of that I was fool enough to say no out
right. Just then Pcrshad Jung came Into th
la. room at least that's what they called Mm-
iry and 'e flew Into a terrlblo rage. 'E pltchei
Into the rajah for blowing the plot , and th
sd.
rajah got mad and pitched into Mm. Pershai
ownd Jung said I couldn't be trusted , and I'i
vll ave to lose my 'ead. They talked I
Hlndustanee , and I took good care not t
in- let them know I 'ad picked up the ling
ined [ when I was stationed at Calcutta. By an
and let out where th
> or by 'they ' cooled down ,
am opal was 'Id and 'ow to get It. I always 'a
ult a good memory , and you bet I made use c
It , Then the guards ran mo down to th
tee dungeon and told nto my 'cad was to be cu
ye off at the second sunrise , meaning tomorroi
ess morning. And Its owing to you chaps tha
tier I'm out ot that scrape. "
tdo Pink drew a long breath and wiped th
perspiration from his face.
vcs "Something must b done at once , " ei
Ice claimed Myles excitedly. "We can tell
ley graph to the resident and alarm the car
lha fonfnents "
"Not a bit ot It , lads , " Interrupted Plnl
"It our soldier * try to arrest the rajah an
:
er-
erwd hit minister now , there'll likely be a blood
massacre. The resident's absence la
Wo downright streak of luck. You don't see I
ust eh ? Well , 'ere'a the situation In a nu
In shell , Pershad Jung 'as the upper 'am
being In charge of British Interests , and '
er- and the rajah will trust to that to englnee
> erEh their plot through In iplte of ray eac p
ttt- No doubt they'll keep ihady until the.
see , old Tlppoo Sahib chose the toughe :
place 'o could flnd , and "
"Then you need help , " broke In Myle
I'll go with you. "
"So will I , " added Jack , and Paltu chime
In with a shrill "me , too , sahibs. "
"I've been sort of counting on that , " ai
mltted Pink , tugging reflectively at h
mustache. What we went through tonlgl
showed that you chaps are made of ster
stuff and can stand 'peril and 'ardshlp
You're better away from 'ere , anyhow. It' '
worry your frjends , though , for you won
dare leave any messages. "
"My father .and Captain Dundaa are bol
In Nellgherry' hills .and won't leave for
week , " replied Myles.
"That's good , " said Pink , "we'll be bac
long before they will , and as for Pqrsho
jung why , the old rascal can think wh :
'e pleases. And now about an outfit , lad
We need fast horses , arms and ammunltlo :
blankets , provisions , a long rope and a coup
ot spades. "
"I can furnish them , " eagerly volunteer !
Myles , "that Is If we take proper prccai
tlons. I know where the key Is to Colon
Toversham's arsenal room , as ho calls It. "
"Good for you , " approved Pink , "th
makes plain sailing. And now , my lad ,
would suggest that you got what stuff y <
want from the 'ouse right away. Persh :
Jung Is likely at the palace , but 'e'll soon 1
back. "
"All right , " Myles assented , "I'll tal
Paltu along to help carry. He can crei
about like a cat. "
Just as the two boys rose to their feet z
angry growl was heard not far away.
"Lassa ! " Lassal" called Myles In a lot
whisper , and Instantly a hugo Thlbeti
mastiff bounded to the spot. The Intell
gent animal seemed to understand his yout
master's command to bq silent. After
sniff or two at Pink , who was the on
strange member of the party , ho crouchi
contentedly down In the shrubbery.
"I forgot about the dog being loose. " sa
Myles. "He won't give us any troubl
though. Hold him by the collar , Jack ,
ho'll follow me. You then , Paltu " ,
"Stop , " Interrupted Pink In a .sha
whisper. "I 'ear voices beyond the wa
I'm afraid we've been tracked. "
"And I forgot to lock the gate , " e
claimed Myles. "Tho key Is outside. "
"Too late , lad , " whispered Pink. "Ke
down for your lives. Ah , 'ere they come. "
Myles dropped flat , and took a double gr
on the mastiff by tils collar and long nose.
"Bo quiet , old fellow , " he breathed soft !
"wo'ro In danger. "
Lassa bristled Ilka an angry porcupine , b
made no eound.
Creak ! creak ! The wicket gate slow
opened and two dusky figures crept throui
Into the garden. They advanced six fc
and halted In a broad-streak of silvery moo
light that clearly revealed their faces to t
anxious watchers.
( To be Continued. )
THE SONG "JOHN BROWN'S BOD1
Soldiers Ilcgnu It In n Joke nnd U Ore
Into a National War Sotig.
BY JAMES BE ALE ,
Late Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteer 1
fantry.
( Copyrlsht 1891 by McClurc. )
About forty years ago the Sumter Hi
company of Charleston , S. C. , comm
sloned a Philadelphia musician to write
"chantez" for their use on a proposed , (
curslon. They received a song , the opt
Ing words of which were :
"Say bummers , -will you meet us ? "
Acting on John Wesley's maxim , " ,
ways Eteal a good tune- from the devil wl
you flnd him vrlth one , " the Method !
appropriated the tune , and with modlflcat
the words , the new version being :
"Say , brothers , will you me t us ? "
This became very popular as a camp me
Ing and revival hymn , and by 1861 It v
quite generally known.
The filing on Sumter and consequ
rally to arms caused Fort Warren , Bos
harbor , to be occupied by the Second b
tallon of Massachusetts Infantry , comino
known as the "Tigers. ' ' They found '
fort in a very unfinished state work on
Laving been stopped when Jefferson Da
was secretary of wnr and as a natural
suit "fatlguo parlies" were very numerc
After the day's work was over a favoi
amusement was singing , for there were so
excellent voice * In the battalion , notably <
quartet , Charles B. 7 ] . Gdgerly , Jan
Jenkins , Newton J. Purnette , John Brown.
The iat a Scotchman was the subj
of many jokes , owing to the similarity
his name to that ot tha famous Osai
tomle Brown , then recently executed. 1
Scot rather resented these quiddities , t
this , of course , made them mora conste
The story coea that ono evening when I
of this Quartet were returning to the foi
John Brown and" Ino other being seated neai
the BnllypottS-tlre query was shouted
"What'a theUnerti ? " Promptly came tin
retort : "Why , John Brown's dead. " Soim
ono added , "You ] ! ! still goes marchlnp
round. " iln i o
Unlike a rolling ) utone , those Ideas gathered
as the clmti M < wUro sung on them , and b )
dark the camp -meeting tune had undergone
gene revision , for itho "Tigers" were chant
Ing : , . : M
John Itrown'silxxly lies n-moulderlng In tin
grave , 9 , , , . ,
llut his Joul ! , o < ] < < inarching on ,
ONCE BBOUN THE SONQ GREW.
On May 25 , 1861 , the "Tigers" loft Forl
Wnrrcn , but ; VuT'on May 7 the Twelfth
Massachusetts Vottmteers ( Webster regiment ]
had reached the fort , many of the "Tigers"
enlisted In thfs re-gfment. Jenkins and Hrowr
joining company1' 'A , Purnette and Edgerly
joining company E all four being sergeants
Of course they carried their song wltli
them , and ns the * regimental dress parades
wore In "heavy marching order" knapsacks
nnd all accoutrements * It became the fashion
nflor dross parade for the regiment to in arc I :
around the parade ground , singing the secoiu
verso :
John Urown's knapsack's strapped upon hit
tmck ,
And we go iniirchlntr on.
Chaplains In these days styled the volun
teers "Tho Army of the Lord , " so the third
verse :
He's gone to be a soldier In the army of tin
Lord ,
The regiment had the soubriquet ol
"Webster's Cattle ; " this U referred to Ir
the fourth verso :
Ills ( Colonel Webster's ) pet lambs will mec
him ( Sergeant IJrown ) on the way ,
which they used to do every evening whlli
making the march nround the parade ground
The unfinished state In which Fort Warrci
had been found and the great amount o
labor thereby entailed naturally caused sonu
vlndlctlvcness toward the author thereof
who , as president of the Insurgent states
was then an object of universal attention
So In the flfth verse the "Wcbstcrs" pro
posed to
Hang Jeft Davis to the bough of n tree.
which eventually became "a sour apple tree. '
HOW THE SCORE WAS WRITTEN
The air was wl.lstfcd to the bandmaster
William J. Martland , the score written b ;
Samuel C. Perkins , a member ot the band
and very soon the tune was played on dres
parade , as accompaniment to the 1,100 voice
of the regiment. Copies of the score wer
given to Gllmore and the Gormanla band
then Dltson published It , and so the Join
Brown song became common property.
The "Webster regiment" flrst sang It li
Boston on July 18 , 1861 , when Its colors wer
presented by Hon. Edward Everett ; Heavlni
Fort Warren on July 23 , on the next day I
electrified Now York city with the woln
chorus ; Baltimore heard It on July 26 , amen
on March 1 , 1862 , at Charleston , Vn. , on th
spot where Osawatomte was hanged th
"Websters" sang :
John Brown's body lies n-moulderlng In th
grave ,
Ills soul goes marching on.
THE "WEBSTERS" CEASED TO SING II
Regiment after regiment adopted the sonf
and so It ceased -to be the special propert
of the "Webstors , " who gradually disused I
Perhaps the fate of Sergeant Brown , who wn
accidentally drowned ut Fort Royal Juno I
1862 , may have had a deterring Influenci
Some think the death of Colonel Wehste
( killed at Bull Hun August 30 , 1862) ) ha
much to do with lti-but whatever the caus
the fact remains' that the song was neve
more used by the "Websters. "
In July , 18C4j asjl made Its return marc
through Boston-5-elghty-flve men In all , con
pany A being represented by three an e
fort was made by Its colonel to revive the ol
chorus. It was promptly frowned dowi
and silently , but" 'With soldierly tread , tl
"Webster regiment" ! passed into history ,
The question ot the orlcln of the Joh
Brown song wns discussed at a reglmcnti
reunion some years ago. Twoof the qua )
let , the bandmaster/ some of .the ban
were present , ajid the statements then mad
are embodied In this paper.
There are many , versions of the origin <
both words ondimusfc , but 'none' ' that I hai
seen give nny reasonable- explanation of th
rather singular .phriseology of the soni
Turnette and Eagerly declared 'they took tl
tuns from the camp meejlng hymn , andthi
Is.knownrto . haverbacn borrowed nfiiomIt
fireman's .ojiqr.w. to Sure It l that the 'Joh
.Brown song rwas nfost enthuslastlcall
adopted by all who heard It , and that' ' whi
was originally a Joke became a Uteri
prophesy. > ' <
THE JOSISSAUIES.
Christ lit u Hoyi Who Worn Mbde1 to FRI
a * Mnslain S.
The mighty Ottoman empire which at 01
time threatened the civilized world , sprur
from a band ot 4K ( ) wandering Turkman fam
lies In the central part of Asia. Led by tl
sultan , Othman , they swept down throuj
the southwest , gathering power as they wen
crossed Into Europe , .conquered Greece , ar
took the city of Constantinople , making
their capital. In thd year 1360 the sultt
Orcan , by the advice of the dervish , Blae
Hal ! ! , decreed that all the captive Christie
boys under 14 years of age should be orgai
Ized Into a band of''soldiers to support tl
government. From that time until the ye ;
182G , where the tldo ot Ottoman battle ragi
most fiercely , there , savage , dark , Jnvlnclb
stood the Jonlssarlos , boys suckled on Chrl
tlan breasts and algned with Christian ba
tlsm , now flinging away their lives for i
alien cause and an alien creed , flghtlng wl
the Irresistible courage of fanaticism again
their birthright and their kindred.
In order to recruit the ranks Shrall , IIu
gary , Servla , Bulgaria and all the countrl
under Ottoman sway 'had a most Inhum :
tax ImposeJl on them. Every flfth year cai
family was required to yield up a vlctlt
Only the- stoutest and most beautiful bo :
were taken. Torn from their parents whi
mere children , they1' were carried off to t ]
palace of the sultan and put In charge ot tl
Aga , n military ofllver of supreme powe
New names were given them and they we
< lally Instructed In the rights ot Mahom
danism. Their physical development w
perfect , they being required to exercise co
tlnually In wrestling , boxing , running and t :
arts of war. The best teachers In Euro
were engaged to Instruct them , and some
them became noted ncholars. Those me
conspicuous for birth , talents and beau
constituted the prince's body guard and i
celved enormous pay. . Eventually Imbu
with the faith of Islam , they became great
favorites than the Turks themselves.
Having no ties of frlendshp : , family
faction , they were awarded the highest ml
tary , civil and ecclesiastic positions In t
empire. Their barracks 'were separated frc
the rest of the city and they received
strict monastic training. Rich new band w
consecrated by celebrated . dervish , wl
holding out his hands ; prayed as follov
"Let their counteVianpd bo ever bright , tin
hands victoriouselr ! ) | word keen ! may thi
spear always hang , over the heads of th
enemies and wheresoever they go , may th
return with a wj tq fa e ! " They were not
by their enemies on account of their alien
sobriety , patience , , mpdjty and Implicit obe
eace. Owing (91 thje extreme youth a
beauty , It Is recorded > tlv > t no such Impressl
scene was ever witnessed in the annals
war as that of iS&OQOl Jonlssarles going
battle. They weru nevsr known to surreiu
and were rarely Sdefeited. In the course
several hundred yeari they became OT
bearing , corrupt blfll 'formidable. ' Wo flnd
long list of emperolh , deposed , appointed a
murdered according' t& helr whims.
Finally. In 1828 , Iter two futile nttemi
to break their potferj'the sultan , Mahon
II , , brought In a 'toFtjIm army and for th
days poured grap ' anH .canister Into the b
racks of the Jonl'sVarlb. Out of 20,000 i
even one was left to tell the tale.
NEGKO HEAD DRESSES.
lie
The African lAits ornaments In his h
as we more civilized mortals do , but :
ls > tastD Is different. For where we decori
te with gold and sliver pins and combs ,
proudly uses little balls and discs of cl
hanglne to the end of his braided locks
e8 long braided beard. Sometimes he plaster
ct great crescent shaped , lump ot clay on i
of back of hi * head , and ono old prince , parti
ofa
ahe larly vain and loving of ornament , rolled
he beard Into ball and
entire a to plastered
nd
it. with mud tba ( It hung , a great clay b ;
from his chin Juit fancy how pleasant
mutt have been to wear a five-pound well
on ono'a chin ! It would bo n great dis
courager ot conrcrsotloa , for ono certainly
would not wish to lift that weight any
ottencr than was absolutely necessary.
Borne of the women with long hair weave
It over and over nnd nround little reeds
stuck In nt right angles to the head , so that
It final Iy looks llko a great straw hat or
basket all around their faces , much like the
pcko bonnets that our grandmothers used to
wear. The ladles of the lower Congo , whose
hair Is much wooller than these of the other
tribes , part their hair In three great thick
lockM , one an each side ot Jho face nnd ono In
front. These they grcaso nnd twist until
they look like wire , then they curve them
until they look llko short cows' horns stickIng -
Ing out on both sides nnd In front ,
The natives ot Rim braid their hair In
two or three long braids right on top of the
head. These they stiffen with clay until they
stand upright exactly llko the funny little
horns the unsociable snail sticks out as he
saunters along with his house on his back.
It the man of Hua happens to have short
hair ho braids In false hair until ho gets tt
to what he considers a fashionable length ,
that Is , about twelve or fourteen Inches ,
They likewise share the fondness of so-called
civilized nations for changing the color of the
hair , and arc particularly addicted to the
use of red clay , which makes their hair a
brilliant red. They also use n , preparation of
henna for the samn purpose , and when they
want to hide the gray hairs they mix hennn
and Indigo , which makes a fine black , und
unlike Eomo European dyes , does not affect
the brain ,
A CIRCUS SCHOOL ,
Did It over occur to you to wonder how the
small boys nnd girls who go around with
country circuses from one town to another
learn to read and write ? They don't stay
long enough In any one place to go to school
and their parents usually have no time nor
Inclination to teach , even It they knew how ,
which Is very doubtful.
A quick-witted Frenchwoman has solved
the difficulty by taking the school Into the
circus , and traveling around as part of the
show. Whenever the show comes1 to a halt ,
there they put up , along with the big , round
tents and booths , her school house , which Is
merely a piece of canvas drawn over a light
wooden frame. A floor which can be taken te
pieces at will Is laid right on the ground.
Two long tables with holes for Inkstands resl
on trestles , and the benches- beside them arc
equally primitive. Then there Is a kitchen
cupboard where the books and slates arc
stored , and at one end of the tent hangs n
blackboard with great white- capitals painted
on It. Not very luxurious Is it , compared
with the well-fitted school rooms the most ol
us know ? Thcro are no rules In this school
against looking out of the window , for there
are no windows to look out of. The onlj
light comes gentle , pervasive , througl
the canvas. And when you wlsl
to como . In or go out you raise om
corner ot the c-rtn'ln , and have no door U
slam. Hero the small peanut vendor am
embryo rope dancer learn to read and wrltt
and cipher.
The school has been In existence abou
three years and Is partly paid for by th <
parents of the children and partly by :
mission.
From spring till autumn when the bac
weather puts nn end to traveling circuses tin
little school tent lends Its nomad life. Abou
November the tent Is folded away am
through the winter "school keeps" In an ol <
disused caravan with a glass roof and i
tiny stove.
IMPROMPTU MAPS.
The "cat" ard the "pig" books , deslgnei
to rcqord people's Impressions of those In
tercstlng animals ( each person to draw hi ;
own without being allowed a glimpse of an ;
one else's work ) , has an amusing compaiiloi
In a geography sketch book.
In this one's friends arc to record , In i
rapid off-hand drawing , their best recollec
tlons 'of certain very familiar outlines , sue !
*
as the coast of Massachusetts , or Italy , o
England , or North America. To be evei
fa'lrl correct Is difficult and rare , If one i
long past dally geography lessons.
The flvo great lakes of North America I
one of the best tasks to sot , tills to b
drawn Iri outline with at least the large
bays and connections Indicated , all to b
done without seeing , flrst , any other sketc )
or map. A correct map should accompan ;
the Look for easy reference and comparlsoi
with the amateur work. The curlousl :
vague , droll , mental maps that one's friend
carry about with them , thus revealed , ar
funnier than even the sea serpent's portrait
In the "sea serpent His Album. "
I have known more than one person t
stop short at a mcro "round 0" for the flrs
lake , which seemed to lead nowhere , th
other four having neither shape nor sub
stance In the puzzled artist's vision.
BLOWING UP A SHEEP.
Among the gypsies ot Bosnia there Is i
curious game called "the game of the sheep.1
You know they skin a sheep or goat In th
east by dragging the skin off whole over It
head. This skin the Bosnians drip am
grease most carefully. They then tie u
the four legs and the neck and blow tt fill
of air , so that It looks llko a very greasy
badly shaped sheep. This Is thrown In th
middle of the ring and each man In tur ;
jumps on tt with bare feet , until one sue
ceeds In bursting It. The lucky one the ;
gets a purse. Such a funny sight as It Is t
see them jump and sprawl ! for , of course
If they do not strike It at just the rlgh
angle they slip on the greasy surface a
If It were a toboggan slide and go sprawl
Ing.
P11.1TTLK OF TllK
c Auntie What Is It you are embrolderln
on the tidy for grandma ? Little Nellie Th
good die young.
Maud What Is the trouble between Allc
and Kate ? Ethel Why , you see , Allco aske
Kate to tell her just what she thought c
her. Maud Yes ? Ethel Kate told her.
Friend What Is your father doing nov
Jimmy ? Jimmy Father ? Doln' ? Los seo-
thls Is Sadderdy I s'pect he's tryln' to boi
rer a $5 bill about now.
At Prayers : Minnie ( In loud whlsper- )
Jlmmy , wet makes Uncle Ebon shct 'Is eye
wen he's prayln' ? Jimmy ( In loud whlspci
Mebbe he's 'shamed ter look the Lord 1
th' face.
"You must go to be < l , now , deal
You know the chickens all go to roost wit
the sun. " "Yes ; but then their mamm
always coes with them. "
Teddy I wish I hadn't licked JImrn
Brown this morning. Mamma You see no
how wrong It was , don't you dear ? Teddy-
Yes , 'cause I didn't know till noon ( hat 1
was going to glvo a party.
Phyllis Little brother told papa that yc
kissed me over one hundred times last nigh
Alphonso How did your little brothi
know ? Phyllis Why. It's the llttlo thlm
that count , you know.
' * "I say , Jen , " called little Tommy. "What"
lQ returned his sister. "Why , I was Just thlnl
jn' you've always had to wear ma's o
dresses made over and I've always be <
stuck with pa's old clo'es which of us d'yt
s'pose'll have things made out o' ma's blcyc
bloomers when they get old ? "
"Suppose. , Hobble , that another boy Bhou
'
strike your right cheek , " asked' the Stindi
school teacher , "what would you do !
"Give him the other check to strike , " sa
' -That's " said the teaclic
Dobble.That's right ,
"Yessum , " said Dobble , "and It he strut
that I'd paralyze him. "
r-
rot I efriKlml llnr < In I in Mint Fashion.
News was received at Perry , Okl. , of
duel between a woman and a man In tl
upper part of the county. In which the mi
was shot three times by the woman , and tl
latest report IB that he will die.
Ir Miss Agnes Jones , at the opening ot tl
Cherokee strip , took a homestead twen
te miles -north of Perry In the Perry land dl
trlct , and built a home on the same. Son
weeks ago Miss Jones went to Kansas
visit , and drulng her absence Sam Barti
jumped the claim of Miss Jones and mov
Into her house. Yesterday Ml Jones a
rived home and found Bartell living
her house , and she cave orders for him
leave Immediately , but Bartell did not e
whereupon M.na Jones pulled from under h
apron a pistol and shot nix tlmei at Hurte
three shots taking effect , Bartell hot on
at the woman , but missed her. Nelghbo
came In , and Kartell uked to be carrl
from tb claim.
THE PRAIRIE A SEA OP FLAME
tccollcctlons of the Baptism of Tire Re
ceived by the Oitj of Lincoln.
BATTLE FOR LIFE AND HOME
lu > Inviulnr'i irorclilnp 1'rnnt Turiu-il After
n Uotpcnitn I'ljht I'lm I'lro'g lltiick
Trull Tritnsforaiml Into
Vlvl l ( Irotu.
I was very young when I experienced my
flrst prairie flre , writes A. S. Cody In the
Now York Independent. Wo lived on the
very outskirts of the city of Lincoln , Neb. ,
which wus also very young In Its city
maidenhood. The fact Is , the city and I had
been born In the same year. Our house stood
to the southeast , Ucyond us , to the east and
south , wns a broad , level expanse ot grassy
prairie , which rose gradually In the distance
nto what looked llko a mountain , but was In
act only one of the giant undulations ot a
oiling prairie. On the west , at some ( Us
ance , was a small river or creek , skirted by
roes and shrubs and bordered by a broad ,
crtllo valley. There were numerous trlb-
tary smaller creeks and the main creek ,
alt creek , wound around to the north , hold-
ng the city In Its bond. Ucyond the creek
i-ero more lilllf. , vast , seamed waves of solid
urth , rising nnd falling or breaking suddenly
n an abrupt preclplco where a small stream
ad cut Its way throush. Hut there were
0 rocks to speak of , and one could Imagine
mt those great hills had been made by the
cashing of the glacier which In olden times
ast d over this plain , rather than by the
pheaval of the earth from Its Interior.
In the spring nnd autumn , especially the
lirlng , after the snow and lee has all gone ,
ml before the grass has begun to grow
gain , one cannot go out of n clear , warm
Ight without seeing long lines ot flro on every
orlzon , nnd at Intervals down every undu-
atlng hillside. The farmers are burning of !
lie old , dry grass of the year before , so thai
he new will come up fresh and free , anil
omohow the flrc always has a way of getting
ooso and having a romp over the plains ,
lut one needs something for excitement. So
urc Is the pralrlo flro to pass over the whole
Country that the wise always provide flrc-
rcaks about their stacks of hay and their
omcs and barns. A rod or so back from the
tack a furrow Is plowed , and several rods
nrthcr back still another furrow or two Is
urned up. Then the grass In between
s burned off carefully , and so your haystasli
r your barn or your homo Is protected agalnsl
Ire by a broad , arid belt , on which no flre
an flnd fuel. Hut now and again , with the
iclp of a good wind , a lusty lire will Jumr
iver your arid belt llko a boy playing leap-
rog , and then your hay makes n flno blaze ,
have seen many a hundred ton stack ol
iay , protected by a firebreak , too , servo the
purpose of a lovely bonfire.
At the tlmo of the particular flre I air
rolng to describe the warm south winds had
jeen blowing steadily for some weeks , the
rest was quite out of the ground , the grass
was as dry as tinder , and the soli was hanl
and parched. Haln was needed , nnd rnlu
would como soon. As soon as the grouml
should be softened the garden would u
plowed , though now It was a forest of tall
Iry weeds. On that bright spring mornlnj
, a child , played hldc-and-seek delighted ! )
imong the weeds , little thinking that a feu
lours later the place where I sat on th <
ground would be hot as a smoking furnace.
At noon they said there was n lire coming
) no could smell the smoke In the air , and fly-
ng cinders floated overhead , borne on tin
itrong , fierce wind that -was blowing fron
he south. Away on the- crest of the dlstani
illl waa a long line ot smoke , with now ant
hen n gleam of flame. It was miles away
If teen or twenty ; but they said It was com
ng toward us , right on the city , faster that
1 horse could gallop. Over there was nn ol <
white farm house , and down In th& hollov
yonder was a llttlo board shanty and scvora
Ino blacks of hny. There were scant flre
breaks around them ; but their owner hoi
; ono away , and his little shanty was locked
IVo were protected by no firebreak , and thi
Ino of march for the flre right Into the cltj
waa unbroken. In some way the flre musi
10 stepped , and there was not too much tlrm
o do It. The alarm had gone forth. Ovei
at the white farm house the old grandfathei
jrought all his valuable papers In a tin trunl
down on the piazza , hoping that In some waj
10 might escape with his treasure : and tin
grandmother brought down several bundle
of useless old magazines , which she though
ought to be saved If possible. The mci
Drought out the horses and plows fron
every possible , source , olo\ rusty plows
sroken whlpplotrees , harness tied up wltl
a string. They turned up a furrow or twi
and set the back flre , while the women li
liystcrlcs drew water from the well lnt <
.ubs and barrels and palls , and the hook am
adder company , anxious to test their ne\
apparatus In some way , came out from th
city with all their paraphernalia to stop th
> ralrlo flre , and were much laughed at.
In the meantime the air had been grow
ng hotter nnd was filled with smoke am
light , black floating cinders ot grass. Thong
eng line of smoke over on the side of thi
; reat hill rose higher and higher , and tal
lerce flames burst through the smoke man
nnd more often , leaping for rods Into thi
nlr. It seemed Impossible that grass scarci
a foot high could scndi flames rods Into tin
air ; but so It was ; and the emoko curled U ]
.0 high heaven.
The men worked and sweated , the womei
cried and rushed about , the hook'and laddci
company waited In dumb silence for some
thing to do , and on came the fire , rushing
roaring , llko a tornado , sending its spaiki
ahead on the strong south wind llko avant
couriers , and RO galloped over the prairie
Now It was beyond the little creek , but li
ten minutes It would bo here , and our pet ( :
Urcbreak might not hold tt. In flvo minute
It was on the edge of the hollow , mid wltl
a fiendish laugh It roared and clasped li
Its embrace the llttlo board shanty and thi
three great haystacks. What was a lire
tireak of two or three rods to such a flro a
that ? Simply nothing. It did not evei
Etumblo at the obstacle , but wrapped It
arms quickly and completely about tbo un
Fortunate fodder and ate tt up. It made i
beautiful blaze , however , sending broai
sheets ot flame , red and glowing , up to thi
zenith , and ! crackled and roared and made i
heat that scorched our faces a quarter of i
mile away ,
llut on the flro came toward us , and In i
moment we would bo In Us rushing midst
Over the house wo dashed the water by th
barrel , until the shingles smoked from th
steam that the heat made. On came th
lire and Jumped over our llttlo break as I
It were only a small boy stumbling at
furrow. The forest of tall weeili In the gar
den Just before the houee blazed magnlfl
contly fifteen or twenty feet high. Hut her
It stumbled and fell. There were otho
breaks beyond , and an army of peopl
with old coats and petticoats soaked In watei
with mops and blankets and palls of watci
The enemy was met with decision and iesolu
tlon born of desperation. The flro thimble
and fell , leaped up , sighed , and went oul
Here and there , under fences and In llttl
tufts ot grass by the wayside , It clung te
naclously still , till a wet rag whipped It ou
Over the black prairie It smoked an
smoldered and leaped up now and then. Ta
columns of smoke rose and wore wafted eve
upon us. The stacks In the hollow wei
a glowing heap of fine embers that woul
smoke far days ; and no Uoubt tome of tli
hay at the bottom would remain unburne
altogether , save-d by the Ore's lack of air an
oxygen , the fierce flre being smothered b
Its own fierceness. The little shanty we
only a pile ot woll'Charred rafters , but tl
white farm house , by tome miracle , w :
CLAIRVOYANT :
8 ud Wctntlwith full fff. wi n < J Um
> ii4 reclv.buroi op0 i f luluro Uf * . r
Y. uoorc , grptr , drfcd tranca intdlua
jTenth dauehur , tcnt wllh Tell and vroi
iltrfulKlffofiMondilthtiKlUpait.pmrr
> na ( utiirti fall immp of when TOM w I
'uiarrr , adricoonbiidntM , lor * , ranrrlairi
rpocuUtlon , ch r.e. . louoi. divorce. lululuir friend" . !
arutloiu , ilckntM. wliu. tottmt. He . clmlleicti th
world , It l > well-known throughout tLa world th.
medium ) rt tba ouly rtlltblii w ri , wid their chiru
ctuM lore , iptcdj inarrlttfei nail tucnn In tiuilnm.
"
SECURE A CHARM
AND
WEAR DIAMONDS . _ . . .
Your t'ulur. U.v U4 I" l d lr < e.
lU ( < with th OB * von lortictuMi jrooj lac * In ail ( him
bjr uroptrlulflc * . K r l < ? .r lhtu tnUllnlr no In
JTlloE Mr. . Dr. H..r. , II. * T B. JH.wy.tt , Kj
eft untouched. The flro Imd swept by on
oao ildo. Ju t as a tornado will gem tfnic
ak oft a corner of a 'houce and leave th
rest quite Intact.
Thnt night there was a great rain. Th
Ire hail brought a storm. On the plains ol
Nebraska U always rains on the- Fourth ot
iuly , the atmosphere btlnft tllwcvl up by
he firecrackers , I suppose , and a great
iralrlo flro has much Iho same effect.
The next morning wo might see the. wide.
lack pnilrio looking as If a death pall wcro
aid over It. so sooty black were the ashes
eft by the burnt grass. All the wceMls In
ho garden were gone , 'Thrro were the
uowed furrows filled with ashes , and ther *
vas the long line of burned fence. It was
lesolatlon.
llul the- warm south winds drlcj the black
whes that day , and blew them nw.iy , leaving
irownncRs liutead of bl.ickness. In a week
-hn grass was growing out of the soot III
eniler blades , and In a month the black
nnntlo had been chanRM for a vivid green.
-nta with Violets and yellow wild pea *
-dandelions , which wore nil the fresher
having the old brown grass hurnod away.
Hi U > Oil V ( I / . CO Vlt T.
\ Ilralnard exchange tells this story on
Colonel Colby of lleatrlce : The colonel wal
ucrenillng n man against the clmrcs of mur
dering his wife who died suddenly and my .
erlously after a brief Illness. The body ot
he woman was exhumed utter It had bcn
mrled several weeks , the- stomach removed
'laced ' In alcohol and brought Into court.
i\hllo the colonel was closing the argument
for his client he stepped forward , dipped up
several s | > ooiifuls of the liquid nnd uwallowcd
t. Uverybmly fn the court room expected
.o see the wlloy lawyer topple over and fall
o the floor n corpse ; but ho didn't. Instead.
lowover , h continued his argument nnd
( wused the Jury to "agree to disagree. " Tha
itomnch , In tilcohol , was forwarded to 1'rof.
Nicholson of the state university at Lincoln
for analysis , and It wns found to contain a
lulllclent quantity of n drug to produca
lealh. but as It was heavier than the alcohol
t settled to the bottom nnd the llttlo "nip"
.ho colonel took was harmless. Had ho
aken the trouble of stirring the mixture ,
low ever , ho might now bo singing songs of
llory with the angels Instead.
Some tlmo ago , at Darnell County , North
Carolina , superior court , Judge Shlpp presiding -
siding , the trial of n case had been protracted
till nwr midnight , relates the Atlanta Con
stitution ; The Jury was tired and sleepy
and showed flagging attention. Wllllo
Murchlson , who was addressing the jury ,
thought to arouse them , so he said :
"Gentlemen , I will tell you an anecdote. "
Instantly , the Judge , the Jury and the few
spectators pricked up their cars nnd were all
attention , us Murchlson was admlrabjo In
: lmt line , had a fund of anecdotes , nnd no
one could tell them better , llut ho soon pro
ceeded to tell one of the dullest , prosiest and
nest pointless Jokes possible. Everybody
ooked disappointed. The Judge , leaning
over , said , In an unmistakable tone ot disap
pointment : "Mr. Murchlson , I don't sec the
point of that Joke. " "Nor I , cither , " replied
the witty counsel , "llut your honor told It
lo me on our way down hero , anil , as I
thought the lack of appreciation must be
duo to my obtueeness , I concluded to give
the Joke a trial by Jury. "
The book peddler had called at the law
yer's nfflcc , says the Detroit Free Press , to
sell him a book and the lawyer very per
emptorily didn't want nny book. The ped-
iller Insisted and the lawyer continued to
decline. At last the lawyer rose In wrath.
"Now , look hero , " bo said emphatically ,
"I've told you I don't want your book , nnd I
meant what 1 said. Furthermore , my ad-
vlco to you Is to get out of this promptly , or
I'll throw you out. "
The peddler was about to make a remark.
"And , " Interrupted the lawyer , "let me
also say that If you hesitate , I shall chnrga
you for that mlvlce , nnd levy on your books
to satisfy Judgment. Now git , " and the sup
pressed peddler got.
Ephralm Flint , the veteran lawyer of
Dover , Me. , who died recently , was once
flned by a counlry Justice of the peace for
contempt of court In telling tbe magistrate *
too bluntly what ho thought of ono ot hla
decisions. Mr. Flint was not taken back
by the Justice's orders to his clerk. "All
right , " he said , "I have got a note In my
pocket against you which I have been trying :
to collect for the last ten years , and I'll
endorse the fine on U. I never expected to
get that much , " and , suiting the action to
the words , he pulled out the note and made
tbo Indorsement. _
Injurmt In the Accident.
Somervllle Journal : Sufferer I suppasa
wo shall BUO the railway company for itbout
$3,000 damages.
Lawyer Three thousand dollars damages !
Nonsense ! Thirteen thousand ut Ihoory
lowest , man !
Sufferer ( Surprised ) Why , I llilnk I
should be quite content if I got ? 3,000 dam
ages.
Lawyer Yes , probably you would ; but I
want at least tlO.OOO for myself.
The Congregatlonallst says there Is no
truth In the report that Ilev. Dr. J. H. Kcob ,
formerly of Albany. N , Y. , has been called
to a professorship In Andover seminary.
DR.HUMPHREYS' NKW
FOU
77 will lira.ik U | > " uliililmrn Colrt that
"lumen on. "
A small Iwlllc of pl inant pclletn-rUs your
, or tciit tin re-
drttgulHlH
vent iiurkct Sold I/
l"t l" o ? pilce. 2Dc D for l HUMI'IUIUY'S M1JU-
KJINI3 CO. , Cor. William anil Jotin Ulrccti , Now
York.
'RANGISGAN '
Purely
Vegetable.
Prepared from the orlslaal fo mula pr *
erred In the Archlrcuof tbo Holy Lpnrt , hinn
agan authentic bUtory datlnHbtutiCOOyeara.
A POSITIVE CURE
for all Stomach , Kidney and Bowel
troubles , especially
CHKONIC CONSTIPATION ,
Price BO cent * . Sold by all drnr < rUtt
the Franciscan Remedy Co , ,
UI VAT -UUE.I ST. , OHIOAOO , HI.
. ' for Circular i.i-rt lllamraUd Oalendir.
For sale by Huhn& Co. , 15th& Dou0l/ /