THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH. PAGES 17 TO 20. W lM,.Ml I NASTPICTURES REED, The Speaker's Noble Form in Impressive Attitudes. I HIS SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY. HTT3BTJRQ-, SUNDAY, MAX 18, 1890. earth that would not hold, without a dissenting opinion, that the Quaint Observations From the Popu lar Caricaturist. A COREESPONDENT'SCOPI EUINED lUKLXliJf poa THE DIsriTCH.1 If I conld only break op this man last's terrible habit of making pictures, I think I should enjoy taking him about with me and showing the sights of Washington to him. Half the fan of know ing things comes from being able to tell them j to somebody who does Snot know them; and ' Mr. Nast is so delight fully innocentl But this irrepressible pen chant of his keeps me TK. A'aiL. constantly in a state of nervous expectation that he will do some thing to outlaw us both. ft pf -0SSa$SS2rJI A 'Mffl$M WMM'm y I S '" Jfa A a X He Rises to the Occasion. Preparing to Open the House. Two weeks ago, it will be remembered, I took him into the press gallery of the United States Senate. "Well, he had been there but a few moments when this irresistible desire to make pictures seized him, and he snatched up the first piece of paper that came to his hand. When he had covered it with drawings he staffed it into his pocket and carried it away. Now. it happened that the other side of that sheet contained a part of a correspondent's report of the Senate's proceedings a very import ant part, too, since it was the closing part of a paragraph on one subject and the opening ing words of a paragraph on another. The report as it appeared in print next morning read thns: "Senator Ingalls made an eloquent and impressive argument in favor ot Senator Evarts' motion to strike out here the miss ing page should havecomein forthcSenate restaurant, where ycu can get a huge piece of pie and all the cheese you want for 10 cents." Of course, I shall not take Mr. Na6t to the Senate gallery again until this incident shall have been forgotten. This morn ing I proposed to him that ten commandments are unconstitutional. And even if they were constitntional they would b inoperative in the absence of a penaltv made and provided." Mr. Nast still beemed dubious. "And then there are the appropriations that have to be made," I added. "Ah! yes," said he. "now I understand whv they have to have so many law makers." "We reached the House gallery in time to see the opening of the season. Speaker Reed came in through one of the stage doors, followed by a young man bearing the fasces. "What is that thing the young fellow is lugging?" asked Mr. Nast "Shi Dsn't call it a thing. That is the Speaker's symbol of authority. If that young man did not come in every morning and plunk it down upon its marble pedestal beside the Speaker's chair the wheels of (Government could not go round. "But what is it good for?" "Why, sir, it adds the weight of authority to the Speaker and his " Just then Speaker Seed stood up and hit his desk a bang with the gavel. Mr. Nast looked at the ponderous form and said: "I shouldn't think he would want any thing to add weight to him." "Hushl" The Speaker announced Mr. Milburn. "To what question is that gentlemen speaking?" asked Mr. Hast "That is Mr. Milburn, the blind chap lain." X said. Mr. Kast maintained reverent silence till the end of the praver. "Is he blind, did you say?" "Yes." "And does he lead the House in prayer every morning?" "Every morning." "What does that symbolize the blind leading the blind?" I do not condescend to answer all Mr. Nast's questions he asks so manvl Howdo tbey choose a Speaker?" he asked, after looking a long time at the in cumbent of the chair. rived from conservation of all their forces. Now, if they would only put a big hammer instead of a gavel Into the Speaker's hand, and place an anvil instead of a useless desk before him, he might go on ponnding for order in the House and hammering out horseshoes at the same time. It is a sin to let all that mighty effort go for nothing more than noise." "But if we are to have reform, why not go to the root of the difficulty and cast out the gavel altogether?" I suggested. "It is apparent that the gavel has lost its power to produce order in the House. The Speaker may rap until the cows come home, but the racket goes on juBt the same. The gavel only adds its own noise to the other. Would it not be better to let the Speaker stand behind a heap ot bricks and THE NEW REPORTER. Bartley Campbell's Beginning Pittsburg Newspaper Work. in STRUGGLE WITH HIS FIEST ITEMS. JK His Early Fondness for the Theater and All Things Theatrical. A SUCCESS AS A LOCAL HUSTLER f lZfWy The Mouse Adjourning, (The Instantaneous artist was notable to sketch this last enoagh to do It justice.) fire one at every member whom he might wish to call to order?" Mr. Kast had to admit that this was an advanced idea, wholly in keeping with the growing spirit of the times. Willis B. Hatvkins. HUNTING FOE A DIAMOND. ... ,- r Host a Demure You or Man Gut k Street Car Fall of Fcoplo Excited. New Tort Snn.'! He entered a Broadway car at Canal street, and, as every seat was taken, he stood up and hung to a strap. On his left hand, which hnng by his side, was a large ring, and everybody at once noticed that the stone was gone. The ring seemed to be valuable enough for the stone to have been diamond, and presently a, man leaned forward and said. "Excuse me, Bir, hut you have met with a loss. The stone is gone from your ring." "What! So it is!" he exclaimed as he lifted his hand. He dropped his eyes to the floor, and in 6ve seconds every other eye in the car followed, suit. Heads were bent down, words of condolence began to be uttered, and two or three men got down on their hands and knees and looked under the seats. After five minutes' search one of them finally asked: "When did you miss It?" "Just now." "Think you lost it in the car?" "Dunno." "Was it very valuable?" "Well, I prized it highly as a keepsake." Another hunt was made, but with no bet ter success. Then the owner of the ring be gan to feel in hirpocketsTand -presently he took out a shirt button, with a bit of wire to it, which he somehow fitted, into the ring, ana niter placing it lie held up the ring and said: "Thanks for your interest, good people. 'Tis a button from the shirt ot my brother George." CHAEACTEB IK HECK-TIES. 'i'IWw Counting the House. The IToute Called to Order. we take a look at the House ot Representa tives. "What do they do?" he asked. "Why, they make las, of course." "I thought the Senate made laws." "So it does, und so does the House." "My stars!" said .Mr. Nast, "do they keep two sets of men making laws !or this coon try? Why, 1 supposed we already had more laws than wc could take care of," and he went off into an earnest argument against piling up laws on laws until robody cau tell what is lawful and what is not. "Why," said he. "the greatest law-giver of them all deemed ten simple commandments sufficient for the entire world." "True: but. Mr. Nast the Ten CmnmvnJ- ments arc not suited to this advanced age. We have progressed since the time of Moses. Wc have developed millions of splendid intellects that cannot be pent up within the narrow confines of those primi tive injunctions. Fancy if von can, sir, the great American people of this glorious nine teenth century living under such an artless "Why, by ballot, of course. How on earth did you suppose they chose him?" "I didn't know but it might ie bv weight," said Mr. Nast and then, after many seconds ot silence during which his eyes were fixed admiringly upon the Speaker, he said: "Isn't he majestic in that attitude?" "I tried to attract Mr. Nast's attention to other important members ot the House, but his gaze was bolted and riveted to the Speaker, and he sat and made pictures of that august personage in his many shifting altitude and altitudes. "he-Iafc"..U,the l,rPer ybol. after all, said he "a long pole surrounded by sticks tied up with red tape." Such was his admiration of the Speaker Just then a member arose to mate nntnt of order. The Speaker rapped with his gavel and made him sit down. Another member rose to a question of personal privi lege. The Speaker rapped with his gavel and made him sit down. Still another mem ber rose to make a parliamentary inquirv The Speaker rapped with his gavel and made him sit down. "See," said Mr. Nast; "the Speaker is about all there is to the House of Representatives." A Veteran Hotel Clerk'a Novel Idea In Sizing Cp Ills Guests. Detroit Free 1'ress. j "I can generally size a man up by his neck tie and collar," said a veteran hotel clerk. "In fact those are features I take In most thoroughly when I first make my general Inventory of a guest, and nearly always something happens before he goes away to prove that my estimate is correct. I find that men who are careless as to their neck wear will put up with almost any kind of a room withoutgrumbling, hut that thev must have a good bed and plenty of blankets. "Men who are exceedingly particular with their collar and ties, will raise a row over an ordinary bill of fare and plain service a hundred times to one complaint they will make over their room. The chap who wears a severe cut of collar and a stock sort of necktie, wants everything of the best and seldom fails to insinuate that his bill is a trifle high, while the man who is a leader in neck fashions takes what he eels without complaint, and pays his bill checriully. Hence he generally gets the best in the house. SEVER LEAGUE BOOTS. A Always Careful to liclaln Ills Seat. The IIoust:stts. law as 'Tliou shalt not steal,' for instance. Sir. we have outgrowu such simplicity. The giant intellect ot these progressive times is above such laws as this. It demands somelbmr else, something that will give enterprise a chance. Moreover, the spirit of freedom is abroad in this noble Republic It.wUl not be governed by commandment tjwants constitutional rights and statutory pruti.i"". uuu it jusieis upon judicial in terpretation of all its statutes. Whv. sir. there, 'is not a Supreme Court " on "But he is only the servant ot the House." I said. ' "Oh! yes; andjso is the sleeping-car porter the servant of the passengers. But he bam boozles them around as much as ho pleases nevertheless. He drives them off to bed when they are not sleepy, and drags them out in the morning wheu tbey are sleepy: he opens the windows when he is too warm and closes them when he is too cool; he makes the paisensreri nult minl-lnr. n,i lo.-. the smoking-room when he wants to take a nap; and then at the end of the Journey he brushes the dust from one person to another and holds out his palm with the same old confidence, and Is seldom disappointed." "Am I to infer. Mr. Nast, that you think Speaker Beed will be the next Republican Presidental nominee?" But my companion was busy making a picture ot the Speaker in another attitude. "There is one thing that ought to bo re formed," said Mr. Kast, after awhile. "And that is?" "Why, the Speaker ought not to be permitted to waste so much good muscle ponnding that empty desk with his gavel. ibese are utilitarian times, and our states men oucnt to see A Russian Proposes to Hnvo Peoplo Lift Thennelvcn br Their Bootstraps. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Whoever heard of a man lifting himself by his bootstraps? Only small children believe in the performance of "The Seven League Boots." Well, tho Patent Office hasjust granted papers to a Russian upon a device which is a combination of the hitherto deemed impossible bootstrap net, with a little of the seven league business added. The Russian lives in St. Petersburg. He calls his invention an "apparatus for walking, running and jumping." The apparatus consists of bows and springs fastened to the ieet, the legs, the waist and shoulders. As the knees are bent either to walk or run or jump.the tension of the bows and Springs is increased, und the man shoots upward and forward. At least that is what the drawings and specifications of the in. vention say will happen. The Russian did not send over any nctnal samples of bis contrivance, and the Parent Office people nave oeeu omigea to act upon theory only. POCKETS THAT FASTEN SHOT. An Invention Thot Will bo Welcomtd by Peoplo Careless With Their Money. An ingenious Eastern man has taken out a patent upon a safety pocket for men's clothing and lady's wraps. The Idea is a very simple one, the pocket being made at the opening in exactly the same style, and with a fastener or catch identical with those on the leather coin purses in which silvor change is carried. The frame work of the purse is sewed into tho goods. The arrangement will doubtless becomn quite popular with the ladies, as thev can thus carry their money with them without fear of pick-pockets, or of losing it all by walking offaud leaving their handbags or purses lying on counters or on car seats. SOLOS ON THE STBEET. Ht. IjodIs Musician Haro Adopted a Novel Idrn for Parades. St. Loali Ulobe-Dcmocrst. j A novelty in the line of street or march ing music has been introduced by the St. Louis bandmasters in the rendition of cor net or bass trombone solos dnring the prog ress of a parade. The first efforts In this line were made during the eight-hour par ade, and again during the same week in the Merchant's Bridge military parade. It is bound to be a popular feature in the out door performance of military bands. The solo instrument plays the air. and the entire band then joins in the chorus. The DODnlaee seems to Annreclitta the intradnc- uie nuiamage to oo ae- i "on ot osneert nan ausio on me street. hrfrkii-lirTii; n v l'ffltiamf'A timn i ' n JfrsMJMa tWSITTEX TOE THS DISPjtTCn.l One day I think it was in the latter part of the '60s one of the Pittsburg papers took a new reporter on trial. Newspaper affairs in Pittsburg in those times were set to a very different standard from the stan dard of the present time. The Dispatch had two reporters, but most of the other papers had one; and he, in his own hard worked person, was city editor and full city staff. I was the comprehensive staff of the paper which took the new reporter. On the day spoken of John W. Pittock, then a well-known newspaper man, came into the office where I was working accom panied by a youth who impressed me as rather the most peculiar young Pittsburger I bad seen. He was very tall, very lean, with remarkably long legs and arms which he seldom allowed to remain at rest, and with a manner which had not yet passed heyond the awkwardness of the trying time when youth and manhood are trying to settle things with each other. His voice, when he spoke, was pleasing, in spite of a little aggressiveness in its tones. But the most noticeable thing about him was his face. It was a rather handsome face, with fine, strong and clearly cut features a face which would command attention and which gave an odd impression of being a good deal older than the body belonging to it. Evi dently the brain back of it had done a good deal of thinking of one sort or another, and was likely to do a good deal more; and its thinking was prompted by a quick and active intelligence, whether disciplined or undisciplined was another matter. YOUNG BARTLEY CAMPBELL. This young man Mr. Pittock introduced as Bartley Campbell. He explained that Mr. Campbell was anxious to give up work in the brick yards and take up the more congenial work of the newspaper man. He was ambitious to find a place at the top of the newspaper ladder, but he was not ambi tious to begin at the top, which was a verv promising peculiarity. What he wanted was a chance to become a reporter to de velop and train his "nose for news" under patient and friendly advice; and his friend (and mine) had brought him to me in the hope that I would undertake the task of guidance and instruction in return for such assistance as the young aspirant could give in the daily work of the paper. 1 was will ing enough to comply; for I thought this a promising as well as an interesting subject. In the talk before routine newspaper work began, Bartley confided to me that already he had done much writing, but no publish ing; which is a very different affair. He was an ardent Democrat, and had spoken on the stnmp more than onre for his party; although I think at this time his first vote had not been cast. He know that his prac tice in oratory Would be of little help n his newspaper work. But he hmTTiopes about his practice in writing. Writing is writing, and what he had done would help him iu what he had to do. Yes, writing is writing: and gymnastic exercise is gymnastio exer cise; but the man who can swing heavy clubs can't always dance on his toes. What kind of writing had he practiced ? "WHAT CAM-BELL HAD WRITTEN. The answer came in that larcre and com prehensive manner his friends learned to know so well; and was accompanied by a wide sweep ot both his long arms: "Oh, novels several novels; some plays; a lot of short stories; some political essays that can be turned into editorials later on, perhaps." That same day he brought me a big bundle of his manuscripts, with the request that I would "go through" them. With patience and with a certain interest I read them all. They were such as a very youthful and wholly undisciplined mind strontrlv pos sessed by the writing instinct wonld be sure to turn out. Here and there, all through them, were gleams of brightness. The youth who had done the work would be able alter awhile to do woric worth considering: but it would only be by dint of patient effort and severe self-discipline. I told him so when he demanded the verdict: and he evidently did not believe a word of it! But he very speedily convinced himself that putting novels and dramas into manu script did not count for much as a prepara tion for work on the local columns ot a daily newspaper. He was profoundly in earnest about going to work and wanted his first task set for him at once. Therefore he was given the notes of a few trifling police cases already gathered into the reportorial note book, and was Instructed to make a brief paragraph of each one, and to do it in the most commonplace manner at his com mand. For there was not an item in the lot that offered a suggestion of plcturesqueness. After an absence of half an hour in quest of more news I returned to find the young re porter still struggling with the first of those crabbed and obstinate police items. And it had brought him close to the verge of des peration, ' TnE FIEST STRUGGLE, His coat was off; his thick curly hair was recklessly tumbled all over his head; lie was crouched far over the table like a schoolboy battling with bis first pot-hooks; one arm was thrown clear across the table, and one leg was stretched at length on the floor be hind him an nttltndo more eloquent of despair he could never, in later years, have prescribed for his most forlorn stage hero. He lilted a flushed and persoirlnir fans si I came in. Then he laid down his lead pencil and got upon his teet, He straight ened himseli up slowly, as if some unaccus tomed physical work had stiffened his mus cles, and stretched his arms upward until he and the ceiling were close neighbors. And then he sighed, such a sigh as only those who are weary and well-nigh hopeless can ever accomplish. "Oh!" he said. "This is hard! The hardest thing I ever did. It's so different, don't you see? When I'm writing fiction my imagination can soar, as it were. But when it fans to be tied down to writing the facts of petty police cases, why that's dif ferent!" The intensity of disgust and hopelessness In those last words was something I havo not often encountered. But he was apt and plucky and persevering. And so in a very short time the writing of police items ceased to be a formidable thing in his experience. Tho getting of them was still less formid able, and that was trne of all sorts of news. HAD A NOSE FOB NEWS. Ho certainly did develop a surprising fac ulty for finding out what was going on; and also for finding out what people thought about any particular subject, whether they were disposed to tell their thoughts or not. Aud hero his previous experiences among the politicians did prove of use to him. He was discovered to have an unexpectedly large circle of acquaintances amoug politi cians and officials, and he seemed to find little difficulty in extending it to any pro portions he might desire. And I donbt if there was ever n reporter in Pittsburg who could rover more territory in the same com pass of time than Bartley Campbell. He would come in, rresh and lively, irom a tour of an hour or two, and lo! his note book would have in it matters from Law reneeville and the Sonthside, from Alle gheny and Soho end Oakland. Ana alter a brier apprenticeship he could write as rapidly as he could collect. I am not prepared to ay that his "proofs"did not invite careful reading; for I don't think he ever mastered tbe habit he had of luxuriant writing; and his luxuriance was sometimes a little impatient of grammatical and rhetoric al restraints. He was a capital standby in "dry times," when space in the paper was large and tbe amount of actual news where with to fill it was small, He could "fill up" to an indefinite extent, and in the most pict uresque fashion. One of his newspaper am bitions was to be a correspondent of the 'graphic" school; and another was to he a "society" writer of authority and elegance. THE THEATEE, ALWAYS. But I think there never was a day when, in the bottom of his heart, both these ambi tions, and all other ambitions connected with newspaper work, were not subject to a stronger one that at that time seemed far less likely to be gratified. To be a successfnl newspaper writer of any sort was not the ul timate purpose he had, no matter what he may have thought about it. In the time of our association together he used to talk to me very freely about his aspirations; asking my advice and then disposing of it as advice is generally disposed of. And from the nature of his talk I certainly did not expect him to remain in the newspaper harness so long as he did. He looked with impatient eagerness toward the far-off time when be would be able to take his place In the field of "pure literature." That he made known to me not once, bnt many times. He would write romances; and, if he conld get any en couragement, he wonld write plays. That last was the masterful amhition, I early discovered. He always spokeof doing this in connection with journalism. But his real thought was to do it in place of jour nalistic work. To be a successful plav wright that was the desirable thing. To have a good newspaper connection would be a capital accessory to the other, but "the play's the thing." And already, even be fore he had mastered that first police item, he secretly considered himself a maker of plays. And once, at least, very early in his career as a reporter, he demanded and re ceivedrecognition as a dramatist AN AUTISTIC DEADHEAD. Late one night he came into the office and proposed to write a "notice" of some per formance which had taken place, not at one of the regular theaters. Now I knew that in the distribution of tickets to this enter tainment none had gone into Bartley's pos session; and mentioned the fact to him in tbe manlier of an inquiry. He replied in tbe most matter-of-course way; not boast fully, bnt as if it were something I only needed to be reminded of: "Oh, I had no use for a'ticket. I went in as a professional." "As a what?" "Why, a professional. I told them I had written plays, and told them the names of the pieces. There was no difficulty about it" And actually that enterprising youth had calmly walked past the guards ol a high class dramatic entertainment, on the strength of having written sundry plays which as yet no manager had seen and no audience had heard of I From the bezinninsr. whenever them was any delay of my assistant's return irom a tour for news, the enticements at one or an other of the theaters were always sufficient to account for the tardiness. Whatever the hour of tho day or evenintr, the sight of an actor or a manager in front of one of the theaterswas sufficient to bring him to a halt for an indefinite time, no matter how full his notebook might be, or how wildlv the foreman might be clamoring. It seemed that the atmosphere of tbe play house was the naturalbreath of his nostrils, and he could not forego"lhe breathing of It And if the occasion did not offer, perhaps it could be made to offer. ALWAYS ABLE TO INTEREST. I remember one day seeing Manager Can ning and some newly anived star of tbe first magnitude Jefferson, I think en gaged in conversation. The conference could hardly be oalled a private one, for several people were standing about.although taking no part in the talk. Among these was yuuni xaruey iampoeil. Something that was said attracted his atteution and gave him his cue. He stepped forward and without the slightest embarrassment tossed a remark in between tbe other two. In an other minute he was in the lull tide of their conversation, taking his full share, and seeming to interest them as much as they in terested him. Later I asked him when he had made the acquaintance of that eminent artist "Just that minute," he replied. Eccentric? Ye.', it must be conceded tW Bartley Campbell was that But when I knew him he was genuinely good-hearted, generously kind, a cordial friend aud a good worker in the field he had undertaken to cultivate. Whether the successes of his luter years rendered him less cordially and generously a friend I know not; for when that time came we were lar apart and I saw nothing of him. I have no purpose here to criticise his successes or his failures. That has been done to the utmost limit by others. Every quality claimed for him has been called in question and denied by his critics. But there is still-standing the one decisive fact which no critical diotum has been' able to upset: Whether or not Bartley Campbell was able to write good English; whether or not he put any original ideas into his work; whether or not he wrote things that con formed In no degree to the requirements of tastn and artistic Judgment still the work he did had the rare and valuable merit of interesting tho public. It interests the publio even yet. And the man who can achieve that must have some genuine stuff In him! James C. Purdy. A ROMANCE OP RUSSIA AND SIBERIA. BY PRINCE JOSEF LUBOMIRSKI, Author of "Safer-Hadji, a Story of Turkistan," Etc. Tbakslated From the Russian tor The Dispatch BY META DE VERA. SYNOPSIS OP PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Vladimir Lanin, nephew of Count Lanin, Is in love with Jana Wernin, daughter of a rich resident of St Petersburg. Onlpbri Schelm, the villain of the story, is head of tha division of political affairs under Minister of tha Interior Perowski. He has asked for Jana's hand. 8ha fetuses, and weds Vladimir, sending an invltatton to Schelm. This Indignity, toenther with his rejection, leads Schelm to an infamous plot ot revenge. Colonel Palkln is Ald-de-Oamp of. the bead ot tbe gendarmes. He and Schelm are enemies. Palkln has discovered a Nlhlll.t con spiracy. Schelm determine to have Vladimir taken as one of these conspirators and exiled. An old schoolmate ot Scheim's. Miller, is in povrty. Schelm buys his services for 100,000 roubles and sends him to make friends with Vladimir aud his bride. Madame de Dagarcv, of tha French legation, is a friend of Jana's and they have orgnized a ladles' club. Miller nets into tha Nihilist conspiracy. the leader of which Is The Are of ClnDs, an unknown person. At the meeting before the final meeting for action. Miller tells tbe conspirators Tbe Ace of Clubs will make himself known just before the blow Is to be struck. Miller seizes upon Jana's club as tbe means of exciting Vladimir's jealousy. He contrives so that Vladimir overhears a conversation, in which Jana's conduct at tha club is made to appear scandalous. The conversationalists speak of tho password of the conspirators in such a way as to lead Vladimir to believe It Is the password of Jana's clnu. The men also describe the location of the conspirators' meeting place as If it were Jana's club house. Mad with jealousy. Vladimir begs Miller to accompany him to see if Jana is true. He walks right Into Miller's trap. Tbe conspirators hail Vladimir as The Ace of Clubs just as Palkin and tha gendarmes rush in and arrest all. Nicholas Popoff Is a poor employe whom 8chelm had unjustly discharged. PopoIT had learned of Scheim's crooked transactions, and of the contract with Miller. Vladimir had befriended Popoff, and the latter attempts now to get Scheim's papers. He covers him with a revolver.gets the papers, bnt is suddenly made prisoner by a trap door. He gets into Faikin's room and gives mm me papers. Schelm has him sent to K&san. Miller was arrested with Vladimir and the conspirators.accosd ing to his understanding with Schelm. The latter was to release him after Vladimir was out of the way. Instead. Schelm breaks his word, and lets Miller, too, be sent to Siberia. Madam de Dngarcy discovers the whole plot, and tries in vain to convince tho Czar of Scheim's villainy. Jana pets the Czar's permission to Join her husband In Siberia. Almost a year after VI adimlr's exile Jana starts, accompanied by Dr. Haas. Popoffs mother and his sweetheart are also of the party, seeking him. At Kasan, Scheim's orders to turn Jana back have been received. Palkin happens to be at that distant city, and succeeds in convincing the Governor that tho Emperor's signature is more powerful than Scheim's, so the long journey by sleigh is continued. CHAPTER XTV. It was not. exactly a subterranean cave, and yet a more dismal cell could hardly be imagined; a small, cold, bare room with a thickly grated window,through which only a roof covered with snow could be seen, un canny like a huge pall. Dnring nearly a year Nicholas Popoff bad lived iu this hut, waiting for the detachment with which he was to march to the frontier of the empire. Popoff did not delude himself as to his future. He knew that because he had re belled against a superior, he was to be struck from the roll of the living. Since a more talkative jailer had told him that he was looked upon as a dangerous man, Siberia's boundless deserts had ever been before his mind's eye, never leaving his imagination. For a whole year he had lived in seclu sion, seeing no human form except his jailer, who twice a day handed him hi scanty food through an opening in the door. Popoff did not even know where he was; he here? I had to undress when I was searched even my boots I had to pull off." "Very true," said Palkin, "but what can not he kept concealed when a man will do it." "Unfortunately I possess nothing," sighed Popoff. "That is a pity! Formal proof would have been very ueful to you. But it is no use lamenting. Well, as soon as Schelm had gotten the papers and saw that I had no longer any weapon in my hand against him, he changed his tactics. He became openly my enemy. Denunciations and evil reports poured in to my superiors. At first with out effect, these attacks gradually obtained an entrance into the count's mind, perhaps mainly by dint of constant repetition. In vain I tried to convince him that Schelm was a malicious man und his conspiracy a fiction. This injured me seriouslv, and one fine morning I received the appointment of head of the gendarmes in Eit Siberia!" "But that is a very high office. Surely you cannot complain." "Do you think so? Then you do not know what such an office means for a man who has been coolly dismissed by his chief. me, most gratefully, too. You alone I Dis trust And yet I cannot endnre this any loneer. YesI I'll follow youl Give your orders!" "Our sleigh will follow the coach of the Countess Lanin. You must give me your word that you will not speak to her till I give you leave?" "I shall obey. Shall I see the Count also and receive news of my family?" "Later, when we reach Siberia." "I will be strictly obedient to every wish of yours." "Agreed! Take your things and follow me!" "What? At once?" "YesI Make hastel" N icholas felt blinded for a moment; the sudden transition from utter solitude to ac tive life; this unhoped-for change made him happy, but terrified him also. Seized by a mysterious sensation, he once more looked at these walls within which he had a whole year suffered such anguish; then he took nis cloat and cap and said: "I am ready, whatever your intentions may be. I thank you for restoring ' me to freedom and for letting me see my fellow men once more." The jailer opened the door and thev stepped out into the street Palkln made Popoff sit at his side and the sleigh drove rapidly to the postoffice. CHAPTER XV. In Siberia, not far from Irkutsk, a younj; man, who almost broke down under aa enormous load of wood, was wading with difficulty through tbe deep snow. He fol lowed slowly a path lined with pines, which enaea in tne m3tn street of a small village. The huts on both sides were low, poverty stricken and irregularly built; the snow, in huge drifts, formed embankments which often reached the roofs of the dwellings oc cupied by poor Siberianiexiles. Large, glittering icicles hung like stalac tites from the roofs. The sky looked dark and dismal, and the whole village seemed to be forsaken. Not a bird was visible; not a window open, and in the streets was not a human being. The young man alone broke the monotony of the landscape. It was evidently an un usual task which he had undertaken. His distinguished looking features had under gone no change, but his eye had lost its luster and his whole carriage srjoke in men tal as well as physical depression. The little village was a colony of exiles; the young man, Count Lanin, only here he did not bear that name. He was neither count nor nobleman, nor landowner; he was nothing more nor less than the colonist Vladimir. He had been forced to build his own little hut; he had to cultivate a piece of land which the Government gave him, and in winter he lived on the result of his hunt ing. He had no individual rights, the in spector disposed of him according to his ar bitrary will. This man could impose on him auy labor he chose; he could punish him in any way, not excepting corporeal pnnishment, and the poor colonist had in such cases no protection. On that day the frost was hard, and Vladimir bad gone into the forest to fetch wood to warm his hut Tired, half frozen, sadder than ever, he was now returning. He stopped belore one of the huts, and threw the load, which had nearly overcome ! I II tATCK HOa. T. . . nMVT ' rfl "m TsJjtjSC-' -lift'""" TnE COUNTESS FINDS HEK HUSBAND IN THE INSPECTOR'S nUT. MUSICAL BULLFINCHES. A Shoemaker Who liana a Conaervntorr of Muslo of Ills Own. Boston Globe. There is a little shoemaker on Dover street who trains bullfinches how to whistle tunes. He has about a dozen birds of his own, and with them are over SO which he is now educating. He divides his birds into three classes sentimental, patriotio and Irish. They are kept in different rooms, so that one class never hears tbe melodies taught to the others. The patriotic birds he keeps in his workshop, and to these he whistles "Yankee Doodle" all day long, keeping time with slips on his lapstand. In his living apartment he has about a dozen birds, which ho calls his Irish bri gade. These are learning to whistle "Kll larney." Some of them are already pro ficient In the tune. Formerly he taught his "Irish" class either "St. Patrick's Day" or "Tho Harp That Onco Through Tnra's Halls," Of lata ho hns abandoned both these airs and come down to "Killarncy." Upstairs in his sleeping rooms are the senti mental birds, and all that theso hear is "Annie lloonev." No other tuuo is allowed to reach their curs but the one they are golug to learn, "How long does it tako a capable bull finch to learn a tuno so he can whistle it clear through?" asked a Olobo reporter. "Anvwnero irom two to six montns. nc- cording to how much pains are taken with the birds." "And how much do you get forgiving the birds their musical training?" "About 15 or 10, according to how much I think I can get." "When a bullfinch has learned a tune, will he remember it all his life?" "You bet he will; and he will just whoop it up, too, every chance he can get" ainst bo on the Ups. New York Weekly. Blinks By the way, I must Introduce you to my friend Winks. He's one of the best fellows in tbe world a noble fellow, glorious fellow. He's had a great many ups and downs. Winks has. Judging from your enthusiasm he li now Popoff shrugged his shoulders, OQoneot the uns.La&tkia.V'.IJ'How could 'I keenanvtb took it for granted that he was far from the capital, on the road to Siberia, but during his long journey in the kibitka ht bad not been able to form an idea or where he was going. Tho solitude was becoming unbear able to him, the enforced idleness was hate lul to him. As his cell had not been opened for 12 months, he shuddered, when all of a sudden he heard unusual sounds. The latches were unfastened and the door opened a sign that his long imprisonment was at an end. Nicholas was painfullv excited. Palkfn entered. A't this sight Nicholas forgot everything, his sufferings and his hopes and sudden wrath seized upon him. He looked at Palkln and shouted in his face: "Wretch! Hangmanl" Palkin only smiled and his features as sumed even a seeming good nature. "Yes," repeated Nicholas. "You are an infamous traitor, a contemptible scoun drel." I "That is not correct," said Palkin, scorn fully. "At the worst only: Fooll" This calm reply acted like cold water upon Popoffs raging passion. He stepped back in astonishment "Listen, my friend," said the chief of the irnilrm. "I confess having cheated you. but I have been cheated myself. The papers found upon you " "You sold to Schelml" shouted Popoff. "Of course! But I managed it badly. You see wolves do not eat one another. I have fared badly In that bargain, because I followed the proverb. Schelm gave me 50, 000 roubles lor the papers, and that round sum led me into temptation." "And you betrayed me and other inno cent meu. "What is there strange in that? What do you complain of? Did you entrust those documents to me? Did I not find them during the inquiry, and hud I not tho right to use them for my own benefit?" "I doubt not that n chief of gendarmes will nlwavs find nn excuse." "Look here. Popoff!" said Palkin, shrug ging his shoulders, "enough of those com plaints and reproaches! Llston rather! I never wished you ill, and do not to-day." "Because the worst has come to me," said Nicholas, bitterly, "But speak!" "As soon as-Schelm found out that I hud tho papers he became very humble and sub missive, and deelured finally his deslte to buy them ot me. I was foolish enough to accept the money, rather than to Injure a rival. But no sooner did Schelm get hold of the papers" "Bnt did you not have some more papers?" asked Palkln, Interrupting his narrative. "I gave him a treasurer's re ceipt, a letter signed by Miller, which com promises him Berlously. This, however, did not satisfy him; lie constantly asked for more, and kept me an hour inquiring." "Could you possibly possess some more papers against him?" asked Palkln, looking sharply at Popoff. Like a flash of lightning Nicholas' eye blazed up for a single instant Tbe colonel, an old policeman, bad noticed it, but waited with pretended indifference for an answer. kcep'anythlng concealed You are told that it is only for two years, and that after the expiration of that time you will be recalled and piobablv promoted to a higher post. We cannot decline. Then one ot two things happens either we are entirely forgotten, and this is the preferable fate, or they seud an inspector, who is specially instructed to discover malfeasance in office or short accounts, and one fine day we become exiles and colonists like the rest You'll find In Kamschatka maoy a degen erated family, whose ancestor was head of the gendarmes!" Popoff looked surprised at the colonel, not knowing what he could mean by this statement. "Schelm is the cause of my being in dis grace. But with Colonel Palkin he cannot deal as easily as with Count Lanin. I have good teeth, and mean to bite wben I am at tacked! It is now a battle for life or death between Schelm and myself. He wants to become a director of the secret police. Then I shonld be his subordinate. I must antici pate him. Yon must know much about him: he is your bitter enemy." "I hate bim with my whole heart" "Well, then, will you follow me? I am going to Count Lanin in Siberia; his wife is traveling with me; she is here to-day." Nicholas trembled with excitement "The Countess Laniu here?" "Yes; she is waiting for me at the post office." Popoff passed his hands over his eyes like one suddenly aroused Irom deep sleep. "Tell me,plense,"he said a moment later, "where I am. What Is the city to which this prison beloncs?" The question was so heartrending that even Palkin felt touched. "Vnn 1n nnt Irnntr llint? Vnn nrn In Kasan. Bsit answer me quiably, will you go with me? You are considered here a very dangerous personage, and I have promised the Governor that you should surely disappear under my protection. I'll tako you as an important prisoner In my sleigh. Do you agree?" Popofi could not overcome the mlstrnst which 1'ulkiii produced In his mind. "Why do you make this proposal?" ho asked. "I havo told you already. I want vou to help me overthrow Schelm, I have no doubt that you can do it I understand your mistrust You will throw it off as soon as you see Count Lanin. Bear in mind that I ask as a favor what I might readily order you to do." "You will take me in your sleigh?" asked Nicholas, scornfully. "Are you not afraid I will escape?" Palkln simply drew himself up to the full height of his gigantic frame; then leaning on Nicholas' shoulders, who had been ut terly worn out by inactivity and suffering, he made him at once succumb to the pres sure of his iron hand. "You seel" said tbe Colonel. "Well, de cide; will you go with me or stay here? I will ,not force you, although I might easily do sol Do you really wish to spend a few more years ,in this nut and then be sent to Nertscbinsk? I do not object" Popoff shuddered at the thought '!1 should have fallen,.vthe ieet of anv- one who should have rt44 these doors to htm, into tbe snow; then be opened the door aud entered. Tbe colonists do not even own their huts as property; they may not lock tbem, hence the doors are only fastened with hooks to facilitate inspection. Thus Vladi mir was not at all surprised to find a Cossack within, one of tbe soldiers who guarded the village. "Where have vou been so lona?" asked the man very rout;hly. "I have waited half an hour lor youl" "I had to get wood from the forest, and at I am not used to such work, it goes a little slowly." "AH right," growled the Cossack. "Fol low me. The inspector wants yon." "What con he want again?" asked Vladi mir angrily. "What is that to you?" said the soldier brutally. "You have to obey me blindly." "Lanln's eyes Hashed fire, but he checked himself and bowed his head submissively. "Follow me!" said the Cossack once mora and turned to the door. Vladimir obeyed but looked sadly at the wood he had broueht home with so much trouble, They were soon standing before a house that was much larger and looked mnch bettor than the others. It was the inspector's house. They found hero another colonist who said to Vladimir: "You will .surely join us to-night, Vlad imir, in our expedition to our lur store? We must make an end to these constant thlevings. The inspector has nfnnftt1 r. to go into ambush before night, and there can never be too many ol us." "The inspector has sent forme," answered Vladimir. "1 do not know that he will dismiss me in time. I'll ask him, however, to let me join you we must, as you say, make an end to this robbery." Tho inspector was n former officer, a drunkard und a man without culture. He was not exactly a bad man, but he was also literally good for nothing. He did no harm for harm's sake, but it never occurred to him to do a kindness. When drunk ho was wicked and brutal; when sober, simply an indifferent egotist Such a man need only to bo subject to bad influences nnd he becomes terrible, nnd for the misery of tho colonists such influences were at work here. When the man was still In nnilr rvl and in garrison in one of tbe frontier towns, he had married a foreign woman, by name Caroline. No one knew her past; her vouth had probably not been edifying. It ap peared, however, that she had once been beuutilul, und her fortune was traced back to various, ah, very strange sources. She) might have been about SO years old when tbe inspector fell iu with he'r; he had mar ried her partly from atlection and partly from interest, not inquiring into her past Now she wns perhaps 40, and her beauty bad eutlrely vanished. Kind hearted she had never been, and when the mirror began to tell her that her pretty face was gone she became a hitter, malignant and cruel woman. Her husband obeyed her blindlv; in tact, he trembled be'ore her, nnd this power she used to rule the colonies with an iron rod. Caroliue had light hair, regular features, sharply marked, thin, crupn-ncd ii, mm an ctiircaiou in ner eyi-8 whlctV was trtilv illulfnlii-iiL -...r .-. . (- v ji W hentYtodiMir crowed thet.t!irehold' ol 4 1 i I M 1 I m
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers