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THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH,
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THIRD PART.
PAGES 17 TO 24.
PITTSBURG, SUNDAY,, APRIL 27, 1890.
&ad
GRANT IN
MEXICO
He Befused a Million Cash for
the Use of His Name.
APUBELYPATBIOTICTRIP.
Intercepted Telegrams That Might
Have Sa?ed Conkling.
ATTITUDE OK THE THIRD TEEM.
How the General "Worked on Eis Book Up
to the Last Moment.
EIS EELATIOHS TO LI HTJKG CHANG
CCOEKISPOKDEKCE OF TIIE DISPATCH.!
Washington, April 26.
N March, 1881. the
following correspond
ence passed between
the "War Department
and General Grant:
New York,
March 25, 18SL
Bon. Robert T. Lincoln,
Secretary of 'War,
"Washington, D. C.:
Dear Sib May I ask
the great favor of you
for a 60 days' absence
for Mr. N. E. Dawson,
of your Department, to
accompany me to Mex
ico, as secretary and
stenographer. His
' knowledge of Spanish
will mate him especi
ally useful. I ask this
favor with more confi
dence because Ibelieve
my business to Mexico is of greater importance
to the nation at large than to me or any other
person individually. If Mr. Dawson comes He
should meet me in St. Louis in time to take the
morning train. Iron Mountain road, for Galves
ton; or else come on here in time to leave with
me on Monday morning. Would like very
much to see him in New York before we start.
Very truly yours,
TJ. S. Geant.
"War Depart JTEI.-T, 1
WASniNGTOif, D. C March 25, 1SBL. J
General U. S. Grant, .Firth Avenue Hotel, ew
York:
Dear Gexeral It will give me pleasure to
grant Mr. Dawson leave until Juno 1 to accom
pany you to Mexico. He will report to you on
ttunday morning in New York.
Very respectfully yours,
B.OBEBT T. LlKCOU?,
Secretary.
The Mr. Dawson referred to in these let
ters is perhaps the most remarkable stenog
rapher in the United States. He does not
look to he 40, but he has had the experiences
of half a dozen ordinary life times. Tall,
slender and retiring, he is thoroughly mod
est and unassuming, yet he sustains the
closest of confidential relations with the
most prominent men of the conntry, and
many of them have dictated to him their rem
iniscences with his simple promise that they
are not to be used until they consent or
until after their death. It was he who
acted as Grant's stenographer in the prepar
ation of his memoirs, and he sustained a
closer relation with the gre1 General dur
ing his last days than any other man out
side of the family.
HIS ARMY RECORD.
Mr. Dawson's connection with Grant
came about indirectly through his service
in the war. He enlisted in the army at the
age of 18, and while serving as a private
soldier was taken prisoner. His prison was
in Texas, and he improved his leisure time
in studying the Spanish language. He es
caped lrom prison, and after biding around
in the swamps for a couple of weeks, during
which he was fed by the negroes, ne made
his way to General Banks' headquarters.
General Banks ofiered him a clerkship, bnt
he preferred to go back into the army, and
he remained there until the war closed.
After it he became a reporter on the Bur
lington Hawkeye and took down in short
hand a speech made by Senator Allison.
Allison liked the report so well that he
took him to Washington and made him a
clerk to his committee. "When McCreary
became Secretary of "War Dawson was
given the place of stenographer and confi
dential secretary, and he remained in the
"War Department until the above corre
spondence took place.
He had served undr Grant at Vicksbure,
hut had not become acquainted with him.
"When General Grant was about to start for
Mexico he needed a private secretary wuo was
thoroughly acquainted with the Spanish
language. General Dodge, of Iowa, who
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Fac Simile of GranCs Dispatch OS81).
had won Grant's admiration by his splendid
qualities at the battles of Atlanta and Pea
Bidge, recommended Mr. Dawson, and he
made his recommendation so stron that
Grant gave Dawson all the funds for the
trip at his first meeting, and trusted him
from that time on implicitly. I talked with
Mr. Dawson about this tour to-day.
A PATRIOTIC PURPOSE.
Mr. Dawson said: "General Grant's trip
to Mexico was purely a patriotic one and he
hoped through it to bring the two countries
closer together. He was a great enthusiast
on Mexico. He had been there as a boy in
the Mexican War and had served in every
battle except that of Buena Vista. At the
close of the war in 1863 he had impelled our
army'in the direction of Mexico ana had
thereby made Maximilian leave the coun
try. He was indirectly instrumental in
forming the republic and he had a some
what sentimental interest in it When he
went to Mexico in 1881 it was in the interest
of all sorts of American investments. He
wanted to see railroad relations established
between the countries, wanted to push the
submarine telegraph, and, in short, was de
sirous of bringing the countries together.
"He was not interested in anv investment.
and he had no financial prospects present
or future in the trip. He was offered a big
salary by several companies to act as their
official in making the trip, bnt he refused
all such oners. He finally consented to be
the president nf a nominal company, and in
this he only took enough in the way of pay
to cover his expenses. As a proof of his
non-mercenary motives, an incident oc
curred while we were in the City ol Mexico
which established this beyond doubt and
evidenced a courage and probity quite as
great rs Grant ever evinced in his hie. The
Ileal del Monte is one of the largest gold
mines in the world. It had been operated
for more than a century, and it is said to
have produced mure gold than any other
jBine in the world, This mine was being
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worked with good success while we were in
Mexico and its prospects for the future
were still great
the wanmd grant's name.
"The company which operated it was anx
ious to stock the mine and float it in
Europe, and they wanted to get Grant to
take the Presidency of it. An Englishman
was the agent selected to influence Grant in
this direction, but he evidently understood
their purpose and he did not give the man a
chance to make his proposition. Finally the
agent called upon me and told me that ho
would make me rich if I could get him an
interview with General Grant whereby he
could induce him to accept the Presidency
of the mine. He hung around me for a long
time, and I finally told the General of his
anxiety for the interview. General Grant
told me that he would make no appointment
to see the man, but that if he happened to
call upon me at some time when he was
present I could introduce him and he would
settle the agent As General Grant was in
my room at the hotel at certain times every
day the appointment was an easy matter. I
told the mine representative and he called
promptly the following day, and though
General Grant had not known of the ap
pointment he was present
"I introduced the man when he came in.
and he at once began to talk about his mine.
He said nothing about the floating of the
stock, but he described the value of the
mine and bluntlv ofiered General Grant the
sum of $1,000,000 in cash if he would ac
cept the Presidency of it The General
quietly heard him through, and then said
quite as quietly that he was sorry he could
not odige him; that his trip to Mexico was
without personal interest on his part, and
that he could not accept any remuneration
lor toe trip.. He said that he could not con
nect himself in any way with the mine, but
that he would be glad to mention it to his
friends when he returned to New York. His
reply was so decisive that the man accepted
it as conclusive and bowed himself out
A MILLION "WITHOUT. DISHONOR.
"General Grant could have accepted this
Presidency without dishonor, for the mine
was a good one and there was no doubt of its
value. Had he been made President of the
company they could have placed the stock
in Europe for untold millions, and it is not
improoable that improved machinery and
methods of workingmight have even brought
in a tair rate of interest upon such an in
vestment "General Grant sat still for 15 minutes
after the agent left. The loss of a fortune J
GENERAL GRANT AND
did not excite him, but it turned his
thoughts toward himself and his family. At
the end of this quarter of an hour he got
into a talkative mood, and you know he
chatted very freely with those he trusted.
He began to talk about his bva and how
well they were doing. At this time the
financial prospects of the family were very
bright and General Grant proudly told me
how Colonel Fred had resigned from the
army and was doing well as the president
of a railroad in Texas. He referred to the
prosperity of Buck Grant with the firm of
Grant & Ward, and said that Jesse was
making money in his mining operations.
With a loving enthusiasm he went over the
different enterprises that the boys were in,
and theu (said that as he and Mrs. Grant had
enough to keep them iu comfort as long as
they lived he could see no reason for him to
jeopardize the good name that he believed
he had by entering into any such scheme as
the one proposed to him. After this experi
ence no one could ever make me believe that
Grant allowed his name to be used by Grant
& Ward as they did use it
THEY BELIEVED IN "WARD.
''The truth is he knew nothing about
Ward's methods. He believed that Ward
was a great financier, and the Grant boys
thought the same. Ward never let them
have any insight into the business. If they
made inquiries about it he would say:
'Well, now, if you think you can run this
business, you can try it. But one head is
enough. I am willing to give up any time
that you want me to leave, but while I am
here I must have the say.'
"At times, however, Ward's mistakes were
bo apparent that they were forced to go to
him, but he always turned them off. At
one time there was a mistake of $5,000 in an
account which was so plain that Ulysses S.
Grant, Jr., went to see him about it Ward
at once saw that he could not explain it,
and he gained their confidence more than
ever by saying: 'Yes, that is a mistake and
the bill is wrong.'
"Buck Grant told me that the family be
lieved in him after that more thoroughly
than ever before. It was not strange that
they had faith iu him, and at the time of
the failure it was forgotten that men of
high financial standing were as badly de
ceived as were the sons of General Grant"
GEANT AND CONKLING.
The conversation here tnrned to Grant's
relations with Conkling, and Mr. Dawson
told me how Grant received the news of the
resignations of Conkling and Piatt in the
Senate. '-This happened," said he, "while
General Grant was in Mexico. We were
sitting at a table in his room when the news
came, and General Grant picked up the
back of a letter and wrote a telegram upon
it to J. H. Work, of New York, the Secre
tary of the syndicate of which he was the
nominal President He addressed Work
because we had a cipher telegraphic code in
common, and he gave me the telegram,
telling me to translate it and send it to New
York.
"Here is the telegram as General Grant
wrote it" &id Mr. Dawson, handing me a
sheet half covered with the autographic
writing of General Grant in pencil. It read
as follows:
I hope the Legislature will sustain its Sen
ators. The treatment they nave received is
scandalous and ought to be rebifked. Without
New York the present administration conld
not have come into power. Without the active
support ol the present Senators New York
could not hare been carried Republican.
t "This telegram," continued Mr. Dawson,
"was sent by me in cypher, and- had it
reached New York it might have changed
the whole course of AmerieaD history. It
did not get through, however, and it lodged
at Vera Cruz. It would have gone through
had it not been sent in cypher, but General
Grant was SUPDOsedbvthftlvsiriinir financier
or the United States and the leading financier
of Mexico to be interested in Mexican in
vestments. These two great capitalists con
trolled the telegraph wires of both oountriei,
and they thought the cypher dispatch was a
business one and stopped it.
SPOILED GREAT ENTERPRISES.
"General Grant did not know it was
stopped until he begatf to receive telegrams
he did not understand and failed to receive
replies to business telegrams which he had
sent. We found shortly after this that one
trade which might have been made to the
advantage of American canital wan In.t ;
this way. It was the purchase of the Yera'J
Cruz Railroad, which was ofiered for sale,
bnt which was lost because General Grant
could get no replies from New York con
cerning it. This stoppage of the telegraph
messages got to the ears of the Government
of Mexico through General Grant, and it
caused considerable governmental corre
spondence. "General Grant," Mr. Dawson went on,
"received several telegrams from Washing
ton asking him to not mix up in the Conk-ling-Garfield
trouble. He received an auto
graph letter from Garfield at Vera Crux,
hut he did not answer this until he got to
New York. The trouble started him to
talking about Conkling and he told me the
thing that first attracted him to Conkling
was the fact that Conkling did not come to
him while he was in the White House with
advice to do this or that as to policy or for
the purpose of asking appointments. He
said that one of the first things he saw when
he got into the White House was that if he
wanted Conkling's advice he would have to
ask for it He said that when he did ask,
however, he found Senator Conkling very
free to give it and told me that he had never
known of Senator Conkling coming to him
on a question of public policy without first
receiving a hint from him that his advice
would be acceptable! At the same time
General Grant gave me instances of a num
ber of prominent men who were quite the
opposite."
THE THIRD TEEM QUESTION.
"What was his real position in regard to
a third termv" asked,
"General Grant," replied Mr. Dawson,
"went out ol his second term perfectly satis
fied with his public career. He was glad
he was free and he wanted to stay free. He
told me while in Mexico that alter he came
back from his trip around the world some
moves were made by friends he thought the
most of and those who were dearest to him
politically and otherwise, to make him
again a candidate for the presidency. He
said he did not suppose it would amount to
anything and for a time did nothing.
"As the movement gained strength he
had more than once thought of writing a
private letter in such a manner that it might
be given to the press stating that under no
circumstances would he accept the nomina
tion. But in each case the reason for the
delaywas the argument that these men were
his friends and that they were depending
upon him. He thus held off until it was
too late for him to decline without injuring
them. He told me that up to the end of his
second term he had made it a rule never to
scheme for anything but to accept any office
LI HUNG- CHANG.
or duty at the call of his country. As far
as he himself was concerned I know that he
did not desire a third term and during his
second term he wrote a letter objecting to
any movement of that kind."
THE? GENERAL'S BOOS.
The talk here turned to General Grant's
book and Mr. Dawson went on: "General
Grant commenced the book intending to
write it all himself. I had left him and was
employed with the Inter-State Commerce
Committee of the Senate, which was then
going about the country taking testimony.
After his illness in April, however, he
wanted me, but hesitated to send for me on
account of my position. When the com
mittee was sitting in New York I called
upon him and he then told me he needed
me, but he knew how I was situated and did
not want to disappoint others. I replied
that I knew that no one of the Senators on
the committee would refuse to let me go if I
could be of any use to him and that I would
come. I then saw Senator Cullom and he
raid, "Of course we will let you off if the
General wants you."
''The others of the committee also con
sented, and Mr. Murphy, of the Senate, at
my request, sent a stenographer to take my
place. At the time I began work with Gen
eral Grant most of the first volume was
done. This was written almost entire!
with his own hand, and only a few correc
tions were made by him as to the Vicksburg
and Chattanooga campaigns. Very little of
me secona volume naa oeen written, though
he had put the Wilderness campaign into
shape in accordance with his arrangements
to write four articles for the Century. After
I came he began to dictate, and he continued
this as long as he was able to do so. As he
went on his voice grew weaker and weaker,
and toward the last I had to take mv seat
very close to hts, and he whispered his words
in my ear while I took them down in short
hand. His last dictation was on the 22d of
June.
GROWING "WEAKER AND WEAKER.
"After this he would sit with his pad on
his knee near me, and would write down
his ideas and hand them over to me to put
into shape. He was very weak, and his
hand grew more find more trembling as he
nested his death. There is quite a differ
ence in his copy, as you will see by the tele
cratn I have shown you, and this sample
showing his idea of a flying bridge."
Mr. Dawson here handed me a short page
of General Grant's handwriting in pencil,
With a rude drawing of a river and a flying
bridge. A flying bridge, he said, is a kind
of bridge attached to a rope tied to a tree
which, swinging down a river, is made
available by pulling one end to the side so
that the other end swings around and hits
the opposite bank. General Grant's picture
explained this, and the writing was as fol
lows: "At Chattanooga there was a flving
bridge at that time. A third bridge was to
take the place of this. Do you know what
a flying bridge is?" and then followed the
pictures.
"What were General Grant's working
hours?" I asked.
"When T first began, his working hours
were from 10 until 12 in the morning. Then
in the afternoon Mrs. Jesse Grant or some
one else would read to him out of the books
to refresh his memory, and he wonld ;.
with his notebook in hand and make catch
notes. He had a good army library and
knew where to find things. In the evening
he would have more reading, and when the
iamily were awav he would sit and thinV
and make notes. At this time the most of
bis dictation was done in the morning from
these notes, and he now and then had his
papers looked over for certain manuscripts
to refresh bis mind.
PURNISHED CLEAN COPY.
"The searching of these papers was done bv
myself and Colonel Grant General Grant
dictated very freely and easily. He made
few changes. During the trouble between
the family and Badeau, Mr. Johnson, one of
the editors of the Century, was shown the
manuscript of his first volume. This was,
you know, in Grant's handwriting. Mr.
Johnson was astonished when he looked at
it, and he said there was not oqe literary
man in a hundred who furnished as clean
eppy as Grant This manuscript is now in
the hands ot the family. It was not sent to
the printers, and it was copied by Colonel
Fred Grant Ulysses S, Grant Jr.. and mv-
sen ceiore wai oanaea in.
Grant's sentences rarely had to be revised in
any way, and it was only at the last that he
did not express himself in full.
'The dictation lor him was painful. His
voice got lower and lower' as he went on.
At last it was a mere whisper and then it
stopped. I shall not lorget soon his joy at
the completion of the book. He had in
tended to have had the whole read over to
him and to have revised it all. He was in
reality only ablo to revise the first volume,
and during his last hours he was afraid that
he would not be able to complete it He
used in his writing for his book a yellow
manilla legal cap ruled with bine lines and
ha wrote with a pencil. The work tired
him very much, and at last he was only able
&6ou
jAy&--
Grant's Picture of a Bridge (ISS5).
to scratch down his ideas. There was con
siderable arranging to be done in the work,
and he did not know that it was so near
completed as it was. I saw at last that
he had reached the end of all he could do,
especially if he was able to hear it read, as I
had wished.
SURPRISED AT THE END.
"We were then practically at the end and
I said to Colonel Grant: 'This matter is all
in shape now and I think we had better tell
General Grant that the book is done.' We
then told him. At first he hardlv realized it
and then he was very happy fora short time.
He told those around him that his book was
finished and that it had only to be read over.
The next day, however, he was not so well
and he never got to that point at which we
could read him the second volume. It was
only a few days after the finishing of the
boob that he died. During his lastdays he
worked almost constantly on the book. I
saw that he was sinking fast and worked all
the time I could. I was stopping at the
house all the time and my rest was now and
then taking a walk in the woods. The Gen
eral was much pleased at my action, but he
said nothing about it
"After General Grant's death," Mr.
Dawson went on, "I hunted up all the slips
that the General had written and gave them
to the Colonel and Mrs. Grant, with the ex
ception of less than a dozen which were per
sonally written for me. Some of these slips
relate to his book. He was very cautious in
writing so as not to injure the feelings of
anyone and I remember many touohing inci
dents of how he cut out sentences which he
thonght might hurt. He was even hyper
critical in this regard and often imagined
things might hurt when they might have
been left iu. Had he been able he would
have probably made his memoirs comprise
his whole life, but as it was he was glad to
be able to finish his military career.
READING THE PROOF.
"The proof of the book was all carefully
read. We had four slips of proofs and Col
onel Grant, U. S. Grant. Jr., Jesse Grant
and myself each held a slip while one of us
read. Everything was carefully revised and
verified, and this by going through the Gen
eral's papers, as well as by consulting lead
in? anthorities.
"General Grant's papers tore very vain
sole," said " Mr. Dawson. "He sustained
the closest relations to the great men of his
dav, and he carried on a correspondence
with statesmen in different parts of the
world. One of his closest friends was Li
Hung Chang, the Viceroy of China. His
correspondence with him continued until
the time of his death, and he often spoke of
Li Hung Chang in the highest terms. Li
Hung Chang would write asking his advice
as to matters ot state, and General Grant,
you know, called him the Bismarck of
China."
I here told Mr, Dawson the high reputa
tion which General Grant sustained in
China, and referred to a picture of the Gen
eral and Li Hung Chang which was made
by a photographer at Tientsin. A copy ol
this photograph is in my possession. It
represents the two greatest men of two
hemispheres drinking tea, with a Chinese
table between them. Had Grant been re
elected President, I doubt not the United
States and China wonld be closer together,
and in all probability the American and
the Celestial would be kissing each other.
Prank G. Carpenter.
AN 0ISTEK IN HIS EXE.
Carious Attachment a Sea Spider Has
Been Carrying- for Two Years.
New York Herald.
While Captain "Ed" Scudder, one of the
best-known oystermen, of Northport, L. L,
was dredging near that place one day last
week, his rake brought up a medium sized
sea spider fitted with a unique attachment
in the shape of au oyster that covered his
starboard eye.
The sea spider is of the genus maia,
and abounds in the waters around New
York. His principal food is the oyster,
and he spends his life at the bottom
ot the sea searching for oyster beds.
The Sea Spider.
Just how the oyster attached itself to the
eye of the sea spider is more or less a matter
of conjecture, but Cantaiu Scudder thinks
that the animal while in search of food re
ceived the "spat" or spawn of an ovster in
his starboard optic, and has carried it ever
since. This spat is provided with a mncil
agenous substance that enables it to stick to
a rock or anything else it attaches to with
all the tenacity of a leach.
The shell of the oyster shows to an experi
enced eye that it is fully two vears old, and
thus the unfortunate sea spider has been
carrying for all that time a constantly grow
ing burden. If he bad not been brought to
the surface by Capiain Scudder's rake his
late would have been a sad one, for in two
years more the oyster would have increased
so considerably in size and weight that he
would have been to the spider what the Old
Man of the Sea came near being to Sinbad
the Sailor. After awhile the spider would
have fonnd his weight a serious obstacle to
locomotion, and finally the poor animal
would have been unable to move at all and
would have starved to death.
She Una a bnpple Tongar.
A pretty Kensington girl rattles this
off like lunch: "Six silver sieves of sifted
thistles and a sieve of unsifted thistles. I am
a sifted thistle sifter and an unsifted thistle
sifter with a sieve of sifted thistles and a
r g ,
Pfe-
GeneraU.sieve of unsifted thistle v"
A HAUNTED THEATER.
Spooks Occupy Kearly Every Beat
of a Brooklyn Playhouse. -
VICTIMS OP AN AWPDL DISASTER.
Uncanny Eeports Compel the Owners
Tear the Strnctnre Down.
to
TORUS WHICH THE STOBIES TOOK
rCOrtrtESPONDENCE OP T1TE DISFATCB.1
New York, April 26. A house is to be
demolished in Brooklyn because it is be
lieved to be haunted. It is a large and
handsome theater, but its reputation for
ghosts is such that no profit can be made out
of it for amusement purposes. So the own
ers have decided to tear it down. An auc
tion sale of its interior fittings will be held
next week. Immediately afterward the
walls will be razed, and during the snmmer
acommercial building will be erected on the
site.
This is a delayed and curious consequence
of a memorable disaster. About IS years
ago the Brooklyn Theater was burned, with
a loss of 800 lives. That event can hardly
have faded from the minds of the American
newspaper readers anywhere, but to Brook
lyn people, so many of whom were bereaved
by the loss of relatives, and all of whom
were horrified bv the catastrophe, it
remains a vivid recollection. The fire
started on the stage while "The
Two Orphans" was being performed,
and the flames spread almost instan
eously through the scenery to the
inflammable ceiling of the auditorium.
The people in the parquet escaped easily,
bnt for those in the two galleries the exits
were so quickly closed by fire that compar
atively few got out The building was ut
terly burned, and out of the debris were
taken, amid the most shocking scenes, the
charred remains of the dead. Only a small
number of the bodies could be identified,
and the remainder were buried together in
Greenwood Cemetery, where a monument is
inscribed to their sad memrry.
REBUILT ON THE SAME SPOT.
The theater had been owned by a stock
company, composed of half a dozen Brook
lyn politicians and office holders, and,
strangely enough, they decided to build an
other playhouse ou the same ground.
Against this course they were advised by
those who believed that, under the awful
circumstances, the site was not any longer
suitable fora theater, and that, on business
as well as sentimental grounds, the enter
prise was ill-advised. The dominant
man in the company was the late
Judge McCue, a rich and vigorous
man, who would not be convinced of any
impropriety in rebuilding the theater. So
it was done. Although the second structure
was entirely different in looks from its pre
decessor, and had its entrance on another
street, it occupied the same space. It was a
verv handsome house at first, luxuriously
fitted up. and valued altogether at 300.000.
At (hat time its only rival in Brooklyn was
the shabby and antiquated theater long
identified with the late Conways.
There was no reason other than the holo
caust why the new Brooklyn Theater
should not gain a fashionable and prosper
ous career. But it did not Every effort to
sustain it as an elegant resort failed. The
finest performances did not draw paying
audiences. People disliked to go for diver
sion to the place where the great tragedy
had occurred. Next, the house was devoted
to a somewhat lower grade of theatricals,
and the management endeavored to popu
larize it; but here the same difficulty was
encountered, and beside stories of ghosts got
afloat
THE GHOST STORIES.
It was told that the spirits of the burned
800 haunted the premises, and these tales
were sufficient to keep folks away. Two
years ago, as a last and desperate recourse,
the theater was turned into a ten-to-fifty
bouse, that is, its prices were cheapened to
the lowest extent, and it catered to the cheap
multitude. The failure has been as decisive
as before, and now a demolition, as de
scribed, has been decided upon by the
owners.
All through the unfortunate career of the
rebuilt theater, the ghost stories concerning
it have increased in number and positive
ness. At first they indefinitely narrated
that spooks frequented the auditorium at
night after the performances were over, and
there were folks who declared that they saw
phosphorescent lights through the windows.
A little later a janitor gave up his job be
cause, as he averred, he had encountered
several of the dead members of the company
which had performed there on the night of
the fire. On one occasion, so he said, he
entered the house after the departure of the
audience, and saw the stage occupied by
these ghostly actors, who were going through
witn a scene ot "Xhe xwo urpnans."
A SPOOK IN EVERY SEAT.
The man was a drunkard, however, and a
liar even when sober; so his acquaintances at
tributed his yarns jointly to alcohol and
invention. But they got into circulation
nevertheless, and are now a part and parcel
of Brooklyn tradition. But the crushing
and final ruinous belief engendered by
superstitious dread arose during the past
winter. It was declared, nobody knows by
whom at first, but by a great many later on,
that every gallery seat was nightly occupied
by the ghost of the person whose life had
been lost there in the fire.
These disembodied spirits, according to
this conceit, were usually impalpable alike
to sight and touch, and did not hinder the
living purchaser of the seat from sitting in
it; but the ten-centers were not less sensitive
than the dollar-and-a-half folks had been,
and they found that they really could not
enjoy themselves seated in a chair compos
edly with a ghost Thus it came about that
the dime parts of the house, so much de
pended upon in cheap-priced theaters, had
been very sparsely occupied. That dealt the
final blow to the Brooklyn Theater, and will
cause its destruction. P. P. L.
C0L0E TEST IN BEEP.
The
Air Soon Darkens tbs Brightest
Red
Heat Overdriving Cattle.
Again and again a lady will refuse to take
steak which looks dark because she places
explicit faith in the color test, and can not
imagine that dark meat can be other than
dressed beef, says a St, Louis butcher in the
Globe-Democrat. This is all nonsense.
When meat is first cut it is often a quite
bright red, but a brief exposure darkens it.
When a beast has been overdriven just prior
to slaughtering, the meat is usually dark
from the first, but even this test is not infal
lible. Very few butchers can tell dressed
from home-killed beef except by the way it
is cut, and not one retail buyer out of one
thousand can tell at all.
WAED M'ALLISTBB'S BOOK.
Metropolitan Society Walling With Bated
Breath for Its Appearance.
New York -World.
Word McAllister, it is understood, is
busily engaged in writing his book on so
ciety, and society people are much inter
ested over the probable contents of it " ie
speculations as to what he will say anrd
what he will not say, the people whom he
will mention and the people whom he will
not mention, are endless and diverting.
Everybody is anxious to see the chapter of
be advice which will, it is taken forgranted
included in the book, and which will be ad
dressed to those who desire to seenre
entrance to the moat exclusive social circles
ji the metroBplij i
A ROMANCE OP RUSSIA AND SIBERIA
BY PRINCE JOSEF LUBOMIRSKI,
Author of "Safer-Hadji, a Story of Turkistan," Etc.
Translated From the Russian i-or The Dispatch
BY META DE YERA.
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
The story opens in St Petersburg with an Interview between Colonel Palkln, aid-de-camp of
the head of the gendarmes, and Mr. Onopbri Schelm. head of the division of political affairs
under the Minister of the Interior, Count Perowski. Both are ambitious and cordially bate each
other. Palkin announces a conspiracy that Schelm knows nothing of. Count Lanin aid-decamp
of the Emperor, enters announcing the order of St. Vladimir for Palkin. In reward for his
skill, and a censure upon Schelm for his ignorance of the conspiracy. Janais the daughter of
wealthy Alexander Wernin. Count Vladimir Lanin ism love with her and she accepts him
Previously Schelm has asked Wernin for Jana's band. She, thinking to humble Schelm has
Count Lanin send to htm an invitation to their wedding, as her answer to bis request for ber
hand. Wernin learns of the insult just too late, tries to intercept the Invitation bnt fails.
Schelm receives it, and his anger knows no bounds. Wernin trembles, for Schelm's power is al
most absolute. An old schoolmate of Bcbelm's, Miller, of Millertown, evidently in abject poverty
calls on him and asks a loan to put him in shape to attend a law banquet. Bcbelm abruptly dis
misses him. Miller goes to Vladimir, who accommodates him and goes with him to the banquet.
There tbey meet Scbelm, who hides his bitter anger successfully and alludes to the wedding in
vitation. Because Nicholas PopofC was not at band just as he wanted him, Schelm discharges
blm. On Popoff are dependent his aged mother and her child, living in one of the poorest dis
tricts of the city. Popoff returns to them desperate. His sweetheart, Helen, and Miller drop in
and Miller leaves all that is left of the money Vladimir gave him. Nicholas vow revenue on
Schelm. Miller calls on Schelm, again penniless and hungry. Schelm gives him 10.000 rubles for
which Miller binds himself to bis service absolutely, and thus becomes the tool of Schelm in a
most outrageons conspiracy against his dear friend Vladimir Lanin. Schelm needs more money
Nicholas Popoff overhears him say so ana offers to get 100,000 rubles by forgery. Scbelm ac
cepts, intending to betray Popoff immediately he gets the money, because the discharged soldier
has beard too much. Popoff biings the money, but, suspecting Schelm, gives him all the 100 000
rubles instead of retaining part. It was Bcbelm's plan to get rid ot him by prosecuting him for
retaining money. Lanin is married and spends his honeymoon at Crimea. He does all in his
power for Miller and makes Popoff his Secretary. After their return Lanin displays jealousy
of Count Palm, of the French Legation. Jana is angered. Afterward in Miller's presence she
tells of a woman's club to which she belongs. Madame de-Dugara, of the French Legation is
the head of this woman's club. It is to meet Saturday at 10 o'clock. Miller arranges to meet
Lanin at the theater that day. Then Miller goes to the meeting place of conspirators against the
Czar. He officiates, saying the Ace of Clubs, who is President, is detained. The meeting shows
the conspiracy is of great power.
CHAPTEEVIL
, Miller was in the act of seizing the bell in
order to close the session, when suddenly
one of the elderly men rose and asked to be
permitted to speak.
"Gentlemen! Ace of Spades has the floor!"
"You have given me, gentlemen, the
name of 'Experience' and not without cause.
I am indeed an experienced conspirator. I
have, from childhood up, hated that despot
ism which disgraces our HoIyBussia. I
have conspired against Katherine, Paul and
Alexander. In 1826 I was a member of the
conspiracy against Nicholas "
"Order!" called one of the members.
"Ace of SpadesI Tell us what you have
to say, without going back into the pastl"
"I thought," continued the old man, ad
dressing Miller directly. "I ought to pre
face my words to this extent in order to
justify what follows, which otherwise you
might interpret as lacking in courage. So
far, gentlemen, we have been content with
secret meetings and confidential talk. We
have listened to eloquent and powerful
speeches against tyrannyl but now we are to
proceed openly; we are. as the President has
said, to risk our lives and our fate. I want
to know now who is going to lead us and
who is virtually at the head of the whole en
terprise. Before we proceed I want to know
Ace ot Clubs!"
Several members showed that they ap
proved the" motion. Miller had turned
pale. The old man continued:
"We were assured that he was a high per
sonage, who wished to remain unknown.
Very well! So far our head may have had
his reasons", but now, when we are to appear
openly, this want of confidence is offensive
to us! To-day, when our lives are demand
ed of us, we have a right to know who our
leader isl" , ,
"Ace of Spades is right!" cried several
voices.
Miller frowned. The Assembly was evi
dently excited. At last he seized the bell,
and said: "Gentlemen, it is you who show
a want of confidence in the Ace of Clubs.
Has he not given you proof enough of his
power and influence? Has he not shown his
devotion to our cause? Who freed the
bookseller, Schimon, who distributed revo
lutionary works and restored him to his
business and his iamily? Does not Two of
Clubs, who was arrested for having con
spired with soldiers, owe it to him that he
was set free? Must I recall to you in how
many instances Ace of Clubs has shown
von the power he wields. Is idle curiosity
to turn your hearts away from our great
work?"
"It is not idle curiosity," said Ace of
Spades. "I have asked no question till the
dav when we are to .proceed to action. We
must at least know rho is our leader. We
are not children to be led blindly. No doubt,
we have learned to know the energy, the
power and the wisdom of Ace of Clubs our
number has increased from a dozen to forty
members, since Ace of Clubs has become the
soul of our meetings. But while he knows
us, we have never been permitted to know
him. And as he always transfers his privi
leges as President to Mr. Miller, of Millers
town, I think we have a right to ask the lat
ter, who alone seems to enjoy his confidence,
to tell us who he is. I am inclined to move
that we do not take another step till we
learn who leads us!"
The assembly murmured applause. Some
whispering took place and then one of the
younger officers said: "We all vote for the
motion of Ace of Spades."
Miller was painfully pale; a dark resolve
flushed his face and glowed in his eves.
"If you insist upon It you shall have your
will. I know Ace of Clubs and am ready
to make yon acquainted with him, bnt our
President, who has given so often evidence
ot his self-sacrifice and his courage, can
have no confidence in men who mistrust
him. Brother Experience has confessed
that Ace of Clubs is the soul of onr con
spiracy. He has brought us everything
power, intelligence and material subsidies.
He can make himself known only to such
as have done the same. I therefore move
that you choose nine delegates, who will re
main. wUh moiatMf hali, JChey shall learn J
from my lips the name of Ace of Clubs.
They can meet again on Saturday and carry
the final orders to other members. To-day
I move we close the meeting."
He appeared almost great under the influ
ence of his sublime courage. All were car
ried away, they were ready to explain, to
excuse themselves, even Ace of Soaues
hung his head. All cried unanimously:
"We believe it! We trust pur leaderl"
Miller, however, meant to 'profit bv this
lucky turn of affairs. He insisted upon the
election of nine delegates. Aftera moment's
general confusion the Secretary named 18
members, with eight corresponding cards.
Theu each man present drew a card from the
pack that was lying on the table and threw
it into a basket The President, to whom
the basket was handed, mentioned there
upon the nine names upon which the lot had
fallen. Then Miller turned ironically to
I the conspirators and said:
As we bave no other room and all leave
at the same time to avoid suspicion, I beg
you will wait a while in the anteroom. Jn
a moment you shall be called."
The conspirators felt humiliated by Mil
ler's haughty manner. All, even Ace of
Spades, now regretted their want of confi
dence. In deep silence they waited.
When Miller had only the nine delegates
before him, he drew himself up proudly and
said:
"Gentlemen, I am happy that the choice
has fallen upon you. I, myself, could not
have chosen better. Those who are to hear
my words must be tried men, ready for
everything. Gentlemen, you wished to
know Ace of Clubs. I will gratify your
wish. I, myself, am Ace of Clubs."
All drew back dumbfounded. Iu the
meantime Miller had quickly Jdrawn forth a
black mask with a hood, covered his head
and In a changed voice exclaimed:
"Do you recognize this mask and this
voice?"
Then casting aside in a somewhat theatri
cal bnt dignified manner both mask and
hood, be added:
"You need then mysterious influences
and important individualities? Genius and
mind are enough for the multitude! I knew
this. I had in mind a gigantic project
which I had invented, prepared and elabora
ted. To carry ft out I needed a hand.
Then you admitted me to your circle. It
eounted only 12 members, and all your
dreams and your ambitions amounted to the
reading of forbidden books. I came, I
kindled your imagination and warmed your
patriotism, I nlled you with courage, but
what was I in your eyes? An honest man,
that was all. If I had offered to become
your leader you would have thought me in
sane. Then I appeared one day before you,
masked, bringing in one hand Schimon's
pardon, and in the other 5,000 rublu. The
Colonel has introduced me here. Ask him
why he did it"
"I had," said the Colonel, "received a
letter from our correspondent in London,
who recommended you. Two of our brethren
vouched for the masked man. At the sight
of the money and the pardon I hesitated no
longer."
"How I could do all this," continued
Miller, "T shall, perhaps, tell you hereafter,
but you know how my cunning, my power
ful intellect, has overcome every impediment
in our way. I do not deny that I was in
dorsed by a man, an enthusiast for our holy
cause, who was ready to support it, and who
had onened me no an unlimited credit.
This man is still alive, has large means and
extensive relations, but he is not a man of
great weight in the empire, and need not
hide behind a mask. You shall see him
Saturday. He gave me the money I spent
he made my task easy for me, but after all,
he was but an instrument in my hands, which
I knew how to use profitably. All this I
have done alone! Gentlemen, now you
know met Do you acknowledge me as your
leader?"
"Yes! yes!" they cried with one voice.
They had listened in silence; they could
not conceal their surprise their admiration.
Miller opened the door.
"Gentlemen, come in, I pray you. One
of the delegates will draw up the resolu
tions. I must leave you now. Colonel, will
you follow me?" ,
He gave Ten of Hearts his arm, and
proudly left the half. In the street he said
goodby to the Colonel, adding;
"Beturn, and if the members should in-,
slst upon removing Ace of Clubs, I author
ize you to give them my name. We shall
meet again, I hope, Colonel, and in the fire
of action!"
Then he beckoned to a cab driver. Drove
to the Michael Theater and bought ticket
for a proscenium box. It was past 8 when
he entered the restaurant, where Lanin sat
waiting for him impatiently. '
"Pardon me," said Miller, "but I was en
gaged until this moment."
And while he unfolded his napkin he
handed him the tickets and said :
"I thought of you here are tickets for
Saturday."
"I thank you," said Lannin.and sat down
opposite him.
CHAPTER VHT.
The whole Imperial Court was assembled
in the Winter Palace. Thegentlemen Inlull
uniform, the ladies in the national costume,
were standing at their places opposite those
reserved for the imperial family. The Mas
ter of Ceremonies with his marshal's staff
was seen hurrying to and fro, seeing that
the rules were observed. It was a gala day,
and all hoped to see the Czar's family as
they were returning from church.
The Winter Garden, separated from the
Hall of St George by the Pompey Gallery,
had attracted several higher officials. They
were engaged in confidential talk.
Only in the gallery nobody remained, for
here two of the greatest statesmen of Russia
were walking up and down. They were
Count Orloff, head of the gendarmes, and
the Emperor's intimate friend. Count Per
owski, Minister of the Interior.
A soldier of the Golden Begiment, who
stood sentry at the door that opened upon
the gallery and the rooms of the mighty
rules of the empire, presented arms every
time they came near him, and the Arab who
was posted on the opposite side never took
his eye from them.
"Thus it is." said Count Orloff. "I left
His Majesty under the impression of very
sad thoughts, nor could I bring him better
news, for I have known for two months
what you told me but now. My police have
been watching a very dangerous conspiracy
all this time, but as they often met with
Mr. Schelm's emissaries they would not in
terfere with them. Yesterday, however,
Colonel Palkin assured me that Schelm was
ip-the dark and that we must root up the
whole conspiracy at once or there might be
real danger!"
"Keally?" replied the Minister. "Your
Palkin is very cunning. Schelm always
tells me he is better at fictitious than at real
conspiracies."
"Palkin told me literally the same ol
Schelm," said Count Orloff, smiling. "One
is worth as much as the other. But I do
not think him capable of inventing a conspir
acy. He knows me too well for that; but I
tell you frankly that I have authorized him
to proceed, as he assures me he Is on the
point of discovery. I have, however, for
your sake, ordered him to wait a whole
week."
The Minister's brow looked dark.
"I thank you, Count I am sorry I shall
have to trouble his Majesty the Emperor,
once more, but as my people have unearthed
this conspiracy I should, of course, also like
to get the reward for the discovery."
"And justly so," said the head of the
gendarmes, "that is why I leave the field
clear for you."
At this moment the soldier on duty raised
the portiere which concealed the door of the
White Hall, and the Admiral General of
the Emperor, Count Lanin, entered. When
he saw the two statesmen conversing he
walked up to them and shook them hv th
hand.
"I cannot recover from my conversation
with the Emperor just now. Count Jon
cause him constant grief with your continu
ous reports of new conspiracies!"
"Unfortunately J What did the Emperor
say?"
"I wish all conld have heard him I 'Dear
Lanin, he said to me, rousing himself from
profound meditation, 'they have discovered
a new conspiracy! The head of the secret
police has told Orloff. Why will they not
acknowledge me as their father and master?
Why do they force me to be the stern judge
Instead? I am the Emperor and autocrat
of all the Bussias, but should like to bear
that title only for the happiness and the
glory of all my subjects P An indescriba
ble emotion was reflected ou his manly
face and in his voice. When he noticed that
I shared his feelings, he continued t 'You,
at least, love me, Lanin ! But how few such
hearts have I around met Everywhere
tour i intrigues ana uattery t i hate revolu
tions but I despise conspiracies I I can
comply with the wishes of my people with
out humiliation, but to be afraid of the
threatenings of a few malcontents, that
wonld be madness, vulgarity!' You are
perfectly right, sire, I said; such people de
serve punishment and severe punishment
'Punishment? repeated the Emperor, 'I al
ways hear the same words and it wounds mv
heart'"
"Our master is a man of rare nobility,"
said Orloff, deeply touched. "Why cannot
all learn to know him as well as we do, his
nearest friends?"
The Minister did not break the ominous
silence, and his features grew sharper and
harder.
"Then the Emperor," continued Lanin.
"repeated the same words, adding: 'Alas!
that punishment should be necessary! Tha
country must be protected against these fre
quent shocks. If that conspiracy should be
real, you, Lanin, will iudge the guilty and
punish them severely, but' he unexpectedly
added, holding me back, 'do not forget m7
friend, that I will hear nothing of capital
punishment During my reign too many
lives have already been sacrificed. How
ever great the crime may be, I swear, I give
them their lives!'" '
A reverential murmur here interrupted
Lanin's recital. The Chief Chamberlaia
appeared in the door of the Hall of St
George. At a sign from him all the doors
were suddenly opened wide, so that the eye
could range through all the intervening
halls and galleries to the end of the Winter
Palace. .
The Master of Ceremonies knocked three
times with his gold stick and cried aloud:
"His Majesty the Emperor!"
When a lew hours later Count Perowski
sent for Mr. Schelm he received him in an
unexpectedly cold and stiff manner. He re
proached him with negligence and repeated
his conversation with Count Orloff,
M
I