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THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, SUNDAY; SEPTEMBER
S'-
f2b
1880.
.irf
W- V
y
i
APPLES ASP ACTOKS.
Bill Nye Spends a Day Swapping
Stories With Slnart Kodsoh.
THE SAD FATE OF LITTLE JAMES.
Forrest and the Elder Booth Dance the
Sailors Hornpipe,
TEOUBLE AT OPHELIA'S OBSEQUIES
rwETTTEf FOB THE DISPATCn.J
OHASSET is
about 21 miles
from Boston, and is
noted for its mack
erel fishing and also
as the summer borne
of Lawrence Bar
rett and Stuart Kob
son. It is near
2antasket and Mi
not's Ledge Light
house, on a stern
and rock - bound
coast. It is in lati
tude 42 16' 9"
north and longitude
70 45' 14" west.
Jlr. Barrett was
nway tne other day when I went down
there, and he will be pained when he reads
this to know that he ha3 missed a Sabbath
with one of the gentlest, loveliest characters
in history. Mr. Barrett's house is large
ncl white, and has the air of shrinking
modesty so noticeable in its great, but
utterly unconscious, owner.
3Ir. Bobson was found at his house, walk
ing under the trees and thoughtfully eating
green apples, of which he is passionately
:ond. He raises upward of (CO) sixty bar
rels of apples on his estate each year, any
one of which is fatal.
"A neighbor of mine had an odd experi
ence with his apples the other day," said
Itobson. "He has some of this same breed.
It is an apple which will turn when it is
trodden upon. Uobody but a cider press
can eat one and lire. This friend of mine
went out one day and discovered a boy
named James bitting up in the branches of
his apple tree eating the luscious fruit and
filling his shirt and trousers with enough to
stay his stomach when he cot home. '1
wish you would not do that,' taid the man.
I do not care so much for the fruit but you
are breaking the tree and disfiguring it.'
0 you shut up,' retorled the lad, knocking
the man's glasses off, together with the
bridge of his nose, with a large lignum vitte
apple. 'If yon don't go in the house and
keep quiet, I will come down there and in
jure you.' 'Very well,' said the man, 1
rill h'ave to go to-morrow and tell your
father about you and your insulting lan
guage.' 'All right," said the youth. 'Go
in, you old pessimist, and get the razzle
dazzle if ye wish. I will, in the meantime,
r elect a iexr more of jour mirth-provoking
fruit
UTILE JIMMIE WAS DEAD.
"The next day, full of wrath, the man
went over to the boy's house and said to the' .
lather: "fair, 1 have come to do a very dis-
In lioison's Orchard.
agreeable duty. I come to tell you of your
boy and the insulting language he used to
me yesterday.'
" "Do not speak of it.' said the old man
softly. 'He told the doctor and me and his
mother about it last night. He was very
sorry, indeed, very sorry, indeed. Tour
errand is unnecessary, however, sir, the boy
is dead.'
"Then the man went home and did not
laugh anv for two or three days. Any boy
almost can pick on him now and he doe's
not resent it."
Bobson tells a story as well as anybody I
know, and I wish I might do it half as well
in print as he docs in conversation. He is
full of rerainiscenses and all of them of in
terest. He tells of a little incident in the
life of the elder Booth which was not of
such great importance ot history, but I
would have given a good sum it I could
have been concealed somewhere so that I
could have seen the performance.
Toung Edwin Booth was just then get
ting so that he could play the banjo pretty
well. He was doing so in his father's study
one day whan the great Forrest entered.
The elder Booth had the most profound re
spect and esteem for the genius of Forrest
and so he tried to ijet Edwin to conceal his
flippant banjo. But Porrest grandly mo
tioned him to go on with it
"Do you play 'Zip Coon,' Edwin?" asked
Mr. Forrest in deep, revcrbrating tones.
"Vcs. sir."
"Play it."
The great Samlet then proceeded to
plunk the exilarating notes of the late Mr.
Coon.
Forrest conversed with the elder Booth a
little, but he kept time with his foot to the
lascivious pleadings of young Edwin's
banjo.
"Do you plav 'Gray Eagle Edwin?"
asked the great Porrest
"Yes, sir."
"Play it"
Jlr. Booth and 3Ir. Forrest still conver-ed
in a rambling way, but they kept time to
the melodious plunkings of the j oung trage
dian. "Do you play the 'Sailor's Hornpipe,
Edwin?'
"Yes, sir."
"Play it"
A SOLEMN SCENE.
Mr. Forrest now arose. So did Junius
Brntns Booth. Their faces were as solemn
as if they were nlaying "Pochard IIL" at a
one night stand, but gently they fell to
skipping the light and flippant toe, till at
last, in the retirement of this room, the two
great tragedians, with no more mirth in
their faces than there is in the prospects for
the Grant monument fund, hoed it down, to
the banjo plunkety-plunkings of Edwin
Booth. I would be willing to walk up to
ilcCoomb's Dam Bridge to-day, tired as I
am. if I could sec that sight
"When Honce Seaver, of Boston, was
buried in August, Mr. Stuart Bobson,
tncng others, was asked to act as pall
bearer. He wrote in reply to the invitation
that be would Iccl honored to accept, and at
the time set, lie rode over from Cohasset by
a fast train. That is where he made a mis
fake. If he had read the wisdom of the
great scholar and railway savant, Bobert J.
Burdette, he would have known that the
man who is in a hurry should take the slow
train. The Cannon Ball train is generally
three hours late and the Plying Dutchman
is frequently abandoned, but the Jerkwater
Mixed train is reported on time.
So Mr. Bobson was a little late and the
enormous audience thronged the aisles and
extended even outside of Paine. Hall so that
he could not get in at alL Colsnel Inger-
f'&r-
soll was delivering his tribute to the dead.
But Mr. Bobson could not get in. He
stated to those on the outskirts of the crowd
that he was "one of the pall bearers and
must get iu."
"Oh, look at the pall bearer," remarked
the crowd. "Isn't he & pretty pall bearer?"
queried those who could not get in them
selves, as they bored holes in Mr. Bobson
ith their keen elbows. He tried once more
to make it understood that he was one of the
pall bearers, but his voice split up the back
and a loud round of mirth was the imme
diate reply. t
"Afterward," said Mr. Eobson, "I
learned that several others had tried to get
in before I arrived, on the ground that they
were pallbearers, and so the crowd was
ready for me. By that time, if I had known
that by giving my name I would have been
carried in on a bed of roses, I conld not have
done it I went away, and as I did, so I
heard a man sajr: "He is, indeed, a healthy
looking pallbearer, is he not? Ho is prob
ably someone who lives here in Boston, and
has made a bet that he would get in and
hear the address. Or perhaps, he is a man
who furnishes gloom lor lunerals. He
looks like it Did you notice his sad face?"
Mr. Bobins then came away, and, taking
,n slow train for Cohasset, was very soon
home.
A WAKJI -WELCOME HOME.
Probably since the days of Damon and
Pythias there has rarely been such deep de
votion and affection between two men as
that which existed between Bobson and
Charlie Thorne. Evervthing about the
place brings back to "Bob"' the memory of
his old friend, especially the welcome that
Thorne always had for him when he got
home. Thorne was always there first, con
cealed behind a big tree near the door.
When the proper moment came he would
spring forth like a Culinary Boman, with a
breast plate mode of tin pie plates, a helmet
consisting of a tin milk pail with the bail
'IK
High Jints Among ihe Iragedians.
under his chin, armed with a rolling pin
and shielding himself from attack by means
of a bright, tin dish pan, he would burst
forth, and after a Shakesperean howl of
welcome, he. would suddenly cast away his
armor and execute a breakdown on the
green.
It would seem from this that actors are
not only susceptbile to enjoyment of a
harmless nature, but that they actually have
affection for each other sometimes which
would do credit to the higher order of human
beings.
Atone time Bobson was playing the Grave
Digger and Mr. Forrest Hamlet. "When
they came to the burial, he noticed that the
priest spoke rather thickly and his feet
were balanced doubtfully on the edge of the
grave He seemed to be a little mixed as
to whether it was Ophelia's grave or a
drunkard's grave. If it were the latter, he
seemed to have serious notions of filling it
himself.
Mr. Forrest noticed it As well as I can
recall the words, thev were about as follows:
Priest Her obshekies have been sho far
n'large ez we have warrantish
Forrest (in a low growl) Most idiotic,
intoxicated and unprofitable assl Speaking
pious words in the most impressive scene
ever written or portrayed, you sir, balance
yourself unon the verge of a property grave
and with the foul odor ot rum about your
garb, with eyes like the dead, yet eloquent
codfish, you, sirrah, essay to pronounce the
obsequies of the fair Ophelia! Pah I
A EOCKT ACTOB.
Priest Her death was doubtful and but
th' great. Command o'ershwayd th'order,
she should in ground unshanctified here
lodge till astrump ish played.
Forrest (in a suppressed Tumble like dis
tant thunder) Oh, villainous and most
pestiferous priestl Could I but get a hack
at thine own obsequies, how joylully would
I pronounce them. And thou, churlish
priest, seeking to support the noble Forrest,
when beshrew me, but thou canst not sup
port the giant jag thou hast concealed about
thee. Oat unon thee, thou maudlin shoe
maker, thou deep-voiced ass, with naught
to recommend thee but that cursed dignity
which is, and ever was, the devil's disin
fectant for a moss-grown mind.
Priest For sharitable prayers, shards,
flints and pebbles should be thrown at her,
Thome's Welcome to Jiobton.
vet here she's allowed her Virgin cranls,
her maiden strew-ments and the bringing
home of bell n'burial.
Laertes Must there no more bo done?
Priest U'niore be done. You bet "We
shonld profame sherviee of dead to sbing
requinm and shuch sings to her you know,
as to preach parted shocles (hie)."
Forrest (sotto voice) (also aside) Oh,
most successful and profound inebriate. Thy
work is done. The fair Ophelia can be the
recipient of no deeper indignity. Bogus and
most rocky priest Hell could not spare
thee if it knew thy worth. Ob, full orbed ass
with tallowy pate, ods pettikins that thou
shouldst spread the priestly vestments o'er
the mammoth jag and then come here to hie
and bray above the grave of fair Ophelia.
Begone, dull knave, I bid thee tarry not, for
at the postern thou wilt find thy quittance
and thy salary. In riper years when thou
dost almost have a thought, in some short,
lucid, bromide interval, remember what the
great and only Forrest told thee.
(Curtain.)
Bill Nye.
Sho Dad Seen
IlnTlnc Trouble With tko
Servants,
?LvV
Ij .l
--
Husband My dear, the howling of that
cat of ours is unbearable; I wish you would
try to get rid of her!
Wife (drowsily ) Her month n uponFrf
day, and I'll send her away without a char
JJ
acter 1 J-liCK.
LOYE ATMG'S HEAD.
A Spot on the Carolina Coast Where
Natnro AidsCnpiffto
FOOL FOND FLUTTERING HEARTS
As loath and Maiden Wander on tho Sands
in the Moonlight.
THE STORI OP A SHELL-COYERED GEATE
twr.rrrEX for the dispatch.:
About 40 miles above the dangerous reefs
of Cape Hatteras. where many a goodly
ship laden with its freight of valuable mer
chandise, and still more precious human
lives, has gone down forever to the bottom
of the treacherous sea, stands a large hotel
and numerous cottages on a strip of the
sandy beach with the usually placid waters
of the Albemarle on one side and those of
the more turbulent ocean on the other. The
land between the ocean and sound at this
point is in the shape of a horse's head, and
the place from the earliest times has been
called "Nag's Head." It is here that many
of the wealthy people of the Carolinas spend
their summer, und no more interesting or
picturesque summer resort ican be found
from Maine to Florida. A few miles from
"Nag's Head", on the sound side, can be
seen historic Boanoke Island, with its clus
ters of vine-covered forest and its bowers of
blooming wild roses.
Every part of this lovely isle of the South
has its legend or history, and, as we ramble
at eventide beneath the towering branches
of live oaks, listening to the sweet music of
singing birds and the hoarser murmur of the
ceaseless waters, bieathing the perfume of a
million flowers, watching the blood-red sun
dashing his fiery chariots toward the west
ern horizon while his slanting beams glisten
and dance along the foam-crested waves of
tl distant sea, we can but imagine Sir
Walter Baleigh's astonishment and delight
when he furled his storm-whitened sails and
set foot on its lovely virgin shore. It was
there Virginia Dare, the first child ' in
America, was born, and either the deepen
ing shadows of the murmuring pine trees or
the unreal rhythm of chiming waters still
hold the secret of
HER MYSTERIOUS FATE.
On the ocean side we look out, out, out,
and naught can be seen but tne mighty At
lantic. Its ponderous, white-capped waves
roar and rumble and break upon the golden
sands up and down as far as the eye can
see. Soaring alott, lazily, or darting with
the swiftness or the wind, white-winged sea
birds dip down in the briny deep for a
moment, then rise dripping'with the salt
sea's tears, and screaming over the silver
scaled prey their talons hold. And the
winds! 'Tis here they gambo' and frolic;
'tis here they moan and r shriek witt the
vengeance of myriad demons. Here the
gentlest health-giving zephyrs bring out the
roses on the pallid maiden's cheek in sum
mer, and toy with beauty's flowing curls as
tenderly as an enraptured lover. Here the
hoarse, wild sweep of the storm is felt in
winter rcshing, cutting, benumbing iu its
most awful fury. Here the sun shines
brightly along the vast expanse of the ever
pulsing sea, and here the full, round moon
sheas her silvery radiance iu showers of
sparkling, glittering diamonds over the
throbbing bosom of the rolling deep. ' Here
the clouds gather and deepen and spread
till they seem to touch the ocean as a mam
moth pall, while the roar of the thunder
detonates like exploding worlds, and the
flashing, twisting, burning lightning scars
and seams the very vault of heaven.
Youth and beauty ramble along the
stretches ot Bandy beach or bathe in the
chafing waters near the shore. Female love
liness and manly excellence promenade the
water-washed piers or congregate in reclin
ing chairs on the cool verandahs where the
tempered sea breezes blow. 'Tis here Cupid
wings his tender darts most accurately, and
many a lovely, blushing Southern maiden
has arrived heartwhole to depart in Septem
ber engaged to some gallant beau whom she
will follow to the altar and promise to "love,
honor and obey" ere the Christmas tide has
come. Ay, this is indeed
A PABADISE TOE LOVERS.
He who would not feel the soft influence
of a pretty woman's smile here would be safe
anywhere. Oh! the witchery of the music
wnere a flood of light is streaming and
merry feet are dancing to the strains of
gushing melody! Graceful forms recline on
cushioned divans and sofas 'neath chande
liers of oriental splendor, while hearts, warm
hearts, pulsate to kindred hearts! Or leave
the heated ballroom and go out with your
fascinating partner for a stroll along the
moonlit shore. The refreshing night wind
cools your brow, and you scarcely feel the
weight of the willowy form on your arm as
she floats along. You glance into the depths
of her dusky eyes and plainly mark the
curve of her rosy lips by the bright moon's
beam. On, on von go until the music dies in
the distance, the flashing lights pale from
the windows and all is silence save the beat
ing of your own hearts and the continual
sound of the sea. Before you retnrn, unless
your heart is made of steel, you have made
a fool of yourself throw n yourself at her
feet and vowed to be her slave forever!
While she, with thq witchery of a siren, bids
you rise, and either fills your cup of happi
ness to the brim or dashes it in a thousand
fragments over the phosphorescent sands.
In the morning many places of interest
can be visited the sand hills and the fresh
water ponds, or lakes, the groves of stunted
oak, and, further on, the pony penning!.
These ponies run wild over tho marshes and
are penned once a year, in August, by their
owners to be branded or sold to purchasers
who come from a distance to buy them.
When the branding is finished and all sales
have been made, the remaining ponies are
agam turned out to roam at will tor another
twelve-month. They constitute tho greater
part of the wealth of these hardy people
who live along this narrow strip of land
washed by the sea on one side and the sound
on the other.
WABJt FRIENDS. BITTEB ENEMIES.
And what a generous, hospitable people
they arel Though rough and uncultured
they extend the band of friendship tb the
stranger and open wide their door for his
entrance into tbeir humble homes. The
best their larder contains is set before him,
and when we icraember the luscious oyster,
the delightful wild lowl and the toothsome
fish that grace their plain tables, he would
be an epicure indeed who could not do
justice to the bountiful repast they spread.
Like the Indians, who centuries ago bathed
in the surf, fished and hunted, loved and
mated and lived and died along these banks,
they are strong in their friendships and last
ing in their dislikes. They know what it is
to- love and are unwavering in affection.
They know what it is to hate, and are un
forgmng in their enmities. Gain their
esteem and they will shield and protect
you incnr their ill-will and they will
hound you to the death. The maidens love
and wed and are as constant and true to the
objects of their choice as the most cultured
lady at the summer resort lower down the
beach. And their young men, while not as
polished as city gentlemen, are laithful to
the girls they marry. Indeed, they possess
characteristics that might in many instances
be copied to advantage by some members of
our polite society.
A SnELL-COVERED GRAVE,
Near one of the many cart roads running
through these sandy barrens is an old bury
ing ground. Hnge boulders', brought as bal
last for ships, mark some of the graves while
others have plain weather-beaten boards at
their head. One grave rather apart from
the others is particularly noticeable from
the large number of bright and curious sea
shells entirely covering it Why this one
should be so differently marked from the
others camps the innrjisitive mind to ftuner.
tain at the neighboring cottage. A venera- 41
ble gray haired woman responded to the
call and tells the poetical and touching
story of the young girl who lies entombed
beneath the glistening pile. From her story
is gathered that the maiden was the comeli
est lassie along the banks, and that she had
a lover of a wild and roving disposition
whom she loved with the utmost devotion,
and who ioved her as truly in return. But
her parents were unwilling for them to
marry unless he would give up bis
roving life. So ho promised her
after one' more " voyage to
quit going to sea and do as her parents
wished. With a trembling heart she bade
him god speed as his ship sailed away over
the treacherous deep. Much bad weather
prevailed after his departure, and the vessel
was some weeks longer returning than its
allotted time. The agomzea maiaen watched
every passing sail until the long delayed
one hove in sight She rushed to the pier
to meet her lover, and the sad news that he
had been lost in a storm at sea was told her
as gentlv as possible. The shock was so
great that she sank to the ground, and
when lifted therefrom life was extinct She
was buried in the old graveyard, and on
every anniversary of her death her com
panions, in a sad procession, go along the
seashore gathering the prettiest shells,
which they strew over her grave.
LOVE, STRONGER THAN LIFE.
Turning away as the narrator finished her
story, the thought presented itself that in
all the annals of the rich and great, no in
stance of undefiled true love could be found
to exceed in tragic sincerity that of the
faithful maiden reared among the simple
and unlettered denizens of the banks:
"Oh! ship, with tho dripping sail.
From across the foaming sea,
What news of a wanderer
Do thy wet wings bring to mo?
Has be sent true love to bis dear.
Or perchanco he's now with tbee.
Ok! ship with the dripping sailT"
"Oh! ship with the dripping sail.
Are those drops the salt sea's tears?
A symbol are they ot woe?
Ob! bow they wako my fears;
And thy broken spars? Iknow .
There's lack of news that cheers
Ob! ship with tho dripping sail."
"Ob! maidon" the good ship said
"'Tis true when I left yon shore
Thy lover was then with me.
And vowed he would rove no more
Over land nor yet over sea.
But would live for bis sweet Lcnore."
"Oh! ship, tell me not he's deadl"
"And maiden" the good ship said
"He was brave tbro' the storm king's
reign,
Tho' my gaffs and booms were gone
And my decks oft swept again,
He was arm, but just at aawn
By a falling spar was slain."
"Ob! ship!" and tbe maid was dead.
W. Cotten Downing.
A LUCEY THIRTEEN.
A Baker's Dozen of Children In Ono Family
Llvo to be Old.
Cblcajto Tribune. J
There are three old gentlemen visiting
Chicago who are quite remarkable in a way.
They are remarkable because of the family
of which they are members. This family
has made a record for longevity that has cer
tainly seldom had a parallel. These old
gentlemen their names are James, William
and David Swett are three of a family of
thirteen, all sons and daughters of Benjamin
Swett and his wife. This good couple came
from Wellfleet, Cape Cod, emigrating to
Hampden, Me., in 1790. There were 13
children born within a period of 19 years.
Ten of these "children" are nowalive, their
ages ranging from 87 to 71 years. The
second oldest is Mrs. Emily H. Mayo of
this city.
In 1872 this family of 13 sat down to din
ner together in the old house where all of
them were born. Exactly one j ear to an
hour from the date of that dinner at which
13 covers were laid they were called to the
funeral of one of the brothers, who died at
the age of 69 years. The other two deaths
which have taken place were those of a sister
and a brother, one dying aged 88, the other
70 years.
"What is the secret of this astonishing
record?" was asked of the brothers yester
day. "O, there has been no mysterious elixir of
life, they said. "Just plain, old fashioned
ways ot living. We have lived quiet
lives, nearly all staving near the old home
stead." "Have you followed any special rules
to which yuu can attribute your perfect
health?"
"There has been but one of the 13 who
knew the taste of rum or tobacco."
"I followed the sea for 30 years," said
David, "but even then I never learned how
to smoke."
"I took a pledge the day I was 21," said
James. "That was just 60 years ago. I
Haven't tasted a drop of liquor since that
time."
"Are you ever sick?"
"Never. I haven't taken any medicine
stronger than the juice of a lemon since I
can remember."
"How were your family divided on poli
tics?" "Twelve Bepublicans and one Demo
crat" The visitors are surprised and delighted
with Chicago. Great as they had expected
to find the. city, they say.'they were still
unprepared for what they have seen.
Of course you are all in favor of Chicago
for the World's Exposition?" was nsked.
"We surely will say nothing'else while
we are here," was the discreet reply.
ETEEITHISG WRONG END FIRST.
Carious Chinese Practice! That Are Just tho
Opposite of Oar Own.
An old writer in speaking of China says
that it is a country "where roses have no
scent and he women no petticoats; where
the laborer has no Sabbath day of rest and
the magistrate no sense of honor; where the
roads nave no carriages and the ships no
keels; where the needle of the compass
points to the south and the place of honor is
on the left-hand side and the seat of intel
lect is supposed to lie in the stomach; where
it is rude to take ofl your hat and to wear
white clothes is to go into mourning."
With all the peculiarities mentioned one
does not feel surprised at finding a litera
ture without an alphabet, a language with
out a grammar. In China they mount a
horse upon the right side instead pf the left;
the old men play marbles and fly kites,
while the children look gravely on; they
shake hands with themselves instead of
with each other, and what we call the sur
name is written first, and the other name
afterward; they whiten their shoes instead
of blacking them; a coffin is considered a
very acceptable present to a parent in good
health; in the north they sail and pull their
wheelbarrows instead of pushing them, and
all Chinese candlesticks are made to fit into
the candle instead of the candle fitting into
the stick. Last, but not least, it is nothing
uncommon for a man to court two or more
young women at the same time.
Expressive French.
Bristow (to his guide) Well, good-by,
Sontereau. We've had a rough time nr ;t
but we've killed some salmon.
Sontereau (contemptuously and Interro?a-tively)-Ouii?
Puck. s
1
CLEH i i W " H 31 --
CLARA BELLE'S CHAT.
Lengthy Visiting Lists of Acknowl
edged Society Leaders
HOLDING RECEPTIONS IN. JAIL.
A New York" Woman With Oriental Ideas
of Magnificence
TEACHING OUR GIRLS TO SHAKE HANDS
LCOBBESrOJfDEJfCB OF THE DISPATCH.!
New York, September 21.
ADAM VANAS
TORBILT is en
gaged in revising her
visiting list. She has
not yet returned to
town, but will be
here by the 1st of Oc
tober, and then itwill
be necessary to send
out her cards for the
winter season. As
she is a high poten
tate in society, it can
be understood that
her recognition o r
, disregard means a
great deal to those
who desire to be
counted in, but who
have anv reason to
fear that they may b! counted out. Madam
Yanastorbilt comprehends fully the import
ance of her work of annual revision of her
list ot acquaintances. All sorts of consid
erations must be measured for or against
the candidates for her favor. She will prob
ably send out something like a thousand
cards, each bearing her name and the days
she will be "at home." Mrs. William
Astor has 1,100 names in her visiting book,
and the rumor is that she will now increase
the number to 1, 200. No other of our ac
knowledged matrons keeps so long a roster,
those of the other Astor ladies, as well as
those of the Vanderbilts, ranging from
1,000 down to as few as 00.
To a great majority of these "recognized"
persons the honor comes as a matter of
course, but there is in each list a minority
of names belonging to families who are
barely more than "in society," according to
boundaries arbitrarily fixed. In the card
baske t of those households you may look
confidently to see the cards of the Astors,
the Vanderbilts and other magnates always
lying conspicuously 6n top of all the other
bits of cardboard. The season of formal
calls will begin just as soon as the swells re
turn to their town residences, and from that
time until the Holidays no toilets, not even
those worn at balls and the opera, will be
finer in their way than the costumes worn
in making the round of visits.
A' CURIOUS YI3ITI2TG CABD.
A visiting card which was given to me
the other day, and which I shall keep as a
curiosity, bears the neatlv engraved words:
"Tennie C. Clafiin, Ludlow Street Jail.
Every Afternoon in December." Copies of
this card were sent, abont 15 years ago, to
most of the brokers of Wall street to a
nnmbcr of leading Spiritualists, and to a
few fashionable families. Tennie C. Clafiin
and her sister, Victoria Woodhnll, had
then exploited themselves in a way to send
them temporarily to prison, and it was to
emphasize her disdain of bolts and bars
that Tennie, the pretty one of the audacious
sisters, sent these cards to her acquaint
ances. The one which has come into my hands
was the card sent to the late Commodore
Vanderbilt, who had befriended the 'Wall
street firm of Woodhull Ss Clafiin in their
stock operations, and, as he subsequently
testified in court, had consulted them with
considerable laitb as spiritualistiomediums.
The Commodore lived then in Waverly
Place, and had lately taken a second wife
an estimable lady of fine culture and
sincere religion. The card came when the
aged Commodore was at home, and although
it was impudently addressed to Mrs. Van
derbilt, it was delivered into his hands. A
small poker party was in progress, for
Vanderbilt did not abolish his favorite
game of chance when his pious bride came
into the household. The card was passed
around, humorously commented on, and
then handed to Mrs. Vanderbilt, who threw
it aside somewhat contemptuously. One of
the poker playing guests thereupon asked
for it, and she declared that he would do
her a favor by taking It away.
A DISMAL RECEPTION ROOM.
I will take the reader along for a call
which I actually made on a New York
woman of social prominence. A pretty maid
opened the door, showed me into a drawing
room that was as melancholy in its gloom
asJuliet's tomb, and after an absence of
40 minutes, that filled my thoughts with
the dismal grandeur of the place, returned
with Madam's compliments and a desire
to see me in her room. I followed the
almond-cheeked maiden, falling rather than
walking upstairs in order to avoid the grim
ugliness ot the harpies, furies, dragons and
genii pictured along the wall. Erom the
niches in the upper hallway the fragrance
of burning joss sticks sweetened the air, and
on console brackets were carelessly placed
a scent bottle, a fan, photographs of famous
men and women, and an enameled hand
glass for a passing glance.
Wo passed through the dimly lighted
boudoir, with its canopied divan and soft
hangings of mandarin silk, and into a
chamber sumptuous enough in its appoint
ments for a queen. Ihe alternoon was
scarcely half gone, but the curtains were
drawn about the windows, and a burning
lamp of garnet and carved bronze, and a'
chancel lantern, that hung in n corner just
above a Moorish screen, threw from tneir
crystals of amethyst, ruby and carbuncle
those glorious colors that fancy paints about
the heads of hallowed saints.
IN BEAUTY'S BOWER.
In a brass-bound bedstead, with a canopy
of old pink, fringed with silver, lay
Madam, the most captivating creature I
had ever seen in my lite, either in a ball
room, proscenium b'ox or amphitheater. She
wore a night frock ot fine white cambric,
cut decollete, with sleeves ot narrow fluted
lace that reached to her elbows without cov
ering them. Half way nboe her wrifts she
wore a pair of narrow gold bands and
two or three jeweled pins held .the
lace frills together in her filmy, dreamy
corsage. In one hand was a
handkerchief as delicate in the magic
of iti web as the one that ruined the Othello
family, and in the other was a shell fan of
matchless beanty. On the pillow support
ing her head was a smaller one filled with
balsam and orris powder, and the mingled
swcptnesshat came and went gave me the
sensation of momentary giddiness. It over
powered my'senses, made my brain reel, and
made me bite my lips to keep from swoon
ing away. In the other pillow was the 2
.o'clock mail containing perhaps 60 letters.
Over the counterpane was spread a white
quilt of Chinese silk finished with a border
of rich embroidery and trimmed on two sides
with deep knotted fringe. The drapery was
lovelv enough in texture and workmanship
for a belle or a bride. Madnm gave tome
her ft little hand in greeting, and bade me
bo seated in the chair beside her bed, but
ihe purpose of my visit was gone, and all I
could do was to sit and gaze enraptured and
enamored by this matchless queen of com
merce. THE ASX 07 HANDSHAKING.
I lately heard it said of a pretty hut
affected girl that she "shook hands badly;"
and I was much amused by this recognition
of hand-shaking as an art to excel or fail
in. Most ot us are quickly impressed
favorably or the reverse by a person's
manner of performing this salutation, but
instead of being criticised or commented
on, It seems generally to be tacitly accepted
as a thing which. like personal .appearance.
is beyond our own control. If the band
clasp were truly feuch an indication of char
acter as at first sight, or rather touch, it
seems to be, it would bs a pity, I think, to
apply schooling to it, and thus add one
more to the insincerities of life. It is quite
probable, however, that in nine cases ont of
ten the inference we draw from it may be
totally wrong. Tbe limp, flabby grasp
which suggests cold indifference and apa
thetic temperament may be due in reality to
physical weakness and a shrinking state of
the nervous system, while the stiff, formal
touch that clearly expresses pride andun
genial .reserve may be simply the resnlt of
shyness and awkward manners; and many a
girl may do hertelf injustice in this respect
quite unknown to her nearest and dearest,
who would correct the failing were they
aware of it Her mother and sisters, her
"cousins and her aunts," give her the kiss
and embrace of love and Intimacy; even if
THEY SHAKE HER HANS
there is no constraint in the touch, and as
they proudly survey her pretty face and
figure thev little Imagine tha't she has
marred the effect of these charms by her
disagreeable greeting, and is being described
as "a languid, inanimate creature" or "a
mass of affectation." On the other hand,
many of us kuow by sad experience that
the iron pressure which leaves our fingers
crushed and tingling is no certain proof of
correspondingly tenacious character, and
that tbe giver of it, far from being tbe
truest of friends or most loyal of lovers, as
his close and lingering grasp bespeaks him,
may prove, after all, but & base and
treacherous weakling, easy to be swayed by
adverse influence, and ready to fall away
from faith and troth at the first breath of
misunderstanding. Some day, perhaps, a
new development of palmistry may teach
us to draw accurate deductions as to char
acter from a hand shake. Meanwhile, I
pin my faith to the quiet, earnest grip
which is alike free from exaggerated warmth
and chilly indifference. It is for the pur
pose of teaching girls to take jnst tbe
rightly tight and the politely quiet grip of
greeting that, in a certain select school, a
teacher shakes hands with all the pupils
every Thursday. She criticises or com
mends each hand clasp. Thus carefully are
some of us being educated.
A JAPANESE DOWET.
Somebody told me that a Japanese bride
had sailed into port with her American hus
band, on a ship which was her own prop
erty, and that the cargo; as well as tbe craft,
was an endowment gift from her father.
That seemed intensely interesting, and I
transtormed myselt into a reporter lor tbe
purpose of learning the facts. I suppose
that the general public has no Idea of the
amount of wort done by newsgatherers in
chasing the rainbows of sensation. I got
an idea of it when I came down to the truth
in this case. There was a bride named Kai
Kan, and she was "as Japanese as any
picture of a fan," to use the descriptive lan
guage ot the Captain on the Monmouth
shire, on board which she had made the
voyage across the ocean. But she did not
own that big steamer, normore than a small
portion of its Oriental lading.
She had married the Ilev. Bobert A.
Greenman at Hong Kong. He had con
verted ner to Christianity before accompa
nying her into matrimony. Her father was
a rich merchant, and he bad made a bridal
present to her of a consignment of fans,
boxes and other Japanese knick-knacks.
These goods have been transferred to a store
house, and will probably be turned into
about $5,000. That sum 'is a dwindled one
as contrasted with the whole ship and cargo
of the original story, but it is a small for
tune to a poor missionary clergyman. Mr.
Greenman's old home is near Atlanta, Ga.,
and he has taken his bride there for a
honeymoon visit, after which be will re
turn to Japan. Clara Belle.
POLLI AND THE HEN.
How tbe Parrot Blade nn Eicnpo From an
Angry Chicken.
Youth's Companion. 2
Our next neighbor writes a correspondent
owned an amusing parrot which was always
getting into mischief, but usually got out
again without much trouble to herself.
When she had done anything for which she
Knew she ought to be punished, she would
hold her head to one side, and eyeing her
mistress, protest in sing-song tone, "Folly
is a good girl," until she saw her mistress
smile; then she would flap her wings and
cry out in exultation, "Hurrah! Polly is a
good girll"
She was allowed to go free, and usually
took her exercise in the garden, where she
promenaded back and forth on the walks,
sunning herself, and warning off all intru
ders. One morning a hen strayed out of the
chicken yard," and was quietly picking up
its breakfast, when Pollmarched up to her,
and called out "Shool" in her shrill voice,
emphasizing the command with a smart
pick of her sharp beak on tbe rhicken's
head. The poor hen retreated to her own
quarters, running as fast as she conld, fol
lowed by Poll, who screamed "Shoo!" at
evtry step.
Tb'e hen had her revenge a few days later,
when Poll extended her morning wait into
the chicken-yard. Here, with her usual
curiosity, she went peering into every cor
ner, till she came to the old hen upon her
nest. The hen made a dive for Poll's yellow
head, but missed it Poll, thinking discre
tion the better part of valor, turned to run,
the hen, with her wings wide-spread, follow
ing olose after.
As she ran, Poll screamed in her shrillest
tones, "O Lord! O Lord!"
A member of tbe family who had wit
nessed the whole performance, thought it
time to interfere in Poll's behalf, as the
angry hen was gaining on her. He ran out
and stooping down held out his hand. Poll
lost no time in traveling up to his shoulder.
Then, from her high vantage-ground, she
turned her head to one side, and looking
down on her foe, screamed, "Hello, there!
shoo!"
The frightened hen acknowledged defeat
by returning to her nest as rapidly as she
had come.
Temporary VIcor.
Mr. Roper (the agent) Allow me to con
gratulate you, sir. Our examining physi
cian reports you as a first-class risk, and we
shall be glad to Insure you for 550,000.
Pucfc.
Mr. Doubledopp (ont on the. street) Br
ginger, that was a close shavel I had all I
could do to keep the effects of that elixir in
liPlliTP1-
' ' tv jOM jTJ 'T
uu J. coma gpt awsy xioza tne om.ee. nt.
THREE ROYAL WOMEN
lonng Emperor William's Experi
ences With a Trio of Empresses.
THE OLD KAISER ASD HIS WIFI.
How the Empress Frederick Offended tbe
, German Nation.
A DOMESTIC AND EEL1G10US EME&ES3
iwnrrror toe thz DtsriTcn.l
With three Empresses on his hands the
young Napoleon of Germany has had rather
a hard time, but It has been good discipline
for him, nnd he is sow showing Europe that
he intends to rule in truly royal style. It
is singular that whenever the rulers of a
country govern with absolute power the
people remain, with a few anarchistic ex
ceptions, faithful to the crown, but when
ever the iron hand relaxes and the splendor
of royalty is not kept up, the people get
dissatisfied and murmurs for republican
government begin.
I have really fallen in love with this
young eagle, so young and spirited, and
with an expression of power and stern com
mand. He does not intend to. settle down
into the old fogyism and pig forming of
modern royalty almost every day marks
some return to ancient splendor, not, it is
true, in the poetic silver swan style ot the
artistic and ill-fated ,King of Bavaria, bat
rugged soldier-like feeling for pomp and
gorgeousness not Greek but Boman.
Boman in its pride. Boman tin its
opulence. Boman in its grand magnifi
cence. A few years ago he was only grandson of
the Kaiser and his ambition only burnt
itself ont In his dreams and wasted him so
that at one time it was thought he would
go into a decline. A bright hectic glow
bnrned on his cheek, his eye blazed under
his helmet, and he could scarcely coneeal
his impatience when obliged to obey orders,
or when he bad to sit still and see his father
or grandfather execute a move which his
boyish despotic feeling conld not ap
prove of.
The Empress of the old Kaiser William
was a very sweet and lovely old lady.
I saw her once walking on- the arm
of her husband "unter den Linden"
scarcely attended and .looked upon
by the people with a familiar loyal enthu
siasm, such as is found only in Germany.
She had a very sweet smile and a peculiar
bob of a bow in return for the salutations of
her people. A peculiarly dowdy conple
they made, for Emperor William seemed
old and broken in ordinary clothes. But
what a change when on horseback? Then
his whole figure seemed to. straighten, his -eye
to flash with rekindling fire. In uni
form he was superb.
THE E2ITEES3 TBEDKBICK.
The Empress Frederick, as she is called,
I only saw after her bereavement when,
with her three ugly daughters, she visited
her mother she was very fond of shopping,
and almost any day might have been seen
making tbe tour ot the more exclusive pri
vate shops in Bond street, using one oi the
plain royal carriages without arms or liveries
so that few recognized her. One feature of
her mourning was very striking and has be
gun to be copied extensively among the up
per circle of English aristocracy, another
vearit will be fashionable in all London
and in abont two years will get over here.
It is tbe peculiar Bhape of ner "widow's
cap," which was fitted close to the head all
over and had a long point in front which
reached nearly to the middle of the forehead
and lay flat down to it Several parallel folds
of crape formed the border and from the
back fell a heavy veil ot crape to the
ground. This was very effective. Ha the
house she let it hang straight down, but
when she left the room or was about to dis
miss a visitor she would gather the. veil
about her till she was completely enveloped
in its folds, which gave a most majestic ap
pearance to a very homely, common-place
woman, for she closely resembles her
mother. The three girls all wore the same
cap , only with shorter veils, and when the
mother and daughters were all together
they looked like the weeping pig-maidens
of a fairy tale.
She is most unpopular in Prussia, where
her husband was worshiped, but she made
the fatal mistake of trying to meddle in pol
itics, which in a woman the Germans detest
above all things, and in one of less exalted
position such an experiment is often followed
by an armed escort to the boundaries of the
kingdom or a timely intimation to the of
fender's husband that he should keep his
wife more in the nursery or send her to a
cooking school.
The young Emperor does; not love his
mother very warmly, recent effusive tele
grams to the contrary an accident hap
pened at bis birth caused by her ignorance
and false modesty, and he has never for
given her, but then if he had had any other
mother he might not have been born an Em
peror. It is never safe to question fate.
A BAD MISTAKE.
But her worst crime in the eyes of the Ger
man nation was Her disregard of popular
feeling and tradition when two years ago her
mother passed through Germany. There
has been preserved in the palace a room
dedicated to the memory of Louise of Prus
sia. She was looked Upon by the people as a
saint. The holiest thing in German history.
True Germans knelt in reverence when they
entered the chamber. Everything in it was
just as the holy Louise had left it Queen
Victoria came for a single night There
were plenty of other guest chambers in the
palace, but some madness impelled the wife
of Frederick to desecrate the hallowed room
and she had it newly upholstered for her
mother's visit A cry of horror rang through
all Germany and she was hissed in her car
riage. It made her the object of the deepest
hatred, and she has never recovered her
position.
Her son inherits much of his obstinacy
and love of power from his mother, only she
has never had a chance to exercise it and it
boils within her and sours her expression.
As a child she was snnbbed by her mother,
during her long married life she was con
trolled by the firm mildness of her husband
and jnst as' she had really reached the
throne, death placed her son in power ana
s le had to humble herself once more.
Her mother used to treat her childish asser
tion with the usual mild "I never did that
when I was a little girl." "Yes, but you
were not born Princess Boyal of Great
Britain," she would reply.
There was one point in which Victoria
was inflexible the treatment of the vener
able John Brown. On one occasion the
Princess Boyal left the room without bid
ding him good night Beproved for it, she
said brusquely "Good night, Brown."
Victoria insisted gently "Mr. Brown, my
daughter," again tbe pouty child flounced
out of the room with "Good night, Brown."
The Queen sent a servant after her. "Now
if you don't say when you come down,
'good morning, Mr. Brown' properly you
shall be sent straight to bed after break
fast" the next morning fonnd the girl as
stubborn as ever and on entering she. said,
"Good morning, Brown, good sight, Brown,
I'm going to bed."
THE BEIGNING EMPEES3.
The present Empress is very dowdy look
ing and her mother-in-law has always tried
in every way to make her feel uncomfort
able. She had not much influence over her
husband and devoted herself entirely to her
five sons in fact she looks and acts like the
typical German nurse.
Of
f late, however, a conmlete change has
come over her, and she is gaining great in
fluence over the Emperor, who spends sev
eral hours a dayin writing to her, and she
is even changing in personal appearance.
She is very religions. The superstition
of the oak coffin that most be always ready
In the house of Jhe Hapsbnrgs is carried
out. also, in the roval home of Rotmot. Tt
.Am .' i ' .- 4. -.
is to e ! d
rests, with a ciihsr ftwttare tssw i
steel and a two raer&c, tint the
press often retire far saeditattM s4 )yr.1
Although' tbe iKes Juidsrtdi has m
more power than a Connies a4 k alsMft
an .Til. '.mm)iiJ .u.1 W. . 3lJC
in her son's domiakms, sbe fc wealth
enough to keep up a oartot br ewa did
she desire it But she does set Mv la
much state, as she lafeerite the pamiaeay of
her, mother, to when the Mt allewsja
aw,!) a year for mere soendiBg sosev ji
asa ww spends pernspg ?OU,W or TW,wm,
An old Duchess reeeatly kft the JmwewV
FrederteiC In a freakish war -witfc-MiiyTS
waoge wiiui iions an estate ot onormoaag
value, yielding at presest afceot 90,M8!
jmiij imxttue. jLnen tne tr9
sent allows feer 1300,000 a year, i as eta
tag her life as Crown Priaeese riwsMerrj
sBeataav ether liberal al1awuuu tjam.iLaT
British Government she has a corofaMy la-j
vested fortune of ooloesal properMims.Ber
With saea beardiBgs as these of the popple's J
money, inuy grams tor royai eeiMrea sees
absurd. Olttb Wanes.!
EYEEIOIfl IAS A BOBBIVJ
Some of the Feeottar Biventeaa of FmSJ
ant Men.
irszFABSD res tsz imrjeees.z
Joe jEFFxnsov k an artist -
Edwis Booth fa aa,efcBsaie whist
tu
player.
Billy Fixjbksce is a Stkermaa.
chief hobby, though, seess to be '
joKing.
Osoab S. Straus, ex-MialtrtSl
Key, mates a hot) by of colleetiag aa stMy-
ujg uuu&a on -ajaerican metery. ? ;";
Geoege Bascboft, the hiteiaa, kt
passionately foad of roses, aad has seae ofl
tne aaest specimens la the ooaatry.
Bobbbt Bosses devotes all his tiajej
and attention to his horses. His mania is
to own tbe fastest horse oa the trottiasj
fcUfi.,
GbokgeW. Cheods the PhiladelphSl
journalist aad philanthropist, k foad? of 4
collecting aatbers' saanaseript, ehina -aad
Bric-s-brac.
WlLIJAai KOCKBFELLEE is as admirer V .
of fast" horses. He owm a tbee-querter
mile track at whioh he treats Ue kht&aio
races between his owa herees. .XT '
Coopeb Hewitt, ses of ex-Xayer,
Hewitt, has one of we beet
musical instruments ia Amoriea.aA '.
now w play on nearly ail of tM
Johk S. Bockepeixbk's hobbles!
churches aad charities.and he devoioa alt '.
spare time to farthering the iaterosW 1
Methodist Church, He is ake-
borsan. "Ks
Henet VlLLABD, the railroad
is passionately fond of mask. Be k a1
performer on the vwliaoelk. aaeT'
ongbly posted oa all the deisga .iatbe
operatic world. , . gfcy $
BrssELL Sage is as eBthnskigefAesa
player. After solving the prelew'ofi'tfi
bulls and bears, aad puts and calk oa "W"irT.
street, he goes heme to solve Tmhlnm'rtToat,
the chess board. ISbs
Mas. Harbison k a very good palate?.
Nearly all the pletnres iu the HarriseaF
homestead were painted by her, aad SaHylS;
of them are really works of art The Prerf-if
dent takes a great deal of istereet la' hus
wife's work. " .
Jesse Seugxax devotes all hk spare 1
time and attention to the Hebrew Orphaa
Asylum, Improving that institetka aad'do-t
ing what he can to add o the com fort of the
children who live there. Thk seems to he
a perfect, hobby with him. . ;'
Geoege Gould is a philateiktl Ha -
"Mmi
EjSWNLw
fHB
eftkeTH
1 ' yiiPiJW8
vssaBs
KifcHj!B
Wii,J"1'
has one of the finest collections of foreign yi
stamps in the world and devotes a" great 3
deal of his apare time ia arraagiarifcea
aaa shokibk mem ib usssh nnninimigiiu
their oiasaiii cation. Aaeester kUrU
KTi - .cri
UttiTrmrTimfl nf Xtr11 Ama IujT
nt nlit TninTifrTnt Ttaat ,aj va ICrVh ?
in the country. He attends all the sake aad
frnnftnllv MnrLt Ansatnfuinn in tbAta
sales that take place in Europe, aad' k oear ' .
W. E. Kimball, the great tobaeeeakV
of Bochester, has the finest collecikafef
orchids in the country. He has spent fabu
lous sums of money to hay some oflthe
rarest of these queer plants, that eald,,be
found. He devotes a great deal of his time
in studying and watehing their growth
Heskt Clews, or Wall street famede
TOtes all his spare time and attention 'to his
house. Ton can take his atteatka" away
from his business if yoa begin to talk about
his 'house, aad he is perfectly delighted
when anybody- requests to be taken over the
building. His bathroom is of solid onyx
and cost 550.060. ,,,.
Johx WA2TAKAXEB, the Postmaster
General, has been a ibasy man all hk life.
His only hobby is the Sunday school whiea
is connected with Bethany church in Phila
delphia. He is so wrapped up ia the success
of this Sunday school that ha is frequently
caught neglecting' his business to discuss
Sunday school matters. ,
Charles A. Dana finds recreation
among the flowers. His Sewers have taken
prizes at the flower shows in thkvieiaity
for a number of years and always feraeae
of the most attractive exhibits at the shew.
He is especially fond of chrisaathemams
and has thousands of varieties ot these curi
ous plants in hk garden. ',
Jay Gould's hobby during hk lifetime
seems to have been collecting dollars; but ia
addition to this very interesting collection,
which now numbers several millions', 'he is
very fond of flowers. He has, perhaps, tho
finest conservatory in the country, and he
works among his flowers and rare plants in
this conservatory just as hk gardener
would.
PBESlDENT.HABSlsoir k very fond of
bric-a-brac In his house in Indianapolis
he has a very rare collection, among which
are some very. valuable Greek and Boman
coins. He also keeps a scrap-book in which
he has a copy of all the 3peccb.ea.he has ever
made. This scrap-book was Tery useful
when General Lew Wallace was compiling
his autobiography. ' -
"William Waldorf Astob, who jit
heir-presumptive to about ?200,000,000, k"
very model young man for a millionaire &fe
son. He ps a good business man, and hasjvm.
no particular hobby. He is moderately - W
fond of horses and Yachting, and is a good
fencer and boxer. He is a man of strong -literary
and artistic tastes, and if he had
not been a millionaire's son he would prob
ably have beea aa artist
A FIERCE OLD FIGHTEB.
The Last Hoars of a Han Who Fonjht aa
Apache far an Hoar.
Governor Ross received a telegram Friday
from Waco, hk home, stating that his
father. Captain S. Boss, who has been ill for
some time, was not ernwtpd to live. Cap-
tain Boss is a noted Indian fighter, and hk s
Dames with tbe r6d mpn in Texas are u
matter of htstnrv-.
7trn n.tntnin I?au wIia in A hAnd-f6
hand fight with' Iron Jacket the notedS
Apache chief, killed him after a eone
lasting nearly an nomr. Tbe hgni hw- y-
.. l.- xrri.t.i. a, iota .."
uu we if icuira ia iae year iw
f Tke Clerk Had the J?rs.
Jndie.t v
At tnn nlfuu nt ihn season. -.
Hotel maB Where are yon going ferhe,.
winter. Jamea? - ' . ''Afc-i
Head ekrk-Oh. I think X'U speadjthaj
wiHter at use jaesasu . ;-ij
Hotel mea Well, here's yoar p salary,
for the last week. Er eaa yea let me hare
.38 oeati m k steat&sf
(m
.A . v
.,
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