, m m 10 "A hundred thousand rublesi And a lettei? Quick!" The letter ran thus: I send you the money untouched. I have convinced myself tint you wished me to disap pear, and I have handed tbe hole sum to mv chief of bureau in the presence of w itnesses. I possess a eopvofjour receipt signed by you, but I shall use thii weapon only wlu-n I am at tacked. You wanted me to disappear. Be calm, I do disappear. But I shall Know how to defend myself when I should be attacked. Schclm trembled irom rage and terror combined. He shouted at his subordinate: "Pursue bim! Arrest him! Kill himl" The official stood there staring at him and not knowing what it all meant. 'Whom? Popoff? Is the amount not correct?" Schelm recovered himself. "No! no! It is all right! I did not mean to say that. What was it I meant to say?" His eyes were wandering around. He looked like a madman. "Oh! the rascal!" he cried at last. "Pe troff make haste, go to the police and tell them I had made a mistake. Tell them to stop all proceedings. Why do you ptand here?" The poor bewildered man left the room, and Schelm fell almost fainting into an arm chair. CHAPTER VL The following Sunday the marriage of young Lanin took place. The day before Vladimir had appointed Nicholas PopofT lis secretary, upon Miller's special and emphatic recommendation. The latter, having found out that the young couple meant to spend the honeymoon on the estates which old Wernin poisessed in the Crimea, asked ana obtained leave to go ahead and prepare everything properly. On left Petersburg, alter having handed his SMU- SIILLEB RAISED THE HEAVY PORTIERE AND KNOCKED TUBES TIMES. mother a considerable sum of money, which Vladimir had advanced him on his salary. Miller went immediately aittr his re markable interviewjwith Schelm to Vladi mir. He explained the chance in his cir cumstances, which was very striking, by an inheritance he had made in Aurland. He belonged to a wealthy family there and Lanin had once upon a time Known himin a better class of society, and thus he readily believed the story and congratulated his friend very heartily. Both had met in a perfect whirlwind ofamusements, but Vladi mir had soon wearied of easiiy purchased joys, while Miller had been forced to do the same by the stress of necessity, but had held on to Lanin as his last friend, even after he had been completely ruined. Toward evening of the same day on which Miller had made known this welcome change in his circumstances, he had taken the sum of 1,514 roubles and given it to his friend on the pica that he owed him this amount Vladimir had often lent his friend small sums of money, he refused, however, to accept this amount, till Miller becoming slightly angry, torced him to consent. The man from Aurland then told him how con scientiously he had year after year put down every penny he had borrowed hoping one ot these davs to be able to make a return. This great delicacy made a great impression upon Lanin and deeply interested him in tbe un fortunate position of his old schoolmate. He offered Miller the rooms he had him self occupied as long as he was a bachelor, leaving behind nearly the whole of the fur niture, and even introduced him at the En glish Club where he had, up to this time, spent nearly every moment he could not be near his betrothed. As was mentioned be fore. Miller had in his early years, lived much in good society and bad met here some of his earliest companions. No won der, that when they heard of his inheritance they all recognized him again and greeted him most kindly. Vladimir, since his en gagement, had a heart overflowing with love and kindness toward all men, and thus he told all, to whom he introduced his old schoolmate: "This is my best Iriend, Mr. Miller, of Millerstown." On Tuesday, November 2, 1849, Vladimir and Jana turned their faces southward, after Miller had first been presented to the new Countess and made to promise that he would come and pay them u visit in the Crimea. Strangely enough Miller in consequence of his much changed circumstances, and Lanin ou account of his marnare, had en tirely forgotten Popoff. His name was not once mentioned. When, therefore, Miller went to spend, as he nad promised, the Christmas holidays in the Crimea and fonnd Nicholas here installed as his friend's secre tary, he was greatly surprised. Miller had not the slightest idea of what had happened between Schelm and Nicholas, but, as by instinct, he thought Popoff 's presence here and his intimacy looked very suspicious. When Lanin, sitting down at the table said to Miller: "I thank you, dear friend, for having made me acquainted with Mr. Popoff," the latter had Dimply replied by a cool bow. At night Popoff managed to find himself a moment alone with Miller. "Believe me, neighbor," he said to him, "I am here with no evil intentions, since I am as happy here as I could be at home in my own family. It is you to whom I owe everything, and I am under eternal obliga tions to you. My people at home need fear nothing as long as I remain in my present ' position and am not attacked." Although Miller could not understand the meaning of the last words he was at least freed irom all doubts as to Popoff. When the latter noticed a few days later that Miller made no secret of his former poverty he related at dinner how very kind the latter had been to his mother, and this sympathy of a man, then so very poor, with other poor people, deeply affected Jana, so that the tears started to her beautiful eyes, while Lanin cordially pressed his iriend's hand. Miller gradually became convinced that Nicholas had none but thoroughly hon est intentions and renewed his old friendship with him. Miller spent two weeks in the Crimea, and, as it fortune favored him, no unpleasant visitor interrupted them during this time, so that he became daily more intimate with husband and wife. He had very good man ners, conversed well, had his share of wit aid possessed an unusual stock of informa tion. In a short time Jana had become very fond of him and everybody liked him. The happy young couple, loving each other daily more tenderly, would have liked to prolong their honeymoon in this en chanting solitude, but Vladimir's leave of absence draws near its end and old "Wernin longed lor his daughter. Toward the end of February they began to think of returning. Popoff again went in advance to prepare a house. He nad changed so completely that lew could have recoguized him. The poor official in his shabby uniform was now a young man of elegant appearance and the manners of a gentleman. The name of Popoff is far spread in Russia, and thus Nicholas conld return without fear to Pe tersburg, where herented a superb palace in a fashionable street for Count Lanin. He was permitted to lodge his mother in one of the ontbuildings, although he dared not visit her yet, even in the new home to which she had moved in the meantime. When he at last met his mother he heard with joy that no inquiries had been made after him. In the first days of March the young peo ple returned to Petersburg, and Vladimir immediately informed Miller of their ar rival. Easter week, the highest of Russian festivals, was drawing to a close, and the balls and entertainments which usually close the winter season were beginning. Jana was Bitting in her boudoir, sur rounded by all the splendor and tbe luxury of the Orient; maio odors were wafted through the air and everywhere works of highest art and best taste were visible. Stretched out on a luxurious couch Jana was giving her foot to a maid kneeling on the thick carpet, who was trying on her tiny satin slippers. Another maid was busy putting some white camelias into her abundant raven-black hair. Near by two more maids were standing, busy holding other articles of ornamentation for Jana. One was doing something to her gloves, the other was arranging the folds o her ball dress. The mistress herself, draped in a gorgeous morning gown, trimmed with matchless lace, seemed to be dreaming. A slight knock aroused the attention of some of the servants. One went to see who it was, a few words were whispered, and then a maid came saying: "The Count begs to know whether the Countess will have the kindness to receive him." "Let him be ra kind as to wait a few min utes." replied Jana; "how late is it?" "HalfpastS!" 'Quick! Dress me as quickly as yon can, lor it is latel" she exclaimed, rising at od ce lt was not ten minutes later when the young wife sent her maids away and let her husband know that she was waiting for him. She was just buttoning the last button of her long gloves when Vladimir entered; his featares spoke of great impatience, but when he beheld the magnificent figure of his wiTe, as she smiled upon him, he quicklr drew her to his heart. Jana slightly held him back. "Be careful, Vladimir! You spoil my dress!" He drew back, surprised. "You do not love me any more, do you?" he whispered. She laughed aloud. "You men make strange demands upon us! You doubt our love if we do not spend the whole day in assuring and swearing that we love you! My dear Vladimir, I love you as much as ever; perhaps even more than before, but we need not ruffle and crumple my beautiful dress on that account," He fell into a meditation. "We were so happy with each other in the Crimea! There the world did not partus. There were no soirees, no beautiful dresses, we lived for and in each other." "My dear Vladimir," she said, resting on his arm, "don't trouble yourself, and be lieve me that I love you with all my heart! No one was happier than I was when we were alone. But here, in Petersburg, I have to consider my father, my old friends and kinsfolk. Let me enjoy the world a little longer and then we'll be so happy again in our solitude." "Ah! that world!" he repeated sadly, "where I cannot accompany you. During these five weeks I doubt if I have seen you three hours daily. If you are not dressing you are resting or you are undressing. Din ners, balls, parties, promenades, and if we come together by chance I have to behave as if I hardly knew you. If you receive at home I must stay away. Believe me, Jana, a man who wants to live in society ought not to love his wife. If he docs, it is all pain and sorrow." Jana laughed again. "You are incomparable, Vladimir, and as a reward vou shall have a sweet kiss. But mind my dress." She kissed him and exclaimed, rising: "And now I must tell you my lord and master how I mean to spend the day. Din ner with Sophie and Countess Halm at Rita's; next to the Princess Olga, where an important affair is to be discussed, of which you shall hear something if you behave well. At 11 I'll come home and then we'll take tea together. How do you like my plan?" "I cannot tell you how mucb, mv angel. But let me make one little remark. This Rita, of whom you are always speaking, is not a suitable companion for a woman of your age and in your position; and besides, who knows if her name is not unstained?" Jana bit her lips. "Icannotbeareviltongues, dearest. What can they say against Rita?" "Perhaps nothing more than that her name is on everybody's tongue. This French woman has turned everything topsy turvy in society. Her dress, her carriages, her liveries all excite attention. Her whole manner is marked with an irrepressible de sire to be independent. She has succeeded in charming everybody, so that her eccen tricities and her bold, original ways are for given. I prize you so highly that I sutler when I see you continually in the company of a French Secretary of Legation, who, like his countrymen, seems to think he can do whatever he chooses." "Why," replied Jana, "you develop no small diplomacy by appealing to my self love. But, remember! She is almost ugly, while I reign by my beauty. She is poor. I have a large fortune. No one will ever count me her equal. Her eccentricities arise all from her naturally gay and cheer iul temper. Yo surely would not have me be more fastidious in the choice of my friends than the Empress who cannot get along without Rita!" "I repeat, "my darling, her name is too well known. A woman who is much talked of always arouses mistrust. Sophie and the Princess Olga are both of them slightly in sane. And this Count Halm who panes for THE ever so many years now for a Don Giovanni, who is always with you everywhere, is not a desirable companion for a good woman." Jana went to tbe mirror. "Have I not listened longenongh pa- tiently? But now itis enough, if you do not wish to make me arigrv. You know I do not like to be contradicted. Rather tell me, how do you like this dress." Vladimir turned very pale. Ho went up to bis wife and said with a tremor in his voice: "Jana, do you know what jealousy is?" She turned round quickly; her eyes flashed fire. "Do not repeat that word before mel I look upon it as an insult. If there are women who are humble enough to pardon their husband lor being jealous I am not one of them. If you love me more than all things else, Vladimir, you must never pain me again by 6uch a mean idea! I demand not only love but esteem!" Vladimir loved his wile passionately, and was so accustomed to see her everywhere adorned and worshiped that he now bent his knee before her and said, deeply moved: "What a woman you are Jana! And how I love von and feel unworthy of yon." She "held out her enchanting little foot and laughed: "Humble yourself, then, and kiss!" He pressed it to his lips, while she kissed him on his forehead and said laughing: "The little boot you can luckily not in jure! If you will ouly leave me alone and not contradict me, you do not know how happy we shall be." "So I must again dine along with Miller." "Is he here?" "Yes, he is waiting for me in the salon. I shall take him to a restaurant, for at home I can eat nothing." "And you do not even tell him to come here and see me in my splendor. I have 15 minutes to spare." She rang the bell and soon Miller ap peared. The way in which he entered the room snowed at once the tooting on which he stood in the house. He went up to Jana, kissed her hand and exclaimed, clapping his hands in affected delight and admira tion: "Is there anything r ore beautiful in tbe world than a fair woman in evening cos tume? Pray turn round a little so that I mav admire your side also. Vladmir, what can be grander than your wife? See how graciously she accepts homage and allows herself to be admired. "I am certainly exceptionally good," laughed Jana. "I would not trust that goodness very far. May I venture to ask where the Countess will display this splendor?" "At Madame de Dugar's; I shall meet Sophie von Linska and Count Halm there." "If I were Vladimir I might' be a little jealous," said Miller. "This man Halm is such aDon Giovanni." "You see, Jana," said Lanin, "Miller sayB what I also said and you do not scold him." "What is excused in a stranger is not al lowed to you. Let drop that subject, how ever. I leave you to my husband, for I hear yon are going to dine together. That pleasure, by me way, you wiu enjoy ou Saturday also." 'Again?" "Yes, indeed," she said, laughing. Lanin hung his head and this resignation disarmed Jana. "Since vou must know everything sooner or later," she said to Lanin. "I will tell vou a secret that nobody else knows as yet. This is nothing less than a conspiracy. We Sophie, Olga, Rita and I have deter mined to meet once a week at ilita s; no gentlemen are to be admitted. Halm alone is expected in his capacity as secretary, but he must stay in another room. This will give us a kind of club like yours. Satur day is the first day when we meet; then we shall draw up the statutes and found the club." "How pretty. And then we shall not see each other on certain days at all." "Certainly. In Paris they have already such a club. The ladies have invented the whole thing to punish yon gentiemen, for your fondness for race courses and hazard playing. So much the worse for husbands like vou, Vladimir. You will have to suffer for the others." Miller broke out into uproarious laughter, but Lanin grew sad. t "May the whole concern go to the Jand where pepper grows, and the insane French woman who has invented it with it!" cried he. more iu jest than in real earnest. Jana laughed now. "You can do nothing against ns, husband! You had better submit to your fate and get used to it. Now, for instance, next Satur day you will not see me at all the whole day; you can go and drive with Mr. Miller in the city, and at night take a box at the Michael Theater. I and Rita will join you there, as I have not seen tbe French actors yet. You may expect us between 9 and 10. And now. goodby! Six o'clock! I must make hastel" "Well, goodby, Jana. Come back soon!" sighed Vladimir. "All right!" she replied, and disappeared behind the velvet portieres. Vladimir took the Courlander's arm. "What shall we do till dinner; I do not think vou will care to drive before 7?" "To-day, not before 8; I have much to do and must leave you. It you insist upon din ing with me, you may expect me at Dusaux, at 8 o'clock sharp." "That is very nice!" said Lanin, angrily. "What can you have so much to do." "I call that pretty good. Such aniosity and such egotism as you married people pos sess, has uo limits. You forget that I am a bachelorl" "Well, adieu, then! I shall have to take a drive through town," soid Vladimir, Miller, who had already opeued the door, turned back once more. "I shall go by the theater shall I order a box for Saturday?" he asked. "Very well! Do so." Miller, after leaving Vladimir's palace, hastened his steps along the canal for some distance, then turning into a wretched side street, a mere lane, he stopped, raised the fur collar of his cloak to entirely conceal his features, stepped into the doorway of on of the houses and waited patiently. He began to whistle a curious air; then took off his sable cap, as if to smooth his hair, and began to stroke his cap with his sleeve. This must have been a preconcerted sign, for after repeating it several times, he pro ceeded on his way and entered a low tavern. Taking a seat on a bench near the window he ordered a glass of beer. Almost at the same time with Miller, a poorly clad man entered, whistling to him self, as it seemed, the same air which Miller had whistled, and he also, like Miller, had smoothed his cap with his sleeve. The last comer sat down by Miller; and when he had his glass of beer be'ore him he at once began a low conversation. Alter a while the insignificant looking man arose, when Miller said to him: "Do not forget; Saturday, at the Michael Theater two decently well-dressed agents. At night I will give you the number, but there can be no mistake, as I shall sit in the same box." "All right,'" said the other man, bowed and went out. Miller paid the score for both, leit the tavern, stepped into the entry of the next house and quickly ran up to the third story, where he rang the bell. A little flap in the door opened from with in and a cautious eye scanned the new comer. Slowly a latch was drawn back and Miller was admitted. He found himself in an ante-room which looked like an of fice. Opposite the door an iron railing pre vented intrusion and there stood a man, who asked: "You want?" "The great partv." "Who are you?" "Ace of Clubs." "Your name as a player?" "Initiative." "You may enter." Miller raised the heavy portiere, behind which was a door, knocked three times and was admitted. He entered a large hall, lighted by lamps that hung from the ceil ing. In the center was a large table cov ered with cloth. Around it some 30 men were seated. Ther were mostly young men. Some were in ordinary clvilUn's dreii, others wort the PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, brilliant uniform of the Imperial Guard. Among the youthful men o few graybeards were visible" Before each lay a card fast ened to the green cloth, which marked the seat and the name of thejowner; on the table lay a second pack of cards. The assembly was evidently not complete as yet; several places were marked, but not occupied. Ace of Club evidently marked the place of tbe presiding officer, because this card was lying between a bell and a strong box. The chair was empty. The man who had opened the second door, returned silently tq his seat, while neither advanced toward the chair before which the Ace of Clubs was lying; he spoke to no one. The dismal looking, cold haU might very well have belonged to a gambling hell, but nobody thoughtof playing and the deep silence was not interrupted. The clock struck 6:30. Miller drew a key from his pocket, opened the strongbox, took a letter from it, read it and rang the bell. Two men entered and took two of the emntv chairs. Thev were the men who had watched at the doors, admitting the members as they arrived. Miller then rang the bell once more. "Gentlemen," he said in a low voice, "the Ace of Clubs cannot attend our meeting to day. I have been duly informed and author ity has been comerred upon me in the usual war," He seated himself in the President's chair and rang the bell a third time. "Gentlemen the session is opened." All tbe members present listened atten tively while Miller spoke to them. 'Before we discuss the measure to be de cided upun in this, our last meeting but one, I must excuse the absent members. Ten of Spades is ill. King of Clubs, Knave of Hearts, and Eight of Hearts are prevented, being on official duty. The secretary will take down details and deposit them iu the strongbox. We count, therefore, to-day only 41 men, but as we are so near the end I pro pose not to admit any more. How do von sav?" There came n unanimous reply, "agreed!" "Secretary General! what was decided at our last meeting?" The man who had first admitted the ar rivals rose and said: "Ace of Hearts, Knave of Diamonds and Ten of Diamonds spoke to the satisfaction of all and the plan proposed by them was unan imously adopted. In to-day's session, Teu oi Hearts, called 'Power,' is to report as to the measures taken." "Ten of Hearts has the floor," said Miller. A young man, Colonel of one of the regi ments of the Foot Guards, rose and said: "Gentlemen, my regiment follows me wherever I go. For six months since the work of regeneration assembled 42 bold hearts around this table and formed this our union; I have been able to point out to them the sacred rights of man. They know now what a soldier's honor means; they hate slavery, as we do, and the bodily punish ments, which demoralizes man. As soon as the hour strikes for action you will find me ready. Two of Clubs is nfile to exercise a thorough influence on all tbe regiments of the guards; the six Colonels and seven cap tains who belong to us make themselves per sonally responsible lor their battalions and their companies. In this way, gentlemen you virtually command a large part of the army now in the capital. Nine of Diamonds, represented by the Treasurer in the Finance Department, will be active for us." "I am ready even to steal for the benefit of our country," said a man of 40, as he rose. "What I have said once I say for all times. There are 8,000,000 of roubles in the money chest, intrusted to me. On the appointed day I shall hand the whole sum to our union." The Colonel continued: "Thus we control the army which repre sents might, the Treasury, which means in telligence; in all classes of society, in every department of tbe administration, we have men belonging to our conspiracy. To my mind, gentlemen, every moment's delay only increases the danger. Thanks to our energy, thanks especially to the secret pro tection of a high and influential person, who has not yet made himself known to us, we have been able to form this gigantic plan at the very doors of the home of tyranny a ca3e so far unknown in the bistory'ot despot ism. "We, the leaders of all Russians, who de mand an account from the Czar for letting 60,000,000 of subjects suffer in slavery, we can no longer stem the current, if we do not open a sluice somewhere. In the name of the army I demand the signal for action. Gentlemen, say the word for which we are impatiently waiting! Delay no longer! In the name of the army I repeat: On, for Rus sia's sacred liberty." The Colonel sat down having produced a profound impression. Almost all the con spirators gave signs of assent, but a few of the older men shook their heads. Miller rose and said: "I second the proposition with all my heart. The time for action has come. We can hardlv go on without arousing the at tention of the Government. I therefore pro pose that we hold our last meeting next Sat urday at 10 o'clock. Then we can assign the duties and begin to live in deed and no longer in word alone. We shall cease to be conspirators, we shall be archangels of free dom, or die as martyrs" All noisy demonstration had to be avoided in this hall. In Petersburg the walls have ears and the people are alert at every un usual sound. Nevertheless a low murmur of satisfaction manifested itself. (To be continued next Sunday.) Copyright, 1S90. by Meta de Vera. WHEN Ttiil GKlil REAPEE COMES. The Old Belief That the Early alornlnn Was Hi Fnvorlte Exploded. "I have often wondered, "says Dr. L. C. Berry, in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, "at the implicit belief in the tradition for it is nothing else that a majority of deaths take place in the early morning, just before daybreak. I have been assured by nurses that at daybreak the humau system is sub ject to an extra strain, and that when life is nearly extinct this acts as the last straw. "During 30 years of active practice I have never seen anything to make me be lieve in cither cause or effect, and I notice that a New York physician has killed the delusion by classifying the hours at which 15,000 deaths occurred. Every hour in the 24 seems to have been about equally hon ored by the grim reaper, though if deaths from accident are included, the noon hour appears to be the most fatal one." A GIFT TO COLUMBUS. Wonderful Ivory Jewel Casket Which Will be Exhibited nt iho World's Fair. A gentleman of New York has pur chased for $1,125 a wonderful ivory jewel casket which he will exhibit at the World's Fair. It was given to Columbus by their Majesties Elizabeth Queen of Castile and Ferdinand King of Arragon, on his return from his third expedition loaded with chains by his enemies. The cascet measured in length about nine inches, and breadth six inches, and in height between seven and eight inches. There are strong traces of cilding and color which have almost entirely worn off. A female figure on top is armed with a bow and javelin. The panels on the four sides represent the "Battle of the Amazons." Medallion portraits figure on the lid. K0T ALL S1XGEKS IX THE CHOIR. A Tolce Not Alwnja Urqnlslte to feeenro u Covfitfd Position. Ladles' Home Journal, j I wish I might say that the one great re quirement for obtaining a position in a city choir is a voice. But, unfortunately, I can not. Influence, youth, a pretty or intelli gent face, tatte in dress, and a good address will each and all have their value in this. as in other pursuits and professions. All of the latter, however, are of only the slightest importance in comparison with the power wielded by the first of them influence. In different cities its powers are differently limited; while, on the one hand, in some it is almost no value at all, in others it is of equal, and sometimes even of greater Im portance than the vole itself. StTCTDAT, APRIL 20, CLARA BELLE'S CHAT. The Novel Discoveries a Tonng Man , Made in a Lady's Carriage. A GENERATION OP AMAZONS NEXT. Powdered Dinners Are the Latest Among Gotham Entertainers. SII PEETTT MISSES WHO CA5 C00 C0EEE5F0NDENC2 OV TOE DISPATCH. 1 New Yoke, April 19. EATJTYhasmadea boudoir of her car riage. Jndeed noth ing is cosier and sweeter than the satin -lined, so it cushioned carriage of a luxurious and elegant woman. It is seldom that a man is permitted to sink back among the caressing billows in one of those tiny coupes that the la dies make their calls and do their shop ping in, but it so happened that a cer tain young gentle man of an explora tive turn of mind recently did so, and the story he relates is a startling one. Being entirely alone he examined all the beautiful fittings oi the carriage, and even investigated the racks and orifices where any strange utensils or ornament might linger. What he fonnd he will only tell in part. There was a powder puff, ot course, and sever il handkerchiefs, perfumery, b-mbons, gloves, a good many letters addressed in va rious masculine hands, a photograph of a noted actor, a pair of opera classes, a res taurant bill of fare with two expensive Bur gundies underscored, a faded bunch of vio lets, a broken bracelet, a tiny false curl, two eloquent white buttons, and, let it be lightly mentioned, a broken package of cigarettes. A GENERATION- OP AMAZONS. Has it ever occurred to yon that the fad of New York women for physical culture and manly sports is really pointing toward a future generation of Amazons? What else can come of it when women fence and prac tice with the broad-sword, and handle rifle or shotgun, pistol or saber, without a morsel of fear. Some of our most lovely and deli cately reared women are perfectly at home with weapons that a short time ago would have sent one of the sex into hysterics only to look at them. They mean business, too. One of our young ladies, a belle at home and abroad, not only bears herself creditably iu riding to hounds, "but shows a daring and endurance on foot in the shoot ing season that is rarely excelled by men. She wears skirti, a foot from the ground, leathern leggings, and strong boots, carries her own rifle or shot gun, and her game-bag, fairly outclimbs and outruns the men of her party, and with no apparent fatigue. She brines down birds, squirrels and rabbits with unerring skill, and is planning a bear hunt in some of the Western wilds for next summer. She says she shall not be satisfied till she has shot her grizzly. Yet this girl in society is as sweet and womanly as if she had never handled a weapon more formidable than a hairpin. How opposed all this is to tbe old ideas of whatis lovely in a woman. What the harvest will be of such a vigorous seed time it would be hard to predict. This is what an elderly masculine observer says: PETTICOAT GOVERNMENT NEXT. "The most serious question of the day is: What will our women do next? They've gono into everything college, the profes sions, business, literature, and now they are clean daft on physical culture. They can make themselves over from lean scarecrows to plump bewitching Hebes; they've thrown off the clinging invalidism of my time, and stand shoulder to shoulder with men in pluck and endurance; and that isn't all they have clubs, and clubs, where they han dle all sorts of subjects without gloves. Get a woman once to talking on things and she'll rush in where well, where we men fear to tread. Then some of them are study ing the Constitution and political economy, while parliamentary laws are mere a, b, c's B'y, Bonay, Luk at Dat. to these Portias. Aud still they dress and pose with a;i art that takes a man right off his feet, and they dance and sing and flirt till he can't tell whether he is on terra firms or whirling through the ether in a balloon. There's where the danger is, by gad I They can shoot aud fence, swing a cutlass and ride bareback man-fashion, and what if they should turn next to politics. They're not going to stop here. What if they should rise in a body and demand to vote. By the great god Mars! We should all give in, every mother's son of us. When women can quote the Constitution and crack a pis tol in defense of it, petticoat government isn't a great ways off. Oh, deliver us!" Imagine the chorus of silvery laughter and tbe beautiful defiance of bright eyes that answer this poor old croaker. A SUNDAY ON FIFTn AVENUE. It is now the custom for the ladies to ar ray themselves in the delicate finery oi springtime and parade Fifth avenue on Sunday, but a very pretty, though not thor oughly informed young woman, scorned the latter edict of fashion and resolved to par alyze the inhabitants of the city with a sight of herself in vernal raiment She was a re markable picture as she floated airily along in the breeze, and the throng going home irom church was so dazzled that it stopped to watch her pass. Her bead was laden with a multitudinous bunch of pink and white roses, while her dainty heliotrope gown seemed spuu by spiders. No one on the avenue was quite to well satisfied as she, and, albeit she shivered slightly when the searching breeze caressed her thinly covered shoulders, she was palpably proud that she should have been the most striking and stylish woman on the promenade at a time when all were striving to secure that dis tinction. At the corner of Forty-second street two ragged urchins of about 10 years of age topped short in the middle' of the avenue and stared at the fluttering girl as she swept like a butterfly thrqngh the crowd on the sidewalk. "Hey, Bonesy," called one, "luk at dat" Bonesy was looking already, and after a moment turned with a look of supreme con tempt to his compaion and said: "Don't ycr know who dat is?" "Nav'w&i tho reply. ( fmMS ) IP5 Ilia if SfjKMm 1890. "Why, dat's der Dutchy of Marlbro' goin' up to see der Vanderbilts." If the girl in the heliotrope dress heard that remark I have no doubt ber heart beat with even greater pride than it had felt be fore. TALE OP A GIFT 'WATCH. A gift received by a very lovely and emi nently vivacious girl living almost on the crown of Murray Hill is not at all to her liking. Her Christian name is Laura, and she promised to marry a bright, lively young man only one month ago. Her birth day and all other festal occasions during the past year have been commemorated by pretty and often valuable trinkets from the happy man who hopes to wed her, and bear ing her say that she needed a watch the guardian of her destinies sent one to her with all possible haste. It was a little love of a watch, and on the front case the mono grams of both lovers were affectionately in tcrtwined in tiny diamonds. Laura's heart bounded with true feminine gladness when the beautiful thing lay before her. and. like all great examples of her kt proceeded at once to give it a minute exam ination. Desiring to see the wheels go round, she opened the inside case. At that instant a shadow gradually deepened over her face, and tears came into her prettv blue eves. She then put the watch down, "flung herself on a sofa and had a good cry. The cause of mis suuuea gnei were some words engraved on the inner lid of the watch. The inscrip tion was surely most suggestive: "From Jack to Alice, June 4, 1881." Jack tells the same story to his friends that he tells to Laura; and she, like all dutiful girls, be lieves her lover, while his friends smile elo quently at his excuses. Jack is fortunate enough to have a sister Alice, but as she was born only two months before the date in scribed on the watch, there is some doubt of the 9-year-old child wishing to present the sweetheart of her big brother with a watch that he himself gave to her at her birth. But the little girl bears Jack out in his explana tion, and Laura kisses them both for their kindness. Jack, by tbe way, presented an other watch to his accommodating sister last week. THE LATEST P.AD IN DINNEES. The very latest whim is a powdered din ner. All the guests, male and female, come with hair powdered white as the driven snow. There must be no chandelier only tapers, covered with small sliding shades of pink silk. The powdered heads compose a superb arrangement in white which show up delightfully under the soft, rose-colored light. The damask table cloth is decorated in this manner: Take Parma violets, re move the stems, and with very small pins work out the bottom of the cloth in violets. White roses and white lilies in low, cut glass vases ornament the table. White boutonniers await the guests. The menu is entirely made up of white dishes white .auces, white meats, white sorbet and white dessert. -To attain the finest effect invite only dark-eyed guests. The effect is simply bewildering. Try oue of these powdered dinners. The thing ought not to cost over $10 a head 12 guests 5120 say $150 for a powdered dinner. It s nothing ior a man who puts $10,000 in a single piece of horse flesh. P.icli patronesses of the leading restaur ants, like the men, have their favorite tables and favorite waiters, who are permitted by the proprietor to tilt the chairs at such a table if they have even a suspicion that the rich visitor will put in an appearance. The favorite is apt to be a handsome man, and some churlish old fault finder might object that he puts his face too near to milady's while taking her order. But she doesn't object. He is no moro to her THAN A LAP DOO. She smiles her sweetest upon him, and while he is serving tbe tenderloin of trout or the canape lorenze, she calls the atten tion of her guests to the whiteness ot his hands, the beauty of his eyes, the polish of his manners, and his tournure generally. Happy Jules, with his liberal fees. But all waiters can't be Jules. Many of them must content themselves with the boys and quar ter tips. Six girls devised a scheme that was both unique and catching. They invited six gentlemen, whose good opinion they valued, to a dinner, every course of which, tbey promised, should be prepared aye, cooked by their own hands. The invitations were accepted, oi course, but one condition was imposed, namely, that the cooks should receive the guests in cooks' attire, and that proof positive should be given that they had actually cooked the dinner. This may have suggested to the culinary creatures some dainty notions regarding the dress of a cook, for even in the cooking class which the sly things bad been attending unknown to their admirers nothing had ever been seen just like tbe suits they adopted for this occasion. At the appointed hour the guests were welcomed by six unusually rosy maidens in gowns that reached a modest distance below the knee, but which revealed a tantalizing bit of stocking and coquettish ly slippered feet. Bodices were cut V-shape front and back, with arms left bare to the shoulders and free of ornaments, as were the hands. A bit of rich lace and a knot of ribbon made believe there was a cap, and more lace and ribbon by courtesy an apron. IT WAS A CATCnT SCHEME. A corsage bouquet would have looked out of place with the chatelaine that bore tiny nutmeg graters, egg-beaters, rolling pins and saucepans, if anything so sweet could have looked out of place in that particular vicinity. In fact it was the most bewilder ing group of cooks that a man's eyes ever were blest with, and made even these guests forget the expected dinner. But they were not long permitted to enjoy the sweet obliv ion. They were ushered to a table where the decorations were not more artistic and beau tiful than the viands were appetizing and delicious. Everything in both departments, they were told, had been done by these girl ish hands, and as course alter course was served the gallantry and credulity of the guests were laid under severe bondage. No flaw coul'i be found anywhere. Various little burns, cuts and bruises were displayed on delicate hands in evi dence of the work they had performed, and other testimony was brought forward which convinced the gentlemen that the promises of their hostesses had been fully redeemed. What follows? Why "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," is it not? Six engagements are likely to be announced, just as the designing deare hoped and planned for. I told you iu the first place that it was a catchy scheme. Clara Bells. QUEfcM YiC'lOKlA'S T0IS. Quaint Plaything" Still Preserved la tbe Palaes nt Kcmlnxton. The ITlastrated American. Tho toys which amused Queen Victoria are still preserved in the nursery of Kensing ton Palace, which, by the by, is nntenanted and fast becoming dilapidated. On the mantlepiece is a headless horsewoman; in a box, care'ully wrapped in tissue paper, is a doll clothed in muslin, with a delicately worked lace cap tied under the chin;against the wall stands a full-rigged ship, aud near it a large red dolls' house, farnishea from attio to kltohea. Hit She Mutt Shoot Her Grizzly. DIGGING IN THE DIRT. A Human Desire Fanned Into Being VMth the Breath of Spring. PROFITS OF A LITTLE GABDEN. Innate Perversity of Weeds, and the Per sistency of Insects. PLEA FOE THE SPLGTIHB POETS wnrrrraroriTHB dispatch.1 This is the time when nearly everybody takes the spring fever in some form, or fash ion, or degree if not the feeling of dull ness aud lassitude, ordinarily known as such that cornea with tne first warm days, then the ardent desire to dig in the dirt, and plant something, the fondness for seeing things grow, the- longing to "go to grass. to hear the robins sing, to watch the burst ing of buds and blossoms and to hail the balm and breezes of the glad spring time. The need of the invigorating influences of the vernal airs and earthly odors is shown in the pent-up cities by the languor and tired-out feeling of the multitudes, who are shut out by their environ ments from the full enjoyment of these country adjuncts. Clad in sunshine spring comes to make the sad heart gay; the verdure fresh, the scented buds bring health and hope and joy, and put a spirit of youth into everything, say the poets, but most peo ple, in the city at least, know that it makes them lazy. Tt creates in them a desire to sit around on the steps or any place, where as somebody puts it, they can soak in the sunshine and breathe the airs that tell of the daffodil's bloom and the violet's birth. But alas the daily grind must go on. The little folks, who would fain play in the sun, have to hustle into school to poke over les sons, write upon slates the live long day, and breathe the dusty at mosphere that most pervades the schoolrooms. The toilers in the factories, the shops, the works, the offices, the kitchens of the great city have little chance to secure the new spirit ot youth, to breathe the healthful air, to feel "the infnsive force of spring on man," for it is Work work work From weary chime to chime. They can say with Tom Hood: Oh but to breathe the breath Of the cowslip and prlmroee sweat With tbe sky above my head. And tbe grass beneath my feet. Before I Knew tho woes of want And tbe walk that costs a meal. What a boon and a blessing is tbe city park that gives the toiling thousands a taste of the sweets ot groves and gardens, running streams and flowery fields! God made the country and man made the town. What wonder then that health and virtue, gifts That can alone make sweet the bitter draught That life holds out to all. should most abound And least be threatened in the fields and groves, is how Cowper puts it, so if man makes the country in a town, it is plain he promotes the cause of health aud virtue, and the two noblest things, which are sweetness and light THE SPRING POETS. The invigorating forces of tbe wakening earth and rising sap affect people differently. In the poets, it takes the form of odes to spring, songs of May, sobbing April days. May musings, pastoral lays and "stch." By editors generally these are held in de rision, and spring poets are refused a license to warble, and are reduced to singing for tbe waste baskets. But what, may we ask, are tbe poets to do? When the inspiration seizes them through force of nature's waking loveliness and the coming of "Hoar win ter's blooming cbild, delightful spring," how are they to bung up their raptures, un tune their lyres, and voiceless view the buds and blossoms, the smiling verdure, the frag rant flowers, the daudelioned grass? How can they fail to lapse into rhyme and meter when they list to the anthems of the water falls, the murmuring music of mossy brooks, the "unlocking of the flowers to paint the laughing soil" more especially, too, when they have such illustrious examples before them set? It is no discredit for the spring poets to follow in the footsteps of their immortal forerunners. Chancer, and Spencer, and Milton, and Shakespeare, and Goethe, and Pope, and Tennyson, and Longfellow, and Gray, and Keats, and Shelley et al. If Milton did not disdain to write spring poetry, why should they? If Goethe tuned his lay to sound the glories of the May, why should they not sing iu unison? If Shakespeare made no bones of sending down the ages his sonnet as to When nroud-pied April dressed In all bis trim Hath pat a spirit of youth In everything, and of committing to tbe keeping of im mortal fame his remark as to "Well ap parel I'd April treading on the heel of limp ing winter," there can assuredly be nothing wrong in poets to-day lisping in numbers on the gentle spring. Milton had no scruples as to spreading himself on "Airs, vernal airs, breathing the smell of field and grove, attune the tremb ling leaves," and "the bowers where revels the spruce and jocund spring," while Pope waxes poetic upon the same subject and wakes his muse to sing of That soft season when descending showers Call forth tho greens and wake the rising flow ers; When opening bnds salute the welcome day, And earth relenting feels the genial ray. THEY MIGHT SING SMALL. It may be said that our small nineteenth century poets cannot sing the glories of the beauteous spring as could these giants of the past, but that is no reason why they should not sing small, if the spirit moves )hein. Why should spring poets be re pressed any more tnan play writers, or story tellers, or poets of passion? The play writers of to-day cannot write as Shakes peare, the immortal, wrote upon the loves, and follies, and passions of mankind, but thev can write society plays the pictures of the time and make more money than either Shakespeare or Milton ever did. Poets of passion pile np stocks of fame and hard cash, but alas the spring poet with all his wealth of inspiration and flow of gush has the genial current of his soul frozen up be cause of the stony prejudice of editors against the genius that blooms in the spring the muse that sings when the sap rises the divine afflatus that wakens into song when the glad time comes around when mankind delights to dig in the dirt and plant onions. The following spring poem we doubt not would go plump into the waste basket, and yet it is the work of a great mind, the man said to be the most distinguished thinker of his age, to hold the supreme intellectual place in Europe, to have the power as a, poet and philosopher to beautify, eventhis "rag-gathering age" with beams of divine splendor tbe man lauded and magnified as a second Shakespeare a German Voltaire, and whose name is Goethe. He devotes the power of his intellect to spring thus: Lleht and silvery cloudlets hover In the air. as yet scarco warm; Mild with glimmer soft tinged over. Peeps the sun through fragant balm. Gently rolis and heaves the ocean - As its waves tho bank o'erflow, And with ever restless motion Jloves tho verlura to and fro. Mirrored, bnshtly, far below. This, of course, is sweetly poetic, but strange to say there is a crushing prejudice in an editor's mind against "cloudlets" and "birdlets" and little emotional tender turn lets of any sort, and we are burdened with the thought that they would not pay a cent for ven spring poetry of the Goethe order or the Miltonic stripe they might not per haps decry the grandeur of the genins which inspired them, but would be likely to say they were not adapted to the columns of their papers. HOTV IT STEIKE3 OTHER PEOPLE. But while .the spring poets have hard lines', the spirit ot the season strikes plainer and more practical people la another way, It inspires everybody who has a bit of ground with the burning desire to have something of a garden. If it is only a scrap of space in the back yard there is pleasure and satisfaction found in, digging it up, and putting in a few seeds of plants every leaf and bud of which will be watched with anxious solicitude or if it it only a pot or two, or a box, on a city window sill, it is still a manifestation of the natural love of everybody for dirt and what comes or it a certain affinity perhaps between them and that of which they are made. AH men do not want the earth, but all doubtless would like a little share of it to call their own. . "T; own a bit of ground to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds and watch their renewal of lire this it the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do," says Charles Dudley Warner. This is one of the pleasures that come in spring and all of those in city homes or suburban places, who have any ground to go on, are KiuguiuB w Mase me most of It during the spring passion for digging in the dirt "nd trying to make something grow. Oa all hands are to be seen the preliminary processes of agriculture and horticulture. With what buoyant enthusiasm men begin, to garden, and with what cheerful unanim ity they "peter out" when the sun growl hot in the summer, and the weeds with ap palling celerity and indestructible vigor weaken their courage and abate their zeal. THE PEEVEBSITT OP WEEDS. An amateuj gardener has no show before the wickedness of weeds. Though he riseth np early in the morning and worketh until overtaken by darkness in the evening, vet still will the "devil grass," the craw'lfng cartwheels," the malignant "pusley," the rampant rag weed, the flaunting robbers that exhaust the soil and choke the desired plants over run and make themselves domi nant lords of the soil. He has a tongh struggle until he discovers that a man's powers are no match for the vigor and per sistence of weeds. Potato bugs, rose slugs, green flies, worms, caterpillars and the neighbors' chickens seom like small things, bnt their power to promote profanity, to magnify madness and to take the heart out of the amateur gardener is something amaz ing Still witbal, there is a pleasnre in culti vating a garden that no other work or amusement can bestow that is, when thero is not too much of it. To furnish your own table with the fruits of your own industry is a triumph to gloat over. It fills the soul of the agriculturist with a glow of satisfaction and honest pride: Tbe peas and beans and corn and tomatoes he has raised have a fla vor beyond the common a sweetness and lresliness that the market cannot furnish. Moreover he can enjoy the comfort and sat isfaction ot being A BENEFACTOR TO HIS BACK. If it is admitted that whoever conld make two e2ra of corn or two blades of grass to grow upon a spot of ground where ouly one grew before, would deserve better of man kind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together, as Dean Swift somewhere wisely observes. This, as a farmer remarks, maybe morally and philosophically true, but it does not fall in with financial notions, since he makes more money oftentimes on a shnrtcrop than on a rich harvest. Epicurus, the eminent Greek philosopher, who taught that pleasure or happiness was the supreme good, did not think the best joys of life attainable without a garden. Bacon affirms that in its cultivation men find the purest of human pleasure;, and Locke seconds him by saying it furnishes the fittest, sweetest and healthiest of recrea tions for men of business. Men of wealth reach the highest delight of living in their country homes. Men of letters find inspira tion and recreation amid the rural scenes of country life. Carlyle, in the solitude of his farm upon the moors, had his happiest days, and has said he could do twice as much, and better work in a given time there than in London. Men of business find in a small garden and greenhouse both pleasure and refreshment With all this in view it would seem that all of those in the pursuit of happiness should aim at the possession of a home of their own, however humble, and a little bit of ground in which they can dally with the hoe, and cultivate for their own health and pleasure. The first bower of bliss was the Garden of Eden, where the first love storj was told mid leafy groves, where birds sang joyous songs, gentle breezes set the green leaves whisper ing, flowers dispensed luxurious fragrance, and spicy shrubs spread sweetest odors to enhance its joys. Not likely until after Eve, with a woman's craving for knowledge, ate the fated apple was Adam condemned to dig and delve tor a living and Eve to keep house outside the walls of Paradise. "WHAT ADAM'S PALL BEOUOHT. With the fall of Adam, whioh developed original sin and instituted total depravity, it is likely that the ineradicable weeds entered the world to become the untiring foes of not only the first gardener Adam, but of all others since the dust of the earth, and the fruits of tilling it were invented. But-with all its drawbacks of devouring insects, and obstinate and overpowering weeds, there is pleasure and profit in a garden not such profit perhaps as can be measured by money, but by the pleasure of the imagination, the joys of anticipation, and the felicity that passeth understanding. As to what to plant don't plant onions. Yon can remorselessly weed a bed of onions through the whole blessed summer and not have more than 20 cents worth of a harvest Don't count upon a crop of crisp. sweet lettuce, because yours will not Da prime until everybody is sick and tired of it. Potatoes are a poor lay out if time it money, for- a battle with the bugs is gen erally a losing game for an amateur. The crops that pay him best are peas, tomatoes. Lima beans, asparagus and corn. These fresh from the garden are miles ahead of those stale from tbe market We speak from narrow experience to be sure, but it sufficeth for those who have been there. In a recent journal women, who desire to make money at home, are advised to start a kitchen garden, if they have taste and faculty that way. In every neighborhood are to be found people who want vegetables, fresh from the garden, and are willing to pay for superior quality. Women who are disposed to work in inch line may find this a valuable suggestion, not only as to health, but money and a plain road to success, since choice fruits, fine flowers and fresh vegetables are always in demand and never go out of fashion. Bessie Bbamblb. BTJ5DAT CAED PLAI156. Some Historical Facta That May Severely Shock Many Good People. Tbe Illustrated American. Not very long ago the majority of good Christians in this country looked upon card playing ab sinful in itself. It was classed with theater going and other crimes of like magnitude. But to-day good churchmen have no scruple in taking a hand at whist or euchre, or even at a friendly game of poker, i. e. a game ia which the gambling feature is elim inated. Nevertheless, it must shock them to learn that in Germany card playing is a favorite Sunday pastime, even in the devontest households. Nay, it is even told there how a venerable clergyman reproved, his boys for playing cards on a week day, since they certainly had more nseful work to do then, while they had all Sunday for enjoying themselves. Indeed, the Puritan Sabbath has never found favor In the birthplace of the Beform ation, and the Protestants rely on Luther's authority for the right to reasonable enjoy ment Further, they urge that the Puritan Sabbath is an innovation even in England, and Beinhardt, in bis "Whist-scores," cites John Evelyn and Hayward to prove that in the seventeenth century, and even later, clergymen used to meet of a Sunday evening for a quiet game of whist. He also makes the startling statement that in the middle vges laws were enacted in France forbidding card playing on working days.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers