ore
THE NEW PREACHER.
I've heard the new preacher,
may be very nice,
But 1 can't say 1 really like him, :
Though I've never eard him but twice.
He's nice and polite and real stylish,
And looks very well, I must say ; .
But what he says don't seem like preachin’,
Perhaps it's the new-iashioned way.
#e took his text out of the Bible
And read it off gh as ould be.
Then went to expla Wa
As different as di could be. a
His words were so 10 nd high-soundin
I couldn't catch all that he said,
But some things he told to his people
Won't ever go out of my head!
He said he considered the Bible
A very good book in its way, :
But still, for the times that we lived in,
"Twas quite out of date, he must say.
And some other books that are written
Were very much better to read,
And suited the taste of the wise folks
Who wan't be bound by prayer-book or
creed. a.
He said that the Jesus we rev rence,
The Savior who died for us all,
Was really a wise and good teacer,
But then. 30 were Peter and Paul.
He taught those poor, ignorant people
A great deal of good, he'd ne doubt.
But folks now had got quite beyond him;
Y os, Betsey, he,said that right out!
Yos, Betsey,
Perhaps he
He talked about culture and beauty,
And science and nature and art;
But though his words sounded so pretty,
They somehow scemed lackin’ in heart.
1 wanted to hear of the Savior
W hose life here on earth was 80 blest,
And who to souls heavy laden
Has promised a shelter and rest.
1 want to be taught by a preacher
The way both to live and to die,
That I may be fit for that heaven
I'm hopin’ to reach by and by.
If this is the new-tangled doctrine
This talk 1 ve been hearin’ to-day,
Why then you may have your
preachin’, : :
1°11 stick to the old-fashioned way!
fine
— ———
A Pill for the Detectives.
When Fergus Bellamy left Wolver-
hampton with a portmantean which was
so heavy that it took the united strength
of three porters to lift it into the lug-
gage van, the local Superintendent of
Police felt it to be his duty to communi-
cate by telegraph to his superiors at Scot-
and Yard, For Fergus had only been
at Wolverhampton a few days, and no
one knew from whence he came 01 what
his business was. Even in the billiard-
room of a second-rate hotel, where he
spent his evenings, he proved Himself to
be an unsociablefellow. Not only did
he answer in monosyllables such com-
monplace remarks as were addressed to
him. but he so far omitted the ordinary
courtesies of the place that he never of -
fered to treat the marker to a drink or a
cigar. Possibly it was on this account
that that official prophetically observed
as Bellamy drove off to the railway
station. ** He'll never be no good to no
one, I'll bet a bob.”
On reaching St. Pancras,
evinced great anxiety that due care
should be taken of his portmanteau, and
no wonder, for it was apparently brand
new. and bore his initials in large green
letters. If the value of iis contents
¢ uld be judged by its weight rather
than by the giatuity with which the
porters were rewarded, it was precious
indeed. After seeing it deposited on the
roof of a four-wheeled cab, and aiscov-
ering from a time-table that the train
from Birmingham was due in ten min-
utes the traveler devoted himself to oh-
taining all the news of the day in a
strictly economical manner by reading
the eontents bills of the papers. that
were exposed on the book-stall.
Within a few minutes of the adver-
tised hour, the Birmingham train ar-
rived, and as Bellamy stepped forward
to greet the acquaintance for whom be
bad evidently been waiting, he was un-
aware of the immediate proximity of
Inspector Grabham, of the Detective
Department, and of the interest that
experienced officer was taking in his
movements, Nor did he notice that the
Inspector was taking care not to miss
a word of the following conversation :
“ What message from Master 7’ asked
Bellamy, in a Somewhat excited tone.
“ Nothing more but that he'll be up
the day after to-morrow. It must be
done before then. You have the ma-
terials, and the papers are here,” replied
the other, glancing downwards at a
small carpet-bag that evidently com-
prised all his Tuggage. *‘ We must join
N. G. at once.”
With a recigrocal wink, the two got
into the cab, which had been waiting,
and the driver was ordered to go to the
Sprig of Shillelagh. Inspector Grab-
ham followed in a hansom at a reason-
able distance.
The hotel selected by the friends was
but a very humble hostelry at Islington.
Its proprietor, an Irishman named
O'Flaherty, carried on a fairly presper-
ous trade during the Cattle Show and
Derby weeks, but at the arrival of three
new visitors in one day in the off-season
he was considerably surprised. His
astonishment abated a little when he
ound that they were all of one party,
Fergus
comed the others. More than this,
matiifested deep interest
lich, after consultation amongst the
three, was ordered to be taken to Mr,
Gavan’s private sitting-room, a fact im-
Se
! tive, who by this time was consuming,
| with remarkable deliberation, a bottle
of ginger beer at the hotel bar.
Had Fergus Bellamy, David Isom
and Nathaniel Gaven known that the
hilarious gentlemen who dined at an
adjacent table were Inspector Grabham
and two other detectives, whose duty
it was to watch their every action and
remember every word they spoke, it is
probable that they would have eaten in
privacy upstairs rather than in the pub-
lic coffee-room. Certainly they would
not Haye ‘aceepted, the hospitality of
their neighbors; but drink isresponsible
for many an acquaintanceship, and when
the beefsteak and Welsh, rarebit which
constituted their modest meal wos de-
molished,” and Isom ordered ‘‘three
whiskies hot,” it was but natural that
they should feel grateful for Inspector
Grablsm’s offer. (made ina North-coun-
try accent) to partake of a bottle of
(’Flaherty’s oldést port. This was not
a beverage to be despised, for it had
been in the cellar nearly six months,
ever since the bankruptey of a grocer in
the next street, when the Jandlord of the
Sprig of Shillalagh had purchased the
wholé remaining stock of seventeen bot-
tles for thirty shillings.
After .the first glass round had been
held up to the light, submitted to the
nasal test and disposed of, the zealous
police officer opened ‘out his heart to his
guests,
“I have just come up from Bradford,
traveling in the dry goodsline. Maybe,
your name,
Maybe you know the town,
our city houses, Can I be of any ser-
vice to you, of perhaps you are al the
same game, eh ?' The Inspector might
have spated himself the trouble trying
to extract information either by straight
forward questions or cross-examination,
for the three conspirators excused them-
selves early on the plea of fatigue, after
disséussing nothing but the wine, the
weather. and the extortionate charges
of London cabmen.
some three hours after his guests had
retired to their respective rooms, he was
surprised by a visit from a police con-
He recog-
nized the two latter as customers
Grabham and another man.
who
had dined and paid so well that evening,
and assumed that they required accom-
modation for the night. However, he
was soon undeceived, and in a startling
matter, y
“We are police officers of the detec-
tive department. You have now in your
hopise—a licensed house three danger-
ous characters,” said the
sharply, mentioning their
“When did they arrive ? Quick, we
have no time to lose.”
O'Flaherty was terribly frightened,
and spluttered out words to the effect
that Gavan had come first, and the
others later in the afternoon.
evidently had expected them, and had
hired a sitting-toom. They all had lng-
a ‘afednd he knew no more, éxcept that
they had dined and gone to bed early.
“Lead the way to the sitting room,”
He then
some instructions to the constable, who
passed them to others waiting
outside. Grabham and his companion
followed the landlord, who trembled as
though he were the responsible culprit,
The bedrooms being on an upper story,
the officers ran but little danger of being
disturbed in their seareh in the sitting-
room. Some writing materials were on
the table and by carefully reversing the
blotting-paper, the inspector was able to
make out that the following letter had
been written :
; The Sprig of Shillelagh,
Islington.
DEAR MASTER ;—S0 far all well, We
have the materials, and will go to work.
Next day you shall hear from us whether
we are to sink or swim. N. G. arrived.
Having deposited the blotting-paper
in his pocket, Grabham continued the
search, and, to his surprise and delight,
found that Bellamy’s portmanteau was
still in the rgom. It was, however, se-
curely locked ; but the inspector's com
pafijon was prepared for this contingen-
cy and, with the aid of skeleton keys,
soon opened it.
! You scoundrels,” muttered the in-
spector, as, after turning over the con-
tents and pointing sowe of them out to
his subordinate, he quietly closed and
again locked the portmanteau. “I
think we've got you this time. Now to
find out * Master,’ and. Inspector Grab-
bam will be Mr. Superintendent, and
have & money reward, too, may be,
Come along; I'm satisfied with this
day's work, anyhow.”
Grabbam’s junior was not equally
pleased. (1a fact, he.
inspector,
names,
(ravan
replied the inspector. gave
on
taken charge of by the police. But ex-
Joarmod ian he I the art of trapping
+ iv ; wg
rafars, 80 far as public
permit, to the lair of the
*
instigator, and, by bringing him to :
book, destroy the root of the plot,
Next morning, after a frugal break-
fast (conspirators never have enough
money to afford luxuries), Bellamy,
Isom and Gavan left their hotel, closely
watched by detectives, and, taking the
omibus from the Angel, they were set |
down at Charing Cross, Here they
separated. Bellamy walked along the
Strand, going citywards, while Isom
went up Parliament street, and Gavan
strolled towards Pall Mall
In a few hours, the police eflicers em-
ployed on the special duty of watching
the suspected persons made their re-
ports,
The first was as follows :
Watched Ballamy. He went up the
Strand, stopping to look in several shop
windows, Seemed particularly attracted
by ove, acutler’s, He went in and in-
quired the price of an American bowie
knife, but did not buy it. Was a long
while looking in the windows of an
optician where there were portraits of
members of Parliament and actresses, 1
thought he was going to turn back here,
for he wavered, but at last he went on,
He paused for some time at Somerset
House, and walked out into the road to
get un better view of the building. Puass-
od down Fleet street and up Ludgate-
hill ; walked round St, Paul’s Cathedral,
stopping three times, Went up Cheap-
side, where he spoke to Constable (K.
007), and asked to be directed to the
Bank of England, Arriving
walked round that, viewing the
there,
Bank
Finally he ap-
He then
tobacconist's shop, and purchased a box
of flaming fusees, Then walked into
Goswell road and on to the Sprig of
Shillelah, where I was relieved, and
came directly here (Scetland-yard) and
made this report.
The reports of the other detectives
were very similar to this one. Isom had
trolled towards Westminster, and e
amined the Houses of Parliament as
tect : while Gavan had surveyed Buck-
ingham Palace as carefully as though he
going to make a drawing of it
Islington by different 10utes,
In the evening the three friends again
left their hotel.
took with him a brown paper parcel, and
On this occasion each
each proceeded towards the building in
which he had taken so much interest In
the morning.
Inspector Grabham
officers followed Gavan.
and two other
That he
the ringleader of the gang the penetrat-
ing officer had already decided in his
own mind, Nor was his zeal unreward-
ed. for, on reaching the gates which
separate St. James’ Park from Buck-
ingham Palace Road, Gavan, handicapp-
ed as he was by the apparently heavy
package he carried, quickened his pace
s0 that the detectives could scarcely
keep up with him.
by was evidently the spot fixed on for
the perpetration of whatever outrage
was to be committed, Carefully watch-
ing his time when the soldier on guard
had turned to the right, Gavan deposit
ed his parcel in the shaded angle to the
left of the box. Then, taking from his
pocket a fuse, he struck it on the sole
of his boot, and-——he found himself
captured and handcuffed and thrust
into a cab and driven away he knew nol
where before he had time to make any
excuse, Inspector Grabham chuckled
to himself hs dfter craftily waiting o
see if the brown-paper parcel would ex-
plode without assistance, he took the
parcel under his arm and hurried back
to headquarters to make known an
exploit that would at least bring his
name prominently before the public. On
arriving there he found that two other
men had also been arrested. Their
tactics had been similar to those adopt-
ed by Gavan, . It was clear that an
attempt had been made to blow up
Buckingham Palace, the Bank of Eng-
land, and the Houses of Parlia-
ment, and thus deal a simultaneous
blow at Royalty, Commerce and Govern-
ment.
The three canisters with which
this desperate outrage was to have been
carried out had been captured. Their
lids were securely soldered down, and the
authorities at Scotland Yard dared not
attempt to open them, so they dispatch-
them to Woolwhich by special convey-
ance, in order that scieotific evidence of
their contents might be forthcoming in
due course,
Reports of the affair soon got abroad.
Special editions of the newspapers were
published, with sensational headings.
Columns of print not only gave details
of what had occurred, but significantly
hinted at the identity of the instigators,
The political bearings of the conspiracy
were discussed, while crowds of idlers
Was
A sentry-box close
a
suffocation when Mr. Fairland opene-
ed the case for the Crown. He was,
the learned counsel said, instructed by
her Majesty's Treasury to prefer a very
serious charge against the prisoners,
had not yet been decided whether they
would ultimately be indicted for treason,
felony, or under a more recent statute
with being in possession of explosives for
an unlawful purpose, At this stage of
the proceedings he proposed only to
prove the circumstances leading to the
arrest of the prisoners. He would,
however, call the attention ef the
magistrate to the fact that a more
dastardly outrage had never been planned
against the lives and property of her
majesty’s subjects, It was, for reckless-
ness of conception and malignity of
purpose, unparalleled in the history of
crime. There was some applause when
the learned counsel concluded his speech
by calling as his first witness George
The witness detailed the circum-
stances of his suspicions, and of his
following the prisoners, of his searching
the rooms, and finding the portmanteau,
ile also produced the fragment of blot-
ting-paper he had taken, and explained
that, on searching the portmanteau, he
found it contained a dozen ordinary
bricks and three canisters.
They were the same as found by the
police in the possession of the prisoners.
The inspector then detailed particulars
of the arrest of Gavan.
The prisoners declined to ask any
questions,
Two other detectives corroborated a
part of the evidence of Grabham, and
also gave details of the arrest of Bell
amy and Isom,
Mr. Fairland was about to suggest an
adjournment, when he wus informed
that Professor Cain, in whose hands the
tin had
arrived. He, therefore,
allowed to prove the
canisters. On the
the
somewhat flustered, entered the witness.
canisters been placed, had
asked to be
contents of the
giving
looking
magistrate
his consent, Professor,
box. His evidence was as follows :
He was public analyst to Her Ma-
jesty’s War Office. Three canisters had
been delivered to him by Mr. Grabham
on behalf of the police, As they were
it
pedient to have them opened by the in-
Each
contained some hundreds of globules
soldered d wn, be had thought ex-
spector of explosives, canister
about a sixteenth of an inch in diameter.
Taking a handful haphazard from each
canister, he had analyzed them, but in
consequence of circumstances he would
relate to his worship, he had not per-e-
Each
globule contained rhubarb and colchi-
vered in a quantitative analysis,
cum, and also other harmless drugs, and
he the
slightest trace of anything harmful in
the compound. There was nothing of
an explosive, dangersus or poisonous
character about them. He thought
they might be effectually prescribed for
gout. In reply to the magistrate, he
admitted that they had the appearance
and properties of liver pills. At the
bottom of each canister he had found
some printed bandbills, announcing that
“Bellamy's Balm’ was a certain cure
for gout, rheumatism and all diseases of
the liver, and that it could be obtained
from any chemist, or wholesale from
Bellamy, Gavan & Isom, manufacturing
druggists, Newcastle,
® » #® w
had been unable to discover
Thanks to Professor Cain's opinion
of “Bellamy’s Balm’ and to the pub-
licity given to it in all the English papers,
Messrs, Bellamy & Co. were soon able
to retire on a handsome fortune and
build a Home for Disabled Detectives.
ss AA
Opening Oysters With Prayer.
There is a certain class of people who
take a very gloomy view of religion and
declare that we ought to do everything
as though we were to die the next min-
ute, What a long-faced community
we should be if that rule were carried
out. A man couldn’t laugh at a joke;
indeed, no one would dare to make a
joke for people to laugh at, and
would become a slow march to
grave, If to-day were to be our
we should not lay in a stock of provisions
for to-morrow, we should not want to
go over the Brooklyn Bridge, and we
should not pay the note that becomes
due to-day because our creditor
won't need it. The best way, in spite of
some gloomy souls, is to live gladly,
honestly and happily as long as you can
to cry at the things that ought to be,
cried over and to laugh at things that
oughtto be laughed at. There is no good
before his time simply because he is reli-
gious and wants to do the right thing
We are reminded of a story in this con-
nection. “You ought to engage in
nothing,” said a solemn saint, whose
soul was like a squeezed lemon, ‘‘that
with drawn
Ay
If you would create
must be something.
The Indian Rupee.
Mr. Edward Thomas, whose jabors
as 4 numismatist have thrown so much
light upon the archeology of the East,
has reprinted a paper upon the coinages
of the East India Company at Bombay,
The practical interest of the essay is
the proof it gives of the continuous de-
srease that has taken place in the value
of the rupee during the last two centu-
ries, It seems that the Bombay Mint
1676, “to
budgrooks,”’
coin rupees, bice and
which should be cur-
rent not only in the island but also
in the dependencies of the company
im the East Indies. This * Island of
"Bombay came to the English King by
virtue of his marriage contract with
Catharine, the sister of Alfonso V1, of
Portugal, signed in the early part of
1662 ; and it was by him made over to
she company in March, 1662, together
with its revenue of £2533 per annum,
and with the King’s garrison of two
eompanies of foot, who volunteered
into the company’s service, and thus
formed its first military establishment
at Bombay. When the company began
to coin money they seem to have un-
derrated the value of the local
for the first
bearing this denomination contains only
178 grains of silver,
dated 1678,
grams, and one of the same last-men-
tioned year as much as 198,
rupee,
specimen of their rupees
whereas a late
one, containes ever 183
The Indian
rupees were estimated by writers in the
earlier part of the seventeenth century
as from 2s. to as high as 2s, 9d. and the
average value seems not to have been
much less than, 2s. 6d. The decline in
value of the coin is, of course, due to
various causes not affecting India alone ;
but Mr. Thomas warns the theorists who
talk of restoring silver to its old value
in India that the circumstances are now
altogether altered, since, instead of the
comparatively all-round trade of the old
company in goods and metals, we have
to face ‘the leech-like heavy charges of
the present home Government, which
draws indiscriminately for
wants bills in rupees upon its hapless
its own
dependency in season and out of season,
whether the balance of trade or metallic
exchange is for or against them.”’
Fashion.
Gossiping Report of Fashionable
Folbles for tne Fair.
An eccentric fancy is to cut the ends
of all ribbon bows, strings or sashes into
long forks or notches,
Cats are the fashionable animals at
present, and cat-head and cat-paw orna-
ments are in high favor,
One of the loveliest dresses for mid,
summer or spring festival wear is of
white veiling, fitted with silk
brocade dots,
closely
are beautifully embroidered (by hand,
of course) in palm-leaf and other oriental
figures,
Comn-flower and royal - French blue
orange flame and gold-yellow, ox-blood,
and cardinal-red crop out in most of the
new fabrics.
The new fraises and ruches for the
neck are very wide and full, andl are
nearly a yard long, so as to form a jabot
down the front,
Long Jersey gloves, ten-bution length,
in silk, silk and linen, or finest cache-
mire, are highly favored for spring wear.
These gloves can be found in every
desirable street shade.
Balbriggan stockings abound in the
new varied tints of strawberry, amber,
terra cotta, drake’s neck blue, laurel
green, bronze, elderberry, and a deep
rich shade of violet, Each of these
colors is clocked with old gold or cream
white,
Among other pretty dainties which
fashionable young ladies are preparing
for summer wear--works of their own
hands—are garden party hats of ficelle
lace, lining the inside of the crown and
brim with pale blue or rose colored su-
rah or Canton craps. Another fancy
isto run black velvet ribbon through
the meshes, finishing with a knot of
velvet on the top of the crown.
The most fashionable of the white
toilets to be worn this summer,
instead of being relieved by the usual
rose, shrimp, pink, and the like, and a
——
a lambrequin alone bought ready-made
of the same Bagdad material as the
shawl,
The vogue of checks and Scotch plaids
is undiminished. The most popular
next summer will be Scotch plaids and
checks of two colors, white and black,
white and blue, white and louter, pink
and gray, out of which many pretty cos~
tumes will be made at most reasonable
prices. Nearly all the dresses for young
girls will be made with round waists
coming down very low over the skirt,
which gives them a very youthful and
charming appearance, I know a8 a
matter of fact, that all the leading
dress-making establishments will use
mountains of faille next summer for
their most stylish costumes, Nor is
there any material that offers a more
wonderful gradation of tints, The pal-
lette richest in colors does not furnish a
more complete gamut of tints, which
pass almost imperceptibly from the
lighter to the darker shades, The read-
er may consequently judge what re-
sources this charming material presents
to fashion. Very much the same may
be said of the Ottoman silk, which is
equally suple and soft, and which is being
made beth plain and broched. The
plain patterns will be used for skirts with
plaits, the broched for tunics,
bodies, Louis XV. vests, Directoire
redingotes, and Mary Antoinette bust
an corps. I must also call attention to
the fact that fashions no
longer exclude velvet from the materials
tat the
sressly
for the season, and are very smooth and
light mousseline velvets, They are plain
or figured and stamped or “‘ciseless.’’
By this last term is meant that the pat~
tern of figures, which are either spots,
flowers or birds, are in relief, embroid-
ered in silk either of the same shade or
of a different shade as the ground of the
material,
wide
the present
employed in summer dress
velvets used are manufactures
yp -
Humor.
No. Paul, the window of the soul is
not a pane in the stomach,
An old lady was asked her opinion
about Mrs. Smith, her next door peigh-
bor. “Well,” she said, “I never speak
ill of anybody, but I feel very sorry for
Mr. Smith.”
Inductive reasoning : Mr. Wm. Doo-
dle—**Yes, Miss Frost, 1 always wear
gloves at night ; they make one’s hands
Miss Frost—‘‘Ah! and do
you sleep with your hat on 7"
so soft.”
“ Landlady.” said he, ‘‘the coffee is
not settled.” *‘No,” she replied, *‘but
it comes as near it as your last month’s
board bill does ;”* and that man never
spoke again during the meal.
A poet anxiously asked: “0 pallid
brow. where has the spirit gone?”
Don't ask the pallid brow. If your bot~
tle is empty, make the inquiry of the
florid nose. It knows where the spirit
goes,
“| saw vou at a funeral the other
day,” said one lady to another. “Yes;
I saw you, t00.”’ “I never heard a more
affecting funeral sermon, did you?”
“Never. And just think of it, when
exerybody was crying I reached for my
handkerchief and found, to my horror,
that it was a red one 1 had in my
pocket.” “‘Goodness! What did you
do?” “Why, Idida’t ery, bow could I,
when every one else in the church was
using white ?”’
SoLviNe Two Prosrems, — He
stopped sawing wood, turned to the old
man who was splitting and piling, and
said : “Father, I cannot believe that
was cut out for a farmer. The whole
problem is right here: 1go to the city
as a clerk at a dollar a day. In six
months 1 get a raise to $0 per week.
Ina year I am given an interest in the
firm, and in ten] am rich enough to buy
and sell you ten times over.” “Yes,
that's one problem,” slowly replied the
old man, ‘and here's another: There's
six cords of wood left in that pile, and if
it isn’t all sawed, split and piled agin
Saturday night you don't git no pair o’
new cowhide boots out o’' me! Hear
me now, and make that bucksaw strike
fire.”
His Papa's Name.
mm
There was a bright little boy, between
2 and 3 years old, picked up as he was
wandering on the street and carried to
the Four Courts, where he took a seat on
tion, stuck out his chubby legs and
stared at every one whe came in with-
out being the least abashed. Asis cus
tomary in such cases, an endeavor was
made to elicit information from him that
lead to his restoration to his dis
od willing to tellall beknew. “Whai's
“What's your papa's name ¥* pa.