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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1898)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , 31AHCH 0 , 1808. HEAVEN'S ' SIGNS IN MARCH Moving Northward the Sun Will Make an Evenly Balanced Day on the 20th. MOVEMENT OF THE VARIOUS PLANETS f hflici of the Moon unit KM Aliened , Influence * I'linlcnl IMinmen of f ' the Planet * , Their SI EC nud * Ulntnncc from lit. " ' 'March ' it always one of the most Interest ing of months , from an astronomical stand point , gay the New York Times , for It con tains one of our greatest blessings , the com ing of the sun to the northward of the equa tor. The event , Important and cheering to un though It b , also brings with It a feeling of Impatlenc * at the cold weather which RO often bangs on In a. most blustering , chilly fashion. On the 20th the sun enters the Ign of Ariel and shines alike on the just and on' the unjust throughout the world. Were It not for the eun's unrclaxlng hand of gravity that extends to the different worlds they would all bo flying off In a. tralght line , whose end they would probably never reach. This tendency must bo moment arily curbed and the planet held In Its true curve about the sun. These giant worlds must be perfectly handled and their speed regulated , all of which I * accomplished by the sun , , which may be eald to bo perpetu ally swinging them at arm's length. Iy the nun's force the zephyrs bnrcly stir the leaves or we have the storm or the hurricane , and It l.i by Its means that the merchant's white- called ships arc blown safely home and the electric power la made to show Its swiftness and willingness to servo man. So the BUM carries off the tnlasmi ot the marsh , the pol lution of cltlefl , and then sends the winds to wash and cleanse them , 'In the sea spray. PHASES OF THE MOON. The moon begins nnd closes Its monthly list of planetary conjunctions by meetings iwlth Ncptuno on the 1st and the 2Stli. It Is not , however , a month for scenic effects Ini this particular , for none of the meeting ! ) hi particularly close. Jupiter and the moon ore at tliclr closest on the 9th. but the modi's disk IB Junt after the full and thrown too much light on the picture to suit us. On the 8th we have a full moon , at which tlmo the moon Is a little south of the equator and moving to the southward. I ast quarter occurs on the 15th , now moon on the. 22d , mul the phase of first quarter on ° the 30th. The proximity of the moon to tis Is probably what has caii ed Its repu tation as affecting all sorts of remarkably queer things. No celestial body except the cun has ever had a ulmllar Influence , to which the whole world men , animals , plants , minerals , and all have from time 10 time been accessible. 'According ' to Ktellln , the moon governs vendors and play wrights of all kinds , masters of great works , menageries , gamblers , bankrupts , counter feiters and madhouses ; that Is to My , the moon rules over all those whoso business It Is to work during the night until sun- rlslng , or to sell provisions for the night. It Is not without a cause , one would cay , with regard to these accusations , that thr moon Is so near us ; If It were as far off as Saturn It would not be able to answer to all of them. THE MONSTER PLANET SATURN. Saturn opens the ball by being at the quarter point of Ms con me on the 2 < 1. He Is moving on toward opposition , when he will be most favorably located for observa tion , and will remain In sight from the time of his rising until the 'breaking ' day blots him from tlio eky. If you happen ono day to takea little journey to the planet Saturn. which Is scarcely moro than 900,000,000 miles from us , you would feel on approach Ing It an unrpcakablo astonishment , to which It would be difficult to compare any sentiment of surprise felt on the earth. Imagine an Immense globe , not only the flzo of the earth , but os large as 734 earths put together. It revolves on Its axis with such rapidity that In spite of Its sizeIt accomplishes Its diurnal rotary movement In about ten hours. It has a system of wonderful rings surrounding It , which do not remain Immovable , but are carried along with the circular movement round the planet that In rapidity exceeds that of the planet Itself. Tbo domain of the Saturnine world Is not confined to 'this , for bcycnd the rings there arc eight moons revolving , whose radii Increase the system to a diameter of 4,500,000 miles. JUPITER AND THE EARTH. Jupiter progresses majestically toward the point at which ho will bo In opposition , and where ho will arrive on the 25th. At thh time he will present a glorious object In the eastern sky , coming Into view about as the nun has set , and shining with a brilliancy and power exceeding that which he succeeds In attaining at any other tlmo of the year. He becomes also at that tlmo an evening star , and wHl remain In that category until Octo ber , thereby giving us a splendid opportunity to watch him sweeping majestically through the sparkling dome. If ever at a future tlmo any of our readers should happen to Inhabit Jupiter , they would have considerable difficulty In discovering their former country. To do so they would have to rUe a little before the sun , and five or six minutes before the rising look to the east for a vt-ry small white star. With sharp eyes perhaps they would perceive It , and so know that the earth still existed. Again , they would find It six months later at the west , a few mlnutea after the setting of the sun. The Inhabitants ot Jupiter never nco the earth during the night , although It la precisely hi the middle of clear nights that we arc beat able to observe this magnificent planet. OUR FRONTIER PLANET NEPTUNE. Neptune also reaches the position of quad rature , and arrives there on the 10th. On the 1st he Is In conjunction with the grow ing moon , and again on the 28th. Neither of these .meetings Is close enough to servo with exactness to locate the position of the planet. The world which hero marks the frontiers of the system la situated at such a distance from the sun that the light and heat which It receives from It ore 1,300 times less than that by which the earth is enriched , so that no great difference can be noted between the day and night of this dis tant planet , to which the oolar disk Is nearly reduced to the smallness of the stars Can wo wonder , then , at our Inability to distin guish It from the myriads of the starry host 11 ? ' , ' ' ? surr ° < led. mere points of light though they bo ? NEPTUNE AND MERCURY. Uranus also comes under the heading of the morning stars , and It might bo remarked or Him very much as of the far-distant Nep tune. that ho U all too distant for us to hope , , * gllmpso of his bright face with un aided vision. This planet Is at present In 16 noure 6 minutes right ascension , and 20 de- ? , . - i"lnutfa south declination , which puts him In thevgroup of the Scorpion , but helps i very little In finding him without a telescope. Neither doeu the fact of his being In conjunction with the moon on the I ! ln tllls Particular , for the two bodies are not very close together at the time. A ° lnta the oventug stars on' the at which time he la In superior conJunction - Junction with the sun , and begins swlnKlng to the eastward. In the middle of the lant century one of the numerous romancers -who feigned voyages to the planets tried to make us bellevo .that 4ho mountains of Mercury were all crowned with beautiful garqeno , In which grew naturally not only < ho most succulent fruits which were served as food to the Mercurlans , but also the greatest variety of dishes. This may have come by special message to the author from an inhabitant ot thu planet , for wo are told by another authority that the Inhabitants - habitants ot Mercury are all mad , and that their braids are burned with the violent heat which the sun poura upon their heads. Mara and the fading crescent come at their closest point of meeting eu the 19th , Tmt the planet la yet very conspicuous , and there will be too much clear eky between the two bodies to admit of the scene being particularly - ticularly attractive. Mara U at thla tlmo fcardly one-third the alzo that he attaint before - fore the year closes , so we shall Dud him of considerably greater IcteiflU. later than he at present. t QUEEN OF TH\ . uow once cala * n CT M- ' * hut for the priacnt we are not allowed to dcllirht our uyr.i with her lovelluroi , for nlio l not quite jet ready for the public. So great , however , will the treat be that It be hooves u all to keep looking lo the western sky to sec who will be the first to dtocovor the mifrcn of the planets ihortly after the sun has tet. This globe presents the greatest resemblance to our own , and It lisa nearly the came ? trciomlcnl ; elements size , vol ume , weight , and density only It Is much nearer lo 'the ' cun .thai we ore. From the beginning of ancient poetry Its position near the SLH , which cautes It to appeal1 at sun- rlio and sunset , attracted contemplative minds toward It , and Vcntis became the Ptar of all those who love to dream In the evening , from the shepherd returning from the fields to bosom friends whoso eoula commune with each other during the night. Legions of tngcls and. . genii are said by the Greeks to preside over the direction of this most fa vored of all the heavenly spheres , and the Creeks always read the revolving pictures as a etarry poem. IIUAII OX Till : : TRACK , An Inulilcnt of Kurly HnllroutlliiR In IViDinylvnnln. Abraham Johnson of Altoona , Pa. , Is one of the few surviving engineers employed on the old State railroad between Holldaycburg and Johnstown back In the forties. He used to run the IStnry Clay on the twelve-mile level above Aftoona , and the adventures ho had with old "Hen , " us he called It , were many. "Did I ever tell you how tlio big bear tied up our line for a week ? " ho said to a New York Sun reporter the other day. "No ? Well , It was a funny kind of snap , but un actual fact , I assure you. It was back about ' 49 , I think , and the spot where the bear held us up IS not more than a dozcu mllrs from Altocna. Wo were running along the level at a gcod gait one morning , with a train of about twenty cars , and I was just figuring on our chances ot catching a good dinner at the half-way house , when JJI11 Watte that was my Jlrcmao yelled out fo mo : " 'Look out there , Abe ! There's a big bear on the track. ' " \Ve didn't have no book of rules In them days , but It was one of the unwritten laws of the read not to run over a big animal. The superintendent said It cpollcd the scenery , but I guess Itas because the big gest engine wo had couldn't stand much of a bump without jumping tno track. Well , when I caw that hear first ho was standing right In the middle of ( tie track ; waiting to give old Hen a hustle for his money. I blew the whistle and tried to scare him away , but he only stood up on hte hind feet and motioned for mo to come on. Seeln' the pesky critter meant fight , I stopped the engine and held a council of war with Dill. " 'It's your turn to drive them off , ' I said. 'I drove them two off last week , besides that wild cat Sunday morning. ' " 'Yes , ' assented Hill , 'but this here bear would make two of yours. Besides , ho means fight. I can tell by the way ho looks. ' " 'Shy a stone at him anyhow , ' I urged. < Maybe ho'll run.1 "I could soc Dill didn't like his job. but he crawled down and was hunting around for a stone when he saw the bear coming after him. Ho didn't stop to orguo with bruin , but scrambled back on the footplate. Seeing there was no fight In BUI , the bear went back to the track and laid down. " 'Hang my skins , ' said Bill , when his breath came back , 'I hired to fire and I'll bo durned If I'm goln * to do any more bear chasing. ' "It seemed to mo that the bear had done most of the chasing that time , but I didn't say anything for fear of hurting Bill's feel- Inps. After a good bit of talk we finally concluded to lay over and wait till the boar got tired and opened the road again. Well , sir , wo laid thcro half a day and I'll bo blowed If that exasperating bear didn't just hang around and wait for trouble. About sundown Bill suddenly jumped up an * says : " Tvo got an Idea , Abe. ' " 'Spit her out , ' says I. for I was getting tired of foaling around. " 'We'll have to try a little strategy on that there bear , ' says he. 'We'll back the train down out of sight , an' mcbbo he will think wo're gone and cut to { he woods. ' "I thought this was a good scheme and we backed down around a curve and waited about an hour. But when we run back up again there was Mr. Bear , as big as you please. Bill an' me had another council , an' the upshot of U was that we concluded to lay over till morning In the hope that the bear would be gone then , "There was a charcoal burner's cabin near where wo was , an1 me an * Bill went there for supper. We discovered shortly that be- sldo the old folks In the house there was a mighty pretty daughter whom they called Mlrandy. Being a married man myself. I didn't cut much figure , but I could see Bill was hard hit from the start. We slept all night at the cottage an * next morning held another session of the council. "I agreed at last to eo up and sco If the bear wes gone. Imagine my surprise on com ing on the scene to find not only that the bear had not gone , but had went and brought his family during the night. Leastwise there was two big boars and two cubs all camping on the track In front of Old Hen when I hove In sight. I went back to the cottage feelIng - Ing very much disgusted an' found Bill cut- tin * wood for Mlrandy'g oven. ' "Well , to makea long story short , Bill an' I wont back up < to the track three times a day for a week , but that Infernal bear stood guard In front of Old Hen all ot that tlmo , Hill kept the fire burning In the fire box but that was about all he did beside cut wood for Mlrandy. At the end of a week I got despcrlt. Going up to the old man of the cottage I Bays : " 'Old man , have you got a gun around the place ? ' " 'Sure , ' RCZ ho. 'What do you want to know for ? ' " 'There's a bloom In' bear up the road here that'o trying to stop traffic , an' I'm goin' after him If you'll lend tno the weapon , ' eez " 'Cert , ' sez ho an' ho brought out an old flint lock and gave It to mo. Thus armed , I crawled up en Old Hen and took a look around. There was only one bear In sight that I could see and that was the big fellow that had hung around for a week to muko us trouble. Seemed to me he had got fat en his job , too. At any rate ho didn't look no thinner than when I first saw htm. "Well sir , with the old man's gun I drew a bead on the critter an' Jet 'cr go. I hit him square between the eyes and ho drop ped llko a log. Crawlln' off Old Hen. I went up an' rolled him oft the ' .rack an' then went back to look for Bill. I found him an' Mlrandy bakln * apple pics In the kitchen. " 'Bill , ' says I. 'we'll have to limber up an' get oven the hill. I stood as much as mor tal man could stand , but I just went up an' an * plum shot that bear. ' " 'Sho ? ' says Bill. I could see he was not pleased with the way I was Interrupting his gclngs on with Mlrandy. " 'Git a move on , Bill , ' says I , 'we've laid here a week now an' we'll be running In late If wo don't hurry up. ' " 'Mlrandy , ' says Bill , looking sort of soft like. " 'What Is It , Bill ? ' saya she In a funny sort of way. " 'Come along , Mlrandy , ' says Bill , 'an' set on the seat-box of Old Hen an' when we get to Johnstown we'll tie up. ' " 'I'll go you. BUI , ' says she an' she went along on the Henry Clay. "I was best man at the big wedding at Johnstown. BUI an' mo kept the secret of how we was held up by the bear , an' nobody knew anything about It for a good many jears. I think the superintendent must have suspected something was wrong , though , for ho said to mo : " 'Abe , you run In a little late with your train the other day , didn't you ? ' "An1 I answered an' said : 'I did. ' " sMilXti'S CU.MINU. I _ _ _ _ Atlanta Conttltutlon. It's a comlii' sura ns fate ! Little towheads nt the. uato Heady now for dlggln' bait. It's a eomln'l East nna wc. t Hills that In the HMOW wuz dressed Wearln1 bouquets on their breast. It's a comln' . I kin see In the blizzard blighted tree Blossoms pccpln' out at me. In the rills that run a rnco Fish can skasely keep their place Piayln' leapfrog 7oro tny face ! An' the sweet birds-still so long. Hear the pprlnKtlme's silver gone An * air prlmplu' up for sons , [ jln * comln' sure as fate. ! ( hem towheuds at the Kate oyater can with balu RESOURCEFUL TOM IIINES Stirring Talcs of the Man Who Fought with Morgan. WHEN NAVY REVOLVERS PROVED USEFUL TiiiinrllnR from thc > CaltinilinM I'cnl- trntlnr > - - rltli Cnno Knlven A < MnUnN nnil n. Ilrlck AVnll nt Cincinnati. Captain Tom nines , who died In Louis ville , January 23 , was , perhaps , the best known confederate soldier In Kentucky at the tlmo of his death , except General Uasll W , Duke , who was General John Morgan's light bower. Certainly few men In the south had a moro exciting career as a soldier , raider , and liberator of confederate prisoners than ho. General Basil W. Duke , who as Intimately associated with Captain Hlnes during the war , until after the escape of Hlnes and Morgan and their associates from the peni tentiary In Columbus , O. , In speaking of Captain Hlnes to a correspondent ot the Now York Sun , related the following story of that escape as or.o of the events that made the captain famous. Ho said : "For personal courage , skill In planning , and daring in execution , Captain Hlnes had few equals. Ho never seemed In a hurry , never gave evi dences of excitement : but he struck the lightning , and , had the war lasted much longer , ho would have taken high rank as ti commander. "Tho escape from Columbus was planned and In a great measure executed by Cap tain Hlnes and by Captain James Hockcr- smlth ot Madlsonvlllc , Ky. Hlnes had heard In some way that an air chamber extended under the lower range of cells , and ho thought this the more probable , as In no other way could ho account for the dryncss of his cell. Subsequent Investiga tions proved this to bo correct , and after consultation with General Morgan It was decided to cut Into this chamber from Hlnes' cell and dig a tunnel Into the prison yard. A number of men were taken Into the plot. They began digging through thn eighteen Inches ot stone , cement and brick that composed the floor of the eel ! , using case knives that had been extracted froin the dining room. The dirt was concealed In handkerchiefs and under beds until It could bo disposed of. Hlnes swept and cleaned his room every day and threw an old sack over the opening that was being made. The guards would look In , and , see ing the cell bo neat and tidy , would pass on. Finally the air chamber was reached , and , after much labor , the tunnel was fin ished , extending to the point In the yard whence It was Intended to make the exit. BREAKING PRISON. "The men selected to attempt the escape with General Morgan were Captains Thomas H. Hlnes , Ralph Sheldon , Sum Taylor. Jacob Bennett , James Hockersmlth and Gustavus McGce. They all occupied ceUs on the ground floor , except General Morgan and It was ar ranged that on the night of the escape Gen eral Morgan was to exchange places with his brother , Colonel Richard Morgan , who oc cupied ono of the ground-floor cells and be tween whom an'J the general there was a striking resemblance. Men working from the o'Jp chamber had cut away the stone mid concrete beneath the floors of the five cells , from which other occupants besides Captain Hlnes were to escape. Only a thin shell was left , so that It was only neces sary for the occupant of the cell to stamp on the floor and break through. It was a little after midnight , when the men entered the air chamber , leaving stuffed dummies In their beds. "They made their way , each armed with a stout knife as a weapon of defense , through the tunnel and cut away the sod that closed the aperture leading Into the yard. It W.JB rainy and cloudy and they passed the outer wall , the 'bad ' weather had driven the senj j tries and the dogs that guarded the yard at night to shelter. By the help of a rope and separating Into pairs they took their de parture. "Tho escape was not discovered until the next morning , when the rope was found hanging from the wall , and there was hub bub and confusion among the guards and re joicing among the prisoners. "General Morgan and Captain Hlnes , Im mediately on their escape took the train for Cincinnati. In the suburbs of Cincin nati General Morgan pulled the bell cord and he at one end of the car and Captain. Hlnes at the other put on the brakes , caus ing the train to slacken speed so that they could jump off. They then went to the river and paid a boy $2 to row them across to the Kentucky shore , and went through Kentucky and Tennessee , reaching the con federate lines after many odvantures. Cap tain Hlnes was separated from General Morgan In Tennessee and again captured. Ho was guarded In a cabin that night by a few soldiers. He was a flno story teller and succeeded In so interesting bis captors In his yarns that for a moment they left the door unguarded. He at once jumped out Into the darkness , and , diving * into a thicket , escaped and joined his command. "It was soon after this that Captain Htncs was detailed to serve under Jacob Thompson In Canada and never again joined the command. " HIDING IN A MATRESS. Tha next adventure ot Captain Hlnes worth noting was a narrow escape from the the federals while he was in Chicago plan ning to liberate the confederate prisoners held there. He was living In the house of Dr. Edwards , who favored the confederate cause , but the authorities learned the facts and surrounded the house. Going to a b'ed Captain Hines silt open the bottom of a canvae-covcrtd spring mattress , crawled Inside , and then bad the bed rearranged as usual. The soldiers searched the house carefully , looked under the bed repeatedly , but never Into the mattress. However , al though baffled , they were not altogether disheartened and maintained a careful guard. The excitement , fortunately for Hlnes , made Irs. Edwards sick , and In consequence o. doctor was employed and numbers of friends called from time to time to ex press their sympathy. Thereat Hlnes walked boldly to the door with one of the parties ot callers , stepped out with them , expressing , as they did , his hope for the speedy recovery of the Invalid and walked anay unmolested l > vJhe Innocent guard. In Cincinnati , wWfo ho remained for a tlmo In the hormnrt Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thomas , he had a chamber prepared In the jamb of an old'fastlecied ) chimney behind a cupboard full ot gWlfS. When the federal soldiers came , a he1 know they would do , he > was In the hole In the wall that was unsuspected by thq.ySirchers. But probably thb iiwst exciting ot his cs- ccpcs was when he p'as ' at Detroit , Just after the murder of 1'resident Lincoln. Hlnoa looked very much Tfib | Booth , and wan fol lowed by men whtt-thought ho was Booth. As he related thQ0Rt9ry himself It was as follows : Ai , "As soon as I heardiof the assassination I knew there would jbo trouble , and started for Detroit to cron * jho river Into Canada , At Detroit 1 found -Jwvas being followed by detectives , and I w/ltkod Into a saloon with my grip In my hand ! and my overcoat on my arm. The dctectlvco followed. I ordered a drink and Invited all present to join me. I then placed my grip and overcoat on the counter aud went out the back door. I did not return , but went to the river and stepped on the first boat. Just as wo were leaving the wharf the dctectlvee got on board. The captain told mo , to my dismay , that \f \ ac cordance with orders the boat would not croas the river that night , but would go up a few miles and land en the same side. The authorities were afraid Booth might escape that way , acid no boats were allowed to croijs. The detectives thought they had me , and played with mo like a cat would with a mouse. They left mo unmolested , expecting to arrest mo when the boat landed. I walked around awhile and then went Into the pilot hou.ve. I told the pilot I wanted him to land me on the Canada side. Ho said It was Impossible , as ho had his orders. I told him I thought ho might accommodate me , and pulled out two navy pistols. 'If you do not steer for the Canada shore I will blow your brains out , ' said I , 'and If you give a signal you will be a dead nwn before as sistance can reach you. ' Ho was a sensible man and steered for Canada , and when the boat touched I thanked him and jumped oft before the captain and the detectives realized what had happened. " As a matter of fact , Hlnes made o raid Into Indiana just before Morgan's celebrated raid north of the Ohio , but he did not succeed In getting any of the copperheads to join htm , and did find so many militia that he had to retreat. But he arrived back at the river just In tlmo to join Morgaa , and so had a part In that noted exploit. After the war Captain Hlnes practiced law successfully at Bowling Green. Ho was elected Judge of'the court of appeala very soon after settling there , and ho nerved with as much distinction on the bench as ho had with gallantry Ln the field. \OTI3I1 PEOPLE. Aliont Men' nnil Women , Prom inently IH'forc the Public. Of all modern celebrities Ibsen Is the most chary of signing his name for tbo satisfaction of curiosity mongers. He Is evidently convinced that a fool and his auto graph are soon parted , and his rage was great Inst summer when a wealthy autograph fiend offered him 200 gold dollars for the two words of his name , written under the fiend's own eye. It was fortunate for this tracker of lions that she , for1 it was a woman , did not understand Ibsen's native- language , as ho used some largo and powerful Norwelglan words on storming out of the sunny hotel courtyard where the Importunate female had found and cornered' ' him. A scrap ot Ibsen's handwriting now commands a high price In the circle of autograph seekers , and since the old gentleman divides his correspondence and literary labors between a neat little American typewriter ho uses himself and a clever amanuensis , his signature Is more difficult to secure , thanever. . Rudyord Kip ling is another popular author who thor oughly abhors contributing to the UKlo blank books , \vhofvlth their owners , beset his path , and none too gcntlo are the means employed to coax : a clgnaturo from him. When hurrying through Boston one day to catch a train , a 'guest at the hotel whence the author was setting forth In haste in a cab , hearing who U was had slept under the same roof with him , ran oft hatlesa down the street after the vehicle. He shouted and gesticulated and ( evinced such a deslro to stop the cab .that a policeman , fearing somc- thing had 'gone vwrong , balled the cabby , whom Mr. Kipling , had richly tipped for making all possible speed. Naturally a halt was made , the author opened the door to Inquire the reason just ias the hatless man arrived , a fountain pen la one hand and a little book In the other. At sight of the familiar preparations the -policeman fell back , looking very foolish ; there were a few Intense words from the author , the cab dashed oft and the owner of the little book wont back to his hotel a mdder and a wiser man. The young duchess of Marlborough has been communicating gentle shocks of puz zled surprise to her noble friends and rela tives In England by running all her Informal notes and letters oft on a typewriter. For a tlmo the very conventional circle in receipt of these missives , so neatly printed out even to the address and signature , won dered whether to laugh or cry , when to Us Infinite relief It was found that the ex- Empress Eugenie , on acclunt ot her fallIng - Ing eyesight , has adopted the typewriter wholly for that portion of her correspond ence conducted by her own hand. Added to this comforting news waa the Information that the queen can and does write very neatly on a typewriter occasionally , consequently quently tbo writing machine has earned a distinct social value In England. The ono the duchess of Marlborough uses Is of American make , mounted on a charming llt- tlo Inlaid desk and very sumptuously trimmed with gold and red enamel where- evcr such decoration la possible. The paper her little grace uses In the machine Is sent her from the states , and la the ordinary quality used for single copy work , but in the center at the top ot every sheete \ stamped a black ducal coronet , with the letters C. M. In gilt beneath. Roman society has made a great lion of the eccentric author of that very doubtful contribution to literature , "The Triumph of Death. " During the winter D'Annunzlobas given a series of readings In Rome In the drawing room of an important social leader , and the throngs of the supremely fashion able who maneuvered to "secure tickets to the functions were fully amused for their efforts. At ono end of the salon Is an old Roman palace , a dais three steps high was raised and covered with scarlet cloth. All natural light was excluded from the rcom and no artificial Illuminations Introduced save about the dais where towering candel abra held perfumed wax candles , softly shaded. Crlnuon velvet cnrtilna framed the dais , myrtle and ornnce trtK-n , bloomIng - Ing In tubs , shed their sickly pcrfumo atx > u a great glided chair upholstered In red vel vet , In which D'Annunzto cat , arrayed In black , to read from Dante , the bible am his own works. The effect of the gloom- shrouded salon , the weighty odors and the funeral novelist was said to have been overwhelming on at least the feminine portion tion of the audience. Many of then fainted away , but returned to the scene to witness the final crowning of the reader with a laurel wreath by a dnmsel dresscc to represent fame. Americans may bo sur prised to hear that throughout these readIngs - Ings neither D'Amiunr.lo nor his audience broke down In laughter , though the comi cality ot the scene was undeniable. Princess Victoria , the only unmarried daughter of the prince and princess of Wales Is a woman looking for some useful mission that a royal girl may fill without disgracing her family. She docs not wish to marry though divers good offers have been made for tier hand , nlnce of the three sisters ahe Is far and away the most clever and compztilon- able , and a number of eligible young German and Swedish princes and grand dukes have : Fcally wished to have her to wife. Hut the rlnceiis Victoria has not yet found a husbani ; to her mind , and to her mother's great dlamay she cherishes an ardent ambition to bo a genuine wage earner. Two 'years ago she fitted herself for nursing , and announced her Intention of entering a London hospital There were serious family conclaves and not until sent to Interview her very dceldei grandmamma on Itio question did the young princess relinquish the plan. Inheriting a decided artistic taste from her mother , this royal spinster Is uow turning her attention to book binding , and the designing of book covers. The library at Sandrlngham Is reallj enriched with some of her excellent work and at a recent exhibition of book covers In London , two examples , contributed by a Mlsi Matthews , won prizes. It was not untl weeks afterward that the judges , dispensers of prizes , or the royal family themselves knew that the energetic princess bad won these testimonials to her excellent taste am handicraft under so commonplace a name. The same royal etiquette that forbids Prin cess Victoria adopting any calling denied the marchioness of Lome , better known as the Princess Loul.se , from putting her talents as a sculptor to any professional uses. It Is a cruel fact , however , that the Lcrncs have a very small Income , nnd the marchioness has extravagant tastes.n addition , she la a most vigorous and Independent lady , who openly deplores her fate In having been born a princess , and who has compromised with her mother and family by ostensibly refusing to receive orders for any work done in her studio. She Is allowed , however , to volun teer to contribute busts , portrait panels bronze bas reliefs , statues , fonts , altars , etc. with seeming royal generosity to churches public buildings , squares , etc. , In Englam cr the colonies needing such ornamentation. These she executes In her studio In Kensing ton palace , with moro than amateur zeal anC care. In return for her kindness , thanks en- grcescd on Illuminated rartbment , are offcreJ In public , while quito behind the scenes the thrifty lady Is waited on by a committee , who present her with a carved wood casket. This casket Is never opened under the'eyes of the assembled spectators , and any ono Is at liberty shrewdly to guess that the con tents Is just about the market value of such work an the really clever princess Is able to do. But whatever the arrangement Is Queen Victoria's cnly artistic daughter Is ono of the tiardest working and least unpretentious women In the United Kingdom , and a young American , studying art In Europe , nnd anx ious to see what a princess' workroom would bo like , found no difficulty In gaining ad- mlcslon to her royal highness' studio. She wont on a day appointed , and expected to be shown about by a splendid and unintelligent flunky , but to her pleased ourprlse the prln- cese greeted her at the studio door with a hearty hendshake , an apology for her clay- staloed fingers , her big working overalls and the very slight artistic value of her achieve ments. There followed a long talk on arl and artists , and the young American went oft with a cordial Invitation to call again when she found herself In London. SOMO HECEXT INVENTIONS. A Now York man bas patented a glove with elastic webbing In the sides ot the fingers and thumb to stretch as the glove is pulled on , thus making U fit any sized hand. A new milk can for dealers' use has a recess In the "Center of the bottom. Into wtilch the dipper exactly fits , to force the milk out and cause It to drain Into the dipper to empty the can without tipping it up. To assist In laying carpets a new stretcher Is formed of a rod with a tack slot on one side and a plunger , which drlvea the tad after the teeth of the stretcher have gripped the edge of the carpet and forced It iato position. To assist In holding four-in-hand ties In place after tbey are tied a wlro clip In at tached to the collar on each side of the button and extending outward to form a loop through which ono end of the tie Is passed to draw the knot down to the proper position. Piano stools for the use of cither one or two players are fitted with hinged side pieces upholstered like the seat acd hanging down when not in use , spring-actuated rods sliding Into the main seat to support them In a borlzontal position for use. Telephoning fretn railroad cars In motion is made possible by a now Invention , which has two auxiliary electric rails attached to ono of the main rails , with a disk mountcil on a car wheel to complete a circuit on the third rail , the regular wheel being used fo > the return current. In a recently patented method of mounting trolley poles on the cars a base-plate carries four vertical springs , which carry a plate on which the polo Is mounted on a pivoted joint with springs to precs it against tbe wire , the cushion base lessening the shock to the wire of the rocking motion ot the car. To prevent accidents on trolley cars the trucks are provided with forked frames , which extend on each side of the wheels and end In small wheels , resting on the track to push a person out of the way If he falls under the car , the wheels being so small that they will not pass over anything lying on tbe track. An accurate low-water alarm Just placed on the market has a pipe extending Into the tank , with a vertical section at the end carrying a piston , with a float at the outer end , which pulls the piston tip as long as tbo water Is high , but descends and opens a valve , to give alarm , as soon as the water gets low. i FOIl THE 'MTTI/I3 TOTS , HERE IS AN Extraordinary Offer A chance to secure a valuable . addition to your library at very small expense. . . IN PiervR.es 1798 The Great Centennial Memorial Series Prepared in anticipation of the Centennial demonstrations to occur throughout Ireland dur ing this year. This work will be welcomed by all who con template a visit to the Emerald Isle during 1898 , and by tour ists who have visited the islander or who anticipate a journey to its beautiful and picturesque sections. To those who are familiar with the scenes em braced in this splendid series of photographs the views will possess particular interest. . MORE THAN 500 Beautiful Pictures. PORTFOLIOS 11x13 INCHES ; _ * The descriptive sketches ac companying these views were prepared by Hon. John F. Finerty OF CHICAGO. These illustrations are not con fined to any one locality in Ire land , but include every section of the Emerald Isle from Lit * ford to Bantry and from Dublin to Calway. The Round Towers , Vine Cov ered Abbeys , Crumbling Mon asteries , Shrines , Churches and Cemeteries , the Battle Fields and Eviction Scenes are all faithfully portrayed in this great work. : PART XXII NOW READY FOR DISTRIBUTION Bring 10 cents to The Bee of fice , either in Omaha or Coun cil Bluffs Mailed to any address on receipt of 10 cents in coin.