XXKOAITS IMPORTED CIGAR.
They gave a hall at .VcSweenej's,
Mike Keegan he smoked a e s-var.
Ho knew that it "as iui-poor-toa,
McGuium'h-) lKort it on akyar.
It was wtMrae tbau any sto-gie -
Oh, my I though, but wasn't it rank.
From tin- way that Keegan smoked it,
You'd a thought that he owned u bank.
Be smoked it out in the hallway,
Wid a plashter lawk iv his neck,
And—"The wind blew through his wills-
Making of them a total wreck,
Through the window he'd left open.
He needed a sthill hur-ri-cane ;
But 'twill be many a day, though,
Before Keegan will siuokoa-gaiu.
BJissoa Keegan said, "McSweoney,
Mary Ann's put bad eggs in the dull."
But Keegan, he calmly stood there,
And ho took another long puff.
Then some one said, "Thegas was leaking,*
"While others, "A rat had died thero,"
But Keegan, he kept on smoking
At the foot of the big hall stair.
They ap-pine-ted a com-mit-teo
To disclioover the hor-rid smell,
Who got onto Kei gan's smoking,
For we soon heard an awful yell.
Then something solid a sthriking
The back fence near the big ash dump.
Whisper! Wo found old Towser dead
Next day he'd uwhallowud Keogfcu's
s thump.
—Cotninetviiil Traveller.
WITH CRIES OF DISMAY.
. -JSSUf* • " Y T - W.
E looked every inch
fj $5 ft there under the
IT K-*evergreens, behind
monument
le form was
clothed in a pair oi
ffjja overalls reaching
11 below the knees
IJ and a worn-out coat
rJ i of tlie Prince Al-
U [I berfc variety, evi
dently the property of a person several
sizes larger than the wearer, while on
his shapely feet was a pair of the
hugest and heaviest cowhide shoes—a
pair which had been an heirloom in the
family for many a generation.
A huge bulge under his coat and in
the vicinity of the breast-pocket was
well calculated to suggest ideas ol
pirates' booty, bombs, daggers, and all
those weird and romantic things, but
when a gust of wind blew the coat
aside the said bulge proved to be a
choice assortment of fiction wrapped
in a dime novel, which bore a gaudy
frontispiece and the breezy caption,
"The Soaring Hanger of ltattlesnake
Ranch."
In liis hand lie hold a copy of " Old
Electricity," and while one eagle eye
eagerly devoured its contents, the
Other wandered off across tlie ceme
tery, to where a fleshy dame, in n
tv/i"
"CALVIN BAXTER, YOU SCALAWAG ! D'YOt
HEAR ME?"
calico wrapper, with sleeves rolled
above the elbows, flourished a large
sapling in one hand, while she limited
excitedly under the trees and behind
tlie stones, wildly gesticulating and
occasionally delivering, in a very loud
and high-pitched voice, tho following
touching appeal:
"Josiah Calvin Baxter Smith, you
young skeesics, come here to me this
minute, or if I don't warm you up
good, now, you young rascal! Calvin
Baxter, you scalawag, d'you hear me V"
He heard, but his line lip curled as
he arose, took a huge quid of tobacco
from his jaws, and carefully plastered
it over the mouth of the graven figure
on the monument, while he muttered
in scornful tones:
"Yes, 1 hear, Mariar Jane, and if you
can trail tho 'Lightning Detective' to
his lair before he finishes this novel,
you're welcome to apply vour bludgin,
to the pants of his breeches." And lie'
resumed his reading.
Suddenly, however, a howl, or rather
a shriek, rent tlie air, so dismal and
unearthly that he sprang to his feet
and turned to fly, with a vague idea
that the spirits of the dead were charg
ing down upon him for the purpose of
driving him from out their territory.
But, turning to look back, lie discov
ered the cause of the strange noise.
The exploring party had made a
rather sudden turn, to look behind a
monument of unusual size, when her
toe caught, and, with an awful shriek,
slie fell. And great was the fall there
of. The stick was twisted out of her
hand and lodged in tho top of one of
the evergreens.
"0000-00-oo—kr-r-r-r ouch! Oh,
Lordy!" howled the fleshy dame, and
llie limped off to the house. The youth
resumed his reading.
Presently lie heard footsteps ap
proaching. It was two gentlemen, and
they were engaged in animat< d con
versation. lb; listened, and the first
words he heard set his blood on lire.
"You have heard of the great iob
bory, I suppose V" one of the men wai
laying.
"No; when was it?"
"Just this morning. I read a long
account of it in the papers. One hun
dred thousand dollars' worth of goods.
We will get later accounts in this even
ing's papers."
"Where was it?"
"At Chi "
Just at this instant the gentlemen
espied the detective lying upon the
ground in the attitude of listening,
with "Old Electricity" at his feet and
the roll of profusely illustrated litera
ture peeping menacingly from under
his coat.
When he saw that his lair had been
penetrated h< pranj to hie feet,
breathless with excitement, and con
fronted tlie astonished gentlemen with
the inquiry:
" Where was tho robbery ? Was it at
Tommy Graves'?" (Tommy Graves'
was the largest store in the village.)
The gentleman was naturally of an
obliging disposition, and, observing the
great interest taken in the case, lie re
plied :
"Yes, at Tommy Graves'. One hun
dred thousand dollars' worth of goods,
and his beautiful grand daughter, Miss
Grace, in the bargain."
The youth trembled in his excite
ment. * But remembering that the
"Roaring Banger" did not tremble, even
.It'bcn covered by tho weauona of bis
enemies, no mue a desperate eitort to
control his nerves.
The two gentlemen passed on their
way, talking and chuckling in a know
ing manner.
The youth cleared the fence with a
bound which would have astonished
even the "Roaring Ranger," and which
certainly would have struck terrror to
the heart of his deadly enemy, "Bleary-
Eyed Bill," the fiend who abducted the
beautiful Esmeralda. Crouching like
a tiger, lie cautiously wended his way
homeward, for he well knew that the
redoubtable INI aria Jane was ironing
clothes by the kitchen window, with a
freshly cut "gad" lying conveniently
by, and her eyes roaming over the out
lying premises for u glimpse of his de
voted head.
Ho crept—almost crawled—around
the house to the apple tree which
grew under his bed-room window,
climbed the apple tree, and crept in
at the window.
Safely inside, he made straight for
the rag-bag, which lay in a corner,
plunged into its capacious depths, and
succeeded, after some difficulty, in
bringing forth a small wooden box j
which contained a motley assortment j
of goods. Tho first thing to attract \
attention was a thirty-two-caliber re- j
volver, in a very dilapidated condition, |
minus both sides of the handle and the |
cylinder pin, and having, in place of j
the latter useful appendage, a large ;
and very stiff wire, which protruded j
an inch or two beyond the muzzle ol
the weapon, ending in a ring.
Among other things the box also
contained a bowie-knife, a small mag
nifying glass, false mustache and
whiskers and several wigs.
For half an hour he busied himself
with the contents of this box and some
old clothing, secured by a stealthy trip
to the attic. Then, stealthily as be
fore, he descended the tree, crept to
the barn, and ascended to the loft.
It was a grotesque figure that
slipped down from the loft at the hour
of nine, and, with a cautious glance
around him, started up town. On his
head, covered by a wig of gray hair,
was a slouch hat with several holes in
the crown. Tho coat was a cutaway,
and rather large for the wearer, while
the trousers and shoes were tlie ones
worn through the day. On liis face
was a tierce, black mustache, and a
long, flowing gray beard, and as the
wind blew the loose vest slightly out
of place, it disclosed a very bright
piece of tin, the bottom of an oyster
can, on which had been laboriously
worked, in sprawliug characters, the
following:
"Old Thunderbolt, tho Lightning
Detective."
As lie stepped into the street he did
not notice two dark forms in the door
way of his father's abode, that started
slightly at first, and then slyly follow
ed him. Their actions, however, would
not bo hard to explain.
A search had been instituted by his
parents, and, the father of tho family
chancing to question the gentleman
with whom our liero had had the con
versation in the cemetery, they had
started in on tho trail of tho dotect
ive, and, having spotted him, they pro
posed to shadow him aud get on to his
game.
"I must start in on tlio trail at tlio
point where the robbery and abduction
were committed," muttered "Cld Thun
derbolt," as wo shall hereafter desig
nate our hero. "Once started in on
the trail, I will not eat or sleep until I
have tracked the villains to their lair."
And as he spoke he had a faint recol
lection of "Old Electricity," or some
other detective, having once used the
same words.
Gradually the store and residence of
Tommy Graves hove in sight, and, as
lie came nearer, his eagle eye scanned
the premises with lightning-like rapid-
Sfe
"THE BLUDGEON WAS RAISED, POISED
FOR AN INSTANT IN THE AIR, AND *
ity for signs of life. Dim lights were
shining from various windows in the
second story, but everything was quiet.
He tried the gate, but it was locked.
However, he soon climbed to tho top
of the fence, and, with an agile bound,
liis lithe form landed in tho yard.
Fortune scemedjjto favor the detective.
He was not disturbed, and going to
tlio back door of the store, he began the
search for clews.
The search was not very long or
difficult. The eyes of the detective i
roved about like those of a hawk, and j
soon lit upon a button—the regulation |
clew—-a small and dirty shirt-button,
but a button all the same; and in
these days of romance and adventure,
it is often, indeed, that life, fortune,
and all depend upon a button.
As the detective examined tU clew,
a fierce exclamation escaped hit?., and
a terrible, relentless look came into
his fine blue eyes as lie hissed througa
his clenched teeth £
"Ave, villains, you may well trem
ble, for the 'Avenger' D on your track.
The chase lias commenced, and I will
follow you to the end of the earth. I
will never cease until tlio innocent is
saved and I have dragged your vile "
The detective felt a powerful grasp
on liis collar and pants, and he was
hurled through the air, with terrific,
relentless force. His iron nerve avail
ed him naught against the powerful
enemy who had caught him in that
terrible grasp, and as ho was hurled
violently to the earth a cry escaped
him, a terrible wail, so loud and de
sparing thatit must have made "Bleary-
Eyed Bill" turn green with envy.
All tho tom-cats in the neighbor
hood, with cries of dismay, and tails
standing in tho air, sought more con
genial climes; a frightful din came
from the hen-house, and, horrible to
relate, there were sounds of surprised
exclamations from within tho residence
of Tommy Graves. The whole family
turned out to see what was wrong,
while the abashed detective heard Miss
Grace herself exclaim, in a voice of
mingled horror and disgust:
. "Why, grandfather, was that ugly
little rag-muffin trying to break into
theater©?"
i Some conversation among tnose as
j sembled followed, but tho detective
! heard it not. His great mind was
| dazed and bewildered, his iron nervo
crushed.
; Presently tho detective's father ap
| proached him and seized an ear. The
I gentleman before mentioned did tho
: slime, and together they dragged him
j homeward with cruel, relentless force.
Yet, in spite of all his reverses, the
j indomitable spirit of the detective was
| not entirely broken. He still retained
j possession of his terrible weapon, and
lie managed to draw it forth, at the
! same time exclaiming, mechanically:
| "Halt, villains! I've got you cov
j ered!"
But at the same instant an extra
i jerk on the ear, propelled by his
father, sent the weapon spinning from
his liund. As it struck the ground it
exploded, the improvised cylinder-pin
at the same time Hying in one direc
tion, the cylinder in another, and the
revolver in a third, while the hammer,
loosened by some internal convulsion,
rattled helplessly in its place.
"Eli! What does this mean ? The lit
tle rascal has got a gun!" exclaimed
the father, and ho gathered up the re
volver aud carefully deposited it iu his
pocket. Again, with a meaning light
in his eye, lie seized the detective's arm
und the latter was marched on iu grim
silence. The paternal al>ode was
reached, the gentleman friend bade
them good-night, and the detective was
left alone with his father.
But the look on the latter's face only
became more stern and determined,
his grasp firmer and more relentless.
As lie dragged "Old Thunderbolt,"
hopeless und dispirited, into the houso,
he cried, in a voice of thunder:
"Maria Jane, where is tho paddle ?"
Maria Jane brought that implement
of torture with alacrity. It was an
ugly-looking weapon, fully three foet
long, and the blade at least six inches
wide.
"Old Thunderbolt" was led to his
room in the same manner as before,
aud his father took a chair. Knowing
well what was coming, the detective
uttered a despairing cry.
A malicious, almost Hendish smile
played for au instant over the face of
the stern parent. Then the detective
was again caught up by tlie collar and
pants and thrown across his knee, faco
down. Tho bludgeon was raised, poised
for an instant in the air, and
Over the harrowing scene that fol
lowed we gently draw the veil.
5Y THE WAYSIDE.
BY JENNIE P. MERCHANT.
NE day I wanted
WW 6 *f 3 prepa "
conservatory nor
' garden, though
living far out in the suburbs, it became
necessary to patronize a florist. So,
at the last moment, I made a long
trip, and returned with a quantity of
choice exotics. Some of the blossoms
were very beautiful, but utterly devoid
of fragrance, which was very disap
pointing.
A few days after, having leisure for
a stroll through "highways and
hedges," I discovered that along the
wayside near my home lovely blossoms
of almost every hue were growing
wild. And how delicious the perfume
exhaled by some of them. But they
were modest aud shy, and seemed to
enjoy hiding among tufts of grass.
What a pit asure the gathering of a
bouquet afforded me; and as I walked
homeward, enjoying the delicacy and
fragrance of those blossoms, white,
blue, pink, and purple, together with
some tine fern-like foliage, 1 fell to
musing. Thus ran my reverie:
How often is it the case that wo mor
tals look far beyond us for the joys of
life, unconscious that around us, ou all
sides, may bo found what wo are seek
ing.
Perhaps we sigh for appreciative
friends, hoping some day to Und tlieni,
when, if wo but tried to look into the
hearts of some who seem stolid and in
different, if wo would endeavor to find
the good side of tho natures of those
who daily cross our paths, how sur
prising might bo the result.
Tlie wayside of life is full of pleas
ant surprises and discoveries, let the
croakers und pessimists say what they
will. •
Noxious weeds grow up in our way,
but their rank growth may shelter
something very sweet and pretty, and
so play a good part in the world after
all.
And in human life those weeds, as
well as the sweet blossoms, have their
prototypes. Let us, then, have the
grace to tolerate the one, while finding
and appreciating the other.
Then shall we, indeed, have learned
a valuable lesson, and wayside blos
soms will never more bo overlooked or
ignored.
When He Left Off.
They were walking in front of a tall
building that was undergoing repairs.
The sun shone vertically upon tho
crowded thoroughfare and seemed to
drink up eagerly the moisture from tho
water-soaked pavement,
"Grindstone," said Kiljordan, "is
tliis "
But the question was not completed.
A fragment of briak from tlie top of the
building fell upon his head, aud with
out a groan he fell to the ground in
sensible. Ho wait taken to his homo
and for weeks he lay bereft of sense and
motion. His friend watched faithfully
by his bedside. A consultation of sur
geons was held, and it was decided that
an operation must be performed to re-;
lieve tlie brain from the pressure of a,
fractured portion of the skull. This'
was done, and the eager watchers wero
gladdened by the announcement that
the delicate task had been successfully
accomplished. Grindstone leaned over
the prostrate man and waited breath-!
lessly for the first gleam of returning
consciousness. It came. With a long,,
quivering breath Kiljordan opened
his eyes, and tho first words that
had passed his lips for many a day
broke the painful silenco of tho room.
In a quick, distinct voice he said:
" hot enough for you 2"
The Average Woman.
Hotel call-boy Madam, you must
hurry if you would save vour life.
The hotel is all on lire. This is the
third time 1 liavo warned you.
Lady guest—Well, tell the firemen
iO keep the llama under control until
I take out my curl papers and friz my
hair. I just know there's a great
crow d of men down there, and some of
them are newspaper reporters.— Omar
ha World,
IN THE ROLE OF A SPORT
BILL NYE'S EXPERIENCE AT JK
RO3IE PARK RACES.
An Exciting: Race Between Bill Jack
man's Black-ami-Tan Filly am l Tilll j
iloustin's Kuan (folding:—Th Humorist ■
Wins a Big: Bot.
a PEAKING in a genoral way, |
JTmM I um not muoh of a sport I
\lk w writes Bill Nyo in the Chi- ,
cago Herald. I have been
present only on the occa
xk slon of a lew justly Colo
rado n brated trials of speed nt the
county seat. Therefore 1
<l° not know so much about
k'> horse-racing as I do about
dross and etiquette.
The last horse-race I at
tended was nine yeais ago
1 wK EI J * have iorgotten whether i'
opened with prayer or not
but I know that wo had al-
M wfMuwrWL moß ' everything else. A
s&tr ■ <gs> :lee club gang "Shall We
Wi \ w/ /Gather at the River?" we
* \ TVr/ had greased pig exorcises
\j \i and a tall man with a short
breath and ooat-tail spoke of the blessings
of agriculture. Then Bill Jackman's black
and-tan lllly Early Hose ran Tint Houstin'e
roan gelding Moses. It was exciting. It
was to bo the best two out of three from
the iron bridge up to the school liouso and
back. I was one of tho judges. I had to
either be one of tho judges of tho horse
raco or sing "Larboard Watch Ahoy." so I
said I would act as judge.
Tho first heat Early ltoso did not seem to
get down to her work very well, but Moses
felt first-rate and. barring a light squeak
ing sound caused by the chafing of his sec
ond and third stomachs, carried himself
beautifully. His large, red nostrils were
opon as far back as tho eye could roach
and his tongue was thrown back over his
shoulder regardless of expense. It was a
beautiful sight. I gave tho first heat to
Moses and the second to Early Rose. It
was very exciting. Betting ran high. One
man bet a bushel of Early Dent corn
agalust a honoy-comb bed-quilt on Moses,
and another man bot a coopful of prize
hens against a Queen Victoria cornshellor
on Early Rose.
At the third heat it was like tho chariot
raco in Ben Hur almost. On tho home
stretch, about half way from tho school
houso, Early Rose stepped in a gopher hole
and threw ner rider somo dUtanoe. He
rose, however, and, pressing his hand to
his brow for a moment us if in deep
thought, led Early Rose to tho fence and
got on again. Moses was at tho moment ol
tho accident about half a length behind.
J/2 I Cr/
E - R|<L
HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE DOOKMAKE)
but this gave him at least twenty length
tho start. Whoa within 100 yards of tilt
judges' stand, however. Moses corked him
self, and throwing his shoes at tho sum*
time succeeded in corking an old gentle
man who was sitting on tho fence at tin
time. Moses fell heavily with his hind fool
Dressing gently against the sky, and whilt
in that position Eurly Rose loped past while
the air was thiek with huzzas.
Slnco that time I have not boen an at
tendant upon tho means of horso racing
until rocently, when I wont up to Jerome
Bark in response to tho kind invitation of £
well-known gentleman of this city whe
did not go. Ho prides himself on hi*
promptness and has frequently lectured me
in scathing terms for fuiluro to be on hand
and on time. Bo this is a rebuke which
will meet his eye, I hope, and do him great
good. Wo wero to meet at tho Gi and Cen
tral Depot, and those who have tried to
meet a friend and pick him out at thai
justly celebrated trysting place, or solect
him from a train of thirteen crowded care
while passing through tho tunnel will ro
oall tho pleasing sensation. The gentle
man's brother was on hand, howover, and
as ho know a little more about racing than
1 d d. wo had a good time. Jerome Bark is
situated somewhat north of Now York
City, and is connected with that place by
rali. For tho first live or six miles tho eye
is gladdened by a strotch of brick-lined
tunnel with just light enough now and
thon to enable tho conductor to collect
tickets and tho pickpocket to tell ally-back
or split-second watch froin a Water bury
without too muoh strain on his eyes.
Jerome Bark is a beautiful sheet of ground,
with a large and imposing grand utanri on
one side, and a tall, massive structure In
tho center, uaod for a summer residence
and tho abode of wealth. Tho track is so
urranged that tho horses do not lmvo to
run to the end of it and then baok again,
but may go on continuously until they get
through.
As tho hour approached, people flocked
to the grand stand, whore they ate cold
3
IT WAS EXCITING.
;rabs and drank largo goblets of froth at
ton cents a gob. Every one was rife witb
expectancy und a bright sparkle was in
every eye. Several policemen wero present,
lending comfort and assuranco by their pres
ence and gentle interest in the race. Jockeys
came up and practiced their horses, and
while they did so I figured out on the back
of my piogroinino what the result would bo
If a hen and a half in a day and a half lay
an egg and a half in a nest and a half, pro
vided she bo given a week and a half with a
ohttnoe and a half. Just then tho crowd
veiled and some ono said that Blue Rock
had won in 1:18%. It reminded mo or the
old-timer who waited two hours with tho
closest attonfon while preparations were
being made for a great race, and while he
thoughtlessly turned around to spit tho raco
was won.
However. I saved $25 on this race by not
betting on Triiler. My companion thon
said wo would feel more interest in the
raco. ho thought, if wo would bet a little.
1 said I would be willing to bot if I saw any
body who wanted to bet. Ho said that
wasn't necessary: we could go down to the
cool-room nnd trouble the pool a little and
It would bo all fixed for us. As I understand
it, this is a systom b> which a party of
obliging young men agree to take all the
money bet and add it up and give back what
Is duo ouch man more or less. I got. my
friend tc buy mo $5 worth of bet on a horse
oalled Erio. it was thon wonderful what
hu intorost I left, in Erie. I wanted his au
tograph to tuko home with me. Ho looked
grand to me. Ho was the most graceful
horse I ever saw. Boforo that tho other
horses looked tolerably well, but afterward
they seemed to iiavo caved in at coituin
points and they walked lame.
1 now heurdsome ono say: "They're offl"
I saw a roll of dust like a I ig caterpillar
crawl around the track, and thon five
thousand throats made the statement that
Eric had won. With ft mass vo judgment
worthy of ono much older than I am, I
had won the first money I over made on a
horse-race. At first I thought I would go
down-stairs and place mys If under the in
lluonoo oi a gloss of lager loam. "But no,"
thought I to myself, "I will not let prosper
ity turn my head In this way. I will be
calm. First. I will got my money before
the cashier is too sorely tempted to HQ
away witn rr. o l went down to tne pooi
room nnd sont in my ticket. I received
my original Investment and sixty cents in
currency, which I carefully concealed in
the lining ol my chemisette. Ido not know
NYE AND THE "CABBY."
yet what 1 will do with it. Some think it
would be a good idea to go to tho conti
nent with it for a few months. Others say
buy Western Union, while still others say
buy unimproved real estate on l'ulton
street and wait for it to advunoo. Ido not
know whether I will do either. Possibly t
will wait till I got over to Paris, where
things are cheap, owing to pauper labor,
and thon I will buy a watermelon.
I remained a little longer at tho races,
but was so wrought up by the excitement
that 1 felt quite giddy. That is ono trouble
about racing. A winner becomes so ex
cited that ho is unfitted for almost any
kind of business* afterward.
Finally I wont below and ate a ham sand
wich, which soothed my nerves a groat
deal.
Those who have never loft Jerome Bark
by means of tho carria.'o gate should try it
once for tho exhilaration of the experience.
We were told that we could got a carryall
there for Fordhum and thus go homo ahead
of tho crowded race trains, so went to tho
gate. Tho haokmen were there to welcome
us and spoak to us. I have a ripe experi
ence as a man of the world, having neon
chased by hostile Indluns who had never
seen mo with iny hat off, und who there
fore desired t-o scalp mo. and I have been
used as a whisk broom by a large cyclone in
dust'ng off the cornices of tho sky, but the
gentlemen who caught us at tho gate, yelled
in our ears, breathed their hot, adulterated
breaths into our wild, seared fases, and
palled our grand-stand badges off while
promenading over our prostrate remains,
reminded mo more forc'bly of boll as It was
once described to mo by a cloigymun who
felt an interest in my soul than anything I
have yet passed through. Grand-stand
badges are not taken up, tho coupon alone
being removed, and so tho ghouls at this
gate can go In and soo the balance of tho
raco by rifling the corpses of those who do
not know any bettor than to go out that
way. People who desire to meet the gen
tlemen who robbed the dead at Johnstown
can find tho most of them waiting around
this gate on pleasant days at Jeiomo Bark,
waiting to do tho hyona act in tho broad
glare of tho day. They refuse absolutely to
return any vital organs to relatives of the
doeoased.
I may go through that gate again before
tho ritct is over, wearing a grand-stand
badge on my breast, but. If so, I shall take
the p-< caution to got myself liermetloftlly
sealed up In a metallic casket.
wunteu to surprise Ills Girl.
_ —-4-. HE young man
Foots went to see
his sweetheart, says
Texas Siftings, and
being quite at homo
with the family,
thought he would
just slip into the
parlor unperceived
and hide behind the
sofa,just to give her
a little surprise as
she came in to light
the gas, for it was
early twilight.
Ho hadn't been in his place of con
cealment but a few minutes when there
was a ring at the outer door, and a mo
ment later liis heart's delight ushered
another young man into the darkened
parlor, the ycung lady not seeming to
think illumination necessary quite vet.
They sat down on the sofa together,
and the young lady said :
"Oh, Georgo, I am so glad it is you I
When t lie bell rang I was almost sure
it was that dreadful bore, Toots."
l'oots silently gritted his teeth be
hind the sofa.
"My dear," said the strange young
man, slipping his arm around her
waist, "who is this follow Poots ? "
"Oh, lie's a galoot that comes hang
ing around hero once in a while, that
we have to put up with because my
folks and his folks came from the same
place in tho North. He bores the life
out of me."
"A galoot, am 1?" said Poots to him
self, bitterly. "I'll show who I am
when that chap starts for homo," and
he doubled up both lists.
Hut tho cliap wouldn't start for
homo. Ho stayed and stayed, and
they kept billing and cooing until af
ter midnight. Poots' position was very
uncomfortable, squatting behind the
sofa, and tho love-making that was go
ing on did not add to his ease. There
is no knowing how long tho entertain
ment would have lasted had not tho
young lady's father come down-stairs
in his dressing-gown and slippers and
dissolved tho parliament.
When they were gone and all was
still, young Poots tried to tip-toe out,
but lie stumbled over a chair and
mado such a racket as to alarm tho
house. The head of the house yelled
"Police!" from tho upper window, and
Poots managed to get into the cellar,
from which ho escaped by crawling up
through the coal chute in the back
yard and climbing an alley fence. Ho
| doesn't call on that orirl any more.
The Catcher in Modern Base-Ball.
t| modern base-ball
opment that must not
bo passed by, savs a
writer in an Eastern
magazine. In the cir
cuses there is often a
trained athlete, who
stands in front of a cannon and
catches the ball in his hands when it
is fired out, at no very great distance
from the gun. Tho charge of powder
which sends it, however, is measured,
and serious accidents resulting from the
undertaking, I think, are not numer
ous. But the catcher of the regulation
base-ball implement or globe, or toy,
call it which you will, takes his life in
his hands. He has to catch a ball
which might as well be a cannon ball,
with little power to tell where it will
find him or lie it, and with a certainty
that if it hits him serious or fatal
injury is most likely to ensue. To
make it less possible that his nose or
jaw shall be broken, or to prevent his
teeth from being knocked entirely out,
ho now wears a wire cage over his
face, not wholly dissimilar to an ox's
muzzle or a burglar's mask.
I'noM an extensive series or experi
ments it has been concluded that the
power of electro magnetic rotatory po
larization is common to all substances,
whether crystalline or isotropous.
Simple substances produce a positive
rotation aud compound bodies a nega
tive rotation, an liicli last is explained
by the fact that tho Amperian cur
rents insido compound bodies run in a
direction different from that of the
magnetic held.
SAMBO AS A SOLDIER.
THE PART PLAYED BY THE NEGRO
IN THE CIVIL WAR.
Simon Cameron Was the First to Suggost
His Enlistment- General Clietlaln Or
ganized the First Black Brigades—Over
200,000 Entered the Ranks, and Tliej
Mudo Average Good .So!diors.
11E iirst person to
■fiMnVll suggest recruiting
X?' 111 ■ i\lf. anil arming tlio ne
v II fv. groes of the South
i v &rZ'lJz'li 111 V'/ for service iu the
\J%l&±i\ Union army was
/'ST.: th e late Simon
ffßnf. IGffy) /Cameron, then
secretary of War
under President Lincoln. This was in 1862.
and tho question was considered by the
President and Cabinet, resulting in its re
jection. President Lincoln did not think
tho scheme good policy, although person
ally in favor of it. foe tho reason that it
would antagonize a large element in tho
army and throughout the North, who. al
though in favor or pushing the war and
saving the Union, would bitterly oppose
making soldiers of the negro, as they con
sidered it a white man's war exclusively, in
which the colored man must have no say.
The President's view of tho matter was
shared by a majority of the Cabinet, and
tho subject was kept in abeyance until
after the promulgation of tho emancipation
proclamation, when It was Lrought for
ward and adopted.
Secretary or War Stanton, who had suc
ceeded Cameron, was as heartily in fuvor
of tho move as the President himself, and
lost no time in beginning active operations
by placing General Lorenzo Thomas.
Adjutant Genoral of tlio United States
army, in charge of the work.
This was early^in
/ spring of that your
J JflaM General A. L. Chot
structlons from Gen.
manding tho d i s-
OEN. A. L. CHETLAIN. trict. raised a full
regimont of freodmon, they being tho first
colored troops put in service north of New
Orleans.
In December, 1863, General Chetlain was
commissioned a Brigadier General and or
dered to report to General Grant, at Nash
ville. for assignment to duty, lie pairing to
Nushvillo, he was informed by General
Grant that ho had a largo and important
work to be done in Tennessee and Western
Kentucky, in tho way of raising colored
troops, which ho wished him to superin
tend, as ho beliovod him well quuliiled for
tho tusk of onlisting and organizing tho
froedmen into an available and efficient body
of soldiers.
It may bo stated that Genorols Grant and
Chetlain wore well acquainted, they both
having lived at Galena prior to tho war,
and, together with General Rawlins and
others who afterward won fame in tho
army, raised tho first company of volun
teers sent to the war from that r gion. und
which General Chetlain had tho honor of
commanding. General Grant, to whom the
honor was first tendered, having declined.
General Chetlain was informed by Gen
eral Grant that tho policy of putting col
ored troops In tho service was not popular
among army ofilcors, and if ho did not fool
liko assuming tho responsibility of tho
work, he uid not want him to take hold of
it; that it was a task he felt a delicacy in
ordering him to.
Being assured by General Chetlain that
he was there to obey orders, and that he
need feel no delicacy in assigning him to
any required duty, Genoral Grant contin
ued that ho believed ho (Chetlain) could
make a success of tho work, arid if he did.
it would bo greatly to his credit; that ho
believed the black men or the South would
make good soldiers if properly handled;
that they would naturally loan on their
ofilcors much more than tho white man;
and, if given good officers, there would be
little difficulty in transforming them into
soldiers, in a reasonable length of tirno,
that would bo a credit to the army of tho
Union.
How well Gon. Grant had gauged tho
§gg||
AT TDK BATTLE OP NASHVILLE.
quality of tho freed men and the man he
chose to organize them into an army, is a
mutter of history.
Other officers, high In rank, did not
ogreo with Grant on this question, being
free in asserting their belief that "Sambo
could not be trans'ormed into a soldier un
der from one to two years' drilling, and
oven then ho would be of doubtful quality.
But Gen. Chef lain's belief in tho capacity
of tho negro coucided with that of Grant's.
work of rocruitlng. At tlio end ofileight
months he had iu his command seventeen
lull roglments of infantry, two regiments of
heavy, and two companies of light artillery.
These and all suhsequent'lcoiored troops
were officered by white men from tho Union
army, chosen by oxamining boards, com
posed usually or seven army officers,
before whom candidates had to present
thomselves properly vouched for as to good
moral character and soldierly qualities.
After a rigid examination, tho board viould
give thorn such rank ns their merits de
served.
Under this merit system it frequently
liapponod that a private from tho ranks
would receive a commission as Captain or
Major, while some Lieutenant, who owed
his present position to a political pull, was
rejected, llenco tho colored troops were,
as a rule, bettor officered than tho majority
of white volunteers, and any Union vet ran
who was an officer of colored troops dui ing
the war may justly feel proud of tho fact,
for It is proof positive t hut ho possossod
aiorit as a soldier, and did not in any way
owe his position to favoritism.
In June, 1864. contral and eastern Ken
tucky was uddo I to General Chotlain's Held
of operations, with licudquurtors at Louis
ville. Great opposition at once sprung up
In Kentucky against the Government's put
f .ng the blacks of that State in tho nrmy.
Tho people of tho State considered it an
unwarrantable proceeding on tho part of
the Government and a ling ant disregard
or Stutes' lights, so dear to their hearts.
As Kentucky, being neutral ground, was
not directly Included in the emancipatior
proclamation, tho poople looked upon th<
enlistment of their slaves as a violation ol
rights not to bo endured. So bittor wut
the feeling iigu'"list tho movement and
those engaged in it. that it was reported
the Knights of tho Golden Orel* had und/
contemplation the assassination or uenerui
Chetlain.
A largo delegation of prominent Kentuck
lans hastened to Washington, and, with the
members of Congross from that State,
waited upon, or, rather, rushed upon, Pres
ident Lincoln with such an array of ap
peals. protests and pleadings as to induce
him to roscind tho order for onlisting col
ored troops in their domain.
Genoral Chetlain thereupon returned to
his former post, at Memphis, and contin
ued operations in Tennessee and Western
Kentucky.
Wherever the colored troops wore tested
in battlo they wero found to be ut least up
to tho average as to efficiency and bravery,
and, in not a few instances, proved
themselves socond to none. One
of many lnstunces In proof of this
was shown ut the battlo of Nashville.
wnore a origauo or lour regiments unaflj
command of CoU T. J. Morgan.
several years after the war was a profetiNH
In the Baptist Theological
Morgan Park, near Chicago, held the
treme left of the Union lines,
part of General Bteedman's command. DIM
had the honor of charging the enomjH
earthworks and capturing them, wiflj
several pieces of artillery, meeting wits
great loss to themselves in killed ang'
wounded.
c^ar K e one regiment lost no leflfl
tnan four color bearers; one after nnothlH
of the color guard gallantly snatchod up tm9
llag when his predecessor fell, the fourtffl
man falling mortally wounded as ho plantefl
the colors on theienemy's works. After thlfl
feat Gen. Bteedman, who had been
tical as to the fighting qualities of the blacfl
men. was free to confess that he regarded]
them as brave and efficent in battle as the]
average white troops.
It will be remembered that the colored'
regiment raised in Illinois in 1863 and com
manded by Colonel Bross did some gallant
work at Petersburg when the mines were
exploded, at which time Colonel Bross was
killed while gallantly leading the regiment.
The negro soldior had one peculiarity,
differing from his white brother in that he
seldom, if ever, when routed by the enemy,
threw away gun or knapsack in his retreat,
i }. e r ®treat after the battle of Guntown,
i* , e BUmn ior of 1864, when Forrest com
pletely routed the troops undor General
Bturgls. who retreated pell-mell in a sadly
demoralized condition to Memphis, sixty
miles away, the white soldiers throw away
guns and knapsucks. while tho darky
invariably clung to his. In fact, not a
few of them came Into Memphis car
rying two guns each. One of those,
when accosted by an officer as to how he
came by two guns, answered. "Why. boss. I
done foun' uis odder gun 'longsido do road,
an', soein* it's a good gun, tmks I's done
bring it 'long, so it don't done gone an' be
lostr
Wherever tho colored troops wore em
ployed in forts, where heavy artillery was
used, guarding supply depots, and doing,
other duty along the coast of defensos, they
wore found to perform their duties most
efficiently.
In the autumn of 18C4 General Lorenzo
BROUGHT IN TWO GUNS.
Thomas repot tea tnut tncro were on th 6
rolls and fit for duty 170.000 colored troops
in tho service. This would inuko an ag
gregate in round numbers of 200,000 en
listed men. no moan army of itself, and of
which tho colored men of tho United States
may justly feel proud.
General Chetlain was breveted Major
General for his services in the raising o!
tills army, and General Lorenzo Thomas,
in his roport to the War Department in
1865. paid him a high compliment for the
manner in which ho had carried out his
orders.
Why He Needed Prayer?.
Col. Dick Wintersmith, sitting under
the trees in front of the Ebbitt House
the other day, related tho following
/urn:
"It seems that the congregation of a
church in one of the southern counties
of A irgiuia was one day greatly shocked
upon hearing that their preacher had
departed under most discreditable cir
cumstances. On the following Sunday
nearly every one in the congregation
was desiring of hushing up the scan
dal, and under great restraint many
interesting conversations were held
merely to prove that the members of
the church could rise above sensational
gossip. Just before the services were
closed Brother Elijah P. Brookrod
arose and said:
" 'Brothers and sisters, since we
last met in this house something which
seems to have cast a gloom over this
congregation has occurred. We were
all much attached to our minister; in
fact, we loved him, and now 1 propose
that we offer up a prayer for the wan
derer.'
"A sensational wave passed over the
audience. Another brother arose, and
turning to Elijah P. Brookrod, said:
" 'I am astonished that you should
desire the congregation to pray for out
erring minister—you, above all others.'
" 'Why?'
" 'Because he ran away with your
wife.'
" 'Yes, I know,' Elijah replied, 'and
that is the reason why 1 think he will
need our prayers.'" Washing ton
correspondent.
Not an Uncommon Name.
One of the most prominent citizens
of Hartford, says a letter to the New
York Sun, is llodney Dennis, the Sec
retary of the Travelers' insurance
Company. He is not self-important,'
liot still is one who expects a good deal
of consideration, and gets it. Not long
ago the Travelers' made a number of
loans through a Colorado broker named,
Henry. Interest and principle failed
to materialize and Mr. Dennis went/
to investigate. Tlio sole occupant'
ol Henry's office was a young man
who sat tilted back in a cluiir with his;
feet on the window-sill. His response
to inquiries was extremely unsatis
factory, and presently Mr. Dennis be
came angry, and said with emphasis:
"My name is Dennis."
"That's boon everybody's name hero
for a week," said the languid young I
man.
Definitions.
Mrs. Henpeck (to Mr. H., who is
reading)— Your little son just asked you
a (question, and you didn't notice him.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself,!
and I shall
Mr. Henpeck—l didn't hear him.
Mrs. H.—Oh, no, you never hear
when a member of your own family
speaks to you. You are deaf to the
very ones you should love and cherish,
deaf to
Mr. H.—What does he want tc
know ?
Mrs. ll.—He asked you what a her
mit was.
Mr. H.—A hermit, my son, is a mai
who loves peace and quiet— New Yorl
Weekly.
Matrimonial Item.
Society man—l say, Tom, you are a
married man. Did your wife gorge
herself with ice-cream before you mar- {
ried her ?
Married friend —She did.
"And did she stop wanting ice-cream ,
after you were married ?"
"Yes, she gave it up entirely."
"That settles it. I'll let you know
when it comes off."
"What comes off?"
"My marriage. It's cheaper to mar
ry and go to housekeeping than to
keep a girl filled up with ice-cream.
I'd have money in the bank right now
if I had got married before the season
opened."— Texas Siftings.