2c ' i & t . '! r r SECOND PfiRT NNOCENT MB, NAST. He "Visits the Capitol Taking His Crayon Along. SOME STAETLINGBESULTS. The Great Cartoonist Shocked by Press Gallery Levity. QUESTIONS CHILDLIKE AKD BLAKD I WBITTZK TOR THX SISrATCH.1 I was sauntering down Pennsylvania avenue, musing upoD the misfortune of knowing too much, trying to wish myself back io those happy days when I came to Washington an innocent stranger and was filled with pleasurable motions by the randenr and eauty of its tcenes, awed in hepreseneeof its 'reat men and startled to excite ment by standing ice to face with hose wbo shape he coarse and destiny of this grandest nation thatthe history of man has ever " known. I was A Senate Doorkeeper, sauntering along In this reflective state of mind when I was addressed by a short, interesting-looking man. "Pardon me, sir," he said: "can you tell me where the Capitol is?" Could I tell him where the Capitol is? I, whose profession it Is to know not only every cranny of that labyrinthine structure, but the secret aims and purposes of those men who are sent here to occupy it. I looked pityingly down upon the stranger and he blushed and raised his hat as if he feared he bad unwarrantably interrupted the ponderous meditations ot some great mind on whicn the heavy burdens of the Government reposed. "Iamcoing to the Capitol," I said; "I will show you the way." "I will follow you," said he, in a rever ential tone, as he modestly stepped apart to fall in behind me. He seemed to feel more nt ease when I informed bim who I was and begged him to walk beside me. Before we had reached the Capitol we were on terms of chance acquaintance. He had told rae that his name was ThoniasNast, and that he sometimes made pictures for the illustrated periodicals. I told him that I thought I had heard of him somewhere.and it Where it the Capitol t seemed to please him and to hasten our ac quaintance. "So this is the Capitol of the great TJnited 8EXATOB PLTJMB States," he said, standing with his hands behind him, looting up in raptured admira tion of the scene. "My, my, and here I stand in person before the very Capitol it self." As we were standing there, a big, smooth faced man with a loud voice and louder gestures passed us and ascended the steos. Mr. Nast drew me into an out of the war nook and, after looking cautiously up and down to make sure that nobody was listen ing, said to me in a whisper: "Something is goine- to happen to-day." "What is it?" "I don't know," laid he, "but something Mfll 0K11 g5- jpag&KS; ' ris53 "t" : about the Government is going to be radi cal lv changed. You saw tnat big man?" "Yes." "Well, I overheard him at the hotel this morning swearing and talking very earn estly to a friend atout some law or other that he was going to have changed right away. He said he had come here to 'Wash ington for that especial purpose, and he was going to see his member of Congress about it to-day and have it fixed right ud. Hadn't we better stay around here and see the ex citement?" I told Mr. Nast that I hardly thought there would be any actual revolution belore lunch time. "Bo yon know who the big man is?" he asked. "Yes; he is a member of the board of supervisors of Kankakee county, out in Illinois." I began to take a profound interest in Mr. Nast and his refreshing innocence. 1 had become weary of association with trie jour nalists and other wise men of Washington who know as mnch of aflairs as I do, and it was a distinct pleasure to be with some one who acknowledged mv superiority and looked to me respectfully for information. "Shall 10 go np to the Senate gallery?" I asked. Mr. Nast hesitated, blushed, looked down at his clothing, and stammered: "I I I didn't expect to go inside the Capitol. I didn't suppose I would be ad mitted. I didn't come prepared, you see, I I I am I dressed properly?" and he wiped the dnst from his boots with his hand kerchief. "Come along." I took him by the arm. A HEATED As we were passing through a side corridor a m-in steeped nie !$$ a-few1-word?3! "Was that a Senator?" asked Mr. Nast, a w resumed our way. "So; that was a nephew of John C. Cal houn." "A nephew of the immortal Calhoun?" and Mr. Hast turned and looked after the receding form in silent meditation. "How eccentric some of these great men are in dressl" said be, and then, after a mo ment's pause: "would it be impertinent to ask what he said to you?" "Not at all," I answered; "he only wanted to borrow a dime." Before we entered the Senate press gal lery Mr. Nast stooped in front of a mirror, smoothed down his hair, adjusted his neck tie and picked a bit of lint off his coat. "Am I all right?" he asked, in a whisper. "Come along; you're not going to be bridemaid at a queen's wedding." "But I am going into the presence of the United States Senate, and " I opened the door and Mr. Nast was dumb. He faltered at the threshold and looked as if he would like to run. Then his eyes rested for a moment on the scene before him, and with reverential step he entered into that august presence, and in his bewil derment sat down upon the hat of a West ern correspondent For many minutes he ON HIS TXKT. was silent. His eyes did not seem to see what was before them. When he had y"w.nat "covered his composure he said: i !? e Prondest moment of my . il Peal"g musingly, more to himself than to me, continued: "If only the boys could see their lather now, sit ting here in the very presence ot the great Senate of the whole United States!" "Does it meet your expectation. Mr. Nast?" "It is not exactly what I had pictured it in my mind," he answered; "I had seen the and I had studied Jerome j ftunoui picture. I THE PITTSBtRG I had an idea the TJnited States Senate wonld look somewhat like this," be added, as he made a lew strokes with his pencil and produced a picture. "Yon draw pretty well, Mr. Nast," I said T-rHt SpvP 'Ft w All vM.IlM H , Senator Yetl in Hit Chair. encouragingly; "very fairly, indeed," and it seemed to please him. "Then yon are disappointed in the Sen ate?"! continued. "Disappointed! No, sir; I am delighted delighted to be here, to sit face to face ABGUMEirT. J with this treat body of, statesmen. "When f-Awn tbe-t&sion begin?""" " " "" "They are in session now." "I mean when do they begin making laws?" "They are making them now." "Yon don't tell me? Why, do they let 5- "XVW5KS VVjy anybody that wants to come in and make speeches? I supposed nobody but Senators could make speeches here. Who is that man talking now, and what right has he to be on the floor?" "That is Senator Plumb, Mr. Nast." "Go on! Is that a Senator?" "Honor bright. Did you think it was a livery-stable keeper?" N-n-no," answered Mr. Nast, with an effort to feel the reverence that he deemed due to a United States Senator "N-n-no; I thoucht by his gestures it was somebody who wanted a patent on a chnrn and was exdaining how it worked. Who is that splendid-looking Senator standing over there bv the door?" ""Which one?" "That one with the patriarchal beard and noble brow. One can see at a glace that he is a great law-giver. He makes me think of Solon and Lycurgus and the great lead ers of old." "This is Captain Bassett, the assistant doorkeeper." "Oh," said Mr. Nast. Jnst then a journalist sitting near us cracked a very undignified joke about Sena tor Vest, who sat on his back with his head hunched down between his shoulders till he looked as if he had six inches less than no neck at all, whereat all the rest of the jour nalists laughed unblushingly. Mr. Nast was amazed. A Capital Joke. "Is this really the Senate?" he asked, dubiously. "Certainly." "And it is actually in session?" "Yes." "And these men laugh right ont in his .Continued on Tenth PagcJ, JM- 3te. J FV t " " ,ji '' - L H-r-r-lJ jAmY;y --,,3- PITTSBURG, SUNDAY, MAY 4, GAGS ON THE STAGE. Comedian Crane Says They Are AH Eight if Really Clever. A KEAT TURN IN THE HENRIETTA. Louis James the Most Brilliant Act or on the Stage in This Line. GUTIKG ALWAYS TO BE COHDEMED rwBirnur fob tub dispatch, J Very few players on the stage to-day, and certainly very few comedians, have not, I suppose, at some time or other resorted to what are known as gags. Gags, I know, have always been plentifnl enough in my time. "When I was identified with bur lesque and comic opera, as I was when a very much younger comedian than I am at present, I must confess I did a good deal of gagging, and I am prepared to defend to a certain extent the nse of timely and effective gags. There is something about a gag which ap peals directly and irresistibly to an audi ence. Very often it is impromptn, and its freshness and aptness is recognised with positive delight and is followed by applause and laughter, which the most elaborately premeditated jokes always fail to command. It is like a fresh flower in a bouquet of artificial flowers, and if it is thoroughly in keeping and color with what has gone be fore and with what immediately follows it, I do not see how its nse can be very severely condemned. Gagginc should never be confounded with guying. I hold that if gagging is done dis creetly and in reason it may be accepted without any hesitation by an intelligent audience, and need not make the judicious grieve. Guying, however, on the part of a player is a wholly different thing. An actor guys on the stage when he twists his lines in such a way as to give them a par ticular and personal meaning not under stood by an audience, but intended for me benefit and delectation either of a few friends in the audience or of fellow players on the stage. DIRECT AFFRONT TO THE AUDIENCE. I have seen a well-known actor on the stage guj to such an extent that the actors and actresses in the same scene with him were convulsed with merriment and nnable to go on with the lines of the' play. This constitutes a direct affront to ihe audience, and should be reprobated on more grounds than it is worth while to enumerate. Guy ing, however, in the sense I am using the the word, simply means the introduction of apt lines not set down in the manuscript by the author, and I do not see how any ob jection can be made to them if they are in the direction of the author's thought and illustrate and enforce bis meaning, as very frequently they do. Perhaps a few illustrations from experi ence will make clear what I have attempted here to generalize. During the whole time that "The Henrietta" was played in New York and through the country only one gag, so lar as I know, was ever introduced among the lines of the play. This gag was sug gested in Chicago by Cecil Clay, whose wife is Bosiua Vokes, and it seemed too good to be lost. I spoke the line in the character of the elder Van Ahtyne. Everybody remem bers how the widow, as Mrs. Opkyke, sits down on the floor in the third act of "The Henrietta," instead of falling into Van Alstyne's arms, as she confidently expected to do. Thereafter Van Alstyne does every thing he-can-in. the way of explanations -to moderate the just resentment ot the dash ing widow, with whom he is honestly in love, and in these explanations make use of a number of bungling excuses, particularly in the fourth act. At one place he declares that there was so much excitement at the time, the market, by the way, being in a very nervous and panicky condition, that his attention for the moment was drawu from Mrs. Opdyke to the ticker, and it was for this reason that so serious an accident had occurred. THE BUSTLE ON THE FLOOR. Unintentionally, of course, he remarks that the quotations and everything else were falling, and that there was so much on the floor that he did not act as coolly and sensi bly as be would have done under other cir cumstances. Everything that Van Alityne says during the course of these explanations i.au bc hAAu iu u uuuviv Aucauiug, WU1C11 19 exquisitely humorous, and some of the heartiest laughter and applause of the play is elicited during this speech. Clay's sug gestion was that as ladies wore bustles at that time that the speech about the excite ment on the floor might be altered and am plified so as to refer to the bustle on the floor, which would comprehend a reference to the flurry over the falling quotations as well as Mrs. Opdyke's unfortunate experience. I accepted and acted on the suggestion. The line was received with shouts of laughter and was kept in the play until the return of the comedians to New York. Hearing Mr. Howard was in the audience one or two evenings out of respect to him I omitted the line, and the laugh I had been in the habit of getting was lost. I remember one time when Mr. Bobson and myself were playing at the Boston Theater. I forget what the play waB, but during the course of the performance a bat found its way some how or other into the auditorium and began circling round and round, as bats are in the habit of doing under similar circumstances. The perform ance of the little animal attracted the at tention of everybody in the house and rather diverted the attention from the performance on the stage. Boston was baseball crazy at the time, just as it is now, and I finally took occasion to ask during the course of the dialogue on the stage and jnst as the animai swooped down to a lower point in the auditorium than he had swooped before, whether there was anybody in the house who had a ball which would hit that bat. It wasn't a particularly brilliant remark, But the aptness of it made up for its want; of brilliancy, and the house immediately testi fied its pleasure in the usual uproarious way. READING ELECTION RETURNS. On another occasion in Boston we had ar ranged to have the election returns sent to the theater, and Bobson and myself read them as they came in, appearing from opposite sides of the stage between the acts. As we were playing opposite and antagonistic characters in the comedy, these impromptn scenes between the acts were quite in color with the play itself, and the andience en joyed the episode in a very distinct and em phatic way. Bobson, of conrse, read the returns as sent from a Democratic news paper, and I read them as they came to us from a Republican newspaper, and the want of harmony between the two sets of figures naturally created a good deal of merriment. I may mention that the comedy of "Sharps and 1'lats" was the bill for the evening, and when at the conclusion Bobson made his fa mous entrance all battered and bruised, with clothes torn and hair disheveled after a pugilistie interview with the editor of a newspaper, I declared as soon as I caught sight of him that another connty had gone Democratic, and for some minutes there after the honse resembled nothing so much as bedlam let loose. Perhaps some of the raost successful gag ging I ever did was in San Francisco, when I appeared there in Bartley Crmpbell's comedy of "Ultimo." This was an adapta tion lrom the German. Daly did a differ ent adaptation here in New York under the title of "The Big Bonanza." The story of the play dealt largely with stock operation's, and I prepared myself for some local treat ment of the scenes by visiting the San Francisco Stock Exchange very regularly at least two weeks before the play opened. DISPATCH, ; -1 1 1890. I soon knew all the local witticisms which were floating around, and absolutely learned the names on the membership list by heart, precisely as I had learned the lines of the play. ENTERTAINING- THE STOCK EXCHANGE. I waj able, of oourse, under these circum stances, to make all kinds of local allusions in the lines of the play, and the consequence was that the members of the Stock Exchange crowded the theater nightly during the run of the piece. I remember particularly I had a front scene which was fnll of allusions to Stock Exchange matters and men, and I didn't fall to have a brand new joke at every performance. The brokers used to put me up to the jokes and then came with their friends to hear tnem sprung. The play was produced under the management of Hooley, ot Chicago, who brought ns out from San Francisco, and it was the one successful thing which we did. I consider Louis James, without any man ner of doubt; as the most brilliant fellow, so far as gagging on the stage is concerned, whom I ever heard. I remember particu larly one evening going to se"OneofOur Girls" at the Lyceum Theater and sitting in a -box dnrlng the performace. James caught sight of us very shortly after he had got on he stage and started in to gag his part from one end to the other for our especial delecta tion. Everything he said was thoroughly in the line of the character he was person ating, which was that of the doctor, but the quotations the doctor makes in his speeches were not the classical and other quotations set down bv the author of the play, but were dr&wn from such interesting samples of standard dramatic literature as tne "itougn Diamond" and similar dramatic works. The audience never caught on for one moment to the fact that James was embellishing his part alter this fashion, but of course I was familiar with the stock plays from which he was quoting as well as the other actors in the house, it there were any, and I need scarcely say that I was highly delighted and amused with his cleverness. So was Miss Dauvray,.who was on the stage with him at the time. WHEN HOWARD CAME IN. Finally he brought the gagging to a very abrupt termination, and I didn't under stand the reason ot his sudden action until he explained afterward. Bronson Howard, the author af the play, had come into the theater, and as he liked Howard very much he would never indulge in gagging when Howard was in the house. It seems that he- had an arrangement with the chief usher that whenever Mr. Howard did come in this important functionary would raise his hand above his head, and Mr. James would un derstand the significance of the gesture. On the evening in question the usher's hand went up toward tne end of the third act, and James, turning to Miss Dauvray, said to her, "Bronnie est frontas," that is to say, Bronson, or Bronnie, as his wile and friends call him, was in front, and their fun was over for the evening. From that time on he stuck faithlully to the words of the text. Although I do not condemn gagging so severely as some people do, I must confess that I do not quite appreciate the necessity ,or the advantage of it in plays which are carefully written and where the-lines are deliberately set- down to contribute to cer tain effects, which in their turn combine to make up the effect of the play. I think few players are able to improvise lines, or in deed, premeditate lines, which will help the general scheme. I don't say that it is not possible to do it, bat I have sufficient respect for the authors of plays to believe that they understand their business some what better than the actors do, whose busi ness in life is something entirely different and apart. W. H. Crane. A WESTEKNEE'S OTBBELLA. They Don't Use Them Opt Ills Way, So He Toole J Gaod-Dreucblag. New York Tribune. Charles Sprague, of the Grand Central Hotel, tells a good story about one of his guests, a citizen of Idaho. In Idaho um brellas are next to unknown, as it never rains there. There were but two in his connty, he said. One of these he had tacked up in his place of business as a specimen of Eastern civilization, and the other the judge ot the distriet kept in .his office as a curiosity to show his backwoods con stituents. After the "gentleman from Idaho" had selected an nmbrella to suit him, his atten tion was attracted to other articles in the store and when he got through he had a good-sized bundle. He paid tire bill, and placing the bundle under his left arm, with his new umbrella in his right hand, he started for the Grand Central. The rain was now pouring down in torrents, but our Idahoan had his mind fixed on the wearing apparel which he had bought and he neypr thought of his umbrella. It is true that he used it as a cane as he sped on at a dog-trot through the tempest, but it did not occur to him to hoist it, neither did he notice the astonished looks of the people he passed. In due time he reached the hotel in a thoroughly drenched condition. "Why didn't you raise your nmbrella, Sam?" asked Mr. Sprague, with a droll look as his guest stood before him with the water dripping in puddles on all sides of him. The Idaho man looked bewildered and extremely foolish as he answered : "Well, may I be skinned if I didn't for get that I had the durned thing." SHE HAS SHOT HEB BEAB. A New York Beanty Who la at Homo With Nature and a Rifle. Clara Belle's New York Letter. A well-known society belle of this city has fitted up a neat little shooting gallery for her lady friends in her home. During the summer flitting she turns from all fash ionable resorts and burie.i herself in the woods with a small party of congenial spirits where, well chaperoned and equipped, she revels in the manly sport of shooting at living targets. Her skill in small game is seldom excelled her coolness at all times, never. She picks off a squirrel from the tree-tops by sending a bullet through his head, but she takes no farther interest in her game when it is done, tnrning qnickly away as it some womanly tenderness contended with her passion for sport. Her admirers, however, are led to believe by her coldness that she is too thoroughly a follower of Diana to entertain a passion ot a tenderer nature. This hunter-girl's greatest exploit was achieved a season ago. Her party had had a morning of excitiug sport, the game bags were filled, and the hunters were resting, deep in the woods, after a luncheon had been served by their servants. All were silent, enjoying the delicious re pose that follows successful sport, when a crackling of dead branches near them aroused brisk attention. Our Diana's hand was first upon her rifle, hers was the first shot A bear dropped dead in his tracks with her bullet in his brain. His skin it is that now holds the post of honor in her shooting gallery. JUICE THAT WON'T INEBBIATE. An English Doctor Claim to Uavo Settled the Hard Cider Question. A valuable discovery which may have an important bearing on the temperance cause, has, it is stated, been made by Dr. Jones, of Actou Hall, near Berkeley, England. It consists.of a chemical process by which the juice of the apple and the juice of the grape can be manufactured into an extremely pleasant non-alcoholic beverage. Cider manufactured by this Drocess can be kept for at least seven years without fermenta tion. But another invention of Dr. Jones' will be of more general benefit to the com munity. It is a method by which beef and mutton can be kept perfectly fresh for a as long a period. AN EMPRESS EECLUSE Elizabeth of Austria in the Care of Physicians at Weisbaden. PRINCE RUDOLPH'S TRAGIC DEATH Has Almost Unbalanced a Boyal Hind and Destroyed Her Beauty. THE ROMANCE OF A BISTER'S LIFE conBisrosDENcn or thh disfatch.i Weisbaden, April 23. VEB since the unfor tunate death of her only son, Prince Budolph.the Empress of Austria has been a com parative recluse, and so ciety at "Vienna and elsewhere sees very little of the once famous and beautiful woman. Lately she has aged rapidly, and X although she still retains &) traces of her former love. liness, lew wouia recog nize in the sad and faded woman of 53 the once graceful and agile equestrienne whose beanty and prowess de lighted the courts of Europe and were the especial pride of the Viennese. Weisbaden, always gay, has experienced something of a flatter over the arrival of this distinguished invalid, who comes to be treated for rheumatism and gont by the most famous of European massenrs, Dr. Metzger, of Amsterdam. Dr. Metzger has had under his care at different times the Prince of Wales, who visited him here, the Emperor of Russia, whom he treated at St. Petersburg, and almost every crowned head in Europe, with the exception of the young Emperor of Germany. His latest royal patient has, with her household, taken possession of the lovely villa Langenbeck, in the suburbs. The villa is situated on a romantic-looking height which overlooks the town and affords a superb view of the surrounding country for many miles. Here the life of the Empress is very simple and secluded. She rides a great deal; but, as at "Vienna, she is rarely to be seen and is denied to visitors. Her constant Elizabeth, Emprest of Austria, Queen of Hungary. companions are the Fraulein von Ferenczi and another lady of honor, her youngest daughter, the Archduchess "Valerie and the Countess Korniss. She rises very early and with "Valerie strolls in the great rose gardens attached to the villa for an hour or more, till the time for mass, which she attends in the private chapel attached to the villa. Then she takes her massage for an hour, after which comes a mineral bath for the gout, the whole treatment occupying the time until 1 o'clock, when dinner is served in absolute privacy. She eats very lightly and, in the evening, a little tea with sandwiches is all the ladies of this modest court take before retiring. Indeed, the daily routine at the villa is more like the life of a convent than anything else. But despite rhenmatio pains and the feebleness of age, the Empress yet re tains her old love of adventure. Fre quently during the afternoon she takes Dr. Metzger, the King of Masseurs. long exenrsions in the mountains, and climbs to heights that wonld be fatiguing even to a younger person. On these trips her companions, besides such of the ladies of the court as have the endurance needed for the task, are the Oberhofmeisterein Grafin Goess and Oberhofmeister Baron Nopsea. Her ailment has compelled her to abandon forever her horseback rides, as that form of exercise was largely the cause of her illness. It was not an uncommon thing for the Em press to be in the saddle six or eight hours a day for a week at a time, either following the hnnt or for the mere love of the exercise. Now Dr. Metzger has forbidden it abso lutely, and although she looks with longing eyes at her stables and pats the glossy necks of her favorites, she is an obedient patient. I had the pleasure of a visit to the Lang enbeck villa a few days ago. Elizabeth has unquestionably improved much nnder the treatment of the great masseur. While there I met Dr. Metzger. He is a tall, fine looking, rnddy-cheekedman of abont SO. His treatment embraces a system of thorough rubbings and movements of the limbs, and he is a great advocate of the mineral baths. The Villa Langenheck is historic. Its owner, one of the wealthiest and best known surgeons in Europe, is now dead. For many years he was chief of the Prussian surgical staff in the army and afterward served in thesame capacity in the German army during the campaigns of 1864, 1866 and 1870. He had the rank of a general and the grand quoiof the Iron Cross and many other decorations. During my visit the inmates of the villa had a pleasant surorise. The Emperor William of Gere lany, who had just arrived 3&& k! vlmm HfZiIK in Wiesbaden, came to the villa and paid his respects to the royal Invalid. He was in the uniform of a Colonel of Austrian Hus sars, and the compliment paid was both a gallant and delicate one. He stayed to din ner, and while that meal was in progress an alarm was heard ontside, and soon there were sounds of a military attack on the villa which was being stormed by cavalry, the Emperor himself directing the operations. It was a fine show of military tactics gotten up expressly for the diversion ot the Em press and her ladies, and was highly appre ciased. The Empress, who is really very clever and weii-intormed and who speaks and reads nearly all the modern languages, has lately taken up the study of modern Greek, which she has contrived to acquire at Corfu, where she spends a few months every 'season. Much of the light of her life went out when the Crown Prince Budolph died after his unfortunate liaison with the beautiful Baroness "Vestura. Since that Hanfstaengel, ihe Irresistible Photographer. event no court balls have been given at Vienna, nor has she even gone to the theater, although she was formerly a devoted wor shiper of the drama and a liberal patron. Her daughter, Valerie, is engaged to be married to the Archduke Salvator, her cousin, but because of the family mourning the wedding has been postponed until the month of May, when it will probably take place at Ischl. Although Elizabeth has improved under the new treatment, little hopes are enter tained that she will fully recover her health and spirits. There is in some quarters a suggestion of mental malady, and this finds color in the fact that every year increases her desire for solitude. Indeed, there are thousands of her Austrian subjects who would not know her even by sight. She is exceeding- pious, too, and her obedience to her spiritual advisers, who are appointed by the Archbishop of Vienna and the Francis can Brotherhood is almost slavish. The Empress is the daughter of Prince Max, of Bavaria, and belongs to a family noted for intermarriages. Prince Max is the brother of Louis I., of Bavaria, who was the father of King Louis II., who com mitted suicide. Louis I. was a monarch with a picturesque and architectural turn of mind, and during his reign many of the rip est public buildings and monuments in Munich were designed and erected. One of Elizabeth's sisters is the ex-Queen of Naples. Another sister was to have became the wife of Louis IL, bnt, for a reason that written history does not explain, the match was suddenly broken-off. She afterward wedded one of the Orleans Princes and is now a Duchess. I was told that the real secret of the disruption of the proposed royal alliance came abont in this wise: A few days belore the wedding was to have taken place a friend of the King waited on him and remarked, with seeming in difference: "How funny, Your Majesty, that your bride, the Princess, should be so fond of being photographed." "So!" ejaculated Louis. "Yes," continued the tale-bearer. "She goes nearly every day to the handsome Villa Langenbeck Wiesbaden. Franz Hanfstaengel and sits for her pic ture." "Ah!" observed the monarch, dryly. Franz Hanfstaengel, it should be ex plained, is the principal photographer, not only in Munich but in Europe, and is patronized by the royalties very liberally. He is a fine looking fellow, and is an especial favorite with the ladies of the different courts. "Is it so?" continued the King. "Well, then, I will have this photographer of yours take my picture also." A day or two later (monarchs have means of learning things that are not accessible to other mortals) be went to Hanfstaengel's studio and happened to enter at a moment when the pretty bnt indiscreet Princess was with the artist. Both were in a very loving attitude, and the King was mora that satis fied that he had a formidable rival in the man of lenses. The match was broken off immediately. Baron- yok M. STONE MASOHS OF EUROPE. In San Rono Men Carry Blocks of Building; Material on Their Heads. Vice President Watson, of the Philadel phia Master Builders Exchange who spent the winter in Europe writes as follows in Carpentry and Building: "In San Beno I saw a stone mason handle stone in a curi ous way. Four men wonld lift a stone of great weight and set it on the head of a fifth man. who would carry it to the point on a level, or to the floor of a building where it was to be laid, and then ionr other men would remove it from the head of the carrier and set it in its place. All through Germany and Austria I saw women mixing and carrying the mortar for the masons and bricklayers. They do pot use hods, bnt a kind of a tray which they carry on their heads." BIDES DAGGAKD'S BEATRICE. It Is with the greatest regret Tub Dispatch announces the omission from to-day's issue of the expected Installment of Rider Haggard's thrilling story, "Beatrice." For some reason, not yet explained, the remaining chapters were delayed at London, and at latest accounts were on the ocean. As science has not yet provided means for sending a sizzling wire into a mall poach on a steamer in mid-ocean and snatching therefrom any desired matter. The Dispatch is unable to enlighten its readers as to whether Geoffrey has found Beatrice in London or is gallantly hastening after her to Paddington. Without donbt the'story will all have arrived before next Sunday, so its publication can be continued without interruption to the end. irfX AAEON BURR'S CURSE Scarce a Stone Remains of the Earl Capital of Alabama, WHERE HE WAS HELD PEISOHER, Tne Story of tne Traitor's Capture at tna Dome of His Friend. TAKEN AS A CAPTITE INTO Y1EGIMA rWEITTBS FOB TQS DISFATCTLl "The curse of Aaron Burr was on the place, and it died by slow degrees." Such was the fate of the town of Si. Stephens, the first capital of Alabama, as told your correspondent by a gentleman fa miliar with its history. Aaron Burr was captured at St. Stephens on the night of February 19,1807. When his wonderful powers of persuasion failed to induce his captors to release him he became very angry, and in an outburst of passion exclaimed: "My curse be on this vile spot. The fates will one day destroy it, and not one stone shall be left to mark the place where it stood." The curse and prophecy of Burr have both, been fulfilled, and not a stone is left to mark the place where once stood the first capital of Alabama. When the Tombigbee settle ment was established, in what is now Clarke county, on the Alabama river above Mobile about 1790, a fort was built and called St. Stephens. Then a town sprung np and it was given the same name. The first terri torial legislature met at St. Stephens in 1818, and the town remained the seat of government until Alabama was admitted to the Union, when the capital was removed to Cahaba. At one time St. Stephens con tained a population of 1,800 souls. It had a bank, and a newspaper was established there, but only three issues were published. THE CAPXUBB AT 2TAICHSZ. Aaron Burr'a S -et of flatboats floating down the Mississippi river was stopped at Natchez by Governor Claiborne and the leader of the rash expedition placed nnder arrest Burr easily gave bond in the sum ol 10,000 for his appearance. While Burr remained at Natchez he was a social lion. He went into court and through his attorney demanded a release. The applica tion was overruled and that night Burr set ont across the country well mounted, accompanied by a friend and disguised in a suit of home made jeans. His purpose was to reach Pensacola and make his escape to Europe from that port. A few miles east of St. Stephens, Ala., lived Colonel Hinson, an old acquaintance and warm personal friend of Bnrr. One February night two young men, Perkins, a lawyer, and Malone, clerk of the court at St. Stephens, were absorbed in a game of chess at the little village when the tramp of horses was heard and presently a hail at tho door. The pine fire blazed on the riearth, and as Perkins opened the door a flood of light was thrown on the features of a horse man at the step. The splendid animal, richly caparisoned, the clear quick tones of the speaker, bis flashing eye and the ex quisite fit ot his boot were all observed in stantly by Perkins. The stranger inquired for Colonel Hinson's and the trail. The trav elers headed their horses toward Hinson's, and rode away in the darkness. STJEB IT WAS BUBB. The young men were about to resume their game when Perkins suddenly ex claimed: "That is Aaron Bnrr! I have seen Governor Claiborne's proclamation; it de scribes the man who spoke to ns." Perkins roused the Sheriff and the two hurried to Hinson's. Approaching near the honse Perkins suggested to the Sheriff, who was a brother of Mrs. Hinson, to advance alone. The Sheriff joined the party at the kitchen fire and listening to the mnsio of Bnrr's talk he forgot to make the arrest. Lawyer Perkins waited outside nntil he grew cold and impatient and having little confidence in the Sheriff he hurried hack to St. Stephens and informed Captain E. P. Gaines, wbo was in command of the fort, of the situation. Captain Gaines, at the head of a squad of soldiers, before morning had surrounded Hinson's house. With vehe ment denunciation of Governor Claiborne's proclamation and itsnnwarrantable assump tion of authority, protesting againsfthe in sinuation of bis guilt and warning Captain Gaines of the danger of his own course, Burr submitted to arrest and was taken to St. Stephens. Burr remained a prisoner at the fort for several days and used all his power of elo quence in efforts to induce Captain "Gaines to release him, or at least give him an op portunity to escape. At last, his patience exhausted, Burr gave way to his anger, and after bitterly denouncing his enemies he closed with the words: "My curse be on this vile spot. The fates will one day destroy it, and not one stone shall be left to mark the place where it stood." BUBBOUJTDED THE HOUSE. Captain Gaines soon fitted ont an escort for the prisoner, who was to be sent to Vir ginia. Along the river bank as the party proceeded ladies were seen on the banks waving their pocket handkerchiefs and some in tears. Lawyer Perkins was placed by Captain Gaines in command of the party of eight civilians and two soldiers. It was a long march of 1,000 miles through the wilderness, swimming the nnbridged creeks, in peril of the savages and certain of great hardships. A single tent was taken along and this was stretched nightly for the prisoner's we. Drenched with rain all day, and for the night given a wet quilt on the bare gronnd, Bnrr continued his way as un concerned as if he were one of a party of free men. As the march entered the older States a breakfast was ordered at a wayside house. The inquisitive host began to talk loudly and fiercely of "Aaron'Burr, the traitor," asking news concerning him. "I am Aaron Burr," sharply exclaimed the prisoner. Thereupon the host, so confident a moment ago, now became the ex-Vice President's most obsequious servant. The long journey was made without accident and in due time Burr was delivered to the authorities at Bichmond, Va. Less than 20 years after Aaron Bnrr left St. Stephens a prisoner the town began to decay. Old citizens, who remembered Bnrr's curse and prophecy, moved away when the decline set in, and people who heard of the curse kept away from the place. At last the only merchant who re mained died, the last family moved away and soon time and the elements did the rest. New towns grew up around it, bnt the old town of SL Stephens is no more. "Not one stone is left to mark the place where it stood." "W. L. Hatviet. WOIfDEES IK P1AHTS. One Eetardi the Growth of Whisker and One Kills Butterflies. The leaves ot the barber plant are nsed in some parts of the East by rubbing on the face to keep the beard from growing. It is not supposed to have any effect on a beard that is already rooted, bnt merely acta as a preventive, boys employing it to keep the hair from getting a start on their faces. It is also employed by some oriental people who desire to keep part of their heads free from hair, as a matter of fashion. The cruel plant is so designated because it catches butterflies and sills them for sheer spo't. Its flowers attract the poor little flatterer by the honey it offers, and when the victim light upon it it grabs the butter fly by the head and holds it fast nntil the captive dies. Then the flower drops it on the ground and lies in wait for a freahas fortunate. - ' , 1 5
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers