. - - j. y-yj - '
- 1
Siiiili iSid jyKk nil Ifeiiiifcii
B. F.
SOHWEIER,
THE O0ISTITUTI0I THE TJHOI AID THE EHOXGEKEIT OP TEE LAVS.
Editor and Proprietor.
4-
VOL. XXXIX.
BET WEES OCBaELYM.
Bue her eyea to me and you
rm8?riw betweeu a, two.
She smile, on me, my heart i. light.
And yoars is eerl iu sorrow-
Alt ,VLe flWOr 1 to-nijht
8be It throw to you to-morrow.
A i d lair-however fair she be, '
lnete s many a Uasw fairer."
But if It hap, and well it mav,
that each in rain has pleaded,
In all my songs are thrown aw v.
And all your sighs unheeded;
Zow outsle no hermit vowt
W e 11 cross no foaming billow.
v - U bind about our dimal brows
No wreaths of mournful willow:
Bui show, in spite of her dUdaiu,
We yet can bve without her.
A11.I jmoiug hands we'll laugh aziln
- Aud think no more about uerl '
A SMOI LDEIUXG TIRE.
"Then am I really to understand
ts-aie that, after all our ion years of
f 1 lei.dihip, you decline to play at my
'If the play is to be OtlielL., John
must. You don't know the pain
Hives me 10 refuse you; I would so
mauiy uo you a service if it lay in mv
power. Any p.f t but Desleuioua I
ucuSiiics u uuaertaae; but
it would be useless my attempting that;
I know 1 could not get through it."
But surely you must have played
I)esdenioua during your early country
experiences, even if you have not done
Si I sinn?"
"Yes, I have, on one occasion only
"Well, then, why not again? I mu
own I am hitterlv licu-iimOiti. 1
counted on you. It is the first oppor
tunity I have had of playing a Rood
part in Loudon, and, with vour help, I
relied on making a hit. Xow I don't
Xnt w what to do, as I have been in
America so many years! all the pro
fessionals here are strangers to me. The
Itlta t if emir nifiwinrrtAM rV- - a t ....
- " w VMS. u-'itlt, iv . t- 1 uir HIT TCI
eDtered my head. I am sorry I ever
o 1-...1 . .... T r ,
a-'iY'ru juu, iu 1 icar 1 auau never ue
me 10 torgei your aesenion or an old
rhnm M
The speaker was one of my oldest
and dearest friends. His family and
mine had been intimate long before
either of us had thought of going upon
the stm;e- We had been boy and girl
sweethearts, and used to confide our
stage-! nick aspirations to each oth r.
Ultimately we succeeded in persuading
our parents to let us adopt the prores-
KlAft urd WA murlp nitr first. niiTWrnnr0
in pul!ic on the same occasion at the
little tneutre m our native country
town. Then :ifter h short tiniA nnr
paths separated; he had an offer to go
10 Atti.-nca, ana 1 was eugageu uy one
of the North-Country the.it re-mana-
ft "
I had heard of John coutiuually from
His lamny, ana we uau w mien 10 eacu
other what either of us had a particular
success or met with any good fortune.
He h;ul however never come back to
Vi.Lrl in.l until now. when, having ob
tained a very good iosition in his adop
ted country, ne sou iecoiue uome-ai-it
and resolved to try for an engagement
here. With this idea, he had taken
one of the fashionable west-end houses
and announced his first appearance as
Othello. I had promised to play for
him, never dreamuig that lie wouia
select the only piece I could not act in.
I was really concerned at the evident
pain I was giving him, and to find that
our friendship was likely to be inter
rupted, and said
' "if you Knew the reason of my re
fusal, you would not think me unkind.
It grieves me to the heart to be obliged
,tosav 'So.'"
But why. in the name of goodness,
should you be obliged to say 'Xo'? The
part is in your line, you would play it
spleudidly without any trouble. I shall
believe you mean to be quite disagree
able unless you give me some explana-
"Then you force me to tell you my
reason. I should have hoped you had
suflicient faith In my regard . for you,
and would have spared me reverting
to the most unhappy occurrence in my
life. Although it happened fourteen
" years ago, I cannot think of it without
misery, and the subject has not been
alluded to for years; however, sooner
than lose jour friendship, I will tell
you.
You remember my going to the
Theatre Royal Alton soon after you
went to America, aud you also recol
lect. I dare sav a most serious illness
I had a year afterwards. The particu
lars of that illness you never heard, as
all the facts were hushed up. I was
engaged by Mr, Gosling, the manager,
to play small parts at a very small salary
and a hard strugele I had to make
both ends meet- The theatre was de
cidedly second rate; but the company
were bard working and respectable,
although illiterate. They were very
kind to me as a rule aud did me many
real services, which I had no meaus of
repaying except with thanks Mr
Gosling was a geuial goid-hearted old
man with whom I soon became a great
favorite, I had plenty of practice and
did my utmost uget on. At last a
f.jrtnnate chance happened for me.
The young lady who played the juven-
lies' was Uken ill on the eve of a per
iles " irn,ht No one iu the
theatre excepting myself knew the
wordTaud music of Ophelia, so I was
rntjusted with the p ut to my intense
deS I sat up all night to study.
Jnd ultimately made WrrWjf
Said was a great success. Th s led to
being engaged by Mr. Gosling W
Say the principle parts at a cons.der
SlM increased salary, with Mr. Gotl
SS Churn, the leading man, who
K f'intbe company at the com-
course, w t reuearsal, I
blingcj ."etwo new mem
found that thei tw
Mddie K3 nn with a most
KWhS 'U however by a pe-
tnliar'nalrow retreating fore
m fyeS T vouS gentleman who I
lead, and a joung juvenile
JZ ad Peasant
Sf'KSS -tantly a,
c,i4t-eJ m-n re..carsing; the Play
was J7ie Ilunr rA. Mr.Black-
e:t,aan ' S andas stage
burn, both as an or
manager, and 1 g to in SUc
brains as to 1 03 rt small
s position- . "Reined to me won-
Country cWv than any
of the a,lmlration I felt for his acting
" iicepuuie in my manner, for he
tUogaa t0 tnUt me with
off'tTi f0U.nd Vry dlsa8reeable, as
off the stage he was personally most
repellent to me. He had such a ws
uicions, uneasy expression that I never
felt comfortable with him except upon
the stage, and then the charm of his
acting was so powerful that he made
nie forget everything but tVe character
he was representing.
"JIe was of the greatest assistance to
Vi. frranawas 1uile untiring
, , a 10 improve me, SU11 I
hi?. ciety. and
.i-ajjuvom siauumg in any en
"we nurre 1 inouctit he would be
likely to come; but, do what I could, I
felt he was always watching me. and at
last became quite nervous and unhauoy
"One evening I in oTi-;n. . u.
Westbrook. our new 7un premier.
with whom I had become ver fVirn
and he was telling me the reason he be
rveu air. liiackhurn had come down
1 ne proiession.
" 'You must know ' bm i.a ti-.i.
burn has an awful tmoer: theV sa h
might have been a London star now if
it u.ui not oeeu i,r his temier; the re-
k"' f. e aiuiciiea someoody on one
occasion; out 1 cauuot vouch for the
truth of it. In any case, I shouldn't
like to quarrel with him, for I don't
iaucy 1 am a favorite of his as it is; aud
juu auow me re;isonr'
" 'Xo.' said I. I have no idea.'
'Because he knows I admire you.'
"We had just arrived at this stage
of our conversation, thinking we were
alone, when I heard a slight sound, and
turning quickly, saw Mr. Blackburn
standing close behind us, looking with
an expression so savage and horrible at
Mr. Westbrooke that I felt quite faint
ana nu 1 nad only a glimpse at his
face, for he walked away directly I ob-
servea mm.
Did you see him?' I gapped. "How
fearful he looked! Do you think he
could have heard what you said?'
" 'I hope not,' said Mr. Westbrook.
liut, even, if he did. it cannot matter
much. 1 am sorry to have hurt his
feelings of course; but it takes two to
make a quarrel, and I am detei mined
not to quarrel with him.'
" OlL but I am alarmed for you!
cried I. 'His face was so terrible he
looked as if he could have killed you!'
' 'And is my safety of so much con
sequence to youV" said he; and then
and then well, the result of our con
versation was that, when we left the
theatre that night, I was engaged to be
married to George Westbrook, and was
so happy that I had entirely forgotten
Mr. Blackburn, his temper, and all his
uncomfortable ways
" For some weeks after this things
went on smoothly and quietly. Mr.
lilackburu still interested himself in
my success, and, although he continu
ed to watch me narrowly, his manner
was much softer and altogether more
agreeable. I could not understand this
change in him, until one day, as we
were taking a country-walk, George
said, in answer to a remark of miue on
the subject
" 'I expect it is because he is no longer
jealous of me.'
" 'But do you really think Mr. Black
burn is in love with me?' said I. He
has never spoken a word that could
lead me to suspect such a thing. All
his conversation has been on purely pro
fessional subjects.'
' 'Then why do you suppose he
watches you so intently?' asked George.
"'Well.' said I, after a moment's
consideration, 'I've always thought it
was for purposes of professional criti
cism, for he is constantly coming and
telling me of little tricks and habits I
have that he thinks will hinder my suc
cess. I never see him gazing at me in
that peculiar manner of his without
being certain that he will come a little
later on and find fault with something
either 1 have been standing on one
leg, or opening my mouth on one side,
or dropping my voice at the end of a
sentence, or something equally objec
tionably and inartistic in nis eyes. 11
he wauts to inspire me with any feeling
of affection, he certainly adopts a curi
ous method; he has never given me a
word of approbation since 1 have known
him. Of course I know he is mterres-
ted in me, because he takes so much
trouble on my account; but henest'y I
do not think he cares for me in the least
any further tnan mat some aay ne
thinks 1 shall maxe a gooa aciress, 11 1
have a helninc hand in the right direc
tion' and, being a thorough artist, he
feels bound to do what he can for me.
" 'My dear, you may lay that flatter
ing unction to your soul if you like;
hut 1 am right and you are wrong.
Everybody in the theatre says the same
I wonder you liave never heard of it.
I really sympathize with the poor man,'
continued George, 'and feel quite guil-
tv toward him, especially as tor tne last
week he has been so much kinder to me.
He'll look upon me as a sort of serpent
whenever we make our engagement
known.'
' 'It is all very well your making a
,.lte nf the matter. George.' said I; 'but
what you tell me has made me dread
fully uncomfortable though, mind you
I will not allow that it can be as you
say. ny SIIOUIU I oe iue um iciiKu
to discover it? I knew you admired
me the first time I ever saw you. Xo,
George, I cannot believe that any wo
man could be so uiina as not w uuu ui
if a man really loved ber. Any way, I
trust you are mistaken; I should be com
pletely horrified if he spoke to me on
the subject the idea of telling him of
our engagement in those circumstances
would frighten me to death. Good
ness knows what he mightdo if he con
sidered he had been badly treated or
trilled with!' .
" 'Well, let us hope he will be a long
time making up his mind to come to
the point,' said George, laughing at my
dismayed countenance; 'but seak he
will, sooner or later, take my word for
it.'
'It Is very unkind of you to laugh,'
said I miserably; 'I wouldn't if you
were in my position. I'm sure I dont
Know how I shall refuse him, especially
if he gets very violent.' .
"'Mindvoudo find a way!' said
George, looking rather alarmed. 'To
accept him would certainly be carrying
your consideration for his feelings a
little too far.'
"We dropped the subject and contin
ued on walking along the pleasant coun
try road; but 1 no longer enjoyed it
everything seemed heavy and oppres
sive and there was a weight on my
spirit which I struggled against iu
vaiu George rallied me on my de-
res.siou, and asked if I was composing
an effective speech in answer to Air
Blackburn's proposal; but, seeing that
"v eves filled with tears and that I was
very unhappy, he desisted at ouce, and
MIFFLINTOAVN,
kindly and lovingly tried to reassure
and comfort me. -
"We turned towards home. All our
brightness had , fled, misgivings filled
my mind, and our future looked dark
and dreary, such a nameless apprehen
sion hung over me.
"Oneeveniug Mr. Blackburn had
been more trying than usual, aud I felt
I could bear it no longer. I was exci
ted, ill, aud nervous; I had not slept
for several nights, haunted by his race
and hardly knew what I said; my life
in the theatre for the last week-had
been one ot complete misery. I began
to una mat his strange gaze was hav
ing a singular effect upon me. There
was a horrible fascinationjhi it, and do
what I would, I seemed comoelled to
look at him in return. I thoucht.
Come what will, I must put an end to
this, or I shall have brain-fever:' so,
finding him, as usual, at my elbow dur
ing a long wait, 1 said rather irritab
ly "Is there anything you want to say
to me, Mr. Blackburn? If there is I
wish you would come to the point, and
get 11 over.
" "Can you ask me?' he whispered.
'Have you not seen how I have been
striving to open my heart to you for
weeks past, but you would never give
me the opportunity? I was afraid to
force myself upon you; I only prayed
that one day you would invite me to
speak, as you have done now.'
"'Well, and what is it? nave vou
discovered some fresh dreadful "trick,'
as you call it, in me?' I tried tosieak
lightly, and to seem to misunderstand
his meaning; but he would not be put
oil now, and went on
'"Don't pretend to misunderstand
me; you must see bow I love you, you
must know that I've loved you from
the first moment I met you. Your
triumphs have been my triumphs, and
my every thought has been devoted to
you; and so it shall continue my dar
ling, until the end of my lifel I will
not ask yon to tell me in words bow you
love me I know it, I have seen it in
your gentle compliance with my every
request, and in your sweet eyes, which
have always acknowledged my influ
ence; but give me some sign that will
make me the happiest man in the world.
My life has been so lonely and hard;
no one has cared for me since my mother
died, and that was when I was a little
child I have felt what it is to live
only since you came across my path to
brighten and cheer me; now I know
what it is to love and be loved!
"All this was spoken in a low thrll
ling whisper; but his face was all aglow
with feeling, and there was a fierce
look of passion in his eyes which made
me tremble, I wondered at the time
that my expression of horror did not.
stop him; but be took no notice of it,
and was going on. when 1 broke m
with
"'Mr. Blackburn, stop, for pity's
sake; you grieve me terribly! How can
vou have made this unfortunate mis
take?'
"'Mistake,' he repeated blankly-'mis
take?'
"'Y'es,' said I; '1 never thought of
your caring for me in that way. I was
grateful to you for all your goodness to
me, and so 1 shall always be, oeueve
me, and I hope you will still continue
my kiud friend.'
"'Fiiend! be interrupted fiercely.
'There can be no friendship between
you and me. Tell me at once, do you
love me? Or have you been trilling or
playing with me all these mouths?'
"He was getting fearfully excited
and his eyes gleamed, but he was still
whisjtering for fear of being overheard
I imagined.
"i answered, as calmly as I could
" 'It is best to speak plainly, ilr.
Blackburn. I am most unhappy in
having qnite innocently and unwitting
ly deceived you as to my feelings I do
not love you, and never thought for one
moment that you imagined 1 did.'
" 'Then who Is it you do lover' he
hissed, putting his face close to mina
"'What do you mean r7 said I, aghast.
"'Don't prevaricate,' he went on.
I know you love some one. Miserable
fool that I am, I thought the sweet
light that shone in your eyej, was for
me! Who is it that has driven me from
your heart?' Then be continued more
softly, 'I remember your standing at
the side the first time that I played
Yirginius here, and looking at me with
all your soul in your eyes, and crying
for me; no one ever looked at me in
in that way before. I am sure you loved
me then.'
"I remembered perfectly the occasion
he alluded, and was dismayed to find
how my admiration for his acting had
been misinterpreted. I was trying to
collect myself to speak, when, with a
low sudden cry, he stopped me.
"Ah. you need not speak; I knowi
It is young Westbrook who has taught
you to hate me. I heard him telling
you tales, false, wicked, calumnious
tales, about me; but, my darling they
were lie, all lies! fcay you don't believe
them, aud that you will love mo again.
Don't break my heart!'
"There was a tremor in his voice.
and his face was drawn with pain. I
was faint and trembling, and was en
deavoring to find some words to reply
when a shadow fell between us, and 1
looked up to find George standing close
to us, looking gravely and inquiringly
at us both. I was so overwrought and
agitated by what I bad gone through
that I thought ot nothing nut mat i
was safe with him beside me, and, for
getting all caution, I said
' 'Oh, George, thank Heaven you
are come!' and burst into violent tears.
"There was a pause for a minute.
during which I tried to regain my com
posure. Then Mr. Blackburn said
'"You need not answer my last ques
tion, thank you; I know what you
would reply.'
-His cold calm tone startled me after
bis excitement of a moment before,
and the awful expression, of his face
quite chilled me; his eyes glittered, and
he looked perfectly demoniacal. I shud
dered, and turned away with George,
thinking it batter to leave him to him
self. "How we finished the remaining act
of the play 1 cannot imagine. I know
he did not touch me, and scarcely look
ed at me; but I remember George took
me home after the performance, and I
frightened both him and the kind old
landlady by having a regular hysterical
attack. Poor George waited until I
had recovered, and then left me say
ing "Courage, dearest; only another
week of it, and then we shall be able
to say good-bye to the Theatre lloyal
Alton a.id Mr. BlackBurn, let us hope,
for ever!"
"The next day I was completely ex-Irvi-ted,
anl was obliged, for the first
time to sen ! an excuse instead of at
tending rehearsal. George came to see
me iu the afternoon, and quite reas
JUNIATA COUNTY,
sured me by his account of Mr. Black
burn " 'He evidently wishes, said George,
'that the affair should be forgotten.
He was most civil to me, and, when
your message arrived, saying you weie
too unwell to attend, he expiesed his
rsgrets quite in an ordinary way. He
is going to play U:he:lo magnificently
too; I could see that eveu at the first
rehearsal, although the scenes with
Desdemoua were omitted this moi ni' g.
Old Gosling is in a tremendous stale of
excitement; nearly all the seats for the
best part of the house are booked al
leady for Blackburn's benefit, and they
expect to have to turn half-a-dozeu rows
of the pit into stalls. Just think of
that at the Theatre Royal Alton! I
hear too that the mayor and corpora
tion is coming in a body, as a sort of
official demonstration of their respec t
and admiration for him. There is no
doubt he has become a great favor. te
here; and no wonder he is certainly a
fine actor! Another report which is
going about, which is still more inter
esting to us, is that Mr. Seauiau is com
ing from London to see tlie performance.
I expect he has heard et you ami Black
burn; wouldu't it be delightful if he
engaged you for his grand autumn re
vival of Othello at the Koyal? I should
positively go down on my knees to him
to take me also. So, darling, you must
cheer up, and determine to make a bril
liant, success as Desdemona.'
We bad the day to ourselves, so as
to be quite fresh for the evening of the
benefit, aud 1 went down to the theatre
feeling better and less apprehensive
than I had expected- George, who
played C'asio, came and knocked at
my dressing room duor before the cur
tain rose, that he might inspect me in
the new dress I had bojight to do honor
to the occasion.
l'ou are lovely,' he said 'rather
too pale perhaia. Can't you heighten
your color a littler7
" 'Xo, said I, I cannot. Whatever
I do, it apears to me I look ghastly.'
" 'That's absurd!' said George laugh
ing. '1 thought you were only a trine
pale; but perhaps it Is more interesting
Heaven bless you, my darling! A great
deal may depend upon to-night for us
both; do yourself justice that - is all I
ask.'
"He kissed me and we went to the
stage together. Mr. Blackburn was on
the stage when we reac ed it, and im
mediately advanced toward us.
" Good luck,' said he 'good luck to
you both! Ibis will be a night you
will remember as long as you live as
long as you live,' he repeated impres
sively. "He turned away, and George said
" 'How well he looks! Thank good
ness he seems quite himself again!'
"The play commenced. Mr. Black
burn had a magnificent reception, and
seemed determined to surpass bltuseif
At last came the scene in which Desde
mona apjiears.
.'Xow,' sarrT Iago, who was -wait-iiigfocthe
cue to take nfff on 'now
comes the tug of wai 1 If he is all right
with you it iuusCTie.anieHtHuious suc
cess. Why, you are "nervoujl'-he ad
ded, taking my icy hand. -tHieer up;
you are quite safe!'
"The moment arrived which aston
ished every bod f but me. Far from be
ing apathetic. Blackburn electrified us.
His acting with Deslemona was pro
nounced on all sides to be perfect, and
I myself was almost frightened by bis
earnestness. There was a tremendous
recall at the end of the act, which we
acknowledged together, his band burn
ing more and more. ' ,
"The second act went weil until the
entrance of Othello. To my intense
alarm, the embrace when Othello and
Desdemona meet was so genuine that I
almost fainted. I need not tell you
that kisses are not considered allowable
on the stage; imagine my horror when
he kissed me again and again, his lips
almost scorching mina. I should have
fallen bad he not held me so tightly.
"When we were off the stage, I
tumed to reprove him for the insult he
had offered me; but there was . such a
look of malignant joy on his face that
the words froze on my lips, and I hur
ried away from' him. . 'Heaven help
me!' thought I. 'How shall I get
through the remaining three acts? He
surely must be intoxicated!' .
"In my next scene with Cassieo be
stood close to the stage and watched us
aud I haw him muttering to himself.
Once I walked close to where he stood,
to find if I could bear what he was say
ing; to my terror, he was repeating
again aud again, with his eyes fixed on
George and me
"For the last time, for the last time!'
"Directly I bad an opportunity, I
seut for George, and said I did not
think Uie play ought to proceed, for I
was certain there was something wrong
with Mr. Blackburn.
" 'Wrong!' said George. I have never
seen such acting in my life!'
' 'Then I told him all that had oc
curred and he only laughed at my
fears.
" 'It seems to me you have got Into
such a nervous condition that you ex
aggerate everythinz, I have talked to
him a good deal to-night, and be has
lieen most pleasant, asking when we are
going to be married, hoping that our
good fortune may date from to-night.
and all sorts of kiud things.'
" 'But cannot you see that all tins is
not natural?' cried I. 'It alarms me
dreadfully, 1 believe he has some fear
ful scheme in his head!'
"'What scheme can he have my dear
Kate? Dont think me unkind or un
sympathetic; but you really must strug
gle against this feeling you are letting
it get quite an upper hand of you. Y'ou
need never have anything to do with
him again, but to-night you must go
through with your character.'
. I said no more, but determined
that, happen what might, 1 would
make no further complaint. My reso
lution failed me at the end of the fourth
act, Mr. Blackburn's acting had been
excedingly violent, and I was bruised
my the manner in which he flung me
on the floor.' This violence was alter
nated with the most demonstrative af
fection. I could endure it no longer
and had sent for Mr. Gosling, when I
came upon Lla:kburn standing in a
brown study, in one of the entrances.
He was again muttering to himself;
but this time be was feeling the edge
of the dagger which formed part of his
dress. 1 tried to get past without at
tracting his attention; but my clothes
caught on a nail in the scene, and he
saw me. lie stared guiltily, and hasti
ly returned the dagger to its sheath.
"This incident, crowning all the
others, had such an awful effect upon
me that, when Mr. Gosling came, I
refused to finish the play.
'It is not safe,' said L I am sure
Mr. Blackburn baa some sinister design
against me,'
" That is not very, likely, iry dear,
PENN A.. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 2, 1SS5.
replied Mr. Gosling. 'Why, poor
Blackburn has been sweet on you for
months!'
" 'That is just the reason,' I urged,
I must tell you 1 refused him the
other day. and he intends revenging
himst If to-night. For pity's sake drop
the curtain!'
"'My child, it is impossible! We
should have a riot in the house! I will
go and speak to Blackburn, and come
back to you at once.'
''I sat and rocked myself in anguish
George came and stood by me, but I
could not speak. He evidently thought
I was seriously ill, and said be should
fetch the uoctor when the play was
over.
" 'I can t imagine what you can
mean,' said Mr. Gosling, returning,
Blackburn is as cool and collected as
any man I have ever seen wonderful
ly so under the circumstances. I told
him his acting was a little too strong
for you, and that you were a little over
excited. He says he is determined you
shall not complain of his last act. bo,
my dear, dry your tears, aud go and
change your dress. . Y'ou know I would
do anything in the world to please you;
but what you ask is completely impos
sible; besides, there ts really no reason.'
" 'Heaven help me then,' said I, 'for
no oue else wilil I will forgive you
both; and may you forgive yourselves
for what I feel sure will happen! Shake
hands, Mr. Gosling, and thank you for
all vour goodness to me; and George,
come aud fetch me when the stage is
ready for the last act.'
"I left them looking after me gravely
aud sorrowfully. I have since heard
tliat they feared my brain had given
way.
"I dressed Iu si!euce, evidently to the
surprise of my companions, who were
full of talk about the wonderful suc
cess of the play, il remember their con
gratulating me on the effect I had pro
duced on Mr. . Seaman, the Loudon
manager.
" 'I saw him aprfaudlng you, my
dear,' said one; you are safe fur an en
gagement. Don't forget old friends
when you get to the top of the tree.'
"Just then George's knock struck
upon my ear like a" knell. I rose uu
steadily, and said
" I want to say good-bye to you
aU.'
- " 'Good-bye, child!' said the Emilia
ot the evening. v by, we snail all be
here when you tome downr
" Xo; say good-bye now.' I kissed
them all, and left them standing fngh
tened aud silent together. Oive me
your arm, George; 1 cannot walk.'
'"My darling,' he cried, with his
eyes full of tears, 'it seems so cruel to
make you go on; but what can we do?
Heasa Heaven, I shall soon nurse you
back to health!' He helped me tender
ly to the couch on the stags and cover
ed me with the quilt.
' Xow kiss me, and go,' said I.
."My dearest, not now,' he replied;
'ate we are not alone r
" 'For the last time surely you will
not reXuse for the last timer
"He evidently thought I was wan
dering, aud nenthis head and did as I
desired. I heard a smothered laugh,
and, looking up, saw Mr. Blackburn
standing just behind him.
"Poor George hurried away and the
curtain rose.
"I caunot now attempt to describe
how the act was played. I was told I
spoke my few lines all right; but, if f
did, it must have been quite mechani
cally My whole brain was occupied
with one absorbing thought when will
it come? How many minutes more?
"Although I was almost unconscious
I had sufficient reason left to be sur
prised that be did not endeavor to suf
focate me with the pillow; but I was
quite powerless to move or speak. In
a minute I beard Emilia's voice at the
door, and I knew that the terrible mo
ment was come. I felt his feverish
breath on my face. I opened my eyes.
Good Heaven, what a sight met my
horrified gaze! I tried to scream; but
ray tongue clave to my mouth, and I
was unable to utter a sound.
"He was bending over me, with the
unmistakable glare of insanity in his
eyes. In that awful moment all that
had been mysterious in his manner
was explained. He had been mad all.
along and I never suspected it, although
I bad been oppressed with strange mis
givings about him. His burning fin
gers clutched my bare throat, and 1
saw the dagger glare in the uplifted
hand I
" 'Shut your eyesP he hissed. Tou
are dead, you are dead!'
"Involuntarily my nerveless lids
drooied, and the next moment I felt
the icv steel-enter my side. I sprang
up on the couch, gave a desparing
shriek, which rang round the house.
and fell back insensible, with the souud
of deafening applause mocking my
ears.
"It appeared that the audience
thought tnis was a new reading of the
part and were quite carried away with
it.
"When I next recovered conscious
ness, I was in bed in my longings, and
George and one of my dretsing-room
companions at the theatre were sitting
watching me anxiously. I felt strange
ly weak, and was not allowed to talk
or move Some weeks after, when I
was comparatively strong. George told
me the finish of that miserable night.
" 'Xobody knew anything about it,'
said he, 'until the end of the play; he
hud pulled the quilt right over you.
When you did not take up your cue
for the last line, we thought you had
forgotten it, and Emilia passed it over.
Directly the curtain fell, poor Black
burn began to scream and rave, and
rushed up to where you were lying.
Imagine our horror, when he pulled
down the cover, to find what had hap
tectd! I thought the men would have
tarn him to pieces. I saw however that
he was quite mad; and Gosling and two
or three others took him away and
watched him all night. They tele
graphed to a brother of his, and he came
down the next morning.
"I then heard of the miraculous es
cape I had bad. The doctors said, had
the dagger devia'ed half an inch from
the course it bad taken. It must inevi
tably have killed me; as it was, they
bad many anxious nights and days of
watching, during which I lay quite un
conscious. "A year after that I married George
and I have leen very happy ever since.
My only trouble but that Is a heavy
one is tke thought of the poor miser
able man, who still drags out a taste
less existence within the walls of a lu
natic asylum.
-
"Xow, John, you know why 1 can
not play Desdemoua for yju."
It may ba well to remember that the
cbmgiug of paatnre occasionally makes
fat stock.
0w Allrinil Fosaw
The personal peculiarities or foot
light favorites, the little inequalities of
temper or infirmities of disposition,
may be hidden from all the world out
side of the profession, except from the
photographer who. poses ieni for pic
tures. Before the camera they descend
from their tinsel thrones and the sun
light artist sees them as they are men
and women, with just as much human
nature In their composition as there Is
in that of ordinary mortals. All actors
are not demi gods nor all actresses
angels, and the theatrical photographer,
more than anybody else, sees the blem
ishes which reduce them to the level of
common humanity.
Of the photographers making a spe
cialty of theatrical work Mr. Gilbert
has posed so many beauties and actres
ses whose popularity is not altogether
due to good looks that he Is an authority
as to the female branch of the profes
sion. When asked what arrangements
were generally made with actresses, if
a royalty was usually paid for sittings,
he said :
"It seems to be a popular belief that
photographers pay large sums to mem
bers of the theatrical profession for ex
clusive sittings, and I have seen it
stated that a Xew York photographer
paid Mme. Bernhardt 1 10,000 on this
account. This I do not think could
possibly be true, for that amount could
not be made and never has been made
out of the sale of the pictures of any
public favorite. In some casts a small
amount, from twenty-five to one hun
dred dollars, is paid for a sitting. This
is almost invariably, however, to some
actress who is little known, but who
possesses the gifts of face and form
which make her a good photographer's
model and it is given ber just the same
as an artist pays bis model.
"The prominent actresses are usually
possessed of a good share of worldly
goods and it is not possible for a photo
grapher to offer them a sum sufficiently
large to make it an object for them to
sit. As a rule nothing is paid. It is
considered a mutual advertisement.
The photographer is under ex pense for
the accessories necessary to the taking
of all character pieces aud in many
cases special scenery Is painUd. Ex
clusive sittings are a thing of the past
and the only one I reniemler of late
years was that of Henry Irving.
"Irving had agreed with a London
photographer not to have any pictures
taken in this country and of course
kept bis word. The fact of the matter
is that instead of paying them it is the
actress, in the majority of cases, that
pays us. This grew out of the fact
that if we Invited a star to h we her
pictures taken ber entire company
would come and ask and exect the
same thing. It was usually the case
with the lesser lights that an express
wagon would roll up to our door, and
before we knew what was being done
two or three trunks of costumes
usually their entire wardrole would
be lumbering up our office.
'-The most shapely woman on the
American stage to-day is, beyond
doubt, Bose Wilson, who played in
Kiralry Brothers' Sectacular pieces of
last season. She is as near perfect as
it is possible for anyone to be. Her
hands, it is true, are possibly a little
too heavy, but there was positively not
anotlier blemish about her. Miss
Forsythe takes an unusually good pic
ture and It Is owing in a great measure
to the fact that she leaves the choice of
position and background entirely with
the operator. Marie Jansec. who
created such a furore here among the
young men, was the best subject I ever
had and I regard her photographs as
some of the veiy best work we have
produced. It was a common thing
for a dozen or more young men to drop
in during a day while she was playing
here aud buy her picture.
"Madame Janauschek is one of the
few actresses whom any one would
recognize on the street after having
seen her on tie stage. The same
strongly-marked, stern face. Is met on
the street as is seen behind the foot
lights. Maud Granger has one lauty
that few actresses possess a pretty
band. Tretty hands are a rarity, and,
in fact, hers is the only really pretty
hand I ever saw on an actress. The
bands of well-formed women of the
stage are large and fit and often clum
sy. This, I believe, is owing princi
pally to neglect. It is only within the
last few years that proper attention has
been given to the hands and a marked
improvement is already noticeable.
"It is seldom that an actress is popu
lar with the ladies; in fact, I know of
but one exception, Jeannie Winston,
now playing In Baltimore. During her
engagement here last season we had
scores of lady applicants for ber pic
tures every day and the demand was so
unusual that I was astonished.
"Mile. Rhea is one of the most at
tractive ladies I ever met. Her man
ners have an irresistible charm for
everyone and one feels glad of the op
portunity of dmg ber a service. She
is always at ber ease, unaffected and
yet dignified. In marked coutnust to
Mile. Khea is Mme. Janish, her coun
trywoman. Mme. Janish is nervous
and fretful and anything but an easy
subiect to take. If anything happens
to displease her there comes the signi
ficant shrug of the shoulders and stamp
of her high-heeled boot. The woman
who possesses the prettiest foot of any
in the theatrical profession is Jeffreys
Lewis. Hers is a long, narrow foot,
with high instep, and could not be bet
ter formed.
Among our best selling pictures
and it is a fair evidence of the popular
ity ot the originals few sell more read
ily than those of Eftia llsler and
Annie Tixley. Miss Beecher, of Mc
Caull's Opera Company, should also be
mentioned. She Is unusually pretty
and popular and the demand f jr her
likeness u steady and continued. We
can almost tell the course of her com
pany from the way the orders come in.
each week from a new place. The de
mand for character pictures is rapidly
dying out and is gradually being usurped
by a desire to have a photograph of
their favorites as they appear in every
day life."
Sorrow and silence are strong and pa
tient endurance is Godlike.
Appearances are nothing if yon are in
the right, bnt if yon are in the wrong,
yon most psy enpecial attention to
them.
Mount Kotciualo, 7,171 feet high,
was hitherto considered tne higbeot
peak of the Am tnan Alps. Dr. Lien
denfield baa recently discovered anoth
er higher mountain, which he named
Monnt Clarke, and whlob. be found to
be 7,258 feet high. The upper limit of
tree upon it is 6,900 feet. Above 6.-
600 feet patches of snow are formed on
th ! aid of the mountain range.
Raising Canaries.
"The most popular bird is now and
has been for years the canary," said a
dealer a day or two ago. And. not
withstanding the fact that there are not
less than 210,000 of them in the city,
not more than one-third of the persons
who have them know anything about
their care. Xow, for instauce, in sing
ing, many persons are satisfied with the'
bird's natural tones, but if they would
take it from the cage as earlv as pracii
cable and be patient and caret ul, it
could be taught to sing a tune or per
haps a few words. A good, first-cla
singer should be procured, and the two
placed near each other, away from
other birds. This will make the young
binl very valuable.
"Sometimes they seem to lose their
voices. This is at the second or third
moulting season. It is only a deterio
ration of the voice, and the bird can be
easilv taught again. When a bird is
moulting it is somt-tiuies very stupid,
and, if yonn?. should be given some
sjionge cake snaked in sherry wine; it
should also be given some fie--h U-ef
about once a week, the saiu to lie so
cially prepared by beit:g cat into small
bits and soaked in water. A piece ot
rusty iron should also le kept in the
water. The canary will pair with the
goldfinch, the cittrilfi ch, the htm t,
the bullfinch, anil birds of similar
species, and their offspring make
singers. The canary is a poor n-st-builder,
as it will discard nearly all nu
terials furnished if. It is, thivf-n-,
necesssary to make a netof w ire or
anything that will make a billow
sphere. They should ba given a large
cage, and the female w ill commence
laying ah ut eight days after pairing.
The males should lie at least two years
old, but if bitd with other females the
brood will generally be inalt-s. A slight
jarring of the nest or sometimes a heavy
clap of thunder will kill the young
birds either before or alter they are
hatched. The canary should have a
variety of food, but that which is un
wholesome should always lie avoided.
If it will not bathe it should besprinkled
daily with water and it will soon take
to the bathing cup. If it is given to
sneezing it can easily be cured by pass
ing a fine feather through the nostrils
Asthma is cured by hanging a p:"ce of
fat pork covered with red tapper i:i the
cage and feeding it soaked plaint.iin
and rape seed. When it is given to cor
pulence a great portion of carrot should j
be mixed iu the food and dry ants' eggs
put In the drinking water."
"What breed of canaries are the best
singers?"
"The German canaries, bred in the
Hartz and Tyrol inonntains. The Kng
lish is tlioughltobethenexl ln-M, Those
being a d irk gray or a brownish
gray in the upper parts and a greenish
yellow below are the healthiest, and I
believe, nearest the original color. The
u-u'i l' nut liirild -ira tTia liirlit ilTiit T'hul
one esiiecially admired is the dark gray
canary, with white head and tail and
yellow breast."
The IcrlAiiu.ra.
With the exception of the priest
(Lutheran) and a few merchants, the
people are all farmers. Those who livt
near the sea, or one of the many fjords
combine several occupations, and thus
gain a good livelihood or even wealth.
the priests hold their positions under The secretary of the London swim
the govenim- nt, and are paid from the miI1? Club submits the theory that salt
public treasury, but they generally add water is a cure for lunacy,
farming to t. eir official duties. The; A tuiity of $. ou animals which
merchants have their stores at one of ,,e ,i((t jn oned j , receutl
the so.a.1 villages alniut the coast and t a AU J n
carryoff almost every imaginable thing. . ' - .,
Sometimes they employ agents who! -l''ng th' Grst six months of the
travel through the country buvu.g p.- S"?? year T nnWV trac " ad"
Dies, which they ship to Scotland, or ( M to our ra,!war ssU'"'
perhaps they own a small vessel, which The first Xapoleou slept iu hollands
coasts around the Island buying oil aud fur sheets, the Bourbons in cambric,
codfish. "d Xapoleon III iu ordinary linen.
The farmer obtains all the necessaries ! A whistling match. In which the
of lire from the land and waters around ' winner held out for two and a half
h'ni. The rocks and turf are his build- hours, was held recently in 1'ittsburg.
ing material; the bogs furnish inex-' Oil in large quantities, it is repor
haustible supplies of peat for fuel; the !ed, has been struck at a depth of !)j
rivers swarm with salmon during the feet. In Galway, Saratoga county, Xew
summer, aud the sheep yield wool foi ; York.
his clothing. If near the sea, the alino t: An all iron tower, 100 feet high
domesticated elder duck contributes its ' was blown down and twisted out of
eggs and down, the seals and sharks-t,i!ie by a storm at Fargo. Dak., re
giveoilfor his light, and codfish are -emlv
..u, .U c, auur. v..c .
Ver I.A lmirripva In IlvL-mvlV itr nn 1
j 4 J v J ...... , v. ...... .
.. B A 1 . I
vi me suiaiier low us, aim uariers nis
produce for things that serve to make
his isolated Jtfe more comfortable.
Usually wool and rider down are the
th ngs brougnt.
For these he is given credit by the
merchant and permitted to c'raw his
yearly supply of goods, consisting of rye
meal flour, conee. sugar, calico and
lumber. Upo.i the farms the houses,1
are, with very few exceptions, clusters
of low, turf covered huts, with gah'e
ends, doors and window frames of wood, '
and if seen from a distance are not easily j
recognized by the stranger. M.et-p, and
even ionics, are frequently seen uHn
the loots in quest of grass tha' grows
more luxuiiautly there than in the p is- j
tures; but within the houses are otteu
mademore comfortable by being pane Yd
and Hoored with wood, painted ami
sometimes nicely furnished.
Sailing anj Hteaia.
Sailing ships manage to hold theii
own despite the rivalry of steam. The
tontnige of thi3 class is of course redu
ced, but at that reduced figure it is fair
ly constant, there is even yet a consid
erable portion of the ocean carriage that
can lie more profitably done by sail than
by steam. Iing journeys with .heavy
freight, in which time is no particular
ohject, are m ire economically done by
sail. Shi.iiicrs all know this, and a cur
rent news item, reporting the launch of
an enormous four-masted ship way
dowu in Maine, said to lie "the second
lare?t ship ever built in the United
State," gives it continuation. Steam
has revolutionized the carrying trade,
and other mot ers may before many year?
suiieisede-steiini; but the primal natural
force we may suppose will always be put
to u.-ie, for no invention can, under cer
tain conditions, approach it In cheap
ness. Lveu windmills, with all the
labor-saving opposition to them, are yet
worked profitably, and probably always
will be.
Small raruia.
The process ol subdividing large
plantations into smaller farms is going
on steadilv in the South. In Missis
sippi, for instance, there were 42.S41
plantations in ISO, and tb average
number of acres in each 370. Ten year
later there were (W.023 farms, the aver
aee area of each being 193 acre. In
1S.S0 the number of farms was 7G,2a.
averaging 18o acres each. While t ie
area of cultivated land is leas than il
was in 1SG0, the production of cotton U
nearly twice as great.
NO. 36.
NEWS IN BRIEF.
Egypt is compMly bankrupt.
Ynuia, A. T., raises Cue bananas.
An electric steie- pt.coii is the lat
?st Watches were first constructed Ul
UTii.
The first lucifcr match was made in
ISJ0.
In Russia refiiiAt oil is 3 ceuts a
Jaiion.
Ned Bunt Hue has written 4'JO serial
Hones.
There is a sma!ipx jKiuitf at Crea
;on, lowa.
The Juue report shows a better
jutlooK for wheat.
It is now said that Hugo was lu
fcine. Very likely.
There are e'ght times a many bow
iegged men as women.
Cleopatra had blue eyes, according
;o a German profevr.
Tnere are 4?0 olTicers iu the United
'Lite Consulir Service.
The Digger Iadlans on the itaucho
Chico have a brass band.
Ti ers were 1-'".017 colored troops
in the war for the L'aion.
Counterfeiters are rloctiiui Mon
tana with the "quer."
The iHpiation of the world is es
timated at l,l ),HJ.ite).
The annual gold bullion product of
'Jeorgia is estimate at ItH,nm.
English manufacturers turu out
20,0k) incandescent lanitis ier week.
It is said that such a thing as a
i'ood looking Arab woman does not ex
st. The house iu which ( Jen. Grant
a rat saw the light had only two wiu-
lows.
The Archbishop of Dublin declares
liimseif in favor of- church bazars and
raffles.
l'rairie chickens iu lowa are more
plentiful this sea?vu than for many
years.
A cremation society, with 103
stockholders, is boasted of by San An
tonio, Texas.
A peat swamp ;n East Bridgeport,
oonn.,set ou fire early iu June by boys,
is still burning.
The eutire literature of Abyssiuia,
t is said, does not include more than
100 volumes.
Virginia is very rich in tiu. Its
mines are reported to 1 richer than
those of Cornwall.
Mohammedan citizens of Loudou
ire making arrangmneuts to build a
mosque in that city.
Xative wines are said to have
irown very rapidly in popular favor in
the p:tst few years.
The Congo river is one aud a half
times longer than the Mississippi and 3
to 10 times broader.
A cloud-burst deluged Titusville,
l'a , recently, aud washed some houses
from their foundation.
The IL ssia:i fly is devastating
Northern New York. Thedumaire has
!;i!r-ady reached $100,K0.
I --The new teu-ceut sjiecial delivery
jtamp has been approved, aud will go
into effect on Octoler 1st.
.en I iv.
The amount annually paid
. ....... '
to the
teachers of the United States is !.-
XM.0O0, an average of about $KW
ipiece.
A man of 70 was among the nine
teen residents of Arlington, Ga., ar
rested recently for playing ball on the
jtreets.
The name of the park wtiere the
remains of General Uraut will rest will
changed from Riverside to Grant
arlc-
One of Plymouth's, Mass., oldest
church sexton, who died the other aay,
lug iu his time no less than 3,2."jO
zraves.
A foolish Iowa maiden attempted
.to change the color of her eyes,but suc-
' ....... i i A..i in .1
needed only In
uiiij iu iuiiuu turn urK-llll-
uesi
IS.
Xew Orleans, the l'irtiuune ob
serves, is still too proud to use coins of
!es value than live cents in making
.-hatigij.
rauldiiig county, Ga., has a sixteen-)
ear-old youth who measures seveu
leet Iu height and weighs but ubiety
pounds.
A rock, so large aim fotun d that it
is often used as a dancing platfoi iu by
picnic parties, is situated near York
town, X. Y.
The highest chimney in the world
is the Saint Kollox, near Glasgow, Scot
land, which is -53 feet. It is cylindri
cal in form.
The value of one vote was shown
it a recent election in McDutlie county,
(ia., when a law was passed by exactly
that majority.
The chief supy of platinum, which
is stili being largely used iu lnaktu fine
jewelry, comes from tho mines iu the
Ural Mountains.
A little girl In Milford. Masa.. who
Iidn't have $2 with which to pay ber
fine. Is iu jail for thirty d.iyi for steal
ing a quart of blacklierrica.
A celebrated Swiss oculist has lately
given sight to a lad of 16, who has beeu
blind from birth. The patient is now
said to be gaining ideas of lorms.colors
and distances.
It is not generally known that
Washington wai the inventor of a plow,
which was considered a marvel of bi
ienuily at the time.
A mau of South Bend, I ml.. lms
patented an invisible boat for water
fowl hunters. With tins boat a hunter
may anchor in open water.
Figure heads for bows of ships a?
jinz out of use. Where, in l!-00,therc
were in Bouti n six carver; of these
leads uor; tbtre is only oue.
. . 1 .