10
THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, StJNDAY, APRIL 13, 1890.
i.
f
&
i
what I suffer to-day!" he exclaimed,grinding
his teeth.
The soldier brought light Soon after the
head of bureau No. 71 entered also.
"You have excellent subordinates,"
scolded Scbelm, Tery loudly. "At 9 o'clock
they have not come back from dinner I
shall remove your name from the list of
those who are to receive special rewards,
and Popoff you will instantly dismiss."
The official tried to excuse himself, and to
defend his subordinate, but Schelm did not
allow him to speak, and said: "I will hear
nothing more! And now get awayl"
The fire soon danced merrily in the grate,
the lamp illuminated the room brilliantly,
and yet Schelm was in a verv bad humor
and lound it impossible to work.
"I can't do it," he said at last. What if
I did as Miller does? If I were to go to the
lawver's supper! I have had no dinner
yet!"
He rang the bell. .
"Get mc a droschka at once," he said to
the soldier. ''This room is too cold to work
in.
The Restaurant Dusan was brilliantly
lighted and illuminated the whole street lor
some distance. The lawyers rented the
principal hall for their annual suppers.
Servants were seen hurrying to and fro with
dishes and plates, bottles and glasses. Some
40 men had taken seats at the long table and
carried on a lively and loud conversation.
Several chairs were still vacant Miller
had taken a seat next to Vladimir Lanin.
The supper was just beginning when
Schelm entered and cast a side glance at
the assembly, who looked at him with as
tonishment His insignificent figure con
trasted with the luxurious furniture and the
elegant company. The younger and more
fashionable members cast one look at him
and then turned away with a contemptuous
smile, not troubling themselves any more
about him. Schelm soon became aware that
he knew no one in the assembly, and took
one of the unoccupied chairs without looking
around.
Miller was engaged in earnest conversa
tion with his neighbor at table, and did not
become aware oi Schclm's presence till the
latter took his seat rather noisily. Then
both looked at each other and started.
"You have remembered after all that you
studied law?" Miller asked.
"And you have managed to collect the
necessary means."
"As you see," continued Miller. "I have
found assistance elsewhere alter my school
mate and friend of my youth had reused
me. But no offense. To-day we'll eat and
drink and leave care ouUide. Lanin, hand
me a bottle of champagne!
Schelm trembled. "How did you call
Tour neighbor?"
"He is the one who has lent me money."
"Thit is not the question. Tell me his
name."
"Vladimir Lanin."
"Are you intimate friends?"
"He is my last friend and patron."
In a still lower tone oi voice Schelm con
tinued: "I behaved foolishly when I treated you
badly a while ago, especially when I said
you could not do anything to serve me. On
the contrary, I find we can be verv useful to
each other. You said you were willing to
do anything, provided you were well paid.
Dear Miller, I want you to-day and vou
can earn one, perhaps even two, thousand
rubles lor nothing," he added, with a press
ure of his hand.
Bnt Miller withdrew his hand.
"I said that under pressure when cold
and hunger drove me to despair. Now I
am sitting in a warm, well-lighted hall, at a
richly served table. Before I enter upon
vour conditions I must know what they
are."
"Come next Friday to the Ministry of the
Interior; there we can confer better with each
other." Schelm was thinking to himself
that by Friday his friend would be penniless
again and reallv tu do anything.
"Well!" replied Miller. "But how can I
get at you? There are so many officials in
the Ministry."
"Send your name up to the Head of the
Division ol Political Affairs."
"What! are you employed under so great
a man?"
"I am the head of division mvself."
"What, the devil!" cried Miller. "That
is another matter. I shall be there on Fri
day, certainly.
iow be so cind as to introduce me to
your friend."
"Very well," said Miller, and lightly
touched his neighbor. Lanin turned
around.
"Vladimir, M. Onuphri Schelm wishes to
be presented to you."
"I know you very well, Count," said
Schelm, with his most obliging smile. "I
remember our school days very well. "We
were school mates lor some time, and to-day
I received the polite invitation to vour wed
ding. Ah! Count Vladimirl Yon young
people are ready to laugh at us eld people,
bookworms or office rats, as we are. Fortu
nately, I cannot be angry with anybody.
You must have had some'work, writing the
whole long address I take it for granted it
was your handwriting."
Lanin blushed and could hardly stammer
a lew words.
"I beg your pardon, sir. I confess the
jest was out of place."
"Oh, I ask for no excuse. I am notangry.
It isall right I remember you very well;
Vladimir Lanin, that handsome, "clever,
witty young man! I was ngly and every
body ran away from me. and I am still the
same. Bnt that does not matter. I am
happy to renew our acquaintance. Let us
turn to the psst!"
"Really, Mr Schelm, I am ashamed."
"Oh, never mind! Let ns drink vour
health and tbat of your fair one!"
During the somewhat protracted supper
Lanin, Schelm and Miller chatted like three
excellent lriends. Vladimir repented again
and again that he had permitted Jana to
tempt him to commit such a grievous mis
take, especially now when he saw that ter
rible man, who made the old -counselor
tremble, in such good humor by his side.
At last all was over. The v took lea ve and
Schelm whispered into Miller's ear:
"Remember! On Friday!"
"Certainlyl" replied Miller.
CHAPTER IV.
After crossing a number of islands in the
Neva and as many bridges of almost every
possible shape and size some of iron and
beautiful, others bnilt of wood and noi too
secure you Teach, at last, the other bank of
the vasi river where you find yourself in
another world.
Low huts, half underground, wooden
stables and tumbledown fences are here re
flected in the waves of the Neva. Not a
trace here of streets or squares of sidewalks
or pavement; here the huts are huddled to
gether, there they stand like the squares ot
a chessboard and again they appear isolated
and alone. Smoke covers the whole place
ana you breathe it; the muddy soil looks
like asphalt. The city shows but one side,a
mem, wretched suburb, and in the opposite
direction stretch out as far as the eye can
reach the sad plains and dismal swamps of
Ingermannland.
There are the boundary lines ot the city
of Peter the Great; beyond these the town
seems to be unwilling to extend. No one
lives here who is not compelled to do so: the
city authorities seem actually to have for
gotten this part of the town and no land
owner or speculator has yet attempted to im
prove this lorsaken suburb.
The opulent residents of Petersburg are
not even a are of the existence of such mis
erable outskirts of the magnificent and gor
geous capital of the empire. None but poor
people live here.. This is the only refuge
that is leit them. To be sure, life is uo
where as dear as in Petersburg, only in this
one suburb prices are reasonable and living
cheap but then, people live here on hall
spoilt fish and encumbers, because both
may be had for a mere song. The poorest
man can exist here for a few cents a day. It
takes not less than three hours to reach the
center of the city, and those who reside here
are virtnallr separated from the other in
habitants of Petersburg.
In one of the most wretched parts of this
miserable suburb there stood a wooden hut,
which sought support from an adjoining
church. The decayed appearance of this
wretched hut defied description. The root
had fallen in; the walls sank into the
ground; the only window hardly reached
above the swampv soil, in which the whole
hut threatened to sink and vanish. In the
middle part there was a dark vaulted room,
and on the right hand door might be read
"Sewing Needles & Yarn For Sale Here."
At the window sat an old woman knit
ting. A child was asleep on the ledge of
the big stove. The woman was not over 40,
but misery and want had made her hair
gray and covered her face with wrinkles.
She wore a wadded gown and had a
yellow handkerchief about her head.
The child might be 8 years old. A sheep
skin cloak, intended to provide for rapid
growth, reached down to his feet, which
were bidden in wooden shoes. The old
woman was whisnerine pravers without in
terrupting her work. The little boy blew
into his chilled hands and tried to attract
the old woman's attention. At last he
cried:
"Mother, I am so coldl" -
"You good for nothing! Breathe into
vour hands, Andrew, and you will soon be
warm J"
"Why don't you buy wood, mother?; It is
no longer so dear. The sexton bought a
whole wagon load yesterday for a ruble."
"Because, first, you must have the ruble.
Just wait till the "first of the month. Then
your brother will get money. Then we'll be
nice and warm here."
"Two days longer, and to-day I have had
no breakfast at all! I am hungry, mother,
give me something to eat!"
"Wait, child; at 6 you will have 'dinner."
"What will there be for dinner?"
"What we always have. There Is some
bread left and lour encumber'."
"Every day the same thing!" and the poor
boy began to'cry. At that moment some
one knocked very gently. The woman rose
to open the door and whispered to little
Andrew as she passed him:
"Behave now! You know it is not my
fault Quick! Dry your tears. Somebody
is coming!"
She drew the latch and; opened the door.
On the threshold stood a young girl; her
pretty, sunburnt face had the color of health,
her features were pleasing and cheerful, her
hair light and her hands showed that they
were familiar with worto She was wrapped
in a warm fur cldak and her feet were cro
tected bv comfortable boots lined with fur.
Her simple dress was utterly lacking in ele-
Jltller Sells Himself to Schelm.
gance and yet no one coald help noticing
the natural grace which showed in the
whole presence of the girl, especially in her
laree blue eyes, full of gentleness and deli
cacy. Miller, of Millertown, looked over the
girl's shoulder into the room.
"How are you, Helen, my angel!" ex
claimed the old woman, "come here to me
my child!" '
"Ah! Is it Helen?" cried the boy re
joicing, "She surelv brings something to
eat"
With these words he sprang up from his
bench and began to examine the girl's pock
ets. Now Miller 3lso entered.
"Dear neighbor," he said, "give e a lit
tle black thread; you see my coat is in greai
trouble: I shall have to sew' again the whole
evening."
"Directly, neighbor."
She went to the drawers to get the thread.
In tlip meantime, little Andrew had found a
paper with raisins in Helen's pocket Shout
ing with joy he fell upon them, while Helen
lauzhed merrily.
"You scapegrace!" exclaimed the old
woman, and just then, noticing Andrew de
vouring the raisins, she added: "What are
you doing there? Snrely you have taken
something again from Miss Helen! Are
yon not ashamed to beg and at the same
time to steal!
"But I must eat something," replied the
boy, with cheeks stuffed full; "you never
give me anything."
At that moment the door was thrown open
suddenly and Nicholas Popoff, Lina's eldest
son, rushed in, deadly pale, wetthrough and
utterly unnerved. In one hand he held a
bottle ot braDdy, in the other a portfolio
which he threw away as he entered. At this
unusual sight all drew back.
Nicholas next seized his little brother,
raised him on high and looked at him with
bewildering eyes. Lini had in the mean
time recovered from her fright and went up
to him, saying:
"What is it, Nicholas?"
"You shiver," said the man to his little
brother. "You shiver all over and cry from
cold and from hunger, cry on, my boy, for
henceforth you will always hunger. You
will never have a piece of bread any more."
He kissed the boy passionately and let him
fall so suddenly out of his arms'that the poor
little fellow crept behind the stove and lost
all of his raisins.
"What do you mean, my son?" asked Lina
aloud.
"Mother," said Nicholas, "you thought
that, thanks to my work, you would be able,
in your old age, to lead a quiet life and
now we shall have to beg in the streets and
die in the hospital. Helen, your father, a
wealthy merchant, allowed you to visit us
and promised me your hand when I should
have secured a better position. Go home,
Helen, and look for another husband, for I
shall never marry yon. Neighbor, guard
your money well, for I might steal it, if I
should live here; hunger isabad counselor."
"Nicholas, are you mad?" asked Lina
sternly.
"Not yet, mother, nor drunk, but I shall
soon become both. Here is a bottle of brandy,
the last present I shall ever bring you; I
have spent my last penny on it"
Helen approached the unfortunate official
and asked him in a gentle, soft voice:
"Nicholas, what is the matter?"
Nicholas pushed her back.
"Hush! Do not sav a word. Your voice
pierces mv heart You ask what is the
matter? They have turned me outot the
Ministry!"
She wiped her tears and asked, in a qpiet,
resolute tone ol voice:
"And why have they turned you out?"
"The chief was in a bad humor yesterday.
At 7 he went away. I could not anticipate
that he would come back as soon as 8 o'clocc
and went to dinner. When I returned they
told me His Excellency had been there, but
had driven away again in great wrath, be
cause the fire had gone out in the grate and
the lamp bad not been lit You know every
officer, when on duty, has an hour free for
dinner. I was not a minute behind my
time; but because the great man stayed an
hour beyond his usual time I also had to
wait a whole hour beiore I could go to my
dinner. The way from the office to my res
taurant, you know, is pretty long, and a
man must, after all, eat nt least once a day.
When they told me that the chief had been
angry I leared at once that some of us would
have to suffer, but I never expected that
matters would be quite as bad as this. This
morning the head of the bureau told me
tbat I had lost my place under the Govern
ment "At first I thought this sentence could not
be final. I begged, implored. I wished to
speak to his Excelency. But there was no
help. These six years that I have been in
service I have never had a complaint
against me, and this is the way they reward
services rendered the Czarl For long years
we work hard and earn little more than our
daily bread. Then one day the chief is in
bad humor and the poor subordinate is
turned adrift! Therefore, 'mother, let ns
drink, let us forget all, and to-morrow let
us die!"
He sat down and put the bottle on the
table.
"Hand us glasses," he cried. "Mr. Miller.
Helen, pray Our last meall
Mother, have you nothing to eat? I am
starving."
"Nicholas! Control yourself. You do
not know what you are doing! God is with
us. It is his doing."
"Quiet!" commanded the clerk. "I ara
hungry and I want you to give me some
thing to eat"
The old woman turned slowly to the chest
of drawers and took from it a piece of bread
aud four cucumbers. She put a plate betore
her son and two glasses on the table.
Nicholas' wild looks and his strange ways
had in the meantime frightened the little -I
boy so terribly that he crept farther and far
ther behind the stove.
"Don't hide so, boy, don't be afraid! Taste
the brandy! Believe me, it is a good drink
and makes us forget everything. When I
am drunk I may dream that I am the head
of a division and sit in my arm chair in a
beautiful office and gaze at the portraits of
the Czars. Come here, Andrew, come to
me!"
The boy, whose terror had grown steadily,
was no longer visible.
"Will no one drink? Not you, Helen?
Nor you. Mr. Miller? Then 1 must drink
alone and get drunk alone. And then we
shall go away from here. I unto death and
vour mother, with the boy, to beg in the
street!"
He emptied the glass at one draught,
wiped his lips with his sleeves and seized
the bottle. The women wept silently, utterly
unnerved by this picture of despair. At
that moment Miller, who so far had listened
without opening his lips, rose from the
bench, went up to Nicholas and said:
"Stop there, neichborl Perhaps all is not
lost yet Perhaps I can get you another
place. But in the meantime "
With these words he emptied his pockets
and threw a five ruble note and some small
change upon the table.
"So much for to-day! I need no money!
I can always have what I want Only do
not give up hope! Till we meet again !"
To hide his increasing emotion and to
escape the gratitude of the woman, he went
away quickly, repeating on the threshold:
"To-morrow at the latest I'll bring you
newsl"
Helen brose the silence that followed the
departure of the man from Courland, say
ing: "Your neighbor is a good manl Nicholas,
he'll help you!"
"He," repeated Nicholas, "he is neither
rich nor has he any influence whatever, nor
should he be able to help one. He is a poor
devil as I am. To be sure, he has given us
five rubles, and I bless him lor it But
what is that We may live a day longer,
and instead of dying to-morrow we shall die
the day after."
"Nicholas," said Helen rather timidly,
"I have saved some little money and I'll
ask father also."
"Many thanks, dear Helen, but I cannot
accept any sacrifice Irom you. The brandy
has given me thought and I begin to feel as
if we had been rescued."
He rose and said with bright, shining
eyes:
"Yesterdy they beat me! Every dav I
had to bear scorn and disgrace. If anybody
gave me anorder.it was generally: You
ass, do this and that aud make haste!' And
all that because tbey paid 50 rubles a month.
I have borne that treatment for five years,
although my soul revolted at such injustice.
Yes, Mr. Palkin and Mr. Schelml Like a
do? you have treated me, because you knew
that the work of my hands bad to support
my mother and my little brother, and tbat
my place was my life. But now tbat I have
lost the place, I raise at last my head once
more and bend my neck no longer. Mr.
Schelm! Mr. Schelm! Tremble before the
worm you have so long trodden under foot!"
He emptied a second glass, rose, embraced
his mother and took Helen's hand.
"Where are you going, Nicholas?" asked
his mother anxiously.
Helen wrung her hands.
"Where are you going, Nicholas?" she
asked with trembling voice.
"If you should not see me again in two
davs pray for my departed soul."
With these words he slammed the door
behind him. The two women, dumb with
despair, sat a long time. Neither of them
touched the money. At last little Andrew
came forth from his hiding place, gathered
the raisins that were scattered over the floor
and devoured them eagerly. Then the two
womeu began to cry bitterly.
Outside the rain was pouring down furi-'
ously, continually increasing in violence.
It might have been 9 o'clock at night, but
the windows in the office of the head of di
vision were brilliantly illumined. In spile
of the late hour, Schelm was still at work;
opposite him sat his former schoolmate.
Miller, of Millertown. The conversation
between the two old friends seemed to have
continued for some time, as their passion
ately agitated features testified. Miller's
face was especially excited. He was dead
ly pale, but in his eyes glowed an uncanny
fire.
"I have told you," he said, "I am ready
for anything you may order to be donel
The straight road is a nuisance to my eyes.
But yesterday I allowed myself to be misled
by my better feelings, and gave my last
money to people who were even poorer than
I am. That has not paid well. To-day I
have had literally not a morsel of food."
"The more readily will you comprehend
that I cannot agree to your demands," said
Schelm.
"For five long vears I have led this mis
erable life, and might, if needs be, stand it a
little longer. To 1)e sure, I have often felt
sick and tired of it The philosophers tell
us that Jie is happy who needs little but
they ought to have added and does not have
an empty stomach. Yo.ur offers are vulgar.
But why not do a vulgar thing? Only I
cannot respect the thief who makes a dis
tinction between him who steals a loaf of
bread and him who runs away with a mil
lion. The world despises both alike, but
the thief knows the difference. ,If you want
me to steal a few rubles I shonld say noth
ing. But as it is, I tell you, I will not
leave the path of virtue And of honor with
out being paid well for it. After that may
happen what will! It is only the first step
that calls for courage; afterward we do no
longer mind conscience and its reproaches.
Do you understand me?"
"Perhaps. You surely never had so much
money in your life!"
"T had at times ten, perhaps twenty, times
as much.
"But just now you have not 10 kopecks
in your pockets."
"For that verv reason my conversion to
the bad must produce a goodly sum. Other
wise I do not sell my honor and my con
science. 1 have mentioned my price. Ten
thousand silver rubles and an annual in
come of the same amount during the time of
my mission."
"But, my dear friend, consider a moment
what your demands are. L myself have
only 15.000 rubles a year! If I pay you
5,000 out of that at once, and then defray
the other expenses besides, I would really
take the bread out of my own mouth, and if
I did more than that I would simply ruin
myself."
"And what is your ruin to me? Do you
think I sell myself to you in order to please
you?"
Schelm looked at him threateningly.
"Cautiou, Miller, be cautious 1"
Miller laughed aloud.
"Dear IrienJ, how could you hurt me?
Do you think of imprisonment? What is
tbat to me? Board costs nothing there and
perhaps I should fare even better there than
as a tree man. And Siberia? That would
give me a most desirable change ot air, and
perhaps I would be happier there than here.
No, no, I am 'in such a state of abject misery
that I can fear nothing worse. I say, there
fore, pay out your money or I go."'
"How could I raise at once such a sum?"
. "A man who fills such a high office as
you do does not mind a paltry 10,000 rubles.
Besides, you know very well that if your
plans succeed, all your expenses will be re
paid a hundredfold."
Schelm covered his brow with his hand
and reflected a long time: then he seemed
suddenly to have come W decision, for he I
drew from his pocket a large portemonnaie,
and said to Miller:
"May 1, at least, count upon your loyalty
and blind obedience? You would be lost
were you to betray me!"
"Why will you give yourself the trouble
to threaten me? I have told you I have
nothing to tear. Rich people and men in
high position may tremble when they think
of the dark power you wield, but I, I do not
care. I was born an honest man. As I was
honest in good things I shall not cease to be
honest in bad things also. As soon as I ac
cept your conditions I am yours entirely."
Schelm looked at him sharply, opened his
portemonnaie, aud began slowly to count
the bank notes. At the sight of the money
Miller's eyes glowed with covetousness.
Schelm counted them once more, pinned
them together and said, finally:
"Here are the 10,000 rubles you demand."
Miller eagerly stretched out his hand.
"One moment," said Schelm. "Who se
cures me that, when you have my money,
you keep your promise?"
Miller drew himself up with dignity.
"My word ought to satisfy you!"
Schelm laughed scornfully.
This harsh, defying laugh wounded
Miller's heart He hung his bead and said
in a low voice: "Schelm, Schelm, it is not
right in you to treat me so!"
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Schelm again,
3uite as contemptuously as beiore. "You
o not wish me to make merry over your
word oi honor? Confess that is rather com
ical in such a moment"
The man from Courland sprang up and
walked up to the great man. His face was
deadly pale and anexpressiou o. dumb pain
distorted his mouth.
"Look here, my friend," he said in a sup
pressed tone of voice and in abrupt sen
tences; "we have sat upon the same benches
at school and entered life together. You
can to-day do me a favor for which I shall
be your life-long debtor. You have a big
sum of money in your hand. With that
you wanted to buy me and for a bad pur
pose. Do morel Lend me the hundredth
part of the amount The humiliation
which your laughter has inflicted upon me
will give me the necessary strength to per
severe in the path of virtue. I shall repay
the 100 rubles, preserve my honor and begin
to work. Do this, schoolmate, and you
will earn the merit oi having done a good
deed."
Tears stifled his voice; his eyes and his
whole carriage were eloquent Schelm took
off his spectacles and regarded him as he
would have regarded a curiosity; at last he
turned aside and said, very drily:
"I do not understand you."
Miller passed his sleeve quickly over his
moist eyelids, suppressed his sobs, turned
round and fell into a chair.
"I was a fool," he cried. "How conld I
expect to find in Schelm a trace of a noble
sentiment? In vain! I cannot escape my
fate; I cannot remain an honest man when
everything is against me. I am ready to sell
myself. Pardon me for thinking, for a
moment even, so well of both of us! Let us
make our bargain!".
" Silent and solemn as usual, Schelm made
no reply. Miller trembled at the thought
that he might break oil the negotiations.
The notes were still lying on the table.
Miller looked at them fixedly; they would
suffice him for life. All of a sudden a cramp
seized him in the stomach and reminded him
that he was suffering hunger. With a
trembling voice he repeated, therefore:
"Hand it here! I am ready for every
thing." Schelm answered, coolly:
"You will write me an acknowledgment
of indebtedness for that sum and a solemn
promise to do my bidding. These last five
minutes have increased my distrust consid
erably." The man breathed again.
"If that is all willinglyl Dictate if you
choose; I'll sign anything!"
Schelm dictated:
"I have received from M. Schelm, head
of a division in the Ministry ol the Interior,
the sum of 10,000 rubles as compensation for
the trouble and the steps which I pledge
mvself to take in bebali the speedy dis
covery of all the motives and the branches
of the conspiracy "
At these words Schelm paused; Miller
looked up at him and their glances met for
a moment
"How shall we call them?"
"Write La and leave space for several
letters. If the thing succeeds, everybody
will know what that means."
Miller's hand did not tremble; he wrote
the prescribed letters. Schelm rose and
looked over the writer's shoulders. In the
folds ot the portiere the head of Nicholas
Popoff appeared, for a moment Schelm
went on dictating:
"I bind myself to serve M. Schelm as
agent provocateur "
Miller cast one more imploring look at
Schelm, and a deadly pallor covered his
face.
"How did you say," he asked, and his
voice rattled in his throat
"As agent provocateur," repeated Schelm.
"And now sign your lull name, with all
your titles. Have vou done?"
"Yes," replied Miller, so low that Schelm
could hardly hear it
Now the great man pushed the money to
ward the small man whom he had pur
chased, and then carefully locked up the
contract signed by Miller and his certificate
of indebtedness in one of the drawers of his
table.
"I cannot understand what value you
attach to these papers," said Miller.
"You will understand it," was the reply,
"when you are again in better circumstances.
But you will see this much even now. By
virtue of tins sheet of paper you are in mv
power. Whenever you repay me the money
I have paid you this paper also will be re
turned to you."
Miller bowed and went into the adjoining
room. There he foHnd an official who
seemed to watch the last remnant of a coal
fire in the grate. At the noise of the clos
ing of the door he turned round quickly.
"Nichohs Popoffl" cried Miller, aston
ished. ""What are you doing here?"
"Hush! hush! neighbor," whispered
Nicholas. "Schelm's goodness has present
ed me with mv dismissal. An obliging col
league has allowed me to do my duty to-day
and I hope I may procure my pardon. But
what are you yourself doing here, neigh
bor? I saw you enter, but I did not trast my
own eyes."
"I have in the meantime thought of you,"
replied Miller, "aid I have found a place
for you which will pay you better than what
you get here, even it, contrary to my expecta
tions, Schelm should be merciful and pardon
you."
"But, neighbor, who are you really?"
"That does not matter to you. I am able
to do you a great service. Go at once, to
morrow in the lorenoon, to 17 English street,
and ask tor Count Vladimir Lanin. I have
recommended you to him and he will make
you his Private Secretary with a salary of
100 roubles a month and iree board and
lodging. I, myself, shall not return to my
former quarters. Yon can take whatever
you may find there; it does not amount to
much, but "
Nicholas Popoffopened his eyes wide.
"Neighbor, dear, what does this mean?
Yesterday yon were as poor as I, and today-"
"You need not accept my offer," broke in
Miller, "if you have any scruples. I only
repeat that I have recommended you to
Count Lanin, my friend, whom I happened
to meet yesterday. I give you my word ot
honor that yesterday you could accept fav
ors from me because I was as honest as you
are."
In the words of Schelm's new agent there
spoke such candor tbatNicholas shook hands
with.him.
"ldo believe you, neighbor, and thank
you with all my heart. But what can have
happened since yesterday?"
"Goodby!" said Miller curtly, and dis
appeared in the windings of the long pass
age. ( To be continued next Sunday.)
Copyright 1S90. by Meta de Vera.
TJnneccitay Itll.ery.
Probably as much misery comes from habit,
nal coDStiD&tlon as from any derangement of
the functions of the body, and it Is difficult to
cure, for the reason that no one likes to take
the medicines usually prescribed. Hamburg
Figs were prepared to ebviate this difficulty,
and they were found pleasant to the taste ot
women and children. 25 cents. Dose, one Fig.
Macs Dbuo Co., N. Y.
OLD EGYPT'S CREEDS.
The Progress of the Soul After Its
Eelease From the Body.
IDEAS INVOLVED IN EMBALMING.
Hott Mummies Were Made.and the Base
Uses to Which They Were'fut.
DEVELOPMENT OP AKT AND SCIENCE
rwniTTEN FOB TDK DISPATCH. 1
Egypt of all the ancient kingdoms is the
most attractive to the student. In the
thousands of years which have passed, the
amazing works which line and beautify the
Nile with their ruins and hieroglyphic his
tories, with the deep obscurity of the gray
mists of Time, a solemn, romantic mystery
has been given to that country, which was a
populous, powerful empire even when
faithful Abraham wandered into it, and
when his great-grandson, Joseph, was Gov
ernor of it Aud during the time of the
Patriarchs these wonderlul temples, pyra
mids and colossal monoliths were coming
into shape on the Nile.
The great shadow of obscurity and silence
has fallen on its past, and verv little of
it gives sound now, except the voice of vocal
Memnon, whose musical tones it is said can
yet be heard. Great lapses are met with in
connecting its history, but the hiero
glyphs give some idea of their gods, their
religion, solemn rites and forms and cere
monies, which they necessarily, as a great
nation, observed. The human mind cannot
help being fascinated andawestricken by its
colossal status, its pyramids and obelisks.
Its antiquity is so far back that the priests,
according to Herodotus, endeavored to make
it appear that the gods were its first kings,
who had ruled 11,310 years; but according
to others its beginning" was under Misraim
or Mencon 2188 B. C.
RELIGION OF ANCIENT EGYPT.
The theology of the ancient Egyptians is
still a mysterv as far as any writing is
concerned for' it was evidently the object
of the priests to hide the character of their
religious rites. Mysticism was the princi
pal part of their religion no religions be
lief was brought down to exact form.
Names were given by which the gods were
to be invoked, and the prayers and cere
monies to be used In addressing them were
fixed by positive regulation but the ideas
of the penitent as regards the deities he was
addressing varied according to his culture.
Manetho, a priest of Heliopolis, wrote an
account of the Egyptian religion in B.C. 261,
which was culled Irom allot the authors who
preceded him. He denied the divinity of
the Egyptian gods, and declared tbat they
had all lived upon the earth as human
beings.
Osiris, the chief god oi the Egyptians,
was the son of Saturn by Rhea. At his
birth there was heard a voice proclaiming
that the Lord of all was coming to light.
He was the brother and husband of Isis
(the Moon), by whom he had a son. Horos
(Apollo). He was, in some instances, iden
tified with the Sun, or the creative power.
He was cousin to the Day, kinsman of Light
and Morning, and so his murderer and
brother (Typhon) was god of the Eclipses,
darkness of the Shadow, and personification
of Evil. Osiris became King of the Egyp
tians, and taught them husbandry aud wine
making, and then traveled over the world,
extending the knowledge of civilization.
While on his long journey Isis governed
his kingdom and repelled the onslaughts of
Typhon (the Evil principle). Osiris had
many names, "The Meek-Hearted," "Mani
festorof Good," "Lord of the Ejst" But
in his higher attributes and sacred and mys
terious ofSceas superior to every other deity,
his name was not mentioned. Herodotus
says, alter describing tne sacrificial rights
at tne least ot isis, tbat ne was not permitted
to say in whose honor they were. He never
spoke of Osiris by name. "
In the earlier and purer days of Egyptian
worship Osiris represented the "Unnamed
Goodness of the Supreme Being." It was
believed that he quitted his celestial throne
and assumed the human form without be
coming human, for the benefit ot mankind,
and that on earth he was vanquished by the
Power of Evil; that he rose again to con
quer evil by his resurrection, and that he
was then appointed "Judge of the Dead and
Lord of the Celestial Begion." He was the
only manifestation on earth of "the Su
preme God."
Isis, who was the wife of Osiris, was
called in different places the "Eye of the
Sun," "Mistress of Heaven," "Regent of
the Gods," and the mysterions rites of her
worship were confined to only a lew of the
initiated. Her shrine was always veiled,
which no mortal ever lifted. She was the
colleague of Osiris in the solemn judgment
of the dead. Horos was their sou and rep
resented childhood, the emblem ol repro
duction. To these three the beautilul
island of Phi la;, in the Nile, was dedicated.
It was to the ancient Egyptian simply the
most sacred dace on earth, and pilgrimages
were made to Phllse as to Jerusalem and
Mecca of later, davs. The most solemn oath
an Egyptian could make was "By Him, the
Unnamed and Unnamable, that sleeps in
Philas." It was profane for any person but
priest to approach it, and many thought
that even the birds would not fly over it nor
the fishes approach its shores. "The souls of
the blessed went off the earth, and entering
the boat of the God Ka, there enjoy the per
petual streams of light which emanate from
his orb." Each deity had a sacred animal
which received local worship.
BELIEFS A3 TO THE SOUL.
The Egyptians believed in the transmi
gration ot souls, and all not sufficiently
pure to be admitted into the Courts of the
Sun, or whose bodies had perished before
the expiration of 3,000 years, Dassed from
body to body, having first descended to the
Hades and passed through the appointed
trials and regions, endeavoring to reach the
Manifestation ot Light. In this progress
the soul was required to know and tell the
names of the regions and the doors and
their guardian demons through which it
had to pass. The preservation of the body
was necessary for the return of the soul to
the human form alter it had completed its
cycle of from 3,000 to 10,000 years.
The art of embalming mnst have been
very old as Cheops and others were em
balmed 4,000 years, B. C, and so were
Jacob and Joseph embalmed. It was the
custom for relatives of the dead to pass
through the streets wailing for the dead. If
a male the body was given at once to the
undertakers; if a female the body was kept
at home until decomposition had com
menced. The body was then taken to an
establishment, where an official marked a
red line along the left side beneath the ribs,
down which line a deep incision was made
by an officer called a Paraschistes. He nrai
then driven away by stones and enrses, and
another embalmer removed the entrails and
lungs, leaving the kidneys and hpart. The
brain was removed throngh the nose by a
crooked instrument, and then the body was
ready for the embalming process of salting
and spicing and other operations which de
pended on the amount ot money which was
to be paid for it.
A COSTLY PROCESS.
Herodotus says that the wealthy had
peculiar drugs inserted into the skull
through the nostrils. The cavity of the
body was washed out with palm wine, filled
wuh rasins and rassia. The incision in the
side was stitched up, and the body was then
steeped in natron for 70 days and then
wrapped in linen, cemented by gums and
set upright against the walls of tbe tomb.
That process would cost nearly $1,000 in
silver.
The second process consisted of removing
the brain, , but only injecting into the
viscera cedar oil and soaking the body in
natron for 70 days, which left nothing bnt
skin and bones. That cost from (1,200 to
$1,400.
The third process used by the poorer classes
was to wash the body in myrrh and salt it
for 70 days, for which the expense was
small. The body was then fit for burial, but
it was often taken back home and kept for a
long time, often being brought out at festive
entertainments to recall to the guests
the lot of all. When the burial finally oc
curred the mummy was sent to officers for
that purpose who had charge of the mum
mie, tombs aud masses for the dead. Some
have bf en found merely dried in the sand,
others salted or boiled in bitumen,
with or without the incision in the side,
having the brains removed through the eyes
or base of the cranium, with the viscera "re
turned to the bodv, or deposited in jars in
shapes of the genii of the dead; the skin par
tially gilded; the flank incision covered
with a metal plate; the fingers encased in
silver, and the eyes removed and replaced.
Mummies are generally wrapped in linen
bandages and placed in costly coffins.
USES OF THE MUMMICS.
Mummies were used within 200 years for
drugs and ground up into nostrums ag nst
all diseases. Centuries ago.a peculiar brown
color was used for the background of pic
tures, and the finest colors used in the illu
minations of old books, and the inks of
black and blue with which they were writ
ten were made out of human carbon and
never lost their beautifnl shades. It is sup
posed that in the Necropolis at Thebes there
are or were, at least, 10,000,000 of human
mummies, besides those of the animals of
which there are vast pits, of dogs, cats and
other sacred animals.
In the belief of the ancient Egyptians all
things came from a common center and
source of life, and it is probable that
Pythagoras obtained his idea that divinity
entered into the beast as well as the human,
and that the sonl passed in a measure
through all of the animals from this
old belief. Many believed that a ter death
the souls of the human beings passed into
the bodies of clean and unclean animals
according to its deserts, and that after many
thousands of years during which all souls
would dwell in a well at Jerusalem, the
anael Israel would blow his trumpet and
tbe world wonld unroll as a great plain; the
bodies of the dead would commence to grow
like 'sprouts from seeds, up out of the
ground as they were in life and each soul
would reinhabit it3 body, and tbat Osiris
and Isis would hold the last judgment at
Damietta on the Nile.
The Osirian religion was popular because
it treated of the mysterious subject of the
state of the soul alter death. Some believed
that Osiris was the Pinto of mythology. In
papyri, found with mummies, Osiris ap
pears on a throne, attended by two goddesses
and four genii. The latter appeared in the
form oi small vases, in which were deposited
virsera, supposed to be embalmed. Each
genii had a different head. One with a hu
man head held the stomach and larger in
testines, and the other two held other inte
rior organs of tbe human form. This repre
sented essentially the scene of the Judg
ment The Egyptians believed that
the intestines were closely connected with
the moral character, and upon them
the blame of sin was laid. The intestines
were washed and bathed in wine and spices
in the process of embalming, and were
then placed in their regular vases and were
presented to Osiris together with the whole
body. The body was chaperoned by the
Goddess of Truth. In the center was a scale
on one end of which was a vase shaped like
a heart in which the moral qualities of the
dead were weighed by Truth while Thoth
took a note of the weighign. Osiris was sup
posed to pass judgment according to the re
port given.
The Egyptians had in their political gov
ernment seven castes shepherds, priests,
warriors, innkeepers, interpreters, husband
men and artisans, whose emolovments de.
scended from father to son. "Thev consid
ered all labor equally honorable. Every
hour was precions and had its own duties.
They got up at a certain hour, performed
their ablutions, and then at a certain hour
attended the divine ceremonies at the tem
ple, the King as well as the laborer. Their
meals were at certain hours, and the whole
day was divided up into certain duties
which were faithfully performed.
THE DEAD PLACED ON TBIAL.
It was the custom at some temples to take
the dead there, where, in the presence of all
the people, a panegyric was pronounced,
alter which a public prosecutor (if he had
causey auscseu tne cnaracter or the dead.
If his charges were found true by the assem
blage, the body was refused burial in the
common Necropolis. ,
The Egyptians had a superstitious vein
in them which led them into astrology and
mysticism. They paid nearly as much
honor to the bull (apis), the crocodile, cat,
hawk, wolf, ibis (6tork), dog, and even to
onions as to their goddess Isis; and they
would starve to death rather than eat one of
these sacred animals. Cambyses killed the
god Apis and plundered the sacred temples.
When he took Pelusium, knowine their
reverence for certain animals, he placed a
large number of cats and dogs in the ad
vance of his army, and as the Egyptians
would not kili them tbey became an easy
prey to the Persians. Cambyses found a
partial judge whom he flayed alive, and
then he nailed his skin on the judgment
seat so that his successor would remember
where he sat
Diocletian in 296 A. D. seized all the
books in Egypt treating on astrology, sor
cery and on making gold and silver and de
stroyed them, fearful less their mysteries
and opulence should make the inhabitants
rebel against Borne. The destruction of
many valuable books on other subjects was
the result. This persecution by Diocletian
was the first authentic event in the history
of alchemy which was afterward diffused
over the globe by the conquest of Egypt by
the Arabs.
THE ABTS AND SCIENCES.
The darkness and ignorance of the Mid
dle Ages insured a favorable ear lo every
thing marvelous, but the Caliph of Bagdad
began the cnltivation of learning and the
sciences and arts in the eighth century, and
it is a well-known fact that these fierce Arabs
kept them alive, and to them tbe world is
indebted for the preservation of letters and
of the arts and sciences which died ont
again in the ninth and tenth centuries in
Europe. Manetho wrote a poem in B. C.
261, in which the stars which bold powers
over tbe birth and fate of mankind was ex
plained. Algebra, astrology and astronomy
were taught by her philosophers and wise
men.
Bollin says that it was common for the
great men of Greece to go to Egypt to finish
their education, and tbat "God Himself has
given this kingdom a glorions testimony
when, praising Moses, He says of him that
he was learned in all the wisdom of the
Egyptians." Suitable rewards were given
to encourage scientific pursuits, and for the
discovery of any useful invention. They
were so iar advanced in astronomy as to di
vide the year into 365 days and 6 honrj.
Their great works of art and science attest
their ingenuity and diligence. They attained
considerable efficiency in physics, and they
were among the first to communicate thought
by writing, and engraving on stone and
metals. They were the first to form libraries,
which they called "Office for the diseases or
the soul," because they considered that there
tne soul was cured ot ignorance, the fruitful
soil lor crime. Their use of an alphabet of
16 letters is proven, and the taking ol them
to Greece by Cadmus is part of ancient his
tory. Erom Greece, where they were added
to, they traveled West, and are doing so yet.
Egyptian monuments, records, literature
and history surpass those of India and
China by many centnries and must be our
starting point The brick and soft marble
records of Babylou and Assyria are of 'a far
later date than tbe obelisks and pyramids
of Egypt India and China had no effect
on Western civilization until after Alex
anderhe Great
The Egyptian civilization spread through
out Greece and Rome, throngh Europe and
America to Call oruia; and now the Asiatic
tribes are trying w open our Western por
tals to their pagan beliefs, and invade
Western civilization from the West, un
christihnizing this land through Bnddhism;
while more vicious hordes of infidels to
Gad and man are invading from Europe
this the last land in the world in the civil
izing progress of the ages. So irom the
East and from the West are coming infidel
and idol worshipers; but as the sun rolls
on from East to West so will roll on the
civilization of Christianity across the
Pacific, through Asia, to its cradle near tbe
land of Egypt, thus encircling tbe world.
BUMBALO.
THE MODERN MARTYR,
fie
Who Wonld Preach the Gospel
Mnst he Prepared to Suffer.
ADEQUATE SALARIES VERY BARE.
And When Bis Powers Begin to Fail He is
Kicked Oat to Starve.
W0RLDLI IDEAS IN CHURCH FINANCE
rWBlTTXX POE Till DtBPATCH.1
At a large meeting of Methodist ministers
held in New York last week, a paper was
read by Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of the Simpson
Church, in Brooklyn, that created a sensa
tion by its piercing truth and profound
pathos. Many of the clergymen, it is said,
wept, and sang the closing doxology with
quivering voices. The subject was the.
casting out of Methodist ministers and as
for that all tbe clergy might perhaps be in
cluded when they grew old, and of their
dire and desperate struggles with poverty
when thus superannuated.
"There is a style ot picture burned into
wood with hot irons, and I want my words
to burn," said Dr. Hamilton. He illustrated
the condition of these poor ministers by
citing the famous Flack case in which a
rich, unscrupulous man endeavored, by a
fraudulent divorce, to discard his old and
feeble wife in order to marry a younger
woman. This proceeding, the reverend
doctor denounced as do all respectable
men as "an infernal crime a piece of
devilish malignity for which Flack al
though convicted and sentenced did not get
a tithe of what he deserved." In using this
illustration of his point Dr. Hamilton
seemed to intimate that the Methodist
Church was as wicked, as nnscrupulous and
as subject to blame for its treatment of min
isters as was Elack in his underhand en
deavors to get rid of his old wife in order to
secure a new one.
A DEMAND FOB NEW MEN.
The reverend divine took his text from
Samuel where he was told by the elders of
Israel, "Behold thou an old," and, as his
sons were unworthy to succeed him, they
wanted a new king to reign. Samuel, feel
ing that he was not yet too old for sense
and judgment, rather demurred at being
pushed out for a younger maD, but was
overruled and finally gave up his position
as head of affairs and retired into obscurity.
As the elders and children of Israel then
showed themselves perversely in favor of
new men, so even now do the Methodist
elders and members of the Methodist
Church and all of the churches for tbat
matter the world over. The people in old
Athenian days were so stupidly fond of
novelty and change that they got sick and
tired of Aristides, because he was so just,
virtnous and incorruptible. It was through
his very righteousness that he was ostracized
in order to secure the ruling of a less pure
and patriotic statesman, but one who was
more distinguished for tact, strategy and
sagacity.
The same human nature is shown by the
people of to-day even the church people
who profess to live more in accordance with
the spirit of the golden rnle than the world
lings outside of the pale when they show
that they do not desire high character,
fervent piety, and real goodness so much as
they want brilliant talent, drawing power,
some one who can tickle the ears oi the
worldlings, and make a stir and a sensation.
The same spirit thus shown in religion is as
fully displayed in politics as it was among
the Grecian heroes of antiquity. No Bepub
Iican to speak of thinks a Democrat shonld
remain in power however exalted his char
acter or distinguished his abilitv. No
Democrat who desires to stand well with his
I party will allow that Republicans can be
patriots as pure, statesmen as able, public
men as honest as those jeuersoman in their
principles, and Jacksonian in their prac
tice. POLITICAL METHODS OF YEARS AGONE.
A politician discoursing upon the Adams'
administration said of the partv in power:
"We will turn them all out as sure as there
is a God in heaven."
"Well, but how can you say so. Colonel
Johnson, before you see what course the ad
ministration will adopt? Suppose it con
sults the public interest, and pursues a
course that yon think right?" said another.
"I don't care," said Colonel Johnson,
speaking hotly, "for by the eternal, if they
act as pure as the angels that stand at the
right hand of the throne of God, we'll put
them down."
This same spirit of political malevolence
was shown against George Washington, the
savior of the republic; it inspired tbe mis
representations and appalling abuse of
Abraham Lincoln, the idol of the Repub
lican party: it filled the organs of the oppo
sition with hostility and bitterness to Gen
eral Grant, tbe great soldier of the nation,
when his name was proposed for a third
term. The fierce hatred, the merciless at
tacks, the malicious mud-throwing, as ex
hibited in politics, prove that men in a race
for partisan pre-eminence, in the push for
their own way and will, regardless of either
moral hw or gospel teaching, are bnt little
behind the barbarians of the past in reckless
disregard of the rights of others, and a de
termination to grind to the earth all who op
pose them, if fate or fortune grants them a
cnance.
"Human nature is always and everywhere
in the most important points substantially
the same," says Whately. It may vary cir
cumstantially and externally in manners,
times and regions, but fundamentally it is
the same. That man's inhumanity to man
makes countless thousands mourn is shown
to be as true throughout all conditions oi
life in these later days as when kings were
tyrants of the state aud lords dominated the
feudal hosts of 'the Middle Ages.
OFFICERS OF THE CHUBCH.
The executive offices of the church are
not filled by the saints. Emerson says that
charitable associations and communities
founded on religious principles should have
a Judas as a steward, while the other offices
may be filled with good men. It is a
proverb as tn tbe Shakers tbat they send
the devil to market to do the trading and
the conclusion of the world seems to be that
business cannot be run without rogues.
With men in power in the church who
take little thought of the ministeraof the
gospel, save as marketable commodities to
be held ns long as valuable, and dismissed
when a better turns up, it is not wonderlul
that, like the baseball players, the most
popular are secured at the highest rates,
while the modest good ministers sink into
poverty unless they have laid by a main
tenance. The same tendency in men to
secure what: best pleases them at the lowest
rates is notconfined to the clerical profession,
as Df. Hamilton seems te intimate.but ex
tends into every prolession and calling and
community. The poorhouses are filled
with the wrecks of men and women who
toiled for small wages in their yonth, and
when they grew old were sent adrilt by
their employers without a thought of sup
porting them, when superannuated in any
way save by the establishment of paupers'
homes or charity asylums. Thousands of
women who have done good and not evil all
the days of their lives, have to struggle
with direst poverty without any provision
for old age.
The great mass of mankind is engaged in
a battle for bread, a fight against poverty,
and is subjected to all its painlul
privations and unhappy conditions.
Pauperism is on the increase. Every
where there is showing a greater strain
to make a living.while the desire for wealth
grows more inordinate and more selfish.
Behind all the apparent prosperity of the
present, there is a gulf of bitterness deepen
ing and widening between the men and
women who toil, and those who grow rich
by the toilers' labor. The church is every
where complaining of the growth of world
liness within its borders, and a lack of bona
fide morality among its people. Bev. James
B. Wasson in a recent North American
Review S3ys:
MONEY IN THE CHUBCH.
"The material growth of all American
denominations has for the last 25 years been
remarkobly great But that very fact
bas blinded the eyes of Christians
to'the fact that their spiritual growth
bas not been correspondingly great
The church in growing rich and prosperous
has rapidly degenerated. American
Christianity to-day is confronted by 3
problem that involves not merely its well
being but its every existence, and this
serious state of affairs is caused by the root
of all evil money."
He moreover says that while the Amer
ican churches do not perhaps worship
wealth, they conciliate it and toady to it
to such an extent that their message of uni
versal brotherhood becomes a larce. The
power of money not only shapes the policy
of the church, but it compels Christianity
as a whole to take the rich man's view of
every moral and social ouestioa
that comes before it The enor
mous wealth of many men may
be known to have been acquired dishon
estly, bnt neither the churches in their cor
porate capacity, or the clergv in their indi
vidual capacity ever think of denouncing a
social system which allows this stats of
affairs to exist, and even throws over it the
sacred sanction of law.
This being admitted, it is hardly to he
wondered at that Bev. Mr. Hamilton com
plains so Ditieny of tbe ingratitude and sel
fishness of the churches to its ministers,
and that he denounces it as a "sting
ing shame" and a "burning disgrace"
when the committees have no scruples
about turning out "a ripe cultured saint
who has expounded the gospel for 0 years
for a callow stripling just out of school with
a glib tongne and pleasing presence."
Then in his disgust, the good doctor asks
what would be thought of England reject
ing Gladstone because he was old, and fill
ing his place with Bradlangh what would
be thought of the New York Central firing
out Chauncey Depew, and putting into his
place a raw young brakeman?
"(VOBK OF THE CLERGY DIFFERENT.
The tronble seems to be that the people
where their heavenly possessions are con
cerned are not so deeply interested as they
are in their worldly joys and earthly toys.
Corporations know the aflairs of
a great railroad can not be
run so 33 to secure fat dividends without
superintendents of competence and capacity,
hence to such they pay large salaries and
hold on to them as long as possible. Banks,
business associations and enterprises where
money is concerned pay for character, ca
pacity and honesty, because they know that
safety demands them, and keep them for tha
reason that such qualities are rare and valu
able. But the work of the clergy is looked
upon differently. Its material effects, bene
ficially considered, are matters more of emo
tion, sentiment and personal pleasure than
of tangible material worldly benefit A
clergyman's value to the congregation
who" pays for him is ionnded a good
deal upon whim, personal caprice,
personal liking of the magnates, and upon
the possession of such manners and fine
tact as will please the multitude. He must
cater to the prejudices of the elders, and
toady to tbe good ladies. He must not
closely scan the shortcomings of the wealthy
pillars, nor strongly denounce the sins of
those who have the high seats. With every
body to please, with the Scriptures to ex
pound so as not to tramp on anybody's toes
particularly, it is not surprising th'at even
the most gifted of men in tbe theological
line run amuck in a few years, and are
compelled to resign or to accept their walk
ing papers.
The recent affair in Trinity is a case in
point The rector preached solid sermons,
good, orthodox, all according to the rnbrio
and the canon laws, yet some called them
dull, but bis worst fault, it would appear,
was that he went counter to the wishes of a
parishioner of great wealth. His wisdom,
culture, experience, stood for nothing as
against the error of judgment; so to get rid
of him he is given a rich gift of $5,000 to go
away.
TEACHERS SUFFER, TOO.
But this disgrace extends as well toHho
educational matters. A teacher, endowed
with all the learning, culture and wisdom
that should be held essential to
the dignity and importance of tbe
ocenpation of training the young, is alike
subject to the whims, personal prejudices,
petty spites and boorish icnorance 01 direc
tors and school committees. The salaries of
the majority of teachers, like those of most
of the preachers, are less than the wazes of
unskilled laborers, and teachers receive no
pensions, or provision for the future. So, if
it is any comfort for the preachers to have
company in their miseries, they will find
plenty amongthe teachers.
The estimation in which these important
professions are held, and the prices they
command, show that the parties
responsible consider that teach
ing the young and expounding
the Scriptures are not very highly valued.
A glib-tongued, callow stripling, just out of
school, is supposed to be as well able to take
charge of the spiritual interests of a church
as "a ripe and cultured saint," and the same
is true in education, where green and giddy
girls are mjre preferred to train the young
than wise and cultured women.
But talking or preaching will avail
little to the pulpit in the way of help
for the "old horses turned out," or for thosa
who toil in direst straits of poverty. Tha
world is hard-hearted and selfish even
in the church. But preachers are
no more compelled to make martyrs of
themselves than others, unless tbey choose.
A Methodist preacher not 1,000 miles away
who had a beggarly salary was compelled
to go West for his health. While there, in
order to pay expense, be worked for a friend
in the real estate line. With his natural
sagacity and aptitude he soon mastered tha
business, and, finding in it great possibili
ties, he engaged iu it for himself on a small
tcale.
HE ANTICIPATED CALAMITY.
To-day he is the possessor of great wealth,
his family lives in luxury, and he will not
return to the pulpit to struggle along on a
meager salary, with the prospects of the
poor hoube at the end, when the elders would
tell him, as they told Samuel, "Behold
thou art old." His wife who had worked
so lon, so patiently, so hopelessly to make
both ends meet, now has these ends
lavishly lapped over with plenty to spare
Of course he catches it from the pious
brethren and sisters for deserting His high
calling for mere money-getting, but as he
would likely have been forced out to engage
in a struggle with want, as Dr. Hamilton
savs most of them are. he onlv antinimted
the calamity with advantage to himself and
family.
Tiie terrible struggles of ministers with
poverty when superanuated or deposed for
the more brilliant young men, as depicted
by Key. Hamilton, are most pathetic. But
since they must preach and the salaries are
so small, it is very evident that they shonld,
like St Paul, spend their lives in celi
bacy. They have full right to make
martyrs of themselves if thtjy see fit,
but they have no right to make
a wife and family the prisoners of poverty,
to live balf-starved and subject to a dole of
charity for clothes. One poor, old minister
and his wife, as Dr. Hamilton related,
lived on unsh cooked in lard, with a 5-cent
rump-bone from tbe butcher once a week.
When this diet faile'd, they fasted until
even the monotonons mushwas palatable.
With all the hardships and sore trials of
the ministry in view, it is somewhat re
freshing and instructive to know that
millions of dollars are being tent every
year to the heathen by these same Chris
tians who starve their "ministers and sub
ject them to direst straits of poverty. If
this evil is not remedied," says Dr. Hamil
ton, "it will bring & curse upon the chnrch."
This subject needs prayerful consideration.
Bessie Bramble.
Fhyalctan Wise la Tbelr.Genermtlon.
The above clas of scientists recognize, and
hare repeatedly borne testimony to tbe efaeacy
of Hosteller's Stomach Biturs as a remedy and
preventive of fever and aeue, rheumatism,
want of vigor, liver complaint, and some other
ailments and inflrm condition of the system.
Experience and observation have taught them
Its value. They but echo tbe verdict long slnca
prononnced by the public and the press. Only
tne benighted now are lgporint of America's
tonic and alterative. a
I
4ak-taJi
ato(g ,
f "IB)BB"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" JP'!-"?3BAJE3KBmm&l-f