Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, February 14, 1897, Page 16, Image 16

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    1C T.nJ3 OMAHA DAILY BEE : STTiETPAY , FEBRUARY Id , 1807.
AARON IN THE WILD WOODS
The Story of a Southern Swamp.
.
By JORt CHANDLER HARRIS.
< Copjrlirtil U37 by Joel Chandler Harris. )
CHAPTER II.
THE SECRETS OF THE SWAMP.
However hard and feet the door ot the
Bwamp may bo locked at night , however
tightly It may bo shut , It opens quickly
enough to whomsoever carries the key.
Thcro Is no creaking of Its vast and heavy
hinges ; thcro Is not the faintest flutter of a
leaf , nor the softest whisper of a blade or
grass. That Is the bargain the bearer of the
'
key must make :
That which sleeps , disturb not Its slumber.
That which moves , let It swiftly pass.
Else the Swamp will never reveal Itself.
The sound of ono alien footfall Is enough.
It Is the signal for each secret to hide It
self nnd for all the mysteries to vanish Into
mystery. The Swamp calls them all In ,
covers them as with a mantle , and puts on
Its cvery-day disguise , the disguise that the
eyes of few mortals have ever penetrated.
Dut those who stand by the bargain that all
key bearers must make whether they go on
two legs or on four , or whether they fly or
crawl , or creep1 or swim find the Swamp
more friendly. There Is no disguise any
where. The secrets como swarming forth
from all possible or Impossible places , and
the mysteries , led by their torch bearer ,
Jack-o'-thc-Lnntern , glldn through the tall
canes and inovo about among the tall trees.
The unfathomable blackness of night never
eels foot here. It Is an alien and Is shut
out. And this Is ono of the mysteries. If ,
when the dcor of the Swamp Is opened to a
key bearer the black night seems to have
crept In , wait a moment. Have patience. It
Is a delusion , Underneath this leafy cover
ing , In the midst of this dense growth of
vines and raw grass , and reeds and canes ,
there Is always a wonderful hint of dawn ; a
shadowy , shimmering hint , elusive and In
describable , but yet sufficient to glvo dim
shape to that which Is near at hand.
Not far away the frightened squeak of
eomo small bird breaks sharply on the car
THE RED FOX AND THE GRAY FOX.
I ( of the Swamp. This is no alien note , and
Jack-o'-the-Lantcrn dances up and down and
all the mysteries whisper lit concert :
" \\'o wish you well , Mr. Fox. Don't choke
yourself with the feathers. Goodnight , Mr.
Fox , goodnight ! "
Two minute globules of Incandescent light
come Into sight and disappear , and the
mysterious whisper :
"Too late , Mr. Mink , too late ! Better luck
next time. Goodnight ! "
A rippling sound Is heard In the lagoon
as the Leander of tbo Swamp slips into the
water. Jack-o'-tho-Lantern lilts to the level
shore of the pool and the mysteries como
sweeping after , sighing :
"Farewell , Mr. Muskrat ! Good luck and
gojdnlght ! "
Surely there Is an alien sound on the
knoll yonder snapping , growling and fight-
Ing. Have stray dogs crept under the door ?
Oh , no ! The Swamp smiles , and all iho
mysteries go trooping thither to sco the fun.
It Is a wonderful frolic ! Mr. Ited Fox has
met Mr. Gray Fox face to face. Something
tells Mr. lied Fox , "Here's your father's
enemy. " Something whispers to Mr. Gray ,
"Hero's your uiotbrr's murderer. " And so
they fall to , screaming and gnawing and
panting nnd snarling. Mr. Gray Fox Is the
strongest , but his heart Is the' weakest.
Without warning he turns tall and flies ,
with Mr. lied Fox after him , and with all
the mysteries keeping them company. They
run until they nro past the boundary line
the place xvhcrc the trumpet flower tried to
marry the black-jack tree and then , of
course , the Swamp has no further concern
ttllh them. And the mysteries and their
toreh-bcarors como trooping home.
It Is fun when Mr. Hcd Fox and Mr. Gray
Fox meet on the knoll , but the Swamp will
never have such a frolic as It had ono night
when a strange bird came flying In over
the door. It Is known that the birds that
Bleep whllu the Swamp Is awake have boon
taught to hide their heads under their wings.
It Is not Intended that they should see what
Is going on. Even the buzzard that sleeps
In the loblolly plue , and the wild turkey
< lmt sleeps In the live oak , conform to this
custom. They" are only on the edge of the
Swamp , but they feel that It would be rude
not to put tholr beads under their wings
while the fiwnnip Is awake , Dut this
Dtrango bird of a family ot night birds
not hitherto known to that region was
amazed when he beheld the spectacle.
"Oho ! " he cried : "what queer country Is
'this , whcro all the birds are headless ? If
I'm to llvo here In peace I must do as the
brethren do. "
So ho went off In search of advice. As ho
went along by saw the Bullfrog near the
lagoon ,
"Queerer Mill , " exclaimed the stranger.
"Hero Is a bird that hau no head , and ho
can sing. "
This natlnfied him , and be went further ,
until ho saw Mr. Wildcat trying to catch
little Mr. Flying Squirrel ,
"Good evening , sir , " eald the strangt-r.
"I EOO that the birds In this country have
no heads. "
Mr , Wildcat smiled and bowed and licked
his mouth ,
" I prvsumn , sir , that I ought to get rid of
rny head If I am to stay hero , and I have
nowhere clip to go. How am I to do It ? "
"Easy enough , " responded Mr. Wildcat ,
mlllng and bowing and licking his mouth.
"DtrdB that are so unfortunate as to have
beads frequently come to mo for relief. May
I examine your neck to see what can be
done ! " i 'I I
Tli6 ulringo bird fully intended to say ,
"Why. certainly , elrl" He had the words
all made up , but bis head waa oft before
bo could speak , Ilelng a large bird he flut
tered and shook his wings and Jumped about
a good den ) , As tbo noise was not alien
the Swamp and all KB mysteries came forth
to Investigate , and oh , what a frolic there
was when Mr , Wildcat related the facts )
The torch-bearers danced up and down with
glee and the mysteries waltzed to the quick
piping of'tuo Willis-Whistlers.
Although the Swamp waa not n day older
when Aaron , the son of Hen All , became a
key-bearer , the frolic over the headless bird
waa far back ot Aaron' * time. Older1 Ttio
Swamp was even youngei , for It was nut a
Bwauip until pld ago had overtaken it-
until centuilcs Ititi ! uiaJe It frub and g.-ti-u
and strong. The Indians had camped round
about , bad tried to run Its mysteries do\vn
and had foiled. Then came a band ot wan
dering Spaniards , with ragged clothes am
tarnished helmets and rusty shields , am
neighing horses tbo first the Swamp hm
ever seen. The Spaniards floundered In a
ono Ride whcro the trumpet-vino tried tc
marry the black-jack tree and floundcret
out on the other sldo more bedraggled than
over. This wag a great victory for the
Swamp , and about that time It came to
know and understand Itself. For centuries
| t had been "organizing , " and when It pulled
Do Solo's company of Spaniards In at one
sldo and flung them out at the other , con
siderably the worsa for wear , It felt that the
"organization" was complete. And so I ]
was and had been for years and jears , am
so It remained thereafter a quiet place
when the sun was above trio trees , but won
derfully alert and allvo when night had
fallen.
The Swamp that Aaron knew was the
same that the Indians and Spaniards had
known , The loblolly plno had grown and the
big poplars on the knoll had expanded a
trlflo with the passing centuries , but other
wise the Swamp was the same. And ycj
how different ! The Indians had not found
It friendly and the Spaniards regarded It as
an enemy ; but to Aaron It gave shelter
and sometimes food , and Its mysteries were
his companions. Jack-o'-thc-Lantcrn showct
him the hidden paths when the mUts of
night ( ell darker than usual. Ho became
as much a part of the Swamp as the mys
teries were , entering Into Its life and becom
ing native to all Its moods and conditions.
And his presence there seemed to glvo the
Swamp new responsibilities. Its thousant
eyes were always watching for his enemies ,
and Us thousand pngues were always ready
to whisper the news of the coming of an
alien. The turkey buzzard soaring thou
sands ot feet above the top of the great pine ,
the blue falcon , suspended In the air a mile
away , the crow , flapping lazily across the
fields , stood sentinel during the day , and the
Swamp understood the messages tboy sent.
At night the Wlllls-Whlstlcrs were on guard ,
and their lines extended for miles In all di
rections , and the Swamp Itself was awake ,
and needed no warning message. Sometime !
at night the sound of Randall's trumpet
fell on the ear of the * Swamp , or the voice
ot Uncle Fountain was heard lifted up In
song , as ho went over the hills to his flsh
baskets ,111 the river , and these were restful
and pleasing sounds. Sometimes the trailing
cry of hounds was heard. If In the day ,
Itamblcr , the track do ? , would listen until
he knew whether the cry came from Jim
Simmon's "nigger dogs , " from the Gossett
hounds , or from some other pack. If at
night , the Swamp cared llttlo about It , for
It was used to those things after the sun
went down.
Mr. Coon Insisted on gadding about , and It
served him light , the Swamp Insisted , when
the hounds picked up his drag as the
huntsmen bay and brought him home with
a , whirl. He was safe when ho got there ,
for let the hounds bay at the door of bis
house as long as they might , no hunter
with torch and axe would venture Into the
Swamp. They had tried It oh , many times.
But tbo door"\vns \ locked , nnd tha key
Wns safely hid In a hollow tree.
If 'It was merely Cousin Coon who lived
Up the river , well and good. It would teach
the Incurable vagrant a lesson , and the
Swamp enjoyed the fun. The Willis-Whig-
tiers stopped to listen , the mysteries hid
behind the trees , and the Jack-o'-the-Lan-
torn extinguished lila torch as the hounds
came nearer with their quavering cries.
Was It Mr , Coon or Cousin Coon ? Why ,
Cousin Coon , of course. How did the Swamp
know ? It wan tbo simplest thing In the
world. Wasn't thera a splash and n splutter
as he ran Into the quagmire ? Wasn't there
a snap and a snurl when thu partrldgc-
pcavlne caught his fool ? Did ho know the
paths ? Didn't ho double and turn and go
back the way ho came , to bo caught and
killed on dry land ? Would Mr. Coon of the
Swamp over bo caught on dry land ? Dou't
you bcllovo It ! If cut oft from home , he
would run to the nearest pond and plunge
In. Once there , was there a hound that
would venture to take a bath with him ?
The Swamp laughed at the thought of such
a thing , Aaron smiled , the White IMg
gruutcd , and Rambler grinned. Cousin Coon
Is no inoio , but Mr. Cnon Is safe at homo
and the Swamp knn\\s It.
Good luck to nil who know the way ,
Uy crooked path ntnl swinging- vine !
For them Nlnlit't ) messengers nlmll stny ,
For them the higenrd moon shull Hhlno
Uut It was nol-always that aliens and
strangers were unwelcome. Occat-lunally hi
the still" hours bntwccn mldnlgnt and dawn
the Swamp would open its doors to Gofsett >
Hiley. Ho hail no key and he had never
come to know nnd feel that the Swamp was
something morti than a mixture ot mud and
ttater , trees , canes , vines and all manner
of flying , creeping and crawling things. To
him Iho Snnnip was merely a place and not
a thing , but this wan Igiiiiranc ; , and the
Swamp forgave It for various reasons. Forgave -
gave It and pitied him ns ho deserved to be
pitied. And ycL ho had qualities out of the
common , and for these tbo Swamp admired
him. Ho was little more than a dwnrf , be
ing "bowlepged and cHicklo-headed , " as
Susy's Sam used to Biy , and was called
Chunkey Hlley , but very much of a man for
all that , At aloe-rolling there wan not
a negro for miles around who could pull
him. down with the haiiUtlsk. Aaron could
do It , but Aaron was not a negro , but an
Arab , and that Is different. CKuhky rtlk-y
was oven stronger In limb and body than
Aaron , bq ( Aaron used lite head , ns well as
body and limb and that also Is different ,
HI ley was not swift of foot , but ho could tun
far , as Gossott's hounds well knew. More
tbati that , he could go on all-fours almost as
fast as ho could run on two tvgs , and that
was something dlincult to 1)0. ) .
The Swamp found Cmmky lllley out In a
very curious way. The first tlmo ho come to
bring a message to Aaron ha waited for no
Introduction whatever. The WlllU-Whlstlors
warned him , but he paid no attention to their
warning ; the mysteries whispered to him ,
but his earn were cloio'l. lie searched for
no path , and was blind to all the ilgnale.
I Ho blundered Into the Swamp end floundered
toward the knoll as the Spaniards did. Ho
floundered out of the quagmire near whcio
th * White Pig lay. He had thacent nnd
all the lgn > of an alien , and the White
Orunter rushed at him with open mouth
The Swamp was now angry from
center to circumference , and poor Chunk ;
nilcy'n ending would have been swift and
sudden but for the fact that ho bore * omo
undeveloped kinship to the elements tha
surrounded him ,
As the White Pig rushed forward with
open mouth Chunky lllley caught a vagttc
glimpse of him In the , darkness , gave one
wild yell , leaped Into the air , and came
down atraddlo of the Ortmter's back. Thli
was more than the White I'lg had bargainee
for. Hu answered Ulley's yell with a lout
squeal , nnd went tearing through the swamp
to the place where Aaron dwelt. The big
owl hooted , Rambler bowled , and Jack-o'
tho-Lantern threw down his torch nnd fled
The Swamp that had been angered was
amazed nnd frightened. What demon was
this that had seized tbo White Qruntcr am
was carrying him oft ? What could the res
hope for If so fierce a creature as the Whl ( < 5
I'lg could bo disposed 9 ! In this fasblon ?
Even Aaron was alarmed at the uproar , for
Chunky Rllcy continued to yell , and tbo
While I'lg kept up Ha squealing.
It was well that the Grunler , when ho.
came to Aaron's place , ran close cnougl
to a tree to rub Chunky Hllcy off his back
otherwise thcro Is no telling what woult
hove happened. It was well , lee , tha
Chunky Hlley called loudly for Aaron when
ho fell , otherwise ho would have been made
mincemeat of , for ns soon as the White I'lg
was relieved of his strange burden bis
anger rose fiercer than ever , and he came
charging nt Chunky lllley , who was lying
prone on the ground , too frightened to do
anything more than try to run to a tree 01
all fours. Aaron spoke sharply to the White
I'lg.
I'lg."Shall I use a club on you , White Orunter ?
Shall I make bacon of you ? You heard bin
call my name. "
The Whlto rig paused. His small eyes
glittered hi the dark , and Chunky Rilcy
heard his tusks grate ominously. Ho knew
the creature was foaming with rage.
"Ooftl Your name. Son ot Den All ? " said
the White I'lg In language that Chunky
Rlloy thought was merely a series of angry
grunts nnd snorts. "Ooftl I heard him call
for Aaron , nnd how long has It been since
I heard you say to the Red Chatterer In the
hickory tree that thcro were a thousand
Aarons , but only ono son ot Ben All ? " Oaft-
Gooft ! Am I a horse to be ridden ? Humph
No man could rldo me It Is what you call
n thing. Umph ! let It ride you and then talk
about clubs. Ooft ! "
"Is dat Aaron ? " Chunky R'lley ' ventured to
Inquire. "Ef 'Os , I wish you'd be good
enough tor rt'X at nr creetur 'way fum here ,
kazo I ain't got no knack fer beln' chaw'd
up nn' spit out , an' trampled on an * tectotally
rulnt right 'fo' my own face. "
" ' " Aaron.
"What's your name ? Inquired
"You ought tcr know me , but I dunner
wheddor you docs er not. I'm name Jllloy
dey calls mo Chunky Rlley fcr short. "
Aaron was silent for a moment , as If
trying to remember the name. Presently he
laughed and said : "Why , yes , ; I know you
pretty wel ! Tome we'll kindle n fire. "
"No , euh not me ! Not less'n > ou'll run
dot ar wll' hog off. Ho mo" servlgrous don
a pint'er. 15 f I hadn't or straddled Mm dea
now he'd 'a' o't mo bodyactously up an' dcy
wouldn't 'a' been nothln' 1st' but de buttons
on my cloze , an' nobody In de roun' worP
would 'a' know'd dey wuz buttons. "
Aaron laughed while speaking to the
White Pig. "Get to bed , Grunter. It Is the
Lifter the man that Is as strong In the
back as a horse. "
"Gooft , ooft ! Let him ride you out as he
rode mo lu ooft ! He's no man ! Gooft ! No
bed for me. When a horse Is ridden he
must eat , as I've heard you say , Son of lien
All , Gooft-ooft ! "
The Whlto Pig , still Grinding his tusks
together , turned and trotted oft Into the
darkness , and presently Aaron and Chunky
Riley heard him crashing through the canes
and reeds. Then Aaron kindled his fire.
"Why did you come ? " inquired the son of
Ben AH when tha two had made themselves
comfortable.
"Dcs ter fetch word that Marster wuz
layln" oft ter git alter you wid Simmons'
nigger dogs To' long. "
"All the way through the dark for that ?
When did you come to like me so well ? "
" 0 , 'taint 'zactly dat , " replied Chunky
Rilcy , frankly. "I hear urn talkln' 'bout It
when Marster an' dat ar < Mr. Simmons wuz
walkln' out In de boss lot. I wuz In de
corn crib , an1 dey didn't know It. an' 1 des
sot dar an' lls'n at um. An' den dls mcrnln'
I sec dat ar little Marse Absrcromble , an1
bo say , 'Go tell Aaron quick ez you kin. ' "
, "Tho child with the crutches ? " queried
Aaron.
' "De vc'y same , " replied Chunky Rlley.
He paused awhile and then added : "I'd
walk many a long mile fer dat white cbil' ,
day er night , rnln er shine. "
He gazed In the flickering fire a long' time ,
waiting for Aaron to make some comment.
Hearing none , he finally turned his eye on
his companion. Aaron was looking skyward.
where one small star could be aeen twink
ling through the ascending smoke from the
lire , and his Up ? were moving , though they
framed no words that Chunky Rlley could
hear. Something In tlio attitude of the Son
of Hen All disturbed tha negro.
"Well , I done what I come ter do , " ho said ,
making a pretence of stretching himself end
yawning , "an' I bpcck I'd better be gwlno. "
Ths Son of Hen All still kept his eye fixed
on the twinkling star. "What pesters mp , "
Chunky Rlley went on , "Is de Idee dat dit
ar wll' hog went 'zactly de way I got tcr
go. I don't want ter hatter rldo Mm no mo'
Icss'n I got a saddle an' bridle. "
"Come ! " exclaimed Aaron , suddenly , "I'll
go with you. I want to see the Little
Master. "
"Do dogs Ml fln' yo' track she , ef dey start
out tomorrrr , " suggested Chunky Riley.
The only reeponso the Son of Uen All made
to this suggestion was to say : "Take the
end of my cnno In your hand and follow it.
We'll take a short cut. "
Chunky Rlley had queer thoughts as he
followed his tall conductor , being led as It
lie were n blind man ; but he said nothing.
Presently ( It seemed but a few minutes to
Chunky Rlley ) they stood on the top of a
hill.
hill."Look
"Look yonder ! " said Aaron. Away to the
left a rod light glimmered faintly.
"What dat ? " asked the superstitious negro.
"The light In the Little Master's window. "
"How come It so red , den ? " Inquired
Chunky Rlley.
"Red curtain , " replied Aaron , curtly.
"Well , de Lord ho'p us ! Is wo dat close ? "
ci led Chunky Rlley.
"Your way Is there , " said the Son of Hen
All ; "this Is mine. "
The negro stood watching Aaron until bis
all form was lost In the darkncfs.
( To bo Continued. )
GIU.MAIIUIMII.VU mocic.s.
I2n } " ami IfilcrcHtliiK Way in Study
ArclildTtiirc- ( lie Nurxt < ry.
"Sco what I have Just brought my boys
'rom Vienna , " said the father of two of
: ho most Intelligent and perfectly trained
ada that I know , "I have always thought
It a pity that more boys , or rather more
parents , do not know about these building
jlocks , for that Is really all they art but
such building blocks !
"They reprcbcnt n regular progression , and
ttili ; Is the ninth box that my boys have had ,
each for a llttlo more complicated designs
than the one before It. They began playing
with the first snrles an teen as they could sit
olono nnd put one block on top of another ;
and now Urn they are R and 10 years old
hey play with them with always Increasing
merest , as I do myself , for that matter.
They hnvo had more hours of solid pleasure
and enjoyment out of these toys If , In
deed , one may call them toys than out of
all their other playthings combined. The
beauty of It Is , there Is always something
rosh and now In the way of combinations.
I'ho manufacturers have architects contin
ually at work designing , and from their
schemes the most clever and beautiful
nodels are selected , and then formed Into
look ; of designs ,
'Tills box Is what Is called a supplement
> ox , nnd the designs that go < wlth It call
'or ' the use of the blocks In part or all ot
ho preceding boxes.
"Expensive ? Well , not when you con
sider that they are absolutely 'Imperishable ,
jsp that the money spent ( or them Is In the
nature of a permanent Investment , I paid
! 3.50 ( or this last 'box ' but the blocks that
my boys began playing with seven yeara
ago are In Just as good condition today as
hcse now ones , And they are ao fond of
Iiom that ot Iho thousands of different pieces
hat they have manipulated they have lost
only nine In almost as many yearn. In
deed , putting them back In the boxes ac
cording to tbo pretty design painted on the
nstde the cover U a pare of tbo game. So
absolutely exact are the pattorna that the
OBI ot a elngle block , be It ever BO small ,
renders tbo erection of the building Impois *
ilble , They may be eatlly replaced , how
ever , by simply ecmllng on for the required
number , as they orormost carefully system
atized.
"Tho blockn arc of i real atone , as you see ,
the tints resembling the stone , brick and
> late colors of rcalirbuliatng material , thut
giving to the bulldlugE a beautifully colored
and Imposing appearance. The heaviness ol
the stones nnd tho. mathematical exactness
ot each cause them 19 lie firmly together
and makes building an < ; asy task. The work
Is swiftly done , and > even the very largest
buildings , In splto of 'their moro complicated
nature , easily constructed by children , The
surface of the stonc&iU sufficiently rough to
prevent the atones llrdm shifting ; and It a
child Is ambitious Jto cwcl a pcrmanpnt
structure the stonesunay bo stuck together
with ordinary gum" nnd can betaken to
pieces again by soaking in lukewarm water.
When they become soiled they * may be
cleaned by simply washing them In soap
and water ,
"Of course , the boys have no thought be
yond the fun ot the thing. Uut I am tre
mendously Interested In It ns an educational
factor. Why * It teaches them deftness , ac
curacy , order , symmetry , sense ot proportion
tion , tosto In the combination of color , nnd
a world of other essentials. The small box
of tiles 4n subdued , harmonious tints Is a
most charming study In color effects. Uoth
memory and Invention are greatly strength
ened by the proper use ot the stones , ns It
Is very Interesting to nn Intelligent child
to try to build a given design troni memory ,
or to erect a building quite according to
bis own Ideas. With the ordinary wooden
blocks the structure so often topples over
just as It Is nearly finished that U discour
ages and Irritates n child , but with the
heavier stone this disappointment cannot be
experienced , for they are so accurately
molded , that tbeyt fit each other to a nicety ,
and stand absolutely firm. .
"Froebel and his followers gave building
blocks the very first place among the dif
ferent occupations to be practiced by chil
dren and youths. To boys with any bent
toward architecture these 'anchor boxes arc
slmpljf Invaluable , as their clever nnd ar
tistic designs In bridges , convents , Gothic
and Greek churches , cottages of every style ,
pillars , etc. . nro a liberal education.
"They range In price from 20 cents up
wards , and the stones vary In size from one-
half and ono Inch cubes to pieces three Inches
In length. "
OID AMU , THU WAll I3ACJM3.
Tli > Illril nf llnitle Cnrrloil by the
IClKhdi Wlxc-miMlii Volunteers.
The emperors of Rome used to have the
figure of an caglo In sliver borne aloft be
fore their armies , but In our late civil war
ono regiment carried a live eagle , a baldhead -
head , again and again Into battle. That
regiment was the Eighth Wisconsin volun
teers , nnd the bird was the special property
ot company C. They bought him at the
*
beginning of the war , and , till the end of
the war , his place was next In rank to that
of the regimental flag. The men named
him Old Abe , nnd swore him Into the United
States service , a ceremony that consisted
of putting around his neck red , blue and
white ribbons , and decorating his breaat
with a rosette of the same. Uclng now a
national bird , he was furnished at state
expense with a new perch decorated In the
national colors , and this perch , which was
used throughout the war , and Is worn and
battered with service. Is still preserved
l > y Wisconsin as an army relic. An eagle
bearer was appointed , company C was the
regimental color company , and when the
regiment formed In Ilnp the eagle was al
ways on the left ot the color bearer. Old
Abe was in all the regiment's battles. He
had some of his tall feathers shot away
once , but he never lost a drop of Wood , and ,
moro than that , neither color . bearer nor
eagle bearer In this regiment was ever
shot , so that the soldiers said that Old Abe
cd a charmed life , and that ho cast a spell
of protection around these two men who
were his particular friends. Ho would
'
grow greatly excited In' battle , and screim
nnd flap his wings continually ; he would
also behave In this vain-glorious way any
time that his regiment gave vent to cheers ,
out to the cheering of other regiments ho
pafd no attentions' ' Alter ha had been ln > .th
army a year he always gave heed to "At
tention ; " ho would'fasten his eye on the
> arade commander nnd nolo time accurately
When parade was dismissed he would drop
Ills military airs and stretch and flap his
wings.
The soldiers were so inspired with en
thusiasm by their bird that at the battle of ,
Corinth the confederate General Price said ,
he would rather capture that eagle than
to take the whole regiment without Him.
Hut bo was never , taken , and It was the
boast of his regiment that they never lost
a battle though they saw such hard service
that nearly half of their original number
ay , when the war closed , In soldiers' graves.
The old colonel of the regiment said that
he sincerely believed that the regiment's
proud record owed not a little to the eagle ;
lie shared General Price's vltw of the case.
1MIATTI.K OK THE YOUNGSTERS.
Teacher What animal attaches himself to
man the moat ? Johnny Thlckhed The er
er bulldog , ma'am.
"Now , Violet , can jou give mo any reason
why I should not punish you for being
naughty ? " Violet Yes , ma. The doctor eald
you weren't to take any vl-lent cx'clse.
"I love to have you come to see sister ,
Mr. Tompklns. " "Why , Dickie ? Cause
she never llkea that candy you bring her ,
an * gives It to me. "
.Mamma Johnnie , if I gave you two pen
nies and sister none , what would you do ?
Johnnie I'd spend 'em.
Llttlo Margery has Just begun to go to the
kindergarten , and Is. filled with a due sense
of the Importance of her studies there nnd
Ihe solemn value of the attainments that
have been put within her reach. The other
afternoon , after coming homo from school ,
she remained In a brown study for a time
and then said"Mamma , do I know as much
now as I don't know ? "
Mamma Well , Edith , how did you like
the kindergarten ? Edith I didn't like It
a bit. The teacher put me on n chair and
old mo to sit there for the present. And I
sat and sat , and she never gave mo the pres
ent.
ent."He's your first cousin. Isn't he ? " said , an
old lady to C-year-old Freddy , alluding tea
a new baby , of whom Freddy was very fond.
'Oh. no , " replied Freddy , "I had two cous-
ns before ho was born. "
"What tlmo Is It , my lad ? " asked an Amer.
can traveler of a small Irish boy. who was
Irlvlng a couple of cows homo from the
fields. "About twelve o'clock sir , " replied
he boy. "I thought it was more. " "It's never
any inoro here , " returned the lad , In sur-
> rUe. "It Just begins at ono again. "
THIS JIKS'JJ W TUUMI'S.
Harper's Hazar.
St. Valentine ,
O saint benign ,
How much we mortiils owe to theef
What blessings great
Should bo thy fnto !
Wliat love from all should go to theel
Just fc'lnncft nroUnd ,
Gaze o'er tha ground ,
And sexj
What life would bo
AVere't not lorj thee.
Look first on , mcn ,
And wltnesj then
How Into ( JtiHscs twain-
Uoth vain-
Men nro divided 111 these day.
You'll Htund nmuze !
They toll from .morn till night.
Or else they lonf with nil their might.
Their noses grinding on the stone ,
A mass of tolling.'slcin and bone.
Or else , Impatient of the moll of life ,
In clubs take refugn from nil strife.
Their trump , a spade or club.
Ay , there's the rub I
And maids those days ?
I'oor maids ! Their ways
Sometimes compel the thought
That they are far moro easy caught
Hy Bllttterlng things
Hy trinkets , rings
Than by n nature lit for mlngsl
Their Irunip the diamond.
Then you como , .
With Cupid In your train , nnd take the
numb
And toy hearts of all mankind ,
And brlni ; the thought of love swest love ,
the blind. . , .
Ono snap upon fair Cupid's string ,
And pessimistic thoughts take wtntf ,
And Hplto of diamonds , clubs and spades ,
learts are the trumps of men and mulda.
Ah. ValcVitlnc ,
Thou saint benign ,
How much wo mortals ewe to tAcel
What blessings great
Should be thy fate !
What leva from all should co to theel
WHY PATH'S ' VOICE LASTS
Do Vivo Has Worked Out tin TroVcm tc
His Satisfaction ,
THERE IS NO MYSTERY ABOUT 17
fiilicrltril Vocnl StreiiKlli SniMilc-
Midi'Sj - teiinille ! lloillly
Care nnit Jin SlriilnliiK at the
Voice fur KTcct ( >
Slnco Polll's last appearance In this coun
try a question that has been often asked by
old and young opera-goers Is :
"Why deco Pattl's volco continue to bo
divine ? Why has It lasted BO long ? "
Diego do Vivo volunteers an explanation
togethef1 with reminiscences ot her tour of
the United Stolen.
As It touches neither a secret nor a mys
tery , I willingly will answer this repeated
question for the benefit of the singing world.
I knsw the llttlo Adcllna when she was not
yet 14 years old. She was living with her
sister , Amelia Strakosch , In her house In
Twenty-second street , near Eighth avenue ,
In New York , nnd she was then pliiylng
stage with various dolls , which she cherished
ho much as never to go to sleep without
having ono In her arms. She was then as
good a songstress as I had ever heard , She
had sung on the concert stage for four or
five years , assisting the great pianist , Lovls
Morcau Gottschalk , In a tour In Cuba , and
also , If I do not mistake , the famous violinist
linist , Olc Dull. I know that In that time
slip earned enough money to buy a com
fortable cottage for her parents.
The late Henry E. Abbey was then giving
four concord' , assisted by Christine Nllsson.
She was attistcd by the Boston Quintet club
land the tenor Uoycstoln. In the four con
certs I think ho took about $2BOO. I as
sisted In the first two concerts at the Grand
opera house , and thcro I met all the critics
and my friends , who told , me that It was
my turn to bring Pattl there. T\vq days
later I told ' Abbey to bring Pattl there ,
where he could charge $7 or $8 and make
triple or quadruple the money ho had cleared
with Nllsson. Ho Bald :
"My dear Ie Vivo , I got enough of Pattl.
I lost $20,000 , but I made a reputation. "
The ne\\ipapers for tv/o or three days
urged mo to bring Pattl there , and at their
request I telegraphed Pattl the following
dispatch : "Here Is n mine of gold for you.
Do not accept any otter until my arrival In
Now York. "
Her ogont telegraphed back : "All right.
Adcllna will wait for you. "
1 left on Sunday at 3 p. m. The Interview
had appeared In the morning.
DE VIVO OUTWITS MK. ADDEY.
On Thursday J called on Pattl at the
Windsor hotel. I sent In my card , and NI-
collnl came out. Ho told me that Mr. Ab
bey was Inside , and ho said to call on the
following day , as they were not going to
make any engagement with Abbey. On Fri
day Pattl sang with Bclmlchl In "Semlra-
mlde , " and she gave mo two seats to go and
hoar her , as I had not heard her In twenty-
two years. She sang divinely and was su
perbly supported by the great Schalchl ca
Arsace. Scalchl made a great Impression on
mo by her magnificent contralto voice. At
the first entr'acte I met Abbey , who called
mo to a corner and' said :
"My dear Do Vivo , you can have Pattl , as
I did not come to an arrangement with
her. "
"Thank you , " I said. "I know that you
did not succeed. Dut how Is It that you
told mo In San Francisco that you would
not engage her , and then changed your mind
so quickly ? " i
"To tell you the truth , " ho replied , "your
Interview In the Call made mo change my
mind , and I dispatched my agent on the same
train you went by , and I followed him the
day after , so as not to glvo you a chance to
engage her. "
On the following Monday I made her a
proposition for nine concerts to be given
In three weeks' time , the only spare time she
had after her engagement with Mapleson
before her engagement for the London sea
son. Her engagement with me was for
$40,000 , I to supply the company and pay
traveling and other expenses. According to
my calculations , the venture would have ccst
mo about $65,000 , and I am quite sure that
I would have taken In in nine concerts from
$80,000 to 590.000. She left for the western
tour about two weeks afterward. From
Cincinnati , In February , I received n letter
from her agent telling ma that Adollna was
sorry to give up her engagement with me ,
for the reason that he had received a letter
from Ernest Guy , the London Impresario ,
begging Pattl to bo In London by May 20
Instead of June 10. So I lost the pleasure ot
managing Pattl for a short season and $20,000
which I would have cleared by the en
gagement. My prophecy was verified In
the season of 1881 and 1885 , when I persuaded
Mapleson to bring her to San Francisco.
The excitement was just what I had an
ticipated. The Grand Opera house thcro , a
large theater , was mobbed at ten perform
ances by Pattl at $7 a scat ; and there were
full houses with Gerstcr at $5 a scat. Maple
son'o agent had In bank , If I well remember ,
before the company arrived there about
$90,000 , the proceeds of sales of tickets.
PATTI RESERVES HER POWERS.
How do I account for Pattl'a voice being
still fresh ? The following reasons will tell.
First , her perfect method of the old Italian
singing school , Inherited from and taught
by her mother , who was a famous Elngcr ;
her father , who was a fine tenor , nnd her
half brother , Antonio < Iarlll , a great musi
cian and singing maestro.
Second , her systematic , almost mechanical
Ufa In eating , drinking and exercise , a life
of privation anil toil.
Third , her right of choice , according to her
contract , of the operas and songs ; each fitted
the register of her voice.
Fourth , she seldom attended rehearsals , and
so did not fatigue her voice.
Fifth , she never sang when slightly Indls
posed , no matter the price offered , and the
never , forced her voice for effect , as , gener
ally , all the singers do.
Sixth , the last and most Indisputable rea
son why Patti's voice hns lasteJ so long , arid
In my belief It will last at least hall dozen
a dozen yearH longer I hope so Is a mathe
matical reason , which I will present In the
form of the following problem : I know as
an opera manager that sopranos , mezzo
sopranos , contraltos , tenors , baritones and
bassos , for forty years or more generally
have been engaged by the Impresarios to sing
four times a week , with few exceptions ,
Admit that the career of a prlma donna lasts
twenty years. The average season of an
opera singer Is seven months In a year.
Singing seventeen times a month , or J19
times In the season , for twenty seasons , the
singer would have a total of 2,380 times
singing. Pattl IIUH suns un an average ten
1OO
IN
GOLD
Notice tills today , Tills ail may not appear ognln ,
Who can form tlio ureutent number of wordn
from the letters In UNliAVOItK7 You can
make twenty or more word * , we feel euro , ana If
you ilo you will receive a sooil reward. Une no
lettcra unices found In thu word , Use no Inn-
Kuuge except IJnglUli. Ute any dictionary
rronounn. nounuerba , adverUu , prefixes , mf-
flxee , adjectlxeu , proper nounn , plurula allowed ,
Anything that IB a leKlllmatu word. "Work It
out In this manner : lliultuvoru , en , end , IMKH ,
near , nod , noils , dear , deer , ear , cars , end , or ,
ore , ours , etc , Uee thta words In your
Hit. The publisher of WOMAN'8 WOIIM >
AND JINNIBH : MIUIU MONTHLY win ] > uy
120.00 In gold to the person able to make the
lurKest list of \ > enl from the letters In the word
] : .NII-'AVOHS ; 110.00 for the eecond : JS.OO for
the third ; 15.00 for the fourth , and J2.00 euch for
the thirty next largest lists. Thu above re
wards are nil en free and without cunilderatlon
for the purpose of attracting attention to our
handEOine woman'H magazine , thlity-elx paces ,
one hundred nnd forty-four long columns , llncly
Illustrated and all original matter , lone and
short stories by the best authors ; price , 11.00 per
year , It Is nece ary for you , lo enter the con
test , ( o tend 12 two-cent utonips for n three
months' trial subscription with jour Hut of
words , and every person sending the Jl cents
and a lltt of twenty wprds or more Is guaran
teed an extra prerent by return mall ( In addi
tion In the magazine ) , of u l.C-page book , "He-
yond Herat ) , " by Adeline Kcrgeunt a powerful
love romance. Satisfaction guaranteed In every
cute or money refunded , l.lstn should be sent
at once , and not later than March 15. The
names and uddrd < ses of succexful contestants
will be printed In April l kue , published In
March. Our publication lias been cslahllched
ten years , "We refer you to any mecantle |
agency for our standlnir. Make your Hit now ,
Addrers J. II. I'U'MMKH , Publisher. Dtp ) , M.
C. , Temple Court UUs. . New VorU City.
times a month I know U positively tacli
seven months , making seventy times. In
the thirty-seven years ot her carver , Just
ended , she would have sunR 2,690 times. It
will be seen that she has sung In the thirty *
seven years of her career , 210 moro times
than the other prlma donnas ot her era In
careers of twenty years.
Should this not demonstrate to readers
convincingly why I'attl's volco has lasted
so long ? There Is no mystery nor any
secret about It. llublnt , the greatest tenor
of the century , used to say : "Tho more
volco you DEC , the less remains. " I'attl lias
adopted this rule , and that U the reason her
dlvlno volco has survived those of her con
temporaries and rivals.
Viva , la diva ! May she llvo forever !
Ij.Vlltm AMI IMtUSTIIY.
United States has 200,000 machinists.
America last year made 4,125nSSr 40
cigars.
Wo sent 103,000,000 pounds of ham lo Eng
land last year.
Indianapolis has a new1 union of can
vassers and agents.
For the year ending June SO , 1896 , the net
earnings of the 172,369 miles of railway In the
United States were J3G8G7S,047.
About the only crop ot which tlio slate of
Nevada has a surplus Is potatoes , which
VIUK $3 to ? 10 a ton for shipment to the
coast. i
The Kiel canal Is lighted over sixty-two
miles by electricity and Is the longest dls-
tanco In the world lighted continuously In
that way. There nro C.OOO poles.
J. II. Moreo , an American , haa the contract
for the first railway In Corca. U will con
nect the port of Chemulpo with Seoul , the
capital , a distance of twcnty-flvo miles , and
will cost $1,850,000.
The American Federation of Labor Is now
fairly Installed In Its new quarters at the
national capital And Its address Is TOO Four
teenth stircot , N. W. , Washington , I ) . C.
Frank Morrison Is the secretary.
In Ilcrlln women nro rapidly displacing
men In the textile Industry. In Ghent there
are 618 women to 1,000 men employed. In
all Hclgtum the proportion Is 64 women
to 100 men. There arc 4,000 females be
tween 10 and 20 years of ago employed.
The Grand Itaplds Typographical union od-
mlts reporters and editors to membership ,
and President Prescott expresses the opln-
"on that the day Is not far distant when
there will bo numerous well-organized writ
ers * unions In the country.
The shoo and leather trade of Dalttmorc
lias an Invested capital of nearly $7,000-
000 , and the amount of the wholesale and
manufacturing trade of the city lu this
lno Is estimated at $16,000,000 annually ,
ho retail and customs trade audluc $1,000-
000 moro.
United States Consul Connelly , at Nloga ,
Japan , In a recent teport tu ' .ho Slate de
partment at Washington , shows that the
wages of workmen In Japan have been
moro than doubled Rlnce the wur with
China , and the 'lpmsU : for workmen Is
greater than the supply. One largo coilon .
mill raised the wages ot its hands and rn-
tlced away the men of other mills , which
Invoked a guard ot police to prevent their
employes escaping.
PIMPLY
Pimple * , blotchti , blaeUiciuIi , red , rough , oily ,
mothy Un , Itching , traly c lp , dry , thin , ml
falling hair , nnd baby blcml 1 > e prevented by
CDTICUIU BOAP the raott effective tkln purify *
Ing nnd brnntlfj Ing reap In the n otlJ , ns n ell n
purest and sweetest for toilet , bath , nnd turnery.
ra
Ii ioli throughout th worM. r iTT K n , Ar > O. Cor. ,
BoIelTopi , lloiton , Dr 'MowtolIf ulfythf ! Skln"frt (
IVrmintnttr fnrfil t > r
BLOOD HUMORS CUT1CUUA IIKMhDlKB.
Colllni' TolUlc Elcctrlo PUittri
AT
rcllovo weak backs , painful kid *
neys , uterine pains , eoro lungjj
ONCE
muscular pains , and rheumatism *
4' '
Cnlchritrn T.naiuti UiHtnvna Tfrat * . t
'ENNYROYAL PILLS
Orlctnnl onj Only Clcnulnr
CURE YOURSELFf ?
. - _ . .Vto IJIn for unc itural
r In n 5 JMi. ll dlncharcvi. Inflammations.
I Irritations or ulrorotlcns
. . . . . w . , , , . . . , r. of miicout nirnitraooi.
Irrmoli eonujloD. 1'ulnlcn , mid Lot ailrlnV
iTHtEKHNSOHEMICUCo. Kent or rolioncui. '
CINC1SN T1.0.1
U.&A. ? r "onl ln t > Iall > wrapper ,
' ' "I" * "
/ , ' repaid , fo *
& l.no. or 3 uottlr , | j.y ,
ircular ont un t oii t.
Free to Men
We will tend you by mall ( In plain packauo )
AIISOI.UTlSljY FItlCi : , the powerful lr ;
HolTiiiiiii'H Vllnl Ili'Mtorutlvc TiibT
with a legal eunrantec to iiermiincntly
I.IIN * .llniiliooil , .SclfAliumWonkn
VnrlcocoU-tstops forever MKlit l nilnH ,
and all unnatural drains ; speedily restores licaltii
and perfect manhood.
\Ve have faith In our treatment , nnd If W6
could not cure you we would not send ouc
medicine FIII3H to try. and pay when satisfied. !
WIOSTI ll.V AIISOICIMC CO. , ( Incorporated. ) ,
Iviilniiinr.iio , Mich.
LESSONS IN NEWSPAPER MAKING-
We will teach you how The Bee compares regarding
actual news printed with its would-be competitors.
For 6 days we have the following result :
January 25th I 20th I U7tb I 28th I l > 3tli I 30th I Total.
Jlon. | Tuev ' Wed I Thur. I FrlJ Hat. I
"
RVCNINQ . . 874 90DVS 816 % 004 % 881 859 5,245
Evening World-Herald 900 % I 81G4 851 763
OMAHA. nVKMXtt I1EI3 iirlutcil 5-Mr. Ini-lu-M
. Evening World-Hernia iirlntcd -I.DS'.Mi lncheH
Almost 13 columns more pure reading matter in the
Evening Bee for one week than in the World-Herald.
Now take the Morning and Sunday
papers for 7 days ( one week )
And we have the following result :
27th I 28tli B9tli I lidtli l Total.
'thur 1'rl. Bat. Hun. I
Like Lesson No. J , The Bee shows itself to be far
above all competitors here you see
THU MOIIXIXO AXI > SII.VUAY UIM printed 7,402',4 Ini'Iir *
The Mornlmr mul Sunday ' \VorIiI-IIcrultl printed d,7IilH liuihi'H
The MornliiK mul Sunday Iilnuulii Join-mil iirlntcil . . . < ; , IIIOU Inuhi-ii
TinMornliitf nnil Siintlnr Sioux City Jouriuil iirluled. .n.OIIUU Incliun
for the week ending January 3J , 1897 ,
TIII3 III3I3 lirliUcrt ! t5 uiilmniiii more ( him ( he Worlil-Ilernlil , '
'I'lIlO Illii : iirliiloil 50 coliiiiuiN in or i ! ( hull the Lincoln Jouriuil. I
THU 111213 iirlntcil 110 coluiiiUM moro til nil ( he Sioux City Journal.
The news of The Sunday Bee makes the same
kind of comparison
TIII3 SUNDAY HUB prliiliMl 1,83111 Inrlim of rriulliiK innltrr
Bunclny AVorlil-IIcrnlil nrlnli-il J.-I72V4 liirlio of ren.llnif mnlter
Huiiilny Mncoln Journal prlnti-il . . .1.B-I7M liiflif * of ri-iiillnir mutter
Sunday Slou * City Jonrual printed . 1,259 % liiuhvn ot rcadlntr mutter
Here also
THIS IIBU printed 1O column * more thnn the "VVorld-Hornlil.
THE IIBU iirlnlcd 14 column * more than ( he Lincoln Journal , I
THU JUS 13 printed -7 columns more thun the Sluux City Juuruul.
Take any day's papers and measure for yourself.
This is a lesson on News Service pure reading mat
ter for the week ending January 31 , J897.
If you want to read it all
READ THE BEE.