, - f?,;
1ssssaslse.ttfa
16
THE PTTTBBUBG DISPATCH, SUNDAY, JULY 8. 189a
knowledge that Lady MacKennon does
cot lite mo makes it very difficult for me
to write."
"Dear, she does not know yon, that isall,
and she will, I am sure, be pleased to hear
lrom you when you will so soon be her
daughter. How pleased and proud I shall
be to take yon for the first time to Kintore,
Miriam to take mv dear young wife."
Miriam did not answer. She was half
wishing that Sir James was other than he
was; that he was less generous-hearted, less
trustful.
"I should not bo so ashamed of myself
then," she thought. But her reflections
were interrupted by the entrance of her
mother, who at this moment came into the
room radiant and smiling.
"I have come especially to invite ynu to
dinner, Sir James," she said, with a warm
clasp of her hand. "And I want to tell
you, too, how delighted we all are with
your mother's splendid gift. It is beauti
ful, and I am quite longing to make Lady
Maclvennon's acquaintance. I hope she
will be our guest at the wedding, and when
Miriam writes to thank her for her magnifi
cent present I shall write also to invite her
here."
"It is very good of you," answered Sir
James; "but my mother rarely leaves home,
and I have never known her to leave Scot
land; but perhaps on such an occasion "
and lie laughed and looked at Miriam.
"At all events we must hope that she will
be prevailed upon to come," said Mrs. Clyde,
smiling. "It will please us all so much,
and make my little daughter here feel as if
she were truly welcome to hernew mother."
CHAPTER XIL
IX STORM AXD DABK2JESS.
Nevertheless, Iiady MacKennon declined
the invitation to the wedding which Mrs.
Clyde penned in her most gracious, graceful
style. She wrote back in that stiff, old
fashioned handwriting of hers that she was
too old to leave home, but that she would
be pleased to welcome her son's wife there.
It was not a warm nor cordial letter, but
still there was nothing in it to find fault
with. Lady MacKennon was evidently a
reserved woman, Mrs. Clyde decided from
her guarded words; and she thought also,
though she did not say so, that Miriam's
future mother-in-law would be a somewhat
difficult person to deal with.
In the meanwhile Miriam was trying to
summon up her courage to seek another
interview with Hugh Ferrars. A final
interview, she told herself, for she would
pre him no more. He must take the 200
Sir James had given her and go away and
leave Eugland lor ever. Nothing else was
safe for him, and she would not seem so
false to Sir James if she knew it were ab
polutelv impossible that she should ever
meet Hush Ferrars again.
Poor Miriam! Her heart pulled her one
wayand herconscience another. But, then,
she knew she could not follow the dictates
of her heart. She knew Hugh Ferrars
could be nothing to her were she to sacrifice
everything for his sake. He must Jorget
her, "and she must try to forget him. They
had no choice the danger that dogged his
footsteps was real and terrible, but it would
be made ten times more real and terrible
v.ere she to link her fate with his.
And then she must compromise herself
igam in the eve of l'ord; of Ford, who
knew about the diamonds that had come
from Sir James' mother; who knewabout the
preparations lor the wedding; and yet she
nas obliged to allow Ford to think that
she went out alone at night to meet Dr.
Eeed!
But there was no help for it She could
not send a large sum of money by the post
to Private Dare; and, moreover, she be
believed that Hugh Ferrars would return it
If 6be did. She knew his fierv, impetuous
nature, but she hoped to prevail on him by
her personal influence to take it. So she
must sec him, and she could only see hi'n
bv the assistance of Ford. Luckily Sir
James had not said anything again about
Visiting the wounded soldier. Miriam
hoped he would forget that he had thought
of doing so, but Sir James rarely forgot an
Intended kindness.
Thus on the very day that Miriam had
made up her mind to ask Ford to post an
ot'AJf tter to Dr. Eeed, containing an in
closuici5we; to Miriam's dismay, when
Sir James called in the afternoon as usual,
he began to talk before her mother of Pri
vate Dare.
"Do you know, a very strange thing has
juBt happened," he said. "I told you,
Miriam, I wanted to see the soldier that you
were so good to, and I called at the barracks
on rav way here and asked Escourt to go
withmeto'see him. "Well, Escourt went,
and I saw this fellow Dare, and a remarka
bly handsome fellow he is. He was sitting
on" a beech in front of the barracks, read
ing, and Escourt spoke to him and said who
I as."
"How kind of you to interest yourself In
him. Sir James," said Mrs. Clyde, gra
ciously. "I was interested in him because Miriam
had behaved so bravely when he as
wounded, and also because he would not
ret the soldier who shot him into trouble.
And now I am more interested still; but I
will tell you what happened. He got up
jind saluted when Escourt spoke to him, and
then I asked him how he was. He an
swered verv briefly; then I put a couple of
sovereigns "in his hand, or rather tried to
put them into his hand, for he would not
take them."
"Extraordinary!" exclaimed Mrs. Clyde,
raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, wasn't it?" continued Sir James.
" 'Come, my good fellow,' I said, 'they'll
not do von any harm, and again I offered
them to" him. Then he looked me straight
in the face, and drew himself up, and said
haughtilv enough, I can tell yon: 'Sir, I
do not ta'ke alm,' and both Escourt and I
were struck in a moment by his voice and
manner. The fellow's a gentleman, there's
no mistake about it, and I feel heartily
sorry for nim.
"Do yon not think it was impertinent of
him to refuse vour monov when you meant
it so kindly?"" said Mrs. "Clyde.
"No, I don't; I expect it would be impos
sible for him to take money from anyone
unless he had earned it. That was my im
pression, and I fancy I am right"
Miriam never spoke while this conversa
tion was going on. She had hastily turned
her head away, and listened with a flatter
ing heart andbated breath.
"And you really think he has been born
a gentleman?" asked Mrs. Clyde. "This is
interesting."
"I am sure of it," said Sir James. '1
asked Dr. Eeed about him later on, and the
doctor laughed. 'Somepoor fellow come to
grief, I suppose, he said, and he did not
seem much inclined to talk about himj per
haps this Dare has told him his history in
confidence. At all events, he wouldn't say
anything, except that hehought he would
soon be all right."
"It is strangelr certain; I must ask Col
onel Clvde to inauire about him," said
- Mrs. Clide; and then she changed the con
versation, and Sir James noticed when
Miriam again looked round that her lace
had grown very white.
She left the room a few moments later
and hurried to her own. There was no
time to lose she told herself; Hugh -Ferras
must go, or his secret would be discovered.
At all events Dr. Eeed could be trusted,
and so she rang for Ford.
I I want you to post a letter for me,
Ford," she said.
"Yes, Miss Miriam," answered the lady's
maid.
"It it is to Dr. Eeed," faltered Miriam,
with downcast eyes.
"Yes, Miss Miriam." again said Ford.
"You can post it when we are at dinner."
"Is Sir James going to stay dinner?" in
quired Ford, demurely.
"I think so," answered Miriam, with
shame in her heart. She felt that she was
degrading herself in the lady's maid's eyes;
that she was degrading Sir James. Bat
Ford made no further comments. She
slipped the letter, which Miriamhad al
ready written before Sir James arrived.into
the pocket of her gown, and she wondered
how her young mistress could be 10 unwise.
"Surely she is not going to meet him
again," she thought us the tripped down
stairs. Then a temptation assailed. She
carried the letter to ber own room, drew it
out, and looked at it attentively. It was
sealed, but, then, Ford had sealing-wax of
&mk
I "V
her own, and also a neat seal. She felt very
curious; she wondered how far the intrigue
with Dr. Eeed had gone, and if Miriam
really meant to marrv Sir Jamjs.
"And her takgallhis beautiful things,
too," reflected Ford;
with disapproval.
'Diamonds and a!L
She looked at her letter again, and the
temptation became too strong for her. She
broke the seal and found there was a letter
and an inclosure, also sealed. Then she
read the letter to Dr. Eeed. ,
"Dear Dr. Eeed," Ford read with amaze
ment, "will j ou very kindly give the in
closed letter, as you did the last, to whom
it is addressed. I do not know how to
thank vou enough for your reticence to
dav. Yours verv sincerely, M. C."
''Well, this beats everything!" exclaimed
Ford aloud in her utter astonishment. Then
she looked at the inclosed letter addressed
to Private Dare at the barracks.
"Private Dare!" repeated Ford. "Why,
that's the man who was shot on the sands,
when Miss Miriam stopped the bleeding.
And she can't be carrying on with him too,
surely? If she goes on at this rate she'll
come to grief as sure as my name is Eose
Ford."
Then she began looking at the letter to
the soldier, and once more temptation as
sailded her.
"I mav as well see what's inside," she at
length decided. And she did see what was
inside, and she told herself it was disgrace
ful. What! Miss Miriam, who was en
gaged to Sir James MacKennon, who was
to be married to him soon, to be writing
thus to a private soldier! It was monstrous,
Ford told herself, absolutely monstrous 1
"Dear, dear Hugh," she read, "I must
see you once more. Can you meet me to
morrow night at the same hour as we met
last eleven? If so, enclose your answar to
my maid, Ford. The same ansn er as be
fore, nothing more, and I will place the
same signal the light in my window to
let you know I caa come. Yours faithfully,
"M."
"Faithfully, indeedl" repeated Ford;
"nice faith I must say. "Well, I conldn't
have believed it of Mist Miriam I couldn't
indeeal"
However, there it was in black and white
before her, and Ford was forced to believe
the evidence of her own senses. She was
forced also to carefully reseal both letters,
and with many misgivings posted them.
Sir James stayed to dinner, and Ford felt
positively sorry for him. When Banks said
to her after dinner:
"Sir James, seems sneommon sweet on
Miriam," Fo'rd gave her head a little
flounce, but had the discretion nevertheless
to hold her tongue.
"Eose," continued Banks, who was wash
ing the silver, which had been used at din
ner, contemplatively taking a spoon 'out of
the jug of hot water before him, "don't you
think lolks are better married than single?"
"That depends on many things," replied
Ford. v
"In course it depends; but 'spose two
people who are a bit sweet on each other
like you and me say, eh?"
"Speak for yourself, Mr. Banks."
"I am speafin', Miss Eose I'm speakin'
quite plain and I think they are."
"Are what?"
"Better married; so tell me what you
think."
"There are many things to be considered."
"In course there is but don't vou like
me a bit, Eose?" And Banks dropped his
towel and his spoon, and seized her hand.
"A very little bit," answered Eose,
coquettishly.
"Better than that great lumberin' fellow,
Johnson, the orderlv, eh?"
uni iionnson is nothmgto me, answered
Ford, with a toss of her head.
"Yet he brags ye're his sweetheart"
"Does he indeed? I wonder how many
he has?"
"Plenty, I dare sav," answered Banks
with a grin, "But I've only got one."
"Jane the housemaid?"
"Jane the housemaid be hangedl No,
Eose, ye know better than that my sweet
heart is not far off from me now."
"Oh! indeed."
"Yes but oh! bother it, there's the bell;
that's for cofiee well, Eose, won't ye give
me" but Eose had fled before Banks had
time to make his request.
But it's quite difierent just amusing
oneself like that," thought Ford, as she
went tripping up the stairs, leaving her dis
appointed swain behind her; "there's no
harm in nonsense but about poor Sir
James well I never!"
Sir James, however, was feeling quite
content and happy at this moment. Was
not every day bringing him nearer to per
fect hapDiness? If his Miriam looked a
little pale and tired, he was only dreaming
of the time that he might watch over her
and be near her in sickness and in health.
He was hanging over her now at the very
moment when Ford was pitying him, watch
ing her white supple fingers glide over the
ivory keys.
"May I come to-morrow?" he whispered.
"No," not to-morrow," answered Miriam,
without looking up.
"But it's so long to the next day," said
Sir James, smiling.
'It will pass away I have a great deal to
do to-morrow," and a slight shiver passed
through her frame as she spoke.
Then Colonel Clyde approached the two
at the piano, and asked Miriam to sing a
song tuat was a lavonte oi nis, ana wnile
Sir James was seeking for it among her
music, hebegan to tell the story to Colonel
Clyde about the soldier Dare having re
fused his money, and that he was quite sure
he was a gentleman.
It is possible," answered the Colonel,
gravely. "I have known of such cases be
fore. "I felt quite ashamed that I had offered
him anything," said Sir James, he looked
so disgusted but here is the song, Mir
iam:" and Miriam took it in her trembling
hand.
She did not sing it very well; she was
glad when the evening was over and when
Sir .lames went awav. Glad when those
kindly gray eyes were not fixed so trust
fully on he'rface. Their expression silently
reproached her, though there was no re-
firoach in them nothing but tenderness and
ove. Miriam hated herself for deceiving
Sir James, yet told herself at the same
moment that circumstances compelled her
to do so. She was bound hand and foot. If
she alone could have suffered by speaking
the truth in these days she would have told
it. But there were links within links,
bonds within bonds, and Miriam felt herself
owerless to escape the meshes in which she
ad become entangled.
And when, on the following morning,
Ford placed a letter in her hand addressed
to Miss Ford, there was a look in the lady's
maid's blue eyes that made ber shudder, a
look which told her as plainly as words that
Ford no longer respected her. She did not
imagine that Ford had opened her letters,
but she thbught that Ford thought she was
acting wrongfully, and this feeling no doabt
added f o Miriam's discomfort.
But she opened the letter and read the
brief words it contained, silently, though
with a fast-beating heart. Then ngain she
was forced to look at Ford, and she saw that
her maid was watching her curiously.
I I shall have to go ont again to-night.
Ford lor the last time," she said, with fal
tering tongue, "and I want you to help me. "
Now Ford had been handsomely rewarded
for her assistance on the former occasion,
and sovereigns were dear to the soul of
Ford, and she knew that she would no doubt
be handsomely rewarded again; but, still,
she had her scruples. For one thing, she
thought that "Miss Miriam," for the sake
of a mere fancy, was running a great risk of
ever becoming Lady MacKennon. Now,
Ford, as we know, wished to become lady's
maid to Lady MacKennon, and, therefore,
her own interests were bound up in her
young mistress's. And a private soldierl
That was what disgusted Ford. She thought
her mistress was degrading herself, but, of
course, she did not venture to tell her so.
"To-nigat, Miss Miriam?" she only said
insadoubtfull tone, in reply to Miriam's re
quest. -
"1'es, to-night, I must risk it once
more for the last time," repeated Miriam.
"Well, it's a great risk Miss Miriam,
don't De angry out i would not go."
"But I must; Xhavs. so choice I" said
Miriam, with agitation.
'I must go as I
did the last time at the
will you help me?"
same hour Ford,
imtimtiMtomm iiiiiiwi
"If ron must go, Miss Miriam but Vm
just frightened to think of it"
"Whatever happens I must rof we murt
do as best we can. It's a dull day I pray
God it may be a dark, dnll night
"A nice thing to pray about," reflected
Ford, looking at Miriam's pale, excited
face. "I with it was over, I am rare," the
said.
Miriam did not speak, and her hopes wen
realized as regards the day. The weather
grew worse as the hours went on, and the
wind blew and dashed the heavy rain
against the window panes. But Miriam
scarcely heeded the storm outside. Her
heart, too, was tempest-tossed, torn be
tween the past and the present: between
love and duty; between fear and a certain
wild hope of happiness in again being
clasped in Hugh Ferrars' arms.
Once more, Ford, when she came to assist
Miriam to dress for dinner, urged her not to
attempt to go.
"It's a perfect storm outside, Hiss
Miriam," she said. "Banks says you are
just blown off your feet, and the sea's rag
ing. I would not try to go on such a
night"
"Yes, I am going," answered Miriam.
She was very pale, but Ford saw by the ex
pression of her face that she was resolved,
and that it would be useless to make any
lurther attempt to prevent her. Miriam
had indeed arranged everything foi her
meeting with Hugh Ferrars. She had
E laced the 200 which Sir James had given
er in a secure packet and in a-small gold
locket she had put a curl of her shining
hair. She meant this as a parting gift to
Hugh Ferrars: a token of their old love to
carry away with nim into another land.
Ana the unstaying hours passed on, until
iea on. until
the drawing room clock on the mantel
board chimed the half hour after ten, and
then the Colonel, as was his usual custom,
"I wish there may not be some lots at sea
to-night," he said. "You must not get a
start, Miriam, it you hear the signal guns."
"Oh! I hope we won't hear them, father,"
she answered, and then she presently bade
her parents good night, and went to her own
room, where she found Ford awaiting her.
"It's a fearful nieht. Miss Miriam." aha
whispered. "Banks thinks there will be
some wrecks before the morning."
"It's dark and stormy," answered Mir
iam, placing her lighted candle in the
window; "so much the better; no one will
see us to-night."
It t as cold, and Ford's white teeth were
almost chattering in her head, partly
through fear. It was such a terrible risk,
she thoughts a risk not only to Miriam, but
also to herself: For she knew that if this
meeting were discovered not only would
Miriam probably lose Sir James MacKen
non, but that she. Ford, would certainlv
lose her place. But Miriam never faltered
She placed the packet for Hugh Ferrars in
the boFom of her dress, and laid a dark
waterproof on the bed ready to wear. Then
the two girls stood quite quiet, listening to
the sullen roar of the sea, and the gusts of
wind and rain that swept round the com
mandant's house with unceasing violence.
They heard, too, Colonel Clyde and his wife
go upstairs; heard their bedroom door locked,
and they looked at each other. The hour was
nearly come five minutes more to wait
and then they must start downstairs, and
Miriam go out and lace the howling
storm.
And the minutes passed passed slowly,
Miriam thought as she stood ready with
her waterproof wrapped round her form and
head. She did not speak; she pointed with
her finger when the dial of the little jeweled
watch told the hour. Then Ford opened
the room door and they passed silently out,
Ford closing it behind them. Down the
stairs tbey glided in the darkness, and
through themnlit passages, until they came
to the back door of the house. This Ford
opened, and as she did so a fierce gnst of
wind swept in and nearly forced the door
ont of Ford's strong hands.
"Oh, don't go, Miss Miriam," she whis
pered. "I must" answered Miriam, and the next
moment she was facing the storm.
It was all she could do to bear up against
it The wind blew hither and thither, her
waterproof flapped, the rain beat on her
face; but, with a sort of desperate energy
she went on on through the rain-soaked
garden, on to the roadway outside it Here
the wind rose to a hurricane, and she had to
turn and cling to the garden rails to sup
port herself. She was still clinging, unable
to proceed, when she heard a step behind
her, and the next moment someone put his
arm round her.
"Is this really you, Miriam?" said Hugh
Ferrars' voice.,
"Yes, Hugh, what a fearful nightl" she
answered, breathlessly.
"Terrible! I never expected you to
come."
"I came, Hngh, because," said Miriam,
still breathlessly, ''because I have' brought
you the money to go away it is here "
"I will not take it"
''Oh! you must, you must!" cried Mi
riam, passionately, now clinging to his
arm. "Hugh, you are not safe here; I can
not rest night nor day for thinking of it;
and there is enough here to buy your dis
charge and for you to go away, right away
out of England! Hugh, this is our last
meeting on earth alter this we mutt see
each other no morel"
"And you think I would take Sir James
MacKennon s money? said Hugh Ferrars,
bitterly. "You wish me to be out of his
way."
"Oh! do not say so! I wish you to be safe;
I wish the terrible memory of that night
to be blotted out"
"That will never be tome."
"You were not to blameyou thought your
self justified hut, Hugh, it it donet we can
not recall the past; let us try to live it
down to forget it; and this cannot be while
you are in England, while you are here."
"I will not take Sir James MacKennon's
money to go awav, Miriam; if you loved me
you would not ask me to degrade myself."
At this moment such a blast of wind
swept over them that they were both nearly
carried off their feet Hugh Ferrars held
Miriam's arm fast Dut it needed all his
strength to do so.
"What a nightl" she cried, panting with
her head upon his breast
"A fitting night for us to part," said
Hugh Ferrars; "in storm and darkness if
this is indeed our last parting, Miriam."
She made no answer; she clung to him
while the sterm raged round them and the
sea roared below. Then suddenly through
the darkness came a flash and the boom of a
heavy gun.
"Oh! what is that?" asked Miriam, in a
terrified whisper.
"A ship has struck on the rocks' It is
the signal to call out the life-brigade. Hark,
and you will hear the Queen's ship in the
harbor answer it."
They listened, and from the harbor came
the answering gun.
"Oh! I must go!" cried Miriam; "I dare
not stay the soldiers will be turning out to
,help, perhaps my father! Hugh, as a last
request, lace tuis pacKet tnere is some of
my hair in it; take it for my sake Oh!
Hugh, help me to the railings, and then
good by goo dby, dear Hugh."
Slie'thrust the packet into his hand as she
spoke, and a minute later had caught hold
of the garden-railings tor support assisted
by Hugh Ferrars. There was no time to
lose; the garrison would no doubt be roused
by the signal guns, and the whole place
alive with spectators. Already there was
the hum of voices heard through the howl
ing blast, .fierrars ma not attempt todetain
her. He pressed his lips to hers and let her
go, and stumbling, panting, terrified, Miri
am fled back to the house through the dark,
wet garden, and reached the door, which, as
she touched it was instantly opened by
Ford.
"Oh, Miss Miriam, I believe "we're
ruined!" whispered Ford, who was trem
bling with fear. "I heaid the Colonel's
voice calling Banks. We must try to slip
upstairs; we may not be seen."
They crept through the dark passages;
they stole up the dark stairs; they reached
the landing on which was situated the bed
room -of Colonel and Mrs. Clyde. They saw
a light flickering below the door from
within, and just as the passed it the door
opened and Mrs. Clyde cams out with a
candle in her hand, and ber eyes instantly
fell on her daughter's drenohed and 'cower
ing form
Jfc l OcmHmmd nmt As4l
A PITTSBURG WOMAN
Who Has Hade Herself Famous. Al
most Throughout the World.
SHI TEACHES CHILDREN TO BEAD.
Tlit TJps and Downs in the Life of Mrs.
Bebecca Smith Pollard.
j
HER YI8IT TO EDWABD ETEEETT HALE
rwurrrxir ron ram dispatch.
A Pittsburg woman has eome to the front
as a rival to Colonel Parker, of Quincy
method fame. She is the advocate of a'sys
tem for teaching reading, and her name is
Mrs. Bebecca Smith Pollard. She wasborn
nearly 60 years ago on what Is at present
North Diamond street Allegheny, but is
now a resident of Chicago.
So much has been said about her method
In newspapers and magazines that the pub
lio has begun to be curious in -regard to its
inventor. Although she acknowledges to
60 years of age, sbe might easily pass for CO,
and she has the vitality and energy of a
woman of 20. All her life she has been
a teacher and her father was a teacher be
fore her. He was Dr. Nathaniel Buggies
Smith, who was the founder and editor of
I .,-.,.. .....
"' " "terary paper puonsnea
west of the Allegheny Mountains, and the
predecessor of Jane Grev Swisshelm in the
editorship of the Saturday Evening Vitilor.
He had a private school in St Clair, now
Sixth street, and was the author of a gram
mar at one time very popular. One of his
benevolences was a night school for poor
boys whom he picked up irom the street
A Genius Developed by Might School.
Older people will remember Kirkham's
Grammar and Elocution books once very
popular in the schools. Their author was
one of the urchins whom Dr. Smith brought
into his night school, where he staid until a
young man. The text books resulted from
notes taken while under Dr. Smith's tuition
and made the fortune of the one-time ragged
boy. His Instructor had the reputation of
being one of the best grammarians and elo
cutionists in the United States, so his
daughter came naturally by her talents.
As a little girl she displayed no particu
lar precocity. An extreme generosity and
guilelcssness, from which she has not al
together recovered, led her to loan her first
silk dress. A marvelous creation of pale
blue and lace possessed at the age of 5, to a
dirty little beggar girl who had "big bine
eyes, fazzy golden hair and had never been
dressed up in her life." The dress with the
little beggar girl in it disappeared down an
aller and has nofbeen seen since. As she
has been missing 65 years there is no proba
bility that she ever will be. The, first time
the future inventor was sent to school she
was so frightened and wept so loudly and
long that she was dispatched home in dis
grace with an elder sister.
larly Attracted Longfellow's Attention.
A year later she was again sent to school,
this time to her father and she remained
under his instruction until her education
was completed. The family soon after this
moved to Barnesville, Ohio, where her
father was principal of the town academy.
About this time she developed a knack at
writing verses and was encouraged to per
severe by no less a poet than Henry Wads
worth Longfellow. Over 30 years ago she
was a regular contributor to The Dispatch
and published two volumes of ner verses.
When 16 or 17 vears old she went to Ken-.
tucky and spent several years with relatives
there. She met her first hus
band in Kentucky, a Mr. Taylor,
and after her marriage to him removed to
Fort Madison, Iowa, where she continued
her work of teaching for many years. More
than SO years ago she became dissatisfied
with theexisting methods of teaching read
ing and began experimenting with her own
pupils. After many disappointments she
hit upon what seemed to her the most
rational way of developing the talent of
reading from the elementary sounds. She
found that with her system the pupil be
came independent of the teacher in a 'lew
months and able to conduct his investiga
tions for himself. She called the new war
the Svnthetic Method.
Her Greit Experiment In Chicago.
After perfecting it she wished to go to
Chicago or some place where it might be
further tested. Herfriends tried to dissuade
her; they said she was too old, she was now
about 60. She wrote to a friend in Chicago
for advice. The friend invited her. to come
promising six pupils to begin with. The
offer was accepted, and without influence
and but one friend in the great city, Mrs.
Pollard went to Chicago.
When she arrived, the friend's six pupils
and the dining" room seemed the best she
could do. Someone however told her that
in Chicago one must have a licence to teach
a private school and in search of informa
tion, Mrs. Pollard endeavored to look up a
'Squire Waller, recommended as knowing
all the kinks in school law. Hunting up
his address she was sent to the home of Miss
L. L. Waller, his niece, who had a fashion
able school for children. Miss Waller was
dissatisfied with the way reading was taught
in her school, and when she discovered
what the visitor wanted, asked to see a
model lesson. She believed in the system,
and although she had no vacancy in the
school invited Mrs. Pollard to be
come one of Its teachers. That
was eight years ago. .Parents of
the pupils at first grumbled. They'
said their children could not spell, they
could not read, they could not do anything
but make unearthly noises. Before a year
was up, however, they were delighted, for
instead of being able to read a few easy
words from charts and primers the children
were readipg everywhere and everything,
chasing and nailing a new word with as
much ardor and delight as an entomologist
.does a rare bug.
Begun to Teach the Teachers.
The next year Mrs. Pollard gave up pri
mary work and began the training of teach
ers. Only one woman responded to the first
advertisement She was the principal of a
school in Des Moines, lowa. Alter ner re
turn to Des Moines there came a call to
train 12 of her teachers; then the school
board wanted all the teachers of the town
trained. The method rapidly spread
throughout the West and along the Pacific
coast
Within a jear the method has taken
strong hold in some of the Boston, Phila
delphia, Pittsburg and other Eastern
schools. Mrs. A. M. Snellen, principal of
one of the largest Philadelphia schools, was
one of its first and warmest friends.
It is largely to the influence of Edward
Everett Hale that the success oi the system
in Boston -may be attributed. When in
that city a friend d vised Mrs. Pollard to call
on Dr. Hale. 'Now, one of Mrs. Pollard's
great ambitions had been to hear Edward
Everett Haiti bnt the never suspected the
Jtrt. Bebecca Smith Pollard.
school man of being one and the same with the
philanthropist, author and editor. Accord
ingly she mounted the steps of his residence
on Highland street, Boxbury, with a lair
degree of self-possession. The neat maid
servant said that Dr. Hale was in and in
vited her into his study.
Her Talk With El ward, Bverett Hal.
"Dear me," thought she, "gating appre
hensively around at the' shelves upon
shelves and piles on piles of books, "he
must be a minister or a scholar or some
thing."
Dr. Hale came in a nice quiet gd
natured looking man, with a not too op
pressively erudite air. Neither did he
orate sonorously through his nose as learned
doctors and sages are popularly supposed
to do, but used the organs of speech designed
by nature for the purpose in a very matter
of fact every day style.
Mrs. Polland was reassured and began to
state her errand. Dr. Halo wanted to
know all about the system. She explained
it as briefly as possibly, he from time to
time asking Questions that auite plainly in
dicated that, however, deep his delvings
among Greek, Latin, Sanscrit or Hebrew
roots he had a wonderful comprehensive
knowledge of English. In fact he proved a
delightful man.
"I believe in your system," said he.
"Now let me give you some letters of in
troduction to people I should like to have
know about it The columns of my maga
zine, Lend a Hand, are open to you. I hope
you will write an article on the method."
Mrs. Pollard thanked him and returned
to her hotel rejoicing. A distant relative
from the suburbs ol Boston was awaiting;
her.
"I've just been' calling on Dr. Hale,"
said she, in apology lor having kept the
visitor waiting.
"Dr. Hale? What Dr. Hale?" asked the
lady. , .
"Dr. Hale, a gentleman interested in the
schools."
A curious expression overspread the Bos
tonian's face.
"How did you become acquainted' with
him?" , s
"Oh some one told me to go and talk to
him about my work and I went"
"Do you know who he is?"
"Whv, yes" said Mrs. Pollard "he is Dr.
Hale, of Eoxbury."
"He is" said the lady impressively "Dr.
Edward Everett Hale, and you may con
sider yourself lucky; he is one of the hard
est men in Boston to meet" "
A Champion in Kitlierlne Draxel.
Another of Mrs. Pollard's friends is
Mother Katherine Drexel, she having
trained all the teachers for that famous
lady's Indian and negro school. Through
Mother Katherine's influence the system is
being taken up by all the leading Catholic
schools of the country.
Sarah Winter Kellogg, the New York
magazine writer is also one of Mrs. Poll
ard's oldest, warmest and most helpful
friends.
The late Jane Grey Swisshelm, whom she
met in Chicago while on a visit there, be
came extremely interested in Mrs. Pollard's
ambitions. Mrs. Swisshelm advised her to
keep away from the great cities, as, after 40,
a woman is too old to embark in a new en
terprise. Her advice has proved mistaken
in one case at least
Her next movement will likely be a visit
to London, as she is being constantly im
portuned to go there by teaohers and others
interested. She has a daughter in Chicago
who is a leading teacher of the Delsarte
system, and with her she makes her home
when not traveling. She is the aunt of
Mrs. John Hover, of Buena Vista street,
Allegheny, and always stops with her when
in this city. Texx
DIET FOB THE SUMMER.
Advice From an English. Physician to
Eating and Drinking Plenty of Fluid
Necessary The Comforting; Cap of Tea
-The Science of Soap.
In an interesting article in the Gentleman' t
Magazine Dr. N. E. Yorke Davis, of Lon
don, holds that if a man earn his living by
the sweat of his brain he must, If he wishes
to live long, maintain his health by the
sweat of his brow that is, he must in some
form or other take muscular exercise. The
diet laid down as suitable for summer would
in that case, of course, almost universally
apply.
The most suitable articles for hot weather
in his experience are "fish, such
kinds of meat as fowl and game, green veg
etables, salads, and fruit Farinaceous food
that is, starches should be taken in the
very smallest quantity only. Sufficient"
sugar would be found in the different trnits
that the season of the year produces, and,
therefore, should not be supplemented." In
the case of a man of ordinary size, doing
ordinary physical or mental work, the fol
lowing would, he submits, represent an ordi
nary day's food for hot weather as far as
quantity and constituents are concerned:
Breakfast, 8.30 to 9 A-k. Two cups of tea
or coffee, sweetened with saccharine, one or
two te&spoonfuls of cream In each, 1 oz. of
dry toaBt, thinly butternd: i oz. ot grilled or
Dolled flsli, such as plaice, sole, whiting.
haddock, cod or trout, or I oz. of cold
chicken, cold tongne or of grilled steak or
chop.
Lunch, 1:30 r. jr. 2 or 3 oz. of cold mutton,
beef or lamo: 3 or oz. of green vegetables,
plainly boiled; plenty of green salad, made
with vinegar, but without oil; I or S oz. of
stowed fruit; water, or tno or three glasses
of pnre dry Moselle or other Ehine wines.
Alternoon tea, '4 30, if desired Two cups of
tea as at breakfast, nothing to eat.
Dinner, 7 to 8 Julienne or clear vegetable
soup; Sorloz. of flsh: Sorioz. of any red
meat, or of chlcken.rabbit, game or venlsoni
6 oz. of any green vegetable, with gravy
from the meat onlv: 4 oz. of stewed fruit or
ot raw fruit; a little stale or pulled bread
with a small piece of cheese.
This diet may be varied as to hour, but
he thinks that three meals only should
be eaten daily, and only sufficient at
each meal to satisfy the appetite.
Fruit may, however, be taken at proper
times, and, although it is much more popu
lar now as a food than it used to
be, it is, he thinks, only beneficial in
moderate quantity. More fluid is, of course,
necessary in hot weather than in cold, and
so long as it is a harmless fluid it is a
question whether too much can be taken.
"Fluid in this way is to the kidneys what
fresh air is to the lungs, and the waste ot
meat not used in the system is carried oft
by its aid," he says. "In the summer
acidulated drinks are the most grateful to
the palate.- There can be no doubt that the
most refreshing beverage in summer, and
certainly the most harmless, is the properly
made cup ot tea."
In every well-appointed household din
ner is the most important meal of the day,
but a fashion in regard to this has, the
Doctor remarks, lately crepi into use whioh
is neither physiologically correct nor con
ducive to its enjoyment He sayst '1
refer to the custom now prevalent of com
mencing dinner with, some anchovy toast
caviare, or sardines on bread and butter, or
some other savory of a like nature. The
proper commencement of dinner should be
the old-fashioned dish of good soup and
for this reason: that it is necessary that the
first food taken at dinner should be quickly
absorbed, so as, to stimulate the nervous
system and give tone to the "stomach. In
this way the appetite is stimulated and the
sense of taste made more keen. Nothing
acts so beneficially for this purpose ns a
small quantity of good soup. The more
important adjuncts are, of course, pleasant
surroundings and cheerful companionship.
He concludes with a warning as to
excess of food. "Gluttony," says an old
writer, "kills more than the sword."
It Saves the Children. '
Mr. CH. Shawen, Wellsville, Kan.,
says: "It is with pleasure that I speak of
the good Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and
Diarrhcca Remedy has done my family dur
ing the las,t fourteen years. In the most
obstinate coses of summer complaint and
diarrhoea among my children it acted as a
charm, making" it never necessary to call in
a physioian. I can truthfully say that in
mr ludtrmeut based on years of experience,
there is not) a medicate in the market that
is its equal" - ff
'WThsu
Dos Qvixotm fought wind mills. Buglne
fights roaohs. bedbugs, etc, and kills them
(.rorrtlma. faoants.
$!&&&$
IN FOREST SOLITUDE.
A Trip Beneath the Canopy of Hem
lock Leaves in McKean County.
TE0DT LEAP IK CRYSTAL BROOKS
And
Onlr the Clack of Woodsman's
Breaks the Sylvan. Silence.
SEARCBIKO POE CONTRACT ALIENS
I WRITTEN TOK THX DISPATCH. 1
"The Frenchies are camping six or seven
miles np Skinner's creek in the woods; and
there's another lot of them tour or fire
miles further ont"
Such was the answer of a tall, muscular
boniface to the question of Immigration In
spector Bobert D. Layton when the latter
arrived at Port Allegany, McKean connty,
early one morning last week. Mr. Layton
had been ordered to investigate some com
plaints that had been made that French
Canadians were being brought over in
large numbers and contrary to the alien
contract law, to work in the oroodi. The
hotel keeper to whom Mr. Lay
ton applied for information as to
the whereabouts of the Canadian
woodchoppers, remembered their advent
very well, because he still had lodging for
a night .charged against some 20 of them,
and he expressed the belief, as did several
others in Port Allegany, that the foreign
element had been brought into the neigh
boring woods in an illegal manner. That
was what Mr. Lay fon had been ordered by
the Immigration Department to inquire
into,and the definite location of the alleged
offenders was grateful and comforting to
Mr' Layton and his companion, the inter
preter, for they had explored the uttermost
parts of the Sinnamahoning valley the day
previous in a, vain search for the individual
who iiad prompted the expedition by writ
ing redhot letters to the Immigration De
partment complaining of the floods of
French Canadians contracted across the
border that were making work scarce and
wages scant for the American woodchopper
and barkpeeler.
Driving on a Pretty bat Muddy Bold.
A wagon with two good horses, for Port
Allegany is rightly proud of her trotting
stock and the possession of as pretty a half
mile track as there is in the State,, was the
next conveyance in order, and in this,
driven by Mr. Franklin, who modestly dis
claimed any kinship with the immortal Ben,
but who promised to pilot Uncle Sam's rep
resentative to the lair of the suspected for
eigners.Mr. Layton and the interpreter were
soon jolting along a very muddy road
toward the wooded hills that rose in the
distance. It is a popular delusion that
Port Allegany Is somewhere near the
source of the Allegtieny river, out that de
ceptive wanderer is"a very respectable body
of water as it curves characteristically
around the town and under an old-tash-ioned
wooden bridge, between the boarded
sides of which boys delight to hang out and
fish at the peril of their necks. The holes
in the road are its most impressive features,
but the scenery is lovely.
SplashI splash! we go down into the
water with a lurch and a swing, rattle over
the bowlders and scrunch through the peb
bly bed of Skinner's creek, an ideal trout
stream ot crystal clearness that comes down
with a merry rush and tinkle from the
mountains. It may be gratifying to Mr.
George H. Welshons, if politics have left
any room for piscatorial pride in his heart,
to know that the young trout he placed in
Skinner s creek a short time ago are reflect
ing credit upon his administration. They
are growing fat and lusty, and the anglers
who have had in the. past more fishing than
catching rite up early now to call the Fish
Commissioner blessed.
Beauty With Carls of Smoke.
On the other side of the stream a young
ish woman is hanging out some clothes to
dry, and a nearer view shows that what we
supposed was a clothespin in her mouth is a
pipe. A ring or two of blue smoke rises
each time she fixes a garment on the line.
An elder woman sits in the doorway, sun
ning lerself, while a barefooted boy
restrains a small dog with a large mouth
that runs ont with an apparent desire to eat
all our party, horses included.
The sun is pretty high by this time and
coats and vests are left behind in the wagon
when we start off for the woods on foot, the
horses being hitched to a tumble-down
fence. A few yards from the house a
newly built railroad track appears. It Is a
lumber road, which the parties who are
taking out the timber from this valley are
using for their own use.
A quarter-of-a-mile further on the rails
stopped and a gang of Italians were filling
in and'grading the road that had been
cleared a few hundred yards ahead among
the big trees. The only sound is the
sharp, clear clack 1 of the woodman's axe,
or the louder report like that of a nine
pounder, followed by a swishing, crashing
roar that marked the fall of some tall wood
land king. For a moment the ugliness of
city slums was recalled as we passed the
camp where the Italians at work upon the
railroad slept and ate.
The Treachery of m reeled Tree.
The wood-choppers wear Immense heavy
shoes with soles an inch or two thick and
plentifully besprinkled with steel pegs,
which give them a sure footing at all times
and enable them to stand firm on a tree
tilted at a sharp angle while they are peel
ing the bark from it. Once, a year or two
ago, a lumberman brought a city capitalist,
who with him owned a lot of land up Skin
ner's creek, to the woods. The city man
had never been in the lumber country be
fore, and his partner showed him around.
Ou their war to a camp np the creek the
city man had no trouble till they reached a
place where the only way to cross a swamp
lay over a fallen tree. The woodman went
first, and his pegged shoes enabled
him to run easily over the smooth
trunk from which the bark had been peeled.
He called back to his partner, "Yon see
how easy it is; come along!" and the latter.
who was very fat, jumped on the tree with
an effort and began to waddle over. There
was a crash and the woodman merely in
quired: "Are you down?" The slippen-.
ness of a pealed tree beats a brick pave
ment in frosty weather.
The sound of the choppers' axes came
closer and closer, and presently we came to
a group of men, three gaunt giants, who
rose up from a felled tree upon which they
had been sitting, and rested their axes on
the spreading limbs.
A Conference That Tfa Fruitless.
They knew very little about their foreign
neighbors, and the best-looking man of the
three, a tall twarthv fellow, with a heavy
black mustache, looked sheepish and stood
silent when his companions referred to him
as the one who knew most about the French
camp.
"If I were working in these woods and
any foreigner came in and took away my
living I wouldn't sit idly by," bejan Mr.
Layton, but the two wood-choppers cut him
short with a loud laugh, and one of them
said, pointing to their haudsome comrade:
"Yer see, Jim won't tell what he knows
'cause there's a woman up to the Frenchies'
cam pi" That closed the conference.
It was lacking a few minutes of noon, the
hour when the whole woodland goes to
lunch, when we came near the French
camp, hoping to catch the u hole party at
their midday meal. A. few minutes' walk
.brought ns to a clearing, in the center ot
which rose a plain, square house or hut of
undressed boards, the architecture partak
ing of the plain and severe style that Mr.
Noah introduced some years ago, it is un
derstood, in designing the ark.
If the outlines of the house wrre not im
pressive, the odor whioh came from it was.
The surroundings were also untidy and un
clean, and the whole place uninviting. '
i Woman In the Wilderness.
It wai a rarpriM, therefor, t a,
I tfflMYiiY'yifif r MiViTi n " i iliiiii liisJ8fiTi'stfttihliiii IliMtitifii ' fggjMMi yfrjl i M , , -1. if nitsa 1
woman, neatly dressed in white, young and
attractive, appear at the doorway as we
drew near. A small boy, clad in a single
garment of singular brevity, tried to hide
himself within ner skirts. The boy was as
brown as a beech-nnt, and qnite in line with
his home in point of cleanliness. A medal
with a raised figure, presumably of the Holy
jiotner, hung irom a riDDon around tne
youngster's neck. He was plainly fright
ened at the strange visitors, and his mother
hardly less so. Neither spoke a word of
English, and when addressed in French the
woman answered in the same language, but
in the Canadian patois.
She said the men would come in for din
ner in a minute or two, and as we left the
house and took a seat to windward of it on
a fallen tree, she came to the threshold and
putting her hands about her mouth gave a
shrill "hallool" that brought an answer
from some man's throat with the echo, and
then was repeated again and again from be
low and above on the hillside.
Presently the owners of the voices came
straggling in. They were not a prettv
crowd. In their veins were blended French
and Indian blood, and whatever the moral
or mental benefits of the mixture mav be
the physical result is not admirable. They
were mostly sallow, dark-haired lantern
jawed and lean.
Estab'Ithlng Their Betpeoiablllty.
The" spokesman oi the party and their
leader, as it turned out. a man named Len
nert, had the brightest face of them ail, but
his eyes were small and had a cunning look.
Most" of them spoke a few words of English,
and Lennert understood -that language
pretty well They all spoke Canadian French,
which is apparently as much a mongrel
tongue as the French-Canadian dialect
which tortures magazine readers so much,
these days. In one language and another,
however, it was not difficult to make out
that no law-breakers were to be found in
their ranks. Lennert explained at length
how -he had been going back and forth be
tween Canada and the United States in the
pursuit of his calling as a woodchopper and
barkpeeler for many years. So ha I many of
his comrades. They all came from the same
district in Quebec, and had made the jour
ney at this particular time at no one's invi
tation and at their own expense, trust
ing merely to Lennert's assurance
that they would find work in plenty in the
woods of McKean county. They "had not
been contracted for that they were em
phatic in declaring, and in proof of that it
was shown that the bark-peeling they were
then engaged in was not let to Mr. Camp
bell, for whom they were working, till some
time after their arrival in this country.
Inspector Layton cross-examined them at
considerable length, and Mr. Campbell,
their American employer also testified, it
appeared candidly and unreservedly, all he
knew about them, but nothing showing any
infraction of the law was developed.
Indeed, it was made clear that
many of these Canadians had been working
in these woods for years, some ot them stay
ing all the year around, but most of them
remaining only for the bark-peeling season
So they were allowed to go hack "to their
dinner, and the pretty, dark-eyed woman
who had watched the proceedings from the
door with such an anxious air that the boy
had fallen to crying out ot sympathy,
smiled once more. Her white skin and
regular features made the statement that
she, too, was a half-breed Indian hard to
believe.
A Dinner of Tresh Tronu
The last chapter is often the pleasantest;
it was so in our case. We had risen
at 6 A. M. In Austin, and had
been in the cars, driving over country
roads or tramping through the woods for
five hours. An invitation to dinner, not at
the French camp, for we had been warned
of the cookery there, but at the Campbell
camp, where Americans were in charge,
lower down the hill, was accepted with
alacrity. If the piquancy of that meal,
served plainly and with many unnecessary
apologies by the cheery wife of one of the
woodchoppers, could be reproduced in print
you could understand why fresh trout, po
tatoes, beans, bread and butter, pre
served blackberries disappeared as if
by magic. Even the woodsmen admired
the catholicity of our appetites.
A dozen splendid young fellows
they were; bronzed and muscular from their
life ont-of-doors and heartv of manner as
men who make a comrade of nature are apt
to be. They work 11 hours each day.
Somebody asked one of them what they
did after.night came down upon the woods.
"You work a day chopping trees or peeling
bark," was the" reply, "and you'll only
want to do one thing when you re through
sleep." Nevertheless one of the older
men after dinner while the others were
filling up their pipes and finding shady
spots tor lounging outside, slunk off into a
corner and pulled from his pocket a creased
and greasy story paper. I think the
title ot the story that he was reading was
"The Treasure Cave, or Fearless Fred's
Fight for Fortune;" and a picture, as lurid
a: could be in black and white, showed
Fred, the hero, in the act of killing 15 men
at one blow, or something of the sort The
lore tor stories of adventure seems as great
in the solitude of the forest as in the com
mon place hum-drum of city life.
HEPBUEtr Johns.
15 THE 8WEAT-3H0P.
Description of Its Workings and What Is
Paid to the Toilers.
The sweat-shop, writes Joseph Kirkland
in Seribner't Magazine, is a place where, sep
arate from the tailor shop or clothing ware
house, a "sweater" (middleman) assembles
journeymen tailors and needlewomen, to
work under his supervision. He takes a
cheap room outside the dear and crowded
business center, and within the neighbor
hood where the work people live. Thus is
rent saved to the employer and time and
travel to the employed. The men can and
do work more hours than was pos
sible under the centralized system,
and their wives and children can
help, especially, when, as is often done, the
garments are taken home to "finish."
(Even the very vonng can pull out basting
threads.) This ''finisning" is what remains
undone after the machine has done its
work, and consists of "felling" tfie want
and leg-ends of trousers (paid at cents a
pair), and, in short, all the "felling" nec
essary on every garment of any kind. For
this service, at the prices paid, they cannot
earn more than from 25 to 40 cents a day,
and the work is largely done by Italian,
Polish and Bohemian women and girls.
The entire number of persons employed
in these vocations may be stated at 5,000
men (of whom 800 are Hebrews), and lrom
20,000 to 23,000 women and children.
AH CH0 OF THE WAS.
A Story of Treildent Harrison's Surgical
Powers In the Time of .Need.
It is related says the New Tork Tribune,
that President Harrison, then only a Col
onel, could not promptly Secure surgeons to
care for his wounded, alter the battle of
New Hope Church. He, therefore, took off
his coat, rolled up his sleeve, and did what
hq could himself to stanch the flow of
blood, and to dress wouuds. He directed
that tents be torn up into bandages, and he
spent hours in worK over nis aisuDieasoi
diers before the surgeons arrived.
The Exceeding Hot Woathsr
Of the present summer is producing an
alarming fatality from diarrhoea, cholera In
fantum, cholera morbus anil dysentery.
Every family and person ought to be pro
vided with an effective preventive and cure
for these diseases. Pe-ru-na never lails
when used in time to cure the most severe
cases of thm. Thousandr of lives are saved
bv this unfailing remedy in ail acnte dis
eases ot the stomach and bowels. If you are
not already acquainted with the wouderfnl
virtues ot Pe-ru-na in summer complaints
send lor three lectures by Dr. S. B. Hart
mad, of Columbus,' O., ou acute diseases of
the abdomen, which contain a description
of the causes, symptoms and cure of these
dangerous and prevalent diseases. The
lectures are sent tree to any address by the
Pe-ru-na Drug Manufacturing Co., Colum
bus, a
FACTS FROM PRISONS.
Curious Statistics Gathered Up by th
Wardens Association.
THE PATE OP THIEVES LI 5I7ADA.
Interestln;
Things la the Fasoiogiesl
Exhibit for the Fair.
CULLS HADE FAMOUS W LITEiUTUSl
msiriJJ TO THX DISrATCH.1
The Secretary of the Wardens' Associa
tion, Major E. W. McClaughry, has recent
ly published a curious book called "The
Criminal Statistics of the United States ant
Canada for 1890." The work is by no means
complete, as there are many wardens in the
United States who do not belong to the
association and some who do have refused
to aid. The idea originated with Major
McClaughry, under whose direction, and at
whose expense the statistics were compiled.
At the close of 1890, all the wardens who
had agreed to assist in the undertaking'
notified the Secretary as to the number of
prisoners they had received during the year,
and the Major"sent them a corresponding
number of statistical cards to be filled out at
follows: Prisoner's name and register
number, color," nativity, descent, nativity
of parents, prisoner s age and date of birth,
occupation, religion, name, nature and
cause of crime, length of sentence, number
and place of previous imprisonment
whether married or single, whether able to
read or write, and number of years at sohooL
Yellow cards were used for males, and
white cards for females.
The writer had the privilege of looking
over these cards some time ago and gleaned
from them some curious facts. Forinstancet
The way of the transgressor is compara
tively easy north of the St Lawrence, the
term of imprisonment of a Canadian thief
rarely exceeding 60 or 90 days, while a for
gery or a burglary may be committed at the
risk of a two or three years' sentence. One
half the convicts in Texas are horse or cat
tle thieves. Five-sixths of the murderers
south of MasQn and Dixon's line are
negroes, and only one-tenth of the colored
convicts in the United States can read and
write. The majority of the assailants of
women in the North are white men, middle
aged, and with wives living, while m tho
South they are almost invariably young and
unmarried negroes.
Some Facetious Information.
The colored desperado does not use a
razor as much as is commonly supposed, the
revolver and "billy" seeming to be his
favorite weapon. The Nevada State Prison
at Carson City is almost entirely filled with
men serving short sentences for capital
crimes. A zealous compiler, noticing this
fact, wrote to a local authority of Carson
City, with whom he was slightly acquainted,
asking "what was done with the thieves,
and evoked the reply that "they were gives
Christian burial." Some of the cards afford
considerable amusement In cases where it
is impossible to trace the prisoner's antece
dents his own story must be taken for what
it is worth, and strange incongruities occa
sionally present themselves. The States
are supporting several men who claim to
have been school teachers,but who are unable
to read or write, and Texas glories in a
clergymen who is serving his fourth term
for breaking one ot the commandments.
Dakota has covicted an octogenarian-oi
bigamy. In a New England prison a than
is now awaiting execution who received his
death sentence in 189a A penny for his
thoughts!
These statistics, if continued from year to
Vear, will be ofgreat value, as showing the
increase or decrease of crime, the cause of
crime in difierent localities, and the influ
ences that should be combatted to prevent
it But although it is now time to compile
the statistics for 1891, it is doubtful If any
steps will be taken in the matter at pres
ent. Major McClaughry has already expended-
considerable time and money to
bring out this first edition, and can hardly
be expected to go any further until the
other members of the association for whose
benefit he has been laboring have mani
fested an inclination to share the expense.
.The Prison Exhibit at Chicago.
A curious as well as interesting feature
of the great Columbian Exposition will be
the penological hall, a vast reliquary oi
original specimens and reproductions of
every device and appliance for the punish
ment ot offenders in use since the dawning
of the Christian era. In some respects it
will be a veritable "chamber of horrors."
Everv death-dealing machine from the
primitive saber of Asiatic countries to the
latest electrical contrivance used in the
United States; every instrument of torture
known to man, from the cros3 on which the
early Christians sufferpd martyrdom to the
terrible rack and "iron shroud" of the
Spanish Inquisition, will be on exhibition,
while ghastly wax-work representations of
barbarous Oriental executions will do their
hideous theme such justice as to fairly
freeze the blood in the veins or the be
holder. But, for people less morbid in their tastes,
fargreaterattractions are in store. The repro
duction of the interiors of celebrated prisons
ot the "Old World" will prove an unfailing
source or delight to ail persons ot culture
and refinement. To the dungeons of the
Chateau d'ltj the romantic masterpiece of
the elder Dumas has attached an undying
interest, and what lover of Byron willgazo
unmoved upon the walls which once in
closed the noble Bonnivard, the immortal
"Prisoner of ChibOjn." What indescribable
emotions must stir the soul of the antiquary
who enters the great "Tower" by the
"Traitors' Gate." or who pauses in the lab
yrinthian corridors of the old "Bastile" to
shed a sentimental tear over the fate ot the
unfortunate Marie Antoinette, or speo
ulate for the thousandth time on the iden
tity of the "Iron Masque."
PrUons Famous In Literature.
Admirers of Charles Eeade will not need
to refer to their guide books for an explana
tion of those ponderous iron cranks with
the mysterious dial indicators overhead.
Thev were once used to extract fruitless ex
ertion lrom the inmates of a great English
prison where the system of solitary confine
ment prevailed, and their abolition was
secured by the publication of "A Terrible
Temptation."
The reproduction of the famous debtors
prison called the "King's Bench," as it was
when Sir Eichard Steele wrote his beautiful
essays from within its confining walls, and
Fielding's inimitable creation "Amelia"
will be fraught with great interest for
scholarly people, but the readers of Dickens
who have wept with the "Child of
the Marshalsea" and laughed at tha
garrulity of her optimistic old father will
note with disappointment the absence of
the Marshalsea jail. Bnt that cannot be re
produced. The last distinct memory of It
died with the autnor or "ijiiue .uorritt."
The hall will naturally be of most interest
to members of the National Prison Congress
and Wardens' Association, who will have
an opportunity of inspecting a great variety
of improved machinery for penal institu
tions, placed there by the inventors, the
most noteworthy of which (though scarcely
practicable) will -be a circular cellhouse
with revolving walls, which is claimed to
preclude all possibilities of escape from the
inside. E. G. A.
A Useful Dint for Engineers.
" D. K. Clarke suggests the following ex
cellent way of arriving at the effective mean
pressure on the piston ot a high pressure
engine: With steam cut off at quarter
stroke, the mean pressure is 1 3-5 part of
the maximum pressure; at half stroke out oft
it is two-thirds the maximum pressure, and
at three-quarter out of! It U rrlnt tf tks ttrt
saaxiataas pressor.
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