aOEBSSl
mA
10
dition, but op to 9 o'clock there lias been no
return current."
I read these paragraphs over three or four
times. Ordinarily I should have passed
them by and given my aitention to other
and more congenial news. But now a dull
fear that events were conspiring to widen
the breach between myself and the Bris
banes focussed my interest on them. There
was that easterly wind blowing again. Was
I, too, growing superstitions? I turned over
all the papers. The news was the same in
all, but there was not an editorial para
graph of comment in any of the sheets,
which indeed teemed with all the details ot
active commercial, political and social life.
I went down town alter eating my break
fast, and found that the intelligence had not
awakened any public attention that was ob
servable. The two or three persons to whom
I spoke with regard to it treated it as one of
the passing sensations of the honr. that
would be explained sooner or later. It was
not till the evening papers of the 27th came
out that the matter began to be discussed.
The dispatches in these papers were of a
nature to arouse widespread anxiety. It
was very obvious from their construction
and import that the feeling west of the Mis
sissippi was more intense than had up to
this time been suspected. The columns of
the papers were filled with brief but start
ling telegrams from various points. Den
Ter, El Paso, Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, St.
Paul, St. Louis and Chicago sent anxious
sentences which had a thrill of trepidation
in their broken phrases. And it was easy
to see that this feeling of deep concern in
creased with each dispatch Jrom a point
further West
A special from Chicago stated that com
munication ceased at Yuma at 10 o'clock on
the morning of the 2Gth. The last train
from the West went through at that hour
and reported that it was delayed an hour
on running from Los Angeles to Yuma by
the pressure of the easterly wind. This
train had reached 1 Paso, where the ac
counts of the wind were given by the en
gineer, conductor and passengers. All en
deavors to get an answer to dispatches from
Yuma were failures.
Telegrams sent to St. Louis, Chicago and
St. Paul represented the condition ot
anxiety in Ogden and Pocatello to be
bordering on excitement. JFears were en
tertained, the dispatches said, of a ''metero
logical cataclysm," and thousands who had
friends either on the coast or in transitu
were besieging the telegraph offices in vain.
The hurried comments of the evening
papers on the news were singularly un
satisfactory and non commital. "The
nnprecedented storm that is now raging on
the Pacific slope," I read, "and which has
temporarily cut oft communication with the
far "West will by its magnitude
11 the country with the most
serious apprehensions." "The earli
est news from California, which shall give
ns the details of the storm," said another
paper, "will be looked for with eagerness,
and will be promptly and fully furnished
to our readers;"
As curious as anybody could be to know
what kind of a storm it was that had
stopped railroad travel from Idako to Mex
ico, and remarking with surprise that the
signal office utterly refused to recognize a
great storm nnywhere, I dismissed the sub
ject from my mind with the reflection that
there would in all probability be explana
tory news in the morning, and resolved to
make my usual visit to the Brisbane family.
To my surprise, Kate received me cor
dially, and with no other allusion to the un
pleasantness of the night before than a de
mure remark that she was afraid she had of
fended me.
"Let us not refer to it at all," I said,
"and thus avoid making idiots of ourselves."
"I am glad you came to-night," she re
marked, after a moment's silence, "for I
wanted to tell you of the change we are
going to make."
A little pang darted through me. It was
said so seriously. "What is it, my dear?"
I asked, trying'to be as affectionate as if the
conditions had not changed.
"My father and I have determined to go
to Europe."
"To' Europe!" I repeated aghast, "You
surely do not mean it"
"Yes," resolutely. He wanted to consult
you about it but was afraid you would dis
agree with his plans."
"And when did he make up his mind to
take this sudden move?"
"This morning."
"And you intend to go with him?"
"Yes, and I was going to ask you to go,
too."
"When do you propose to go?"
"Immediately."
It was evident to my mind now that this
old man was a panic stricken monomaniac
and had infected his daughter with his
fears.
"Kate," I said, as I tookherbvher Lands
and pulled her to the sofa besside me. You
are running away from something it is not
from me, is it?"
"I want you to go with us," she
answered.
"But you knew when you asked me that
I could not go so' .suddenly. You expected
me to refuse!"
"No," she said, "I expect you to consent"
"Be careful, on a moment of bravado I
may take you at your word, at any cost"
She caught hold of me. "Do," she said,
tremulously, and I felt a little shiver in her
hand. "Do, dol"
I'got up impulsively and walked up and
down the room. Here was something that
required an instant judgment I could not
help feeling that if I let her go I would
never see her again. Perhaps her father
was trying to get her away from me. Non
sense, her lather bad lrigbtened her with
the big storm and she really wanted me to
go with them. That being the case the
politic course for me was to temporize. In
a day or two the sensation about the big
storm would be over, and then the old gen
tleman would get over his runaway fright
All this passed quickly through my mind,
not very clearly perhaps, but compactly.
"I would rather go with you than lose
yon," I said at a hazard, and if you are de
termined to go, I believe I will accompany
you, if your father will consent"
"We" are determined," she calmly re
plied. "But I must put my affairs in order," I
suggested.
"How many hours will it take you?"
"Hours," I repeated. "You would not
'like to start to-night, surely."
"Yes," she answered, "I would gladly
start to-night"
My patience was giving way very fast at
this imperturbable obduracy. "Perhaps,"
I said, "you will give me some adequate
reason for a haste that I cannot compre
hend." She did not answer. She was listening
with her head averted, and she held up her
hand lor mc to listen also, as if that were
her answer. Then there came through the
open window the hoarse cry of a distant
newsboy who was bellowing an "extra."
There was something weird in her atti
tude and action connecting as they did her
motives with that discordant, ominous cry.
"It's an extra," I said, as unconcernedly
ai possible. "Ill get a copy. There maybe
some good news for you," and I made a
move toward the window.
"Don't," she said quietly. "We were
talking about going to Europe. Pa is not
familiar with the business of securing
passages and you are. You could relieve
him of a great deal of worry, and if you
would go with us "
"Kate," I said, "do you want me to go?"
"Yes, I do," she replied." "I do not want
to leave you here."
"Then," I said. "I will go. I will see
your father in the morning and tell him
that I will attend to the whole business of
securing passages. I will set about ar
ranging my aflairs at once."
She then let me plague her a little about
her timidity, and alter a half hour of play
ful bandinage on my part I came away
with a parting promise on my lips to lose
no delay in making the arrangements for
our departure.
Such, however, was not my intention. I
felt sure that the Judge and his daughter
would change their minds if I could only
manage to delay matters a few days. To go
running off to Europe at a moment's notice
would be utter folly tor me.
As I left the house I heard the voices of
the newsboys In various keys still calling
the extras. I bought a paper and read it
under the gas light of the church on Twen
tieth street A "displayed" headline an
nounced; "As silent as the grave; nothing
heard from the Pacific Great excitement
in Chicago and St. Louis." I must have
stood there ten minutes poring over the
strange news. An expedition in a special
train had been sent west from Yuma that
day with railroad men and doctors. It had
lelt at 3 p. M. The train reached Mesquite
in less than an hour, and word was sent
back from the station: "All right
here, track clear, will reach the
springs at 9 r. It, A dispatch from
Yuma sent at 10 o'clock and received at St
Louis said "Nothing further heard from the
special." News from Chicago, where the
excitement appeared to be momentarily
growing, reflected intelligence from Denver,
St Paul and Kansas City, and it was vain
to ignore the fact that the entire West was
in an alarming condition of anxiety. A
special train was fitting out at Cheyenne
under Government orders to start in the
morning with a corps of signal service men,
army officers and electricians. It was to go
provided with every scientific appliance,
and to carry an insulated cable to be paid
out from the car. The accounts said that the
people were all on the streets in Cheyenne,
and an enormous mob surrounded tbe sta
tion, where the preparations were making.
For the first time I felt, as I threw the
paper away, what I can only call a sense of
misgiving. As I walked up the deserted
avenue this feeling grew upon me, and when
I reached Twenty-third street on my way to
the Fifth Avenue Hotel a sudden and en
tirely new reflection made me stop uncon
sciously as I turned hoover in my mind.
"IT this strange news has affected Judge Bris
bane and his aaughter so seriously, why may it
not be affecting millions of other people simi
larly? If thereisatthlsmomentapanlcmthe
West how long will it take the reflex wave to
reach New York!"
I asked myself these questions in a dazed and
wonaering way as I stood there in tbe middle of
the sidewalk. But I could make no answer to
them, and presently I set out for the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. It was nearly midnight wben I
reacbed it. There were a few groups In tbe
comdor. and three or four late guests regis
tering at tbe desk. Everything was moving In
tbe regular rut. There was a small party of
theater-goers in tbe great barroom. I listened.
Tbey were in a discussion over tbe relative
merits of two popular actresses.
I met a belated friend. He wasburrying out
of the hotel. I stopped him. "Any later news?"
I asked.
"About what?"
"From the West"
"No market in tbe West" he said. "There
was a slump in St. Paul. Been buying?"
'Nonsense; there are extras out with news
from Chejenne,"
Us there?" he said, unconcernedly. "You'll
excuse me, won't you, I left a girl round at the
theater," and be Flipped away.
I went through Twenty-sixth street and
looked in at Delmomco's windows. Tbe place
was lull of late snpper parties. They were en
joying themselves, and I could hear the clink ot
glasses mingling with tbe buzz of conversation
as I passed.
Tbe next morning events, or at least tbe pub
lication of them, bad reached that condition
wbich arrests public attention everywhere.
The news from the West swamped all else In
tbe morning journals. Tbe editors by their
work now acknowledged tbat the mysterious
silence on the Pacific slope was by far the most
important subject for consideration before tbe
world. The moment 1 glanced at the sheets I
saw that there was but one theme in the jour
nalistic mind.
Two days had passed and the silence was un
broken. Never before In the history of the
world bad tbe absence of news become such
important news. Public attention was now
mainly centered on tbe attempt to get a train
of observation through from Cbeyenne.
On tbe night ot tbe 28th 1 avoided the Bris
bane establishment, although my desires drew
me in that direction. I resolved to wait until
tbe morrow, if nothing happened to change tbe
determination of the Judge to go to Europe, to
then make my arrangements to go with him
and Kate. That night there was a visible
change in the metropolis. Tbe theaters were
deserted, men and women wero congregated at
the corners and were talking in tbe roadways
a sure indication in a great city of some popu
lar disturbance. The bulletins and news cen
ters were crowded, and the mystery of the
great silence w as being discussed by everybody.
One thing struck everybody with a vague ter
ror, and it was the accounts of the strange
wind that was now blowing at Cheyenne and
Denver. One special correspondent at Chey
.enne said 'tbat it seemed to him that tbe at
mospbero of tbe earth, influenced bv some in
comprehensible suction, was all rushing to an
unseen vortex." It was not in any sense a dis
turbance of tbe atmosphere that we usually
call a wind, but a steady, silent draught. And
tbe spectacle of trees bent over and held all
day by tbe pressure, but unfluttered and unre
lieved by fluctuant variations, filled tbem with
wonder and dread. i
I cot up very early on the morning of the
SUn, for I lud slept lightly and fitfully. To my
surprise I found tbat almost everybody else
was up. It made me realize as I bad not done
before tbe feverish tension of public expecta
tion. Tbe news, if news it can be called, was
startling. Let me try and repeat it to you just
as it was presented to my sense. Tbe special
train.upon which the eyes of tbe whole country
were fixed bad been beard from. It had gone
west from Cheyenne and passed through
Pocatello without interruption. Then followed
the dispatches received from it at Cheyenne as
it passed the stations beyond Pocatello. Tbey
were in this order and to this effect:
UicnANO, 10 A. Jr.
All right Instruments working welt Track
clear. Inhabitants appear to be moving east
No intelligence of a definite character ob
tained. Shoshone 103 miles west Expect to
make It in lour hours.
Bannock, 2:20 p. M.
Conditions unchanged. Passed moving set
tlers all tbe way. They are going east with
chattels. Wind from the east has tbe pressure
without tbe violence ot a gale. Party In good
spirits.
Sunshine, 3:15.
Vast herds of wild cattle now impeding
progress. Wind increasing, road otherwise
clear.
American Falls, 4:10.
Signs of tbe exodus decreasing. Country
strewn with household goods. Reports here
tbat all tbe teams that went out on the roads
west have not returned. Expect to hear some
thing definite at Minidoka,
Minidoka, 6:10.
Electrical and barometrical indications un
chanced. Signs of life disappearing: Party in
excellent spirits and eagerness, to reach the
tacts.
Tbe next dispatch was from Cheyenne, and
was sent at 8 o'clock. It simply said: "Noth
ing further heard from Government party.
Wire in good order."
Then followed two telegrams of gruesome
brevity and significance.
POCATELLO, 9 P. X.
Nothing here.
CHETKNNE, 10 P. Jf.
Nothing has come over tbe special wire up to
this hour. Microphonic tests at Pocatello in
dicate tbat tbe train is still moving. Electrical
tests Indicate tbat the current is unbroken.
Finally there was a special message from tbe
irorW correspondent at Cheyenne, dated 11
p. 3r. It w as about to this effect:
"Tne current on the Government wire was
broken at 10:40. Delicate tests show that tbe
wire is now grounded. Tbe dire conclusion of
experts here is that the train ran from some
point west of Minidoka from about 6:15 to 10:40
without human control and then met with an
accident At the rate at wbtcb it was moving,
tbe train must bave reached Shoshone. Ter
rible excitement here."
My keen sense detected in tbe newspaper
Itself certain Infallible little signs tbat the news
bad disturbed the precision and routine of tbe
office. Lines of type were in the wrong place,
and typographical errors made it difficult to
get tbe exact sense. Dispatch after dispatch,
all bearing tbe same import of panic was
huddled into tbe column. From St Louis the
annonnccment was: "An unprecedented ex
citement here over tbe news from Cbeyenne.
Tbe authorities appear to bave lost their heads
and are unable to preserve order. lsastward
bound trains are carrying away people at a mob
rate. We are In tbe midst of chaos."
From Chicago the intelligence was similarly
appalling. "A. panic prevails here," said tbe
dispatcb. "Impelled by a senseless apprehen
sion of disaster people bave lost their reason.
The Mayor has just issued call upon tbe best
citizens to assist him in preserving order."
It required no news expert to see tbat all the
issues of llfo were temporarily suspended by
tbe tremendous and growing interest in this
stupendous ru j stery. Channels of news ' worn
smooth by tbe placid streams of everyday
platitudes began to show the roll of tbls new
lresbet. A dispatch from Washington was un
intentionally significant. It read like this:
The only explanation forwarded by Colonel
Sanford of the abandonment off the Pikes
Peak signal station by himself and party is
tbat of a coward. He says tbat the wfnd pres
sure indicated tbat tbe place would speedily
become untenable."
I turned over tbe sheet in which these dis
heartening facts were presented and looked at
tbe editorial page. There was a double-leaded
leader, evidently written late at night, and its
conclusions were more gruesome than tbe facts,
for while tbe facts could be interpreted In vari
ous ways according to the readers condition of
mind, there was no mistaking the official tone
of tbe editor wbose business It was to weigh
and estimate the public value of news. It
seemed to me tbat this umpire to whom-we in
stinctively looked for opinions bad thrown up
tbe sponge, so to Speak. Let roe recall hfs
words a tbev were impressed npon me that
morning: "That a grave crisis has arrived In
tbe conditions Of fife on this planet" said, tbe
I taper, "it would be folly and is impossible any
onger to deny. It Is not ourprovince, nor is It'
witbln our power, to offer any solution,? the,
THE
stupendous mystery that is now enveloping a
part of our continent. It Is only imperative
upon us as brave agents in tbe dispensing of
truth to say with all the candor that we can
summon that tbe effort of the Government to
open communication with the vast region west
of what must now be known as tbe Meridian of
Silence, has dismally failed, and It is tbe con
viction of tbe maturest judgment, based upon
all the facts of tbe attempt that are obtain
able, tbat It failed because tbe explorers
themselves ceased to exist when they bad
passed a certain pretty well defined line which
we know extends north and south from Helena
In Montana to Yuma on the borders of Mexico.
The hypothesis of Prof. Wincbell which we
publish in another column and which bears all
the marks of tbat distinguished savant's cool
judgment and vast knowledge, wilt we sadly
acknowledge, weigh very little with an ex
cited community this moraine. His theory is
tbat a seismic eruption in Oregon or Utah
might easily throw Into tbe lower stratum ot
tbe atmosphere such vast quantities of car
bonic acid gas or sulphuretted hydrogen as
would be fatal to lifo over a vast district and
this district would remain fatal until the heavy
gases were dislodged and tbe atmosphere of
tbe neighborhood regained Its normal condi
tions. But we are compelled to remind DrJ
Winchell of what he probably knows Detter
than any other man, that no seismic eruption
of the magnitude that is required to fit the re
sults could have takon place anywhere on the
globe without being registered on tbe instru
ments at Washington, and in lact at every well
regulated observatory in the country. We
therefore turn fiom this well meant but some
what strained explanation to tbo darkness and
perplexity of doubt, and await with resigna
tion, if not with hope, the developments which
Nature bas In store for us."
I found myself standing by my breakfast ta
ble reading this. I had risen unconsciously.
My breakfast was unheeded. To sit still with
this crushing uncertainty was Impossible. I
found myself in a coupe. Where 1 cot it I do
not distinctly remember. But I do remember
tbat it was by means of an extraordinary offer
to the driver, who, like all bis fellows, was
dashing through the streets at a headlong
pace. And I also bave a very clear recollec
tion of tbo strange nervous effect produced
upon me by seeing the people along the curbs
on Broadway watching tbe flying vehicles with
a mute terror, as if tbe very recklessness of the
drivers afforded tbem a palpable distraction
from tbe unintelligible weight of their own
fears. I speedily noticed tbat the stream of
humanity on the streets was tending down
town, and almost immediately I under
stood tbat it was heading, like myself, for the
news centers. I couldget no further than Cham
bers street owing to tbe block of people and
vehicles, and the driver rudely refused to take
the risk of a jam. 1 look at the City Hall
clock. It was only 8. My heart was beating
rapidly, and I knew enough of the effect of
emotions on tbe cardiac system, to understand
that It was caused by suspense. A thousand
new terrors were in the air, of which tbe ex
perience and the sagacity of man were iemorant
1 forced my way with the greatest difficulty
across tbe park, and got near enough to the
newspaper bulletins to read the painted lines.
They were feverishly indicative of the cross
currents of excitement in tbe country, and
were in short decisive sentences like this: "Tne
President asked to appoint a day of humilia
tion and prayer Immediately. The Governor of
Colorado crazed by tbe excitement commits
suicide. Mob rule in Chicago. Bioting in
Denver. Break down of the Alton and Chi
cago road. Unparalleled scenes at EI Paso.
Fanaticism in New Orleans. Tbe Christian
pastors of this city will meet at Cooper Union
at 10 o'clock, irrespective of sect Panic in
Milwaukee."
Held by a numbing sort of fascination I read
these sentences over and over. Across Print
ing House Square, on another bulletin. In big
black letters, I saw the line: "It baffles tbe
world. Has annihilation set in?" Tnere was
something weird in this use of tbe pronoun IT.
It seemed to be man's last effort in language to
express a mystery that was specific and yet in
comprehensible, and I found that by the com
mon consent of ignorance, men were referring
to tbe phenomenon as IT. I looked at tbe
strained, anxious faces of tbe mob and a great
fear fell upon me. With It came an awful re
proach. I would go instantly and redeem my
word to Kate by securing passages to Europe.
I bad to fight my way by inches out of tbe
stolid and frightened crowd to tbe steamship
office on lower Broadway, and there 1 found
another jam. Tbe street was full of private
carriages, and it was Impossible to get any
where near tbe entrance to the office. I saw a
policeman who was on tbe outside of tbe press
and who was walking up and down in a restless
and unofficial manner. "What is tbe matter
heret" I asked him. lie looked me all over, as
If be suspected tbat I bad fallen out of the
clouds. Then be Baidr "Tryln to get tickets
for Europe. Where d'you come from?" and
then after a restless turn or two he added as be
passed me: "But it ain't no use, cause there
ain't steamships enough in the world."
Then It was, I think, tbat the whole terrible
truth first lit my consciousness like the sudden
npflaring of a balo fire. Tbe inhabitants were
fleeing from tbe country. Tbey were all affected
as had been tbe Brisbanes. 1 was tbe only dolt
and Idiot ana liar who had no Instincts of dan
ger and wbo bad failed to rescue the woman I
loved when she. bad appealed to me. Under
tbe new rush ot violent emotions I felt an un
earthly sickness, and. for fear tbat I might fall
down in the crowd and get trampled to death,
I went into a well-known resort on a side street
to get a glass of brandy or any other alcoholic
stimnlent There, among a number of people
who were drinking. I saw, to my astonishment
an old friend, the President of a bank and a
man of most exemplary habits. He was evi
dently somewhat under the influence of liquor,
for he stood with his back to the bar, leaning
againBt it, and nis bands thrust deep into his
pockets. When he saw me, he said, without
changing his position: "Well, old fellow, I
guess we are all done for this time." 1 do not
remember tbat 1 made any renly. I swallowed
tbe brandy and was about to rush from the
place wben he spoke to me again. "I saw you
at tbe Cunard office,"' be said.
"Yes," i replied, "I want three passages. Can
you get tbem for met"
He smiled rather sardonically, and looked
round at tbe other occupants of the place. "I'll
give fo.000 for one." said he. "Why the Euro
pean steamships have all pulled out into tbe
stream for protection and bave armed their
crews. Wo might as well settle down to it
Take another drink."
Then I plunged wildly out Into tbe street
with a feeling of desperation and tbat sinking
of tbe spirits tbat comes only In tbe worst
crisis, and when one begins to comprehend
bow helpless man is. I saw that in tbe brief
time tbat bad elapsed a change bad taken
place in the aspect of the crowds. When 1 got
to Broadway acain It was with tbe utmost
difficulty tbat I could make my -way at all
against tbesurging inass of people tbat seemed
momentarily to s ell. It was utterly unlike
any crowd in numbers and disposition that 1
bad ever encountered. It was made up of an
classes. It had lost tbat American character
istic of good hnmor, which bad been swallowed
up in a dire personal and selfish instinct of
self-preservation. It was animated by a vague
terror and disregarded every consideration but
that of personal safety. A horrible conviction
seized me that the ordinary restraints of society
were breaking down and tbat speedily panic
would mount to chaos. I saw that this dread
was adding to the terror of everybody aside
from tbe fear of it. Like an assemblage in a
burning building, tbe fear of each other was
more subtle and operative than the fear ot the
elements. By Indefatigable labor I got off the
main thoroughfare and reached Hudson street,
and here in tbe crowdl learned tbe latest news
and discovered the canse of the rapidly In
creasing excitement I had run agarnst an in
timate friend and associate by accident His
first words were, as be wiped tbe perspiration
out of his eyes, "Well, this Is awful, eh?"
"What's the latest?" I asked.
"The latest Is that the death line has moved.
The Tburbers bave a private wire, and I just
heard there that Denver is cut off nowl It looks
as if it was 'every man for bimselir "
Mo terrible was this announcement and so
engrossed was I with the despairing thoughts
tbat it gave rise to tbat I tooic little heed of
what was going on about me until I reached
Canal street. Tbe one dull conviction that it
was nseless to fight against now was tbat anni
hilation bad set in; tbat some destroying wave
bad started out to encircle tbe globe, and tbat
tbe race was doomed. Something, God alone
knew what had bappened to our planet and
humanity was to be swept away in one of those
cataclysms with which soulless Nature prepares
for a new order of existence. Paralyzing as this
reflection was it did not numb me with the
sickening despair tbat grew out ot the other re
flection, tbat in the presence of this encroach
ing mystery men would forget all tbe moral re
straints and heroic impulses that had made ex
istence worth fighting for. and that bad been so
toilsomely wqn out of barbarism by tbe conflict
of ages. A man of ordinary hardihood can meet
tbe inevitable and die, but no man of tbe slight
est spiritual development can see tbe Ideals,
tbe safeguards, the hopes and tbe promises of
humanity all break down together in mockery
and ruin without a despairing shudder and a
sinking of the beart
I was rudely awakened from this reverie of
wretchedness by the crowd which surged
against me with a blind unvmdicUve violence.
My ono desire was to get up town to the woman
I loved and had neglected, and 1 saw that
every minute was adding to the difficulty.
Howl reached tbe Brevoort House I do not
know. But there I found a number of citizens
wbo had not ntterly lost their heads, and wbo
had come together for council. There was a
private wire in tbe house, and tbey were re
ceiving intelligence from several central points
in tbe city. The looks of tbese men jwho were
huddled into tbe parlor, were enough to dismay
the most resolute observer. Their pale faces
and painfully set mouths Indicated the sense of
an awful crisis which wisdom aid not know how
to meet or to avoid. A well-known citizen read
the dispatches to tbem as tbey were received,
and torn as I was by impatience my curiosity
beld me there to bear. It was now about 11:30
In tbe morning. The rapidity with which
events had moved since I got up was made
startlingly apparent by tbo Information here
furnished. The authorities together with a
number of Influential citizens, bad come
together as If by a common Instinct at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. The Mayor, the Police
ana Fire Commissioners, several wealthy bank
ers and a number of prominent clergymen
were lidding some kind of council fend sending
out appeals for co-opcratlon and addresses to
'tba public, -which latter were entirely un
PITTSBURG - ' DtSEATOH,
heeded. As I forced1" myself Into tbe
room I saw and beard a ven
erable and majestic gentleman, evidently a
clergyman, addressing those present In an im
passioned manner. There were tears in bis
eyes and an awful sadness In bis voice. "Men
and brethren," be said, "it is appointed unto all
men once to die. If It be appointed unto us
who remain to die together, let us die like
Christians who still retain our faith in eternal
justice, and not like wild beasts that devour
each other."
I saw that while they heard him those pres
ent gave very little heed to bim, and were
eagerly waiting to hear the next dispatch read.
During the short time tbat I was there I heard
the authorities were doing all they could to
prevent the demoralization of the police de
partment, but that a call upon one of the crack
militia regiments had brought out 15 men
to the armory. It was estimated tbat there
were over a million strangers In town, lor all
tbe roads bad been pouring them in for three
days, and tbe highways leading from the west
were choked with people. The mob at Buffalo
had taken possession of an express train and it
had run tor 200 miles black with people hang
ing to It and then met with an accident Sto
ries ot tbe wildest kind were reachlngthe Fifth
Avenue Hotel. A fire had broken out at the
dry dock, and a drnnken mob were looting
the entire neighborhood and marching
through Grand street pillaging as they
came. Finally a report came that
the fatal east wind was blowing. And at this
there was a general movement of those present
as If the time were too short to waste in longer
listening. 1 came up Lafayette place to Astor
place with tbe Intention of reaching tbe Fourth
avenue. Both spaces were choked with people,
and on Eighth street I saw a woman on the
steps of a private residence, wlldlv calling on
the mob. wbich paid no attention to her, to re
pent for tbe day of judgment was at band. Her
white balrwas blown over her face and her
arms were frantically gesticulating. Into the
great hall of the Cooper Union a mass of relig
ious people bad flocked and a number of speak
ers were making addresses and offering up
prayers. Wben I passed the woman who was
exborting tbe crowd, I bad noticed the manner
in which her hair, which was of soft flossy
white, streamed out straight in front of her,
but it did not occur to me until I had reached
the square In front of tbe Cooper Union that
this was caused by tbe peculiar and ominous
draught of wind from the east, of which I had
heard so much, for it was there tbat I saw a
crowd pointing up to tbe root of tbe vast
building known as the Bible House, which ap
peared to be covered with people. Some ot
them were holding flags and drapery, and the
material floated out westward without any ot
the undulating motion which always marks a
flag In a disturbed current Tbese extempor
ized pennants stood out as If they were starched.
I could sec tbat this sign produced a dumb sort
of terror in tbe crowd. It seemed to me then
that all emotion of which 1 was capable was
centered in the one desire to get to the woman
I loved and die with her. A crushing and at
the same time an animating remorse, as if
somehow 1 had been responsible for her death
at least, in disregarding ber warnings, and
somehow doubly guilty in mistrusting her mo
tives, unmanned me and inflamed me. It was
with something of tbe same disregard of every
body but myself tbat I bad seen in others, that
I fought my way to Twenty-first street what
brutalities I committed need not be recounted.
Tbat hour remains with me an acute and jan
gled memory of frenzy. I reached the steps of
Judge Brisbane's bouse torn and bleeding. Tbe
terrible- scenes were in my eyes, ana tbe dread
ful monotonous tumult of human desperation
that vast sigh ot doomed humanity, pierced
here and there by the wails and shrieks of de
spair and tbe cries of innocence for help, was
In my ears. The celerity with which it bad all
come on left no chance for cool reason.- An In
visible phantom was at the heels of tbe com
munity and we were part of a mighty stam
pede. After fumbling for an instant at the
bell and pushing back several ghastly creatures
who were on the steps, I must bave applied my
shoulder to the door and pushed it in. Some
one appeared to be resisting me on the other
side, but it gave way aud I half fell into Jndge
Brisbane's vestibule, an Instant later we were
looking into each other's faces, I bloody and
soiled and ragged and wild with the frenzy of
fear and impatience, he pale as death, but res
olute and holding an enormous bar over me.
"Quick," he said. "Help me fasten this
doorf"
That sudden call of duty struck something
habitual In me, and, without knowing exactly
what I was doing, I found myself assisting him
in barricading tbe door. Tbe endeavor some
what changed tbe current of my thoughts from
the danger that was unseen to the danzcr that
was storming under irar windows. I must have
muttered some kind of excuse for my conduct
to the Judge, for be said: "No time for apolo
gies or recriminations now. The house Is full
of my neighbors, wbo bave come here for pro
tection. Go upstairs and look after the women.
Tne best and only thing we can do is to pre
serve a quiet place to die In and not be trampled
to pieces. Are you armedf '
I dasbed up tbe broad staircase and found
the upper rooms occupied by women, some of
whom, in morning attire hastily thrown on,
were sitting around with their heads In their
bands, while others were huddled at tbe win
dows staring with strained looks of terror at
tbe crowds on the street Walking up ana
down the room wringing his hands a middle
aged man was giving expression to the most
terrible irony and cowardice without reference
to his listeners. "Yes," he said, "you taught us
the accursed Nature worship; you called her
our mother, and weaned us from our faith to
believe In our executioner. Why don't you
explain her benignity now? Why don't you
comfort us with tbe reign of law? We are
about to be swallowed up in tbe pitiless maw
of the material. Why don't your damnable
sophistries triumph over tbe selfishness ana
brutality of man? What have you left to us
except to curse God and die?"
1 ran my eye over the huddled groups of
frightened women. The one I sought was not
there. I flew through tbe groaning figures on
the stairway up to ber chamber. I knocked
loudly and called ber by name passionately.
Tben I listened. I heard nothing but the dull
sounds of tbe human tumult that came through
the open casement and tbe sighing tones of tbe
telegraph wires as the steady draft from tbe
east swept throuch them. I shook the door,
and then abjured ber to come to me. Then in
my madness 1 burst it in. She was on ber
knees at the bed, with her hands on her ears
ana ber head buried in the bed clothes. I fell
down on my knees beside ber and put my arm
around ber. "Kate," I said, "we will die to
gether. Look up. Love at least is eternal!"
She was cold. I caught her head between my
bands and turned her beautiful face toward
me. My God. sbe was dead! Dead with her
staring eyes full of terror and her beautiful
mouth set In hard and ghastly lines. Tben It
was that 1 felt rise up within me for the first
time tbe rebellious bitterness of the natural
man. Need I tell you that at such moments
man is little better than an animal save in his
free agency tbat enables him to defy. I passed
hours there moaning, cursing, bewailing. When
at last tbe force of the paroxysm had expended
itself, I shook my fist In tbo face of heaven
with the obduracy of a Pagan Greek, and
said, "Come on now, you envious Fates, and
do your worst speedily, or I will be too quick
for you!"
Judge Brisbane found me there, raving.
"Do you know?" I asked.
"Yes," he answered, "and I am grateful.
Sbe Is spared much tbat we must endure."
"And so," I said, "life, love and the vaunted
future of tbe race end in mockery."
"It seems so," he replied. "Bat we cannot be
sure. Come with me."
We ascended to tbe roof. The spectacle that
greeted us was indescribable. Tbe tops of all
the houses were black with people, wbo were
staring mutely and with childish terror into
tbe West. Tbe stead, subdued organ tone of
the rushing atmosphere could now be heard
above all else. We stood there In silence a
few moments, and then I said, "It's terrible.
What do you suppose is taking place?"
"I suppose," replied tbe Judee, "that we are
losing our atmosphere. Reeling it off, so to
speak, slowly as we revolve. Our planet bas
entered some portion of tbeetherial space
where the conditions are sucking us dry of our
oxygen. As It recedes from the earth the water
disappears, and we shall be left to revolve, like
tbe moon, without air and without liquid, and
consequently without life."
He said this medifatively, less as if he were
answering my question than as if he were
formulating his own tears.
"Then," I remarked, "if this takes place
gradually, the millions have got to struggle
andwritbe and fight together in suffocation.
We can at least blow our brains out and cheat
such a fate."
"I should hate," said the Judge, "to think
that the man wbo was to marry Kate bad not
the bravery to face his destiny."
That was all tbat was said. We came down,
and some ripples of intelligence reached us
during the afternoon from one or two persons
wbo made tbeir way Into tbe house. We
learned that In the frenzy of fear the populace
were committing the most extraordinary ex
cesses. The shore line ot the Atlantic was
cron ded with people, many of whom plunged
Into the ocean in tbe vain attempt to get away.
The scenes In the city were too revolting to
narrate, for a large class of the community re
leased from all restraint of moral and civil
law, were bent on securing all the law
less pleasures that force could command
during tbo few hours that were
left to them. And the lino was steadily coming
east Chicago was cut off at 12 o'clock. And
at 4 intelligence had ceased coming from Buf
falo. At this time tbe sound of the wind was
like the roar of the sea. 1 had torn myself
away from the window where 1 had been star
ing at the now packed and struggling masses ot
people, and bad locked myself in the room with
the dead body ot Kate. There was a vial of
opium on her table that had been used for neu
ralgia. I swallowed it and sat down by the
bedside. I know not how long 1 remained there.
But a loud report as of a discharged cannon
roused me. I remember staggering and pant
ing In the dark, with a semi consciousness tbat
tbe end had come, and I now know that report
was occasioned by the bursting of the drums of
mvears.
1 remember nothing more. "I have given you
a plain statement of my experiences In that
crisis, and I dare say they are uneventful
enough by the side ot the experiences ot
millions,
the end.
Copyright, 1889; all rights reserved.
SUNDAY ATTG-tTST 25,
SPURGEON GOES HOME
England's Great Baptist Preacher
Pleased With His Visit.
WHAT HE SAYS OP 00R CHURCHES.
Onr Attractive Sunday Schools With Their
Lively Sessions.
HIS PfllLAHrHEOPIO ENTEEPEISES
rwarmat ron toe Eiir-iTCn.j
On the eve of my departure for England,
at the request of the editor of this paper, I
will give my views on various topics of re
ligious and general interest, in regard to
which inquiry has been made of me since
my arrival in the United States.
At the outset, I would like to observe
that I have always been pleased with Amer
ica. My reception here has been most gen
erous and hearty. On my side of the water
we are familiar with the phrase, "An
English welcome;" henceforth I shall be
lieve that the people of the States are en
titled to lay stress on the heartiness of an
American welcome. I have traveled, con
siderably during my brief stay, in the East
ern States, in the near "West and in the far
West (for to a foreigner there seem to be
two localities at this point of the compass),
and in the various families where I have
stopped I have been treated with such kind
ness, and have been received with so warm
a welcome, tbat, for the time being, I lost
the faculty of being homesick.
I have been particularly charmed with
the beautiful scenery that I have seen.
Of course I have been to Niagara Falls, and
of course I cannot add anything to what
has been ssaid in the way of enthusiastic
praise of that great natural wonder. Ni
agara is sui generis; it is proper that the
Americans should be proud of this great
feature of their country's natural beauty.
But I have received equal pleasure lrom
ray visit to the Yosemite Valley and the
Yellowstone National Park. I think they
deserve a prominent place in the long cata
logue of fine scenery of which your country
can boast
A1IEBICAN BAPTISTS.
I have found the Baptist Church here in
a very successful condition; the people are
full of enthusiasm and, among the various
Protestant denominations, the'Baptists are
without doubt the most aggressive and en
terprising in church work. The churches
in the United States are certainly much
better appointed than they are in England.
Our edifices cannot be compared in archi
tectural beauty to yours. The interior of
the American Church is in striking contrast
to the London Baptist churches. You make
your buildings more comfortable, more
nomelike, and In many cases more
luxurious. It is sometimes thought that
churches can be made too luxurious, but
I have seen no ground for criticism on
that ground in what I have seen since I have
been here. Your decorations are more lavish
than ours; the cushioned pews and the car
peted aisles give a furnished and home-like
appearance which is distinctly different
from our churches. The best floor covering
we would bave would probably be linoleum
or cocoanut matting, never any bright
colored carpets. Our churchgoers, if they
want carpet, are allowed, at their own ex-'
pense, to put a little strip in their pew. The
electric .bells which communicate from the
pulpit to the sexton, telling him how to
regulate the heat, the ventilation, etc., strike
a foreign clergyman -with surprise; this sys
tem must be a great convenience to the
preacher, it is characteristically American.
Your Sunday schools are much finer than
ours. I do not think they are any larger,
bat yonr Sunday school rooms are bright,
cheerful places, with carpets on the floors,
pictures on the walls and well furnished
and convenient seats. Some of your Sun
day school services would probably be con
sidered a little too lively for the English
Baptists. I attended one Sunday school
anniversary here where the children came
upon the platform, sang hymns and gave
scriptural recitations. We do not have any
thing of that kind in England on Sunday.
We have an ordinary Sunday school service
with preaching, the main feature of the
service being the singing of the children.
On the occasion referred to the platform was
smothered in flowers. Such Sunday
services may be considered profitable by my
Baptist brethern in America, but, without
making any criticism in regard to the mat
ter, I would say that such a service would
be more appropriate for a week day than
Sunday.
BED TAPE IN CHABITY.
Some time since the methods of the Char
ity Organization Society of New York were
the Eubject of discussion in the newspaper
press. I have been asked to express my
opinion in regard to those methods. I can
only say that we have in London a similar
society, and it does a great deal of good, but
I think its work is crippled by too much or
ganization, too much "red tape." A man
applies for charity and it takes so long to
investigate the case that by the time the
agent reports favorably on the matter, the
man is often past the need ot help. And
yet, I think the organization prevents a
great deal of indiscriminate giving. It
looks into some cases and proves that the
applicant is an impostor. How to strike
the average amount of merit, as exhibited
by the applicants to this society, is a diffi
cult thing to do. This society helps some
cases,but it makes a "jolly fuss" about
what it does give, and there is too much ma
chinery in its methods of affording relief.
There is one great abuse we have in En
gland which you do not have in your coun
try; I allude to what we term "canvassing
for votes." Nearly every charitable insti
tution in England supported by private en
terprises receives its money from annual
subscribers who give what they see fit
Each pound they give entitles them to one
vote on the admission of a candidate to the
institution. When a person wants to have
some one admitted to the institution where
he knows a subscriber, he will go among the
other subscribers and "canvass for votes" in
order to secure enough votes to warrant the
admission of the candidate. This is often a
difficult, sometimes an impossible, thing to
do for persons without means or influence.
A poor person may unsuccessfully apply for
admission year after year. I have in mind
now the case of a party who made six or
seven applications year-after year, only
being able to secure COO votes when 1,600
were necessary. Under this system it is not
the most necessitous that gets the benefit of
the institution; it is the one who has the
most influence and money. This method
prevails in nearly all the philanthropic in
stitutions in England, except, I am happy
to say, in the Spurgeon Orphanage, wh'ere
the applicants are received solely on account
of their deserts. t
TOTES MEAN MONET.
Great as this abuse is, there has been no
organized effort to reform it, for the reason
that most institutions find it would not be
to their interest to do so. So many votes
mean so many pounds to the Institutions,
and the institution is not supposed to know
anything about this tramping around town
and begging for votes to secure a candidate's
admission. A vote means to the institution
an additional subscriber. A man who gives
his 60 or 100 becomes a life governor, with
power to elect one applicant each year. Of
course this system of giving is entirely
foreign to the idea of Christian charity; it
leads the givers to be ostentatious, while the
main idea of the society is the state of its
prosperity; that is all 'the societies think
about
In regard to the Church of England, I
would say that, within its fold, there are
three parties the Bitualistic, the Broad
Church and the Evangelical. I think that
the Evangelical party is constantly gaining
ground. Through that division of the
Cbsrch of England I think disestablish
ment is more sura to come than in any other
way. That branch, in their efforts to get
hold of the people.are More and more adopt
ing non-oonfcnali yMetioM ud auldag
1889.
their services, as we term it, Evangelistic.
The Bitualists are still quite active, but I
do not know how much they are doing
Some of their practices have been so
flagrant that many people have discoun
tenanced the Bitualists. They will compass
sea and land to make a proselyte. Their
great strength is -among the very rich aud
the very poor. It has been claimed that the
poor are attracted by the ornate services in
their churches. I do not think the poor care
a button for the character of the services;
with them it is "bread and blankets."
If the church people will give them
bread, clothes and blankets, tbe
poor don't care whether the service is
plain or full forms. If I went among the
poor and distributed alms very freely my
missions would be crowded to the doors. A
great deal of the ritualistic church work is
done under the garb of charity. The poor
should be reached and helped but not in
this way. for some time the Bitualists
have wanted a different court than the one
in existence for the determination of re
ligious questions. At present disputes
arising from the church go to the courts of
law. The Bitualists lately proposed the
establishment oi two final courts of equal
numbers, one of bishops and one of judges.
It both conrts agreed on a question, their
decision governed. If they tailed to agree,
the decision of the court below, necessarily
a church court, would stand. That would
in effect bave taken all control of doctrine
away from the State. This scheme failed
to pass and the English court of religious
appeal remains as it was.
SPUBOEON'S rniLANTHEOPT.
The Spurgeon philanthropic enterprises
embrace the Preachers' College, which ad
joins the church in Newington. The ob
ject of this college is to further prepare
young men, who have already been engaged
in preaching, for the ministry. The candi
dates come from workshops, offices and the
farm. There is no charge for board or edu
cation; the students are quartered in various
parts of the city in the families ot memb-rs
ot the church. The college is supported by
voluntary contributions; the sum contribu
ted is made to equal in pounds the date ot
the year 1888 pounds for the year 1888,
1889 pounds for this year, and so on.
This peculiar custom has always been ad
hered to, though exactly where and how
it originated I cannot tell. When the
sums fall short of the amount needed under
this arrangement it is made up from
the general collection. There have been 800
graduates from the Preachers' College since
it was organized and they can be found
preaching in all parts of the world. Some
have Jgone to be missionaries in Africa;
they are scattered all over England and the
English colonies, and there are several in
the United States. One of the graduates,
the Kev, Archibald Q. Brown, js pastor of
the London Tabernacle, the second largest
Baptist church in London. Sirs. Spurgeon
sends theological libraries to the poorer
graduates, a work she began 13 years ago.
The Spnrgeon Orphanage contains 600
children; is supported by voluntary contri
butions, and its distinguishing feature, as I
have already said, is that there is no "can
vassing for votes."
Chables Sptjbqeon.
A FOREST MONARCH FALLEN. '
Tbe Kins; of Tree Laid Low by the Pitiless
Ax of tbe Woodsman.
Alta California.
On Friday last, the west bank of Austin
creek, the ruthless woodman's ax laid low
one of nature's kingliest growths. For
1,000 years his vegetable majesty had lifted
his proud head annually nearer the clouds
and taken upon himself, month by month
more and more of that colossal bulk which
marks the true forest king. It measured 33
feet in girth 3 feet above the ground and was
310 feet high. It took two most accom
plished axmen, with the best of modern
tools, nearly a day and a quarter to cut it
away to the point where its own vast
weight caused it to topple to its fall.
With that wonderful skill which only
long experience gives these veteran axmen.
under'the direction of Foreman Soper, laid
the monster so exactly as to drive a stake
previously set 200 feet from its base, on the
bank of the creek. Even at that point the
great tree was 20 feet around, and the upper
100 feet crashed down across the creek,
swept down the telegraph line, snapped two
telegraph poles short off and fell across the
railway track of the North Pacific Coast
Bailroad. The fall shook the earth in a
local earthquake felt half a mile off, sent
up clouds of dust, completely obscuring tbe
freat trunk, and sent forth a report like
eavy artilery.
Georgia' Ananias nt It Attain.
The grandfather of Mr. Walls, now living
near Athens, Ga., never married till his
103d year. His wife is just 20. They live
happily together. "It was no unusual
sight says the Athens Chronicle, "to see
the old man, at the age 'of 130 plowing in
the field. But he was taken sick when in
his 138th year.aud lived but a few months."
Powerful Goods.
Boston Herald.
Young Swell See here! This watch
won't run. What do you suppose is the mat
ter with it?
Jeweler Well, I should cay the fault is
in that vest yon have on. The pattern is
loud enough to stop a clock.
A Chcnp Kind of Fan.
Somervllle Jourssl.l
A mean man can have a good deal of
fan by yawning conspicuously in a well
filled horse car, and tbe watching the in
voluntary yawn run down the car.
Cnrlom Enongb, Either Way.
"Now, there's a curious bush. I'll jest
get a snap shot at it with my camera."
Flusiago 2S"9wUlw tin bu ialling.-
mm9m i
?Ais f "ff H
EGYPTIAN GYMNASTS.
Physical Education Among the Sub
jects of the Ancient Pharaohs.
POLO PLAYED 0B H0MAH STEEDS.
Pugilistic Ladies Who Fought on the Banks
of the Nile.
GYMNASTICS ET0LTED FE0M DANCES
I VHUTtZS rOS TUX DISPATCH.'.
Great as the distance is from China to
Egypt, and unknown as both nations were
to each other, recent researches have estab
lished beyond the possibility of a doubt that
the Egyptian culture was,excepting the Chi
nese, the oldest the world beheld. It is,
therefore, convenient and proper to study
the gymnastics or rather calisthenics and
sports of the ancient Egyptians in the same
order.
As the Egyptian people were divided into
hereditary and well-defined castes, the priest
craft being the most learned and cultured,
the soldier class next education and learn
ing was chiefly confined to them alone and
not disseminated among the whole
people. Medicine, or surgery rather,
seems to have been comparatively ad
vanced, numerons ingenious instruments of
copper and bronze, preserved in collections
and museums bearing evidence thereto.
Specialism was the order of the time for
everything, eyes, ears, teethchest, stomach,
etc A medical code existed containing
rules and regulations for all known diseases,
and if the physicians of the Pharaoh's kept
within this standard ot precepts, the recov
ery or death of a patient was beyond the ac
countability of the niedicus. Consequently
less reason existed for the animation of an
Egyptian physician's ambition than for that
of his Chinese colleagues, who never re
ceived fees, excepting their patients en
joyed perfection of health, the fees being
promptly stopped when illness made its ap
pearance. No records are traceable indicating the
nse of gymnastics by the Egyptians as a
means of preserving health or educating the
young. Although being a practical people
and likewise of much warlike spirit, tbey
were far behind other nations in that re
spect Herodotus, who has much to relate
about them, mentions nothing certain about
gymnastics among the people on the Nile.
Diodorns Siculus alleges that wrestling
was diligently exercised in by the Egypt
ians, but that this practice was held in no
high esteem, because the strength thereby
acquired was of no long endurance. Bar
thelemy denies that any gymnastics proper
were known in Egypt
BAIL GAMES IN EGYPT.
Fortunately many illustrations exist
throwing light upon the subject In Kosel
lini's illustrated history of Egypt and Nubia
a great number of pictures and figures,
copied from monuments, tombs and relics,
depict explicitly various modes and man
ners of dance, gymnastic and athletic'ex
ercises. Ball playing was seemingly a pastime if
not a profession, but our modern lithe-
limbed, nimble-tooted ana hard-nsted clubs
of nine would have felt sad and weary at tbe
sight of the Egyptians' game. No batting.
little running, no sliding for bases and no
recording angel of the journalistic profes
sion or snapshot photographer to immortal
ize their donghty deeds on the diamond to
the eternal gratification of their country
men. It was a slow game, this of the ancient
subjects of the Pharaohs, and resembled
polo, inasmuch as the players were mount
ed, not on horses, but on each others backs.
Although fashion is sometimes queer and
capricious, it is hardly probable that the
present baseball rules will ever become to
perverted In the twilight of the
nineteenth century as to compel a
sovereign citizen to make a beast of
burden of himself. When scrutinizing this
Egyptian ball game illustration without tbe
insight of a profound Oriental scholar,
one is led to admit that those on top, the real
players and handlers of the game, strikinglv
resemble female figures indeed. They loot
much more ladylike and graceful from their
elevated positions. Perhaps the Egyptian
ladies were less punctilious in those days
than their modern, much-veiled and be
shrouded sisters, and being fond of the pre
vailing pastime, but, lacking wind and
muscle, conveniently accented tbeir faithful
swains and cavaliers as substitutes for loco
motion. Considering these distressing cir
cumstances, it is little to wonder at that the
game of baseball did not attain a high state
of development among the ancient Egyp
tians. Various illustrations represent modes of
wrestling in a rude and obscure fashion,
from which little can be learned about this
practice. One feature of it appears to have
been tbe lifting and handling of passive
participators in the sport keeping their
bodies in perfect rigidity, which in certain
positions is a somewhat difficult matter, as
every gymnast knows. Fencing with broad
swords "and shields is frequently depicted,
thelatfer being narrow and strapped to the
shield arm from the elbow to below the
fingers.
PUGtLISTIC WOMEN.
The eminent Egyptologist, Boselldini, in
his work previously referred to, depicts only
one representation where the inference can'
be drawn that the ancient Egyptians were
devoted to, the fistic art. The positions of
the figures indicate unmistakably a pugilis
tic encounter, but it is painful to
observe that likewise here the prin
cipals were of the female sex. It
is, therefore, with some hesitation that
we declare it an exposition of bona fide
pugilism. Perhaps the ladies represented,
suffering from some temporary domestic
misunderstanding, were simply settling
matters between themselves in a somewhat
Sullivanic style.
Illustrations of archers and archery were
not uncommon, but whether they repre
sented a pastime only or genuine exploits of
battle, is equally hard to decide. Most of
the illustrations previously described were
discovered in tombs, places regarded by the
ancient Egyptians with great reverence.
Figures abound representing calisthenics
and rhythmical motions, indicating that
dances occupied a prominent part of honor
ing the dead and of other religious ceremo
nies. Dancing, in the more primitive and
popular form, usually excites ambition and
competition. The evolution of dance into
gymnastic and athletic pastime is easily
comprehended.
TJnlike the Greeks, the ancient Egyp
tians had not acquired any conception of or
higher sense for the beantifnl. Not only
their architecture, sculpture and painting,
but also tbe subject at present claiming
our attention, bear witness thereto. Their
culture was confined within limited castes
and did nowhere penetrate into the masses.
It is not without a touch of sadness the
student glances at tbe historical life of this
people, with its great endeavors in a certain
respect, but withont corresponding results.
It is melanchol to behold such a
vastneis of work petrified, as it
were, its monuments only destined to
testify before the world to the futility of
power and despotism. Still our thoughts
would fain linger with this mighty remnant
from ages long passed by.
Axel C. Hallbecic
GREAT SNAKE KILLING.
.
One San Kills Six Rattlers, Bat Another
Shoots Eighteen at Oac.
Trom tbe Sierra City Trlbane.l
Mike Payton declares that he is the boss
snake killer. He killed six rattlesnakes a
week ago in going from the Margurite
mine to the Northern Belle. .One of them
measured A feet and 10 inches. He says
that Keystone Bavine W chuok full of
them.
Charles Castagtadid a little better than
that. He killed IB mot long; slice with one
hot s
THE FIRESIDE SPHffiS
A Collection of Enigmatical Nuts for
Horns Cracfing.
Address communliatiom for thi department)
to E. R. Chabbocbn. Lewiston, Maine.
, 707 chabade. .
Our one and two are two flno DoyS
As ever you would caro to see.
As full of life, as fall of noise
As all such boys are apt to be.
Of foreign lands they love to read,
The curious things that there are done;
To what Is strange they give most heed.
We see it In their work and fun.
Last week they read of the sedan chair.
In Ceylon, yet so often seen.
In which tbe gentry ride out there,
By two strong coolies, borne between.
So tbey have rigged a total up.
And round about the house they go,
A-seekiog for a passenger.
Hard work to make them take a no.
The cat and dog get many a ride;
Their little sister likes it well;
But older folks have not yet tried
How they would like It; cannot telL
M. C. WOODIORB.
708 HOUE-GLASS.
1. With knowledge of one's own mental opeiv
ations. or actions, or sett. 2. Instrumental. 8.
Cleanest. 4. Severe. 6. An epoch. 6. A letter.
7. A nook or corner. 8. A mountain celebrated
in biblical history. 9. Kecently arrived. Hare.
la Surpassed In the offer ot a price. II. Resis
tance. Diagonals Left to right down, accordant In
opinion. Left totright up. in a consistent or con
gruous manner.
Centrals down, a messenger between two par
ties. Cal Asdo.
709 DECAPITATION.
You'll find me on tbe field of battle.
Where cannons roar and small arms rattle
Where carnage holds its direful revel,
And deeds of men seem only eviL
Amid this scene so dire and dread.
Let me be slain cut off my bead.
But think you now I'm really dead?
I am transformed, no longer bad,
I'm something jovial now and glad.
And hare my place where mirth aud Joy
And frolic mix without alloy.
Thus the decapitating ttand
May sometimes wield a magic wand.
Kelsoxiax.
710 CUBTAILMENT.
Graceful and stately the whole in her pride,.
Floats on the water ber nestlings beside:
Out of tbeir element like many another.
Awkward and clumsy are nestlings and.
mother.
Graceful and swift as the flight of a bird.
Dashes the last. He's king of tbe herd.
But tbe hunter has smitten the pride of the?
plain.
And spite ot his beauty and strength ho U
slain. Tbasza.
711 BOTANICAL TBELLIS.
L To characterize. Foolish. S. A kind of
cherry. 4. Turkish inns. 5. A species of wil
low. 6. An Alderman. (Eng.) 7. Chapped.
8. A leguminous plant. V. Want of tone.
(Med.) 10. Wagons. 1L Bunches.
A slender, climbing plant twines upon the
three Inner costs. Rainbow.
712 DOUBLE LETTEE ENIGMA.
In "disharmony;"
In "grand jubilee;"
In much "wickedness:
f
In long, "thick black" tress.
An inconsistency of words
There seems in one and two;
They are as different sorts of birds
As ever swam or flew.
First is a fowl, quite often tame,
Last Is a wild, tierce bird:
Join, and they form one fond of game,
Fish and small birds, I've heard.
Bitter Swsit.
713 TBANSPOSITIOJT.
Language clothed in first. If terse.
Often is replete with meaning;
Then, again, it may disperse
Truths which we would fain be gleaning;
It may second sound and sense.
It majr Wa wisdom Vteacier, I
Or It may make vain pretenie -A V
Like a wordy brainless preacher. A.L. ,
- 714 CONUJfDEtJII.
Without provocation SDolled Caroline struck;
her friend. Daisy. Said a young yachtsman
to his lady friend:
"In what particular-is that ill-tempered child
llkemer
And quickly she responded:
"Because she Is , and so are you."
And be said:
"You are a daisy." Casl G-BET.
715 EIDDLE.
Take a large part of Europe,
And then perambulate.
Now If you have attention paid
You'll see the truth, as here 1 state,
A whole Is where out first is made.
D.A.H.
ANSWERS.
699 "Coming events cast their shadows be
fore." 700 Mosquitoes.
701 Bran-died.
702 The ace of spades was the twenty-second
card in the original pack, and Is the only card
which fulfills all tbe requirements of the
puzzle. Its position in tbe three successive
distributions is shown below:
Ftrstpack. Second pack. Thirdpack.
1 2 3 i
o -. 6 it
7 8 ,j y
10 H 12 ;
13 M 15 a"
16 17 is
19 20 21
22 (ace of spades) 23 21
25 28 27
First JPack. Second rack. 'Third J'ack.,.
1 4 7 "
10 13 18 -
19 22 (ace of spades) 23 -
O "1
11
20
3
12
21
14
23
17
28
9
IS
27
6
15
24
IIL
First rack. Second Jack. Zhird J'ack.
1 10 19
2 11 20,
3 12 21.
13 (ace of spades) 22
5 14 23
6 15 24
7 16 25
8 17 28
9 18 27
703 Rome-scot
704 Meteoric.
705
P
PEW
C O K A L
O O L I T I 8
POL YGENIC
PERI GORDPIE
WATERWEED
LINDENS .
8 I 1 E B v.
C I D ?-
E
708-L C-row-d. 2. Brough-t 3. J-al-L
Likely to Get FolL
Boston Berald.l
Wife Is the moon full to-night
Husband (looking out) No. From'iti .
shape, though, I should say it was on.
bender.
Best He Coald Afford.
Old Gentleman Little boy, I am grieved
to tee yon smoking a cigarette.
Willr TfnrfT "Wh.t -wr ! 9
Yer don't a'pote a young gent.wid tar aU
ini nan syen seeneaasJUJKae.
i.