THE FROZEN VIOLETS.
-BY-
Ernest H".
ITTIiE Bertha
was a very poor
girl, who well
deserved every
b o dy ' s pity.
ta. 4tf irKriMU. "" " "'
SgI2?flS't phan.heriather
and mother
having died,
while she was
but a very few
weeks old. Since then Bertha had been
living in the house of an old uncle of hers.
But from the first day she entered her
Uncle's family, her troubles and hardships
commenced.
Her uncle was very kind to her, it is
true, but unfortunately for Bertha he was
so rrIy at home, she sometimes would not
see him for six mouths. Curing all that
time she remained in the power of her aunt,
who liked Bertha not at all.
The aunt had a great number of children
and they were all very homely looking
girls. But Bertha was a very beautiful
child, whose face shone always forth from
the ugliness of her cousins like arose would
appear among half a dozen buttercups. It
had made her annt envious, and whenever
the opportunity presented itself, the woman
began to scold the child for her beauty, as
if it were a sin and shame not to have a face
that would frighten a dog in the street.
As a result of her aunt's anger Bertha
had to do all the work in tbe house, while
the cousins, the ugly girls, would walk
around to show the people their fine dresses
and jewelry. Jyone of them would ever for
get herself so far as to even wipe a knife or
a fork or wash a dish. Kb; that all re
mained for Bertha to do. And if she would
take it into her head to sit down for a mo
ment and rest, her aunt would pounce down
upon her with a broomstick.
"Hurry up, you lazy minx," she would
scold, "do you think that it might spoil
your complexion to do a little work? Hind
you, if yon have an idea that I took you
into myhouse and family as an ornament
you are very much mistaken. No, I did
not like to see you starve, at least my hus
band did not, and that is the only reason
why yon are here. Don't ever forget that
but for me you would have died a death of
starvation and gone into a pauper's grave."
Poor Bertha never replied anything to
.these harsh, unfeeling words of her aunt,
but she would work even more and more,
every day hoping that the woman would at
last lie satisfied and treat her more gently.
But that was a vain hope. In her utter
despair Bertha at last resolved to fly and
find a situation as a servant in some other
home. She was willing to work, but to be
always scolded and punished for no cause
whatever was too hard even lor the meekest
girl to bear.
So, one night when her aunt and cousins
had all retired to their beds, the poor or
phan girl crept quietly from her little attic
room and ran out of the house. It was a
terrible night for anyone to be out, but
Bertha had no fear. She knew that there
could not be a place In the world as bad as
the one she left, and whatever would beiall
her must be an improvement upon her
present position.
Bertha ran along the road all night, and
the farther she went the fewer were the peo
ple and the houses she passed. At last,
morning dawned over the hills, and when
our lonely wanderer saw the sun, like a
large, red ball, rise above the horizon, it
gave her new hope and fresh energy. She
continued her way until she arrived at an
immense, thick forest. Por a moment she
stood still, thinking whether to enter the
wood or go another way.
"I will sit down and eat the crust of
bread I brought with me," she muttered to
herself," and afterward I can decide whatI
may do next."
The Dancing Forest
She reclined on an elevation beside some
brushwood and began to cat. On looking
about her she observed that the entire ground
under the hedge was covered with violets of
a very peculiar quality. The leaves and
blossom of the flowers were all shriveled
up as if they had been touched by the frost,
but the petals were covered in several
places with a moisture of a reddish color.
Bertha looked at these peculiar violets for
some time in great astonishment. But
wishing to examine the odd flowers a little
closer she pulled several of them out by the
roots. However, no sooner had she severed
the last fiber and the stem was in her hand,
when the entire wood seemed to be
shaken by a supernatural emotion.
The big oak trees swayed backward
and forward as if they were being unrooted
by a gigantic force. The smaller trees
jumped out of the giound and commenced a
regular dancing movement that resembled
very much the antics of an Indian war
dance. The brushwood, however, being the
slightest and lightest, literally flew out of
the ground and hopped up and down like an
india rubber doll suspended by an elastic
string. The commotion lasted tor about 15
seconds, then suddenly it stopped and
everything was as quiet as beiore. Bertha
sat on tbfc ground and locked about herself
iu utter bewilderment. Her bread crust
had fallen from her trembling hand and big
drops of perspiration began to gather on her
forehead, for when she saw the entire forest
around her in motion she became afraid,
like everybody else would, I suppose.
2Cow. however, all was over and the
' wood looked just as it had done before.
Bit even while she was quietly thinking
over what had happened, the hill on which
Bertha was -sitting opene up, and the poor
little orphan girl disappeared under the
ground without ha ing even a second to con
sider what was going to be done with her.
The quick succession of these events was
too much for Bertha. "When the hill had
opened up and she fell into the chasm she
lost her consciousness, and although it must
be said, that she was not hurt by a hair of.
her -head, still when she arrived at the
round of the hollow hill, she was insensi
ble. The place in which she had arrived
was an enchanted country, however, that
was inhabited by a very wonderful people
some thousands of years ago. At the,
time when Bertha arrived here though,
all of them had died except the queen of the
nation who now lived alone in this vast
realm bemoaning and bewailing the loss of
her subjects. It had been an old tradition
in th.s country, that the population could
only be established again by the appear
ance of a young orphan S'ri w waste
come into this land. Another peculiarity
of this wonderful country was that no flower
had ever grown there except the violet. It
was therefore the national flower of the
people. But when the nation had died out
all these flowers shriveled up and they
literally cried tears like bloody dew to show
thMr sorrow for the people of this land.
Xow the queen, who bad heard Bertha
ascend the hill under which the entrance
into the country was hidden, had a great
plan in her head when she noticed that. It
was she who had opened the hill and let her
come down, and she now appeared before
the girl as she yet lay on the ground in an
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Hkineichs.
unconscious condition. Touching her with
her queenly scepter, Bertha awoke, and
after she had somewhat .recovered from her
astonishment, the queen said to her:
""Welcome, my child, in the land of the
frozen violets; may your future be happier
than your-past."
Not heeding these remarks, Bertha said:
"Where am I and what will becomeof me?"
Ton are in no danger whatever," replied
the queen, "do not be afraid, and if you do
as I tell you your future happiness will be
assured. You will forget that you ever
lived with a horrid, hard-hearted woman
like vour aunt."
"Well, what do you want me to do?"
"Listen and you shall hear. It is now
over a thousand" years ago ween land the
people of my country had a terrible war
with Ogo, the king from the land of the
"Weeping Willows. The war was caused by
Ogo's subjects coming into our land and
stealing several bunches of our violets. Of
course such a thing was a grave offense
upon ourselves, and we realized that only a
bloody war could give us the opportunity
of getting even with Ogo and his people.
So the war was commenced in all its fury.
A good many brave soldiers fell on both
sides, but as we were in the majority, hav
ing twice as many soldiers asOgo,weat
last bucceeded to gain a glorious victory.
In the last battle Ogo himself was killed.
But that was our misfortune, as you will
see. Had we left him alive there would
not have been much harm done. Ogo, you
must know, had a daughter, who was one of
the cleverest magicians and sorceresses that
ever lived. She came into our land and
bade us to allow her to plant a tree in the
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tt
Bertha and the Queen,
place where her father haddied. This tree,
however, was bewitched, it having the pe
culiar quality to kill everybodv who would
look at it. On the day that she planted it
she invited everybody from my country to
be present and see the way she would put
the tree in the ground. Well, out of simple
curiosity nearly everybody was there to see
her plant the tree, but no sooner did they
behold it than they all fell at once dead to
the ground. Fortunately I did not go my
self, but even those who were not present at
first went afterward to find out what became
of their friends.
So it happened that all died. I, however,
received a letter from Ogo's daughter in
which she stated: "You made me an
orphan when you killed my father. Now
I have destroyed all your people to give
you a taste of what loneliness means. They
are not dead forever, though. Whenever a
poor orphan girl from the upper world can
be induced to come into your country,
and she unroots the tree, then all your sub
jects will be alive again."
This was what Ogo's daughter teld me,
and of course I have ever since that time
anxiously awaited the arrival of the orphan
girl, but for a long time it was in vain, as
you know. At last I hit upon the plan of
planting those violets around the hill,
which is the entrance to our country. 1
thought that the peculiarity of our flowers
would attract somebody, anyhow.
Now you know how it happens that you
are here. You need not be alarmed, be
cause no harm will come to you. Come
along and I will show you the way to Ogo's
tree. I dare not come with you, because the
sishtof it would Kill me, while it will not
affect you in the least.
Bertha then followed the queen, and she
soon saw the tree in the distance. But the
little girl was astonished when she saw
what a big trunk it had, and she hardly had
hope that she would be able to unroot such
a big tree as that. However, she at once
began to tear up the ground and lay the
roots bare.
It took her a very long time, but when
she thought of the many people, who were
now laying like dead all over the country,
new strength seemed to come into her arms
and hands. It took her a whole week, but
at last she succeeded. All the roots were
now bare and she had only to give the tree
a push and it toppled oyer on the ground.
The noise which the fall caused was ter
rific, and as Bertha looked around she ob
served the people raising their heads from
tbe ground. But none of them did get up.
"I suppose I must cover the tree up,"
said the little girl to herself, "because they
cannot stand the sight of it."
Then another task was before her. She
had to rake up all the loose ground in the
neighborhood to cover up the tree. Bnt
she also succeeded with that at last, and
when all the leaves and branches were
under the ground, behold ! everybody who
had been dead for the last 1,000 years sud
denly got up as if from a deep sleep.
Bertha now returned to the queen, who
received her with open arms, and called
her the great benefactress of the country.
"What can I do for you to make you
happy?" she said to the orphan girl. "Ask
for anything, and if it is in my power, I
will do it."
"I do not want much for mvself, but I
should like to be rich, that I might help all
the orphan children that are now poor.
"All right," replied the queen, "your
wish shall be granted. Let me lead'you
back again into the upper world and you
will find very soon what you want. Bnt
before you depart let me give you a bunch
of our frozen violets as a memento of this
your visit to us."
Bertha then left with the violets in her
hand. When she got into the wood again
she noticed a magnificent castle standing
right before her, and a lot of beautiful girls
came to meet her, calling out: "Here comes
Bertha, our kind hearted mistress."
They led her toward the castle, and she
was soon installed in her new home as the
lady of the house. From that day Bertha's
life was all happiness. She sent her ser
vants all over tne country to look lor poor
orphan girls and bring them to her. Under
her care they were all brought up and edu
cated to become useful and loveable women.
The fame of Bertha's kindness spread
very Boon all over the country, and the king
heard of it at last. One day he and his sou,
the prince, came, to see her, and the young
man at once fell in love with Bertha's beau
tiful face, her graceful manners and sweet
disposition. He asked her to become his
wife, and when the wedding came off every
bodv said there never was such a beautiful
bride as Bertha.
Her hard-hearted aunt and ugly cousins
were never heard of, and no one knows
what became of them.
What' the Difference?
Chicago Tribune. 3
"My friend, are you looking for work?"
"Ugh! No!"
"My friend, your hand! lam not look
ing for work, either. I don't want work.
I want my share of the wealth of this coun
try, and I am going to get it! I'm ready to
wade through blood for it if I can't get it
any other way. The country owes me a liv
ing. Isn't that your platform?"
"Ughl Yc."
"Good! And if women and children stand
in my way they must be killed, too?"
"Ogh! Yes. Kill a heap."
"That's the talk! You're a brother
Anarchist, ain't you?"
"Ugh! Idnnno."
"Whal are you, anyhow?"
"Ughl InjunJ'
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.$?' Wily il
THE
KILE! ONCE A SIGN PAINTER.
The Time When tbe Hooaier Poet Did Soma
Nice Job With a Brush.
"Warsaw Times.l
I have wondered a good many times how
many people in Warsaw remember when
James Whitcorab Riley was a resident of
that place. It was in the spring of 1873,
when I was reading medicine there and
Biley was in town filling an engagement,
or engagements, painting window signs.
He was handy at this sort of thing, and did
some nice jobs.
Later, with a very deft and cunning
hand, he made drawings for his poems,
which were as full of artistic strength and
quaintness as his "Old Swimmin Hole" is
lull of poetry. About this time the Indian
tan printed some little things of mine
picturesquely little, some of them, from a
literary standpoint. But, out ot charity or
to encourage me, or to get rid of me, the
rhymes were printed, and one day Biley and
I were talking about them while he was
painting aign for the boss jewelry store,
near Mr. Wynant's drugstore.
In a mild "friendly way, he was a trifle
envious of my success in getting into print,
and I posed j beside him while he painted
the "BY" in jewelry, as a person whose lit
erary standing was assured. When he had
made a marine blue period, he took off his
apron and we went over to the Wright
House together to see a little bit of rhyme
which he said he had there. He wanted my
opinion and criticism on it, and as I had
more opinion and criticism to give than
anything else, I was willing to bestow it
even on a sign painter. Biley read the
poem. It was called "The Argonaut," and,
inexperienced as I was I knew that only a
poet and a genius could have written it. I
was unstinted in my praise, and I knew the
Hoosier poet was born and was only wait
ing the recognition of the public, which in
a few years it so magnificently and munifi
cently gave. "
After this episode an abiding and deep
rooted friendship was the result I have
met him since then, and have read about all
he has ever written, but nothing ever pleas
ed me so much no "reading" I have ever
heard of his pleased me so well as that lit
tle poem, "The Argonaut," read one raw
spring day up in a cold room by a curtain
less window iu the Wright House block.
"WOMEN AND THEIE TICTIMS.
The Fashion of Wearing; Birds as Trimmings
For Bonnets.
The London Hospital.
It was hoped some time ago that the
fashion of wearing the dead bodies of birds
as trimming for bonnets and hats was going
out. Such a hope,apparently, is doomed to
disappointment. Perhaps the day may
come when people who have a little regard
for such helpless creatures as birds will
give them up to their fate. It really seems
to be of no use to try to protect them. The
loafer from the Fast Fnd of London goes
forth with bisl cages and his lime, and
catches them. He, however, mostly retains
the male. The other bird murderer also
goes forth on his cruel errand, and, by pre
ference, catches and retains the female. He
takes her in the nesting season, because the
feathers are soft and beautiful then. What
matters it to him that the victim is often
the mother of a nest-full of helpless young,
and that they are left in the nest to die of
starvation; to die while piteously crying out
hour after hour for the mother that never
came? The mother birds are killed, and
the young left to die of starvation, because
certain women insist that it shall be so.
Yet how gentle, and sympathetic, and
tender those very women can pretend to be
when it suits their good manners. How
shocked they are by vulgarity; how horri
fied by coarseness !
If they could see themselves exactly as
some men see them; could have it once
driven in upon their conscience, that, in the
estimation of all rational and right-feeling
men, they are incomparably inferior to
many costermongers, crossing-sweepers, and
untaught African negroes, they might for
one mqment pause and reflect upon their
worthlessness. Is it really, then, come to
this: That a nineteenth century woman is
so utterly" selfish, so hopelessly without
brains or feeling, and so incapable of learn
ing even the very elements of humanity,
that she must and will have birds to adorn
herself with, at whatever cost?
QUEER TREES.
Long; Chains, Harrow Teeth, nnd a Scythe
Blade Found in Them.
Among the queer things in Connecticut,
says an Ansonia special to the New York
Sun, are its trees. Up in Middletown last
week it was necessary to cut down a tree in
the rear of Dutting's cigar store. Several
bricks w.ere found imbedded in the roots, so
that only the corners were visible.
Over in Cobalt a large and particularly
straight tree was felled early in the fall,
and ast week it was drawn to the sawmill.
After starting the saw the attendant heard
a grating of the saw teeth, and stopped the
mill. He tried another cut, but again the
grating sound was heard, and he had to shut
down again. Several further attempts to
saw the length of the log proving futile the
trunk was sawed across, and an old log
chain and a dozen harrow teeth were dis
covered imbedded in the hard-grained
wood.
In Westfield a boulder weighing over
half a ton is to be seen about ten feet from
the ground in the crotch of an enormous
apple tree, and old residents say that they
can remember when that boulder could be
sat upon, so near to the ground was it when
they were young.
A Saybrook farmer tells the story about
his hanging a scythe in a maple tree several
years ago, after a day's mowing. The scythe
was left there all winter and the next sum
mer, until the time for haying came round
again. On going to get the scythe he found
the blade so deeply imbedded in the soft
bark of the maple as to be immovable, and
he let it remain. The tree is yet standing
in the front yard of a fashionable residence
in that village, and from each side of the
trunk projects two arms, forming a letter T.
apparently part of the tree themselves. The
scythe blade has been entirely covered with
bark. The handle of the scythe years ago
rotted off.
Oat of Reach.
Buffalo Courier.i
Defendant's Lawyer This case cannot go
on, your Honor. v .
The Court It has been adjourned, Mr.
Choat, no less than eight times to accommo
date you. I shall not permit any further de
lay. Take a jury.
Lawyer But the Court has no jurisdic
tion !
The Court I shall like to know why not,
sir?
La wyer Because my client has been dead
nearly a month.
The Court Then I'm afraid the process
of this Court, being written on paper, would
be destroyed by fire before it got to him.
The case was dismissed.
The Bnckwoodi Telegraph System.
UMMJII
Improvised Messenger "Message, BO
cents; writing it ont, 10 centsfenvelope, 5,
cents; inclosing, gumming and directing it,
18 cents; new pair of rubbers for boy, 50
cents; carriage hire, $1; ringing the bell, 10
cents; use of pencil in signing name, Scents;
loafing on tne way. CO cents. Ante up
quick, old man; I'm In, a hurry I" Judge,
PITTSBURG - -DISPATCH,
IRISH CASTLE LIFE.
What it Costs to Keep Up an Aristo
cratic Establishment.
SERVANTS AND THEIE SALARIES.
Grotesque Stateliness and a Military Rule
in Hall anOureery.
WHAT YOUTH GAINS BY STERN STYLES
rCOBBXEPOXDEXCX or TBX DISFATCB.1
Limerick, Ireland, March 25. High
and low life among the aristocracy in the
castles and great country residences of Ire
land varies little from that in England.
Occasionally one of these mammoth establish
ments Is kept up wholly as the headquarters
of a game preserve, In;rare instances their
owners fear their outraged tenantry to that
degree that they never appear upon the
Irish estate,-"contenting themselves in their
London town houses, or at continental re
sorts, with the immense rentals wrung from
the wretched holdings by agents even more
heartless than the celebrated '"Yallow
Sam' Carson" in the pathetic tale of "The
Poor Scholar." Many occupy their estab
lishments the year round; for in Ireland, as
well as in England, the nobility live
at their splendid seats in the country.
They would scorn to do else. Their
ethics are exclusively devolved from
their fondest dreams to which they cling, that
they are still feudal lords. For such to re
side in town is to descend to the utter de
basement of burghers. With a great ma
jority the London "season" largely controls
their residence and its period here and else
where. Of this exclusive class, not far ex
ceeding 1,000 heads of houses, practically
owning and deriving the revenues from the
entire landed possessions of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Irish nobility, with which
I include the English nobility owning great
estates in Ireland, constitute a far more im
portant factor than nas been generally sup
posed. IKISH CASTLE LIFE.
In the main, castle life in Ireland begins
with the grouse shooting season in August,
and lasts until the following May. With
those "in the world" the period is much re
duced. Many forsake the estates in Febru
ary for the "first swim" in the metropolis.
There is a delightful though quiet social
period in London preceding Easter. But
just before Easter Parliament adjourns,
when back come the lords and ladies; or a
trip to the Continent is taken. After Easter
the full London tide sets in. When the
"season" is at an end the guns of the titled
sportsmen commence ringing in the North,
and the house-life at the castles of Ireland
begins.
Risking a paradox, high life at Irish
castles begins and ends with that of the
lowly. The number, wages and ways of
the servants almost tell the story ot their
masters. First and foremost is the steward,
who is responsible to milord and lady for
the entire establishment, the servants, hir
ing of servants, and the purchase of all or
dinary necessities such as food, save all
meats, which is invariably the perquisites
of the cook. The steward receives" 80, and
an unlimited amount of noble blackguard
ing, per year.
Next in importance, if not indeed the
first, is the housekeeper. She is usually a
maiden lady of severe age, or a widow
culled from poor relations. She must be a
person of infinite expediency, common
sense, experience, and with a soul and
physique of iron. She usually has entire
charge of the detail of all domestic matters
within the castle. She receives from 20
to 25 per year, having from one to two as
sistants,calied assistant housekeepers, whose
yearly wages are from 12 to 16. -In a
general way, all the female servants of the
castle are amenable to the head housekeeper,
who is at no time of the year away from her
post.
AS TTNFOBTUXATE PERSONAGE.
The next of these in grade is perhaps the
governess. This necessary though un
fortunate person is usually a decayed lady,
or an extraordinarily ambitious one of the
"Becky Sharp" genus. It is she who is ex
pected to educate and form the manners and
morals, to the age of 14, of the unbearable
little whelps of nobility, who are as unlike
your "little Lord Fauntleroys" ot fiction,
as the late "Mr. Crowley" of Central Park,
New York, was unlike the dear gazelle of
Moore. She must read, write, speak and
teach all modern languages, and be able to
instruct in the rudiments of Latin, Greek,
the sciences and philosophy. She must
sing, and teach vocal music, and play and
instruct upon the piano and harp. In fact,
she must be one of the most accomplished
women in the world; at once the superior,com
panion and servant of her' charges. Her
compensation is 40 to 60 per annum, and
opportunities for intrigue. In the greatest
houses, she is allowed two, and sometimes
three, 'nursery maids at from 10 to 16
each.
There is an upper housemaid at ,1G; an
under housemaid at 12; and from two to
four assistant housemaids at 10; all really
under control of the housekeeper. These
bear much the same relation to the castle
regime as do the chambermaids to that of
our best American hotels. But the ladies'
maids, who are responsible only to their
mistresses, hold what are regarded as the
most desirable positions; insomuch as, while
the most exacting, and often the most shame
lessly servile, duties are required of them,
they receive trom 30 to 50 per year; their
opportunities for travel and sightseeing are
unlimited; and the
ADVANTAGEOUS SECKETS
their close relations to their noble mis
tresses enable them to possess, are supposed
to give them extraordinary substantial ben
efits. All lower female servants hold them
in deadly hatred; the while longing for their
places as almost equivalent to the honors of
royalty itself. The female servants also
comprise a head'laundress at 30, 'and two
or three assistants at 12 each per year; an
assistant cook, who must be equal in ability
to the chef, and who receives 20; two addi
tional assistant cooks, or kitchen maids, at
14; and two scullery maids at 12.
The head butler is a sort of generalissimo
of the male servants of the household. A
majestic bearing is a fortune to this fellow.
He is the general-stand-around-and-Iook-awful
of the castle; but must have an eye to
the welfare ot the guests and the charact6r
and behavior of his inferiors. He is also
the head waiter. He- attends to the table
and its proper setting and service at all
times; presiding at the carving and other
mysteries at the sideboard; for all of which
he receives 75 per year. The under butler,
at 35, has entire charge of the silver. It
practically never leaves his lands or sight;
as he not only delivers to, and receives
from, the hands of the butler all pieces
used, but washes, polishes, and sleeps along
side their receptacle cases in the pantry.
During seasons of unusual entertainment,
he also assists the head sbutler at meals.
There are generally also a first, second and
third footman. These receive about the
same wages as the under butler. They clean
milord's clothing, which a valet scorns to
do save when his1 master travels, assist at
meals as waiters, wash glass and silverware,
are regarded as general help under the
butlers and are, properly speaking, only
footmen when on duty as such with the car
riages. v
milobd's men in -waiting.
Among the other male servants is
milord's valet, with Well-known duties. A
bright one receives 70 per year and will
easily manage to secure as much more.
Then there are tbe head cooks, to none of
whom are paid one-fourth the price given
by the American nouvean-riches to thpir
recentlv imporfed chefs, who receive from
125 to 150, with perquisites of about 50
from the sale of drippings and fats. There
is also a head coaohman, at 60 to 80, un
SUNDAY, APRIL" 7.
der whom are a second coachman at 25, a
stud-groom at 50, and grooms, stablemen
and helpers at from 10 to 20 each; and
one or two "odd-men" who attend the serv
ants' hall, carry baggage, clean boots and
are a sort of everybodys' men to all below
stairs. The whole number of servants at one of
these castles is therefore very large. I have
only enumerated those directly serving the
household itself, whose members may not
number a half dozen, and in seasons of en
tertainment will not average more than two
dozen souls. Yet from 30 to S5 persons are
required to serve them. Added to these is
an equal number in ontdoor employment,
of which I shall speak in the succeeding
article, making a total of 50 to 75 servants
on the payroll of an Irish estate of average
pretensions; a sort of grim compensation in
expense, however, considering that I find
'the annual revenues derived by these im
poverished'titled Irish landlords to range
from 5100,000 to upward of $1,000,000.
IBISH CASTLE EOtTTINE.
The ordinary daily routine at the castle,
when visitors are not being entertained, it
distinguished by remarkable repose. Milord
and lady, occupying apartments remote
from each other, and always actended by
valet and waiting-maid, who each sleep
within call of voice or table-bell, rise at
about 8 o'clock. After their bath and
toilet, the latter being most informal and
sensible, weather permitting, a stroll
through the grounds is taken until break
fast. This is served with all possible cere
mony between 9 and 10. The only actual
duty, and this is imperative, either master
or mistress ever assumes is approving the
bills of fare, which milady generally con
sents to perform. These are usually ready
the previous evening. Her maid informs
the housekeeper, who informs the head
housemaid, who sends an under housemaid
to inform the cook that her ladyship is
actually awake. The cook dispatches, his
assistant to secure a footman. He conveys
the required slips to the butler, who seeks
the maid, and the latter places them, with
pencil, in the hands of her ladyship, who,
still in bed, inspects, changes or approves
at her leisure; then the bills of fare by an
other circnitous route finally reach the
cook.
WhateVer the conjugal results of titled
marital life may be, such a thing as genial,
cordial affection is never exhibited before
servants, children or friends. The associa
tion at meals, the home life, the conduct in
all places, may be described as a never-ending
period of sodden stateliness. Between
breakfast and luncheon, which is served
from 2 to 3 in the afternoon, her ladyship
may write letters; pass a few hours in her
library, or music room; permit her maid to
call her attention to portions of her trousseau
of the last, or next, season; and finally un
dergo the tedium of a change in apparel for
luncheon. The while milord has attended
to his correspondence; seen his agent; in
rare instances admitted a vexatious deputa
tion of tenants; and possibly inspected his
shooting accouterments and the stud.
GROTESQUE STATELINESS.
Between luncheon and tea, either milord
or milady, or both, may take a dash within
the grounds in the saddle, seldom together,
always with an attendant; or, still separate,
with footmen in livery be driven in different
directions over the surrounding country, in
coaches, traps, or the elegant castle jaunting-cars,
returning in time for tea at 5;
which is frequently taken without change
of toilet. The rigor of dressing for dinner,
and the solemn stateliness of that meal at 8
in the evening, are something so indescrib
ably grotesque as to comfort a plebeian in
his unaristocratic obscurity; and from the
termination of dinner until the inmates of
the castle retire, the possession' of a palace
with palatial appointments and an army of
servants, cannot furnish a quietus to'the
slow tortures of indigestion, or still the
sluggish artillery of hereditary yawns. The
distinction between this every-day castle
life and that when tbe place is thronged
with guests, will be shown in the succeed
ing article.
But whether the castle is asleep in its in
one home-life, or is stirred by the presence
of many noble visitors, its child-life ever
remains the same. Children are almost ex
clusivelyreared without seeingtheir parents,
save by chance. Their apartments are re
mote trom the remainder of the household.
Whatever their youth, they occupy separate
sleeping rooms, adjoining the nursery which
is usually sitting room, dining room, school
and playroom combined, though they have
the general run of the castle, within bounds,
and always in charge of the governess or
nursery maids.
MILITARY NTJBSEBY BULE.
The regime of meals and their service is as
strict and formal as that with their elders.
The" governess is always with them at meals,
and indeed practically never absent from
them. Their study, play hours, meals,
outings and hours for rising and retiring
are as rigorously observed as at a military
school. The clothing is wholly prepared
under the direction of the governess. Her
ladyship simply receives reports of dis
cipline and progress. She isin no sense their
mother. On rare occasions, when her lady
ship is alone, or when guests who are close
friends are present, they are permitted to
appear with their governess at tbe family
table. But these occasions, while re
garded as rewards, are dismally formal
and austere. Some things these children
gain. The vast grounds are full of sweet
ness, sunlight and song. Thev are kept in
these every moment permissable from their
studies. I believe them to be from infancy
to their departure for school, and sometimes
until their entree to noble society, the
.healthiest children and youths in the world.
Something else is gained. As a rule, their
compulsory and habitual abnegation before
their elders prevent that insufferable arro
gance and turbulent, insulting self-consciousness
of the average petted and spoiled
American youtb. So, too, if they lose the
society of their titled parents, they gain,
within and without castle doors, if tne same
be not always retained, as I have seen in
progress about these unduly grand places, a
democracy of affection and a growth of in
nocent love among a host of rarely recip
rocative if quaint and simple folk.
Ed gab L. Wakeman.
Lnln's Appcaiemcnt.
Blnghampton Bepnbllcan.i
"CoWard! Lying-hearted man," hissed
Lula d'Effington between her set teeth,
when Bichard Knrdaleeong replied that she
conld only be a sister to him.
"Lula, you are excited. Your words do
not consist," replied Richard, calmly.
"Trifler! Base ingrate. explain your
self," was all the girl conld utter.
"If I am Bichard the lyin' hearted, sure
ly I am no coward."
Another moment and he beheld the wan
corpse of Lula d'Effington prone at his ieet.
IiUit Words.
Chicago Herald.
"What are you reading, Kate?"
"Oh, it's one of the monthly magazines.
Here's an interesting article on the last
words of prominent men.".
"The last words! Did they have any?"
"Yes, of course."
"Where were their wives?"
A Discouraged Avenger
Mrs. Whitecap So you've been down
lickin' Bill Simmons' fam'ly, have ye?
Wa-al, I want yer t understan Bill's my
.second cousin 1 Puck,
1889.
HEAD VERSUS HEART.
How Wagner Came to Write His
Peculiar Style of Opera.
A GREAT HAESTRO'S VENGEANCE.
An Immortal Man Born in Pittsburg When
it Was Smoky.
r
SOME GOOD THINGS E0E THE LADIES
rwnrrrrx fob tux dispatch. 3
There is musical war in the country. Be
fore the ranks reach your territory you
would better know what it is all about.
Do you knpw the difference between
friendship and love, gray color and red,
straight lines and curves, arithmetic and a
novel, geology and music, beer and wine,
church and the theater, a schoolroom and a
picnic, walking through shady lanes at twi
light with a lover and talking science with
a professor in a library at noonday? Well,
there you have the difference between the
two fashions in music of to-day over which
the ear artists and their disciples are wag
ing such fierce' uncivil war. The Wag
nerian German head school and the Italian
or heart school are the factions of the great
terpsichorean commonwealth. which are ar
rayed against each other.
The stalwart, intellectual, scientific,
grammatical, unlovely, unloveable, but ad
mirable, Wagnerian music is, in a sense,
a reaction from the heart-stirring, hearfc
Boothing, heart-feeding, heart-rending,
sweet, singing succession of melodies of
Italian lovelore. Back taste will go sure
as dress waves ebb and flow, but for the
present people do not seem to understand
that it is but a fashion, that the subject is
one with two sides, that their fight is very
much like the one between the two boys as
to the color of lobsters.
One thing certain, the Wagnerian is at
present the best represented, the newest, the
strongest three 'elements of success not to
be sneered at by an enemy. Just what
would be the result of the appearance of an
Italian maestro who could put the eolors of
his school properly before a humanity al
ways more emotional than intellectual,
there can be no doubt whatever, at least in
my mind, which is au ardent lover of the
novel, the theater, curved lines, red lights,
the picnic and the twilight walk.
HOW WAGNER FIXED THEM.
Do you know, by the way, how Wagner
came to write that peculiar style of opera?
I never did till Harrison Millard told me.
Have you ever noticed how easily a singer
can gain control of the attention of an audi
ence? And'has it ever occurred to von how
little he or she deserved itcompared withan-
msirumeniai composers w nen you iuiuk oi
it the work is altogether reproductive, like
the copying of a picture; is of comparatively
easy acquisition and dependent altogether
upon the one little vein of voice, for which
the owner is no way responsible. Com
pared with a composer who, beside being a
creator must be an artist, a tremendous
student and a musician of experience, you
see the intrinsic merit of the vocalist is
almost nothing.
Well, the injustice of this struck deep into
the soul of the good Wagner, who was noth
ing if not instrumental, and an intense
jealousy against all vocalists sprang up
within him. "Kreutz-donner-wetter! I will
fix theml" he shouted, jumping into his
great ink tub, jounsing up and down in his
wrath, and splashing great ink notes upon
his paper with which to kill them. So he
bent all his envenomed musical strength
upon the annihilation of tbe singer, placing
the whole bnrden of vocalism upon his loved
orchestra, and constituting his clarionet his
chief prima donna. Then steeping the at
tention still further in magnificent scenic
distraction, and making weird historical
stories and mythical fables take the place of
lovemaking, he seized phlegmatic and
thick-throated Teutons by the neck, and
hurling them upon the stage, cried: "Now,
do your best, we shall see what will become
of you I" And we see.
NEW AND FASHIONABLE.
f f Consequently we have Wagnerian orches
tration of unspeakable grandeur to anyone
who will Jisten to it, but an opera of insuf
ferable dullness to any one dependent upon
stage vocalism for his operatic happiness.
This is why Fatti could not be induced
under any consideration to sing in Wag
nerian opera. This is what the teacher
meant who enjoined his reluctant pupil to
go nine times to hear "Tannhauser" before
daring to express an opinion upon it. This
is why Bobert G. Ingersoll can go into
raptures over Wagner and can discourse by
the hour upon "the wind," "the wave."
"the forest storm," the- "heart-throb"' of the
orchestra, as you might expect to hear a
confirmed musical scholar talK.
The fashipn has "taken" because it is
new, because it is strong, because, although
unloveable, it is majestically admirable,
and because it opened up an avenue to con
troversy. "Eight over my work and my
work is a success!"cries the makerof things,
and he is right.
We had a first-class opportunity of hear
ing the two schools contrasted recently in
Harrison Millard's interesting lecture upon
"Fashions in Music," during which he gave
examples of each style to illustrate his re
marks. The chopped up, surprising, dis
sonant, homely, but coming-out-all-right
Teutonic ballads produced an altogether dif
ferent effect from the elastic, smoothly
fluent roulades, turns and grace notes of tne
delicious love ballads which made us feel
for the time, at least, that the best of earth's
riches was
The sunny side of a sunny wall.
With a sunny prospect full in view,
And tbe ripest of mellow peacbes divided
Between us two. ,
PITTSBTJBG'S IMMOBTAL MAN.
A nice little tribute was paid the pop
ular balladist upon his remarking that
America had no national hymn. " 'Vive
1' America,, by Millard," cried some one in
the audience. This was responded to by a
graceful protest and the singing of the stir
ring lyric. Would you believe it. the song
caricature "Shoo Ely" brought some $35,000
by its sales.
Stephen C. Foster, the writer of "The
Suwanee Biver," was a Pittsburg man of
great musical genius, whose talent ran to
ballad making, but had no financial sense
whatever in it. Most of his beautiful songs
were published for the mere pleasure of
seeing them in print, and many more, alas!
for a couple of days' board. "He died in
Bellevue Hospital, poor soul. He was an
undersized man, with melancholy brown
eyes.
It may not be uninteresting to singers of
that beautiful ballad to know that in the
original manuscript score the notes of the
second measure, belonging to the words
"Suwa-nee riv-er," are of exactly equal
lengthfour quarter notes not dotted
"Suwa-nee-river," as we are accustomed to
sing it. The name which he wrote for it,
also, is "Old Folks at Home." The recur
rence of the words "Suwanee river' re
christened it for.many.
FK0M MUSIC TO STILES.
Fashion Cliat-for Ladles A Sensible Belle
Pretty Things.
Chantilly will be the favorite lace for
summer dresses. The imported Empire de
signs are coming to us in "person lengths,"
that is, reaching from shoulder to foot in
stead of from waist line, as heretofore. This
to accommodate the Grecian gown making,
which is an established style so far. Some
of them are 63 inches deep, with a border
almost skirt deep. Leaves and sprays are
tbe favorites, with life-sized vines of all
sorts. Lace mantles will also be very popu
lar; this and the bewitching "Tosca scarf,"
made of fire yards oi India silk, bordered
with fringe and tied over the" bosom after
the fashion of the old-time pictures, in
poke bonnet and short waist, which you
have seen.
Accordeon plaiting is entering into every
thing and for all occasions. Next thiifg, I
expect, is a material bom already plaited.
Straight lines are all in favor, and long,
gaceful sashes are being welcomed back,
andsome borders ot contrasting colors are
being sewn on plain cashmeres and wool
goods; the effect, in accordeon plaiting is
verynew. .Silk net accordeon plaited over
silk-will be a fascinating feature of evening
dresses; the effect is illusive and Egyptian.
SLEEVES AND GLOVES.
Sleeves will all be full and fanciful. The
leg-of-mutton, the frilled upper, the "burst
sleeve" (showing dainty flesh tint or under
fabric), and the irregular and broken puff
will be indulged in largely.
Gloves are becoming hideously simple.
Imagine a three-button length! Many are
resigning the long mousquetaire, so long a
favorite, and some dainty dressers are
taking back the original wrinkly Bern
hardt, which has a closed wrist jnst like a
stocking leg. (Just think of it an ir
reverent dude the other day referred to our
nice long evening gloves as "those long
legged fellows!") Have your gloves made
to order. They last twici their price. The
tendency of which I spoke in gentlemen's
dressing, of distinctive dressing tor different
occasions and different times of the day, is
coming to be observed by our lady folks as
welL The Empire is pretty generally
adapted for evening wear. The Empire
itself would scarcely recognize some of the
adaptations, but as long as the capital E is
retained it is all right. The morning and
street dress cannot he too rigid, simple,
plain and severe. So modest are the ladies
becoming that I look for the Spanish veil
or mask lor outdoor wear before long. Some
picturesque costume is generally carried
during that portion of the day, after morn
ing and before dinner. The "Louises" are
called upon to contribute to the dinner cos
tume. Ah. me! I. wonder if those roval per
sonages of the name of Louis ever turn over
and swear in their new incarnations that
they should have been rendered immortal.
not by their royalty, but by the clothes of
weir timet
NO MOBE HAT FUSS.
"Thank Heaven! No more hat fuss till
next winter."
The pretty red lips were slightlypuckered
over the last nice new bill, but the soft
brown eyes rested happily and lovingly
upon the last of four new head pieces which
this wise little belle had, with commend
able forethought, "got out of the way," be
fore even the 28th of March, 1889.
"This year I am just going to get every
thing provided and done with early, so that
when the time comes to go lean think what
to do. not what to wear!"
One was tine black, lace braid straw, of
tne "oouDreue brand, tne sole trimming a
wreath of maple leaves, so young and juicy
looking that one was lenmted to chew them.
Where they fasten was tied with a knot of
tne yeuow-green grass, which, by the way,
always get in place of the green.
Two was a dark blue, plaited braid tur
ban, one of the very latest imports, with
two long wings lying close, flat and forward
along the side of tbe top.
A FBENCHT BEATJTr.
Three was a black braid turban, with
velvet rim and rosette, upon which perched,
life-sized, one black and one white butter
fly such a Frenchy tonch butterflies!
Four was a yellow-white Tuscan, with
poke flare rim. short in the back. The poke
was faced with white velvet not auite to the
edge. On the edge was a narrow band of
tne same, leaving a strip of tbe straw be
tween to relieve the dead white. (It is those
little things that make dress effective
when reasonable.) The crown was trimmed
in a very Frenchy cream-white ribbon, em
broidered in moss rose buds. The ribbon
was heavilyclustered in the back, and from
it fell a veil two yards in length of white
silk dotted tulle. Along the crown, from
back to front, lay the most realistic spray of
moss.-rose buds and their leaves that I ever
saw. A cluster of the buds fell lusciously
over the front rim, two or three got caught
in the ribbon on the way, and three or four
more remained tangled in the back bows.
One single bud in its moss garnished the
white velvet flare and gave character, that
of elegant simplicity, to the whole.
Some of you will see these pretty things
before many moons, so there.
Fannie Edgab Thomas.
BALLOON ADTESTDEES.
Professor King Gives Some Interesting Ex
periences Way Up in the Cloads.
Nashville American.
To some extent rain retards upward pro
gress, but I have made a number of ascen
sions in the face of storms. Snow, however,
is much more of an obstacle, and in a short
time will accummulate upon the top of the
balloon sufficiently to drive it to the earth.
The clouds are sometimes as much as 3,000
feet from top to bottom when the sky is en
tirely overcast. Often even above such a
body of clouds may be seen smaller clouds
with clear spaces in between. When with
in one of these spaces the sensation is that
of being in a vault. With the solid snowy
clouds below you and the smaller clouds
around you being by perspective brought
close around, it appears as if you were in a
cavern.
I have been above the clouds during a
snowstorm, and the light of the moon shin
ing so brightly through the rarified air pro
duced an illumination rather supernatural.
I have very frequently passed through
frozen clouds. This is where vapor has
fallen below the freezing point and being
congealed into a substance resembling flour
in appearance. This falls, and in doing so
reaches a higher temperature, where the
small particles are aggregated into flakes of
snow.
Some clouds, however, present very mnch
the appearance of a veil, and objects on the
earthcan be distinctly discerned from a
position above them.
I have never known of an instance in
which a balloon was hit by lightning. The
thunder does not make a perceptibly greater
noise than when you are on the ground. The
sound proceeds from the upper layers of
clouds, as does also the rain; and in many
cases, when the lower strata appear very
violent, perfect qniet there reigns, except
for such motion as Is produced by the rain
falling through from above. The upper
currents are most active, and a cyclone or a
wild storm is perhaps produced according as
those upper currents descend to or remain
above the earth.
The Coming Exhibition.
London Punch ,
Smudyer (who thought he really would
"score" with his landscape this year)
Now, what ou,ght I to get for it?
Art Critic (candid friend) Three
months!
And pulls it all to pieces.
A Perilons Errand,
n
tltoW
uaiTi
fjMGitiSK
Officer (2 A. M.) Here, what are you
doing in this doorway? Ton must move
on.
Nupop 'Sh ! I was only waiting 'for
you. I'm going to rouse up this night
drug-clerk, and I waafprotection. Fuck,
THE MPSIDE SPHUI 4
A Collection of Enigmatical Ms for
Hoie CracMi.
Address communications for this department
542 A SAOE ADMONITION.
543 A MTSTEBIOTJS FABKIO.
In former days, so we are told.
Then brass was brass, and gold was gold;
And wool was wool, and leather, leather,
And goods were made to stand the weather.
But in these days, when Shoddy's king,
No ones, bnt those within the ring.
But little know, or little care.
What 'tis they eat, or drink, or wear.
Yet sometimes things come to our knowledge
Not taught in church, or schools or college.
But yesterday, I chanced to find
A'.curious thing that struck my mind;
Though well I knew, earth, sea, and air
Were searched for things for man to wear,
Yet ne'er before had chanced to think
That cloth was made from naught but drink!
It seems in Dublin that famous city
Where drink Is plenty, more's the pity.
Mixed ale and beer, and liquor strong.
Are woven In pieces wide and long;
Wb ich cloth, th e quality possesses,
When made in capes, in cloaks, or dresses,
Of turning wet. In stormy weather.
Like down of goose, or duckling's feather,
Perhaps so strange it should not seem,
Like idle thought, or poet's dream.
For well we know, Eve's son ctr daughter.
When fall of gin. will take no water.
Uotonville, Conn. M. CWoodfobd.
544 CHABADE.
There stands a man of whom you've heard,
Behind him Is an insect small;
But, strange to say. without a word.
The two together fall, ,
And then another sight is shown.
More durable than tha other.
It is the precious diamond stone
The mingled two together:
O! who could think that living things
So soon could petrify?
But so It is; and nature brings
Open wonders to the eye.
ARTTLITTS liAUEZNTrUS.
545 WHAT WAS IT.
As 1 was following a path, not long ago, lead
ing into the woods, I safldenly came unon a
barrier lying across the path, which checked
my progress, and I was unable to proceed
further in the direction that I had been going.
This barrier was not stationary, as you may
think, but was continually moving away from,
me; and yet, stand as long as I might, it would
always lie before me, although it did not stop
an instant in moving away from me. ily
weight was too great to pass over it, yet much
heavier bodies than I could pass over it with,
ease. Without the substance of which this)
body was composed, no man could live, yet It
causes the death of many people. This sub
stance is continually rising in the air and thea
falling to the trronnd. Men can make this sub
stance rise in the air and float like a feather,
but none can make it come to tbe earth again
after it is in a floating condition.
R. U. Osrorr.
546 ARITHMETICAL FBOBLEMS.
A schoolboy. Euclid was my dread.
Its sines and tangents turned my head;
Algebra, too, 1 am afraid
Was not my line;
Tn TnathRtnat!rL it wa auM
That I might shine.
This problem then to me was given:
So take a third of six from seven
That what remains will then be even;
'Twas past my power.
You try perhaps it may enliven
An idle hour.
Another one I call to mind:
Take two from five, leave four behind;
A sum like that was sure to find
A dnsty shelf.
I think the problem was designed
By satan's self.
The crowning task was still to come:
Write down the number six and from
The same take one, and leave the sum
Remaining nine:
I found the task so troublesome
I couldn't shine.
W. WILSON-.
Montreal, Can.
547 transmutation.
In these latter days of science and art,
Tbe magician's skill takes no leading part,
Still ynftnir a n(.!er xrn vt mov flnrt
pcan puzzle the'orain and startle the mind.
in a trial oi skiii not long ago
Between one who came bom a landof snow.
And a wizard brown from Arabia's Band,
The latter held forth in his open huid
A bulbous plant which gay flowerets bore.
Simply a lovely plant, and nothing more.
But a second look, to our great surprise.
Revealed on Its front with glittering eyes
A serpent's head, whose angry, rising crest
And darting tongne,struck terror to the breait,
With nimble fingers the magician tore
Off tbe serpent's head and threw on the floor.
When-of reptile form we could find no trace.
Bnt.a radiant rainbow filled all the place.
Then the Northern wizard essayed his art
By pulling his head and body apart,
when an ancient Persian appeared to view
Of whose tragic end the Bible tells true;
Bnt a moment he stayed, then of head bereft.
Quickly disappeared; still a man was left
Whose head, too, came off, and fell to tha
ground;
Yet underneath, another man was found
Who still may live. Here tbe trial ended.
The prize was won for which theycontended.
M. C. WooproEix
i
54i5 INVERTED TRIANGLE.
1. Swimming tObs.) 2. Signs meaning slow
(Jfiu.) 3. Small drums. 4. Ago. 6. To weary;
7. Exclamations. 8. A bone. 9. A letter. .
ABOT,
549 CONUNDRUM.
"Riddle me this and guess him if you can:"
Why is a wood pile like a frying pan f
Although both often have to do with stakes
(steaks).
The one who guesses that the clue forsakes.
I will not tell vou more. hecaiuR I thlnV -
You'll catch the answer quicker than a wink.
Oconojiowoc Wis. BrrrKR Swzbt.
550 ANAGRAM.
The dread destroyer goes. abroad.
He crashes spire and dome;
He deals destruction with his rod.
And he will not "Shield Rome."
Nelsoniajt, i
TWO PRIZES TOR APRIL.
A handsome and verv desirable nriza tnii h
awarded for each of the best two lots o?'
an3wv9 iu tue oumux nuis puoiisnea during
April. The solutions must be forwarded.
weeajy, aim mil creuit will oe given eacn Coni
pernor at tne Close ot tne month.
ANSWERS.
534 The evolution theory.
535 Disinterestedness.
536 It-em. em-it. m-it-e. ti-ms.
6S7 Elaps: L Lapse. 2. Lepas. 8. LapeL .
4. Pales, fi. Leaps. & Salep. 7. Peals. 8. FleasJ
638 She Is out of -ten.
639- LAB
ALA
a a a ,
BEAR
HAD
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