T
to
mm
1
B, P. SOHWEIER,
VOL. XLVI.
MQW1LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP
BT H'OESH FIELD.
n, re upon th" nann is low.
And tl're "'MUM' everywhere t
1 th1 hearth Is low.
lilt troiioled s.-ints here and there.
The Brengm K".
iiii ithe -hniows roitiiil me creep,
i chi;llU irel'le bie:ik the gloom,
7n4 joltlv trmii the luriher room
rmsM- "Sow 1 lay me down to lee.
MlTnieliiw with ih.-u little prayer,
n, that sweet tielile In my ear.,
Sr tiii'iitfht t wk to dMant years,
.JViiugns nth a dear one there.
indas I I""' ""' ehilifs amen.
Mv mother, taim come, back to me:
fiuufhed hi her side I seem to be,
4 mother Holds my hand- attain.
obi lr n h""r 111 1e" Dlce
Ob' f-w peaee ol Hi it dear timet
OH! tor lli.il eliildisli Iru-t sulillnie
Oh' for a i!lmie or mnl Iter's facet
YM fe shadow, round me creep,
I do not eem to be alo;ie.
ert nunie of that treble tone
lull "Jiow 1 lav me down to sleep."
Chicago Neva.
JUDGED DY A CHILD.
& Story of President Washington's
Only Christmas in Sew York.
PT FELIX OLDBOT.
Christmas evo cane pleasantly to
y.w York in l'h'J.
There bid been bo little frost and
mow that ol 1 people shook their heads
gravely and (aid that the seasons were
ehauging. A they jmshed their chairs
back from the open fireplaces on which
huge crackled and roarod and shot
oat spire, of ti imo, they recalled the
Winter of ft decade before when a
brieade of I'.ritish troops had marched
; across the bay, from Staten Island to
i the city, drawing their artillery with
them, and wondered when they would
I see an old fashioned Winter again.
' Jiow there was but a liht covering of
mow upon the ground and the stars
thone bright nnd large through an at
mosphere j ist tinged with frost
Ihe fntnre metropolis at tho lower
end if the island of Manhattan had
doubled its popnlation in the six years
that bad passed Hinoe the Holdiers of
the King had evacuated its soil, and
now numbered soroo thirty-three
thoui.mil souls. As the seat of govern
ment of the new I' nit ad States it had
sot only drawn to itself a swarm of
public men, but it had become the ac
knowledged social centre ot tho coun
try. Boston and Philadelphia had
dwindled into mere tribntary ciies,
glad occasionally to send their society
leader!) to b thk in the splendor, of the
growing raj.it d. Kvery dwelling
house wag occupied. Rents had
doubled in mauy instances. Carpen
ters, painters and masons fonnd tlieir
hands full and new structures wi-ro go
log np on every side. Stores 1 1 s
somed with fitshionable goods; ware
houses at the water aide had been re
modeled; markets were bountifully sup
plied; commerce hsd lifted its bead
and the wharves already showed a re
ipectatde amount of shipping. Eveu
the section which bad been swept by
Are thirteen years before and had I'eeu
a wilderness of desolation to the close
of the war, had began to bloom as an
oasis and the new Trinity Church was
almost ready for consecration.
It was to be indeed a Merry Christ
maa for New York. One had to but
walk through the streets to acquire
evidence of the city's prosperity and
consaqnent good feeling. Wall street,
the great centre of fashion, was a
brilliant sjiectaclo on snnshiny after
noons. Gentlemen in velvets and sat
ins of ninny rotors, with diamonds
sparkling in their sword hilts and shoe
baoklos, and ladies in costumes that
could only vie with theirs in richness
without hojiiiig to excel, promenaded in
front of the now Federal HalJ in which
Congress was holding its session and
eiohangod greetings with the occu
pants of the stylish eqnijmges that
rattled by. Most happy were they
When they caught sight of President
Washington asife drove to or from the
kail in his great cream-colored coach,
with its six white horses and ontriders in
liver v, the stylish establishment being
usually preceded by his to secre
taries on horseback and fnll uniform.
At the same timo Broadway, from St.
Paul's C Impel to the Pattery, known
then and later as tho Mail, was fre
qnr.l it- cow ls of gaiiy dressed
prnmenaders, who spoke approvingly
of the proposer! extension of tho side
walks from Vesey street to Murray
nit of a foot pavement on the East
Side along the Bridewell fence. The
rage for improvement had not yet con
templated the grading of the hills on
the Broadway road between Murray
and Canal streets.
Beyond all doubt the city's pet pride
was President Washington. The first
residence assigned to hiin the honse
of Postmaster General Osgood in
Franklin Square having proved in
convenient on account of its great
distance from town, the President had
removed to the sjiacions double honse
on Proud way below Trinity Church,
known as the McCoaib mansion, where
he lived in the same lnxnriona comfort
that had marked his home at Mount
Vernon. Near bv was the house of
Chancellor iiivingston, sumptuous in
it Gobelin tapestry, beautiful paint
ing, and art trcasnres of every descrip
tion, rivalling in costly elegance tho
ducal jialaces of the old country.
Here, when weaned with the cares of
Bute, Washington wae aoenstomed to
drop in informally, at any hour that
suited bis convenience for a chat with
the Chancellor, or to amuse himself
with the prattle of the children. No
man was fonder of the little ones than
he, and it was the one grief of his life
that the voioe of no child of his was
heard in his household.
I'pon a city and community thus
blessed with prosperity the Christmas
season of 1 7i-i came only to swell the
nsinB tide of hilarity. It bronght
nsious of family reunions; of hearth
stones around which the well-fillod
stockings of the little ones hung full
overflowing with gifts of St Nich
olas; of peace and good will from man
Oman through the whole breadth of
toe land. To no household in tho city
"id the festival promise more of genial
content than to that or Stephen Voa
fomp, late Major of a regiment of
Continental troops that fought under
nashington, and now a wealthy mer
chant doing business on the Strand.
"a great storehouse on lower Pearl
street, (then called Queen) was blazing
with light at every window, on this
tremtmas eve of 178!, and as the spa
Mons front jooj opened to admit more
Rnests, the sounds of merriment rang
'Mont into the street.
On the opposite side of the way, and
leaning against a tree, stood a man
ho watched the hospitable scene with
J0T'?w'ul rather than curious eyes.
id, dreesed without care, and look
8 more like a stranger tha a citizen,
rued to have nothing in common
Un the merriment of the season, and
j thonght appeared to have struck
' a be eeaded the stoop, lifted
M UB raM knker nd then
Presently he walked away and dinar
Ped ,n the lane that led to the rear
Stt7aJ rth" fftmon VonTromp
fh:teRtrVtretohed dowatS
IL
wid6hKneaV??ns on of the
wide hall of the od atone house on
I earl street were fllled with the youth
and beauty of the yonng meono is
and none of the oid families of thKy
were without a representative in the
hrong. Major Von Xromp's ancestors
Z jTa 'm?UK tUf' eftrlieMt of
New Amsterdam and his English wife
raced her descent to a nnted'Lmi.y in
the mother country. Hi. son. too. had
fo.med an alliance which had thorough
ly grat.hed the old man', pride, and ,n
all the world there was none so dear to
his heart as his little grandohild Kate
or Katnna, as lie was wont to oall her
whose golden lockg were the admira
tion of all Q leen street.
Erect but rotund, he bo- his sJxty
years well and retained the martial
look of an old soldier. Nearly twenty
years before lndejiendenee was declared
he h.d served as a lieutenant under
Colonel Ooosen Von Hchaick in the
disastrous attack by Howe and Aber
crombie against Ticonderogi. But
when news came of the fighting at laex
logtou he had disowned the red coats,
put on the bnff and blue uniform and
taken a commission under Colonel
Murmns Wlllott of the New York line.
After Monmouth's fierce battle he had
retired as Major, but his son Kichard,
or Uirck. a mere lad then, had stepped
into his fathor's shoes and been present
at Yorktown. A furious patriot the
old Major had no toleration for those
who differed from him in opinion and
he hated w th fierce vindictivenoss
those Americans who had borne arms
on the Kings side. To his mind, thoy
had committed the unpardonable sin.
There was no trace of anything bnt
good humor on his broad, red face this
Christmas eve as he joyously welcomed
his troops of enests and ha.la
wait and see what Kris-s Kringle ha I
uung up lor them upon his treo. His
son, a younger oojiy of himself, stood
at his side, seconding his father's greet
ings, and littl j Katriua, a flashing sun
beam of love and delight, danced from
room to room in wild exuberance of
joy.
That Mrs. Von Tromp was not by
her husband's side to take visitors by
the hand did net surprise those who
knew her welL Pale, white-haired,
stately and yet with a sad, beautiful
face, she shrank into the back-ground
as much as possible on the lea of ill
beaUh, and to-night she sat in the deep
recess of one of the windows that looked
out upon the garden in the starlight,
with eyes that had iu them a suspicion
of tears. That she had a secret sor
row her friends knew. But so many
years had passed since the story went
the rounds of colonial gossip that most
people had forgotten what it was.
That it concerned herolde-tson was be
lieved, and some said that he was d ad;
others that he had sought exile In Nova
Scotia with the British refugees when
the city was evacuated. The mother
never sjoke of her son, and when tho
old Major was questioned he always
denied with an oath that be had any
son excejit Dirok, and "I love
nim," he added, "because he was
trne to his country and fought
under Washington." True, the an
cestral Von Tromps had borno arms
under the Dutch flag against Kngland,
and ho had himself served under the
English flag ngainst the French in
Canada, bnt this made him none the
more lenient against a son who dared
have his own opinions and stand np
for them.
Stephen Von Tromp, the younger,
had been gnilty of nothing but what he
deemed loyalty to hm King. Perhaps
the bright eyes of a little loyalist maid
en living on State stroet, had some
thing to do with it, tmt he had en
listed as cornet in Colonol Oliver e
Jjancey's dragoons, known as "De
Lanoy's Loyalists," whose destructive
doings in the "neutral ground" of
Westchester County, har? made them
specially obnoxious to the j Vriot side.
Cornet Stephen Von Tromp had met
his father but once, under a ft hit of
irurtsanii-tbe"u the old man had re
fused to recognize him It was on this
occasion, now some years ago, that his
mother had kissed him for the last
time. To-night as she thonght of her
first lorn and recalled the Christmas
eves of tiie past when his little stock
ing hung in the chimney corner wait
ing the visit of Santa Clans, a rush of
remembrance overpowered her, and
tearing herself away from the crowd of
revelers she stole swiftly upstairs to
the great, dreary attic, and throwing
herself across the cradle in which her
first-born had leen rooked, the mother
wept bitterly.
But there was no time for tears and
presently the mother Bat in her old
place by the window, waiting for her
face and voice to recover their entire
composnre. Yet even here there seem
ed no relief for her thoughts, for be
fore a minute had passed she started
up with white face as if she hail seen a
ghost out under the starlight and
quickly an I quietly maile her way out
through the back poroh and into the
shadow of the trees. Amid the throng
of hapj)ier faces hers was not missed at
once and no one thought of making in
qniry for her.
They kejt early hours in Now Y'ork
then, and when nine o'clock came
Major Von Tromp declared that the
time had come for the Christmas tree
and supjter. The supper was spread
in the spacious dining-room and in the
centre, between the tabl s that were
heaped high with solid rounds of beef,
roast pigs, whole flovks of turkeys and
olher fowl, to say nothing of cakes of
every sjrt and great flagons of Madeira
and New Kngland rum, rose the Christ
mas tree, blazing with lights and laden
down with gifts for the guesta. It was
a sight to delight any heart, Dutch.
English or American, and the children
who beheld it fairly screamed with joy.
As for the old Major, his face broad
ened and beamed as he welcomed his
friends to the party, nntiljsome of tho
little ones nudged, their mothers and
inquired in shy whisers whether he
were not the veritable Santa Clans who
came down the chimneys.
There was half an hour of feasting
and increasing jollifioalion before the
tree was attacked, and then the fan
grew fast and furious as the gifts were
distributed. Some one who knew the
pet weakness or particular liking of
each recipient had prompted the selec
tion. Even the black slaves were re
membered and retired delighted to the
out-kitchen, showing every tooth in
their heads as they went away with full
hands. The Major was duly remem
bered, the stately lady of the honse
had come forward with a smile to re
oeive her gift pieo of jewelry from
Paris of the latest style, and as for little
Katrina, an entire corner of the room
-j necessary to hold her hetDed-uo
THE OON8TITUTION-THE UNION AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS.
MIFFLINTOWIN,
presents. Then just as the Major was
about to order a farewell danoe before
breaking up, his golden-haired grand
child came running across the hall to
him with a little note in her hand
" What is this, Katrina? " he in
quired with a smile.
"A letter from Santa Clam!" was the
reply, given with aU the misobievoua
glee of childhood.
He read the few lines oontained in
the note, and with a light laugh, turn
tng to his wondering guests said: !
am informed that a special messengei
is here from the republic of good Saint
Nicholas with Christmas greeting and
a Christmas gift Yet not so,' he
added more gravely, "I am told that
he brings to me a special greeting in
the name of the Babe of Bethlehem, ol
pe :ce and good wilL"
II is voice had grown entirely grave
as he concluded, and a gray shadow
passed over his florid cheeks for a mo
ment as he glanoed around upon the
still, expectant faces of his guests.
Then drawing himself up to the full
height of his massive figure he oried:
"Where is the messenger?"
"Here!" came the reply from the end
of the long drawing-room and the tones
seemed as unearthly as if they hod
come from a grave.
At the souud, the guests parted on
either side and made way for two fig
ures that advanoed slowly and arm in
arm amid a silence like death. Oue
was certainly Mrs. Von Tromp, whose
white face was not merely set in a look
of iron determination bnt kindled with
a glow which had not been t'uere for
many a day. But who was the other?
The stranger's attire like his face,
was worn as if by many storms aud he
was white aud tain, but his eye sp irklud
proudly aud people turned from his
face to that of the old Major as if they
conld trace a reaemblanoe between tue
two. When at last they stood face to
face, the likeness was wonderful, only
tho lines of the other man's counte
nance grew every miunte more grim.
"Well?" said the old man. with a
touch of distain in his voioe.
'Father!" oried the yonngor man,
and at the same moment the wife foil
on her knees and with uplifted hands and
streaming tears, pleaded: "Husband I
He is our boy my Stephen the good
God's Christmas gift to you."
"1 have no son Stejihon. He is dead.
My son my oldest son died when he
put on a red coat and fought for the
King. Neighbors, I bid you depart
in peace."
A great stillness fell upon the as
sembled sraests.
"Stop!"
AU eyes now turned to the door ot
the room whence the voice came, and
then still greater amazement fell ujon
the compauy.
It was President Washington who
had spoken. He stood just within the
doorway, his tall form clothed in black
velvet stately, serene and gracious,
and he held by the hand a little gol Ion
haired child Katrina Von Tromp.
The hand of the old Major, which hod
been extended with a repellant gesture
in the direction of his son, fell to his
side, and his countenance lost its stern
ness as he looked upon his chiof. But
he seemed to have also lost the power
of speech, even so far as to extend a
greeting.
"You and I, Major VonTromji," said
Washington, advancing, "fought under
the British flag once yon at Tioon
doroga and- I at Fort lu Qnesue
and that Bhould plead something in be
half of your sou'e honest but mistaken
sense of dnty. 1 know the whole story.
If yon still hesitate to forgive, let us
try the case, as old comrades in arms,
by a court martial here and now. Let
ns make a child the judge, and who
better than your little granddaughter?
This goodly cinupany shall be wit
nesses, yon shall make your own plea
and Hamilton you know him shall
sjeak for the culprit. Here, Hamil
ton, step to the front"
Then the new Secretary of the Treas
ury, reputed not only the wisest states
man but the most eloquent Beaker in
the yonng republio, came to the front
from the little gronj that had followed
Washington on his rounds of visits
that evening. The Major stated his
cose tersely and was heard in silencn,
but Hamilton had never spoken us he
i4-t!:fttDiglit, and long before he had
finished all eyes were wet with tears
and the old Major had covered his
face with his hands and, leaning
against the wall, was sobbing like a
child.
But the mother her heart was in
her eyes. She stood nt her sou's side,
hb.M his hand proudly and beamed
swet t defiance upon those around her.
Th.Mi, when the pleas were ended,
Washli gron turned to the child and
asked hor what her grandfather t-hould
do with the culprit. "Forcive him,"
was the sobbing answer. And more
than one who was present thought of
the time when the Alan of Nazareth
took a little child and set him in the
midst of his disputing followers to bo
their jndge.
III.
When the child had spoken, Wash
ington came forward and taking Steph
en Von Tromp by the hand, led him
uj to his father. There was no need
of words. The old Major threw his
arms around his eldest born and
clasvod him to his heart Then he
turned lo the comjiany and said bro
kenly, "Friends and neighbors, it in I
who need to be forgiven. My wife
said trnly, though I didn't believe it
then, that this is the good God's best
Christmas gift to me. 'For, this my
son was dead and is alive again; he
was lost and is found.' "
None of the congratulations to the
reconciled father and son were more
hearty than those of President Wash
ington and no face in the whole oily
was so happy the next day as that of
the wife and mother. When, in the
Christmas service at old St Paul's, the
f .readier. Dr. Provoost, spoke of the
ittle child that had been born on that
day to heal the wounds of the world,
the eyes of father, mother and son
turned to the pew in which sat the
President And threescore years after
wards, the grandchild, whose golden
hair had turned white and whose steps
had become slow and iuflrm, told her
grand children how Washington had
stopped for a moment after the service
at the old gateway of the churchyard,
to lay his hand npon her head and wish
her a "Merry Christmas." Sunday
Mercury.
Remember that we have no more faith
at any time than we have in the hour
of trial. All that will not bear to be
tested in mere oarnal confidence. Fair
weather is no trial of faith.
Ir yonr religion does not improve
your character, it is the wroug kind.
Nothtko reveals a man's, character
more fully than the spirit in whieh he
bears his limitations.
JUNIATA COUNTY.
CHRI3TMASTIDE IN ROME.
LA BKFANA,
From the top of a broad flight of
tops, whioh mount side by side with
those leading to the Roman
Capitol, the church of Santa
Maria in Ara Cadi looks down
into a wide piazza and over the roofs
if far-spreading Rome to the Cam
pagna and the Alban Hills. Hither,
From Christmas Day to the Epiphtny,
the vesper hour briugs crowds of people
to visit a little chapel within th-: church
where the sacred image of the child
Christ is to be seen. Of this image
there are many legends, but that which
is generally believed, and which I will
relate here, is, 1 think , the prettiest of
1L In the sixteenth century an Italian
monk of the order of Saint Francis, so
the story runs, was visiting Jerusalem,
ind, being desirous of taking; back
some gift from the Holy Land to his
country, he bethought himself to oarve
an image of the infant Saviour from
Dut of the olive wood whioh grows on
the Sacred Mount; bat, alas! when he
had finished his carving, he found that
he had no colors wherewith to paint its
oomplexion, and I suppose that this
thought and his hard work oombiued
sent our poor monk to sleep! How
aver this may be, asleep he fell, and
while ho slejit Saint Luke took com
passion on the pale Bambino, and, hav
ing doubtless a celestial paint-box, he
oolored the olive wood until it took
tints of live flesh, and the monk, on
awaking, found his work completed
for him. Shortly after this miracle
the monk was reoalled to Rome, and
the story further relates how during
the voyage the Bambino was wonder
fully saved from shipwreck, and that
after its arrival in Rome it was deposit
eel, amid much pomp, in the sacristy of
the Santa Maria Ara in Cceli, where it is
now kept. Numerous are the anec
dotes of its adventures ahd escapes
from peril, and so renowned is its power
to cure the sick, that a carriage is de
voted to Its private use when leaving
its sanutum for this charitable pnrpose.
Originally these journeys were made in
an old brown coach, bnt in the early
days of 18 ID the Republio presented
the Bambino with the Pope's carriage,
nntil, on the return of bis Holiness to
Ilome, the poor doll was fain to be con
tent once more with its former equi
page. This is briedy the story as it is now
told, and the Bambino continues to be an
object of superstitious devotion to the
poorer iolk, who can only see it when on
show at Christmastide. Then the peas
ants from the Campagna mingle with
the workers of the city, and on the day
of the Epijihany, or La Bcfana, as it
is called in the patoii, the crowds
swarm np the great staircase to the
church, where, after the vespers are
over, the Bambino will be looked up
again in the sacristy. The crafty Italian,
having always an eye to business, takes
advanta re of this festal occasion, and
vendors of hmall ware crowd the stops
where the people are loitering, their
shrill cries rising above the hubbub
of gossip as they drive a good tra lo by
selling various knicknaitks, from a
waxen image of the Holy Babe down to
matchboxes and mellifluous sugar
caudy. The mothers are indulgent to
their children at this feat a time, and
the contadine can spare a soldo or two
for the waxen models of tho Sauto
l'.arabino, for who ean tell what evil
even suon a faint reflection of its glory
will not avert from tho home' Most
of the peasants are in gala costum ,
and, although this is in many cases
merely a collection of picturesque rags,
they are more effective, from the artis
tic point of view, than an elaborate
toilette would be. One well-dressed
man had been arrested for thieving,
and his lamentations were pitiable to
be heard, while so closely did he ad
here to his Heat on tho steps, that tho
two soldiers commissioned to move him
could only manage to do so by laying
him on his back and fairly draggiug
him down. This was, however, tho
only sad inoident of the afternoon, and
the rest of the crowd was festive, for,
indeed, who conld be sad to whom the
glad hunlight was free, which bathed
the terrace in front of the ohnrnli, ".d
all could bask in it at their will? Many
evidenily ajqrecia'ed this power, for
the staircase was cumbered with men
lying half asleep in the sweet warmth,
and groups were seated idly chatting,
while others lingered outside the doors
of the church, as if unwilling to leave
the sunny air. Just within the central
doors a platform was erected letween
two huge pillars of Egyptian granite,
and children, mounting this by turn,
recited to an indulgently amused au
dience the story cf the child Cuiist
This is a quaint Christmas custom
which the Roman mothers covet for
their offspring; but the little orators'
powers of invention are not taxed, for
the children are taught by monks what
they should say. So, at least, a mother
told me; but her "bambino," standing
close beside her, looked np with angry
eyes, "No, mama! no monks, bnt gen
tlemen; they have hair on their heads."
The children do not remain very long
on the stage, and many turn timorous,
and stretch out eager little bands to lie
lifted down again; but timidity of pub
lic criticism is not a national failing,
and the greater number of them re
hearsed their part with characteristic
action, and with all the coquetry of
actresses trained to fascinate. Rivalry,
even, was not alien to the infant breast,
for the most effective way to reassure a
failiug spirit was to call up one bra' er
to dispnte the stage. Then emulation
gave the faint heart courage to rescue
itself from defeat. Directly opjMJsite
to tho children's platform is another
stage. This is illuminated and gaudy
with much decoration, and here is
shown the sacred Bambino, which
sometimes rejioses in a cradle, aud at
others on the lap of the Virgin Mary,
according to the day on which one may
see it for the show lasts for twelve
days, from Christmas to Epiphany.
Then an arrangement of wooden i mattes
is placed within a chapel, close to ihe
principal entry, the soonio effect of the
background of this show reminding one
either of a transformation scene at
some second-rate theatre, or of a Val
eutine of that style which enoircles it
self with fringed paper and naked
enpids. The Bambino was accredited
with an early taste for oranges, baskets
of the fruit being represents 1 as
brought as gifts to him. Meanwhile
he puppet is so heavily laden with
cumbrous ornaments, that it must be
very strong to support the weight of
its heavy jewelled erown. The Iron
.rates whioh guard the eoby to the
shapel were closed, and the people
thronged and pressed against them.
But few of the aristocracy were in
zburoh; this was, essentially, a "peo-
rue s Fnow, sua mere was uu irieer
pnoe in the manner of their gazing.
Bach knelt at one time or another t
murmur a prayer to the sacred image,
tnd it was a pretty sight to sea the
oeaaant mothers hcxUmg up tueir ebil-
PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 23. 1S91.
dren that they might obtain a view of
the Bambino.
Naturally to the infantile mind the
idea of the bejewelled figure appeale 1
most foroibly, and, to many, the
baskets of fruit seemed to be an even
greater souroe of covetousnoss; or,
should they chance to oome on the day
when the Shepherds are represented as
paying a visit to the Babe the sheep
whieh peer round the corner of the
entry, taking stock of the Holy Family,
with a suspicious air, are more attrao--tive
than is aught beside to them, and
the intense desire for a "baalamb"
overrules the parental admonition to
preserve silenoe. But these advioes
are neither very frequent nor very
stern. The sacred Bambino makes
fexta for the children, and young and
old, priest and laity, look kindly oo
their vagaries.
Meanwhile, from the chancel, swell
the notes of an organ, and, with a
monotonous chant the priests begin
vespers. The crowd is too dense to
penetrate farther, and it is best to
await by the doors for the prooession
of the priests, who will oome to fetch
the Bambino after the vesjers are over.
Then, amid much pomp of satin ban
ners and great dripping candles, they
carry the sacred effigy, first on to the
terrace, where, holding it aloft the
chief priests niters a benediction on
the kneeling crowd, thickly gathered
not only ou the stair ouse, but in the
piazza and street far below, and with
this ceremony the Bambino festival
ends; for, after the image has been
borne promponsly through the aisles
of the church, it is taken to the sac
risty, and there looked np uutil called
for by some urgent need, or nntil the
glad time of tho "Natale" comes rounc
once again.
L. Yansittart de Fabeck.
WOMEN'S WORK FOR THE
WORLD'S FAIR.
IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFECTED
PLANS, AND INTERESTING INCIDENTS
IN THE PROGRESS OP THE BOARD
OP I.ADV MANAGERS.
The announcement made a few davs
ago that women physicians will be I
given ollicial and professional recogni-1
lion as tue imposition, was receiveu
with the attention and importance of
the fact deserved.
Dr. John E. Owen, medical director
of the Exposition, in compliance with
a request from the Board of Lady
Managers, has promised to place women
npon his professional staff, and that
they shall in all respects rank equal
with men in the Exposition Hospi
tab
This is beyond qnestion the most
potential result bo far of the inflnonce
of the Board of Lady Managers, al
though that has given an extraordinary
and unprecedented stimulus to many
things in which womon are vital ry in
terested. It cannot fail to convey a
profound and world wide conviction of i
the substantial and permanent char
acter of the benefits accruing to women
from the Board's efforts.
There will also be a model hosjiital
in the Woman's Building. This is, ol
course, separate and dintinct from the
official hosjiital of the Exposition, of
which Dr. Owen is director, being
rat hor in the nature of an exhibit. It
will, however, be fnlly equijped, with
physicians and trained nurses, a veri
table model hoHjutal, prejmred to han
dle the gravest cases of accident or ill
ness, and here women will find another
magnificent oj.qortiiuity to show theit
skill in the divine art of healing in
that field where delicate touch aw'
tender syuijiathy have fullest scoie.
Adjoining the model hospital, and in
connection with it, will be the Depart
ment of Public Comfort which prom-1
ises to become a novel aud important
feature of the World's Fair. In this
room will be couches and hospital beds
for such cases of indisposition or acoi
dents as do not require serious or reg
nlar medical attention. Here old per
sons, invalids, sufferers fiom suddec
faintness, swoons, or hysterios,chil.lren
who are temporarily indisposed, weak
people of all ages needing rest and
spot in which to li i down, will find
what f hey want in ftiia room. A.juo.
nient's reflection will reveal the excel
lence of the arrangement It is scarce
ly possible to over-estimate its value,
in view of the innumerable exigenoies
arising from the flurry, confusion, con
sequent exhaustion, aud unavoidable
acoi Jouta attendant niton such crowds
as w ill oome to the W orld's Fair. The
weary pilgrims to the Centennial and to
the Paris Exposition who full by
the wayside can folly apjtreciate
the plan.
Mrs. Paul, Lady Manager for Vir
ginia, has written an iuteresliug letter
to Mrs. Yogan, touching the colored
women's exhibit at the Exposition
The letter says:
"As a Lady Manager for the State of
Virginia, I shall cheerfully do all in my
power to promote the interests of the
oolored women of my State. I con
sider that they have the Barae right
and are subject to the same regulation!
as white women exhibitors.
"As the Board of Lady Managei s is
the recognized official channel of com
munication through whioh all women
or organizations of women must be
brought into relation with the Exposi
tion, we have no right as we have no
intention to discriminate against womer
of any race or nationality,
"I shall take pleasure in giving to
the colored women of my Stat all the
information and assistance jKissible, by
sending them the publications of our
Board, and in every other way striving
to promote their interests. I have al
ready distributed a good deal of liter
ature given me for that pnrpose bv the
Columbian Association of Colored
Women of Chicago, and I shall be glad
to co-operate with any one the colored
peojilo of this State may appoint to
represent them.
"In Virginia a large majority of th
female wage-earners are colored
women, and it is but just that the large
share they have in the productive in
dustries of the State should be recog
nized. In the Colored People's Indus
trial Fair, just closed at Richmond,
Va., they have abundant evidence of
their capabilities and resources, and,
doubtless, in the great Exposition of
1813, they will present a display ol
their progress and advancement th.t
will be most interesting and instruct
ive. "It is entirely in accordance with
the sentiments and proceedings of our
Board that the oolored women of this
country have the same right to exhibit
their handiwork as any American or
foreign women."
Manvzr is one of the principal ex
ternal graces of character. It is the
ornament of action, and often makes
the commonest offices beautiful by the
way in which it perform, them. It is a
happy way of doing things, adorning
even the smallest details of life.
THE FULL OF A WE5TEWH E9T9A.
TTboo the first weekly is WMhiiur
ton Territory was established the edi
tor, who was an Ohio printer, made a
break in the first Issue to stabMsh his
repatatina as a daagnroos man to fool
with, lie was surrounded by a rough
crowd, and be realized that the proper
thing to do was to put himself ia shape
to be sized up acoordiag to Hoy lc To
effect this he lad off with an article
abusive of CoL Taylor. The Colonel
was an imaginary Individual, and it
was therefore safe to call him a liar
aad a ooward, and to declare that if ke
ever appeared in town ho would be
horsewhipped np and down the streets.
Every Issue for two months contained
a bit at CoL Taylor, aad he was scored
so vigorously and the editor seemed so
anxious for some sort of a shooting
match with him that "the boys" treat
ed hiin with that deference always ac
corded to the fearless man.
When anybody inquired who the
Colonel was he was informed that he
was a desperado of the worst type, and
that be had solemnly sworn to have
the editor's life. He was never exact
ly located or identified, but was always
dared to come in like a man and have
it out
One day. just after an issue in which
CoL Taylor was stigmatized as a white
livered coyote and defied to a duel with
bowie knives in a dark room. a stranger
came slouching into the office; looked
about a while with curiosity, and then
said to the editor:
"Well, I'm here."
"Yes, I see, but what for?" was the
reply.
"I'm Col. Taylor." ' k
"No!"
"Him and nobody else. Tou've bees
lighting into me like wildcats for a
long time past and I haven't been say
ing a word. I've got tired of it how
ever, and now it's got to stop!"
"My dear sir, the Col. Taylor men
tioned in "
"Pull yer gun!" interrupted the Col
onel as he pulled his.
"But sir, I beg to assure you thai
"Git down on your kneos!"
The editor slid off his chair, his
fare as pale as death, and his hair ou
end.
"Now eat that!"
The Colonel took from his pocket
lump of clay and tossed it on the floor,
and he stood there with leveled pistol
until the last crumb of it was devour
ed. Then he put up his weapon and
turned to go, saying:
"Next time you open on me I'll corns
in with a whole bag full of it and 1
may concludo to drive the last of it id
with a bullet! Go fur the rest of 'em
all you want to, but when you strike
the name of Col. Taylor handle it with
care!"
And inside of a week the affair leak
ed out and so many carnn up to lick
the editor, and so many did lick him,
that ho jumped the plant one nielli
and was never heard of agaiu. ek K
tun.
"I travel on rav cheek,"
aid a
drummer to a conductor.
Pretty hard travfling, I should uy."
remarked the conductor easily, sod
passed oa. Wahinjn Star.
HIS POINT OK VIHW.
'Sir," Mid the culprit, "I committed
'his theft under advice ot my doctor."
What, bo hypnotized you!"
"No, sir. But he told rue to take
something before I went to bed."
APPKAKINO hatcbaA.
Bride (at the Capitol) "Charlie, dear,
try and appear natural, so people won't
think we are newly married."
"All right, Angela. You can carrt
this bag while I smoke." limn Brt.
IB. Monthly.
nCMfLI ATINC).
Dc Mucus "I suppose Wlugs Is very
proud of hi wife's success with her
novel?"
gt. Agedoie "No, I fsncy not. You
tec. ho is merely known it 'Mrs. Wlogs'i.
husband' now." Tanlte Blait.
1IR AND SHf.
He "What would you do if a ma
should klas yout"
She "I'd give bim as good as be
sent."
He "I'd kiss jou now for a cent.
She ("How dare youf And without
Ment." AtlanVt Constitution.
didn't dare mivaj. the udgi
Well," said the Judge, "yeu boast
of 'being able to pick pockets with remark
able dexterity."
"I can nick pockets with anybody la
tho room.
Then, bowing courteously, "That Jt
sseaot without soy offence to jou."
tail VtSE ALL arcHT.
Mother "When the new sdnistercalls,
Tommy, you musn't make any remarks
bout his clothes."
Tommy (after the minist- is seated)
"Ma told mo not to say anything about
your clothes. I don't see anything the
matter with them." A TorkSun.
AH APPEAL FOR MONEY.
Physician (with ear to patient's chest)
'There is a severe swelling over the
region of the heart which muat be roduced
at once."
Pr.tient (anxiously) "That swelling
Is my pocket book, doctor. Please
don't reduce it too much." YanUi
Ulait.
SHOWN IIP.
ftervanl "There's a geotlemtn down
stairs, ma'am."
Mistress "Show him up to the par
lor." .
i Servant "But he has come to clean
the chimbly."
I Mistress--" Then show him up thl
chimney."
a tec rtxLow. '
) Bilkios "So Goodheart, who wal
once engaged to you, has married Kiss
Sweetie, eh I Well, V lcky fel
ow." -a- v
r Mrs Bilkln "Da Jou know Miss
Sweetie?" v
1 Bilkiut "No.lmt I know you," Aii
JF,rt Wteklw. - .
Sunte or the designs In use rt t:ie
Oriental carjiets that, are so alt' active
lo Western ideas of taste have a history
that reaches back to Xerxes aud fie
sar'y Tersian kings. They are handed
Jown from generation to generation of
rugmakers, mothers transmitting them
to daughters, for most of tha carpet
syeavera of the Orient are women.
p - - WER MAJESTY VICTORIA.
M rlMMil flaw mt th Ka(Umk Smnlel
I Blmpls Ufa 1m Shea tea Mla-aimad
A good deal has been said latelv ia
the newspapers concerning Queen Vic
toria, but so much of it is calculated t
give false impression with regard tc
the Queen that I am tempted to send
you a tow notes about her, and, as I
nave bad the honor fu a longtime pasl
of personally being acquainted with hei
Majesty, I hope you will believe they
are true ones.
With regard to the Qwon's public
rapacity it is needless for ine to speak,
as all tho world knows how she ha
fulfilled hor numerous and arduous
duties, and I shall therefore coutin
myself to endeavoring to give sum
idea of her private life, and especially
of her in her Scotch Highland home, a
it is there that I have seen her monj
and have had the best opportunity oi
judging.
The Queen rises early in the morn
ing, and after breakfast reads and
answers her letters and transacts busi
ness. She is fond of the open air, and
if the weather be favorable often has
her papers taken into a tent or aarn-mer-house
ujon the lawn, which com
mands an extensive and most lovely
view of Locbnagar, its surrounding
mountains, and the Valley of the Dee.
After this conies a walk or a drive in
a pony carriage, and then luncheon at
which no one is ever present exeepf
members of the royal family.
During the afteruAon the Queen
takes a long drive, often extending to
over thirty miles and always in an open
carriage. She dines late, never before
8:30 p. m. An hour spent in the drawing-room
talking with tho guests who
mav have been invited finishes the day,
aud the Queen retires to rest
No question of state is ever decided
finally until her Majesty has been con
suited, and she is such a sensible and
clever woman that she has often put
her Ministers right and settled a diffi
cult point, and generally for the best.
Tke Queen is faithful to her old
friends and thoughtful for everybody
with whom she comes in contact, re
membering the smallest details about
them, their families, and their occupa
tions, and giving evidence of this at
most unexpected moments. A circum
stance which hapjH'ned to roe justifies I
strongly the truth of this, tour years
ago I was singing at the Royal Opera
at Berlin, and was not even aware that
the Queen knew of my engagement
there. I, soon after my debut, was at
a large dinner party at the English
Embassy, and sitting next to me was
one of the gentlemen of. the Crown
Princess' household. During dinner
he put into my hand a telegram, tell
ing me to read it. This was from the
Queen to herdaughter (now the ex-Empress
Frederick), recommending me to
her and desiring her to do all she
could for me. Needless to say that
after this 1 was so excited that I could
eat no dinner, and I insisted on keep
ing the telegram, one of my precious
souvenirs.
Her Majesty is fond of music and is a
good musician. She studied music
with Mendeilssohn and singing with
Lablache. As a consequence of this
teaching she prefers the old Italian
music to any other, but at the same
time she can apjireciate anything that
is good in the modern music. This I
know from exjiericnce, as I have sun''
all kinds of music To her, the new and
the old. The Queen is much touched
by a simple, -homely ballad, and after I
have sung to her songs like "Robin
Adair" or "Old Folks at Home" I have
seen tears iu her eyes.
She has lieen in retirement for a
great many years, and during that time
Las not been resent at a single oper
atic performance; yet she remembers
well the old artists and the manuer in
which they rendered tho various well
kuown roles. For instance, when I
told her that I wait studying the
"Huguenots," and was goiug to sing it
iu America, she said that was one of
her favorite ojieraa; that she thought
Mario was siierb as Kaoul, and, that
although Grisi sang the music splen
didly. slie never realized her idea of the
character of Valentine.
The Q;ieta J.as been present at liir
concerts for many years pasL She oc
casioually has a noted artist to sing or
Jilay before her, but this always takes
idace in private, and when I sing at
talmoral there is nobody in the room
but the Queen and perhaps one or two
members of the royal family who may
be staying at the castle. With regard
to thee little concerts I recall a funny
incident X sat down at the piano to
accompany myself, and was just be
ginning to sing, wlren the legs of the
stool gave way and 1 rolled on the floor
at the Queen's feet. Her Majesty was
rather concerned at first thinking I
must have hurt myself, but when she
saw that I was all right she bust out
laughing. We all had been rather
solemn before, but after my tumble
everybody was so amused that it was a
long while before I could proceed witb
my song.
The Queen herself looks after the
welfare of all her tenants and servants,
and if any one of them is sick she is the
first one to pay them a visit and take
them little comforts.
During her stay iu Scotland she takes
a pleasure during her drives in stop
ping at various cottages to ask after the
welfare of the inmates. When so oc
cupied the Queeu is as kind and simple
as any ordinary ladv could be. When
she paid me one of her first visits aud
took tea with me my little boy was so
much struck with this that he said to
me after she had gone, "O mamma,
what a little woman for such a biy
Queen!" It is all this that has made
the Queen so beloved by all her sub
H'CH.
I have endeavored in these few jot
tings to give a slight idea of Queea
Victoria, and if in doing so I have in
truded myself too much it is because 1
cannot help it the above being nay per
sonal experieL; of her Majesty.
f.t t - ' " '
He wlo thinks better of his neigh
oors tha i they deserve, i seldom a bad
man, for the standard by which his
judgment is guidod, is the goodness of
his own heart It is only the base who
believe all men base, or, in other
words, like themselves.
Wombu govern ns; let us render
them perfect The more they are en
lightened, so much the more shall
men be. On the cultivation of the
mind of women depends the wisdom of
men. It is by women that natnro
yriteg on the hearts of men.
If any speak ill cf thee fit fco-ne to
thy own conscience and examine thy
l.ai t; if thou be guilty, it is a jost cor
recti m; if not guilty.it is a fair in
strnoiion; mike ue of both; so shall
thou distil honey out of gall, and out
it an open enemy create a aoret
frieuAv
Editor and Proprtntor.
NO. 1
TH B GIRLS OF NINETs-ONE.
1 fiev me twas tli rx'SInn,
Oh. I.n( and lmie aco.
For ptrls to lo.ik like lllii-s white.
And it at h me anl sew.
To-4l.-ty the times have altered.
Anil pretty K ite anil Nell
Are plating- me:rv tennis
In a..oUi, l hey do it welt
Po you want a hippy comrade
lu atii.ly t.r in finiT
lie sure you'll n.i.l her quickly
'Mnl the Klrl ol NlnlVHUie.
She'll keep ilixi hnniit head steady,
Unharui.-4t iu :mv whirl.
And not a hid ill love her less
Because ahe Is a girl.
-Srlectvl.
NEWS IN BRIEF.
Chicago has twenty-nine parka
London h.ts teu main railroad
ines.
The truly great are those who con
quer Iheii't-elves.
Nebraska's eight-hour law la con
stitutional. Ohio' is the Japanese for good
Qornlntr.
The Thames at London Bridge has
s width ot 2(10 yards,
The colon v of Sierra Leone, Africa,
s 106 years old.
Tou can tell whether a man is tny
tcoount by the way he steps.
Nol'ody pays any attention to a pump
ffhsu they kuow the well is dry.
You can't tell who Is in the coffin
jy the length of the funeral procession.
It is estimated that there are S.'i
icres of land for every living person.
Chicago has 2018 miles of streets,
four times as many as New York.
One-tenth of the entire population
t Paris Is made up of foreigners.
Squashes weighing 251 to 800
xmnda aie common In Southern Cali
fornia. Cats are being trained effectively
ts retrievers instead of setters In In
ilana. It is the tree that stands the
itraightest that does most to resist the
wind.
When some men pay their preacher
-h?y feel as though they were paying a
jas bilL
The man who doe his best In the
pluc i he has now is ou his way to a bet
ter place.
There Is a doctor of the name ot
Miller In nearly every town in Mls
uri. Fifteen million acres of arable
land, owned by large holders. Is lying
iaie in Virginia.
The oil wells of the United States
dumber 4 OiG.UM), and their daily out
put is 130,000 barrels.
A Nuremhurg (Germany) watch
m the shape of an acorn has a tiny pis
tol which serves as an alarm.
In the Province of Silesia. Ger
many, there are at present twenty pedl
L'ree herds ot red cat tle, consisting of
lyis head.
Houston, Texas, had a goat race
recently, in which slxty-thiee entered.
and some of them m ide 2H yards in
thirty two seconds.
A Detroit manufacturer has Just
compleUsl an order f r 1000 feet ot
wire fence, six feet high, for a school
houee in Mississippi.
There are now In Texas fifteen sug
ar manufactories, the production of
which for this year is estimated at 15,-
OOO.tOO jKiiinds.
5an Frauclsco, Cil. , ia to have a
miniature model of the Brooklyn
Bridge. It will span the main driveway
in Golden Gate Park
After a brief and unaccount ibleill
oess a horse iu Sherman, Mich., died.
The stomach was ojiened, and in it was
found a half bushel of sand.
It cirat Keru County, Cal., f iOO to
prosecute a man who was accused of
taking sixty cents from another, and
then lie was acquitted.
Vidal, ou'3 of the most famous last
JeCSde HJiiip'ors of France, wa9 atone
blind at the time when -he executed
some of his most famous works,
Aiuotu the recent inventions Is a
calendar tli.t will register for the next
two hundred years beside telling any
date figure within that period.
A foolish partridge flew Int.i the
t'liop of a Connecticut taxidermist re
cently. Five minutes later prepaia
(Ions were being made to stuff aud
mount it.
The elderberry bush frequently grows
to large p o or t ions In the West in
I -oa Angeles, Cal., there was a bush the
the stump of which was thirty-four
Inches in diameter.
When a Missouri cabbage wis cut
open it was found that the outer coat
ing contained twenty-eight perfectly
developed little beads in a cluster,
about the s:ze of a walnut and nearly
as haid.
In the Public Gardens ot Milan,
Italy, is a Gothic building containing
twelve milch cows, from which the
visitor can get milk at two cents a
glass,
Several hundied Pittsburg people
stood lu line for hours, jostling v !
pushing, for the singular honor of buy
ing tho first stamp s ld in the new pojt
otlice. Doctor Churchill Julius, bishop
of Christ Church, New Zealand recent
ly la d the top brick of his cathedral
spire at a height of 270 feet from the
ground. He was hauled up in a chair
attached to a rope.
In the manufacturing line papei
oids fair to supplant wood in the manu
facture ot boxes, buckets, packing-cases
and many other articles. It it much
lighter than wood, and can be made fire
proof, to ray nothing of its cheapness.
A Massachusetts thief found on
entering the bed-room of the man whose
honse be was about to ransack that the
Inmate had a cork leg. He cruelly threw
It out of the winkow, and then, feeling
safe from attack, went through the
premises at his lei ure,
Dredgers working In the Tiber to
prepare for the construction of a new
embankment have brought up a magni
ficent ancient bronze helmet. It Is per
fectly preserved aud Is decorated w ith
bas-reliefs. Signer Rossi, tha Italian
archaeologist, assigns It to the second
tentury before the Christ ian eia.
The Irony of fate is shown in tho
jase of a woman who died of consump
tion in the city hospital, at Cincinnati,
recently. She had battled with pover
ty all her life; and a few days before
her death received intelligence that she
had come into a large foitune from
the demise of wealthy relatives In England,